The α0-thalassemia Southeast Asian (--SEA) and Thai (--THAI) deletions comprise a significant global health burden, with high prevalence in Southeast Asia. Conventional methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are limited in resource-poor settings due to complexity, time, and cost. This assay was developed as a rapid and simple option for point-of-care (POC) applications. Three assays specific for wild-type DNA, --SEA and --THAI deletions utilized recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) for rapid DNA amplification at a constant low temperature of 37 °C, with a run time of 10 min, eliminating the need for a thermal cycler. The amplified products were detected using the highly specific CRISPR-Cas12a system and read visually via fluorescence or combined with a lateral flow assay (LFA) in 30 min. Successful engineering of a synthetic PAM site enabled Cas12a recognition of the --SEA target despite the absence of a suitable natural PAM. The platform demonstrated high accuracy in 74 blinded clinical samples, achieving a diagnostic accuracy of 98.20%, a sensitivity of 94.59%, and a specificity of 100% across 222 per-target evaluations. Detection from non-invasive samples achieved 80% to 100% accuracy, depending on the extraction method and readout format used. Our platform showed potential to meet several ASSURED criteria for diagnostic tests in resource-limited settings, demonstrating high potential for widespread use in genetic screening for α0-thalassemia (--SEA) and (--THAI).
Semen diluents are crucial for the effective utilization of male germplasm resources and for enhancing the efficiency of artificial insemination (AI). However, reports on the in vitro low-temperature preservation of semen are still limited. This study comprised three separate experiments. Experiment 1 (semen storage): An ex vivo experiment using one ejaculate from each of five bulls, split into two aliquots per ejaculate, stored at 0 °C for 15 days, with repeated assessments of sperm quality (n = 5 biological replicates). Experiment 2 (IVF): An in vitro fertilization study using slaughterhouse-derived oocytes fertilized with day-15 stored semen from Experiment 1, conducted in five independent sessions (n = 5 sessions). Experiment 3 (AI): A non-randomized interventional field study involving 400 synchronized cows at China Hualing Ranch, allocated upon detection of estrus to receive either treatment or control semen (n = 400 cows). The primary outcome for Experiment 1 was total motility at day 15; for Experiment 2, blastocyst formation rate per oocyte; for Experiment 3, pregnancy rate at day 50 post-AI among all allocated cows. These findings suggest that the treatment formulation may offer advantages for liquid storage of bull semen at 0 °C.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, largely due to delayed diagnosis. Current screening approaches are limited by invasiveness, cost, and low patient adherence, underscoring the urgent need for non-invasive biomarkers that could complement the existing strategies. Cancer-associated metabolic reprogramming, together with alterations in host–microbiota interactions, is reflected in the urinary volatilome, offering a potential source of candidate biomarkers. In this exploratory, case–control pilot study, urinary volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) were profiled in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC, n = 19) and healthy controls (HCs, n = 17) using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC–MS). Univariate and multivariate statistical modelling was applied to characterize disease-associated metabolic patterns. Sixty-seven urinary VOMs were identified, with terpenoids, ketones, phenolic compounds and norisoprenoids representing the predominant chemical classes. Following participant-level analysis and correction for multiple comparisons, 18 VOMs remained statistically significant between the two groups, consistent with metabolic perturbations previously associated with colorectal carcinogenesis, including gut microbial dysbiosis, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, chronic inflammation and altered energy metabolism. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), validated with participant-level cross-validation and 1000 permutations, revealed a separation between CRC and HC groups, supporting the existence of a disease-associated urinary volatilomic profile. Notably, one participant initially classified as an HC was subsequently diagnosed with metastatic CRC. This participant clustered with the CRC group in an unsupervised analysis performed using the original group label, without knowledge of the later diagnosis, raising the hypothesis, to be confirmed in a prospective cohort, that urinary volatilomic alterations may be detectable before clinical diagnosis. Our findings indicate that urinary volatilomic profiling captures metabolic changes associated with CRC and represents a promising, hypothesis-generating starting point for non-invasive biomarker discovery.
