Tassel weight (TW) is a crucial agronomic trait that significantly affects pollen supply and grain yield development in maize breeding. To improve maize yield and develop new varieties, a comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying tassel weight is essential. In this study, tropical maize inbred lines, namely CML312, CML373, CML444, and YML46, were selected as female parents and crossed with the elite maize inbred line Ye107, which served as the common male parent, to develop a multi-parent population comprising four F8 recombinant inbred line (RIL) subpopulations. Using 6616 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, we conducted genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and genomic selection (GS) on 642 F8 RILs in four subpopulations across three different environments. Through GWAS, we identified 16 SNPs that were significantly associated with TW, encompassing two stable loci expressed across multiple environments. Furthermore, within the candidate regions of these SNPs, we discovered four novel candidate genes related to TW, namely Zm00001d044362, Zm00001d011048, Zm00001d011049, and Zm00001d031173 distributed on chromosomes 1, 3, and 8, which have not been previously reported. These genes are involved in processes such as signal transduction, growth and development, protein splicing, and pollen development, all of which play crucial roles in inflorescence meristem development, directly affecting TW. The co-localized SNP, S8_137379725, on chromosome 8 was situated within a 16.569 kb long terminal repeat retrotransposon (LTR-RT), located 22.819 kb upstream and 26.428 kb downstream of the candidate genes (Zm00001d011048 and Zm00001d011049). When comparing three distinct GS models, the BayesB model demonstrated the highest accuracy in predicting TW. This study establishes the theoretical foundation for future research into the genetic mechanisms underlying maize TW and the efficient breeding of high-yielding varieties with desired tassel weight through GS.

Assessing the molecular changes that occur over the course of flower development is hampered by difficulties in isolating sufficient amounts of floral tissue at specific developmental stages. This is especially problematic when investigating molecular events at early stages of Arabidopsis flower development, as floral buds are minute and are initiated sequentially so that a single flower on an inflorescence is at a given developmental stage. Moreover, young floral buds are hidden by older flowers, which presents an additional challenge for dissection. To circumvent these issues, floral induction systems that allow the simultaneous induction of a large number of flowers on the inflorescence of a single plant were developed. To allow the plant community to avail of the full benefits of these systems, we address some common problems that can be encountered when growing these plants and collecting floral buds for analysis.

To obtain the structure-function relationship of the polysaccharides derived from areca (Areca catechu L.) inflorescences in the aspect of its immunomodulatory ability, the plant-based polysaccharide was isolated and purified on column chromatography. The purity, primary structure and immune activity of four polysaccharide fractions (AFP, AFP1, AFP2 and AFP2a) were characterized comprehensively. The main chain of AFP2a was confirmed to be composed of → 3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, with branch chains linked to the O-3 position on the main chain. The immunomodulatory activity of the polysaccharides was evaluated using the RAW264.7 cells and immunosuppression mice model. It was observed that AFP2a enabled greater NO release (49.72 μmol/L) than other fractions, significantly promoted the phagocytic activity of macrophages, and improved splenocyte proliferation and T lymphocyte phenotype in mice. The present results may shine a light on a new research direction in immunoenhancers and provide a theoretical foundation for the development and application of areca inflorescence.

Nutraceutical-based interventions hold promise to reduce blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness, which are two cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, the effects of coconut sap powder (CSP), an Asian sweetener and novel nutraceutical, on BP and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults (MA/O, ≥45 yr) has yet to be established. We hypothesized CSP will decrease BP and arterial stiffness in MA/O adults. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study design, 19 (age 55.3 ± 2.1 yr) MA/O adults completed measures of brachial and carotid BP, and arterial stiffness [carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), common carotid artery (CCA) β-stiffness, compliance, distensibility, and Young\'s and Peterson\'s Elastic moduli] before and after 8 wk of CSP (1.5 g/day) or placebo (1.5 g/day). A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare group mean differences. Compared with placebo, CSP lowered brachial systolic BP (SBP) (CSP pre: 117.4 ± 2.9 vs. post: 109.0 ± 2.4 mmHg, P < 0.05), but not carotid SBP (P = 0.12). CSP also lowered Young\'s (CSP pre: 5,514.4 ± 1,115.4 vs. post: 3,690.6 ± 430.9 kPa) and Peterson\'s elastic moduli (CSP pre: 22.2 ± 4.4 vs. post: 19.2 ± 4.5 kPa) (P < 0.05, both). A trend for CSP to lower CCA β-stiffness (P = 0.06) and increase CCA compliance (P = 0.07) was also observed. Arterial stiffness assessed by cfPWV did not change (P > 0.05). No inflammatory or antioxidant biomarkers were affected by CSP. In summary, 8 wk of CSP lowers brachial SBP and CCA mechanical stiffness indicating a potential cardioprotective effect in MA/O adults.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness are important predictors of cardiovascular health with aging. Nutraceuticals are an easy-to-implement lifestyle strategy demonstrating promise to effectively lower BP and arterial stiffness with aging and ultimately cardiovascular disease risk. We demonstrate that coconut sap powder (CSP), a traditional Asian sweetener, lowers brachial systolic BP and carotid artery mechanical stiffness in middle-aged and older (MA/O) adults. These findings provide initial evidence for the CSP-related cardioprotective effects in MA/O adults.

