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The research is aimed to elucidate the role of plant hormones in regulating the development of hybrid embryos in Hydrangea macrophylla. Fruits from the intraspecific cross of H. macrophylla 'Otaksa' × 'Coerulea' were selected at the globular, heart, and torpedo stages of embryo development. Transcriptome sequencing and differential gene expression analysis were conducted. The results showed that fruit growth followed a single "S-shaped growth curve, with globular, heart, and torpedo embryos appearing at 30, 40, and 50 d post-pollination, respectively, and the embryo maintaining the torpedo shape from 60 to 90 d. A total of 12,933 genes was quantified across the three developmental stages, with 3359, 3803, and 3106 DEGs in the S1_vs_S2, S1_vs_S3, and S2_vs_S3 comparisons, respectively. Among these, 133 genes related to plant hormone biosynthesis and metabolism were differentially expressed, regulating the synthesis and metabolism of eight types of plant hormones, including cytokinin, auxin, gibberellin, abscisic acid, and jasmonic acid. The pathways with the most differentially expressed genes were cytokinin, auxin, and gibberellin, suggesting these hormones may play crucial roles in embryo development. In the cytokinin pathway, CKX (Hma1.2p1_0579F.1_g182670.gene, Hma1.2p1_1194F.1_g265700.gene, and NewGene_12164) genes were highly expressed during the globular embryo stage, promoting rapid cell division in the embryo. In the auxin pathway, YUC (Hma1.2p1_0271F.1_g109005.gene and Hma1.2p1_0271F.1_g109020.gene) genes were progressively up-regulated during embryo growth; the early response factor AUX/IAA (Hma1.2p1_0760F.1_g214260.gene) was down-regulated, while the later transcriptional activator ARF (NewGene_21460, NewGene_21461, and Hma1.2p1_0209F.1_g089090.gene) was up-regulated, sustaining auxin synthesis and possibly preventing the embryo from transitioning to maturity. In the gibberellin pathway, GA3ox (Hma1.2p1_0129F.1_g060100.gene) expression peaked during the heart embryo stage and then declined, while the negative regulator GA2ox (Hma1.2p1_0020F.1_g013915.gene) showed the opposite trend; and the gibberellin signaling repressor DELLA (Hma1.2p1_1054F.1_g252590.gene) increased over time, potentially inhibiting embryo development and maintaining the torpedo shape until fruit maturity. These findings preliminarily uncover the factors affecting the development of hybrid H. macrophylla embryos, laying a foundation for further research into the regulatory mechanisms of H. macrophylla hybrid embryo development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the succession of terrestrial plant communities is well studied, less is known about succession on dead wood, especially how it is affected by environmental factors. While temperate forests face increasing canopy mortality, which causes considerable changes in microclimates, it remains unclear how canopy openness affects fungal succession. Here, we used a large real-world experiment to study the effect of closed and opened canopy on treatment-based alpha and beta fungal fruiting diversity. We found increasing diversity in early and decreasing diversity at later stages of succession under both canopies, with a stronger decrease under open canopies. However, the slopes of the diversity versus time relationships did not differ significantly between canopy treatments. The community dissimilarity remained mainly stable between canopies at ca. 25% of species exclusively associated with either canopy treatment. Species exclusive in either canopy treatment showed very low number of occupied objects compared to species occurring in both treatments. Our study showed that canopy loss subtly affected fungal fruiting succession on dead wood, suggesting that most species in the local species pool are specialized or can tolerate variable conditions. Our study indicates that the fruiting of the fungal community on dead wood is resilient against the predicted increase in canopy loss in temperate forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile compounds are important determinants affecting fruit flavor. Previous study has identified a bud mutant of 'Ehime 38' (Citrus reticulata) with different volatile profile. However, the volatile changes between WT and MT during fruit development and underlying mechanism remain elusive. In this study, a total of 35 volatile compounds were identified in the pulps of WT and MT at five developmental stages. Both varieties accumulated similar and the highest levels of volatiles at stage S1, and showed a downward trend as the fruit develops. However, the total volatile contents in the pulps of MT were 1.4--2.5 folds higher than those in WT at stages S2-S5, which was mainly due to the increase in the content of d-limonene. Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that most genes in MEP pathway were positively correlated with the volatile contents, of which DXS1 might mainly contribute to the elevated volatiles accumulation in MT by increasing the flux into the MEP pathway. Moreover, temporal expression analysis indicated that these MEP pathway genes functioned at different developmental stages. This study provided comprehensive volatile metabolomics and transcriptomics characterizations of a citrus mutant during fruit development, which is valuable for fruit flavor improvement in citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives]The study aimed to identify the members of the nitrate transporter protein(NRT)gene family in Capsicum annuum,and analyze their basic properties,chromosomal location,evolutionary relationships,and expression characteristics across different tissues,developmental stages of fruits,and under various abiotic stresses. [Methods]The NRT gene family was analyzed with the bioinformatics methods in genome of ‘Zunla 1'pepper,and the physical and chemical properties of protein,the gene structure,chromosome localization,collinearity analysis,cis-acting elements and evolutionary relationship were determined. Transcriptome data were utilized to examine the expression characteristics of NRT genes in various tissues and fruits during varying developmental stages. The expression profiles were also analyzed under variant abiotic stresses using RT-qPCR. [Results]A total of 73 CaNRT genes were identified in C.annuum and unevenly distributed on 10 chromosomes. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that these genes could be grouped into three subfamilies,with a similar gene structure and conserved motifs. The cis-acting element analysis results suggested that CaNRT genes might be regulated by various factors,including light,hormones and adversity stress. Members of the CaNRT1 subfamily exhibited high expression predominantly in roots,stems,and leaves. The CaNRT2 subfamily displayed low expression at all times,while the CaNRT3 subfamily showed differential tissue expression and was primarily highly expressed in roots. The abiotic stress data showed that CaNRT1.18,CaNRT3.3,CaNRT3.1,CaNRT2.1 and CaNRT1.23 responded more strongly to low temperature,high temperature,drought,salt and oxidative treatments. All CaNRT genes exhibited a positive reaction to varying degrees under low-temperature treatment. [Conclusions]73 CaNRT genes were identified in the pepper genome,and several key genes were screened which were involved in the regulation of growth and development and response to multiple abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit development and maturation rely on intrinsic genetic programs involving hormone biosynthesis and signalling and environmental cues, integrating phenological cycles and climatic issues encompassing abiotic stresses and climate change. In persimmon trees, environmental inputs strongly influence fitness and agricultural performance, and fruit yield can be severely compromised by them. We have grown two persimmon accessions ('Rojo Brillante' and 'Fuyu') under contrasting meteorological conditions of two locations in Spain and Japan. Fruit size, colour change, and firmness parameters were followed during fruit development from 30 days after fruit set until commercial ripening, and the expression of genes related to ethylene production and signalling, gibberellin response, carotenoid biosynthesis, cell wall dynamics, and oxidative stress were reported. Genes depending on intrinsic developmental programs (ethylene and ripening variables, mostly) showed common expression trends in both cultivars and locations, whereas gibberellin and abiotic stress-related genes mimicked reduced fruit growth and abiotic stress associated with higher summer temperatures (>35 °C) and lower rainfall reported in the Spanish location. The expression pattern of these genes is consistent with a growth–defence trade-off that explains fruit differential growth through hormonal and stress tolerance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promalin (Valent BioSciences, Libertyville, IL, USA) is a proprietary mixture of gibberellin A4+7 and 6-benzyladenine that is widely used in apple production to improve the fruit shape, size, and skin quality. Promalin typically increases fruit size and length. However, the increased growth likely increases the strain in the fruit skin, which may exacerbate microcracking of the cuticle and, consequently, russeting. This study aimed to monitor the growth-stimulating effect of Promalin in three different regions of fruits and investigate whether Promalin affects cuticular microcracking via effects on the deposition of cuticular components or via the accumulation of strain in the cuticle. Four Promalin sprays (20 mg.L-1) were applied to runoff; the first was applied at full bloom, and the remaining sprays were applied at approximately weekly intervals thereafter. Fruit surface areas and fruit surface area growth rates of the Promalin-treated fruits were higher than those of the untreated control fruits. Promalin increased the fruit length, but it had no effect on the fruit equatorial diameter. In Promalin-treated fruits, the base of each sepal extended, thickened, and became fleshy as early as 15 days after full bloom (DAFB). Allometric growth analyses revealed higher constant differential growth ratios of the pedicel and calyx length (before 36 DAFB) in Promalin-treated fruits than in control fruits. After 36 DAFB, the difference in constant differential growth ratios between Promalin-treated fruits and control fruits decreased. Cuticle mass per unit area increased with time in all regions of the fruit surface and was slightly (+3.3%) but significantly higher in fruits treated with Promalin than in control fruits. Additionally, the biaxial strain release was slightly and significantly lower in Promalin-treated fruits than in control fruits. When the isolated, cuticle was ablated from the inner surface and dewaxed, strain relaxation in the control fruits was higher than that in the Promalin-treated fruits. It was concluded that Promalin treatment increases the length of the fruit by increasing the lengths of the pedicel and calyx regions early during fruit development. Promalin only slightly increased cuticle deposition and fixation of cuticular strain. Promalin had no effects on microcracking or russeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】The study aimed to solve the problem of inconsistent flowering periods in hybride production between winter rapeseed and spring rapeseed, thus providing a basis for the utilization of advantages of hybrids between winter rapeseed and spring rapeseed with strong winter hardiness in China.