Interspecific hybrids of Trifolium sarosiense Hazsl. ✕ 2x and 4x T. alpestre L. were produced by hand pollination in a greenhouse. Pollinations of 530 florets of T. sarosiense (2n = 6x = 48) ✕ T‐ alpestre (2n = 2x = 16) and 806 florets of the reciprocal produced only five and 10 seeds, respectively. Plants grown from these seeds were weak and chlorotic, and all putative hybrids died before flowering. Pollinations of 75 florets of T. sarosiense ✕ autotetraploid T. alpestre (2n = 4x = 32) produced 28 seeds which gave rise to 22 vigorous hybrid plants. Reciprocal pollinations of 101 florets produced 18 seeds, but all seedlings were chlorotic and died shortly after germination. Estimated pollen viability of the T. sarosiense ✕ 4x T. alpestre hybrids ranged from 41 to 73%, with a mean of 64%. Most frequently, metaphase‐I cells of these hybrids contained 8 I and 16 II, and mean associations were: 6.59 I, 13.86 II, 1.43 III, and 0.35 IV. Although hybrid plants were mostly self‐ and cross‐incompatible, sib mating the hybrids produced 0.01 seed per floret. Backcrosses to the parents ( T. sarosiense and 4x T. alpestre ) produced 0.04 and 0.02 seed per floret, respectively. Pollinations of more than 5,000 florets of the hybrid by both diploid and tetraploid red clover ( T. pratense L.) produced no verified hybrids. Attempts to cross other diploid species ( T. rubens L. and T. heldreichianum Hausskn.) with the polyploid species ( T. medium L. and T. sarosiense ) produced no hybrids. The crossability data combined with cytological evidence suggests that T. alpestre may be an evolutionary link between the diploid and polyploid species of section Trifolium .

ABSTRACT It is elusive and highly challenging to sustain the productivity of vegetable commodities under limited available natural resources and anticipated future climatic scenarios. Amongst available natural resources, water remains the most limiting factor. Present vegetable cultivation practices involve the utilization of excessive quantities of water, thereby leading to the wastage of precious water resources. Therefore, sustainable management of irrigation water is crucial for future vegetable cultivation, as most vegetable crops are vulnerable to water scarcity at different growth stages, which can result in yield and post-harvest quality losses. Adoption of deficit irrigation (DI) is one of the sustainable irrigation water management approaches. DI is a sustainable water-saving approach, as irrigation water is applied in limited or lower quantities than the actual evapotranspiration-based crop water requirement. Strategic application of water at the right time and quantity with the right technique can greatly improve water use efficiency and water productivity. It could also enhance the post-harvest quality with marginal yield loss. Yield losses whatsoever could be compensated by expanding agricultural areas in water-scarce zones by adopting the DI strategy. This review discusses the concept and types of DI and examines its implications for the morpho-physiology and productivity of commercially important vegetable crops.

Do you love eating as much as we do? Why do delicious, sweet, and fatty foods make us overweight? And what makes being overweight so unhealthy? Many scientists ask themselves these questions every day. In order to find out what happens in the cells of the body and what makes us obese and sick, animal experiments on mice are necessary.

Onions are used in culinary preparations worldwide due to their distinctive flavor. The onion-processing sector plays a key role in the economies of many countries, supporting both local agriculture and the food industry. Minimally processed onion-based products are suitable for modern lifestyle demands but do not compromise taste and are experiencing steadily increasing demand. All types of onion can be processed but a specific group, termed 'dehydrator' onions, possesses traits that support efficient processing and high recovery of finished products, ensuring economic viability for processing units. Key traits of dehydrator onions include white skin, high total soluble solids (TSS), high dry matter content, increased pungency, suitable sugar composition, and enhanced storability. White onions are particularly well suited for processing compared with red onions. Few studies have investigated the genetic mechanisms underlying these traits, limiting efforts to breed dehydrator-type white onion varieties. However, some research has highlighted the influence of environmental factors and agronomic practices on trait expression. Targeted agronomic interventions can enhance not only the quality and processing efficiency of onions but also their resilience to environmental challenges. This review focuses on breeding and agronomy of onions that are specifically suited for processing. It leverages available genetic information on their traits and applies knowledge of agronomic and management practices that influence their expression. The review also provides a foundation for targeted, effective research initiatives aimed at improving the understanding and cultivation of white onions, ultimately benefiting researchers, stakeholders, and the onion-processing industry. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) is an important pathogen of red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.). A hypersensitive reaction to the most prevalent strain of BYMV in Kentucky (designated 204‐1) conveys resistance. The objectives of the present study were to backcross the genes for the hypersensitive reaction into 10 clones of ‘Kenstar’ to widen the BYMV resistance of this cultivar and to further investigate the inheritance of resistance. Populations of F l ’s and five backcrosses to each of the 10 parental clones of Kenstar were produced using the clones as recurrent parents and a hypersensitive reacting clone as the nonrecurrent parent. Four Kenstar parental clones were found to possess the hypersensitive reaction, and two had a different type of resistance. Inheritance of the hypersensitive reaction to BYMV strain 204‐1 was similar to that reported earlier. Incorporation of the hypersensitive reaction to strain 204‐1 into the Kenstar clones did not increase virus resistance under spaced‐plant field conditions as compared to Kenstar polycross progenies. Lack of infection in broadcast plots prevented a complete assessment of the potential effect of the hypersensitive reaction. A new strain of BYMV was discovered and designated the red clover or ‘RC’ strain. This strain is similar to previously described isolates of BYMV from soybean, and it was hypothesized that the RC strain may have occurred as a result of the increase in soybean acreage in Kentucky. Phenotypic recurrent selection under spaced‐plant conditions where opportunity exists for infection by many different strains of BYMV and other viruses is suggested as aneffective breeding procedure.

