Oral immunization is an alternative or supplementary approach that can significantly improve dog vaccination coverage, especially for free-roaming dogs.  Safe and effective oral rabies vaccines for dogs are still being sought.  In our previous studies, we generated a genetically modified rabies virus (RABV) ERA strain, rERAG_333E, containing a mutation from arginine (Arg, R) to glutamic acid (Glu, E) at residue 333 of the G protein (G_333E).  Our previous results demonstrated that rERAG_333E was safe for adult mice and dogs, and oral vaccination with rERAG_333E induced a strong and long-lasting protective immune response in dogs.  Here, we further investigated the safety and immunogenicity of rERAG_333E in non-target species, including suckling mice, rhesus monkeys, foxes, raccoon dogs, piglets, goats, and sheep.  Suckling mice studies demonstrated that the G_333E mutation significantly reduced the virulence of the ERA strain.  All of the suckling mice aged 10 days and above survived and showed no apparent signs of disease after intracerebral inoculation with rERAG_333E.  Animal studies demonstrated that rERAG_333E was safe in rhesus monkeys, foxes, raccoon dogs, piglets, goats, and sheep.  None of those animals inoculated orally with 10 times the intended field dose of rERAG_333E showed abnormal clinical signs before and after the booster immunization with Rabvac 3, an inactivated rabies vaccine.  Meanwhile, oral inoculation with rERAG_333E induced strong neutralizing antibody (NA) responses to RABV in rhesus monkeys, foxes, raccoon dogs, and piglets.  These results demonstrated that rERAG_333E has the potential to serve as a safe oral rabies vaccine for dogs.

Femoral head necrosis (FHN) is a common leg disorder in the poultry industry often leads to significant cartilage damage.  The mechanism behind abnormal apoptosis in FHN broilers, leading to cartilage damage, remains unclear; although endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) has been found to play a role in glucocorticoid-induced FHN broilers.  In this study, we collected samples from broilers with femoral head separation (FHS) and femoral head separation accompanied with growth plate lacerations (FHSL) in a broiler farm.  The aim was to investigate the potential association between the severity of FHN, bone remodeling and cartilage damage.  Additionally, primary chondrocytes were treated with methylprednisolone (MP) to construct an in vitro FHN model, followed by inhibition or activation of ERS or hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) to further investigate the mechanism of apoptosis in cartilage.  The results suggested that cartilage appeared to be the appropriate tissue to investigate the potential mechanisms of FHN, as the degree of cartilage damage was found to be closely related to the severity of the disease.  Bone quality was only affected in FHSL broilers, although factors related to bone metabolism were significantly altered among FHN-affected broilers.  In addition, cartilage in FHN-affected broilers exhibited high levels of apoptosis and upregulated expression of ERS-related and HIF-1α, which was consistent with both in vivo and in vitro findings after MP treatment.  The results were further supported by treatment with HIF-1α or ERS inhibition or activation.  In conclusion, bone remodeling and cartilage homeostasis were affected in FHN broilers, but only cartilage damage was significantly exacerbated with FHN development.  Moreover, activation of ERS or HIF-1α resulted in apoptosis in cartilage, thus exhibiting a significant correlation with FHN severity.

The strawberry crimp nematode (Aphelenchoides fragariae) is a serious pathogen of ornamental crops and a significant quarantine concern in approximately 50 countries and regions, including China.  A nematode population belonging to the genus Aphelenchoides was isolated from symptomatic leaves of fuchsia plants (Fuchsia×hybrida Hort. ex Sieb. & Voss.) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.  Morphological and morphometric characteristics were determined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.  Detailed examination revealed diagnostic features consistent with A. fragariae.  Three ribosomal DNA (rDNA) regions, i.e., partial small subunit (SSU) rRNA, D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), were amplified and sequenced.  Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on these sequences placed the isolate in a well-supported monophyletic clade with reference A. fragariae specimens, clearly separated from other Aphelenchoides species.  Furthermore, host-suitability assays demonstrated that this nematode population not only infects and reproduces on Fuchsia×hybrida, but also on Fragaria ananassa and Pteris vittata, two known hosts of A. fragariae.  Collectively, morphological, molecular, and host-range evidence confirm the identification of this nematode as A. fragariae.  To our knowledge, this represents the first molecular and morphological confirmation of A. fragariae in China, and the first report of Fuchsia×hybrida as a natural host for this species.

In China, Xinjiang is a relatively independent epidemic region of wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, due to great population genetic divergence of Xinjiang with other inland epidemic regions.  In this region, race evolution was usually slower than inland populations.  However, many new races have recently been found, and therefore, it is necessary for more understanding of the virulence evolution of the Xinjiang population.  So, in this study, a 65 sexual progenies, derived from a Xinjiang single-urediospore isolate BGTB-1 of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici by selfing on alternate host barberry (Berberis aggregata).  It was phenotyped on the 25 single Yr lines, and genotyped by 19 kompetitive allele-specific PCR-single nucleotide polymorphism (KASP-SNP) markers.  As a result, the 65 progenies were identified as 56 various virulence patterns (VPs), and neither of which was identical to the parental isolate, showed 100% virulence variation.  Compared with the parental isolate, of all progenies, 39 (60.0%) had increased virulence, and 18 (27.7%) had decreased virulence.  All progenies exhibited avirulence to Yr10, Yr15, Yr32, and YrTr1 loci, and avirulence and virulence segregation at the remaining 21 Yr resistance loci.  The results showed avirulence to Yr5, Yr7, and Yr76 (A:V≈3:1) loci is controlled by a single dominant gene, and that to Yr6, Yr25, and Yr44 (A:V≈1:3) loci by a single recessive gene.  However, avirulence to the remaining 15 resistant loci including Yr1, Yr2, Yr3, Yr4, Yr8, Yr9, Yr17, Yr26 (=Yr24), Yr28, Yr29, Yr43, YrSP, Yr27, YrA, and YrExp2, with various avirulence and virulence segregation ratios, is controlled by two genes with different gene effects, indicating complex genetic traits of the parental isolate.  Totally, 65 dissimilar genotypes detected among progenies using overall molecular markers, by which a linkage map was constructed, with a genetic distance of 441.0 cM.  Interestingly, although the parental isolate was avirulent to Yr5, but 17 progenies showed virulence, showing the change of pathogenicity from avirulence to virulence at this resistance locus.  It was for the first time to report that progenies with virulence to Yr5 produced sexually from avirulent parental isolate at this resistance locus.  To our knowledge, this study offers an insight into inheritance, sexual reproduction and virulence variation of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici in Xinjiang, facilitating us to understand evolution of the rust pathogen in this region and accounting for Xinjiang population distinguished form other inland populations.  Additionally, it is necessary to further confirm the roles of sexual reproduction in the emergence of new races and affecting population genetic diversity of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici under natural conditions in Xinjiang.  