【Method】The strong winter rapeseed (NTS211, NTS304) and spring rapeseed (C05, C19) were used as materials. The seeds were sown in autumn (October 11th), and winter (December 10th, December 30th, January 19th, February 8th and February 28th) . The growth period, emergence rate, and reproductive performance were recorded, and the physiological and biochemical characteristics of leaves in different growth period were analyzed.【Result】The seeds sown in autumn (October 11th) emerged before winter, strong winter rapeseed could safely overwinter, while the overwintering rate of spring rapeseed was 0. The seeds sown after December 10th did not germinate during the winter period. In the early spring of the following year (March 21st to April 6th), after the temperature warmed up, the seeds began to germinate, with a germination ranging from 21.0% to 72.3%. The flowering period of winter-sown winter rapeseed was from June 21st to July 5th and July 3rd to July 20th. The flowering period of winter-sown spring rapeseed was from May 10th to May 12th and May 25th to May 30th. The flowering period of winter-sown winter rapeseed were from May 5th to May 30th. The flowering periods of autumn-sown winter rapeseed and winter-sown spring rapeseed coincided, and the longest overlap time of flowering periods between winter-sown (January 19th) spring rapeseed and autumn-sown winter rapeseed ware up to 18 days. With the delay of sowing time in winter, the flowering process of winter rapeseed was delayed, resulting in an extended growth period. However, the flowering process of spring rapeseed was advanced, leading to a shortened growth period. The fruiting performance of winter-sown winter rapeseed showed a downward trend, while the thousand-seed weight of winter-sown spring rapeseed showed an upward trend. Winter-sown winter rapeseed and spring rapeseed showed an upward trend in gibberellin content during the seedling stage, a downward trend during the bud stage, and a trend of initially increasing and subsequently decreasing during the flowering and silique stages. In the seedling stage, the auxin content of winter-sown winter rapeseed was significantly higher than that of spring rapeseed. The peroxidase activity during the bud stage was significantly higher than that in other growth stages. The content of malondialdehyde was the highest during the seedling stage, and the content of soluble protein was the highest during the flowering stage.【Conclusion】It is feasible to adjust the flowering period by sowing winter rapeseed in autumn and spring rapeseed in winter. The longest overlapping period of flowering between winter-sown spring rapeseed and autumn-sown winter rapeseed are 18 days. Winter sowing may affect the antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde, osmotic regulatory substances, and endogenous hormones in the leaves of Brassica napus, ultimately influencing its growth, development and fruiting performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like (CML) proteins play regulatory roles in plant growth and development, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and other biological processes. As a popular fruit and ornamental crop, it is important to explore the regulatory mechanism of flower and fruit development of passion fruit. Results: In this study, 32 PeCaM/PeCML genes were identified from passion fruit genome and were divided into 9 groups based on phylogenetic analysis. The structural analysis, including conserved motifs, gene structure and homologous modeling, illustrates that the PeCaM/PeCML in the same subgroup have relative conserved structural features. Collinearity analysis suggested that the expansion of the CaM/CML gene family likely took place mainly by segmental duplication, and the whole genome replication events were closely related with the rapid expansion of the gene group. PeCaM/PeCMLs were potentially required for different floral tissues development. Significantly, PeCML26 had extremely high expression levels during ovule and fruit development compared with other PeCML genes, suggesting that PeCML26 had potential functions involved in the development of passion fruit flowers and fruits. The co-presence of various cis-elements associated with growth and development, hormone responsiveness, and stress responsiveness in the promoter regions of these PeCaM/PeCMLs might contribute to their diverse regulatory roles. Furthermore, PeCaM/PeCMLs were also induced by various abiotic stresses. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the CaM/CML gene family and valuable clues for future studies on the function and evolution of CaM/CML genes in passion fruit. Conclusion: A total of 32 PeCaM/PeCML genes were divided into 9 groups. The PeCaM/PeCML genes showed differential expression patterns in floral tissues at different development stages. It is worth noting that PeCML26, which is highly homologous to AtCaM2, not only interacts with multiple BBR-BPC TFs, but also has high expression levels during ovule and fruit development, suggesting that PeCML26 had potential functions involved in the development of passion fruit flowers and fruits. This research lays the foundation for future investigations and validation of the potential function of PeCaM/PeCML genes in the growth and development of passion fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of fruit development is a complex process and a core issue in the fruit tree industry. To investigate the role of PbGIF1 in pear fruit development, we identified a transcription factor PbbHLH137 that regulates pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) fruit development by screening a yeast library constructed from fruit cDNA. Yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), and split luciferase complementation (split‐LUC) assays were performed to confirm the PbbHLH137–PbGIF1 interaction. By tracing the complete fruit development process, we found that PbbHLH137 expression was closely related to fruit size and highly involved at the late pear fruit development stage. Transgenic experiments showed that heterologous expression of PbbHLH137 or PbGIF1 promoted fruit enlargement. PbbHLH137 promoted mainly the expansion of fruit cell volume, whereas PbGIF1 mainly increased the number of cells. Further LUC experiments demonstrated that PbGIF1 promoted the transcriptional activation ability of PbbHLH137. Our work identified PbbHLH137 as a transcription factor that regulates fruit development, and showed that PbGIF1 played an ongoing role during fruit development, making it a candidate gene for genetic improvement of pear fruit development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) holds substantial economic value as a globally cultivated horticultural crop. However, the genetic architecture of watermelon fruit weight (FW) remains poorly understood. In this study, we used sh14-11 with small fruit and N14 with big fruit to construct 100 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Based on whole-genome resequencing (WGR), 218,127 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected to construct a high-quality genetic map. After quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, a candidate interval of 31–38 Mb on chromosome 2 was identified for FW. Simultaneously, the bulked segregant analysis (BSA) in the F2 population corroborated the identification of the same interval, encompassing the homologous gene linked to the known FW-related gene fas. Additionally, RNA-seq was carried out across 11 tissues from sh14-11 and N14, revealing expression profiles that identified 1695 new genes and corrected the annotation of 2941 genes. Subsequent differential expression analysis unveiled 8969 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 354 of these genes exhibiting significant differences across four key developmental stages. The integration of QTL mapping and differential expression analysis facilitated the identification of 14 FW-related genes, including annotated TGA and NAC transcription factors implicated in fruit development. This combined approach offers valuable insights into the genetic basis of FW, providing crucial resources for enhancing watermelon cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OVATE family proteins (OFPs) are a class of plant-specific proteins with a conserved OVATE domain that play fundamental roles in fruit development and plant growth. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an economically important subtropical fruit tree characterized by a diverse array of fruit shapes and sizes. Despite extensive research on OFPs across various species, there remains a scarcity of information regarding OFPs in mango. Here, we have successfully identified 25 OFP genes (MiOFPs) in mango, each of which exhibits the conserved OVATE domains. The MiOFP gene exhibit a range of 2–6 motifs, with all genes containing both motif 1 and motif 2. Phylogenetic analysis on 97 OFPs (including 18 AtOFPs, 24 SlOFPs, 25 MiOFPs, and 30 OsOFPs) indicated that MiOFPs could be divided into three main clades: clade I, II, and III. Comparative morphological analysis identified significant variations in fruit longitudinal diameter, fruit transverse diameter, and fruit shape index between two distinct shaped mango cultivars ('Hongxiangya' and 'Jingpingmang') at DAP5, DAP7, and DAP10 stages. The subsequent examination of paraffin sections revealed distinct patterns of cell elongation. The majority of MiOFP genes exhibited predominantly expressed in developing organs, specifically flowers and immature fruits, while displaying distinct expression patterns. RNA-Seq analysis revealed significant disparities in the expression levels of several OFP genes, including MiOFP5, MiOFP11, MiOFP21, MiOFP22, MiOFP23, and MiOFP25, between the two mango cultivars. These findings suggest that these six genes may play a crucial role for fruit shape in mango, especially the MiOFP22. The findings of this study have established a basis for future investigations into MiOFPs in mango, offering a solid foundation for further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researches were carried out in the spring of 2015 from the company "Agroparc Management" SRL, located in the southern part of the country. As biological research material, trees from apricot varieties were used: Wonder Cot, Magic Cot, Spring Blush, Lilly Cot, Perle Cot, Pinkcot, Sweet Cot, Orange Red, Big Red, Faralia, Kioto and Farbaly. The Orange Red variety was taken as a control. The varieties were grafted onto Mirobalan 29C rootstock. The trees formed by open vase crown type. Planting distance 5.0 x 3.0 m. The lot is not irrigated. The soil between the intervals, between the rows and between the trees in the row was maintained as black field. The atmospheric precipitation that fell in abundance in the months of April (73.6 mm) and May (46.0 mm) in the southern part of the country had a considerable impact on the quality of the fruits of the early ripening apricot varieties (Wonder Cot, Spring Blush, Magic Cot, Pinkcot). Medium and late ripening cultivars had slower fruit development due to insufficient moisture during the development period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important economic crops in the world. By controlling the transport and distribution of photosynthetic products between cells and organs, sugar transporters are widely involved in growth and development, environmental adaptation, and microbial interactions. The present study was carried out at the genome-wide level to systematically characterize sugar transporters. As a result, 50 MST, 3 SUT, and 29 SWEET genes were identified and classified. The expression pattern of sugar transporters in pepper was analyzed by transcriptomic data. The expression properties of sugar transporters were further explored in pepper varieties with significant differences in weight, shape, and pungency. It was shown that the pepper sugar transporter genes had obvious spatiotemporal specific expression characteristics and exhibited variety-specific expression preferences. We focus on analyzing candidate genes that may be involved in fruit development and expansion. We further explore the response of pepper sugar transporters to adversity stress using a structural equation model. Finally, we found that the MST, SUT, and SWEET families are collectively involved in balancing pepper resistance to abiotic stress by coordinating the expression strengths of different family members. Our study may contribute to the functional study of pepper sugar transporter genes and create the prospect of utilizing sugar transporter gene resources to improve pepper variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sapindus saponaria (soapberry) kernel is rich in oil that has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, promotes cell proliferation, cell migration, and stimulates skin wound-healing effects. S. saponaria oil has excellent lubricating properties and is a high-quality raw material for biodiesel and premium lubricants, showing great potential in industrial and medical applications. Metabolite and transcriptome analysis revealed patterns of oil accumulation and composition and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during seed development. Morphological observations of soapberry fruits at different developmental stages were conducted, and the oil content and fatty acid composition of the kernels were determined. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on kernels at 70, 100, and 130 days after flowering (DAF). The oil content of soapberry kernels was lowest at 60 DAF (5%) and peaked at 130 DAF (31%). Following soapberry fruit-ripening, the primary fatty acids in the kernels were C18:1 (oleic acid) and C18:3 (linolenic acid), accounting for an average proportion of 62% and 18%, respectively. The average contents of unsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids in the kernel were 86% and 14%, respectively. Through the dynamic changes in fatty acid composition and DEGs analysis of soapberry kernels, FATA, KCR1, ECR, FAD2 and FAD3 were identified as candidate genes contributing to a high proportion of C18:1 and C18:3, while DGAT3 emerged as a key candidate gene for TAG biosynthesis. The combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolism unveiled the molecular mechanism of oil accumulation, leading to the creation of a metabolic pathway pattern diagram for oil biosynthesis in S. saponaria kernels. The study of soapberry fruit development, kernel oil accumulation, and the molecular mechanism of oil biosynthesis holds great significance in increasing oil yield and improving oil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid degeneration of Cordyceps militaris strains during subculture represents a bottleneck problem that affects production stability. This study explored the mechanism underlying this degeneration in three production and three wild-type strains of Cordyceps militaris, isolating single-conidium strains from each. The effects of subculturing on fructification in both original and single mating-type strains were compared. Changes in the ratio of the two mating types were analyzed in both original and degenerated strains. Based on these findings, the two mating strains were paired in different ratios to determine their effects on fruiting. The resulting five strains were heterokaryotic strains with both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 mating-type genes. Strain jb-2 was a single mating type (MAT1-1) mutant strain that produced stable fruiting bodies but failed to produce ascospores. It was found that the loss of or imbalance in mating types was the main reason for the rapid degeneration of fruiting traits during subculture and that this occurred randomly in the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 types. The strains differed significantly in their stability during subculture. Fruiting was stable in the single mating-type Jb-2 strain, and the eleventh-generation fruited normally. There were differences in yield between the production and wild strains after inoculation with spawn containing different proportions of mating types. The production strain was more stable when inoculated with strains with mating-type ratios of 1:9 to 9:1 without affecting the yield. However, the yield of the wild-type strain xf-1 was positively correlated with the proportion of the MAT1-2 type, while the other two strains showed no correlations. Subculturing single mating-type mycelia separately and mixing them before production effectively mitigated degeneration during subculture. For Cordyceps militaris breeding, selecting strains containing both mating types, which are insensitive to the proportion of mating-type genes, enhanced stability in subculture and reduced the risk of mating-type loss. Direct breeding of specific single-mating type strains to induce fruiting is thus an effective breeding strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mango (Mangifera indica L.) is considered the 'King of fruits' and found to be economically important due to its excellent fruit quality, despite having good fruit quality characteristics, it is associated with production constraints such as low initial fruit set, heavy fruit drops, undersized fruit and improper fruit color development. On the other hand, bio-stimulants play an important role in improving the productivity and quality of fruits. In the present study, four biostimulants viz., jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, brassinosteroids and triacontanol, were sprayed at intervals of 70 and 90 days after anthesis at two different concentrations with four replications. Among the treatments, triacontanol @ 10 ppm (T9) showed a significant difference in yield parameters and recorded maximum average fruit weight (571.98 g), fruit length (17.53 cm), fruit diameter (92.38 cm), fruit volume (723.75 cc), pulp weight (435.91 g), pulp percentage (76.24), number of fruits (75.25), yield per tree (41.31 kg) in comparison to control. However, salicylic acid @ 150 ppm (T5) showed the highest colorimeter coordinates L*, a*, b*, C* and ho for both pulp and peel color. The study concludes the use of phytohormones enhances the fruit development and quality parameters of mango cv Mallika under the central dry zone of Karnataka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble sugars, as an indispensable source of energy, play crucial roles in plant growth and development. However, to date, scant information about the sucrose metabolism-related gene families is available in kiwifruit (Actinidia rufa Planch). Here, we systematically identified the members of various gene families encoding crucial enzymes or transporters involved in sucrose metabolism, re-analyzed their expression patterns under different fruit development stages, and determined the regulatory mechanism involving key transcription factors. A total of sixty-two genes from six gene families (thirty-one ArINVs, two ArSPPs, four ArSPSs, nine ArSUSs, six ArSUCs/SUTs, and ten ArSWEETs) were identified in the A. rufa genome. The characterization of these members, including gene structure, motifs, conserved domains, and cis-acting elements, were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these gene families could be categorized into six distinct subgroups. These six gene families have undergone strong purifying selection during domestication. In addition, expression analysis of the 62 genes indicated that differential expression patterns are highly regulated by developmental processes. Specifically, we identified 11 transcription factors that were rigorously correlated (r > 0.98) with key gene expression profiles. This represents a comprehensive analysis of the genes involved in sucrose metabolism in kiwifruit, which provides useful information for further functional analysis of these genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ideally, the barrier properties of a fruit's cuticle persist throughout its development. This presents a challenge for strawberry fruit, with their rapid development and thin cuticles. The objective was to establish the developmental time course of cuticle deposition in strawberry fruit. Results: Fruit mass and surface area increase rapidly, with peak growth rate coinciding with the onset of ripening. On a whole-fruit basis, the masses of cutin and wax increase but on a unit surface-area basis, they decrease. The decrease