Introduction: As Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae) ages, inflorescence phytochemicals are susceptible to oxidative degradation. Reduction of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) content has the potential to impact the reliability and accuracy of dosing. Advances that improve cannabinoid stability during storage would have an important impact in medical cannabis markets. Reported here is the use of C. sativa terpenes with antioxidant properties that improve inflorescence cannabinoid stability. Materials and Methods: Killer Kush inflorescence samples were stored in a temperature-controlled environment, in opaque jars. To accelerate the rate of oxidate degradation, samples were stored with the oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide. Vapor phase terpenes were added to inflorescence packaging. Two terpene blends and three different dosage amounts were evaluated. Inflorescence stability samples were prepared in triplicate for each sample type. Cannabinoid content was quantitatively assessed after 24, 81, and 127 days of storage using high-performance liquid chromatography. Terpene content was assessed using headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results from inflorescence stored with and without external terpenes were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) data processing. Results: After 127 days of storage, inflorescence in the accelerated study experienced a loss of 18.0% and 34.3% total Δ9-THC content for samples stored with and without external terpenes, respectively. The differences in cannabinoid content were found to be statistically significant at all timepoints using ANOVA processing. In the nonaccelerated study, only one of the six sample types investigated had a statistically significant greater total Δ9-THC content than control at all timepoints. Nevertheless, a dose-dependent relationship between the amount of external terpenes added to inflorescence and the preservation of total Δ9-THC content was observed. Discussion: In the accelerated study, exogenous terpenes reduced the degradation of inflorescence cannabinoid content by 47.4%. This represents the first reported addition of terpene antioxidants to inflorescence packaging for cannabinoid preservation. Of note, the antioxidants used in this system can be obtained from C. sativa. This is advantageous from a toxicological perspective as inhaling synthetic antioxidants presents unknown and unpredictable risks. When fully developed, the novel system has applications for inflorescence packaged for individual sale, as well as long-term storage of bulk biomass.

BACKGROUND: Most orchid species have been shown to be severely pollination limited, and the factors affecting reproductive success have been widely studied. However, the factors determining the reproductive success vary from species to species. Habenaria species typically produce nectar but exhibit variable fruit set and reproductive success among species. Here, we investigated the influence of the flowering plant density, inflorescence size, breeding system, and pollinator behaviour on the reproductive success of two rewarding Habenaria species.
RESULTS: Our observations indicated that Habenaria limprichtii and H. petelotii co-occur in roadside verge habitats and present overlapping flowering periods. Both species were pollination limited, although H. limprichtii produced more fruits than H. petelotii under natural conditions during the 3-year investigation. H. petelotii individuals formed distinct patches along roadsides, while nearly all H. limprichtii individuals clustered together. The bigger floral display and higher nectar sugar concentration in H. limprichtii resulted in increased attraction and visits from pollinators. Three species of effective moths pollinated for H. limprichtii, while Thinopteryx delectans (Geometridae) was the exclusive pollinator of H. petelotii. The percentage of viable seeds was significantly lower for hand geitonogamy than for hand cross-pollination in both species. However, H. limprichtii may often be geitonogamously pollinated based on the behaviours of the pollinators and viable embryo assessment.
CONCLUSIONS: In anthropogenic interference habitats, the behaviours and abundance of pollinators influence the fruit set of the two studied species. The different pollinator assemblages in H. limprichtii can alleviate pollinator specificity and ensure reproductive success, whereas the more viable embryos of natural fruit seeds in H. petelotii suggested reducing geitonogamy by pollinators in the field. Our results indicate that a quantity-quality trade-off must occur between species with different breeding strategies so that they can fully exploit the existing given resources.