Plants encounter dynamic light environments in natural field conditions, and species differ in their physiological and biochemical mechanisms for acclimating to fluctuating light (FL).  The manner in which soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) coordinates multiple physiological adjustments to FL remains poorly understood.  This study assessed the effects of FL on soybean morphology and photosynthetic traits by examining changes in photosynthetic gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence under alternating high- and low-light conditions.  Results indicated that soybeans exposed to FL exhibited reduced dry matter accumulation, smaller and thinner leaves, and a lower Chl a/Chl b levels - characteristics typically associated with plants grown under continuous low-light.  Despite these morphological similarities, their photosynthetic gas exchange rates and photosynthetic capacity were maintained at levels comparable to those under steady high light, unlike plants grown under constant low-light.  Thus, acclimation to FL is distinct from adaptation to sustained low-light conditions.  Correlation analyses revealed that the decline in carbon assimilation under FL primarily stemmed from two factors: the slow recovery of stomatal conductance upon transition to high light and the delayed relaxation of nonphotochemical quenching when light intensity decreased.  Therefore, the reduction in carbon assimilation under FL cannot be attributed to low-light phase adjustments but rather reflects a lag in photosynthetic responsiveness to changing light conditions.

The breakthrough in super hybrid rice yield has significantly contributed to China’s and global food security.  However, the inherent conflict between high productivity and environmentally sustainable agriculture poses substantial challenges.  Issues such as water scarcity, energy crises, escalating greenhouse gas emissions, and diminishing farm profitability threaten long-term agricultural sustainability.  In response, we applied a holistic food–carbon–nitrogen–water–energy–profit (FCNWEP) nexus framework to comprehensively assess the sustainability of distinct crop management strategies across three sub-sites in Central China.  Field experiments were conducted in Hubei and Hunan provinces from 2017 to 2021 using a widely adopted elite super hybrid rice cultivar (Y-liangyou 900). Four crop management treatments were implemented: a control (CK, 0 kg N ha⁻¹), conventional crop management (CCM, 210–250 kg N ha⁻¹, 7:3 basal:mid-tiller fertilizer ratio), and two integrated crop management (ICM) treatments (ICM1, 180–210 kg N ha⁻¹, 5:2:3 basal:mid-tiller:panicle initiation fertilizer ratio; ICM2, 240–270 kg N ha⁻¹, 5:2:2:1 basal:mid-tiller:panicle initiation:flowering fertilizer ratio).  Variables assessed included grain yield, carbon footprint, nitrogen footprint, water footprint, energy footprint, nitrogen use efficiency, and economic benefits.  Our results showed significant yield variations, with ICM2 consistently outperforming CCM and ICM1 across all three sites.  In Jingzhou, Suizhou, and Changsha, ICM2’s grain yield was 30.2, 24.7, and 13.3% higher than CCM, respectively.  Net profits under ICM2 exceeded those of CCM and ICM1 by 31.8 and 115.2% in Jingzhou, 32.2 and 109.9% in Suizhou, and 15.4 and 34.0% in Changsha, respectively.  Integrated crop management, particularly ICM2, demonstrated improved nitrogen and energy use efficiency, leading to reduced carbon, nitrogen, water, and energy footprints.  Overall, composite sustainability scores derived from the FCNWEP framework indicated that both ICM2 and ICM1 exhibited higher sustainability levels compared to CCM.  This study provides valuable insights into practical management methodologies and offers recommendations for enhancing agricultural sustainability.

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are important sources of vegetable oil, protein, and forage.  The genus Arachis comprises nine intrageneric taxonomic sections encompassing 84 species.  Most Arachis species are wild plants that serve widely as forage and turfgrass.  Furthermore, wild Arachis species provide valuable gene resources for broadening the genetic diversity of cultivated peanuts.  To date, several key genes have been identified through the use of recombinant inbred lines derived from interspecific crosses within Arachis.  Despite this progress, the application of genetic engineering to enhance peanut traits remains limited.  This limitation arises primarily from the absence of a robust and reliable genetic transformation protocol for Arachis species.  Nevertheless, evidence indicates that successful genetic transformation of Arachis plants was first reported approximately 30 years ago.  Thus, a notable discrepancy exists between early reports of transformation success and the ongoing challenges in stably transferring candidate genes into Arachis genotypes.  This review summarizes existing methods for regeneration and genetic transformation in Arachis, aiming to advance understanding of transgenic technologies applicable to this genus.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 aims to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.  However, global hunger and food insecurity have continued to rise at an alarming rate (UN 2023).  Subtropical regions are home to more than 30% of the world’s population, predominantly in developing countries where per capita farmland and food supply are only 40% of those in developed nations (FAO 2018).  Meeting the Zero Hunger target amid ongoing population growth in these regions requires a substantial increase in agricultural production while minimizing soil degradation and adverse ecological impacts.  This challenge is shared by many countries across South Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.

Against this background, the 4th International Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture for Subtropical Regions (ISSASR-4) was held from June 21 to 24, 2024, in Changsha, China, hosted by the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences.  The symposium brought together over 300 experts and scholars from nearly 30 countries.  Under the theme “Ecosystem Management and Agricultural Green Development in Subtropical Regions”, discussions focused on four key topics: (i) regional resources and ecosystem management for enhancing agricultural productivity, (ii) green crop and animal production, (iii) minimizing adverse environmental impacts of agricultural production, and (iv) the growing role of big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart farming.  Participants exchanged the latest research advances, identified major challenges, and explored countermeasures for agriculture and ecological sustainability in subtropical regions worldwide.

This Special Focus of the Journal of Integrative Agriculture (JIA) addresses these pressing issues by presenting empirical evidence and innovative solutions for agricultural green development.  It comprises 13 papers covering a wide range of topics related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus pathways in natural and agricultural ecosystems, with attention to microbial processes, land-use change, production management, and their effects on nutrient cycling and grain yield.  We hope this collection enhances understanding of ecosystem management and green agricultural development, offering actionable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.

Section 1: Regional resources and ecosystem management

This section examines three key areas: agricultural bio-resources, soil carbon and nutrient dynamics across ecosystems, and regional grain supply–demand matching.  Studies provide insights into bioinput-based agricultural frameworks, soil nutrient responses to climate change and anthropogenic influences, and the dynamic, heterogeneous patterns of grain matching.  Vermelho et al. (2026) reviewed microbial bioinputs, outlining their categories, mechanisms, global challenges, and Brazil’s production infrastructure and regulatory context.  Wang M M et al. (2026) reported moderate spatial variation with positive autocorrelation in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK), noting greater vulnerability to phosphorus and potassium limitation than to nitrogen, with soil properties outweighing spatial or environmental factors in explaining nutrient variation.  Another study by Wang L Y et al. (2026) identified climate and hydrological changes as key drivers of SOC loss in Dongting Lake, with accelerated loss occurring above 21.4 m elevation, suggesting that managed water levels during droughts could enhance carbon sequestration.  Wan et al. (2026) showed that plantations can mitigate climate change by increasing carbon storage at the aggregate scale in alpine regions.  Miao et al. (2026) demonstrated a scale-dependent mismatch in grain supply and demand, highlighting how interregional flows from 1980 to 2020 reduced deficit areas.  Together, these studies advance frameworks for sustainable ecosystem management.

Section 2: Green crop production in subtropical regions

Enhancing green crop production in subtropical regions requires practices that improve soil health and carbon sequestration while sustaining yields.  Given the vulnerability of subtropical croplands, effective strategies for maintaining SOC are critical.  Hua et al. (2026) found that long-term livestock manure substitution improves soil aggregate stability and reduces water erosion but increases lateral loss of labile organic carbon, revealing a trade-off.  Kautsar et al. (2026) reported that terrace reconstruction altered rice yields between field sides and modified SOC, TN, and decomposition dynamics in the 15–30 cm layer, with subsoil fertility determining productivity.  Wang J et al. (2026) demonstrated that massive granulated straw incorporation boosts SOC and crop yield in infertile soils, with accumulation efficiency ranging from 30.8 to 60.0%, primarily from plant residues.  These studies highlight practical pathways for sustainable soil management.

Section 3: Environmental impacts of agricultural production

Assessing and mitigating agriculture’s environmental footprint requires a multiscale understanding of soil ecological processes.  Pan et al. (2026) found that natural restoration enhances karst soil phosphorus-cycle multifunctionality more than artificial restoration or cropping, driven by increased SOC and bacterial network complexity, with rare phoD-harboring taxa playing a critical role.  Wang Y et al. (2026) reported that niche outweighs genotype in shaping pea fungal communities, with β-diversity driven by species replacement and deterministic assembly in niche-based groups.  Zhu et al. (2026) showed that SOC is higher in brown and yellow-brown soils and that spring irrigation significantly increases farmland SOC, supporting carbon sequestration.  Zheng et al. (2026) demonstrated that spatial factors govern carbon-cycling gene abundances in uplands, while biotic and substrate factors dominate in paddy soils, revealing an integrated “microbial carbon pump” in trace-gas cycling at a continental scale.  Collectively, these studies advance understanding of the mechanisms underlying soil functionality and greenhouse gas modulation.

Section 4: Big data, artificial intelligence and smart farming in agriculture

The integration of big data, AI, and smart technologies is pivotal for the digital transformation of agriculture.  This section presents a study on their practical application to environmental challenges.  Wang M H et al. (2026) developed an Android-based decision support system (CNPDSS) to control non-point source nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pollution.  Integrating GIS, a Bayesian predictive model, an optimization algorithm, and a smartphone interface, the system identified solutions that minimize both pollutant loadings and engineering costs in the Tuojia catchment, China.  Its adaptive design demonstrates potential for broader application, offering a scalable tool for sustainable water quality management.

