ERF (Ethylene Responsive Factor) transcription factors are an important subfamily of the AP2/ERF family, characterized by a highly conserved AP2 domain. They specifically recognize and bind to cis-acting elements such as GCC-box and DRE/CRT in the promoters of target genes, playing a central regulatory role in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Members of the ERF family are primarily involved in regulating responses to abiotic stresses such as drought, high salt, low temperature, and hypoxia, while others mediate resistance to biotic stresses like pathogens through hormone signaling pathways involving salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. In recent years, several key ERF members involved in stress responses have been identified in maize, and their crucial roles in enhancing drought tolerance, salt tolerance, and disease resistance have been confirmed through genetic transformation. Through literature research and inductive analysis, this review summarizes the structural characteristics and functional classification of ERF transcription factors in maize, with a focus on elucidating their regulatory mechanisms and networks under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. ERF transcription factors, via their conserved AP2 domain, bind to cis-acting elements such as the GCC-box and DRE/CRT, participate in phytohormone signaling pathways including abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) to regulate downstream stress-responsive gene expression. 229 maize AP2/ERF family genes have been identified, among which 105 ERF subfamily members respond to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, as well as biotic stresses such as Exserohilum turcicum and Fusarium graminearum, some genes (e.g., ZmERF21 and ZmEREB92) have broad-spectrum stress tolerance potential. ERF transcription factors are the core nodes of maize stress resistance regulatory network, enhancing resilience through multiple collaborative approaches. Future research should integrate technologies like ChIP-seq and gene editing to further elucidate ERF target genes and interaction networks, excavate superior allelic variants, provide genetic resources and theoretical support for molecular design and breeding of maize stress resistance.
To explore the regulatory role of BvFVE1 in bolting and flowering of sugar beet and to understand the molecular mechanisms of bolting and flowering in sugar beet, the subcellular localization of BvFVE1 was firstly predicted by DeepLoc and analyzed by Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression in this study. Subsequently, sugar beet cultivar KWS9147 was used as the experimental material, and the effect of transient expression of BvFVE1 on the expression of bolting and flowering genes was detected by qRT-PCR. Arabidopsis was transformed via the floral-dip method to observe the effect of heterologous expression of BvFVE1 on bolting and flowering. The DeepLoc prediction showed that the scores for nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of BvFVE1 protein were 0.527 and 0.4535, respectively. After transient expression，BvFVE1 was distributed in a punctate pattern in the nucleus and cytoplasm of leaf epidermal cells. In sugar beet cotyledons, transient expression of BvFVE1 significantly downregulated the expression levels of BvBTC1, BvFT2, BvGI, and BvFY were significantly downregulated by 2.90, 3.27, 2.91, and 2.45 fold, respectively. Heterologous expression of BvFVE1 in Arabidopsis delayed bolting and flowering by approximately 2 and 3 days, respectively. These results indicate that BvFVE1 plays an inhibitory role in bolting and flowering in sugar beet. This study provides a theoretical basis for further investigation into the molecular mechanism by which BvFVE1 regulates bolting and flowering.
To investigate the effects of side-deep fertilization on rice biomass production, yield formation, and grain quality, in this experiment, no nitrogen fertilizer (0N) was set as the blank control, and the split application of 300 kg/hm2 conventional fertilizer was set as the conventional control (CK). Two main plots were established: side-deep application of slow-release blended fertilizer and side-deep application of conventional compound fertilizer. Within these main plots, three nitrogen application gradients (240, 270 and 300 kg/hm2) were set as subplots. Additionally, two modes with a 10% nitrogen reduction were included: a one-time side-deep application of slow-release blended fertilizer (ODS18), and a one-base-one-topdressing side-deep application of conventional fertilizer (DSC18), resulting in a total of eight treatments. The results showed that compared with the control, side-deep fertilization did not reduce the number of tillers even when nitrogen application was reduced by 10%-20%; instead, it promoted tillering, with tiller numbers increased by 4.5% to 56.5% and effective panicles increased by 7.5% to 22.1%. Under side-deep fertilization, plant height increased across all nitrogen application levels, and the leaf area index significantly improved, favoring early-stage rice growth. It also significantly enhanced the photosynthetic potential, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, and partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer, with side-deep application of slow-release blended fertilizer outperforming side-deep application of conventional compound fertilizer. The highest photosynthetic potential and nitrogen use efficiency were achieved with slow-release blended fertilizer at a nitrogen application rate of 270 kg/hm2. Under reduced nitrogen application and fewer fertilization events, side-deep fertilization effectively increased the number of effective panicles without reducing the seed-setting rate or 1000-grain weight, which were the main reasons for the yield increase. The yield of side-deep application of slow-release blended fertilizer with a 20% nitrogen reduction was close to that of the control, while a 10% nitrogen reduction increased yield by 14.5%, demonstrating significant potential for yield enhancement and efficiency improvement. The effects of side-deep fertilization on rice quality were complex, which could increase protein content but had minimal impact on processing and appearance quality. The head rice rate under side-deep application of compound fertilizer was higher than that of the control, and one-time deep side application of slow-release blended fertilizer significantly improved the head rice rate and reduced amylose content. In summary, side deep fertilization is an efficient fertilization method, which can stabilize or even increase the yield under the condition of reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer by 10% -20% and reducing the number of fertilization times by 2-3 times. In particular, the treatment of side deep application of slow-release blended fertilizer with 20% nitrogen reduction can stabilize the processing quality and appearance quality without reducing the yield, and has the value of large-scale promotion.
