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The spread of language families is hypothesized to have occurred via agricultural and demographic transitions that drove populations outwards from agricultural centres of origin, "demic diffusion". However, the geographical origins of language families are often tied to where greatest linguistic diversity is seen. For the Sino-Tibetan language family this creates a conflict, as maximal linguistic diversity lies in North-Eastern India and Nepal, whereas centres of Neolithic crop domestication in the Yellow and Yangtze River Basins have low linguistic diversity today. Therefore either Sino-Tibetan languages originated in North-Eastern India, and spread by means other than demic diffusion; or multiple diffusions of agriculturalists occurred from a once linguistically diverse homeland, in which linguistic diversity was maintained or increased as peoples spread westwards, but was lost in the homeland. To explore these two hypotheses, using evidence from linguistics, archaeology and genetics, we compiled existing data on Chinese millets, cultivated trees, and agricultural tools (harvesting knives, shouldered spades) alongside data for wheat and barley from Western Eurasia. These elements were explored alongside existing information from genetic studies and for West Asian animal domesticates. We differentiate a northern cultural and southern demic diffusion for various elements originating in East Asia. In Central Asia a small number of eastern Eurasian elements (millets by 2500 BC, spades by 1st millennium BC) spread west through pre-existing agricultural populations by cultural-diffusion, but significantly did not include language families nor genetic lineages. The southern dispersal driven by demic diffusion of millet farmers carried a more expansive range of eastern cultural elements; millets, spades, hairpins, harvesting knives, house plans, and significantly languages and genetic lineages. We hypothesize a period of demic diffusion beginning c.2500-2000 BC from the southeastern Plateau through Eastern Tibet and the Himalayan foothills, brought peoples, languages and Eastern Eurasian cultural elements eventually to the Kashmir region. We conclude two routes, the Sichuan–Tibet–Kashmir and Yunnan–Assam ones, are the most plausible pathways linking Northern China and Northern India during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lachninae (Insecta: Aphididae) represent a fascinating group of aphids that are traditionally divided into five tribes. Among these, members of the tribe Tuberolachnini exhibit remarkable morphological and biological diversity. One genus of this group, Miyalachnus, known from Japan, is characterized by unique features. Our study aimed to re-examine the tribal classification within Lachninae, with a focus on the diverse Tuberolachnini and the previously understudied genera Miyalachnus and Sinolachnus. Results: We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis using four genes (COI, COII, CytB, and EF1α), employing both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods on a combined dataset. Our findings challenge the monophyly of Tuberolachnini. The analyses revealed that Miyalachnus and Sinolachnus are phylogenetically distinct from the core Tuberolachnini genera (Nippolachnus, Pyrolachnus, and Tuberolachnus), instead showing a closer relationship with Tramini. Specifically, the Miyalachnus clade forms a sister clade to the clade containing Sinolachnus and Tramini. Conclusions: On the basis of these molecular results, corroborated by morphological evidence, we propose to erect a new tribe within the Lachninae-Miyalachnini trib. nov. with Miyalachnus as the type genus. We also provide updated taxonomic diagnoses for the remaining tribes and discuss their relationships as well as distinguishing features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research of peach fungal gummosis (PFG), which is a vascular disease caused by fungi in the Botryosphaeriaceae family, is particularly important in the southeastern United States, southern China, South Africa, and Western Australia. This disease has been a significant concern for the peach industry in the southeastern United States since the 1970s. The changing climatic conditions in the prunus production areas of the world have worsened the severity of PFG disease. A study of the morphological and genetic profiles of Botryosphaeriaceae species from diseased peach trees found four species in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. Botryosphaeria dothidea, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Diplodia seriata, and Neofusicocoum parvum were isolated and identified using conidiospore characters and rDNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions and elongation factor a-1 genes. B. dothidea was the most common species from diseased peach trees. A significant implication of this research is the potential resistance in Prunus germplasm, which was genotyped for the resistance locus Botd8 and evaluated for relative susceptibility to one isolate each from B. dothidea, L. theobromae, and D. seriata. Pathogenicity evaluations of peach, almond, and interspecific hybrids used detached stem and leaf assays for susceptibility to PFG based on lesion lengths and gumming scores. L. theobromae inoculation resulted in the most extensive lesions on stems and leaves. Detached stem and leaf assays indicated that Prunus with the Botd8 locus significantly differed in lesion size when infected with B. dothidea and D. seriata. However, the resistant locus had no significant effect on the relative susceptibility of Prunus to L. theobromae. Field and detached stem and leaf assays identified almond cultivars Pioneer and Golden State and Peach × Almond hybrids with Botd8 (+) as tolerant to PFG. Correlations between detached assays and field gumming scores suggested that inoculations on detached stems or leaves under controlled conditions can be used to preliminarily screen for resistance to PFG. These detached assays for specific pathogen isolates provide an opportunity for a relatively fast, nondestructive evaluation of Prunus germplasm and are tools that can be used to identify the components of disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piercing/sucking insects such as green peach aphid (GPA) (Myzus persicae) cause direct damage by obtaining phloem nutrients and indirect damage by spreading plant viruses. To investigate the response of peach trees (Prunus persica) to aphids, the leaf transcriptome and metabolome of two genotypes with different sensitivities to GPA were studied. The gene expression of aphid-susceptible plants infested with aphids was similar to that of control plants, whereas the gene expression of aphid-resistant plants infested with aphids showed strong induced changes in gene expression compared with control plants. Furthermore, gene transcripts in defense-related pathways, including plant–pathogen interaction, MAPK signaling, and several metabolic pathways, were strongly enriched upon aphid infestation. Untargeted secondary metabolite profiling confirmed that aphid infestation induced larger changes in aphid-resistant than in aphid-susceptible peaches. Consistent with transcriptomic alterations, nine triterpenoids showed highly significant GPA-induced accumulation in aphid-resistant peaches, whereas triterpenoid abundance remained predominantly unchanged or undetected in aphid-susceptible peaches. Furthermore, some types of transcription factors (including WRKYs, ERFs, and NACs) were strongly induced upon GPA infestation in aphid-resistant, but not in aphid-susceptible peaches. These results suggested that the accumulation of specialized triterpenoids and the corresponding pathway transcripts may play a key role in peach GPA resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aromia bungii is a serious wood borer damaging Prunus persica and other numerous economic tree species. Host plant volatiles play a key role in pest population monitoring and trapping. To ascertain the influence of volatile organic compounds emitted by P. persica at varying physiological statuses on the host‐searching behaviour of A. bungii adults, we initially collected and identified the volatiles emitted by P. persica leaves infested with A. bungii using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Subsequently, we evaluated the behavioural response of A. bungii adults to the crude extracts, single compounds and blends of these compounds by Y‐tube olfactometer bioassay. Results showed that volatiles emitted from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae at Grade I were more attractive to females, but males were more attracted to volatiles from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae at Grade IV. Five compounds were identified and showed relatively high levels from both infested plants at Grade I and Grade IV. Among them, 3‐carene, cis‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol and cis‐3‐hexenyl acetate were attractive to females, and a blend of the three volatiles in a ratio of 3:91:6 for Grade I infestation was more attractive to females than a ratio of 3:83:14 from Grade IV infestation. The compounds, 3‐carene, cis‐3‐hexenyl acetate, cis‐3‐hexene‐1‐ol and benzaldehyde, were