Search

BACKGROUND Although hydrogen gas (H2) has been widely used in industry and gradually used in medicine, it is less applied to agriculture, especially in modified atmosphere packing (MAP). RESULTS: During chicken egg storage, H2 MAP not only slowed down or delayed the reduction in antioxidant capacities, but also alleviated the deterioration of egg quality. The extent of micro‐cracks in the eggshell was also negatively influenced by H2, which might result in eggs being less vulnerable to microbes. The earlier results demonstrated that the H2 MAP‐extended shelf life of chicken eggs might be caused by the responses of eggshell and re‐establishment of redox homeostasis. According to the data collected from different provinces of China, cost‐economics analysis further suggested that the increase in the extra cost caused by H2 was trivial compared with the original price of eggs. CONCLUSION: Together, H2 MAP can prolong the shelf life of chicken eggs with the prospect of wider application. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix have been two economically important aquaculture species in China for centuries. In the past decades, bighead and silver carp have been introduced from the Yangtze River to many river systems in China, including the Pearl River, in annual, large‐scale, stocking activities to enhance wild fisheries. Nonetheless, few studies have assessed the ecological or genetic impacts of such introductions on native conspecific fish populations. An mtDNA D‐loop segment of 978 bp from 213 bighead carp samples from 9 populations and a 975 bp segment from 204 silver carp samples from 10 populations were obtained to evaluate genetic diversity and population integrity. Results from a haplotype network analysis revealed that most haplotypes of the Pearl River clustered with those of Yangtze River origin and only a small proportion were distinct, suggesting that both the native Pearl River bighead and silver carp populations are currently dominated by genetic material from the Yangtze River. The genetic diversity of Pearl River populations is high in both species because of this inter‐population gene flow, but the diversity of native Pearl River populations is low. To preserve the native genetic diversity, stocking of non‐native fingerlings should cease immediately and native Pearl River bighead and silver carp fish farms should be established. This research demonstrates the danger to native biodiversity across China because of the substantial, ongoing stock‐enhancement activities without prior genetic assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgery remains the first choice of cure for early stage lung cancer. However, many patients are diagnosed at advanced stage, and thus miss the opportunity to undergo surgery. As such patients derive limited benefits from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, alternatives focusing on local control have emerged, including iodine‐125 seed implantation. The Interstitial Brachytherapy Society, Committee of Minimally Invasive Therapy in Oncology, Chinese Anti‐Cancer Association organized a group of multidisciplinary experts to develop guidelines for this treatment modality. These guidelines aim to standardize iodine‐125 seed implantation procedures, inclusion criteria, and outcome assessment to prevent and manage procedure‐related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Astragalus) is a perennial medicinal plant belonging to Leguminosae. Its main agronomic and industrial interest is the accumulation of astragaloside IV and calycosin‐7‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside in roots, two components that play crucial pharmacological roles in the finished pharmaceutical products. Phenological research is a prerequisite for improving the yield quality of cultivated medicinal plants. However, there are no standardized phenological studies on Astragalus. To expand phenotyping knowledge on this medicinal plant, researchers and breeders need a universal scale to describe the development of this plant. This study aims to define the phenological growth stages of Astragalus, based on the existing Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale to provide a standard scale for Astragalus, and grown under temperate conditions of production and climate, proposes a disease and pest control reference. This study was conducted in Inner Mongolia, North China. The existing BBCH scale with a three‐digit code was used to define Astragalus's phenological growth codes, supplemented with pictures. Phenological observations were performed twice monthly, based on the developmental stages. The chronology and duration of each stage were also observed and described according to the accumulation of degree days during the growing season. Based on the data obtained, the influence of the average temperature and GDD on the phenophases was evaluated. The phenological description is divided into two principal growth stages: five for vegetative growth (perennating bud, leaf development, formation of branches, main stem elongation and root development), four for reproductive growth (reproductive organ development, flowering, fruit development and fruit maturation), and one for senescence according to the BBCH scale. Seventy