As an important and complex trait, inflorescence length (IL) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] significantly affected seed yields. Therefore, elucidating molecular basis of inflorescence architecture, especially for IL, was important for improving soybean yield potentials. Longer IL meaned to have more pod and seed in soybean. Hence, increasing IL and improving yield are targets for soybean breeding. In this study, a association panel, comprising 283 diverse samples, was used to dissect the genetic basis of IL based on genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and haplotype analysis. GWAS and haplotype analysis were conducted through high-throughout single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) developed by SLAF-seq methodology. A total of 39, 057 SNPs (minor allele frequency ≥ 0.2 and missing data ≤ 10%) were utilized to evaluate linkage disequilibrium (LD) level in the tested association panel. A total of 30 association signals were identified to be associated with IL via GWAS. Among them, 13 SNPs were novel, and another 17 SNPs were overlapped or located near the linked regions of known quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) with soybean seed yield or yield component. The functional genes, located in the 200-kb genomic region of each peak SNP, were considered as candidate genes, such as the cell division/ elongation, specific enzymes, and signaling or transport of specific proteins. These genes have been reported to participant in the regulation of IL. Ten typical long-IL lines and ten typical short-IL lines were re-sequencing, and then, six SNPs from five genes were obtained based on candidate gene-based association. In addition, 42 haplotypes were defined based on haplotype analysis. Of them, 11 haplotypes were found to regulate long IL (> 14 mm) in soybean. The identified 30 QTN with beneficial alleles and their candidate genes might be valuable for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of IL and further improving the yield potential of soybean.

Increasing popularity of high-throughput phenotyping technologies, such as image-based phenotyping, offer novel ways for quantifying plant growth and morphology. These new methods can be more or less accurate and precise than traditional, manual measurements. Many large-scale phenotyping efforts are conducted to enable genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but it is unclear exactly how alternative methods of phenotyping will affect GWAS results. In this study we simulate phenotypes that are controlled by the same set of causal loci but have differing heritability, similar to two different measurements of the same morphological character. We then perform GWAS with the simulated traits and create receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves from the results. The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) provide a metric that allows direct comparisons of GWAS results from different simulated traits. We use this framework to evaluate the effects of heritability and the number of causative loci on the AUCs of simulated traits; we also test the differences between AUCs of traits with differing heritability. We find that both increasing the number of causative loci and decreasing the heritability reduce a trait\'s AUC. We also find that when two traits are controlled by a greater number of causative loci, they are more likely to have significantly different AUCs as the difference between their heritabilities increases. When simulation results are applied to measures of tassel morphology, we find no significant difference between AUCs from GWAS using manual and image-based measurements of typical maize tassel characters. This finding indicates that both measurement methods have similar ability to identify genetic associations. These results provide a framework for deciding between competing phenotyping strategies when the ultimate goal is to generate and use phenotype-genotype associations from GWAS.

Prenylated chalcones and flavonoids from hop (Humulus lupulus L.), such as 6-prenylnaringenin (6-PN) and 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), are investigated for their health beneficial and anticancer activities. We, thus, compare the oral bioavailability and safety of 6-PN and 8-PN in healthy young women and men, and investigated their effects on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial is conducted with 16 healthy volunteers (eight women, eight men) given a single oral dose of 500 mg 6-PN, 8-PN, or placebo in random order. Maximum total concentrations of 6-PN and 8-PN in plasma (Cmax ; 543 and 2834 nmol L-1 ) and their respective area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC; 3635 and 15801 nmol L-1 × h) are significantly (5.2- and 4.3-fold) higher for 8-PN than for 6-PN (p ˂ 0.05). PBMC for ex vivo experiments are isolated from blood sampled before and 6 h after intake of 6-PN, 8-PN, or placebo. Despite the single-treatment regime and low blood concentrations, both 6-PN and 8-PN increase the survival of PBMC relative to control.
8-PN is significantly more bioavailable in healthy humans than its isomer 6-PN. Interestingly, 6-PN, despite being less bioavailable, is similarly effective as 8-PN in enhancing PBMC viability.

Doubling method is the technical barriers in maize haploid breeding. It was very important to establish the independent intellectual property rights for doubling method. In this experiment, the maize haploid inducer, TG15, was used for producing maternal haploids. Also, haploids were obtained from two kinds of maternal genotypes involved in the experiment, including high-oil type and common type. Significant differences were observed among offspring of various genotypes in the recovery of haploid fertilization. In 21 hybrid offspring haploids, the average powder rate was 8.28%, and the seed setting rate was 4.98%. The experimental results showed that when the hybrids were treated with 0.08% colchicine, the average powder rate and seed setting rate of offspring haploids were 35.53 and 20.30%, respectively, which were significantly higher than the hybrids with natural recovery ability. This study primarily established the doubling method of haploids called \"bud seedling method\" in China which was very practicably in maize doubled haploid breeding.