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Abstract Understanding how distinct functional circuits are coordinated to fine-tune mood and behavior is of fundamental importance. Here, we observe that within the dense projections from basolateral amygdala (BLA) to bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), there are two functionally opposing pathways orchestrated to enable contextually appropriate expression of anxiety-like behaviors in male mice. Specifically, the anterior BLA neurons predominantly innervate the anterodorsal BNST (adBNST), while their posterior counterparts send massive fibers to oval BNST (ovBNST) with moderate to adBNST. Optogenetic activation of the anterior and posterior BLA inputs oppositely regulated the activity of adBNST neurons and anxiety-like behaviors, via disengaging and engaging the inhibitory ovBNST-to-adBNST microcircuit, respectively. Importantly, the two pathways exhibited synchronized but opposite responses to both anxiolytic and anxiogenic stimuli, partially due to their mutual inhibition within BLA and the different inputs they receive. These findings reveal synergistic interactions between two BLA-to-BNST pathways for appropriate anxiety expression with ongoing environmental demands.

Abstract The viscoelasticity of mechanically sensitive tissues such as periodontal ligaments (PDLs) is key in maintaining mechanical homeostasis. Unfortunately, PDLs easily lose viscoelasticity (e.g., stress relaxation) during periodontitis or dental trauma, which disrupt cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions and accelerates tissue damage. Here, Pluronic F127 diacrylate (F127DA) hydrogels with PDL‐matched stress relaxation rates and high elastic moduli are developed. The hydrogel viscoelasticity is modulated without chemical cross‐linking by controlling precursor concentrations. Under cytomechanical loading, F127DA hydrogels with fast relaxation rates significantly improved the fibrogenic differentiation potential of PDL stem cells (PDLSCs), while cells cultured on F127DA hydrogels with various stress relaxation rates exhibited similar fibrogenic differentiation potentials with limited cell spreading and traction forces under static conditions. Mechanically, faster‐relaxing F127DA hydrogels leveraged cytomechanical loading to activate PDLSC mechanotransduction by upregulating integrin–focal adhesion kinase pathway and thus cytoskeletal rearrangement, reinforcing cell–ECM interactions. In vivo experiments confirm that faster‐relaxing F127DA hydrogels significantly promoted PDL repair and reduced abnormal healing (e.g., root resorption and ankyloses) in delayed replantation of avulsed teeth. This study firstly investigated how matrix nonlinear viscoelasticity influences the fibrogenesis of PDLSCs under mechanical stimuli, and it reveals the underlying mechanobiology, which suggests novel strategies for PDL regeneration.

Abstract Background Geminiviruses are DNA plant viruses that cause highly damaging diseases affecting crops worldwide. During the infection, geminiviruses hijack cellular processes, suppress plant defenses, and cause a massive reprogramming of the infected cells leading to major changes in the whole plant homeostasis. The advances in sequencing technologies allow the simultaneous analysis of multiple aspects of viral infection at a large scale, generating new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-virus interactions. However, an integrative study of the changes in the host transcriptome, small RNA profile and methylome during a geminivirus infection has not been performed yet. Using a time-scale approach, we aim to decipher the gene regulation in tomato in response to the infection with the geminivirus, tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). Results We showed that tomato undergoes substantial transcriptional and post-transcriptional changes upon TYLCV infection and identified the main altered regulatory pathways. Interestingly, although the principal plant defense-related processes, gene silencing and the immune response were induced, this cannot prevent the establishment of the infection. Moreover, we identified extra- and intracellular immune receptors as targets for the deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) and established a network for those that also produced phased secondary small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs). On the other hand, there were no significant genome-wide changes in tomato methylome at 14 days post infection, the time point at which the symptoms were general, and the amount of viral DNA had reached its maximum level, but we were able to identify differentially methylated regions that could be involved in the transcriptional regulation of some of the differentially expressed genes. Conclusion We have conducted a comprehensive and reliable study on the changes at transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels in tomato throughout TYLCV infection. The generated genomic information is substantial for understanding the genetic, molecular and physiological changes caused by TYLCV infection in tomato.

Abstract Citrus melanose, caused by Diaporthe citri, is one of the most important and widespread fungal diseases of citrus. Previous studies demonstrated that the citrus host was able to trigger the defense response to restrict the spread of D. citri. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this defense response has yet to be elucidated. Here, we used RNA-Seq to explore the gene expression pattern at the early (3 days post infection, dpi) and late (14 dpi) infection stages of citrus leaves in response to D. citri infection, and outlined the differences in transcriptional regulation associated with defense responses. The functional enrichment analysis indicated that the plant cell wall biogenesis was significantly induced at the early infection stage, while the callose deposition response was more active at the late infection stage. CYP83B1 genes of the cytochrome P450 family were extensively induced in the callus deposition-mediated defense response. Remarkably, the gene encoding pectin methylesterase showed the highest upregulation and was only found to be differentially expressed at the late infection stage. Genes involved in the synthesis and regulation of phytoalexin coumarin were effectively activated. F6’H1 and S8H, encoding key enzymes in the biosynthesis of coumarins and their derivatives, were more strongly expressed at the late infection stage than at the early infection stage. Collectively, our study profiled the response pattern of citrus leaves against D. citri infection and provided the transcriptional evidence to support the defense mechanism.

Biodegradable bone grafts have gained considerable attention in the field of clinical research as they can be used to avoid re-surgery to remove scaffolds. We fabricated biodegradable composite ceramic scaffolds using magnesium oxide and calcium phosphate following the vat photopolymerization technology. We studied the effects of different magnesium oxide content on the process of in vitro degradation of the composite scaffolds and discussed the degradation process by comparing the extent of degradation realized in Tris-HCl buffer and simulated body fluids. We also explored the variations in the mechanical properties of the scaffolds during degradation. The results revealed that the composite scaffolds maintained the strength standard for spongy bone (compressive strength σ: 2–20 MPa) even after 28 d of degradation. Additionally, the strength of the composite scaffold containing 80 wt% magnesium oxide was comparable to the strength standard recommended for cortical bones (σ: 100–200 MPa). Controllable degradation rates were recorded, and acceptable mechanical properties were observed for these scaffolds during degradation. The results reported herein can be potentially used to expand the application prospects of biodegradable scaffolds.

