Bud dormancy is a crucial adaptation for perennial fruit plants, enabling them to withstand unfavorable growth conditions. This adaptive strategy plays a significant role in the survival and reproduction of these plants, yet its molecular basis is not fully understood. In the current study, two transcription factors in grapes, EARLY BUD BREAK (VvEBB) and SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE 4 (VvSVP4), were identified and examined. The findings demonstrated that, following heterologous transformation in poplar, VvSVP4 functions as a negative regulator, whereas VvEBB acts as a positive regulator in the process of bud-break. Transcriptome analysis showed that plant hormone signaling pathways, specifically those involving abscisic acid (ABA), indole acetic acid (IAA), and cytokinin (CK), were significantly enriched in plants overexpressing VvSVP4 (VvSVP4oe) and VvEBB (VvEBBoe), compared to control plants. Additionally, changes in the endogenous levels of ABA, IAA, and CK were found to be positively correlated with the transcriptome data. During the endodormancy phase, VvSVP4 directly and positively influenced the expression of the ABA receptor gene VvPYL9, thereby maintaining the state of bud dormancy. Conversely, during ecodormancy, the VvEBB gene was rapidly upregulated and negatively impacted the expression of the sucrose nonfermenting 1-related protein kinase subfamily 2 gene (VvSAPK2), facilitating the release from dormancy. In summary, this study offers a comprehensive explanation of the roles of VvSVP4 and VvEBB genes in dormancy and bud break, integrating insights into cell cycle regulation and multiple hormones signaling pathways.

Cadmium (Cd) stress is a serious threat to apple growth and development. Ethylene response factors (ERFs) are a major family of transcription factors (TFs) that play a key role in the resistance to Cd stress. In this study, we found that the ERF TF MdERF114 was induced in response to Cd stress. The overexpression of MdERF114 in apple (Malus domestica) roots reduced the accumulation of Cd in the plants and enhanced their tolerance to Cd stress. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays, dual-luciferase assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that MdERF114 directly binds to the promoter of MdATG16 and activates its expression to increase autophagic activity, which leads to higher resistance to Cd stress. In addition, MdMYB306 interacts with MdERF114 and enhances the resistance to Cd stress by promoting the binding of MdERF114 to the promoter of MdATG16. Our findings reveal an important mechanism by which MdMYB306-MdERF114-MdATG16 influences the resistance of apple to Cd stress.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient element that is critical for plant growth and ecosystem functionality. The soil P cycle plays multiple roles, such as sustaining plant growth and productivity, regulating nutrient balance within ecosystems, and enhancing ecosystem adaptability and resilience. This cycle is influenced by factors such as the restoration approach and microbial community dynamics. However, the extent to which the restoration approach alters the P cycle in karst ecosystems and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain poorly understood. The P-cycle multifunctionality index (P-cycle MFI) serves as a comprehensive indicator for evaluating soil P cycle function, and it provides insights into changes in the P cycle between different restoration approaches. To investigate the shifts in soil P-cycle MFI and microbial mechanisms between different restoration approaches, we analyzed soil available P (AP), total P (TP), microbial biomass P (MBP), and the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). These data were used to calculate the P-cycle MFI by averaging the Z-scores between two restoration approaches (artificial restoration of forest (AF) and natural restoration of forest (NF)) and a control (cropland, CP) at six subtropical karst ecosystem sites in China. We also determined the soil organic carbon (SOC), exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), pH, bulk density (BD), microbial biomass C (MBC), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), as well as the community structure, relative abundance, diversity indices, and co-occurrence networks of phoD-harboring bacteria. The results showed that the community structure of phoD-harboring bacteria varied significantly among AF, NF, and CP and across different temperature gradients. These bacteria exhibited increasing complexity and tightness in co-occurrence networks from CP to AF and then to NF, along with the ACP and ALP activities, but not the TP and AP contents. The P-cycle MFI values were significantly higher in NF compared to AF and CP, and the variation was significantly explained by restoration approach, temperature, MBC, MBN, SOC, exchangeable Ca, BD, community structure of phoD-harboring bacteria, and exchangeable Mg. Furthermore, natural restoration had a more substantial impact on the P-cycle MFI than temperature by enhancing SOC, microbial biomass, the complexity and co-occurrence network tightness of the phoD-harboring bacterial community structure, and ACP and ALP activities, but it reduced soil BD. The rare genera of phoD-harboring bacteria significantly influenced the variation of soil P-cycle MFI compared to the dominant genera. This study highlights the importance of rare genera of phoD-harboring bacteria in driving soil P-cycle multifunctionality in karst ecosystems, with natural restoration being more effective than artificial methods for enhancing soil organic matter and microbial community complexity.

Widespread soil acidification driven by nitrogen (N) fertilization and precipitation challenges the conventional notion of the long-term stability of soil inorganic carbon (SIC) in agroecosystems. However, the changes in SIC with precipitation and N fertilization remain ambiguous. Based on 4,000+ soil samples collected in the 1980s and 2010s and by developing machine learning models to fill the missing SIC of soil samples, this study generated 3,697 paired soil samples between the two periods and then investigated the cropland SIC change and explored its relationship with precipitation and N fertilization across the Sichuan Basin, China. The results showed an overall SIC loss, with a decline of the mean SIC by 15.73%. SIC change varied with initial soil pH and initial SIC and exhibited an exponential relationship with soil pH change, indicating the changing role of carbonates in providing acid-buffering capacity. There was a parabolical relationship between the magnitude of SIC decline and N fertilizer rates, and low N fertilizer rates contributed to a reduction in SIC loss, while SIC loss was promoted by N fertilization occurred when N fertilizing rates exceeded 250 kg ha^-1 yr^-1. The change in SIC showed a sinusoidal variation with precipitation, with 950 mm being the threshold controlling whether SIC increased or decreased. Meanwhile, N fertilization did not alter the sinusoidal relationship between SIC change and precipitation. In areas with rainfall <950 mm, the high N fertilizer rate did not cause SIC loss, while higher precipitation could also cause larger SIC loss in areas with lower N fertilizer rates. These results suggest that SIC dynamics are jointly driven by precipitation and N fertilization and are controlled by acid-buffering mechanisms associated with initial pH and SIC, with precipitation being the predominant driver. These findings emphasize the need for more regional soil observations and in-depth studies of SIC change and its mechanisms for accurately estimating SIC change.

The increasing frequency of compound extreme events under ongoing climate change threatens global food security. Compared to individual extreme events, the simultaneous occurrence of multiple extreme events can exacerbate crop yield reductions, yet comprehensive assessments of these compound effects remain limited. To bridge this gap, we applied a linear mixed-effects model to quantify the impacts of individual extreme events (cold days (CD) and killing degree days (KDD)) and triple compound extreme events (heatwave and low precipitation (HWLP) and hot-dry-windy (HDW)) on the global yields of winter wheat, soybeans, and maize from 1982 to 2016. Our analysis indicated that regions severely impacted by extreme events (exceeding the 95% threshold) experienced total crop yield losses of more than 9.16, 24.89, 26.69, and 7.12% due to CD, KDD, HWLP, and HDW, respectively. The adverse effects of compound events were particularly pronounced during critical growth stages. HWLP results in yield losses of 9.4% for winter wheat and 6.8% for maize per 10 hours of exposure during the heading to harvesting stages, while soybean yields declined by 8.8% per 10 hours during the planting to three-true-leaf stage. Similarly, KDD caused a 7.4% yield reduction in winter wheat per 10°C day during the heading to harvesting stages, a 9.5% reduction in maize per 10°C day during the planting to jointing stages, and a 3.8% reduction in soybean per 10°C day during the planting to three-true-leaf stages. These findings underscore the substantial contribution of compound extreme events, which are often overlooked in existing risk assessments, in determining the global yields of major staple crops.