attractive to males and a blend in a ratio of 3:81:13:3 from Grade IV infestation was more attractive to males than a ratio of 3:89:6:2 from Grade I infestation. The results show that the kinds and ratios of volatiles emitted from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae play important roles in host‐searching behaviour of A. bungii adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanisms involved in the supercooling of plant tissues as a means of low temperature survival are still not fully understood. We investigated properties that may promote supercooling in overwintering sweet cherry (Prunus avium) flower buds.We conducted experiments on sweet cherry flower buds using differential thermal analysis (DTA) and observed locations of ice formation in the bud structure. We also used anatomical development and water‐soluble dye uptake throughout the overwintering period to identify changes that correlate with gain and loss of supercooling capacity.Our results revealed barriers to ice propagation are likely unique to each primordium, as inferred from exotherms produced from buds subjected to DTA, although multiple primordia may freeze simultaneously. Ice is accommodated between the bud scales and within the bud axis; however, full expression of supercooling was not dependent on the presence of scales. Anatomical and DTA studies revealed a correlation between vascular differentiation in primordia and loss of supercooling in the spring; these observations were at a higher temporal resolution than previously described for Prunus. Furthermore, disturbing tissues subtending the primordia interfered with typical patterns of supercooling, indicated more erratic and numerous exotherms produced during DTA.In summary, sweet cherry flower buds undergo extra‐organ freezing. In winter, a barrier to ice propagation in the region directly subtending primordia protects the flower from freezing damage, but in the spring xylem differentiation in primordia provides a conduit for ice propagation that compromises supercooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially cultivated Prunus species are commonly grown in adjacent or mixed orchards and can be infected with unique or commonly shared viruses. Apple (Malus domestica), another member of the Rosacea and distantly related to Prunus, can share the same growing regions and common pathogens. Pollen can be a major route for virus transmission, and analysis of the pollen virome in tree fruit orchards can provide insights into these virus pathogen complexes from mixed production sites. Commercial honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollination is essential for improved fruit sets and yields in tree fruit production systems. To better understand the pollen-associated virome in tree fruits, metagenomics-based detection of plant viruses was employed on bee and pollen samples collected at four time points during the peak bloom period of apricot, cherry, peach, and apple trees at one orchard site. Twenty-one unique viruses were detected in samples collected during tree fruit blooms, including prune dwarf virus (PDV) and prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) (Genus Ilarvirus, family Bromoviridae), Secoviridae family members tomato ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus), tobacco ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus), prunus virus F (genus Fabavirus), and Betaflexiviridae family member cherry virus A (CVA; genus Capillovirus). Viruses were also identified in composite leaf and flower samples to compare the pollen virome with the virome associated with vegetative tissues. At all four time points, a greater diversity of viruses was detected in the bee and pollen samples. Finally, the nucleotide sequence diversity of the coat protein regions of CVA, PDV, and PNRSV was profiled from this site, demonstrating a wide range of sequence diversity in pollen samples from this site. These results demonstrate the benefits of area-wide monitoring through bee pollination activities and provide new insights into the diversity of viruses in tree fruit pollination ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spider mite species Oligonychus perditus Pritchard and Baker 1955 (Acari: Tetranychidae) is native to China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, where it has been reported as a pest of Juniperus spp. and some other conifer plants (Cupressaceae). In Europe the species, has been repeatedly intercepted on imported juniper plants. The EPPO has included O. perditus on the A1 list of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests, mostly because its hosts are of importance to the European nursery trade. In a survey conducted in Serbia between 2020 and 2023 O. perditus was found in 16 sampling locations on plants of the genus Juniperus, from the family Cupressaceae, as well as in order 16 sampling locations on plants of the genera Prunus and, Malus from the family Rosaceae. This species was collected on individual trees in backyards, gardens, and orchards, as well as in ruderal habitats. Populations of O. perditus were small and without economic impact. Introduction of this species into Serbia is probably a consequence of insufficient quarantine measures and relatively loose afforestation rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endodormancy is one of the most studied physiological processes in perennial plants like apricot. This period is vital both for the tree survival against the adverse climatic conditions of winter and for obtaining a proper flowering and fruit set. Many studies have remarked the importance of chill accumulation as the limiting factor for endodormancy release. The increase of mean temperatures caused by climate change has been seriously endangering this process during the last decades. Because of this, plant growth regulators for promoting endodormancy release have spread worldwide. However, due to the toxicity and the irregular efficiency, there is a great necessity of developing new environment-friendly regulators for promoting endodormancy release. In this 3-year study, we applied four different commercial plant growth regulators to the Flopría apricot cultivar. Two of them, Broston® and Erger® were the most effective ones to advance endodormancy release. The physiology and biochemistry behind these treatments were studied by a non-target metabolomic and expression analysis in flower buds. Metabolic groups, like phospholipids, only varied in treated samples, whereas others like by-products of L-Phe metabolism, or ABA significantly varied in both types of samples throughout endodormancy release. Finally, to validate these results, solutions of phospholipids, phenylpropanoids, or ABA, among others, were applied for the first time to apricot trees, showing, i.e., that phospholipids treated-trees released from endodormancy two weeks earlier than control. This study aims to be an initial stage for the elaboration of environmentally safe regulators in apricot, with a potential in other Prunus and temperate fruit tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild fruit species offer significant nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits. Among them, Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. (myrobalan) stands out for its resilience and nutrient-rich fruits, traditionally consumed fresh or dried. This study aimed to assess the morphological and biochemical diversity of 21 wild P. cerasifera accessions from Slovenia, focusing on 18 fruit and stone traits, including size, shape, color, and phenolic compounds such as total monomeric anthocyanins and total phenolic content (TPC). The objective was to identify genotypes with potential for cultivation and food production or as parental components in breeding programs. The results showed variability in fruit length (2.19–2.82 cm), width (2.18–2.99 cm), weight (67.98–150.30 g), firmness, and juiciness, with notable differences in stone characteristics. Phytochemical analysis revealed a wide range of TPC (277–1756 mg/100 g) and anthocyanin levels (0–710 mg/100 g), with higher concentrations in darker fruits. Statistical analysis compared PAM and AGNES clustering methods, finding that PAM with five clusters and AGNES with two clusters provided similar insights. The study emphasized variability in morphological and chemical traits among clusters, with specific accessions showing particularly valuable traits, such as accession RK13, which had high TPC and anthocyanins and a non-adherent stone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raw lacquer, known for its superior performance as a natural liquid coating, boasts excellent physical and mechanical properties as well as durability, making it widely used in manufacturing. However, the high hardness of the lacquer film upon complete curing poses challenges for carving and mechanical engraving. Therefore, it is necessary to study the curing process of lacquer films to obtain films suitable for carving or mechanical engraving. This study involves the preparation of raw lacquer with varying amounts of tung oil added, followed by the measurement of film drying time, surface roughness, glossiness, hardness, and adhesion on substrates to determine the optimal drying conditions. Additionally, SEM