Synergistic antibacterial activity of chitosan modified by double antibacterial agents as coating material for fruits preservation.

Chitosan (CS) is a natural marine polysaccharide with good biocompatibility and biodegradability. But its poor water solubility and antibacterial activity limit its application in fruits preservation. In this study, based on the advantage of quaternary phosphonium salt (QP) and salicylic acid (SA) with good antibacterial activities and different antibacterial mechanisms, a novel antibacterial coating material was synthesized by grafting QP and SA onto CS.

Cotton plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2s (PIP2s) selectively interact to regulate their water channel activities and are required for fibre development.

Aquaporins are thought to be associated with water transport and play important roles in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibre elongation. Among aquaporins, plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) constitute a plasma-membrane-specific subfamily and are further subdivided into PIP1 and PIP2 groups. In this study, four fibre-preferential GhPIP2 genes were functionally characterized.

Cotton BCP genes encoding putative blue copper-binding proteins are functionally expressed in fiber development and involved in response to high-salinity and heavy metal stresses.

Copper is vitally required for plants at low concentrations but extremely toxic for plants at elevated concentrations. Plants have evolved a series of mechanisms to prevent the consequences of the excess or deficit of copper. These mechanisms require copper-interacting proteins involved in copper trafficking.

Expressions of three cotton genes encoding the PIP proteins are regulated in root development and in response to stresses.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), the most important textile crop worldwide, often encounters water stress such as drought or waterlog during its growth season (Summer). To investigate molecular mechanism of water regulation in cotton plants, three cDNAs encoding the plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) were isolated from cotton root cDNA library, and designated GhPIP1;1, GhPIP2;1 and GhPIP2;2, respectively. All of the three PIP proteins displayed water channel activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes.