Peppermint is an herb with a long history in China, and China is also one of the largest peppermint growing countries in the world. Peppermint contains volatile oil and flavonoids, of which menthol is the key component, which has antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Menthol has attracted attention due to its cool aroma and pharmacological effects. This paper reviewed the research progress of menthol detection, extraction and application, including its physical and chemical properties and pharmacological effects. The detection techniques such as gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, as well as the extraction techniques such as CO₂ supercritical extraction, organic solvent extraction and microwave-assisted extraction were introduced. The article also summarized the application of menthol in medicine, food, cosmetics and other fields, and prospects its future development. In depth study of menthol is of great significance to the implementation of national agricultural, rural and farmer policies and rural revitalization strategies.

Cold stress directly affects plant growth and development, and under extreme conditions, it may result in infertility or even lead to plant mortality. To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which plants respond to cold stress, this review synthesizes the diverse effects of cold stress on plants. It discusses the impact of cold stress on plant plasma membranes, the ICE-CBF-COR signaling pathway, plant hormones, and cellular metabolism. Additionally, recent advancements in understanding the mechanisms underlying plant cold tolerance are examined and discussed. This review aims to provide a foundation for the practical application of these findings in the genetic improvement of crops. Based on the above, the paper suggests that a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating genetic engineering, genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics should be employed to further explore the molecular mechanisms behind plant cold tolerance. Furthermore, potential future research directions in this field are proposed.

Peppermint is a food-medicine crop with secondary metabolites as core functional components. It has a wide range of biological activities. The bioactivities of peppermint are mainly related to its abundant active constituents, such as menthol, menthone, montaflorin, hesperidin, caffeic acid and other constituents, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumour effects. This paper reviews the distribution of resources and major origins of peppermint, the analytical studies of the major functional components of peppermint, the progress of nutritional and pharmacological studies of the major functional components, as well as the prediction and quality control of the core quality components of peppermint. Finally, the application fields and prospects of peppermint in agricultural product processing are discussed to provide direction and basis for the application of peppermint processing.

As an important economic shrimp species, the Litopenaeus vannamei is frequently affected by bacterial diseases, especially Vibriosis (including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio cholerae, etc.) during intensive aquaculture. This represents a significant risk to the long-term sustainability of aquaculture. With the widespread use of antibiotics, resistance genes of pathogenic bacteria are prevalent and widespread in the aquatic environment, posing new challenges to the prevention and treatment of Vibriosis. Therefore, it is extremely important to emphasize the maintenance of aquaculture environment and water quality monitoring. This review describes a series of biological control measures, including the use of biofloc technology, probiotics, antimicrobial peptides, quorum sensing inhibitors, and the use of biological control methods such as Bdellovibrio and like organisms and bacteriophage. The combination of biofloc technology and probiotics can improve water quality and enhance immunity. However, it is greatly affected by the environment, making it difficult to control the stability of bacteria flora. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, and they are safe and not easily resistant to drugs. However, they are difficult to preserve and have a high cost. Quorum-sensing inhibitors provide precise prevention and treatment with minimal environmental impact, but the mechanism research on them is limited. Bdellovibrio are effective at lysing Gram-negative bacteria but have a poor effect on Gram-positive bacteria and grow slowly. Bacteriophages are highly specific but have a narrow host range. Although these biological control measures are less effective than antibiotics, they are environmentally friendly, less prone to drug resistance, and aim to reduce chemical drug dependency, protect the ecosystem, and improve aquaculture efficiency. In the future, innovative and sustainable biological control technologies should be developed to address the challenges posed by pathogenic bacterial resistance and environmental protection.

The global salinization is becoming more and more serious, leading to intensified degradation of cultivated land and threatening plant growth seriously. In the current study, the composition and distribution characteristics of salt ions in saline-alkali soil were summarized. The negative effects of salt stress on plant growth, photosynthesis, rhizosphere secretions and microbial communities were clarified. The current chemical, physical and microbial regulation methods for alleviating plant salt stress were summarized. On this basis, the key problems such as the inconsistent evaluation criteria of salinity and the complexity of soil ion composition in existing studies were revealed, and targeted suggestions were proposed as follows: (1) establishing classification criteria by region; (2) developping a temporal and spatial dynamic model of soil salinity change. Furthermore, synthetic flora (SynComs) is expected to become an important direction for research and application of saline-alkali land improvement with its advantages of functional synergy, ecological stability, improvement of comprehensive benefits and technical scalability. Overall, the current study provides theoretical basis and technical support for the improvement of saline-alkali soil and the enhancement of plant salt tolerance.

Cold plasma technology has gained significant traction in agriculture due to its advantages, including low operational temperature, green, residue-free, high efficiency, and remarkable effectiveness in seed treatment, as well as in activating the internal physiological and biochemical processes of plants to improve resistance and yield. This paper reviews the progress of cold plasma technology in seed disinfection, breaking seed dormancy to promote germination, enhancing plant resistance, and increasing yield, etc. Furthermore, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the primary active ingredients of this technology and elucidates their mechanisms of action at the physicochemical, physiological and biochemical levels. In view of the differences in physical, chemical and physiological effects of different treatment objects after discharge by different types of cold plasma equipment, the future research direction is proposed: optimizing and establishing cold plasma treatment system, and clarifying the long-term effect of cold plasma treatment on the phenotypic genetic changes of plant growth cycle.