Climate change is reshaping veterinary parasite transmission by altering thermal and hydrological suitability, environmental stage persistence, vector and intermediate host ecology, and contact across livestock–wildlife–companion animal interfaces. These effects are nonlinear; while warming may extend transmission in some systems, heat, desiccation, habitat loss, or disrupted hydrology can reduce the risk or concentrate transmission in local refugia. This critical narrative review compares pasture-transmitted helminths, snail-borne trematodes, environmentally transmitted protozoa, vector-borne parasites, and multi-host cycles. We propose an attribution framework that classifies observed changes across four dimensions (geographic range, seasonal timing, transmission intensity, and host-interface structure) and evaluates them through five analytical filters: suitability, parasite life-cycle response, vector or intermediate-host response, host-interface change, and surveillance artifacts. This framework prevents improved detection, land-use change, animal movement, management shifts and improved detection from being mistaken for climate-driven emergence. We also propose a climate–refugia paradox hypothesis, requiring empirical validation, in which drought or heat may reduce unselected parasite refugia and intensify selection for anthelmintic resistance. Finally, we connect a tiered diagnostic approach from field tools to reference molecular surveillance to support attribution-aware, risk-based One Health strategies that protect animal production, biodiversity, and public health.
Vegetation greenness helps cool cities, but how its cooling effect changes over time in newly expanded and existing old built-up areas (BUAs) across different urban development stages remains poorly understood. This study investigated the spatiotemporal trends of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) within newly expanded and old BUAs across cities of different development stages from 1992 to 2020. Utilizing the ESA CCI dataset for BUA delineation and Landsat-derived NDVI and LST, we applied the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator to analyze 26 core cities. City sizes were classified into five categories from small cities to super megacities based on their status, and then assigned to urban development stages ranging from Stage 4 (least developed) to Stage 1 (most developed). The results revealed a significant decrease in NDVI across all areas in both new BUA (average significant slope = −0.0009, p < 0.05) and old BUA (average significant slope = −0.0002, p < 0.05), and a significant increase in LST in both new BUA (average significant slope = 0.0818, p < 0.05) and old BUA (average significant slope = 0.0245, p < 0.05). In addition, NDVI trends in BUA expansion varied significantly across urban development stages (p for trend = 0.016). Excluding Stage 1 (Shanghai only), vegetation loss attenuated from the sharpest decline in Stage 4 (average significant slope = −0.0021, 36.60% significant, p < 0.05) to a moderate decline in Stage 3 (−0.0011, 26.03%), and reversed to a slight vegetation gain in Stage 2 (0.0031, 19.14%), whereas LST showed no significant stage-dependent pattern. These findings underscore the widespread decreasing NDVI and increasing LST in both newly expanded and old BUAs, with the stage-wise vegetation differences potentially reflecting varying policy and economic contexts.
The mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) is considered an indirect indicator of the number of mitochondria and of mitochondrial dysfunction; its decrease may indirectly reflect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations. A reduction in mtDNA-CN is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease (CAD). The study evaluates the association of relative blood mtDNA-CN with premature CAD (pCAD) and cardiometabolic factors among Mexican individuals from the GEA (Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease) Mexican cohort. Relative blood mtDNA-CN was quantified by real-time PCR in 835 patients with pCAD and 896 control subjects (defined as a coronary artery calcium score of zero, assessed by computed tomography). Associations were evaluated using logistic regression (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) adjusted for potential confounders. Compared with controls, patients with pCAD exhibited significantly lower relative blood mtDNA-CN (5.6 [3.5–9.8] vs. 9.1 [5.1–13.2]. p < 0.001). Similar results were observed in the sex-stratified analysis. Specifically, relative blood mtDNA-CN in women (6.2 [3.8–9.9]) and men (5.5 [3.4–9.7]) with pCAD was lower than that in women (9.5 [6.3–13.7]) and men (8.2 [5.5–12.5]) from the control group (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, LDL-cholesterol, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and physical activity, higher relative blood mtDNA-CN showed a negative association with pCAD (0.903 [0.881–0.927], p = 4.96 × 10−15). This association remained significant in men (0.894 [0.866–0.922], p = 2.90 × 10−12) and women (0.917 [0.876–0.960], p = 2.1 × 10−4). Among patients with pCAD, an inverse correlation was observed between relative blood mtDNA-CN and total abdominal fat (p = 0.001), visceral fat (p = 0.015), and subcutaneous fat (p = 0.004). Overall, our results show that reduced relative blood mtDNA-CN is associated with pCAD, which could be indicative of mitochondrial alterations. Furthermore, the inverse correlation between relative blood mtDNA-CN and total, visceral, and subcutaneous abdominal fat suggests a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and abdominal adiposity in patients with pCAD. These findings support that decreased relative blood mtDNA-CN may serve as a marker associated with the presence of pCAD and for adipose tissue alterations in Mexican women and men.
