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The homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) gene family plays a pivotal role in plant development and stress responses. Nevertheless, a comprehensive characterization of the HD-Zip gene family in kiwifruit has been lacking. In this study, we have systematically identified 70 HD-Zip genes in the Actinidia chinensis (Ac) genome and 55 in the Actinidia eriantha (Ae) genome. These genes have been categorized into four subfamilies (HD-Zip I, II, III, and IV) through rigorous phylogenetic analysis. Analysis of synteny patterns and selection pressures has provided insights into how whole-genome duplication (WGD) or segmental may have contributed to the divergence in gene numbers between these two kiwifruit species, with duplicated gene pairs undergoing purifying selection. Furthermore, our study has unveiled tissue-specific expression patterns among kiwifruit HD-Zip genes, with some genes identified as key regulators of kiwifruit responses to bacterial canker disease and postharvest processes. These findings not only offer valuable insights into the evolutionary and functional characteristics of kiwifruit HD-Zips but also shed light on their potential roles in plant growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial canker of kiwifruit caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is a catastrophic disease that threatens the global kiwifruit industry. As yet, no cure has been developed. Planting resistant cultivars is considered as one of the most effective ways to control Psa. However, most existing cultivars lack Psa‐resistance genes. Wild Actinidia resources contain rich genetic diversity and may have powerful disease‐resistance genes under long‐term natural selection, but lack of knowledge about the resistance to Psa for most Actinidia species results in some excellent wild resistant genotypes being underutilized. In this study, the response to Psa of 104 wild genotypes of 30 Actinidia species (including 37 taxa) was tested with an in vitro bioassay, and a considerable number of individuals from different species with tolerance or high resistance to Psa were identified. The results showed high consistency between years. This is the first large‐scale evaluation of diverse Actinidia species with resistance to Psa through an in vitro bioassay. The resistant genotypes of A. chinensis identified could be used in future kiwifruit improvement programmes. The findings should help provide an understanding of the resistance to Psa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first series of niobium-tungsten-lanthanide (Nb-W-Ln) heterometallic polyoxometalates {Ln12W12O36(H2O)24(Nb6O19)12} (Ln=Y, La, Sm, Eu, Yb) have been obtained, which are comprised of giant cluster-in-cluster-like ({Ln12W12}-in-{Nb72}) structures built from 12 hexaniobate {Nb6O19} clusters gathered together by a rare 24-nuclearity sodalite-type heterometal-oxide cage {Ln12W12O36(H2O)24}. The Nb-W-Ln clusters present the largest multi-metal polyoxoniobates and a series of rare high-nuclearity 4d-5d-4f multicomponent clusters. Furthermore, the giant Nb-W-Ln clusters may be isolated as discrete inorganic alkali salts and can be used as building blocks to form high-dimensional inorganic-organic hybrid frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]