The downregulation of PpPG21 and PpPG22 influences peach fruit texture and softening.

The downregulation of PpPG21 and PpPG22 expression in melting-flesh peach delays fruit softening and hinders texture changes by influencing pectin solubilization and depolymerization. The polygalacturonase (PG)-catalyzed solubilization and depolymerization of pectin plays a central role in the softening and texture formation processes in peach fruit. In this study, the expression characteristics of 15 PpPG members in peach fruits belonging to the melting flesh (MF) and non-melting flesh (NMF) types were analyzed, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology was used to identify the roles of PpPG21 (ppa006839m) and PpPG22 (ppa006857m) in peach fruit softening and texture changes.

Construction of a high-density SNP-based genetic map and identification of fruit-related QTLs and candidate genes in peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch].

Background: High-density genetic mapping is a valuable tool for mapping loci that control specific traits for perennial fruit trees. Peach is an economically important fruit tree and a model Rosaceae species for genomic and genetic research. In peach, even though many molecular markers, genetic maps and QTL mappings have been reported, further research on the improvement of marker numbers, map densities, QTL accuracy and candidate gene identification is still warranted.

[Comparison of soil heavy metals determined by AAS/AFS and portable X-ray fluorescence analysis].

Total concentrations of Cu, Pb, As, Cr, Ni and Zn were determined for 53 soil samples using portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) system in in-situ and ex-situ (Lab.) conditions. PXRF metal concentrations were statistically compared with analytical results from traditional AAS/AFS analysis.

[Effects of long-term manure and crop residues incorporation on yield and phosphorus saturation in a paddy soil].

An 8-year field experiment was conducted in the Taihu Lake region of eastern China to investigate the effects of incorporation of straw and manure on the yield and phosphorus (P) accumulation in the paddy soil, and to evaluate the potential risk of P loss from soil to environment. The experiment had four fertilization treatments, i. e.