随着人们对大米营养品质关注度的提升，米糠油作为稻米副产品的高附加值开发方向日益受到重视。水稻种子中油酸含量偏低，限制了米糠油的营养价值和氧化稳定性。已有研究证实脂肪酸去饱和酶基因OsFAD2在油酸代谢中发挥关键作用，但目前在水稻中对其育种利用仍较少，尤其对其农艺性状影响研究有限。本研究以主栽粳稻品种苏垦118为材料，应用CRISPR/Cas9技术敲除OsFAD2-1基因，构建高油酸突变体。通过脂肪酸组分检测发现，突变体中油酸含量显著升高，亚油酸含量下降，脂肪酸组成得到优化。同时，对T₂代材料进行农艺性状与RVA指标分析，结果显示突变体主要农艺性状保持稳定，部分指标表现优于对照。本研究明确了OsFAD2-1对水稻籽粒脂质组成的调控作用，为功能型稻米的分子育种提供了新思路，也为米糠油品质提升及水稻副产物的高值化利用奠定了基础。

Globally recurrent extreme high temperature (HT) events severely limit rice production.  This study investigated whether a controlled moderate soil drying (MD) could replace the conventional well-watered (WW) regime to more effectively mitigate HT stress on pistil fertilization in photo-thermosensitive genetic male-sterile (PTGMS) rice, and examined the role of brassinosteroids (BRs).  Two PTGMS rice varieties were cultivated under normal temperature (NT) and HT conditions, paired WW and MD strategies during anthesis.  In conventional WW regime, waterlogging reduces BRs levels in roots and pistils due to excessive decomposition, weakening active water uptake driven by root activity and failing to alleviate transpiration-pulled passive water extraction hampered by restricted stomatal openings.  Thereby, it causes water imbalance in plants and weakened pistil function due to a suppressed ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle and hyperactive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) activity.  This exacerbates pistil fertilization impairment and hybrid seed yield loss under HT stress.  Conversely, by promoting BR synthesis and inhibiting its decomposition in roots and pistils, the MD strategy enhanced root activity and transpiration-driven water uptake.  It maintained plant water balance and supported pistil function through suppressed NOX activity and an enhanced AsA-GSH cycle-driven redox homeostasis.  Thus, it mitigated HT-induced pistil fertilization impairment and hybrid seed yield loss.  The precise function of BRs in moderating the protective effects of MD against the detrimental impacts of HT stress on pistil fertilization in PTGMS rice was confirmed through genetic and chemical approaches.  Consequently, a controlled MD method proved to be more effective than the conventional WW regime in alleviating HT stress on pistil fertilization in PTGMS rice by promoting BR enhancement.

As a multifunctional crop, rapeseed provides vegetables by picking shoots.  Shoot removal reduced yield, while nitrogen (N) application results in efficiency gains.  However, the effect of N rate on pod growth, N use efficiency (NUE) and seed yield after shoot removal is unclear.  A 2-year field experiment was set with four N rates (0 [N0], 90 [N1], 180 [N2], and 270 [N3] kg ha^-1) and two shoot treatments (no shoot removal [CK], shoot removal [SR]).  Results showed the shoot removal decreased population biomass (PB) at maturity across all N levels.  Conversely, N application increased the PB after shoot removal and elevated soluble sugar and protein in shoots.  Shoot removal increased the seeds per pod (13.5-26.9%), reduced the pods per plant (33.1-45.8%) and population seed yield (19.5-38.4%).  N application effectively increased the yield related index, and led to an increase in population seed yield by 187.2 - 465.0% in the CK group, and by 185.6 - 430.7% in the SR group.  Moreover, the seed yield reached its maximum under the N3 in both groups.  The leaf N content per area (N_a) and net photosynthetic rate (P_n) were increased, but leaf photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) were decreased at 20 days after shoot removal, which lead to a significant decrease in N use efficiency(NUE).  N supply increased the plant organ N content and PB, but decreased the NUE at maturity stage.  P_n of the pod wall at 25 days after flowering was elevated due to its optimized chloroplasts ultrastructure and increased rubisco and sucrose synthase activities under shoot removal and more N.  However, the greater amino acid/soluble sugar ratio (A/S) of the pod wall significantly increased the seed protein content and decreased the oil content.  Though the oil yield was reduced by 63.8-71.0% under SR×N3 treatment compared with CK×N3, it was comparable to that of CK with 90 kg N ha^-1 treatment.  The results indicated that N applying improves the carbon metabolism of the pod wall and alleviates yield reduction after shoot removal but reduces NUE and seed oil content of rapeseed.  The findings guide the balancing of rapeseed’s vegetable and oil production, and optimize N fertilization for sustainable, efficient rapeseed farming.

High-density planting can better utilize the yield potential of modern varieties.  However, under traditional row spacing conditions, increasing planting density brings about poor light distribution and limited yield improvement, highlighting the need for further exploration of optimal row spacing in relation to planting density.  To assess the effect of delaying leaf senescence in the lower canopy by changing row spacing on the photosynthetic performance of the canopy and its regulatory impact on yield.  A two-year field trial (2019-2020) was conducted on Zhengdan 958 for this study. Four treatments were set up: LR60 (6.75 plants m^-2, 60 cm row spacing, conventional planting); HR60, HR80, and HR100 (8.25 plants m^-2, with row spacings of 60, 80, and 100 cm, respectively).  Quantitative analysis was conducted on canopy structure, population photosynthesis, and grain yield.  Maize canopy leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), canopy apparent photosynthesis (CAP), biomass distribution, yield were measured.  The results showed that the high-density treatments significantly increased the yield compared to LR60.  Among the high-density treatments, HR80 exhibited an average yield increase of 8.47% compared to HR60 over two years.  This was primarily attributed to HR80 enhancing the utilization of photosynthetically active radiation in the lower canopy after silking, delaying the decrease of LAI in the layers below the ear, and increasing CAP, resulting in a significant increase in biomass.  HR80 increased yield by an average of 8.17% over HR100, due to significant increase in RUE during the grain-filling period.  Furthermore, HR80 showed a significant increase in source-sink ratio compared to both HR60 and HR100, as well as an increase in ¹³C-photosynthetic products partitioning to the grains, and a significant increase in kernel number.  Thus, row spacing configuration should be adapted to the planting density for optimal yield.  Specifically, appropriate row spacing can optimize the population structure, enhancing light distribution within the middle and lower canopy layers, and improving the canopy apparent photosynthesis and light utilization, which will support higher yields in maize.

The Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a major migratory pest of agriculture and animal husbandry in Asia and Europe. Utilizing plant volatile organic compounds (pVOCs) as attractants for monitoring and controlling pests is considered an environmentally friendly and effective method. However, limited knowledge exists regarding applying pVOCs to manage L. sticticalis. Here, volatile compounds released by Chenopodium album, Setaria viridis, and Medicago sativa, the three preferred oviposition plants for L. sticticalis females, were collected using dynamic headspace sampling techniques. A total of 55 distinct compounds were identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 16 compounds in the concentration range from 0.001 to 100 µg µL^-1 elicited consistently enhanced electrophysiological responses in both male and female L. sticticalis. Subsequently, the attraction potential of four bioactive compounds—linalool, cis-anethole, trans-2-hexenal, and 1-octen-3-ol—were further confirmed by indoor behavioral bioassays. The blends of linalool, cis-anethole, trans-2-hexenal, and 1-octen-3-ol mixed at ratios of 5:1:5:10 (formulation No. 25) and 5:1:1:10 (formulation No. 21) were highly attractive to L. sticticalis adults. Field-trapping assays indicated that lure No. 2 baited with formulation 21 demonstrated superior efficacy in field trapping. These findings suggest that pVOC-based attractants can be effectively employed for monitoring and mass trapping L. sticticalis adults, providing insights into the development of botanical attractants.

The continuous supply of phosphorus (P) is indispensable in crop production. However, P resources are non-renewable, and environmental concerns like eutrophication associated with its loss from agroecosystems make the sustainable management of P resources essential for ensuring global food security. This study was designed to reduce mineral P inputs through management practices. A field experiment comprising a wheat-maize rotation system was conducted in the Guanzhong Plain of Shaanxi Province from 2018-2023. The eight treatments included CK (without P), FP (conventional P application); RP (recommended P); RP₈₀ (20% reduction in RP); SRP₈₀ (20% reduction in RP with straw wrapping); ARP₈₀ (20% reduction in RP with ammonium sulfate instead of urea); SARP₈₀ (20% reduction in RP with straw wrapping and ammonium sulfate instead of urea); and SARP₆₀ (40% reduction in RP with straw wrapping and ammonium sulfate instead of urea). Crop yield, P uptake, and P fertilizer use efficiency were measured during harvest and throughout the entire period of the study. At the end of the experiment, P fractions were estimated using the Tiessen-Moir P classification method. The results revealed that the grain yields of all the treatments except for RP₈₀ were significantly increased compared to CK, with increases of 14.9-28.8%. Furthermore, agronomic efficiency, apparent P use efficiency, P recovery rate, and partial factor productivity were significantly improved for the treatments that received 20% less P with straw wrapping. Moreover, the enhancement measures significantly increased labile and moderately labile P in the soil. Therefore, straw wrapping with ammonium sulfate instead of urea is one of the most effective ways to reduce mineral P inputs while increasing the efficiency of P in wheat-maize rotation systems.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a vital staple crop globally, with its grain microelement content playing a crucial role in human nutrition and health. In this study, the concentrations of eight essential microelements (micronutrients and toxic elements): iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As), were quantified in 272 wheat varieties using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) under three different environments. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using 176,357 molecular markers, comprising 163,223 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 13,134 insertion-deletion (InDels) variants, identified through RNA sequencing. A total of 196 significant markers associated with microelement content traits were identified across 21 chromosomes in various environments. Of these, 14 significant markers consistently appeared across environments, forming 13 QTLs and linking to 45 candidate genes. Among these, 29 genes were homologs of known genes in Arabidopsis and rice, while 16 were novel candidates. Haplotype analysis indicated significant phenotypic variation in microelement accumulation, with TraesCS6A02G204300^Hap2 notably enhancing iron content. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic architecture of microelement accumulation in wheat grains and introduces novel genetic resources for breeding wheat varieties aimed at improving micronutrient content and ensuring food safety.

Stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is a serious disease affecting wheat production in China.  Wheat cultivar Aikang 58 (AK58) has exhibited effective resistance to stripe rust since its release in 2005.  But the genetic basis of its stripe rust resistance remains unknown. Two genetic populations from the crosses of Avocet S/AK58 (128 recombinant inbred lines) and Kenong 9204/AK58 (1,042 F_2:3 families) were used to dissect the genetic basis of stripe rust resistance in AK58, respectively. In addition, Panel 1 consisting of 688 wheat accessions were used for genome-wide association study (GWAS) and sweep selection analysis to validate the presence of the resistance haplotype of the target region and Panel 2 consisting of 388 Chinese cultivars and breeding lines was genotyped using molecular markers to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of the resistant loci in AK58. The genetic populations were evaluated for stripe rust responses at Yangling and Guiyang over five cropping seasons (2017-2022) and genotyped using GBW16 K SNP array and KASP markers. Using quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analysis, seven QTL were detected on chromosome arms 1BL, 2BS, 2BL, 5BL and 7BL (three QTLs).  Among them, QYrak.nwafu-2BL identified as Yr5b conferred all-stage resistance to Pst race V32L; three QTL within the 7BL chromosome arm region 715.77-733.25 Mb based on Chinese Spring RefSeq v.2.1, were designated YrAK58.1, YrAK58.2 and YrAK58.3, respectively.  YrAK58.1 confirmed as Yr6, and YrAK58.2 conferred all-stage resistance to multiple Pst races and were also effective in field environments. YrAK58.3 contributed stable resistance in all field environments. The remaining QTL were environment-dependent with minor effect. GWAS and sweep selection analyses revealed specific genomic regions with artificial selection signals for the three QTL on chromosome arm 7BL in different breeding groups.  A haplotype combination of high-throughput molecular markers tightly flanking Yr6, YrAK58.2 and YrAK58.3 detected all three genes in 3.6% of entries in Panel 2. The same marker set can be used to further exploit the resistance gene combination in breeding programs.

Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is a key aspect of modern agriculture, but whether this can be achieved by incorporating legume green manure crops in cereal production to substitute synthetic N fertilizers is unknown. This study used a six-year (2017-2022) field study to explore the impacts of intercropping green manure with maize and reducing nitrogen fertilization on SOC stocks, while specifically focusing on the relationship between aggregate composition and carbon sequestration. Maize intercropped with common vetch (M/V), maize intercropped with rapeseed (M/R), and sole maize (M), were each tested at conventional (N2, 360 kg ha^-1) and reduced (N1, 270 kg ha^-1, 25% reduced) N application rates. Soil was sampled in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Compared with sole maize, intercropping with green manure (M/V and M/R) significantly increased SOC stocks which compensated for any negative effect due to the 25% reduction in N application. Based on 3-year averages, intercropping with M/V and M/R increased the SOC content compared to sole maize (M) by 12.1 and 9.1%, respectively, with intercropping further mitigating the negative impact of reduced nitrogen application. There was no significant difference between M/V and M/R. The SOC content at N1 was reduced by 9.3-10.5% compared to that at N2 in sole maize, but the differences in SOC stocks between N1 and N2 were not significant in the intercropping patterns (M/V and M/R). The intercropped M/V and M/R showed 20.9 and 16.3% higher SOC contents compared to sole maize at N1, with no differences at N2. Intercropping green manure led to a 5.3% greater SOC in the 0-20 cm depth soil in 2022 compared to that in 2020, due to the cumulative effect of two years of green manure intercropping. Intercropping green manure (M/V and M/R) increased the proportion of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) and aggregate stability while reducing the proportion of microaggregates compared to sole maize under the N1 application. Structural equation modeling indicated that cropping patterns and nitrogen application levels mainly affect SOC indirectly by regulating the composition of macroaggregates and aggregate organic carbon (AOC). Correlation analysis further revealed that the composition of macroaggregates is significantly and positively correlated with the SOC content (R⊃2;=0.64). In addition, intercropping green manure can maintain high crop yields by increasing SOC under reduced chemical nitrogen application. The results of this study show that intercropping green manure with grain crops can be a viable measure for increasing SOC sinks and maize productivity by optimizing the aggregate composition with reduced N application in the Oasis Irrigation Area. 

