Straw amendments can improve soil fertility by loading organic carbon (C) into soils, but whether and how biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) occurs in long-term rice straw (RS)-incorporated paddy fields remain poorly understood. To fill this gap, we explored the effects of three rates of straw incorporation (0, 3 and 6 t ha^-1; RS₀, RS₃ and RS₆) on soil BNF activities inferred from acetylene reduction assay (ARA) and diazotrophic communities at three rice growth stages (tillering, elongation, and maturation) based on a 10-year field experiment. The ARA activities increased significantly in response to increasing straw incorporation rates across all three rice growth stages, while the effect decreased as rice growth progressed. Soil BNF was associated with key diazotrophs, such as Dechloromonas, Bradyrhizobium, and Azospirillum. Straw incorporation increased diazotrophic abundance, diversity and interactions, which consequently improved soil BNF activities and rice yields. Straw incorporation increased rice yield by 12.6% in RS₃ and by 15.5% in RS₆ compared with the control. Structural equation models (SEMs) suggested that microbial C turnover and nitrogenase gene expression were the key factors affecting soil stage-specific BNF associated with the decomposition of straw. These results revealed that C-rich straw incorporation reconfigured soil N dynamics, enabling simultaneous improvement of soil fertility and rice yields through demand-driven BNF patterns in paddy fields.

Vapor pressure deficit (VPD), defined as the difference between the actual water vapor pressure and the saturation vapor pressure in the air, is a core indicator of atmospheric aridity. High VPD induces intensified water loss via plant transpiration, thereby constraining water uptake and photosynthetic capacity. The dynamic functions and molecular regulatory mechanisms of plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), key aquaporins mediating rapid transmembrane water transport, remain unclear during plant responses to high VPD stress. In this study, we elucidated the regulatory role of SlPIP1;7 in regulating the multi-level adaptation strategy of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) at the morphological, physiological, and molecular levels under high VPD conditions. The results indicate that, compared to wild-type (WT) plants, SlPIP1;7 overexpressing (OE) plants exhibit superior growth performance under high VPD conditions. The overexpression of SlPIP1;7 significantly enhances the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging efficiency, effectively protecting plant cells from oxidative damage. This protective mechanism for maintaining ROS homeostasis is closely associated with stomatal function. The overexpression of SlPIP1;7 can regulate stomatal morphology, size, and aperture dynamics, thereby promoting efficient utilization of water and carbon dioxide and enhancing the overall physiological regulatory capacity of plants under stress conditions. Additionally, we identified the ethylene response factor SlERF4 as an upstream regulatory factor in this adaptive network. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase (LUC) assays demonstrate that the transcription factor SlERF4 can bind to the SlPIP1;7 promoter, enhancing its expression and functionality. This interaction further underscores the pivotal role of SlPIP1;7 in combating high VPD stress. In summary, our study elucidates the crucial function of SlPIP1;7 in plant response and acclimation to high VPD stress. These findings expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant acclimation to environmental stresses and provide a reference for future breeding strategies aimed at developing drought-resistant crops.

Motivated by growing concerns about excessive agrochemical use and the resulting environmental pollution in China, this study explores the importance of online agricultural information for chemical fertilizer and pesticide use decisions among grain farmers. In particular, we focus on the functional agricultural information used for productive purposes for smallholders. Based on a survey dataset of 1,833 family farms across five Chinese provinces, we employ a propensity score matching (PSM) approach to estimate treatment effects of online agricultural information. The results reveal that online acquisition of agricultural information does not reduce the expenses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in our sample; rather, the opposite is true. The use of online agricultural information significantly increased agrochemical expenses, particularly among smallholders. Within our sample region, the limited evolution of online information content and the inherent challenges faced by smallholder farmers are the major barriers to the beneficial effects of online agricultural information in reducing agrochemical use. Our findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and educational efforts to bridge the knowledge gaps of smallholders. Furthermore, there is a need to raise awareness among information providers to ensure that their recommendations avoid encouraging overdoses of agrochemicals. In addition, enhancing farmers’ digital literacy will be a future task of development policy.

Walnut is an important economic woody oil tree species, and anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a devastating disease affecting walnut production in China. The MAPK-WRKY signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating plant disease resistance. However, the MAPK-WRKY pathway in walnut and the mechanism involved in anthracnose resistance remain unclear. Using 'Taile' and 'Xiangling' with significant differences in anthracnose resistance as materials, we identified a potential JrMAPK3-JrWRKY22 pathway related to anthracnose resistance through transcriptomics. Further analysis using yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, pull-down, and in vitro phosphorylation assays revealed that JrWRKY22 interacts with and is phosphorylated by JrMAPK3. Transient injection results in walnut fruit revealed that overexpression of JrWRKY22 can inhibit Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection, increase fruit anthracnose resistance, and significantly promote the expression of the β-1,3-glucanase gene JrGLU of the PR-2 family and the pathogenesis-related gene JrPR1. In contrast, silencing JrWRKY22 resulted in a significant increase in lesion size caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and a corresponding decrease in gene expression levels. A dual-luciferase assay confirmed that JrWRKY22 can activate the promoter activity of JrPR1 and JrGLU and that phosphorylation by JrMAPK3 increases this activation. Further analysis using yeast one-hybrid assays, ChIP-PCR, and EMSA demonstrated that JrWRKY22 can bind to W-box elements in the promoters of JrPR1 and JrGLU. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanism by which the JrMAPK3-JrWRKY22 module increases walnut anthracnose resistance, broaden the understanding of resistance mechanisms, and provide a scientific basis for molecular breeding in the context of walnut disease resistance.

Northern corn leaf blight, a globally significant maize disease, is caused by the heterothallic fungus Setosphaeria turcica, which relies on mating type for its sexual reproduction. The mating-type locus (MAT) genes StMAT1-1 and StMAT1-2 determine three mating types (A, a, and Aa) of S. turcica. The sexual cycle of S. turcica in natural ecosystems has garnered substantial research interest; however, the functional dynamics of its sexual reproduction-including regulatory mechanisms and adaptive significance-remain uncharacterized. From 2011 to 2023, a 13-year continuous monitoring of S. turcica in major Chinese corn-producing regions identified the a mating type (with StMAT1-2) as the field-dominant type. Laboratory analyses of artificially induced F1 populations confirmed that a mating-type strains exhibit superior fitness (enhanced sporulation, faster mycelial growth, stronger pathogenicity) compared with A mating-type strains (with StMAT1-1). Generation of mating-type gene mutants demonstrated that StMAT1-1 and StMAT1-2 are essential for sexual reproduction in S. turcica. Transcriptome analysis further revealed that StMAT1-2 regulates a larger set of genes involved in metabolism-related pathways. Mechanistically, StMAT1-2 directly binds to the promoter of pheromone receptor gene StSte2 to modulate its expression. Silencing StSte2 disrupted sexual reproduction and downregulated downstream MAPK pathway genes, while exogenous pheromone partially rescued these defects, verifying the pheromone pathway's role in S. turcica sexual reproduction. Notably, silencing of StMAT1-2 and StSte2 was associated with reduced sporulation and pathogenicity. Collectively, StMAT1-2 regulates sexual reproduction and pathogenicity by targeting StSte2, driving the field dominance of the a mating type. This study advances understanding of mating-type distribution bias in heterothallic fungi.