is associated with marked increases in elastic strain. The expressions of cuticle-associated genes involved in transcriptional regulation (FaSHN1, FaSHN2, FaSHN3), synthesis of cutin (FaLACS2, FaGPAT3) and wax (FaCER1, FaKCS10, FaKCR1), and those involved in transport of cutin monomers and wax constituents (FaABCG11, FaABCG32) decreased until maturity. The only exceptions were FaLACS6 and FaGPAT6 that are presumably involved in cutin synthesis, and FaCER1 involved in wax synthesis. This result was consistent across five strawberry cultivars. Strawberry cutin consists mainly of C16 and C18 monomers, plus minor amounts of C19, C20, C22 and C24 monomers, ω-hydroxy acids, dihydroxy acids, epoxy acids, primary alcohols, carboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids. The most abundant monomer is 10,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid. Waxes comprise mainly long-chain fatty acids C29 to C46, with smaller amounts of C16 to C28. Wax constituents are carboxylic acids, primary alcohols, alkanes, aldehydes, sterols and esters. Conclusion: The downregulation of cuticle deposition during development accounts for the marked cuticular strain, for the associated microcracking, and for their high susceptibility to the disorders of water soaking and cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species phenology - the timing of key life events - is being altered by ongoing climate changes with yet underappreciated consequences for ecosystem stability. While flowering is generally occurring earlier, we know much less about other key processes such as the time of fruit ripening, largely due to the lack of comprehensive long-term datasets. Here we provide information on the exact date and site where seeds of 4,462 taxa were collected for the Index Seminum (seed exchange catalogue) of the Botanic Garden of the University of Coimbra, between 1926 and 2013. Seeds were collected from spontaneous and cultivated individuals across Portugal, including both native and introduced taxa. The database consists of 127,747 curated records with information on the species, or infraspecific taxa (including authority), and the day and site where seeds were collected. All records are georeferenced and provided with a confidence interval for the collection site. Taxonomy was first curated manually by in-house botanists and then harmonized according to the GBIF backbone taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yield in many crops is affected by abscission during the early stages of fruitlet development. The reasons for fruitlet abscission are often unclear but they may include genetic factors because, in some crops, self-pollinated fruitlets are more likely to abscise than cross-pollinated fruitlets. Pollen parentage can also affect final fruit size and fruit quality. Here, we aimed to understand the effects of pollen parentage on fruitlet retention and nut quality in orchards of macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche). We identified the pollen parent of macadamia 'cultivar '816' embryos by analysing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in their DNA using customised MassARRAY and Single Allele Base Extension Reaction (SABER) methods. This allowed us to determine the proportions of self-fertilised and cross-fertilised progeny during premature fruit drop at 6 weeks and 10 weeks after peak anthesis, as well as at nut maturity. We determined how pollen parentage affected nut-in-shell (NIS) mass, kernel mass, kernel recovery, and oil concentration. Macadamia trees retained cross-fertilised fruitlets rather than self-fertilised fruitlets. The percentage of progeny that were cross-fertilised increased from 6% at 6 weeks after peak anthesis to 97% at nut maturity, with each tree producing on average 22 self-fertilised nuts and 881 cross-fertilised nuts. Three of the four cross-pollen parents provided fruit with significantly higher NIS mass, kernel mass, or kernel recovery than the few remaining self-fertilised fruit. Fruit that were cross-fertilised by '842', 'A4', or 'A203' had 16–29% higher NIS mass and 24–44% higher kernel mass than self-fertilised fruit. Nuts that were cross-fertilised by 'A4' or 'A203' also had 5% or 6% higher kernel recovery, worth approximately $US460–540 more per ton for growers than self-fertilised nuts. The highly selective abscission of self-fertilised fruitlets and the lower nut quality of self-fertilised fruit highlight the critical importance of cross-pollination for macadamia productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Knotted1‐like homeodomain (KNOX) proteins are essential in regulating plant organ differentiation. Land plants, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), have two classes of the KNOX protein family, namely, class I (KNOX I) and class II KNOX (KNOX II). While tomato KNOX I proteins are known to stimulate chloroplast development in fruit, affecting fruit coloration, the role of KNOX II proteins in this context remains unclear. In this study, we employ CRISPR/Cas9 to generate knockout mutants of the KNOX II member, SlKN5. These mutants display increased leaf complexity, a phenotype commonly associated with reduced KNOX II activity, as well as enhanced accumulation of chloroplasts and chlorophylls in smaller cells within young, unripe fruit. RNA‐seq data analyses indicate that SlKN5 suppresses the transcriptions of genes involved in chloroplast biogenesis, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and gibberellin catabolism. Furthermore, protein–protein interaction assays reveal that SlKN5 physically interacts with three transcriptional repressors from the BLH1‐clade of BEL1‐like homeodomain (BLH) protein family, SlBLH4, SlBLH5, and SlBLH7, with SlBLH7 showing the strongest interaction. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated knockout of these SlBLH genes confirmed their overlapping roles in suppressing chloroplast biogenesis, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and lycopene cyclization. Transient assays further demonstrate that the SlKN5–SlBLH7 interaction enhances binding capacity to regulatory regions of key chloroplast‐ and chlorophyll‐related genes, including SlAPRR2‐like1, SlCAB‐1C, and SlGUN4. Collectively, our findings elucidate that the KNOX II SlKN5‐SlBLH regulatory modules serve to inhibit fruit greening and subsequently promote lycopene accumulation, thereby fine‐tuning the color transition from immature green fruit to mature red fruit. Significance Statement: This study shed light on regulatory mechanisms of plastid development in fruits by demonstrating that the class II knotted‐like homeodomain protein SlKN5 negatively regulates chloroplast number and chlorophyll accumulation in tomato fruit development. SlKN5 interacts with BEL1‐like homeodomain protein SlBLH7 and its paralogs to suppress SlAPRR2‐like1 and chlorophyll biosynthetic genes, promoting the developmental shift from growth phase to onset of ripening. This highlights the crucial role of the SlKN5‐BLH module in the regulation of tomato fruit coloration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: As a plant‐specific transcription factor, lateral organ boundaries domain (LBD) protein was reported to regulate plant growth and stress response, but the functional research of subfamily II genes is limited. SlMYC2, a master regulator of Jasmonic acid response, has been found to exhibit high expression levels in fruit and has been implicated in the regulation of fruit ripening and resistance to Botrytis. However, its role in fruit expansion remains unknown. In this study, we present evidence that a subfamily II member of LBD, namely SlLBD40, collaborates with SlMYC2 in the regulation of fruit expansion. Overexpression of SlLBD40 significantly promoted fruit growth by promoting mesocarp cell expansion, while knockout of SlLBD40 showed the opposite result. Similarly, SlMYC2 knockout resulted in a significant decrease in cell expansion within the fruit. Genetic analysis indicated that SlLBD40‐mediated cell expansion depends on the expression of SlMYC2. SlLBD40 bound to the promoter of SlEXPA5, an expansin gene, but did not activate its expression directly. While, the co‐expression of SlMYC2 and SlLBD40 significantly stimulated the activation of SlEXPA5, leading to an increase in fruit size. SlLBD40 interacted with SlMYC2 and enhanced the stability and abundance of SlMYC2. Furthermore, SlMYC2 directly targeted and activated the expression of SlLBD40, which is essential for SlLBD40‐mediated fruit expansion. In summary, our research elucidates the role of the interaction between SlLBD40 and SlMYC2 in promoting cell expansion in tomato fruits, thus providing novel insights into the molecular genetics underlying fruit growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AP2/ERF is a large family of plant transcription factor proteins that play essential roles in signal transduction, plant growth and development, and responses to various stresses. The AP2/ERF family has been identified and verified by functional analysis in various plants, but so far there has been no comprehensive study of these factors in Chinese prickly ash. Phylogenetic, motif, and functional analyses combined with transcriptome analysis of Chinese prickly ash fruits at different developmental stages (30, 60, and 90 days after anthesis) were conducted in this study. Results: The analysis identified 146 ZbAP2/ERF genes that could be classified into 15 subgroups. The motif analysis revealed the presence of different motifs or elements in each group that may explain the functional differences between the groups. ZbERF13.2, ZbRAP2-12, and ZbERF2.1 showed high levels of expression in the early stages of fruit development. ZbRAP2-4, and ZbERF3.1 were significantly expressed at the fruit coloring stage (R2 and G2). ZbERF16 were significantly expressed at fruit ripening and expression level increased as the fruit continued to develop. Relative gene expression levels of 6 representative ZbAP2/ERFs assessed by RT-qPCR agreed with transcriptome analysis results. Conclusions: These genes identified by screening can be used as candidate genes that affect fruit development. The results of the analysis can help guide future genetic improvement of Chinese prickly ash and enrich our understanding of AP2/ERF transcription factors and their regulatory functions in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galactinol synthase (GolS), which catalyses the synthesis of galactinol, is the first critical enzyme in the biosynthesis of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) and contributes to plant growth and development, and resistance mechanisms. However, its role in fruit development remains largely unknown. In this study, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to create the gols2 mutant showing uniformly green fruits without dark-green shoulders, and promoting fruit ripening. Analysis indicated that galactinol was undetectable in the ovaries and fruits of the mutant, and the accumulation of chlorophyll and chloroplast development was suppressed in the fruits. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that genes related to chlorophyll accumulation and chloroplast development were down-regulated, including PROTOCHLOROPHYLLIDE OXIDOREDUCTASE , GOLDEN 2-LIKE 2 , and CHLOROPHYLL A/B-BINDING PROTEINS. In addition, early color transformation and ethylene release was prompted in the gols2 lines by regulation of the expression of genes involved in carotenoid and ethylene metabolism (e.g. PHYTOENE SYNTHASE 1 , CAROTENE CIS-TRANS ISOMERASE , and 1-AMINOCYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLIC ACID SYNTHASE2/4) and fruit ripening (e.g. RIPENING INHIBITOR , NON-RIPENING , and APETALA2a). Our results provide evidence for the involvement of GolS2 in pigment and ethylene metabolism of tomato fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern tomatoes produce colorful mature fruits, but many wild tomato ancestors form green or gray green ripe fruits. Here, tomato cultivar 'Lvbaoshi' (LBS) that produces green ripe fruits was found to contain three recessive loci responsible for fruit development. The colorless peel of LBS fruits was caused by a 603 bp deletion in the promoter of SlMYB12. The candidate genes of the remaining two loci were identified as STAY-GREEN 1 (SlSGR1) and PHYTOENE SYNTHASE 1 (SlPSY1). SGR1 and PSY1 co-suppression by RNAi converted the pink fruits into green ripe fruits in transgenic plants. An amino acid change in PSY1 and a deletion in the promoter of SGR1 were also identified in several wild tomatoes bearing green or gray ripe fruits. Overexpression of PSY1 from green ripe fruit wild tomatoes in LBS plants could only partially rescue the green ripe fruit phenotype of LBS, and transgenic lines expressing ProSGR1 :: SGR1 from Solanum pennellii also failed to convert purple-flesh into red-flesh fruits. This work uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism by which SlMYB12 , SlPSY1 , and SlSGR1 control fruit color in cultivated and some wild tomato species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit development can be viewed as the succession of three main steps consisting of the fruit initiation, growth and ripening. These processes are orchestrated by different factors, notably the successful fertilization of flowers, the environmental conditions and the hormones whose action is coordinated by a large variety of transcription factors. Among the different transcription factor families, TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1, CYCLOIDEA, PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) family has received little attention in the frame of fruit biology despite its large effects on several developmental processes and its action as modulator of different hormonal pathways. In this respect, the comprehension of TCP functions in fruit development remains an incomplete puzzle that needs to be assembled. Building on the abundance of genomic and transcriptomic data, this review aims at collecting available TCP expression data to allow their integration in the light of the different functional genetic studies reported so far. This reveals that several Class I TCP genes, already known for their involvement in the cell proliferation and growth, display significant expression levels in developing fruit, although clear evidence supporting their functional significance in this process remains scarce. The extensive expression data compiled in our study provide convincing elements that shed light on the specific involvement of Class I TCP genes in fruit ripening, once these reproductive organs acquire their mature size. They also emphasize their putative role in the control of specific biological processes such as fruit metabolism and hormonal dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Cucurbitaceae family comprises many agronomically important members, that bear nutritious fruits and vegetables of great economic importance. Coccinia grandis, commonly known as Ivy gourd, belongs to this family and is widely consumed as a vegetable. Members of this family are known to display an impressive range of variation in fruit morphology. Although there have been studies on flower development in Ivy gourd, fruit development remains unexplored in this crop. Methods: In this study, comparative transcriptomics of two Ivy gourd cultivars namely "Arka Neelachal Kunkhi" (larger fruit size) and "Arka Neelachal Sabuja" (smaller fruit size) differing in their average fruit size was performed. A de novo transcriptome assembly for Ivy gourd was developed by collecting fruits at different stages of development (5, 10, 15, and 20 days after anthesis i.e. DAA) from these two varieties. The transcriptome was analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes, transcription factors, and molecular markers. Results: The transcriptome of Ivy gourd consisted of 155205 unigenes having an average contig size of 1472bp. Unigenes were annotated on publicly available databases to categorize them into different biological functions. Out of these, 7635 unigenes were classified into 38 transcription factor (TF) families, of which Trihelix TFs were most abundant. A total of 11,165 unigenes were found to be differentially expressed in both the varieties and the in silico expression results were validated through real-time PCR. Also, 98768 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified in the transcriptome of Ivy gourd. Discussion: This study has identified a number of genes, including transcription factors, that could play a crucial role in the determination of fruit shape and size in Ivy gourd. The presence of polymorphic SSRs indicated a possibility for markerassisted selection for crop breeding in Ivy gourd. The information obtained can help select candidate genes that may be implicated in regulating fruit development and size in other fruit crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the carbon found in fruits at harvest is imported by the phloem. Imported carbon provide the material needed for the accumulation of sugars, organic acids, secondary compounds, in addition to the material needed for the synthesis of cell walls. The accumulation of sugars during fruit development influences not only sweetness but also various parameters controlling fruit composition (fruit "quality"). The accumulation of organic acids and sugar in grape berry flesh cells is a key process for berry development and ripening. The present review presents an update of the research on grape berry development, anatomical structure, sugar and acid metabolism, sugar transporters, and regulatory factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum, contains a variety of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, triterpenoids, and secoiridoids. The proportions of these compounds vary greatly during the different fruit development periods of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi. However, a clear understanding of how the proportions of the compounds and their regulatory biosynthetic mechanisms change across the different fruit development periods of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi is still lacking. Results: In this study, metabolite profiling and transcriptome analysis of six fruit development periods (45 DAF, 75 DAF, 112 DAF, 135 DAF, 170 DAF, and 195 DAF) were performed. Seventy compounds were tentatively identified, of which secoiridoids were the most abundant. Eleven identified compounds were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. A total of 103,058 unigenes were obtained from six periods of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi. Furthermore, candidate genes involved in triterpenoids, phenylethanols, and oleoside-type secoiridoid biosynthesis were identified and analyzed. The in vitro enzyme activities of nine glycosyltransferases involved in salidroside biosynthesis revealed that they can catalyze trysol and hydroxytyrosol to salidroside and hydroxylsalidroside. Conclusions: These results provide valuable information to clarify the profile and molecular regulatory mechanisms of metabolite biosynthesis, and also in optimizing the harvest time of this fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) conserved during evolution have been found to be responsible for phenotypic novelty and variation. Cucurbit crops such as cucumber (Cucumis sativus), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), melon (Cucumis melo), and squash (Cucurbita maxima) develop fruits from an inferior ovary and share some similar biological processes during fruit development. Whether conserved regulatory sequences play critical roles in fruit development of cucurbit crops remains to be explored. In six well-studied cucurbit species, we identified 392,438 conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs), including 82,756 that are specific to cucurbits, by comparative genomics. Genome-wide profiling of accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) and gene expression patterns mapped 20,865 to 43,204 ACRs and their potential target genes for two fruit tissues at two key developmental stages in six cucurbits. Integrated analysis of CNSs and ACRs revealed 4,431 syntenic orthologous CNSs, including 1,687 cucurbit-specific CNSs that overlap with ACRs that are present in all six cucurbit crops and that may regulate the expression of 757 adjacent orthologous genes. CRISPR mutations targeting two CNSs present in the 1,687 cucurbit-specific sequences resulted in substantially altered fruit shape and gene expression patterns of adjacent NAC1 (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) and EXT-like (EXTENSIN-like) genes, validating the regulatory roles of these CNSs in fruit development. These results not only provide a number of target CREs for cucurbit crop improvement, but also provide insight into the roles of CREs in plant biology and during evolution. Integrative analyses of conserved noncoding sequences and accessible chromatin regions provide insights into cis-regulatory elements and target sequences for fruit development in cucurbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] As one of the four major nutrients required by plants, sulfur is a crucial for plant growth and development, playing a pivotal role in enhancing plant resistance against both biotic and abiotic stresses. Sulfate transporters (SULTR) serve as primary regulators in the absorption and transport of sulfate in plants, playing an irreplaceable role in this process. The understanding of the fundamental characteristics and expression patterns of CaSULTR genes could help to provide theoretical support for advancing researches on SULTR in peppers.