N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a key role in mammalian early embryonic development and cell lineage differentiation. However, the role and mechanisms of 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) m6A methyltransferase METTL5 in early embryonic development remain unclear. Here, we found that 18S rRNA m6A methyltransferase METTL5 plays an important role in porcine early embryonic development. METTL5 knockdown and overexpression significantly reduced the developmental efficiency of porcine early embryos and impaired cell lineage allocation. METTL5 knockdown apparently decreased the global translation efficiency in blastocyst, while METTL5 overexpression increased the global translation efficiency. Furthermore, METTL5 knockdown did not affect the abundance of CDX2 mRNA, but resulted in a significant reduction in CDX2 protein levels. Moreover, the low developmental efficiency and abnormal lineage distribution of METTL5 knockdown embryos could be rescued by CDX2 overexpression. Collectively, our results demonstrated that 18S rRNA methyltransferase METTL5 regulates porcine early embryonic development via modulating the translation of CDX2.
Integrated agronomic optimization (IAO) adopts suitable crop varieties, sowing dates, planting density and advanced nutrient management to redesign the entire production system according to the local environment, which can achieve synergistic improvements in crop yields and resource utilization. However, the intensity and magnitude of the impacts of IAO on soil quality under long-term intensive production and high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) require further clarification. Based on a 13-year field experiment conducted in Dawenkou, Tai’an, China, we investigated the effects of four cultivation modes on the grain yield, NUE, soil aggregate structure, as well as the fraction of organic matter (SOM) and soil quality, reflected by integrated fertility index (IFI) during the winter wheat maturation period in 2020–2022. The four cultivation modes were traditional local farming (T1), farmer-based improvement (T2), increased yield regardless of production cost (T3), and integrated soil–crop system management (T4). As IAO modes, T2 and T4 were characterized by denser planting, reduced nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates, and delayed sowing compared to T1 and T3, respectively. In this long-term experiment, IAO was found to maintain aggregate stability, increase SOM content (by increasing organic carbon and total nitrogen of the light fraction (LF) and the particulate organic matter fraction (POM)), and improve SOM quality by increasing the proportions of LF and POM and the ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen in SOM. Compared to T1, the IFI of T2, T3, and T4 increased by 10.91, 23.38, 25.55%, and by 17.78, 6.41, 28.94% in the 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers, respectively. The grain yield of T4 was 22.52% higher than that of T1, reaching 95.98% of that in T3. Furthermore, NUE of T4 was 35.61% higher than that of T1 and T3. In conclusion, our results suggest that T4 synergistically increases grain yield and NUE in winter wheat, while maximizing soil quality.
Transgenic crops producing insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have proven to be highly effective in managing some key pests. However, the evolution of resistance by the target pests threatens the sustainability of Bt crops. The L31S mutation in a tetraspanin encoded by HarmTspC5 (previously known as HaTSPAN1) has been shown to confer dominant resistance to the Bt protein Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa armigera, a globally damaging lepidopteran pest. However, the broader implications of the L31S mutation in the tetraspanins of other lepidopteran species remain unclear. The evolutionary analyses in this study indicate that TspC5s have evolved in a species-specific manner among the lepidopteran insects. To investigate the role of TspC5s in conferring dominant resistance to Cry1Ac, we used the piggyBac-based transformation system to generate four transgenic H. armigera strains that express exogenous TspC5 variants from three phylogenetically close species (Helicoverpa zea, Helicoverpa assulta and Heliothis virescens) and one phylogenetically distant species (Plutella xylostella). In comparison with the background SCD strain of H. armigera, the transgenic strains expressing HzeaTspC5-L31S, HassTspC5-L31S, or HvirTspC5-L31S exhibited significant resistance to Cry1Ac (10.0-, 21.4-, and 81.1-fold, respectively), whereas the strain expressing PxylTspC5-L27S remained susceptible. Furthermore, the Cry1Ac resistant phenotypes followed an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern and were closely linked to the introduced mutant TspC5s. These findings reveal the conserved role of TspC5s from Helicoverpa and Heliothis species in mediating the dominant resistance to Cry1Ac, and they provide crucial insights for assessing resistance risks related to mutant tetraspanins and devising adaptive resistance management strategies for these major lepidopteran pests.
