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Improving the nutrient content of red soils in southern China is a priority for efficient rice production there. To assess the effectiveness of oilseed rape as green manure for the improvement of soil phosphorus nutrient supply and rice yield in red soil areas, a long-term field plot experiment was conducted comparing two species of rape, Brassica napus (BN) and Brassica juncea (BJ). The effects of returning oilseed rape on soil phosphorus availability, phosphorus absorption, and yield of subsequent rice under rice-green manure rotation mode were analyzed, using data from the seasons of 2020 to 2021. The study found that compared with winter fallow treatment (WT) and no-tillage treatment (NT), the soil available phosphorus content of BN was increased, and that of BJ was significantly increased. The content of water-soluble inorganic phosphorus of BJ increased, and that of BN increased substantially. Compared with the WT, the soil organic matter content and soil total phosphorus content of BN significantly increased, as did the soil available potassium content of BJ, and the soil total phosphorus content of BJ was significantly increased compared with NT. The soil particulate phosphorus content of BJ and BN was significantly increased by 14.00% and 16.00%, respectively. Compared with the WT, the phosphorus activation coefficient of BJ was significantly increased by 11.41%. The rice plant tiller number under the green manure returning treatment was significantly increased by 43.16% compared with the winter fallow treatment. The green manure returning measures increased rice grain yield by promoting rice tiller numbers; BN increased rice grain yield by 9.91% and BJ by 11.68%. Based on these results, returning oilseed rape green manure could augment the phosphorus nutrients of red soil and promote phosphorus availability. Rice-oilseed rape green manure rotation could increase rice grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Prunus sibirica seeds with rich oils has great utilization, but contain amygdalin that can be hydrolyzed to release toxic HCN. Thus, how to effectively reduce seed amygdalin content of P. sibirica is an interesting question. Mandelonitrile is known as one key intermediate of amygdalin metabolism, but which mandelonitrile lyase (MDL) family member essential for its dissociation destined to low amygdalin accumulation in P. sibirica seeds still remains enigmatic. An integration of our recent 454 RNA-seq data, amygdalin and mandelonitrile content detection, qRT-PCR analysis and function determination is described as a critical attempt to determine key MDL and to highlight its function in governing mandelonitrile catabolism with low amygdalin accumulation in Prunus sibirica seeds for better developing edible oil and biodiesel in China. Results: To identify key MDL and to unravel its function in governing seed mandelonitrile catabolism with low amygdalin accumulation in P. sibirica. Global identification of mandelonitrile catabolism-associated MDLs, integrated with the across-accessions/developing stages association of accumulative amount of amygdalin and mandelonitrile with transcriptional level of MDLs was performed on P. sibirica seeds of 5 accessions to determine crucial MDL2 for seed mandelonitrile catabolism of P. sibirica. MDL2 gene was cloned from the seeds of P. sibirica, and yeast eukaryotic expression revealed an ability of MDL2 to specifically catalyze the dissociation of mandelonitrile with the ideal values of Km (0.22 mM) and Vmax (178.57 U/mg). A combination of overexpression and mutation was conducted in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of PsMDL2 decreased seed mandelonitrile content with an increase of oil accumulation, upregulated transcript of mandelonitrile metabolic enzymes and oil synthesis enzymes (involving FA biosynthesis and TAG assembly), but exhibited an opposite situation in mdl2 mutant, revealing a role of PsMDL2-mediated regulation in seed amygdalin and oil biosynthesis. The PsMDL2 gene has shown as key molecular target for bioengineering high seed oil production with low amygdalin in oilseed plants. Conclusions: This work presents the first integrated assay of genome-wide identification of mandelonitrile catabolism-related MDLs and the comparative association of transcriptional level of MDLs with accumulative amount of amygdalin and mandelonitrile in the seeds across different germplasms and developmental periods of P. sibirica to determine MDL2 for mandelonitrile dissociation, and an effective combination of PsMDL2 expression and mutation, oil and mandelonitrile content detection and qRT-PCR assay was performed to unravel a mechanism of PsMDL2 for controlling amygdalin and oil production in P. sibirica seeds. These findings could offer new bioengineering strategy for high oil production with low amygdalin in oil plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is extensively cultivated in China due to its root being used as a traditional Chinese medicine known as 'Radix Paeoniae Alba'. In recent years, it has been discovered that its seeds incorporate abundant unsaturated fatty acids, thereby presenting a potential new oilseed plant. Surprisingly, little is known about the full-length transcriptome sequencing of Paeonia lactiflora, limiting research into its gene function and molecular mechanisms. Results: A total of 484,931 Reads of Inserts (ROI) sequences and 1,455,771 full-Length non-chimeric reads (FLNC) sequences were obtained for CDS prediction, TF analysis, SSR analysis and lncRNA identification. In addition, gene function annotation and gene structure analysis were performed. A total of 4905 transcripts were related to lipid metabolism biosynthesis pathway, belonging to 28 enzymes. We use these data to identify 10 oleosin (OLE) and 5 diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) gene members after de-redundancy. The analysis of physicochemical properties and secondary structure showed them similarity in gene family respectively. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the distribution of OLE and DGAT family members was roughly the same as that of Arabidopsis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) analyses revealed expression changes in different seed development stages, and showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing. Conclusion: In summary, these results provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis and storage during the seedling stage in Paeonia lactiflora. It provides theoretical references for selecting and breeding oil varieties and understanding the functions of oil storage as well as lipid synthesis related genes in Paeonia lactiflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of oilseed rape (OS, Brassica napus L.) as a winter green manure is crucial for enhancing soil fertility and reducing chemical N application in paddy fields. However, the impacts of replacing varying amounts of chemical N with OS on CH4 and N2O emissions in paddy soils have not been well evaluated. In this study, GHG emissions, soil properties and OS decomposition in a rice-ratooning system with different OS-urea N replacement rates (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were investigated. Our results indicate that 84.7–90.7% of the initial C and 97.5–98.4% of the N were released during the 192-day decomposition process, and that the mineralization patterns of net C and net N in the OS residue were consistent with a single exponential decay model. The lowest CH4 emissions (9.97 g m−2) were observed at 0% OS, while the highest N2O emissions (0.40 g m−2) were observed at this level of substitution. Conversely, the highest CH4 emissions (20.71 g m−2) and lowest N2O emissions (0.07 g m−2) were observed at 100% OS. Compared to 0% substitution, 25% substitution significantly decreased GWP and GHGI without reducing rice grain yield. Environmental parameters such as soil redox, NH4+-N and residual N and C were shown to be significantly associated with CH4 emissions, whereas soil redox, NH4+-N and residual C were the main drivers of N2O emissions. In conclusion, 25% substitution of OS was the most cost-effective measure for balancing greenhouse gas emission and rice yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tree peony, a novel woody oil crop extensively cultivated in China, necessitates further investigation into artificial pollination technology to enhance seed yield. In this study, we conducted artificial pollination experiments with 6-year-old Paeonia ostii 'Feng Dan' seedings for suitable pollen sources, pollen concentration, pollination timing, and pollination frequency. By evaluating seed yields, active ingredients, and oil quality, we derived the following significant conclusions. Firstly, compared to natural pollination, artificial pollination could significantly increase the fruit diameter by 13.94–27.58%, seed yields by 35.17–58.99%, and oil content by 6.45–7.52% in tree peonies. In active ingredients, seeds produced by pollen from Hantai County significantly enhanced starch content (by 48.64%), total phenols (by 41.18%) and antioxidant capacity (by 54.39%). In oil quality, seeds produced by pollen from Heyang County exhibited the highest α-linolenic acid and total fatty acid content with enhancements of 1.68%, 7.41%, and 8.48%. Secondly, hand pollination with pure pollen significantly increased seed yield by 58.99%, total phenol content by 40.97%, antioxidant capacity by 54.39%, and oil content by 1.53% compared to natural pollination. Thirdly, pollination at 2/3 bloom range significantly increased seed number by 63.08% and yield by 45.61% compared to natural pollination. Finally, the effect of one, two, and three pollination events had no difference in seed yield. So, to summarize, applying a 100% concentration of allochthonous pollen once is recommended when the bloom range is more than two thirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of Lentinula edode industry in China has led to the production of large amounts of waste substrates, which has brought enormous pressure to ecological environment. Thus, it is of great significance to study utilization of spent substrate. In this study, complex enzyme combined with high pressure pretreatment were applied to extract polysaccharide from spent substrate of L. edode in order to improve the utilization efficiency of its residue and explore more biological application of the polysaccharides from spent L. edodes substrate. