Genome editing technology, which enables researchers to modify specific genomic loci, may be useful for accelerating the breeding of many fruit crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of the blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) genome. We first optimised the plant regeneration system to increase the genetic transformation efficiency for ‘Blue Muffin’ and ‘O’Neal’. We also

The spatial structure of cities, i.e. their composition, shape and degree of fragmentation or compactness, is a physical expression reflecting development efficiency. Identifying the evolution of urban systems in time and space is crucial towards sustainable urban development. In this paper, we assess the spatial structure of 194 cities from 1990 and 2015, in order to identify patterns, clusters of

The aim of this work was to study the effect of postharvest light treatment as a potential degreening method on ‘Okitsu’ Satsuma mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco). Furthermore, a possible synergistic effect of light and ethephon treatment was also evaluated. For this, mature green fruit were harvested and treated. The treatments were: 1) exposing the fruit to increasing periods of time of photosynthetically

In ‘Yali’ pears (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) there is extra tissue formed on one side of the fruit, near the pedicel, causing a shape like a duck head termed Yatu, which is based on the Chinese phonetic alphabets of the raised duck head. The cell number of Yatu tissue has been known to be a direct factor influencing Yatu formation. The Yatu formation status among the fruits within an inflorescence

Urban vitality and social cohesion both provide multiple benefits in cities. While it has been argued that urban vitality – the liveliness of cities – may strengthen social cohesion, this has not been sufficiently examined by empirical research. This paper presents and tests a model in which urban vitality mediates the relationship between built environment characteristics and neighborhood social cohesion

A stable transformation protocol using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 52 harbouring the recombinant plasmid pBI121-CycD2 for anther derived embryos of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. cv. ‘Dawuxing’ was established. Parameters optimised were the concentration of antibiotics and their combinations. Results showed that strain EHA 52 is completely not sensitive to carbenicillin at any concentration

Residue from processing bambara seeds is abundant in West Africa, but scientific knowledge on the suitability of this residue for improving soil fertility is limited. Bambara seed residue (BSR), at 0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha−1, was applied annually to an Ultisol in a two-year field experiment with cucumber. BSR input at 30 t ha−1 produced the highest yield of 256.80 g (= 0.46 t ha−1) compared with 25.70 g

Light pollution in urban locations is a complex, serious problem, but researchers have paid more attention to light pollution on natural, non-urban environments. Understanding the sources of artificial light radiance intensity is the first step in minimizing damage from light pollution in urban areas. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively examine the relationship between light pollution and

This paper focuses on the combined impact of sound and visibility features on residential satisfaction in a suburban context. Based on a modeling approach, the study presents an integrated analysis where a set of spatial metrics, describing visibility of landscape features and road-traffic noise, are associated with data from a survey of neighborhood satisfaction. This survey was conducted on a sample

Mountain regions are key hotspots for biodiversity conservation and for provisioning ecosystem services. Containing fragile ecosystems and home to millions of inhabitants, mountains are also places of great value for tourism, cultural practices and endemic species. In this paper, we developed the first multitemporal land-use and land-cover assessment of mountain regions within the Brazilian Atlantic

This research was carried out to examine the effects of different doses of bacterial formulation comprised of a mixture of Bacillus megaterium TV-91C, Pantoea agglomerans RK-92 and Kluyvera cryocrescens TV-113C strains on the plant development and bract quality of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch), which are one of the most important potted plants grown for their fleshy bracts

The colour of fresh pods is one of the most important traits that affects the commercial value of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) beans. To investigate the genetic architecture, we firstly scored the fresh pod colour of cowpea for six generations in field trials. Afterwards, an F2 population of 150 recombinant individuals was derived from crosses between two high-generation inbred cowpea lines, ‘Baojia’

The Chestnuts genus (Castanea spp.) is comprised of economically important trees native to the Northern hemisphere that are used as food and hardwood timber. Here, a very efficient method for micropropagation of European × Japanese chestnut hybrids (Castanea sativa × C. crenata) is described. Woody Plant Medium was used as the basal medium. In vitro shoots of four rootstock cultivars were micropropagated

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins play an important role in plant growth and development, as well as in the plant response to various abiotic stresses. In this study, CsLEA1, a novel gene encoding a LEA_3 subfamily protein, was successfully cloned from a tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]. Bioinformatics analysis and prokaryotic expression assays showed that CsLEA1 is a typical hydrophilic

