The ornamental crabapple is a multipurpose landscaping tree that bears brilliant fruit throughout the winter. However, whether or not its fruit persists after maturation is specifically correlated to cultivar characteristics. In this work, we screened two different types that display fruit-retention (“Donald Wyman,” “Red Jewel,” and “Sugar Tyme”) and fruit-abscission (“Radiant” and “Flame”) in Northern China across the whole winter using multi-year successional records. Fruit-abscission was determined predominantly by the abscission zone established at the base of the pedicel, regardless of fruit size and pedicel length, according to the results of the comparative research. The primary physiological rationale was the accumulation of hydrolases activity (pectinesterase, cellulase, polygalacturonase, and β-glucosidase). Comparative transcriptomics further identified a number of upregulated DEGs involved in the synthesis pathways of canonical phytohormones, such as ethylene, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and cytokinin, as well as 12 transcription factors linked in downstream signaling in fruit-abscission cultivars. Finally, a model incorporating multi-layered modulation was proposed for the fruit abscission of ornamental crabapple. This study will serve as the foundation for the development of fruit-viewing crabapples that have an extended ornamental lifetime.

Carbohydrates are a primary nutrient for plant growth, and sugar transporter proteins play a crucial role in sugar allocation. In this study, hexose transporter genes encoding in the genome of colored calla lily ‘Jingcai Yangguang’ (Zantedeschia elliottiana cv. Jingcai Yangguang) were identified, and their expression patterns following infection by Pectobacterium carotovora subsp. Carotovora were investigated. Additionally, the transport characteristics of three hexose transporters, ZeSTP7, ZeSTP15, and ZeSTP17, were determined. The results showed that the sugar transporter protein family in Z. elliottiana comprises 18 members, most of which possess 12 transmembrane domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the ZeSTP gene family was divided into five subgroups. Tandem gene duplication events were identified on the 16 chromosomes of Z. elliottiana, with multiple tandemly duplicated genes detected. Comparative analysis of synteny between species identified ZeSTP8 and OsSTP22 as homologous gene pairs, while OsSTP6 (OsMST6) was identified as a homologous gene pair with both ZeSTP14 and ZeSTP17. Following infection by P. carotovora subsp. carotovora, the transcript levels of ZeSTP7, ZeSTP15, and ZeST17 were all significantly elevated. Yeast mutant hexose complementation tests indicated that ZeSTP7 could transport glucose and galactose, whereas ZeSTP15 and ZeSTP17 exhibited limited transport capacity in this respect. This study provides a systematic identification and analysis of hexose transporter genes at the genome-wide level, highlighting the role of ZeSTP genes in the response of colored calla lily to soft rot and laying a theoretical foundation for further understanding the functions of sugar transporter genes.

Calla lily (Zantedeschia spp.) have great aesthetic value due to their spathe-like appearance and richness of coloration. However, embryonic callus regeneration is absent from its current regeneration mechanism. As a result, constructing an adequate and stable genetic transformation system is hampered, severely hindering breeding efforts. In this research, the callus induction effectiveness of calla lily seed embryos of various maturities was evaluated. The findings indicated that mature seed embryos were more suitable for in vitro regeneration. Using orthogonal design experiments, the primary elements influencing in vitro regeneration, such as plant growth regulators, genotypes, and nanoscale materials, which was emergent uses for in vitro regeneration, were investigated. The findings indicated that MS supplemented with 6-BA 2 mg/L and NAA 0.1 mg/L was the optimal medium for callus induction (CIM); the germination medium (GM) was MS supplemented with 6-BA 2 mg/L NAA 0.2 mg/L and 1 mg/L CNTs, and the rooting medium (RM) was MS supplemented with 6-BA 2 mg/L NAA 0.7 mg/L and 2 mg/L CNTs. This allowed us to verify, in principle, that the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation system operates under optimal circumstances using the GUS reporter gene. Here, we developed a seed embryo-based genetic transformation regeneration system, which set the stage for future attempts to create new calla lily varieties.

The 14-3-3 proteins, also known as General Regulatory Factors (GRFs), are a family of highly conserved acidic proteins that mediate cellular processes and plant stress adaptation through protein-protein interactions. In this study, 9 GRF genes (ThGRF1-ThGRF9) were isolated and characterized from the halophytic species Tamarix hispida. qRT-PCR analyses showed that all nine ThGRFs responded to multiple stress response pathways. In particular, the expression levels of ThGRF4 and ThGRF5 were significantly upregulated in T. hispida roots under salt stress, suggesting their potential involvement in salt stress responses. Furthermore, an overexpression vector of ThGRF5 was constructed and transiently transformed into T. hispida. Biochemical staining and physiological parameter analyses showed that overexpression of ThGRF5 increased antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased MDA content and electrolyte leakage by decreasing the accumulation of ROS, thereby improving tolerance to salt stress. These results suggested that ThGRF5 might play an important physiological role in salt tolerance in transgenic T. hispida plants. This study provides a foundation for further elucidation of salt tolerance mechanisms involving ThGRF5 in T. hispida.