Natural rubber is an indispensable material of strategic importance that has critical applications in industry and the military. However, the development of the natural rubber industry is impeded by the red root rot disease of rubber trees caused by Ganoderma pseudoferreum, which is one of the most devastating diseases in the rubber tree growing regions in China. To combat this disease, we screened the antifungal activity of 223 candidate bacterial strains against G. pseudoferreum, and found that Bacillus velezensis strain SF305 exhibited significant antifungal activity against G. pseudoferreum. B. velezensis SF305 had a nearly 70% efficacy against the red root rot disease of rubber trees with the therapeutic treatment (Tre), while it exhibited over 90% protection effectiveness with the preventive treatment (Pre). The underlying biocontrol mechanism revealed that B. velezensis SF305 could reduce the disease severity of red root rot by degrading the mycelia of G. pseudoferreum. An antiSMASH analysis revealed that B. velezensis SF305 contains 15 gene clusters related to secondary metabolite synthesis, 13 of which are conserved in species of B. velezensis, but surprisingly, B. velezensis SF305 possesses 2 unique secondary metabolite gene clusters. One is predicted to synthesize locillomycin, and the other is a novel nonribosomal peptides synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster. Genomic analysis showed that B. velezensis SF305 harbors genes involved in motility, chemotaxis, biofilm formation, stress resistance, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and synthesis of the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), suggesting its plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) properties. B. velezensis SF305 can promote plant growth and efficiently antagonize some important phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. This study indicates that B. velezensis SF305 is a versatile plant probiotic bacterium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a B. velezensis strain has been reported as a promising biocontrol agent against the red root rot disease of rubber trees.
The evaluation of plant stress tolerance and the screening of key regulatory genes under the combined stresses of high temperature and drought are important for the study of plant stress tolerance mechanisms. In this study, the drought tolerance of five grape varieties was evaluated under high-temperature conditions to screen key genes for further exploration of resistance mechanisms. By comparing and analysing the morphological characteristics and physiological indicators associated with the response of grapevines to drought stress and integrating them with the membership function to assess the strength of their drought tolerance, the order of drought tolerance was found to be as follows: 420A>110R>CS>fercal>188-08. To further analyse the mechanism of differences in drought tolerance, transcriptomic sequencing was performed on the drought-tolerant cultivar 420A, the drought-sensitive cultivar 188-08 and the control cultivar CS. The functional analysis of differential metabolic pathways indicated that the differentially expressed genes were enriched mainly in biological that 420A had higher antioxidant activity. Moreover, the transcription factors which differentially expressed were also analysed in the five grape varieties, and several genes, such as VvAGL15, VvLBD41, and VvMYB86, appeared to be closely related to drought tolerance, suggesting their potential involvement in the regulation of grapevine drought tolerance and their value in drought tolerance research.
In this study, we report the discovery of a novel bocaparvovirus, identified through viral metagenomic analysis of fecal samples from goats presenting with diarrhea. The complete genomic sequence of this virus shows the highest identity with the ECBOV-tdf70 strain, which was found in the wild animal Elaphodus cephalophus. Its NS1 protein shares 91.2% amino acid identity with the ECBOV-tdf70 strain. According to ICTV criteria, this strain should be classified as same species along with the ECBOV-tdf70 strain. The positive rate of diarrheal fecal samples versus non-diarrheal samples indicates the potential role of viruses in goat diarrhea. The complete VP1 genes of the five strains obtained in this study shared 74.4 - 99.2% nucleotide identity, and 63.7 - 99.1% amino acid identity. This study represents the first report of Bocaparvovirus infection in goats, providing valuable insights into the epidemiology and genetic diversity of the virus.
To ensure the reliability of learned information, most insects require multiple intervals of experience before storing the information as Long-term memory (LTM), and this requirement has been validated in insects from the behavioral to the molecular level. Recent studies have shown that some insects can form LTM after a single experience, although the mechanisms underlying one-trial LTM formation are not well understood. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying rapid learning and subsequent preference formation in insects is crucial. Here we show that the agricultural pest Bactrocera dorsalis can rapidly form LTM, which is dependent on protein synthesis, and that the formation of LTM requires high energy support at the cost of reduced survival. Furthermore, based on a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics approach, we found that LTM-related processes are sequentially coupled to two processes for energy generation, the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. This was further confirmed by blocking these energy generation processes. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the development of behavioral modulators in oriental fruit flies that target energy generation intermediate metabolites, as well as a new perspective on the rapid formation of LTM in insects.
