In response to the germplasm resources’ conservation in China, the characters of a superior landrace of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) Cixidabaican (CX) were identified, compared with Lixiyicun (LX) introduced from Japan. The plant morphology and root structure of CX were larger, pods/seeds number and yield per plant were higher, but the size of pods/seeds and single-seed weight were lower than the similar characteristics in LX. The protein content of dry seeds of CX was 4.1% lower than LX, while the amino acids contents showed no difference between the two cultivars. The seed scan electron micrograph showed that the structure of starch granules was similar, while the granules number was lower in CX than LX. iTRAQ-based proteomics showed that 80 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were higher, and 45 DAPs were less abundant in the seeds of CX compared to LX, and DAPs were enriched in proteins of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. These results verified the importance of the further study of landraces by showing superior traits of CX, which could contribute to the breeding of better-quality varieties.
In the context of eco-sustainable acquisition of food security, arsenic (As) acts as a deterring factor, which easily infiltrates our food chain via plant uptake. Therefore, devising climate-smart strategies becomes exigent for minimizing the imposed risks. Pertinently, Serendipita indica (S. indica) is well reputed for its post-symbiotic stress alleviatory and phyto-promotive potential. Management of phosphorus (P) is acclaimed for mitigating arsenic toxicity in plants by inhibiting the uptake of As molecules due to the competitive cationic exchange in the rhizosphere. The current study was designed to investigate the tandem effects of S. indica and P in combating As toxicity employing two rice genotypes, i.e., Guodao-6 (GD-6; As-sensitive genotype) and Zhongzhe You-1 (ZZY-1; As-tolerant genotype). After successful fungal colonization, alone and combined arsenic (10 μ M L−1) and phosphorus (50 μ M L−1) treatments were applied. Results displayed that the recuperating effects of combined S. indica and P treatment were indeed much profound than their alone treatments; however, most of the beneficial influences were harnessed by ZZY-1 in comparison with GD-6. Distinct genotypic differences were observed for antioxidant enzyme activities, which were induced slightly higher in S. indica-colonized ZZY-1 plants, with or without additional P, as compared to GD-6. Ultrastructure images of root and shoot exhibited ravages of As in the form of chloroplasts-, nuclei-and cell wall-damage with enlarged vacuole area, mellowed mostly by the combined treatment of S. indica and P in both genotypes. Gene expression of PHTs family transporters was regulated at different levels in almost all treatments across genotypes. Conclusively, the results of this study validated the promising role of S. indica and additional P in mitigating As stress, albeit corroborated that the extent of relevant benefit exploitation is highly genotype-dependent. Verily, unlocking the potential of nature-friendly solutions will mend the anthropogenic damage already been done to our environment.
To increase performance and save costs when utilizing magnesium phosphate cements (MPC) to repair a damaged building structure or a cement pavement, MPC is typically combined with fly ash (FA) and metakaolin (MK). The influence of FA and MK on the workability, rheological characteristics, flexural strength, compressive strength, and drying shrinkage of MPC was investigated in this research. MPC samples with different percentages of FA and MK by weight replacement were prepared. The results indicate that an appropriate dosage of MK and FA could decrease MPC fluidity and delay the setting time. MPC’s yield stress and plastic viscosity were increased when MK was added. FA has a negative influence on flexural and compressive strength as compared to control MPC and the compressive strength of MPC with MK increases and then decreases. The drying shrinkage of MPC containing MK and FA is superior to control mixture. MPC with 10% FA and 10% MK has the best-modified performance in terms of the comprehensive performance of MPC at all test ages.
In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) breeding, heading date is one of the most important agricultural traits that is essential for the completion of its life cycle. Certain endogenous and environmental factors regulate floral transition, morphing the complex genetic mechanism of the heading phase, which could serve as a premise of orchestration for improved yields. To elaborate the network of genetic and environmental signals, a hydroponic experiment was carried out using two spring (i.e., DM65 and DM70) and two winter barley genotypes (i.e., DM269 and DM385). Our results confirmed that the vernalized environment produced a substantial reduction in plant height, biomass and photosynthetic activity compared with the control plants. A noticeable increase in oxidative stress was exhibited by DM65 and DM70 plants compared with their respective controls at 20 °C, while no significant difference was observed for any genotype grown in the greenhouse (25 °C). Simultaneously, increased antioxidant enzyme activity in winter barley genotypes showed a defensive mechanism under vernalized conditions (4 °C). Furthermore, the expression of key regulatory flowering genes revealed that the vernalization gene (HvVRN1) is the key regulator of floral induction after cold exposure, whereas Photoperiod Response Locus 1 (HvPpd-H1) had significantly higher expression under greenhouse conditions, along with Phytochrome C (HvPHY-C), validating their involvement as upstream heading time regulators. These findings contribute to enriching the study of environmental signals that substantially modulate the complex mechanism of barley heading date.
Inadvertent accumulation of arsenic (As) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a concern for people depending on it for their subsistence, as it verily causes epigenetic alterations across the genome as well as in specific cells. To ensure food safety, certain attempts have been made to nullify this highest health hazard encompassing physiological, chemical and biological methods. Albeit, the use of mycorrhizal association along with nutrient reinforcement strategy has not been explored yet. Mechanisms of response and resistance of two rice genotypes to As with or without phosphorus (P) nutrition and Serendipita indica (S. indica; S.i) colonization were explored by root transcriptome profiling in the present study. Results revealed that the resistant genotype had higher auxin content and root plasticity, which helped in keeping the As accumulation and P starvation response to a minimum under alone As stress. However, sufficient P supply and symbiotic relationship switched the energy resources towards plant’s developmental aspects rather than excessive root proliferation. Higher As accumulating genotype (GD-6) displayed upregulation of ethylene signaling/biosynthesis, root stunting and senescence related genes under As toxicity. Antioxidant defense system and cytokinin biosynthesis/signaling of both genotypes were strengthened under As + S.i + P, while the upregulation of potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) transporters depicted underlying cross-talk with iron (Fe) and P. Differential expression of phosphate transporters, peroxidases and GSTs, metal detoxification/transport proteins, as well as phytohormonal metabolism were responsible for As detoxification. Taken together, S. indica symbiosis fortified with adequate P-fertilizer can prove to be effective in minimizing As acquisition and accumulation in rice plants.
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