DNA methylation is a stable epigenetic modification with essential roles in plant drought response. It is known that methyltransferase mutant is necessary for the regulation of methylation variations, but this epigenetic molecular mechanism based on methyltransferase mutant in responding to drought stress was still unclear in cotton. In this study, we aim to decipher the epigenetic code of drought response regulated by methyltransferase gene GhDMT9 in cotton, providing valuable information for the molecular research of drought resistance in cotton. We successfully created the first cotton methyltransferase mutant ghdmt9 using CRISPR/Cas9 method and performed methylation variations analysis with whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and transcriptome analysis based on ghdmt9 mutant. In addition, specific antibody of methyltransferase GhDMT9 was prepared and used for Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq) analysis. The results indicated that ghdmt9 mutant interpreted approximately 2.06% methylation variations under drought stress. Demethylation variations, mainly derived from the CHG and CHH contexts, were closely correlated with drought response. Whether at normal growth stage or under drought stress, the number of up-regulated genes induced by demethylation variations was apparently higher than the number of down-regulated genes, especially genes regulating lipids and lipid-like molecules and hormone-related genes. In addition, fiber quality of ghdmt9 mutant was obviously better than that of wild type (WT). Interestingly, a transcription factor lsh (lysine-specific histone) was found to interact with methyltransferase gene GhDMT9 to activate its hyper-methylation function of target genomic regions by ChIP-seq analysis. Overall, our results extend our understanding of the epigenetic regulation of methyltransferase GhDMT9 in drought response and contribute to further investigations of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying abiotic stresses in cotton. 

Salt stress is a major limiting factor for global wheat production, especially during the germination stage. Traditional methods for evaluating salt resistance at the germination stage are limited by low throughput and their inability to capture dynamic phenotypic changes. In this study, a low-cost and high-throughput seed germination phenotyping platform was developed by integrating side-view RGB imaging with image analysis algorithms. Organ segmentation and germination related traits extraction processes was built via a deep learning pipeline for comprehensive phenotyping of the germination process of diverse varieties under different salt levels. Organ-level segmentation achieved a mean precision of 89.08%, a mean recall of 91.65%, a pixel accuracy of 91.65%, and a mean intersection over union of 83.20%. The 13 image-derived traits were highly consistent with manual measurements. Salt stress significantly inhibited the growth of roots and seedlings, with inhibitory effects intensifying as salt concentration increased. Further analysis revealed seed size shows no correlation with germination capacity and radicle growth rate significantly surpasses that of the coleoptile. Clustering analysis based on dynamic image-derived indices classified the 210 wheat materials into two groups with significantly different salt tolerance. GWAS identified 429 loci associated with salt stress response during germination, including one potential candidate gene, TraesCS7A03G007080, known to play a role in salt tolerance mechanisms. This study provides important genetic materials for the evaluation of salt-tolerant wheat varieties at the germination stage and offers a low-cost, high-throughput, and reliable technical approach for dissecting the genetic basis of salt tolerance during wheat germination.

Within the context of modern cotton cultivation, which emphasizes cost savings and efficiency improvements, drip application of 1,1-dimethyl piperidinium chloride (DPC) provides potential advantage such as reducing the labour and mechanical costs associated with the chemical regulation of conventional DPC foliar spraying in arid cotton-growing areas. However, the appropriate drip DPC dose and its regulatory effects on cotton growth and yield, and particularly the responses to cultivars with different sensitivities to DPC, remain uncertain. A two-year (2023–2024) field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influences of various cultivars and drip DPC doses on cotton phenology, agronomic traits, canopy development, defoliation, boll opening, yield and residual DPC levels. The cultivars Huiyuan 720 (H₇₂₀, DPC-sensitive) and Xinluzao 74 (L₇₄, DPC-insensitive) were chosen, the D₀ (no DPC) and S₁ (DPC foliar spraying at 330 g ha⁻¹ in 2023 and 375 g ha⁻¹ in 2024) treatments were used as controls, and the drip DPC doses were D₁ (the same dose as that in S₁), D₄ (four times the dose in S₁) and D₆ (six times the dose in S₁). The results indicated that compared with those in D₀, the growth periods of H₇₂₀ in D₄ and L₇₄ in decreased by 9 days; in particular, the number of growth days from the peak flowering stage to the late peak bolling stage decreased by 6 days. The plant height, the height of the first fruiting branch, and plant width decreased significantly, by 10.1–19.1%. The diffuse non-interceptance and canopy light transmittance in the middle and upper parts from the peak squaring stage to the boll opening stage increased by 7.9–55.9% and 0.4–7.0%, respectively. The defoliation and boll opening rates increased by 1.5–3.4%. The boll numbers in the middle part increased by 16.7–36.4%, and the yield increased by 4.9–7.6%. Compared with those in S₁, the yields of H₇₂₀ in D₄ and of L₇₄ in D₆ were comparable but the levels of DPC residues in the cotton plants significantly decreased by 36.3–71.0%. Moreover, the levels of DPC residues in D₆ were minimal in soil. These results indicated that an appropriate drip DPC dose can optimize cotton growth and development and reduce the levels of DPC residues based on the cultivar characteristics. This study provides valuable practical insights into the potential of a drip DPC regulation system to replace the foliar spraying method and to advance light and simplified cotton cultivation.

油菜素内酯（brassinosteroids，BRs）是调控水稻株型建成、发育进程和产量形成的重要植物激素。尽管同属粳稻亚种，中花11（Zhonghua 11，ZH11）与台中65（Taichung 65，TC65）在BR相关性状上仍存在明显差异，这与其遗传背景及育种历程的分化密切相关。由于株型紧凑、抽穗期短、遗传转化效率高，并拥有完整的T2T基因组序列，ZH11已成为当前水稻功能基因组研究的重要模式材料。然而，ZH11中缺乏诸如OsBRI1等关键BR信号通路突变体，在一定程度上制约了BR相关研究的开展。本研究从形态、生理和分子层面系统比较了ZH11与TC65对外源BR处理的响应差异，揭示了两种材料在BR敏感性上的显著分化。基于此，我们通过连续回交并结合分子标记辅助选择，将TC65背景的弱等位d61-1突变导入ZH11背景，成功构建了近等基因系d61-zh11。该材料表现出适度的BR不敏感性和紧凑株型，遗传稳定，同时避免了强突变体常见的严重多效性缺陷。作为一种非转基因突变体，d61-zh11为在现代遗传背景下精细解析BR信号通路提供了理想平台，也可作为正向和反向遗传筛选的重要研究资源。本研究实现了经典激素遗传学与现代功能基因组学的有效衔接，为水稻BR相关基础研究和育种应用提供了重要的遗传材料。

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) is caused by the necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and threatens global oilseed rape (Brassica napus) production. Moreover, researchers have not yet identified a gene that confers complete resistance. Here, we developed a multi-target RNA interference (RNAi) strategy to enhance plant resistance by simultaneously silencing eight fungal genes involved in development (SsChsI–VII, SsGas1) and two involved in pathogenicity (SsPG1, SsOAH1) of S. sclerotiorum. Accordingly, we designed a 1,250-bp chimeric double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) consisting of ten 125-bp fragments each targeting a different gene, and evaluated its effectiveness using spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) via stable transformation. In vitro application of the chimeric dsRNA resulted in >50% downregulation of nine target genes, indicating efficient uptake and processing by S. sclerotiorum. Both lesion area and fungal biomass were significantly lower in Nicotiana benthamiana and oilseed rape plants following SIGS. Moreover, stable transgenic plants for HIGS effectively generated gene-specific short interfering RNAs and exhibited an increase in resistance from the T₂ to T₅ generations, with lesions that were 38.9–59.1% smaller in leaves and 43.2–65.8% smaller in stems in the T₅ generation compared with the control plants. Gene silencing resulted in lower oxalic acid accumulation, decreased polygalacturonase activity, and impaired hyphal development, suggesting interference with multiple fungal infection pathways. Notably, HIGS conferred stable, heritable resistance without yield penalty, whereas SIGS provided rapid, nontransgenic protection. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of long chimeric dsRNAs for multi-target gene silencing and highlights a promising RNAi-based strategy for improving disease resistance in oilseed rape, possibly in combination with natural quantitative resistance loci.