[Method] Based on the pepper genome, members of the pepper CaSULTR gene family were identified at the whole-genome level. A comprehensive analysis of their physicochemical properties, conserved Motifs and gene structures was conducted. By utilizing publicly available transcriptome data and qPCR technology, the expression patterns of CaSULTR genes under various hormone stress conditions were analyzed. Additionally, differentially expressed genes were cloned for further investigation.[Result] A total of 13 CaSULTR genes were identified and designated as CaSULTR1;1~1;3, CaSULTR2;1~2;2, CaSULTR3;1~3;7 and CaSULTR4;1. These genes were distributed on seven chromosomes in pepper, with amino acid lengths ranging from 641 to 947 aa, molecular weights from 69.65 to 104.36 kD, and isoelectric points between 8.42 to 9.62. Characterized by the hydrophobicity, CaSULTR proteins were classified into four subgroups (Ⅰ-Ⅳ), with subgroup Ⅲ containing the highest number of members. Within the same subgroup, members exhibited relatively small differences in physicochemical properties, and Motifs and gene structures were relatively conserved. With the exception of CaSULTR2;1 and CaSULTR2;2, all members possessed Motif 5. Tissue expression analysis indicated that CaSULTR genes may be involved in the development of organs such as leaves, fruits and flowers, with CaSULTR4;1 exhibiting expression in leaves, roots and stems. Expression profile analysis under hormone stress, coupled with qPCR results, revealed significant up-regulation of CaSULTR1;1 and CaSULTR3;4 under hormone induction.[Conclusion] The expression patterns of CaSULTR genes under hormone stress are identified, suggesting that of CaSULTR1;1 and CaSULTR3;4 may be involved in the regulation of sulfur metabolism by exogenous hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: EXPANSIN15 is involved in petal cell morphology and size, the fusion of the medial tissues in the gynoecium and expansion of fruit valve cells. It genetically interacts with SPATULA and FRUITFULL. Cell expansion is fundamental for the formation of plant tissues and organs, contributing to their final shape and size during development. To better understand this process in flower and fruit development, we have studied the EXPANSIN15 (EXPA15) gene, which showed expression in petals and in the gynoecium. By analyzing expa15 mutant alleles, we found that EXPA15 is involved in petal shape and size determination, by affecting cell morphology and number. EXPA15 also has a function in fruit size, by affecting cell size and number. Furthermore, EXPA15 promotes fusion of the medial tissues in the gynoecium. In addition, we observed genetic interactions with the transcription factors SPATULA (SPT) and FRUITFULL (FUL) in gynoecium medial tissue fusion, style and stigma development and fruit development in Arabidopsis. These findings contribute to the importance of EXPANSINS in floral and fruit development in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out at Regional Agriculture Research Station, Pilicode and College of Agriculture Padannakkad from January 2022 to December 2022. The objectives were to study phenological stages regarding flowering, fruit setting and fruit development in peanut butter fruit. The flower bud initiation was started by the end of March. From flower bud initiation to anthesis it took about 28 days. The period of flowering and fruiting was observed from April to September, flowering peaks in three months viz., April, May and June. Whereas fruiting peaks in the months of May, June and July. Yellow-coloured flowers are borne on racemose inflorescence. From fruit set to fruit ripening, it took about 50 days. Fruits are found in clusters. Green-coloured fruits produced during the fruit set gradually change their colour to greenish yellow then orange and red at maturity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lucrative and delicious nonclimacteric tropical fruit, rambutan, has disadvantages of inadequate fruiting, low yield, and inferior edibility at farm level that need to be addressed. Moreover, unstable tropical temperatures and humidity threaten poor fruit set and insufficient rambutan yields. Therefore, the study revealed the effectiveness of gibberellic acid (GA3) on fruit set and retention, fruit size and yield, shelf life, and postharvest properties of rambutan under these atmospheric conditions. GA3 at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm, apart from the control (without GA3), was applied to panicles twice in the early flowering and the early fruiting stages (thirty days after the first spraying). The results showed that maximum fruit set (223.2 per panicle), retention (13.2 per panicle, 5.9%), and yield (714.0 g per panicle) were obtained by GA3 treatment at 300 ppm. In addition to increasing fruit size (54.1 g) and pulp weight (31.3 g), GA3 at a dose of 300 ppm significantly reduced seed weight by 27.5% and increased the edible portion by 26.6% compared to the control. Notably, preharvest GA3 treatment increased TSS content (19.0%), total sugar (4.5%), and shelf life (11.5 days), while it decreased titratable acidity (0.4%) of rambutan. GA3 doses from 200 to 500 ppm had similar effects in terms of affecting the edible properties and shelf life of rambutan. However, fruit set, retention, and yield exhibited distinct dose-dependent responses, with 300 ppm being the best and 200 ppm consistent with the best, with some differences. Regression analysis showed a skewed curve explaining higher yield and better fruit quality at the medium GA3 treatment level (250–350 ppm). In comparison, lower (< 200 ppm) and higher (> 400 ppm) doses resulted in worse results in most cases. Therefore, regulated use of GA3 is necessary to improve rambutan yield and fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Plant water status is important for fruit development, because many fleshy fruits contain large amounts of water. However, there is no information on vascular flows of Persea americana 'Hass' avocado. The aims of this research were to explore the impact of drought stress on the water relationships of the 'Hass' avocado plant and its fruit growth. Methods Well-watered and water-stressed 'Hass' avocado plants were compared. Over 4 weeks, water flows through the shoot and fruit pedicel were monitored using external sap flow gauges. Fruit diameter was monitored using linear transducers, and stomatal conductance (g s), photosynthesis (A) and leaf and stem water potentials (Ѱleaf and Ѱstem) were measured to assess the response of the plants to water supply. Key Results In well-watered conditions, the average water inflow to the shoot was 72 g day−1. Fruit water inflow was 2.72 g day−1, but there was water loss of 0.37 g day−1 caused by the outflow (loss back into the tree) through the vascular tissues and 1.06 g day−1 from the fruit skin. Overall, fruit volume increased by 1.4 cm3 day−1. In contrast, water flow into fruit of water-stressed plants decreased to 1.88 g day−1, with the outflow increasing to 0.61 g day−1. As a result, increases in fruit volume were reduced to 0.4 cm3 day−1. The values of A , g s and sap flow to shoots were also reduced during drought conditions. Changes in the hourly time-courses of pedicel sap flow, fruit volume and stem water potential during drought suggest that the stomatal response prevented larger increases in outflow from the fruit. Following re-watering, a substantial recovery in growth rate was observed. Conclusions In summary, a reduction in growth of avocado fruit was observed with induced water deficit, but the isohydric stomatal behaviour of the leaves helped to minimize negative changes in water balance. Also, there was substantial recovery after re-watering, hence the short-term water stress did not decrease avocado fruit size. Negative impacts might appear if the drought treatment were prolonged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) St. John has been explained as a new report from Bangladesh. The taxonomic description including flowering, fruiting, ecology and distribution of the species are elaborated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted during October, 2022 to March, 2023 at Horticulture Garden, Department of Fruit Science of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, U.P, India. The experiment was layout in RBD with three replicates of each treatment. Total 10 treatments including one control viz., GA3 15 ppm, GA3 20 ppm, GA3 25 ppm, GA3 30 ppm, Urea 2%, GA3 15 ppm and urea 2%, GA3 20 ppm and urea 2%, GA3 25 ppm and urea 2%, GA3 30 ppm and urea 2% and Control i.e., water spray. The present investigation, it is reported that the application of GA3 30 ppm and Urea 2% with significantly increased initial fruit set (169), fruit retention (84.22%) and decreased fruit drop (84.22%), increased fruit weight (15.44 g), pulp weight (14.43 g), fruit length (4.52 cm), diameter (2.99 cm), volume (16.80 cc) and yield (31.50 kg) branch-1 and minimum stone weight (1.01 g), pulp: stone ratio (14.29) and quality parameters like; TSS (15.30 °Brix), ascorbic acid (99.25 mg) 100 g-1 of fruit pulp and total sugars (9.99%) and decreased titratable acidity (0.10%) content. Hence, plants treated with GA3 30 ppm and urea 2% can further be used to improve the fruiting, overall yield improvement, and quality characteristics of Banarasi Karaka cultivar of ber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review addresses the difficulties of cultivating under variable environmental conditions and explores the growing importance of chili peppers (Capsicum annum L.) in worldwide agriculture. It emphasizes the use of enclosed growing systems as a workable way to increase crop yields of chilies. The needs of various chilies in these systems highlighting the significance of sustainability and resource efficiency for the best possible yield, quality, and financial sustainability. Shading is a crucial tactic to mitigate the adverse effects of sunlight and high temperatures, supporting healthier plants and regular fruit development. The study also looks into greenhouse cultivation to shelter plants from the weather and achieve higher yields, better development rates, and better‐quality fruit. This thorough analysis fills a research gap, offers helpful recommendations for maximizing production, and is an invaluable tool for practitioners and scholars studying enclosed chili agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.) is a tree species of the family Sapindaceae, the pericarp of which is rich in triterpenoid saponins, which are important in chemical production, biomedicine, and other fields. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP450) is involved in the modification of the skeletons of triterpenoid saponins and is linked to their diversity. We previously identified 323 CYP450 genes in the transcriptome of soapberry and screened 40 CYP450 genes related to the synthesis of triterpenoid saponins by gene annotation and conserved structural domain analysis. The genetic structure and phylogeny of the CYP450 genes were analyzed separately. Phylogenetic analysis categorized the CYP450 genes of soapberry into five subfamilies, the members of which had similar conserved cumulative sequences and intron structures. A cis-acting element analysis implicated several genes in the responses to environmental changes and hormones. The expression of several genes during eight periods of fruit development was analyzed by real-time quantitative qRT-PCR; most showed high expression during the first four periods of fruit development, and their expression decreased as the fruits matured. A co-expression network analysis of SmCYP450s and related genes in the triterpenoid saponin synthesis pathway was performed. Correlation analysis showed that 40 SmCYP450s may be involved in saponin synthesis in soapberry. The triterpenoid saponin synthesis-related candidate genes identified in this study provide insight into the synthesis and regulation of triterpenoid saponins in soapberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study was conducted on avian feeding guilds in winter and rainy crop seasons of guava at Punjab Agricultural University campus, Ludhiana, Punjab, during 2021-22. A total of 53 bird species belonging to 46 genera, 31 families and 13 orders were noted during the study period. The recorded bird species were classified into six feeding guilds. Except for insectivore, carnivore and omnivore birds, 13 species were recorded to play no beneficial role in the combined data of winter and rainy crop seasons. Relative abundance of insectivore bird species was found to be 40.34% at flowering stage, 25.44% at fruit set stage and 13.92% at fruit ripening stage in winter crop season; 35.43% at flowering stage, 26.35% at fruit set stage and 14.21% at fruit ripening stage in rainy crop season. Major feeding groups of omnivore and frugivore species were noted during the fruit ripening stage of both seasons. During rainy crop season, nine bird species were observed feeding on insects. A statistical analysis of avian feeding guilds using the T-test revealed a significant difference in flowering and fruit ripening stages of guava crop seasons in the winter and rainy seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized a plant-wearable sap flow sensor developed by a multidisciplinary team at Zhejiang University to monitor water distribution patterns in watermelon fruit stalks throughout their developmental stages. The dynamic rules of sap flow at different stages of fruit development were discovered: (1) In the first stage, sap flow into the fruit gradually halts after sunrise due to increased leaf transpiration, followed by a rapid increase post-noon until the next morning, correlating with fruit expansion. (2) In the second stage, the time of inflow sap from noon to night is significantly shortened, while the outflow sap from fruit is observed with the enhancement of leaf transpiration after sunrise, which is consistent with the slow fruit growth at this stage. (3) In the third stage, the sap flow maintains the diurnal pattern. However, the sap flow that inputs the fruit at night is basically equal to the sap flow that outputs the fruit during the day; the fruit phenotype does not change anymore. In addition, a strong correlation between the daily mass growth in fruit and the daily sap flow amount in fruit stalk was identified, validating the sensor's utility for fruit growth monitoring and yield prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of many tree crops is limited by low yield, partly due to high rates of fruitlet abscission during early fruit development. Early studies suggested that cross-pollinated fruitlets may be selectively retained during fruit development, although paternity testing of fruitlets to test this hypothesis was technically challenging. We used MassARRAY genotyping to determine the effects of pollen parentage on fruitlet retention and fruit quality of Hass avocado. We identified the paternity of abscised and retained fruitlets at 6 and 10 weeks, and mature fruit at 36 weeks, after peak anthesis. We measured the embryo mass, pericarp mass, total mass and nutrient concentrations of fruitlets, and the seed mass, flesh mass, total mass, diameter, length, nutrient concentrations and fatty-acid composition of mature fruit. The percentages of progeny on the tree that were cross-fertilised increased from 4.6% at 6 weeks after peak anthesis to 10.7% at fruit maturity. Only 1.0% of freshly abscised fruitlets on the ground at 10 weeks after peak anthesis were cross-pollinated even though 6.5% of retained fruitlets on the tree were cross-pollinated. At this stage, cross-pollinated fruitlets had similar nutrient concentrations to self-pollinated fruitlets, but they had higher total contents of P, K, Al, Ca, Fe, Mn and Zn due to having greater fruitlet mass. At maturity, cross-pollinated fruit were 6% heavier and had 2% greater diameter than self-pollinated fruit, without significant differences in flesh nutrient concentrations or fatty acid composition. The results demonstrate that Hass avocado trees selectively retain cross-pollinated fruitlets, which are larger than self-pollinated fruitlets and ultimately produce larger mature fruit. Avocado growers can increase fruit size and yield by improving the opportunities for cross-pollination, possibly by closely interplanting type A and type B cultivars and introducing more beehives into orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritive mineral element concentrations of most African leafy vegetables (ALVs) are influenced by the plant’s growth stages. Momordica balsamina is an ALV in the Cucurbitaceae family, rich with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties, available in the plant at different growth stages. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the responses of the nutritional value of M. balsamina leafy vegetable harvested at different growth stages. Six growth stages, namely, vegetative (reference), bud development, flower initiation, fruit set, fruit development and physiological maturity, served as treatments, with 10 replicates and arranged in RCBD. Treatments had highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) effect on the tested nutritional quality, namely, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P). Relative to the reference, K was the highest (1206 mg/L) at flower initiation stage, whereas the highest Ca (127.70 mg/L) and Zn (2.21 mg/L) concentrations occurred at the fruit development stage. At the physiological maturity stage, the highest Mg (25.19 mg/L), P (16.54 mg/L) and Fe (5.49 mg/L) concentrations, were recorded. Noticeably, during early growth stages, P, Fe and Zn were negatively reduced, when compared to K, Ca and Mg, which were increasing at every growth stages. In conclusion, the greatest accumulation of the tested mineral elements was mainly observed as from when the leafy vegetable started setting fruit until physiological maturity stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The C2H2 type zinc finger proteins (C2H2-ZFPs) are prevalent motifs found widely across the eukaryotic kingdom, playing crucial roles in various biological processes, including stress responses and plant growth and development. To date, C2H2-ZFPs have been identified in many plant systems, but there have been no reports in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). In this study, a total of 77 ZjC2H2-ZFPs were identified in Chinese jujube and classified into three groups, with set A containing 29 genes, set B containing two genes, and set C containing 46 genes. The set A group genes were further divided into three groups: A1, A2, and A4 (with no member of the A3 subgroup found in jujube). The set C C2H2-ZFPs genes were also further divided into three groups: C1 containing 24 genes, C2 with two genes, and C3 with three genes. These ZjC2H2-ZFPs were distributed on 12 chromosomes and one tandem duplicated pair of ZjC2H2-ZFPs was found on chromosome 4 (ZjC2H2-21 with ZjC2H2-22). Notably, the 77 ZjC2H2-ZFPs identified in this study lacked finger clusters comprising 10 or more repeats. The structure and protein motif analysis of ZjC2H2-ZFPs showed that most C1 subgroup members were enriched with ‘QALGGH’ motif zinc finger helices and the A1a ZjC2H2-ZFPs contained highly conserved ‘SATALLQKAAQMGS’ residues in jujube. A unique finding was the discovery of a conserved non-finger domain (PCYCC motif) in A1 group members, absent in other ZjC2H2-ZFPs and unreported in other species. The enzyme activity of jujube leaves under different water stress treatments were measured, and the results showed that as the degree of water stress increased, the activity of SOD enzymes and H2O2 content also increased. The POD enzyme activity levels of different treatment groups were CK>MS>SS>LS. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) content observed under various treatments were notably higher and the proline content was lower in comparison to the control group (CK). Differential expression of ZjC2H2-ZFPs and specific responses were analyzed under water stress and different fruit development stages of jujube using RNA-Seq data. The correlation between expression patterns and protective enzyme activities under water stress was also examined. The results indicated that the expression levels of different ZjC2H2-ZFPs varied. A further protein interaction analysis indicated that ZjC2H2-ZFPs serve as pivotal transcriptional regulators with diverse functions, encompassing DNA or RNA binding and participation in protein interactions, with ZjC2H2-20, ZjC2H2-36, and ZjC2H2-57 being potential key players in these regulatory processes. Their roles appear particularly crucial in responding to abiotic stresses like water stress and regulating plant hormones. This study provides valuable insights into understanding stress responses and enhancing the quality of Chinese jujube during breeding.