Abstract Background Arthroscopic technique procedures was wide accepted for the treatment of chronic ankle instability (CAI). But little acknowledge was involved to the bony landmarks and anatomic features of different bundles of lateral ligaments under arthroscopic view. Methods Sixty patients with acute or chronic lateral ankle ligaments injury (LAI) were collected prospectively, and divided randomly into two groups. In arthroscopic group, the bone tunnels were made on the LPF arthroscopically. And in open group, the bone tunnels were made on the Fibular obscure tubercle (FOT) in open procedure. The inferior bundle of ATFL and Arcuate fibre was also identified reference to the LPF and labeled by a PDS II suture penetration. Following that, The distances of the bone tunnels to the different bony markers were measured and compare between two groups. The penetrating locations of PDS II on the inferior bundle of ATFL and Arcuate fibre were also confirmed intraoperatively. And the safe angle of anchor implantation on the axial view was measured on postoperative CT scan. Results The distances of bone tunnel to the fibular tip, the fibular insertion of anterior-inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), and the FOT in arthroscopic and open locating groups were 4.9 ± 2.2 and 6.3 ± 2.2 mm, 13.5 ± 2.7 and 12.4 ± 1.1 mm, 5.8 ± 2.2 and 5.6 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. The distances of bone tunnels to the FOT and fibular tip on 3d-CT view was 4.4 ± 1.5 and 4.6 ± 0.9 mm, 14.4 ± 3.2 and 13.2 ± 1.8 mm in arthroscopic and open group, and there were no significant differences between two groups. The safe angle of arthroscopic anchor placement on the axial plan was ranged from 24.9 ± 6.3o to 58.1 ± 8.0o. The PDS II sutures penetrating on the inferior bundles of ATFL and the arciform fibres were also comfirmed successfully by open visualizaion.The average distance of penetration point to the horizontal line cross the fibular tip was 2.3 ± 2.7 mm (ranged from − 3.1 to 6.0 mm), and to the vertical line cross the FOT was 2.7 ± 2.7 mm (ranged from − 2.5 to 7.5 mm). Conclusion Take the lowest point of fibula under arthroscopy (LPF) as a bony reference, we could identify the iATFL under arthroscopic visualization. By this way, we could place the suture anchors properly to the fibular footprint and suture the iATFL fibres successfully.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) primarily achieve efficient wastewater purification through synergistic interactions among substrates, plants, and microorganisms. Serving as the structural foundation of the entire wetland system, substrates not only provide a growth medium for plants, but also serve as adhesive carriers for microorganisms and habitats for animal activities. Research on substrates has attracted considerable attention; however, in practical engineering applications, the selection of substrates often depend on personal experience, which may lead to significant gaps in the effectiveness of wetland systems in treating different characteristic contaminants. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the influence of substrates on the removal of contaminants in sewage and identify substrate materials with good physical and chemical properties to optimize the design and operation of CWs-based sewage-treatment systems and improve their purification efficiency. In this review, bibliometric analysis was conducted to using the Web of Science database and VOSviewer_1.6.20 software to assess the progress of research on CWs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of substrate types and characteristics based on recent research advancements in the field. Additionally, it discusses removal methods and the influence of factors related to conventional contaminants (COD, nitrogen, and phosphorus), heavy metals (HMs), fluorinated compounds, pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), and microplastics. A thorough evaluation was conducted on the economic costs of various substrates and their ability to remove major contaminants from water bodies, providing a reference for the further development of wetland technology.

ABSTRACT The tangerine pathotype of Alternaria alternata produces a host-selective toxin termed Alternaria citri toxin (ACT). The molecular mechanisms underlying the global regulation and biosynthesis of ACT remain unknown. In the present study, the function of an APSES transcription factor StuA was investigated. StuA was shown to be required for ACT biosynthesis and fungal virulence. StuA was found, for the first time, to physically interact with a pH-responsive transcription regulator PacC using yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and GST pull-down assays. Functional analyses revealed that StuA and PacC regulate the expression of genes involved in toxin biosynthesis and virulence. Mutation of stuA via targeted gene deletion or silencing pacC yielded fungal strains that decreased the expression of seven toxin biosynthetic genes (ACCT) and toxin production. EMSA analyses revealed that PacC could bind to the promoters of ACTT6 encoding an enoyl-CoA hydratase and ACTTR encoding an ACT pathway-specific transcription factor. Site-directed mutagenesis of five potential protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation sites in StuA revealed that none of the sites was involved in ACT production, indicating that the function of StuA in the regulation of ACT gene expression is not dependent on phosphorylation. Overall, our results confirmed that PacC is one of the key regulators interacting with StuA for the biosynthesis of ACT. Environmental pH may play a decisive role during A. alternata pathogenesis. Our results also revealed a previously unrecognized (StuA-PacC)→ACTTR module for the biosynthesis of ACT in A. alternata. IMPORTANCE In this study, we used Alternaria alternata as a biological model to report the role of StuA in phytopathogenic fungi. Our findings indicated that StuA is required for Alternaria citri toxin (ACT) biosynthesis and fungal virulence. In addition, StuA physically interacts with PacC. Disruption of stuA or pacC led to decreased expression of seven toxin biosynthetic genes (ACCT) and toxin production. PacC could recognize and bind to the promoter regions of ACTT6 and ACTTR. Our results revealed a previously unrecognized (StuA-PacC)→ACTTR module for the biosynthesis of ACT in A. alternata, which also provides a framework for the study of StuA in other fungi.

Citrus crops are affected by many fungal diseases. Among them, Citrus Black Spot caused by the ascomycete Phyllosticta citricarpa is particularly economically damaging wherever it occurs. Many other species of Phyllosticta are described on Citrus, but only P. citricarpa is considered a quarantine pest on the European continent. In order to prevent the introduction of this species into Europe, it is essential to have a detection test which can reliably identify it, and not confuse it with other species present on citrus, notably P. paracitricarpa. The latter taxon has recently been described as very close to P. citricarpa, and most detection tests do not allow to distinguish the two species. In this work, we exploited the genomic data of 37 isolates of Phyllosticta spp. from citrus, firstly to assess their phylogenetic relationships, and secondly to search for genomic regions that allowed the definition of species-specific markers of P. citricarpa. Analysis of 51 concatenated genes separated P. citricarpa and P. paracitricarpa in two phylogenetic clades. A locus was selected to define a hydrolysis probe and primers combination that could be used in real-time PCR for the specific detection of the quarantine species, to the exclusion of all others present on Citrus. This test was then thoroughly validated on a set of strains covering a wide geographical diversity, and on numerous biological samples to demonstrate its reliability for regulatory control. The validation data highlighted the need to check the reliability of the test in advance, when a change of reagents was being considered.