analysis of the carved surfaces and FT-IR analysis were used to investigate the impact of tung oil addition on lacquer carving performance and its variation. The results indicate that tung oil, to a certain extent, contributes to a smoother lacquer film but adversely affects film hardness and adhesion to Prunus serotina. However, with an increase in the amount of refined tung oil to 15%, the film exhibits improved glossiness, smoother carving tool marks, and reduced debris, thereby validating the feasibility of mechanical carving of tung oil-modified raw lacquer to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As compared to conventional physical and chemical techniques, the biological method (green synthesis) is an economical, nontoxic, fast, eco-friendly and cost-effective technique that utilizes plant extract to generate highly stable and biocompatible nanoparticles. The existing study focuses on the synthesis of zinc sulphide nanoparticles (ZnS NPs) using P. persica leaf extract which is used as a reducing agent and their associated properties. The prepared samples were examined in terms of structural, optical, morphological and compositional properties. The SEM images showed the agglomerated spherical particles while XRD spectra confirmed the hexagonal (wurtzite) phase of synthesized ZnS samples with average crystallite sizes found to vary from 12.45 to 14.36 nm. The optical absorption spectra displayed the absorption peaks at 331 nm (4.26 eV) and 339 nm (4.10 eV). This blue shift in the absorption band suggests the formation of ZnS NPs compared with bulk ZnS (∼ 3. 6 8 eV) material. The FTIR peaks from 612– to 630 cm − 1 and 860– to 1022 cm − 1 are because of the symmetric bending vibrations of the Zn–S bands. Electrical measurements showed that the resistivity is found to be decreasing with increasing temperature, signifying the semiconducting behavior of the synthesized ZnS NPs. The findings of this study suggest the feasible use of P. persica leaves extract for the production of ZnS NPs which could be utilized as multifunctional material in medical applications, biosensors, photocatalytic and electrical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic diversity and evolution of plastomes in P. armeniaca L. (common/cultivated apricot) have been poorly studied. Complete plastomes of 20 accessions and 10 F1 hybrids, identified as P. armeniaca L., were de novo assembled filtering from total DNA nt reads. These plastomes were subsequently analyzed with the Prunus genus accessions retrieved from the GenBank. The plastomes exhibited conservation of genomic structure, gene organization and order, with lengths ranging from 158,057 nt to 158,089 nt, displaying a narrow size variation. Except for "Zard" and its hybrids, the plastomes of apricot genotypes from different regions showed only three haplotypes, indicating narrow genetic diversity in cultivated P. armeniaca accessions. "Zard" and its hybrids exhibited the highest identity with P. mandshurica Maxim (Manchurian apricot), demonstrating the significance of plastome analysis for the accurate identification of apricots. Further, while the three apricot species, P. armeniaca, P. mandshurica, and P. mume Sieb. (Japanese apricot), were grouped as sister clades, P. sibirica L. (Siberian apricot) exhibited the highest nucleotide identity with P. cerasifera Ehrh. (Cherry plum), contrary to conventional morphological systematics of apricots. Additionally, the plastomes of hybrids obtained in this study supported maternal inheritance of the plastome. These results reveal the evolutionary relationship among apricots and will serve as a framework for future comparative studies on Prunus evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peach tree “Prunus persica” is widely cultivated in India, and its fruits which have been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine, are also known as the Queen of the Fruits. Prunus persica has immense therapeutic potential, widespread use in folklore and ancient systems of medicine for its anti-urolithic and other medicinal properties, and is included in the Pashanbheda group of herbs mentioned in Ayurveda for the treatment of kidney stones. Moreover, with growing interest in phytopharmaceuticals in the present world, there always remains an urge for a comprehensive understanding of the phytochemicals responsible for the medicinal activity of herbal drugs, giving rise to the importance of conducting bioassay-guided fractionation. In this study, the anti-urolithiasis activity of different fractions of Prunus persica fruit extracts was evaluated via Nucleation, Aggregation, and Growth assays, and fraction III showed the highest effects in vitro. This study provides a pharmacological basis for using Prunus persica fruit extract in treating kidney stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit aroma of Japanese apricot is distinct, and the specific volatile compounds are not clearly known during fruit development and during post‐harvest stage. This study therefore aimed to explore the volatile compounds present during these stages. The volatile compounds were analysed by headspace solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. OAV, PCA and electronic nose techniques were used to determine the characteristic aroma components. Enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA) was also applied to determine the activity of enzymes. The results showed that in the cultivars 'Xiyeqing' a total of 52 components that included 20 terpenes, 15 aldehydes, 9 esters, 3 ketones and 5 other substances were detected during fruit development and post‐harvest stage. While in the cultivar 'Xiaoyezhugan' a total of 49 components that included 25 terpenes, 7 aldehydes, 11 esters, 1 alcohol, 3 ketones and 2 other substances were also detected during fruit development and post‐harvest stage. We concluded that the characteristic volatile compounds of mature Japanese apricot fruit were (+)‐limonene, linalool, damascenone, β‐damascenone and nonanal, finding the basis for the fruity, floral and sweet aroma of the Japanese apricot fruit. Further analysis indicated that low temperature inhibited the synthesis of esters and terpenes, and dark conditions were more favourable to the synthesis of volatile compounds than light conditions. Short‐term storage of Japanese apricot fruit at room temperature and dark conditions was conducive for the maintenance of volatile compounds, and low‐temperature storage was the most destructive to the fruit volatile compounds. These findings form a theoretical foundation for exploring the specific volatile compound of Japanese apricot and helped to determine the optimal storage condition of post‐harvest stage for Japanese apricot fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial canker disease of stone fruits is a major concern in stone fruit‐growing countries worldwide. Pseudomonas spp. and Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap) are the primary pathogens involved in this disease. In spring, summer and autumn 2016, symptoms like those produced by Pseudomonas spp. and Xap were observed in almond, apricot, peach and nectarine orchards in central provinces of Iran (Qom, Isfahan, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari). Gram‐positive cocci bacterial isolates were obtained from symptomatic trees. Following hypersensitivity and pathogenicity tests, isolates were divided into pathogenic and nonpathogenic groups, demonstrating the pathogenicity of some isolates on saplings of almond, peach and apricot. Multilocus sequence analysis was performed using the partial sequence of 16S rRNA region and four housekeeping genes, namely tuf, gap, dnaJ and rpoB, to determine the taxonomic classification of isolates, and revealed that pathogenic isolates identified as Staphylococcus warneri, while nonpathogenic isolates identified as S. warneri, S. epidermidis, S. hominis and S. saprophyticus. The isolates were further characterized by phenotypic and biochemical tests as well as by antibiotics assays. The unusual nature of the identified microorganism in the present study lies in the fact that, unlike most plant‐pathogenic agents, S. warneri is recognized worldwide as a cause of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Taken together, the bacterial canker disease caused by S. warneri appears to be a newly emerging disease of apricot, peach and almond trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus mira and Prunus armeniaca are the two prominent fruit-bearing plant species in the Nepal Himalaya and possess notable ethnobotanical significance. These two species represent relatively unexplored edible resources in Nepalese flora and are characterized by the presence of glands in their leaves and fruits with stony endocarp. Subsequent to an on-site investigation and personal interviews with 90 respondents, we accumulated comprehensive data related to folk nomenclature, distribution, ethnobotanical, threats, and conservation status of P. mira and P. armeniaca in the Nepal Himalaya. We recorded a total of nine vernacular names for P. mira and six for P. armeniaca. P. mira was found to be distributed in six districts at an elevation of 2200–3600 m and P. armeniaca in nine districts within the range between 1500 and 3500 m. The