This Special Focus underscores the critical intersection of ecosystem management and agricultural development in subtropical regions.  Through 13 studies organized across four themes - resource management, green production, environmental impact mitigation, and smart technology - the collection provides a science-based framework for enhancing productivity while preserving ecological integrity.  It offers concrete insights for achieving sustainable food systems and advancing the UN Zero Hunger goal in some of the world’s most vulnerable and vital agricultural landscapes.

The accuracy of genomic annotation is crucial for subsequent functional investigations; however, computational protocols used in high-throughput annotation of open reading frames (ORFs) can introduce inconsistencies.  These inconsistencies, which lead to non-uniform extension or truncation of sequence ends, pose challenges for downstream analyses.  Existing strategies to rectify these inconsistencies are time-consuming and labor-intensive, lacking specific approaches.  To address this gap, we developed toGC, a tool that integrates genomic annotation with RNA-seq datasets to rectify annotation inconsistencies.  Using toGC, we achieved an accuracy of nearly 100% accuracy in correcting inconsistencies in published Phytophthora sojae ORFs.  We applied this innovative pipeline to the GPCR-bigrams gene family, which was predicted to have 42 members in the P. sojae genome but lacked experimental validation.  By employing toGC, we identified 32 GPCR-bigram ORFs with inconsistencies between previous annotations and toGC-corrected sequences.  Notably, among these were 5 genes (GPCR-TKL9, GPCR-TKL15, GPCR-PDE3, GPCR-AC3, and GPCR-AC4) showed substantial inconsistencies.  Experimental gene annotation confirmed the effectiveness of toGC, as sequences obtained through cloning matched those annotated by toGC.  Importantly, we discovered two novel GPCRs (GPCR-AC3 and GPCR-AC4), which were previously mispredicted as a single gene.  CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout experiments revealed the involvement of GPCR-AC4 but not GPCR-AC3 in oospore production, further confirming their status as two separate genes.  In addition to P. sojae, the reliability of the toGC pipeline in Phytophthora capsici and Pythium ultimum further emphasizes the robustness of this pipeline.  Our findings highlight the utility of toGC for reliable gene model correction, facilitating investigations into biological functions and offering potential applications in diverse species analyses.

Based on the current development status of the potato industry in Zunyi City, Guizhou Province, the key aspects requiring attention were summarized and analyzed, and development strategies were proposed. The potato industry in the study area exhibits significant advantages in planting scale, with substantial cultivation area and high output. The industrial layout was categorized into optimal suitable zones (900-1 500 m), suitable zones (600-900 m), and sub-suitable zones (below 600 m) based on altitude. Products primarily consist of fresh consumption and primary processing (e.g., starch), and regional brands such as “Qianbei Potato” have been established, with sales networks extending to the Pearl River Delta and Chengdu-Chongqing economic zones. The industrial development requires focused attention on several key aspects, including conditions for large-scale production, seed variety structure, promotion of advanced cultivation methods, adoption of agricultural machinery, industry chain integration, capacity of business entities to drive development, and farmers’ willingness to cultivate. To enhance industrial quality and competitiveness, the strategies were proposed include: strengthening the construction of high quality farmland to leverage superior farmland advantages for improving potato yield per unit area and enabling large-scale production; promoting high-quality virus-free seed potatoes, enhancing scientific research collaboration, and breeding new varieties with high yield and disease resistance; promoting standardized, green, and efficient cultivation models, establishing agricultural technology extension networks, standardizing cultivation management and pest control culivation management, and improve yield and marketable tuber rates; enhancing agricultural mechanization levels by adhering to the principle of “adapting machinery to land” and “adapting land to machinery”, with a focus on mechanization breakthroughs in planting and harvesting; fostering integrated development of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries by expanding diversified product systems and strengthening brand building and marketing; exploring the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism to develop new business models; strengthening the cultivation of agricultural business entities, promoting new business models, and developing contract farming; and coordinating funding to increase support across the entire industry chain and promote comprehensive coverage of crop insurance for potato cultivation, and stimulating farmers’ willingness to plant. This paper provides a reference for promoting the high quality, high efficient, and sustainable development of the potato industry in southwestern mountainous regions.

Osmanthus fragrans is most famous for its strong aroma, and different varieties have different degrees of fragrance and color.  Fragrance and color are important factors affecting the ornamental quality of O. fragrans.  Terpenoids are important secondary metabolites in plants, with β-carotene (C40) being the major pigment substance and linalool (C10) being the key aromatic component in O. fragrans.  The geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase genes (GGPPSs) play important roles in secondary metabolism in plants.  However, the functions of the GGPPS family in floral color and fragrance formation has rarely been reported in O. fragrans.  In this study, 24 OfGGPPS genes were identified and classified into two subfamilies.  The OfGGPPSs showed tissue-specific expression and OfGGPPS13 had highest expression in flowers.  The OfGGPPS13 protein was localized to chloroplasts.  The transcriptome data of OfGGPPS13 was verified by qRT-PCR and the expression level in ‘Wanyingui’ with strong aroma was higher than that in ‘Zhuangyuanhong’ with deep color at different flower development stages.  Transient overexpression of OfGGPPS13 in O. fragrans petals showed that OfGGPPS13 increased the β-carotene content, the main color substance of O. fragrans, but decreased the linalool content, the main volatile organic compound (VOC) in the floral aroma of O. fragrans.  OfGGPPS13 was indicated as the critical gene related to terpenoid synthesis in the floral aroma and color formation in O. fragrans.  Our findings provide gene resources on the GGPPS gene family for further revealing the molecular regulation mechanism of the floral color and aroma formation in O. fragrans.

