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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1677409.].

Research on optoelectronic synapses that can integrate both detection and processing functions is essential for the development of efficient neuromorphic computing. Here, we experimentally demonstrated an Ga2O3‐based metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) solar‐blind ultraviolet (UV) photodetector (PD) with asymmetric interdigital electrodes. The Ga2O3 PD exhibits a responsivity of 732 A/W under a forward bias of 6 V. The tunable conductance properties of PDs provide a novel approach to synaptic performance. The proposed PDs as artificial synapse realized several essential synaptic function, including excitatory postsynaptic current, paired‐pulse facilitation, long‐term potentiation, the transition from short‐term memory to long‐term memory, and learning experience behaviors successfully. At a reverse bias, an ultra‐low energy consumption of 140 fJ was achieved. In addition, the optoelectronic synapses demonstrated a recognition accuracy of over 95% in the MNIST handwritten number recognition task. These results suggest that Ga2O3 MSM solar‐blind UV PDs have high potential for efficient optoelectronic neuromorphic computing applications. A Ga2O3‐based neuromorphic device is designed to mimic biological synapses and neural networks. The device exhibits learning and forgetting behaviors under UV light with high energy efficiency. Applied to image recognition tasks, it demonstrates significant potential for optoelectronic artificial intelligence applications.

Chickpea is considered recalcitrant to in vitro tissue culture amongst all edible legumes. The clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)–based genome editing in chickpea can remove the bottleneck of limited genetic variation in this cash crop, which is rich in nutrients and protein. However, generating stable mutant lines using CRISPR/Cas9 requires efficient and highly reproducible transformation protocols. As an attempt to solve this problem, we developed a modified and optimized protocol for chickpea transformation. This study transformed the single cotyledon half-embryo explants using CaMV35S promoter to drive two marker genes (β-glucuronidase gene; GUS and green fluorescent protein; GFP) through binary vectors pBI101.2 and modified pGWB2, respectively. These vectors were delivered in the explants through three different strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, viz., GV3101, EHA105, and LBA4404. We found better efficiency with the strain GV3101 (17.56%) compared with two other strains, i.e., 8.54 and 5.43%, respectively. We recorded better regeneration frequencies in plant tissue culture for the constructs GUS and GFP, i.e., 20.54% and 18.09%, respectively. The GV3101 was further used for the transformation of the genome editing construct. For the development of genome-edited plants, we used this modified protocol. We also used a modified binary vector pPZP200 by introducing a CaMV35S-driven chickpea codon-optimized SpCas9 gene. The promoter of the Medicago truncatula U6.1 snRNA gene was used to drive the guide RNA cassettes. This cassette targeted and edited the chickpea phytoene desaturase (CaPDS) gene. A single gRNA was found sufficient to achieve high efficiency (42%) editing with the generation of PDS mutants with albino phenotypes. A simple, rapid, highly reproducible, stable transformation and CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing system for chickpea was established. This study aimed to demonstrate this system’s applicability by performing a gene knockout of the chickpea PDS gene using an improved chickpea transformation protocol for the first time.

The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3), a high‐resolution, high‐precision imaging spectrometer, flew on board India's Chandrayaan‐1 Mission from October 2008 through August 2009. This paper describes some of the spatial sampling aspects of the instrument, the planned mission, and the mission as flown. We also outline the content and context of the resulting Level 1B spatial products that form part of the M3 archive. While designed and planned to operate for 2 years in a 100 km lunar orbit, M3 was able to meet its lunar coverage requirements despite the shortened mission; an increase of the orbit altitude to 200 km; and several relevant problems with spacecraft attitude, timing, and ephemeris. The unexpected spacecraft issues required us to invent a novel two‐step approach for selenolocation. Leveraging newly available Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter‐Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) topography and an improved spacecraft ephemeris, we have created a method that permits us to bootstrap spacecraft attitude estimates from the image data themselves. This process performs a nonlinear optimization to honor a set of data‐derived image‐to‐image tie points and image‐to‐LOLA control points. Error analysis of the final results suggests we have converged to a selenolocation result that has image‐to‐image root‐mean‐square (RMS) errors less than 200 m and image‐to‐LOLA RMS errors less than 450 m, despite using data‐derived spacecraft attitude results. The Level 1B products include the lunar coordinates resulting from this inversion process and 10 relevant observational geometry parameters that fully characterize the ray tracing geometry on a pixel‐by‐pixel basis. Key Points Moon Mineralogy Mapper spatial characteristics Selenodesy results for M3 mapping M3 Level 1B archive product description