Soil nutrient supply during crop growth is a key determinant of crop yield in agricultural ecosystems. However, the critical growth stage most influencing yield formation and the associated microbial mechanisms under straw incorporation remain unclear. A 6-year field experiment (2019–2024) was conducted with four treatments: conventional tillage (CT, 20 cm), deep tillage (DT, 35 cm), conventional tillage with straw incorporation (CTS), and deep tillage with straw incorporation (DTS). Soil samples were collected from topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (20–35 cm) at maize jointing (JS), grain-filling (GS), and maturity (MS) to elucidate the microbial mechanisms by which straw incorporation influences maize yield. Results showed that CTS and DTS significantly increased maize yield by 8.3% and 17.6%, respectively, compared to CT. Straw incorporation elevated soil organic carbon (SOC, 7.0–28.7%), available nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus (P), and potassium) and microbial biomass stoichiometric ratios (microbial biomass carbon/microbial biomass nitrogen, MBC/MBN; and microbial biomass carbon/microbial biomass phosphorus, MBC/MBP), alleviating microbial C (0.7–3.2%) and P (0.2–4.6%) limitations in the 0–35 cm soil layer, with DTS exhibiting a more pronounced effect in the subsoil. Furthermore, straw incorporation increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria (3.0–39.4%) and Ascomycota (7.8–40.3%) in the 0–35 cm soil layer, and enhanced bacterial diversity in the subsoil by increasing the contribution of stochastic assembly processes. Notably, nutrient availability at GS was identified as the primary driver of yield formation. By boosting available nutrients during this critical period, straw incorporation directly enhanced yield. Indirectly, by enhancing available nutrients and microbial biomass stoichiometric ratios (MBC/MBN and MBC/MBP), straw incorporation alleviated microbial C and P limitations. This, in turn, improved bacterial community structure, promoted SOC accumulation, and ultimately boosted yield. These findings elucidate the stage-specific microbial mechanisms under straw incorporation and provide a basis for optimizing farmland management practices to enhance soil productivity.

Water footprint (WF) of crop production is an advanced water consumption metric that can decouple the source of the water (i.e., green and blue water) in time and space over the crop growing period at both regional and product levels. Several machine learning models have been developed for crop WF accounting, however, the transferability of existing models has not been adequately validated, which constrains wider application and implementations across different crops, scenarios, and broader spatiotemporal domains. Here a comprehensive multi-scale machine learning modeling framework was constructed. Using the Yellow River Basin in China as the baseline training area, prediction models for 21 crops were developed based on 2000–2019 data, focusing on eight core indicators including yield per unit area, unit blue and green WFs (uWF_b and uWF_g), total yield, and total WF. Cross-regional validation in the Colorado River Basin for the basin scale, and mainland China for national scale confirmed the spatial transferability of the model. Long-term crop WF scenarios for 2020-2100 were then simulated for Yellow and Colorado river basins under four climate change projection pathways. In total, 5,112 machine learning modeling scenarios were constructed, and through grid search, over one billion parameter combinations were optimized, ultimately yielding 392 optimal models. Results demonstrates excellent accuracy across all scales and with spatial transferability, with the coefficient of determination (R²) exceeding 0.9 at both provincial and county levels. Incorporating human activity indicators and the Fast-Track approach data significantly improved model performance. The error distribution exhibits a pronounced scale-dependent characteristic, indicating systematic differences in the deviation of observed values for the same crop across varying scales. Long-term future crop WF scenarios show downward trends for unit WF for each crop, whereas increased total blue WFs in both considered basins. This study provides an innovative methodological framework for multi-scale agricultural water resource management.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), one of the world’s three major staple crops, continues to face challenges in yield enhancement to ensure food security. Photosynthesis, the most fundamental energy conversion process on Earth, provides the primary source of biomass formation in plants. The first “Green Revolution” in the mid-20th century employed dwarfing genes such as Rht-B1b or Rht-D1b, which reduced plant height by 30-50% and significantly enhanced lodging resistance. Combined with the widespread adoption of fertilizers and pesticides, these advancements led to substantial increases in global wheat yields. However, the yield benefits derived from dwarfing genes have since plateaued, creating a bottleneck for further improvement through height reduction while exacerbating environmental costs of fertilizer-intensive agriculture. With the FAO predicting a 60% increase in global wheat demand by 2050, there is an urgent need for innovative technological strategies to achieve a second leap in productivity. Improving photosynthesis, the core driver of biomass accumulation, offers a promising pathway to overcome current yield limitations. This review synthesizes recent advances in wheat photosynthesis research, focusing on the relationship between photosynthetic carbon assimilation and grain yield. It also identifies key scientific questions, outlines future research directions, and proposes technological strategies for enhancing wheat through photosynthetic optimization. Wheat breeding is now ushering in a second “Green Revolution” era, one powered by the efficient use of solar energy.

Maize landraces, shaped by long-term adaptation to diverse environments, represent an invaluable but underexplored resource for modern breeding. Despite their potential, the genetic architecture and breeding value of Chinese maize landraces remain poorly characterized. In this study, we established a global diversity panel comprising 3,187 maize landraces, including 2,042 accessions from China, and integrated genomic data from teosintes and modern inbred lines to trace the evolutionary and breeding history of maize. We delineated Chinese landraces into seven distinct genetic groups, whose spatial distribution closely aligns with major agro-ecological zones in China, revealing a genetic structure profoundly influenced by local adaptation. Notably, TreeMix and f_d analyses revealed significant gene flow between the Chinese landrace group CL3, which primarily distributed in the Huang-Huai-Hai plain, and the Sipingtou (SPT) inbred lines. Furthermore, XP-CLR analysis indicated that the selected regions encompass genes associated with abiotic stress response, flowering and photoperiod regulation, and growth processes, highlighting the functional relevance of landrace-derived alleles. Through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we identified numerous candidate genes for key traits, including known flowering regulator ZCN8 and disease resistance gene OPR8. Although modern breeding has efficiently accumulated favorable alleles for desired traits, landraces retain unique favorable alleles, particularly in flowering time and disease resistance, which are largely untapped. This study provides a comprehensive genetic resource and unveils the evolutionary and breeding dynamics of Chinese maize landraces. Our findings underscore the necessity of targeted utilization of landrace diversity to broaden the genetic base and enhance resilience in future maize breeding.

