Identification and validation of key long non-coding RNAs in resveratrol protect against IL-1β-treated chondrocytes via integrated bioinformatic analysis

Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in regulation of gene transcription, but little is known about the correlation among resveratrol and lncRNAs. This study aimed to identify and validate the key lncRNAs in resveratrol protect against IL-1β-treated chondrocytes. Methods In this experiment, high-throughput sequencing technique was performed to identify the differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs between IL-1β-treated chondrocytes with or not resveratrol. Moreover, gene ontology and KEGG pathway of the differentially expressed genes were carried out by R software. Then, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed by Cytoscape software. Venn diagram was performed to identify the potentially target miRNAs of LINC00654. Then, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to validate the most significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs. Results Totally, 1016 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified (493 downregulated) between control and resveratrol-treated chondrocytes. Totally, 75 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified (downregulated = 54, upregulated = 21). Totally, 3308 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified (downregulated = 1715, upregulated = 1593). GO (up) were as follows: skin development, response to organophosphorus. GO (down) mainly included visual perception, single fertilization, and sensory perception of smell. KEGG (up) were as follows: TNF signaling pathway and TGF-beta signaling pathway. KEGG (down) were as follows: viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor. We identified that LINC00654 and OGFRL1 were upregulated in resveratrol-treated chondrocytes. However, miR-210-5p was downregulated in resveratrol-treated chondrocytes. Conclusion In sum, the present study for the first time detected the differential expressed lncRNAs involved in resveratrol-treated chondrocytes via employing bioinformatic methods.

Effects of Mixed Application of Wood Vinegar and Biochar on Cadmium Absorption of Pakchoi under Different Concentrations of Cadmium Stress

Because of its characteristics, wood vinegar is widely used in agricultural production processes. Wood vinegar can be used as a strong antioxidant, anti-bacteria, plant growth agent, an insecticide, and currently shows superiority in the treatment of heavy metals. Wood vinegar contains organic acids, organic compounds, and phenol, which can effectively adsorb heavy metals. A large number of studies have been conducted on the adsorption of heavy metals by biochar, but few studies have analyzed the effects of biochar and wood vinegar fertilization on the growth of cadmium soil genus plants and changes in soil heavy metal forms. This article analyzed the effects of wood vinegar and biochar mixed fertilizer on the growth and plant efficacy of pakchoi from the properties of wood vinegar, and confirmed that 0.75% wood vinegar liquid treatment is the most effective concentration. By analyzing the effectiveness of 0.75% wood vinegar and biochar mixture and single fertilization, the combined application of biochar + wood vinegar reduced the absorption rate of cadmium by pakchoi leaves and roots by 12.8% and 13.1% compared with the single treatment group. The yield of crops increased by 111.9~150.1%. The results of evaluating the enrichment coefficient and single-factor index are 0.17~0.67%, 0.005-0.008, and the ranking is D> E> C> B> A> CK. When observing the changes in soil morphology, the content of residual cadmium, carbonate-bound cadmium, and iron-manganese oxide-bound cadmium increased by 0.3~233.7 times, and the exchangeable cadmium content and the content of organic and sulfide-bound cadmium were reduced to 1.0~6.6 times. It can be seen that under different cadmium stress conditions, the mixed fertilization of wood vinegar and biochar will reduce the growth of pakchoi and the plant availability of cadmium, and it has a higher mitigation effect on cadmium soil pollution.

Endosperm development is an autonomously programmed process independent of embryogenesis

The seeds of land plants contain three genetically distinct structures: the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. The embryo and endosperm need to interact and exchange signals to ensure coordinated growth. Accumulating evidence has confirmed that embryo growth is supported by the nourishing endosperm and regulated by signals originating from the endosperm. Available data also support that endosperm development requires communication with the embryo. Here, using single-fertilization mutants, Arabidopsis dmp8/9 and gex2, we demonstrate that in the absence of a zygote and embryo, endosperm initiation, syncytium formation, free nuclear cellularization, and endosperm degeneration are as normal as in the wild type in terms of the cytological process and time course. Although rapid embryo expansion accelerates endosperm breakdown, our findings strongly suggest that endosperm development is an autonomously organized process, independent of egg cell fertilization and embryo–endosperm communication. This work confirms both the altruistic and self-directed nature of the endosperm during coordinated embryo-endosperm development. The findings provide novel insights into the intricate interaction between the two fertilization products and will help to distinguish the real roles of the signaling between endosperm and embryo. These finding also shed new light on agro-biotechnology for crop improvement.

Does the Pre-Ovulatory Pig Oviduct Rule Sperm Capacitation In Vivo Mediating Transcriptomics of Catsper Channels?