Estrogen sulfotransferase (EST), a member of the sulfotransferase (SULT) family, catalyzes estrogen sulfation and regulates its activity and content. EST has been mainly studied in vertebrates. Our previous analysis of EST expression in kidney, hepatopancreas, mantle, adductor muscle, gill, and gonads of Chlamys farreri (C. farreri) revealed highest expression in the gonads, suggesting an important role in gonadal function. We knocked down EST by RNAi, examined gonadal histology and E2 levels (via ELISA), expressed recombinant EST in prokaryotes, and assessed its activity using a novel MCF-7 proliferation assay, where E2 promotes cell growth and EST inactivation reduces it. After EST knockdown, EST mRNA levels decreased by 67% in the ovary and 63% in the testis, indicating effective silencing. Histological analysis revealed that RNAi accelerated oocyte proliferation and development, enhanced oocyte vitellogenesis and delayed testicular development in the experimental group. Moreover, estradiol (E2) levels in both ovaries and testes were higher in the experimental groups than in the controls (p < 0.05). The recombinant EST protein was expressed as inclusion bodies and, after purification, denaturation, refolding, and ultrafiltration, yielded high-purity, concentrated protein. Enzyme activity assays showed a decreased proliferation rate of MCF-7 cells, indicating that EST possesses enzymatic activity that can inactivate E2. It is worth mentioning that the traditional isotope-labeling method for detecting EST activity is limited by high cost, operational complexity, technical demands, and potential health risks; therefore, this study established a simpler, more economical, and safer method for measuring EST enzymatic activity. In conclusion EST contributes to the maintenance of estrogen balance during gonadal development.
Epigenetic regulation through histone acetylation plays a critical role in gene expression and cancer progression. Because of its pivotal role in chromatin remodeling, Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) has become a promising therapeutic target. In this study, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven strategy was utilized to prioritize potential HDAC3 inhibitors among FDA-approved compounds to accelerate drug repurposing for cancer therapy. Existing HDAC3 inhibitors were identified in the BindingDB and were used to develop a machine learning (ML) model trained on the most potent inhibitors to identify molecular descriptor patterns associated with HDAC3 inhibition. The ML workflow then screened 1615 FDA-approved compounds, yielding 120 candidates with predicted HDAC3 inhibitory activity. Among these, known HDAC inhibitors, including romidepsin, vorinostat, and panobinostat, were selected, suggesting that the workflow can recover known HDAC inhibitors during virtual screening. Interestingly, tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib and osimertinib were also identified, indicating potential structural overlap between kinase- and HDAC3-binding pharmacophores. The analysis of the predicted docking scores also supported the prioritization results since the top 10 compounds had more negative predicted docking scores than the bottom 10 (p = 0.0074). This shows that the suggested workflow is useful for prioritizing FDA-approved compounds as potential HDAC3 inhibitors for further study.
Liver and intestinal health govern the production performance of broilers. Baicalin (BA) is a flavonoid extracted from the dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and possesses a wide range of biological activity. In this study, 66 one-day-old white-feathered broilers were selected and randomly divided into two groups. Broilers in the control group were fed a basal diet, whereas the BA group received the basal diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg BA. The results showed that BA supplementation markedly elevated the antioxidant capacity of the serum and liver (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the villus height/crypt depth ratio and the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes were significantly higher in the BA group (p < 0.01). Transcriptomics, RT-qPCR, and Western blot assays revealed that BA-mediated effects were associated with the hepatic PPARα signaling pathway and the regulation of lipid metabolism. Furthermore, a combined analysis encompassing intestinal microbiota 16S rRNA sequencing and plasma metabolomics revealed that the BA-induced enrichment of multiple bacterial taxa, such as Lachnospiraceae, may modulate butyrate metabolism and circulating metabolites including isoleucyl-glutamate in broilers. In conclusion, dietary BA supplementation improved the hepatic and intestinal health of white-feathered broilers, reshaped the intestinal microbiota composition, and altered the plasma metabolite profile, with these benefits linked to the PPARα signaling pathway.