Achieving stable and sustainable soybean production under increasing climate variability and soil degradation remains a global challenge. Straw mulching is promoted to increase soybean seed yield in arid and semi-arid agricultural systems, but its long-term impacts on soil fertility and yield stability remain poorly quantified. We conducted a long-term field experiment, involving three treatments: straw removing (SR), straw mulching (SM), and straw crushing (SC). SM increased soil enzymes activity and improved topsoil nutrients. Among the three treatments, the SM exhibited the highest mean weight diameter (2.12), while the lowest soil solid phase proportion (49.09%). SM resulted in the longest chlorophyll retention duration in soybean leaves (135.55 d), followed by the SC (120.81 d) and SR (95.25 d). Furthermore, at the R1 stage, the SM exhibited the highest leaf area index (LAI) and biomass, both of which showed a significant positive correlation with seed yield. Compared with SR and SC, SM increased seed yield, yield stability, and yield sustainability by an average of 17.76, 73.64, and 15.42%, respectively. Long-term retention of crop residues represents a scalable, low-input strategy to rebuild soil fertility, buffer climatic stress, and secure yield stability – contributing to global goals for sustainable agriculture and food security.

Heat stress (HT) during grain filling severely constrains maize yield formation by disrupting whole-plant carbon allocation. Although salicylic acid (SA) is known to enhance crop thermotolerance, its role in coordinating source–flow–sink carbon dynamics under HT remains poorly understood. In this study, two waxy maize hybrids were pre-sprayed with SA and subsequently exposed to 15 days of HT treatment during grain filling. HT reduced post-anthesis dry matter accumulation and translocation, inhibited sucrose metabolism in leaves and grains, down-regulated sugar transporter genes in the stem and grains, and consequently decreased ¹³C allocation to developing grains and grain yield. SA reprogrammed source–flow–sink coordination under HT by simultaneously enhancing carbon supply, transport capacity, and sink utilization. At the source, SA sustained assimilate accumulation and maintained sucrose phosphate synthase, sucrose synthase, and invertase activities in leaves. Along the transport pathway, SA up-regulated key sucrose transporter genes in stems, thereby improving sucrose loading and long-distance translocation. At the sink, SA stabilized sucrose metabolism and transporter expression in grains, resulting in increased carbon partitioning to developing kernels. Partial least squares path modeling further identified coordinated regulation of sucrose metabolism in leaves and grains, together with sucrose transport in the stem and grains, as the main pathways through which SA mitigated heat-induced yield loss. Overall, exogenous SA alleviated the adverse effects of HT in waxy maize by reprogramming source–flow–sink carbon coordination, thereby stabilizing carbon allocation and maintaining yield under HT conditions.

Bacterial blight (BB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is a devastating rice disease worldwide. Wild rice serves as an invaluable reservoir of BB resistance genes, and introgressing them into cultivated varieties provides a cost-effective, environmentally sustainable strategy for control. Automated, non-destructive, and low-cost screening of BB-resistant wild rice germplasm is crucial for breeding BB-resistant rice varieties. This study proposes an AI-driven approach for screening elite BB-resistant wild rice germplasm to support breeding efforts. An AI-driven workflow for BB resistance screening in wild rice is developed, enabling in-field, repeated evaluations, and is implemented in a portable backpack apparatus costing approximately 890 USD. A computer vision algorithm is designed to segment lesions, measure lesion lengths, and evaluate BB-resistance levels, thereby screening elite BB-resistant wild rice. The lesion segmentation model, with only 0.85M parameters and 4.33G FLOPS, achieves an IoU of 94.14%. Comprehensive evaluations, including BB resistance level evaluation, field testing, and generalization testing, demonstrated high accuracy (92.0, 94.0, and 95.6% respectively) and efficiency gains. This method will support high-throughput screening of large-scale wild rice germplasm for BB resistance, accelerating the exploration of wild rice germplasm.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key indicator of soil health and agricultural sustainability. Yet, SOC remains low in the Loess Plateau, and carbon sequestration efficiency (CSE) has not been systematically quantified across cropland systems spanning dominant climate zones. Here, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variability of carbon input and CSE from 1983 to 2023 across three agroecologically distinct counties in Shanxi Province, China: Yingxian (north), Shouyang (central), and Yongji (south). Using geostatistical methods, Random Forest, and path analysis, we identified key drivers of SOC accumulation and CSE under varying climates and amendment regimes. Our results revealed a clear north-to-south increase in SOC stocks, from 20.1±6.5 t ha^-1 in the north to 23.1±6.3 t ha^-1 in the central and 24.5±6.3 t ha^-1 in the south in 2023. Overall, carbon input also exhibited an increase from north to south, i.e., from 2.2 to 2.5 and 4.2 t ha^-1 yr^-1 whereas CSE declined from north to south, from 9.7 to 7.4 and 5.2% over 1983-2023. Our analyses suggest that elevation, temperature, initial SOM, and manure carbon input were dominant drivers of spatial divergence. The extremely low CSE values in the Eastern Loess Plateau may be partly attributable to carbon loss driven by persistent soil erosion. These findings underscore the need for erosion-sensitive, carbon-informed management strategies that better account for key biogeochemical processes to enhance soil health and resilience in the croplands of the eastern Loess Plateau.

The rapeseed cropping system following rice in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) universally faces the challenge of tight crop succession. To address this, integrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sowing with no-tillage practices and high-density direct seeding has been recognized as a crucial agronomic approach. However, high-density planting intensifies intraspecific competition, quantified as relative competition intensity (RCI), which impairs root-shoot development and creates a prominent contradiction between lodging resistance and yield. To investigate this, a two-year field experiment was conducted to quantify the interactive effects of tillage methods (CK, tillage with manual sowing; N, no-tillage with UAV-sowing; T, tillage with UAV-sowing) and seeding rates (S1, 3.75; S2, 5.25; S3, 6.75 kg ha⁻¹). Across the three tillage modes, sequential increases in seeding rate from S1 to S3 resulted in significant increases in population density, grain yield, and RCI, but a significant reduction in yield per plant. Integrated data from the two years revealed that the N mode significantly reduced the Relative Competition Intensity (RCI) by 32.3-37.7% compared to the CK and T modes. This management practice also optimized dry matter partitioning, increasing the root-shoot ratio and root mass fraction by 30.8-44.3%, which enhanced root anchorage. Concurrently, it reinforced stem mechanical properties; the contents of stem lignin and cellulose increased by 6.8-10.4%, leading to significantly greater stem strength and a consequent 18.6-35.8% reduction in the lodging index. Furthermore, under the N mode, moderate competitive stress activated key enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) by 7.6-46.9%) in the phenylpropanoid pathway, driving the synthesis of structural carbohydrates and enhancing mechanical support. Crucially, the no-tillage with UAV-sowing (N mode) synergistically achieved the dual objectives of high yield and lodging resistance by optimizing root-shoot coordination and reinforcing stem structure. The NS2 and NS3 treatments were identified as the optimal practices for balancing these goals, with yields comparable to or approaching the highest-yielding treatment (TS3) while offering superior lodging resistance. These findings elucidate a cascading relationship of “intraspecific competition - structural plasticity - functional enhancement - high yield and lodging resistance”, providing a precise agronomic framework for simultaneous yield increase and lodging resistance improvement in the YRB.