This study analyzed the current status of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency improvement work in Wuhu City, Anhui Province, as well as the key links requiring focused attention, and proposed future improvement paths. In the study area, the agricultural chemical fertilizer application rate in 2023 decreased by 16.20% compared with that in 2014, and the chemical fertilizer application intensity decreased by an average of 16.83 kg/hm² per year from 2018 to 2023; the ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) has been optimized to 1:0.3:0.5, while promoting the combined application of macronutrients with medium and trace elements. The chemical fertilizer use efficiency has been improved to a certain extent, reaching 42% in 2023. However, the current chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency improvement work still needs further improvement in aspects such as the application of soil testing and formula fertilization technology and data, the promotion degree and applicability of the integrated application of “Three News” (new technologies, new products, new machinery), the efficiency of conventional fertilization methods and the application of new technologies, and the implementation of the chemical fertilizer application quota system. In the future, the continuous optimization of fertilizer formulas and a significant improvement in fertilizer use efficiency can be further achieved through measures such as reasonably conducting field experiments on the application of new fertilizers and the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers to establish fixed channels for releasing fertilizer formulas; promoting mature integrated application models of “Three News” and selecting sample plots with good application effects; adopting methods such as side-deep fertilization and seed-fertilizer co-sowing to strengthen the integration of machinery and agronomy, and the integration of technology and materials; selecting representative regions to carry out demonstration and promotion of the chemical fertilizer application quota system, and strengthening technical training for ordinary growers. This study provides a reference for the further promotion of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency improvement work in the study area.

Based on the OBE concept, this article systematically analyzed the current situation of teaching quality in agriculture related majors from 5 dimensions: teaching quality standards, management systems, guarantee systems, practical monitoring, and evaluation feedback, in order to improve the quality of talent cultivation in agriculture related majors. The study found that several aspects of current teaching in agriculture-related majors, including quality standards, management systems, guarantee mechanisms, practical training supervision, and evaluation systems, needed to be improved. Based on these findings, this study proposed a teaching quality assurance system integrating “standards, systems, assurance, supervision, and feedback”. The specific implementation paths were as follows: optimizing teaching quality standards and integrating cutting-edge technologies such as smart agriculture and biological breeding into the curriculum system; improving teaching management systems and establishing a dynamic adjustment mechanism of “industrial demand - training objectives - teaching implementation”; constructing a “three-dimensional linkage” teaching quality assurance system to realize the closed-loop management of “objectives - standards - supervision - feedback - improvement”; strengthening teaching and practical supervision, implementing the “school-enterprise dual supervision” model to cover the whole process of classroom teaching and field operation; improving the “university-enterprise-industry-government” four-party collaborative evaluation mechanism, and enhancing graduate tracking and employer feedback. This study achieved the whole-process closed-loop management of teaching quality, promoted the accurate connection between talent cultivation and industrial demand, and provided a reference for improving the teaching quality of agriculture-related majors.

Xyloglucan represents the primary hemicellulose component in higher plant cell walls, providing mechanical support.  The XTH gene family encodes xyloglucan endotransferase/hydrolase, a crucial enzyme in cell wall remodeling.  Studies examining XTH family-related genes in apples remain limited.  This study investigated the MdXTH30 gene, isolated from apple (Malus×domestica), which demonstrated responsiveness to abscisic acid, NaCl, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, with cytoplasmic localization confirmed through subcellular mapping.  To elucidate the role of MdXTH30 in stress response, transgenic MdXTH30 apple calli were generated and the gene was heterologously expressed in Arabidopsis via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.  The findings revealed that MdXTH30 enhanced resistance to drought, salt stress, and pathogens through regulation of relevant genes in both apple calli and Arabidopsis.  These results identify potentially significant candidate genes for improving biotic and abiotic stress resistance at the cell wall level.

This article analyzed the current situation of the integration of artificial intelligence in the construction of smart campuses in higher agricultural colleges, and proposes targeted optimization paths. The current state of integration covers seven dimensions, namely information silos and data integration, adaptability of artificial intelligence teaching and training applications, technological iteration and operation capabilities, data security and privacy protection, differences in digital literacy between teachers and students, ethical risks and algorithms, and the essence of intelligent applications and education. On this basis, this paper constructed a systematic optimization path from multiple dimensions including technical architecture, management mechanism, standard system and talent training. The specific measures were as follows: resolving information silos by building university-level data middle platforms; developing agriculture-specific AI algorithm modules through university-enterprise collaboration; establishing a collaborative mechanism for technological iteration and operation and maintenance capabilities; strengthening the full-life-cycle protection of data security; constructing a hierarchical and classified digital literacy improvement system; improving the algorithmic ethics audit and bias avoidance mechanism; and establishing a human-machine collaborative model featuring “technology empowerment and education-oriented development”. The research results could provide a reference practical scheme for the construction of smart campuses in higher agricultural colleges and universities, and contributed to the cultivation of high quality and interdisciplinary talents in the context of new agricultural science.

To stimulate the learning interest of students majoring in Plant Protection and enhance their professional core competencies, this study focused on the universality and practicality of the teaching practice in Agricultural Entomology. It constructed a practical teaching content system covering basic reinforcement, insect survey, occurrence degree assessment, forecasting technology, prevention and control scheme formulation, and achievement reporting. Meanwhile, it adopted differentiated teaching organization forms (including mixed-gender grouping, rotating team leader system, and role exchange between teachers and students) and established a full-process quantitative formative assessment mechanism. This teaching model integrated portable equipment such as mobile phone macro lenses and ideological and political elements, strengthening practical training and scientific thinking cultivation through multi-module coordination and the combination of teaching and evaluation. Practice showed that the average internship scores of regular undergraduate students of the 2019–2021 cohorts and combined bachelor’s-master’s degree students of the 2019–2020 cohorts rose steadily, the score standard deviations kept decreasing, and the number of students in the low-score range (below 85 points) dropped significantly. In addition, students expressed high satisfaction with the internship equipment, mastered the core monitoring, forecasting and prevention technologies proficiently, further explored applications related to smart plant protection, and their collaborative abilities were effectively enhanced. This paper provides a reference for the practical teaching reform of Plant Protection related majors.

