The H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) hemagglutinin (HA) protein is a major immunogen in which HA1 is a genetic variant and HA2 is relatively conserved. Identifying broad-spectrum antigen epitopes targeting HA1 is crucial for vaccine design and detection. Based on the phylogenetic and serological analyses, we identified 2 antigenic groups and 3 representative viruses: A/chicken/Jiangsu/JY040218C/2019, A/pigeon/Jiangsu/JY020616/2019, and A/chicken/Jiangsu/WX090312/2018. An overlapping peptide library was synthesized using HA1 amino acid sequences of the viruses as templates. Through peptide scanning of the sera against different strains of H9N2 subtype AIV, we identified peptides from 4 regions (H9-2/3, H9-20/21, H9-26, and H9-29/30/31) that demonstrated broad-spectrum reactivity. Immunological assay results demonstrated that H9-21 (219RIFKPLIGPRPLVNGLMGRI239), H9-26 (269SGESHGRILKTDLKMGSCTV289), and H9-30 (309YAFGNCPKYI GVKSLKLAVG329) effectively induced antibody generation and conferred partial protective efficacy against the parent virus JY040218C. The results of lymphocyte proliferation and ELISpot assays indicated that peptides H9-15 (159MRWLTQKNNAYPTQDAQYTN179), H9-22 (229PLVNGLMGRINYYWSVLKP G249), and H9-23 (239NYYWSVLKPGQTLRIKSDGN259) could effectively stimulate the expression of interferon-gamma in peripheral blood lymphocytes of chickens immunized against different strains of H9N2 AIV. Collectively, 5 novel cell epitopes H9-15, H9-22, H9-23, H9-26, and H9-30, including the best B cell epitope H9-26 and the best T cells epitope H9-22, were identified that could be targeted for vaccine design or detection approaches against H9N2 AIVs
The study explores the antifungal properties of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi, revealing a concentration-dependent impact, with the lowest concentration suppressing mycelial development. The peaks at 2θ° = 7.92° and 25.85° reveal the presence of MWCNTs. Furthermore, the bonding extremes at 3194 and 2441 cm-1 and the peak at 3573 cm-1 are hydrogen-bonded. The peak at 3756 cm-1 demonstrates the vibration of OH stretching to confirm the functionalization of MWCNTs. MWCNTs at 308 nm show a peak with much higher UV energy. This is because of the different plasmonic vibrations that the free electrons of multi-wall carbon nanotubes exhibit at about 308nm. SEM analysis revealed mycelial structure distortions, revealing inhibitory mechanisms of f-MWCNTs and their interaction with F. oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi, providing insights into their complex behavior. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) showed anti-oxidative properties, indicating potential multifaceted modes of action, as evidenced by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate dye testing. The current study analyzed bioactive molecules in F. oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi extracts by GC-MS analysis, showing six metabolites having antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties. However, exposure to f-MWCNTs reduced these potent molecule concentrations, highlighting the significant impact of f-MWCNTs on F. oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi biochemical arsenal. This is the first report that checked the antifungal, and antioxidant activity and of a lesser concentration of metabolites produced after the action of f-MWCNTs in F. oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi. This research highlights the potential of f-MWCNTs as antifungal agents, paving the way for innovative strategies in combating fungal pathogens and developing effective treatments.
Rice yield is a complex trait affected by many related traits. Traditional single-trait genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have limitations when studying complex traits, as they cannot account for the genetic relationships among multiple traits. Multi-trait GWAS, which can consider the relationships among multiple traits and identify pleiotropic loci, is more suitable for complex traits such as rice yield than single-trait GWAS. In this study, we conducted a multi-trait GWAS on 11 two-trait combinations of yield and yield-related traits with 575 hybrid rice varieties across two environments. All of these yield-related traits showed significant genetic correlation with yield (YD), including filled grains per panicle (FGPP), kilo-grain weight (KGW), tillers per plant (TP), primary branch number (PB), secondary branch number (SB) and main panicle length (MPL). In total we identified 44 pleiotropic quantitative trait loci (pQTLs), including 29 new pQTLs not found in single-trait GWAS. We then screened 23 pQTLs showing common effects in two traits as key pQTLs. These key pQTLs were subsequently analyzed for haplotype analysis and identified 13 pleiotropic candidate genes. Finally, we identified two optimal yield-enhancing allele combinations by pyraming superior haplotypes: GS3-GL3.1-OsCIPK17 for the YD-KGW combination and GNP12 for the YD-FGPP and YD-SB combinations. This study provides pleiotropic candidate genes and allele combinations that exhibit superior differences in both yield and yield-related traits, offering valuable information for future high-yielding rice breeding.
The rice white tip nematode (RWTN) Aphelenchoides besseyi secretes effectors that manipulate the cells of its host plant and help the nematode to successfully parasitize and maintain infection in the host. The number of identified RWTN effectors is limited, and the mechanisms of RWTN effectors interacting with plants are largely unknown. Profilins (PFNs) function as hubs that control a complex network of molecular interactions. To gain full knowledge of PFN3 in plant parasitic nematodes, we identified an effector from A. besseyi named AbPFN3. AbPFN3 is transcriptionally upregulated in the juvenile stage of the nematode. In situ hybridization experiments showed that AbPFN3 transcribed in the nematode esophageal glands. Three AbPFN3-interacting proteins (OsAAC1, OsBAP31 and OsSAUR50) were found in the host plant, with interactions occurring in various locations such as the endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane. Transgenic analyses showed that the expression of AbPFN3 significantly increased plant height and upregulated the expression of AAC1 and BAP31 while downregulating RGA2 and SAUR50. This study describes a new effector protein, AbPFN3, secreted by A. besseyi, that interacts with multiple host proteins. These results suggest the important role of AbPFN3 in host defense response and cell development process.
