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  • LÜ GuoHua, WANG QingSuo, SONG JiaShen, LI YuYi, MEI XuRong
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(20): 4047-4053. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.002

    This study provided a systematic review of the ecological issues arising from the development of saline-alkali land in China. These included secondary salinization, the formation of groundwater depression cones, wetland shrinkage and functional degradation, and reduction in natural vegetation, as well as high remediation costs and pollution risks. In addition, it clarified the technological development pathways for the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali land. These pathways encompassed four major directions: targeted strategies under a systematic management approach, cost-effective remediation under new ecological requirements, dual-force development through land-crop synergy, and specialized agriculture aligned with the broader concept of food. Furthermore, the study proposed an integrated strategy to strengthen the comprehensive management of saline-alkali lands, including emphasizing zonal rehabilitation of saline-alkali farmland, establishing a collaborative innovation system, and advancing fundamental theories and key technologies for sustainable utilization. It also recommended developing a tiered land-use model to support pilot programs for reserve resources and cultivated land, promoting specialized agriculture, enhancing productive capacity, advancing water-adapted planting, fostering innovation in water-saving agricultural technology, and strengthening ecological monitoring and impact assessment. This study provided the theoretical foundation and strategic support for ecological protection in the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali land in China.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    LI Ning, GAO LiFeng, HUANG Xin, SHI HuaWei, YANG JinWen, SHI YuGang, CHEN Ming, JIA JiZeng, SUN DaiZhen
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(13): 2487-2503. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.13.001

    【Objective】 The excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers has led to ecological pollution and waste of agricultural resources. Developing nitrogen-efficient wheat varieties and improving nitrogen use efficiency are effective approaches for achieving sustainable agricultural development and environmental protection. Screening low-nitrogen-tolerant germplasm resources and identifying genetic loci and candidate genes associated with low-nitrogen tolerance can provide materials and theoretical foundations for breeding nitrogen-efficient wheat varieties. 【Method】 A natural population consisting of 389 wheat varieties was cultivated under high-nitrogen (HN) and low-nitrogen (LN) treatments in 10 field environments. Grain yield per plant (GYP) was measured to calculate the stress tolerance index (STI), thereby enabling the classification of varieties with differential low-nitrogen tolerance. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted using 660K SNP array genotyping data to identify stable genetic loci associated with low-nitrogen tolerance. Candidate genes were prioritized through haplotype analysis, expression profiling, and functional annotation. 【Result】 Twelve wheat varieties with strong low-nitrogen tolerance were identified, including Zhongluo 08-1, Jimai 15, Jinghua 2, Kehong 1, Mianyang 19, Jimai 22, Zhenmai 4, Yumai 35, Fengkang 7, Mianyang 11, Jinmai 31, and Lumai 5. Fourteen loci significantly associated with STI were detected, among which four (qSTI1A.1, qSTI3B, qSTI6A, and qSTI7A.2) overlapped with previously reported low-nitrogen tolerance or yield-related QTLs. Notably, qSTI3B-replicated across three environments-was identified as a key locus governing low-nitrogen tolerance. Functional annotation revealed that its candidate gene, TraesCS3B02G042400, encodes an AP2/EREBP (APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element-binding protein) transcription factor. Haplotype analysis showed significant STI divergence among varieties carrying distinct haplotypes, while expression levels of TraesCS3B02G042400 exhibited nitrogen dose-responsive upregulation. 【Conclusion】 Twelve wheat varieties with strong low-nitrogen tolerance were screened. A stable genetic locus, qSTI3B, and a candidate gene, TraesCS3B02G042400, associated with low-nitrogen tolerance were identified.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    LIMing, CHENGYuKun, BAIBin, LEIBin, GENGHongWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(18): 3583-3597. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.18.002

    【Objective】Spike-related traits constitute a key factor influencing wheat yield. This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on wheat spike-related traits to identify significant loci controlling these traits, thereby providing theoretical references for research on genetic improvement of wheat spike-related traits. 【Method】Using a panel of 261 winter wheat varieties (lines), we measured spike-related phenotypic traits and performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with the wheat 90K SNP array, employing the Fixed and Random Model Circulating Probability Unification (Farm CPU) model. Stable and significant loci identified through this analysis were further subjected to haplotype analysis. 【Result】Under three environmental conditions, all 11 panicle-related traits exhibited extensive phenotypic variation, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 3.63 to 64.29. The heritability estimates for these traits varied between 0.42 and 0.84. Highly significant differences (P<0.001) were observed among genotype, environment, and genotype × environment interactions. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 171 loci significantly associated with the 11 traits (P<0.001), including 20 pleiotropic loci detected in two or more environments. These loci were associated with eight panicle traits: panicle length (3 loci), peduncle length (7 loci), sterile spikelet number (1 locus), fertile spikelet number (2 loci), total spikelet number (2 loci), grains per panicle (1 locus), grain weight per panicle (2 loci), and thousand-grain weight (2 loci). The phenotypic contribution rates of these loci ranged from 0.95% to 18.54%. A pleiotropic locus (Ra_c10072_677) significantly associated with both grain weight per panicle and grains per panicle was identified on chromosome 7B, demonstrating phenotypic contribution rates ranging from 2.62% to 6.16%. The marker wsnp_Ex_rep_c69639_68590556, which showed consistent association with peduncle length across two or more environmental conditions (explaining 5.94% of the genetic variation), was selected for haplotype analysis. Three haplotypes (Hap1, Hap2, and Hap3) were characterized, with distribution frequencies of 77.40%, 13.70%, and 8.80%, respectively. Phenotypic analysis revealed that 261 winter wheat cultivars (lines) carrying haplotype Hap3 (30.58 cm) exhibited significantly greater peduncle length (P<0.001) compared to those with Hap1 (28.67 cm) and Hap2 (27.49 cm). The haplotype distribution frequencies showed significant geographic divergence: Hap1 predominated in the Northern Winter Wheat Region, Hap2 was more prevalent in the Huang-Huai Winter Wheat Region, while Hap3 displayed no substantial frequency (>5%) across all winter wheat regions. For stably detected loci across three environments, candidate gene mining identified four genes associated with panicle development. These genes, functionally annotated as encoding MYB transcription factors and F-box domain-containing proteins, represent key candidates influencing panicle architecture. 【Conclusion】The spike traits of wheat exhibited significant variation across different genotypes. A total of twenty stably associated loci were identified across two or more environments. Three distinct haplotypes significantly associated with the peduncle length were detected on chromosome 7B, and four candidate genes potentially related to spike traits were screened out.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    WEIYiMin, ZHOUMeiLiang, TANGYu
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(21): 4305-4316. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.001