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: complex enzyme (cellulase, xylanase, β-glucanase) ratio, 3:2:1; total amount of enzyme, 660 U·g-1; liquid/material ratio, 20 mL/g; temperature, 45 ℃; time, 6 h; The yield of purified polysaccharide (LE-UE) was 5.98% and the content was 51.60%. LE-UE could markedly improve inflammatory damage of LPS-induced macrophages RAW264.7 by inhibiting release of NO and secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Animal experiments showed that LE-UE could markedly improve the histopathological damage and inflammation in ulcerative colitis mice by regulating the level of oxidative stress, and reduce the release of inflammatory cytokines by down-regulating mRNA expression and proteins levels. Therefore, LE-UE has anti-inflammatory activity and may be used as a novel anti-inflammatory agent for treatment. This study could provide scientific evidence for the high-value utilization of spent substrates and also provide theoretical basis for the development of functional feed additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia oleifera is a woody oil crop with the highest oil yield and the largest cultivation area in China, and C. oleifera seed oil is a high-quality edible oil recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The objectives of this study were to investigate the variation in fruit yield traits and seed chemical compositions of wild C. oleifera in China and to identify the differences between wild C. oleifera and cultivated varieties. In this study, we collected wild C. oleifera samples from 13 sites covering the main distribution areas of wild C. oleifera to comprehensively evaluate 25 quantitative traits of wild C. oleifera fruit and seed chemical compositions and collected data of 10 quantitative traits from 434 cultivated varieties for a comparative analysis of the differences between wild and cultivars. The results showed that the coefficients of variation of the 25 quantitative traits of wild C. oleifera ranged from 2.605% to 156.641%, with an average of 38.569%. The phenotypic differentiation coefficients ranged from 25.003% to 99.911%, with an average of 77.894%. The Shannon–Wiener index (H') ranged from 0.195 to 1.681. Based on the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and phenotypic differentiation coefficients, 10 traits differed significantly between wild C. oleifera and cultivated varieties, while the differentiation coefficients (VST) for fresh fruit weight, oleic acid, unsaturated fatty acids, stearic acid, and saturated fatty acids were more than 95%, of which fresh fruit weight and oleic acid content were potential domestication traits of C. oleifera. The results of this study can contribute to the efficient excavation and utilization of wild C. oleifera genetic resources for C. oleifera breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia ludlowii (PL) and oil-producing peony (OP) are unique peony species in China. Due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acids in PL seeds, it can be used as a new resource for OP. In this study, 137 compounds were identified in PL seeds in qualitative analysis by UPLC-Q-TOF–MS/MS, including flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acid esters, phenolic acids, etc. Except for 5 fatty acids, the other components were first reported in the literature of PL. There were 26 components exist only in seed kernel, 21 components exist only in seed coat, and 90 components exist both in seed kernel and coat. 35 of 61 differential components were first reported in the peony literature, and these components were identified in the chemical difference analysis between seed kernel and coat of PL, seed kernel of PL and OP, and seed coat of PL and OP. Quantitative analysis manifested that the weight of palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid accounted for 60.7% in the seed kernel of PL, while the average content in that of OP was 46.7%. Among them, the content of linolenic acid was about 3 times higher. This study further clarified the material basis of PL seeds, and also analyzed the chemical differences between the seeds of PL and OP. It was confirmed from the chemical level that the seed oil in PL was better than that in OP. The results of this study laid a solid foundation for the subsequent development of new products of PL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw return (SR) has been widely recommended as a conservation agricultural practice in China. However, the effects of SR on crop yield and soil properties are inconsistent across studies of rice–oilseed rape cropping systems in China. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SR on crop yield and soil nutrient content in a rice–oilseed rotation system, and to understand the mechanism of straw return on the difference in yield increases between rice and oilseed rape. Additionally, suitable climate factors, soil properties, and agricultural practices were identified to achieve maximum increases in yield and soil nutrients in a rice–oilseed rotation under SR. This paper is based on a meta-analysis of 1322 observations from 83 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the effects of climate, initial soil conditions, and agricultural management practices on rice and oilseed rape yields and soil nutrients under SR. The results showed that the responses of oilseed rape and rice yield remained positive, with 12.37% and 6.54% increases, and were significantly higher under SR than the control (no SR). Moreover, SR significantly increased the contents of several soil nutrients (soil organic carbon (SOC), total nutrients, available nutrients) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN). Interestingly, the increase in crop yields was attributed to the increase in SOC, total nitrogen, and available potassium. Additionally, the increase in yields was mainly affected by climate factors, initial soil properties, and agronomic practices. For example, both mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) had a positive correlation with crop yield increases under SR (p < 0.01). Initial soil conditions such as low SOC and total nitrogen content were more suitable for increased rice yield under SR, while the opposite was true for increased oilseed rape yield. Without fertilization, the SR did not significantly improve crop yield and soil nutrients, while it was more pronounced with N fertilization at 150–180 kg hm−2. The positive effect of SR on crop yields is more evident with plowing tillage, whereas the SR caused the highest increase in soil nutrients with the no-tillage condition. These findings have important implications for further improving crop yield, SOC, and soil nutrients in the Chinese rice–oilseed cropping system through straw return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the self-sufficiency rate of domestic vegetable oil is still low. As an important oil crop in China, rapeseed contributes to nearly 50% of the oil production of domestic oil crops, and it plays a vital role in ensuring national edible oil supply security. Since the "No. 1 central document" for 2012 first proposed the comprehensive deployment of agricultural science and technology strategy, the rapeseed industry has made great progress with scientific and technological support. The "No. 1 central document" for 2023 clearly proposes to further promote the soybean and oilseed production capacity improvement project, take coordinated steps to support the rapeseed industry, promote rice-oil rotation, and vigorously develop winter idle fields. This paper systematically figured the development status of rapeseed industry from 2012 to 2022, summarized the scientific and technological progress within this sector, and analysed the current challenges and prospects. Finally, policy suggestions were put forward to support the sustainable development of rapeseed industry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seeds of various Trichosanthes L. plants have been frequently used as snacks instead of for traditional medicinal purposes in China. However, there is still a need to identify the species based on seeds from Trichosanthes germplasm for the potential biological activities of their seed oil. In this study, 18 edible Trichosanthes germplasm from three species were identified and distinguished at a species level using a combination of seed morphological and microscopic characteristics and nrDNA-ITS sequences. Seed oil from the edible Trichosanthes germplasm significantly enhanced oxidative stress tolerance, extended lifespan, delayed aging, and improved healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans. The antioxidant activity of the seed oil exhibits a significant positive correlation with its total unsaturated fatty acid content among the 18 edible Trichosanthes germplasm, suggesting a genetic basis for this trait. The biological activities of seed oil varied among species, with T. kirilowii Maxim. and T. rosthornii Harms showing stronger effects than T. laceribractea Hayata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil C and N input drives microbial biomass in paddy-upland rotations. We explored how crop straw return impacts microbial C and N (MBC and MBN) dynamics and their role in rice-oilseed rape rotations at three sites in Hubei Province, China. These sites, under a subtropical monsoon climate, were categorized (using the modified Nemoro equation) as high, moderate and low soil fertility respectively. We found that with straw return, total nitrogen (TN) and soil organic carbon (SOC) increased to the greatest degree in the high fertility soils. Notably, soil MBC and MBN levels varied with soil fertility and were seasonably dependent, being lower in the rice season compared to the oilseed rape season. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed diminishing effects of MBC and MBN on soil N accumulation during the oilseed rape season compared to the rice season. In summary, our results highlight the role that microbial biomass can play in C and N accumulation as a soil fertility indicator in paddy-upland rotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Predatory spider and epigaeic beetle assemblages are major natural enemies (NEs) in agricultural ecosystems. The effects of non-crop natural habitats in supporting predatory NEs are well known for summer crop systems; however, limited attention has been given to summer–winter crop rotation transaction systems and during overwintering periods, especially in small-scale farmland systems. Here, we examine the effect of winter planting regimes and landscape composition on the species diversity and functional diversity of ground predators (spiders and carabids) in eight gradient landscape sites in southern China over two consecutive winters (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). Our work reveal that the spiders were more abundant and had a higher activity density in fallow rice fields (FRs) than oilseed rape fields (OSRs); however, the ground beetles were more abundant in OSRs than that in FRs. The composition of spider assemblages was impacted by semi-natural habitats (SNHs) during overwintering, while ground beetle assemblages were influenced mainly by overwintering planting patterns. The results suggest that different planting regimes and SNHs are a strategic way to enhance these ground predators. To conserve and improve predator diversity during overwintering, we suggest maintaining a diversity of planting regimes and conserving local semi-natural habitats. The rotation patterns of summer rice–winter oil seed rape and summer rice–winter fallow are the main planting regimes in the rice ecosystem in southern China. However, the impact of local rotation patterns and landscape factors on the overwintering conservation of predators in spider and epigaeic beetle assemblages remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the diversity and density of spiders and beetles over two consecutive winters (2019/2020 and 2020/2021), focusing on the impact of two rotation patterns (rice–fallow and rice–oilseed rape) and surrounding landscape compositions on predator diversity. The main findings of our research were that spiders were more abundant and had a higher activity density in the fallow rice fields (FRs) compared to the oilseed rape fields (OSRs), whereas ground beetles exhibited the opposite pattern. Specifically, fallow rice fields supported small and ballooning spiders (e.g., dominant spider: Ummeliata insecticeps), while OSRs supported larger ground beetles (e.g., dominant beetles: Agonum chalcomus and Pterostichus liodactylus). Moreover, the composition of spider assemblages were impacted by semi-natural habitats (SNHs) during overwintering, while ground beetle assemblages were influenced by overwinter planting patterns. Overall, our results suggest that different planting regimes and preserving semi-natural habitats are a strategic way to enhance species diversity and functional diversity of ground predators. It is, therefore, recommended that to conserve and improve predator diversity during overwintering, land managers and farmers should aim to maintain diverse planting regimes and conserve local semi-natural habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linolenic acid (LA) has poor oxidative stability since it is a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Soybean oil has a high LA content and thus has poor oxidative stability. To identify candidate genes that affect the linolenic acid (LA) content in soybean seeds, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed with 1,060 soybean cultivars collected in China between 2019-2021 and which LA content was measured using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF IMS). A candidate gene, GmWRI14, encoding an APETALA2 (AP2)-type transcription factor, was detected by GWAS in cultivars from all three study years. Multiple sequence alignments showed that GmWRI14 belongs to the plant WRI1 family. The fatty acid contents of different soybean lines were evaluated in transgenic lines with a copy of GmWRI14, control lines without GmWRI14, and the gmwri14 mutant. MALDI-TOF IMS revealed that GmWRI14 transgenic soybeans had a lower LA content with a significant effect on seed size and shape, whereas gmwri14 mutants had a higher LA content. compared to control. The RNA-seq results showed that GmWRI14 suppresses GmFAD3s (GmFAD3B and GmFAD3C) and GmbZIP54 expression in soybean seeds, leading to decreased LA content. Based on the RNA-seq data, yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and qRT-PCR were performed to confirm the transcriptional regulation of FAD3s by GmWRI14. Our results suggest that FAD3 is indirectly regulated by GmWRI14, representing a new molecular mechanism of fatty acid biosynthesis, in which GmWRI14 regulates LA content in soybean seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is an important economic crop in the world, which provides plant protein, oil and a variety of active substances beneficial to human health. In order to comprehensively identify the quality characters of soybean resources abundant in China, 16 kinds of seed quality traits of 520 soybean germplasms in Huang-Huai-Hai ecoregion were evaluated in 6 environments across 2 years with reference to the national standard method. The results showed that the genetic variations of the tested seed quality traits were abundant in the soybean germplasms, and the variation coefficients of isoflavone and tocopherol contents were relative high, while the variation coefficients of protein, oil and fatty acid components were relatively low. Meanwhile, there were significant correlations among the 16 seed quality traits. Principal component analysis showed that the 16 quality traits could be attributed to 5 principal components. Based on the results of principal component analysis, 520 germplasms could be divided into 3 categories by cluster analysis with significant differences. Based on the above results and high stability coefficient analysis, 35 germplasms with multiple or single elite seed quality traits were screened out, which provided important resources for genetic improvement of seed quality traits in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is one of the most important oil crops in China. Improving the oil production of rapeseed is an important way to ensure the safety of edible oil in China. Oil production is an important index that reflects the quality of rapeseed and is determined by the oil content and yield. Applying nitrogen is an important way to ensure a strong and stable yield. However, the seed oil content has been shown to be reduced in most rapeseed varieties after nitrogen application. Thus, it is critical to screen elite germplasm resources with stable or improved oil content under high levels of nitrogen, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the regulation by nitrogen of oil accumulation. However, few studies on these aspects have been published. In this review, we analyze the effect of nitrogen on the growth and development of rapeseed, including photosynthetic assimilation, substance distribution, and the synthesis of lipids and proteins. In this process, the expression levels of genes related to nitrogen absorption, assimilation, and transport changed after nitrogen application, which enhanced the ability of carbon and nitrogen assimilation and increased biomass, thus leading to a higher yield. After a crop enters the reproductive growth phase, photosynthates in the body are transported to the developing seed for protein and lipid synthesis. However, protein synthesis precedes lipid synthesis, and a large number of photosynthates are consumed during protein synthesis, which weakens lipid synthesis. Moreover, we suggest several research directions, especially for exploring genes involved in lipid and protein accumulation under nitrogen regulation. In this study, we summarize the effects of nitrogen at both the physiological and molecular levels, aiming to reveal the mechanisms of nitrogen regulation in oil accumulation and, thereby, provide a theoretical basis for breeding varieties with a high oil content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia oleifera (C. oleifera), one of the world's four major edible woody oil crops, has been widely planted in southern China's subtropical region for the extremely high nutritional and health benefits of its seed oil. Timing and synchronization of fruit dehiscence are critical factors influencing the oil output and quality, as well as the efficiency and cost of harvesting C. oleifera, yet they extremely lack attention. To gain an understanding of the molecular basis underlying the dehiscence of C. oleifera fruit, we sampled pericarp–replum tissues containing dehiscence zones from fruits at different developmental stages and performed time-series transcriptomic sequencing and analysis for the first time. Statistical and GO enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed that drastic transcriptional changes occurred over the last short sampling interval (4 days, 18th–22nd October), which