Epigenetic regulation refers to the heritable control of gene expression without alterations in the DNA sequence, achieved through mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification, RNA modification, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNAs. Epigenetics provides an additional and flexible source of trait variation for horticultural crop improvement, opening innovative avenues for breeding new varieties capable of addressing challenges like climate change adaptation, disease and pest resistance, and quality enhancement. This review systematically synthesizes current research progress on the epigenetic regulation of key agronomic traits in horticultural crops and summarizes relevant breeding tools and methods developed for their use in horticultural crop breeding. It aims to provide a theoretical reference for further understanding the epigenetic basis of the formation of horticultural crop traits, and provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the promotion and application of epigenetic breeding in horticultural crops.

Ethylene Responsive Factor (ERF) transcription factors belong to the plant AP2/ERF transcription factor superfamily and are key regulatory factors in plants responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. They bind to the cis-acting element GCC-box through the conserved AP2/ERF domain, thereby regulating the spatiotemporal expression of target genes. This article reviews the structural characteristics, classification system, distribution patterns, and biological functions of plant ERF transcription factors. Structurally, they contain functional regions such as the DNA-binding domain and transcriptional regulatory domain, among which the amino acids at positions 14 and 19 of the AP2/ERF domain are key markers for classification. In terms of classification, both the ERF and DREB subfamilies can be further divided into 6 subgroups. In terms of distribution, the number of members of this family varies significantly among different plants, and the number of ERF subfamily members in dicotyledonous plants is usually more than that in monocotyledonous plants. The functional mechanism of ERF in biotic stress response is emphatically elaborated as follows. On the one hand, it enhances plant resistance to pathogens by activating disease-resistant genes such as PR and PDF1.2; on the other hand, ERFs containing the EAR motif can act as negative regulators to inhibit the expression of target genes. At the same time, this article summarizes the research status of peanut ERF, including family identification (our research group identified 76 ERF family members in cultivated peanuts in 2022), verification of stress resistance functions (such as AhERF008 and AhERF019 can enhance abiotic stress tolerance), and current limitations (such as insufficient systematic analysis and unclear regulatory mechanisms). Finally, the future research directions are prospected, proposing that multi-omics and gene editing technologies should be combined to analyze the ERF-mediated stress resistance network, so as to provide a theoretical basis and technical targets for peanut stress resistance molecular breeding and facilitate research on peanut stress resistance engineering.

To address the issues of anthocyanin content and the types of monomeric anthocyanins in mulberries from the Yunnan region, 39 varieties of mulberries were investigated and analyzed for their anthocyanin content. The total anthocyanin content was determined using the pH differential method, the monomeric anthocyanin content was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the absorbance of red pigments in the edible parts of the mulberries was detected using spectrophotometry. The results showed that total anthocyanins were detected in 32 out of the 39 mulberry samples, and four types of monomeric anthocyanins were identified: cyanidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, and malvidin. Cyanidin was detected in 36 samples, pelargonidin in 33 samples, peonidin in 1 sample, and malvidin in 4 samples. Red pigments were detected in all 39 samples, with darker-colored mulberry fruits exhibiting higher red pigment content. The varieties ‘YX002’, ‘Hongguo 2’, ‘Jialing 30’, ‘Mengtong 4’, and ‘YX001’ has exhibit high levels of red pigments and anthocyanins, along with a rich diversity of monomeric anthocyanins. Among these, ‘YX002’ can have the highest total anthocyanin content, reaching 59.05 mg/L, and both cyanidin and pelargonidin also be detected in this variety.

To establish an efficient and sustainable RNAi breeding control system, this paper summarizes the application potential of RNAi technology in crop disease and pest resistance, reviews the current research and development status of transgenic RNAi crops, and analyzes the design strategies and synergistic resistance mechanisms of multi-target tandem RNAi. The key points of elaboration include the "dsRNA/microRNA stable expression system", the "combined control model of complex pests and diseases (wheat scab - aphids, cotton wilt - cotton aphids)", and the "precise gene intervention approach for delaying resistance evolution", etc. It is pointed out that low delivery efficiency, poor environmental stability of dsRNA and high production cost remain the bottlenecks for large-scale application. This paper proposes that through the precise release technology of nano-carrier-plant symbiotic delivery, tandem expression of multi-gene silencers, and combined with ecological balance monitoring, the coordinated management of multiple pests and diseases can be achieved within 5 to 10 years. It is believed that this system will promote the transformation of agriculture towards a sustainable model of "precise genetic intervention + ecological balance maintenance", providing key support for global food security.

This study aims to systematically summarize the application of maize live haploid technology in maize molecular breeding, with focus on exploring the selection methods, formation mechanisms, identification methods, doubling methods, and application in population improvement of maize live haploid high-frequency induction lines, providing reference and guidance for the large-scale application of live haploid breeding technology. This study used a literature review method to summarize the relevant research results and practical experience on maize haploid technology, and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of various methods in practical applications. The research results indicated that maize live haploid technology played an important role in breeding excellent inbred lines and population improvement. Through high-frequency induction line breeding, a large number of excellent haploid plants had been successfully obtained; the identification and doubling methods effectively improved haploid formation and stability. The live haploid technology had shown significant doubling effects in population improvement, providing new ideas and methods for maize breeding. In summary, maize live haploid technology is an efficient and rapid breeding method with broad application prospects. In the process of corn breeding, combining live haploid technology can accelerate the pace of quality improvement and yield increase, providing strong support for the healthy development of the corn industry.