The aim is to screen out high-yield, stable and tolerant to late sowing wheat varieties. By comparing the differences in agronomic traits and yield of 17 wheat varieties, the study aims to provide a basis and theoretical support for the selection of varieties for high yield and stable yield of wheat in late sowing areas. Using CJ580 and other 16 wheat varieties as test materials, a single-factor random block design was employed to measure the three key yield components at maturity, and convert the grain yield according to 13% moisture content. The number of tillers per plant and the earing rate were measured at various growth stages. At maturity, 20 representative plants were randomly selected to measure plant height and ear length. The main diseases that are likely to occur under late-sowing conditions were monitored, and their severity was assessed visually during the peak disease period. Data were analyzed using SPSS and the LSD method. The results showed that there were significant differences in the tiller dynamics of different varieties at various growth stages: YF19 had the highest number of tillers during the winter survival stage, YF19, ZM18, and YM23 tied for first place during the green-up stage, and YM1 reached its peak (1008×104/hm2) during the jointing stage. CJ580, YM43, and YM36 performed optimally during the earing and milk stages, with the tiller-to-earing rate ranging from 44.64% to 49.79%. In terms of plant height and ear length, YM1, YM34, and YM46 stood out (plant height> 66 cm, ear length> 8 cm), while ZM23 and YM30 were significantly lower. Disease monitoring showed that all varieties had not experienced Fusarium head blight, rust, or lodging, with only a few showing mild powdery mildew. The study found that late sowing generally led to reduced yields, shortened growth periods to 200 days, and a general decrease in plant height. Outstanding varieties regulate the three key factors of yield through a differentiated compensation mechanism. These factors include high ear numbers (YM43), balanced agronomic traits (YM1), ear-to-grain number advantage (YM34), and outstanding thousand-grain weight (YM46), all achieving stable yields above 6500 kg/hm2. This study provides practical guidance for variety screening under extreme climates, but the conclusions need to be further validated through multi-year and multi-regional trials. In summary, ‘YANGMAI 43’, ‘YANMAI 1’, ‘YANGMAI 34’, and ‘YANGMAI 46’ are suitable for initial promotion in Hanjiang District, Yangzhou under extreme climates and late sowing conditions as late-sowing-resistant and stable varieties.
To investigate the effects of different sowing dates and seeding rates on the growth and yield of winter wheat in the Chengdu Plain, a two-factor split-zone experiment was adopted using the wheat variety 'Chuanmai 1247'. The main plots were designed with five sowing dates (S1: November 1st, traditional sowing date; S2: November 8th; S3: November 15th; S4: November 22nd; S5: November 29th), and the subplots were set with two seeding rates (R1: 225 kg/hm2，traditional seeding rate; R2: 300 kg/hm2). The effects of each treatment on wheat growth period, tiller dynamics, dry matter accumulation and yield were systematically studied. The results showed that compared with traditional sowing date S1, the entire growth period of wheat under S2-S5 treatments was shortened by 4-17 days, which was mainly reflected in the shortening of the reproductive growth stage. As sowing delayed, the productive tiller percentage increased by 21.87% to 39.69% compared with S1. The number of effective spikes, dry matter accumulation at the maturity stage, and yield initially increased and subsequently decreased with sowing delayed, and all reached the maximum under S3 treatment, which increasing by 24.46%, 2.40%, and 15.43% respectively, compared with S1. However, the thousand-grain weight consistently decreased with sowing delayed. Higher seeding rate (R2) led to higher tiller numbers of wheat at all growth stages but reduce the productive tiller percentage. Increasing the seeding rate under traditional sowing date (S1) reduced grain yield. Conversely, increasing the seeding rate under delayed sowing conditions could increased grain yield. In summary, delayed sowing date shortens the reproductive stage of wheat. Delay sowing appropriately (e.g, S2-S3) can increase grain yield by increasing the number of effective spikes and dry matter accumulation. Increasing seeding rate under traditional sowing date is detrimental to yield formation, whereas increasing seeding rate under delayed sowing date can stabilize or enhance yield. This study provides technical support for the high-yield cultivation of wheat following rice.
