There are numerous varieties of mulberry, and each has high medicinal value and is regarded as a promising source of traditional medicines and functional foods. Nevertheless, the nutrients and uses ...of mulberry differ from species (
L.,
L. and
L.). Phenolic compounds are prominent among the biologically active ingredients in mulberry, especially flavonoids, anthocyanins and phenolic acids. Epidemiologic studies suggest that mulberry contains a rich, effective chemical composition and a wide range of biological activity, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and so on. However, compared with other berries, there has been a lack of systematic research on mulberry, and this hinders its further expansion as a functional fruit. The main purpose of this review is to provide the latest data regarding the effective chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of mulberry to support its further therapeutic potential and health functions.
Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a highly significant agricultural pest that poses a threat to crop production worldwide. It is polyphagous, has a strong migratory ability, and is difficult to ...control, which makes it a threat not only to crops but also to woody plants. However, research on its adaptability to woody plants is limited. This study compares the feeding adaptations (survival rate, pupation time, pupation rate, weight, length, and daily food consumption), protective enzyme activities, and feeding preferences of S. frugiperda on leaves of six economically important tree species (Areca catechu L., Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng, Cocos nucifera L., Camellia oleifera Abel, Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen, and Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg.), with Zea mays L. used as a control treatment. The results indicate that S. frugiperda did not survive when fed with A. catechu, C. oleifera, and D. odorifera. A. catechu had similar survival rates (83.33%), pupation (86.67%), weight, and length data compared to the maize control. C. nucifera had lower survival rates (46.67%) but no significant differences in pupation (76.67%), weight, and length data of S. frugiperda. H. brasiliensis exhibited significantly lower survival (50.00%) and pupation rates (46.67%) compared to maize. However, there was no significant difference in weight and length data, and its preference index was higher among the six tree species treatments. Therefore, A. sinensis is a vulnerable tree with a high risk, while H. brasiliensis and C. nucifera showed varying degrees of susceptibility. A. catechu, C. oleifera, and D. odorifera were found to be unsuitable hosts for S. frugiperda. In conclusion, this study extensively explores the feeding effects of S. frugiperda on six economically important tree species. It provides insights into the feeding preferences of the pest, thereby informing the potential threat posed by S. frugiperda to economically important trees. It helps to prevent further damage from S. frugiperda and provides a reference for agriculture and forestry to develop effective joint prevention and control measures.
Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize has broad prospects for application in China. Before commercialization, it is necessary to assess possible ecological impacts, including impacts on ...non-target arthropods (NTAs) in the field. In the present study, transgenic Bt maize expressing cry1Ab/2Aj and its corresponding non-transformed near isoline were planted under the same environmental and agricultural conditions, and arthropods in the field were collected during the three main growth stages of maize. In a one year trial, the results showed the composition of NTA communities in the transgenic and control maize fields were similar. There were no significant differences for community-level parameters of species richness (S), Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′), evenness index (J) and Simpson’s dominant concentration (C) between the two types of maize fields. Likewise, a Bray–Curtis dissimilarity and distance analysis showed that Cry1Ab/2Aj toxin exposure did not increase community dissimilarities between Bt and non-Bt maize plots and that the structure of the NTAs community was similar on the two maize varieties. Furthermore, planting of the transgenic cry1Ab/2Aj maize did not affect the density or composition of non-target decomposers, herbivores, predators, parasitoids and pollinator guilds. In summary, our results showed that planting of Bt maize producing Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj proteins do not adversely affect population dynamics and diversity of NTAs.
While transgenic
(
) maize provides pest resistance and a reduced application of chemical pesticides, a comprehensive environmental risk assessment is mandatory before its field release. This ...research determined the concentrations of
protein in plant tissue and in arthropods under field conditions in Gongzhuling City, northeastern China, to provide guidance for the selection of indicator species for non-target risk assessment studies.
maize expressing Cry1Ab/2Aj and non-transformed near-isoline were grown under identical environmental and agricultural conditions. Cry1Ab/2Aj was detected in plant tissues and arthropods collected from
maize plots during pre-flowering, flowering, and post-flowering. The expression of Cry1Ab/2Aj varied across growth stages and maize tissues, as well as in the collected arthropods at the three growth stages. Therefore, representative species should be chosen to cover the whole growing season and to represent different habitats and ecological functions.
(Hemiptera: Cicadellidae),
(Hemiptera: Aphididae),
(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), and
(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are suitable non-target herbivores.
(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),
(Coleoptera: Staphylinidae),
(Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and spiders are suggested predators.
and
(both Hymenoptera: Apidae) represent pollinators and
(Collembola: Isotomidae) decomposers.
Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a highly significant agricultural pest that poses a threat to crop production worldwide. It is polyphagous, has a strong migratory ability, and is difficult to ...control, which makes it a threat not only to crops but also to woody plants. However, research on its adaptability to woody plants is limited. This study compares the feeding adaptations (survival rate, pupation time, pupation rate, weight, length, and daily food consumption), protective enzyme activities, and feeding preferences of S. frugiperda on leaves of six economically important tree species (Areca catechu L., Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng, Cocos nucifera L., Camellia oleifera Abel, Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen, and Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg.), with Zea mays L. used as a control treatment. The results indicate that S. frugiperda did not survive when fed with A. catechu, C. oleifera, and D. odorifera. A. catechu had similar survival rates (83.33%), pupation (86.67%), weight, and length data compared to the maize control. C. nucifera had lower survival rates (46.67%) but no significant differences in pupation (76.67%), weight, and length data of S. frugiperda. H. brasiliensis exhibited significantly lower survival (50.00%) and pupation rates (46.67%) compared to maize. However, there was no significant difference in weight and length data, and its preference index was higher among the six tree species treatments. Therefore, A. sinensis is a vulnerable tree with a high risk, while H. brasiliensis and C. nucifera showed varying degrees of susceptibility. A. catechu, C. oleifera, and D. odorifera were found to be unsuitable hosts for S. frugiperda. In conclusion, this study extensively explores the feeding effects of S. frugiperda on six economically important tree species. It provides insights into the feeding preferences of the pest, thereby informing the potential threat posed by S. frugiperda to economically important trees. It helps to prevent further damage from S. frugiperda and provides a reference for agriculture and forestry to develop effective joint prevention and control measures.
Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize has broad prospects for application in China. Before commercialization, it is necessary to assess possible ecological impacts, including impacts on ...non-target arthropods (NTAs) in the field. In the present study, transgenic Bt maize expressing cry1Ab/2Aj and its corresponding non-transformed near isoline were planted under the same environmental and agricultural conditions, and arthropods in the field were collected during the three main growth stages of maize. In a one year trial, the results showed the composition of NTA communities in the transgenic and control maize fields were similar. There were no significant differences for community-level parameters of species richness (S), Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′), evenness index (J) and Simpson’s dominant concentration (C) between the two types of maize fields. Likewise, a Bray–Curtis dissimilarity and distance analysis showed that Cry1Ab/2Aj toxin exposure did not increase community dissimilarities between Bt and non-Bt maize plots and that the structure of the NTAs community was similar on the two maize varieties. Furthermore, planting of the transgenic cry1Ab/2Aj maize did not affect the density or composition of non-target decomposers, herbivores, predators, parasitoids and pollinator guilds. In summary, our results showed that planting of Bt maize producing Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj proteins do not adversely affect population dynamics and diversity of NTAs.
Generally, strong phosphorescence always implies a short luminescence lifetime. So, pure organic molecules with strong persistent phosphorescence at room temperature are rarely explored. Here, a new ...strategy is used to explore strong persistent phosphorescence of carbazole derivatives through an intermolecular moderate heavy atom effect. Flexible alkyl chains were inserted between the heavy atom and carbazole moieties so as to avoid a strong internal heavy atom affect. The results indicate that the photoluminescence properties of crystals strongly depend on molecular stacking in crystal states. Moreover, seven molecules among eight carbazole derivatives exhibit persistent room-temperature phosphorescence in their crystals and the
values of three compounds exceed 9.5%. Notably, when a 6-(4-bromophenoxy)hexyl group is linked to carbazole, the ambient phosphorescent quantum yield reaches 39.5% and the lifetime is as long as 200 ms. Moreover, it emitted white light with a luminescent efficiency of 72.6% owing to the coexistence of strong fluorescence and phosphorescence.
Nematode predation has important roles in determining bacterial community composition and dynamics, but the extent of the effects remains largely rudimentary, particularly in natural environment ...settings. Here, we investigated the complex microbial-microfaunal interactions in the rhizosphere of maize grown in red soils, which were derived from four long-term fertilization regimes. Root-free rhizosphere soil samples were separated into three aggregate fractions whereby the abundance and community composition were examined for nematode and total bacterial communities. A functional group of alkaline phosphomonoesterase (ALP) producing bacteria was included to test the hypothesis that nematode grazing may significantly affect specific bacteria-mediated ecological functions, that is, organic phosphate cycling in soil. Results of correlation analysis, structural equation modeling and interaction networks combined with laboratory microcosm experiments consistently indicated that bacterivorous nematodes enhanced bacterial diversity, and the abundance of bacterivores was positively correlated with bacterial biomass, including ALP-producing bacterial abundance. Significantly, such effects were more pronounced in large macroaggregates than in microaggregates. There was a positive correlation between the most dominant bacterivores Protorhabditis and the ALP-producing keystone 'species' Mesorhizobium. Taken together, these findings implicate important roles of nematodes in stimulating bacterial dynamics in a spatially dependent manner.
Jujube fruit was treated with melatonin to evaluate the changes of quality parameters, anti-oxidative ability and cell wall-degrading enzymes activities during room temperature storage. The results ...showed that melatonin treatment significantly inhibited respiratory rate and ethylene release of jujubes. Melatonin treatment also delayed the changes of color and sustained titratable acidity. Moreover, melatonin treatment increased the activities of glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase and monodehydroascorbate reductase, and enhanced ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid and reduced glutathione contents in jujubes. In addition, application of melatonin delayed fruit softening by inhibiting the activities of pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase, cellulose and β-glucosidase and production of water soluble pectin and maintaining water insoluble pectin content. All these results indicate that application of melatonin after harvest could delay fruit softening, improve anti-oxidative capacity, and thus delay fruit senescence of jujubes.
•Melatonin could maintain the quality of jujube fruit.•Melatonin enhanced antioxidant capacity of jujube fruit by activating AsA-GSH cycle.•Melatonin delayed fruit softening by inhibiting the activity of CWDEs.
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