In this study, attempts were made to confirm the origin of mango (Mangifera indica L.) embryos produced in vitro through somatic embryogenesis by using explants which were presumed as of diverse origin using SSR markers. SSR markers used in the study detected a total number of 148 alleles per locus with the mean number of alleles ranging from 8 alleles (MiKVR–81) to 11 alleles per SSRs (MiIIHR–21478)

The complete genomic sequence of cassava common mosaic virus isolate Linggao (CsCMV-LG) was determined from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) with mild foliar mosaic symptom in Hainan Province, China. Excluding the poly(A) tail, the CsCMV-LG genome (GenBank accession No. MT038420) is 6374 nucleotides (nts) in length, with five major open reading frames encoding a 1450-amino acids (aa) RNA-dependent

Macrophomina phaseolina is the causal agent of charcoal rot disease of melons causing significant losses worldwide. Use of resistant cultivars is a desirable method for controlling this disease, but there is no information about the influence of temperature on the resistant behavior found in melon accessions. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of temperature on the reaction of

Pythium isolates from diseased and dead bait plants of maize and cress grown in compost or various soils (maize fields, parkland under deciduous trees, grassland) were characterised and tested for pathogenicity to maize (Zea mays L.). In pot tests performed under controlled conditions, pathogenicity of the isolates to maize was apparent by reduction of root and shoot growth, whereas damping-off of

Blast disease is one of the most important diseases of rice with the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae as the causal agent. This research was carried out to evaluate the blast resistance in aerobic rice genotypes in comparison with Iranian lowland rice cultivars as a randomized complete block design by measuring area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) on 53 rice genotypes with three replications in 2017

Nematicidal activities of 17 phytochemicals belonging to the monoterpene, sesquiterpene, phenylpropene and alkaloid classes were assessed in vitro and in pot experiments under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that, based on LC50 values, monoterpenes and phenylpropenes were more toxic than sesquiterpenes and alkaloids to second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne javanica. α-Terpinene (LC50 = 36

The Brassica genotypes selected for the experiments were previously found to be resistant to various Plasmodiophora brassicae pathotypes (Pb). Their interaction with pathotypes Pb2, Pb3 and Pb9 isolated in Poland was studied, using macroscopic observation for the presence of root galls, microscopic observations of P. brassicae plasmodia in the root hairs and quantitative PCR for determination of the

Although resistance to diseases is genetically controlled, the environment has a strong influence on the reaction of plants to pathogens. Thus, the selection of superior genotypes in plant breeding programs can be more efficient the more intrinsically the environmental factors that influence the trait of interest are considered. This study aimed to investigate the adaptive genetic capacity of popcorn

The genus Dolichodorus was discovered from a natural forest in Gilan province, north Iran, in association with an oak tree. The recovered population represents a new species, and was described and illustrated based upon morphological and molecular data, as D. rex n. sp. It is characterized by 2171–3275 μm long females having offset crown-like cephalic region with well sclerotized cephalic framework

Three new species-specific primer sets were designed to detect C. truncatum, C. gloeosporioides species complex, and C. scovillei, which were reported as the cause of chili anthracnose disease. These new primers were designed based on the sequence data of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) region to amplify and identify short size target DNA (<200 bp). The short size target DNA is more efficient for

Global trading of plant materials, in combination with agricultural practices, may facilitate the spreading of cyst nematodes to so far non-infected areas. Recently Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) was recognized to be present in Indonesia and both diversity and distribution require further study. Assessment of PCN populations was done by collecting soil samples, determination of morphological characteristics

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of sawdust and black foil mulches on soil properties, growth and yield of black currant (Ribes nigrum L.). A control (bare soil) was also included in the experiment. During three-year research, in all cultivation systems, there were changes in soil physical and chemical characteristics, including soil pH reduction, a decrease in coarse sand, silt

This study explores the relationship between urban form at the metropolitan and neighborhood scale and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations by establishing multi-level regression models. This study has different assumptions about urban form depending on the scale used. While at the metropolitan scale, the urban form is related to the change in travel behavior, at the neighborhood scale, it

Climate change is one of the important causes of extreme weather events such as heat waves and heavy rainfalls, with can lead to severe consequences in urban areas. Trees in urban areas can reduce environmental problems related to climate change, and they are important for developing sustainable practices in urban planning. Climate is an important factor for the growth and survival of urban trees.

