The heavy-metal-associated (HMA) proteins are a class of PB1-type ATPases related to the intracellular transport and detoxification metals. However, due lack information regarding HMA gene family in Cucurbitaceae family, comprehensive genome-wide analysis was performed ten species: Citrullus amarus, colocynthis, lanatus, mucosospermus, Cucumis melo, sativus, Cucurbita maxima, moschata, pepo, Le...

The phloem macromolecular transport system plays a pivotal role in plant growth and development. However, little information is available regarding whether the long-distance trafficking of macromolecules is a controlled process or passive movement. Here, we demonstrate the destination-selective long-distance trafficking of phloem proteins. Direct introduction, into rice (Oryza sativa), of phloe...

Acetonic extracts of melon pumpkin, Cucurbita maxima (Duchesne), Sweet Orange, Citrus sinensis (L.) and Sour Orange, Citrus aurantium (L.), were evaluated for insecticidal activity against adults of three stored product pests viz., Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), by filter paper diffusion method (direct contact application) and fumigati...

The first step in gibberellin biosynthesis is catalyzed by copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPS) and ent-kaurene synthase. We have cloned from pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.) two cDNAs, CmCPS1 and CmCPS2, that each encode a CPS. Both recombinant fusion CmCPS proteins were active in vitro. CPS are translocated into plastids and processed by cleavage of transit peptides. For CmCPS1 and CmCPS2, the put...

The DNAs of Cucurbita species were examined by several methods. All Cucurbita DNAs have a similar CsCl isopycnic banding pattern consisting of a major band at 1.695 g/cc and a well separated satellite band at 1.707 g/cc. Compared to other plant and animal genera, Cucurbita species have a large genomic proportion of rDNA; this value ranging from 1.4% to 3.1%. The genomic proportion of rDNA was f...

The incorporation of [14C]mevalonate and [“Clisopentenyl diphosphate into geranylgeranyl diphosphate was investigated in in oitro systems from Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) endosperm and from Auena sativa etioplasts. Mevalonate incorporation was effectively inhibited in the pumpkin system by geranylgeranyl diphosphate and geranylgeranyl monophosphate but less effectively by phytyl diphosphate or ino...

Systemic translocation of RNA exerts non-cell-autonomous control over plant development and defense. Long-distance delivery of mRNA has been proven, but transport of small interfering RNA and microRNA remains to be demonstrated. Analyses performed on phloem sap collected from a range of plants identified populations of small RNA species. The dynamic nature of this population was reflected in it...