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.

Abundant crop straw production in our country makes anaerobic dry fermentation for biogas production an important way to utilize crop straw resources. However, the dense structure of lignocellulose in straw limits the hydrolysis and acidification of straw, making it difficult for anaerobic bacteria to degrade straw and produce biogas. Currently, pretreatment of straw is considered to be an effective way to enhance the rate of anaerobic digestion and improve biogas yield. The text elaborates on the mechanism of anaerobic dry fermentation, and reviews the common pretreatment methods that can increase the efficiency of biogas production in straw anaerobic dry fermentation, including physical, chemical, biological, and combined pretreatment methods, and provides a perspective on the technology of straw pretreatment.

In order to further understand the application of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in aquaculture industry, the paper sorted out the development history of IMTA, and outlined the main aquaculture species of IMTA, including fishes, crustaceans, bivalves, echinoderms and algae, et al. It summarized land-based and marine IMTA, and pointed out that freshwater and brackish water IMTA were part of the land-based aquaculture models, while seawater and offshore IMTA belonged to marine IMTA. The article also outlined the advantages of IMTA in terms of aquaculture environment, energy utilization, economic benefits, and reduction of waste discharge. At present, IMTA still has problems in the aspects of technical implementation, ecological impacts and sustainable development. Future research should focus on the interactions among different species components, system optimization, and disease control to promote the sustainable development of aquaculture.

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.

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.

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.

This study comprehensively evaluated the preparation techniques of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and conducted an in-depth analysis of the effects of COS and microbial metabolites on plant growth, crop quality enhancement, and pest management, aiming to enhance agricultural production efficiency and promote environmental sustainability. The results revealed the importance of COS and microbial metabolites in improving agricultural yield and maintaining environmental stability. In response to the challenges posed to food security by climate and ecosystem changes caused by natural and human activities, we propose that future research should focus on the activities of organic nanoparticles such as COS and microbial metabolites, and emphasize the necessity of advancing emerging fertilizer research to provide scientific basis and technical support for the sustainable development of agricultural production.

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.

The yield and agronomic traits of rice are affected by the cultivation environment and their adaptability, and the varieties with wide adaptability are less affected by the cultivation environment. This study aims to clarify the adaptability of ‘Yunjing 37’, a new japonica rice variety with good eating quality. The stability of yield and agronomic traits of ‘Yunjing 37’ and control varieties were analyzed by AMMI model, which planted in 6 sites in Yunnan Province for two consecutive years. All traits showed highly significant differences between varieties and environment, along with significant interaction effects between varieties and environment. Based on the stability parameters ASV, Di, WAASBi, the grain number, seed setting, 1000-weight, plant height, length and angle of the flag leaf, which were closely related to yield and plant type, ‘Yunjing 37’ showed the best stability among the four varieties. This indicates that different environmental conditions have relatively little influence on the yield and plant type of ‘Yunjing 37’. Therefore, ‘Yunjing 37’ has wide adaptability and is suitable for widespread application in Yunnan japonica rice area.

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.

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.

Plants and soil microorganisms are closely related, and both play a central role in the carbon cycle mediated by soil microorganisms, they jointly maintain the global carbon balance and the function of ecosystems. Firstly, an overview of the carbon cycle mediated by soil microorganisms was provided. Secondly, the impact of plants on the carbon cycle mediated by soil microorganisms was analyzed, which was specifically reflected in plant photosynthesis, plant respiration, decomposition of plant litter, secretion of plant aboveground secretions, and the rhizosphere effect produced by plants. Among them, the impact of the rhizosphere effect produced by plants on the carbon cycle mediated by soil microorganisms was also reflected in the secretion of plant root exudates and the symbiosis between plants and soil microorganisms. Finally, the impact pathways of plants on the carbon cycle mediated by soil microorganisms were summarized. By reviewing the impact of plants on the carbon cycle mediated by soil microorganisms, it could deepen the understanding of soil carbon cycling and provide a scientific foundation for future environmental protection.

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 understand the current status of Cd contamination and regulation in rice, this review comprehensively summarizes the following aspects: the absorption and translocation patterns of Cd in rice, Cd accumulation characteristics in different rice varieties and plant organs, the impacts of Cd on rice yield and quality, the effects on seed germination, as well as the influences on rice growth and physio-biochemical processes. Additionally, mitigation strategies for reducing Cd accumulation are systematically discussed. Based on China's current situation of rice Cd contamination, future research directions are proposed: (1) developing novel in-situ passivation materials, such as nano-adsorbent materials, which should have the characteristics of eco-friendly, cost-effective, high-efficiency, and user-friendly features; (2) creating more scientifically sound soil remediation technologies that can efficiently remove various heavy metals without damaging soil structure and ecological balance; (3) employing novel molecular breeding techniques to cultivate Cd-tolerant and stable ultra-low Cd-accumulating rice varieties, along with developing corresponding cultivation practices. This study aims to provide valuable references for Cd contamination control.