Spermatozoa need to conduct a series of biochemical changes termed capacitation in order to fertilize. In vivo, capacitation is sequentially achieved during sperm transport and interaction with the female genital tract, by mechanisms yet undisclosed in detail. However, when boar spermatozoa are stored in the tubal reservoir pre-ovulation, most appear to be in a non-capacitated state. This study aimed at deciphering the transcriptomics of capacitation-related genes in the pig pre-ovulatory oviduct, following the entry of semen or of sperm-free seminal plasma (SP). Ex-vivo samples of the utero-tubal junction (UTJ) and isthmus were examined with a microarray chip (GeneChip® Porcine Gene 1.0 ST Array, Thermo Fisher Scientific) followed by bioinformatics for enriched analysis of functional categories (GO terms) and restrictive statistics. The results confirmed that entry of semen or of relative amounts of sperm-free SP modifies gene expression of these segments, pre-ovulation. It further shows that enriched genes are differentially associated with pathways relating to sperm motility, acrosome reaction, single fertilization, and the regulation of signal transduction GO terms. In particular, the pre-ovulation oviduct stimulates the Catsper channels for sperm Ca2+ influx, with AKAPs, CATSPERs, and CABYR genes being positive regulators while PKIs and CRISP1 genes appear to be inhibitors of the process. We postulate that the stimulation of PKIs and CRISP1 genes in the pre-ovulation sperm reservoir/adjacent isthmus, mediated by SP, act to prevent premature massive capacitation prior to ovulation.

Foliar Applications of Biostimulants Promote Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Strawberry Plants Grown under Nutrient Limitation

Biostimulants have been found effective in enhancing plant resistance toward stressful conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected biostimulants to overcome the negative effects of nutrient limitation on the growth performances and on the fruit quality of soilless cultivated strawberry plants. The condition of nutrient limitation was imposed by supplying the plants with only a single fertilization at transplantation and by excluding any further nutrient supply for the entire duration of the experiment (three months, from May to July). Strawberry plants were treated seven times during the period from preflowering up to berry maturation with different classes of biostimulants (humic acids, alfalfa hydrolysate, macroseaweed extract and microalga hydrolysate, amino acids alone or in combination with zinc, B-group vitamins, chitosan, and a commercial product containing silicon) at commercial dosages. The use of alfalfa hydrolysate, vitamins, chitosan, and silicon was able to promote biomass accumulation in roots (four to seven folds) and fruits (+20%) of treated plants, whereas the total leaf area increased by 15%–30%. Nutrient concentrations in leaves and roots showed variations for microelements (e.g., Fe, B, Zn, and Si) in response to biostimulant applications, whereas no significant differences were observed for macronutrient contents among treatments. Final berry yield was found around 20% higher in chitosan- and silicon-treated plants. Chitosan treatment significantly increased pulp firmness (by 20%), while a high nutritional value (e.g., phenolic compounds concentration) was observed in alfalfa- and seaweed-treated fruits (+18%–20% as compared to control). The overall outcomes of the present experiment show that selected biostimulants can be considered as a valid agronomic tool able to contrast the negative consequence of growing crops under insufficient nutritional conditions.

The Variation of Nitrate in the Soil Profile for Continuous Spring Maize System under Different Soil Fertilities in the Northeast of China

In the continuous Spring Maize system in Northeast China,the nitrate accumulation and succession characteristics of different soils and fertility in three locations with five fertilization treatments, which included no fertilizer treatment (CK), farmer conventional treatment (FC), recommendation fertilization (RF), control-released fertilizer (CRF) and single fertilization (SF), was compared by 6 years’ long-term experiment. The results showed that nitrate accumulation was drastically significant in high pH soils; potential nitrate increasing trend of high fertility soil was lower; new type fertilizer, for example controlled release fertilizer (CRF), and recommendation fertilizer rate (RF) could obviously decrease nitrate accumulation in single fertilization and in split fertilization; the nitrate excessive accumulation in soils could be improved by not only controlling fertilization, fertilizer and fertilizer rate, but also considering of soil types and soil fertility; and at present, in Northeast China, nitrate accumulation was in rational and safety level, but still exist potential risk.

Effects of Mineral Fertilizers and Organic Manure Long-Term Application on Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Black Soils in Harbin, China

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important greenhouse gas. CO2emission from different long-term fertilized black soils was investigated by incubation experiment at soil water content of 70% water holding capacity. Maximal CO2flux was observed at the beginning of 24-h and 48-h incubation after the rewetting of dry soil. Combined fertilizer nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) with manure (M) emitted the highest CO2-C, was up to 175 mg kg-1. Compared to zero fertilization (CK), fertilizers application increased CO2emission (P<0.05). Single fertilization N, P and potassium (K) increased CO2emission 19%, 43% and 22%, respectively. Combined two-way or three-way fertilizer N, P and K also increased CO2emission. Based on mineral fertilization, additional organic manure application furthered CO2emission. Two-way fertilizers (NP, NK and PK) application with organic manure increased CO2emission at the percentage of 398, 13.8 and 29.1, respectively (P<0.05). Although organic manure application ameliorated soil chemical, physical and biological conditions, organic manure fertilization increasing CO2emission should be considered in agricultural practice.