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Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is an important and devastating disease of wheat () caused by the fungus and related pathogens. Using two distinct susceptible cultivars, we...
Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is an important and devastating disease of wheat () caused by the fungus and related pathogens. Using two distinct susceptible cultivars, we investigated the isolation frequencies of and quantified its biomass accumulation and the levels of the associated toxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and DON-3-glucoside (D3G) in inoculated field-grown wheat plants. We detected in stem, peduncle, rachis, and husk tissues, but not in grains, whereas DON and D3G accumulated in stem, rachis, husk, and grain tissues. Disease severity was positively correlated with the frequency of pathogen isolation, biomass, and mycotoxin levels. The amount of biomass and mycotoxin contents in asymptomatic tissue of diseased plants were associated with the distance of the tissue from the diseased internode and the disease severity of the plant. Thus, apparently healthy tissue may harbor and contain associated mycotoxins. This research helps clarify the relationship between occurrence, biomass, and mycotoxin accumulation in tissues of susceptible wheat cultivars with or without disease symptoms, providing information that can lead to more effective control measures.
PubMed: 38835863
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1356723 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Currently, the control of rhizosphere selection on farms has been applied to achieve enhancements in phenotype, extending from improvements in single root... (Review)
Review
Currently, the control of rhizosphere selection on farms has been applied to achieve enhancements in phenotype, extending from improvements in single root characteristics to the dynamic nature of entire crop systems. Several specific signals, regulatory elements, and mechanisms that regulate the initiation, morphogenesis, and growth of new lateral or adventitious root species have been identified, but much more work remains. Today, phenotyping technology drives the development of root traits. Available models for simulation can support all phenotyping decisions (root trait improvement). The detection and use of markers for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) are effective for enhancing selection efficiency and increasing reproductive genetic gains. Furthermore, QTLs may help wheat breeders select the appropriate roots for efficient nutrient acquisition. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or alignment of sequences can only be helpful when they are associated with phenotypic variation for root development and elongation. Here, we focus on major root development processes and detail important new insights recently generated regarding the wheat genome. The first part of this review paper discusses the root morphology, apical meristem, transcriptional control, auxin distribution, phenotyping of the root system, and simulation models. In the second part, the molecular genetics of the wheat root system, SNPs, TFs, and QTLs related to root development as well as genome editing (GE) techniques for the improvement of root traits in wheat are discussed. Finally, we address the effect of omics strategies on root biomass production and summarize existing knowledge of the main molecular mechanisms involved in wheat root development and elongation.
PubMed: 38835859
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1397337 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Chronic hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Moreover, adverse extracellular matrix (ECM)...
INTRODUCTION
Chronic hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Moreover, adverse extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation elevates renal resistive index leading to progressive worsening of the pathology in DN. Nimbidiol is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, isolated from the medicinal plant, 'neem' () and reported as a promising anti-diabetic compound. Previously, a myriad of studies demonstrated an anti-oxidative property of a broad-spectrum neem-extracts in various diseases including diabetes. Our recent study has shown that Nimbidiol protects diabetic mice from fibrotic renal dysfunction in part by mitigating adverse ECM accumulation. However, the precise mechanism remains poorly understood.
METHODS
The present study aimed to investigate whether Nimbidiol ameliorates renal injury by reducing oxidative stress in type-1 diabetes. To test the hypothesis, wild-type (C57BL/6J) and diabetic Akita (C57BL/6-/J) mice aged 10-14 weeks were used to treat with saline or Nimbidiol (400 μg kg day) for 8 weeks.
RESULTS
Diabetic mice showed elevated blood pressure, increased renal resistive index, and decreased renal vasculature compared to wild-type control. In diabetic kidney, reactive oxygen species and the expression levels of 4HNE, p22phox, Nox4, and ROMO1 were increased while GSH: GSSG, and the expression levels of SOD-1, SOD-2, and catalase were decreased. Further, eNOS, ACE2, Sirt1 and IL-10 were found to be downregulated while iNOS and IL-17 were upregulated in diabetic kidney. The changes were accompanied by elevated expression of the renal injury markers viz., lipocalin-2 and KIM-1 in diabetic kidney. Moreover, an upregulation of p-NF-κB and a downregulation of IkBα were observed in diabetic kidney compared to the control. Nimbidiol ameliorated these pathological changes in diabetic mice.