This study aims to sort out the impact of foliar fertilization on crop productivity. Through extensive research on a large number of domestic and foreign literatures, it reviews the development of foliar fertilizers, summarizes the types and characteristics of different foliar fertilizers, and concludes the roles of different types of foliar fertilizers in promoting plant growth and alleviating plant stress. Moreover, it takes the stomata and cuticle on the leaf surface as the entry point to summarize the mechanism of action of foliar fertilizers. Research has found that when reactive oxygen species accumulate in large quantities within plants, it will reduce photosynthetic efficiency and affect crop growth. Foliar fertilization can enhance the antioxidant activity of crops, regulate photosynthetic activity, energy metabolism and nutrient assimilation and other physiological processes to promote crop growth. Finally, the problems existing in the practical application of foliar fertilizers and the prospects for further exploring the mechanism by which foliar fertilizers regulate plant growth and development are discussed and prospected.

Soil salinization poses a severe threat to global food security and ecological environments. Cultivating salt-tolerant crop varieties and enhancing crop salt tolerance can effectively address salinization stress and utilize saline-alkali lands. We elucidate the molecular mechanisms of plant salt tolerance and focus on the cutting-edge technologies in crop salt tolerance breeding, systematically elaborating on the principles and application achievements of technologies such as multi-omics integrated analysis, gene editing, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and epigenetic modifications in crop salt tolerance breeding. These advanced technologies provide guidance for crop salt tolerance breeding. Through technological integration and innovation, it may be hold the potential to rapidly and precisely develop new salt-tolerant crop varieties, thereby promoting efficient and sustainable agricultural development in saline-alkali lands.

Cadmium pollution has become a major global challenge to farmland safety, and safeguarding the quality of farmland is of paramount importance. This paper examined the sources and speciation of cadmium in soil, summarized the efficacy and mechanisms of plant-microbe systems in remediating cadmium-contaminated soils, including root interaction, metabolite regulation and cadmium speciation transformation. This study introduced the primary sources and characteristics of both plants and microorganisms in such synergistic systems, and elucidated the underlying remediation mechanisms as well as key influencing factors. Owing to the synergistic interactions between plants and microorganisms, the combined remediation system demonstrated superior efficiency in remediating cadmium-contaminated soils compared to individual remediation approaches. Finally, in view of the future research direction, it is recommended to introduce eco-friendly functional materials (such as biochar, nanomaterials, etc.) in order to provide efficient and environmentally friendly technical solutions for the remediation of cadmium-contaminated soil.

The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity of different tomato germplasms, screen the important agronomic traits that affect the sensory quality of tomato, and provide reference for the identification, evaluation and innovation of tomato germplasms. Genetic diversity analysis, sensory quality evaluation, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, path analysis, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis were performed on 20 main agronomic traits and sensory quality of 72 tomato germplasms. The genetic diversity index of agronomic traits of 72 tomato germplasms ranged from 0.59 to 2.04, and the comprehensive score of sensory quality ranged from 71.70 to 84.85. Plant height, internode length, fruit transverse diameter, single fruit weight, flesh thickness and soluble solid content were important factors for sensory quality of tomato, which had a high load in principal component 1. The test materials were divided into 5 groups by cluster analysis. The tomato varieties in the first and second groups had higher comprehensive scores of sensory quality, plant height, and internode length. The fourth and fifth groups were mainly germplasms of dwarf tomato with limited growth type. The phenotypic and sensory qualities of 72 tomato germplasms showed abundant genetic diversity. Plant height, internode length, fruit transverse diameter, single fruit weight, flesh thickness and soluble solid content are important traits to evaluate the genetic diversity of tomato phenotype and sensory quality.

To further understand the production characteristics and applicable value of the wheat variety ‘Hemai 26’, its yielding ability, yielding stability and adaptability as well as resistibility and quality characteristic were analyzed with ‘Zhoumai 18’ as the contrast using the regional tests of wheat varieties in southern Huang-Huai Wheat Region consisted of institutions and enterprises during 2016-2018 and production tests in 2018-2019. The results showed that the yield of ‘Hemai 26’ increased by 4.5%, 11.53% and 5.28% respectively compared with that of ‘Zhoumai 18’ during 2016-2019, and reached a significant level. Coefficient of variation (CV) of ‘Hemai 26’ was slightly smaller, the high stability coefficient (HSC) was larger and adaptability was higher than that of ‘Zhoumai 18’. The average yield of each experimental variety showed linear regression with the average yield of ‘Hemai 26’ in different test sites, and the regression coefficient tended to 1. ‘Hemai 26’ has strong lodging resistance and general disease resistance. ‘Hemai 26’ has good grain uniformity, high grain bulk density and good quality. ‘Hemai 26’ has outstanding yielding ability, good yielding stability, wide adaptability and excellent quality, which has good promotion and utilization value in Southern Huang-Huai Wheat Region.

To explore the law of water and salt transportation under different improvement modes of saline-alkali land in the Yellow River Delta, this study innovatively adopted a combination of continuous dynamic monitoring ( June-November 2024 ) and multi-factor ( soil-groundwater-drain ) comprehensive analysis. Taking Kenli District of Dongying City as the research area, the response mechanism of water and soil environment in the process of saline-alkali land improvement was systematically studied through field fixed-point sampling. The results showed as follows. (1) Under the condition of subsurface pipe drainage, the soil total salt content in the rice-improved area decreased by 82.81%-91.73% at the end of the growth period, which was significantly higher than that in the rain-fed area (71.79% -81.54%). (2) Following the conversion to rice cultivation, the soil pH increased, and salt leaching led to a pH increase of 6.55%-13.10%, showing a typical 'desalination and alkalization' feature; Notably, except for HCO₃^-, there was a significant correlation observed between other ion indicators, total salinity and soil pH. (3) The total salt content of groundwater was driven by irrigation-precipitation coupling, showing a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The buried depth from July to September was generally <1.2 m, and the water quality from August to November (total salt content >2g/L) exceeded the standard of farmland irrigation and should not be directly used for farmland irrigation. The results of this study can provide some theoretical and technical support for the regulation and control of soil salinization in the Yellow River Delta.