    China is one of the four major centers of agricultural origin in the world, where two distinct agricultural systems were established: the rice-based system represented by the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the dryland farming system represented by the Yellow River basin. Historical records and archaeological evidence indicate that as early as the Shang Dynasty, oracle bone inscriptions already mentioned crops such as millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), wheat, rice, and soybeans. During the pre-Qin period, the concept of the ‘Five Grains’ was established, and in The Book of Songs (Shijing), the broader term ‘Hundred Grains’ also appeared as a general reference to food crops. However, it is noteworthy that buckwheat, a crop native to China, has long been absent from these documented grain systems. This omission is inconsistent with the fact that buckwheat is an indigenous Chinese crop with high genetic diversity, significant local variation, and a long history of cultivation and domestication in cold mountainous regions. This study conducts a systematic review of the literature related to the origin, evolution, and spread of buckwheat, integrating recent findings in archaeobotany and genetic diversity analysis. Following internationally accepted principles for identifying crop origin centers, and drawing on historical texts, biological characteristics, and distribution patterns, the study presents comprehensive evidence supporting the hypothesis that southwestern China-particularly Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and the southern fringe of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau-is the center of origin, genetic diversity, and domestication for Fagopyrum species. There are 23 species of Fagopyrum identified in China, including three cultivated species-common buckwheat (F. esculentum), tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum), and golden buckwheat (F. cymosum)-and 20 wild species, the majority of which are concentrated in southwestern China. This region is not only the native habitat of the ancestral subspecies of common and tartary buckwheat (F. esculentum ssp. ancestrale and F. tataricum ssp. potanini), but also the area with the richest diversity of Fagopyrum, strongly indicating its status as the origin center. Furthermore, molecular markers and phylogenetic studies confirm close genetic relationships between wild and cultivated buckwheat species in this region, providing key evidence for reconstructing domestication pathways. With advancements in modern research, buckwheat has gained recognition not only for its short growth cycle, broad adaptability, and resilience to poor soils and cold climates, making it suitable for cultivation in remote and mountainous areas, but also for its grain's rich content of proteins, flavonoids, and functional sugar alcohols. As a highly promising functional coarse grain crop, buckwheat is particularly suited to the development of characteristic agriculture in central and western China. It holds significant potential for ecological sustainability, nutritional health, and high-value agricultural development, and is expected to play an important role in China’s national nutrition strategy and food diversity conservation. This study provides theoretical and empirical evidence to support the scientific designation of China as the center of origin and domestication of buckwheat, laying a solid foundation for future work in germplasm conservation, variety improvement, and industrial development.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    LIUJinDong, WANGYaMei, WANGYiCun, YUHaiXia, TIANJiChun
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(23): 4813-4824. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.001

    Agriculture is the source of human food ingredients and the foundation for survival and development. Modern agriculture meets the demand for sufficient food, it has also led to diet-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia due to unbalanced diets. After the “Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)” jointly held by the FAO and WTO in 2014, functional agriculture research aimed at meeting people’s nutritional and health needs rapidly developed both domestically and internationally, China has issued guiding documents such as the “National Nutrition Plan (2017-2030)” and the “Healthy China 2030” planning outline. This paper systematically reviews the background of functional agriculture emergence and focuses on the functionalization of staple crops to discuss the research progress in functional agriculture of the world. It also summarizes the key research areas of functional agriculture, including exploration of functional components in germplasm resources, breeding of new functional varieties, agronomic enhancement measures, and development and promotion of health foods. On this basis, in accordance with the requirements of the “China Food and Nutrition Development Outline (2025-2030)” proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in February 2025, four suggestions are put forward: Strengthening top-level government design, establishing major projects for staple crop functionalization, accelerating the construction of standard systems, and improving intellectual property protection for varieties. These suggestions aim to provide theoretical support and practical paths for implementing China large-scale agriculture and grain strategy and ensuring national nutrition and health. This paper offers valuable insights for establishing a functional agricultural industry system with Chinese characteristics.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    JIAYuJing, LIChaoNan, PANZhiXiong, YANGDeLong, MAOXinGuo, JINGRuiLian
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(17): 3357-3371. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.001

    【Objective】The TIFY family, a plant-specific group of transcription factors, plays critical roles in regulating growth, development, and stress responses. This study aimed to clone TaTIFY11c-4A in wheat, validate its genetic effects, and provide a theoretical basis for high-yield molecular breeding of wheat.【Method】The wheat cultivar Hanxuan 10 was used to clone TaTIFY11c-4A and allelic variations were detected in germplasms. The tissue-specific expression patterns of TaTIFY11c-4A and its responses to various hormones and stresses were analyzed via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The subcellular localization of TaTIFY11c-4A was determined through transient expression in tobacco. A molecular marker targeting the polymorphic site in TaTIFY11c-4A was developed to assess the genotypes in the natural population, and association analysis was performed to evaluate the correlations between the genotypes and phenotypes. Additionally, the spatial and temporal distribution of different genotypes were analyzed. Synergistic effects of TaTIFY11c-4A and TaSRL1-4A haplotypes were explored to identify superior genotype.【Result】TaTIFY11c-4A was successfully cloned, comprising three exons and two introns, encoding a 198-amino acid protein with conserved TIFY and Jas domains. TaTIFY11c-4A is expressed in roots, root bases and leaves at the seedling stage, and highly expressed in roots and leaves at the booting stage. There are multiple cis-acting elements related to hormone responses, stress adaptation, and endosperm development in the promoter of TaTIFY11c-4A. Its expression responds to plant hormones (ABA, IAA, MeJA) and abiotic stresses (drought, high salinity, low and high temperature). A SNP (G/A) was identified in its promoter at -405 bp. A molecular marker was developed based on the SNP and association analysis revealed significant correlations between TaTIFY11c-4A alleles and plant height, thousand grain weight under multiple environments such as drought and high temperature, and root depth at tillering stage. Compared with genotype SNP-G, wheat germplasms carrying the SNP-A allele exhibited shorter plants, higher thousand grain weight, and shallower roots at tillering stage, and have been positively selected in the wheat breeding process. TaTIFY11c-4A-SNP-A and TaSRL1-4A-SNP-C genotypes synergistically reduced plant height and enhanced thousand grain weight.【Conclusion】TaTIFY11c-4A encodes a nuclear-localized JAZ protein. It is expressed in various tissues of wheat and involved in responses to ABA, IAA, MeJA, as well as abiotic stresses such as drought, extreme temperature, and high salinity. The TaTIFY11c-4A-SNP is associated with plant height and thousand grain weight under multiple environments, and root depth. SNP-A allele has been positively selected in the wheat breeding process. The superior genotypes and combinations of TaTIFY11c-4A and TaSRL1-4A provide genetic resources for breeding high-yield and stress-resistant wheat cultivars.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    ZHENG MinHua, CHEN Luo, XING JiaLe, XIE YueLan, JIANG XianYa, NIE Shuai, CAI FuGe, WU HaoXiang, LU ZhanHua, SUN Wei, HUO Xing, BAI Song, ZHAO JunLiang, YANG Wu
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(14): 2707-2719. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.14.001