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.

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.

Further understanding the genetic regularity of rice harvest index in different segregating generations is beneficial to provide theoretical references for rice breeding based on the rice harvest index. In this research, isolated descendants from four distinct rice hybrid combinations were selected based on their harvest index. And then the coefficient of variation for main agronomic traits and the selection efficiency regarding the harvest index were subsequently compared and analyzed across different generations. The characteristics such as SPAD value at booting stage, plant height, and panicle length exhibited stability among different rice materials. In contrast, there was considerable variability in sword leaf length, thousand-grain weight, seed setting rate, and harvest index among hybrid rice progeny; however, these four traits remained stable in their parental lines. Notably, aboveground biological yield and panicle number per plant displayed significant variation both in hybrid parents and their offspring. The generalized heritability of the harvest index for F₃, F₃ lines and F₄ lines across all tested hybrid combinations exceeded 97%. Furthermore, selection efficiency for the harvest index in F₄ lines derived from ‘Hongxin-1S/Yuxiangyouzhan’, ‘Hongxin-1S/FL478’, and ‘Hongxin-1S/HD-YX’ surpassed that observed in their respective F₃ and F₃ lines; thus indicating a pronounced effect of single-plant selection based on harvest index within these three hybrids. Conversely, single-plant selection among offspring of ‘Hongxin-1S/Guanghong 3’ with high harvest indices did not enhance selection efficiency. It was effective to select individual plant with elevated harvest index for most of the tested rice materials from F₂ generation, which could significantly improve the selection efficiency of harvest index.

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.

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.

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.

To investigate the antifungal activity of essential oils (EOs) derived from A. tatarinowii and A. argyi, as well as their principal components, we assessed the antifungal efficacy of both EOs against four pathogenic fungi using the Oxford Cup method. Additionally, EO constituents were analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Subsequently, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) were determined through a 96-well plate assay. The results showed that both EOs at a concentration of 50 mg/mL exhibited significant inhibitory effects on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, followed by Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani. GC-MS analysis revealed that A. tatarinowii EO contained 34 compounds, with β-asarone and α-asarone identified as the primary constituents. In contrast, A. argyi EO comprised 98 compounds, among which caryophyllene, β-caryophyllene, eucalyptol, and myrtenal constituted a substantial proportion. Furthermore, the MIC of β-asarone and α-asarone were found to be comparable to that of hymexazol. When utilized in combination with hymexazol, the two EOs demonstrated an additive impact on Fusarium oxysporum in the pairwise combination experiment. Overall, the EOs and their main components from A. tatarinowii and A. argyi exhibited robust antifungal activity against four fungal pathogens, indicating potential for further research.

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 study the environmental pollution of paddy fields in a region of Sichuan, this paper focused on paddy soil and rice as the main research objects. A total of 216 soil and rice samples were collected from the area, and the heavy metal pollutants in soil and rice in the study area were evaluated by testing the content of eight heavy metal elements, namely arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, copper, zinc and nickel in soil, and the content of five heavy metals, namely arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury in rice, using the single-factor pollutant index method and the Nemero composite pollutant index method, as well as performing the quantitative analysis of the association between various heavy metal elements in soil and rice. The results showed that: (1) the average content of cadmium and mercury in the soil of this study area was 0.47 and 0.98 mg/kg, respectively, which exceeded the standard, and their exceedance rates were 27.78% and 34.26%, respectively. The combined pollution index of Nemero in this study area was 1.11 mg/kg and the pollution level was mild. (2) There were significant correlations between the eight elements in the soil and the pathways of heavy metal accumulation might be the same. The coefficient of variation of soil Hg was 163.20%, which was highly variable, indicating that local pollution sources had a strong influence on heavy metals in soil, and the exceeding of Hg content in soil was mainly anthropogenic. (3) Cadmium, chromium and lead in rice had exceeded the standards, with exceedance rates of 19.44%, 3.70% and 19.44%, respectively. The study shows that the degree of heavy metal enrichment in rice has some correlation with soil heavy metal content and is related to the chemical form of heavy metals. It has certain guiding significance for food safety and heavy metal pollution remediation and treatment.