By identifying the distribution characteristics of heavy metal elements in Yuanmou County, we can understand the local heavy metal sources and environmental ratings, objectively grasp the environmental problems existing in the soil in this area, put forward scientific and reasonable suggestions for agricultural development and environmental governance, and improve the level of land management and environmental monitoring in this area. The method of combining traditional geochemistry and soil science was used, and the sampling was carried out according to the relevant standards of 1:250000 land quality geochemical survey. SPSS, Excel, GeolPAS.V4.5, ArcGIS10.8 and other software were used for data modeling, result integration and map production. The results showed that heavy metal elements As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn were existed in the surface soil of Yuanmou County, in which Cd was enriched on the surface, and the anisotropy of Cd and Hg was higher than that of other elements. The overall distribution of Cu was balanced, with local characteristics of enrichment and depletion. Cr was highly correlated with Ni and weakly negatively correlated with Pb. There were three main sources of heavy metals: mainly rich in Zn and As, mainly rich in Cr, Ni and Cu, and mainly rich in Hg. In the comprehensive grade assessment of surface soil environment, the risk-free area was 1873 km², accounting for 92.77%, and the risk-controlled area was 146 km², accounting for 7.23%. The area was concentrated in Jiangyi Town, Guanyuan Town and Pingtian Town, and scattered in other areas, with no high risk area. The distribution of heavy metals As, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn in Yuanmou County was mainly controlled by the parent material, Cu and Cd were controlled by the parent material, continuous weathering and human activities, and Hg was mainly controlled by human activities. There was no high-risk area in Environmental rating, and the risk controllable areas were mainly affected by Cu and Cd, among which the Cd risk controllable areas were highly consistent with the concentrated areas of agricultural development, and the application of relevant pesticides should be reasonably controlled and monitored in the later stage. Hg wasn’t at risk in the whole region, but there had been a slight enrichment trend in the surface soil, which required a late warning to avoid pollution.

Plant-derived pesticides are processed natural agents obtained from botanical sources. Reviewing extraction advances of their active ingredients provides valuable references for the development and application of these pesticides. This article focuses on the extraction methods for active ingredients of plant- derived pesticides, systematically summarizing the basic principles, application examples, and extraction effects of both traditional and modern extraction methods through a literature review. Traditional extraction methods, such as maceration and Soxhlet extraction, are simple to operate and low-cost, but they have limited extraction efficiency and are prone to contamination. Rapid extraction methods can improve extraction efficiency, they are still limited by solvent selection and extraction conditions. Modern extraction technologies, such as microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasonic extraction, significantly enhance the efficiency and purity. Supercritical fluid extraction achieves efficient separation and purification, while dynamic countercurrent extraction using tank arrays improves extraction efficiency through optimized process layout. Membrane separation technology and high- speed countercurrent chromatography further purify components. Extraction methods for active ingredients of plantderived pesticides are diverse, with each traditional and modern extraction technique having its own strengths and weaknesses. In the future, extraction methods should be scientifically and reasonably selected and applied based on the characteristics of plant-derived pesticides and production needs.

Soil aggregates are essential indicators of soil structure and fertility, significantly influenced by management practices, including the type of fertilizer used. This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term fertilization on soil aggregate stability, measured by mean weight diameter (MWD), and to analyze the roles of various fertilization types, cropping systems, and soil types. We collected data from 48 published studies to create a comprehensive database on different fertilization practices and their impact on aggregate stability, including 292 independent paired data sets. Meta-analysis was employed to evaluate the effects of fertilization on soil aggregate stability. The findings revealed that, compared to no fertilization, the application of chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and combined organic-inorganic fertilizers significantly enhanced soil aggregate MWD. Specifically, the impacts of combined organic-inorganic fertilization (an increase of 21.46%) and single organic fertilization (an increase of 17.17%) were 7.9 times and 6.4 times greater than that of single chemical fertilization (an increase of 6.22%), respectively. Additionally, the effect of straw application on MWD (27.79%) was significantly higher than that of manure (14.01%). Furthermore, the duration of fertilization was significantly negatively correlated with MWD, while annual precipitation, evaporation, and temperature were all significantly positively correlated with MWD. The optimal fertilization amounts were determined to be > 0.3 t/hm² chemical fertilizers, 5-10 t/hm² organic fertilizers, and 1-10 t/hm² combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers, all of which significantly enhanced the stability of soil aggregates. Additionally, soil properties and environmental factors, such as pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium, also influenced these effects. This study highlighted that the type of fertilization played a significant role in determining the stability of soil aggregates, underscoring the importance of organic fertilizers and combined organic-inorganic fertilization for improving soil structure. The results provided vital evidence for optimizing soil management practices.

As an important food crop in the world, rice plays an irreplaceable role in ensuring food security. However, rice production faces many challenges, especially the increasingly serious problem of pests and diseases, which poses a major threat to yield and quality. This paper reviews the major rice pests and diseases worldwide, along with biological control and ecological regulation technologies. It analyzes the types, occurrence patterns, and current progress in the prevention and control of rice pests and diseases in China, emphasizing the importance of biological control and non-chemical pest management in reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides. Key challenges in the integrated management of major rice pests and diseases, such as insufficient scientific and technological support, weak regulatory oversight, and the low level of industrialization of control technologies, are discussed. In response, the paper proposes the main objectives and key directions for technological innovation during the '15^th Five-Year Plan' period, including research on the formation mechanisms of pest outbreaks, the development of rice immune mechanisms, and green control technologies. Furthermore, it highlights the integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and gene editing, to enhance the comprehensive management of rice pests and diseases, ensuring the sustainable development of the rice industry.