use reports of P. mira were more than 454 and that of P. armeniaca were 367 with significant difference (W = 5485, p < 0.05). Site-wise, the use report of P. armeniaca was significantly different (χ2 = 44.317, df = 5, p < 0.01) but the use report of P. mira was less significant. Both species are economically valuable, growing in the farmyards and homestead areas. However, the modifications to agricultural practices posed an additional threat to the survival of these species. Establishing contemporary harvesting infrastructure, developing sustainable marketing goods, and disseminating conservation awareness throughout the Nepal Himalaya areas are necessary to ensure their preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibberellins (GAs), enzymes that play a significant role in plant growth and development, and their levels in plants could be regulated by gibberellin-oxidases (GAoxs). As important fruit trees and ornamental plants, the study of the mechanism of plant architecture formation of the Prunus genus is crucial. Here, 85 GAox genes were identified from P. mume, P. armeniaca, P. salicina, and P. persica, and they were classified into six subgroups. Conserved motif and gene structure analysis showed that GAoxs were conserved in the four Prunus species. Collinearity analysis revealed two fragment replication events of PmGAoxs in the P. mume genome. Promoter cis-elements analysis revealed 24 PmGAoxs contained hormone-responsive elements and development regulatory elements. The expression profile indicated that PmGAoxs have tissue expression specificity, and GA levels during the dormancy stage of flower buds were controlled by certain PmGAoxs. After being treated with IAA or GA3, the transcription level of PmGA2ox8 in stems was significantly increased and showed a differential expression level between upright and weeping stems. GUS activity driven by PmGA2ox8 promoter was detected in roots, stems, leaves, and flower organs of Arabidopsis. PmGA2ox8 overexpression in Arabidopsis leads to dwarfing phenotype, increased number of rosette leaves but decreased leaf area, and delayed flowering. Our results showed that GAoxs were conserved in Prunus species, and PmGA2ox8 played an essential role in regulating plant height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study evaluated the effect of powder fractionation based on particle size on the chemical composition of macronutrients such as proteins and sugars, on the phytochemical properties (total content of polyphenolic compounds, vitamin C, and antioxidant activity), on preservation capacity (water activity), powder functional properties (water absorption capacity and water solubility index), and physicochemical properties (particle size distribution and moisture content) of blackthorn berry (Prunus spinosa) powders. The fruits were separated from the plant material and seeds, dried, and then ground using an universal mill for dry materials. Eight fractions were obtained after sieving on sieves with different mesh sizes, such as 1 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.630 mm, 0.450 mm, 0.315 mm, 0.200 mm, and 0.125 mm. The grinding/sieving procedure was effective in separating Prunus spinosa powder into sufficiently different size classes. The maximal moisture content and water activity were 5.61% and 0.250, respectively, showed good preservation from a microbiological point of view, and ensured the prevention of oxidation of biologically active compounds of blackthorn berry powders. For samples with reduced particle sizes, the powder functional properties were greatly improved. The total phenolic content, carbohydrates, and antioxidant activity showed significantly different values for some particle size classes compared to the un-sieved sample. A considerable content of vitamin C was presented in the fraction with large particle sizes, precisely because they did not undergo intense degradation processes. Therefore, the technique of grinding and successive sieving proved effective in enhancing the physicochemical and functional characteristics of powdered blackthorn berries, particularly for smaller particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus mume (maesil) is an economically important fruit in Korea. Recently, public interest in maesil sugar syrup is increasing. However, the presence of toxic amygdalin in the fruit syrup is a concern. Thus, the current investigation aimed to observe effects of maesil maturity, ripening methods, processing, and fermentation period on the amygdalin level in maesil sugar syrup. Six different types of maesil sugar syrup were prepared and amygdalin content was monitored at 3-month intervals. Higher levels (>63 mg/L) of amygdalin were found in syrups prepared from unripe fruit compared to those in syrups made from ripe fruit after 3 months of fermentation. A rapid reduction in amygdalin content was observed until 9 months in all syrups, gradually reducing to <5 mg/L at 12 months. More than 9 months of maturation is crucial for reducing the amygdalin content maesil sugar syrup, regardless of fruit maturity, source of fruit, and processing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest study aimed to identify the effects of organic manure (sheep manure) with four concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 15 g seedling-1) and nano-zinc four levels (0, 1, 2, and 3 g L-1) on the growth of peach cultivar Hollywood seedlings. The experiment began in 2022 at private nurseries in Babylon province, Iraq. The nano-zinc application with three foliar sprays transpired at 30-day intervals. The experiment continued in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The addition of organic manure treatment (15 g seedling-1) excelled in traits of seedling length, stem diameter, number of leaves, chlorophyll content, shoot dry weight, leaves area, and zinc in the leaves, with highest averages of 62.03 cm, 8.08 mm, 51.20 leaf seedling-1, 43.8 SPAD, 57.35 g seedling-1, 1322.3 cm², and 56.40 mg kg-1, respectively, compared with the control treatment. The addition of nano-zinc (3 g L-1) was significantly superior in performance and excelled other treatments by revealing the highest values for the above growth traits, i.e., 60.45 cm, 7.83 mm, 50.90 leaves seedling-1, 42.35 SPAD, 54.85 g seedling-1, 1251.90 cm², and 53.63 mg kg-1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2023, two bark beetle species were recorded in Russia for the first time based on findings in Sochi: the cypress bark beetle, Phloeosinus armatus, on Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and the black twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus, on southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), noble laurel (Laurus nobilis), and cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). P. armatus is a Mediterranean pest attacking exclusively Cupressaceae. In Sochi, it was recorded on cypress trees in several locations, including on plants for planting imported from Italy. X. compactus is a highly polyphagous pest from East Asia. In Sochi, it has established populations in ornamental planted areas. The paper provides species descriptions with identification keys. One specimen of X. compactus from Sochi was DNA‐barcoded and compared with 31 specimens deposited in the BOLD and GenBank under the name of X. compactus. High genetic variability (>7%) was detected highlighting the difficulty of identifying 'true' X. compactus using DNA data. Genetically, the specimen of X. compactus from Sochi was identical to those from Italy, Spain and France. An accidental introduction with ornamental plants for planting from Italy is considered the most probable pathway of invasion of both bark beetle species into the Russian Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new aphid species infesting apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) was identified for the first time in 2016 in Europe. The invasive aphid was assigned to the species Myzus mumecola (Matsumura, 1917). The species is native to India and East Asia, and it was found to be highly invasive and is currently spreading throughout Europe. Records were confirmed for Italy, Hungary, Serbia, and Germany. For a phylogenetic analysis, wingless (apterae) adults were sampled in spring 2022 in Italy, as well as in Austria and Germany in spring 2023. Our study reports the first record of M. mumecola for Austria. In all three countries, the new pest caused heavy infestations overall in organically managed apricot orchards. Aphids were identified morphologically based on external characteristics, and damages were compared to those reported in the literature. COI and 12S barcoding analyses for aphid samples from Italy, Germany, and Austria were performed to attain a molecular characterization of sampled specimens and to confirm the morphological identification. Only a few COI sequences of M. mumecola were present in NCBI GenBank or BOLD Systems, and no sequences were available for 12S. Therefore, the results provide a deeper insight into the phylogeny of this spreading pest insect. The results of the COI barcoding showed no differences between the sampled populations and other M. mumecola populations from Europe and Japan, while reports from China showed significant differences. All 12S