Exploring the suitability of biochar for improving soil quality under different water and salt conditions is important for maintaining soil health and productivity in the arid regions of Northwestern China. We compared the effects of biochar application practices on soil physical, chemical and biological properties under different irrigation and water salinity levels in a two-year field experiment in a mulched and drip-irrigated maize field in Gansu province, China. Eight treatments in total included the combination of two biochar addition rates of 0 t ha-1 (B0) and 60 t ha-1 (B1), two irrigation levels of full (W1) and deficit irrigation (W2; W2=1/2 W1) and two water salinity levels of fresh water (S0, 0.71 g L-1) and brackish water (S1, 4.00 g L-1). The minimum dataset method was used to calculate the soil quality index (SQI) under different treatments. Deficit and brackish water irrigation significantly reduced SQI by 3.80-9.80% through reducing some soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Biochar application significantly increased the SQI by 6.13 and 10.40% under full irrigation with fresh and brackish water, respectively. Biochar addition enhanced the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria) in the soil in all water-salt treatments. The partial least squares path model showed that biochar application significantly enhanced the SQI mainly by improving soil aggregation and pore structure under particular water-salt conditions. This research provides an important basis for utilizing biochar to improve soil quality in arid regions of Northwest China under various water-salt conditions.
CRISPR-Cas9 emerged as a powerful tool for gene editing, which has been widely used in plant functional genomics research and crop genetic breeding (Chen et al. 2019). The target specificity of CRISPR-Cas9 relies on the 20-base-pair single guide RNA (sgRNA), making it relatively quick and straightforward to create plant-specific mutant libraries through large-scale synthesis of sgRNAs targeting multiple genes or even the whole genome. Several CRISPR-Cas9 mutant libraries have been developed for crops such as rice (Lu et al. 2017; Meng et al. 2017), soya bean (Bai et al. 2020), Brassica napus (He et al. 2023), and cotton (Sun et al. 2023). However, no CRISPR-Cas9 mutant library has yet been generated in woody crop plants. Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the oldest and most economically valuable fruit crops worldwide. The MYB family is one of the most abundant and versatile transcription factor families in plant (Wu et al. 2022). Here, we described a strategy for generating a collection of MYB mutant lines in grape using a sgRNA library.
We obtained 138 grape MYB transcription factor sequences from the Plant Transcription Factor Database (PlantTFDB, http://planttfdb.gao-lab.org/family.php?sp=Vvi&fam=MYB) (Appendix A). Since genes with similar sequences often share similar functions, a phylogenetic tree was constructed and divided all MYBs into 30 sets based on the sequence similarity (Fig. 1-A and Appendix B-a). A total of 127 sgRNAs were designed, each targeting conserved regions shared by two or more MYB transcription factors with fewer than three base-pair differences. This approach aimed to simultaneously mutate multiple MYB members within a cluster using a single sgRNA, addressing the challenge of genetic redundancy (Appendix B-b). These shared target sites were designated as Target1 (T1). In addition, specific sgRNAs targeting individual MYB transcription factors were designed using the CRISPR-P 2.0 online tool (http://crispr.hzau.edu.cn/cgi-bin/CRISPR2/CRISPR) (Liu et al. 2017). The design criteria included selecting target sites within exons near the start of open reading frames (ORFs), a GC content of at least 40%, and an off-target efficiency below 0.4. Finally, 138 sgRNAs targeting specific sites for each MYB transcription factor were designed, referred to as Target2 (T2). In total, a comprehensive sgRNA library comprising 265 sgRNA was developed to target 138 MYBs, with an average of 1.92 sgRNA per MYB (Fig. 1-A and Appendix C).