    【Objective】Rice blast critically compromises rice production. The genetic enhancement of blast resistance remains challenging due to pathogen variability and limited genetic diversity in breeding parents. This study seeks to accelerate resistance breeding by identifying novel resistance loci through systematic germplasm characterization. 【Method】A panel of 265 sequenced indica rice accessions (including 120 international germplasms and 145 cultivars from South China) underwent field-based blast resistance evaluation. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was subsequently employed to identify blast resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL). Haplotype effects of these QTL on blast resistance were analyzed, and candidate genes within newly identified QTL regions were predicted using rice genome annotation. 【Result】Field resistance evaluation identified 47 accessions (18 international germplasms and 29 cultivars from South China) exhibiting high resistance to both panicle and leaf blast. GWAS detected nine blast resistance QTL distributed across chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 11, and 12, respectively. Among them, four QTL was co-localized with previously reported blast resistance genes and five QTL were newly identified. Haplotype analysis revealed significant resistance variations associated with peak SNP alleles, with eight QTL showing higher frequency of resistant haplotypes in cultivars from South China compared to international germplasms. Notably, the qPB11 locus demonstrated an inverse distribution pattern, where its resistant haplotype frequency was substantially lower in cultivars from South China (1%) than in international germplasm (16%). Candidate gene analysis within novel QTL regions identified four NBS-LRR disease resistance proteins and four NB-ARC domain-containing proteins, with eight candidate genes clustered within a 27.22-27.35 Mb interval on chromosome 11.【Conclusion】Cultivars from South China exhibit superior blast resistance compared to international germplasms. The high-resistance haplotypes of qPB1-1, qPB1-2, qPB1-3, qPB5, qPB6, qPB12-1, and qLB12/qPB12-2 have been preferentially selected during the genetic improvement of cultivars from South China. Furthermore, the qPB11 locus harbors genes encoding NBS-LRR disease-resistant proteins and NB-ARC domain-containing proteins, representing new potential resistance gene for rice blast disease.

  • SOIL & FERTILIZER·WATER-SAVING IRRIGATION·AGROECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
    LIHaiFeng, LIWenHu, LIYuKe, WANGZhaoHui, LIUJinShan
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(15): 3036-3050. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.15.008

    【Objective】 Based on varying climate, soil, tillage, and field management conditions in different wheat-producing regions of China, this study aimed to investigate the impacts of soil-applied selenium (Se) fertilizer on Se enrichment in wheat and the available Se content in soil. Furthermore, the regional factors contributing to differences in the enhancement of Se content in wheat grain across these diverse areas were analyzed. These findings would provide a foundation for the efficient utilization of Se fertilizer and the scientific advancement of biofortified Se in wheat grain. 【Method】 The experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2024 in four representative wheat-producing regions of China, including Yongshou County of Shaanxi Province, Baixiang County of Hebei Province, Zitong County of Sichuan Province, and Shucheng County of Anhui Province. Five different levels of selenite fertilizer were applied: 0 (Se0), 100 (Se100), 200 (Se200), 300 (Se300), and 400 (Se400) g·hm-2. At the flowering and maturity stages of wheat, wheat plant and soil samples in each plot were collected. The wheat biomass, grain yield, Se content of different wheat organs, Se uptake and soil available Se content in different wheat-producing regions were determined and analyzed. 【Result】 Soil-applied Se fertilizer had no significant effect on wheat yield and aboveground biomass. Selenium content and accumulation in wheat organs were significantly increased with the increase of Se application rate. There was a linear positive correlation between Se content and Se application rate, and the selenium enrichment effect was in the order of Baixiang of Hebei Province > Yongshou of Shaanxi Province > Shucheng of Anhui Province > Zitong of Sichuan Province, and the Se content of grain was increased by 1.03, 0.57, 0.35, and 0.33 μg·kg-1, respectively with each application of 1 g·hm-2 selenium. Under the same Se application level, TFspike/stem and leaf value at flowering stage was higher than TFstem and leaf/root value, and TFgrain/stem and leaf value at maturity stage was increased with the increase of Se application rate, indicating that selenite was not easily transferred from root to stem and leaf, but easily transferred from stem and leaf to ear. The soil available Se content was significantly increased with the increase of Se application rate and the increasing effect was in the order of Yongshou of Shaanxi Province > Baixiang of Hebei Province > Shucheng of Anhui Province > Zitong of Sichuan Province, and the soil available Se content at the four sites was increased by 1.141, 0.077, 0.008, and 0.008 μg·kg-1, respectively with a rate of 1 g·hm-2 selenium application. The Se fertilizer application rate to meet the enrichment of grain selenium (150 μg·kg-1) in Yongshou of Shaanxi Province, Baixiang of Hebei Province, Zitong of Sichuan Province and Shucheng of Anhui Province were 232, 0, 376, and 354 g·hm-2, respectively. 【Conclusion】 In the wheat fields with low soil Se content, the application of Se fertilizer could lead to the production of Se-enriched wheat grain and an increase in the soil Se content in various wheat-producing regions of China. However, in alkaline soils, the enrichment of Se in wheat grain was more effective and the enhancement of soil available Se content was greater. The input rate of Se fertilizer for selenium enrichment requirement of wheat (>150 μg·kg-1) was lower in the alkaline soil than that in the acid soils.

