Citrus, the world’s most common fruit, boasts an abundance of resources and varieties and possesses a high commodity value. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and citrus roots can form a symbiotic ...relationship, promoting citrus growth, improving its disease resistance, and increasing the quality of the fruits. However, the literature lacks a detailed understanding of the symbiotic citrus–AMF relationship in cultivation. In this study, we reviewed the diversity (different citrus species and habitats), stress resistance (disease, drought, saline-alkali, temperature stresses), expression of defense genes, and underlying mechanisms of symbiotic AMF in citrus. Our aim was to provide a robust reference point and offer valuable insights to guide future studies on citrus symbiotic AMF and their applications in citrus planting. This review could help to facilitate AMF applications in citrus biological control (particularly in the citrus Huanglongbing) and sustainable development.
A 21‐year‐old male rhesus macaque presented with abdominal enlargement. The clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and computerized tomography findings confirmed a large mass occupying the entire ...abdomen. The mass was surgically removed, and histopathology confirmed a vas deferens cyst. The macaque recovered uneventfully. The veterinarians should be aware of the possibility of an intra‐abdominal vas deferens cyst and that, as our case shows, could be treated with surgical removal.
Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in mediating material transformation and nutrient cycling. However, little attention has been paid to the relationships between microbial communities and ...altitude and lithology in karst regions. Sophora japonica cv. Jinhuai is an officinal plant cultivated in karst areas, and there is a correlation between the dynamics of microbial community and ecological factors. This study examined the diversity of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of S. japonica under different lithologies and altitudes in karst regions of northern Guangxi, China using high-throughput sequencing technology. It was found that the bacterial community consisted of 37 phyla, including Proteobacteria. The fungal community mainly comprised 15 phyla, including Ascomycota. The fungal Shannon and Chao1 indices increased with altitude, while the bacterial Shannon index decreased. The fungal Shannon indices in limestone soil were higher than those in dolomite. The soil’s microbial Shannon and Chao1 indices were positively affected by pH, while the available phosphorus and potassium had the opposite effect. Research shows that altitude, lithology, pH, and available phosphorus were the crucial factors influencing the rhizosphere soil microbial community. This study provides references for understanding the relationship between plants and microorganisms and the microbial distribution strategy of rocky desertification habitats in the future.
Long-term shallow rotary tillage has reduced the soil quality and restricted the crop yield growth of farmland in Southern China. Deep tillage can effectively loosen the soil and reduce the ...compaction of deep soil, while no-tillage can ensure the sustainable use of soil. In this study, we selected three paddy-upland multiple cropping rotation areas in Southern China. Two tillage regimes were carried out, one (DT) where rice straw mulching was followed by deep tillage (subsoiling 30 cm) and then, for the next three years, no-tillage in the flue-cured tobacco planting season and rotary tillage in the rice planting season vs a control (RT) where no tillage after rice straw mulching was carried out, and rotary tillage was conducted in both the flue-cured tobacco planting season and rice planting season for the next three years. We compared the yield and output value of flue-cured tobacco and grain yield under DT and RT tillage regimes in the three areas, and analyzed the economic benefits brought by DT. Furthermore, we identified the effects of DT on soil aggregates, soil organic carbon (SOC), crop growth, and nutrient uptake at the experimental site in Yunyuan. Compared with RT, DT can increase the weight proportion of macroaggregates and SOC content in the 10–30 cm soil layer and improve the stability of soil aggregates in the 0–30 cm soil layer. In 2019, the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of the 0–30 cm soil layer increased by 0.47 mm and 0.20 mm, respectively, on average. In 2020, the MWD and GMD increased by 0.33 mm and 0.11 mm, respectively, on average. DT promoted the roots of flue-cured tobacco to extend down to the 30–40 cm soil layer, and DT flue-cured tobacco plants had more leaves, higher dry matter weight, and greater N and P absorption than RT flue-cured tobacco. These results were conducive to the increase of yield and output value of flue-cured tobacco. During the three-year test period, the yield of flue-cured tobacco increased by 4%–9%, the output value increased by 7%–13%, and the net economic benefits also increased. In the paddy-upland multiple cropping rotation areas of Southern China, DT is more conducive to the improvement of dryland crop yield than paddy field crop yield. Intermittent deep tillage (one-time deep tillage and then no tillage) is expected to provide a potential way to effectively increase production, high economic efficiency, and soil improvement in promoting sustainable agricultural development and cleaner production.