Plant-pathogen interactions are complex, multifaceted processes involving various participants, including insect vectors and parasitic plants, that play a crucial role in the spread of plant diseases. This review explores the intricate relationships between plants, pathogens, and insect vectors, emphasizing these interactions' ecological and epidemiological significance. Insect vectors, such as aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies, and beetles, transmit various plant pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and Phytoplasmas, through different mechanisms. The transmission mode can be direct or indirect, continuous or discontinuous, depending on the biology of the pathogen and the insect vector. We differentiate between noncirculative and circulative pathogen transmission pathways and describe how pathogen movement within insect bodies influences their ability to spread diseases to new plant hosts. The impacts of these interactions extend beyond agricultural productivity to encompass significant economic losses, environmental challenges, and potential human health risks due to excessive use of chemical controls. Understanding these complex dynamics is essential for designing effective disease management strategies and developing environmentally sustainable control measures. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the transmission mechanisms, types of plant pathogens, and the consequences of insect-mediated disease spread, providing insights crucial for advancing plant protection and integrated pest management practices.

Agriculture is the foundation of socio-economic development and is highly influenced by weather and climate conditions. Drought is one of the most significant threats to agricultural development and food security. Currently, in-situ drought monitoring based on weather stations and based on remote sensing data has limitations, including infrequent updates, limited coverage, and low accuracy. This study leverages multi-source remote sensing data to monitor agricultural drought in Heilongjiang Province, China. We develop multi-source composite drought indices (MCDIs) at various timescales (3, 6, 9, and 12 months) by integrating precipitation, land surface temperature, soil moisture, and vegetation indices. Utilizing remote sensing data from various sources, we calculated a series of single drought indices, which are the precipitation condition index (PCI), soil moisture condition index (SMCI), vegetation condition index (VCI), and temperature condition index (TCI). These are then integrated into MCDIs using a multivariable linear regression approach. The analysis reveals that MCDIs correlate more with standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) than single drought indices. When examining the correlation between different MCDIs and the affected area of crops and major grain production, MCDI-9 showed the highest correlation with the affected area of crops, while MCDI-12 showed the highest correlation with grain production. This suggests that these two MCDIs at different timescales were better indicators of agricultural drought. The spatio-temporal analysis of MCDI indicates that drought in Heilongjiang Province primarily occurs in early spring, gradually spreading from the Greater Khingan Mountains region to the southeastern plains. The drought gradually alleviates during the summer, ending by the autumn harvest period. Therefore, the MCDIs constructed in this study can serve as effective methods and indicators for drought monitoring in Heilongjiang Province and similar regions.

High-resistant starch rice is a valuable food for human health, especially for individuals with type 2 diabetes, as it supports effective blood sugar control and provides cardiovascular and intestinal benefits.  However, developing rice varieties with high resistant starch content remains a major challenge.  In this study, we identified a mutant, chalk2, with increased chalkiness from the mutant library of indica rice ZJ100.  The chalk2 mutants exhibited significantly higher amylose and protein contents, while total starch and lipid contents were reduced. Analysis of resistant starch in chalk2 revealed substantial increases in two resistant starch (RS) types RS2 and RS3.  Electron microscopy revealed abnormal starch granule development in the endosperm. The chalk2 mutant also showed reduced grain length, width, and thickness, as well as a decreased seed setting rate, which ultimately led to a significant reduction in grain yield.  Through physical localization, Mut-Map analysis, and transgene complementation, we found that SBEIIb was responsible for the chalk2 phynotypes, a member of the starch branching enzyme (SBE) family, specifically expressed in the endosperm.  Furthermore, the expression levels, enzyme activity, and protein abundance of SBEIIb were significantly reduced in chalk2 mutants.  These findings suggest that SBEIIb plays a crucial role in regulating the composition of starch and resistant starch formation in indica rice.

Plant viruses pose significant threats to agriculture, with many vectored by insect pests. The entry of viruses and their encoded proteins into the host nucleus is a critical step for promoting some viral replication and enabling systemic infection. Laodelphax striatellus, also known as the small brown planthopper (SBPH), is an efficient vector for rice stripe virus (RSV), one of the most damaging viruses of rice. In this study, we demonstrate that RSV infection induces the expression of genes in both the classical and non-classical nuclear import pathways of SBPH. A gene belonging to the importin β family, importin 5 (LsIPO5), was upregulated by 84% in SBPH midguts infected with RSV. The nuclear localization signal (NLS, ¹⁶⁸YRSPSKKRHKYV¹⁷⁹) is located within the nonstructural protein NS3 directly bound to LsIPO5, thereby facilitating NS3 nuclear entry. Moreover, a RING-type E3 ligase (LsRING) in SBPH, which mediated the ubiquitination of NS3 in the insect vector, enhanced NS3 binding to LsIPO5 and facilitated NS3 perinuclear localization. Combined treatment of SBPH with both dsIPO5 and dsRING significantly reduced RSV loads, highlighting the importance of LsIPO5 and NS3 ubiquitination cooperation in facilitating viral replication. Our findings provide new insights into synergistic molecular mechanisms that govern RSV infection and suggest potential therapeutic targets to control viral transmission through their insect vectors.

A comprehensive assessment of grain supply, demand, and ecosystem service flows is essential for identifying grain movement pathways, ensuring regional grain security, and guiding sustainable management strategies. However, current studies primarily focus on short-term grain provision services while neglecting the spatiotemporal variations in grain flows across different scales. This gap limits the identification of dynamic matching relationships and the formulation of optimization strategies for balancing grain flows. This study examined the spatiotemporal evolution of grain supply and demand in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region from 1980 to 2020. Using the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area method, the grain provision ecosystem service flows were quantified, the changes in supply–demand matching under different flow scenarios were analyzed and the optimal distance threshold for grain flows was investigated. The results revealed that grain production follows a spatial distribution pattern characterized by high levels in the southeast and low levels in the northwest. A significant mismatch exists between supply and demand, and it shows a scale effect. Deficit areas are mainly concentrated in the northwest, while surplus areas are mainly located in the central and southern regions. As the spatial scale increases, the ecosystem service supply–demand ratio (SDR) classification becomes more clustered, while it exhibits greater spatial SDR heterogeneity at smaller scales. This study examined two distinct scenarios of grain provision ecosystem service flow dynamics based on 100 km and 200 km distance thresholds. The flow increased significantly, from 2.17 to 11.81 million tons in the first scenario and from 2.41 to 12.37 million tons in the second scenario over nearly 40 years, forming a spatial movement pattern from the central and southern regions to the surrounding areas. Large flows were mainly concentrated in the interior of urban centers, with significant outflows between cities such as Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Xingtai, and Hengshui. At the county scale, supply–demand matching patterns remained consistent between the grain flows in the two scenarios. Notably, incorporating grain flow dynamics significantly reduced the number of grain-deficit areas compared to scenarios without grain flow. In 2020, grain-deficit counties decreased by 28.79% and 37.88%, and cities by 12.50% and 25.0% under the two scenarios, respectively. Furthermore, the distance threshold for achieving optimal supply and demand matching at the county scale was longer than at the city scale in both flow scenarios. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationships and heterogeneous patterns of grain matching, and expands the research perspective on grain and ecosystem service flows across various spatiotemporal scales.