  • SOIL & FERTILIZER·WATER-SAVING IRRIGATION·AGROECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
    WANGQingFeng, CHUChangBin, ZHAOZheng, WUShuHang, ZHOUDePing
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(17): 3488-3502. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.010

    【Objective】This paper aimed to investigate the characteristic of soil microorganisms and soil function under long-term strawberry continuous cropping and to clarify the effects of long-term strawberry continuous cropping on soil bacterial and fungal community structure and carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism gene abundance, so as to provide the scientific basis for improving the soil microecological balance and soil function of continuous cropping in the future.【Method】The real-time PCR, Miseq sequencing and high-throughput chip technologies were applied to determine soil bacteria, fungi and function under strawberry cultivated for 1, 3 and 10 year.【Result】The strawberry continuous cropping reduced the soil pH, but increased the soil nutrient content, in which the soil organic matter content increased from 21.2 g·kg-1 to 32.4 g·kg-1. The bacterial abundance in rhizosphere and bulk soil was increased and then decreased as the years of cultivation. The abundance of bulk soil fungi was similar to the trend of bacteria, but its abundance was significantly reduced in the rhizosphere, indicating that bacteria and fungi response differently to continuous cropping. Continuous cropping had no significant effect on bacterial diversity, but significantly reduced fungal diversity and significantly changed soil microbial composition. Based on UniFrac distance, it was found that the fungal community UniFrac distance (0.64-1.36) was much higher than the bacteria (0.028-0.111), indicating that the influence of continuous cropping on fungal community structure was higher than that of bacteria. Correlation analysis showed that bacterial community structure was significantly correlated with soil pH, while fungal community structure was significantly correlated with soil nutrient status (such as soil available P, alkali-hydrolysable, and soil organic matter). Long-term continuous cropping of strawberry changed the metabolic function gene abundance of soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, which significantly reduced the soil carbon fixation gene accA, while the nitrogen fixation gene nifH and phosphorus metabolism related functions (phoD, phoX and pqqC genes) first increased and then decreased. The partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) analysis showed that the fungal community structure (abundance, diversity and composition) caused by long-term strawberry continuous cropping had a higher impact on soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism gene abundance than the bacterial community structure.【Conclusion】This study showed that soil function gene abundance changed caused by long-term strawberry continuous cropping was mainly caused by the changes of fungal community structure. Thus, the soil fungal community structure should be regulated to improve the health status of long-term continuous cropping soil.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    CHENTianXiao, CAORong, SONGQianNan, HULiangLiang, WANGSuHua, WANGLiXia, CHENGXuZhen, CHENHongLin
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(21): 4317-4332. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.002

    【Objective】Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is an important legume crop in China, yet, its production is severely constrained by soil salinity. This study aimed to systematically identify and evaluate the salt tolerance of a large-scale adzuki bean germplasm collection to provide elite genetic resources and a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of salt-tolerant adzuki bean cultivars. 【Method】A total of 398 adzuki bean accessions were evaluated in a hydroponic system under 100 mmol·L-1 NaCl stress a concentration determined as suitable for screening in preliminary experiments. The salt injury index and 10 root morphological traits of each accession were measured post-treatment. A comprehensive salt tolerance value (D-value) for each accession was calculated using a combination of principal component analysis (PCA) combined with the subordinate function method. Based on the D-value, all accessions were systematically evaluated and classified into different salt tolerance grades. Subsequently, differences in salt tolerance among three germplasm types (cultivars, landraces, and wild accessions) were compared. Finally, stepwise regression analysis was employed to identify key indicators for evaluating seedling salt tolerance and to construct a simplified evaluation model. 【Result】Salt stress significantly inhibited root growth in adzuki bean, but extensive genetic variation was observed among the accessions. PCA effectively reduced the 10 root traits to three independent principal components, accounting for a cumulative 88.76% of the total variation. According to the criteria of a comprehensive salt tolerance value (D-value) and salt tolerance grade, a group of highly tolerant accessions at the seedling stage, such as B552 and B533, were identified. Comparative analysis indicated that wild accessions and landraces exhibited stronger seedling stage salt tolerance potential than cultivars, with wild accessions showing particularly outstanding tolerance. Stepwise regression analysis identified the salt tolerance coefficients of five key traits, including root volume, root fresh weight, root dry weight, average root diameter, and number of root crossing as the key indicators. Based on these indicators, an optimal regression equation with a very high coefficient of determination was established. 【Conclusion】This study systematically evaluated the salt tolerance of a large-scale adzuki bean germplasm collection at the seedling stage. It not only identified a group of elite salt-tolerant accessions, but also established a simplified and efficient comprehensive evaluation system for seedling salt tolerance in adzuki bean based on five key root traits.

  • SPECIAL FOCUS: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR ANNUAL RICE-RAPESEED ROTATION
    REN Tao, FANG YaTing, LU JianWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(16): 3159-3163. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.16.001
  • SPECIAL FOCUS: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR ANNUAL RICE-RAPESEED ROTATION
    BURongYan, CHENGWenLong, WUJi, TANGShan, LIMin, LUJianWei, JIGenXue, WANGHui, ZHURui, JIANGFaHui, TANGMengMeng, HANShang
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(16): 3178-3189. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.16.003

    【Objective】The aim of this study is to elucidate the long-term effects of tillage practices and fertilization measures on annual crop yield and nutrient utilization in a rapeseed- rice rotation system in the Yangtze River Basin, for providing a scientific basis for sustainable nutrient management to achieve synergistic grain and oilseed production in the region.【Method】Based on a site-specific field experiment (2016-2023) with a rice-rapeseed rotation system, a split-plot design was adopted. The main treatments were different tillage methods: rotary tillage (RT, 12 cm depth) and deep tillage (DT, 20 cm depth). The sub-treatments included three fertilization regimes: no fertilization (CK), chemical fertilizer alone (F), and combined organic-inorganic fertilization (FM, where chemical fertilizer in the rice season matched the F treatment, while the rapeseed season received organic-chemical fertilization). This study analyzed the rapeseed and rice yields, nutrient uptake, and nutrient use efficiency, with a comprehensive evaluation incorporating yield stability index (YSI) and sustainability index (SYI).【Result】Compared with CK, fertilization application significantly increased rice and rapeseed yields by 47.6% and 288.1%, respectively, while improving yield stability (YSI increased by 6.1% and 10.6%) and sustainability (SYI increased by 14.7% and 16.7%). Fertilization was the primary factor influencing crop yield, with FM outperforming F. DT further enhanced rice (9.2%) and rapeseed (7.0%) yields compared with RT, while significantly improving rice and rapeseed yield stability (YSI decreased by 17.9% and 4.7%, respectively) and sustainability (SYI increased by 5.7% and 7.7%, respectively). Among all treatments, FM-DT achieved the highest yields, stability, and sustainability for both crops. Further analysis revealed that FM-DT most effectively promoted nutrient translocation to grains, increasing N and phosphorus (P) harvest indices. The N and P harvest indices reached 76.9% and 76.0% in rice and 68.5% and 69.5% in rapeseed, respectively. Organic fertilizer substitution reduced chemical fertilizer input but enhanced N and P use efficiency, increasing them by 23.1% and 24.5% in rice and 63.7% and 22.8% in rapeseed, respectively. DT combined with organic substitution further improved N and P apparent recovery efficiency. 【Conclusion】The integration of FM with DT significantly enhanced productivity, stability, and sustainability in the rice-rapeseed rotation system while improving nutrient use efficiency. This approach represented an effective nutrient management strategy for achieving sustainable development in rice-rapeseed rotation in the Yangtze River Basin.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    ZHUANGRunJie, LIUHuiMing, WANGShiYu, LÜWanPing, WENYongXian
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(15): 2960-2979. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.15.003