IntroductionThe basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor family is one of the largest gene families in plants, extensively involved in plant growth, organ development, and stress responses. However, limited studies of this family are available in sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides).MethodsIn this study, we identified 144 bHLH genes in H. rhamnoides (HrbHLH) through a genome-wide search method, then explored their DNA and protein sequences and physicochemical properties.Results and discussionAccording to the sequence similarities, we classified them into 15 groups with specific motif structures. To explore their expressions, we performed gene expression profiling using RNA-Seq and identified 122 HrbHLH mRNAs were highly expressed, while the remaining 22 HrbHLH genes were expressed at very low levels in all 21 samples. Among these HrbHLH genes, HrbHLH47, HrbHLH74, HrbHLH90, HrbHLH131 showed the highest expression level in the root nodule, root, leaf, stem and fruit tissues. Furthermore, eleven HrbHLH genes displayed increased expressions during the fruit development process of sea buckthorn. Finally, we validated the expression patterns of HrbHLH genes using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR). This comprehensive analysis provides a useful esource that enables further investigation of the physiological roles and molecular functions of the HrbHLH TFs.

Abstract Background Citrus canker is a significant bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) that severely impedes the healthy development of the citrus industry. Especially when citrus fruit is infected by Xcc, it will reduce or even lost its commercial value. However, due to the prolonged fruiting cycle and intricate structure, much less research progress had been made in canker disease on fruit than on leaf. In fact, limited understanding has been achieved on canker development and the response to Xcc infection in fruit. Results Herein, the progression of canker disease on sweet orange fruit was tracked in the field. Results indicated that typical lesions initially appear on the sepal, style residue, nectary disk, epicarp, and peduncle of young fruits after petal fall. The susceptibility of fruits to Xcc infection diminished as the fruit developed, with no new lesions forming at the ripening stage. The establishment of an efficient method for inoculating Xcc on fruit as well as the artificial inoculation throughout the fruit's developmental cycle clarified this infection pattern. Additionally, microscopic observations during the infection process revealed that Xcc invasion caused structural changes on the surface and cross-section of the fruit. Conclusions An efficient system for inoculation on citrus fruit with Xcc was established, by which it can serve for the evaluation of citrus germplasm for canker disease resistance and systematic research on the interactions between Xcc and citrus fruits.

As a cell proliferation regulator involved in wide biological processes in plants, GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR (GIF) controls different tissues development. However, whether GIF participates in fruit development remains unclear. According to transcriptome data, we identified PbGIF1 was highly expressed during fruit development in cytokinins induced parthenocarpy pear. In the present study, the biofunction of PbGIF1 was initially verified. Overexpression of PbGIF1 promoted fruit size of transgenic tomato. The size of flesh fruit was not affected by cell expansion but the cell proliferation was promoted by overexpressing PbGIF1. The accelerated cell proliferation process was also observed in PbGIF1-overexpressed transgenic pear fruit calli. The transcriptional regulation of cytokinins on PbGIF1 was further confirmed by exogenous CPPU treatments in pear fruitlets. To investigate the underlying mechanism, the cytokinins-responded factor, PbRR1, was further focused on. The results of Yeast-one-hybrid assay suggested that PbRR1 can bind to the promoter sequence of PbGIF1. The transcriptional activation of PbRR1 on PbGIF1 was also confirmed by Dual-Luciferase assays. Taken together, the results showed that cytokinins control pear fruit development via the transcriptional activation of PbGIF1 by PbRR1.

Abstract Background Blueberry fruit exhibit atypical climacteric ripening with a non-auto-catalytic increase in ethylene coincident with initiation of ripening. Further, application of ethephon, an ethylene-releasing plant growth regulator, accelerates ripening by increasing the proportion of ripe (blue) fruit as compared to the control treatment. To investigate the mechanistic role of ethylene in regulating blueberry ripening, we performed transcriptome analysis on fruit treated with ethephon, an ethylene-releasing plant growth regulator. Results RNA-Sequencing was performed on two sets of rabbiteye blueberry (‘Powderblue’) fruit: (1) fruit from divergent developmental stages; and (2) fruit treated with ethephon, an ethylene-releasing compound. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from divergent developmental stages clustered into nine groups, among which cluster 1 displayed reduction in expression during ripening initiation and was enriched with photosynthesis related genes, while cluster 7 displayed increased expression during ripening and was enriched with aromatic-amino acid family catabolism genes, suggesting stimulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. More DEGs were apparent at 1 day after ethephon treatment suggesting its early influence during ripening initiation. Overall, a higher number of genes were downregulated in response to ethylene. Many of these overlapped with cluster 1 genes, indicating that ethylene-mediated downregulation of photosynthesis is an important developmental event during the ripening transition. Analyses of DEGs in response to ethylene also indicated interplay among phytohormones. Ethylene positively regulated abscisic acid (ABA), negatively regulated jasmonates (JAs), and influenced auxin (IAA) metabolism and signaling genes. Phytohormone quantification supported these effects of ethylene, indicating coordination of blueberry fruit ripening by ethylene. Conclusion This study provides insights into the role of ethylene in blueberry fruit ripening. Ethylene initiates blueberry ripening by downregulating photosynthesis-related genes. Also, ethylene regulates phytohormone-metabolism and signaling related genes, increases ABA, and decreases JA concentrations. Together, these results indicate that interplay among multiple phytohormones regulates the progression of ripening, and that ethylene is an important coordinator of such interactions during blueberry fruit ripening.

The Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.) is one of Central Europe's most grown nut trees. In the green husks of walnuts, among the most important bioactive compounds are phenolics (hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, naphthoquinones), which play an important role in the plant defense mechanisms against stress caused by various pathogens e.g., Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis, furthermore mentioned as Xaj. The study examined the full Hungarian walnut assortment to detect the difference in phenolic profiles of their green husk and the relationship between the concentration of phenolic compounds, as well as their effects on tolerance against Xaj. All the phenological stages were recorded by Ctifl scheme. The phenolic compounds were determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI-QDA method, after which susceptibility test was carried out. The results show that concentration of the phenolic compounds varied by cultivars; it was higher in the locally-bred cultivars compared to ‘Chandler’, a more widespread cultivar. Phenolic compounds inhibited the artificial Xaj infection in the green husk. This effect had a strong correlation with the high phenols’ concentration, except for ‘Bonifác’. It is likely that the phenolics’ concentration in the walnut green husk has an important role in their defense against Xaj infection.

Abstract Using the blueberry cultivar "Powderblue" after pollination, fruits at different developmental stages were collected for study. The transverse and longitudinal diameters, individual fruit weight, and fruit water content were measured during their development. Employing tissue sectioning and microscopy techniques, we systematically studied the morphological features and anatomical structures of the fruits and seeds at various developmental stages, aiming to elucidate the cytological patterns during blueberry fruit development. The results of our study revealed that the "Powderblue" blueberry fruit growth and development followed a double "S" curve. Mature "Powderblue" blueberries were blue-black in color, elliptical in shape, with five locules, an inferior ovary, and an average fruit weight of 1.73 ± 0.17 g, and a moisture content of 78.865 ± 0.9%. Blueberry fruit flesh cells were densely arranged with no apparent intercellular spaces, and mesocarp cells accounted for 52.06 ± 7.4% of fruit cells. In the early fruit development stages, the fruit flesh cells were rapidly dividing, significantly increasing in number but without greatly affecting the fruit's morphological characteristics. During the later stages of fruit development, the expansion of the fruit flesh cells became prominent, resulting in a noticeable increase in the fruit's dimensions. Except for the epidermal cells, cells in all fruit tissues showed varying degrees of rupture as fruit development progressed, with the extent of cell rupture increasing, becoming increasingly apparent as the fruit gradually softened. Additionally, numerous brachysclereids (stone cells) appeared in the fruit flesh cells. Stone cells are mostly present individually in the fruit flesh tissue, while in the placental tissue, they often group together. The "Powderblue" blueberry seeds were light brown, 4.13 ± 0.42 mm long, 2.2 ± 0.14 mm wide, with each fruit containing 50–60 seeds. The "Powderblue" seeds mainly consisted of the seed coat, endosperm, and embryo. The embryo was located at the chalazal end in the center of the endosperm and was spatially separated. The endosperm, occupying the vast majority of the seed volume, comprised both the chalazal and outer endosperm, and the endosperm developed and matured before the embryo. As the seed developed, the seed coat was gradually lignified and consisted of palisade-like stone cells externally and epidermal layer cells internally.