Increasing oil content is a key objective in peanut breeding programs. Accurate identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with linked markers for oil content can greatly aid in marker-assisted selection for high-oil breeding. In this study, a high-density bin map was constructed by resequencing a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (ZH16×J11) consisting of 295 lines. The bin map contained 4,212 loci and had a total length of 1,162.3 cM. Ten QTLs for oil content were identified in six linkage groups. Notably, two of these QTLs, qOCB03.1 and qOCB06.1, were consistently detected in a minimum of three environments and explained up to 13.62% of phenotypic variation. They have not been reported in previous studies and thus are novel QTLs. The combination of favorable alleles from the qOCB03.1 and qOCB06 in the RIL population could increase oil content across multiple environments from 1.50 to 2.46%. Two InDel markers linked to qOCB03.1 and qOCB06.1 were developed and validated to be associated with oil content in another RIL population (ZH10×ICG12625) with diverse phenotypes. Additionally, the high-resolution map allowed for the precise positioning of qOCB03.1 and qOCB06.1 within a 1.77 Mb-interval on chromosome B03 and a 1.51 Mb- interval on chromosome B06, respectively. Annotation of genomic variants, analysis of transcriptome sequencing, and evaluation of the allelic effects in 292 peanut varieties revealed two candidate genes associated with oil content for each of the two QTLs. The identification of candidate genes in this study can enable the map-based cloning of key genes controlling oil content in peanut. Furthermore, these novel and stable QTLs and their tightly linked markers are valuable for marker-assisted breeding for increased oil content in peanut.
Nsa CMS, a type of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in rapeseed, originates from the cross between Xinjiang wild rapeseed (Sinapis arvensis) and Xiangyou 15 (Brassica napus L.). Although this CMS variant shows promising applications, the factors contributing to its sterility and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To the best of our knowledge, we successfully assembled and analyzed the mitochondrial genome of 1258A (Nsa CMS) for the first time. This mitochondrial genome, spanning 263,010 bp, contains 91 genes, including 33 protein-coding and 36 orf genes. Our analysis identified a novel mitochondrial gene, orf113b, and a mutated, truncated gene, orf146, both likely linked to the sterility observed in 1258A. ORF113b and ORF146 were found to impede cell growth, disrupt gene expression associated with complexes I, III, and V of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation pathway, and trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Additionally, transcriptome data analysis revealed key nuclear genes co-expressed with orf113b and orf146, suggesting that their aberrant expression may be influenced by retrograde signaling from the mitochondria. This signaling could lead to atypical programmed cell death (PCD) in the tapetum layer, resulting in pollen sterility. In conclusion, our study not only provides the first characterization of the Nsa CMS mitochondrial genome but also identifies orf113b and orf146 as crucial to pollen sterility. Furthermore, it suggests that ROS induced by these mitochondrial genes may play a central role in the abnormal regulation of nuclear genes essential for pollen development, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Nsa CMS.
DNA methylation, a key epigenetic modification, plays a crucial role in regulating lipid metabolism. Consistent correlations have been observed between aberrant DNA methylation patterns and lipid metabolic disorders. Emerging evidence indicates that methyl donor micronutrients could influence DNA methylation patterns, consequently exerting an influence on lipid metabolism. Specifically, the deficiency or excesses of methyl donor micronutrients (folate, choline, betaine, B vitamins and methionine) have been associated with altered DNA methylation patterns linked to lipid metabolism. These alteration in DNA methylation levels, occurring globally and within promoter regions, could affect gene expression related to lipid metabolism. However, the mechanisms through which methyl donor micronutrients regulate lipid metabolism via the DNA methylation modification and the role of methyl donor micronutrients supplementation on DNA methylation profiles remain unclear. In this review, we summarized the regulatory role of DNA methylation in lipid metabolism, and highlighted recent findings investigating the impact of methyl donor micronutrients on lipid metabolism, as well as DNA methylation-mediated adipogenesis and adipose deposition. Taken together, this review deepened our understanding of how the complex interplay between methyl donor micronutrients, DNA methylation, and lipid metabolism, and provides valuable information for accurately regulating lipid metabolism of livestock and poultry, thereby improving meat quality, and promoting the development of animal husbandry.
Cultivar mixtures increases crop diversification and grain yield stability. It is a major challenge to achieve high grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency with environmentally friendly practices. However, it is currently unclear whether the cultivar mixtures of maize can improve nitrogen use efficiency. A two-year field experiment was conducted using two maize cultivars with different roots angles and leaf angles planted in monoculture or in mixtures under four nitrogen levels N0 (0 kg N ha-1), N140 (140 kg N ha-1), N280 (280 kg N ha-1) and N340 (340kg N ha-1). Cultivar mixtures significantly increased light interception of middle canopy, dry matter accumulation and total roots length under N0, N140, and N280 conditions. Light interception of middle canopy positively related to dry matter accumulation and thus increased grain yield. And light interception of whole canopy positively related to total lateral root length, while the increased total lateral root length of outer nodal roots significantly improved nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen use efficiency. Thus, cultivar mixtures promoted an optimal canopy structure and good root growth, then improved grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency. These findings could deepen our understanding of the facilitating effect of canopy structure and root traits of cultivar mixtures on the collaborative promotion of grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency.