The purpose of this study is to systematically analyze the evolution of main traits of peanut registered varieties in Liaoning Province in recent years, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the breeding and promotion of new peanut varieties in this area. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation was carried out on 71 valid peanut varieties registered in Liaoning Province from 2017 to 2024. Multiple traits such as variety types, breeding methods, main phenotypes, plant types, yields, and qualities were evaluated by methods such as the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and cluster analysis. The study showed that from 2017 to 2024, a total of 71 valid peanut varieties were registered in Liaoning Province. 66.2% were pearl bean type, 87.3% were selected through hybridization and 78.9% of the selection units were scientific research institutes. In terms of phenotypic traits, the varieties were mainly upright in plant type, with elliptical leaves, green in color, ordinary pod shape, and light red seed coat; the leaf shape and pod shape had a large variation range, the plant type had the smallest variation range, and the leaf color trait had the richest genetic diversity. The average annual values of plant height and lateral branch length of the registered varieties showed a downward trend, and the growth period, yield, and quality traits were relatively stable; most of them showed moderate resistance to leaf spot, leaf blight, and rust. When the Euclidean distance was 11, the registered varieties were divided into four groups, which were materials of the dwarf type with plump kernels, large fruit type, late-maturing type, and early-maturing type with high oleic acid. This study revealed the evolution trend of the registered peanut varieties in Liaoning Province in recent years, which will provide a theoretical basis for the improvement and efficient utilization of peanut varieties in Liaoning Province.
In response to the lack of effective molecular markers for the identification of Isatis indigotica germplasm and the difficulty of distinguishing cultivated types within the species using existing methods, this study aimed to develop simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers suitable for germplasm identification and genetic diversity analysis in I. indigotica. Based on whole-genome data of I. indigotica, SSR loci were screened using MISA software, and primers were designed with Primer3.0. Using three cultivated types of I. indigotica (comprising 18 individual plants) as experimental materials, the amplification stability, polymorphism, effectiveness, and variety identification ability of the primers were validated. Genetic diversity parameters were also calculated. The results showed that: (1) a total of 139,852 SSR loci were detected in the I. indigotica genome. The most abundant were mononucleotide SSR loci, accounting for approximately 72.51% of the total. The most frequent SSR motif, A/T, also exhibited the highest total number of repeats among all nucleotide SSR motifs, with a count of 100,205, accounting for 71.65% of all repeated motifs. (2) Eight pairs of primers that can stably amplify genes and have rich polymorphisms were screened out. Among them, primer SSRSL02 could be used to distinguish the I. indigotica germplasms tested in this study. (3) The eight primer pairs exhibited the average expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.65, the average Shannon's information index (I) of 1.34, and the average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.614, indicating a relatively high level of genetic diversity within the tested I. indigotica samples. In summary, the eight SSR molecular markers developed in this study can be used for the identification of I. indigotica germplasm resources, genetic diversity analysis, and variety breeding. In the future, the sample size of I. indigotica germplasm could be expanded, and DNA fingerprinting could be constructed by integrating phenotypic data and active ingredient content, thereby providing more comprehensive technical support for the precise evaluation of I. indigotica germplasm resources.
Glycine-rich proteins (GRPs) are a family of proteins containing a high proportion of Glycine (20%-70%), which are widely present in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and are important regulatory factors for plants to respond to abiotic stresses (high salt, drought, high and low temperatures, etc.). They regulates plant growth, development and stress resistance response through RNA binding, protein interaction and other means. This article reviews the structural characteristics, classification system, biological functions and the mechanism of action under abiotic stress of plant GRPs. The results show that, structurally, all contain GR domains, and different subcategories also contain specific domains such as RNA recognition motif (RRM), cold shock domain (CSD), and CCHC zinc finger. It can be classified into five categories. Among them, category IV (GR-RBPs) contains RNA binding functions and is the most abundant in plants. Functionally, GRPs have obvious tissue specificity and can participate in plant growth and development by promoting cell elongation and regulating stomatal opening and closing. The role of GRPs in the response to abiotic stress is emphasized: under low-temperature stress, AtGRP2 of Arabidopsis thaliana, a GRPs of the Ⅳc subfamily, enhances the plant's frost resistance through RNA chaperone activity. Under high-temperature stress, the expression of OsGRP3/OsGRP162 in rice and BcGRP1 in non-head-forming Chinese cabbage is induced by heat, maintaining the heat tolerance of plants. In salt stress and osmotic stress, the Limonium bicolor LbGRP1 enhances salt tolerance by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Under drought stress, Arabidopsis AtGRP2/AtGRP7 and rice OsGRP3 enhance drought resistance by regulating stomatal movement, ROS metabolism and lignin synthesis. Finally, the future research directions are discussed, and it is proposed that multi-mics and genetic techniques should be combined to analyze the upstream regulatory network of GRPs and the collaborative response mechanism under multiple stresses, providing a theoretical basis for breeding stress-resistant crop varieties.