Forest soils play a critical role in carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling by storing large amounts of soil organic matter (SOM). However, the integrated associations linking aboveground resource properties and belowground microbial processes influencing SOM dynamics remain poorly understood. In this observational, cross-sectional study, we analyzed 84 plots across six forest types at Mt. Gariwang, South Korea, to evaluate the relative importance of resource quality and resource quantity in relation to SOM dynamics. Total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and the C:N ratio were used as indicators of SOM dynamics. Resource quality was represented by species richness (SR) and functional dispersion (FDis) as indirect proxies, whereas resource quantity was represented by aboveground biomass (AGB) and diameter at breast height diversity (DBH diversity). We also evaluated whether fungal and bacterial ASV richness were statistically linked to the relationships between aboveground resource properties and SOM dynamics. Functional dispersion (FDis) was negatively associated with TOC (β = −0.28) and the C:N ratio (β = −0.51), whereas AGB showed no significant relationship with any SOM indicator. In contrast, SR was positively associated with Fungal ASV richness (β = 0.37), which was in turn positively linked to TOC (β = 0.43) and TN (β = 0.56) accumulation, suggesting an indirect statistical pathway consistent with fungi acting as a biological link between aboveground biodiversity and belowground carbon and nitrogen storage. These findings indicate that resource quality indicators showed divergent associations with SOM dynamics: a negative direct pathway via FDis and a positive indirect pathway via SR and fungal ASV richness, and that, overall, resource quality was more consistently associated with SOM dynamics than resource quantity. Our study provides new insights into the associations linking aboveground vegetation and belowground microbial communities and offers a scientific basis for biodiversity-based forest management to enhance long-term soil carbon sequestration.
The maternal–fetal interface functions as an integrated physiological unit whose homeostatic balance determines pregnancy success. Large-pore channels, composed of connexins (Cxs), pannexins (Panxs), calcium homeostasis modulators (CALHMs) and leucine-rich repeat-containing 8 (LRRC8) proteins, mediate direct intercellular communication, autocrine and paracrine release of ATP and other signaling molecules, and scaffold-based signal integration across this interface. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge on large-pore channel expression and their physiological and pathophysiological roles at the maternal–fetal interface, applying an explicit evidence-classification framework to distinguish established functions from emerging findings. We first map the large-pore channel repertoire of each cellular compartment—syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, extravillous trophoblast, villous endothelium and decidual stroma—revealing that each compartment expresses a distinct combination of family members, with varying levels of evidence and gestational stage-dependent dynamics. We then analyze the three principal modes of large-pore channel operation in placental physiology: gap-junctional communication driving syncytialization, channel-mediated ATP release enabling paracrine purinergic signaling, and channel-independent scaffolding functions that integrate mechanical and biochemical signals. Next, we examine how each channel family becomes dysregulated in placental-related diseases. We conclude by outlining a targeted research roadmap with clear priorities: the most urgent need is protein-level validation of CALHM and LRRC8 expression in primary trophoblasts, followed by elucidation of gating mechanisms and testing for crosstalk among channel families. By providing both conceptual synthesis and practical guidance, this review aims to accelerate mechanistic understanding and therapeutic development targeting large-pore channels for pregnancy complications that currently lack mechanism-based treatments.
Cellular senescence is one of the hallmarks of aging. These growth-arrested cells actively secrete inflammatory mediators that reshape the tissue microenvironment and fuel age-related pathology. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is an NAD+-dependent deacetylase that regulates senescence largely through its control over mitochondrial integrity and inflammatory signaling. SIRT1 levels and activity fall with age, and this decline directly promotes senescence. SIRT1 maintains mitochondrial function through three interconnected pathways: PGC-1α-driven mitochondria biogenesis, FOXO-dependent antioxidant defense, and mitophagic clearance of damaged organelles. When SIRT1 activity is in an unsteady state, mitochondria become unhealthy. This leads to excessive ROS generation and the leakage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into the cytosol, which activates the innate immune pathway, consequently resulting in the production of inflammatory cytokines that further inhibit SIRT1. This self-amplifying loop drives cells to irreversible senescence. In this study, we integrate the current understanding of the SIRT1–mitochondria–immune axis within the framework of senescence by examining the biological roles of SIRT1 and the mechanisms that lead to its reduction with aging, while also exploring the interrelated mitochondrial pathways and inflammatory signaling. Furthermore, we assess possible therapeutic strategies targeting this axis and highlight essential questions that necessitate additional research.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a chronic infectious disease characterized by extensive tissue destruction and profound extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. This study provides the first evidence of O-glycosylated oncofetal fibronectin (onf-FN) expression in human CL lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased onf-FN expression throughout the inflammatory lesions, displaying a distribution pattern closely resembling that observed in human tumors and overlapping with total fibronectin expression. The detection of onf-FN in an infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites broadens the current understanding of ECM remodeling beyond cancer and developmental processes, suggesting that onf-FN may also participate in the host tissue response to chronic infection. Given the well-established biological functions of onf-FN in regulating cell adhesion, tissue remodeling, and repair, its expression in CL lesions raises important questions regarding its potential role in disease pathogenesis and parasite persistence. These findings identify onf-FN as a previously unrecognized component of the CL microenvironment, providing a foundation for future studies investigating its biological and clinical significance in parasitic diseases.