sequences showed no variability between populations from Austria, Germany, and Italy. A phylogenetic analysis of COI and 12S sequences with sequences from other aphid species from NCBI GenBank or sampled in Italy revealed a close relationship of this species with the damson‐hope aphid, Phorodon humuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was performed on a 6-year-old "Florida" peach cultivar (Prunus persica) during 2022 and 2023 respectively. Twenty-four peach trees uniformly were selected and sprayed two times at the beginning of pit starts hardening and at the end of phase two of fruit growth with the following treatments: the control, glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1, potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1, potassium silicate at 400 mg l-1, potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1 + glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1, potassium silicate at 400 mg l-1 + glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1, proline at 400 mg l-1 and potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1 + proline at 400 mg l-1. The results indicated that both treatments of potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1 + proline at 400 mg l-1 and potassium silicate at 400 mg l-1 + glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1 resulted in a significant increase in concentrations of anthocyanin and total carotenoid contents in the skin. Moreover, total soluble solid, vitamin C and total soluble solid / acidity were shown with high concentrations as compared with the control. Overall, the use of potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1 + proline at 400 mg l-1 or potassium silicate at 400 mg l-1 + glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1 two times is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus spinosa L., commonly known as blackthorn, holds traditional significance both as a food source and an herbal remedy. This study aims to determine the extract that includes the highest total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AC) using DPPH and CUPRAC assays, and vitamin C from blackthorn using the response surface method in an ultrasonic water bath and to this extract into powder by foam mat drying. The investigation comprises two primary phases. Firstly, the impact of temperature (20–80 °C) and extraction time (5–30 min) on TPC, AC, and vitamin C were systematically explored. Subsequently, the extracts derived from blackthorn fruit were subjected to foam mat drying, utilizing two distinct ratios (7:3 w/w and 8:2 w/w) of foaming agents [maltodextrin (MD) to egg white (EW)], along with three drying techniques (oven, microwave, and natural drying). The optimized extraction parameters were determined as follows: temperature (80 °C) and time (30 min). Furthermore, the results reveal that microwave-dried powders with a low EW ratio exhibit superior preservation of TPC, AC, and vitamin C content. This research underscores the potential utility of foam mat-dried blackthorn powders as functional ingredients and natural colorants within the realm of the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the process of Prunus species floral development is crucial for developing strategies to manipulate bloom time and prevent crop loss due to climate change. Here, we present a detailed examination of flower development from initiation until bloom for early- and late-blooming sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) from a population segregating for a major bloom time QTL on chromosome 4. Using a new staging system, we show floral buds from early-blooming trees were persistently more advanced than those from late-blooming siblings. A genomic DNA coverage analysis revealed the late-blooming haplotype of this QTL, k , is located on a subgenome originating from the late-blooming P. fruticosa progenitor. Transcriptome analyses identified many genes within this QTL as differentially expressed between early- and late-blooming trees during the vegetative-to-floral transition. From these, we identified candidate genes for the late bloom phenotype, including multiple transcription factors homologous to Reproductive Meristem B3 domain-containing proteins. Additionally, we determined that the basis of k in sour cherry is likely separate from candidate genes found in sweet cherry—suggesting several major regulators of bloom time are located on Prunus chromosome 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliar application of plant growth regulators and micronutrients is a rapid uptake strategy of plant-feeding directly through leaves irrespective of soil condition. This experiment was conducted to assess the impact of the foliar application of synthetic auxins and micronutrients on subtropical Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) fruit yield and quality. The experiment was performed in a plum orchard based on a completely randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications. The foliar treatments included NAA 15 ppm, NAA 15 ppm + urea 2%, 2,4-D 10 ppm, 2,4-D 10 ppm + urea 2%, borax 0.50%, borax 0.50% + urea 2%, ZnSO4 0.50%, ZnSO4 0.50% + urea 2%, and control (sprayed with distilled water) applied as a two spray in 15 days interval after fruit set. Foliar application of NAA 15 ppm + urea 2% led to least fruit drop followed by highest fruit yield. The fruit physicochemical attributes including fruit length and diameter, fruit weight, pulp weight, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugars, and ascorbic acid were also significantly improved by foliar spray of NAA 15 ppm + urea 2%. However, all the treatments were ineffective in improving anthocyanin and total phenol content of 'Satluj Purple' plum. The results further revealed that reduced fruit drop followed by highest fruit yield with foliar application of NAA 15 ppm + urea 2% was associated with reduced activity of cell wall degrading enzymes viz., cellulase and polygalacturonase at abscission zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Flower load in peach is an important determinant of final fruit quality and is subjected to cost-effective agronomical practices, such as the thinning, to finely balance the sink-source relationships within the tree and drive the optimal amount of assimilates to the fruits. Floral transition in peach buds occurs as a result of the integration of specific environmental signals, such as light and temperature, into the endogenous pathways that induce the meristem to pass from vegetative to reproductive growth. The cross talk and integration of the different players, such as the genes and the hormones, are still partially unknown. In the present research, transcriptomics and hormone profiling were applied on bud samples at different developmental stages. A gibberellin treatment was used as a tool to identify the different phases of floral transition and characterize the bud sensitivity to gibberellins in terms of inhibition of floral transition. Results: Treatments with gibberellins showed different efficacies and pointed out a timeframe of maximum inhibition of floral transition in peach buds. Contextually, APETALA1 gene expression was shown to be a reliable marker of gibberellin efficacy in controlling this process. RNA-Seq transcriptomic analyses allowed to identify specific genes dealing with ROS, cell cycle, T6P, floral induction control and other processes, which are correlated with the bud sensitivity to gibberellins and possibly involved in bud development during its transition to the reproductive stage. Transcriptomic data integrated with the quantification of the main bioactive hormones in the bud allowed to identify the main hormonal regulators of floral transition in peach, with a pivotal role played by endogenous gibberellins and cytokinins. Conclusions: The peach bud undergoes different levels of receptivity to gibberellin inhibition. The stage with maximum responsiveness corresponded to a transcriptional and hormonal crossroad, involving both flowering inhibitors and inductors. Endogenous gibberellin levels increased only at the latest developmental stage, when floral transition was already partially achieved, and the bud was less sensitive to exogenous treatments. A physiological model summarizes the main findings and suggests new research ideas to improve our knowledge about floral transition in peach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to characterize the reproductive compatibility among cultivars and selections of Japanese plum through controlled pollination, both in vivo and in situ, to obtain a profile of reproductively compatible cultivars. In situ and in vivo self-pollinations were carried out in an F1 population of Japanese plum, and in vivo pollinations were conducted on the pollen-grain receptor cultivars: Laetitia, Zafira and Fortune, and the pollen-grain donor cultivars: Piamontesa, Selection Plum 86-13, Harry Pickstone, Black Amber, Bruce, SC-17, Laetitia, SC-15, SC 7, Zafira, Amarelinha, América, Reubennel and Fortune, to verify the percentage of germination of pollen grains and growth of pollen tubes in the pistils of the recipient plants. The in situ and in vivo assays for the F1 population confirm the self-compatibility of genotypes 13 and 35. The Laetitia cultivar is self-incompatible; however, it is compatible with the Selection 'Plum 86-13'. 