Compact maize architecture is crucial for high planting densities and yields, which is a key breeding objective. In this study, a maize T-DNA insertion mutant with compact plant architecture (cpa) was identified, showing reduced leaf curling, drooping angle, plant and ear height, leaf dimensions, internode and tassel length, tassel branch number, and yield compared to WT. Paraffin section analysis showed reduced vein cross-sectional area, epidermal cell width, and increased vein density in the cpa mutant. Genetic analysis revealed that T-DNA was inserted into the first exon of a gene encoding TATA-box binding protein-associated factor (TAF) in the cpa mutant, which was named ZmTAF11. ZmTAF11 exhibited ubiquitous expression across various tissues and nuclear localization. Loss-of-function Zmtaf11 mutants generated by CRISPR/Cas9 exhibited the characteristic compact phenotype, which was consistent with that of the cpa mutant. ZmTAF11 directly binds to the promoters of leaf morphogenesis-related genes ZmAXL and ZmBOB1, thereby promoting their transcription. Furthermore, four SNPs in ZmTAF11 were significantly associated with ear height index (EHI), and the AGTG haplotype showed a lower EHI. This haplotype was predominantly found in temperate maize lines and geographically distributed across North America. These findings reveal the role of ZmTAF11 in regulating maize architecture and its potential application in high-density maize breeding. 

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop worldwide. Understanding yield-limiting factors is essential for optimizing maize productivity under varying agroclimatic conditions. In this study, the relative contributions of climate, soil, and management factors to yield variation in spring and summer maize across 34 sites in China during 2017-2020 were assessed. Random forest (RF) models explained more than 80% of the yield variation, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and Accumulated Local Effects (ALE) were employed to interpret the effects of key variables. Climate emerged as the dominant driver, accounting for nearly 50% of the total feature importance. For spring maize, solar radiation during the establishment stage (ES) had a strong positive effect, whereas the minimum temperature during the grain-filling stage (GFS) had a negative effect. In contrast, summer maize yield was constrained by elevated nighttime temperatures during ES but benefited from increased growing degree days (GDD) during GFS. Among all the variables, planting density (PD) was consistently important across both systems, and increasing PD represented a direct and effective pathway to enhance yield. The results of the yield component analysis further revealed that the significantly higher kernel number per ear (on average 68 kernels more than summer maize) was the main contributor to the superior performance of spring maize. Climate scenario simulations indicated that, without adaptive management, future warming could reduce spring and summer maize yields by 6.1–11.8% and 5.5–9.1%, respectively. These findings underscore the stage-specific climate sensitivity of maize and support the development of targeted adaptation strategies to sustain yields under future climate change.

Pod constriction (PC) is a key morphological trait determining both commercial values and yield of in-shell peanuts. Conventional phenotyping metrics (visual scores and pod waist length derived descriptors) suffer from low precision or limited applicability, especially for atypical pod shapes, which have constrained discovery of underlying genes. To address these limitations, this study introduced two novel image descriptors: front and back constriction depth indices (Front_DI and Back_DI). These indices enable accurate and robust evaluation of PC across diverse pod morphologies. Additionally, a Python script employing the deep learning technology was developed to efficiently and precisely extract these metrics. By applying both novel and conventional phenotyping methods to a recombinant inbred line population (Luhua 11×06B16), this study identified four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for Front_DI, four for Back_DI, three for visual score, and two for a pod waist length-based descriptor across three environments. A major and co-localized QTL region was consistently detected on chromosome 2. Meta-analysis further refined this region to a 728-kb consensus interval. Within this interval, an InDel was identified in the coding region of Arahy.X14VTN between the two parental lines, resulting in a frameshift mutation and a predicted alteration in protein structure. Diagnostic markers were developed for this candidate gene, confirming the genetic effect on PC variation. The novel image descriptors and genetic loci presented here improve our understanding of the genetic basis of PC in peanut and offer practical tools for molecular breeding aimed at trait improvement.

Accurate monitoring of rice growth status is essential for scientific water and fertilizer management in paddy fields. Using remote sensing data combined with radiative transfer models and artificial intelligence algorithms can realize the semi-mechanism inversion. However, the commonly used hybrid inversion models have difficulties in adapting to paddy field scenarios covered with water layers. In addition, the data simulation methods often ignore the correlations between parameters, leading to distortion of the simulated data. To address these challenges, by developing the PROSAIL-Dw model considering the influence of the underlying surface moisture state on the canopy reflectance and proposing a multivariable joint prior knowledge data simulation method based on C-Vine Copula, this study proposed a novel hybrid framework based on Stacking model for retrieving rice growth parameters from multispectral imagery. The results indicated that, by introducing two parameters reflecting the presence and depth of the water layer, the PROSAIL-Dw model can more accurately simulate the NIR reflectance with water layer coverage (with R⊃2; increased by 0.42 for low nitrogen treatment). The growth parameters simulated by the C-Vine Copula method could retain the correlations, thus effectively improving the accuracy of the Stacking model compared with conventional methods (with rRMSE decreased by 5.81%-15.00%, and R⊃2; increased by 0.19-0.30). The hybrid inversion framework constructed in this study has further improved the accuracy and reliability of rice growth parameter inversion, and has important practical value for the scientific management of water and fertilizer in early-stage paddy fields.

Accurate estimation of Leaf Area Index (LAI) in multi-variety rice using optical remote sensing remains challenging due to spectral saturation under dense canopy conditions and inter-varietal physiological differences. To address this, we developed a multimodal data fusion framework integrating RGB and multispectral imagery acquired by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combined with features derived from Digital Surface Models (DSM), vegetation indices (VIs), texture, and depth representations. Using field data collected across 60 rice varieties, four machine learning models were evaluated for LAI estimation. Our results demonstrate that multimodal fusion substantially outperforms conventional VI-based approaches. Among them, the Random Forest Regression (RFR) model achieved optimal performance (R⊃2;=0.76, RMSE=0.57), representing a 26–58% improvement in R⊃2; over baseline models. SHAP-based feature importance analysis identified DSM feature, height-stratified vegetation indices, and depth features as key contributors to model accuracy. This study establishes that incorporating canopy structural information and deep features mitigates saturation effects and enhances generalizability across varieties. The proposed approach offers a robust and efficient solution for high-throughput LAI estimation, supporting applications in precision agriculture and rice breeding programs.

Improving radiation use efficiency (RUE) is critical for increasing wheat yield; however, the influence of plant architectural traits on RUE under low-light conditions is poorly understood. In this study, the effects of the architectural traits of wheat plants on RUE under low-light conditions were assessed. Four wheat varieties with distinct canopy architectures were examined: CM88 (erect and involute flag leaves, high spike density), SM1963 (semierect flag leaves, high spike density), SM1868 (drooping flag leaves, small spike size), and SM830 (prostrate flag leaves, large spike size). Their influence on RUE was evaluated via processes of light interception, photosynthetic capacity, and assimilate utilization. The canopy light distribution uniformity decreased progressively: CM88>SM1963 and SM1868>SM830. In contrast, the radiation interception rate in the middle and lower layers was highest in SM1963, followed by CM88/SM1868, and then SM830. CM88 exhibited the highest stomatal area, stomatal conductance (g_s), and net photosynthetic rate (P_n), indicating superior photosynthetic capacity. SM1963 and SM1868 showed intermediate g_s and P_n (moderate photosynthetic capacity), while SM830 exhibited the lowest g_s and P_n (weakest photosynthetic capacity). The key processes governing assimilate utilization—peak activities of sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase, and the consequent grain filling rate—were highest in SM1963 and SM830. CM88 displayed intermediate levels for these parameters, whereas SM1868 showed the lowest level. Integrating these processes, CM88 and SM1963 achieved the highest overall RUE. This high performance was driven by divergent strengths: CM88 excelled in light interception and photosynthetic capacity with moderate assimilate utilization performance, whereas SM1963 exhibited superior interception and assimilate utilization with moderate photosynthetic capacity. Importantly, light interception contributed the largest share to both RUE and yield, significantly exceeding the contributions from photosynthetic capacity and assimilate utilization, with specific proportions of 51.4 and 74.2%, respectively. This well-coordinated balance among processes, free of any major bottleneck, enabled CM88 and SM1963 to achieve the highest RUE and yield. In conclusion, under low-light conditions, an optimal wheat architecture for high RUE combines erect or semi-erect flag leaves (to optimize light interception) with high spike density (to ensure strong sink capacity).

