Black wolfberry (Lycium ruthenicum) is enriched in phytochemical metabolites which can benefit human health. However, few studies have examined the effects of different fruit drying methods on its polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, whether and how consuming dried black wolfberry affects gut microbiota has not been reported. This study assessed the phytochemical profile and bioactivities of black wolfberry dried through different methods, and subsequently characterized changes in human fecal microbiota associated with freeze-dried black wolfberry in vitro. The results showed that freeze-dried samples retained higher total phenolics ((49.68 ± 1.62) mg GAE/g DM), tannins ((38.64 ± 1.35) mg GAE/g DM), and proanthocyanidins ((3.35 ± 0.30) mg/g DM) compared to sun drying or hot air drying (P < 0.05), and exhibited higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In human fecal inoculum bioreactor fermentations, freeze-dried black wolfberry was associated with increased species richness and α-diversity. At the genus level, fermentations treated with black wolfberry had a higher abundance of lactic acid bacteria including Lactococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Weissella, as well as butyrate-producing bacteria compared to the untreated samples, suggesting enrichment for taxa associated with a healthy gut microbiome. In addition, the black wolfberry treatment group had higher levels of short-chain fatty acids, which were consistent with PICRUSt2 inference. This study defines an optimal method for black wolfberry preservation to retain the beneficial compounds, and provides a foundation for further exploration of its potential benefits for human gut microbiota.

The water content of cut flowers is a significant factor in their post-harvest quality. In this study, we examine the efficacy of silver nanoparticles (NS) on the longevity of cut gladiolus, with a focus on water state and distribution. We used Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) technology to identify three water fractions with different transverse relaxation times (T2) values: bound water T21 (<10 ms), intermediate immobilized water T22 (10–100 ms), and the slowest component free water T23 (>10 ms). During the opening process, T23 increased at stages 2 and 3 and then decreased, T22 decreased slowly, and T21 remained unchanged. Free water values were consistently higher than bound water and immobilized water and reached their maximum from stage 2 until stage 4, when the petals were extended and began to wilt. The vascular bundles responsible for transporting water had higher water content, as detected by proton density-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Bound water and free water with NS pretreatments in bracts were initially lower but then two days later the signal amplitude of each water state exceeded those of the control, indicating that the treatment enhanced the water-holding capacity over time. Furthermore, NS pretreatments reduced the free water mobility of the cut flowers and inhibited stem decay. Additionally, we found that NS can enter the stem and are primarily transported upward along the xylem with water using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) technology. Overall, our findings indicate that NS pretreatment reduces free water in gladiolus cut flowers, enhancing their water retention and prolonging their vase life.

In a genome-wide association study, we identified a rice UDP-glycosyltransferase gene, OsUGT706D2, whose transcription was activated in response to cold and submergence stress and to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). OsUGT706D2 positively regulated the biosynthesis of tricin-4′-O-(syringyl alcohol) ether-7-O-glucoside at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels. OsUGT706D2 mediated cold and submergence tolerance by modulating the expression of stress-responsive genes as well as the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway. Gain of function of OsUGT706D2 increased cold and submergence tolerance and loss of function of OsUGT706D2 reduced cold tolerance. ABA positively regulated OsUGT706D2-mediated cold tolerance but reduced submergence tolerance. These findings suggest the potential use of OsUGT706D2 for improving abiotic stress tolerance in rice.

Rice with panicle-blast resistance is needed for stable rice production. Although we have previously demonstrated that OsGF14b underlies a quantitative trait locus that positively regulates rice panicle blast resistance, the mechanism is still unknown. In this study, a multi-omics approach was used to investigate the possible downstream signaling pathway regulated by OsGF14b. OsGF14b both strongly activated the gibberellin biosynthetic pathway during pathogen infection and reprogrammed the lignin biosynthetic pathway. Reduced lignin accumulation was observed in glumes of OsGF14b-overexpressing plants in comparison with the wild type after pathogen inoculation. OsGF14b activated the auxin and jasmonic acid signaling pathways, but inactivated the salicylic acid signaling pathway. Auxin and jasmonic acid appeared to act independently on OsGF14b-mediated panicle blast resistance. The roles of gibberellin, lignin, and auxin were different from their roles in leaf blast, suggesting that different mechanisms underlie leaf and panicle blast resistance in rice. This study provides a comprehensive catalog of molecular changes that could be targets for future studies of rice panicle blast resistance.