    【Objective】 Genomic selection (GS) is a core technology for predicting individual phenotypes or genetic values from genome-wide marker information, which has important theoretical value and practical significance in agricultural breeding and genetic research. However, high-dimensional feature redundancy and nonlinear relationship modeling are key challenges in genomic selection. A genotype to phenotype stacking ensemble (G2PSE) is proposed, aiming to improve the prediction accuracy and generalization ability, and provide an efficient solution for high-dimensional genomic data analysis. 【Method】 The G2PSE stacking ensemble model framework was constructed, incorporating ten-fold cross-validation, ensemble learning, feature selection (LAR algorithm), and feature enhancement strategies. The model employed random forests (RF), support vector regression (SVR), and gradient boosting regression (GBR) as base learners, with ordinary least squares regression (OLSR) as the meta-learner. Additionally, the impact of meta-learners such as random forest, support vector regression, and neural networks on model performance was evaluated. The G2PSE model consisted of three core submodels: (1) All-feature stacking ensemble (AFSE), which fully utilized all SNP features; (2) LAR-feature stacking ensemble (LFSE), which reduced redundant information through feature selection to improve generalization; (3) LAR-feature enhanced stacking ensemble (LFESE), which combined feature selection with enhancement strategies to optimize prediction capability in high-dimensional data environments. The performance of three feature enhancement variants (AFESE, HFESEⅠ, HFESEⅡ) was explored. Finally, the model was evaluated experimentally on multi-trait datasets of three species, namely wheat, soybean, and tilapia, and further evaluated on an independent test set using the Pepper203 dataset to validate the robustness of the model. 【Result】 The G2PSE model significantly outperformed traditional methods and single machine learning models in two metrics, Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and mean absolute error (MAE). Among the three core submodels, LFESE performed the best by combining the feature selection and enhancement strategies, LFSE reduced redundant information and enhanced the generalization ability by feature selection, and AFSE had a significant advantage in comprehensively capturing genotypic global information. In addition, the three feature enhancement variant models further validated the importance of feature quality compared to feature quantity in improving prediction performance. The experiments also showed that the linear regression model performed best in meta-learner selection, while the LFESE and LFSE submodels demonstrated a more balanced performance in terms of computational efficiency. And a reasonable feature selection threshold was crucial for model performance, where the optimal threshold for low-dimensional datasets was 10%-20%, while the optimal threshold for high-dimensional datasets was 1%. Finally, the evaluation on an independent test set proved that the LFESE submodel had the best generalization ability. 【Conclusion】 The G2PSE model significantly improves genomic selection prediction performance through ensemble learning, feature selection, and enhancement strategies.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    LI XiangYu, LIU JianZhuo, HU DanDan, LIU GengYu, CHEN LiangYu, LI Bing, DU WanLi, SONG Bo
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(13): 2504-2521. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.13.002

    【Objective】 Common smut (Mycosarcoma maydis) is a major fungal disease affecting maize production in China. This study aimed to screen for resistant germplasm resources and analyze their physiological and biochemical responses to pathogen infection, providing scientific support for disease resistance breeding. 【Method】 A total of 425 maize germplasm resources were selected and systematically screened for their resistance to common smut. Sugar metabolism, oxidative stress responses, and photosynthetic parameters were analyzed to identify high-resistant, moderate-resistant, and susceptible inbred lines. WGA-AF488/PI staining was used to analyze the hyphal proliferation to reveal the disease resistance traits of different inbred lines. 【Result】 The study found significant annual differences in the disease index and incidence of common smut in 2021 and 2022, primarily influenced by temperature and precipitation. Principal component analysis showed that the disease index on day 4, 8, and 12 post-inoculation was a key indicator of disease severity, while the disease incidence at the grain filling stage (R2) and wax ripening stage (R4) revealed differences across growth stages. Additionally, 6 high-resistance inbred lines (e.g., Q319), 67 medium-resistance inbred lines (e.g., D599), and 171 susceptible inbred lines (e.g., M407) were identified. Sugar metabolism analysis showed significant differences in sucrose, fructose, and glucose contents across inbred lines with different disease resistance, indicating the critical role of sugar metabolism in the competition between the pathogen and the host. Oxidative stress analysis revealed significant increases in H₂O₂ and O2- contents post-infection, with the high-resistant inbred line Q319 exhibiting the strongest OH- scavenging capacity. SOD and POD activities were significantly increased on days 4 and 8 post-inoculation, with the SOD activity of D599 increasing by 114.98% on day 8 and the SOD activity of Q319 increasing by 96.08%. On day 12, the POD activity of D599 and Q319 increased by 164.27% and 160.91%, respectively, indicating strong antioxidant defense capabilities in resistant materials. WGA staining showed that hyphal extension was limited in Q319, primarily concentrated near the vascular bundles, suggesting strong cell wall defense. D599 exhibited intermediate hyphal expansion speed and range, representing moderate defense capacity, while M407 displayed extensive hyphal spread with large intercellular infection, indicating weak cell wall defense. Post-inoculation, the net photosynthetic rate of Q319, D599, and M407 decreased by 52.5%, 52.8%, and 100.2%, respectively, compared to the control group, with significant reductions in photosynthetic pigment content; however, the decline decreased from 4 to 12 d. 【Conclusion】 This study reveals significant differences in sugar metabolism, oxidative stress responses, antioxidant capacity, and photosynthesis among different maize inbred lines under Mycosarcoma maydis infection. The high-resistance inbred line Q319 exhibits strong disease resistance through low sucrose, high fructose and glucose metabolism, along with higher chlorophyll and carotenoid content and efficient antioxidant ability. The high-susceptible inbred line M407 shows increased sucrose accumulation and insufficient antioxidant response, resulting in significantly decreased net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate, leading to increased disease susceptibility. The medium-resistance inbred line D599 displays intermediate photosynthetic function and pigment accumulation, with disease resistance between Q319 and M407.