This study aims to systematically understand the flowering biological characteristics of 16 citrus rootstock resources, including trifoliate orange and citrange, and to provide references for rootstock germplasm creation and new variety breeding. 16 collected trifoliate orange and citrange resources were used as materials. The phenological stages were observed, and the characteristics of floral organs, including bud color, petal number, petal length and width, anther number, filament number, filament color, and stigma number, were compared. Additionally, pollen quantity, pollen grain size, pollen viability, and pollen germination ability were measured using an optical microscope and in vitro pollen germination method. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation of flowering biological characteristics was conducted using the weighted membership function method. (1) The results showed that trifoliate oranges and most of citrange resources were deciduous trees. Citrange trees exhibited a more erect growth habits and reached phenological stages slightly later than trifoliate oranges. Both trifoliate oranges and citrange primarily exhibited pale purple filaments, with most specimens having 20-24 anthers and filaments. However, the petals of trifoliate oranges were generally smaller than those of citrange. (2) Significant differences existed between trifoliate oranges and citrange in terms of pollen viability, pollen quantity, and pollen grain size. Trifoliate oranges generally exhibited higher pollen staining vitality and pollen germination rates compared to citrange. (3) Utilizing the weighted membership function method, trifoliate oranges such as common small-leaf trifoliate orange, M-3 and citrange Dayong No.3 were identified as rootstocks with superior pollen fertility. These results provide reference for evaluating and utilizing rootstock resources, as well as for interspecific and intraspecific hybridization breeding within the citrus genus to create new citrus rootstock germplasm.

The aim of this study is to conduct demonstration and popularization of an integrated production system for Juncao-microbial agriculture, and realize comprehensive and recycling utilization of Juncao resources. In the Juncao farm, 12 hm² of Ju-Juncao crop was planted and an intelligent greenhouse with a 1.3 hm² area was built for both planting and breeding. The Ju-Juncao raw materials were processed into the Juncao probiotic agents, the ensilage fermentation feeds, the microbial fermentation bed litters, the substrates for tomato planting and Ganoderma lucidum cultivation, respectively. The core technologies of modern facility agriculture were introduced into the Juncao farm to construct the integrated production system for Juncao-microbial agriculture. The intelligent greenhouse was divided into 4 areas, the Ganoderma lucidum cultivation area (0.021 hm²), the tomato cultivation area equipped with an integration drip irrigation system of water, fertilizers and microbial agents (0.27 hm²), the aquaculture area using beneficial microorganisms in water and feeds (0.30 hm²) and the livestock and poultry breeding area using the microbial fermentation beds (0.79 hm²). The probiotics contained at least 17 species functional microorganisms, including 4 species of bacillus: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus altitudinis; 7 species of lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus murinus, Lactobacillus jensenii, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Enterococcus faecium; 4 species of other bacteria: Acidovorax wautersii, Herbaspirillum huttiense, Microbacterium testaceum and Rhodococcus erythropolis; 2 species of fungi: Geotrichum candidum and Saccharomyces cerevisia. These probiotic agents were used in tomato cultivation, aquaculture, and livestock and poultry breeding, respectively. Finally, the integrated production system was equipped with the water-fertilizers-bacteria integrated drip irrigation machine, the machine for water and feeds with beneficial microorganisms in aquaculture, probiotics-water dispenser and probiotic sprayer, which were all developed by us. Altogether, the mechanized, automated and intelligent microbial agriculture production system was constructed by using Juncao technology + microbiological technology + modern facility agriculture technology. These would provide a carrier for modern agriculture industrialization in the rural area, an empowerment for rural revitalization, and a helping hand for realizing common prosperity for all.

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.

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.

In order to quickly detect the soil water content and achieve timely monitoring of tomato plant growth, the average spectral reflectance of 304 soil samples was extracted using hyperspectral imaging technology. The original spectra underwent preprocessing and optimization by removing outliers, dividing the sample set, applying three preprocessing methods, successive projections algorithm (SPA), uninformation variable elimination (UVE), iterative retained information variable (IRIV), genetic partial-least-squares algorithm (GAPLS) to extract the feature wavelengths. Following this, a partial-least-squares regression (PLSR) model was established based on the identified feature wavelengths. Utilizing these preferred feature wavelengths, multiple models were then constructed, including the PLSR model, multiple linear regression (MLR) model, principal component regression (PCR) model, and convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The results showed that: the preferred moving average smoothing (MAS) preprocessing of soil water content was applied, and the quantitative prediction model of soil water content, which was established using the characteristic wavelength extracted by the IRIV method, proved to have the best effect (R_c=0.7167, RMSE_c=0.0193; R_p=0.6631, RMSE_P=0.0272). Additionally, the model of soil water content based on IRIV-CNN also demonstrated good performance (R_c=0.7655, RMSE_c=0.0172). This study holds great practical significance and usefulness for the development of water utilization efficiency in the facility vegetable industry, as well as the scientific management of water in tomato crops. It currently provides technical support for online monitoring of tomato plant growth.