To address the teaching difficulties caused by the complex principles and sophisticated operations of PCR technology in the Biotechnology Pharmaceutics course, this study integrated the BOPPPS teaching method with the Chaoxing learning platform in depth and constructed a special teaching mode for PCR. Following the logical sequence of 6 links-Bridge-in, Objective, Pre-assessment, Participatory Learning, Post-assessment and Summary-the mode stimulated students’ learning interest through case-driven and problem-oriented approaches, optimized teaching orientation by means of targeted pre-assessment, strengthened participatory learning based on group presentations, experimental operations and interactive discussions, and ensured teaching effectiveness with diversified evaluation methods. Teaching practice showed that this mode effectively improved 214 students’ mastery of PCR theoretical knowledge (the accuracy rate of single-choice questions on basic principles reached 94.4%), standardized their experimental operations, and enhanced their comprehensive literacy (including teamwork and innovative thinking). Meanwhile, it promoted teachers to shift from experience-based lesson preparation to precision-oriented design, significantly improved their ability of integrating teaching with research, and gained high recognition with Grade A (excellent teaching effect) in school supervision evaluation and a score of 97.79 in student evaluation of teaching. The research indicated that the integrated application of the BOPPPS teaching method and the Chaoxing learning platform achieved remarkable results in the PCR teaching of the Biotechnology Pharmaceutics course. Future improvements should focus on optimizing time management, adding case discussions and enhancing personalized support. This study could provide a reference for the teaching reform of interdisciplinary comprehensive courses.​

Flower and fruit abscission reduce crop yield, so decreasing abscission is a significant agricultural issue.  HAESA (HAE) and HAESA-like2 (HSL2) kinases and their ligand, INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) peptide, have been confirmed to be the core elements regulating floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis thaliana.  Our earlier research revealed that SlIDL6, a homolog of IDA in tomato, functions similarly to AtIDA, regulating the abscission of tomato flower organs.  Here, we further isolated three HAESA-like homologs, SlHSL1/2/3, which are involved in tomato flower abscission.  SlHSL1/2/3 are highly expressed in the abscission zone (AZ).  The knockout mutant lines of Slhsl1, Slhsl2, and Slhsl3 showed lower flower pedicel abscission than wild type (WT).  The double mutant of Slhsl1Slhsl2, Slhsl1Slhsl3, and Slhsl2Slhsl3 further depressed abscission than each of the single mutant lines, while triple mutants Slhsl1Slhsl2Slhsl3 exhibited the lowest abscission, indicating that SlHSL1/2/3 mediated abscission is non-redundancy, at least partially.  Treating tomato pedicel explants with SlIDL6 peptide significantly accelerated pedicel abscission in WT.  However, it had little effect on the abscission rate of SlHSL1/2/3 knockout lines, indicating that SlHSL1/2/3 are the receptors of SlIDL6 in pedicel abscission.  Ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) can significantly depress the expression of SlHSL1/2/3.  Ethylene can significantly accelerate the abscission of WT, while less abscission was found in SlHSL1/2/3 knockout lines.  Our findings indicate that SlHSL1/2/3 can act as receptors for SlIDL6 to positively regulate tomato pedicel abscission, and the abscission regulated by SlHSL1/2/3 was partially dependent on ethylene

To reveal the causes of long-distance torrential rain brought by typhoons in Jiangsu Province, this study utilized regional automatic weather stations and ERA5 reanalysis data to comparatively analyze the circulation patterns and water vapor conditions in the study area during the impacts of typhoon mangkhut in 2018 and typhoon kalmaegi in 2014. The results showed that: (1) affected by typhoon mangkhut (No. 22, 2018), a significant precipitation event occurred in the southern part of the study area from September 16 to 17, 2018, characterized by high hourly rainfall intensity and concentrated precipitation periods. In contrast, typhoon kalmaegi (No. 15, 2014), which had a similar track, did not bring any obvious wind and rainfall impacts to the study area. (2) Under the influence of typhoon mangkhut, a southwest jet stream was jointly formed by the typhoon and the subtropical high, transporting water vapor, and the low-level typhoon trough system moved northward, triggering convection; under the influence of typhoon kalmaegi, the jet stream and the low-level typhoon trough system were both located further south and were weaker. (3) Typhoon mangkhut led to the formation of a strong water vapor convergence center in the study area; during the impact of typhoon kalmaegi, the water vapor flux in the study area was relatively small, and there was no strong water vapor convergence center. In conclusion, the combined effect of the typhoon’s peripheral circulation and the westerly flow on the west side of the subtropical high, forming a southwest jet stream for water vapor transport, as well as the influence of the low-level typhoon trough system, are the main reasons for the formation of long-distance torrential rain in the study area caused by typhoons.

