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Angelica sinensis is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that has been primarily used as a blood tonic. It largely relies on its bioactive metabolites, which include ferulic acid, volatile oils, polysaccharides and flavonoids. In order to improve the yield and quality of A. sinensis, the two cultivars Mingui 1 (M1), with a purple stem, and Mingui 2 (M2), with a green stem, have been selected in the field. Although a higher root yield and ferulic acid content in M1 than M2 has been observed, the differences of flavonoid biosynthesis and stem-color formation are still limited. In this study, the contents of flavonoids and anthocyanins were determined by spectrophotometer, the differences of flavonoids and transcripts in M1 and M2 were conducted by metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis, and the expression level of candidate genes was validated by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the contents of flavonoids and anthocyanins were 1.5- and 2.6-fold greater in M1 than M2, respectively. A total of 26 differentially accumulated flavonoids (DAFs) with 19 up-regulated (UR) and seven down-regulated (DR) were obtained from the 131 identified flavonoids (e.g., flavonols, flavonoid, isoflavones, and anthocyanins) in M1 vs. M2. A total 2210 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the 34,528 full-length isoforms in M1 vs. M2, and 29 DEGs with 24 UR and 5 DR were identified to be involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, with 25 genes (e.g., CHS1, CHI3, F3H, DFR, ANS, CYPs and UGTs) mapped on the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and four genes (e.g., RL1, RL6, MYB90 and MYB114) belonging to transcription factors. The differential accumulation level of flavonoids is coherent with the expression level of candidate genes. Finally, the network of DAFs regulated by DEGs was proposed. These findings will provide references for flavonoid production and cultivars selection of A. sinensis.

In recent years, the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been projected as an alternative to traditional antibiotics for their superior antimicrobial properties and significant inhibition of the biofilm formation. Particularly, it is found that the effectiveness of AgNPs varies greatly with the biomaterial used in their synthesis. Mushrooms are natural resources for excellent antioxidants and bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, there are few reports on the application of mushrooms in AgNPs biosynthesis. In this study, AgNPs were successfully synthesized using Flammulina velutipes extract as reductants and stabilizing agents. The following analyses of UV-visible spectroscopy showed typical absorbance peak at 450 nm. Transmission electron microscope analysis indicated that the prepared AgNPs were monodispersed spheres with an average size of approximately 22 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure of metallic silver. Furthermore, the synthesized AgNPs exhibited high stability and antibacterial activities against 6 aquatic pathogens. A subsequent challenge experiment showed that the prepared AgNPs significantly reduced the mortality rate of Ruditapes philippinarum clam infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus . Notably, AgNPs treatment could inhibit the biofilm formation of the pathogen, indicating that the extracellular synthesis of AgNPs using mushroom can be developed into a novel effective antimicrobial agent to overcome the multidrug-resistant microorganisms in aquaculture. This study will open a new way for edible mushroom processing and wide application in aquaculture.

Developing nuclear energy is a controversial issue despite its inherently low-carbon emissions life cycle. Considering low-carbon awareness, perception of barriers and low-carbon behaviors as important personal characteristics in the context of climate change, then how these characteristics will affect people’s acceptance of nuclear energy? In this study, we explore the public low-carbon characteristics in China based on the latest representative national survey. The influence mechanism of individuals’ low-carbon behaviors is analyzed by structural equation model (SEM). Then, we explore how the individuals’ low-carbon characteristics relate to their attitudes toward nuclear energy. The results suggest that Chinese public has high low-carbon attitudes and values. However, lack of low-carbon knowledge, more perception of barriers and accordingly fewer low-carbon behaviors are still serious issues among the general public in China. Special attention should be given to the awareness–behavior gap, which can be mainly attributed to the existence of some barriers to performing low-carbon actions. Our survey suggests a higher proportion of people (approximately 88%) accepts nuclear energy development given some compensation. Perception of barriers and low-carbon habits are identified as important personal characteristics that can affect people’s attitudes toward nuclear energy. To smooth the development of nuclear power, the government should help the general public to possess more knowledge on nuclear energy and climate change.