The native thelytokous (TH) and arrhenotokous (AR) strains of Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) are promising biocontrol agents against the invasive tomato pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). This study assessed the performance and preferences of these strains in choice experiments involving five host instar ratios and evaluated their functional responses to seven densities of 1st instar larvae (5 to 40 hosts). In host-attacking behavior assays, an increasing proportion of 1st instar larvae led to a significant rise in host mortality rates for both strains. Both strains exhibited strong preferences for parasitizing and attacking 1st instar larvae over later instars, with the TH strain demonstrating significantly greater host-killing efficacy than the AR strain. Functional response experiments revealed that the attack rates of both strains were positively correlated with host density. Parasitism by both strains and host-stinging behavior by the TH strain showed type III functional responses, while host-feeding by both strains and host-stinging by the AR strain followed type II functional responses. Early establishment of the TH strain in tomato agroecosystems could enhance the management of T. absoluta. These findings provide critical insights into the functional dynamics of the TH and AR strains of N. formosa that can inform the development of effective biocontrol programs for this globally significant pest.

Long-term manure application has the potential to alleviate soil acidification, and increase carbon sequestration and nutrient availability, thus improving cropland fertility. However, the mechanisms behind greenhouse gas N₂O emissions from acidic soil mediated by long-term manure application remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigated N₂O emission and its linkage with gross N mineralization and nitrification rates, as well as nitrifying and denitrifying microbes in an acidic upland soil subjected to 36-year fertilization treatments, including an unfertilized control (CK), inorganic fertilizer (F), 2 x rate of inorganic fertilizer (2F), manure (M), and the combination of inorganic fertilizer and manure (FM) treatments. Compared to the CK treatment (1.34 μg N kg^–1 d^–1), fertilization strongly increased N₂O emissions by 34-fold on average, with more pronounced increases in the manure-amendment (10.6–169 μg N kg^–1 d^–1) than those in the inorganic fertilizer treatments (3.26–5.51 μg N kg^–1 d^–1). The manure amendment-stimulated N₂O emissions were highly associated with increased soil pH, mean weight diameter of soil aggregates, substrate availability (e.g., particulate organic carbon, NO₃⁻ and available phosphorus), gross N mineralization rates, denitrifier abundances and the (nirK+nirS)/nosZ ratio. These findings suggest that the increased N₂O emissions primarily resulted from alleviated acidification, increased substrate availability and improved soil structure, thus enhancing microbial N mineralization and favoring N₂O-producing denitrifiers over N₂O consumers. Moreover, AOB rather than AOA positively correlated with soil NO₃⁻ concentration and N₂O emissions, indicating that nitrification indirectly contributed to N₂O production by supplying NO₃⁻ for denitrification. Collectively, manure amendment potentially stimulates N₂O emissions, primarily resulting from alleviated soil acidification and increased substrate availability, thus enhancing N mineralization and denitrifier-mediated N₂O production. Our findings suggest that consideration should be given to the greenhouse gas budgets of agricultural ecosystems when applying manure for managing the pH and fertility of acidic soils.

Cropland abandonment has become a global issue that poses significant threats to sustainable cropland management, national food security, and the ecological environment. Remote sensing technology is crucial for identifying and monitoring abandoned cropland in large-scale areas. However, limited information is available on the effective identification methods and spatial distribution patterns of abandoned cropland in the hilly and gully regions. This study introduced two methods—the land-use trajectory and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series—for monitoring abandoned cropland and evaluating its spatial distribution in the Yanhe River Basin using Landsat-8 images from 2019 to 2021. The results showed that using a random forest algorithm, high-precision annual land-use classifications were achieved with the generation of reliable land-cover samples and an optimized feature dataset. The overall accuracy (OA) and Kappa coefficient of the land-use maps exceeded 90% and 0.88, respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of the classification over three years. These two distinct change detection methods were used to identify abandoned cropland in the study area, and their accuracy and effectiveness were evaluated. The land-use trajectory method performed better than the NDVI time series method for extracting abandoned cropland, with an OA of 83.5% and an F1 score of 84.7%. According to the land-use trajectory detection results, the study area had 164.6 km² of abandoned cropland area in 2021, with an abandonment rate of 16.3%. Furthermore, cropland abandonment mainly occurred in the northwestern part of the region, which has harsh natural conditions, while abandonment was rare in the southern and eastern regions. Topography and landforms significantly influenced the spatial distribution of abandoned cropland, with most abandoned cropland located in mountainous regions with higher elevations and steeper slopes. The abandonment rate generally increased with the elevation and slope. These findings provide valuable references and guidance for selecting appropriate methods to identify abandoned cropland and analyze its spatial distribution in the hilly and gully regions. Our proposed methods offer robust solutions for monitoring abandoned cropland and optimizing land-use change detection in similar regions with complex landforms.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). The virus is transmitted among adult pigs, causing abortion in sows and orchitis in boars. Vaccination remains the most effective strategy for the prevention and control of this disease. Studies have shown that genotype I (GI) JEV has replaced GIII JEV as the dominant strain in many Asian countries. However, all currently licensed JE vaccines, including the widely used SA14-14-2 live attenuated vaccine, are derived from the GIII strain. It has been reported that GIII-based vaccines do not provide complete protection against the GI strain. In this study, we conducted vaccination-challenge protection assays in mice and boars to evaluate the protective efficacy of live attenuated GI (SD12-F120) derived vaccines against challenge by a homologous genotype. In mice, immunisation with the vaccine induced a potent viral-neutralising response against the homologous GI JEV SD12 strain. The SD12-F120 vaccine provided complete protection against lethal challenge by SD12, whilst also attenuating viraemia. JEV was not detected in the blood, oronasal swabs, or testicles of boars receiving the SD12-F120 vaccine. Vaccination induced high levels of neutralising antibodies against the homologous GI strain in boars, with titers as high as 64. Histopathological analysis showed that interstitial cells of the boar testis and spermatogonia at all levels were well preserved in the vaccine-immunised group, effectively suppressing the occurrence of orchitis. These results showed that the SD12-F120 vaccine provides boars complete protection against challenge by SD12, whilst also protecting against viraemia and testicular damage. Our findings indicate that SD12-F120 is a promising live-attenuated vaccine candidate for controlling the spread of GI JEV.