'Zafira' is self-incompatible. 'Fortune' is compatible with 'Amarelinha', 'SC-7', 'America', 'Harry Pickstone' and 'Reubennel', but it is self-incompatible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A male Diachasma muliebre (Musebeck, 1956) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an historically reported monophagous, thelytokous parasitoid, was reared from Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, 1932 (Diptera: Tephritidae) puparia. The fly larvae were reared from Prunus emarginata (Douglas ex Hooker) Eaton (Rosaceae) fruit collected in Placer County, California in 2022. An examination of D. muliebre specimens in California collections found four additional males in the California State Collection of Arthropods, the Bohart Museum of Entomology, and the Essig Museum of Entomology. The males were collected over a 60-year period from 1962 to 2022 in Nevada, Placer and Siskiyou Counties some 272 air km apart in northern California. Possible mechanisms explaining the predominately asexual reproduction in D. muliebre and the periodic presence of males are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'BRS Sarau' is a highly productive peach cultivar widely adapted to the Southern and Southeast region of Brazil. It produces fruits of excellent flavor and shape, with attractive skin and flesh color, and its harvest starts near the Christmas holidays, when the demand for peaches is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and severity of root-knot nematodes in peach orchards in the Pothwar Region of Pakistan. Thirty-seven peach orchards were surveyed in the region and root and soil samples were collected from 10 randomly selected plants in each orchard for analysis. In the region, an overall incidence rate of 19.8% and a prevalence rate of 65.7% of root-knot nematodes were observed. The district Attock exhibited the highest prevalence rate of 71.43% and incidence rate of 34.29%. Conversely, the district Islamabad displayed the lowest prevalence rate of 50.5% and incidence rate of 10%. The surveys encountered five distinct peach varieties, and Early Grand had the highest prevalence (85.71%) of root-knot nematodes while Local Aroo showed the lowest (50%). Florida Gold and Aroo-5 were not infested with root-knot nematodes. In the region, peach trees were found to be infected by two types of root-knot nematodes, namely, Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica., which was more prevalent than M. incognita, and it dominated all districts, except for Attock, where M. incognita was dominant. M. incognita was not present in Islamabad district. The occurrence of M. incognita and M. javanica as single populations were observed in 26.09 and 43.48% of orchards, respectively, while mixed populations were found in 30.43% of peach orchards. The overall galling index of the root-knot nematodes was 1.33, with the highest index in Attock and the lowest in Islamabad districts. Among the different peach cultivars, the Early Grand cultivar exhibited the maximum galling index, whereas no galling index was observed in the Florida Gold and Aroo-5 cultivars. It is recommended that stringent control strategies should be adopted to prevent the spread of nematodes to new plantations and to eradicate them from established orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited information on the compared performances of biological, serological, and molecular assays with high-throughput sequencing (HTS) for viral indexing in temperate fruit crops. Here, using a range of samples of predetermined virological status, we compared two performance criteria (inclusivity and analytical sensitivity) of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), molecular hybridization, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) HTS for the detection of a total of 14 viruses (10 genera) and four viroids (three genera). When undiluted samples from individual plants were used, ELISA had the lowest performance, with an overall detection rate of 68.7%, followed by RT-PCR (82.5%) and HTS (90.7%; 100% if considering only viruses). The lower performance of RT-PCR reflected the inability to amplify some isolates as a consequence of point mutations affecting primer-binding sites. In addition, HTS identified viruses that had not been identified by other assays in nearly two-thirds of the samples. Analysis of serial dilutions of fruit tree samples allowed comparison of analytical sensitivities for various viruses. ELISA showed the lowest analytical sensitivity, but RT-PCR showed higher analytical sensitivity than HTS for most of lhe samples. Overall, these results confirm the superiority of HTS over biological indexing in terms of speed and inclusivity and show that while the absolute analytical sensitivity of RT-PCR tends to be higher than that of HTS, PCR inclusivity is affected by viral genetic diversity. Taken together, these results make a strong case for the implementation of HTS-based approaches in fruit tree viral testing protocols supporting quarantine and certification programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Waterlogging resistance and evaluation of physiological mechanism of three peach (Prunus persica) rootstocks" published in the journal Protoplasma. The correction addresses the incorrect numbering of Figures 5, 6, and 7 in the published proof. The corrected figures depict the effects of waterlogging on cell death and ROS accumulation in the leaves of peach rootstocks and grafted seedlings. The original article has been corrected. The publisher, Springer Nature, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

The necessity of cultivating frost-resistant peach varieties in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine arises due to frequent sharp fluctuations in air temperature during the winter-spring period. Their cultivation can mitigate the impact of weather conditions, ensuring stable fruit production of this crop. The study aimed to analyse the prospects for growing peaches (Prunus persica Mill.) using intensive technologies under changing climate conditions. An analysis of the peach-growing situation revealed that it is a widely cultivated drupe in Ukraine and globally. The main countries leading in peach fruit production were identified: China, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Spain. Despite a 24% increase in global peach production between 2013 and 2023, the demand for this crop has also risen, leading to a deficit and increased imports to Ukraine. Calculations of the scientifically justified annual consumption norms for peaches showed a shortfall of 187 thousand tonnes in production, with current production standing at 11.2 thousand tonnes. Several factors hindering the expansion of peach orchards were identified. The development of frost-resistant varieties by breeders, suitable for cultivation in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, alongside changing weather conditions, offers opportunities for the safe cultivation of peaches in the region. An analysis of the weather conditions in the Right-Bank part of the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was conducted. It was found that between 2013 and 2023, there was a significant increase in the total active temperatures, with 2023 recording a maximum of 3,777°C. At the same time, precipitation decreased by 58%, amounting to only 325 mm. Considering the changing weather conditions and the development of new frost-resistant varieties, which have expanded the peach cultivation zone to northern regions of Ukraine, it is essential to prepare and implement specific measures to adapt the horticultural industry to peach cultivation in these new regions to meet domestic market demands. It is recommended to initiate trials in irrigated horticulture and develop new methodological guidelines to provide scientific support for establishing perennial peach orchards in the Right-Bank part of the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus conradinae, a valuable flowering cherry belonging to the Rosaceae family subgenus Cerasus and endemic to China, has high economic and ornamental value. However, a high-quality P. conradinae genome is unavailable, which hinders our understanding of its genetic relationships and phylogenesis, and ultimately, the possibility of mining of key genes for important traits. Herein, we have successfully assembled a chromosome-scale P. conradinae genome, identifying 31,134 protein-coding genes, with 98.22% of them functionally annotated. Furthermore, we determined that repetitive sequences constitute 46.23% of the genome. Structural variation detection revealed some syntenic regions, inversions, translocations, and duplications, highlighting the genetic diversity and complexity of Cerasus. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that P. conradinae is most closely related to P. campanulata, from which it diverged ~ 19.1 million years ago (Mya). P. avium diverged earlier than P. cerasus and P. conradinae. Similar to the other Prunus species, P. conradinae underwent a common whole-genome duplication event at ~ 138.60 Mya. Furthermore, 79 MADS-box members were identified in P. conradinae, accompanied by the expansion of the SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE subfamily. Our findings shed light on the complex genetic relationships, and genome evolution of P. conradinae and will facilitate research on the molecular breeding and functions of key genes related to important horticultural and economic characteristics of subgenus Cerasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Prunus mume in the Rosaceae and commonly referred to as mei or Chinese plum is widely used as a traditional ornamental flowering plant and fruit tree in China. Although some population and genetic analyses have been conducted for this species, no extensive comparisons of genetic variation from plastomes have yet been investigated. Methods: We de novo assembled a total of 322 complete P. mume plastomes in this study and did a series of comparative analyses to better resolve pan-plastomic patterns of P.mume. To determine the phylogeny and domestication history of this species, we reconstructed the phylogenetic tree of Prunus genus, and resolved the population structure of P. mume. We also examined the nucleotide variation of P. mume to find potential DNA barcodes. Results: The assembled plastomes exhibited a typical quadripartite structure and ranged from 157,871 bp to 158,213 bp in total size with a GC content ranging from 36.73 to 36.75%. A total of 112 unique genes were identified. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were the most common variants found among the plastomes, followed by nucleotide insertions/deletions (InDels), and block substitutions with the intergenic spacer (IGS) regions containing the greatest number of variants. From the pan-plastome data six well-supported genetic clusters were resolved using multiple different population structure analyses. The different cultivars were unevenly distributed among multiple clades. We also reconstructed a phylogeny for multiple species of Prunus to better understand genus level diversity and history from which a complex introgressive relationship between mei and other apricots/plums was resolved. Conclusion: This study constructed the pan-plastome of P. mume, which indicated the domestication of P. mume involved multiple genetic origins and possible matrilineal introgression from other species. The phylogenetic analysis in Prunus and the population structure of P. mume provide an important maternal history for Prunus and the groundwork for future studies on intergenomic sequence transfers, cytonuclear incompatibility, and conservation genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, an in vitro multiplication protocol for Prunus campanulata was evaluated. The effects of 15.0, 30.0, and 45.0 g L−1 sucrose and three flask sealing methods (PVC film, rigid polypropylene lid, and rigid lid with membrane) were analyzed at the multiplication, rooting, and acclimatization stages. For in vitro multiplication, shoot tips of approximately 1 cm in length containing two pairs of leaves from seedlings germinated in vitro in Woody Plant Medium (WPM) were used. Evaluations considered the multiplication of shoot apexes in three subcultures (at 40, 80, and 120 d) for survival, number of shoots, shoot length, number of leaves, and multiplication rate. In the rooting phase, the rooting percentage, number of roots, and root length were assessed. In the acclimatization phase under shaded and full sun conditions, seedling survival and biometric characteristics were evaluated, including stem diameter, height, and number of leaves. The addition of sucrose to the medium, at a concentration of 45.0 g L−1, associated with sealing using PVC plastic film, showed inadequate results for in vitro multiplication of P. campanulata. The addition of sucrose to the culture medium in concentrations ranging from 15.0 to 30.0 g L−1 favored in vitro rooting. The use of a permeable membrane for sealing enabled the growth of more vigorous shoots in terms of percentage of rooting and root length, and these seedlings stood out in the acclimatization phases with greater rates of survival and improved biometric characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Across temperate forests, many tree species produce flowers before their leaves emerge. This flower–leaf phenological sequence, known as hysteranthy, is generally described as an adaptation for wind pollination. However, this explanation does not address why hysteranthy is also common in biotically pollinated taxa.We quantified flower–leaf sequence variation in the American plums (Prunus, subg. Prunus sect. Prunocerasus), a clade of insect‐pollinated trees, using herbaria specimens and Bayesian hierarchical modeling. We tested two common, but rarely interrogated hypotheses – that hysteranthy confers aridity tolerance and/or pollinator visibility – by modeling the associations between hysteranthy and related traits. To understand how these phenology–trait associations were sensitive to taxonomic scale and flower–leaf sequence classification, we then extended these analyses to all Prunus species in North America.Our findings across two taxonomic levels support the hypotheses that hysteranthy may help temporally partition hydraulic demand to reduce water stress and increase pollinator visibility – thereby reducing selective pressure on inflorescence size.Our results provide foundational insights into the evolution of flower–leaf sequences in the genus Prunus, with implications for understanding these patterns in biotically pollinated plants in general. Our approach suggests a path to advance these hypotheses to other clades, but teasing out drivers fully will require new experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renowned horticultural artist and plant breeder Luther Burbank worked with many species of plants. During his 50-year career, he introduced more than 800 cultivars, including more than 150 accessions of plums (Prunus spp.) in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Burbank preferred using wide, interspecific crosses to create a vast range of phenotypic variation and then artificially select from the extremes. Although a great artist, Burbank was a substandard scientist because he was derelict in pedigree note-taking. Although many of his introductions are extinct, hobbyists, enthusiasts, and international collections retain nearly a third of the economically viable cultivars he bred. For a century, many of his hybridizations remained inscrutable mysteries until modern genomic and computational tools developed their resolution and statistical power. Today, genotyping by sequencing (GBS) is a useful tool for pedigree reconstruction in the absence of reliable records. GBS can inform principal component analyses, identity by descent (IBD) kinship, and phylogenetic admixture, revealing complex relationships among taxa. In this study, whole genome sequencing was performed on 53 Prunus taxa used by Burbank in his breeding experiments in the most comprehensive genetic survey of his work to date. Exact parent-offspring relationships between this population may be impossible to discern due to years of back crossing, sibling mating, and open pollination. However, the proportion of genomic similarity among these taxa provides information on the relatedness of the genotypes in Burbank's Prunus experiments, defining four primary lineages within his breeding population. These lineages comprised primarily P. salicina and P. simonii but also have influences from P. americana, P. cerasifera, P. domestica, and P. rivularis. The prevalence of P. simonii in Burbank's Prunus introductions appears to have been vastly underreported, indicating that some of the seedstock founders of his breeding population could have been P. salicina × P. simonii hybrids at the inception of his career. This research has implications for pedigree reconstruction and prioritizing conservation in collections curation for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The present study aimed to provide key information for an in-depth exploration of the reasons behind the low yield of Prunus salicina var. Fengtangli by analyzing the process of flower bud differentiation and flowering in Fengtangli. [Method] A relatively high- yielding plum variety, Mili No. 1, was selected as the control. The external characteristics and size of flower buds in Fengtangli and Mili No. 1 were observed. The anatomical structure, deformities and the number of flower primordia were studied using the paraffin section method. The flowering process, flower quantity and the occurrence of abnormal flowers were also investigated. (Result) Both Fengtangli and Mili No. 1 plums experienced undifferentiated, initial differentiation, sepal primordia differentiation, petal primordia differentiation, stamen primordia differentiation, and pistil primordia differentiation phases during flower bud differentiation. Although the initiation time of flower bud differentiation in Fengtangli was similar to Mili No. 1, the peak period of differentiation in Fengtangli occurred relatively early, mainly concentrated from mid-September to the end of October. Furthermore, Fengtangli exhibited a higher occurrence of abnormal flower buds during the peak period, with fewer flower primordia differentiated in each bud. During the flowering period, the flower quantity