Conserved Opposite Functions in Plant Resistance to Biotrophic and Necrotrophic Pathogens of the Immune Regulator SRFR1

Plant immunity is mediated in large part by specific interactions between a host resistance protein and a pathogen effector protein, named effector-triggered immunity (ETI). ETI needs to be tightly controlled both positively and negatively to enable normal plant growth because constitutively activated defense responses are detrimental to the host. In previous work, we reported that mutations in SUPPRESSOR OF rps4-RLD1 (SRFR1), identified in a suppressor screen, reactivated EDS1-dependent ETI to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pto) DC3000. Besides, mutations in SRFR1 boosted defense responses to the generalist chewing insect Spodoptera exigua and the sugar beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii. Here, we show that mutations in SRFR1 enhance susceptibility to the fungal necrotrophs Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) and Botrytis cinerea in Arabidopsis. To translate knowledge obtained in AtSRFR1 research to crops, we generated SlSRFR1 alleles in tomato using a CRISPR/Cas9 system. Interestingly, slsrfr1 mutants increased expression of SA-pathway defense genes and enhanced resistance to Pto DC3000. In contrast, slsrfr1 mutants elevated susceptibility to FOL. Together, these data suggest that SRFR1 is functionally conserved in both Arabidopsis and tomato and functions antagonistically as a negative regulator to (hemi-) biotrophic pathogens and a positive regulator to necrotrophic pathogens.     

Structure and acidity modification of mordenite through isomorphous Fe substitution

A series of Fe-modified mordenite were hydrothermally synthesized. The effects of substrate composition, aging time, reaction temperature, and reaction time upon the crystallization of the mordenite were investigated. Isomorphous substitution of Fe was confirmed by FT-IR and EPR analysis. Acid strength and acid sites distribution of each catalyst were measured by pyridine TPD, which showed that the number of strong acid sites in H-Fe-mordenite are smaller than in H-Al-mordenite. Structural characteristics and thermal stability were also examined using XRD, SEM and TG. Fe-substitution into the mordenite structure have resulted in substantial decrease in thermal stability. H-Fe-mordenite catalysts showed high selectivity towards p-xylene in toluene alkylation and in xylene isomerization reaction, compared with those obtained using H-Al-mordenite because of lower concentration of strong acid sites. In addition, these H-Fe-modified mordenite showed little hexane cracking activity. Deactivation in both toluene alkylation and xylene isomerization reaction and coke formation over H-Fe-mordenite in these reactions were negligible.     

An ether and three ester derivatives of phenylpropanoid from pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai cv. Chuhwangbae) fruit and their radical-scavenging activity

The ethyl acetate-acidic layer obtained after solvent fractionation of Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai cv. Chuhwangbae) fruit peel methanol extracts was purified by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and octadecylsilane-high performance liquid chromatography, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity was evaluated. The four isolated compounds were identified as 2-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl) glyceric acid (1), 2-O-(cis-p-coumaroyl) glyceric acid (2), guaiacylglycerol-β-ferulic acid ether (3), and 2-O-(cis-caffeoyl) malic acid (4), based on the one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. The isolated compounds 1–4 were identified for the first time from pear. Compound 4 showed higher DPPH radical-scavenging activity than 1–3.     

Smart Nanostructured Materials based on Self‐Assembly of Block Copolymers

Nanoscale fabrication of smart materials relying on the molecular self‐assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) has been recognized as a valuable platform for various next‐generation functional structures. In this Progress Report, the recent advances in the BCP self‐assembly process, which has paved the way for viable applications of emerging nanotechnologies, are highlighted. Effective light‐induced self‐assembly based on photothermal annealing of high‐χ BCPs and conformal 3D surface nanopatterning exploiting chemically modified graphene flexible substrates are reviewed as the typical instances of advanced BCP‐based nanofabrication methodologies. Additionally, relevant potential application fields are suggested, namely, graphene nanoribbon field effect transistors, highly tunable refractive index metasurfaces for visible light, high‐sensitivity surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy, 2D transition metal dichalcogenide nanopatterning, sequential infiltration synthesis, and organic photovoltaics. Finally, the future research direction as well as innovative applications of these smart nanostructured materials is proposed.     

Controllable Synthesis of Mesoporous TiO2 Hollow Shells: Toward an Efficient Photocatalyst

TiO₂ hollow shells with well‐controlled crystallinity, phase, and porosity are desirable in many applications. In photocatalysis in particular, they can provide high active surface area, reduced diffusion resistance, and improved accessibility to reactants. Here, the results from studies of the causes for the failure of a prior etching and calcination scheme to make such shells and on a newly‐developed simple yet robust process for producing uniform mesoporous TiO₂ shells with precisely controllable crystallinity and phase are reported. The key finding is that base etching of the SiO₂@TiO₂ core‐shell particles leads to the formation of sodium titanate species, which, if not removed, promote substantial crystal growth during calcination and destroy the structural integrity of the TiO₂ shells. A simple acid treatment of the base‐etched samples may convert the sodium titanates into protonated titanates, which not only prevent the formation of the impurity phases, but also help to maintain the structural integrity of the shell and allow precise control of the TiO₂ phase and crystallinity. This new development affords convenient optimization of the structure of the hollow TiO₂ shells toward efficient photocatalysts, which outperform the commercial P25‐TiO₂ in the photocatalytic decomposition of organic dye molecules.