Periodontal disease is widely recognised as a chronic infectious-inflammatory disorder, leading to the destruction of alveolar bone. Osteoclasts and their progenitors have been demonstrated to play pivotal roles in the process of periodontitis-induced bone damage. The mechanisms that govern the differentiation of osteoclasts in the context of periodontitis remain to be elucidated. In this study, we assessed the expression of CD226 on osteoclasts and their progenitors, as well as the function of CD226 in experimental periodontitis mice. Periodontitis was induced in C57BL/6 wild-type and CD226 knockout (CD226-KO) mice. Micro-CT was used to analyse bone loss. Haematoxylin–eosin (HE) or tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was conducted to examine osteoclast differentiation. Flow cytometric analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to identify the expression of CD226 and related molecules. The expression of CD226 on osteoclasts was found to decrease gradually during the process of osteoclastogenesis. In addition, the study revealed that the knockout of CD226 inhibited osteoclast differentiation in vitro. Furthermore, the knockout of CD226 has been demonstrated to attenuate inflammatory responses and alleviate bone damage in a murine periodontitis model. The present study suggests that CD226 plays an important role in regulating the function and differentiation of osteoclasts and their progenitors. The targeting of CD226 has the potential to be developed as a potent therapy for bone loss caused by periodontitis.
L-proline (Pro) is a conditionally essential amino acid that has been reported to exert protective effects on intestinal health. This research investigated whether Pro supplementation reduces intestinal inflammation in weaned rabbits, and whether this effect involves the maintenance of the intestinal mucosal barrier and the composition of gut microbiota. A total of thirty weaned New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: a control group, an LPS-challenged model group, and three LPS-challenged groups receiving 0.5%, 1% or 2% Pro in their drinking water. Following the overall results of the study, 1% Pro was chosen for further investigation. Notably, 1% Pro supplementation significantly decreased the spleen index, alleviated colonic histopathological injury, enhanced the expression of the tight junction proteins Occludin and Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1), restored the population of goblet cells, decreased the colonic mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1B and IL6, and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL10. Microbiome analysis revealed that Pro supplementation was associated with alterations in the dysbiotic gut ecosystem, including increased relative abundances of potentially beneficial genera such as Ruminococcus, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4B4_group, and decreased the relative abundance of opportunistic pathogens like Escherichia–Shigella. Overall, these results suggest that Pro functions as a microbiota-modulating immunonutrient that mitigates intestinal inflammation and supports the integrity of the mucosal barrier, likely through changes in gut microbial composition.
The intestinal barrier plays a critical role in maintaining gastrointestinal health and nutrient utilization in yaks. This study investigated the effects of dietary RPG level and RPT supplementation on colonic barrier function and microbial composition in yaks. Twenty-eight healthy male yaks (3 years old; 192.7 ± 4.52 kg) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design with two dietary rumen-protected glucose (RPG) levels (1.0% or 3.0% of dietary DM) and two rumen-protected taurine (RPT) supplementation levels (5 or 20 g/animal/day) for 63 days. High-level RPG impaired colonic physical barrier function by reducing tight junction protein expression and microbial diversity, whereas high-level RPT mainly compromised chemical and immune barrier function by decreasing diamine oxidase activity, mucin-2, and secretory immunoglobulin A, accompanied by alterations in the colonic microbial community. Significant interactions between RPG and RPT were observed for several barrier- and microbiota-related indices. Overall, the effects of RPG and RPT on colonic health were dose-dependent, and moderate supplementation, particularly the combination of 1.0% dietary RPG and 5 g/day RPT, was the most effective in maintaining colonic barrier integrity and microbial homeostasis in yaks.
