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The plant B3 gene superfamily contains a large number of transcription factors playing a vital role in both vegetative growth and reproductive development in plants. Although several B3 genes have been well studied, molecular functions of the B3 genes in olive are largely unknown. In our study, a total of 200 B3 genes were identified in olive genome based on RNA-seq and comparative genomic analyses and further classified into five groups (i.e., REM, RAV, LAV, HSI, and ARF) based on phylogenetic analysis. Results of gene structure and motif composition analyses revealed diversified functions among these five groups of B3 genes. Results of genomic duplication and syntenic analyses indicated the gene expansion in the B3 genes. Results of gene expression based on both transcriptomics and relative expression revealed the tissue-biased expression patterns in B3 genes. The results of the comparative expression analysis of B3 genes between two olive cultivars with high and low oil contents identified several potential REM genes which may be involved in oil biosynthesis in olive. Based on the comprehensive characterization of the molecular structures and functions of B3 genes in olive genome, our study provided novel insights into the potential roles of B3 transcription factors in oil biosynthesis in olive and lays the groundwork for the functional explorations into this research field.

Seed storability (SS), also called seed longevity, is a valuable trait for seed banks and providing reliable crop seeds to farmers, which is usually negatively correlated to lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. In this study, the seed storability of 60 accessions of CIMMYT core wheat germplasm panel (CIMCOG) was investigated through artificial aging (AA) test, including three parameters relative germination potential (RGP), relative germination rate (RGR) and relative seedling vigor index (RVI). Significant positive relationships were observed among RGP, RGR and RVI. And the genotypes at three LOX activity related QTLs/genes QLpx.caas-4B, QLpx.caas-1AL and TaLOX-B1 were also identified with published trait-associated molecular markers. For QLpx.caas-4B, a total of five alleles were detected at the locus of Xgwm251, and one marker-trait association was identified for RVI. Four and two alleles were detected at the loci of QLpx.caas-1AL and TaLoxB1 that were significantly associated with RGP, RGR and RVI, respectively. A total of 9 haplotypes were detected at three lipoxygenase activity related gene loci, and the haplotype of three lipoxygenase loci showed a significant association with RGP, RGR and RVI. The haplotype of Xgwm251-125bp + Xwmc312-247bp + TaLox-B1b produced seeds with the best storability in the CIMCOG, which could benefit the breeding for wheat with good seed storability.

Members of the EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR-LIKE (EPFL) family play diverse roles in plant growth and development, including the guidance of inflorescence architecture and pedicel length. In this work, we identified and characterized the EFPL gene TaEPFL1 from the wheat pistillody mutant HTS-1. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that TaEPFL1 belongs to the EPFL1 gene. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the TaEPFL1 gene is expressed at an abnormally high level in pistillody stamens compared with that in pistils and stamens. Heterologous expression of the TaEPFL1 gene in Arabidopsis caused shortened filaments and pedicels and might reduce the level of AtACO2 gene expression. These results suggest that TaEPFL1 plays an important role in the development of stamen and that overexpression of TaEPFL1 results in abnormal stamens. We deduced that the overexpression of the TaEPFL1 gene may contribute to the homeotic transformation of stamens into pistils or pistil-like structures in wheat. These data offer insights into the molecular mechanism of pistillody mutation in wheat.

Novel fluorescent sequence-related amplified polymorphism (FSRAP) markers were developed based on the SRAP molecular marker. Then, the FSRAP markers were used to construct the genetic map of a wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) recombinant inbred line population derived from a Chuanmai 42?Chuannong 16 cross. Reproducibility and polymorphism tests indicated that the FSRAP markers have repeatability and better reflect the polymorphism of wheat varieties compared with SRAP markers. A total of 430 polymorphic loci between Chuanmai 42 and Chuannong 16 were detected with 189 FSRAP primer combinations. A total of 281 FSARP markers and 39 SSR markers re classified into 20 linkage groups. The maps spanned a total length of 2499.3cM with an average distance of 7.81cM between markers. A total of 201 markers were mapped on the B genome and covered a distance of 1013cM. On the A genome, 84 markers were mapped and covered a distance of 849.6cM. On the D genome, however, only 35 markers were mapped and covered a distance of 636.7cM. No FSRAP markers were distributed on the 7D chromosome. The results of the present study revealed that the novel FSRAP markers can be used to generate dense, uniform genetic maps of wheat.