CONCLUSION
Altogether, the data of our study suggest that oxidative stress largely contributes to the diabetic renal injury, and Nimbidiol mitigates redox imbalance and thereby protects kidney in part by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway in type-1 diabetes.
PubMed: 38835661
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1369408 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Fungi are an integral part of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in trophic networks, as they participate in biomass decomposition and facilitate plant nutrition...
Fungi are an integral part of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in trophic networks, as they participate in biomass decomposition and facilitate plant nutrition through root symbioses. Nutrient content varies considerably between the main fungal habitats, such as soil, plant litter or decomposing dead wood, but there are also large differences within habitats. While some soils are heavily loaded with N, others are limited by N or P. One way in which nutrient availability can be reflected in fungi is their content in biomass. In this study, we determined the C, N, and P content (in dry mass) of fruiting bodies of 214 fungal species to inspect how phylogeny and membership in ecological guilds (soil saprotrophs, wood saprotrophs, and ectomycorrhizal fungi) affect the nutrient content of fungal biomass. The C content of fruiting bodies (415 ± 25 mg g) showed little variation (324-494 mg g), while the range of N (46 ± 20 mg g) and P (5.5 ± 3.0 mg g) contents was within one order of magnitude (8-103 mg g and 1.0-18.9 mg g, respectively). Importantly, the N and P contents were significantly higher in the biomass of soil saprotrophic fungi compared to wood saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi. While the average C/N ratio in fungal biomass was 11.2, values exceeding 40 were recorded for some fungi living on dead wood, typically characterized by low N content. The N and P content of fungal mycelium also showed a significant phylogenetic signal, with differences in nutrient content being relatively low within species and genera of fungi. A strong correlation was found between N and P content in fungal biomass, while the correlation of N content and the N-containing fungal cell wall biopolymer-chitin showed only weak significance. The content of macronutrients in fungal biomass is influenced by the fungal life style and nutrient availability and is also limited by phylogeny.
PubMed: 38835487
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1379825 -
Environmental Health : a Global Access... Jun 2024Risk assessment (RA) of microbial secondary metabolites (SM) is part of the EU approval process for microbial active substances (AS) used in plant protection products... (Review)
Review
Risk assessment (RA) of microbial secondary metabolites (SM) is part of the EU approval process for microbial active substances (AS) used in plant protection products (PPP). As the number of potentially produced microbial SM may be high for a certain microbial strain and existing information on the metabolites often are low, data gaps are frequently identified during the RA. Often, RA cannot conclusively clarify the toxicological relevance of the individual substances. This work presents data and RA conclusions on four metabolites, Beauvericin, 2,3-deepoxy-2,3-didehydro-rhizoxin (DDR), Leucinostatin A and Swainsonin in detail as examples for the challenging process of RA. To overcome the problem of incomplete assessment reports, RA of microbial AS for PPP is in need of new approaches. In view of the Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA), the combination of literature data, omic-methods, in vitro and in silico methods combined in adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) can be used for an efficient and targeted identification and assessment of metabolites of concern (MoC).
Topics: Risk Assessment; European Union; Secondary Metabolism; Depsipeptides; Humans
PubMed: 38835048
DOI: 10.1186/s12940-024-01092-0 -
Med (New York, N.Y.) May 2024This study aims to estimate the burden, trends, forecasts, and disparities of early musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders among individuals ages 15 to 39 years.
BACKGROUND
This study aims to estimate the burden, trends, forecasts, and disparities of early musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders among individuals ages 15 to 39 years.
METHODS
The global prevalence, years lived with disabilities (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), projection, and inequality were estimated for early MSK diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), low back pain (LBP), neck pain (NP), gout, and other MSK diseases (OMSKDs).
