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Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is highly resistant to many diseases and insects that attack european grape (Vitis vinifera). However, distant hybridization incompatibility between V. rotundifolia (female) and V. vinifera (male) impedes the utilization of V. rotundifolia in grape breeding. This study used fourth-dimension label-free protein quantitation to detect the key genes and pathways in the V. rotundifolia stigma after self-pollination (V. rotundifolia × V. rotundifolia) and cross-pollination (V. rotundifolia × V. vinifera). A histological analysis showed that pollen tube growth in the stigma of V. rotundifolia was arrested 8 hours after cross-pollination, but not after self-pollination. A proteomic analysis identified 32 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the stigma of V. rotundifolia between self-pollination and cross-pollination. A heatmap analysis grouped these DEPs into four clusters. The top gene ontology terms were ATPase-coupled transmembrane transporter activity, extracellular region, DNA replication, and cellular carbohydrate biosynthetic process. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that these DEPs participated in DNA replication and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways. The downregulated A5AY88, D7TJ35, D7SU26, F6HJI1, and F6GUE7 may have a role in cross incompatibility. This study revealed the cross incompatibility of grapes at histological and proteomic levels.
Amino acid and protein metabolism are interrelated and both play important roles in plant adaptation to heat stress. The objective of this study was to identify amino acids and soluble proteins associated with genetic variation in heat tolerance of hard fescue (Festuca trachyphylla). According to a previous screening experiment, the hard fescue cultivars Reliant IV and Predator were selected as heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive cultivars, respectively. Plants of these two hard fescue cultivars were exposed to heat stress at 38/33 °C (day/night) or optimal temperature at 21/18 °C in growth chambers. Each cultivar had four replications under each temperature, and the experimental design was a split-plot design, temperature as the main plots and cultivars as the subplots. Under heat stress, ‘Reliant IV’ exhibited higher turf quality (TQ) and greater membrane stability than ‘Predator’. In response to heat stress, total amino acid content increased, whereas total soluble protein content decreased in both cultivars. The greater accumulation of amino acids in ‘Reliant IV’ was contributed by the greater increase of proteins involved in the glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that provided carbon skeleton for amino acid synthesis. ‘Reliant IV’ leaves exhibited greater extent of increases in the content of six individual amino acids (histidine, glutamine, proline, threonine, aspartate, and tryptophan) than ‘Predator’ under heat stress. Several soluble proteins were upregulated in response to heat stress, to a greater extent in ‘Reliant IV’ than ‘Predator’, including the proteins involved in photosynthesis, protein folding, redox hemostasis, stress signaling, stress defense, cell organization, and metabolism. These differentially accumulated free amino acids and soluble proteins could be associated with the genetic variation in heat tolerance of hard fescue.
Rhododendron delavayi Franch. is an important ornamental plant and often plays a role in natural hybridization with other sympatric species in Rhododendron subgenus Hymenanthes. Fifteen microsatellite loci were developed and characterized in this species. The average allele number of these microsatellites was four per locus, ranging from three to six. The ranges of expected (HE ) and observed (HO ) heterozygosities were 0.0365 to 0.7091 and 0.0263 to 0.9512, respectively. Cross-species amplification in R. agastum and R. decorum showed that a subset of these markers holds promise for congeneric species study. These sets of markers are potentially useful to investigate the genetic structure and gene flow of R. delavayi and other congeneric species.
Pedicularis rex C. B. Clarke ex Maxim., an endemic species with potential horticultural traits from Himalaya, has a unique cup-like petiole structure and highly infraspecific floral variation among members of the lousewort genus (Orobanchaceae). We developed 13 microsatellite markers from three microsatellite-enriched libraries (AG, AC, and AAG) of P. rex with a modified biotin–streptavidin capture technique. Polymorphism of each locus was assessed in 22 individuals with representation of five populations of P. rex. Number of alleles per locus (A) ranged from two to seven with an average of 4.38. The observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.03 to 0.86 and 0.45 to 0.84, respectively. Additionally, among the 13 identified microsatellite markers, 11 of them were successfully amplified in species P. thamnophila, and five of them showed polymorphisms. This study may provide important information for further investigation on the population genetics, introduction, and acclimatization of P. rex and its congeners.
Luculia pinceana Hook. (Rubiaceae) is a typical distylous species with dimorphic and long-styled monomorphic populations. Within this study, we developed 13 microsatellite markers from L. pinceana using a modified biotin–streptavidin capture method. Polymorphism of each locus was assessed in 30 individuals from four dimorphic populations and one monomorphic population. The average allele number of these microsatellites was 4.153 per locus ranging from three to seven. The observed and expected heterozygosities were from 0.040 to 0.840 and from 0.571 to 0.769, respectively. Additionally, all 13 identified microsatellite markers were successfully amplified in its related species, L. yunnanensis, 10 of which showed polymorphism. These microsatellite markers could provide a useful tool for further study of the breeding system and the population genetic structure in this species and within other Luculia species.
Fruit textural characteristics can affect the storage, transportation, and processing of plum (Prunus salicina Lindl) in commercial production. We analyzed 23 plum cultivars with marked differences in fruit traits. Basic physicochemical indicators and textural characteristics of the fruits were determined using puncture testing and texture profile analysis. Furthermore, through the combined application of cluster analysis and principal component analysis, the indexes were simplified to three relatively independent dimensions, comprehensively reflecting the hardness, size, and flexibility of plum fruit. Our results show a high positive correlation among textural characteristics such as hardness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness, whereas toughness and brittleness were negatively correlated. In addition, physicochemical properties were correlated to the texture traits. The weight and size of the plum fruit were related to hardness, adhesiveness, and chewiness. The soluble solids and water content contributed to the hardness, cohesiveness, and resistance to chewing. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters: Cluster I represented by ‘Meiguihong’ with high hardness and a chewable texture; Cluster II represented by ‘Siyuecui’, ‘Cuimi’, and ‘Qingcui’ with a hard and brittle texture; and Cluster III represented by ‘Jinmi’, ‘Taoli’, and ‘Oishiwase’ with a soft and tough texture. The results of this study provide a significant theoretical foundation for quality evaluation, and classification of plum fruit characteristics, thus providing insights for further breeding of plum varieties.