Nitrogen is one of the critical nutrient element for plant growth and development, and its uptake, transport, and assimilation are finely regulated by multiple transcription factors. Among the bZIP transcription factor family, the TGACG motif-binding factor (TGA) has been confirmed to play a central regulatory role in plant nitrogen metabolism. To clarify its molecular regulatory pathways, this review systematically summarizes the molecular characteristics of TGA transcription factors, with a focus on their core functions in nitrate uptake, root development regulation, and nitrogen assimilation. We further analyze the molecular mechanisms by which TGA participates in nitrogen metabolism through hormone signaling pathways—including salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA)/ethylene (ET), and abscisic acid (ABA), as well as redox modifications. The results indicate that: (1) TGA transcription factors belong to subfamily D of the bZIP family, and are divided into five subgroups. They are highly conserved in various plants such as Arabidopsis and rice; (2) they positively promote nitrogen uptake and transport by activating the expression of NRT family genes and modulating root development, and form regulatory networks with factors such as NLP7 (NIN-like protein 7); (3) through hormone signaling crosstalk and redox modifications, TGA factors respond to stresses such as low nitrogen and help maintain nitrogen metabolic homeostasis. In summary, TGA transcription factors serve as key nodes in the regulatory network of plant nitrogen metabolism, coordinately regulating nitrogen uptake, transport, and assimilation through multiple pathways. Future studies should integrate multi-omics and gene-editing technologies to elucidate the organ-specific functions, interaction networks, and species-specific variations of TGA, thereby providing a theoretical basis and breeding strategies for improving nitrogen-use efficiency in crops.
Aiming at the key problem of asynchronous flowering in the hybrid breeding of begonia species, to clarify the variation law of pollen viability and the optimal storage protocol for Begonia handelii and Begonia masoniana, the in vitro germination method was adopted to systematically investigate the effects of flowering days (1-13 d for B. handelii and 1-5 d for B. masoniana), drying methods(oven drying at 25-26℃ for 3-4.5 h and natural air drying for 24 h), and storage conditions (room temperature of 22-28℃, 4℃, and -20℃) on pollen viability. The results showed that pollen viability was highest on the third day after flowering for both begonias, reaching 87.83% for B. handelii and 86.14% for B. masoniana. Oven drying was superior to natural drying for both begonias. Pollen viability reached over 81.49% after one day of storage at room temperature and over 62.59% after 90 days of storage at 4℃. Pollen viability reached over 90.82% for both begonias after 30-180 days of storage at -20℃, and remained above 86.03% after 360 days of storage. Therefore, the optimal pollen collection period for B. handelii and B. masoniana is on the 3rd day after flowering. It is recommended that the pollen be oven-dried at 25-26℃ prior to cryopreservation at -20℃. The results of this study provide technical support for pollen utilization in the hybrid breeding of begonia species. Subsequent research can be carried out on ultra-low temperature storage technology, which will lay a foundation for the long-term preservation of germplasm resources.
To address the constraints of continuous cropping obstacles and soil-borne diseases on the medicinal plant industry of the Panax plants, this study systematically reviewed the current status and developmental trends in research on the root microecology of Panax plants. Based on 652 relevant publications included in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1994 to 2024, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using CiteSpace 6.3.R1 software to visualize authorship, institutional collaboration, and keyword trends. The results indicate: (1) Research in this field originated in 1994, with increasing fervor starting in 2003. Following 2006, the field entered a phase of stable expansion, and since 2020, it has advanced into a period of rapid development. (2) Research efforts are primarily concentrated in Asian countries, particularly China and South Korea, gradually forming a stable collaborative network. (3) Keyword burst analysis identified a total of 14 research themes, such as "saponin biosynthesis", "microbial diversity", and "rhizosphere interactions". Terms of "community", "disease", "rhizosphere microbiome", "bacterial community" and "resistance" have emerged as major research hotspots since 2020. (4) These studies primarily focused on Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng as the research subjects. Proteobacteria and Ascomycota constituted the core microbial taxa within the root microecosystems of Panax plants. The current research has shifted from the early chemical composition analysis to the in-depth exploration of the interaction mechanism of "plant-soil-microorganism", showing a development pattern of multidisciplinary integration led by China and South Korea. In the future, interdisciplinary approaches, such as phytochemistry, soil science, multi-omics technologies, and molecular biology, should be further promoted in the comprehensive studies of root microecological systems. These methods will contribute to the sustainable development and innovative transformation of the medicinal Panax plant industry.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of the "vegetable-vegetable" (eggplant-late flowering cabbage, VVR) and "rice-vegetable" (rice-late flowering cabbage, RVR) crop rotation patterns on the soil microecology of fields cultivating Zengcheng late flowering cabbage (a national geographical indication product). Using late flowering cabbage, eggplant, and rice as test materials, a field experiment was conducted to determine soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial community structure under different rotation patterns. A systematic assessment of soil microecological differences was performed. Compared with the VVR pattern, the RVR pattern increased soil pH by 0.38-0.76 units, but reduced electrical conductivity, organic matter, and available nutrient contents by 7.3%-59.5%. RVR significantly enhanced sucrase and catalase activities (by 0.5- to 1.4-fold), and maintained higher and more stable bacterial alpha-diversity, with Chao1 and Shannon indices exceeding those of VVR by 13.4%-27.6%. Redundancy analysis indicated that pH, polyphenol oxidase, and acid phosphatase were key environmental factors driving soil microbial community variation, significantly affecting the relative abundance of several key microbial phyla, including Nitrospirota. Although the VVR facilitates nutrient accumulation, it carries a risk of soil acidification. In contrast, the RVR effectively maintains soil microecological stability through synergistic regulation of soil pH and key enzyme activities. This study provides theoretical support for optimizing soil health management in areas producing geographical indication agricultural products.