The role of β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) includes providing energy, regulating signaling pathways, and ameliorating the gut microbiota in the host, while its nutrient mechanism to improve rumen epithelium development in young ruminants is still unclear. In this study, a total of 12 female Haimen goats with 30 days of age were chosen and divided into two groups. One group was fed with basic diet (CON), and the other group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 6 g d-1 dietary β-hydroxybutyrate sodium (BHBA-Na). The experimental period was 30 days, and all goats were slaughtered at 60 days of age. The joint analysis of multi-omics, including rumen microbiota, rumen epithelial transcriptome and rumen epithelial metabolomics in young goat model, was performed to systematically investigate the effect of dietary BHBA-Na on rumen development in young goats. As the results, we found that dietary BHBA-Na improved the growth performance of young goat including body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI) (P<0.05). Dietary BHBA-Na also increased the weight of rumen, and promoted the growth of rumen epithelium development (P < 0.05). The abundance of several beneficial bacteria was increased (Fibrobacter, Succinivibrio, Clostridiales, etc.,). The rumen epithelium transcriptome and metabolomics indicated that BHBA-Na supplementation showed a remarkable effect on the nutrient metabolism of the rumen epithelium. Specifically, the pathways of “fatty acid metabolism”, “cholesterol homeostasis”, “reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway” and “peroxisome” were activated in response to BHBA-Na addition (P < 0.05). Moreover, the genes (HMGCS2, ECSH1, ACAA2, ECH1, ACADS etc.) and metabolites (succinic acid, alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, etc.) involved in these pathways were also regulated positively (P < 0.05). The rumen epithelium obtained the energy for its development from the process of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) decomposition. Finally, we observed the close correlations among the phenotypes, ruminal microbiota, host genes and epithelial metabolites. Overall, our results revealed that the BHBA-Na promoted the growth and rumen development of young goats possibly by enhancing DMI and regulating the rumen microbiota and the metabolisms of VFA and amino acid in the rumen epithelium.
Global climate warming is characterized by diurnal and seasonal asymmetry, with greater increases at nighttime and in winter and spring, and growing evidence has recognized that night-warming in winter and spring significantly impacts winter wheat production. Pre-crop straw returning is the principal method for straw utilization currently and in the future, but the interactions between straw returning and night-warming on wheat yield and NUE (N use efficiency) still remain elusive. Here, a consecutive three-year field experiment with two straw treatments (S0, straw removal; S1, straw returning) and two warming treatments (W0, no warming control; W1, night-warming) found that both S1 and W1 improved wheat grain yield and NUE, with W1 exhibiting more pronounced improvements. Notably, the interaction between S1 and W1 (S1W1) further enhanced yield and NUE by 13.0 and 16.5% compared to S0W0 through increasing grain number and 1,000-grain weight, respectively (three-year average). Additionally, root growth and topsoil inorganic N content exhibited reductions in S1 before jointing, thus reducing plant dry matter and N accumulation. However, W1 exhibited an opposite trend, thereby mitigating these negative effects. Simultaneously, under S1W1, increased N translocation to grain and post-anthesis dry matter accumulation, driven by greater N distribution to leaves and higher N metabolism enzyme activity, enhanced both yield and NUE. This improvement was supported by better root morphology and biomass, particularly in the 0−40 cm soil layer, boosting plant N absorption. Additionally, elevated soil N-acquiring enzyme activity after jointing increased the net N mineralization rate and microbial biomass N, enhancing soil N-supply capacity. As a result, post-jointing inorganic N content rose in the 0−20 cm layer while decreasing at 20−60 cm, thus reducing the apparent N surplus. Collectively, straw returning, night-warming, and their interactions enhanced more root distribution and N-supply capacity after jointing in the topsoil layer to increase plant N uptake and its translocation to grains, along with post-anthesis dry matter accumulation, ultimately improving grain yield and NUE.
Nitrogen is a key nutrient for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and yield, particularly during the grain-filling stage, where most nitrogen is redistributed from vegetative organs to the grain, significantly influencing yield. However, the period in which nitrogen translocation from the vegetative phase to grain maturation occurs and its correlation with flag leaf senescence remains unclear. In this study, a field experiment was conducted using the winter wheat cultivar ‘Xinong 511’ under two nitrogen fertilizer treatments: regular nitrogen supply (240 kg ha-1 [N240]) and no nitrogen supply (0 kg ha-1 [N0]). The results revealed that nitrogen accumulation in wheat flag leaves peaked at 7-14 days, with 4.55% nitrogen content, after which nitrogen was redistributed to the grains. Nitrogen content in flag leaves decreased by 56% during 21-35 days, while that in the grains increased by 51%. The Plant Analysis Development value (relative chlorophyll content), photosynthetic rate, free amino acid concentration, and soluble protein content in flag leaves peaked at 7-14 days, indicating nitrogen transportation from the flag leaves to the grains. Nitrogen application significantly increased the nitrogen remobilization rate in flag leaves by 20% compared with that of N0, reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation by 21%, and delayed flag leaf senescence. Under nitrogen deficiency, autophagy was induced earlier, with a 5–7-fold increase in the expression of autophagy-related genes (TaATG8), suggesting that regulating the autophagy pathway and enhancing autophagy activity optimizes nitrogen fertilization. Our study demonstrates that the remobilization of nitrogen from vegetative parts to grains initiates leaf senescence and is closely correlated with the expression of autophagy-related genes.
