Search Results (82)

The incorporation of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) fly ash into self-leveling cement-based (SLC) paste production presents significant environmental advantages. However, its addition deteriorates the fresh properties of the paste, posing challenges for practical implementation. This research examined the fresh properties of SLC paste blended with CFB fly ash, emphasizing fluidity, rheological characteristics, and bleeding rate. To enhance flowability, polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) was incorporated, with particular emphasis on its interaction with CFB fly ash. The findings reveal that adding CFB fly ash to cement-based paste significantly decreased fluidity while increasing yield stress and plastic viscosity. Incorporating 20 wt.% CFB fly ash reduced paste fluidity by 51.4%, while plastic viscosity and yield stress increased by factors of 2.3 and 73, respectively. While PCE enhanced the fluidity of the blended paste, its water-reducing efficiency diminished, and the bleeding rate of the paste increased with higher CFB fly ash dosage. The water-reducing capability of PCE in the CFB fly ash-blended cement paste with 20 wt.% CFB fly ash decreased by 40.0%, and the bleeding rate of the paste increased from 0.6% to 6.7%. This effect was primarily attributed to the poor compatibility between PCE and CFB fly ash. The decline in PCE efficiency with higher CFB fly ash content, along with its lower adsorption capacity on CFB fly ash compared to cement particles, further confirmed this incompatibility. Full article

Glyoxalase I (GLYI) is a key enzyme that detoxifies methylglyoxal, a toxic byproduct of glycolysis, and is essential for plant pollination. However, the genome-wide identification and functional analysis of GLYI in Brassica rapa L. (B. rapa) remain limited. This study identified 17 BrGLYI genes (BrGLYI1–BrGLYI17) from the B. rapa genome. The self-compatible line 039-1 and the self-incompatible line GAU-28-5 were used as experimental materials, and Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to examine the effect of BrGLYI genes on self-compatibility in winter B. rapa. Preliminary results showed that BrGLYI13 exhibited significant tissue specificity, with higher expression in the flowers of 039-1 compared to GAU-28-5. The open reading frame of BrGLYI13 (852 bp) was cloned from both 039-1 and GAU-28-5 cDNA, with no base mutations observed between the two lines. RT-qPCR revealed higher BrGLYI13 expression in the stigma of 039-1 compared to GAU-28-5. Based on the functional conservation and sequence homology, BrGLYI13 is speculated to play a similar role to that of AtGLYI3 in methylglyoxal detoxification and stress response. Furthermore, the knockout of AtGLYI3 resulted in reduced silique lengths and seed numbers. These findings suggest that BrGLYI13 is involved in the self-compatibility response in B. rapa and promotes the silique length and seed number in the Arabidopsis mutant, providing a basis for further research on the mechanisms of self-compatibility in B. rapa. Full article

Intraspecific diversity is often introduced in orchards to promote cross-pollination, which is essential for self-incompatible crops and beneficial for many self-compatible crops. In lychee, orchards are often planted with multiple cultivars to increase the availability of male flowers, enhancing pollen transfer to female flowers. Typically, this diversity is arranged in single-cultivar blocks, requiring pollinators to transport cross-pollen across rows to reach trees in the middle of each block. We aimed to determine the levels of outcrossing at the edge and in the middle of blocks of Fay Zee Siu, Kaimana, Kwai Mai Pink, Sah Keng, Souey Tung and Wai Chee in a multi-cultivar lychee orchard. We also aimed to determine whether outcrossed fruit have different mass, skin colour and flavour attributes from selfed fruit. All cultivars produced a mixture of outcrossed and selfed fruit. Fay Zee Siu and Kaimana fruit were predominantly outcrossed, Kwai Mai Pink produced slightly more selfed than outcrossed fruit, and Souey Tung displayed high selfing. Outcrossing levels did not differ significantly between the edge and middle rows of these four cultivars. In contrast, Sah Keng and Wai Chee produced more outcrossed fruit in their edge row but more selfed fruit in their middle row. These two cultivars were at the orchard periphery, with another cultivar planted on only one side. Pollinators transported cross-pollen 56–60 m into the middle of blocks when different cultivars were planted on both sides, but this distance decreased to 42–56 m into the blocks when another cultivar was planted on only one side. Cross-pollination had few effects on fruit mass or quality, although pollination by Souey Tung sometimes increased fruit mass or Brix. These findings suggest that interplanting different cultivars of lychee can make effective use of its mixed-mating system, providing additional pollen sources in the orchard, supporting fruitlet retention, and sustaining tree productivity, without contributing greatly to quality variation in each cultivar. Full article