In order to simplify the determination method of fertilizer application rate and accurately match the types and proportions of fertilizers. Utilizing a modified formula for calculating fertilizer rate, a trade-off selection method for determining fertilizer rate and a relative abundance method for matching type ratios were established. The trade-off selection method was used to calculate the required fertilizer rate for planting corn, wheat, and peanuts in sandy black calcareous soil, loamy black calcareous soil, and typical black soil in the Northeast Black Soil Region, which are close to the actual local fertilizer rate and indicate that the local fertilizer rate are not excessive. The relative abundance method was used to calculate the mixing or compound fertilizer ratios needed for different crops in various plots, recommending a N:P2O5:K2O ratio of 25:10:15 for preparing mixed or compound fertilizers for corresponding soil types in the Northeast Black Soil Region to match suitable fertilizer rate. Under the scenario where the amount of available nutrients supplied from the soil equals the loss from the applied fertilizer, the fertilization rate should follow the principle，how much is needed for crops growing, how much to apply.
Addressing the challenge of safe rice production in cadmium (Cd)-contaminated farmland, this study aimed to screen commercially available high-efficiency foliar inhibitors and evaluate their application effects. Two commercially available silicon (Si)-containing foliar inhibitors (Beierke and Guilifeng) were applied at two rates (3 and 6 L/hm2) in typical Cd-contaminated farmland in Yiyang City. A treatment without foliar inhibitor application served as the control group (CK). A total of five treatment groups were sprayed at the rice booting and heading stages. The study examined their effects on rice yield, Cd content in rice grains, and the Cd bioaccumulation factor, along with a health risk assessment. The results indicated that spraying the two Si-containing foliar inhibitors (3 and 6 L/hm2) during the rice booting and heading stages increased rice yield by 4.6% to 7.7%, reduced Cd content in rice grains by 24.5% to 42.5%, and decreased the Cd bioaccumulation factor in rice grains by 24.1% to 42.3%. Both inhibitors showed optimal performance at the application rate of 6 L/hm2, and under the same application rate, Beierke demonstrated superior Cd reduction compared to Guilifeng. The application of two foliar inhibitors reduced the target hazard quotient (THQ) for adults and children by 24.2% to 42.1% and 24.3% to 42.4%, respectively, mitigating the health risks associated with rice consumption for the local population. In conclusion, the application of commercially available Si-containing foliar inhibitors during the rice booting and heading stages can increase rice yield in Cd-contaminated farmland, reduce Cd absorption and accumulation in rice grains, and mitigate health risks to human health. Among then, the use of Beierke foliar inhibitor at a dosage of 6 L/hm2 yielded the best result. Future efforts should combine soil amendments (such as lime) to adjust soil pH and further reduce Cd content in rice to meet national standards, thereby providing a more comprehensive technical solution for the safe utilization of Cd-contaminated farmland.
To explore the regulatory effects of applying commercial organic fertilizer from fermented chicken manure on rice yield and soil physicochemical properties in a double-cropping rice system, a paired field experiment was conducted in sandy loam paddy fields derived from river alluvium in eastern Hunan Province. The treatments consisted of conventional chemical fertilizer and commercial organic fertilizer from fermented chicken manure (4.5 t/hm2 per season). The effects of continuous organic fertilizer application on rice yield, soil physicochemical properties, and enzyme activities were systematically analyzed. The results showed that, compared with the control plots, although the organic fertilizer treatment did not significantly increase double-cropping rice yield (the increase range between 11%-15%), it significantly improved the soil physical structure: the soil bulk density decreased by 15%-16% in early rice season, and the stability of soil aggregates was significantly increased by 21%-61% (P<0.05). The contents of various soil carbon components showed an increasing trend. In Lutang Village, the total soil organic carbon content was significantly increased by 12% and 19% in early and late rice seasons, respectively; the contents of active organic carbon components (dissolved organic carbon and particulate organic carbon) increased by 29%-67%, and the mineral-bound organic carbon content increased by 14%-65%. The increase in available nutrient content showed spatiotemporal heterogeneity. In Lutang Village, the total nitrogen and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen contents were significantly increased by 26% and 21%, respectively, in the early rice season; in Fengyu Village, the alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available potassium contents were increased by 21% and 11%, respectively, in the late rice season (P<0.05). The response of soil enzyme activity to organic fertilizer application varied with the experimental site and rice season. In Fengyu Village, the activities of urease, acid phosphatase, and β-1,4-glucosidase were significantly increased by 93%-149% in the late rice season, while in Lutang Village, β-1,4-glucosidase activity was decreased by 23%-35% in both early and late rice seasons. Correlation analysis showed that rice yield was significantly positively correlated with soil organic carbon, available potassium, and mineral-bound carbon (Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.420-0.634), but was significantly negatively correlated with β-1,4-glucosidase activity (Pearson correlation coefficient was -0.506). In conclusion, commercial organic fertilizer from fermented chicken manure positively enhances soil fertility in double-cropping rice systems by improving soil physical structure, increasing soil organic carbon content, and modulating enzyme activities, though its effects are influenced by native soil properties and rice season.