To study the performance of yield and quality traits of wheat germplasm resources and their correlation and path analysis，35 wheat germplasm resources from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were used as materials in this study. The plant height, spike number, spikelet number per spike, 1000-grain weight and yield were investigated manually, and the wheat quality was determined by Perten DA 7200 near-infrared analyzer. The results showed that the yield range of 35 wheat germplasm resources was 5679.00-6331.50 kg/hm², the effective spike range was 427.50-502.50 million/hm², the growth period range was 195.00-202.00 d, the plant height range was 73.00-93.00 cm, the spikelet number per spike range was 32.60-40.00, and the 1000-grain weight range was 37.00-47.10 g. The correlation analysis of yield traits showed that effective spike, growth period, spikelet number per spike and 1000-grain weight were positively correlated with grain yield (r=0.1707, r=0.0401, r=0.2277, r=0.0299), while plant height was negatively correlated with grain yield (r=-0.0587). Path analysis showed that grain yield increased while effective spike, spikelet number per spike and 1000-grain weight increased. The effect of increasing the number of grains per ear was the greatest (direct path coefficient Py=0.8390), followed by the effect of increasing the 1000-grain weight (direct path coefficient Py=0.6668), and the effect of increasing the number of effective ears was the smallest (direct path coefficient Py=0.4916). In general, the quality traits of 35 wheat germplasm resources were quite different, indicating that wheat has rich diversity, which provides a large selection space for wheat quality breeding and selection of offspring.

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the major advancements in growth models and smart planting technologies for greenhouse tomatoes, providing scientific insights for sustainable development in greenhouse tomato industry. Using bibliometrics, combined with InCites and VOSviewer, this study systematically reviews and analyzes research outcomes and trends in the field across dimensions of country, institution, author, and research topic. Over the past two decades, global research attention on greenhouse tomatoes has significantly increased, with active research in China, Spain, and Canada. Foreign studies focus on environmental sustainability and resource-use efficiency, while domestic research emphasizes integrated water-fertilizer management and soil micro-environment regulation. Among growth models, explanatory models demonstrate superior performance. Smart sensing and decision-making technology have substantially improved production efficiency and product quality in irrigation-fertilization, pest and disease monitoring, and fruit identification and harvesting, while optimizing production management and laying the foundation for agricultural automation and intelligence. Future research should deepen growth-model developments to enhance predictive accuracy and adaptability, promote integrated development of intelligent technologies to advance smart greenhouse tomato cultivation, strengthen breeding for stress-resistant cultivars and precision irrigation-fertilization techniques, and advance the precision and intelligence of pest and disease identification technologies.

The purpose of this study is to deeply explore the research trends of Perilla leaf's active chemical components and clarify its chemical composition and active mechanisms, and offers theoretical support for future research directions and the multi-domain development of Perilla leaf resources. Through bibliometrics and systematic review, we analyzed the research path and mechanisms of Perilla leaf's active components. We summarized the evolution and cutting-edge trends of its active component research, focusing on key components like essential oils, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins. Their chemical structures, structure-activity relationships, and molecular mechanisms of functional activities (e.g., antioxidant and antibacterial properties) were clarified. This study highlights the research progress and direction of Perilla leaves functional components, and probes into its resource potential in food, medicine, cosmetics and other fields.

Zingiberaceae is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plant with great economic value used as food, spices, medicinal compounds, and ornamental plants, preservation of Zingiberaceae germplasm resources is crucial for breeding and commercial production. To clarify the current research status on the conservation of genetic resources in Zingiberaceae plants, this paper specifically introduces the three main methods(ex situ conservation, tissue culture preservation, and cryopreservation) used for preservation of Zingiberaceae germplasm resources. Future prospects of Zingiberaceae germplasm preservation are analyzed, aiming to provide reference for the healthy and rapid development of Zingiberaceae industry. Cryopreservation technology, which has many advantages compared with the traditional methods, has been proven to be a new technique for plant pathogen elimination with successful application on several plants, and can provide a technical support to low conservation rates in Zingiberaceae plants elimination.

Pioneer plants are the first plants appearing in the community succession, which are of great significance to the development of the ecosystem. In order to give full play to the role of pioneer plants in the ecological restoration of saline-alkali land, this article systematically analyses the ecological value of pioneer plants and conducts in-depth discussions in combination with typical restoration cases. At the same time, specific measures and policy recommendations are put forward for the protection and application of pioneer plants. The research shows that pioneer plants have various ecological values such as improving saline soil, increasing soil fertility, improving soil structure, promoting community succession, etc. They can be used to comprehensively treat saline and alkaline land by selecting and breeding suitable salt-tolerant varieties and combining them with physicochemical methods. Therefore, the study of the ecological value and application of pioneer plants is an important inspiration and experience for the comprehensive management of saline and alkaline land, the effective protection of arable land, and the restoration of ecologically damaged areas.

