The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) presents an excellent system to study evolution and diversification of the numerous classes, types and variable contents of specialized metabolites. Here, we investigate the relationship among C. sinensis phylogenetic groups and specialized metabolites using transcriptomic and metabolomic data on the fresh leaves collected from 136 representative tea accessions in China. We obtain 925,854 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) enabling the refined grouping of the sampled tea accessions into five major clades. Untargeted metabolomic analyses detect 129 and 199 annotated metabolites that are differentially accumulated in different tea groups in positive and negative ionization modes, respectively. Each phylogenetic group contains signature metabolites. In particular, CSA tea accessions are featured with high accumulation of diverse classes of flavonoid compounds, such as flavanols, flavonol mono-/di-glycosides, proanthocyanidin dimers, and phenolic acids. Our results provide insights into the genetic and metabolite diversity and are useful for accelerated tea plant breeding.

Fruit length is a prominent agricultural trait during cucumber (Cucumis sativus) domestication and diversifying selection; however, the regulatory mechanisms of fruit elongation remain elusive. We identified two alleles of the FRUITFULL (FUL)–like MADS-box gene CsFUL1 with 3393^C/A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism variation among 150 cucumber lines. Whereas CsFUL1^A was specifically enriched in the long-fruited East Asian type cucumbers (China and Japan), the CsFUL1^C allele was randomly distributed in cucumber populations, including wild and semiwild cucumbers. CsFUL1^A knockdown led to further fruit elongation in cucumber, whereas elevated expression of CsFUL1^A resulted in significantly shorter fruits. No effect on fruit elongation was detected when CsFUL1^C expression was modulated, suggesting that CsFUL1^A is a gain-of-function allele in long-fruited cucumber that acts as a repressor during diversifying selection of East Asian cucumbers. Furthermore, CsFUL1^A binds to the CArG-box in the promoter region of SUPERMAN, a regulator of cell division and expansion, to repress its expression. Additionally, CsFUL1^A inhibits the expression of auxin transporters PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1) and PIN7, resulting in decreases in auxin accumulation in fruits. Together, our work identifies an agriculturally important allele and suggests a strategy for manipulating fruit length in cucumber breeding that involves modulation of CsFUL1^A expression.

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a naturally occurring macromolecular polysaccharide that exhibits remarkable film–forming and gel–forming properties, and a high degree of biocompatibility and biodegradability. The helical structure of KGM is maintained by the acetyl group, which plays a crucial role in preserving its structural integrity. Various degradation methods, including the topological structure, can enhance the stability of KGM and improve its biological activity. Recent research has focused on modifying KGM to enhance its properties, utilizing multi–scale simulation, mechanical experiments, and biosensor research. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the structure and properties of KGM, recent advancements in non–alkali thermally irreversible gel research, and its applications in biomedical materials and related areas of research. Additionally, this review outlines prospects for future KGM research, providing valuable research ideas for follow–up experiments.

The salicylic acid-responsive regulator SIGMA FACTOR BINDING PROTEIN1 localizes in the nucleus and chloroplasts and uncouples photosynthesis-associated gene exp