directed functional classifications link to cell wall and cell wall macromolecule activity. WGCNA further showed that factors controlling cell wall modification, including endo-1,3;1,4-beta-D-glucanase, WAT1-like protein 37, LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase, and cellulose synthase A catalytic subunit, were identified as core members of the co-expression network of the last stage highly related modules. Furthermore, in these modules, we also noted genes that were annotated as coding for polygalacturonase and pectinesterase, two pectinases that were expected to be major players in cell separation during dehiscence. qRT-PCR further confirmed the expression profiles of these cell wall modification relating factors, which possessed a special high transcriptional abundance at the final stage. These results suggested the cell wall associated cell separation, one of the essential processes downstream of fruit dehiscence, happened in dehiscing fruit of C. oleifera during ripening. Hydrolases acting on cell wall components are good candidates for signal mediating dehiscence of C. oleifera fruit. In conclusion, our analysis provided insights into the cell wall macromolecule-mediated fruit dehiscence during ripening in C. oleifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fertilizers could be useful for agricultural sustainability. Therefore, this study explored green cultivation techniques to improve the grain yield of oilseed flax in dry areas of the Loess Plateau of China. With no fertilization (CK) as the control, the effects of sheep manure (S1: 12.5 t ha−1; S2: 25 t ha−1), poultry manure (C1: 5.8 t ha−1; C2: 11.6 t ha−1), and chemical fertilizers (F1: N 112 kg ha−1, P 75 kg ha−1, K 67.5 kg ha−1; F2: N 225 kg ha−1, P 150 kg ha−1, K 135 kg ha−1) on the growth and development, the grain filling characteristics, and the yield of the Zhangya 2 oilseed flax (Linum usitatisimum L.) variety were compared and analyzed based on a two-factor split plot experiment. The results showed that the application of manure significantly increased the emergence rate (ER) of oilseed flax. Poultry manure increased plant height while sheep manure increased stem diameter. The dry matter production was higher in the 25 t ha−1 sheep manure treatment by 2.47–40.11% compared with that of the other treatments, and it promoted the distribution ratio of dry matter to grains after anthesis. The observed relationship was in accordance with that presented by the logistic equation between grain weight and days after anthesis, and there were significant positive correlations between the 1000-grain weight and the average filling rate (V-ave), the maximum filling rate (V-max), and the growth at the maximum filling rate (W-max). The application of organic manure accelerated the grain filling rate (GFR); under the treatment with 25 t ha−1 sheep manure, V-ave, V-max, and W-max increased by 4.84–22.72%, 1.16–17.54%, and 4.58–22.63%, respectively, and the grain yield and the net income per unit area increased by 6.35–39.25% and 3.04–95.07%, respectively, compared with those under the other treatments. Consequently, the treatment with 25 t ha−1 sheep manure can significantly promote the growth and development of oilseed flax plants, optimize the grain filling characteristics, and increase the grain yield and net income, making it a suitable fertilization technique for oilseed flax in dry areas of the Loess Plateau of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Tree peony is a unique oil plant resource in China, and tree peony seed oil is one of the healthy edible oils with a very promising future. However, the main oil tree peony cultivars promoted in China are Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan' and Paeonia rockii. In order to explore new oil tree peony cultivars, 68 tree peony cultivars were investigated and cultivars with oil potential were selected by cluster analysis and grey relational analysis (GRA) in this study. The results demonstrated that the 68 cultivars varied significantly in terms of agronomic characteristics (p < 0.05), with the coefficient of variation in seed yield per plant reaching a high of 75.36%. The oil content of 46 cultivars was higher than 'Fengdan' (20.87 ± 0.26%) and 'Zibanbai' (21.24 ± 1.01%), while the alpha-linolenic acids and total unsaturated fatty acid contents of 26 cultivars were higher than 'Fengdan' (39.79 ± 1.13% and 88.99 ± 0.47%) and 'Zibanbai' (40.51 ± 0.09% and 93.59 ± 0.09%). Finally, three cultivars with better integrated traits were selected by cluster analysis and grey relational analysis (GRA), comprising of 'Changshoule', 'Xianchizhenghui', and 'Yupantuojin'. The contents of alpha-linolenic acids and total unsaturated fatty acids in 'Changshoule' (47.98 ± 0.17% and 93.60 ± 0.08%), 'Xianchizhenghui' (49.44 ± 0.63% and 93.80 ± 0.06%), and 'Yupantuojin' (40.46 ± 0.26% and 93.58 ± 0.06%) were higher than that of 'Fengdan' (39.79 ± 1.13% and 88.99 ± 0.47%). In general, these cultivars can be used as hybrid parental materials for breeding new excellent oil tree peony cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Seed oil not only provides energy for seed postgermination development but also provides essential nutrients and raw materials for human products. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanism controlling seed oil accumulation remains largely unknown. Tree peony (Paeonia rockii) is an emerging woody oilseed crop in China that is known for its high‐quality seed oil. Here, we revealed that a tree peony nuclear factor Y transcription factor, PrNF‐YC2, is expressed predominantly in developing seeds and functions as an essential positive regulator of seed oil accumulation. PrNF‐YC2 promoted oil accumulation in both transient ectopic overexpression Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and stable transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, globally upregulating the expression of genes involved in oil accumulation. In contrast, PrNF‐YC2‐silenced tree peony leaves using a virus‐induced gene silencing system showed reduced oil content and expression of oil synthesis‐related genes, including four master positive regulators contributing to oil accumulation, namely, LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and WRINKLED1 (WRI1). We demonstrated that PrNF‐YC2 directly activates PrLEC1 and PrABI3 alone and indirectly activates PrFUS3 and PrWRI1 by interacting with PrLEC1. Moreover, interaction with PrLEC1 also enhances the activation capacity of PrNF‐YC2. The activation of these four master positive regulators by PrNF‐YC2 triggered the upregulation of numerous oil synthesis‐related genes, thus promoting oil accumulation. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanism of seed oil accumulation and manipulation of PrNF‐YC2 may be beneficial for enhancing oil yield in tree peony and other oilseed crops. Significance Statement: We show that the tree peony NF‐Y transcriptional factor PrNF‐YC2 directly activates PrLEC1 and PrABI3 alone and indirectly activates PrFUS3 and PrWRI1 by recruiting PrLEC1, thus plays an essential role in seed oil accumulation. To our knowledge, this study demonstrates for the first time that NF‐YC transcription factor is a major gene that regulates seed oil accumulation via dual modes. This study also enriches our knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of LEC1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia seed oil is a top-end quality of cooking oil in China. The oil quality and quantity are formed during seed maturation and desiccation. So far, it remains largely unresolved whether lipid degradation occurs and contributes to Camellia oil traits. In this study, three different Camellia germplasms, C. oleifera cv. Min 43 (M43), C. meiocarpa var. Qingguo (QG), and C. meiocarpa cv Hongguo (HG) were selected, their seed oil contents and compositions were quantified across different stages of seed desiccation. We found that at the late stage of desiccation, M43 and QG lost a significant portion of seed oil, while such an event was not observed in HG. To explore the molecular bases for the oil loss In M43, the transcriptomic profiling of M43 and HG was performed at the early and the late seed desiccation, respectively, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the lipid metabolic pathway were identified and analyzed. Our data demonstrated that different Camellia species have diverse mechanisms to regulate seed oil accumulation and degradation, and that triacylglycerol-to-terpenoid conversion could account for the oil loss in M43 during late seed desiccation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acer truncatum Bunge is a versatile, oil-producing, woody tree natively and widely distributed in northern China. In 2011, The People's Republic of China's Ministry of Health certified Acer truncatum seed oil (Aoil) as a new food resource. Unsaturated fatty acids account for up to 92% of the entire Aoil. When Aoil is processed or stored, it can easily oxidize. In this study, the effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract on the oxidation stability of Aoil were analysed from multiple angles. The results of radical scavenging ability, malondialdehyde, and free fatty acid reveal that rosemary crude extract (RCE), rosmarinic acid (RA), and carnosic acid (CA) can significantly inhibit the oxidation of Aoil, and CA has the best oxidative stability for Aoil among the tested components of the crude rosemary. The delayed oxidation ability of CA for Aoil was slightly weaker than that of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), but stronger than that of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and α-tocopherol (α-T), which was confirmed by microstructures, kinematic viscosity, Aoil weight change, and functional group. Additionally, CA-enriched Aoil had the smallest content of volatile lipid oxidation products. Moreover, lecithin-CA particles were added to enhance the oxidative stability of Aoil. These findings show that CA is a potent antioxidant, capable of successfully preventing Aoil oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia) is a species of deciduous tree that is native to Northern and Central China, including Loess Plateau. The yellowhorn tree is a hardy plant, tolerating a wide range of growing conditions, and is often grown for ornamental purposes in parks, gardens, and other landscaped areas. The seeds of yellowhorn are edible and contain rich oil and fatty acid contents, making it an ideal plant for oil production. However, the mechanism of its ability to adapt to extreme environments and the genetic basis of oil synthesis remains to be elucidated. In this study, we reported a high-quality and near gap-less yellowhorn genome assembly, containing the highest genome continuity with a contig N50 of 32.5 Mb. Comparative genomics analysis showed that 1,237 and 231 gene families under expansion and the yellowhorn-specific gene family NBARC were enriched in photosynthesis and root cap development, which may contribute to the environmental adaption and abiotic stress resistance of yellowhorn. A 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (KAT) gene (Xso_LG02_00600) was identified under positive selection, which may be associated with variations of seed oil content among different yellowhorn cultivars. This study provided insights into environmental adaptation and seed oil content variations of yellowhorn to accelerate its genetic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer among the middle-aged and elderly is gradually increasing in China. Colonoscopy is an effective method for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, and bowel preparation is one of many important factors affecting colonoscopy. Although there are many studies on intestinal cleansers, the results are not ideal. There is evidence that hemp seed oil has certain potential effects in intestinal cleansing, but prospective studies on this topic are still lacking. Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, single-center clinical study. We randomly assigned 690 participants to groups each administered 3 L of polyethylene glycol (PEG), 30 mL of hemp seed oil and 2 L of PEG, or 30 mL of hempseed oil, 2 L of PEG, and 1000 mL of 5% sugar brine. The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale was considered the primary outcome measure. We evaluated the interval between consumption of bowel preparation and first bowel movement. Secondary indicators included the time of cecal intubation, detection rate of polyps and adenomas, willingness to repeat the same bowel preparation, whether the protocol was tolerated, and whether there were adverse reactions during bowel preparation and were evaluated after counting the total number of bowel movements. Discussion: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that hemp seed oil (30 mL) increases the quality of bowel preparation and reduces the amount of PEG. Previously, we found that its combination with 5% sugar brine can reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200057626. Prospectively registered on March 15, 2022 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This program aimed to reveal the association of feed intrinsic molecular structure with nutrient supply to animals from canola feedstocks and co-products from bio-oil processing. The special objective of this study was to quantify the relationship between molecular spectral feature and nutrient availability and develop nutrient prediction equation with vibrational molecular structure spectral profiles. Methods: The samples of feedstock (canola oil seeds) and co-products (meals and pellets) from different bio-oil processing plants in Canada (CA) and China (CH) were submitted to this molecular spectroscopic technique and their protein and carbohydrate related molecular spectral features were associated with the nutritional results obtained through the conventional methods of analyses for chemical and nutrient profiles, rumen degradable and intestinal digestible parameters. Results: The results showed that the spectral structural carbohydrates spectral peak area (ca. 1,487.8 to 1,190.8 cm–1) was the carbohydrate structure that was most significant when related to various carbohydrate parameters of canola meals (p<0.05, r>0.50). And spectral total carbohydrate area (ca. 1,198.5 to 934.3 cm–1) was most significant when studying the various carbohydrate parameters of canola seeds (p<0.05, r>0.50). The spectral amide structures (ca. 1,721.2 to 1,480.1 cm–1) were related to a few chemical and nutrient profiles, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) fractions, truly absorbable nutrient supply based on the Dutch protein system (DVE/OEB), and NRC systems, and intestinal in vitro protein-related parameters in co-products (canola meals). Besides the spectral amide structures, α-helix height (ca. 1,650.8 to 1,643.1 cm–1) and β-sheet height (ca. 1,633.4 to 1,625.7 cm–1), and the ratio between them have shown to be related to many protein-related parameters in feedstock (canola oil seeds). Multiregression analysis resulted in moderate to high R2 values for some protein related equations for feedstock (canola seeds). Protein related equations for canola meals and carbohydrate related equations for canola meals and seeds resulted in weak R2 and low p values (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy vibrational molecular spectroscopy can be a useful resource to predict carbohydrate and protein-relates nutritional aspects of canola seeds and meals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) Barkl.), a significant economic tree species in China, can be availed in the wax/oil industry as its seeds residues contain 43 wt% of amino acids. Films based on Lacquer tree seeds residues protein (LSP) were prepared with casting method and characterized to evaluate the probability of the new protein resource for industry. Besides, chitosan (CH) can help enhance the LSP film performance as an additive. The films' mechanical properties, antibacterial activity and water vapor permeability were measured by tensile strength and elongation at breaking, inhibition zone test, and bottle weighting method, respectively, while Fourier transform infrared spectrum, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the structure of films. The differences among films were evaluated by the variance analysis via Duncan's multiple range tests. As a result, CH improved the film-forming, water resistance, and mechanical properties of LSP films. CH fused well with LSP to form an agglomerated structure when the mass fraction of CH was over 50%. In addition, the film containing 75 wt% CH and 25 wt% LSP showed higher water resistance and elongation at breaking than 100% CH film. All of the LSP composition films inhibited the growth of S. aureus. However, the composite films showed lower toughness than the carbohydrate film due to the phase separation of the two polymers. LSP-based films showed high application potential for inner packaging due to their outstanding properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lindera glauca with rich resource and fruit oil has emerged as novel source of biodiesel in China, but different germplasms show a variation for fruit oil content and FA profile. To develop L. glauca fruit oils as biodiesel, a concurrent exploration of oil content, FA composition, biodiesel yield, fuel property and prediction model construction was conducted on the fruits from 8 plus germplasms to select superior genotype for ideal biodiesel production. Another vital focus was to highlight mechanism that govern the differences in oil content and FA profile of different germplasms. The cross-accessions comparisons associated with oil-synthesized gene transcriptional level and oil accumulative amount led to the identification of potential determinants (enzymes, transporters or transcription factors) and regulatory mechanisms responsible for high-quality oil accumulation. Results: To select superior germplasm and unravel regulatory mechanism of high oil production for developing L. glauca fruit oils as biodiesel, 8 plus trees (accession LG01/02/03/04/05/06/07/08) with high-yield fruits were selected to evaluate the differences in oil content, FA profile, biodiesel yield and fuel property, and to construct fuel property prediction model, revealing a variation in the levels of fruit oil (45.12–60.95%), monounsaturated FA (52.43–78.46%) and polyunsaturated FA (17.69–38.73%), and biodiesel yield (80.12–98.71%) across different accessions. Of note, LG06 had a maximum yield of oil (60.95%) and biodiesel (98.71%), and ideal proportions of C18:1 (77.89%), C18:2 (14.16%) and C18:3 (1.55%), indicating that fruit oils from accession LG06 was the most suitable for high-quality biodiesel production. To highlight molecular mechanism that govern such differences in oil content and FA composition of different accessions, the quantitative relationship between oil-synthesized gene transcription and oil accumulative amount were conducted on different accessions to identify some vital determinants (enzymes, transporters or transcription factors) with a model of carbon metabolic regulatory for high-quality oil accumulation by an integrated analysis of our recent transcriptome data and qRT-PCR detection. Our findings may present strategies for developing L. glauca fruit oils as biodiesel feedstock and engineering its oil accumulation. Conclusions: This is the first report on the cross-accessions evaluations of L. glauca fruit oils to determine ideal accession for producing ideal biodiesel, and the associations of oil accumulative amount with oil-synthesized gene transcription was performed to identify some crucial determinants (enzymes, transporters or transcription factors) with metabolic regulation model established for governing high oil production. Our finding may provide molecular basis for new strategies of developing biodiesel resource and engineering oil accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red-flowered oil-tea camellia (ROC) is an important woody oil species growing in the south, and its oil has high nutritional value. There are four main species of ROC in China, namely, Camellia chekiangoleosa (CCH), Camellia polyodonta (CPO), Camellia semiserrata (CSE) and Camellia reticulata (CRE). Reports on the comprehensive comparative analysis of ROC are limited. This study investigated the fruit characteristics and nutritional components of four ROC fruits, and the results showed that ROC had high oil content with levels of 39.13%–58.84%, especially the CCH fruit, which reached 53.6–58.84%. The contents of lipid concomitants of ROC oil were also substantial, including β-amyrin (0.87 mg/g–1.41 mg/g), squalene (0.43 mg/g–0.69 mg/g), β-sitosterin (0.47 mg/g–0.63 mg/g) and α-tocopherol (177.52 μg/g–352.27 μg/g). Moreover, the transverse diameter(TD)/longitudinal diameter (LD) of fruits showed a significant positive correlation with the oil content, and ROC fruits with thinner peels seemed to have better oil quality, which is similar to the result of the oil quality evaluation obtained by the gray correlation coefficient evaluation method. Four ROC oils were evaluated using the gray correlation coefficient method based on 11 indicators related to the nutritional value of ROC. CCH oil had the highest score of 0.8365, and YS-2 (a clone of CCH) was further evaluated as the best CCH oil. Finally, the results of heatmap analysis showed that triglycerides could be used as a characteristic substance to distinguish CCH oil from the other three ROC oils. The PLSDA (Partial least squares regression analysis) model and VIP (Variable important in projection) values further showed that P/S/O, P/O/O, P/L/L, P/L/Ln, S/S/O, S/O/O and P/S/S (these all represent abbreviations for fatty acids) could be used as characteristic differential triglycerides among the four ROC oils. This study provides a convenient way for planters to assess the nutritional quality of seed oil depending on fruit morphology and a potential way to distinguish between various ROC oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Orychophragmus in the Brassicaceae family includes the types with 2n = 20, 22, 24, and 48. The species O. violaceus (L.) O. E. Schulz has 2n = 24 and is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in China. This review summarizes the research progress of its genome structure and evolution in the context of cytogenetics and genome sequencing. This species has a large genome size of ~1 Gb and longer chromosomes than those of Brassica species, which is attributable to the burst of TE insertions. Even more, one tetraploidization event from about 600–800 million years ago is elucidated to occur during its genome evolution, which is consistent with the polyploidy nature of its genome revealed by the meiotic pairing patterns. Its chromosomes are still characterized by a larger size and deeper staining than those from Brassica species in their intergeneric hybrids, which is likely related to their inherent differences between genome structures and cytology. Its genome is dissected by the development of additional alien lines, and some traits are located on individual chromosomes. Due to the abundant dihydroxy fatty acids in its seed oil with superior lubricant properties and wide environmental adaptations, this plant promises to be utilized as one new oil crop in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a unique traditional vegetable oil in China, camellia seed oil has very high edible value. Camellia seed kernel is mainly composed of fatty acids, which not only determines the oil yield of camellia seed, but also exert an important impact on the storage performance of camellia seed. In order to quickly and accurately determine the fatty acid content of camellia seed, this paper took camellia seed as the research object, used hyperspectral technology to determine the fatty acid content of camellia seed, and establishes a spectral model. 8 pretreatment methods, such as Savitzky-Golay smoothing, normalization, baseline correction, multivariate scattering correction, standard normal variable transformation, detrending algorithm, first derivative and second derivative, were adopted in this paper. The spectral prediction model of fatty acid content in camellia seed was established by combining 4 modeling methods: principal components regression (PCR), partial least square regression (PLSR), back propagation neural network (BP), radial basis function neural network (RBF). The optimal prediction model was selected by comparing the coefficient of determination (R²) and root mean square error (RMSE) of various models. The results showed that the spectral sensitive bands with high correlation coefficients (r) were 410-420 nm, 450- 460 nm, 490-510 nm, 545-580 nm, 845-870 nm and 905-925 nm, respectively. The r obtained by MSC pretreatment of spectral data was the largest. The data obtained by 8 different pretreatment methods combined with RBF neural network model was the best, in which the average value of coefficient of determination (RC²) in the calibration set was 0.8654, and the root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) was 0.0777; the average value of coefficient of determination (RP²) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) in the prediction set model were 0.8437 and 0.0827, respectively. It could be seen that the best accuracy could be achieved by MSC pretreatment combined with RBF neural network modeling. This paper can provide reference for rapid nondestructive detection of fatty acid content in camellia seed by hyperspectral technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blackleg (Phoma) disease, caused by the ascomycete fungi Plenodomus biglobosus and P. lingam, threatens oilseed rape (OSR; Brassica napus) crops internationally. In many parts of the world, both species co-occur, but in China only P. biglobosus has so far been reported. Plenodomus biglobosus reproduces asexually (pycnidiospores), but also sexually (pseudothecia-yielding ascospores), via a heterothallic mating system requiring MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genotypes. However, the roles of airborne ascospore inoculum in driving blackleg disease outbreaks in China are less well understood compared to elsewhere in the world. This is despite the very different agronomic cropping practices in parts of China, in which paddy rice and OSR are often grown in rotation; OSR stubble is often submerged under water for long periods potentially affecting pseudothecial development. Here, we indirectly investigate the potential role of sexual reproduction by developing new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based mating-type diagnostics for P. biglobosus and subsequently screening an international collection of 59 European and 157 Chinese isolates. Overall, in both Europe and China, P. biglobosus mating types did not deviate from a 1:1 ratio, such as is generally thought to occur under frequency-dependent selection in sexually reproducing pathogen populations. Both mating types were balanced in all the individual European countries tested (Austria, France, Poland, UK). Conversely, in China, mating types were only balanced in the eastern region; in the northern and southwestern regions there were skewed ratios, more typical of predominantly asexual reproduction, towards MAT1-1 and MAT1-2, respectively. The implications of these findings and future research directions for improved understanding of P. biglobosus epidemiology on OSR, particularly in China, are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The massive citrus seed waste provides a new approach to the shortage of edible oils in China. In this study, the physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity of 12 citrus seed oils from China were determined, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilisation of citrus seed oil. Results show most of the citrus seeds had a high oil content (28.3%–41.4%), with 2.6% in Zhi (Poncirus trifoliata). The crude oil extracted from the seeds of Dahongpao (Citrus reticulata) and Tongnanningmeng (Citrus limon) could directly meet the 'National Standard for Food Safety Vegetable Oil' (GB 2716‐2018). With total phenolic content (TPC) (62.1–2086.8 μg GAE g−1 DW), total flavonoid content (TFC) (59.6–2275.3 μg RE g−1) and total carotenoid content (TCC) (37.4–896.6 μg g−1), seed oil of Zhi had the highest content of bioactive substances and the strongest antioxidant capacity. The content of unsaturated fatty acids in citrus seed oil ranged from 72.4% to 82.2%, and the SFA: MUFA: PUFA ratio was closer to the recommended intake ratio of 1:1:1 by the Chinese Nutrition Society than other vegetable oils, which have higher nutritional value. Therefore, citrus seed oil is a potentially valuable oil source for healthy edible oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) is an essential tropical fruit in China. To make more rational use of its processing, byproducts and fruit seeds, and the type, composition, and relative content of lipids in pitaya seed oil were analyzed by UPLC-TOF-MS/MS. The results showed that the main fatty acids in pitaya seed oil were linoleic acid 42.78%, oleic acid 27.29%, and palmitic acid 16.66%. The ratio of saturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty acids to polyunsaturated fatty acids was close to 1:1.32:1.75. The mass spectrum behavior and fracture mechanism of four lipid components, TG 54:5|TG 18:1_18:2_18:2, were analyzed. In addition, lipids are an essential indicator for evaluating the quality