The southeastern foothills of the Greater Khingan Range in Inner Mongolia serve as a critical soybean production base in China, where the shifts in planting zones are vital for ensuring national food security. Based on meteorological data from 38 stations in eastern Inner Mongolia from 1961 to 2020, this study systematically analyzed the impact of climate change on soybean planting zones using climate tendency rate, Gamma distribution, and a small-grid estimation model. Results indicate a significant increase in thermal resources in the region: the average temperature during 1991-2020 rose by 1.11℃ compared to the 1961-1990 period, with ≥10℃ accumulated temperature increasing by 203.2℃·d and the frost-free period extending by 9.4 days. The total areas of potential soybean planting zones were expanded by 27195 km2, with the northern boundary shifting approximately 101-224 km northward. The safe planting zones exhibited a slightly smaller northward shift (101-153 km) but were still expanded by 22,599 km2. Climate warming has significantly enhanced the potential for extending the northern planting boundary of soybeans and promoting mid- and late-maturing varieties. These findings suggest optimizing soybean cultivar arrangements based on accumulated temperature zone shifts, providing scientific support for revitalizing soybean production in Northeast China.
To explore the effects of different biochar-based fertilizers on soil properties and celery yield in facility settings, a plot experiment was used to compare the single application of organic fertilizer (T1), the single application of biochar (T2, the amount of biochar was 12 t/hm2), and the combined application of biochar and organic fertilizer (T3 to T5, with biochar application rates of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 t/hm2) on soil nutrients, celery yield and quality. The results showed that the T4 treatment had the highest celery yield and the lowest nitrate content, which was beneficial to increasing yield and income. In terms of soil nutrients, the application of biochar increased soil organic matter and available potassium to varying degrees, but reduced soil available phosphorus content and EC value, with little effect on total nitrogen content. The increase in organic matter content compared to T1 was 1.41% to 12.54%, and the increase in available potassium content was 4.13% to 9.81%. Regarding soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, the combined application of biochar and organic fertilizer in all treatments (T3 to T5) significantly increased soil microbial biomass nitrogen by 15.60%, 3.24% and 14.40%, respectively; only the T4 treatment increased soil microbial biomass carbon content compared to T1. In conclusion, the combined application of biochar and organic fertilizer can improve soil physical and chemical properties and microbial activity to varying degrees, increase celery yield and quality. In the experiment, the application of 12 t/hm2 of commercial organic fertilizer and 3.0 t/hm2 of biochar had the best overall effect.
To explore the restoration effect of fallowing on the soil quality of degraded vegetable fields, a three-year positioning experiment was carried out on eight fallowing measures which included direct fallowing without removing the greenhouse, direct fallowing after removing the greenhouse, rotary tillage fallowing after removing the greenhouse, deep ploughing fallowing after removing the greenhouse, deep ploughing fallowing with rice husk after removing the greenhouse, deep ploughing and covering fallowing after removing the greenhouse, deep ploughing and planting green manure fallowing after removing the greenhouse and deep ploughing with lime after removing the greenhouse. The changes in soil quality indicators during different fallowing processes were dynamically observed. The results showed that all the above eight fallowing measures could reduce the contents of water-soluble salts, exchangeable acids, available phosphorus and available potassium in the soil to varying degrees, and increase soil organic carbon, water-stable aggregates, microbial biomass carbon, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, pH value and cation exchange capacity. Except for the direct fallowing without removing the greenhouse, all other fallowing measures could reduce soil bulk density, but all fallowing measures had a relatively small impact on total nitrogen, total phosphorus and slow-release potassium in the soil. Research suggested that the most suitable fallowing measures for restoring the soil quality of degraded vegetable fields included deep ploughing after removing the greenhouse and planting green manure, deep ploughing with rice husks after removing the greenhouse, and deep ploughing with lime after removing the greenhouse. Deep ploughing after removing the greenhouse and covering, as well as deep ploughing after removing the greenhouse, also had good effects. The effects of rotary tillage after the greenhouse was removed and direct fallowing after the greenhouse was removed were relatively small.