The root system is an important organ for cotton to absorb water and nutrients. Different cotton varieties respond differently to drought stress. Therefore, this study firstly conducted an indoor experiment using 384 cotton varieties as materials, to screen long and short root varieties. Subsequently, a field experiment was performed to analyze the differences in drought responses between these two types of varieties. And then through genome-wide association analysis (GWAS), screened for candidate genes. The research results showed that, based on the total root length (TRL) as the main indicator in the indoor experiment, five long-root type varieties PD2164, B557, CCRI No.30, Super Jijiao Dezi Mian and Dunn HS120, and five short-root type varieties Bole 34, Henan No.79, CCRI No.50, V83-013 and Ari3696 were selected. The results of the drought stress experiment showed that under drought conditions, the average TRL increase of long-root type varieties (5.49%) was smaller than that of short-root type varieties (15.45%, P<0.05); the yields of long-root type varieties and short-root type varieties decreased by 19-35% and 10-37% respectively. It is notable that under drought conditions, the TRL increase of short-root type variety HN79 was the highest, at 69%, and the yield decrease was the lowest, at 10%, demonstrating higher drought resistance. We also identified SNPs related to the primary root traits in the At02 region 101.2-101.6 Mb through GWAS, and determined that GhAIL6 is a root development-related gene. This study identified ten cotton varieties exhibiting extreme long-root and short-root phenotypes. Further analysis showed that some short-root varieties exhibited greater increases in total root length and smaller reductions in yield under drought stress, indicating stronger drought resistance. Additionally, the study elucidated the pivotal role of GhAIL6 in promoting root growth during the cotton seedling stage. 

Winter wheat is a key grain crop in China, with its leaf area index (LAI) serving as a vital indicator for growth assessment in precision agriculture. While UAV-based remote sensing and the PROSAIL model are widely used for LAI estimation, their accuracy under plastic mulch is limited due to spectral interference from mulch. Based on field measurements from winter wheat fields in Yangling, Shaanxi Province, this study developed a linear-spectral hybrid model (LSHM) by integrating measured soil and mulch reflectance into the PROSAIL model to improve LAI inversion for mulched winter wheat. UAV-collected multi-temporal images and field LAI measurements were used, and the model was coupled with random forest (RF) and LASSO variable selection to enhance accuracy. The LSHM significantly reduced reflectance differences in PROSAIL simulations by incorporating measured soil and mulch spectra, achieving R⊃2; improvements average of 16.5% across all growth stages compared to the standard PROSAIL model. Furthermore, the RF-LASSO optimized combination of band reflectance (BR) and vegetation indices (VIs) enhanced model stability, demonstrating superior performance (R⊃2;=0.83, RMSE=0.35, MSE=0.12 at heading and R⊃2;=0.71, RMSE=0.50, MSE=0.25 at filling). These results demonstrate that the hybrid PROSAIL model holds significant promise for estimating LAI inversion in mulched winter wheat, providing a robust approach for phenotyping crop traits in ridge-furrow mulched systems.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and hemorrhagic disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), with a mortality rate approaching 100% in domestic pigs. ASFV is a large DNA virus, and its genome can be recognized by the cytoplasmic DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) following infection to trigger the production of type I interferon (IFN-I) through the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. To establish productive infection, ASFV encodes multiple proteins to negatively regulate the cGAS-STING pathway and inhibit the expression of IFN-I. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ASFV proteins negatively regulate cGAS-STING signaling pathway remain incompletely elucidated. Through screening ASFV-encoded proteins, we found that pD345L significantly inhibits IFN-I production. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ASFV pD345L inhibits the promoter activities of Interferon-β (IFN-β)-, Interferon-α (IFN-α)-, interferon-stimulated gene (ISG)-54-Luciferase (Luc), as well as the mRNA levels of IFN-β, ISG-54, ISG-56 induced by cGAS-STING in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, our findings reveal that ASFV pD345L interacts with both stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), thereby disrupting the formation of the STING-IRF3 complex. This interaction leads to impaired IRF3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, ultimately suppressing the production of IFN-I. Collectively, our findings reveal that ASFV pD345L functions as a negative regulator of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway to inhibit IFN-I production, thereby facilitating the viral evasion of the host innate immune response. 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIV) primarily circulate within poultry populations. However, continuous evolution and mutation accumulation drive antigenic drift and may enable the virus to evade host immunity and cross the species barrier. To identify residues associated with antigenic changes and virulence in the H5N1 virus under immune selection pressure, SPF chickens, SPF chicken embryos, and chicken embryo fibroblast cells were used as model to serially passage the SY (Re-5 like) virus in the presence of homologous chicken antiserum. Progeny viruses escaped the neutralizing capacity of the antiserum were sequenced. A total of twelve amino acid mutation sites were identified in the HA, PB2, and PB1 proteins. The results showed that in the HA of the H5N1 virus, both K205N and K205T mutation patterns resulted in a significant reduction in HI titers and microneutralization titers when tested with chicken antisera. The K32M and E69K mutations in PB2, along with the M246I mutation in PB1 could effectively attenuate viral pathogenicity in mice, whereas the S155N mutation in PB2 significantly enhanced it. Notably, under the immune pressure, the S155N mutation in PB2 delayed the emergence of K205N substitution in HA. This in vivo and in vitro method for selecting immune-escape mutants provides a valuable tool for predicting emerging antigenic variants and mammalian adaptive mutations, as well as elucidating the co-evolution dynamics between surface and internal genes in H5N1 viruses.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious picornavirus that causes severe economic losses in livestock worldwide. The nonstructural protein 3A of FMDV is essential for viral replication and virulence, and mutations in 3A are associated with altered host tropism, highlighting its role in mediating host-virus interactions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interplay between 3A and host cellular factors remain poorly understood. Here, through systematic screening and functional analyses, we identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase NSMCE1 as a novel host-encoded negative regulator of FMDV replication. NSMCE1 interacts directly with the FMDV 3A protein and mediates its K33-linked ubiquitination at lysine 16 (K16). This modification promotes the proteasomal degradation of 3A, thereby suppressing FMDV replication. Consistent with this mechanism, recombinant virus with a mutation at lysine 16 of 3A enhances the replication capacity of FMDV both in vitro and in vivo, confirming the critical role of this regulatory event. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for NSMCE1 in limiting FMDV infection through targeted regulation of viral protein 3A and uncover a regulatory role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in picornavirus replication. These insights advance our understanding of host antiviral defense mechanisms and provide a potential foundation for the development of novel antiviral therapies targeting the ubiquitin pathway.