Abstract Background Balance training is the first choice of treatment for chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, there is a lack of research on the effects of balance training in CAI with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH). This study is to compare the outcomes of balance training in CAI patients with and without GJH. Methods Forty CAI patients were assigned into the GJH group (Beighton ≥ 4, 20) and non-GJH group (Beighton

Ni60 and WC composite coatings were prepared on 17-4PH martensitic stainless steel with 30 wt% agglomeration-sintering WC (AS-WC) or 30 wt% sintering-crushing WC (SC-WC) respectively. The results show that in the AS-WC doped coating, the WC particles are more easily melted and dispersed, and a large amount of acicular (Fe, Ni, W)23C6 carbides are dispersed throughout the coating. However, in the SC-WC doped coating, the melting is quite limited and only occurs at the outer edge of the WC particles, and a small amount of (Fe, Ni, W)23C6 precipitated in the coating. Owing to this microstructure difference, the AS-WC doped coating possesses higher hardness, the microhardness reached 622.27 HV0.2 which is 25.5% higher than the normal Ni60 coating without WC, and 10.0% higher than the SC-WC doped coating. Moreover, the wear resistance test results indicate that the AS-WC doped coating has the best wear resistance compared to the SC-WC doped coating and normal Ni60 coating without WC. Those findings help us to obtain better Ni-based high hardness coatings for industrial applications.

Abstract Background Selecting an appropriate and personalized Gn starting dose (GSD) is an essential procedure for determining the quality and quantity of oocytes in the controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) process of the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle. The current approach for determining the GSD is mainly based on the experience of a clinician, lacking unified and scientific standards. This study aims to establish a prediction model of GSD, based on which good COS outcomes can be achieved with the influencing factors comprehensively evaluated quantitatively. Material and methods We collected a total of 1555 patients undergoing the first oocytes retrieving cycle and conducted correlation analysis to find the significant factors related to the GSD. Two GSD models are built based on two popular machine learning approaches, and the one with better model performance is selected as the final model. Finally, clinical application and validation were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model. Results (1) Age, duration of infertility, type of infertility, body mass index (BMI), antral follicle count (AFC), basal follicle stimulating hormone (bFSH), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and COS treatment regimen were closely related to the GSD (P

Seedlessness in grape (Vitis vinifera) is an important commercial trait for both the fresh and drying markets. However, despite numerous studies, the mechanisms and key genes regulating grape seedlessness are mostly unknown. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of the V. vinifera seeded cultivar 'Red Globe’, the seedless cultivar 'Centennial Seedless’, and the derived hybrids. Nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by genome sequencing and analyzed using published transcriptome data. Nonsynonymous SNPs occurred in genes related to seed development, which were identified as protein kinases, transcription factors, and cytochrome P450s and showed differential expression during ovule development in both seeded and seedless grapes. These nonsynonymous SNP-associated genes were mainly involved in biological processes such as hormone balance, seed coat and endosperm development, reproductive organ development, oxidation and reduction, senescence and cell death. A potential quantitative trait locus (QTL) region associated with seed size was characterized based on the SNP-index, and expression analysis of candidate genes in the QTL region during ovule development in multiple seeded and seedless grape cultivars were conducted. Three SNPs were further subjected to SNaPshot analysis and one SNP in G8 showed 67.5% efficiency in the grape progeny validation. Overall, the data obtained in this study shed light on the differences in seed development between seeded and seedless progeny at the genomic level, which provides valuable resources for future functional studies and grape breeding.

Antioxidant molecules play a crucial role in maintaining redox homeostasis, eliminating oxidative damage, and regulating pathogenesis in phytopathogenic fungi. These antioxidants function through a complex regulatory network involving enzymatic scavengers such as the superoxide dismutases (SODs), catalases, thioredoxins, and glutathiones, as well as non-enzymatic molecules. Specifically, the thioredoxin and glutathione systems (AaTrr1, AaTsa1, AaGpx3, and AaGlr1) mediated by NADPH oxidase represent vital thiol antioxidant systems utilized to regulate the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Alternaria alternata. This present study investigated the regulatory roles of AaBemA, a component of the fungal NADPH oxidase (Nox) complex, in the tangerine pathotype of A. alternata. Loss-of-function genetic analysis demonstrated that AaBemA is essential for the accumulation of cellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Mutant strains with defective AaBemA displayed higher sensitivity to H2O2 and the ROS-generating oxidant tert-butyl-hydroperoxide. These phenotypes closely resembled those previously observed in AaNoxB, AaTrr1, AaTsa1, AaGlr1, and AaYap1 mutants, suggesting a potential interconnection among them. Notably, the defective phenotype of ΔAaBemA could be restored through genetic complementation with wildtype AaBemA gene. Subcellular localization of a functional AaBemA fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene under confocal microscope revealed a widespread distribution of green fluorescence in the cytoplasm and cell membrane, indicating high expression of AaBemA during fungal growth in A. alternata. Intriguingly, inactivation of AaBemA did not affect the morphological phenotype and pathogenicity, indicating that the AaBemA is dispensable for the aforementioned phenotypes. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of ROS stress response, we sequenced the whole transcriptomes of A. alternata wildtype and ROS-sensitive mutants (ΔAaBemA, ΔAaNoxB, ΔAaGlr1, ΔAaTrr1, ΔAaTsa1, ΔAaYap1) which displayed considerable sensitivity to oxidants. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed significant influence on the gene-expression pattern of numerous genes related to glutathione metabolism, cellular oxidant detoxification, cellular response to abiotic stimulus, and cellular response to osmotic stress. The gene-expression data and pathways related to various essential metabolic processes and ROS tolerance enabled us to propose a NADPH oxidase-mediated regulatory network involving NADPH oxidase (AaNoxB, AaBemA), AaYap1, glutaredoxin (AaGPx3, AaGlr1), and thioredoxin systems (AaTrr1, AaTsa1) in responding to ROS stress in A. alternata.