Overapplication of nitrogen (N) is an important limiting factor in sustainable agricultural development. Breeding N-efficient genotypes is an effective approach to reduce crop N input, increase N-efficiency, and improve crop productive. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying low-N adaptations in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) roots are unknown. Herein, we compared root adaptation mechanisms to low-N stress between the N-efficient genotype JH15 (JH) and the N-inefficient genotype HY20 (HY), focusing on N metabolism and antioxidant capacity. Under N deficiency, JH exhibited a more developed root architecture, higher antioxidant activity, and higher N-metabolic enzyme levels under N deficiency. The expression of both high- and low-affinity nitrate transporter proteins (NRT2.5, NRT1.6), and the chloride channel protein CLC was upregulated in JH, with higher expression of genes encoding glutamine synthetase and asparagine synthase. However, only the low-affinity N transporters (NPF5.2, NPF7.3) were upregulated in HY. Flavonoid and isoflavonoid biosynthesis were the main metabolic pathways underlying the differences between the two genotypes under low-N treatment. The results of weighted gene co-expression network analysis and correlation network analysis revealed that differential expression of the key genes encoding caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase, chalcone synthase, 2'-hydroxyisoflavone reductase, and shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA transferase affected key metabolites levels (epicatechin, kaempferol, calycosin, and biochanin A). We also found that WRKY40 and MYB30, MYB4, and bHLH35 may regulate flavonoids accumulation as positive and negative regulators, respectively. In summary, enhanced N uptake and assimilation and flavonoid accumulation in JH enhanced N metabolism and antioxidant capacity, improving N-efficiency.

This study aimed to characterize variation in the storage tolerance of eating and cooking quality (ECQ) among rice varieties from Southern China and to establish a quantitative evaluation framework. Indica, japonica, and indica–japonica hybrid rice varieties were subjected to accelerated aging under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions (35°C, 75% RH) for 90 days. Nineteen indices encompassing ECQ traits, chemical composition, pasting properties, amylase activity, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined before and after storage. The storage variation coefficient of individual indices (SVCI) and a newly developed paddy rice storage tolerance index (PRSI) were used for integrated evaluation. Principal component analysis, grey relational analysis, and stepwise regression analysis were applied to identify key indicators and construct a predictive model. ECQ deteriorated significantly after storage, with pronounced changes (mean SVCI>0.2) observed in fatty acid value (FAV), cooked rice appearance (CRA), cooked rice texture (CRT), comprehensive taste value (CTV), and antioxidant enzyme activities. PRSI values ranged from 0.257 to 0.609, with higher PRSI values indicating more rapid ECQ deterioration during storage. Cluster analysis classified the varieties into storage-tolerant, moderately storage-tolerant, and storage-sensitive groups. Compared with storage-sensitive varieties, storage-tolerant varieties showed markedly smaller declines in CRA, CRT, and CTV (mean reductions lower by 45.8, 40.9, and 49.3%, respectively), a weaker increase in FAV (mean lower by 28.3%), and consistently higher antioxidant enzyme activities, with SOD and POD activities exceeding those of storage-sensitive varieties by 19.7 and 10.0%, respectively, in both fresh and stored samples. These results demonstrate that PRSI is an effective index for evaluating ECQ storage tolerance. The SVCIs of CTV, FAV, and POD activity were identified as key predictors of PRSI. This work provides a robust methodological basis for breeding storage-tolerant rice varieties and for developing quality-preserving storage strategies in southern rice-growing regions. 

Although jasmonate (JA) signaling participates in heat stress (HS) responses, the mechanism by which it balances spikelet development and yield stability via the OsCOI1 gene remains unclear, particularly under HS during the panicle differentiation stage (PDS). This study comprehensively examined the influence of HS on panicle architecture, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism, accumulation and allocation, root oxidative activity, antioxidant enzyme activity, JA and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) contents, yield and yield components using wild-type rice (WT, Nipponbare) and the coi1-18 mutant (OsCOI1 knockdown mutant, blocked JA signaling). The results demonstrated that under normal temperature (NT) conditions, the coi1-18 mutant exhibited significantly higher grain number per panicle, grain setting rate, and 1000-grain weight relative to the WT, collectively increasing grain yield by 23.2%. Conversely, under HS, reduced JA and MeJA contents in the coi1-18 mutant resulted in enhanced heat sensitivity, diminished antioxidant capacity, and dysregulated C-N metabolism. These effects markedly suppressed spikelet differentiation, thereby causing a yield reduction in the coi1-18 mutant that was 16.1 percentage points greater than in WT. Exogenous MeJA application effectively mitigated HS-induced suppression of spikelets differentiation in WT but failed to significantly rescue the phenotype in the coi1-18 mutant. This study reveals OsCOI1 as a context-dependent regulator: knockdown of OsCOI1 enhances yield under NT but impairs HS tolerance during PDS. This indicates a breeding-relevant trade-off and suggests that modulating JA signaling could balance yield under NT with panicle protection under HS.

 Mechanized seed production with a large restorer-to-sterile parental row ratio is a developmental trend; however, the effects of different parental row ratios on spikelet pollination effectiveness and seed-setting rates remain unclear. In this study, a single-factor randomized block experiment was conducted in Sichuan, China, to evaluate the influence of parental row ratio designs on spikelet pollination effectiveness and seed-setting rate in sterile lines under unmanned aerial vehicle-assisted pollination conditions. In 2021 and 2022, R2 treatment significantly reduced the number of pollen grains and pollen grain number per spikelet position in the middle (M) and far (F) rows of the plot. However, this treatment yielded a significantly higher pollination rate of exposed stigma florets at each spikelet position in the near (N) and middle rows when compared to the results of the R1 and R3 treatments, resulting in a greater seed-setting rate. The number of pollen grains per stigma (1–3) did not significantly differ among the R1, R2, and R3 patterns in 2022. Over 50% of successfully pollinated florets had pollen loaded on a single stigma. In the C1 combination, the seed-setting rate of R2 increased by 43.07% (vs. R1) and 34.23% (vs. R3), with yield increases of 42.35% (vs. R1) and 18.53% (vs. R3). In the C2 combination, R2 seed-setting rate increased by 13.75% (vs. R1) and 34.62% (vs. R3), with final yield increases by 14.87% (vs. R1) and 29.80% (vs. R3). The R2 pattern reduced pollen loss by optimizing the matching degree between pollination wind field and parental strip width, providing a stable pollen supply for the sterile lines (N, M). This supply enhanced stigma pollen capture, thereby significantly increasing floret pollination rates, seed-setting rates, and yield. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for pollination strategies and optimization of parental row ratios in mechanized seed production.