FINDINGS
More adolescents and young adults were expected to develop MSK disorders by 2050. Across five age groups, the rates of prevalence, YLDs, and DALYs for RA, NP, LBP, gout, and OMSKDs sharply increased from ages 15-19 to 35-39; however, these were negligible for OA before age 30 but increased notably at ages 30-34, rising at least 6-fold by 35-39. The disease burden of gout, LBP, and OA attributable to high BMI and gout attributable to kidney dysfunction increased, while the contribution of smoking to LBP and RA and occupational ergonomic factors to LBP decreased. Between 1990 and 2019, the slope index of inequality increased for six MSK disorders, and the relative concentration index increased for gout, NP, OA, and OMSKDs but decreased for LBP and RA.
CONCLUSIONS
Multilevel interventions should be initiated to prevent disease burden related to RA, NP, LBP, gout, and OMSKDs among individuals ages 15-19 and to OA among individuals ages 30-34 to tightly control high BMI and kidney dysfunction.
FUNDING
The Global Burden of Disease study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is funded by the Scientific Research Fund of Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital (2022QN38).
PubMed: 38834074
DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.04.009 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2024The indiscriminate use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in daily life can lead to their release into soil environment. These ZnO NPs can be taken up by crops and...
The indiscriminate use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in daily life can lead to their release into soil environment. These ZnO NPs can be taken up by crops and translocated to their edible part, potentially causing risks to the ecosystem and human health. In this study, we conducted pot experiments to determine phytotoxicity, bioaccumulation and translocation depending on the size (10 - 30 nm, 80 - 200 nm and 300 nm diameter) and concentration (0, 100, 500 and 1000 mg Zn/kg) of ZnO NPs and Zn ion (Zn) in bok choy, a leafy green vegetable crop. After 14 days of exposure, our results showed that large-sized ZnO NPs (i.e., 300 nm) at the highest concentration exhibited greater phytotoxicity, including obstruction of leaf and root weight (42.5 % and 33.8 %, respectively) and reduction of chlorophyll a and b content (50.2 % and 85.2 %, respectively), as well as changes in the activities of oxidative stress responses compared to those of small-sized ZnO NPs, although their translocation ability was relatively lower than that of smaller ones. The translocation factor (TF) values decreased as the size of ZnO NPs increased, with TF values of 0.68 for 10 - 30 nm, 0.55 for 80 - 200 nm, and 0.27 for 300 nm ZnO NPs, all at the highest exposure concentration. Both the results of micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) spectrometer and bio-transmission electron microscopy (bio-TEM) showed that the Zn elements were mainly localized at the edges of leaves exposed to small-sized ZnO NPs. However, the Zn elements upon exposure to large-sized ZnO NP were primarily observed in the primary veins of leaves in the μ-XRF data, indicating a limitation in their ability to translocate from roots to leaves. This study not only advances our comprehension of the environmental impact of nanotechnology but also holds considerable implications for the future of sustainable agriculture and food safety.
Topics: Zinc Oxide; Soil Pollutants; Brassica; Particle Size; Bioaccumulation; Plant Leaves; Metal Nanoparticles; Soil; Chlorophyll; Oxidative Stress; Plant Roots; Chlorophyll A; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 38833977
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116519 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jul 2024Diaphorin is a polyketide produced by " Profftella armatura" (), an obligate symbiont of a devastating agricultural pest, the Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera:...
A limited concentration range of diaphorin, a polyketide produced by a bacterial symbiont of the Asian citrus psyllid, promotes the gene expression with bacterial ribosomes.