Against the backdrop of profound changes in the global economic landscape and the interweaving of multiple crises, agro-product trade is facing unprecedented uncertainties. The resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism, the escalation of geopolitical conflicts, as well as the multiple shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis and so on, have significantly exacerbated the systemic risks of global agro-product trade, transforming it from a single market issue to a comprehensive governance issue covering economic, political and environmental dimensions. Based on 2,702 papers from the Web of Science database published between 2001 and 2024, this study employs the BERTopic model to systematically explore the core themes, structural relationships and evolutionary trends of agro-product trade research in the context of global uncertainty. The study identifies 20 core themes, which are further categorized into 7 research directions: non-tariff barriers, supply chain resilience, China's role and regional cooperation, food security, African and Brazilian markets, climate change and energy transition and social welfare and health. The findings indicate that this field is highly multidimensional and interdisciplinary.. The evolution of research hotspots exhibits significant synchronicity with global major events, and the research paradigm has shifted from efficiency priority to resilience priority, and from purely economic analysis to a comprehensive assessment of sustainability. This study provides a reference for understanding the complex mechanisms of agro-product trade under multiple crises, and offers implications for subsequent policy formulation and academic exploration.

Peanut hypocotyl connects the root system and cotyledons, acting as a crucial conduit for transporting nutrients and signaling molecule transport during seedling emergence. Despite its importance, gene expression at the cellular level in peanut hypocotyls has not been characterized. In this study, we created a single nucleus transcriptome atlas for peanut hypocotyls by profiling nearly 29,915 nuclei identifying six major cell types. Pseudotemporal analysis showed a hierarchical differentiation path from progenitor primordium cells to specialize stele cells. By integrating these data with bulk RNA-seq, we found 93 core differentially expressed genes (core-DEGs), including 21 transcription factors (TFs) enriched in phloem and cambium cells. Coexpression network analysis revealed functional modules associated with photosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism. A genome wide association study of hypocotyl length in a diverse peanut panel pinpointed a key locus on chromosome B03 containing the nucleus localization bZIP transcription factor gene AhTGA1. Expression analysis showed that accessions with high AhTGA1 expression like R169 material exhibited significantly elongated hypocotyls as compared to the accessions with lower high AhTGA1 expression. Further overexpression of AhTGA1 in Arabidopsis obviously promoted the hypocotyl elongated faster than wild-type by activating the auxin pathway. This work provides single-nucleus resolution insights into transcription regulation in hypocotyl development and identifies AhTGA1 as a critical regulator, and offering molecular targets for next precision peanut seedlings breeding with moderate hypocotyl length.

Flavonoid compounds, including anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, are significant secondary metabolites in plants and play crucial roles in various aspects of plant growth, development, and environmental stress responses. In the present study, we identified a key transcription factor from the NAC family, designated as MdNAC72-like, which had a strong correlation with the anthocyanin content during the apple fruit ripening process. Through techniques including yeast one-hybrid analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and luciferase reporter assays, we illustrated that MdNAC72-like directly interacts with the promoters of the MdMYB9, MdLAR, and MdUFGT genes. This interaction enhances their transcriptional activity, leading to a favorable impact on the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in plants. Furthermore, utilizing yeast two-hybrid, pull-down, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, we demonstrated that MdERF1B forms an interaction with MdNAC72-like, which in turn augments the transcriptional activation ability of MdNAC72-like on the downstream structural genes MdMYB9, MdLAR, and MdUFGT. In conclusion, MdNAC72-like presents significant research potential, and these results offer a theoretical framework for understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin synthesis in apple.

Agropyron cristatum (2n=4x=28, PPPP), a wild perennial relative of wheat, is considered as an excellent donor for wheat improvement given its multiple florets and spikelets, broad-spectrum disease resistance, and extreme stress tolerance. In this study, we created the addition line II-24 of A. cristatum chromosome 4P, and telosomic addition lines of 4PS and 4PL by backcross of the addition line II-23 containing multiple A. cristatum chromosomes with common wheat Fukuho. Multi-year agronomic evaluations revealed that addition of 4PL in common wheat variety Fukuho resulted in a significant increase of grain number per spike (GNS) and effective tiller number (ETN) without compromising thousand-grain weight (TGW). Additionally, we developed a translocation line WAT41 (T4PL-3DS·3DL). Compared to the control, the line WAT41 simultaneously exhibited an increase of GNS (5.79%), spikelet number per spike (2.42%), kernel number per spikelet (3.52%), and spike length (4.93%) without compromising TGW. Resequencing analysis revealed that WAT41 carries a chromosomal segment from 505 to 585 Mb of 4P, harboring sixteen spike development-related genes. Furthermore, we developed two specific molecular markers from these genes to track the high-GNS chromatin segment for breeding selection. Collectively, this study provides novel germplasm resources, which is able to overcome the negative relationship between GNS and TGW and broadening the genetic base for wheat breeding.

 Iron (Fe) deficiency is a globally widespread condition in which the body lacks sufficient Fe to produce hemoglobin. However, major food crops generally have low grain Fe contents. Consequently, enhancing grain Fe concentrations is important for improving the health of populations that rely on grains as staple foods. Here, we isolated a yellow stripe leaf mutant of foxtail millet (Setaria italica), designated yellow stripe-like 1 (ysl1). This mutant exhibited typical Fe deficiency symptoms that were alleviated when grown under Fe-sufficient conditions. Compared with the wild-type, Siysl1 showed lower Fe concentrations in seedling roots, shoots, stems, elongation-stage leaves, panicles, and seeds, but a higher Fe concentration in heading-stage leaves. Using MutMap+, we identified and cloned SiYSL1 and validated its function through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout experiments. SiYSL1 encodes an Fe-phytosiderophore transporter and is highly induced under Fe deficiency conditions. Histochemical staining revealed that SiYSL1 is specifically expressed in vascular bundles of roots and leaves of plants grown under Fe deficiency conditions, and in spikelets, expanding ovaries, basal endosperm, and embryo-surrounding tissues. Thus, SiYSL1 appears to regulate Fe uptake and homeostasis, and plays an essential role in Fe translocation to seeds. The overexpression of SiYSL1 in rice and foxtail millet significantly increased seed Fe contents, suggesting its value in crop breeding. Predicted transcription factor binding sites in the SiYSL1 promoter and a spikelet transcriptome analysis indicated that transcription factors regulate SiYSL1 expression. Our study provides new genetic resources for the Fe bio-enhancement of food crops and insights into the mechanisms responsible for seed Fe accumulation.

Under saline-alkali conditions, crops experience the dual stresses of high salinity and high pH. However, over the past few decades, the majority of researches focused primarily on plant responses to salt stress alone, leaving a limited understanding of how crops respond to combined saline-alkali stress and the underlying resistance mechanisms. In this study, we conducted large-scale screening of 458 accessions from a foxtail millet (Setaria italica) mini-core germplasm collection under mixed sodium saline-alkali stress and identified extreme tolerant and sensitive lines. Compared to sensitive varieties, saline-alkali-tolerant accessions accumulated higher levels of lignin, soluble sugars, and proline, but lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). These adaptive adjustments thus enable salt-tolerant varieties to undergo minimal transcriptomic reprogramming under stress. Furthermore, enhanced lignin deposition, triggered by SAPK10 overexpression, contributed substantially to plant resistance to saline-alkali stress. Collectively, our study identified promising germplasm and pinpointed lignin-mediated physical defense as a key strategy for saline-alkali tolerance in foxtail millet.