•The size, fuel consumption, and cost of general operation for deep tillage machinery has been improved.•Intermittent deep tillage promoted more sensible straw mulching management strategy.•Intermittent deep tillage and straw mulching resulted in more soil macroaggregates.•Intermittent deep tillage increased carbon input and carbon storage in the subsoil.•Changes in tillage varied crop yields and economic benefits of cultivated land.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can play an important role in the ecological restoration of karst areas. They form symbiotic relationships with most karst plants and improve the stress resistance ...of the host plants. Vegetation-related factors are important determinants of AMF diversity, and AMF diversity is elevated in highly heterogeneous karst areas. Several studies have evaluated the relationships between the environment, climate, and other factors in karst areas and AMF diversity; however, few studies have focused on the relationships between vegetation-related factors and AMF diversity. In this review, we describe the families and genera associated with AMF in root soils of representative vegetation in karst regions. We summarize four key vegetation-related factors associated with AMF diversity in karst areas (i.e., vegetation specificity, dominant species and competition, forest management methods, and plant phenology and age) and provide possible explanations for the correlations between these factors and changes in AMF diversity. We further explore the dynamic relationship between AMF diversity and vegetation in karst areas, demonstrating that the relationship is not determined by a simple coordinated developmental process. Research in this area is expected to further clarify the diversity and distribution characteristics of AMF resources in karst areas, provide a reference for the selection and application of AMF in the process of vegetation restoration in karst areas, and promote the use of broad types of AMF in restoring karst areas.
•Mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play important ecological roles in karst.•Many plants factors can affect AMF diversity and their ecological effects.•Understanding these interactions may benefit management of Karst rocky desertification area.
Diastolic heart failure is a common and deadly complication of diabetes mellitus, with the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy as one of the key determinants of the disease's complex pathology. ...The cause of the association is unknown and has no approved therapy strategies as of yet. However significant advances in this area may come from studies on suitable animal models.
A total of 25 male rhesus monkeys (12-16 years, 9-13 kg) were enrolled. Fifteen of them were diagnosed as spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, FPG ≥ 104 mg/dl, HbA1c: 4.7-5.5 %, diabetes duration: 1-4 years). The other 10 monkeys were non-diabetic (ND, FPG < 90 mg/dl). Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance were used for evaluating the cardiac structure and function. One T2DM monkey with impaired diastolic function and another ND monkey were both sacrificed to gain the necessary pathology and protein expression studies displayed here.
Six out of 15 T2DM rhesus monkeys were diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction (DD) by echocardiography. Additionally, no abnormalities were found in the group which we determined as the ND monkeys. The six DD monkeys all showed low e' velocity and decreased e'/a' ratio, among which three of them showing decreased E/A ratio and the other 3 having elevated E/A ratio, this appears to be similar to the impaired relaxation pattern and pseudonormal pattern found in human patients respectively. The EF and FS of monkeys with pseudonormal pattern decreased significantly compared with ND subjects. A CMR study showed that LVID at end systole of 5 DD monkeys is significantly longer than that of 3 ND monkeys. Of great interest, myocardium lesions and mitochondria impairments and increased expression of AGEs and caspase-3 were found in a sacrificed DD subject.
The changes in the imaging and physiological markers of spontaneous T2DM rhesus monkeys are similar to those key markers found in human type 2 diabetes and diastolic dysfunction. This monkey model could help the medical community and us to understand the pathology of this debilitating disease and serve as a beginning to explore important measures to prevent and treat diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Abstract only
Obese patients are at significant risk for the development of NAFLD. An obese NAFLD animal model that fully reflects NAFLD in obese humans can assist in the study of the mechanisms of ...NAFLD and of potential therapeutics to reduce NAFLD. 37 male monkeys (7–20yrs, 7–18kg; 25 of which were significantly overweight >12 kg) were grouped into moderate steatosis (Mod, n=19), mild steatosis (Mild, n=12) and no steatosis (Norm, n=6) by ultrasound evaluation. DECT was utilized for quantifying liver fat content in 37 monkeys together with the relationship of NAFLD to severity of obesity and to circulating biomarkers. Within 2 weeks after DECT, pathological diagnoses of liver needle biopsy of 24/37 monkeys were established using H&E and Masson staining. Liver sections were scored by one pathologist first by the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) then the fibrosis score. DECT quantified 19, 12 and 6 monkeys with 10–30%, 5–10% and < 5% fat content in Mod, Mild and Norm group, respectively. The Mod and Mild groups showed increasing body weights (p<0.001), higher C‐peptide levels (p<0.01), triglyceride (not significant) and HbA1c (not significant) than the Norm group. According to the NAS, H&E results showed 9/10 in Mod were NASH (4/9 NAS scores were 5–6, 5/9 were 4); 1/10 in Mod was simple steatosis (SS). 4/8 in Mild were NASH (NAS scores all 4); 4/8 were SS. 6/6 in Norm were Normal. Masson results showed 3/4 with NAS scores 5–6 were in 2–3 stages; 1/4 was in 1a stage; 5 with NAS score 4 were in 0–1c stage; 4/4 of Mild with NAS scores 3–4 were in 1c‐3 stages; SS cases were in the 1a‐1c stage. In conclusion, DECT is important for noninvasive liver fat quantification in obese patients and the NAFLD monkey model shows the same specific liver pathology and circulating biomarkers as humans. This nonhuman primate model, permitting both repeated liver biopsies and imaging studies, is highly useful in the evaluation of potential therapeutics for human NAFLD.