East African highland bananas (EAHBs), locally referred to as “matooke”, are an important staple crop in Uganda. The EAHBs have a triploid genome (AAA) with a large phenotypic diversity in the Great Lakes region of Africa and are challenged by both abiotic and biotic factors. The EAHBs have been improved through conventional breeding and genetic engineering though facing challenges such as genetic drag of unfavorable traits and complex regulatory processes, respectively. Therefore, a more precise approach for crop improvement such as genome editing is highly recommended. In the current study, we assessed the feasibility and applicability of the CRISPR/ Cas 9 mediated-genome editing in EAHBs. Two sgRNAs were designed from the Nakitembe phytoene desaturase ( PDS ) gene and used to edit the PDS gene in Nakitembe (NKT) and NAROBan5 (M30) cultivars. A total of 47 NKT and 130 M30 events were regenerated via agrobacterium -mediated transformation of banana embryogenic cell suspensions. Up to 100% and 94.6% albinism rates were observed in Nakitembe and M30 cultivars respectively with additional albino-variegated and variegated phenotypes observed in M30 only. Carotenoid analysis revealed a significant reduction of total carotenoid content in edited events with all complete albinos showing no detectable carotenoids implying that the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway was effectively disrupted. Sequence analysis revealed that all of the edited events had frameshift mutations leading to PDS disruption. Overall, this study presents the first report of CRISPR/ Cas 9 genome editing in EAHBs and more interestingly on a hybrid, M30 showing high precision and efficiency. This validated genome editing system provides a robust platform for targeted EAHB improvement.

Background Genome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 has become a popular approach to induce targeted mutations for crop trait improvement. Soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) is an economically important crop worldwide. Although gene editing has been demonstrated in soybean, its utilization in stably transformed plants through whole plant regeneration is still not widespread, largely due to difficulties with transformation or low mutation efficiencies. Results We sought to establish a simple, efficient, and specific CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce heritable mutations in soybean through stable transformation. We targeted phytoene desaturase (PDS) genes due to the distinctive dwarf and albino phenotypes of the loss of function mutant. To evaluate gene editing efficiency and specificity, three constructs targeting each of the two homologous soybean PDS genes specifically, as well as two constructs targeting both simultaneously with one guide RNA were created. Instead of using cotyledonary nodes from germinated seedlings, we used ‘half-seed’ explants derived from imbibed seeds for Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of cultivar Williams 82. Transformed plants for all five constructs were recovered. Dwarf and albino phenotypes were observed in transgenic plants harboring the constructs targeting both PDS genes. Gene editing at the desired loci was detected in the majority of T0 transgenic plants, with 75–100% mutation efficiencies. Indel frequencies varied widely among plants (3–100%), with those exhibiting visible mutant phenotypes showing higher frequencies (27–100%). Deletion was the predominant mutation type, although 1-nucleotide insertion was also observed. Constructs designed to target only one PDS gene did not induce mutation in the other homologous counterpart; and no mutation at several potential off-target loci was detected, indicating high editing specificity. Modifications in both PDS genes were transmitted to T1 progenies, including plants that were negative for transgene detection. Strong mutant phenotypes were also observed in T1 plants. Conclusions Using simple constructs containing one guide RNA, we demonstrated efficient and specific CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in stably transformed soybean plants, and showed that the mutations could be inherited in progenies, even in plants that lost transgenes through segregation. The established system can be employed to edit other genes for soybean trait improvement.