盐碱环境下，作物往往同时面临高盐和高 pH 的双重胁迫。然而，过去几十年的研究大多集中于植物对单一盐胁迫的响应，对作物应对复合盐碱胁迫的方式及其抗性机制仍缺乏系统认识。本研究在混合钠盐型盐碱胁迫条件下，对458份谷子（Setaria italica）微核心种质进行了大规模筛选，鉴定出极端耐盐碱和极端敏感材料。与敏感材料相比，耐盐碱材料中木质素、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量更高，而丙二醛（MDA）含量较低。上述生理调节使耐盐碱材料在胁迫条件下仅需较小幅度的转录组重塑即可维持适应性。进一步研究发现，SAPK10 过表达诱导的木质素沉积增加可显著增强植株对盐碱胁迫的抗性。综上，本研究筛选出具有潜在利用价值的优异谷子种质，并揭示木质素介导的物理防御是谷子耐盐碱的重要机制。

Alternate wetting and drying irrigation (WD) is an effective water-saving practice for rice production but often increases nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Plant growth-promoting bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis (BS) can enhance crop growth; however, the combined effects of WD and BS on rice yield and N₂O emissions remain unclear. A 3-year field experiment using two japonica rice cultivars was conducted to evaluate the effects of two irrigation regimes (continuous flooding (CF) and WD) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) application (without BS, -BS; and with BS, +BS) on rice yield and N₂O emissions. Results showed that BS application significantly increased rice yield under both irrigation regimes. Compared with CF-BS, CF+BS and WD+BS increased yield by 3.4-6.0% and 5.8-12.7%, respectively, mainly due to a higher total spikelet number. CF+BS had no significant effect on N₂O emissions, whereas WD-BS markedly increased cumulative N₂O emissions, while WD+BS reduced emissions by 30.0-41.0% compared with WD-BS. The WD+BS treatment enhanced root oxidation activity and increased root surface area and volume density in the 20–40 cm soil layer. It also decreased soil NO₃⁻-N content, raised the NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratio, and enhanced urease and sucrase activities, thereby promoting the accumulation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), along with a higher abundance of the nitrous oxide reductase gene (nosZ) associated with N₂O reduction. Overall, integrating WD with BS increased rice yield while mitigating N₂O emissions. Enhanced root function, and aboveground agronomic traits, improved soil enzyme activity, and optimized nitrogen transformation and microbial processes were the key mechanisms achieving high yield with reduced environmental impact.

Optimizing plant density through modeling strategies is essential for improving resource-use efficiency and productivity in modern maize production systems. Functional–structural plant models (FSPMs) such as GreenLab provide a powerful framework for simulating crop growth and yield formation, yet their ability to represent interplant competition under high-density conditions remains limited, largely due to the oversimplified treatment of specific leaf area (SLA). To address this gap, a two-year field experiment (2022–2023) composed of four maize plant densities (3, 6, 9 and 12 plants m⁻⊃2;, denoted as PD3, PD6, PD9, and PD12, respectively), was conducted to examine density-driven changes in leaf structural and functional traits and to evaluate the role of SLA plasticity in regulating canopy light and nitrogen use efficiency. Increased plant density substantially reshaped canopy architecture and resource distribution. Compared to PD3, higher densities (PD6, PD9, and PD12) increased leaf orientation value, SLA, photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE), radiation-use efficiency (RUE) and crop growth rate (CGR), while reducing individual leaf area (LA), specific leaf nitrogen content (SLN) and light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A_max). Further analyses showed that density-induced SLA plasticity enhanced PNUE and adjusted the ratio of nitrogen to light extinction coefficients (K_N/K_L), thereby partially compensating for the decline in leaf photosynthetic capacity caused by reduced SLN. At the canopy scale, SLA was strongly and positively associated with RUE, highlighting its role in enhancing canopy photosynthesis under interplant competition. Subsequently, the observed SLA responses to plant density were parameterized and incorporated into the GreenLab-Maize model. Compared to the standard model, the revised model markedly improved predictions of LA, leaf area index, RUE and accumulated biomass under high-density conditions. Overall, this study establishes SLA plasticity as a key adaptive trait for resource optimization in dense stands and provide a validated method to enhance the realism of competition simulations in FSPMs.

Adjusting soil pH and supplementing calcium (Ca) are widely adopted agronomic practices for peanut cultivation in acidic soils, but their role in modulating cadmium (Cd) accumulation remains poorly clarified. Therefore, pot and hydroponic experiments were both conducted to assess the impacts of lime application (at a rate of 0.7%) and Ca application in the form of Ca(NO₃)₂ at varying levels (0.01, 0.02, and 0.04%) on Cd bioavailability in an acidic soil and its uptake by peanut. Results demonstrated that lime and Ca(NO₃)₂ individually reduced seed Cd concentrations by 15.7 and 30.4%, respectively, while their combined application increased peanut yield and reduced Cd concentration in seeds. Lime predominantly reduced Cd accumulation by limiting its uptake through root; while Ca(NO₃)₂ increased Cd in the soil solution but promoted Cd sequestration in shoot cell wall, ultimately restricting Cd translocation to pods. Additionally, hydroponic experiments under acidic to near-neutral conditions revealed a parabolic response of Cd uptake to the changes in pH and Ca concentration. The maximum Cd uptake was noticed at pH 6.0 with 1 mmol L^-1 Ca application (Ca/Cd=2,000). The notable decrease of Cd uptake were observed at higher pH 7.5 and Ca>1 mmol L^-1, but it also cause the reduction of plant biomass. These findings demonstrate that the optimization of pH and Ca⊃2;⁺ levels is necessary to enhance peanut yield and minimize Cd translocation to edible seeds. 

Optimized planting patterns and mulching practices are recognized as robust strategies for enhancing productivity in rainfed agriculture. However, the regulatory mechanisms of crop yield and soil microenvironment in dryland farming under different planting patterns combined with mulch types remain unclear due to a lack of long-term field experiments. In this study, a seven-years field experiment was conducted with two planting methods (R, ridge-furrow planting; C, conventional flat planting) and three mulch types (S, straw; B, biodegradable film; W, without mulch) to investigate the comprehensive effects of different treatments on the soil-crop system. Ridge-furrow planting pattern significantly increased soil water storage within the 0–200 cm profile by 2.02–9.63%, while straw mulching enhanced soil organic matter content. The RS (ridge-furrow planting combined with straw mulch) demonstrated higher soil microecological functioning as compared to CW (flat planting without mulch), microbial Shannon and Richness indices increased by 148.50–203.64, and 15.49–50.29%, respectively, while carbon source metabolic efficiency improved by 99.58–236.17%. In addition, the RS treatment achieved the highest yield. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) revealed that the integration of planting with mulching primarily enhanced crop yield indirectly by improving the soil quality index (R²=0.98; path coefficient (pc)=0.70). Multi-objective decision analysis confirmed that RS represents the optimal strategy for concurrently maintaining soil health, improving resource use efficiency, and increasing crop yields. This study provides a novel strategy for optimizing spring maize cropping systems in the drylands of northern China and effectively promoting the sustainability of the soil-crop system.

