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Many studies have investigated the role of miRNAs on the yield of various plants, but so far, no report is available on the identification and role of miRNAs in fruit and seed development of almonds. In this study, preliminary analysis by high-throughput sequencing of short RNAs of kernels from the crosses between almond cultivars 'Sefid' × 'Mamaee' (with small and large kernels, respectively) and 'Sefid' × 'P. orientalis' (with small kernels) showed that the expressions of several miRNAs such as Pdu-miR395a-3p, Pdu-miR8123-5p, Pdu-miR482f, Pdu-miR6285, and Pdu-miR396a were significantly different. These miRNAs targeted genes encoding different proteins such as NYFB-3, SPX1, PGSIP3 (GUX2), GH3.9, and BEN1. The result of RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of these genes showed significant differences between the crosses and developmental stages of the seeds, suggesting that these genes might be involved in controlling kernel size because the presence of these miRNAs had a negative effect on their target genes. Pollen source can influence kernel size by affecting hormonal signaling and metabolic pathways through related miRNAs, a phenomenon known as xenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of drought stress on the amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds as well as H 2 O 2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) in Achillea pachycephala. The expression patterns of the key genes and their molecular mechanisms in the phenylpropanoid pathway (PAL , CHS , CHI , F3H , F3′H , F3′5′H , FLS) were also assessed during drought stress using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The samples were harvested at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after exposure to drought stress. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to determine the changes of phenolic and flavonoid compounds – chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, luteolin-7-O-glycoside, 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid, apigenin-7-O-glycoside, luteolin, apigenin and kaempferol – during stress conditions. Concentrations of most of the compounds increased with increasing drought stress duration. Most of the phenolic acids continued to accumulate with increasing duration of stress, while flavonoids dramatically decreased at day 28 of stress. Chlorogenic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid (4.97 mg/100 g dry weight [DW]) at the beginning of the experiment, while it decreased at day 7 and increased again at day 21. However, different trends were observed for some flavonoids, such as luteolin and apigenin. At the beginning of stress treatment, high accumulation of free radicals (H 2 O 2) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) led to elevated expression of most of the flavonoid genes. MDA increased from 22.66 to 43.28 μmol g−1 DW at day 28. CHS gene expression was elevated at day 7, while chi gene expression remained unchanged. At the end of the stress period, most of the flavonoid concentrations and expression of the relevant genes also increased. The results can facilitate selection of appropriate drought conditions to obtain the highest levels of flavonoids such as luteolin and apigenin and phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid for improved health benefits. Image 1 • The effect of drought on flavonoid genes and metabolites were assessed in Achillea pachycephalla. • The concentration of the phenolics and flavonoids showed different trends in response to drought. • H 2 O 2 and MDA were elevated at the beginning of drought stress. • Most of the genes were upregulated at the beginning and end days of the stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The infection of the model legume Medicago truncatula with Ralstonia solanacearum GMI1000 gives rise to bacterial wilt disease via colonisation of roots. The root and leaf responses to early infection (1 and 3 days post infection) were characterised to investigate the molecular mechanisms of plant resistance or susceptibility. A proteomics approach based on pools of susceptible and resistant recombinant inbred lines was used to specifically target the mechanisms for tolerance. Differential abundances were evidenced for proteins involved in defence (e.g., PR5, PR10, or Kunitz protease inhibitors) and signalling pathways (such as cyclophilin). R. solanacearum inoculation modifies expression levels of those genes, either in both genotypes (AOS1, LOX4, and proteinase inhibitors) or specifically in the resistant line (PR proteins). Exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) enhanced tolerance to the bacteria, whereas methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhanced short‐term tolerance then promoted disease in the susceptible ecotype, suggesting that they may mediate defence responses. Conversely, proteomics‐identified genes were also shown to be SA or MeJA responsive. This is the first description of differential response to R. solanacearum in M. truncatula. Our results suggest that root basal defence is activated at 1 dpi, together with the JA pathway. Specific resistance is then evidenced at three dpi, with the up‐regulation of SA‐dependent PR proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes plastid DNA polymorphism and reports a comparative analysis of two non-coding cpDNA regions ( trnC–trnD and atpB–rbcL ) in pistachio. Seventeen different genotypes of domestic and wild pistachio from Iran, Syria, Turkey and America were sampled. Total genomic DNA was extracted and amplified with trnC–trnD and atpB–rbcL specific primers and then were sequenced. Phylogenetic relationships and depiction of phylogenetic trees were conducted. Cultivated genotypes of Pistacia vera were classified in a group regardless of their geographic location. P. vera was isolated from Sarakhs but they placed in the two close groups. Among cultivated genotypes, Jalab was separated from other cultivated genotypes. Pistacia Khinjuk was classified with Pistacia atlantica subsp . mutica . The findings confirm the common splitting hypothesis for commercial pistachio genotypes of the P. vera wild-type and also indicated the direct impact of Iranian genotypes in the evolutionary process of cultivated pistachios in other parts of the world. In conclusion it can be inferred that cultivated varieties of pistachio and P. vera var. sarakhs have the same origin, moreover genomic chloroplast could appropriately identify the interspecies relationships of pistachios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vessel dilator is a 3.9-KDa potent anticancer peptide and a valuable candidate in the treatment of conditions such as congestive heart failure and acute renal failure amongst others. Here we report the recombinant production of vessel dilator in Escherichia coli . Three different synthetic ORF's dubbed VDI, VDII and VDIII, each encoding a trimmer of the vessel dilator peptide attached to a His tag sequence at their C- terminal, were synthesized and placed in pET21c expression vectors. The highest yield, following expression in E. coli BL21 (DE3), was recorded with VDII that carried the shortest fusion partner. Subsequent to the initial capture of the fusion protein by a Ni affinity column, the vessel dilator monomers were cleaved by trypsin treatment, and further purified to at least 90% homogeneity by anion exchange chromatography. De-novo sequencing and in vivo anticancer activity tests were used to verify the peptide sequence and its biological activity, respectively. The final yield was estimated to be approximately 15 mg of the purified vessel dilator per gram wet weight of the bacterial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]