of oils and fats, and 152 lipids were isolated and identified from pitaya seed oil for the first time, including 136 glycerides and 16 phospholipids. The main components of glyceride and phospholipids were triglycerides and phosphatidyl ethanol, providing essential data support for pitaya seed processing and functional product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tea oil is widely used as edible oil in China, which extracted from the seeds of Camellia oleifera. In China, the national oil-tea camellia planting area reached 4.533 million hectares, the output of oil-tea camellia seed oil was 627 000 tons, and the total output value reached 18.3 billion dollars. Anthracnose is the common disease of Ca. oleifera, which affected the production and brought huge economic losses. Colletotrichum fructicola is the dominant pathogen causing anthracnose in Ca. oleifera. The retromer complex participates in the intracellular retrograde transport of cargos from the endosome to the trans-Golgi network in eukaryotes. Vacuolar protein sorting 35 is a core part of the retromer complex. This study aimed to investigate the role of CfVps35 in C. fructicola. Results: The CfVPS35 gene was deleted, resulting in reduced mycelial growth, conidiation, and response to cell wall stresses. Further analysis revealed that CfVps35 was required for C. fructicola virulence on tea oil leaves. In addition, the ΔCfvps35 mutant was defective in glycogen metabolism and turgor during appressorium development. Conclusion: This study illustrated that the crucial functions of CfVps35 in growth, development, and pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia seed oil, extracted from the seeds of Camellia oleifera Abel., is popular in South China because of its high nutritive value and unique flavor. Nowadays, the traditional extraction methods of hot pressing extraction (HPE) and solvent extraction (SE) are contentious due to low product quality and high environmental impact. Innovative methods such as supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) and aqueous extraction (AE) are proposed to overcome the pitfalls of the traditional methods. However, they are often limited to the laboratory or pilot scale due to economic or technical bottlenecks. Optimization of extraction processes indicates the challenges in finding the optimal balance between the yield and quality of oils and phytochemicals, as well as the environmental and economic impacts. This article aims to explore recent advances and innovations related to the extraction of oils and phytochemicals from camellia seeds, and it focuses on the pretreatment and extraction processes, as well as their complex effects on nutritional and sensory qualities. We hope this review will help readers to better understand the trends, challenges, and innovations associated with the camellia industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is one of the most severe threats to brassica species in China and worldwide. Breeding for clubroot resistant varieties is one of the best ways to overcome this disease. In this study, we introduced clubroot resistance (CR) gene CRd from Chinese cabbage (85-74) into elite Brassica napus inbred line Zhongshuang 11 through interspecific hybridization and subsequent backcrossing with whole-genome molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS). The resistant test of CRd to P. brassicae isolates was evaluated in the greenhouse as well as in field conditions. Close linkage markers and the wholechromosome background marker selection approach improved the recovery rate from 78.3% in BC1 to 100% in BC3F1. The improved clubroot-resistant variety, Zhongshuang11R, was successfully selected in the BC3F2 generation. The greenhouse and field resistant tests revealed that Zhongshuang11R was resistant to P. brassicae pathotypes. The agronomic characteristics of Zhongshuang11R were similar to those of its recurrent parental line, including oil content, composition of fatty acid, plant height, primary effective branches, grain yield per plant and thousand-seed weight. In addition, the oil quality could satisfy the quality requirements for commercial rapeseed oil. Our results will enrich the resistant resources of canola and will certainly accelerate clubroot resistance breeding programs in B. napus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive method for evaluating kernel quality was established by estimating in detail the kernel quality of 27 pecan cultivars introduced into China and by exploring the major trait differences among the different cultivars of pecan. The contents of crude fat, crude protein, soluble sugar, and tannin; the fatty acid composition; the amino acid composition; and the mineral element composition of 27 pecan cultivars were analyzed and tested using the national standards for principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to comprehensively evaluate the 34 characteristic indicators. The fatty acids in the kernel were dominated by unsaturated fats, with oleic acid having the highest content relative to linoleic acid; the amino acid composition was dominated by medicinal amino acids; and potassium, magnesium, and calcium were the predominant mineral elements. Systematic cluster analysis revealed that the 27 pecan cultivars could be classified into three categories (relatively optimal, general, and poorest kernel quality) and 21 indexes, including oleic, linoleic, linolenic, crude fat, soluble sugars, aspartic acid, and threonine, served as indexes of the differences among the 27 tested cultivars. Combined with principal component analysis and stepwise regression analysis, a kernel quality evaluation model was established and verified, and reliable evaluation results were obtained. In addition, Nos. 9, 65, 66, 72, 8, and 21, which had the best quality, were further ranked using the probability ranking method within the third category of optimal quality cultivars. There were obvious differences in kernel characteristics among the different cultivars of pecan. Six cultivars with potential to be developed into excellent cultivars were preliminarily screened out. It was found that the organic combination of cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis can provide a reliable method for the quality evaluation of pecans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paddy-upland rotation and/or straw return could improve soil structure and soil nutrient availability. Different previous crops (wheat and/or oilseed rape) and straw return methods (straw mulching and/or returning) might increase soil organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) content, and further affected the ammonia (NH3) volatilization, nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) emissions. A comparison study was carried out in a located field experiment started from 2014 in Central China, aiming to exam seasonal and annual NH3, N2O, and CH4 emissions under the wheat-rice (WR) and oilseed rape-rice (OR) rotations. Three treatments were chosen, i.e., (i) no chemical N fertilizer application (PK), (ii) chemical nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium combination (NPK), and (iii) chemical NPK with straw returning (NPK+St). We found that after 3 years of cultivation, treatment with straw return increased soil total N content and organic C by 15.57% and 17.11% on average as compared with the NPK treatment, respectively. Straw return did not generate additional NH3 and N2O losses during the rice season after improving soil fertility. However, CH4 emissions increased by 45.35% on average after straw return in summer. In winter, straw return increased NH3, N2O, and CH4 emissions by 70.12–85.23%, 16.93–22.97%, and 7.18–9.17%, respectively. The stimulation of NH3 volatilization mainly occurred in the topdressing stage. Compared with WR rotation, OR rotation had no significant effect on NH3 and CH4 emissions, and the change of N2O emission might be related to the increase of soil C and N pools. The retention of residues in the process of straw decomposition may be the main factor leading to the difference of gas emission between the paddy-upland rotation and straw return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal process conditions of the advanced aqueous method for recovering oil and de-oiled meal from pumpkin seed kernels were: baking the kernels at 110 °C for 1 min, grinding them to pass through a sieve of 150 μm pore size, adding 1.60 ml brine to 10.00 g ground kernels, stirring for 30 min at 30 °C, centrifuging at 4000 r/min for 30 min and cold-pressing the residue from centrifugation. This method recovered > 94% oil. Its oil recovery rate was comparable to that of solvent extraction and higher than that of enzyme-assisted aqueous method or hot-pressing. It recovered edible oil with higher quality and level of coenzyme Q10, tocopherols, carotenoids, total phytosterols and squalene as compared to solvent extraction or hot-pressing and requirements of China's national standard. It is superior to enzyme-assisted aqueous method or hot-pressing for recovering de-oiled meal which is suitable for making texturized protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The phenological stages of Xanthoceras sorbifolium were established for the first time according to the BBCH scale. • Eight principal stages and forty-two secondary stages were codified and described. • It provides standardized phenological information for growers and researchers. Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge is a kind of unique oil tree species found in northern China that has high ecological, ornamental, and economic value. Its seed oil is not only a high-quality edible oil well supplied with unsaturated fatty acids but also a superior raw material for biodiesel production. In the present study, the different phenological growth stages of X. sorbifolium were characterized according to the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und CHemische Industrie (BBCH) scale. Eight principal growth stages were described for the bud, leaf and shoot development; inflorescence emergence and flowering; fruit development and maturity, together with senescence and beginning of dormancy. Meanwhile forty-two secondary growth stages were described in detail. Illustrative pictures with a codification were provided to better define and describe these phenological growth stages. Phenological records from two growing seasons were used to create a schematic representation of the principal growth stages. This study provides a beneficial reference for general orchard management, scientific research, and cultivation of new cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus seed waste material provides a new solution for addressing the shortage of edible oils in China. supercritical CO 2 fluid extraction (SFE), sub-critical butane fluid extraction (SCE), cold press (CP), soxhlet extraction (SXE), and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) were preformed to obtain Ougan (Citrus reticulata cv. Suavissima) seed oil. Ougan seed oils were tested for physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, limonoids, polyphenols, total carotenoids, tocopherols, and in vitro antioxidant activities. The results indicated that SCE Ougan seed oil has the most abundant fatty acid composition, and higher in vitro antioxidant capacity, which is mainly positively related to the polyphenol, carotenoid and tocopherol contents. Therefore, SCE may be the optimum procedure for extracting a high content of bioactive substances from Ougan seed oils, providing a theoretical foundation for developing high-quality and nutritional value Ougan seed oils. [Display omitted] • Different extraction processes have significant effects on the quality of Ougan seed oils. • The composition of fatty acids in SCE Ougan seed oil is more abundant. • SCE Ougan seed oil contains higher content of bioactive substances. • SCE Ougan seed oil shows stronger antioxidant capacity. • There is a positive correlation between polyphenols, tocopherols, carotenoids and antioxidation in Ougan seed oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many higher plants, seed oil accumulation is governed by complex multilevel regulatory networks including transcriptional regulation, which primarily affects fatty acid biosynthesis. Tree peony (Paeonia rockii), a perennial deciduous shrub endemic to China is notable for its seed oil that is abundant in unsaturated fatty acids. We discovered that a tree peony trihelix transcription factor, PrASIL1, localized in the nucleus, is expressed predominantly in developing seeds during maturation. Ectopic overexpression of PrASIL1 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue and Arabidopsis thaliana seeds significantly reduced total fatty acids and altered the fatty acid composition. These changes were in turn associated with the decreased expression of multitudinous genes involved in plastidial fatty acid synthesis and oil accumulation. Thus, we inferred that PrASIL1 is a critical transcription factor that represses oil accumulation by down-regulating numerous key genes during seed oil biosynthesis. In contrary, up-regulation of oil biosynthesis genes and a significant increase in total lipids and several major fatty acids were observed in PrASIL1- silenced tree peony leaves. Together, these results provide insights into the role of trihelix transcription factor PrASIL1 in controlling seed oil accumulation. PrASIL1 can be targeted potentially for oil enhancement in tree peony and other crops through gene manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many higher plants, seed oil accumulation is governed by complex multilevel regulatory networks including transcriptional regulation, which primarily affects fatty acid biosynthesis. Tree peony (Paeonia rockii), a perennial deciduous shrub endemic to China is notable for its seed oil that is abundant in unsaturated fatty acids. We discovered that a tree peony trihelix transcription factor, PrASIL1, localized in the nucleus, is expressed predominantly in developing seeds during maturation. Ectopic overexpression of PrASIL1 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue and Arabidopsis thaliana seeds significantly reduced total fatty acids and altered the fatty acid composition. These changes were in turn associated with the decreased expression of multitudinous genes involved in plastidial fatty acid synthesis and oil accumulation. Thus, we inferred that PrASIL1 is a critical transcription factor that represses oil accumulation by down-regulating numerous key genes during seed oil biosynthesis. In contrary, up-regulation of oil biosynthesis genes and a significant increase in total lipids and several major fatty acids were observed in PrASIL1- silenced tree peony leaves. Together, these results provide insights into the role of trihelix transcription factor PrASIL1 in controlling seed oil accumulation. PrASIL1 can be targeted potentially for oil enhancement in tree peony and other crops through gene manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The oil-tea tree (Camellia oleifera Abel.) is a woody tree species that produces edible oil in the seed. C. oleifera oil has high nutritional value and is also an important raw material for medicine and cosmetics. In China, due to the uncertainty on maturity period and oil synthesis mechanism of many C. oleifera cultivars, growers may harvest fruits prematurely, which could not maximize fruit and oil yields. In this study, our objective was to explore the mechanism and differences of oil synthesis between two Camellia oleifera cultivars for a precise definition of the fruit ripening period and the selection of appropriate cultivars. Results: The results showed that 'Huashuo' had smaller fruits and seeds, lower dry seed weight and lower expression levels of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in July. We could not detect the presence of oil and oil bodies in 'Huashuo' seeds until August, and oil and oil bodies were detected in 'Huajin' seeds in July. Moreover, 'Huashuo' seeds were not completely blackened in October with up to 60.38% of water and approximately 37.98% of oil in seed kernels whose oil content was much lower than normal mature seed kernels. The oil bodies in seed endosperm cells of 'Huajin' were always higher than those of 'Huashuo' from July to October. Conclusion: Our results confirmed that C. oleifera 'Huashuo' fruits matured at a lower rate compared to 'Huajin' fruits and that 'Huajin' seeds entered the oil synthesis period earlier than 'Huashuo' seeds. Moreover, 'Huashuo' fruits did not mature during the Frost's Descent period (October 23–24 each year). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus armandi franch is a special local plant in China and its seed oil is a nice resource of linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid. This study investigated the effects of enriching the mouse diet with the ω-6 and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), LA (18:2 ω-6) and α-linolenic acid (18:3 ω-3) different ratios (ω-6/ω-3) on total lipids in Pinus armandi franch seed oil (PAFO), and immune evaluation indexes in plasma, lymph nodes, and spleen from isolated immune cells. Kunming mice were fed a commercial chow. PAFO with a certain ratio (ω-6/ω-3) could promote the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes induced by ConA in mice and the optimal ratio was 4 or 6. PAFO with different ratios (ω-6/ω-3) could increase the spleen index and thymus index and there were significant differences between PAFO group and control group (p < 0.01). The results indicate that the ratio of ω-6 PUFA: ω-3 PUFA is 4 or 6 improve some of the indices of the mice immune status and that a moderate increase in the level of ω-6 PUFA in the mice diet does not suppress the immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of sustainable development, soil degradation driven by land use change is considered a serious global problem, but the conversion from growing cereals to vegetables is a change that has received limited attention, especially in subtropical regions. Here, we studied the effects of the conversion from paddy rice to an oilseed rape rotation to vegetable production in southwestern China on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), the C/N ratio, pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) based on face-to-face farmer surveys and soil analysis. In the vegetable cropping system, fertilizer application often exceeds the crop demand or levels recommended by the local extension service several times over. Thus, the crop use efficiency of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg was only 26 %, 8 %, 56 %, 23 %, and 28 %, respectively. In the vegetable cropping system studied, SOC, C stock, TN, and N stock were decreased significantly due to low organic inputs from crop residues and high tillage frequency. Furthermore, the soil C/N ratio decreased slightly; available P (AP) in the topsoil increased by 1.92 mg kg -1 for every 100 kg ha -1 of P surplus, and the critical levels of AP and CaCl 2 -soluble P in P leaching were 104 and 0.80 mg P kg -1. Besides, compared to the current paddy–rape rotation system, a clear trend of soil acidification was observed in the vegetable fields. However, increasing the contents of soil Ca and Mg significantly alleviated topsoil acidification, with the effect increasing over time. Given our findings, the potential benefits of conservation agricultural practices, integrated soil–crop system management strategies, and agricultural technology services for recovering the degraded soil and improving the vegetable productivity are discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]