Diaphorin is a polyketide produced by " Profftella armatura" (), an obligate symbiont of a devastating agricultural pest, the Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Physiological concentrations of diaphorin, which contains at levels as high as 2-20 mM, are inhibitory to various eukaryotes and () but promote the growth and metabolic activity of (). Our previous study demonstrated that 5-mM diaphorin, which exhibits significant inhibitory and promoting effects on cultured and , respectively, inhibits gene expression utilizing purified and ribosomes. This suggested that the adverse effects of diaphorin on are partly due to its influence on gene expression. However, the result appeared inconsistent with the positive impact on . Moreover, the diaphorin concentration in bacterial cells, where genes are expressed , may be lower than in culture media. Therefore, the present study analyzed the effects of 50 and 500 µM of diaphorin on bacterial gene expression using the same analytical method. The result revealed that this concentration range of diaphorin, in contrast to 5-mM diaphorin, promotes the translation with the and ribosomes, suggesting that the positive effects of diaphorin on are due to its direct effects on translation. This study demonstrated for the first time that a pederin-type compound promotes gene expression, establishing a basis for utilizing its potential in pest management and industrial applications.IMPORTANCEThis study revealed that a limited concentration range of diaphorin, a secondary metabolite produced by a bacterial symbiont of an agricultural pest, promotes cell-free gene expression utilizing substrates and proteins purified from bacteria. The unique property of diaphorin, which is inhibitory to various eukaryotes and but promotes the growth and metabolic activity of , may affect the microbial flora of the pest insect, potentially influencing the transmission of devastating plant pathogens. Moreover, the activity may be exploited to improve the efficacy of industrial production by which is often used to produce various important materials, including pharmaceuticals, enzymes, amino acids, and biofuels. This study elucidated a part of the mechanism by which the unique activity of diaphorin is expressed, constructing a foundation for applying the distinct property to pest management and industrial use.
Topics: Hemiptera; Animals; Ribosomes; Polyketides; Symbiosis; Escherichia coli; Bacillus subtilis; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Citrus; Gammaproteobacteria
PubMed: 38832800
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00170-24 -
ELife Jun 2024Copy number variation in large gene families is well characterized for plant resistance genes, but similar studies are rare in animals. The zebrafish () has hundreds of...
Copy number variation in large gene families is well characterized for plant resistance genes, but similar studies are rare in animals. The zebrafish () has hundreds of NLR immune genes, making this species ideal for studying this phenomenon. By sequencing 93 zebrafish from multiple wild and laboratory populations, we identified a total of 1513 NLRs, many more than the previously known 400. Approximately half of those are present in all wild populations, but only 4% were found in 80% or more of the individual fish. Wild fish have up to two times as many NLRs per individual and up to four times as many NLRs per population than laboratory strains. In contrast to the massive variability of gene copies, nucleotide diversity in zebrafish NLR genes is very low: around half of the copies are monomorphic and the remaining ones have very few polymorphisms, likely a signature of purifying selection.
Topics: Zebrafish; Animals; DNA Copy Number Variations
PubMed: 38832644
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.98058 -
Plant Signaling & Behavior Dec 2024Earthworms' coelomic fluid (CF) has been discovered to possess properties that promote plant development. In particular, the earthworm's coelomic fluid-associated...
Earthworms' coelomic fluid (CF) has been discovered to possess properties that promote plant development. In particular, the earthworm's coelomic fluid-associated bacteria (CFB) are the primary factor influencing the plants' response. To investigate this, we used bacteria isolated from the CF and selected based on different plant growth-promoting traits, in a mesocosm ecosystem that includes plants. This experiment aimed to assess their impact on the metabolism of plants growing under abiotic stress environments (alkaline soil and nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potassium (K) deficit) and compare the lipid profiles of plants under the various treatments. We used seven different bacterial species isolated from the CF of and as a plant model L. For the metabolomic analysis method, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry lipidomic. After observing the metabolomic profiles, we found that a few molecular pathways are involved in how plants react to bacterial biostimulants. The bacterial isolates belonging to , , , and have led to a significant increase in synthesizing several metabolites belonging to various chemical categories. Contrary to predictions, abiotic stress did not cause a drop in the composition and concentration of lipids in plants treated with the CFB, demonstrating the rigidity of the protective mechanisms. The statistical analysis based on the Pearson method revealed a positive significant correlation between plant growth parameters (length of the aerial part, surface of the leaves, and biomass) and some metabolites belonging to fatty acids, carboxylic acids, benzene derivatives, and alkanes. Moreover, the standard metabolic components of all treatments in much higher concentrations during bacterial treatments than the control treatment suggests that the bacteria have stimulated the overexpression of these metabolic components. According to these results, we could assume that plants treated with CFB exhibit an adaptability of abiotic stress defense mechanisms, which may be attributed to the upregulation of genes involved in lipid biosynthesis pathways.
Topics: Stress, Physiological; Bacteria; Animals; Zea mays; Oligochaeta
PubMed: 38832593
DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2363126