This research aimed to analyze the variations of agricultural climate resources during the key growth periods of grapes in Raoyang County and the influence of future climate change on the facility grape industry of Raoyang County. Based on the daily meteorological data from 1957 to 2023 of the Raoyang National Climate Observatory, methods such as interpolation and linear trend analysis were adopted to study the changes of agricultural climate resources during the grape growth periods in Raoyang County, to judge and predict the future development trend. The results showed that the heat resources in Raoyang County were stable, the average temperature in each growth period of grape was suitable, and the duration days and effective accumulated temperature of average temperature passing through 10℃ showed a continuous upward trend. The precipitation resources were unstable, and the precipitation in grape germination stage was less. However, the precipitation in fruit production stage was more, and the future change trend was not significant. The light resources satisfied the growth demands of grapes, while the average daily sunshine duration and the percentage of sunshine presented a remarkable downward trend. The air humidity fluctuated and the changing trend was not significant, the grape coloring and maturation period’s air humidity was relatively high. The wind force in April and May was relatively strong, and the 2-minute average wind speed showed a significant downward trend overall. In summary, climate change exerts a dual impact of “beneficial guidance + stress” on the grape industry in Raoyang County by altering the structure of agricultural climatic resources. The improvement of heat conditions is conducive to the cultivation of late-maturing varieties, and the instability of precipitation resources has higher requirements for the irrigation and water control systems in the vineyards, which is recommended to enhance the meteorological monitoring capabilities in the planting area and regulate soil moisture scientifically.
The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and advantages of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) in monitoring vegetation drought in forest and grassland ecosystems. A fluorescence health index (SHI) based on GOSIF (SIF product ) data was constructed and compared with vegetation health index (VHI) and meteorological drought index SPEI. Results showed that in 57% of the months, the correlation coefficient between SHI and SPEI was higher than that between VHI and SPEI, indicating that SHI was more responsive and sensitive to drought events. SHI showed a significant decreasing trend at annual and seasonal (spring, summer, autumn) scales, reflecting the overall alleviation of vegetation drought conditions during the study period. The spatial distribution pattern showed a “widespread drought in the west, less severe in the east”, with particularly significant changes in the northeast, southeast, and central-west of the region, demonstrating distinct regional differences. Overall, SHI based on SIF can more sensitively reflect changes in vegetation under drought stress, serving as an important supplement or improvement to the traditional VHI. The application of SHI in Inner Mongolia can improve the accuracy and timeliness of drought monitoring, providing a new remote sensing technology path for drought monitoring, risk assessment, and decision-making in ecologically vulnerable areas. This method has the potential to be extended to other regions or a global drought remote sensing monitoring system.
Inner Mongolia is located in the upper reaches of the North China region, and its ecological environment is sensitive and fragile. In recent years, due to climate change and rapid economic growth, ecological environment problems have become increasingly prominent. Conducting ecological environment quality assessment and trend prediction in Inner Mongolia is of great significance for guiding ecological environment protection work. This article is based on the GEE platform, introducing aerosols (AOD) and desertification difference index (DDI), and constructing an improved remote sensing ecological index ARSEI to dynamically monitor and predict the ecological environment quality of Inner Mongolia from 2000 to 2023. The spatial autocorrelation of Inner Mongolia's ecological environment quality is discussed using spatial autocorrelation, and the CA-Markov model is used to predict the future ecological environment quality of Inner Mongolia. The results show that: (1) this article introduces the aerosol AOD and desertification difference index DDI to construct the ARSEI index, with a PC1 contribution of over 87%, which can better concentrate the characteristics of various ecological indicators, with little difference from RSEI, and the grading results are basically consistent. It can more accurately evaluate the ecological environment quality of Inner Mongolia and has strong applicability. (2) The ecological environment quality in Inner Mongolia from 2000 to 2023 was mainly poor and moderate, showing a decreasing trend from east to west in spatial distribution. The Inner Mongolia region experienced severe degradation from 2000 to 2005, with a degradation area accounting for 21.18% and an improvement area accounting for 8.11%. Since then, the ecological environment quality has gradually improved. (3) The global Moran index of Inner Mongolia for six years has been above 0.606, and the spatial agglomeration characteristics within the region are obvious, mainly distributed in high-high and low-low patterns. The overall trend of improving the ecological environment quality center of each level in spatial distribution is from east to west and from north to south. (4) The ARSEI prediction indicates that the ecological quality deterioration in central and western Inner Mongolia is slightly higher than improvement potential in the future. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize ecological restoration projects in the ecologically fragile areas of this region.