Lightning disasters are characterized by their suddenness and destructive power, exerting a significant impact on people’s daily lives and production. This article focuses on analyzing the current situation and areas for improvement in lightning protection and disaster reduction in rural areas of Xing’an League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and offers development suggestions. In recent years, the study area has made certain achievements in lightning protection and disaster reduction by installing lightning rods and lightning belts to improve the lightning protection infrastructure, conducting lightning monitoring and early warning through meteorological satellites and radar technology, and promoting lightning protection and disaster reduction science popularization and education through knowledge lectures and distributing brochures. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of financial support, lightning protection and disaster reduction awareness, and management systems. Based on this, the following promotion strategies and paths were proposed : establishing a special fund for rural lightning protection and disaster reduction and a supervision process to optimize the financial input mechanism, improving the management of lightning protection equipment, and strengthening equipment inspection and maintenance; innovating publicity methods (such as interesting and easy-to-understand animations) and enriching publicity content (such as fieldwork and animal husbandry operations) to enhance residents’ awareness of lightning protection and disaster reduction; formulating scientific and reasonable emergency plans, strengthening the publicity and training of emergency plans, and standardizing lightning protection inspection and acceptance to improve the management system. This article provides a reference for improving the level of lightning protection and disaster reduction in rural areas.

Based on the observed sunshine duration data of Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 1959 to 2018, this study analyzed the annual and seasonal variation trends, spatial distribution characteristics, periodic changes of sunshine duration, and its impact on crop yield in the region by means of trend analysis, moving average, Morlet wavelet analysis and Mann-Kendall test. The results showed that: (1) From 1959 to 2018, the annual variation of the average sunshine duration in the study area exhibited an overall decreasing trend. Among the seasonal variations, only the annual sunshine duration and the number of days with sunshine percentage ≥ 60% in spring showed a slight upward trend; (2) The spatial distributions of both sunshine duration and the number of days with sunshine percentage ≥ 60% in the study area increased progressively from south to north; (3) A mutation occurred in the annual sunshine duration of the study area in 1997, with oscillation periods of 22, 31, 12 and 4 years; (4) The sunshine percentage in the study area was positively correlated with wheat yield while negatively correlated with tuber yield, with correlation coefficients of 0.56 and -0.63, respectively. This study provides a scientific reference for the optimization of crop planting structure and the improvement of climate adaptive management.

Elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) may mitigate stress-induced damage to cotton (Gossypium spp.) growth and development.  However, understanding the early-stage responses of cotton to multiple abiotic stressors at eCO₂ levels has been limited.  This study quantified the impacts of chilling (CS, 22/14°C, day/night temperature), heat (HS, 38/30°C), drought (DS, 50% irrigation of the control), and salt (SS, 8 dS m^–1) stresses on pigments, physiology, growth, and development of 14 upland cotton cultivars under ambient CO₂ (aCO₂, 420 ppm; current) and eCO₂ (700 ppm; future) levels during the vegetative stage.  The eCO₂ partially negated the effects of all stresses by improving one or more of the pigments, physiological, growth, and development traits, except CS.  For instance, HS at aCO₂ significantly increased stomatal conductance by 36% compared with non-stressed plants at aCO₂.  However, HS at eCO₂ significantly decreased stomatal conductance by 18% compared with HS at aCO₂.  The first squaring was delayed by one day under SS at aCO₂ but two days earlier under SS at eCO₂ than non-stressed plants at aCO₂.  Root and shoot dry mass and the total leaf area were significantly higher under all stresses, except for CS, at the eCO₂ compared with similar stresses at the aCO₂.  Most growth and development traits, including plant height, leaf area, and shoot dry mass, displayed a mirroring response pattern between aCO₂ and eCO₂ under all environments except CS.  Cultivars exhibited significant interaction with stressed environments.  Further, results revealed differential sensitivity and adaptation potential of cultivars to stress environments at varying CO₂ levels.  This study highlights the need to consider eCO₂ in designing breeding programs to develop stress-tolerant varieties for future cotton-growing environments.

Based on meteorological data (including temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration) from 6 national meteorological stations in Xixiu District, Pingba District, Puding County, Zhenning Buyi and Miao Autonomous County (referred to as Zhenning), Guanling Buyi and Miao Autonomous County (referred to as Guanling), and Ziyun Miao and Buyi Autonomous County (referred to as Ziyun) of Anshun City, Guizhou Province during 1994-2023, as well as data from the Anshun Statistical Yearbook during 2011-2023, this study analyzed the characteristics of climate change in the study area over the past 30 years and evaluated its impact on rice yield using linear regression analysis, moving average method, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that the annual average temperature in the 6 regions of the study area presented an upward trend from 1994 to 2023, while the annual total precipitation showed a general but uneven decreasing trend. The annual sunshine duration exhibited a slow upward trend with significant fluctuations. From 2011 to 2023, the rice yield per unit area in the 6 regions generally showed a growth trend of “slow first, then rapid, followed by differentiation” with obvious regional differentiation. Specifically, the rice yield per unit area in the Pingba area was significantly positively correlated with the annual average temperature (P<0.05), and that in the Ziyun area was significantly positively correlated with both the annual average temperature and annual total precipitation (P<0.05). The correlations between rice yield per unit area and meteorological factors in the other regions were not statistically significant (P>0.05). These findings indicate that the rice yield per unit area in some parts of the study area is significantly affected by temperature and precipitation.

Persistent overcast rain was an essential limiting factor for summer maize production, of which immediate impact was the dual pressure of waterlogging and shading.  However, the mechanisms underlying independent and combined effects of waterlogging and shading on maize yield losses remain understudied, particularly across different growth stages.  Denghai 605 (DH605) was selected to be subjected shading, waterlogging, and their combined stress at the 3rd leaf stage (V3), the 6th leaf stage (V6), and tasseling stage (VT).  Results showed that shading, waterlogging and their combination significantly restricted leaf area expansion, reduced leaf net photosynthetic rate (P_n) and net assimilation rate (NAR), thereby decreasing the crop growth rate (CGR) and biomass accumulation.  Additionally, compared to control, the process of lignin synthesis was inhibited under stressed treatment, resulting in diminished stem mechanical strength and impaired vascular system development, which substantially reduced assimilate remobilization efficiency to the ear and ultimate grain yield.  Waterlogging and combined stresses exhibited maximum impact at the V3 stage, followed by V6 and VT stages, while shading effects were most pronounced at the VT stage, followed by V6 and V3 stages.  Moreover, the compound stress exacerbated the damage brought about by a single stress.  As climate change is projected to increase the frequency of multiple abiotic stress occurrences, these findings provide valuable insights for future summer maize breeding research under persistent rainfall conditions.