As a main causal agent of wheat crown rot, Fusarium pseudograminearum secrets numerous proteins to host during the infection process to regulate host immune responses or contribute to virulence of F. pseudograminearum. In this study, a secreted protein Fp00392 from F. pseudograminearum was found to trigger cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana. Purified Fp00392 protein can activate ROS burst, callose deposition, and upregulation of defense-related genes in N. benthamiana. Moreover, VIGS assay in N. benthamiana shows that Fp00392-triggered cell death is independent on BAK1 and SOBIR1. Furthermore, the transcript level of Fp00392 was significantly induced during F. pseudograminearum infection. Knockout of Fp00392 significantly attenuates pathogenicity of F. pseudograminearum on wheat coleoptile. Deletion of Fp00392 affected the sensitivity of F. pseudograminearum to H2O2 and Congo Red. Overall, these results indicate that Fp00392 can not only induce plant immune response as PAMP, but promote F. pseudograminearum infection as a virulence factor.
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.
Megalurothrips usitatus causes significant economic losses in the regional cowpea industry in Hainan province, China. However, reports on M. usitatus-resistant varieties remain limited globally. To address this gap, this study assessed the resistance of 210 cowpea germplasm resources through field experiments over two consecutive years, and comprehensively investigated the resistance mechanism of a selected resistant variety against M. usitatus. Physiological measurements revealed that the resistant variety IZJU0044 had higher levels of total flavonoids and tannins, as well as lipoxygenase and β-1,3-glucanase activities, both before and after thrips feeding. Thrips feeding stimulated flavonoid biosynthesis in cowpea flowers, and the contents of both constitutive and inducible luteolin in the resistant variety IZJU0044 were higher than those in the susceptible variety IZJU0120. Laboratory toxicity tests confirmed the lethal effect of luteolin on thrips. Moreover, thrips feeding strongly induced luteolin synthesis-related genes (chalcone isomerases, CHIs) in IZJU0044, indicating that luteolin likely conferred higher resistance to M. usitatus. This study provides a theoretical basis for using thrips-resistant varieties in cowpea molecular breeding programs.
Soil organic matter (SOM) monitoring using remote sensing is critical for effective land resource management and environmental protection. Mapping SOM in areas where saline and black soils are intertwined, with complex soil types and significant environmental variability, remains a challenging task. This study integrated prior knowledge and classified Jilin Province, China, into saline-alkali and black soil areas. All available Sentinel-2 images from 2019 to 2023 during the bare soil period (April to July) were collected, and the images were categorized into three time windows: Day of Year (DOY) 90-120, DOY 120-150, and DOY 150-180. The potentials of these time windows, spectral indices (salinity index and vegetation moisture index), environmental variables (topography and climate), and local regression models for SOM mapping in the saline-black soil transition areas were then systematically evaluated. The results revealed four key findings: (1) the optimal time window for SOM mapping in both the saline-alkali area and black soil area was DOY 90-120; (2) including the salinity index improved SOM mapping accuracy in the saline-alkali area but reduced it in the black soil area, whereas the vegetation moisture index enhanced accuracy in both areas; (3) incorporating environmental variables improved the SOM mapping accuracy in all areas, with topographic variables being more influential in the black soil area and climatic variables being more significant in the saline-alkali area; and (4) local regression models based on the saline-alkali area and black soil area outperformed the global regression model in terms of SOM mapping accuracy, although they exhibited higher uncertainty. This study demonstrates that the integration of prior knowledge and multi-temporal remote sensing images significantly enhance SOM mapping accuracy in areas where saline and black soils intersect, thus providing a scientific foundation for the precise management and protection of areas with different soil types.
Despite the essential role of micronutrients in plant metabolic processes and the carbon cycle, the mechanisms by which micronutrients regulate plant community traits remain poorly understood. Here, we used a long-term experiment to explore the potential mechanisms of plant community micronutrients and traits along a precipitation gradient. Our results showed that plants shifted toward lateral growth and asexual reproduction over time. From 1985 to 2022, the plant community Fe content increased by 18.8% in the north but declined by 25.2% in the south. Furthermore, plant community growth and reproduction were sensitive to both micronutrient contents and uptake efficiencies in the north. While plant community Mn and Zn contents enhanced growth longitudinally, Zn and Fe uptake efficiencies hindered sexual reproduction. Furthermore, soil moisture and GDP per capita were the key drivers of micronutrient variation in the north and south, respectively. Precipitation fluctuations primarily regulated community traits across all sites. In the arid site, micronutrient-driven shifts in reproduction stabilized the soil carbon stock by balancing biomass allocation. These findings can help us to better understand the coupling of plant micronutrients, traits, and soil carbon stocks, thereby providing the basis for a scientific grassland conservation strategy under global change scenarios.