Vip3 proteins secreted by the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have an important role in biological control against economically important lepidopteran pests. The elucidation of Vip3 protein structures has helped to address the roles of domains and amino acid positions involved in toxicity, especially in the N-terminal domains I and II, thereby supporting their more efficient utilization. In this study, we evaluated the impact of combinations of critical amino acid substitutions, selected from previous studies, in domains IV and V of the Vip3Aa90 protein on its insecticidal activity against three lepidopteran pests. The double mutant S543N/I544L, triple mutants S543N/I544L/E627A and S543N/I544L/S686R, and quadruple mutant S543N/I544L/E627A/S686R were constructed in Escherichia coli by site-directed mutagenesis. Among these, only the Vip3Aa mutant proteins S543N/I544L/E627A and S543N/I544L/E627A/S686R could be expressed and purified for bioassays. Both mutant proteins had similar toxicity against Spodoptera littoralis, showing higher insecticidal activity than the wild-type (WT) Vip3Aa90 at the LC90 level. However, at the LC50 level, only a slight improvement in toxicity was observed for the quadruple mutant. In the case of S. exigua, no significant difference in toxicity was observed for either of the two mutant proteins with respect to the WT at either LC level. Interestingly, for G. molesta, though the toxicity of the triple mutant did not differ significantly compared to that of the WT protein, that of the quadruple mutant showed a marked decrease in toxicity of over 10-fold. This study revealed that combining selected amino acid substitutions in domains IV and V can enhance Vip3Aa90 toxicity against some lepidopteran species but can be either neutral or even deleterious in others.
Coconut is an important livelihood and industrial crop for coastal communities in Thailand; however, limited information is available on the phenotypic diversity of traditional aromatic coconut populations cultivated by smallholders in southern Thailand. An on-farm survey was conducted in Phang Nga, Trang, Krabi, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, evaluating 27 palms representing nine populations (three palms per population) for 28 quantitative morphological, reproductive, fruit, yield, and coconut-water quality traits. A hierarchical linear mixed model, with province treated as a fixed effect and populations nested within province, was used to characterize phenotypic variation and obtain adjusted population-level BLUPs. Substantial phenotypic variation was observed among the surveyed populations. Var7 in Krabi recorded the highest fruit weight (2039 g) and kernel thickness; Var6 in Trang had the highest number of fruits per bunch (13.3); Var2 in Phang Nga had the highest water volume (430 mL); and Var9 in Nakhon Si Thammarat had the highest number of female flowers (20). Principal component analysis showed that the first five components explained 72.6% of the total phenotypic variation, with fruit, reproductive, water, and vegetative traits contributing strongly to population differentiation. Correlation network analysis further identified coordinated associations among vegetative vigor, leaf morphology, and fruit and yield traits. The study provides a baseline phenotypic characterization of Nam Hom coconut populations under smallholder conditions and identifies population–province combinations with promising trait profiles for further evaluation.
Panax ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.) produces pharmacologically valuable ginsenosides. WD40-repeat (WDR) proteins act as versatile regulators of plant specialized metabolism, yet their biological roles under methyl jasmonate (MeJA) elicitation remain largely uncharacterized in ginseng. In this study, we identified 29 PgWDR family members at the whole-genome level, and systematically analyzed their phylogeny, gene structure, cis-acting promoter elements, as well as organ- and development-dependent expression patterns. Six candidate genes potentially associated with ginsenoside biosynthesis were screened through integrating gene–metabolite correlation analysis and gene co-expression analysis. Under MeJA treatment, three of these candidates showed statistically significant expression responses, while the other three exhibited variable expression fluctuations with no statistical significance. PgWDR24 displayed a positive correlation with key ginsenoside biosynthetic enzyme genes, and a negative correlation with protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside accumulation. Combined with its predicted nuclear localization, we hypothesize that PgWDR24 participates in the negative modulation of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside accumulation, although further genetic functional validation is still required. This work provides valuable candidate genes for deciphering ginsenoside regulatory networks and offers support for molecular-assisted breeding of high-quality ginseng.
Rice cultivation is an important source of GHG emissions, particularly CH4 and N2O, which are strongly influenced by water and N management. However, the relationship between GHG emissions and stem aerenchyma development among rice varieties remains poorly understood. This study evaluated CH4 and N2O emissions and stem aerenchyma development in two rice varieties, PTT1 and KDML105, cultivated under flooded and non-flooded conditions with two N regimes (0 and 120 kg ha−1). GHG fluxes were measured at three growth stages: before maximum tillering, panicle initiation, and flowering, while stem aerenchyma was assessed at the early heading stage. The results showed that water conditions and N fertilizer significantly affected cumulative CH4 emissions, whereas there was no significant effect of rice variety. Applying both water and N also increased GWP and GHGI in rice cultivation, with little difference between the rice varieties. Notably, stem aerenchyma development was not significantly associated with GHG transport under different conditions. These findings demonstrate that water and N management affected rice physiological responses, but stem aerenchyma development alone may not be associated with GHG transport under specific environmental conditions. These results provide valuable guidance for optimizing water and N management in rice production systems to maintain crop productivity while reducing environmental impacts.