The sgRNA fragments from the same set were mixed as one sgRNA pool, ligated into the pKSE401 vector using Gibson ligation, and subsequently transformed into the Escherichia coli TOP10 competence cells (Fig. 1-B and Appendix D-a). To evaluate the ligation efficiency of the sgRNA pool with the vector, 90 E. coli clones from sets #1-3 were randomly selected and sequenced. The results demonstrated that the ligation efficiency exceeded 90% and the sgRNA coverage ratio over 80%, confirming the feasibility of this method (Appendix D-b). Using this approach, approximately 1300 (~5×) positive E. coli clones were obtained across the 30 sets (Fig. 1-D). Plasmids extracted from each set were mixed in equal proportions and transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101 competence cells. Finally, all Agrobacterium colonies were collected and verified with next-generation sequencing (NGS). The results revealed that 95.31% of the sequences in the library were accurate, and 178 of 265 sgRNAs were represented by at least one read, targeting 125 (90.58%) MYB transcription factors. Most (83.93%) sgRNA read counts fell within the range of 28-215. These results indicated that the sgRNAs library in Agrobacterium exhibited high accuracy and gene coverage, which is usable for grape transformation (Fig.1-E).
Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most renowned red wine grape varieties, widely cultivated worldwide. In this study, pro-embryonic masses of ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ were used as recipient material for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (Fig. 1-C and Appendix E). A total of 1354 kanamycin-resistant seedlings were obtained, and which 341 were confirmed as transgenic lines (PCR positive). And, all the lines were determined to harbor a single correct sgRNA, representing 13 unique sgRNAs targeting 18 MYB transcription factors. Target site DNA was amplified and sequenced, revealing only 67 gene-edited lines with mutations in 8 MYB transcription factors (Fig. 1F and Appendix F and G). Among these, 56 lines were chimeric mutants, nine were biallelic mutants, one was a homozygous mutant and one was a heterozygous mutant (Appendix H). Five Target1 type transgenic lines were obtained, three of them did not mutate in all of the targeted genes, in which the sgRNA was targeting two or more completely conserved sites. Additionally, gene-edited lines for GSVIVT01032467001-T1 and GSVIVT01014770001-T1 were producted. However, the sgRNA harbored in these transgenic lines only caused the mutations in GSVIVT01032467001 and GSVIVT01014770001, without off-target effects on genes with similar sequences (Appendix I and J). All MYB-edited lines were subsequently transplanted into a greenhouse for observation (Appendix K). Phenotypic analysisrevealed that the GSVIVT01026481001 edited lines exhibited significantly enhanced tolerance to drought stress (Fig. 1-G).
CRISPR-Cas9 has greatly accelerated gene function research and breeding in plants. In this study, we developed a strategy for generating a collection of MYB mutant lines in grape using a CRISPR-Cas9 library. However, the relatively lower transformation efficiency in grape limited the number of mutants obtained. Factors affecting grape transformation efficiency primarily included the regeneration rate of the recipient material and the efficiency of Agrobacterium infection. Numerous studies have demonstrated that plant regeneration efficiency enhanced using developmental regulators such as BABY BOOM (BBM), WUSCHEL (WUS), GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF), and REGENERATION FACTOR (REF) (Debernardi et al. 2020; Yang et al. 2022). Additionally, plant transformation and gene editing efficiency improved through optimized genetic transformation methods and gene editing vector designs (Debernardi et al. 2024; Yan et al. 2024). We confirmed that a large number of edited plants could be obtained simultaneously using a sgRNA mixed-pool library, provided that grape transformation efficiency is improved. This strategy holds significant potential for constructing genome-wide mutant libraries in woody crop plants in the future.
Cold stress widely impairs the quality and yield of tea plants. The miR164 family and its target NAC transcription factor have been identified as crucial regulators in response to cold stress. However, the role of miR164 and CsNAC in cold tolerance in tea plants was little understood. In our study, the expression level of csn-miR164a was significantly reduced under cold stress, and was significantly negative correlation with that of CsNAC1. 5’ RACE and GUS histochemical assays clearly showed that CsNAC1 was specifically cleaved by csn-miR164a. The csn-miR164a-silenced tea leaves promoted expression level of CsNAC1 and CsCBFs, and exhibited greater cold tolerance, also overexpression of CsNAC1 enhanced cold tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants by promoting the expression levels of AtCBFs. In contrast, the heterologous overexpression of csn-miR164a in Arabidopsis decreased the expression level of AtNACs and AtCBFs, and thus impaired cold tolerance. Additionally, silencing of CsNAC1-impaired the expression levels of CsCBFs resulted in greater cold sensitivity in tea leaves. Taken together, our present study demonstrated that the miR164a-CsNAC1 module may play a negative role in cold tolerance of tea plants via CsCBF-dependent pathway.