Water-saving rice systems must maintain yield targets while reducing water consumption. Applying biodegradable film to cover the soil surface reduces water loss through evapotranspiration, establishing a warmer, more humid microenvironment for rice growth compared to traditional paddy rice systems. This study examined soil water regimes for rice production in northeast China, comparing rice growth with and without biodegradable mulch film under continuous flooding, drip irrigation, and controlled irrigation conditions. The implementation of biodegradable mulch film elevated soil temperature and sustained soil moisture during early rice development. Continuous flooding with biodegradable mulch film yielded the highest rice production (9.4 Mg ha-1) and net profit of approximately 11,800 CNY ha-1. Drip irrigation with biodegradable mulch film achieved maximum water efficiency, demonstrating the highest water productivity (1.25 kg m-3) and minimum water consumption (235 mm). Root length, weight, and surface area in the 0-40 cm soil layer exhibited positive correlations with water productivity, shoot dry matter, and yield, indicating that root morphological characteristics, particularly during the panicle initiation stage, enhanced rice production and water conservation. The findings demonstrate that biodegradable mulch film created favorable soil conditions for root proliferation, enabling higher yields in water-saving rice systems.
Arthropods serve essential roles in crop production as pollinators, predators, and pests. Understanding arthropod biodiversity is crucial for assessing agroecosystem health, functions, and services. Traditional survey methods are labor-intensive, costly, and rely on diminishing taxonomic expertise, limiting their agricultural applications. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of diverse samples provides comprehensive species composition data through efficient and non-invasive sampling. However, this method remains underutilized in rice field studies. This research examined four sample substrates - RPCF, rice pollen, soil, and water - using various barcoding primers to identify optimal substrates for monitoring rice paddy arthropod diversity. The method was implemented in Bt- (Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner) rice and non-Bt rice fields to evaluate its biomonitoring potential. Results indicate that the COI primer (mlCOIintF/jgHCO2198R) identified the highest number of rice field arthropod species. The eDNA collected from RPCF detected 15% more arthropod species compared to vacuum sampling of whole arthropods. Rice pollen collection during the heading stage also revealed considerable arthropod diversity. Alpha diversity and taxonomic composition remained consistent between Bt- and non-Bt rice fields, aligning with traditional survey findings. These results suggest that eDNA metabarcoding of plant cleaning fluid offers an effective approach for monitoring agricultural arthropod communities, contributing to agricultural production optimization.
The caffeine (CAF), a primary flavor component in tea, is one of the most popular reasons for tea beverage. As the important secondary metabolite in tea plant, the CAF content varied greatly among different tea accessions. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying the CAF biosynthesis was still unclear. In this study, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 359 tea accessions in Guizhou plateau to identify genetic variation associated with CAF content. A total of 19 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and key gene (CsAK) involved in CAF biosynthesis were identified. Subcellular localization revealed that the CsAK-GFP fusion protein was located on cell membrane. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AsODN) targeting the CsAK gene to the buds and leaves revealed that the expression levels of the CsAK gene was significantly reduced, and the corresponding CAF contents were also decreased in AsODN-treated tea plants. Overexpression of CsAK gene in eukaryotic cell resulted in the accumulation of key intermediate product (L-methionine) during CAF biosynthesis process. These findings offered a theoretical foundation for future tea breeding programs aimed at cultivating of excellent germplasm with high or low levels of CAF.
Soil organic carbon (SOC), representing the largest terrestrial organic carbon pool, significantly influences soil quality. The incorporation of residues is widely recognized as a method to regulate SOC sequestration. A 365-day incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the contribution of straw-derived carbon (SDC) of varying quality to SOC fractions (free particulate OC (fPOC), occluded POC and mineral-associated OC (MAOC)), and examine the relationships between microorganisms and SOC fractions by incorporating 13C-labelled maize stems (ST), leaves (LE), sheaths (SH) residues (1%) in Chinese Mollisol. Results indicated that compared to control (CK), ST, LE and SH treatments enhanced SOC, fPOC and MAOC by 4.8-19.5, 35.7-49.5 and 1.6-3.9%, respectively. The SDC-SOC and MAOC content of LE were 29.1-38.1% and 17.5-44.5% higher than ST and SH, respectively. The SDC-oPOC content of SH was 3.1% higher than LE. The PLFA concentration decreased steadily throughout the incubation period, while necromass remained in-fluctuating until an obvious increasing trend observed at later stage. Furthermore, structural equation model (SEM) revealed that lignin to nitrogen ratio (LigN) of ST exhibited negative association with SDC-fPOC, and bacterial diversity in SH showed negative correlation with LigN and positive correlation with SDC-oPOC, while demonstrating positive correlation between microbial necromass and SDC-MAOC in LE. These findings indicated that POC dynamics correlated with straw chemical traits, while MAOC showed links to both microbial necromass traits and straw chemical characteristics. These findings advance our understanding of how straw residue quality influences SOC turnover and stabilization through microbial community interactions, contributing to the development of policies to improve soil fertility, and promote the rational and efficient utilization of straw.