Objective: We aimed to explore a new method to reverse early relapse in patients with AML1-ETO–positive acute myeloid cell transplantation.Methods: A chidamide-based 3-drug combination regimen was used in our center to treat patients with AML1-ETO–positive AML post transplantation but negative flow cytometry results. A retrospective analysis was performed of the survival rate and possible influencing factors of patients with relapse treated with this regimen in our center from January 2018 to January 2022.Results: The overall response rate was 95.8% (23/24), and the median number of treatment courses was 4 (range, 3–12 courses). The total molecular complete response (MCR) was 79.1% (19/24) after all treatments, and the molecular complete response was 37.5% (9/24) after one cycle of treatment but reached 58.3% (14/24) after four cycles; overall, the proportion of MCR increased gradually with the increase in treatment cycles. The projected 5-year overall survival rate was 73.9%. The projected 5-year leukemia-free survival rate was 64.8%, and the projected 1-year cumulative relapse rate was 35.5%. The incidence of grade II–IV graft-versus-host diseases (GVHD) was 29.2% (7/24), and that of grade III–IV GVHD was 20.8% (5/24), which could be effectively controlled by glucocorticoid therapy combined with calcineurin inhibitors The total incidence of chronic GVHD was 29.2% (7/24), and all cases were localized chronic GVHD. The total infection rate was 33.3% (8/24), mainly involving bacterial and fungal infections, and the incidence of life-threatening infections was 4.17% (1/24). The treatment-related mortality rate was 0%; and the total mortality rate was 20.8% (5/24). Nausea and vomiting, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia were common adverse reactions, all of which were Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 2–3 events and reversible after drug withdrawal. In terms of immunity, Th1 cell counts gradually increased, Th17 cell counts gradually decreased, and the Th1/Th17 ratio gradually increased after treatment. The CD8+ T lymphocyte count increased gradually, while the CD4+ T lymphocyte count did not change significantly.Conclusion: Our chidamide-based 3-drug combination regimen led to a high remission rate and tolerable adverse reactions in patients with AML1-ETO–positive post-transplant relapse, and most patients can achieve long-term survival with this regimen.

Abstract Background For lateral ankle ligament rupture, surgical repair has been considered for patients requiring return to high-demanding sports. However, there is a lack of systematic research regarding arthroscopic treatment followed by ligament repair for severe acute ankle sprain. The purpose of this study was to analyze the mid-term outcomes of arthroscopy followed by open anatomic lateral ankle ligament repair surgery for acute lateral ankle sprain and the impact of ligament rupture site on the outcomes. Methods Professional or amateur athletes with clinically- and radiologically-confirmed grade III acute lateral ankle ligament injuries undergoing ankle arthroscopy followed by open anatomic ligament repair between June 2007 and May 2017 were reviewed. Intra-articular lesions and the location of rupture were first examined under arthroscopy. Simple suture repair was performed for mid- substance ligament rupture (middle group), while suture repair with anchors were used for the ruptures near the ligament attachment site on the fibular (proximal group), talar or the calcaneal side (distal group). Outcomes were evaluated at final follow-up, including visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Tegner score, time to return to sports, resumption of pre-injury sports level, sprain recurrence and range of motion (ROM). Results A total of 117 patients were included for analysis, with a mean follow-up duration of 46.4 ± 16.1 months. There were 48 (41%) cases in the proximal group, 41 (35%) cases in the middle group and 28 (24%) cases in the distal group respectively. At final follow-up, all of the VAS score, AOFAS score and the Tegner score were significantly improved from the pre-operative level (p

Spinach is a nutritious leafy vegetable growing worldwide. Here, the authors report a high-quality chromosome-scale reference genome assembly of spinach and genome resequencing of 305 accessions, and provide insights into spinach domestication and the genetic basis of agronomic traits.

This study investigates the green technology licensing strategies of firms with corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a duopoly market. The results show that in the absence of CSR, the optimal licensing contract is fixed-fee licensing for a patent holding firm. In the precent of CSR, the optimal licensing contract for a patent holding firm switches from fixed-fee licensing to royalty licensing with increasing level of CSR if the reduction cost of emissions is high. Moreover, we show that the profit goal of firm and the social welfare goal of government are not always mutually exclusive. If the level of CSR is low, a uniform licensing contract would be preferable. If the level of CSR is high, the optimal licensing contract is inconsistent. Finally, we show that CSR is not always beneficial to the social welfare while CSR benefits the environment. Social welfare benefits from increased CSR degree, but vice versa is true when CSR degree decreases. This research may provide valuable insights into licensing and CSR literature. First published online 19 October 2022

Abstract Background Current classifications emphasize the morphology of the coalition, however, subtalar joint facets involved should also be emphasized. Objective The objective of this study was to develop a new classification system based on the articular facets involved to cover all coalitions and guide operative planning. Methods Patients were diagnosed with talocalcaneal coalition using a CT scan, between January 2009 and February 2021. The coalition was classified into four main types according to the shape and nature of the coalition: I, inferiorly overgrown talus or superiorly overgrown calcaneus; II, both talus and calcaneus overgrew; III, coalition with an accessory ossicle; IV, complete osseous coalition (I-III types are non-osseous coalition). Then each type was further divided into three subtypes according to the articular facets involved. A, the coalition involving the anterior facets; M, the coalition involving the middle facets, and P, the coalition involving the posterior facets. Interobserver reliability was measured at the main type (based on nature and shape) and subtype (articular facet involved) using weighted Kappa. Results There were 106 patients (108 ft) included in this study. Overall, 8 ft (7.5%) were classified as type I, 75 ft (69.4%) as type II, 7 ft (6.5%) as type III, and 18 ft (16.7%) as type IV. Twenty-nine coalitions (26.9%) involved the posterior facets only (subtype-P), 74 coalitions (68.5%) involved both the middle and posterior facets (subtype-MP), and five coalitions (4.6%) simultaneously involved the anterior, middle, and posterior facets (subtype-AMP). Type II-MP coalition was the most common. The value of weighted Kappa for the main type was 0.93 (95%CI 0.86–0.99) (p