  • SPECIAL FOCUS: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR ANNUAL RICE-RAPESEED ROTATION
    HUORunXia, FANGYaTing, ZHANGYanKe, WUHaiYa, LIUGuiSheng, LIXiaoKun, RENTao, LUZhiFeng, CONGRiHuan, LUJianWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(16): 3267-3279. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.16.010

    【Objective】This study aimed to clarify the effects of long-term straw return on crop yield and soil fertility in rice-rice- rapeseed rotation, so as to provide a scientific basis for the efficient use of straw resources and fertilizer replacement and reduction technology in rice-rice-rapeseed rotation system.【Method】In this study, a positioning experiment on straw return in rice-rice- rapeseed triple cropping system were selected, which was carried out for 15 consecutive years from 2007 to 2022, and set up three treatments of conventional fertilizer application + straw not returned to the field (100%F), conventional fertilizer application + straw returned to the field (100%F+St), and fertilizer reduction of 20% + straw returned to the field (80%F+St). The effects of different fertilizer applications on crop yields, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrient accumulation and soil physico-chemical properties were investigated. Nutrient accumulation and soil physicochemical properties were analyzed to assess the annual nutrient apparent balance and soil comprehensive fertility index of rice-rice-rapeseed rotation. 【Result】The long-term straw return increased crop yield, yield stability and sustainability of the rice-rice-rapeseed rotation system, with the most significant increase in the rapeseed season. Compared with 2007-2010, the late rice and rapeseed average yields under the 100%F+St treatment in 2019-2022 increased by 28.9% and 58.7%, respectively. Compared with 100%F treatment, early rice, late rice, and rapeseed yields under 100%F+St treatment increased by an average of 7.2%, 6.9%, and 13.4%, respectively, and with an average increase in yield stability and sustainability under 100% F+St treatment of 23.6% and 12.5% in the 2019-2022 late rice season. After four consecutive years of straw return in combination with 20% fertilizer reduction, early rice, late rice, and rapeseed yields remained stable or higher than conventional fertilization. Compared with the 100%F treatment, the yields of early rice, late rice, and rapeseed under the 80%F+St treatmentincreased by 5.3%, 3.1%, and 0.8%, respectively, from 2019 to 2022. Long-term straw return (100%F+St) enhanced crop NPK nutrient accumulation and annual nutrient surpluses, and the 20% fertilizer reduction + straw return (80%F+St) treatment reduced the annual NPK surpluses of the rotation by 54.0 kg N·hm-2, 13.7 kg P2O5·hm-2, and 48.6 kg K2O·hm-2. Analysis of the integrated soil fertility index (IFI) of the rapeseed season and the rice season following the long-term straw return revealed that the IFI of 100%F+St treatment was 1.44 and 1.51 in rapeseed season and rice season, respectively, which was significantly increased by 6.4% and 4.3% compared with 100%F treatment, respectively. The increase in IFI was higher in the rapeseed season than in the rice season. Compared with 100%F treatment, 80%F+St treatment had no significant difference in rice season and rapeseed season, with soil IFI values of 1.29 and 1.45, respectively. The increase of IFI under 100%F+St treatment mainly depended on the increase of organic matter, total nitrogen, and available potassium content by 22.8%, 20.5%, and 13.7% in rapeseed season, and the increase of organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus content by 14.1%, 1.7%, and 4.3% in rice season, respectively.【Conclusion】In conclusion, long-term straw return to the field could improve crop yield, N, P2O5 and K2O nutrient accumulation and comprehensive soil fertility index of rice-rice-rapeseed rotation system, and with the increase of the time period of returning to the field, the stability and sustainability of crop yield increased. Based on the straw return condition with 20% fertilizer reduction, crop yield and nutrient accumulation could be effectively guaranteed to be maintained or higher than the conventional fertilization level, and the sustainability and stability of yield in rice season was higher than that in rapeseed season. Therefore, a 20% reduction of chemical fertilizer in the rice season could guarantee the stable yield and high efficiency of the rice-rice-rapeseed rotation system.

  • TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY·AGRICULTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
    TANGChaoYuan, LIUTaoFen, WUYanQin, ZHANGQiPeng, LIZiLiang, CHENYunRui, LEIZhangYing, ZHANGYaLi, ZHANGWangFeng, DUMingWei, YANGMingFeng, TIANJingShan
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(15): 2980-2992. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.15.004

    【Objective】 The analysis of the differences and relationships of boll morphological characteristics, boll weight, fiber and kernel quality between G. hirsutum and G. barbadense were carried out in this study, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of new cotton varieties and the cultivation of high yield and quality. 【Method】 The experiment was carried out in Xinjiang Wulan Wusu Agricultural Meteorological Station from 2022 to 2023. 299 accessions of G. hirsutum and 274 accessions of G. barbadense were selected, and the effects of boll morphological characteristics on fiber and kernel quality of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense were determined by correlation, principal component analysis and grey correlation analysis. 【Result】 The boll length of G. barbadense varied from 3.79 to 6.20 cm, which was significantly higher than that of G. hirsutum, while the boll diameter, surface area and volume of G. hirsutum were higher than those of G. barbadense, and the boll diameter ranged from 2.81 to 4.27 cm, the surface area and volume were 21.86 to 37.42 cm2 and 14.76 to 33.58 cm3, respectively; the strength of G. hirsutum increased with the increase of boll diameter, and the fiber quality of G. barbadense increased with the increase of boll volume. The bur weight of G. barbadense was 0.97 g, which was significantly lower than that of G. hirsutum by 37.01%. The bur mass per area of G. hirsutum was significantly higher than that of G. barbadense, and its variation range was 2.24 to 9.88 g·dm-2. The upper half mean length and strength of G. hirsutum were significantly positively correlated with bur weight and bur mass per area; the upper half mean length of G. barbadense was significantly negatively correlated with bur weight and bur mass per area, and the strength was significantly positively correlated with bur weight. The increase of bur weight and bur mass per area were significantly positively correlated with the increase in boll weight. The fiber weight and seed weight of G. hirsutum ranged from 0.85 to 3.69 g and 1.85 to 6.16 g, which were 48.34% and 37.97% higher than those of G. barbadense, respectively. The upper half mean length and strength of G. hirsutum were significantly positively correlated with seed weight, while G. barbadense was significantly negatively correlated with fiber weight. The oil content of G. barbadense kernel was 35.04%, significantly higher than that of G. hirsutum by 1.75%, and the protein content of G. hirsutum kernel was 40.75%, significantly higher than that of G. barbadense by 2.86%. There was a significant negative correlation between fiber quality and kernel protein content. With the increase of protein content, the upper half mean length and strength decreased significantly. 【Conclusion】 Therefore, the difference in the distribution of photosynthetic products in fiber and kernel was the main reason for the difference in fiber quality between G. hirsutum and G. barbadense. Expanding the storage capacity of cotton boll could synergistically increase the boll weight and strength of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense.

  • TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY·AGRICULTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
    HE HaoXu, GAO Xiang, RAO Yuan, ZHANG ZiRui, WU Gong, HOU YiTing, HE Ye, LI XinYi
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(18): 3598-3615. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.18.003

    【Objective】In precision agriculture, the detection of crop seedlings can be interfered with by factors such as soil weeds, occlusion between seedling leaves, and multi-scale datasets. Based on the object detection algorithm, this paper improved the YOLOv8s algorithm and designed the wheat leaf tip detection model YOLO-Wheat to solve problems, such as leaf occlusion of wheat seedlings in the field, interference from soil weeds, and multi-view data with multiple scales, thereby enhancing the accuracy of wheat seedling leaf detection and providing a theoretical basis for wheat seedling detection at the seedling stage in precision agriculture. 【Method】Close-up and distant images of wheat seedlings were collected respectively through mobile phone cameras and on-board RGB cameras during the emergence period to construct a crop image dataset. In the network model, a pyramid structure of multi-scale feature fusion (high-level screening-feature fusion pyramid, HS-FPN) was adopted. This structure used high-level features as weights, filters low-level feature information through the channel attention module, and combined the screened features with the high-level features. Enhancing the feature expression ability of the model could effectively solve the problem of multi-scale data. Integrate the efficient local attention (ELA) local attention mechanism in the network model was used to enable the model to focus on the leaf tip information of wheat and to suppress the interference of soil background factors of weeds. Meanwhile, the loss function of YOLOv8s (complete IoULoss, CIoULoss) was optimized, and the inner-Iou Loss auxiliary bounding box loss function was introduced to enhance the network's attention to small targets and to improve the positioning accuracy of wheat leaf tips. In terms of training strategies, transfer learning was employed. The model was pre-trained using close-up images of wheat leaf tips, and then the parameters of the model were updated and optimized using distant images. 【Result】The YOLO-Wheat model was compared with five object detection models, namely Faster-RCNN, YOLOv5s, YOLOv7, YOLOv8s, and YOLOv9s. The YOLO-Wheat model was the best in wheat leaf tip detection, with a recognition accuracy rate of 92.7% and a recall rate of 85.1%, respectively. The mean Average Precision (mAP) values were 82.9%. Compared with the Faster-RCNN, YOLOv5s, YOLOv7, YOLOv8s and YOLOv9s models, the recognition accuracy mAP values of YOLO-Wheat have increased by 17.1%, 13.6%, 11.0%, 8.7% and 3.8% respectively; the recall rates increased by 13.1%, 6.7%, 4.5%, 1.8% and 1.3%, respectively. Compared with the Faw-RCNN, YOLOv5s, YOLOv7, YOLOv8s and YOLOv9s models, the mAP values of YOLO-Wheat have increased by 16.2%, 9.8%, 5.0%, 5.9% and 0.7%, respectively. 【Conclusion】This method could effectively solve the problem of multi-scale data, achieve precise detection of small targets at the leaf tips of wheat seedlings in complex field environments using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images, and provide technical support and theoretical reference for intelligent leaf counting of wheat seedlings in complex fields.

  • MEIXuRong, LIYuYi, WUWenBin, WUXuePing
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(20): 4039-4046. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.001
  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    YUZhe, ZHOUFangXue, LIURunFa, TIANYaQi, JIHAOMuHa, WANGYongXiang, FENGWenMi, MOUKeXin, JINGYan, LIHaiYan
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(19): 3799-3813. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.19.001

    【Objective】Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most damaging viral diseases of soybean, which seriously affects soybean yield and quality. Identification of host proteins interacting with SMV nuclear inclusion proteins (NIa-Pro and NIb) using yeast two-hybrid library screening, aiming to establish a theoretical foundation and propose novel perspectives insights into the molecular mechanisms of SMV infection and soybean resistance.【Method】Firstly, the coding sequences of NIa-Pro and NIb were cloned from the SMV strain SMV-HN and recombined into the pGBKT7 vector to construct the bait plasmids, and then soybean proteins interacting with the two viral functional proteins were identified by yeast library screening. Secondly, the host gene GmOEP16 encoding Outer Envelope Pore Protein 16 (OEP16) was cloned, and the interactions of GmOEP16 with NIa-Pro and NIb were clarified by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and luciferase complementation assay (LCA). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyse the expression pattern of GmOEP16 under SMV treatment and exogenous hormone induction. Finally, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was used to validate the function of GmOEP16 gene in SMV disease response.【Result】pGBKT7-NIa-Pro and pGBKT7-NIb recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed, and 12 soybean host proteins were screened for interactions with NIa-Pro and NIb, respectively. The Y2H assay was further used to verify that NIa-Pro interacted with GmOEP16 and GmDEG5, and NIb interacted with GmOEP16, GmZC3H18 and GmAHP1. The LCA assay was further used to clarify that GmOEP16 interacted with both NIa-Pro and NIb. Expression analysis revealed that GmOEP16 was induced by SMV infection and responded rapidly to salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) stimuli during early response. The VIGS assay showed that effectively silencing of GmOEP16 resulted in no obvious susceptibility phenotype in leaf tissues relative to the wild-type controls. Meanwhile, the expression of SMV-CP was significantly reduced in the GmOEP16-silenced plants, suggesting that the soybean resistance to SMV was enhanced. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that GmOEP16 could function as a negative regulator of SMV resistance in soybean.【Conclusion】The pGBKT7-NIa-Pro and pGBKT7-NIb bait vectors were successfully constructed, and each 12 soybean host proteins that respectively interacted with pGBKT7-NIa-Pro and pGBKT7-NIb were identified. Among them, GmOEP16 interacted with both NIa-Pro and NIb. GmOEP16 responded to SMV induction and negatively regulated SMV resistance, which promoted SMV infection on soybeans.