The potential role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is studied in the male gametophytes of petunia (Petunia hybrida E. Vilm.) grown in vivo with a focus on its germination, growth support in the progamic stage of fertilization, and the function of the mechanism underlying S-RNase-based self-incompatibility. Exogenous treatment with H₂O₂ influences the in vivo germination and polar growth of pollen tubes (PTs), which manifests as the acceleration or inhibition of these processes depending on its concentration, time interval after pollination, and pollination variant. The H₂O₂ treatment of the stigma somewhat stimulates the PT elongation in the late stages of self-incompatible pollination (4–8 h) versus the strong PT inhibition observed during the first hour of germination. A different pattern is observable in cross-compatible pollination: the H₂O₂ treatment of pistils inhibits PT growth during the overall pollination at all tested concentrations. Treatment of pistils with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium chloride (DPI) strongly inhibited the growth of PTs in both pollination variants. In addition, DCF-DA staining confirms that ROS are formed in pollen, PTs, stigma of nonpollinated pistil, and the pistil itself in all pollination variants. The PT growth during the function of the self-incompatibility mechanism is arrested at high ROS concentrations, which is presumably associated with the SI-induced programmed cell death. Our results demonstrate that ROS are a necessary component of pollen, PTs, exudate, and stigma cells and contribute to successful reproduction. This study provides a deeper insight into the ROS functions during the PT growth in an in vivo system. Full article

Apple (Malus domestica) is self-incompatible and typically requires cross-pollination for seed and fruit development. Parthenocarpy (fruit development without fertilization) and self-compatibility (fruit set without external pollen) are highly desirable traits in apple breeding, as they ensure consistent fruit production and quality without cross-pollination. However, apple parthenocarpic and self-compatible accessions have not been available for practical breeding. To identify these accessions, we analysed 436 accessions of Malus domestica and 84 accessions of wild Malus species by assessing fruit production. Flowers were bagged before opening to prevent cross-pollination. If fruit developed from the bagged flowers, it indicated the presence of self-compatibility or parthenocarpy, depending on whether the fruit contained seeds. We observed and scored a range of phenotypic expressions among accessions, from weak to strong in both parthenocarpy and potential self-compatibility. Strong parthenocarpy was observed in 5.95% of wild Malus species accessions and 3.44% of M. domestica accessions. Similarly, strong self-compatibility was exhibited in 5.95% of wild Malus species accessions and 2.75% of M. domestica accessions. Although bagged flowers showed lower fruit set rates than open-pollinated (OP) flowers, fruit size, weight, firmness, and soluble sugar and starch content showed no significant differences between fruits produced from bagged and OP flowers. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted with a high-throughput SNP array. This analysis identified several genes potentially associated with these traits. This research provides parthenocarpic and self-compatible apple accessions for breeding, which can generate novel cultivars that eliminate the need for cross-pollination or produce seedless fruit without pollination. Full article

Self-incompatibility (SI) is a complex mechanism that prevents plants from self-fertilizing to preserve and promote genetic variability. The angiosperm species have developed two different SI systems, the sporophytic (SSI) and the gametophytic (GSI) systems. SI is a significant impediment to steady fruit production in fruit tree species of the Rosaceae. In Rosaceae, GSI is genetically regulated via a single locus, named the ‘S-locus’, which includes a minimum of two polymorphic and relatively intercorrelated S genes: a pistil-expressed S-RNase gene and several pollen-expressed SFBB (S-locus F-Box Brothers) or SFB (S haplotype-specific F-box protein). This necessitates the interaction of S-RNases with the male determinants. Although genetic and molecular analyses of S genes have shown that mutations in both pistils and pollen-specific components induce self-compatibility in many species and cultivars, other genes or molecules outside the S-locus can co-participate in the male gamete rejection in GSI. However, we highlight and synthesize the most recent knowledge on different mechanisms of GSI in Rosaceae in this current review. Full article