Alternaria brown spot (ABS), caused by Alternaria alternata, is an economically important fungal disease of citrus worldwide. The ABS pathogen A. alternata tangerine pathotype can produce a host-specific ACT toxin, which is regulated by ACT toxin gene cluster located in the conditionally dispensable chromosome (CDC). Previously, we have assembled a draft genome of A. alternata tangerine pathotype strain Z7, which comprises 165 contigs. In this study, we report a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. alternata Z7 through the combination of Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Illumina sequencing technologies. The assembly of A. alternata Z7 had a total size of 34.28 Mb, with a GC content of 51.01% and contig N50 of 3.08 Mb. The genome is encompassed 12,067 protein-coding genes, 34 ribosomal RNAs, and 107 transfer RNAs. Interestingly, A. alternata Z7 is composed of 10 essential chromosomes and 2 CDCs, which is consistent with the experimental evidences of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. To our best knowledge, this is the first chromosome-level genome assembly of A. alternata. In addition, a database for citrus-related Alternaria genomes has been established to provide public resources for the sequences, annotation and comparative genomics data of Alternaria spp. The improved genome sequence and annotation at the chromosome level is a significant step toward a better understanding of the pathogenicity of A. alternata. The database will be updated regularly whenever the genomes of newly isolated Alternaria spp. are available. The citrus-related Alternaria genomes database is open accessible through the Citrus Fungal Disease Database.[Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

The present study provides a comprehensive overview of the Bacillus velezensis strain Htq6, and its potential applications in plant disease control. Htq6 is an endophytic bacterium derived from walnut, which was found to possess a strong inhibitory effect on a wide range of plant pathogenic microorganisms and was identified as a good plant disease control agent. The entire genome of the Bacillus velezensis Htq6 was sequenced, and a comparative genomic analysis was conducted with various Bacillus species in order to better understand the mechanism of the strain’s biological control. At the same time, a new classification result was presented. Additionally, transcriptome analysis was performed to explore the response mechanism of tomato gray mold fungus after treatment with the fermentation liquid of Bacillus velezensis Htq6. The study analyzed the distribution of various secondary metabolite gene clusters in the Bacillus model strains and employed RNA-Seq technology to obtain transcriptome expression profiles. Furthermore, the cell wall, cell membrane, and antioxidant-related genes of Botrytis cinerea were analyzed, providing insight into the antibacterial mechanism of biocontrol bacteria and the stress response mechanism of Botrytis cinerea. The results of the research are promising, and could potentially lead to the development of an effective biocontrol agent for the prevention and control of various plant diseases.

Phyllosticta spp. are important pathogens of citrus plants. Several Phyllosticta species associated with Citrus species grown in China have been reported; however, the relative prevalences of individual species and the distributions of their genotypes among host Citrus species remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted an extensive survey of Phyllosticta species across 11 citrus-producing provinces in southern China. From fruits and leaves with black spots or black-spot-like symptoms, a total of 461 Phyllosticta strains were isolated. Based on molecular (ITS, actA, tef1, gapdh, LSU, and rpb2 sequences) and morphological data, the strains were systematically identified as belonging to five species: P. capitalensis, P. citrichinaensis, P. citriasiana, P. citricarpa, and P. paracitricarpa. To further understand intraspecific genetic diversity and relationships, strains of five species from different geographic and host sources were analyzed based on the multilocus sequence data. Our population genetic analyses revealed that all five Phyllosticta species on citrus showed evidence for clonal dispersals within and among geographic regions. In addition, pathogenicity tests using representative strains showed that all five species can cause disease on the tested Citrus spp. We discuss the implications of our results for the control and management of Citrus Black Spot and related diseases.

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the mid- to long-term outcome of concurrent arthroscopic treatment of osteochondral lesion (OCL) and open anatomical repair of lateral ankle ligaments for severe acute ankle sprain patients and compare them to the outcome of those without OCL.MethodsA total of 166 patients with grade III acute lateral ankle ligament injuries underwent concurrent ankle arthroscopy and open anatomic ligament repair. Forty-three patients (group A) with OCL underwent arthroscopic treatment followed by open ligament repair. A total of 105 patients (group B) without OCL were followed up as the control. The evaluation parameters included sports recovery, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Tegner score, sprain recurrence, satisfaction, and range of motion. Patients in group A were then subgroup-analyzed according to age, sex, body mass index, injury side, OCL location, and stage (Ferkel and Cheng’s staging system).ResultsThe postoperative exercise level of the two groups recovered to more than 90% of the normal level (91.2% ± 11.2% in group A and 90.9% ± 13.3% in group B, n.s.). The average time of group A and group B to return to preinjury sports activity was respectively 4.4 ± 1.0 months and 4.4 ± 1.2 months with no significant difference (p = 0.716). No significant differences were found in the preoperation VAS pain score, AOFAS score, and Tegner score between the two groups. The postoperative VAS pain score in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (0.8 ± 1.7 vs. 0.3 ± 0.8, p = 0.027), but the difference was not clinically important. The postoperative VAS pain score of patients with stage D–F lesions was significantly higher than that of patients with stage B–C lesions (1.3 ± 2.1 vs. 0.3 ± 0.9, p = 0.038).ConclusionsFor the severe acute ankle sprain combined with OCL, the simultaneous arthroscopic treatment and open lateral ankle ligament repair achieved good mid- to long-term outcomes. Except that the pain was more pronounced than in the control group, there were no differences in other outcomes. Postoperative pain was positively correlated with the grade of OCL.

Ideal bone scaffolds require good biocompatibility and moderate mechanical properties, so as to promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cells, and achieve the good bone repair. Inspired by the porous structure of cancellous bone, 15 groups of bone scaffolds with variable irregularity (Ir1-5) and porosity (35.53–61.75%) were designed and fabricated by ceramic digital light processing (DLP) using 20 wt% hydroxyapatite doped zirconia as the matrix material. The effects of structural parameters and material on mechanical properties and biocompatibility were studied. The shrinkage test results showed that the density of scaffolds was mainly affected by the porosity. The mechanical test results showed that Ir2 and Ir3 scaffolds had better compressive behaviors, and the compressive strength could be increased by 30% by regulating the irregularity. All scaffolds showed comparable mechanical properties to that of cancellous bone. Cell experiments showed that the effect of structure on cell proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization was most evident at the early stage of implantation. Meanwhile, the biocompatibility variation with the irregularity was consistent with mechanical properties. This study proved that a bio-inspired bone scaffold with excellent comprehensive properties could be obtained through reasonable design.

