Transcriptomes analysis reveals novel insight into the molecular mechanisms of somatic embryogenesis in Hevea brasiliensis.

Background: Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a promising technology for plant vegetative propagation, which has an important role in tree breeding. Though rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.

Male Selenoprotein F-Like (SPF-L) Influences Female Reproduction and Population Growth in (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).

Selenoproteins serve in anti-oxidant and cellular redox functions in almost all organisms. A recent study characterized a selenoprotein F-like (SPF-L) in the brown plant hopper's (BPH), , male accessory glands (MAGs), raised the question of whether the SPF-L is associated with female fecundity. In this study, mRNA was found to be enriched in the internal reproductive organ (IRO) of virgin males, also expressed relatively stably in virgin males and females, and dietary dsSPF-L-treatments led to reduced MAG protein and Arginine content.

Jinggangmycin-Induced UDP-Glycosyltransferase 1-2-Like Is a Positive Modulator of Fecundity and Population Growth in (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).

The antibiotic jinggangmycin (JGM) is broadly applied in Chinese rice producing regions to control rice blight, a fungal disease. Aside from protecting rice plants from the disease, JGM leads to the unexpected action of stimulating brown planthopper (BPH; ; Hemiptera: Delphacidae) reproduction to the extent it can influence population sizes. The JGM-induced BPH population growth has potential for severe agricultural problems and we are working to understand and mitigate the mechanisms of the enhanced reproduction.