Chilo suppressalis is a major pest in rice-producing regions, posing serious threats to rice yield and quality. Existing pest prediction research generally ignore the stage-specific heterogeneity in population dynamics and neglect the synergistic effects among meteorological, soil, and rice physiological information. This makes it challenging to accurately characterize the complete dynamic changes in pest populations. In this study, we explicitly highlight three methodological innovations: (1) the use of a LOESS-based curve fitting and slope-change detection framework to objectively partition C. suppressalis population dynamics into three stages—population establishment, expansion, and outbreak; and (2) the integration of multi-source data, including trap monitoring, rice physiological indices derived from remote sensing, and ERA5 meteorological and soil variables, to construct stage-specific prediction models.; and (3) building upon this stage-based framework, we designed a targeted sensitivity-parameter screening scheme and developed daily dynamic prediction models using the Random Forest (RF) algorithm, which incorporate meteorological, soil, and crop physiological indicators. The results demonstrate that the proposed stage-specific prediction model achieves excellent performance. During the outbreak stage, the R² for all three experimental fields exceeds 0.9, with MAE below 23.16 and RMSE under 32.86. In the Jiulong field, stage-specific predictions show R² values above 0.89. Compared with Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) and Prophet models, RF exhibits superior stability and generalization, with test set R⊃2; consistently above 0.69, highlighting its robustness and reliability for stage-specific prediction of C. suppressalis population dynamics. These findings highlight the practical value of our approach for enhancing comprehensive pest forecasting and supporting targeted pest management.

Strip configurations play a crucial role in mediating crop productivity and resource utilization in intercropping systems. However, there remains a substantial knowledge gap concerning the mechanization-adaptive strip widths for cotton-soybean intercropping systems. Specifically, understanding how these strip widths can enhance synergies in crop productivity and land use efficiency is imperative. This study evaluated the impact of row ratio (strip) configurations on crop growth, physiology, productivity and land use efficiency in intercropped and monoculture systems. Treatments included two intercropping treatments (two rows of cotton plants alternating with three rows of soybean plants (2C3S), and three rows of cotton alternating with five rows of soybean (3C5S)), and two monoculture controls (monoculture cotton (MC), and monoculture soybean (MS)). Compared with monoculture cotton, the 3C5S system significantly increased both years averaged based chlorophyll content (SPAD value) by 6.64% at the peak boll-setting stage with increased leaf area index (LAI) and canopy photosynthetically active radiation interception ratio (In) during the early flowering stage. Furthermore, at the boll-opening stage, this system further enhanced boll and total plant nitrogen uptake. Intercropping significantly increased cotton boll density by enhancing dry matter translocation to reproductive organs with high lint yield. The 3C5S configuration outperformed 2C3S, increased the land equivalent ratio by 9.2% and net revenue by 15.87% over both years. The PCA results showed stronger relationships between cotton harvest index and other physiological parameters in 3C5S. The Mantel test indicates that yield of cotton-soybean intercropping was closely associated with cotton leaf area index and soybean aboveground biomass. Structural equation modeling identified nitrogen uptake as the key driver of yield in 3C5S. Overall, 3C5S improved crop productivity and land use efficiency compared to both 2C3S and monoculture systems, representing the optimal cotton-soybean intercropping strategy. The 2C3S and 3C5S intercropping systems were designed with a standard 2:1 row spacing (76 cm for cotton and 38 cm for soybean), compatible with mainstream agricultural machinery in China. A 55 cm operational clearance was maintained between crop strips to support fully mechanized sowing and harvesting, thereby reducing labor cost with high production revenue.

Stellera chamaejasme is a pernicious plant of grasslands in China. Its expansion has been linked to changes in the soil microbial community structure and to nitrogen accumulation. Increased nitrogen availability may enhance competitiveness of the weed and disrupt plant community structure. We sought to establish whether presence of this species evokes the same changes to soil properties and microbiome community structure in regions with divergent native soil properties. For this, we compared soil samples collected from under native vegetation (controls) with those taken from beneath S. chamaejasme plants in grasslands of eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QT) and the middle Inner Mongolia Plateau (IM). In QT, soil beneath S. chamaejasme contained higher nitrogen levels than controls, but not phosphorus. In contrast, S. chamaejasme and control soil samples from IM did not differ in nitrogen content, but S. chamaejasme soil samples had raised soil P. Soil bacterial community responses to S. chamaejasme also differed between regions. S. chamaejasme soils from QT had increased relative abundances of some diazotrophs (Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Phyllobacterium) that positively correlated with soil nitrogen but no similar tends were detected in IM soils. Redundancy analysis revealed significant associations between soil ammonium and bacterial genera implicated in soil N-cycles. In QT, modelling suggested that S. chamaejasme increased N-cycling soil bacteria linked to increased available nitrogen. However, in IM soil N-cycling soil bacteria and soil nitrogen levels were unaffected by S. chamaejasme and its presence did not link to N-based soil changes. We conclude that S. chamaejasme evokes different changes to the native soils of these two regions. We postulate that S. chamaejasme may exhibit plasticity in response to soil conditions it encounters and that this may be one reason for its soil impact being context dependent. This divergent interaction between S. chamaejasme and host soils may facilitate further expansion of its current range. 

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a major agricultural pest that has developed resistance to a broad range of insecticides. Despite the promising efficacy of cyantraniliprole (CYA) against B. tabaci, medium to high levels of resistance have emerged after prolonged field use. However, the mechanisms driving CYA resistance remain poorly understood. In this study, four B. tabaci strains exhibiting 24.9-fold to 28.9-fold resistance ratio to CYA were investigated. Synergist assays and enzyme activity measurements indicated cytochrome P450 enzymes contribute to this resistance. RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR analysis identified five P450 genes (CYP305H2, CYP6EM1, CYP3133D3, CYP3133D5, and CYP3133E2) as significantly overexpressed in resistant strains. Targeted silencing of these genes led to a 22.3% to 50.3% increase in CYA toxicity. The metabolic rates of these P450 enzymes against CYA were 2.5- to 6.0-fold higher than that in the control group within two hours. These results provide new insights into the molecular basis of CYA resistance in B. tabaci and highlight the pivotal role of cytochrome P450 enzymes in metabolic adaptation to diamide insecticides.

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are plant growth and development nutrients with key functions in the life cycle of plants. However, the levels of these nutrients in soil are often insufficient for plant uptake, so they must be supplemented using chemical fertilizers. Excessive use of these fertilizers has polluted the soil, air, and groundwater, which is a serious threat to the sustainability of agriculture. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) facilitate plant growth by improving nitrogen fixation, as well as phosphorus and potassium solubilization. These bacteria have the potential to partially or even entirely replace chemical fertilizers, an achievement that could improve soil fertility, boost crop production, and ensure sustainable agriculture. Even though many PGPB strains can be used instead of chemical fertilizers, they have been shown to exhibit limited activity in N fixation and P or K solubilization when plants are grown in the field. Recent advances in gene editing technologies now provide new avenues for enhancing these abilities in PGPB toward more efficient and consistent biofertilizer production. This review discusses the mechanisms whereby asymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria (ANFB) as well as phosphorus- and potassium-solubilizing bacteria (PSB and KSB) enhance plant growth, and it outlines the recent advances in gene editing efforts for improving microbial function. We suggest creating a synthetic community (SynCom) comprised of genetically modified bacteria to enhance the PGP effects of engineered bacteria and promote efficient nutrient utilization.

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major driver of biodiversity loss, which poses substantial threats to food security, ecological integrity, and public health. Their proliferation results from synergistic interactions among species-specific traits (e.g., high reproductive capacity, and adaptability), environmental conditions, anthropogenic activities like global trade, biotic relationships, and policy frameworks. While much research has examined individual invasion drivers, emerging evidence confirms that invasion success primarily results from complex, multifactorial synergies. This review elucidates how the coupling of environmental stressors, biotic interactions, and human-mediated processes (notably habitat modification and dispersal mechanisms) accelerates the global spread of high-impact IAS, exemplified by species of global concern including Cydia pomonella, Tuta absoluta, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Erwinia amylovora, and tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). We systematically evaluate how cascading interactions among these factors amplify ecological imbalances and invasion risks. Furthermore, advances in population genomics further enable critical insights into the adaptive evolution and genetic determinants of invasion success. Therefore, integrating multifactorial frameworks with genomic methodologies is vital for predicting invasion trajectories and developing targeted management strategies, underscoring the imperative for interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate the escalating threat of biological invasions.