The timely and accurate assessment of soil nutrient information is essential for ensuring global food security and sustainable agricultural development. This study evaluated the individual and fusion performance of mid-infrared (MIR) and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectroscopy for predicting selected soil properties. Four sensor fusion strategies were implemented: direct concatenation (DC), feature-level fusion using stability competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (sCARS) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithms (sCARS-C and LASSO-C), multi-block fusion via sequential orthogonal partial least squares (SO-PLS), and Granger-Ramanathan model averaging (GRA) method to enhance prediction accuracy for 13 soil properties. The findings revealed that single sensor models using either MIR or pXRF provided accurate estimations for soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and pH, but showed limitations for total potassium (TK), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), available potassium (AK), and total phosphorus (TP). The DC model significantly improved predictions for Mg (Rp2=0.76, RMSEp=358.76 mg kg-1, RPDp=2.03) and TK (Rp2=0.75, RMSEp=775.96 mg kg-1, RPDp=2.00). The LASSO-C model demonstrated superior prediction accuracy compared to the DC model for AP, AK, TP, Zn, Mn, and Cu, achieving optimal results for AP (Rp2=0.89, RMSEp=21.37 mg kg-1, RPDp=3.01) and Zn (Rp2=0.80, RMSEp=9.88 mg kg-1, RPDp=2.32). This enhancement is attributed to LASSO's effective selection of feature information from the complete MIR and pXRF spectra. The GRA models achieved the highest prediction accuracy for TP, pH, AK, and Cu, with Rp2 values of 0.80, 0.82, 0.82, and 0.65, RMSEp values of 129.21 mg kg-1, 0.13, 48.38 mg kg-1, and 3.87 mg kg-1, and RPDp values of 2.23, 2.34, 2.37, and 1.67, respectively. For single-sensor applications, MIR spectra are recommended for predicting SOM, TN, and Ca (Rp2≥0.88, RPDp≥2.87), while pXRF is more cost-effective for measuring Ca, Fe, and Mn (Rp2≥0.80, RPDp≥2.22). This research demonstrates the effectiveness of MIR and pXRF sensor fusion in enhancing soil nutrient assessment accuracy, particularly for available nutrients and micronutrients.
Floral scent is an important ornamental shape of garden plants. Monoterpenes in terpenoids are the main components of lily floral scents. 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) plays a role in the second enzymatic reaction of methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, which is responsible for monoterpene synthesis. However, the function of DXR gene in the floral monoterpene synthesis pathway of Lilium 'Sorbonne' remains unclear. In this study, the Lilium oriental 'Sorbonne' was used as the experimental material, and the differentially expressed LiDXR gene was selected using the early transcriptomic data. It was found that it had a high consistency with the rater rate process from synthesis to termination of floral substances in the flowering stage of lily. Therefore, the LiDXR gene was cloned and bioinformatics analyzed. A total of 472 amino acids are encoded. The expression of LiDXR gene was the highest at the Sorbonne half opening stage, and the expression of LiDXR gene in petals was significantly higher than that in other flower organs. The results of subcellular localization showed that LiDXR protein was localized in chloroplasts of leaf epidermal cells. A virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay showed that silencing LiDXR can reduce monoterpene levels by down-regulating TPS gene expression downstream of the MEP pathway. Meanwhile, the results of HS-SPME-GC-MS showed that the total volatile terpene content of lily decreased significantly after silenced. The results of overexpressed plants A. thaliana and petunia showed that the transgenic plants had stronger growth potential and advanced flowering time. The GC-MS results of transgenic petunias showed that the content of volatile total terpenes in transgenic strains was 78% higher than that of wild type. Overexpression of LiDXR gene would affect the expression level of MEP pathway genes, and then affect the synthesis of terpenes including monoterpenes downstream of MEP pathway. The purpose of this study was to analyze the function of LiDXR gene and provide theoretical basis for floral breeding of lily and ornamental plants.
Flavonols and flavanones are important bioactive compounds with multiple pharmacological activities and health benefits. Transcriptional activation of flavonol and flavanone biosynthesis has been studied extensively, while little is known about the negative regulators. CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, with the advantage of precise genetic modification, is a desirable tool for breeding biofortified materials and exploring potential molecular mechanisms. In this study, a transcriptional repressor, SlMYB32, was characterized in tomato fruit. Phenotype and metabolome analysis confirmed that knockout of SlMYB32 resulted in increased accumulation of flavonols and flavanones, especially about 1 mg g-1 FW of quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (rutin). Transcriptome analysis indicated that expression of key genes SlPAL6, Sl4CL3 and Sl4CL4 as well as five candidate SlUGTs were significantly up-regulated in slmyb32 mutants. Dual-luciferase and EMSA assay indicated SlMYB32 could bind to and repress promoter activities of SlPAL6 and Sl4CL3. Expression of 27 transcription factors belonging to twelve families was significantly changed in slmyb32 mutants, among which two SlMYBs, two SlNACs, two SlAP2s and one SlWRKY were clustered with known flavonoid regulators. Our results provide new insights into improving bioactive compounds in fruit and understanding negative regulatory mechanisms in flavonol and flavanone biosynthesis.
