Huangqi, the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus or A. membranaceus, is a typical medicinal and edible herb. Astragaloside IV (AIV) and calycosin-7-glucoside (C7G) are commonly used as medicinal quality markers, while astragalus polysaccharides (APS) are key components for edible and health‑care purposes. In this study, 20 representative landraces of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus from five main production areas were cultivated under identical field conditions. Their quality traits were compared between 2‑year‑old and 3‑year‑old stages. The results showed that AIV and C7G contents were higher in 3‑year‑old roots, whereas APS was more abundant in 2‑year‑old roots. AIV content was significantly negatively correlated with root diameter and yield. Based on comprehensive evaluation of component contents and yields, certain landraces with high APS and moderate AIV/C7G at 2 years appear more suitable for edible use, and those with high AIV/C7G at 3 years appear more suitable for medicinal use. These findings provide preliminary experimental references for germplasm evaluation of medicinal and edible Huangqi.
Daphne genkwa is a medicinal plant valued for its pharmacologically active flavonoids and diterpenoids. This study established an optimized in vitro liquid culture system for mass multiple shoot proliferation to evaluate its potential as a reliable source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Multiple shoots were induced from somatic embryos derived from leaf explants, and proliferation was optimized by systematically evaluating various liquid culture parameters. Optimal growth occurred in 50 mL of liquid full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), 30 g L⁻¹ sucrose, and a 250 mg inoculum, yielding approximately fourfold higher biomass than solid medium. Rooting was most effective on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) with 0.1 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), followed by successful soil acclimatization. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantified targeted flavonoids and diterpenoids. In vitro shoots accumulated luteolin (0.101 ± 0.002 mg g⁻¹), apigenin (0.043 ± 0.002 mg g⁻¹), h-genkwanin (0.230 ± 0.006 mg g⁻¹), genkwanin (0.040 ± 0.001 mg g⁻¹), yuanhuadine (0.104 ± 0.004 mg g⁻¹), and yuanhuacine (0.523 ± 0.018 mg g⁻¹). Native leaves contained higher h-genkwanin and genkwanin levels but lacked detectable diterpenoids. Furthermore, metabolite concentrations remained stable across three independent harvests. These results demonstrate that in vitro-derived D. genkwa biomass provides a sustainable, season-independent, and standardized alternative to field-grown plants for the large-scale production of valuable secondary metabolites.
Orphan proteins are taxonomically restricted proteins that frequently evolve lineage-specific biological functions, yet many remain functionally uncharacterized. QUA-QUINE STARCH (QQS) is a 59-amino-acid orphan protein unique to Arabidopsis thaliana that has been implicated in carbon–nitrogen allocation, starch metabolism, pathogen defense, and pollen development. Our recent work further demonstrated that recombinant QQS possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In the present study, we investigated whether this multifunctional plant protein also modulates host inflammatory responses associated with Gram-negative bacterial infection. Recombinant AtQQS exhibited minimal cytotoxicity toward RAW264.7 macrophages while significantly reducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses. Far-UV circular dichroism analysis indicated subtle conformational changes of AtQQS in the presence of LPS, suggesting a possible association-related response to bacterial endotoxin. Flow cytometric analysis further showed that AtQQS reduced macrophage-associated FITC-labeled LPS in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistent with these observations, AtQQS markedly attenuated intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, nitric oxide production, and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β following LPS stimulation. Moreover, AtQQS decreased the GFP-positive macrophage population following exposure to GFP-expressing Escherichia coli. These findings broaden the known biological functions of QQS by identifying a previously unrecognized anti-inflammatory activity in addition to its established physiological and antimicrobial functions. The present work supports further investigation of AtQQS as an example of a plant orphan protein with unexpected biological activity.
The foxglove aphid (FA; Aulacorthum solani) is an important soybean pest that causes substantial yield losses. Although the strong FA resistance loci Raso1 and Raso2 have been identified in soybean, the genetic basis of moderate resistance remains unclear. Here, we mapped a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for moderate FA resistance using 129 F₂:F₈ recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between the susceptible cultivar Daepung and the moderately resistant accession PI 230977. Under no-choice assays, PI 230977 showed significantly lower aphid survival index (SI) and plant leaf damage (PLD) than Daepung, and the RIL population exhibited continuous variation for both traits, consistent with quantitative resistance. A stable major-effect QTL on chromosome 13, located between 28.6 and 31.4 Mb, explained up to 46
Tomato genotypes developed for high-density field production may not retain the same advantages in multilayer vertical farming. To identify traits required for adaptation to this system, we compared CRISPR-Cas9-generated Sweet100 sp sp5g sler triple-determinate (Triple-D) plants with Micro-Tom under open-field and vertical farming conditions. Triple-D produced more fruits than Micro-Tom in the open field, whereas this pattern was reversed under vertical farming. Micro-Tom showed a more spatially compatible shoot architecture, a higher fruit set ratio, greater fruit yield, and a higher harvest index. By contrast, Triple-D exceeded the available cultivation height and produced fewer fruits despite generating more inflorescences and flowers, identifying shoot elongation and inefficient flower-to-fruit conversion as major constraints on productivity. Nevertheless, Triple-D fruits exhibited greater firmness and higher total carotenoid and β-carotene contents. These findings show that traits advantageous for high-density field production are not necessarily optimal for multilayer vertical farming. Further restricting shoot elongation and improving fruit set while retaining the reproductive potential and fruit-quality traits of Triple-D may provide a practical strategy for developing tomato ideotypes optimized for multilayer vertical farming.