Asynchronous seed development complicates soybean response to post-flowering high-temperature (HT) stress. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying HT-induced yield reduction after flowering, soybean plants were subjected to a six-day HT treatment in a greenhouse beginning at the opening of the first flower. HT reduced seed number and impaired pod and seed development at the initial flowering nodes, as evidenced by the decline in size and fresh weight. HT downregulated genes related to DNA replication, cell division, lipid metabolism, and secondary metabolism. Notably, auxin signaling and cell cycle factors emerged as central regulatory networks governing seed development. HT downregulated the expression of critical cell cycle components, including cyclins, kinesins, MAD2, and RAD, the latter two containing auxin-responsive elements. Moreover, HT reduced auxin levels in fertilized ovaries, while exogenous auxin (0.1 nM 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid) treatment alleviated HT-induced seed developmental restriction, mainly by increasing cell number and size. Auxin treatment further improved pod set, pod and seed number, and grain weight under HT stress. These results suggest that the cell cycle suppression is determinant for growth retardation in synergy with reduced auxin levels in soybean seeds, and auxin supplementation could enhance soybean adaptation to post-flowering HT stress. 

Leaf color variation in melon (Cucumis melo L.) serves as a valuable model for investigating chlorophyll biosynthesis, chloroplast development and photosynthesis owing to its obvious morphological differences. In this study, a stable yellow-leaf mutant Cmyl-1 was characterized, exhibiting reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, impaired chloroplast ultrastructure, and retarded plant growth. Genetic segregation analysis indicated that the yellow-leaf trait was regulated by a single recessive gene, and the green leaf showed complete dominance over the yellow leaf. Genetic mapping confined the Cmyl-1 locus to a 78.45-kb region between the CAPS markers 1-CAPS and 21-CAPS on chromosome 11. Genomic and sequencing results revealed a 12-bp insertion in the promoter and a single C to T transition in the exon of MELO3C021959 in Cmyl-1; the latter caused a Pro-to-Leu amino acid change. MELO3C021959 is presumed to be the candidate gene, encoding a P-type PPR protein (CmPPR), which localizes to the cytoplasm and chloroplasts, and possibly to the cell membrane. Silencing of CmPPR in cucumber via VIGS further confirmed its role as the causal gene for the Cmyl-1 phenotype. RNA-seq analysis further demonstrated significant downregulation of chloroplast-associated genes in the Cmyl-1 mutant. The results found in this study will not only contribute to melon genetic breeding, but also provide a useful insight into the molecular understanding of leaf color development in Cucurbitaceae crops.

每穗颖花数是决定水稻产量的关键性状，其形成受穗形态建成的调控——这是一个多基因协同控制的生物学过程，并与营养生长期植株地上部生物量的积累密切相关。本研究提出水稻颖花生产效率（spikelet production efficiency, SPE）的概念，将其定义为每穗分化的颖花数与颖花分化期单茎营养器官干物重的比值。通过对不同SPE的水稻品种进行比较分析发现，在高产群体条件下，SPE高的品种不仅能显著增强光合产物的生产供应，还能有效促进花后茎秆贮藏的非结构性碳水化合物向籽粒再转运。这种光合生产与物质转运的协同提升，促进了籽粒产量和收获指数的协同提高。本研究结果揭示，提高SPE对于进一步释放水稻产量潜力具有重要作用，尤其在高产群体条件下，可成为提高收获指数的有效途径。因此，提高SPE不仅可作为超级稻育种的关键指标，也为实现水稻高产高效的协同提供了新的调控策略。

Cotton production in Xinjiang’s irrigated arid regions faces growing challenges from climate-induced alterations in hydrothermal conditions, necessitating adjustments in cultivar selection, sowing time, and water–nitrogen management. However, most studies have focused on individual factors, with limited evaluation of integrated cultivar–sowing–water–nitrogen management. To assess the combined effects of irrigation and nitrogen management under future climates, a locally calibrated APSIM-Cotton model was driven by two CMIP6 scenarios (SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) at two representative irrigated sites, Aral and Shihezi. The design included five maturity types, eight sowing dates (31 March–5 May), five irrigation thresholds (55–75% of field capacity, FC), and five fertigation levels (10–18 kg N ha^-1 per irrigation). Multi-objective NSGA-III optimization identified optimal combinations for yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), which were then extended to the regional scale across Xinjiang. Optimal strategies consistently converged on late-maturity cultivars with early-April sowing, high irrigation thresholds (0.65–0.75 FC), and relatively high per-event fertigation (14–18 kg N ha^-1), a pattern robust across periods and both scenarios. Under the baseline climate, these optimal combinations increased yield by >32%, WUE by >21%, and NUE by >38% relative to conventional water–nitrogen management reported in previous field studies. Relative to the baseline (1981–2010) climate period, these strategies increased yield by >10%, WUE by >14%, and NUE by >21% under future scenarios. Regional simulations further revealed that southern Xinjiang holds greater potential for improving WUE, while northern Xinjiang is more advantageous in enhancing NUE. These findings highlight the synergistic effects between sowing time and water–nitrogen management, representing a key pathway to stabilizing yields and improving resource-use efficiency under future climate conditions, informing development of high-yield and efficient cotton systems in Xinjiang and offering insights for climate-adaptive management in similar arid regions worldwide.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and crown rot (FCR) threaten global wheat production, demanding sustainable biocontrol solutions. We isolated 50 indigenous Clonostachys strains (C. chloroleuca, C. rosea, C. rogersoniana) from Chinese agroecosystems and identified key biocontrol traits. Critically, sporulation rate—not mycelial growth—correlates with Fusarium suppression efficacy, revolutionizing agent selection criteria. Five elite strains completely prevented perithecia formation on crop residues. Microscopy revealed direct mycoparasitism through perithecial wall adhesion and enzymatic destruction of asci/ascospores. Transcriptomics of parasitized perithecia showed Fusarium stress responses including ABC transporter induction, membrane remodeling, and DNA repair activation, confirming membrane damage and genotoxic stress. Strain Cc878 exhibited dual-mode protection: suppressing residue-borne inoculum while establishing root endophytism via seed treatment. This protected against multiple soilborne diseases (FCR, common root rot, take-all) without yield penalties and primed systemic immunity through MAPK/phenylpropanoid pathways. Genome analysis revealed extensive secretomes, CAZymes, and secondary metabolite clusters underpinning biocontrol mechanisms. This integrated strategy combining inoculum reduction with immunity priming provides a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides for managing devastating Fusarium diseases in wheat production systems.

Ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms (AOMs) mediate a pivotal yet poorly understood step in agricultural nitrogen cycling under long-term fertilization. To identify the key microbial drivers of ammonia oxidation, two DNA stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) experiments were conducted on soils under long-term fertilization regimes. Through integrated DNA-SIP and targeted inhibition approaches (C₂H₂, simvastatin, C₈H₁₄), we intended to resolve functional partitioning among ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), bacteria (AOB), and comammox Nitrospira in soils subjected to multi-decadal fertilization regimes. SIP revealed the exclusive functional dominance of AOB (primarily Nitrosospira cluster 3a), which drove over 85% of autotrophic nitrification in fertilized soils. In contrast, AOA activity was significant only in non-fertilized (CK) and mineral N-only (N) soils. Notably, comammox Nitrospira showed negligible functional engagement, with no labeled DNA detected. The inhibitor 1-octyne (C₈H₁₄) broadly suppressed both AOB (by 61.9–88.9%) and, unexpectedly, AOA (by up to 42.7%), challenging its specificity. Simvastatin preferentially inhibited comammox Nitrospira clade B. High-throughput sequencing confirmed Nitrososphaera (AOA) and Nitrosospira 3a as keystone nitrifiers, with no active comammox phylotypes detected. These findings challenge assumptions of comammox metabolic prominence in agroecosystems, demonstrating that long-term fertilization restructures nitrification networks through species sorting driven by high ammonium availability, leading to the competitive dominance of AOB. Our work establishes AOB as primary nitrogen cycle engineers in intensively managed soils, providing a molecular blueprint for precision nitrogen management to mitigate environmental impacts.

This study explored the effects of a wetting alternating with mild drying (WMD) management strategy, on rice productivity and methane (CH₄) emissions, and its underlying mechanisms. A high-yielding hybrid rice cultivar was grown in field trials under either conventional irrigation (CI) or the WMD regimen from transplanting to maturity. Results revealed that the WMD approach significantly boosted grain yield while simultaneously reducing CH₄ emissions. It was accompanied by a slight increase in nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions versus CI. However, the mitigation benefits of decreased CH₄ emissions in lowering global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse-gas intensity (GHGI) outweighed the adverse contributions of elevated N₂O emissions. Elevated BR levels in roots enhanced antioxidant defense through the ascorbate-glutathione cycle pathway, which reduced ROS accumulation, thereby not only maintaining root activity but also suppressing root aerenchyma formation—ultimately restricting CH₄ transport pathways under WMD regime. Furthermore, the increased root BR levels suppressed CH₄ production by directly or indirectly inhibiting the mcrA gene abundance, while promoting CH₄ oxidation through rhizosphere exudates enriched with specific organic acids that stimulated the pmoA gene abundance in paddy soil. Under the WMD regime, BR-induced enhancement of root activity significantly boosted photosynthetic capacity, establishing a positive feedback loop that promoted assimilate accumulation. Concurrently, WMD facilitated photosynthate allocation from vegetative tissues to grains, collectively improving rice yield. Collectively, our data suggest that the WMD practices can effectively reduce CH₄ emissions, GWP, and GHGI in rice paddies while maintaining high grain yield by stimulating root-derived BR biosynthesis.

在长期自然选择与人工选择双重压力下，不同绵羊群体表现出脂尾、瘦尾和脂臀等三类主要尾型特征。然而，目前关于尾型遗传机制研究多集中于单一基因或单一性状维度，缺乏系统性解析。本研究基于高深度全基因组重测序数据，对中国绵羊23个群体从尾的有无、尾长变异与尾脂沉积三个角度开展针对性分析，通过整合全基因组选择信号分析、精准定位以及扩群验证，鉴定到与尾形成相关TBXT（C/A）、与尾长调控相关 HOXB13（C/G），以及与尾部脂肪沉积相关 PDGFD（G/A）的非同义突变，这些位点的优势单倍型组合C-G-G、C-C-G、A-A、C-G-A 和 C-C-A分别在长细尾、短细尾、脂臀、长脂尾和短脂尾群体中显著富集。此外，功能验证结果表明，PDGFD基因在调控细胞增殖与脂肪分化平衡过程中发挥重要作用。这些结果加深了我们对多基因协同调控绵羊尾型变异遗传机制的理解，并为绵羊尾型遗传改良和分子设计育种提供关键靶点。

Large yellow tea polysaccharides (LYPS) have demonstrated various bioactivities, including antioxidant, lipid metabolism regulation, and hypoglycemic effects. However, their gastrointestinal digestibility and potential prebiotic functions remain largely unknown. This study aimed to compare the structural characteristics and in vitro fermentation behaviors of LYPS using traditional hot water extraction (LYPS-W) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (LYPS-U), with a focus on their potential prebiotic effects. Ultrasonic extraction significantly modified the structural features of LYPS, yielding a lower molecular weight and higher contents of galacturonic acid, along with more uniform particle morphology. Both LYPS-W and LYPS-U resisted upper gastrointestinal digestion but were readily fermented by gut microbiota. LYPS-U exhibited superior fermentability, producing significantly higher levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly acetic and propionic acids, compared with LYPS-W. Microbial analysis revealed that both polysaccharides promoted the growth of beneficial SCFAs-producing bacteria, such as Bacteroides, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, and Phascolarctobacterium, and suppressed potential pathogens such as Pseudomonas. Thus, ultrasound-assisted extraction enhances the structural accessibility and biological functionality of LYPS, improving their microbial fermentability and prebiotic potential. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the application of ultrasonic processing in the development of gut-targeted functional foods based on tea-derived polysaccharides.

Genomic selection (GS) is one of the most effective approaches for accelerating genetic improvement in animals and plants, but its efficiency largely depends on the size of the training population. However, establishing a large training population is often time-consuming and costly. An alternative strategy is to combine multiple populations distributed across different breeding farms or companies for joint GS, but this is greatly constrained by data-security concerns and the lack of a public platform for secure collaborative analysis. In this study, we developed HEGS (Homomorphic Encryption Genomic Selection), an open-source platform for privacy-preserving joint GS across institutions, which is in principle applicable to diploid species. HEGS uses homomorphic encryption to perform genomic analyses directly on encrypted data without revealing raw information, and extends the encrypted analysis framework from the initial genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) model to include both conventional best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) and single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP), thereby broadening its applicability in breeding evaluation. To demonstrate the utility of the platform, we constructed a large encrypted pig dataset comprising four breeds (Duroc, Yorkshire, Landrace, and Pietrain), 36 economically important traits, 180 pre-encrypted datasets, and more than 580,000 phenotypic records, enabling immediate joint analyses without exposing raw data. Using both simulated and real datasets, we demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of GS under homomorphic encryption. After model fitting, HEGS outputs genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) for genotyped candidates without phenotypic records, facilitating selection without additional phenotyping. Overall, HEGS provides a deployable and scalable open-source solution for privacy-preserving cross-institutional collaboration in animal breeding.