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.

To investigate the soil nutrient and fertility status of pomegranate orchards with different ages in Lintong District, a total of 28 soil samples were collected from 6 pomegranate orchards in Lintong District in two soil layers of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, the contents of soil macroelement, medium and microelement were determined, and the soil fertility status of pomegranate orchards were evaluated. The results showed that with the increase of planting years, the pH and nutrient indexes of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm soil layers in pomegranate orchard did not show obvious change patterns; the soil in pomegranate orchard had mean pH>7.5, which was alkaline; most of the nutrient indexes in the lower soil layer of 20-40 cm were lower than those in the surface soil layer of 0-20 cm; the soil organic matter, soil nitrogen and soil alkaline nitrogen were mostly at medium level. Soil effective phosphorus, soil quick-acting potassium, soil effective calcium and soil effective zinc were at high level, and soil effective magnesium, soil effective iron, soil effective manganese and soil effective boron were at medium-low level. It was suggested that pomegranate orchards should increase the application of organic fertilizers, appropriately increase the application of nitrogen fertilizers, and appropriately supplement the trace elements.

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.

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.

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.

Tree peony (Paeonia Sect. Moutan) is a traditional famous flower with a long history of cultivation in China. There are various cultivars of tree peony, which have rich variations in colors and shapes of flower. Itoh hybrid peony (P. Itoh Group) is the intersectional hybrid group crossed by tree peony group (P. Sect. Moutan) and herb peony group (P. Sect. Paeonia) of Paeonia. Multicolor is a special flower color pattern, both tree peony and Itoh hybrid peony are abundant in multicolor cultivars, but the existing floral classification cannot fully describe the floral characteristics of compound color varieties. Based on field investigation and literature analysis, this study classified the flower color of multicolor cultivars of tree peony and Itoh hybrid peony groups into 3 categories, including single plant multicolor, single flower multicolor and multicolored in florescence time, of which single flower multicolor was classified into 6 types. The results indicate that tree peony cultivars are rich in multicolor types, especially there are many multicolor cultivars in Northwest tree peony cultivar group. Itoh hybrid peony has a high proportion of multicolor cultivars, mainly of the gradient color type, and a few cultivars combine multiple types of stripes, spots, and single flower multicolor, etc. In this paper, we propose a new scheme for the classification of multicolor flower of both tree peony and Itoh hybrid peony which can be used as a reference for flower color improvement and DUS test of Paeonia.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles released into the extracellular matrix by cells and retain a high compositional similarity to the cell membrane. Almost all types of cells are capable of secreting vesicles, and those produced by bacteria are usually referred to as bacterial extracellular vesicles. Vesicles play an important role in agriculture and environmental protection. To gain a deeper insight into the function of vesicles within the realm of environmental protection, a review was conducted on the types and composition of vesicles, extraction methods, production, secretion and regulation mechanisms and their roles in degrading pesticide wastes in soils. Moreover, the importance of vesicles in the relationships among bacteria and between pathogens and crops, as well as their potential applications in the field of environmental protection and agricultural production were discussed in depth. Finally, the future research direction was prospected, and it was believed that the function of vesicles should be deeply understood and the role of vesicles in the ecosystem category should be studied, and the role of vesicles in the ecosystem should be utilized to make more contributions to environmental protection.

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.

In order to get the proper cuttage cultivation scheme of passion fruit, variety ‘Zhuangmi 05’ and ‘Tainong 1’ were used as the scion to observe the formation process of adventitious roots of cuttings from the morphology and anatomical structure, and study the effects of cutting time, air temperature and humidity, rooting agent concentration and branch node position on rooting. The results showed that passion fruit root was formed from latent root primodia. Callus was formed 6-9 days after cutting, white root spots were formed at the base of cuttings from 9-12 days, and adventitious roots grew from 12-15 days. Short time high temperature had little effect on cuttage rooting of passion fruit, and the lower the temperature in the appropriate range, the more conducive to cuttage rooting. The alternate dry and wet environment was conducive to the rooting. ‘Zhuangmi 05’ was suitable for cutting after soaking 300 mg/L rooting powder for 1 h on March 15, and the cuttage rooting effect of the 7^th node was the best. ‘Tainong 1’ was suitable for cutting on March 15 and December 15 without treatment or after soaking 100 mg/L rooting powder for 1 h. The rooting effects of the 5^th to 10^th nodes were better.