Poor soil structure and low soil fertility are the main factors limiting crop yield in Vertisol. Although deep tillage and organic fertilization are potential amelioration strategies, their interactive effects remain insufficiently explored. The high salinity in commercial organic fertilizer may negatively affect soil structure and crop growth. The objectives were to: (1) evaluate whether the combination of deep tillage and commercial organic fertilization could more effectively enhance soil structure and fertility; (2) quantify the primary factors and their contributions to crop yield. A 9-year experiment was conducted under a wheat–maize rotation system in a Vertisol, involving two tillage practices—rotary tillage (RT) and deep ploughing (DP)—and three fertilization treatments: mineral fertilizer (NPK), 100% organic fertilizer (OM), and a combination of mineral with 50% organic fertilizer (NPKOM). Soil physicochemical properties were determined, and soil physical quality was quantified by the least limiting water range (LLWR). Our results showed that, compared to NPK, OM and NPKOM treatment decreased soil bulk density (r_b), increased saturated water conductivity (K_s), enlarged LLWR, and enhanced SOC and soil nutrient contents in the 10-30cm layer. When combined with DP, soils became more porous and nutrient-rich, particularly in deeper soil layers. However, long-term commercial organic fertilization introduced substantial amounts of salt ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, SO₄^2-), leading to significantly increased soil EC_1:1 and decreased aggregate stability (MWD). The EC in the soil pore solution even exceeded the crop tolerance thresholds during the growth season. Among several soil indicators, EC_1:1 is represented as the primary factor limiting wheat yield. While maize yield was promoted by the increased TN due to the greater nutrient requirement and salt leaching into deeper layers under higher precipitation. The intensified reduction in wheat yield with the prolonged fertilization duration further confirmed the increased negative effect of salt stress under organic fertilization. By incorporating surface salts into deeper soil layers, DP mitigated soil salt stress and reduced yield losses than RT. Our results demonstrated that the long-term application of commercial organic fertilizers led to salt accumulation that adversely affects crop yields in Vertisols. Although deep tillage mitigated the salt stress, it cannot fully offset the yield reduction caused by salt accumulation. Further studies across a wider variety of soil types, organic fertilizer sources, and fertilization gradients are needed to elucidate the wide-ranging effects of commercial organic fertilization.

Multiple stressors represent a major threat to animal welfare and productivity by triggering physiological and behavioral abnormalities. This study investigated whether dietary resveratrol (RES) mitigates the adverse effects of multiple stressors, on behavior, hypothalamic injury, intestinal barrier integrity, gut microbiota, and the microbial-gut-brain (MGB) axis in layer pullets, modeled by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The experiment consisted of two phases. In Phase 1,300 one-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to control (CON) and CUMS groups. In Phase 2,480 chicks were allotted to five groups: CON, CUMS, and CUMS supplemented with 200, 400, or 800 mg kg^-1 RES (L-RES, M-RES, H-RES). After a 1-wk acclimation period, all groups except CON were exposed to a 5-wk CUMS protocol, while RES treatments were simultaneously administered for the same duration. CUMS exposure induced depression-like behaviors, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and significant reductions in key neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), collectively reflecting neuroinflammation and impaired neuroplasticity. Intestinal barrier integrity was also disrupted, as evidenced by the downregulation of tight junction proteins, while colonic inflammation was aggravated through activation of the TLR4-p38MAPK/NF-κB signaling cascade and elevated levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. Metagenomic sequencing revealed significant gut microbial dysbiosis, and metabolomics showed disruptions in phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine metabolism, with phenylalanine metabolism being the most affected, further supporting MGB axis dysfunction. Dietary RES supplementation alleviated behavioral abnormalities in a dose-dependent manner, normalized HPA axis activity, mitigated hypothalamic injury, restored neurotransmitters and cytokines, improved intestinal barrier integrity, and partially reversed gut microbial disruptions. In conclusion, dietary RES effectively ameliorates multiple stress-induced neurobehavioral and intestinal impairments by regulating the MGB axis, offering a promising feed approach to improve poultry resilience and welfare under intensive production conditions.

Clostridium perfringens (Cp) is a major enteric pathogen in poultry, threatening both animal health and food safety. This study investigated the protective effects of Lactobacillus reuteri 21 (LR21) administered via in ovo injection against Cp infection in broilers. A total of 360 chicks, previously injected in ovo on embryonic day 18, were randomly allocated to four groups (n=6 replicates, 15 birds each): CON (PBS), Cp (PBS+Cp), IOF (LR21), and IOF-Cp (LR21+Cp). Birds were reared for 21 d. A two-way ANOVA was applied to determine the main and interaction effects for in vivo outcomes and one-way ANOVA for in vitro assays. Significant findings were followed by Tukey’s HSD for pairwise comparisons. Although in ovo injection of LR21 slightly mitigated Cp-induced growth suppression, it significantly increased the jejunal villus height and reduced epithelial apoptosis (P<0.05). LR21 also downregulated pro-inflammatory genes including NOD1, MyD88, NF-κB, and JNK, and inhibited the M1-type macrophage polarization in the jejunum compared to Cp challenge. Regarding gut microbiota, Cp challenge altered β-diversity and enriched Clostridium perfringens, whereas LR21 increased Roseburia, Lactobacillus, and specifically Lactobacillus reuteri. In addition, in ovo injection of LR21 enhanced the production of its signature metabolite, reuterin, in Cp-challenged broilers. In vitro, reuterin suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages and protected intestinal organoids from Cp-induced damage. Mechanistically, reuterin inhibited the TLR4/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and activated the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway thereby alleviating inflammation response in Cp-infected macrophages. Reuterin aslo upregulated genes involved in glutathione metabolism (SLC7A11, GCLC, GCLM, GSR, PRDX6, IDH1) and increased antioxidant enzyme activities, thereby limiting ROS accumulation and cellular death of intestinal organoids. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that in ovo LR21 administration enhances intestinal resilience to Cp infection through reuterin-mediated coordination of effects on both macrophages and intestinal stem cells, leading to the attenuation of inflammatory responses and reinforcement of glutathione-dependent antioxidant defenses. 

Meat quality, primarily assessed by colour, flavour, tenderness and juiciness, is increasingly important as rising global incomes enhance consumer purchasing power and demand for higher-quality meat. Recent studies highlight the significant correlation between autophagy and meat quality, particularly concerning fat content and tenderness. Autophagy, a dynamic homeostasis process, regulates intracellular fat metabolism within adipose tissue. Furthermore, the destruction of muscle organelle and macromolecules post-slaughter promotes autophagic activity. Consequently, cellular autophagy has emerged as a key area of research in animal meat quality. This paper summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of cellular autophagy and reviews current research on its association with meat quality. In conclusion, autophagy enhances tenderness by promoting proteolysis and apoptosis pathways post-slaughter, while modulating fat deposition through lipophagy-mediated lipid metabolism, thereby offering a promising target for improving meat quality.