Transhumanism presents a view of human progress by transcending the human, regarding finitude and suffering to be fundamental problems that must be overcome by radical bioenhancement technologies. Recent theologians have compared Christianity and transhumanism as competing deifications via grace and technology, respectively. Ron Cole-Turner is a cautious yet optimistic interpreter of the relationship between Christian deification and transhumanism, regarding them, on the one hand, to be incompatible based on self-centeredness vs. kenosis, while on the other hand, they can be compatible through a robust theology of creation and transfiguration such that creative human efforts via technology will be an active agent in transforming the world in glory. In this way, Christian transhumanism offers a vision of human progress in deification that transfigures creation through technology. In this paper, I challenge this proposal. I wish to show how transhumanism in any stripe, whether secular, Christian, or other, is fundamentally incompatible with Christian deification for two reasons: (1) incompatible views of progress and (2) incompatible views of human agency in deification. I will address each in turn. I then propose that human progress is infinite growth in the love of Christ. Finally, I suggest how a view of human agency affects how we think about suffering as a means to human progress. Full article

In nature, the ability to avoid self-fertilization has evolved to prevent the deleterious effects of inbreeding. However, under cultivation conditions, self-incompatibility can reduce the pollination efficiency of Coffea canephora. The objective of this study was to characterize the self-incompatibility expression of the most cultivated genotypes in Western Amazonia, to improve the management of this coffee plant. In vitro pollinations were conducted among 45 genotypes, and the development of pollen tubes was evaluated using fluorescence microscopy. Pollination efficiency was evaluated considering the allelic variability within a breeding population from an ideal condition of maximum genetic variability. Based on the compatibility response, the genotypes were organized into six groups: group I (24.4%), group II (31.1%), group III (24.4%), group IV (2.2%), group V (2.2%), and group VI (15.6%). The lower frequencies of groups IV, V, and VI were associated with the lower frequency of the rarest allelic forms in this breeding population (p = 0.36, q = 0.26, r = 0.29, and s = 0.10). The correspondence between allelic and genotypic frequencies indicates that this population is in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) for this trait. Considering the cultivation of 2 to 10 clones, the population studied showed intermediate pollination efficiency between an ideal HWE population with p = q = r = s = 0.25 and a population with the rarest allelic forms (p = 0.48, q = 0.32, r = 0.19, s = 0.01). Efficiency estimates were stabilized from the cultivation of five clones, indicating that cultivating a minimum number of clones should be considered. Theoretically, maximum pollination efficiency is achieved by representing all alleles in equal proportions, whereas in practice, farmers should ensure the cultivation of plants from different compatibility groups, without significant imbalances. Full article

Trendy high-density olive fields are often monovarietal orchards, mostly using the cultivar Arbequina. However, Arbequina shows a strong self-incompatibility response, and its yields depend on wind cross-pollination, which is not always available. With the aim of finding suitable self-compatible cultivars that can replace Arbequina, we evaluated pollen–pistil interaction, fruit set and seed paternity in Arbosana under different pollination treatments: self-pollination, open-pollination and three cross-pollination treatments: × Arbequina, × Sikitita and × Koroneiki. All these cultivars are low-vigor cultivars suitable for high-density orchards, making them potential pollinizers for Arbosana. The results show that Arbosana is also self-incompatible with a strong reduction in fruit set due to a lower fertilization level caused by a strong inhibition of pollen tube growth in self-pollinated flowers. Seed-paternity analyses confirmed the self-incompatibility response of Arbosana and suggest that some fruit obtained in bagged shoots under self-pollination were, in fact, a product of cross-fertilization. In conclusion, we recommend against the use of Arbosana in large monovarietal orchards. On the contrary, good results were obtained under cross-pollination with Sikitita, Arbequina and Koroneiki pollen, allowing us to recommend them as pollinizers for Arbosana in appropriate pollination designs. This is the first time Arbosana self-incompatibility has been reported. Full article

Current artificial intelligence (AI) applications in geothermal exploration are tailored to specific geothermal sites, limiting their transferability and broader applicability. This study aims to develop a globally applicable and transferable geothermal AI model to empower the exploration of geothermal resources. This study presents a methodology for adopting geothermal AI that utilizes known indicators of geothermal areas, including mineral markers, land surface temperature (LST), and faults. The proposed methodology involves a comparative analysis of three distinct geothermal sites—Brady, Desert Peak, and Coso. The research plan includes self-testing to understand the unique characteristics of each site, followed by dependent and independent tests to assess cross-compatibility and model transferability. The results indicate that Desert Peak and Coso geothermal sites are cross-compatible due to their similar geothermal characteristics, allowing the AI model to be transferable between these sites. However, Brady is found to be incompatible with both Desert Peak and Coso. The geothermal AI model developed in this study demonstrates the potential for transferability and applicability to other geothermal sites with similar characteristics, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of geothermal resource exploration. This advancement in geothermal AI modeling can significantly contribute to the global expansion of geothermal energy, supporting sustainable energy goals. Full article

