Sheath blight (ShB) disease, caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, is one of the most serious rice diseases. Rice breeding against ShB has been severely hindered because no major resistance genes or germplasms are available in rice. Here, we report that introduction of Gastrodia antifungal protein (GAFP) genes from Gastrodia elata B1 into rice significantly enhances resistance to rice ShB. Four GAFP genes were cloned from G. elata B1, and all displayed a strong ability to inhibit R. solani growth in plate assays. Two versions, with or without a signal peptide, for each of the four GAFP genes were introduced into XD3 and R6547 rice cultivars, and all transgenic lines displayed stronger ShB resistance than the corresponding wild-type control in both greenhouse and field conditions. Importantly, GAFP2 showed the highest ShB resistance; GAFPs with and without its signal peptide showed no significant differences in enhancing ShB resistance. We also evaluated the agronomic traits of these transgenic rice and found that ectopic expression of GAFPs in rice at appropriate levels did not affect agronomic traits other than enhancing ShB resistance. Together, these results indicate that GAFP genes, especially GAFP2, have great potential in rice breeding against ShB disease.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by persistent inflammation of the colon and disrupted intestinal function. Ramulus mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A), derived from twigs of mulberry, were approved by the National Medical Products Administration in 2020 for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. Accumulated evidence has confirmed that SZ-A also alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and ameliorates inflammation, indicating its potential to address inflammation in UC. However, the treatment of UC faces challenges due to low drug delivery efficiency and short retention time. To overcome these challenges, an injectable and adherent in-situ thermo-sensitive hydrogel containing SZ-A was developed for rectal drug delivery, utilizing the thermo-sensitive polymers Poloxamer 407 and 188. The thermo-sensitive hydrogel system was designed with a moderate gelation temperature of 32 ± 0.5 °C, a short gelation time of 64 s, a pH range of 7–10, high moisturizing capability exceeding 90%, and moderate mechanical strength of 4–5 s. In a rat model with UC, the in situ thermo-sensitive hydrogel significantly extended the retention time at the colonic site and enabled sustained release after rectal administration. Symptoms of UC were markedly reduced following rectal administration of SZ-A thermo-sensitive hydrogel. Furthermore, the release of inflammatory factors, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), significantly decreased in the SZ-A thermo-sensitive hydrogel group. The integrity of the colonic mucosal barrier was significantly enhanced following the application of SZ-A thermo-sensitive hydrogel. In conclusion, rectal administration of SZ-A in situ thermo-sensitive hydrogel effectively alleviated UC symptoms, inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors, and promoted the repair of the colonic mucosal barrier. This approach holds promise as a potential treatment for UC.

Dear Editor, Nitrogen(N)is the most important macronutrient driving plant growth and development.For higher plants,inorganic N including nitrate(NO3-)and ammonium(NH4+)are predominant N sources(Hu et al.,2023).Nitrate needs to be firstly reduced into ammonium to implement its assimilation,thus requiring a higher energy consumption than ammonium,making ammonium more cost effective for plants.However,ammonium usually causes severe growth retardation of plants under high concentration,which is known as ammonium toxicity.

Grain weight is a major determining factor of rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield and the comprehensive embodiment of grain length, width, and thickness. Here, we describe the molecular and functional characterization of SbSGL (Sorghum bicolor L. stress tolerance and grain length), a sorghum gene that encodes a putative member of the DUF1645 protein family of unknown function. Expression of SbSGL in rice promoted cell division and grain filling, which affected an array of traits of rice, including grain length, grain weight, and seed setting rate. Expression of SbSGL also affected the expression of genes related to the plant cell cycle and grain size.

A sensitive and reliable in-advance stable isotope labeling strategy was developed for simultaneous relative quantification of 8 acidic plant hormones in sub-milligram amount of plant materials. Bromocholine bromide (BETA) and its deuterated counterpart D9-BETA were used to in-advance derivatize control and sample extracts individually, which were then combined and subjected to solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification followed by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Relative quantification of target compounds was obtained by calculation of the peak area ratios of BETA/D9-BETA labeled plant hormones. The in-advance stable isotope labeling strategy realized internal standard-based relative quantification of multiple kinds of plant hormones independent of availability of internal standard of every analyte with enhanced sensitivity of 1-3 orders of magnitude. Meanwhile, the in-advance labeling contributes to higher sample throughput and more reliability. The method was successfully applied to determine 8 plant hormones in 0.8mg DW (dry weight) of seedlings and 4 plant hormones from single seed of Arabidopsis thaliana. The results show the potential of the method in relative quantification of multiple plant hormones in tiny plant tissues or organs, which will advance the knowledge of the crosstalk mechanism of plant hormones.