of Fengtangli was significantly lower than that of other plum varieties, and a higher frequency of short pistils and double pistils in abnormal flowers was observed. Continued observation revealed that late-stage double pistil flowers could develop into deformed double fruits. [Conclusion] The peak period of flower bud differentiation and the occurrence of abnormal flower buds in Fengtangli are from mid-September to the end of October. Fengtangli has a higher proportion of deformities in flower buds, and each flower bud differentiates fewer flower primordia. These factors contribute to the higher occurrence of abnormal flowers and lower flower quantity during flowering, potentially explaining one of the reasons for the low yield of Fengtangli plum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral anaerobic bacteria cause a wide range of oral diseases. Research results have proven that there is a strong connection between periodontal bacteria and oral anaerobic bacteria with some serious human cancers, oral cavity infections, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and even heart disease. Prunus scopariais one of the wild medicinal plants of Iran, which is widely distributed in Lorestan province. Local people of Lorestan use it in traditional medicine to treat diabetes, inflammatory diseases and microbial infections. In this study, the methanolic extract of P. scoparia was tested on several anaerobic bacteria. The results showed that the methanol extract of the P. scoparia can inhibit the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans and bacteria at a dilution of 40 mg/ml and the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria at a dilution of 25 mg/ml. The minimum inhibition concentration of vancomycin for P. gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans is 0.002 mg/ml and for L. acidophilus is 0.008 mg/ml. MIC values of metronidazole for Streptococcus mutans, L. acidophilus and P. gingivalis are 0.008, 0.032 and 0.064 mg/ml, respectively. So, the results demonstrated that the methanolic extract of this plant can be used in the treatment of many diseases related to anaerobic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although peach kernels are rich in oil, there is a lack of information about its chemical and biological properties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the lipid profile, antioxidant capacity, and trypsin inhibitory propriety of peach oil extracted from two varieties (sweet cap and O'Henry) cultivated in Tunisia. The investigated peach kernel oil contains significant amount of unsaponifiable (2.1±0.5-2.8±0.2% of oil) and phenolic compounds (45.8±0.92-74.6±1.3 mg GAE/g of oil). Its n-alkane profile was characterized by the predominance of tetracosane n-C24 (47.24%) followed by tricosane n-C23 (34.43%). An important total tocopherol content (1192.83±3.1 mg/kg oil) has been found in sweet cap cultivar. Although rich in polyphenols and tocopherols, the tested oil did not display an inhibitory effect on trypsin. However, all peach oil samples showed effective antioxidant capacity and the highest values (86.34±1.3% and 603.50±2.6 µmol TE/g oil for DPPH test and ORAC assay, respectively) were observed for sweet cap oil. Peach oil has an excellent potential for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries as source of naturally-occurring bioactive substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharka, caused by plum pox virus (PPV), is by far the most harmful disease of stone fruits (genus Prunus). Although Italy is a major producer of stone fruits, and sharka has spread in most Italian regions since its first identification in the 1970s, information on the diffusion of the disease in Italy results still scattered and incomplete. To address this knowledge gap, the present review aimed to firstly provide a historical overview of sharka in Italy, summarizing outcomes on the disease achieved since the first identification of its causal agent PPV. Data retrieved from a variety of sources (i.e., published literature, official reports and personal communications) showed that (i) sharka spread across almost the whole Italian peninsula as only Liguria, Umbria and Aosta Valley regions officially result disease-free; (ii) the regions with higher rates of infected districts are not always those more dedicated to the production of stone fruits; (iii) only the three major PPV strains causing sharka, i.e., PPV-Dideron (D), PPV-Marcus (M), and PPV-Recombinant (Rec), have been reported in Italy; and (iv) only apricot, peach and plum (i.e., widespread and economically relevant species) are hosts of PPV, with different scenarios among regions. A focus on Tuscany (Central Italy) showed that, (i) sharka has been reported since the 1990s, but extensive PPV monitoring campaigns were run from 2013 to 2021, especially in nurseries; (ii) higher number of symptomatic and PPV positive samples were recorded in farms, mostly in the Arezzo and Florence districts; and (iii) only PPV-M and PPV-Rec strains seem still present. We believe that the present overview will benefit and encourage both researchers for future investigations on sharka and farmers that have to manage the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus is an economically important genus widely distributed in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Previous studies on the genus using a variety of loci yielded conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses. Here, we generated nuclear reduced representation sequencing data and plastid genomes for 36 Prunus individuals and two outgroups. Both nuclear and plastome data recovered a well-resolved phylogeny. The species were divided into three main clades corresponding to their inflorescence types, - the racemose group, the solitary-flower group and the corymbose group - with the latter two sister to one another. Prunus was inferred to have diversified initially in the Late Cretaceous around 67.32 million years ago. The diversification of the three major clades began between the Paleocene and Miocene, suggesting that paleoclimatic events were an important driving force for Prunus diversification. Ancestral state reconstructions revealed that the most recent common ancestor of Prunus had racemose inflorescences, and the solitary-flower and corymb inflorescence types were derived by reduction of flower number and suppression of the rachis, respectively. We also tested the hybrid origin hypothesis of the racemose group proposed in previous studies. Prunus has undergone extensive hybridization events, although it is difficult to identify conclusively specific instances of hybridization when using SNP data, especially deep in the phylogeny. Our study provides well-resolved nuclear and plastid phylogenies of Prunus, reveals substantial cytonuclear discord at shallow scales, and sheds new light on inflorescence evolution in this economically important lineage.

Research of peach fungal gummosis (PFG), which is a vascular disease caused by fungi in the Botryosphaeriaceae family, is particularly important in the southeastern United States, southern China, South Africa, and Western Australia. This disease has been a significant concern for the peach industry in the southeastern United States since the 1970s. The changing climatic conditions in the prunus production areas of the world have worsened the severity of PFG disease. A study of the morphological and genetic profiles of Botryosphaeriaceae species from diseased peach trees found four species in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. Botryosphaeria dothidea, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Diplodia seriata, and Neofusicocoum parvum were isolated and identified using conidiospore characters and rDNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions and elongation factor α-1 genes. B. dothidea was the most common species from diseased peach trees. A significant implication of this research is the potential resistance in Prunus germplasm, which was genotyped for the resistance locus Botd8 and evaluated for relative susceptibility to one isolate each from B. dothidea, L. theobromae, and D. seriata. Pathogenicity evaluations of peach, almond, and interspecific hybrids used detached stem and leaf assays for susceptibility to PFG based on lesion lengths and gumming scores. L. theobromae inoculation resulted in the most extensive lesions on stems and leaves. Detached stem and leaf assays indicated that Prunus with the Botd8 locus significantly differed in lesion size when infected with B. dothidea and D. seriata. However, the resistant locus had no significant effect on the relative susceptibility of Prunus to L. theobromae. Field and detached stem and leaf assays identified almond cultivars Pioneer and Golden State and Peach × Almond hybrids with Botd8 (+) as tolerant to PFG. Correlations between detached assays and field gumming scores suggested that inoculations on detached stems or leaves under controlled conditions can be used to preliminarily screen for resistance to PFG. These detached assays for specific pathogen isolates provide an opportunity for a relatively fast, nondestructive evaluation of Prunus germplasm and are tools that can be used to identify the components of disease resistance.