secondary growth stages were described within the 10 principal growth stages. Under each secondary growth stage, six mesostages are also taken into account, which contains the distinct patterns of the phenological characteristics in Astragalus varieties and the process of transplanting seedlings. A practical management program for disease and pest control was also proposed by using the BBCH code and the phenological data proposed in this work. Our study presents the first BBCH scale established for Astragalus cultivated in temperate conditions and a chronology of phenological stages based on the accumulation of thermal time, through growing degree day calculation. This work provides a general tool that can be widely used by researchers, breeders, and manufacturers of medicinal materials leading to better agricultural production and scientific communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree architectural attributes demonstrate a significant association with fruit yield. Yellowhorn is the future bioenergy tree in China; however, the species suffers from high reproductive energy and exceedingly low reproductive output. To optimize yellowhorn management and pinpoint priority trees featuring optimal architecture, we employed machine learning modeling to develop high fruit yielding predictive models using five yield indicators (dependent variables: FrW, SeW, ShW, FrW, and SeN) and five tree characteristics (independent variables: CA, TH, DGL, HLC, and MBN) of yellowhorn. Results showed that trees characterized by a substantial canopy area (>1.70 m2) and a large diameter at ground level (>3.71 cm) have been found to yield a higher fruit production. However, increased tree height does not invariably correlate with an elevated yield. Effective selection of high‐yielding individuals can be accomplished by restricting tree height within the range of 192–232.4 cm. This approach emphasizes the importance of integrating considerations of tree architecture into forestry management practices. Such integration can bolster productivity, thereby contributing to both the sustainability and economic viability of yellowhorn forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), a member of the Rhamnaceae family, is an important perennial fruit tree crop of substantial economic, ecological and nutritional value, and is also used as a traditional herbal medicine. Here, we report the resequencing of 493 jujube accessions, including 202 wild and 291 cultivated accessions at >16× depth. Our population genomic analyses revealed that the Shanxi–Shaanxi area of China was jujube's primary domestication centre and that jujube was then disseminated into East China before finally extending into South China. Divergence events analysis indicated that Ziziphus acidojujuba and Ziziphus jujuba diverged around 2.7 Mya, suggesting the interesting possibility that a long pre‐domestication period may have occurred prior to human intervention. Using the large genetic polymorphism data set, we identified a 15‐bp tandem insertion in the promoter of the jujube ortholog of the POLLEN DEFECTIVE IN GUIDANCE 1 (POD1) gene, which was strongly associated with seed‐setting rate. Integrating genome‐wide association study (GWAS), transcriptome data, expression analysis and transgenic validation in tomato, we identified a DA3/UBIQUITIN‐SPECIFIC PROTEASE 14 (UBP14) ortholog, which negatively regulate fruit weight in jujube. We also identified candidate genes, which have likely influenced the selection of fruit sweetness and crispness texture traits among fresh and dry jujubes. Our study not only illuminates the genetic basis of jujube evolution and domestication and provides a deep and rich genomic resource to facilitate both crop improvement and hypothesis‐driven basic research, but also identifies multiple agriculturally important genes for this unique perennial tree fruit species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND In some cultivars, yellowing resulting from chlorophyll breakdown has a direct and negative effect on food supply and health. The 'Zaosu' pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.), a commercial Asian pear cultivar in China, rapidly turns yellow when stored at room temperature after harvest. To develop techniques that delay or suppress chlorophyll degradation, the effects of methyl salicylate (MeSA) on yellowing in 'Zaosu' pear fruit during storage were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the untreated fruit, the application of 0.05 mmol L−1 MeSA delayed the decline of the total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b content, and maintained more intact chloroplasts with fewer and smaller plastoglobuli. Methyl salicylate suppressed enzyme activities, including chlorophyllase, chlorophyll‐degrading peroxidase, Mg dechelatase, and pheophytinase, and the expression levels of NYC, NOL, CLH, SGR, PPH, PAO and RCCR in treated fruit. CONCLUSION: Methyl salicylate could delay chlorophyll breakdown in the fruit. The results also suggested that the conversion from chlorophyll a to pheophorbide a could proceed via two pathways, and that alternative pathways for the breakdown of chlorophyll a exist in 'Zaosu' pears. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]