Aims We aim to investigate the association between vitamin A intake and depression among patients with heart failure (HF). Methods and results In this cross‐sectional study, data of HF patients were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2020. The independent variable was vitamin A intake, and the dependent variable was depression. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to explore the association of vitamin A intake with depression in HF patients. A total of 999 HF patients were included, with a mean age of 66.19 (0.51) years, and 566 (52.49%) were male. And 197 patients have depression. Vitamin A intake ≥731.38 mcg was associated with lower incidence of depression [odds ratio (OR) = 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18–0.76] in HF patients. Similarly, the relationship between high vitamin A intake and lower odds of depression were also observed in subgroups of those aged >65 years (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04–0.55), males (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14–0.86), without hypertension (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.11–0.58), without diabetes (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.11–0.78), with hyperlipidaemia (OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.09–0.64), and with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.13–0.80). Conclusions High vitamin A intake was associated with lower odds of depression in HF patients. Appropriate vitamin A supplementation may have potential benefit to the prevention of depression in HF patients. Additional prospective large‐scale studies are required to confirm whether or not vitamin A could lead to decrease in depression symptoms.

Parthenocarpic tomato can set fruit and develop without pollination and exogenous hormone treatments under unfavorable environmental conditions, which is beneficial to tomato production from late fall to early spring in greenhouses. In this study, the endogenous hormones in the ovaries of the parthenocarpic tomato line “R35-P” (stigma removed or self-pollination) and the non-parthenocarpic tomato line “R35-N” (self-pollination) at four stages between preanthesis and postanthesis investigated, using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). A nearly twofold IAA (indoleacetic acid) content was found in “R35-P” rather than in “R35-N” at −2 and 0 days after anthesis (DAA). Except at −2 DAA, a lower ABA (abscisic acid) content was observed in Pe (stigma removed in “R35-P”) compared to that in Ps (self-pollination in “R35-P”) or CK (self-pollination in “R35-N”). After pollination, although the content of GA 1 (gibberellins acid 1) in CK increased, the levels of GAs (gibberellins acids) were notably low. At all four stages, a lower SA (salicylic acid) content was found in Ps and CK than in Pe, while the content and the change trend were similar in Ps and CK. The variation tendencies of JA (jasmonic acid) varied among Pe, Ps, and CK at the studied periods. Furthermore, KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analyses of transcriptomic data identified 175 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to plant hormone signal transduction, including 63 auxin-related genes, 27 abscisic acid-related genes, 22 ethylene-related genes, 16 cytokinin-related genes, 16 salicylic acid-related genes, 14 brassinosteroid-related genes, 13 jasmonic acid-related genes, and 4 gibberellin-related genes at −2 DAA and 0 DAA. Our results suggest that the fate of a fruit set or degeneration occurred before anthesis in tomato. Auxins, whose levels were independent of pollination and fertilization, play prominent roles in controlling a fruit set in “R35-P,” and other hormones are integrated in a synergistic or antagonistic way.

Cynomorium songaricum is a root holoparasitic herb that is mainly hosted in the roots of Nitraria roborowskii and Nitraria sibirica distributed in the arid desert and saline-alkaline regions. The stem of C. songaricum is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine and applied in anti-viral, anti-obesity and anti-diabetes, which largely rely on the bioactive components including: polysaccharides, flavonoids and triterpenes. Although the differences in growth characteristics of C. songaricum between N. roborowskii and N. sibirica have been reported, the difference of the two hosts on growth and polysaccharides biosynthesis in C. songaricum as well as regulation mechanism are not limited. Here, the physiological characteristics and transcriptome of C. songaricum host in N. roborowskii (CR) and N. sibirica (CS) were conducted. The results showed that the fresh weight, soluble sugar content and antioxidant capacity on a per stem basis exhibited a 3.3-, 3.0- and 2.1-fold increase in CR compared to CS. A total of 16,921 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed in CR versus CS, with 2573 characterized genes, 1725 up-regulated and 848 down-regulated. Based on biological functions, 50 DEGs were associated with polysaccharides and starch metabolism as well as their transport. The expression levels of the selected 37 genes were validated by qRT-PCR and almost consistent with their Reads Per kb per Million values. These findings would provide useful references for improving the yield and quality of C. songaricum.