Identification of genes that regulate meat production and quality in pigs is crucial for improving the pork industry. We previously created a Zinc finger-BED domain transcription factor (ZBED6)-deficient pig model which exhibited accelerated postnatal growth. Here, we evaluated the effect of ZBED6 on meat quality, flavor, nutritional value, safety and the mechanisms underlying meat production in pigs. Our results indicated that ZBED6 deficiency enlarges body size by enhancing feed efficiency. The results of carcass characteristics and meat quality measurements showed that ZBED6 deficiency enhances carcass lean percentage (46.49±0.62 % for WT vs. 52.70±0.56 % for ZBED6^-/-; P<0.001) and improves redness (12.39±0.42 for WT vs.14.53±0.59 for ZBED6^-/-; P=0.04) and reduces cooking loss (50.34±0.43% for WT vs.48.34±0.55% for ZBED6^-/-; P=0.04). Analysis of fatty acid and amino acid profiles showed that ZBED6 deficiency enhances both the nutritional value and flavor of pork. A comprehensive analysis utilizing RNA-seq, quantitative proteomics, and ChIP-seq identified the immunoglobulin superfamily containing leucine-rich repeat (ISLR) as a direct negative target of ZBED6. In C2C12 cells with knockdown of Zbed6, Islr expression is elevated, activating the canonical Wnt pathway and promoting myoblast differentiation and myotube formation, while knockdown of Islr significantly attenuated these effects. The subchronic oral toxicity study of ZBED6 deficiency pork in rat revealed no significant differences in daily clinical signs, body weight, feed intake, hematology, and serum biochemistry compares to wild-type pork. In summary, our study demonstrates the potential of ZBED6-deficient pigs as a valuable resource for the livestock and food industry, providing new insights into the mechanisms by which ZBED6 promotes muscle growth through the regulation of ISLR pathway.

The tiller number is a pivotal agronomic trait determining sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) yield. Strigolactones (SLs), as plant hormones, regulate plant architecture. DWARF27 (D27), a crucial enzyme in the SL biosynthetic pathway, catalyzes a reversible isomerization reaction. ScD27.2, the D27 homolog in sugarcane, harbors abiotic stress-responsive elements in its promoter, suggesting its significance in SL biosynthesis and stress tolerance. ScD27.2 may optimize sugarcane agronomic traits, particularly the tiller number and yield. Elucidating its mechanisms will facilitate the development of high-yielding, stress-tolerant sugarcane varieties. To study the role of D27 in sugarcane tillering, we silenced (via RNA interference (RNAi)) and overexpressed (OE) the key carotene isomerase gene ScD27.2 in sugarcane cultivar XTT22 plantlets. ScD27.2 expression decreased, and the tiller number increased in ScD27-RNAi-2 sugarcane compared with wild-type XTT22. ScD27.2 expression increased, and the tiller number decreased in ScD27-OE-1, ScD27-OE-5, and ScD27-OE-9 lines compared with wild-type XTT22. ScD27-OE-9 showed obvious lateral bud germination, while ScD27-RNAi-2 showed decreased drought tolerance. The tiller number and plant height of transgenic sugarcane plants differed significantly under normal light and water management conditions. Under long-term drought, the height of ScD27-RNAi-2 was significantly lower than that of wild-type XTT22 and ScD27-OE-9, exhibiting a dwarf, multi-tiller phenotype. Moreover, the SLs content in ScD27-RNAi-2 decreased significantly. We speculate that ScD27.2 regulates the tiller number of sugarcanes under drought stress, and the drought-related transcription factor ScMYB44 might be involved in the response of ScD27.2 to drought stress.

To evaluate the impact of climate change on maize production, it is critical to accurately measure the radiation use efficiency (RUE) for maize. In this study, we focused on three maize cultivars in Jilin Province, China: Zhengdan 958 (ZD958), Xianyu 335 (XY335), and Liangyu 99 (LY99).  Under the optimal growing conditions for high density (9 plants m^-2), we investigated the maize RUE during the vegetative and reproductive phases, and the entire growth period.  The results showed that the canopy light interception for maize peaked during anthesis.  After anthesis, maize plant biomass continued to accumulate.  Based on the absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR), we calculated maize RUE.  During the entire growth period, maize RUE averaged 5.71 g MJ^-1 APAR among the three cultivars, with a high-to-low order of ZD958 (5.85 g MJ^-1 APAR)>XY335 (5.64 g MJ^-1 APAR)>LY99 (5.07 g MJ^-1 APAR).  Within the vegetative and reproductive growth periods, maize RUE averaged 6.85 and 5.64 g MJ^-1 APAR, respectively.  When utilizing maize models, such as APSIM, that depend on radiation use efficiency (RUE) to predict aboveground biomass accumulation, we observed that the current RUE value of 3.6 g MJ^-1 APAR is considerably lower than the measured value obtained under high-density optimal growing conditions.  Consequently, to derive the optimal potential yield for maize in such planting conditions, we recommend adjusting the RUE to a range of 5.07-5.85 g MJ^-1 APAR.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a newly found pathogen that could potentially cross-species transmit to threat the safety of swine and human. The mechanism of PDCoV nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14) inhibits the expression of IFN-β is unknown. In this study, we showed that PDCoV nsp14 degrades MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 protein in host cells by proteasomal and autophagy pathway. PDCoV nsp14 recruites E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH8 for catalyzing MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 protein ubiquitination, and which were recognized and transported to lysosome by the cargo receptor NDP52 for degradation to inhibit the expression of IFN-β. Furthermore, we found that MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 also degrade PDCoV nsp14 by selective autophagy. These results reveal the dual function of selective autophagy in PDCoV nsp14 and host proteins, which could promote the ubiquitination of viral particles and host antiviral proteins to degrade both of the proteins for regulating the relationship between virus infection and host innate immunity.

In China, farmers have increasingly adopted the direct-seeded rice (DSR). While the impacts of DSR have been investigated, there is little evidence on the impact of DSR adoption on pesticide use. In this study, the impact of DSR adoption on pesticide use is examined using data from a 2018 survey of 982 rice farmers in the Yangtze River Basin in China. The endogenous treatment-regression and switching regression models are employed to address the self-selection issue. The results show that, after accounting for the self-selection issue, the DSR adopters spend 401.72 CNY ha^-1 more on pesticides compared to the non-adopters. While DSR adoption significantly increases the use of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, its positive impacts on insecticide and herbicide expenditures are the greatest and smallest, respectively. The robustness is confirmed by replacing the dependent variable, winsorizing the research sample and altering the estimation method. The heterogeneous analysis illustrates that DSR adoption has a greater positive impact on pesticide expenditure for farmers aged below 60 years, with at least 6 years of education, and with rice sown area less than 2 ha. Based on these findings, this study proposes that efforts should be made to enhance the complementary techniques for DSR, popularity of DSR cultivation technologies, and the socialized services. In summary, this study provides a more comprehensive view of the advantages and disadvantages of DSR with a focus on its impact on pesticide use, which has important policy recommendations for pesticide reduction.

Mating behavior is crucial for most insects, as it is closely tied to reproduction and population growth and relies heavily on chemical communication via cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) between individuals. However, little is known about the mating behavior of Eupeodes corollae, a natural enemy insect, and how CHCs help it communicate. In this study, we performed a behavioral assay of the mating process of hoverfly E. corollae. The cuticular hydrocarbons of both male and female hoverflies were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The electrophysiological activities of these compounds on the antennae of hoverflies were further determined by gas chromatography coupled with electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) and electroantennogram (EAG). The effects of these compounds on the behavioral selection and mating of hoverflies were also determined. The results showed that the mating process of hoverflies was divided into five stages: orientation, approaching, wing fanning, mounting, and copulation. Fifth-aged individuals exhibited the highest copulation and mating success rates, the shortest male latency, and stable mating duration. The results of the determination of cuticular compounds showed that the CHCs of male and female hoverflies exhibited sexually monomorphic chemical profiles, and two compounds (Z)-9-tricosene and n-tricosane could cause significant electrophysiological responses in both male and female hoverflies. Behavioral bioassay results showed that (Z)-9-tricosene can significantly induce the attraction response of male and female E. corollae and can effectively regulate the courtship behavior of male E. corollae. This finding provides a new perspective for a deeper understanding of hoverflies’ chemical communication mechanism and a valuable scientific basis and potential application prospect for developing a pheromone-based behavior strategy to control pests.

Elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) may mitigate stress-induced damage to cotton (Gossypium spp.) growth and development.  However, understanding the early-stage responses of cotton to multiple abiotic stressors at eCO₂ levels has been limited.  This study quantified the impacts of chilling (CS, 22/14°C, day/night temperature), heat (HS, 38/30°C), drought (DS, 50% irrigation of the control), and salt (SS, 8 dS m^-1) stresses on pigments, physiology, growth, and development of fourteen upland cotton cultivars under ambient CO₂ (aCO₂, 420 ppm; current) and eCO₂ (700 ppm; future) levels during the vegetative stage.  The eCO₂ partially negated the effects of all stresses by improving one or more of the pigments, physiological, growth, and development traits, except CS.  For instance, HS at aCO₂ significantly increased stomatal conductance by 36% compared with non-stressed plants at aCO₂.  However, HS at eCO₂ significantly decreased stomatal conductance by 18% compared with HS at aCO₂.  The first squaring was delayed by one day under SS at aCO₂ but two days earlier under SS at eCO₂ than non-stressed plants at aCO₂.  Root and shoot dry mass and the total leaf area were significantly higher under all stresses, except for CS, at the eCO₂ compared with similar stresses at the aCO₂.  Most growth and development traits, including plant height, leaf area, and shoot dry mass, displayed a mirroring response pattern between aCO₂ and eCO₂ under all environments except CS.  Cultivars exhibited significant interaction with stressed environments.  Further, results revealed differential sensitivity and adaptation potential of cultivars to stress environments at varying CO₂ levels.  This study highlights the need to consider eCO₂ in designing breeding programs to develop stress-tolerant varieties for future cotton-growing environments. 

Tillage practices alter the interaction between soil and rice straw, impacting soil quality and cadmium (Cd) dynamics.  However, the effects of tillage and straw management strategies on soil Cd accumulation and rice uptake remain unclear.  This study investigated how tillage and straw practices influence rice Cd uptake by altering soil Cd mobility and bioavailability.  A long-term field experiment was conducted with four treatments: no-tillage with straw return on the soil surface (NTS), rotary tillage with straw incorporate (RTS), plow tillage with straw incorporate (PTS), and plow tillage with straw removed (PT).  Results showed that Cd concentrations in rice organs (root, stem, leaf and rice grain) decreased in the order NTS>RTS>PTS, with only PTS maintaining grain Cd levels below 0.2 mg kg⁻⊃1;.  Compared with NTS and RTS, the average Cd concentrations in rice grain under PTS were significantly reduced by 56.76 and 25.88%, respectively.  A partial least squares path model indicated that reductions in available Cd (Avail-Cd) and acid-soluble Cd (Aci-Cd), combined with iron plaque (IP) formation on the roots, were key factors in lowering rice Cd levels.  PTS reduced Avail-Cd and Aci-Cd by decreasing soil bulk density, increasing soil organic matter, pH, and the abundances of Nitrospirota and Bacteroidota.  Moreover, PTS enhanced soil nutrient and Fe⊃2;⁺ levels, promoted IP formation on rice roots through improved root morphology and antioxidant activity, and limited Cd uptake.  Although PTS increased total and available soil Cd compared to PT, its promotion of IP formation mitigated rice Cd uptake, resulting in comparable grain Cd concentrations between the two.  Thus, long-term plow tillage with straw incorporate emerges as a sustainable practice to enhance soil quality and reduce Cd uptake in rice cropping system.

Understanding the spatial distributions and corresponding variation mechanisms of key soil nutrients in fragile karst ecosystems can assist in promoting sustainable development. However, due to the implementation of ecological restoration initiatives such as land-use conversions, novel changes in the spatial characteristics of soil nutrients remain unknown. To address this gap, we explored nutrient variations and the drivers of the variation in the 0–15 cm topsoil layer using a regional-scale sampling method in a typical karst area in northwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southwest China. Descriptive statistics, geostatistics, and spatial analysis were used to assess the soil nutrient variability. The results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) concentrations showed moderate variations, with coefficients of variance being 0.60, 0.60, 0.71, and 0.72, respectively. Moreover, they demonstrated positive spatial autocorrelations, with global Moran’s indices being 0.68, 0.77, 0.64, and 0.68, respectively. However, local Moran’s index values were low, indicating large spatial variations in soil nutrients. The best-fitting semi-variogram models for SOC, TN, TP, and TK concentrations were spherical, Gaussian, exponential, and exponential, respectively. According to the classification criteria of the Second National Soil Census in China, SOC and TN concentrations were relatively sufficient, with the proportions of rich and very rich levels being up to 90.9 and 96.0%, respectively. TP concentration was in the medium-deficient level, with the areas of medium and deficient levels accounting for 33.7 and 30.1% of the total, respectively. TK concentration was deficient, with the cumulative area of extremely deficient, very deficient, and deficient levels accounting for 87.6% of the total area. Consequently, the terrestrial ecosystems in the study area were more vulnerable to soil P and K than soil N deficiencies. Furthermore, variance partitioning analysis of the influencing factors showed that, except for the interactions, the single effect of other soil properties accounted more for soil nutrient variations than spatial and environmental variables. These results will aid in the future management of terrestrial ecosystems.

Straw return has demonstrated significant potential for enhancing carbon (C) sequestration and nitrogen (N) uptake while concurrently promoting plant productivity. However, the specific transport and distribution of C produced by photosynthesis and exogenous N within the rice plant-soil system under straw return remains unclear. A long-term straw return pot trial experiment was conducted in a double cropping rice system, incorporating treatments of inorganic fertilizer application with straw removal (F), straw burning and ash return with reducing inorganic fertilizers (SBR), and straw return with reducing inorganic fertilizers (SR) to investigate C sequestration and exogenous N uptake using ¹³C pulse and ¹⁵N isotope tracer techniques. The SR treatment had significantly higher soil ¹³C abundance, by 24.4 and 25.4% respectively, ¹³C concentrations in aboveground plant parts, by 18.4 and 35.8% respectively, and ¹⁵N concentrations in rice panicles, by 12.8 and 34.3% than the SBR and F treatments. This enhancement contributed to a higher total organic C concentration and increased rice grain yield in the SR treatment. Furthermore, the SR treatment had significantly higher photosynthetic C, by 9.8%, which was directly transferred to soil C. The SR treatment had a higher distribution of photosynthetic C in the leaves and stems, but a lower distribution in the panicle compared to the SBR treatment. This finding is advantageous for sequestering photosynthetic C into the soil through straw return; conversely, opposite trends were observed in ¹⁵N distribution. In addition, rice plants in the SR treatment had increased N uptake from urea and soil N sources, enhancing N recovery by 9.2 and 12.5% respectively and reducing soil N residues. Correlation analysis showed that the SR treatment increased the concentrations of ¹³C in leaves and roots while decreasing the ¹⁵N abundance in all rice organs, thereby contributing to an increase in rice yield. The partial least square path model suggested that the increase in rice yield under the SR treatment was primarily linked to ¹³C accumulation within the rice plant-soil system. The results suggest that straw return increases the sequestration of photosynthetic C and exogenous N in the rice plant-soil system and increases N utilization efficiency, which subsequently improves both rice and soil productivity.