Stone cells have been described to substantially influence pear fruit quality, as lignin and cellulose are the main components of stone cells. However, there are limited studies on the relationship between the variation and molecular basis of stone cells, lignin and cellulose content among different pear varieties. Here, to reveal the variation of stone cell content within different cultivated species

To understand the functional identification of large-scale genomic sequences in Forsythia, tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-mediated virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), suitable for the plant, was explored in this study. The results showed that the TRV-mediated VIGS system could be successfully used in Forsythia for silencing the reporter gene FsPDS (Forsythia phytoene desaturase) using stem infiltration

Phenomics is a new branch of science that provides high-throughput quantification of plant and animal traits at systems level. The last decade has witnessed great successes in high-throughput phenotyping of numerous morphological traits, yet major challenges still exist in precise phenotyping of physiological traits such as transpiration and photosynthesis. Due to the highly dynamic nature of physiological

Plants harbor diverse fungal communities both on their surfaces (epiphytic) and inside of plant tissues (endophytic), and these fungi play important roles in plant health and vigor. However, comparisons of epiphytes and endophytes have rarely been performed. In this study, the soil, epiphytic and endophytic fungal assemblages of greenhouse-grown tomato plants were extensively examined and compared

Two okra cultivars (Chinese green and Chinese red) were subjected to salt stress for 12 weeks. Salt stress treatments T1 (20.8 mM), T2 (103.3 mM), T3 (180.0 mM) and T4 (257.0 mM) were applied with equal proportions of NaCl and CaCl2 in Hoagland nutrient solution. Salt stress significantly affects photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, water potential, plant height

This erratum is published due to:

The peri-urban area has undergone tremendous changes in various aspects. Tourism-driven development in this area, echoing the longing of urban residents for recreational and leisure space, provides an alternative to conventional urbanization approaches. Particularly, in view of heightened conflicts and fierce competitions that often occur in the area, developing the knowledge of the co-visitation network

Productivity in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) can be recorded by measuring marketable or total yield. The first objective of this review was to determine if marketable yield can be predicted from total yield. The second objective of this review was to develop protocols to accurately determine the productivity of strawberry cultivars. Previous research has not examined the relationship between the

Bacterial canker of stone fruit is a destructive disease of Prunus species. Here we characterized five Pseudomonas syringae (Ps) strains isolated from bacterial cankers of stone fruits in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. Koch’s postulates were performed demonstrating pathogenicity on apricot cuttings. Ice-nucleation activity and syringomycin synthesis were determined phenotypically and confirmed molecularly

The landscape, understood as the manifestation of the link that identifies each society with the space where it develops, brings us closer to the territory from a richer and more transversal approach, one that goes beyond its purely formal dimension and embraces its condition of collective space and cultural expression. This view confirms the need to understand landscape as heritage, which has led

Grape ripe rot is a fungal disease, which is almost inextinguishable particularly before and after harvest in most vineyards. The management of this disease largely depends on the breeding of resistant varieties. Thus, the search for resistant varieties should parallel the molecular analysis of the markers associated with disease resistance. Here, we tested the leaf inoculation assay of Colletotrichum

Plum leaf scald (PLS) is a serious disease caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex, a pathogenic bacterium transmitted by xylem-sap feeding leafhoppers, commonly named sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae). In Brazil, the development of plum genotypes that apparently are not infected under field conditions has opened new perspectives for disease control based on host plant resistance

The aim of this paper is to understand dynamic processes of environmental stewardship in global urban cities, using an analytical lens of environmental placemaking. We demonstrate the importance of using the conceptual framework of environmental placemaking to understand newer forms of environmental consciousness, through a case study of the Indian megacity of Bengaluru – a heterogenous, multicultural

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is a new tuber crop grown in Greece. It constitutes an innovative dietary component for both humans and animals, due to its nutritional properties. The cultivation of sweet potato focuses on the growth of both tubers and plants. Nitrogen is considered an essential element for almost all crops. This study set out to compare the effect of nitrogen inhibitors on yield

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important crops in Bhutan, but currently production is seriously affected by a wilt disease. Although chilli wilt was first reported in Bhutan in 1995, the causal pathogen has never been formally identified. The aim of this study was to identify the causative agent of wilt epidemics on chilli in Bhutan and to investigate the morphological and genetic variations

Carbon source plays an important role in the induction of embryogenic callus (EC). Therefore it is necessary to determine the effective carbohydrate for improving this process. In this study, different carbohydrates as sucrose, maltose, and sorbitol with different levels (0–30 g/L) were tested in the callus induction of Pyrus communis. At first, in solid culture, calli were divided in relation to their

Common fig (Ficus carica L.), an economically-important fruit species widely cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin, is gaining increasing interest in the tropical and subtropical regions. A vast genetic diversity of common fig is available; however, systematic studies of cultivar performance in a particular new environment are scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of 17