Objective To study the influence of a homogeneity polysaccharide A—BTF extracted from tremella fuciformis berk spores to chromosome aberration in cells of bone marrow of mice and micronucleus rate of polychromatic erythrocyte induced by137Cs γ- ray irradiation. Mehtods Extracted polysaccharide of tremella fuciformis berk spores was administered by intra- abdominal injection at 24 hours before irradiation,and control mice were given physiological saline. The mice were irradiated by137Cs γ- ray,then observed on chromosome aberration of bone marrow cells and micronucleus rate of polychromatic erythrocyte. Results The results show that occurrence of chromosome aberration and micronucleus rate was obviously lower in mice administered prevention with polysaccharide than that of simply irradiated control mice,and with quite significant differece( P 0. 01). Conclusion It manifests that the homogeneity polysaccharide from tremella fuciformis berk spores is of marked protective effects for damages of bone marrow cells by irradiation.

OsMSR2 is a novel calmodulin-like gene in rice. Previous study has been denosrated that OsMSR2 was a cold, drought and heat-inducible gene. However, the role of OsMSR2 in rice stress response is still unclear. To reveal the function of OsMSR2 involved in stress response, the expression pattern and effects of overexpression of OsMSR2 on salt stress were analysed in rice. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that OsMSR2 wasrapidly induced by salt stress. Histochemical GUS staining assay revealed that OsMSR2 was mainly expressed in root, leaf, seedling, lamina joint, base of stem and spikelet. Transgenic rice plants with overexpression of OsMSR2 showed more tolerant to salt stress, with 18.2% survival rate for the wild type and 51.3% for transgenic plants at the end of the salt treatment. In OsMSR2-overexpressing transgenic plants, expressionlevels of some stress-related genes were also altered compared to wild type plants under salt condition. The more accumulated proline and soluble sugars and decreased electrolyte leakage were also observed in transgenic rice compared to wild type plants under salt stress. These results indicate that OsMSR2 plays important roles in salt stress tolerance in rice, and is useful in developing transgenic crops with enhanced tolerance to salt stress.

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread heavy metal released in the environment as a result of rock mineralization and of anthropogenic activities. Cadmium is highly toxic to human health and animals, and it is urgent to remove cadmium from the environment. A multiple stress responsive gene, OsMSR3, from rice (Oryza sativa (L.)), a member of class I sHSP family, has been previously noted to be induced by cold, drought, and heat stresses. In this study, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that OsMSR3 was also induced by Cd stress. Transgenic Arabidopsis expressing OsMSR3 showed enhanced tolerance to Cd, displaying longer roots, higher survival rates and accumulated more Cd, phytochelatins (PCs), non-protein thiol (NPT) and glutathione (GSH) than wild type plants under Cd condition. Expression of OsMSR3 conferred enhanced tolerance to Cd in Arabidopsis (thaliana (L.), Heynh.) accompanied by improving expressions of bHLH transcription factors and Cd stress-related genes. Taken together, our results suggested that expression of OsMSR3 in Arabidopsis enhanced tolerance to Cd stress, and OsMSR3 may act as a positive regulator of Cd stress tolerance in plants.

center dot Background and Aims The desert legume genus Ammopiptanthus comprises two currently endangered species, A. mongolicus and A. nanus. Genetic variability and genetic differentiation between the two species and within each species were examined. center dot Methods Inter-simple sequence repeal. (ISSR) marker data were obtained and analysed with respect to genetic diversity, structure and gene flow. center dot Key Results Despite the morphological similarity between A. mongolicus and A. nanus, the two species are genetically distinct from each other, indicated by 63 % species-specific bands. Low genetic variability was detected for both population level (Shannon indices of diversity H-pop = 0. 106, percentage of polymorphic loci P = 18-55 % for A. mongolicus; H-pop = 0.070, P = 12-24 % for A. nanus) and species level (H-sp= 0. 1832, P= 39-39 % for A. mongolicus; H-sp = 0. 1026, P = 25-89 % for A. nanus). Moderate genetic differentiation was found based on different measures (AMOVA phi(ST) and Hickory theta(B)) in both A. mongolicus (0-3743-0-3744) and A. nanus (0-2162-0-2369). center dot Conclusions The significant genetic difference between the two species might be due to a possible vicariant evolutionary event from a single common ancestor through the fragmentation of their common ancestor's range. Conservation strategies for these two endangered species are proposed.

Tetraena mongolica Maxim, is a critically endangered and endemic species of westem Inner Mongolia in China. Genetic variability within and among eight extant populations of this species was assessed using ISSR PCR (13 primers). We expected a low genetic diversity level, but our results revealed an intermediate level of intraspecific genetic diversity, probably resulting from this species being in a refuge during the last glaciation (at population level: P=48.1%, Ae=1.305, HE=0.177 and Hpop=0.264; at species level: P=63.3%, A=1.368, HT=0.213 and Hsp=0.324). A low level of genetic differentiation among populations was detected based on Nei's genetic diversity analysis (16.91%), Shannon's diversity index (18.83%) and AMOVA (15.2%). Populations shared high levels of genetic identity (I=0.9516±0.013). The extensive gene flow was a plausible reason for the low genetic differentiation.