Biochar, a carbon-rich material renowned for its distinctive physical properties, holds significant promise for improving soil texture. However, the performance of biochar-amended soils is contingent upon a variety of factors, including the inherent characteristics of the biochar, the prevailing soil conditions, and the specifics of the experimental framework employed. In this study, we undertook a comprehensive Meta-analysis to assess the impact of biochar application on soil organic carbon (SOC) content. By synthesizing literature published between 2013 and 2024, we meticulously screened 207 datasets derived from 84 studies. The results indicated that the enhancement of total organic carbon (TOC) content in soils after biochar application was more pronounced under specific conditions: when the biochar pH < 9, the soil type was sandy, and the initial organic carbon content was low. Notably, the maximum increase in soil TOC, an impressive 53.43%, was observed in sandy soils. Furthermore, with the increase of biochar application, a corresponding rise in soil TOC content was also documented. This study elucidated the influence of biochar on soil organic carbon, integrating factors such as biochar characteristics, soil conditions, and experimental parameters. Through this comprehensive analysis, we aimed to underscore the significant potential of biochar as a transformative agent for soil enhancement.

In the process of fish reproduction, GnRH (Gonadotropin releasing hormone), as a key factor in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis of vertebrates, plays a crucial regulatory role in gonadal development and sex hormone secretion. Its physiological functions are essential for the success of fish reproductive activities. This paper reviews recent domestic and international research progress on GnRH in fish reproduction, including the structural classification, main functions, mechanisms of action, and applications of GnRH analogs in fish reproduction. By analyzing the roles of GnRH in regulating fish gonadal development, sex hormone secretion, and ovulation induction, the core position of GnRH in fish reproduction is revealed. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for in-depth understanding of fish reproductive mechanisms, while offering references for improving fish reproductive efficiency and developing GnRH-related reproductive regulation technologies. It also lays the foundation for further research on the application potential of GnRH in fish reproduction.

Maize is the crop with the largest planting area in China, playing a crucial role in safeguarding national food security. Dwarfing breeding is a core approach to break the bottleneck of maize yield per unit area by optimizing plant architecture and increasing planting density. This paper systematically reviews the research progress on maize dwarf genes, with a focus on clarifying the biological significance of maize plant height traits, the practices of dwarf genetic breeding, and the regulatory mechanisms of plant hormones on plant height, while proposing future research directions. The results show that: (1) maize plant height is co-regulated by the number of internodes and internode length. Dwarf plants can reduce lodging risk by shortening internode length, optimize canopy structure, and improve light energy use efficiency and adaptability to dense planting, but it is necessary to coordinate the relationship between dwarfing and yield traits. (2) Maize dwarf genetics is divided into two major systems: single-gene and multi-gene. In the single-gene system, the br2 gene has the clearest molecular mechanism—it inhibits the elongation of stem cells, reducing stem length by 40% to 50% compared with the wild type, with a more significant effect on internodes below the ear position—and it is the most widely used major gene at present. The multi-gene system can avoid the defect of pleiotropy by accumulating minor-effect genes, and varieties such as 'Aidan 268' that balance dwarfing and high yield have been bred. (3) Gibberellin (GA), brassinosteroid (BR), and auxin (IAA) are the core hormones regulating plant height: mutations in GA synthesis-related genes (d1, an1) or signal genes (d8, d9) lead to dwarfing, loss of function of BR synthesis genes (brd1, na2) or signal genes (ZmBRI1a) causes stunted plants, and abnormal function of the IAA polar transport gene (br2) results in dwarfing of lower stem nodes. Currently, maize dwarf breeding has problems such as a relatively small number of applicable genes (more than 60 dwarf genes have been discovered, and about 40 have been cloned), genetic linkage drag restricting the coordination of traits, and insufficient functional verification of novel dwarf genes (such as the mapped genes K718d and d8227). In the future, it is necessary to explore medium dwarf genes suitable for dense planting, use genome-wide selection technology to aggregate multiple genes, and integrate phenomics with artificial intelligence to screen for ideal plant architecture, so as to breed maize varieties with the characters of dwarf stalks for lodging resistance, dense planting for high yield, wide adaptability and easy mechanical harvesting, and provide support for the sustainable development of the maize industry.

To effectively address the escalating heavy metal contamination in water bodies and soils, microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology, based on biomineralization, has recently garnered significant attention for remediating heavy metal pollution. Compared to conventional removal methods, MICP aims to induce calcium carbonate precipitation through microbial activity, offering cost-effectiveness and robust stability. This approach not only immobilizes heavy metals but also enhances the quality of contaminated matrices, demonstrating promising application prospects. This paper reviews recent advances in MICP and its applications in environmental engineering, encompassing mineral precipitation mechanisms, metabolic pathways, influencing factors, and progress in heavy metal remediation. Furthermore, it discusses the potential for large-scale implementation and three suggestions are put forward. Firstly, the internal and external factors of MICP process should be optimized to determine the optimal process conditions for microbial growth and mineral formation; the second is to further improve the treatment method of NH₄⁺ produced in the urea hydrolysis process of MICP to reduce the negative impact on the environment; the third is to optimize the process and automation steps to reduce the cost of MICP technology and realize the large-scale application of MICP. The research is expected to provide theoretical insights to advance MICP technology in environmental restoration and biomaterial synthesis.

Pruning is an essential technical measure in the process of forest cultivation. Reasonable pruning is conducive to promoting the growth of forest trees, improving the trunk shape, increasing trunk completeness and timber outturn percentage, reducing the number of dead and live knots, and improving the overall quality of wood. This paper comprehensively analyzed the influence and mechanism of pruning on the growth of tree diameter at breast height and tree height, the physical properties of wood, and the tree trunk quality, and revealed that the growth promotion effect was achieved by regulating the distribution of photosynthetic products and improving the efficiency of nutrient transport. At the same time, the complex regulation rules of pruning intensity and seasonal difference on wood density, mechanical properties and knot scar formation were clarified. On this basis, it further summarized the deficiencies and problems in the past research and put forward the main research directions for the future as follow. (1) To construct the theoretical model of precise pruning based on tree species characteristics and growth stages; (2) to research and develop intelligent pruning equipment and digital operation systems; (3) to establish a standardized technical system covering material improvement and economic benefit evaluation. The research results provide theoretical support and technical path for directional cultivation of high-quality industrial materials.