To explore the transcriptome chemosensory and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the legs of female and male adult Plutella xylostella (L.), and to screen chemosensory-related DEGs, this study used adult P. xylostella as experimental materials, and high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to sequence and analyze the legs of female and male adults. The results showed that the GC content of the transcriptome data from the legs of both female and male adult P. xylostella was higher than 45%, the Q20 ratio exceeded 96%, and the Q30 ratio was greater than 90%, indicating that the sequencing results were reliable and suitable for subsequent assembly. A total of 141 226 transcripts were obtained through transcriptome sequencing, and 46 554 unigenes were generated after assembly, with a total length of 51 410 982 bp, an average length of 1 104 bp, and an N50 value of 1 791 bp. Functional annotation results revealed that 46 554 unigenes were successfully annotated in seven databases (NR, NT, KEGG, SwissProt, PFAM, GO, and KOG), among which the NT database annotated the largest number of unigenes (31 074, accounting for 66.75%). Functional classification results indicated that a large number of unigenes were annotated to the “cellular process” and “metabolic process” categories in the biological process of the GO database, the “general function prediction only” category in the KOG database, and the “signal transduction” pathway under “environmental information processing” in the KEGG database. Digital expression profile analysis of DEGs identified 255 differentially expressed genes. Compared with the legs of male adults, 200 genes were significantly upregulated and 55 genes were significantly downregulated in the legs of female adults. Among these DEGs, the “cellular nitrogen compound metabolic process” accounted for the highest proportion in the biological process of the GO database, and they were mainly enriched in pathways such as “ribosome” and “longevity regulating pathway” in the KEGG database. Meanwhile, 3 chemosensory genes (PxylOR1, PxylCSP2, and PxylCSP4) with differential expression between the legs of female and male adult P. xylostella were screened out. This study provides a reference for investigating the mechanism by which P. xylostella perceives external semiochemicals.

Coordinating light and nitrogen (N) distribution within a canopy is essential for improving rice yield and resource use efficiency.  However, limited research has examined light and N distribution in response to planting density and N rate, and their relationships with grain yield, radiation use efficiency (RUE), and N use efficiency for grain production (NUEg) in rice.  A two-year field experiment was conducted with two hybrid varieties under three N levels, 0 kg ha^–1 (N1), 90 kg ha^–1 (N2) and 180 kg ha^–1 (N3), and two planting densities, 22.2 hills m^–2 (D1) and 33.3 hills m^–2 (D2).  Results showed 3.4% higher yield and 4.4% higher NUEg under N2D2 compared with N3D1.  The extinction coefficient for N (K_N) and light (K_L) and their ratio (K_N/K_L) at heading stage were significantly influenced by N rate, planting density, and their interaction.  K_N decreased with the increase of N input or planting density.  Compared to N1, K_N decreased by 43.5 and 58.8% under N2 and N3, respectively, while K_N under D2 decreased by 16.0% compared to D1.  Higher K_L and K_N/K_L values occurred under low N rates, with opposite trends under high N rates.  Increased planting density led to decreased K_L and K_N/K_L values.  N2D2 demonstrated higher K_L and K_N, and thus comparable K_N/K_L, compared to N3D1.  Correlation analysis revealed K_L negatively correlated with RUE, while K_N and K_N/K_L positively correlated with NUEg.  These findings indicate that increasing planting density under reduced N input could maintain rice yield while enhancing resource use efficiency through regulation of canopy light and N distribution.

To explore the flowering plant resources and landscape effects of Longhua Martyrs Cemetery in Shanghai, this article adopted the method of field investigation to conduct a survey and analysis of the types, flowering periods, colors, flower shapes and landscape creation of the flowering plants in this garden, and proposes suggestions for the creation of flowering plant landscapes. The results showed that the flowering plant resources in the study area were relatively rich, with a total of 84 species, belonging to 66 genera and 38 families. Among them, there were 33 herbaceous species, 30 tree species, 20 shrub species and 1 vine species. Among the tree species, the Lamiaceae, Compositae, Iridaceae and Amaryllidaceae were the main dominant families. These plants had the characteristic of continuous flowering throughout the year and rich and diverse flower colors. There were 46 kinds of flowering plants in spring, 27 kinds in summer, 17 kinds in autumn and 8 kinds in winter. There were 36 types of white flowers, 33 types of red flowers, 18 types of yellow flowers, and 13 types of blue-purple flowers. The types of flower phases were diverse, including dense flower phases, linear flower phases, clustered flower phases, covering flower phases, scattered flower phases, and dry flower phases, totaling 6 categories. The plant landscape creation methods in the study area were diverse. The configuration of flowering plants mainly adopted forms such as tree-shrub and tree-shrub grass. For linear landscape creation, trees like Osmanthus fragrans and Yulania denudata were mostly used, while for surface landscape creation, the same type of flowering plants were commonly planted in large areas. On this basis, development suggestions such as increasing the application of native flowering plants, adding more types of climbing and aquatic flowering plants, and strengthening the creation of winter flowering plant landscapes were put forward, providing references for the construction and renovation of plant landscapes in the garden.