Genetic mapping identified major main‐effect and three co‐localized quantitative trait loci controlling high iron and zinc content in groundnut

Posted on by

Abstract

Malnutrition is a major challenge globally, and groundnut is a highly nutritious self-pollinated legume crop blessed with ample genomic resources, including the routine deployment of genomic-assisted breeding. This study aimed to identify genomic regions and candidate genes for high iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content, utilizing a biparental mapping population (ICGV 00440 × ICGV 06040;). Genetic mapping and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis (474 mapped single-nucleotide polymorphism loci; 1536.33 cM) using 2 seasons of phenotypic data together with genotypic data identified 5 major main-effect QTLs for Fe content. These QTLs exhibited log-of-odds (LOD) scores ranging from 6.5 to 7.4, explaining phenotypic variation (PVE) ranging from 22% (qFe-Ah01) to 30.0% (qFe-Ah14). Likewise, four major main effect QTLs were identified for Zn content, with LOD score ranging from 4.4 to 6.8 and PVE ranging from 21.8% (qZn-Ah01) to 32.8% (qZn-Ah08). Interestingly, three co-localized major and main effect QTLs (qFe-Ah01, qZn-Ah03, and qFe-Ah11) were identified for both Fe and Zn contents. These genomic regions harbored key candidate genes, including zinc/iron permease transporter, bZIP transcription factor, and vacuolar iron transporter which likely play pivotal roles in the accumulation of Fe and Zn contents in seeds. The findings of this study hold potential for fine mapping and diagnostic marker development for high Fe and Zn contents in groundnut.

Nomilin and its analogue obacunone alleviate NASH and hepatic fibrosis in mice via enhancing antioxidant and anti‐inflammation capacity

Posted on by
Nomilin and its analogue obacunone alleviate NASH and hepatic fibrosis in mice via enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammation capacity

Nomilin and obacunone exert beneficial effects on MCD-, BDL-, and CCl4-induced NASH mice. Nomilin and obacunone alleviate NASH and liver fibrosis via enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammation capacity.


Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatic fibrosis are leading causes of cirrhosis with rising morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, there is no appropriate treatment for NASH and hepatic fibrosis. Many studies have shown that oxidative stress is a main factor inducing NASH. Nomilin (NML) and obacunone (OBA) are limonoid compounds naturally occurring in citrus fruits with various biological properties. However, whether OBA and NML have beneficial effects on NASH remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that OBA and NML inhibited hepatic tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration and liver fibrosis progression in methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated and bile duct ligation (BDL) NASH and hepatic fibrosis mouse models. Mechanistic studies showed that NML and OBA enhanced anti-oxidative effects, including reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) level, increase of catalase (CAT) activity and the gene expression of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and Nrf2-keap1 signaling. Additional, NML and OBA inhibited the expression of inflammatory gene interleukin 6 (Il-6), and regulated the bile acid metabolism genes Cyp3a11, Cyp7a1, multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (Mrp3). Overall, these findings indicate that NML and OBA may alleviate NASH and liver fibrosis in mice via enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammation capacity. Our study proposed that NML and OBA may be potential strategies for NASH treatment.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of irrigation methods and fertilization strategies for alfalfa: A meta‐analysis

Posted on by

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plays an important role in livestock production in most regions of the world, but the quantity and quality of alfalfa have been critically affected by drought events in recent years. Thus, quantifying the efficacy of widely used strategies, irrigation methods and fertilization that are aimed at improving drought resistance in alfalfa is a worthy topic that has been addressed in a variety of ways using both field observations and simulation models. Although such strategies play a critical role in climate change adaptation, the global patterns of these strategies in a changing world remain elusive due to regional differences, such as drought features, strategy design and environmental conditions. Thus, by using effect size and statistical analyses, we synthesized three variables, namely, alfalfa yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and crude protein (CP), to examine the efficacy of irrigation methods and fertilization in drought areas based on peer-reviewed papers from 1990 to 2022. Our results showed that increasing drought stress reduces the alfalfa yield (−34.4%) but can increase the WUE (+13.7%). Both yield and WUE showed a negative relationship with the water deficit, but this phenomenon can be improved by using appropriate irrigation. The yield losses of alfalfa can be offset by implementing a fertilization strategy (+22%) under drought stress, especially for phosphate fertilizer. Overall, our results provide some evidence for the climate change adaptation of alfalfa under drought stress and indicate that fertilization is a more effective adaptation to improve alfalfa drought resistance (both yield and WUE, and yield and CP) than the irrigation method, which shows better performance in improving alfalfa WUE. Our synthesis of the effectiveness of irrigation methods and fertilization on alfalfa drought resistance can be used to develop scientific strategies for climate change adaptation for alfalfa and agriculture under climate change.