Selecting the facility vegetable planting plots with severe continuous cropping obstacles in Hangzhou as the experimental sites, the research investigated the improvement effect of different microbial agents combined with soil disinfectants on the soil microenvironment under the facility vegetable planting mode, as well as their impact on the prevention and control of clubroot disease and yield of Chinese cabbage. The results showed that the combination of three microbial agents and soil disinfectants could reduce the incidence rate of Chinese cabbage clubroot disease, improve the soil environment, enhance soil physicochemical properties, and increase the yield of Chinese cabbage. Among them, the combination of No.1 microbial agent could better improve soil nutrients, No.2 microbial agent had a better effect on the prevention and control of clubroot disease, and No.3 microbial agent had the most significant effect on improving the biological and economic yield of Chinese cabbage. In summary, the combination of soil disinfectant and No.3 microbial agent had a better effect.

The paper aims to simplify the factory seedling rearing procedure of a new variety of Dendrobium officinale ‘Minghu No.5’ and shorten the seedling rearing time. Using stem segment as explants, L₉(3⁴) orthogonal test was used to research the effects of hormones (6-BA, NAA), additives (banana puree, activated carbon AC) on the one-step seedling growth of D. officinale ‘Minghu No.5’. The results showed that the medium suitable for the one-step seedling growth of D. officinale ‘Minghu No.5’ was 1/2MS+ 6-BA 3 mg/L+ NAA 0.5 mg/L+ banana puree 50 g/L+ AC 1 g/L, after 120 days of inoculation, the proliferation coefficient of buds reached 2.85, and the average plant height of seedlings was 9.00 cm, stem diameter was 6.10 mm, leaf length was 4.50 cm, leaf width was 1.07 cm, leaf number was 5.33, root number was 6.00, root length was 6.70 cm, individual plant weight was 0.78 g. The range analysis results showed that the primary and secondary relationship of the four factors on the proliferation of ‘Minghu No.5’ was 6-BA> NAA> AC> banana puree. The inter-subject effect test showed that the four factors had extremely significant effects on the growth rate, stem segment proliferation coefficient, germination rate and bud proliferation coefficient of one-step seedlings (P<0.01). 6-BA was the main factor affecting the growth rate of one-step seedlings, and NAA was the main factor affecting the growth rate of one-step seedlings, stem proliferation coefficient and bud proliferation rate. This study could provide technical reference for factory seedling cultivation of D. officinale and other new varieties.

Medicinal plants are affected by various factors during the cultivation process, among which rhizosphere microorganisms exhibit a close relationship with medicinal plants, with both interacting and influencing each other. In this paper, the research progress of the interaction between medicinal plants and rhizosphere microorganisms in recent years is summarized, focusing on the effects of rhizosphere microorganisms on growth, secondary metabolic products, disease resistance and continuous cropping obstacles of medicinal plants, as well as the effects of medicinal plant types (or varieties), production area, growth period, planting age and planting pattern on rhizosphere microorganisms. In addition, the paper also identifies the current problems in this research field and proposes directions for future investigations. This review aims to provide theoretical insights and methodological references for rationally utilizing the interaction between medicinal plants and rhizosphere microorganisms to enhance plant growth, resist pathogen invasion, alleviate continuous cropping obstacles, increase yield and improve the quality of medicinal materials.

The study aims to assess the current degradation of arable land quality in southern red soil region, analyze the key technological chokepoints in enhancing arable land quality, and propose an innovation-driven development plan. Focusing on red soil sloping arable land and medium and low-yield fields in southern China, this study systematically clarified the current acidification situation of red soil sloping arable land and the soil fertility status of medium and low-yield fields. Our results indicate that severe degradation of farmland quality in southern red soil areas significantly constrains high-quality agricultural development in the region. The southern red soil region exhibits extensive acidification with severe trends. In Jiangxi and Fujian Province, 92.3% and 85.4% of arable land soils, respectively, have an average pH below 5.5, indicating that red soil acidification severely threaten crop production. Nearly two-thirds of the paddy soils in the red soil region of southern China are low-yielding fields, which greatly limit the increase of crop productivity. This paper identifies the key technological chokepoints for improving the quality of arable land in the southern red soil region from three aspects: theory, technology, and products, respectively. The future scientific and technological innovation development plan for improving the quality and production capacity of arable land in the southern red soil region is proposed. The main objectives, key directions, and detailed task lists are formulated.

Cover crops, as an effective measure of farmland management, have been widely recognized for their positive roles in preventing soil erosion, alleviating soil degradation, enhancing soil quality and reducing the input of pesticides and fertilizers. This paper comprehensively analyzed the effects of cover crops on controlling soil erosion, their impact on soil carbon pools and greenhouse gas emissions, their regulatory effects on soil nutrients and moisture, as well as their effectiveness in controlling pests, diseases and weeds. By reviewing and summarizing current research progress, this paper aimed to provide theoretical support for the improvement of cover crop planting technology and to offer scientific basis for the selection of cover crops and the trade-offs in ecological and environmental benefits. The study found that cover crops reduced the risk of water and wind erosion by improving soil physical properties, increased soil carbon storage, reduced nutrient loss, enhanced water retention capacity, and to some extent suppressed pests, diseases, and weeds. However, the impact of cover crops was complex, and their effects on soil moisture and nutrients needed to be weighed according to specific crop types and planting conditions. This paper emphasized the importance of cover crops in sustainable agricultural development and points out directions for future research.

