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Plant trehalose has been regarded to play a key role in various biological processes during the growth and development stages. Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) are two important enzymes for the synthesis of plant trehalose. Up till now, the TPS and TPP gene families have been identified and characterized in numerous higher plant species, but are rarely recorded in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea). In this study, a comprehensive search was performed to identify all putative TPS and TPP proteins in the peanut genome using Arabidopsis TPS and TPP proteins as queries. We then analyzed the characteristics of TPS and TPP members, including physic-chemical parameters, subcellular localization, phylogeny relationships, gene duplication, and expression patterns by various computational tools. As a result, a total of 17 ArahyTPS and 15 ArahyTPP genes were identified and annotated in the peanut genome, which was expanded by segmental duplication events. Our Neighbor-Joining based phylogenetic tree indicated that the ArahyTPS and ArahyTPP proteins could be categorized into three and two major branches. Gene structures and protein features analysis exhibited that the ArahyTPS and ArahyTPP proteins shared high structural and functional similarities. Based on previous RNA-Seq datasets, a majority of the ArahyTPS and ArahyTPP genes were found to specifically express in at least one major organ/tissue during the growth and development. This work will not only lead to a solid foundation on reveal the potential roles of ArahyTPS and ArahyTPP gene families in peanuts but also provide evidence to related trehalose research in other higher plant species.

ABSTRACT Alpinia is considered the largest genus of Zingiberaceae with ca. 250 species occurring in tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and Pacific Islands. The historical biogeography of Alpinia was conducted to explain where Alpinia originated and how it migrated to other regions. The phylogeny, divergence times and ancestral area reconstruction of Alpinia were performed by using the molecular data based on the comprehensive taxon sampling. Our results provide an objective approach to understand the historical biogeography of Alpinia. The genus originated in Asia during the Late Cretaceous ca. 69 Ma and started to diverge after the K-Pg boundary during the early Paleocene with the presence and development of the tropical rainforest and a warm, moist climate. Alpinia migrated to Malesia and then dispersed to Australasia. The molecular analyses supported the diversification of Alpinia in Asia and Malesia. Additionally, the Indian Alpinia has likely a common ancestor with Renealmia and Aframomum, and it is possible that after originating in Asia, Alpinia migrated from Asia to India then to Africa during the early period of collision between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia to form the common ancestor of Indian Alpinia, Renealmia, and Aframomum. Our phylogeny provides a framework for studies in biogeography, comparative ecology, and evolution.

Blaine specific surface area (SSA) is an essential physical property of iron concentrate and is availably improved by a high-pressure grinding roller (HPGR) to enhance the pelletability and the qualities of oxidized pellets. In this study, the four concentrates with various SSA were obtained by HPGR treatment to produce the oxidized pellets. The results show that the high degree of lattice deformation corresponds to high SSA which is beneficial for improving the quality of green, preheated, and fired pellets. The compressive strength increases from 600 to 1870 N·pellet−1 for preheated pellets and increases from 2530 to 4270 N·pellet−1 for fired pellets when SSA increased from 849 cm2/g to 1601 cm2/g, under the optimal condition of preheating at 1050 °C for 12 min and firing at 1250 °C for 15 min. The oxidation of magnetite is accelerated. Low porosity and microphotographs with integrated hematite joined crystallization support the strength enhancement by high SSA.