Dilemma between yield and quality: Multigenerational effect of elevated CO2 and nitrogen supply on wheat cultivars

Posted on by

Abstract

Studying the long-term effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (e[CO2]) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) over multiple generations has received increasing attention. Here, five wheat cultivars were grown under ambient CO2 concentration (a[CO2], 400 ppm) and e[CO2] (800 ppm), respectively, for three consecutive generations (G1 to G3) under two nitrogen (N) levels (1N and 2N). Compared to plants grown under a[CO2], e[CO2] increased shoot biomass and grain yield (GY) over three generations and the enhancement was greater in G3 than in G1. However, plant N concentration was lowered by e[CO2] and the reduction was not mitigated by higher N supply. The carbon (C) concentration significantly increased in leaf and stem but decreased in grain, indicating an inhibited C translocation to grain under e[CO2]. Most importantly, these negative impacts were exacerbated in G3. Concentrations of mineral nutrients in grain were significantly lowered by e[CO2] with larger reduction in G3 than in G1 in some micronutrients such as Zn, Cu and Fe. These findings suggest that long-term exposure to e[CO2] sustained the positive effects on plant growth and production but aggravated the reduction of grain quality over multiple generations. Among the five cultivars, 325Jimai showed the greatest increase in shoot biomass and GY, and a greater sink capacity compared with the other cultivars, indicating its potential for future breeding strategies.

Rigosertib is more potent than wortmannin and rapamycin against adult T‐cell leukemia‐lymphoma

Posted on by
Rigosertib is more potent than wortmannin and rapamycin against adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma

HTLV-1 downregulation of the mRNA level may occur as a negative feedback response to increased PI3K-Akt-mTOR phosphorylation by HTLV-1. Rigosertib was more effective than wortmannin and rapamycin in inducing cell cycle arrest, as well as a significant late apoptosis in the Inf-3T3 and MT-2 cells.


Abstract

Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection can cause adult T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (ATLL), an incurable, chemotherapy-resistant malignancy. In a quest for new therapeutic targets, our study sought to determine the levels of AKT, mTOR, and PI3K in ATLL MT-2 cells, HTLV-1 infected NIH/3T3 cells (Inf-3T3), and HTLV-1 infected patients (Carrier, HAM/TSP, and ATLL). Furthermore, the effects of rigosertib, wortmannin, and rapamycin on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to inhibit the proliferation of ATLL cells were examined. The results showed that mRNA expression of Akt/PI3K/mTOR was down-regulated in carrier, HAM/TSP, and ATLL patients, as well as MT-2, and Inf-3T3 cells, compared to the healthy individuals and untreated MT-2 and Inf-3T3 as controls. However, western blotting revealed an increase in the phosphorylated and activated forms of AKT and mTOR. Treating the cells with rapamycin, wortmannin, and rigosertib decreased the phosphorylated forms of Akt and mTOR and restored their mRNA expression levels. Using these inhibitors also significantly boosted the expression of the pro-apoptotic genes, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as the expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53 in the MT-2 and Inf-3T3cells. Rigosertib was more potent than wortmannin and rapamycin in inducing sub-G1 and G2-M cell cycle arrest, as well as late apoptosis in the Inf-3T3 and MT-2 cells. It also synergized the cytotoxic effects of vincristine. These findings demonstrate that HTLV-1 downregulation of the mRNA level may occur as a negative feedback response to increased PI3K-Akt-mTOR phosphorylation by HTLV-1. Therefore, using rigosertib alone or in combination with common chemotherapy drugs may be beneficial in ATLL patients.

Tree lines do not reduce grassland productivity and herbage quality in alley cropping under drought

Posted on by

Abstract

In alley cropping, woody perennials are combined with agricultural crops or grassland in order to benefit from favourable interactions between trees and crops. Trees influence growth and senescence processes in grassland as well as plant chemical composition and plant water use. In a field experiment with grassland and alley-cropped willow coppices, we analysed the impact of distance and position relative to the tree line on grassland herbage biomass, proportion of dead herbage and herbage quality in two successive growth periods of two experimental years. The experimental years were chosen so that growth periods among years showed a similar rainfall pattern. Relative ET (evapotranspiration) as defined by actual divided by potential evapotranspiration reflected the severity of water shortage with a moderately dry (relative ET ~ 0.5) first growth period with increasing dryness in the second growth period of each year. We determined bulk stomatal conductivity of the grass shoot by measuring δ13C (carbon) signatures. Stomatal conductivities were higher close to the trees in drier periods (i.e. more negative δ13C values). Herbage biomass decreased with decreasing relative ET, but showed no systematic influence of the tree line. We found that vegetation composition changed with distance to the tree line. The proportion of dead herbage was equal at all distances from the tree line under very dry conditions, but smaller close to the trees under moderately dry conditions. Herbage quality, as approximated by crude protein and ADF concentrations in live biomass, was higher closer to the tree line. We conclude that the tree line does not adversely affect grassland productivity under drought and improves the plant water status as reflected by the δ13C signature.