Wheat is a major staple food and primary source of dietary minerals in the world, providing vital trace elements. Copper (Cu) is an essential nutrient for the development, and it plays a crucial role in various metabolic and biochemical reactions in wheat. Meanwhile, Cu is distributed in human tissues and organs and involved in human physiological functions. Cu deficiency may lead to abnormal hair, anemia, abnormal bones and even disorders of brain function. In this study, we detected QTLs for Cu content in two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, including 164 F₆ RILs from a cross between Avocet and Chilero (AC population) and 175 F₆ RILs from a cross between Avocet and Huites (AH population). Four QTLs (QGCu.haust-AH-7D, QGCu.haust-AC-5B.2, QGCu.haust-AH-5B.1, QGCu.haust-AH-1B) were detected on chromosomes 1B, 5B and 7D across more than two environments by QTL mapping with diversity array technology (DArT) marker. QGCu.haust-AH-7D, a major and stable QTL was detected in three environments explaining the phenotypic variance (PVE) from 8.70 to 9.34% with a physical interval of 99.96 to 100.66 Mb. QGCu.haust-5B, a co-localization and major QTL ranged from 446.01 to 450.57 Mb and explained 11.28% to 26.02% of the phenotypic variance between QGCu.haust-AC-5B.2 (421.44-607.84 Mb) in AC population and QGCu.haust-AH-5B.1 (446.01 to 450.57 Mb) of AH population in two environments. QGCu.haust-AH-1B, a stable QTL was explained 9.79 to 15.96% of the phenotypic variance with a physical interval of 340.46 Mb to 416.77 Mb in two environments. These favorable alleles of QGCu.haust-AH-1B, QGCu.haust-5B and QGCu.haust-AH-7D significantly increased grain Cu content by 13.63, 14.34 and 10.54% (P<0.01) compared with lines carrying unfavorable alleles. Using pyramiding and pleiotropic effects analysis with quality traits, the pyramiding of favorable alleles of the three QTLs significantly increased grain Cu content, grain protein content, wet gluten content and sedimentation value by 30.82, 18.65, 19.16, and 52.43% (P<0.01), respectively. A high-throughput competitive allele specific PCR (KASP) marker, KACu-5B-2 was developed and verified in the natural population (ZD population). Genetic effect revealed that favorable haplotype Hap1 significantly rised up grain Cu content, grain protein content, wet gluten content and sedimentation value by 8.1%, 5.12, 5.32, and 5.52% compared to Hap2 with unfavorable haplotype (P<0.05). This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for cloning wheat grain Cu content related genes, facilitating molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) and optimizing Cu-enriched biofortification breeding strategies.

Ethephon (ETH) is widely applied to shape plant type for enhancing plant lodging resistance in maize high-yield and efficient production, however, there is limited information on how ethephon regulates root traits to mediate root anchorage strength for enhancing the lodging resistance. To clarify this, a two-year field experiment (2022 and 2023 summer maize growing seasons) was conducted to evaluate the regulatory effect of ETH application on the root development, morphological traits and anchorage strength in three maize varieties. ETH application advanced nodal root initiation, accelerated the growth rate of nodal root development, shortened the developmental duration of root whorl, and induced the formation of an additional nodal root whorl without significantly affecting nodal root number per whorl. Meanwhile, ETH application significantly increased root length and lateral root number, but reduced root diameter and root volume. Furthermore, ETH application increased root angle, top root angle and bottom root angle, while decreasing maximum and median width of root system, which facilitated the development of a steeper and more compact root system architecture. In addition, ETH application strengthened root anchorage by improving vertical root pulling resistance (VRPR), failure angle, anchorage strength and safety factor by 20.6, 18, 20.7, and 68.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, an increased root-to-shoot ratio of 14.7%, along with reductions in the ratios of plant height to VRPR and shoot fresh weight to VRPR of 21.5 and 26.8%, respectively, collectively indicated more efficient root development and improved shoot-root interaction in ETH-treated plants. Moreover, ETH effectively reduced the lodging rates by 73.9%, while increased the number of harvest ears, improved the grain yield and harvest index. Overall, ETH could mediate root morphology traits to shape steep root architecture and improve shoot–root interaction for enhancing the lodging resistance in maize. 

Drought stress has been reported to impair chemotropism of pollen tube growth in the pistil, yet the physiological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unexplored in G. hirsutum. This study hypothesized that drought-induced nitric oxide (NO) changes in ovules may inhibit pollen tube directional growth. To test the above hypothesis, pools experiments were conducted using two cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars Yuzaomian 9110 (drought-sensitive) and Dexiamian 1 (drought-tolerant) under water stress. Results demonstrated that drought stress inhibited the directional growth of pollen tube to the embryo sac and simultaneously reduced fertilization rate, the number of cotton seeds per boll as well as the single boll weight. Moreover, correlation analyses showed that NO content in the ovules had significantly negative correlation with the fertilization rate, implying that NO changes in ovules might inhibit pollen tube directional growth and subsequent yield component formation. Further analyses showed that drought stress elevated nitrate reductase (NR) activity in the ovules of both cultivars, facilitating the conversion of nitrite (NO₂^-) to NO. This process was accompanied by the up-regulation of NR gene (GhNIAD) expressions in the drought-affected ovules of both cultivars, further promoting NO synthesis. The reduction in S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) activity under drought conditions was correlated with an accumulation of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), suggesting that the compromised removal of NO contributed to the higher NO levels in the ovules. Additionally, elevated NO levels may, as part of a regulatory mechanism, further inhibit the activity of GSNOR in the ovules of both cultivars under drought stress. Thus, these findings revealed that drought leads to the accumulation of NO in the cotton ovules, which may be a factor inhibiting pollen tube growth. Of course, this causal relationship requires more evidence to be confirmed in future research. These results provide novel insights into the molecular-physiological mechanisms by which water deficit triggers reproductive failure in cotton.

Soil waterlogging threatens global wheat production by inducing root hypoxia. While stress priming can enhance plant resilience, the specific mechanisms underlying this pre-adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that a single day of mild waterlogging priming (MP) induces a robust primed state in wheat, conferring superior recovery and tolerance to subsequent hypoxic stress. Crucially, we identify the post-priming recovery phase as a decisive window for physiological reprogramming, rather than a mere period of passive repair. During this window, MP plants developmentally reconstruct their adventitious roots (ARs) system, transitioning from transient, short ARs to a persistent architecture dominated by long ARs. This reprogrammed root system exhibits functionally superior through the synergistic co-optimization of root hydraulic conductivity (Lpr) and radial oxygen loss (ROL). Physiological and molecular analyses reveal that enhanced Lpr is accompanied by the sustained upregulation of aquaporin genes (TaTIP2-1, TaTIP2-2, and TaPIP2-6), while improved ROL facilitates superior root rhizosphere aeration. Structural equation modeling statistically validates that the formation of long ARs during recovery is the pivotal trait causally driving the optimization of Lpr and ROL. In contrast, severe priming causes irreversible damage and confers no adaptive benefit. Our findings propose a model of “anticipatory root priming”, wherein mild stress leverages the recovery window to pre-construct an energetically efficient root system. This fundamentally shifts the plant's strategy from a reactive emergency response to proactive, regulated resilience, providing a physiological framework for priming-based crop improvement.

This study aimed to clarify the differences in quality between traditional and modern foxtail millet varieties under different irrigation conditions. The traditional variety Jingu 6 and the modern variety Changsheng 13 were used to compare and analyze the effects of rainfed and irrigation treatments on their appearance quality, culinary quality, nutritional quality and volatile metabolites. Significant inter-annual variation was observed in the effect of irrigation on the quality of foxtail millet. In the wet year, irrigation improved appearance and culinary quality but reduced nutritional quality, and the response of the modern variety was greater than that of the traditional variety. During the dry year, irrigation significantly inhibited the appearance and nutritional quality. Additionly, irrigation optimized the culinary characteristics of the traditional variety in drought years but led to a decrease in the culinary quality of the modern variety. An analysis of volatile metabolites further revealed that irrigation reduced flavor differences between varieties by regulating terpenoid biosynthesis, thereby reducing the unpleasant flavor of the traditional variety, and increasing aromatic substance content in the modern variety. This study systematically clarified the internal mechanism of the interaction of irrigation, variety, and climate on the quality of foxtail millet and provided a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the breeding of high-quality varieties and precise water management.