Abstract Background The best treatment for acute Achilles tendon ruptures remains controversial. No cohort studies have compared different immobilisation durations after open surgery. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the optimal duration of immobilisation after this surgery. Methods A total of 266 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture were divided into 4 groups (A, B, C, and D) according to immobilisation duration of 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks, respectively. All patients underwent the same suture technique with a similar rehabilitation protocol and were examined clinically at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 24, and 48 weeks, with a final follow-up at a mean of 22.3 months postoperatively. The primary outcome was the time of return to light sports activity (LSA). Secondary outcomes included range of motion (ROM) and single-legged heel rise height (SHRH). Data on operation time, complications, visual analogue pain scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, and Achilles tendon Total Rupture score (ATRS) were also collected. Demographic baseline data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance; outcome parameters were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis H test, and complications were analysed using Fisher’s exact test. Statistical significance was considered at P ≤ 0.05. Results VAS scores decreased significantly, reaching 0 in all groups after 12 weeks. The AOFAS and ATRS scores were significantly different between the groups from weeks 2 to 12 (P

Host-pathogen interactions are the result of the continuously evolving dynamics of the genomic interphases between pathogens and the host plants. Alternaria brown spot (ABS) caused by the pathogen Alternaria alternata is a serious threat to tangerine production. Although recent studies have made significant advances in the characterization of A. alternata virulence factors, a gap exists in the regulation of virulent genes throughout the course of A. alternata infection on host plants. To gain a better understanding of the dynamic defense transcriptome in Alternaria alternata during Infection, we performed a comparative transcriptome approach. After inoculation on citrus, we found that 2142, 1964, 2359 genes were up-regulated, and 1948, 1434, 1996 genes were down-regulated at 12 hours-post-inoculation (hpi), 24 hpi and 48 hpi, respectively. Among these genes, 1333 genes were up-regulated at three time points, and 1054 genes were down-regulated, indicating that most of the differentially expressed genes at the early stage of infection tended to remain differentially expressed at the later stage of infection. In addition to the genes that are known to be part of the infection network in plant-pathogen interactions, many novel genes related to plant-pathogen interaction were identified. Interestingly, our results indicate that A. alternata is able to rapidly alter its gene expression pattern during infection process, which is vital for the successful colonization of the pathogen. Moreover, this rapid alteration of gene expression is likely to be an adaptive mechanism, enabling the pathogen to quickly respond to any changes in the environment and adapt to the host’s defense system. This ability to modify gene expression quickly in the face of environmental changes could play a critical role in the successful establishment of infection. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed that the expression pattern of nine randomly selected genes from the peroxisome pathway were consistent with the RNA-seq data. Our study provided a comprehensive study of the expression of genes during A. alternata infection of citrus, which may facilitate the understanding of host-plant interactions in A. alternata.

The MYB transcription factor superfamily includes key regulators of plant development and responses to environmental changes. The diversity of lifestyles and morphological characteristics exhibited by plants are potentially associated with the genomic dynamics of the MYB superfamily. With the release of the plant genomes, a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of the MYB superfamily across Viridiplantae is allowed. The present study performed phylogenetic, phylogenomic, syntenic, horizontal gene transfer, and neo/sub-functionalization analysis of the MYB superfamily to explore the evolutionary contributions of MYB members to species diversification, trait formation, and environmental adaptation in 437 different plant species. We identified major changes in copy number variation and genomic context within subclades across lineages. Multiple MYB subclades showed highly conserved copy number patterns and synteny across flowering plants, whereas others were more dynamic and showed lineage-specific patterns. As examples of lineage-specific morphological divergence, we hypothesize that the gain of a MYB orthogroup associated with flower development and environmental responses and an orthogroup associated with auxin and wax biosynthesis in angiosperms were correlated with the emergence of flowering plants, unbiased neo-/sub-functionalization of gene duplicates contributed to environmental adaptation, and species-specific neo-/sub-functionalization contributed to phenotype divergence between species. Transposable element insertion in promoter regions may have facilitated the sub-/neo-functionalization of MYB genes and likely played a tissue-specific role contributing to sub-/neo-functionalization in plant root tissues. This study provides new insights into the evolutionary divergence of the MYB superfamily across major flowering and non-flowering lineages and emphasizes the need for lineage-/tissue-specific characterization to further understand trait variability and environmental adaptation.

To analyze the genetic structure and genetic diversity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides as the dominant Colletotrichum species on Citrus, the Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) genetic diversity, including 63 strains isolated and selected from 8 different sites and 5 different citrus species, was studied. A total of 19 GAPDH haplotypes were identified by genetic analysis, and the main haplotype (haplotype 5) was distributed in 28 isolates, mainly from Citrus unchiu Hort. ex Tanaka (WG) and Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Succosa (BDZ) in Huangyan (HY), Linhai (LH), and Jiande (JD) of Zhejiang province, and Mashui tangerine (MSJ) in Mengshan of Guangxi province (GX). Using the genetic differentiation index, Fst revealed significant genetic differentiation in C. gloeosporioides populations between Jiangxi province (JXGZ) and GX, HY, LH, JD, and Chun’an (CA) of Zhejiang province, and also revealed slightly less genetic differentiation for C. gloeosporioides populations between HY, LH, JD, GX, Shaanxi province (SX), and Quzhou (QZ) of Zhejiang province. In addition, Fst revealed great genetic differentiation between the C. gloeosporioides populations obtained from MSJ and Citrus paradise Macf (PTY), and also revealed weak genetic differentiation between the C. gloeosporioides populations obtained from Citrus sinensis Osbeck (QC), WG, and BDZ. The AMOVA test showed that the levels of genetic differentiation for C. gloeosporioides were 19% and 81% among and within geographic populations, respectively. It also showed that C. gloeosporioides had levels of genetic differentiation among and within host populations of 12% and 88%, respectively. The Mantel test showed that the genetic distance was not linearly correlated with geographical distance and the haplotype phylogenetic analysis showed that C. gloeosporioides from different regions and hosts were scattered in the phylogenetic tree, implying that the genetic differentiation was independent of host variety and geographical origin. We speculated that genetic differentiation may be mainly due to gene mutation, gene recombination, or gene migration within native populations and has nothing to do with natural selection triggered by geography or host variety.