The ongoing commercialization of GM crops continues to enhance global grain yields, improve crop quality, and reduce pesticide usage. These technological advancements have effectively propelled agricultural production systems toward sustainable transformation. Specifically, GM crops address core challenges such as pest infestations, weed proliferation, and arable land constraints, emerging as a pivotal new productive force in agriculture. This study systematically examines the global spatial distribution patterns of GM crops in 2024 and provides an in-depth analysis of the driving forces and evolving regional trends, offering critical informational support and strategic guidance for innovation in agricultural science and technology. In 2024, the global GM crop cultivation area reached 209.8 million hectares, reflecting a 1.7% year-on-year increase. GM Glycine max (soybean) and Zea mays (maize) dominated the landscape, accounting for 50.0 and 32.5% of the total area, respectively, with stacked traits maize—conferring insect resistance and herbicide tolerance—comprising up to 92.5% of GM maize. The share of cultivation in developing countries expanded substantially, with Brazil and Vietnam emerging as regional growth drivers. Policy support and the diffusion of advanced technologies were identified as core driving forces. Concurrently, gene-editing technology applications accelerated, and several countries approved novel traits—including drought tolerance and disease resistance—marking substantial progress in the commercialization of next-generation GM crops. This research provides multidimensional insights and strategic guidance to support global agricultural biotechnology development, promoting the transition of biotechnology breeding into the "4.0 era".
Supplemental light is often used in fruit production, but few studies have been conducted on pitaya. In this study, supplemental blue light was applied to pitaya for four hours each night in the field from flowering to fruit ripening to examine changes in peel and pulp physicochemical parameters and metabolites. Blue light treatment significantly increased fruit weight, improved fruit firmness by increasing pectin content and retarding hemicellulose degradation, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity. Blue light had minor effects on primary metabolites but more pronounced effects on volatiles. It is possible that by affecting alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, blue light treatment resulted in significant fruit growth, improved fruit biotic resistance, increased accumulation of bioactive ingredients in the peel, and significantly altered the accumulation of flavor-associated volatile compounds, such as organic acids, esters and terpenes in the pulp. Our results provide an important reference for improving the yield and quality of pitaya production using supplemental light in the field.
While chemical fertilization offers a direct solution to restore soil fertility in degraded ecosystem, revegetation through legume introduction represents a more sustainable management strategy. However, the mechanisms by which legume introduction influence soil phosphorus (P) transformation, and how these processes respond to nutrient fertilization, remain poorly understood. Using one-time sampling from an 11-year field experiment, we investigated how the introduction of a legume (Medicago falcata L.) influenced rhizosphere soil P fractions, both alone and in combination with nitrogen (N; 5 g m-⊃2; yr-⊃1;) and P (3.2 g m-⊃2; yr-⊃1;) fertilization. Our findings reveal that legume introduction stimulated the mobilization of soil P by increasing organic acid concentrations and microbial P demand, as indicated by the microbial biomass N:P ratio. This resulted in significant changes in P pools, marked by a 97.4% increase in labile inorganic P, a 22.9% decrease in moderately labile inorganic P, a 9.6% decrease in moderately labile organic P, and a 3.7% decrease in non-labile P pool. In contrast, while N fertilization promoted the solubilization of moderately labile inorganic P and the dissolution of the non-labile P pool by lowering soil pH and enhancing the abundance of genes for inorganic P solubilization, it ultimately led to a 10.6% depletion of the labile P pool. Phosphorus fertilization increased labile inorganic P, moderately labile inorganic P, and non-labile P, yet it inhibited microbial P transformation processes. Importantly, legume introduction mitigated the negative impacts of N fertilization on bioavailable P and the negative effects of P fertilization on microbial P mineralization genes. These findings suggest that legume introduction is a sustainable practice to stimulate P cycling in natural grassland, highlighting the importance of activating microbial functions in grassland management and restoration.
Global cotton production faces mounting pressure to reconcile rising fiber demand with urgent sustainability imperatives, including water scarcity mitigation, greenhouse gas reduction, and agrochemical pollution control. Traditional practices, constrained by fragmented objectives and inherent trade-offs among yield, fiber quality, labor efficiency, and ecological impact, struggle to address these systemic challenges. Building upon previous concept of collaborative cultivation, this review for the first time introduces and comprehensively elaborates Multi-objective Integrated Cotton Cultivation (MOICC) —also referred to as Integrated Cotton Cultivation (ICC)—a transformative paradigm centered on three pillars: dynamic trade-off management (e.g., region-specific priority adjustment), systematic technology integration (precision seeding, dense planting, chemical regulation, water-nutrient synergy, targeted defoliation), and resource circularity (spatiotemporal optimization, waste recycling). MOICC leverages key physiological mechanisms—ethylene signaling enhancing stress-resilient seedling establishment; jasmonate-mediated pathways improving water/nutrient efficiency; canopy light competition coupled with hormonal regulation eliminating manual pruning; and growth regulators concentrating boll maturation—to overcome sustainability bottlenecks. Case studies from diverse Chinese agro-ecosystems (e.g., Xinjiang, Yangtze/Yellow River basins) and intercropping systems demonstrate significant synergies: yield gains (8–22%), resource efficiency improvements (water use efficiency increased by ≥20%, nitrogen productivity up to 35 kg kg-1), and enhanced environmental performance (labor reduction 30–40%, carbon footprint reduction 24–37%, agrochemical savings: nitrogen reduction of 15–20%, pesticides reduction of 25%). Crucially, MOICC resolves core conflicts through integrated optimization: yield versus quality (via≥70% inner-position bolls), labor-saving versus eco-safety (precision defoliant timing), and productivity versus emissions (root-zone nitrogen monitoring). Future research priorities include deciphering multi-scale stress adaptation, developing intelligent decision-support systems (e.g., AHP-NSGA-II integration), advancing carbon-neutral value chains, addressing socio-economic adoption barriers, and fostering policy synergy. MOICC establishes a conceptually globally scalable pathway toward high-yield, superior-quality, resource-efficient, and ecologically sustainable cotton production, providing a viable framework for sector-wide sustainability transition and demonstrating adaptability to other major cropping systems.