Supplementary Data from Colorectal Cancer Is Associated with the Presence of Cancer Driver Mutations in Normal Colon

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) translocation into mucus of the intestine was shown to occur via a paracellular transport across the apical/lateral tight junction (TJ) barrier. In case this could also be operative in biliary epithelial cells, this may have implication for the pathogenesis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We here evaluated the transport of PC across polarized cholangiocytes. Therefore, the biliary tumor cell line Mz-ChA-1 was grown to confluency. In transwell culture systems the translocation of PC to the apical compartment was analyzed. After 21 days in culture, polarized Mz-ChA-1 cells revealed a predominant apical translocation of choline containing phospholipids including PC with minimal intracellular accumulation. Transport was suppressed by TJ destruction employing chemical inhibitors and pretreatment with siRNA to TJ forming proteins as well as the apical transmembrane mucin 3 as PC acceptor. Apical translocation was dependent on a negative apical electrical potential created by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the anion exchange protein 2 (AE2). It was stimulated by apical application of secretory mucins. The results indicated the existence of a paracellular PC passage across apical/lateral TJ of the polarized biliary epithelial tumor cell line Mz-ChA-1. This has implication for the generation of a protective mucus barrier in the biliary tree.

The effect of six cycles of phenotypic recurrent selection for stem length in red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) was studied in spaced plantings and in drilled plots. The objectives were to evaluate the genetic and agronomic changes that occurred during selection and to determine if further increases in stem length are possible. To determine if inbreeding occurred during selection of these populations, F 1 crosses between the selected populations and clones from the base population also were tested in spaced plantings. Over cycles of selection, stem length increased linearly 3.7 and 2.9 cm/cycle at first and second harvests, respectively, as evaluated in spaced plantings. Internode counts and histological examinations indicated that the lengthened stems were due to more cells per internode. No appreciable changes were detected in internode numbers or maturity. Estimates of the weighted average change in allelic frequency indicated inbreeding depression was not an important factor in the advanced cycles. A linear increase in stem length, lack of inbreeding depression, and maintenance of phenotypic variance over cycles of selection indicated that further increases in stem length would be possible if selection were continued. Selection for increased stem length was accompanied by decreases in stem number per plant and persistence. Herbage yield in spaced plantings increased over cycles at first harvest but declined over cycles in the regrowth. Redistribution of photosynthates from normal root and crown development or changes in root reserves were suggested as reasons for the initial yield increase and subsequent decline. Selection among plants after regrowth or in the 2nd year were proposed as methods of avoiding similar undesirable changes in breeding red clover.

Physalin B belongs to a family of Physalins that can be isolated from the genus Physalis (Solanaceae). In traditional Chinese Medicine, Physalis angulata L. is frequently used to treat a variety of illnesses such as dermatitis, trachitis, rheumatism, and hepatitis. Physalin B promotes cellular apoptosis and has antitumor, antimalarial, and antimycobacterial activities. Two recent studies evaluated the therapeutic activities of Physalin B in pre-clinical hepatic disease models. In this comment, a brief summary of the most important findings of these two studies is given and discussed.

The adipokine family of C1q/TNF-like proteins (CTRP) plays a critical role in regulating systemic energy homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. It is involved in pathophysiological processes including inflammation and insulin-resistant obesity. Sepsis is associated with metabolic alterations and dysregulated adipokines, but the role of CTRP1 in critical illness and sepsis is unclear. We investigated CTRP1 plasma concentrations in 145 septic and 73 non-septic critically ill patients at admission to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) in comparison to 66 healthy controls. We also assessed associations of CTRP1 with clinical characteristics, adipokine levels, metabolic and inflammatory parameters. CTRP1 plasma concentration was significantly elevated in critically ill patients compared to healthy subjects. CTRP1 levels were significantly higher in ICU patients with sepsis. CTRP1 correlated strongly with markers of inflammatory response, renal function, liver damage and cholestasis. Furthermore, CTRP1 levels were higher in ICU patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and correlated with HbA1c and body mass index. This study demonstrates significantly elevated levels of CTRP1 in critically ill patients, particularly with sepsis, and links circulating CTRP1 to inflammatory and metabolic disturbances.

Fibrosis is the common endpoint and currently the best predictor of progression of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). Despite several drawbacks, biopsies remain the only available means to specifically assess the extent of renal fibrosis. Here, we show that molecular imaging of the extracellular matrix protein elastin allows for noninvasive staging and longitudinal monitoring of renal fibrosis. Elastin was hardly expressed in healthy mouse, rat, and human kidneys, whereas it was highly up-regulated in cortical, medullar, and perivascular regions in progressive CKD. Compared to a clinically relevant control contrast agent, the elastin-specific magnetic resonance imaging agent ESMA specifically detected elastin expression in multiple mouse models of renal fibrosis and also in fibrotic human kidneys. Elastin imaging allowed for repetitive and reproducible assessment of renal fibrosis, and it enabled longitudinal monitoring of therapeutic interventions, accurately capturing anti-fibrotic therapy effects. Last, in a model of reversible renal injury, elastin imaging detected ensuing fibrosis not identifiable via routine assessment of kidney function. Elastin imaging thus has the potential to become a noninvasive, specific imaging method to assess renal fibrosis.