Solanum pimpinellifolium (SP) is the progenitor of cultivated tomato and an important germplasm. Here, the authors assemble SP genome, identify structural variants (SVs) by comparing with modern cultivar, reveal SVs associated with important breeding traits, and detect SVs harboring master regulators of fruit quality traits.

Abstract Purpose Muscle strength training is a common strategy for treating chronic ankle instability (CAI), but the effectiveness decreases for mechanical ankle instability (MAI) patients with initial severe ligament injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and the potential predictors of muscle strength deficit in MAI patients, with a view to proposing a more targeted muscle strength training strategy. Methods A total of 220 MAI patients with confirmed initial lateral ankle ligament rupture and a postinjury duration of more than 6 months were included. All patients underwent a Biodex isokinetic examination of the ankle joints of both the affected and unaffected sides. Then, the associations between the limb symmetry index (LSI) (mean peak torque of the injury side divided by that of the healthy side) and the patients’ sex, body mass index, postinjury duration, presence of intra-articular osteochondral lesions, presence of osteophytes and ligament injury pattern (i.e., isolated anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury or combined with calcaneofibular ligament injury) were analysed. Results There was significantly weaker muscle strength on the affected side than on the unaffected side in all directions (p

Abstract Background To determine the effectiveness and sustainability of supervised balance training in people with chronic ankle instability (CAI) with grade III ligament injury. Methods Twenty young adults (12 males and 8 females) diagnosed with CAI with grade III ligament injury underwent 3 months of supervised balance training. The self‐reported functional questionnaire, plantar pressure (walking and single leg standing), and isokinetic ankle strength were consecutively evaluated at pre‐training, 3 months, 6 months and one year. Paired T tests were used to explore changes in muscle strength and plantar pressures following the supervised balance training. According to whether the patient had sprain recurrence, the patients were divided into sprain recurrence group and control group. The risk factors of sprain recurrence were explored with univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression. Results The self‐reported functional scores, the plantar pressure distribution and the muscle strength showed significant immediate improvements after 3 months of supervised balance training. At 6 months post‐training, peak force under 2nd metatarsal, time to peak force under the medial hindfoot, time to boundary measurements and dorsiflexion, and eversion strength were partly declined to the pre‐training level. 16 patients (80%) resumed the daily life and sports without sprain recurrence during the follow‐up. Four patients (20%) reported ankle sprain during the follow‐up, and the sprain recurrence group showed significantly higher Beighton scores (p = 0.012) and weaker initial inversion strength (p = 0.022) than the control group. Conclusions Three months' of supervised balance training could effectively improve postural control and muscle strength of CAI cases with grade III ligament injury, although these improvements would partially deceased over time. Additional strength exercises for dorsiflexion and eversion should be supplemented from 6 months. Higher Beighton score and initial inversion muscle strength weakness might increase the risk of sprain recurrence. Trial registration ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900023999, Registered 21 June 2019, https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=39984&htm=4

Abstract Background Achilles sleeve avulsion usually occurs from pre-existing insertional Achilles tendinopathy, leaving a calcific spur at the insertional site. The purpose of this study was to introduce a new technique using the spur base on the insertional site to drill the suture tunnel to repair Achilles sleeve avulsion. Methods In total, 11 patients diagnosed with Achilles sleeve avulsion underwent this new surgical technique and were followed for a mean time of 40 months. Clinical outcomes were measured using the visual analog scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score, Tegner score, and time taken to return to activities. Preoperative and postoperative MRI, the ability to perform heel rise, and complications were also evaluated. Results All cases (11/11) had insertional Achilles tendinopathy with calcific spur formation on the tendon’s insertion. At final follow-up, the average VAS score improved from 5.3 to 0.1, AOFAS score improved from 44.8 to 97.9, VISA-A score improved from 23.6 to 96.6, and Tegner score improved from 0.9 to 4.9. Tendinopathy symptoms were eliminated. Patients returned to daily activities, work, and sports 3.5 months, 2.8 months, and 12.3months after operation, respectively. Patients took an average of 18.1 weeks after operation to perform the single heel rise test. No severe complications such as infection and rerupture were observed. Conclusion Our new transosseous suture technique is a promising alternative option in treating Achilles sleeve avulsion. More cases and longer follow up are needed in order to find the best reconstructive option for this pathology. Levels of evidence Level IV

Human bone cells live in a complex environment, and the biomimetic design of porous structures attached to implants is in high demand. Porous structures based on Voronoi tessellation with biomimetic potential are gradually used in bone repair scaffolds. In this study, the mechanical properties and permeability of trabecular-like porous scaffolds with different porosity levels and average apertures were analyzed. The mechanical properties of bone-implant scaffolds were evaluated using finite element analysis and a mechanical compression experiment, and the permeability was studied by computational fluid dynamics. Finally, the attachment of cells was observed by confocal fluorescence microscope. The results show that the performance of porous structures can be controlled by the initial design of the microstructure and tissue morphology. A good structural design can accurately match the performance of the natural bone. The study of mechanical properties and permeability of the porous structure can help address several problems, including stress shielding and bone ingrowth in existing biomimetic bone structures, and will also promotes cell adhesion, migration, and eventual new bone attachment.