Peganum harmala L. is a perennial herbaceous plant that plays critical roles in protecting the ecological environment in arid, semi-arid, and desert areas. Although the seed germination characteristics of P. harmala in response to environmental factors (i.e., drought, temperature, and salt) have been investigated, the response mechanism of seed germination to drought conditions has not yet been revealed. In this study, the changes in the physiological characteristics and transcriptional profiles in seed germination were examined under different polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations (0–25%). The results show that the seed germination rate was significantly inhibited with an increase in the PEG concentration. Totals of 3726 and 10,481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, generated at 5% and 25% PEG vs. the control (C), with 1642 co-expressed DEGs, such as drought stress (15), stress response (175), and primary metabolism (261). The relative expression levels (RELs) of the key genes regulating seed germination in response to drought stress were in accordance with the physiological changes. These findings will pave the way to increase the seed germination rate of P. harmala in drought conditions.

Hypericum perforatum , commonly known as St John’s wort, is a perennial herb that produces the anti-depression compounds hypericin (Hyp) and hyperforin. While cool temperatures increase plant growth, Hyp accumulation as well as changes transcript profiles, alterations in leaf structure and genes expression specifically related to Hyp biosynthesis are still unresolved. Here, leaf micro- and ultra-structure is examined, and candidate genes encoding for photosynthesis, energy metabolism and Hyp biosynthesis are reported based on transcriptomic data collected from H. perforatum seedlings grown at 15 and 22°C. Plants grown at a cooler temperature exhibited changes in macro- and micro-leaf anatomy including thicker leaves, an increased number of secretory cell, chloroplasts, mitochondria, starch grains, thylakoid grana, osmiophilic granules and hemispherical droplets. Moreover, genes encoding for photosynthesis (64-genes) and energy (35-genes) as well as Hyp biosynthesis (29-genes) were differentially regulated with an altered growing temperature. The anatomical changes and genes expression are consistent with the plant’s ability to accumulate enhanced Hyp levels at low temperatures.

A two-year field trial was conducted to investigate the effects of partial substitution of chemical fertilizer (CF) by Trichoderma biofertilizer (TF) on nitrogen (N) use efficiency and associated mechanisms in wolfberry ( Lycium chinense ) in coastal saline land. As with plant biomass and fruit yield, apparent N use efficiency and plant N accumulation were also higher with TF plus 75% CF than 100% CF, indicating that TF substitution promoted plant growth and N uptake. As a reason, TF substitution stabilized soil N supply by mitigating steep deceases in soil NH 4 + -N and NO 3 – N concentrations in the second half of growing seasons. TF substitution also increased carbon (C) fixation according to higher photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stable 13 C abundance with TF plus 75% CF than 100% CF. Importantly, leaf N accumulation significantly and positively related with Pn, biomass, and fruit yield, and structural equation modeling also confirmed the importance of the causal relation of N accumulation coupled with C fixation for biomass and yield formation. Consequently, physiological and agronomical N use efficiencies were significantly higher with TF plus 75% CF than 100% CF. Overall, partial substitution of CF by TF improved N use efficiency in wolfberry in coastal saline land by stabilizing soil N supply and coupling N accumulation with C fixation.

Hypericin (Hyp), well-known as an antidepressant, is mainly extracted from Hypericum perforatum. Although Hyp accumulation and biomass are greater at lower compared to higher temperature, the regulation mechanism has not been reported. Here, the physiological characteristics and transcriptome of H. perforatum grown at 15 and 22 °C were determined and analyzed by HPLC and de novo sequencing. The results showed that the stomatal density and opening percentages were 1.1- and 1.4-fold more, and the Hyp content was 4.5-fold greater at 15 °C compared to 22 °C. A total of 1584 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed at 15 versus 22 °C, with 749 characterized genes, 421 upregulated (UR) and 328 downregulated (DR). Based on biological functions, 150 genes were associated with Hyp biosynthesis, plant growth and the stress response, including photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acids metabolism, cytochrome P450 (CYPs), morpho-physiological traits, heat shock proteins (HSPs), cold-responsive proteins (CRPs) and transcription factors (TFs). The differential expression levels of the master genes were confirmed by qRT-PCR and almost consistent with their Reads Per kb per Million (RPKM) values. This physiological and transcriptomic analyses provided insight into the regulation mechanisms of low temperature enhancing Hyp biosynthesis in H. perforatum.