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), an under-utilized pseudocereal, has important nutritional and pharmaceutical properties and is resistant to drought and nutrient deficiency.  However, this environmentally friendly crop is sensitive to salt stress that can result in water loss, stomatal closure, affect photosynthesis and metabolism, and reduce yield and quality of Tartary buckwheat.  Thus, it is important to understand the mechanism of salt stress tolerance in buckwheat. In this study, we identified a locus including 35 candidate genes on chromosome 2 that is significantly associated with salt tolerance of Tartary buckwheat by genome-wide association analysis (GWAS).  Transcriptome analysis revealed that the serine/threonine-protein kinase Aurora-3 (FtAUR3) family gene was up-regulated in response to salt stress.  The deletion of a single nucleotide in the FtAUR3 promoter leads to increased FtAUR3 expression and enhanced salt tolerance in Tartary buckwheat.  Overexpression of FtAUR3 in buckwheat hairy roots leads to the accumulation of flavonoids, including rutin and cinnamic acid, as well as the induction of the expression of flavonoid biosynthesis genes, such as PAL, C4H, F3H and F3’H, under salt stress.  In addition, it was shown that over-expression of FtAUR3 in Arabidopsis thaliana induced the expression of salt-resistant genes (SOS1, AVP1, etc.) and enhanced salt tolerance compared to wild type plants.  Furthermore, under salt stress, FtAUR3 can significantly enhances the levels of reactive oxygen species pathway components, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, thereby improving plant salt tolerance.  Thus, we demonstrated that FtAUR3 interacts with the critical enzyme FtGAPB in the ROS pathway, suggesting a potential mechanism through which FtAUR3 contributes to ROS signaling.  Taken together, these results demonstrated that FtAUR3 may play a critical positive role in Tartary buckwheat resistance against salt stress.

基因编辑系统在阐明植物基因功能和促进分子设计育种方面具有广泛的潜力。然而，单引导rna（sgRNAs）的效率各不相同，通过生物信息学准确预测其效率仍然存在挑战，特别是在棉花（陆地棉）等作物中。在本研究中，我们开发了一种快速、有效的方法，利用一个瞬时表达系统来验证棉花中sgRNAs的功能，它可以在三天内完成。本研究选择6个基因12个靶点，观察到通过稳定和瞬态转换获得的编辑效率呈正相关，皮尔逊相关系数（R2）为0.71。我们的研究通过评估多个基因的不同gRNA序列的效率，证实该方法可以快速评估gRNA对基因组的编辑效率，从而通过预筛选提高基因编辑的工作效率。

Prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca) has been shown to positively regulate crop tolerance to saline-alkali stress.  However, the optimal concentration for Pro-Ca application and the mechanisms through which it enhances saline-alkali tolerance and yield in soybean remain unclear.  This study aimed to determine the optimal concentration of exogenously applied Pro-Ca and revealed the mechanisms underlying Pro-Ca’s effect on remediation and yield response in soybean under saline-alkali stress.  The results indicated that saline-alkali stress negatively impacted the morphological and physiological traits of soybean seedlings by triggering the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative damage of the grana lamellae due to excessive accumulation of Na⁺.  An application of 100 mg L⁻¹ Pro-Ca was found to be optimal, promoting dry matter accumulation and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) by significantly reducing Na⁺ uptake under saline-alkali stress.  Moreover, integrated physiological, ultrastructural, and transcriptomic analyses indicated that Pro-Ca significantly enhanced the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle by up-regulating the expression of related genes to enhance the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and the AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG ratios to quench ROS, thereby protecting both thylakoid and mitochondrial membrane from degradation.  The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding ascorbate and aldarate metabolism were significantly (P<0.05) enriched in the integral component of membrane.  Furthermore, Pro-Ca treatment up-regulated the expression of genes encoded photosystems under saline-alkali stress, which reduced the photoinhibition and stomatal limitation (L_s) and mitigating damage photosystem and preventing yield reduction.  In summary, foliar application of Pro-Ca could efficiently enhance soybean seedlings tolerance to saline-alkali stress by inhibiting Na⁺ influx, enhancing the AsA-GSH cycle, maintaining biomembrane system, and improving photosynthetic efficiency.

The universal stress proteins (USPs) play important roles not only in abiotic stress tolerance but also in plant growth and development.  However, the role of USPs in regulating starch biosynthesis has not been reported.  In this research, the IbUSP17 gene was isolated from a sweetpotato line H283 with high starch content.  The IbUSP17 protein was localized in the nucleus. IbUSP17 were highly expressed in the lines with high starch content and during rapid thickening and starch accumulation period of storage roots.  Overexpressing IbUSP17 increased storage root starch content, especially amylopectin proportion, without storage root yield penalty in sweetpotato.  Overexpression of IbUSP17 up-regulated the genes involved in starch biosynthesis and increased the activities of enzymes related to amylopectin biosynthesis.  The contents of components related to starch biosynthesis were also increased in the IbUSP17-overexpressing plants.  Silencing this gene produced opposite effects.  These results suggest that overexpression of IbUSP17 increases starch content through up-regulating the genes involved in starch biosynthesis and increasing the activities of enzymes related to starch biosynthesis, especially amylopectin biosynthesis.  It is the first time to reveal the role of the USP gene in starch biosynthesis.  This gene is expected to be used to increase starch yield and improve starch quality in sweetpotato.

Sustainable increase in maize yield is severely constrained by the continuing reduction in topsoil depth due to irrational farming practices and the effects of climate change. However, the mechanisms by which topsoil depth affects crop physiology and biochemistry remain unclear, particularly with respect to photosynthesis and carbon assimilation.  To investigate the effects of topsoil depth on maize photosynthetic processes, carbon assimilation, and yield in the field, we used a two-factor random block design with five topsoil depths of 10 cm (S1), 20 cm (S2), 30 cm (S3), 40 cm (S4), and 50 cm (S5) at two planting densities of 60,000 plants ha⁻¹ (conventional density, D1) and 90,000 plants ha⁻¹ (high density, D2).  Increasing topsoil depth significantly increased maize grain yield, with maximum increases of 61.7% in D1 and 72.1% in D2.  Increasing topsoil depth also increased chlorophyll content, maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII), and photosynthetic enzyme activities, including ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), and pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK).  With the increases in those parameters, plants maintained the highest net photosynthetic rate (P_nmax) when reaching the light saturation point, with maximum increases of 68.0% in D1 and 75.7% in D2, thereby increasing dry matter production at physiological maturity.  The accumulation of ¹³C-photosynthates in maize stem, leaf, and grain increased with the increase in topsoil depth, indicating increases in carbon assimilation capacity, distribution efficiency, and photosynthetic capacity.  In summary, increasing topsoil depth is an important factor in ensuring high and stable maize yields, and the increase in yield is closely related to the physiological differences caused by changes in topsoil depth.