Histone acetylation, which is critical for transcriptional regulation and various biological processes in eukaryotes, is a reversible dynamic process regulated by HATs and HDACs. This study determined the function of 6 histone acetyltransferases (HATs) (Gcn5, RTT109, Elp3, Sas3, Sas2, Nat3) and 6 histone deacetylases (HDACs) (Hos2, Rpd3, Hda1, Hos3, Hst2, Sir2) in the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata by analyzing targeted gene deletion mutants. Our data provide evidence that HATs and HDACs are both required for mycelium growth, cell development and pathogenicity as many gene deletion mutants (ΔGcn5, ΔRTT109, ΔElp3, ΔSas3, ΔNat3, ΔHos2, and ΔRpd3) displayed reduced growth, conidiation or virulence at varying degrees. In addition, HATs and HDACs are involved in the resistance to multiple stresses such as oxidative stress (Sas3, Gcn5, Elp3, RTT109, Hos2), osmotic stress (Sas3, Gcn5, RTT109, Hos2), cell wall-targeting agents (Sas3, Gcn5, Hos2), and fungicide (Gcn5, Hos2). ΔGcn5, ΔSas3, and ΔHos2 displayed severe growth defects on sole carbon source medium suggesting a vital role of HATs and HDACs in carbon source utilization. More SNPs were generated in ΔGcn5 in comparison to wild-type when they were exposed to ultraviolet ray. Moreover, ΔRTT109, ΔGcn5, and ΔHos2 showed severe defects in resistance to DNA-damaging agents, indicating the critical role of HATs and HDACs in DNA damage repair. These phenotypes correlated well with the differentially expressed genes in ΔGcn5 and ΔHos2 that are essential for carbon sources metabolism, DNA damage repair, ROS detoxification, and asexual development. Furthermore, Gcn5 is required for the acetylation of H3K4. Overall, our study provides genetic evidence to define the central role of HATs and HDACs in the pathological and biological functions of A. alternata.

Alternaria brown spot disease is caused by the Alternaria alternata tangerine pathotype, which relies on ACT-toxin for infection. At present, all identified ACT-toxin biosynthesis-related genes are multi-copy genes. In this study, we summarized the advances in important host-specific toxins (HSTs), and listed key genes required for the pathogenicity of the A. alternata tangerine pathotype. Toxin virulence test results revealed that different citrus species displayed distinctly different tolerances to ACT-toxin. The extraction method of ACT-toxin crude extract was described in schematic form to make the method easier to understand. In addition, target gene disruption of two copies of ACTT5 (∆∆ACTT5) displayed significantly reduced virulence, indicating that ACTT5 is essential for the pathogenicity of the A. alternata tangerine pathotype.

Additive parts made of 2205 duplex stainless steel were fabricated by cold metal transfer (CMT) wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), and their microstructure and properties were systematically studied. The X-ray diffraction results show that austenite phase and ferrite phase were formed in the additive parts. Due to the low heat input characteristics of CMT-WAAM, no σ phase was observed. The microstructure in the additive parts was different from the bottom to the top, with the content of austenite phase gradually increasing and that of ferrite gradually decreasing. The EBSD results indicate that the ferrite phase in the bottom part grew parallel to the normal direction of {100}. However, the ferrite phase in the middle part grew parallel to the plane composed of the build direction and normal direction, and along {100} and {111}. The effect of the ferrite and austenite contents on the mechanical performance of the additive parts was simulated using the LAMMPS software. The simulation results exhibit a common characteristic in that the dislocations move mainly along the 1/6 crystallographic direction families. The simulated maximum tensile stress values of the bottom, middle, and top parts were 23.3 GPa, 22.3 Gpa, and 22.5 Gpa, respectively. The data from the bottom tensile strength simulation were consistent with the actual data, and the bottom tensile strength was the largest in the actual tensile process.

Abstract Background Pretension of the viscoelastic graft by cyclic knee motion has been confirmed to decrease the graft creep and improve the outcome of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of cyclic knee motion on the elongation of the four-strand hamstring tendon autograft in situ and to explore the stable level cycle, in which the tendon length achieved a stable level. Methods The study was performed with 53 consecutive patients undergoing transtibial ACL reconstruction with four strand hamstring tendon from Aug 2013 to Apr 2015. 43 males and 10 females were included with mean age of 29 ± 10 years. The pretension of the tendons was operated by cyclical knee motion ranging from 0 to 110°after the femoral fixation with Endo-button. The tendon length after 10, 20, 30 and 40 cycles was measured respectively and compared by repeated measure ANOVA. Then multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the effect of the patients’ parameters (age, gender, height, body weight, tendon length, etc.) on the elongation of the graft and the stable level cycle. Results The mean lengthening of the graft at 10, 20, 30 and 40 times was 3.0 ± 1.4 mm, 4.3 ± 1.5 mm, 4.8 ± 1.7 mm and 4.8 ± 1.8 mm respectively. No significant correlation was found between the elongation and the patients’ parameters. There was significant difference of the tendon length from 0 to 30 cycles (F = 264.8, df = 1.95, p

Loquat fruit: Investigating spoilage during cold storage Next-generation sequencing of loquat fruit stored in different ways reveals the genes and proteins that help reduce fruit spoil. Loquat fruit become rigid and woody during cold storage, thanks to the build-up of lignin polymers in the fruit flesh. Lignification can be prevented with exposure to heat or preconditioning to cool temperatures before cold storage. Zhangjin Fei at Cornell University, New York, US, Qingbiao Wu at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, and co-workers used comparative RNA sequencing to explore the molecular mechanisms inherent in lignification. The team placed three loquat groups in post-harvest cold storage for 8 days: one pre-treated with heat, one conditioned at cool temperatures, and one with no pre-treatment. They identified key genetic differences between the groups and several protein families that may regulate lignification.

Sweetpotato is an important food security crop providing rich source of macro- and micronutrients including carbohydrates and vitamins. Here, the authors assemble of the two diploid relatives of cultivated sweetpotato and identify genes and alleles associated with carotenoid biosynthesis from breeding lines.

Cucumber: Core collection for future crop improvement Genetic analysis of the US cucumber collection provides valuable insights into the plant’s diversity and generates a core resource for future research. Breeding crop plants requires in-depth understanding of plant genetics and the identification of key genes that enhance traits such as disease and stress resistance. Zhangjun Fei at the Boyce Thompson Institute in Ithaca, Rebecca Grumet at Michigan State University, and co-workers across the US used high-throughput genetic sequencing to characterize the 1,234 cucumber accessions held by the US National Plant Germplasm System. The team uncovered 23,000 specific genome variations that revealed the genetic diversity, population structure and genetic differentiation of the cucumber. They identified genome regions associated with 13 traits important to cultivation and selected 395 accessions covering 96 percent of the collection’s genetic variation to make a publicly accessible core of data.