Targeted genome engineering has emerged as an alternative to classical plant breeding and transgenic methods to improve crop plants. Among other methods (zinc finger nucleases or TAL effector nucleases) the CRISPR-Cas system proved to be the most effective, convenient and least expensive method. In this study, we optimized the conditions of application of this system on apple and explored its feasibility on pear. As a proof of concept, we chose to knock-out the Phytoene Desaturase ( ) and Terminal Flower 1 ( ) genes. To improve the edition efficiency, two different single guide RNAs (gRNAs) were associated to the Cas9 nuclease for each target gene. These gRNAs were placed under the control of the U3 and U6 apple promoters. Characteristic albino phenotype was obtained for 85% of the apple transgenic lines targeted in gene. Early flowering was observed in 93% of the apple transgenic lines targeted in gene and 9% of the pear transgenic lines targeted in . Sequencing of the target zones in apple and pear CRISPR-PDS and CRISPR-TFL1.1 transgenic lines showed that the two gRNAs induced mutations but at variable frequencies. In most cases, Cas9 nuclease cut the DNA in the twenty targeted base pairs near the protospacer adjacent motif and insertions were more frequent than deletions or substitutions. The most frequent edition profile of as well as genes was chimeric biallelic. Analysis of a sample of potential off-target sequences of the CRISPR-TFL1.1 construct indicated the absence of edition in cases of three mismatches. In addition, transient transformation with the CRISPR-PDS construct produced two T-DNA free edited apple lines. Our overall results indicate that, despite the frequent occurrence of chimerism, the CRISPR-Cas 9 system is a powerful and precise method to induce targeted mutagenesis in the first generation of apple and pear transgenic lines.

Lilium spp. is a bulb flower with worldwide distribution and unique underground organs. The lack of an efficient genetic transformation system for Lilium has been an international obstacle. Because existing model plants lack bulbs, bulb-related gene function verification studies cannot be carried out in model plants. Here, two stable and efficient genetic transformation systems based on somatic embryogenesis and adventitious bud regeneration were established in two Lilium species. Transgenic plants and T-DNA insertion lines were confirmed by β-glucuronidase (GUS) assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot. After condition optimization, transformation efficiencies were increased to 29.17% and 4% in Lilium pumilum DC. Fisch. and the Lilium longiflorum ‘White Heaven’, respectively. To further verify the validity of these transformation systems and apply the CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9) technology in Lilium, the LpPDS gene in the two Lilium species was knocked out. Completely albino, pale yellow and albino–green chimeric mutants were observed. Sequence analysis in the transgenic lines revealed various mutation patterns, including base insertion, deletion and substitution. These results verified the feasibility and high efficiency of both transformation systems and the successful application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to gene editing in Lilium for the first time. Overall, this study lays an important foundation for gene function research and germplasm improvement in Lilium spp.

This study investigates the degradation of six different types of absorbable surgical threads commonly used in clinical practice, focusing on their response to exposure to physiological fluids. The threads were subjected to hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation in physiological saline, bile, and pancreatic juice. Our findings demonstrate that bile and pancreatic juice, particularly when contaminated with bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Enterococcus faecalis, significantly accelerate the degradation process. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and tensile strength testing, we observed distinct differences in the chemical structure and mechanical integrity of the sutures. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the FTIR spectra revealed that PDS threads exhibited the highest resistance to degradation, maintaining their mechanical properties for a longer duration compared with Monocryl and Vicryl. These results highlight the critical role of thread selection in gastrointestinal surgeries, where prolonged exposure to bile and pancreatic juice can compromise the suture integrity and lead to postoperative complications. The insights gained from this study will contribute to improving the selection and application of absorbable threads in clinical settings.

The CRISPR/Cas9 technology, renowned for its ability to induce precise genetic alterations in various crop species, has encountered challenges in its application to grain legume crops such as pigeonpea and groundnut. Despite attempts at gene editing in groundnut, the low rates of transformation and editing have impeded its widespread adoption in producing genetically modified plants. This study seeks to establish an effective CRISPR/Cas9 system in pigeonpea and groundnut through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, with a focus on targeting the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene. The PDS gene is pivotal in carotenoid biosynthesis, and its disruption leads to albino phenotypes and dwarfism. Two constructs (one each for pigeonpea and groundnut) were developed for the PDS gene, and transformation was carried out using different explants (leaf petiolar tissue for pigeonpea and cotyledonary nodes for groundnut). By adjusting the composition of the growth media and refining Agrobacterium infection techniques, transformation efficiencies of 15.2% in pigeonpea and 20% in groundnut were achieved. Mutation in PDS resulted in albino phenotype, with editing efficiencies ranging from 4 to 6%. Sequence analysis uncovered a nucleotide deletion (A) in pigeonpea and an A insertion in groundnut, leading to a premature stop codon and, thereby, an albino phenotype. This research offers a significant foundation for the swift assessment and enhancement of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technologies in legume crops.