Increasing grain yield (GY) and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat in the Huaibei Plain (HP) is essential. However, the effects of micro-sprinkler irrigation and topsoil compaction after wheat seeds sowing on the GY and WUE are unclear. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted during the 2021–2023 winter wheat growing seasons with a total six treatments: rain-fed (RF), conventional irrigation (CI) and micro-sprinkler irrigation (MI), as well as topsoil compaction after seeds sowing under three irrigation methods (RFC, CIC, and MIC). The two years’ results indicated that MI significantly increased GY compared to CI and RF, which averagely increased by 17.9 and 42.1%, respectively. The increase in GY of MI was due to its significant increase in the number of spikes, kernels per spike, and grain weight. Chlorophyll concentration in flag leaves of MI after anthesis stage was maintained higher levels than CI and RF, RF was the lowest. This was due to the dramatically enhanced catalase and peroxidase activity and lower malondialdehyde content under MI. Compared with RF and CI, MI significantly promoted dry matter remobilization and production after anthesis as well as its contribution to GY. In addition, MI significantly boosted root growth, and root activity during grain filling stage was remarkably enhanced than CI and RF. In 2021–2022, there was no significant difference in WUE between MI and RF, but the WUE of RF was significantly lower than MI in 2022–2023. However, WUE in MI was significantly improved compared to CI, that averagely increased by 15.1 and 17.6% for the two years. Topsoil compaction significantly increased GY and WUE under rain-fed conditions due to improved spike numbers and dry matter production. Overall, topsoil compaction is advisable for enhancing GY and WUE in rain-fed conditions, whereas micro-sprinkler irrigation can be adopted to achieve high GY and WUE simultaneously in the HP.
In yeast, the stress-responsive protein Whi2 interacts with phosphatase Psr1 to form a complex that regulates cell growth, reproduction, infection, and the stress response. However, the roles of Whi2 and Psr1 in Fusarium graminearum remain unclear. In this study, we identified homologous genes of WHI2 and PSR1 in F. graminearum and evaluated their functions by constructing deletion mutants. By comparing the responses of the mutants to different stressors, we found that FgWHI2 and FgPSR1 were involved in responding to osmotic, cell wall and cell membrane stresses, while also affecting the sexual and asexual reproduction in F. graminearum. Our studies demonstrated that FgWHI2 and FgPSR1 regulate the biosynthesis of ergosterol and the transcriptional level of FgCYP51C, which is a CYP51 paralogues unique to Fusarium species. This study also found that the deoxynivalenol (DON) production of FgWHI2 and FgPSR1 deletion mutants was reduced by ≥ 90% and DON production was positively correlated with the transcriptional levels of FgWHI2 and FgPSR1. In addition, we observed that FgWHI2 and FgPSR1 were involved in regulating the sensitivity of F. graminearum to chlorothalonil, fluazinam, azoxystrobin, phenamacril, and oligomycin. This study revealed the existence of cross-resistance between chlorothalonil and fluazinam. chlorothalonil and fluazinam inhibited DON biosynthesis by suppressing the expression of FgWHI2. Interestingly, the subcellular localization of FgWhi2 and FgPsr1 was significantly altered after treatment with chlorothalonil and fluazinam, with increased co-localization. Collectively, these findings indicate that FgWHI2 and FgPSR1 play crucial roles in stress response mechanisms, reproductive processes, secondary metabolite synthesis, and fungicide sensitivity in F. graminearum.
The well-facilitated farmland projects (WFFPs) involve the typical sustainable intensification of farmland use and play a key role in raising food production in China. However, whether such WFFPs can enhance the nitrogen (N) use efficiency and reduce environmental impacts is still unclear. Here, we examined the data from 502 valid questionnaires collected from WFFPs in the major grain-producing area, the Huang-Huai-Hai Region (HHHR) in China, with 429 samples for wheat, 328 for maize, and 122 for rice. We identified gaps in N use efficiency (NUE) and N losses from the production of the three crops between the sampled WFFPs and counties based on the statistical data. The results showed that compared to the county-level (wheat, 39.1%; maize, 33.8%; rice, 35.1%), the NUEs for wheat (55.2%), maize (52.1%), and rice (50.2%) in the WFFPs were significantly improved (P<0.05). In addition, the intensities of ammonia (NH3) volatilization (9.9−12.2 kg N ha-1), N leaching (6.5−16.9 kg N ha-1), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (1.2−1.6 kg N ha-1) from crop production in the sampled WFFPs were significantly lower than the county averages (P<0.05). Simulations showed that if the N rates are reduced by 10.0, 15.0, or 20.0% for the counties, the NUEs of wheat, maize, and rice in the HHHR will increase by 2.9−6.3, 2.4−5.2, or 2.6−5.7%, respectively. If the N rate is reduced to the WFFP level in each county, the NUEs of the three crops will increase by 12.9−19.5%, and the N leaching, NH3, and N2O emissions will be reduced by 48.9−56.2, 37.4−42.9, and 46.0−66.5%, respectively. Our findings highlight that efficient N management practices in sustainable intensive farmland have considerable potential for reducing environmental impacts.