Drought stress negatively affects grapevine growth and development. Grafting with rootstock is widely used to improve the quality of grape fruits and confer drought stress tolerance, but the underlying genetics and regulatory mechanism is unclear. Hence, we investigated the physiologic and transcriptomic profiles in the leaves of grafted SM/1103P (SM shoot/1103P root) and self-rooted SM (Shine Muscat) as well as roots of grafted SM/1103P and self-rooted 1103P under drought stress conditions. The results indicated that grafted grapevine effectively attenuated drought damage in grape leaves by increasing phytohormone levels and antioxidant enzyme activity, reducing H2O2 and MDA content. Transcriptomic profiling revealed a total of 11,855 and 11,197 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in grape leaves and roots respectively. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed based on the RNA-seq data, and five modules (greenyellow, black, turquoise, salmon and blue) were significantly correlated to drought stress. Pathway analysis showed that DEGs were enriched in the plant hormone signal transduction and MAPK signaling pathway. 916 transcription factor genes (TFs) belonging to different gene families were detected that may participate in regulating the drought stress. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain expression analysis of twelve drought stress responsive DEGs were used to verify the transcriptome data. Furthermore, overexpression of VvMYBPA1 in Arabidopsis thaliana and grape callus improved drought tolerance. Our findings provided new insights into to the regulation of mechanism for improving grapevine adaptation to drought.
The ideal plant architecture is a critical factor in achieving high yields in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivation. The length and number of internodes directly influence plant height. Therefore, investigating the regulatory mechanisms of internode morphology is essential for the genetic enhancement of tomatoes. We identified a naturally occurring field mutant, tomato elongated internode (tei), characterized by longer internodes and darker leaf color. Physiological hormone and microscopic studies revealed that, compared to wild-type (WT) plants, the tei mutant exhibited increased endogenous GA3 levels, enhanced photosynthetic capacity, and elongation of stem internode cells. RNA-seq analysis results of tei and WT indicated enrichment in the gibberellin pathway. We employed BSA-seq for mapping analysis on tei, WT, and F2 populations, leading to the fine mapping of the candidate gene designated as TEI (Tomato Elongated Internode). This gene encoded a gibberellin 20 oxidase (GA20ox) protein and was identified as Solyc09g042210. Additionally, we discovered numerous SNPs and InDel mutations in the TEI promoter region, with expression levels of TEI in tei stems significantly higher than those in WT. Furthermore, knocking out the TEI gene eliminated its role in elongating internodes. We proposed that TEI serves as the primary effector gene regulating the internode elongation phenotype associated with tei. This discovery offered researchers a novel target for enhancing crop plant varieties by modulating gibberellin homeostasis, ultimately contributing to the breeding of superior tomato varieties.
Plant height is an essential characteristic of agronomic traits, and an ideal plant height is essential for achieving high crop yields. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) has become a novel diploid C4 model crop. The proteomic profiles of the internode, node, and leaf in two foxtail millet varieties with different heights, Ci846 and Yugu 18, were investigated at the jointing stage in this study. There were different degrees of enrichment in various processes, such as plant hormone signal transduction, the MAPK signaling pathway, and others. In particular, the proper content of auxin could activate downstream SiARFs-SiSAURs expression, which enhances the length of internodes. Haplotype analysis of SiSAUR-like revealed two differential haplotypes of associated plant height, Hap1 and Hap2. The molecular marker SiSAUR-like-FCM1-2 can effectively separate materials into Hap1 and Hap2. Two additional genes, designated SiGH3 and SiTCH4, were found to be associated with plant height regulation. In conclusion, this study not only uncovers the crucial role of auxin regulators in modulating plant height during the jointing stage but also provides molecular markers that will be invaluable for molecular breeding efforts. The findings of this research help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of plant height determination that can be used for crop variety innovation and breeding.
Farmers in China often use nitrogen (N) fertilizers to ensure adequate crop growth. However, inappropriate applications have increased the risk of environmental pollution, lowered maize yields, and reduced profits for farmers. Proper N fertilizer management is crucial for improving yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This study conducted a three-year experiment involving nine N treatments (0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, 315, and 360 kg ha–1) on a field under nitrogen fertilizer precision management (NFPM) in Northeast China. The results were compared with studies published within the past decade that analyzed yield and dry matter (DM) content under two management practices in Northeast China: conventional nitrogen fertilization management (CNFM) and water-saving fertilization management (WSFM). The findings reveal that maize yield increases with rising N application rates up to 270 kg ha–1, after which yield decreases. The kernel number (KN) and kernel weight (KW) of maize grown under NFPM were 13.7 and 14.7% higher than those grown under WSFM, respectively. Furthermore, they surpassed crops grown under CNFM by 38.4 and 21.2%, respectively. The maximum total yield of the NFPM treatment was 41.8 and 78.8% higher than under WSFM and CNFM, respectively. In addition, compared with CNFM and WSFM, NFPM significantly increased NUE across the various N-level treatments. Optimizing nitrogen management can help farmers to achieve higher yields and promote sustainable agricultural development.