Eucalypts are the most planted trees worldwide, but most of them are frost sensitive. Overexpressing transcription factors for CRT-repeat binding factors (CBFs) in transgenic Eucalyptus confer cold resistance both in leaves and stems. While wood plays crucial roles in trees and is affected by environmental cues, its potential role in adaptation to cold stress has been neglected. Here, we addressed this question by investigating the changes occurring in wood in response to the overexpression of two CBFs, taking advantage of available transgenic Eucalyptus lines. We performed histological, biochemical, and transcriptomic analyses on xylem samples. CBF ectopic expression led to a reduction of both primary and secondary growth, and triggered changes in xylem architecture with smaller and more frequent vessels and fibers exhibiting reduced lumens. In addition, lignin content and syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio increased. Consistently, many genes of the phenylpropanoid and lignin branch pathway were upregulated. Most of the features of xylem remodeling induced by CBF overexpression are reminiscent of those observed after long exposure of Eucalyptus trees to chilling temperatures. Altogether, these results suggest that CBF plays a central role in the cross-talk between response to cold and wood formation and that the remodeling of wood is part of the adaptive strategies to face cold stress.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.), an aromatic herb, is considered one of the most important crops with essential oils as well as other bioactive compounds. Basil leaves have tremendous pharmaceutical benefits and are used for foods. Slow-release fertilizers have been developed to optimize the fertilization of crops. This work aims to discover the effect of NPK Slow-Release Fertilizer Coated by Starch (NPK-SRFS) at different rates on growth, yield and essential oil components of basil grown on the field in Northern Vietnam. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Basil seedlings, sown from seeds, were used as plant materials. NPK-SRFS was stocked in the Faculty of Chemistry, Hanoi Pedagogical University 2. The experiments were designed in a fully randomized block model, consisting of four treatments with different rates of NPK-SRFS. Each treatment had three replicates with an area of 8 m<sup>2</sup>. Duncan's Multiple Range Test was being used for statistical analysis (p = 0.05). <b>Results:</b> All 3 NPK-SRFS treatments significantly increased the number of buds and leaves per plant compared to the control. However, NPK-SRFS at different rates affected diversely plant height and leaf area of the basil. F5.0 and F10 treatments accelerated chlorophyll content as well as Fv/Fm value in comparison with none NPK-SRFS treatment. The application of NPK-SRFS at different rates caused slightly different changes in basil essential oil composition, especially the content of Methyl Chavicol, the most abundant oxygenated monoterpene and α-trans-Bergamotene, the most abundant sesquiterpene hydrocarbon. <b>Conclusion:</b> The present study provides further insight into the influence of NPK-SRFS on the growth, yield and essential oil components of basil.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> In high plants, the 70 kDa heat stress proteins (Hsp70-s) have been regarded as one of the vital components of the cellular network of chaperones and folding catalysts that play important roles in numerous biological processes during growth and development. The Hsp70 families have been reported in many plant species, unfortunately, no information on this important protein family in papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i>). The objective of this study was to provide comprehensive information on the CpHsp70 family in papaya. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The <i>CpHsp70</i> genes in the papaya genome were identified by a basic local alignment search tool against the papaya genome database by using well-known <i>Arabidopsis</i> Hsp70-s. Sequences were then analyzed by various bioinformatics tools to investigate the characteristics of the CpHsp70 family. <b>Results:</b> A total of 12 members of the CpHsp70 family has been identified and characterized in papaya. By using various computational tools, these results revealed that all general characteristics of the CpHsp70 family, like physic-chemical parameters, gene structure, phylogenetic tree and subcellular localization were provided. The transcriptome atlas was applied to re-analyze the expression patterns of genes encoding the CpHsp70 family in major tissues/organs during the growth and development of papaya plants. <b>Conclusion:</b> Results from this work exhibited the characteristics and expression analysis of the <i>CpHsp70</i> genes of this important tropical fruit crop. Taken together, this study could provide a solid foundation of the CpHsp70 family, which will be helpful in the construction of stress tolerance in papaya plants.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The SWEET (Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter) proteins play important roles in modulating the growth and development processes in plants. However, little information is available on the SWEET family in sugar beet (<i>Beta vulgaris</i>). The objectives of this present study were to genome-wide identify and characterize the BvSWEET family in sugar beet. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Based on the available genome, proteome and transcriptome databases of sugar beet, various computational tools have been used to analyze the nucleotide and full-length protein sequences of members of the BvSWEET family. <b>Results:</b> A total of 16 members of the BvSWEET family has been identified in sugar beet at the genome-wide scale. Structural analysis indicated that the BvSWEET family exhibited variable characteristics. Furthermore, the BvSWEET family in sugar beet could be categorized into four distinct groups like in other plant species. Of our interest, we found that some <i>BvSWEET</i> genes exhibited strongly preferential expression in major organs/tissues under adverse environmental stimuli. <b>Conclusion:</b> The results provided a comprehensive foundation for further functional characterization of the <i>BvSWEET </i>gene family.

Background and Objective: Alpinia, the largest genus of Zingiberaceae, includes ca. 250 species. The A. coriandriodora D. Fang was recognized for Vietnamese flora. However, the systematic position of this species within Alpinia genus was unclear. The study aimed to understand the phylogenetic placement of A. coriandriodora based on the molecular data and interpret evolution of the key morphological characters., Materials and Methods: The phylogenetic analysis were conducted by using the combined dataset of two DNA regions by both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) methods. Seven morphological characters were selected for morphological character evolution and the analysis was performed in Mesquite., Results: Alpinia coriandriodora was supported closely related to southern Chinese species of Alpinia. Morphological character optimizations suggest that the presence/absence of tomentum in leaf, inflorescence rachis and ovary is an important character for the taxonomy of Alpinia. The character evolution analyses indicated that panicle is ancestral character in Alpinia. The A. coriandriodora shares different evolutionary histories based on our character re-construction to most members of Southeast Asian Alpinia. The presence of filament is supposed to be an adaptation to the pollination by insects for species of Alpinia., Conclusion: The present study revealed the molecular phylogenetic relationship of A. coriandriodora within Alpinia. The presence of filament could be an adaptation to the pollination by insects for species of Alpinia. Some reasonable conservation strategies are proposed to protect the species including maintenance of the plant's natural habitats, seeds or seedlings collection for germplasm storage and artificial breeding using biotechnology.