Semanotus bifasciatus is a major pest that damages Platycladus orientalis and other cypress trees. Its strong destructive power towards forest trees can lead to severe ecological and economic losses. Currently, Semanotus bifasciatus is mainly distributed in northern China and classified as a highly hazardous pest. In recent years, with global climate change and ecological environmental variations, the occurrence range and damage severity of Semanotus bifasciatus have shown an increasing trend. This study provides a detailed review of the distribution, occurrence and spread, feeding habits, physiological characteristics, monitoring and early warning technologies of the Semanotus bifasciatus, as well as research progress in control strategies. It also looks forward to future research directions, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of the Semanotus bifasciatus and the spread of the trunk-boring pests of Platycladus orientalis in China.

In order to alleviate the problem of water resource shortage in central and southern Hebei Province, we identified high and stable yield wheat varieties suitable for water-saving irrigation conditions in this wheat region. In this experiment, the 2023 national approved new wheat variety ‘Shimai 34’ and the water-saving control variety ‘Shimai 22’ in Hebei Province were used as experimental materials. Under the condition of one irrigation at jointing stage throughout the whole growth period, comprehensive evaluation of various indicators of ‘Shimai 34’ was conducted by measuring yield, stem morphology indicators, stem strength, and quality related parameters. The results showed that the yield of ‘Shimai 34’ was significantly higher than that of ‘Shimai 22’, with an increase of 7.05%. Morphological analysis showed that the plant height and center of gravity height of ‘Shimai 34’ were 10.17% and 14.78% lower than those of ‘Shimai 22’, respectively. The length of the second internode at the base was 21.39% shorter and the diameter was 15.84% longer than those of ‘Shimai 22’. The stem strength, puncture stem strength, plumpness, and lodging resistance index of ‘Shimai 34’ were 54.95%, 18.10%, 21.34%, and 81.98% higher than those of ‘Shimai 22’, respectively. Further quality testing revealed that the grain hardness, wet gluten, and dry gluten content of ‘Shimai 34’ were superior to those of ‘Shimai 22’. Based on the above data, ‘Shimai 34’ shows better high yield, lodging resistance, and quality than the water-saving control variety ‘Shimai 22’ under water-saving irrigation conditions. ‘Shimai 34’ is expected to become the main wheat variety under the water-saving irrigation in Hebei Province.

The new flue-cured tobacco variety ‘Yunyan 121’ has strong growth vigor in the field and is easy to cure, and the yield and leaf quality can be balanced. In order to evaluate the potential of ‘Yunyan 121’ as a reserve variety in Qujing tobacco area, new varieties screening tests were carried out in 9 counties in Qujing from 2018 to 2020. The method was to plant 0.66-1.0 hm² of ‘Yunyan 121’ while the main control variety was planted in adjacent field. In Qujing, the tobacco growing season experienced high temperatures in early stage of 2018 and drought later; in 2019, there was drought in May and the first ten days of June, with less rainfall in August; in 2020, severe drought occurred from May to July. The results of 3-year multi-point test showed that in the planting area of ‘Yunyan 97’, the plant height of ‘Yunyan 121’ was 2 cm higher than that of the control ‘Yunyan 97’, the number of available leaves was 1-2 more than that of the control ‘Yunyan 97’, and the output value of ‘Yunyan 121’ was equivalent to that of ‘Yunyan 97’. In the ‘Yunyan 87’ area, ‘Yunyan 121’ was 4 cm higher in plant height, 4% higher in yield than the control ‘Yunyan 87’. The differences of sugar-nicotine ratios of the upper and middle leaves among varieties were smaller in the same place, and the differences between locations were significantly greater than those between varieties. The differences between locations in ‘Yunyan 97’ planting area were greater than those in ‘Yunyan 87’ planting area. Middle leaf raw tobacco samples were ranked by 4-5 Chinese tobacco industrial companies according to their sensory quality, and the overall ranking of ‘Yunyan 121’ was between ‘Yunyan 87’ and ‘Yunyan 97’. From 2021 to 2023, ‘Yunyan 121’ had a cumulative promotion of 42733 hm² in Qujing. ‘Yunyan 121’ had good promotion value in areas with heavy PVY damage or weak growth of ‘Yunyan 87’ and ‘Yunyan 97’.

Wheat is one of the important food crops. Due to global warming and changes in farming patterns, wheat planting and production processes are facing frequent diseases, insects and weeds damage, which pose a major threat to wheat yield and quality. Plant growth regulators, as substances that control plant growth and improve yield and quality, have been widely used in crop production. However, there are relatively few studies on the application of plant growth regulators in wheat production through basal application. To explore the effects of different plant growth regulators on wheat seed germination, seedling growth and yield, this study selected three plant growth regulators of mepiquat chloride, choline chloride and diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate, and used the basal application method to study their effects on wheat. The results showed that the three plant growth regulators had significant (P≤0.05) effects on the germination potential and germination rate of wheat seeds, and had different promotion effects on the growth of wheat seedlings. When wheat was treated with 30 mg/L mepiquat chloride, 20 mg/L choline chloride and 4 mg/L diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate, plant height, root length, stem and leaf fresh weight and root fresh weight were significantly increased. Meanwhile, in the field experiment, the results showed that the treatment of wheat with 75 g (ai)/hm² mepiquat chloride, 30 g (ai)/hm² choline chloride and 30 g (ai)/hm² diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate had a significant effect on wheat seedlings, and the three plant growth regulators had different degrees of improvement on wheat yield.