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Abstract Background Despite a high genetic similarity to peach, almonds (Prunus dulcis) have a fleshless fruit and edible kernel, produced as a crop for human consumption. While the release of peach genome v1.0 provides an excellent opportunity for almond genetic and genomic studies, well-assessed segregating populations and the respective saturated genetic linkage maps lay the foundation for such studies to be completed in almond. Results Using an almond intraspecific cross between 'Nonpareil' and 'Lauranne' (N × L), we constructed a moderately saturated map with SSRs, SNPs, ISSRs and RAPDs. The N × L map covered 591.4 cM of the genome with 157 loci. The average marker distance of the map was 4.0 cM. The map displayed high synteny and colinearity with the Prunus T × E reference map in all eight linkage groups (G1-G8). The positions of 14 mapped gene-anchored SNPs corresponded approximately with the positions of homologous sequences in the peach genome v1.0. Analysis of Mendelian segregation ratios showed that 17.9% of markers had significantly skewed genotype ratios at the level of P < 0.05. Due to the large number of skewed markers in the linkage group 7, the potential existence of deleterious gene(s) was assessed in the group. Integrated maps produced by two different mapping methods using JoinMap® 3 were compared, and their high degree of similarity was evident despite the positional inconsistency of a few markers. Conclusions We presented a moderately saturated Australian almond map, which is highly syntenic and collinear with the Prunus reference map and peach genome V1.0. Therefore, the well-assessed almond population reported here can be used to investigate the traits of interest under Australian growing conditions, and provides more information on the almond genome for the international community.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) offer numerous applications in agriculture, pharmaceutical, and food industries. In this study, Fe3O4-NPs were effectively phytosynthesized by environmentally friendly hairy root extracts. The A4 strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenesis was used to induce the hairy roots of Nepeta bornmuelleri. Leaves in N. bornmuelleri contain important ingredients such as 1, 8 cineol that is one of the most well-known secondary metabolites. The phytosynthesis of Fe3O4-NPs was verified and described by Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The NPs were clustered with a size of less than 20 nm in FESEM analysis and 20-100 nm in TEM and HRTEM analysis. XRD pattern showed a peak of Fe3O4-NPs at 35.28° (220 nm). In the FTIR experiment, amines, alkanes, carbonyls, fluorides, and alcohols were detected as organic molecules involved in the synthesis of NPs. The average size of NPs in their liquid medium was about 53.39 nm, according to DLS analysis. According to TGA analysis, NPs maintained 82% of their weight at a temperature above 700 °C. According to the results of TGA study, Nepeta's fast-growing hairy roots generated highly pure NPs. TGA analysis revealed that the weight loss of synthesized NPs in hairy roots was smaller than those identical samples produced in the extracts obtained from aerial parts of the plants. The 1, 8 cineol in the hairy root extracts measured by gas chromatography was found to be around 0.001%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endemic yarrow (Achillea eriophora DC.) has been widely used in folk medicine for centuries. The impact of climatic and edaphic conditions was investigated on essential oil (EO) yield and compositions of different yarrow ecotypes, native to Kerman province in southeast of Iran. The aerial part of plants was collected from 13 natural habitats. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed a significant variation in EO yield and compositions among ecotypes. 116 components were identified from 13 regions. EO extraction yields fluctuated from 0.71 to 5.83% (v/w) in KP12 and KP02 regions, respectively. The predominant components were L-borneol (0-45.93%), bornyl acetate (0-22.45%), bornyl ester (0-10.46%), (E)- a-ionol (0-28.77%), 6ßBicyclo [4.3.0] nonane5ß-iodomethyl-1ß-isopropenyl-4a, 5a-dimethyl (0- 12.14%) and eucalyptol (0- 3.96%). For the first time, the presence of hexadecenoic acid, 6ß- bicyclo [4.3.0] nonane and 5ß-iodomethyl-1ß-isopropenyl-4a, 5a-dimethyl were reported in A. eriophora. EO yields and compositions were affected by the ecological factors. Among them, soil pH and latitude showed the most significant impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural and chemical compounds are used to increase the biochemical and shelf life of citrus fruits. The effect of nano silver particles and three essential oils: peppermint, carnation, cumin, were investigated on morphological, biochemical and shelf life of the lemon fruit. The first factor consisted of 13 different substances and the second factor was three the level of storage periods (zero, one, and two months after harvest). The results showed that the treatments significantly affected the fruit weight, diameter, length, decay percentage, total soluble solids, vitamin C, electrolyte leakage and titratable acidity. Peppermint essential oil showed a 70% reduction of decay percentage compared to with the control. Five percent of nano silver and 500 µL/L of clove essential oil maintained better fruit quality than control. Although the effects of silver nano-particle were significant, considering the environmental concerns we recommend using plant essential oils to prolong the postharvest shelf life of lemon fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite a high genetic similarity to peach, almonds (Prunus dulcis) have a fleshless fruit and edible kernel, produced as a crop for human consumption. While the release of peach genome v1.0 provides an excellent opportunity for almond genetic and genomic studies, well-assessed segregating populations and the respective saturated genetic linkage maps lay the foundation for such studies to be completed in almond. Results: Using an almond intraspecific cross between 'Nonpareil' and 'Lauranne' (N x L), we constructed a moderately saturated map with SSRs, SNPs, ISSRs and RAPDs. The N × L map covered 591.4 cM of the genome with 157 loci. The average marker distance of the map was 4.0 cM. The map displayed high synteny and colinearity with the Prunus T x E reference map in all eight linkage groups (G1-G8). The positions of 14 mapped gene-anchored SNPs corresponded approximately with the positions of homologous sequences in the peach genome v1.0. Analysis of Mendelian segregation ratios showed that 17.9% of markers had significantly skewed genotype ratios at the level of P < 0.05. Due to the large number of skewed markers in the linkage group 7, the potential existence of deleterious gene(s) was assessed in the group. Integrated maps produced by two different mapping methods using JoinMap® 3 were compared, and their high degree of similarity was evident despite the positional inconsistency of a few markers. Conclusions: We presented a moderately saturated Australian almond map, which is highly syntenic and collinear with the Prunus reference map and peach genome V1.0. Therefore, the well-assessed almond population reported here can be used to investigate the traits of interest under Australian growing conditions, and provides more information on the almond genome for the international community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach and almond have been considered as model species for the family Rosaceae and other woody plants. Consequently, mapping and characterisation of genes in these species has important implications. High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis is a recent development in the detection of SNPs and other markers, and proved to be an efficient and cost-effective approach. In this study, we aimed to map genes corresponding to known proteins in other species using the HRM approach. Prunus unigenes were searched and compared with known proteins in the public databases. We developed single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, polymorphic in a mapping population produced from a cross between the cloned cultivars Nonpareil and Lauranne. A total of 12 SNP-anchored putative genes were genotyped in the population using HRM, and mapped to an existing linkage map. These genes were mapped on six linkage groups, and the predicted proteins were compared to putative orthologs in other species. Amongst those genes, four were abiotic stress-responsive genes, which can provide a starting point for construction of an abiotic resistance map. Two allergy and detoxification related genes, respectively, were also mapped and analysed. Most of the investigated genes had high similarities to sequences from closely related species such as apricot, apple and other eudicots, and these are putatively orthologous. In addition, it was shown that HRM can be an effective means of genotyping populations for the purpose of constructing a linkage map. Our work provides basic genomic information for the 12 genes, which can be used for further genetic and functional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]