Improving soil quality while maintaining agricultural productivity is a key challenge in sustainable agriculture. Diversified cropping, particularly legume-based rotations, offer a promising strategy, but their effects on aggregates stability and carbon sequestration remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of peanut-based rotation systems on soil aggregate stability and soil carbon pool characteristics, and to elucidate how these changes contribute to soil carbon sequestration. A six-year field experiment was conducted in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China, four peanut-based rotations were compared with the conventional winter wheat–summer maize mode (WM): winter fallow–spring peanut (CP), winter wheat–summer peanut (WP), winter wheat–summer maize→winter fallow–spring peanut (WMP), and winter wheat–summer maize→winter wheat–summer peanut (WMWP). Soil samples from the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm layer were analyzed for aggregate size distribution, mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, SOC storage, carbon pool management index, and carbon effect index (CEI). Peanut-based rotations (WP, WMP, and WMWP) significantly improved soil structural stability and carbon storage. In the surface soil layer, MWD and GMD increased by 24.89–31.03% and 18.16–26.85% under WP, by 40.10–47.29% and 26.20–35.48% under WMP, and by 35.80–42.77% and 23.18–32.24% under WMWP, respectively, compared with CP and WM. These rotations enhanced carbon sequestration, mainly through small macroaggregates microaggregate. Compared with WM, the rate and efficiency of SOC storage increased by 0.35- and 1.98-fold under WP, by 1.56- and 3.39-fold under WMP, and by 2.04- and 2.77-fold under WMWP, respectively. Compared with WM, the WP, WMP, and WMWP rotations increased the CEI by 37.47, 194.25, and 211.66% in the 0–20 cm layer, and by 84.38, 115.17, and 187.26% in the 20–40 cm layer, respectively, with WMWP exhibiting the greatest enhancement. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis indicated that the increased SOC sequestration was primarily driven by elevated labile carbon fractions, particularly particulate organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon. Enhanced crop diversity and aggregate stability were the primary drivers of CEI improvement. These findings demonstrate that peanut-based rotations can effectively improve soil structural stability and enhance SOC sequestration. The results provide a scientific basis for optimizing crop rotation strategies to promote soil health and long-term sustainability in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain and comparable agroecosystems.

Leymus mollis (Trin.) Pilger (NsNsXmXm, 2n=28) is a tetraploid perennial species within the Triticeae tribe and constitutes a valuable tertiary gene pool for wheat improvement because of its diverse beneficial traits. In this study, a comprehensive cytogenetic and molecular comparison was performed on the 7Ns chromosomes of three wheat-alien lines: wheat-L. mollis 7Ns (7D) disomic substitution line (M10), the wheat-L. mollis 7Ns disomic addition line (M8), and wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica 7Ns disomic addition line (H1). Distinct differences in FISH signal distribution and arm ratios were observed between the 7Ns chromosomes of L. mollis and P. huashanica. Analysis using the wheat-P. huashanica 45K liquid array (GenoBaits^®WheatplusPh) revealed a large terminal deletion on the long arm of 7Ns in H1, while the 7Ns chromosomes in M10 and M8 remained structurally intact. All three 7Ns lines exhibited resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB). However, their responses to stripe rust differed. M10 and M8 displayed broad-spectrum resistance to six predominant races at both seedling and adult stages, whereas H1 was immune only to CYR23, CYR31, and CYR32. The evaluation of agronomic traits identified significant differences among the lines in plant height, spike type, spike length, grain size, and grain color, whereas no significant variation was detected in spikelets per spike, thousand-kernel weight, or awn characteristics. All lines showed an increased thousand-kernel weight compared with the parental line 7182. Based on transcriptome data, 668 chromosome-specific unigenes were identified from 7Ns chromosomes, and 36 chromosome-specific markers were developed and validated. Among these, 24 were common to all 7Ns chromosomes, 9 were specific to L. mollis 7Ns chromosomes, and 3 were specific to P. huashanica 7Ns chromosomes. This work provides new insights into the divergence of 7Ns chromosomes and delivers practical molecular tools to accelerate wheat improvement.

Climate warming and the increasing unpredictability of precipitation have led to frequent sowing delays for summer maize, severely affecting maize production.  This study aimed to identify strategies to minimize yield losses and enhance mechanical harvest quality under various late-sowing scenarios by optimizing planting density and hybrid maturity, along with understanding the underlying mechanisms.  A field experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2024 in the Huanghuaihai Plain (HHHP), China, involving three sowing dates (mid-June, late-June and early-July), three planting densities (67,500, 82,500 and 9,7500 plants ha⁻¹), and two hybrid types (early-maturing and late-maturing).  The results showed that maize production’s response to planting density was governed by post-silking growing degree days (GDD).  When post-silking GDD exceeded 728℃ d, increasing planting density to 82,500 plants ha⁻¹ significantly enhanced leaf area index (17.0%), canopy radiation interception (4.2%) and maximum grain filling rate (15.5%), thereby increasing post-silking dry matter accumulation by 8.6% and mitigating yield losses from delayed sowing by 7.1%.  Planting early-maturing hybrids was more conducive to reducing harvest grain moisture by 7.2% while maintaining yield.  These optimized practices are applicable to over 94.6% of regions in HHHP under late-June sowing scenarios in the 2030s.  Conversely, when post-silking GDD was below 685℃ d, insufficient GDD significantly inhibited maize growth at both individual and population levels, resulting in 41.5% yield losses and a 53.8% increase in grain moisture.  About 87% of regions cannot compensate for yield losses by increasing planting density. Under these conditions, planting early-maturing hybrids at lower densities proved more advantageous for minimizing yield loss and grain moisture at harvest, especially north of 33.7°N.  These findings provide a theoretical basis for strategies to reduce yield loss from late sowing under climate warming and unpredictable rainfall.

Enhancing grain weight of wheat is a crucial strategy for improving yields in the Huaibei Plain (HP). However, the impacts and regulatory mechanisms of different irrigation regimes on wheat grain formation in the HP remained poorly understood. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted to explore three treatments on wheat’s source-sink relationship and grain formation: rain-fed (RI, no irrigation, 202.5 kg ha^-1 N applied at sowing), conventional flood irrigation (CI, 60 mm irrigation at jointing stage, 112.5 kg ha^-1 N at sowing+90 kg ha^-1 N with irrigation), and micro-sprinkler irrigation (MI, irrigation based on 0–40 cm soil layer water deficit at jointing, booting and anthesis stages, 112.5 kg ha^-1 N at sowing+30 kg ha^-1 N at each irrigation). The results indicated that, compared with RI and CI, MI significantly increased the chlorophyll content and enhanced the activity of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) in flag leaf at 4 days after anthesis (DAA 4), and these parameters in CI were higher than those in RI. The sucrose and soluble sugar content in grain of MI were the highest at DAA 4. Additionally, at DAA 4, compared with RI, both CI and MI significantly elevated the content of indole propionic acid+zeatin nucleoside (IPA+ZR) and gibberellin (GA) in grain, while reducing the content of auxin (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA). And the highest endosperm cells number was observed in MI. At the grain filling stage, MI exhibited the slowest chlorophyll degradation rate and the highest activities of ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and SPS in flag leaf, resulting in more sugar accumulation in the leaf and grain. Moreover, MI showed the highest IAA and lowest ABA levels in grain, and maintained the highest starch synthase activity during the filling stage, promoting the starch accumulation. Compared to CI and RI, MI significantly increased 1,000-grain weight by 4.99–5.55% and 7.33–11.51%, and grain yield by 4.99–11.60% and 15.60–39.14% over the two years, respectively. Overall, micro-sprinkler irrigation can optimize the water and nitrogen supply for wheat, effectively enhancing the source capacity in the early stage and the sink capacity in the late stage of grain development, thereby increasing grain weight and achieving high yield in the HP.