Changes in agricultural land use affect ecosystem services and their interactions. However, the differential influences of agricultural land use transitions under different topographical gradients on ecosystem service interactions remain poorly understood, which limits the integrated management of agricultural systems. The objectives of this study were to analyze the transitional trends of major agricultural land types across distinct topographical gradients and to probe the differential impacts of these transitions on ecosystem service interactions. Using Hangzhou as the study area, the analysis focused on four major agricultural land use types (arable land, orchard, tea garden, and abandoned land). The GTWR model was applied to investigate spatiotemporal non-stationarity in the impacts of their transitions on the ecosystem service trade-offs and synergies. The results showed that during 2010-2020, the agricultural land use pattern in plain areas became more diversified and fragmented, while it shifted towards greater homogeneity and contiguity in hilly and mountainous areas. Between 2010-2015 and 2015-2020, the dominant output type of agricultural land use transition was arable land. The dominant input type in plain areas shifted from arable land to orchard, whereas in hilly and mountainous areas, it was orchard and tea garden. The higher synergy between habitat quality and other ecosystem services primarily occurred in plain areas. Over time, the higher synergy between carbon sequestration and soil retention predominantly shifted from mountainous areas to plain areas. A variety of abandoned types across different topographical gradients fostered synergies by reducing the supply capacity of various ecosystem services. Trade-offs between ecosystem services in hilly and mountainous areas could be alleviated by converting arable land into orchard and tea garden. These findings highlight the importance of adopting differentiated, dynamic, and systematic measures for agricultural spatial development in implementing ecosystem management across different topographical gradients.
Migratory insect pests tend to suddenly immigrate into new habitats over a short period to simultaneously lay eggs in clusters, resulting in gregarious larvae that cause severe damage to crops. These aggregated larvae can adapt well to various natural enemies and pathogens in their new habitats, but how their resistance might be enhanced and its immunological significance remain unknown. Here, we examined how infection by a pathogen and a parasitic fly affect the immune response and migratory behavior in two phases of the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata, which differ dramatically in their flight capacity and fecundity. The gregarious larvae displayed greater resistance than solitary larvae to the challenges of both the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and the parasitoid Exorista civilis. In response to a challenge by M. anisopliae, gregarious larvae exhibited more pronounced increases in phenoloxidase (PO) activity and lysozyme activity than solitary larvae. Furthermore, in addition to the greater PO and lysozyme activities, the levels of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were also greater in challenged gregarious and solitary larvae. Injection of dopamine (or 5-HT) significantly enhanced PO activity, lysozyme activity, antibacterial activity and larval survival. Subsequently, there was a significant increase in the flight capacity of adults derived from gregarious larvae challenged by M. anisopliae; while no significant variation was observed in the adults from challenged solitary larvae. The preoviposition period, oviposition period and fecundity were not significantly affected by M. anisopliae, regardless of whether the larvae were gregarious or solitary. These results provide new insights into the relationship between migration and immunity in insects, and their behavior after immunization.
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a cornerstone of global food security, feeding over a third of the world’s population and functioning as a critical economic crop across diverse agroecological zones (FAO 2022). However, wheat production faces mounting challenges from climate volatility, resource depletion, and the pressing demand for sustainable intensification. This special issue presents seven cutting-edge studies that bridge scales from molecular mechanisms to field-level management, offering integrative solutions to enhance wheat’s resilience, productivity, and sustainability. Structured into three thematic sections, these contributions advance both fundamental understanding and practical applications for the future of wheat cultivation.