Olea europaea leaves are the major byproduct of olive farming. In this study, ultrasound-assisted extraction of flavonoids from olive leaves was optimized using response surface methodology, and the flavonoid compounds and their antioxidant and anticancer activities were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the optimized conditions for achieving the maximum yield of flavonoids (74.95 mg RE/g dm) were 50 &deg, C temperature, 270 W power, 50 min time, and 41 mL/g liquid-solid ratio. There was a significant difference in the total flavonoid content between the aged and young leaves harvested in April and July, and six main components were quantified. Among them, luteolin-4&rsquo, O-glucoside was the most predominant flavonoid compound, followed by apigenin-7-O-glucoside and rutin. Olive leaves also contained small amounts of luteolin, apigenin, and quercetin. Additionally, excellent antioxidant activity was exhibited when tested with the DPPH assay, superoxide radical-scavenging ability and reducing power was also tested. The anticancer activity of the flavonoids was assessed using HeLa cervical cancer cells, and it was observed that increasing concentrations of olive leaf flavonoids resulted in decreased cancer cell viability. These results suggest that the flavonoids from olive leaves could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants for the pharmaceutical and food industries.

High molecular weight (HMW) glutenin, one of the important storage proteins of wheat, mainly confers end-use quality of wheat grain. Among the loci of HMW-GS, the locus D1 determines the breaking quality of bread wheat dough mostly. Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) inherits vast genetic diversity in the D genome of Aegilops tauschii and has gradually been used as a bridge-tool for wheat improvement. Therefore, more and more HMW-GS subunit types of Ae. tauschii have been introgressed into the common wheat with irresistible application of SHW in wheat breeding. However, the traditional SDS-PAGE couldn’t distinguish Dtx5 of Ae. tauschii from Dx5 of common wheat. In this study, we developed two AS-PCR markers based on three SNPs in the HMW-GS D1 sequences of Ae. tauschii and common wheat. The sharp and stable fragments amplified by designed AS-PCR primers indicated their availability and convenience in Dtx5 and Dx5 identification. And Dx5 of common wheat obtained the amplified fragments by AS-PCR primers, while no fragment was amplified for Dtx5 of Ae. tauschii. And the amplified results were consistent in both pairs of AS-PCR primers. Moreover, Dtx5 is more highly homologous with Dx2 than Dx5 from their protein sequences.

The seasonal changes in the chemical composition of Olea europaea leaves from January to December at Liangshan (China) have been investigated. The highest total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and free amino acid content (FAAC) levels were found in May and December, while the lowest levels were detected in April and September. The soluble protein content (SPC) and the soluble sugar content (SSC) were highest in spring but lowest in summer and winter. The levels of major phenolic compounds, including oleuropein, and luteolin-4&rsquo, O-glucoside, followed by apigenin-7-O-glucoside, quercetin, rutin, luteolin, and apigenin, increased during spring and winter but decreased during summer and autumn. In addition, phenolic extracts (PEs) showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide radical scavenging activity assays, the reducing power was tested. The anticancer activities of PE at various concentrations were assessed by a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and the IC50 (50% effective concentration) to HEK293, HeLa, and S180 cells were 841.48, 7139, and 457.69 &mu, g/mL, respectively. PE-treated S180 cells inhibited proliferation through activation of caspase-3/9 and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Thus, PE in Liangshan olive leaves possessed strong antioxidant and anticancer potential, and spring and winter were determined as optimal harvesting seasons.

Four polysaccharides (LVP-u, LVP-m, LVP-e, and LVP-h) were extracted from the fruiting bodies of Lactarius vividus by an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method, microwave-assisted extraction method, enzyme-assisted extraction method, and hot water extraction method, respectively. Then, the effect of extraction methods on yields, preliminary structural properties, and antioxidant activities was systematically investigated using the weighing method, chemical composition analysis, high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), radical scavenging, and metal ion chelating assays. Results demonstrated that the four L. vividus polysaccharides (LVPs) were all combined with protein, and the yield of LVP-u was higher than others. Molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide and amino acid compositions, and microstructures among the four LVPs were significantly different. Moreover, the LVPs showed significant antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner, and LVP-e demonstrated better antioxidant activities in superoxide anion radical scavenging activity assays and metal ion chelating activity assays, while LVP-u showed higher activity in its hydroxyl radical scavenging ability.