Allium fistulosum is one of the main characteristic economic crops in Tongxin, Ningxia, but the occurrence of soft rot disease affected the yield and quality of A. fistulosum. The analysis of the composition and diversity of endophytic bacterial communities related to the soft rot of A. fistulosum aims to provide a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of soft rot disease occurrence and determining the pathogenic bacteria. 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology and traditional isolation methods were used to compare the commonalities and differences of endophytic bacterial communities in healthy and soft rot plants of A. fistulosum. A total of 1334 OTUs were obtained from healthy and diseased samples, and the richness and diversity of endophytic bacteria were lower in diseased samples than in healthy samples. There were significant differences in endophytic bacterial communities between the two samples, with Proteobacteria as the dominant phylum, and its relative abundance in diseased and healthy plants was 82.51% and 43.49%, respectively. At the genus level, unclassified Enterobacteriaceae was the dominant genus in diseased samples (46.59%), while Chryseobacterium (11.98%), Pseudomonas (7.10%), and Flavobacterium (5.01%) were dominant genera in healthy samples. The bacterial strains isolated from healthy and diseased samples belonged to 11 genera, including 4 genera endemic to healthy plants, 2 genera endemic to diseased plants, and 5 genera owned by both. Among them, Bacillus and Microbacterium were endemic genera to healthy plants with high isolation frequency, which may be related to disease resistance of healthy A. fistulosum; Klebsiella and Pseudomonas were common genera, and had a high isolation frequency in diseased plants. This study confirmed that the changes of endophytic bacterial diversity and community composition in A. fistulosum were closely related to the occurrence of soft rot disease, but the identification of pathogenic bacteria still requires screening and detection using multiple methods.
Grape anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is one of the most serious diseases affecting grape production. Biological control has emerged as a key strategy for managing this pathogen. Bacillus subtilis BS-1 exhibits strong antagonistic activity against C. gloeosporioides. To elucidate its mode of action and evaluate its field performance, we assessed the inhibitory effects of BS-1 on the mycelial growth and spore morphology of C. gloeosporioides, quantified chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities in its fermentation broth, and conducted field trials against grape anthracnose. The results demonstrated that strain BS-1 strongly inhibits C. gloeosporioides, producing an inhibition zone of 10.1 mm. The fungal pathogen failed to grow normally in BS-1 fermentation broth, with spores showing constriction and hyphae exhibiting swelling and abnormal morphology. Biochemical assays confirmed that BS-1 secretes chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase during fermentation. These findings indicate that the antifungal mechanism involves degradation of the pathogen cell wall by these enzymes, leading to growth inhibition. In field trials, the fermentation broth of BS-1 provided effective control of grape anthracnose, with an average efficacy ranging from 64.17% to 75.04%. In conclusion, B. subtilis BS-1 demonstrates strong potential for development as a biocontrol agent against grape anthracnose.
To address the issue of intensifying soil acidification threatening agricultural production, this study systematically reviews the current status and trends of research on soil acidification regulation in China. Based on 386 Chinese core journal articles from the CNKI database (2004-2024) focusing on soil acidification regulation strategies, bibliometric analysis was conducted using CiteSpace 6.4R1 software from the perspectives of annual publication volume, research institutions, author collaboration, and keyword clustering. The results show that: (1) the development of this research field can be divided into three stages: slow growth from 2004 to 2015, stable fluctuation from 2016 to 2021, and rapid growth from 2022 to 2024. (2) Collaboration among institutions and authors presents a pattern of “local concentration but overall dispersion,” with Huazhong Agricultural University (18 articles) and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (9 articles) as core research institutions. Author collaboration is mainly characterized by small-scale clusters, reflecting relatively weak overall coordination. (3) Keyword clustering formed 14 core themes, including “lime amendment,” “biochar application”, “straw return”, and “microbial regulation”. In recent years, “biochar”, “microbial inoculants”, and “calcium-magnesium fertilizers” have emerged as research hotspots. Research on soil acidification regulation in China has shifted from a single chemical amendment approach to an integrated chemical-organic-biological regulation paradigm. Current studies focus on technological pathways and crop planting patterns adapted to different acidified soil characteristics, providing important bibliometric references and technical support for the precise management of soil acidification, cultivated land quality protection, and sustainable agricultural development in China.
The facility vegetable industry exhibits significant potential and advantages in promoting agricultural carbon sequestration and emission reduction. Systematically exploring its low-carbon development pathways holds substantial practical significance for Xi'an City in achieving the “Dual Carbon” goals. This study clarifies the disadvantages and advantages of carbon sequestration and emission reduction in the facility vegetable industry. Based on field research data from vegetable industry in Xi’an, it conducts an in-depth analysis of the key issues hindering carbon sequestration and emission reduction for facility vegetable sector in Xi'an. Subsequently, a “four-optimization” technical pathway system is proposed, encompassing improved variety selection and breeding, optimized greenhouse structure, precision cultivation management, and efficient recycling of straw resources. Finally, corresponding recommendations are put forward regarding policy incentives, standard system construction, carbon market mechanism exploration, and future research directions. The aim is to provide a systematic reference for the low-carbon development of facility vegetable industry in Xi’an, thereby effectively supporting regional agricultural green transformation and the realization of the “Dual Carbon” goals.
