Zhiguo Zhou

Myo-inositol (MI) is recognized as a potential stress regulator capable of alleviating abiotic stress. The objective of this study is to analyze the role of MI in the salt stress response of Daucus carota L. and its potential mechanisms. “Hongxin Qicun” carrot seedlings were subjected to five treatments: control; salt stress (50 mM NaCl); and salt stress combined with 50, 100, or 200 μM of MI. Through an integrated approach combining physiological assays, non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT), and gene expression profiling, we found that salt stress severely inhibited seedling growth, disrupted K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis, and triggered excessive H₂O₂ accumulation. Exogenous MI application mitigated these salt-induced damages, with 100 μM MI exerting the optimal effect. MI enhanced Na⁺ efflux and reduced K⁺ efflux in carrot roots under salt stress. Inhibitor experiments indicated that MI-promoted Na⁺ efflux relies on active transport via the plasma membrane (PM) Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter system, and qRT-PCR analysis showed that this response was accompanied by the upregulation of DcSOS1. Furthermore, MI contributes to K⁺ homeostasis by synergistically modulating PM H⁺-ATPase and high-affinity potassium transporters. The established proton gradient helps reduce salt-induced K⁺ loss through depolarization-activated potassium channels and non-selective cation channels. MI treatment decreased electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, and H₂O₂ accumulation by enhancing the activities of the plant antioxidant defense system. Meanwhile, MI upregulated the expression of myo-inositol oxygenase (DcMIOXs) genes, which may contribute to osmotic balance maintenance and facilitate ROS scavenging. In conclusion, exogenous MI alleviates salt-induced physiological disorders in Daucus carota L. by coordinately regulating K⁺/Na⁺ and ROS homeostasis, with 100 μM identified as the optimal concentration for this effect.

This study evaluated six agrobyproducts (oak, jujube, apple, pear, peach, black locust) as alternative substrates for Lentinula edodes cultivation to mitigate oak dependency. Twelve substrate formulations were tested, including individual and mixed sawdust combinations. Results demonstrated successful mycelial colonization across all treatments, with treatment PAS (78% pear sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) exhibiting the fastest mycelial growth (4.70 mm/day) and full colonization in 105 days. Treatment BLS (78% black locust sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) achieved the highest biological efficiency (97.26%) and productivity (0.85 kg/bag). Nutrient analysis revealed substrate-specific enhancements: PAS maximized vitamin C (4.88 mg/100 g) and iron, while PAS + OS (39% peach sawdust, 39% oak sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) elevated protein (3.88%), phosphorus, and zinc. PCA highlighted distinct nutritional profiles for BLS- and jujube-based mushrooms. Correlation analyses identified the third (r = 0.838) and fourth flushes (r = 0.922) as critical for total yield, with selenium and zinc significantly linked to growth rates. Black locust and peach substrates outperformed or complemented oak, offering sustainable alternatives. These findings underscore the potential of agrowaste utilization to reduce ecological strain while maintaining high yields and nutritional quality, aligning with global agricultural sustainability goals.

To accurately evaluate the role of storage temperature in improving the quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, the effects of two storage temperatures (5 °C and 15 °C) on the phenylpropanoid pathway and sucrose metabolism in fresh-cut melon (cv. Yugu) cubes were determined. A higher temperature (15 °C) expedited sucrose decomposition in the melon cubes at the early stage of storage, resulting in higher levels of glucose and fructose. This effect was corroborated by increased activities of acid invertase (AI), neutral invertase (NI), and sucrose synthase cleavage (SS-c), along with higher expressions of CmAI1/2, CmNI1/2, and CmSS1/2 in the melon cubes at 15 °C. Additionally, the higher activity and gene expression of hexokinase in melon cubes at 15 °C led to an increase in the utilization rate of sugars toward downstream metabolic pathways. Moreover, the melon cube storage at 15 °C elevated the activities and gene expressions of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumaric acid: CoA ligase (4CL), thereby increasing the synthesis of phenolics. Sucrose showed a significant negative correlation with PAL, C4H, and 4CL, as well as with CmPAL5/7 and CmC4H1/3. However, hexokinase displayed a significant positive correlation with PAL, C4H, and 4CL, as well as with CmPAL1, CmPAL3-9, CmC4Hs, and Cm4CLs. These findings demonstrate that a higher-temperature storage of melon cubes can accelerate the phenylpropanoid pathway and sucrose metabolism by regulating the activity and gene expression of related enzymes, thereby inducing phenolic accumulation. These results also indicate that lower-temperature storage is not conducive to the conversion of sugars into phenolics in fresh-cut melon. Therefore, the temperature can be appropriately and briefly raised in the production and preservation process of fresh-cut melon to obtain higher levels of phenolics.

Due to the low adhesion observed at the interface between solid and liquid, superhydrophobic coatings hold significant promise for various applications, such as self-cleaning, anti-corrosion, anti-icing, and drag reduction. However, a notable challenge hindering their widespread adoption in these domains lies in their delicate durability. In this study, we propose a straightforward method for preparation. The fluorosilicone resin is initially discretized through a gradual introduction of nonsolvent into its solution, followed by thorough mixing and stirring with silica nanoparticles. The resulting mixture is then sprayed onto the substrate surface after drying, forming a self-similar, porous, and rough structure extending from top to bottom. This process yields a coating exhibiting excellent chemical and mechanical durability simultaneously. Using this approach, we achieved a superhydrophobic coating with a contact angle of 156° and a roll angle of 2.2°, with water droplet adhesion of only 10.8 ± 0.4 µN. Remarkably, the coating maintained excellent superhydrophobicity even after undergoing sandpaper abrasion (10 m), tape peeling (30 times), and prolonged water impact (60 min), showing its robust mechanical stability. Furthermore, following exposure to acid, alkali, and aqueous solutions (7 days), UV irradiation (10 days), and extreme temperature variations (–20 °C to 80 °C), the coatings retained their superhydrophobic properties and exhibited good chemical durability. This method offers a novel approach to enhance the durability and practicality of superhydrophobic coatings.

Laccase is a multicopper oxidoreductase enzyme that can oxidize organics such as phenolic compounds. Laccases appear to be unstable at room temperature, and their conformation often changes in a strongly acidic or alkaline environment, making them less effective. Therefore, rationally linking enzymes with supports can effectively improve the stability and reusability of native enzymes and add important industrial value. However, in the process of immobilization, many factors may lead to a decrease in enzymatic activity. Therefore, the selection of a suitable support can ensure the activity and economic utilization of immobilized catalysts. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous and simple hybrid support materials. Moreover, the characteristics of the metal ion ligand of MOFs can enable a potential synergistic effect with the metal ions of the active center of metalloenzymes, enhancing the catalytic activity of such enzymes. Therefore, in addition to summarizing the biological characteristics and enzymatic properties of laccase, this article reviews laccase immobilization using MOF supports, as well as the application prospects of immobilized laccase in many fields. Graphical Abstract