Embracing native diversity to enhance the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II in maize.

The sustainability of maize cultivation would benefit tremendously from early sowing, but is hampered by low temperatures during early development in temperate climates. We show that allelic variation within the gene encoding subunit M of the NADH-dehydrogenase-like (NDH) complex (ndhm1) in a European maize landrace affects several quantitative traits that are relevant during early development in cold climates through NDH-mediated cyclic electron transport around photosystem I, a process crucial for photosynthesis and photoprotection. Beginning with a genome-wide association study for maximum potential quantum yield of photosystem II in dark-adapted leaves (Fv/Fm), we capitalized on the large phenotypic effects of a hAT transposon insertion in ndhm1 on multiple quantitative traits (early plant height [EPH], Fv/Fm, chlorophyll content, and cold tolerance) caused by the reduced protein levels of NDHM and associated NDH components.

Optimizing in vivo exposure using occasional reinforced extinction with aversive imagery in spider fearful individuals.

Although exposure-based therapy is widely recognized as effective for treating various anxiety disorders, a significant proportion of patients fail to benefit or experience a return of fear following successful treatment. One promising strategy involves occasional presentation of fear-evoking stimuli during extinction (occasional reinforced extinction, ORE). This study investigates a novel approach to translate ORE into clinical practice by incorporating occasional vivid imagery of individuals' worst-case fear scenarios during in-vivo exposure.

Leveraging occasional reinforced extinction via mental imagery of the unconditioned stimulus to optimize extinction learning.

Occasionally presenting the unconditioned stimulus (US) during extinction training (occasional reinforced extinction, ORE) either unpaired or paired with the conditioned stimulus (CS) provides initial evidence for a less pronounced return of fear. However, translating this approach into clinical practice is challenging due to ethical and practical concerns of exposing patients to the original USs. The present study investigated extinction of fear responses in a novel approach employing ORE using vivid fear imagery of the US instead of actually exposing to it.

Alleles of a wall-associated kinase gene account for three of the major northern corn leaf blight resistance loci in maize.

Northern corn leaf blight, caused by the fungal pathogen Setosphaeria turcica (anamorph Exserohilum turcicum), is one of the most devastating foliar diseases of maize (Zea mays). Four genes Ht1, Ht2, Ht3 and Htn1 represent the major sources of genetic resistance against the hemibiotrophic fungus S. turcica.