Pollinators are needed for the reproduction of Echites umbellatus, and only sphingid moths have mouthparts long enough to reach the nectar at the bottom of the species’ long, twisted floral tube. Though plants produce many flowers over a period of several months, one observes very few fruits in nature. We asked: (1) Are plants self-compatible, or do they need pollen from another individual to set fruit and seed? (2) Are cross-pollinations between unrelated individuals more successful than crosses with relatives? (3) How does the relatedness of pollen and ovule parent plants affect fruit set, seed number, and seed quality? We investigated the breeding system of E. umbellatus by collecting fruits from seven sites, growing plants and performing hand pollinations over a period of several years, collecting and measuring fruits and counting seeds. Echites umbellatus is self-incompatible, though some individuals produce fruit by self-pollination. Cross-pollinations between unrelated individuals set the most fruit (59%), and those that were self-pollinated set the least (9%). Fruit set from cross-pollinations between related individuals was intermediate (32%). Although the number of seeds per fruit did not differ significantly among pollination treatments, fruits from self-pollinations had substantially fewer viable seeds than outcrossed fruits, with fruits from sibling crosses being intermediate. There were higher levels of self-compatibility in the fragment populations compared with plants from intact habitats. Self-incompatibility may explain why fruit set is low in this plant species; future investigation into the breakdown of self-incompatibility in smaller populations is warranted. Full article

The productivity of many tree crops is limited by low yield, partly due to high rates of fruitlet abscission during early fruit development. Early studies suggested that cross-pollinated fruitlets may be selectively retained during fruit development, although paternity testing of fruitlets to test this hypothesis was technically challenging. We used MassARRAY genotyping to determine the effects of pollen parentage on fruitlet retention and fruit quality of Hass avocado. We identified the paternity of abscised and retained fruitlets at 6 and 10 weeks, and mature fruit at 36 weeks, after peak anthesis. We measured the embryo mass, pericarp mass, total mass and nutrient concentrations of fruitlets, and the seed mass, flesh mass, total mass, diameter, length, nutrient concentrations and fatty-acid composition of mature fruit. The percentages of progeny on the tree that were cross-fertilised increased from 4.6% at 6 weeks after peak anthesis to 10.7% at fruit maturity. Only 1.0% of freshly abscised fruitlets on the ground at 10 weeks after peak anthesis were cross-pollinated even though 6.5% of retained fruitlets on the tree were cross-pollinated. At this stage, cross-pollinated fruitlets had similar nutrient concentrations to self-pollinated fruitlets, but they had higher total contents of P, K, Al, Ca, Fe, Mn and Zn due to having greater fruitlet mass. At maturity, cross-pollinated fruit were 6% heavier and had 2% greater diameter than self-pollinated fruit, without significant differences in flesh nutrient concentrations or fatty acid composition. The results demonstrate that Hass avocado trees selectively retain cross-pollinated fruitlets, which are larger than self-pollinated fruitlets and ultimately produce larger mature fruit. Avocado growers can increase fruit size and yield by improving the opportunities for cross-pollination, possibly by closely interplanting type A and type B cultivars and introducing more beehives into orchards. Full article