Optimizing root architecture is vital for enhancing crop stress tolerance and resource use efficiency. This study examined the interactive effects of deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT) and planting density on cotton root morphology, water–nitrogen utilization, and soil quality in arid saline-alkali fields. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Xinjiang, China, using cultivar ‘Xinluzhong 56’ under a split-plot design. The main plots included four tillage regimes: conventional plow tillage at 20 cm (D0) and DVRT at 20 cm (D1), 40 cm (D2), and 60 cm (D3). The subplots consisted of three planting densities (R1, 17.6×10⁴; R2, 21.1×10⁴; R3, 26.4×10⁴ plants ha^-1). Root traits were significantly improved with increasing DVRT depth. The D3R2 combination was identified as the optimal treatment, significantly increasing root surface area, volume, and diameter by 45.15, 34.85, and 48.05%, respectively, compared with the conventional practice (D0R2). However, excessive density (R3) offset these benefits, resulting in an 11.49% reduction in root volume in D3R3 compared with D3R2. DVRT promoted deeper roots, with 38.54% of root length density in the 40–60 cm layer under D3 versus 19.24% under D0. In 2022, D3R2 increased shoot and root biomass (124.10 and 9.30 g/plant) and root activity (69.92% compared to D0R2). This treatment increased yield (50.33% over two years), water productivity (56.61–62.62%), and partial factor productivity (50.03–50.63%). DVRT also reduced topsoil pH and achieved a desalination efficiency of 55.15%. Path modeling showed that yield gains mainly stemmed from root deepening and soil amelioration, whereas density enhanced root biomass and activity. DVRT at 60 cm with 21.1×10⁴ plants ha^-1 is recommended to maximize cotton yield and resource use in saline-alkali soils.

Ethephon is widely applied in maize production to reduce centre of gravity and enhance lodging resistance; however, its efficacy is strongly influenced by site-specific irrigation and fertilisation regimes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of optimised ethephon concentrations on lodging resistance and yield under two contrasting management systems—traditional water–fertiliser (TWF) and drip irrigation with water–fertiliser integration (DIWF)—across two ecological regions (Wuqiao [WQ] and Baicheng [BC]). Field experiments were conducted in 2023 and 2024 at WQ and in 2024 at BC, using two maize hybrids (Woyu 3 [WY3] and Jingnongke 728 [JNK728]) and three ethephon concentrations (0 mg L⁻¹ [CK], 270 mg L⁻¹ [E270], and 540 mg L⁻¹ [E540]). DIWF_E270 (DIWF with 270 mg L⁻¹ ethephon) shortened the effect duration by 1.9 d at both ecological sites, leading to increased ear height, reduced stalk quality, and significantly higher lodging rates compared with those in TWF_E270. However, DIWF_E540 exhibited a compensatory effect—prolonging the effect duration by 3.6 d in WQ and 4.9 d in BC compared with that in DIWF_E270. The prolonged effective duration of ethephon optimised basal internode morphology (decreased length, increased cross-sectional area, and greater mass density) and quality (increased rind penetration strength, breaking strength, and lignin deposition) by increasing ethylene evolution while suppressing gibberellin and auxin concentrations. These changes improved plant architecture traits (lower plant height, ear height, centre of gravity height, and ear ratio) and significantly reduced lodging rate. However, its effects on yield varied by site and regime. Optimizing ethephon application strategies achieved the highest productivity. Under TWF with only pre-sowing irrigation, the optimal ethephon concentration was 270 mg L⁻¹, though it resulted in yield reduction. For TWF with supplemental drip irrigations and DIWF without plastic‑film mulching, the optimal concentration remained 270 mg L⁻¹, increasing yields by 3.9 and by 4.3%, respectively. In contrast, under DIWF with plastic‑film mulching, the optimal ethephon concentration was 540 mg L⁻¹, achieving a 6.5% yield increase. These findings suggest that adjusting ethephon concentrations to irrigation–fertilisation regimes optimise the balance between increased yield and lodging resistance, highlighting the potential of integrating chemical regulation strategies with local agronomic practices for sustainable maize production.

The morphological establishment and yield formation of rapeseed are fundamentally dependent on root system development. While long-petiole leaves constitute the earliest true leaves in rapeseed, their regulatory effects on root growth under high-density planting conditions remain unexplored. Field experiments were conducted with two planting densities (D3, 4.5×10⁵ plants ha⁻¹; D5, 7.5×10⁵ plants ha⁻¹) and two leaf treatments (CK: no leaf pruning; LP: removal of 50% long-petiole leaves). A continuous ¹³C-CO₂ labeling experiment was implemented in pot-grown plants to track photoassimilate partitioning, with half of the long-petiole leaves receiving ¹³C-CO₂ pulse labeling. The results indicate that compared with CK, LP treatment reduced per-plant leaf area and dry weight while increasing root-to-shoot ratio. From seedling to bolting stages, LP increased relative expansion rate of leaf area (RER _LA) by 56.01% (D3) and 19.87% (D5), but decreased relative expansion rates of root surface area (RER_RSA) and relative growth rates of root volume (RGR _RV) from seedling to flowering stages, with average annual reductions of 32.71% and 56.98% (D3), and 32.60% and 16.61% (D5), respectively. At the seedling stage, LP treatment enhanced root sucrose synthase (SUSY) activity and elevated sucrose, starch, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations, but reduced sucrose transporter (SUT) levels. By the flowering stage, cytokinin (CTK), abscisic acid (ABA), and SUT contents declined under D3 density, coinciding with inhibited lateral root growth. Furthermore, LP treatment increased invertase (INV) activity and sucrose content at both seedling and flowering stages but diminished starch reserves, SUT activity, and IAA levels, collectively impeding lateral root development. Notably, LP treatment significantly elevated ABA content under D5 density, which stimulated taproot elongation. Siliques exhibited the highest ¹³C assimilation and distribution rates under both planting densities. Elevated density reduced ¹³C-labeled photoassimilate accumulation in vegetative organs but enhanced their allocation to seeds and stems. Root ¹³C distribution rates declined from 14.5% (D3) to 11.5% (D5), demonstrating that the contribution of long-petiole leaves to root carbon allocation diminished with increasing plant density. The regulatory influence of long-petiole leaves on root growth diminished with increasing planting density. At D3, reduced long-petiole leaf count enhanced sucrose translocation to roots, whereas at D5, starch remobilization in roots was prioritized to sustain basal root development. This study elucidates key mechanisms by which long-petiole leaves modulate root morphogenesis under varying densities and establishes a theoretical framework for optimizing root-shoot balance in high-density direct-seeded rapeseed cultivation systems.

Maintaining soil fertility through balanced fertilization is essential for ensuring high crop productivity in intensive paddy-upland rotation systems. In this study, a meta-analysis of 141 published studies was conducted to evaluate the effects of different fertilization regimes on soil chemical properties and crop yields in predominant paddy-upland rotation systems. Relative to balanced fertilization (BF), both no fertilization (CK) and unbalanced fertilization (UF) significantly reduced soil organic matter (SOM) (16.6% and 7.2%), total N (11.3% and 4.9%), total P (14.6% and 7.1%), available P (41.0% and 22.9%), and available K (13.0% and 11.0%). In contrast, the combined application of chemical fertilizer with organic manure (F+M) or straw return (F+S) significantly increased SOM (16.5% and 9.6%), total N (14.9% and 8.7%), total P (29.2% and 16.6%), available P (37.6% and14.7%), and available K (9.1% and 12.9%). Notably, the response of soil fertility to fertilization regimes differed between oilseed rape–rice (OR) and wheat–rice (WR) rotations. The WR rotation showed greater declines in SOM and total N under CK treatment than the OR rotation. While F+S treatment was more effective in improving soil available P in OR rotation, F+M treatment produced better outcomes in WR rotation. These soil responses were reflected in crop yields, with a more severe rice yield reduction under CK in the WR (45.0%) than in the OR rotation (29.2%). The greatest yield increases were associated with the F+S treatment in OR and the F+M treatment in WR. Random Forest analysis and linear regression identified SOM, available P, and total N as the primary factors governing rice yield. These results suggest that integrated nutrient management combining chemical fertilizers with organic amendments is crucial for sustaining soil fertility and productivity in paddy-upland rotations, and that tailored fertilization strategies should be developed based on specific rice-based cropping systems.