Abstract only
None of the many previous animal models of NAFLD/NASH, whether genetic mouse models or aberrant dietary challenges, replicate or fully reflect either the metabolic pathophysiology or ...the histopathology of patients with NAFLD/NASH. We report for the first time the development and characterization of NASH in middle‐aged naturally overweight nonhuman primates. This colony has been maintained continuously on a healthy low fat high fiber diet and by all parameters, it is clear that these rhesus monkeys have developed the same disease as develops so commonly in humans.
Methods
NAFLD/NASH histopathology was examined in 37 male rhesus monkeys (7–20yrs, 7–18kg; 25 of which were significantly overweight >12 kg). These nonhuman primates have exhibited in detail the characteristics of the metabolic syndrome as seen in humans, including normoglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, together with additional circulating biomarkers.
Results
By ultrasound evaluation of the 37 monkeys, 6 were identified to be normal with no steatosis (<5%); 12 had mild steatosis (5–10%) and 19 had moderate steatosis (10–30%). Dual‐energy CT (DECT) was used to quantify liver fat content. DECT quantified 6, 12, and 19 monkeys into the normal group <5% fat, the mild group with 5–10% fat, and the moderate group with 10 to 30% fat. The mild and moderate groups had significantly higher body weights (p<0.001) and higher C‐peptide levels than the normal group (p<0.01). In 24 of these 37 monkeys, liver needle biopsies were performed and evaluated by standard stains. Separately and blindly, the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS; by H&E) and then the fibrosis score (by Masson) were determined for each biopsy specimen. All 6 of the monkeys that were normal by DECT had normal NAS scores. 50% of the monkeys that were in the mild group all had NAS scores of 4; among the 10 monkeys in the mod group that were biopsied, 9 of 10 had NASH (5 with NAS scores of 4, and 4 with NAS scores of 5–6) and 1 had simple steatosis (SS). Masson results showed that of the 4 with NAS scores of 5–6, 3 were in stages 2–3, and 1 was in stage 1a. Among the 5 with NAS score of 4, 4 were in 0–1c stage. The 4 in the mild group with NAS scores of 3–4 wee in 1c‐3 stages. SS cases were in the 1a–1c stage. In conclusion, DECT is important for noninvasive liver fat quantification in obese patients and the NAFLD monkey model shows the same specific liver pathology and circulating biomarkers as humans.
Conclusions
We conclude that this nonhuman primate model, permitting both repeated liver biopsies and imaging studies, provides new opportunities to understand the pathogenesis as well as to examine in detail (with sequential repeated liver biopsies and longitudinal metabolic biomarkers) both the progression of the disease and its response to new therapeutic agents.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that pose a threat to environment and human health. Aiming at predicting PCBs risk in actual soil ecosystem, this study ...was conducted by chemical and biological methods to assess the bioavailability of PCBs in spiked soil, and in field-contaminated soils before or after remediation. The three chemical methods were Soxhlet,
n
-butanol and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD). Results were compared to actual PCB bioaccumulation in earthworms (
Eisenia fetida
). HPCD extraction was the best to predict the actual PCB bioaccumulation in all soils. The results suggest that HPCD could be an effective alternative method to earthworm toxicity test. This study provides strategy to understand the toxicity assessment in contaminated soil and soil after remediation.
PDF