I. Stress priming for drought resilience
Drought stress during critical reproductive stages remains a primary constraint to global wheat productivity, often causing significant yield losses and quality deterioration (Simane et al. 1993). Emerging research on stress priming - where controlled pre-exposure to moderate stress enhances subsequent stress tolerance - has opened promising avenues for crop improvement (Wang et al. 2014; Li et al. 2023). The current issue presents two pivotal studies that substantially advance the fundamental understanding and practical application of priming technology in wheat systems. Li et al. (2025a) decode the molecular basis of drought priming, identifying 416 differentially expressed genes and 27 transcription factors governing hormone signaling, osmoprotection, and cuticular wax biosynthesis. These findings establish the molecular architecture of stress memory in wheat, explaining how priming induces a persistent state of enhanced drought readiness.
Li et al. (2025b) further demonstrate that priming benefits extend beyond yield protection to safeguard grain quality parameters. Primed plants maintain starch functionality, preserve protein composition balance, and minimize quality deterioration under stress conditions.
These discoveries transform priming from a physiological curiosity into a practical field solution, though challenges persist in developing cost-effective delivery systems suitable for diverse farming contexts.
II. Precision agronomy for enhanced resource efficiency
Achieving sustainable yield gains in wheat systems necessitates innovative approaches to optimizing critical resources, particularly nitrogen and water, as current approaches remain key constraints to productivity (Chen et al. 2023). Recent studies in this issue demonstrate significant advances in precision management strategies that address these challenges while maintaining yield potential.
Liang et al. (2025) elucidate the role of 24-epibras-sinolide in improving nitrogen use efficiency under limited nitrogen conditions. Their work reveals how this plant growth regulator fine-tunes fructan metabolism, reducing floret abortion and maintaining yields with less nitrogen input. This hormonal approach represents a novel pathway to overcome one of the most persistent challenges in wheat production. Complementing these findings, Guo et al. (2025) present compelling evidence through a 13-year field study that integrated soil–crop management systems can simultaneously boost yields and increase soil organic carbon annually while improving nitrogen recovery efficiency. Their detailed soil fractionation analysis yields critical insights into the microbial mechanisms underlying these improvements, offering a scientific foundation for sustainable intensification strategies.
Water scarcity, particularly in semi-arid wheat-growing regions, demands innovative irrigation solutions that maximize efficiency without compromising yield (Wasson et al. 2012). Che et al. (2025) demonstrate that deficit irrigation can reduce water use by 25%, extending photosynthetic activity and improving yield stability under water stress conditions. Similarly, Li et al. (2025c) validate the effectiveness of micro-sprinkler irrigation technology, which enhances water productivity through precise synchronization of water delivery with critical growth stages, outperforming conventional flood irrigation methods.
These studies illustrate how precision agronomy - whether hormonal regulation, soil health management, or optimized irrigation - can successfully decouple input reduction from yield penalties. The findings provide actionable insights for reducing the environmental footprint of wheat production while maintaining productivity under increasingly constrained resource availability.
III. Climate adaptation through systems modeling
The impact of climate change on wheat production systems is escalating, manifested through shifting temperature regimes, altered precipitation patterns, and changing atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Lesk et al. 2021). Traditional static models of agronomic management are increasingly ineffective under dynamic climate conditions. Preparing wheat systems for future climates demands immediate attention through adaptive strategies grounded in robust data and predictive modeling.
By integrating 10 years of comprehensive field data with robust crop simulation models, Liu et al. (2025) provide critical insights into future yield constraints under projected climate scenarios. Their analysis reveals two notable findings. First, growing degree days and solar radiation will emerge as primary yield-limiting factors in many current production regions. Second, the potential benefits of elevated CO2 concentrations are highly contingent on complementary management interventions. These results challenge simplistic assumptions about climate change impacts and underscore the need for nuanced, context-specific adaptation strategies.
The study’s most valuable contribution lies in its development and validation of a genotype×environment× management (G×E×M) framework for climate adaptation. This integrated approach transcends conventional breeding or agronomic solutions considered in isolation, emphasizing instead their synergistic interactions.
This collection exemplifies how multidisciplinary science can reconcile productivity with sustainability. Integrating discoveries from molecular biology to systems modeling generates the knowledge and tools needed to transform wheat production. The path forward demands continued innovation coupled with effective translation, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs are transformed into practical solutions for farmers worldwide. In this era of global change, such integrative approaches will define the future of sustainable agriculture.