The optimal harvest date for ‘Whasan’ pears (Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Whasan’), which is difficult to predict, is currently determined on the basis of field observations of fruit quality. To create better models for predicting pear maturation, we utilized flowering period data from the Pear Research Institute, South Korea; commercial harvest data; and daily meteorological information from 2007 to 2011 to assess

By 2026, the older population in Taiwan will account for 20% of the total population. The role of urban green spaces is critical for older people to maintain an active lifestyle. Urban greenways not only provide a physical environment that supports outdoor activities but also provide social capital and social cohesion to encourage older adults to participate in outdoor activities in their neighbourhoods

Plasmopara viticola is a plant pathogenic oomycete that causes downy mildew in grapevines. Shine Muscat, a hybrid grapevine cultivar of Vitis vinifera and V. labrascana produced in Japan, exhibits resistance to P. viticola. Transcriptome analyses were performed to elucidate the mechanism of defense against P. viticola infection in Shine Muscat. Using two sets of RNA seq data and V. vinifera genome

Watercore is a typical physiological disorder of apples and can normally induce the development of related internal disorders during storage. The aim of this study was to investigate the disappearance of watercore, the development of internal storage disorders (ISD) and the maintenance of quality traits of ‘Cox Orange Pippin’ apple during 6 months storage at 3 °C (±0.3 °C) under the following storage

A novel species of monopartite begomovirus was detected in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas L (Lam)] originating from the experimental field of ICAR-AICRP on Tuber Crops (West Bengal), India. The plants showed a typical upward curling of leaves symptoms and reduction in plant height and was easily transmitted through the tuber and vine cuttings of infected plant. PCR-mediated detection using specific primers

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is considered as one of the most important commercial fruit crops in Turkey. Wine quality is affected by cultural practices. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of crop load level and different summer pruning applications on the wine quality of ‘Mevlana’ (Vitis vinifera L.). The study was carried out on a 12-year-old own-rooted ‘Mevlana’ vineyard, which

Transgenic walnuts (Juglans regia L.) were produced in the presence of the Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 and the plasmid pBI121. This plasmid contains a BADH gene driven by a CaMV 35S promoter. It further includes an NPTII gene as a selectable marker which, in turn, is driven by a NOS promoter. Somatic embryos of the walnut cultivar ‘Chandler’ were inoculated using an Agrobacterium suspension. Secondary

Lily is one of the most valuable fresh cut flowers in the world. However, pollen pollution brings inconvenience to retailers and consumers. Anther development is a complicated and precise process but much is unknown. In this study, the anther development key gene LoAMS was isolated from Lilium Oriental Hybrids cultivar ‘Siberia’. Phylogenetic tree analysis and multiple sequence alignment showed that

Gibberellic acid (GA3) is important in plant growth, development, ripening, and senescence. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of pre-harvest GA3 application on the maintenance of postharvest fruit quality in kumquat (Citrus japonica). On-tree fruits were sprayed with 20 mg/L GA3. Unsprayed harvested fruit stored at 6 °C were used as the control. The contents of indoleacetic acid, GA3, and

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of using compost and vermicompost as soil amendments in organic herb production, using four herb species (Dracocephalum moldavica L., Melissa officinalis L., Nepeta cataria L. and Thymus vulgaris L.) as model plants. Plants were cultivated in a greenhouse in containers filled with soil from an organically certified field and that had been amended with

Urban beaches and parks are providers of numerous ecosystem services. In the cultural sphere, place bonding and psychological restoration might significantly contribute to the health and well-being of citizens. In this manuscript, we present a study aimed to evaluate the extent to which three urban beaches and three urban parks offered these advantages to a sample of users (n = 429) in the city of

Anthocyanin is abundant in a few vegetables, including eggplant. It protects plants from abiotic stress and benefits human health, making the research of anthocyanin biosynthesis increasingly important. Flowering time is an important reference for judging reproduction and adaptability, which can guide plant production. In this study, SmbHLH13 from eggplant was identified. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase

Prunus yedoensis (P. yedoensis) is a popular flowering species that is appreciated worldwide. While there are very few genetic variations among the planted populations of this species that are considered cultivated, diverse variations have been found in natural wild cherry populations on Jeju Island. In this study, we assembled a consensus reference chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequence with an aim to build

Although many aspects of scald have been investigated, we are still far away from a general understanding of the disorder. Here, we tried to elucidate the role of the phenolic compounds and their fate during scald development. The study was performed on ‘Granny Smith’ apples. After 5 months in cold storage, scald developed rapidly at room temperature, giving us the opportunity to study unaffected,