Self-incompatibility (SI) systems in plants prevent self-pollination and mating among relatives, enhancing genetic diversity in nature but posing challenges in almond production and breeding. S-allele composition alongside the flowering periods of these cultivars enables the anticipation of cross-compatibility and optimal cultivar combinations for the allocation of pollinating trees in production. In the current study, 65 materials containing 61 almond (Prunus dulcis) germplasm resources, of which two were hybrids and the remaining four were peach (Prunus persica) germplasms, were used for the S-RNase genotype. The results showed that 55 genomic samples were amplified by PCR to obtain double-banded types, which identified their complete S-RNase genotypes, while the rest of the samples amplified only a single band, identifying one S-RNase gene in the S gene. A total of 30 S-RNase genes were identified in Prunus dulcis, Prunus webbii, Prunus persica, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus salicina, and Prunus cerasifera. Sequence analysis revealed polymorphisms spanning from 313 to 2031 bp within the amplified fragment sequence. The S₅₇-RNase gene exhibited the highest frequency at 31.75% among the identified materials, with S₁S₅₇, S₁₀S₅₇, and S₇S₅₇ being the predominant S genotypes. A new S-RNase gene, named S₆₅, was identified with a sequencing length of 1483 bp. Its deduced amino acid sequence shared 98.24% similarity with the amino acid sequence of the S-RNase gene on GenBank, with the highest homology. Furthermore, according to the findings, 65 materials belong to eight S genotype cross-incompatibility groups (CIG) and one semi-compatibility or compatibility group (0). Among them, most of the seven main almond germplasm resources and 35 cultivars can be cross-pollinated. The results of the study can lay the foundation for pollinator tree allocation and breeding hybrid parent selection in almond production. Full article

The recognition of pollen and pistil in the self-incompatibility process is generally determined by the interaction between the pollen S gene and pistil S gene located at the S locus. However, the regulatory mechanism of self-incompatibility in goji remains unknown. In this study, we used the self-compatible strain ‘13–19’ and self-incompatible strain ‘xin9’ from Ningxia as parents to create an F1 hybrid population. Reciprocal cross-pollination was performed within the same plant to evaluate the self-compatibility of the parents and F1 progeny. The parents and progeny were subjected to whole-genome resequencing, and mixed pools of DNA were constructed using 30 self-compatible and 30 self-incompatible individuals. Association analysis using the SNP-index method and Euclidean distance was employed to identify the key candidate region of the S locus. The candidate region was further annotated using the Swiss-Prot database to identify genes within the region. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing data from different organs/tissues, as well as from pistils of self-compatible and self-incompatible strains at control (0 h), short (0.5 h), medium (8 h), and long (48 h) time points after self-pollination and cross-pollination, were analyzed to assess differential gene expression and screen for self-compatibility-related loci. Specific primers were designed for PCR amplification to determine the S-RNase genotypes of the extreme parents. The results revealed that the S locus in goji is located within a 32.2 Mb region on chromosome 2 that contains a total of 108 annotated genes. Differential expression analysis showed that ten genes, including Lba02g01064, were specifically expressed in stamens, with four of them annotated as F-box genes, potentially serving as determinants of self-compatibility in stamens. Lba02g01102 was exclusively expressed in pistils and annotated as an S-RNase gene, likely involved in self-compatibility. The expression of Lba02g01102 in pistils decreased after self-pollination and cross-pollination. Six candidate genes exhibited significant changes after self-pollination and cross-pollination. Both parents and progeny carried two S-RNase alleles, and the S-RNase genotypes showed a significant correlation with self-compatibility, with the self-compatible progeny containing the S8-RNase allele. The identification of the S locus in goji provides molecular markers for future marker-assisted breeding and offers genetic resources for studying the mechanism of self-incompatibility in goji, thus contributing to the improvement of goji varieties. Full article

Most plants produce floral nectar to attract pollinators that impact pollination and seed production; some of them also secrete extrafloral nectar harvested by insects that may influence the plant reproductive success. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of excluding pollinators and/or ants on the per-plant reproductive success in two species (Dyckia floribunda Griseb. and Dyckia longipetala Baker, Bromeliaceae) that produce floral and extrafloral nectar. The hypothesis states that both ecological processes (pollination and ant defense) involving nectar-mediated animal–plant interactions are beneficial for plant reproductive success. We expected the highest decrease in the plant fruit and seed sets when the pollinators and ants were excluded, and a moderate decrease when solely ants were excluded, compared to the control plants (those exposed to pollinators and ants). In addition, a lower natural reproductive success was also expected in the self-incompatible D. longipetala than in the self-compatible D. floribunda, as the former totally depends on animal pollination for seed production. D. floribunda and D. longipetala presented similar trends in the response variables, and the expected results for the experimental treatments were observed, with some variations between species and among populations. The ecological function of nectar is important because these two plant species depend on pollinators to produce seeds and on ants to defend flowers from the endophytic larvae of Lepidoptera. The study of multispecies interactions through mechanistic experiments could be necessary to clarify the specific effects of different animals on plant reproductive success. Full article