  • SPECIAL FOCUS: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR ANNUAL RICE-RAPESEED ROTATION
    FANGYaTing, ZHAOJian, SHENGQianNan, LIKaiXu, WANGXiangHua, ZHANGYangYang, ZHUJun, CONGRiHuan, LUZhiFeng, LIXiaoKun, RENTao, LUJianWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(16): 3164-3177. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.16.002

    【Objective】The application of chemical fertilizers and organic materials is a crucial measure for increasing agricultural production. Rice-rapeseed rotation system is a primary paddy-upland crop rotation pattern in the Yangtze River basin of China. Clarifying the impact of chemical fertilizers and organic material inputs on the annual crop yield and nutrient utilization in rice-rapeseed rotation could provide a scientific basis for ensuring food and oil security and achieving green and sustainable agricultural development. 【Method】From 2017 to 2022, a continuous field experiment was conducted at the Huazhong Agricultural University's Shayang Experimental Station in Shayang County, Hubei Province. Four treatments were established: no fertilizer (CK), chemical fertilizer only (NPK), chemical fertilizer with straw return (NPK+S), and chemical fertilizer with straw return plus organic fertilizer (NPK+S+M). The crop yields, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) nutrient absorption of rapeseed and rice were analyzed. The nutrient use efficiency, apparent nutrient balances, and their relationships with yield were also assessed.【Result】The average results over 6 years showed that compared with no fertilization, the application of chemical fertilizers and organic materials significantly increased the yield of rapeseed (493.5%-758.8%) and rice (94.3%-106.4%), and enhanced crop yield stability (24.6%-72.1%) and sustainability (17.2%-85.0%). Compared with the NPK treatment, the NPK+S treatment increased the yield of rapeseed by 6.3%, but decreased yield stability and sustainability; it decreased the yield of rice by 0.8%, but increased yield stability and sustainability. The NPK+S+M treatment increased the yield of rapeseed and rice by 44.7% and 5.4%, respectively, and improved the sustainability of yield. Throughout the rotation cycle, nutrient uptake by rapeseed was consistently lower than that by rice across all treatments. The addition of organic materials significantly enhanced nutrient uptake in both rapeseed and rice. Relative to the NPK treatment, the NPK+S+M treatment resulted in increases of 5.1%-91.2% in average nutrient uptake and 12.2%-100.4% in trend nutrient uptake. The NPK+S treatment did not significantly differ from the NPK treatment in average nutrient uptake but exhibited a 7.7%-25.4% higher trend nutrient uptake. The input of organic materials decreased the physiological nutrient use efficiency of rapeseed and rice. Compared with the NPK treatment, the physiological N use efficiency of rapeseed and rice in the NPK+S+M treatment decreased by 3.0 and 3.7 percentage points, respectively, and the physiological P use efficiency decreased by 19.3 and 25.5 percentage points, respectively. Further analysis revealed that the application of organic materials led to higher apparent nutrient surpluses, which caused the annual increase in the cumulative yield of crops in the rice-rapeseed rotation. The cumulative apparent nutrient surplus was significantly positively correlated with the cumulative crop yield. 【Conclusion】The application of chemical fertilizers and organic materials significantly increased crop yields and nutrient use efficiency, and its effects were jointly influenced by crop and nutrient type. Increasing organic fertilization along with chemical fertilizers and straw application could further enhance soil fertility and increase crop yield; however, efforts should focus on improving the physiological nutrient use efficiency to fully realize the potential of organic amendments for sustainable grain and oil production.

  • SPECIAL FOCUS: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR ANNUAL RICE-RAPESEED ROTATION
    MENGZiZhen, RENTao, LIUChen, WANGKunKun, LIAOShiPeng, LIXiaoKun, CONGRiHuan, LUZhiFeng, FANGYaTing, LUJianWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(16): 3190-3200. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.16.004

    【Objective】Rice-rapeseed rotation is an important paddy-upland crop rotation in China, and the application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer plays an important role in guaranteeing high and stable crop yields. This study systematically assessed the effects of different types of nutrient inputs on the yield and nutrient utilization of the annual crop of a continuous term rotation, so as to provide a reference to the management of nutrients in rice-rapeseed rotation.【Method】A rice-rapeseed rotation field trial was carried out for 8 continuous years from 2016 to 2024, with 4 treatments of equal application of N, P and K (NPK), and no N (-N), no P (-P), and no K (-K), to analyze the yield of annual crops, yield components, nutrient utilization, and apparent balance.【Result】Imbalanced fertilization significantly reduced crop yields, compared with the NPK treatment, the -N, -P and -K treatments reduced yields by 26.7%, 36.7% and 2.8% in rice and 57.4%, 86.4% and 12.3% in rapeseed, respectively, and the reduction in the number of effective number of panicles in rice and the number of pods in rapeseed were the main reasons for the crop yields reduction. With the increase of rotation year, the cumulative crop yield under -N, -P and -K treatments gradually increased the degree of yield reduction; compared with NPK treatment, the yield stability and sustainability of rice and rapeseed were significantly reduced under -P treatment. In terms of annual nutrient allocation in crop rotation, the N, P2O5 and K2O accumulation in rice was higher than that in rapeseed, and the trends of nutrient accumulation in rice, rapeseed and crop annual rotation under imbalanced fertilizer application conditions were consistent with yields. Fertilizer use efficiency analysis showed that the fertilizer contribution rates of N, P and K fertilizers were lower in rice than in rapeseed, while the agronomic efficiency of N and P fertilizers, and the recovery efficiency of P and K fertilizers were higher than those of rapeseed. From the nutrient apparent balance of the annual rotation, the nutrient surpluses of the soil in the rice season were all lower than those of the soil in the rapeseed season, and the annual rotation of the NPK treatment had surpluses of 135.1 kg N·hm-2, 49.6 kg P2O5·hm-2, and deficits of 225.1 kg K2O·hm-2, deficiency of a single nutrient exacerbated the surplus of other nutrients.【Conclusion】In the rice-rapeseed rotation system, the deficiency of any single essential nutrient notably diminished crop yield as well as the utilization of nutrients, and the rate of yield reduction was related to the basic soil fertility level. Under the conditions of this study, the -P treatment had the largest yield reduction, followed by the -N treatment, while the -K treatment showed the smallest reduction. The magnitude of yield reduction in rapeseed was significantly higher than that in rice. Therefore, it was necessary to pay attention to the input of N and P fertilizers to achieve high and stable crop yields, and appropriate supplementation of K fertilizer to alleviate the depletion of soil K reservoirs, in order to realize high yield, high efficiency and sustainable development of the long-term rice-rapeseed rotation system.

  • PLANT PROTECTION
    HUJiaYan, SHENZhiHan, WENLiHui, YUJiaHao, ZHANGYuJun, JIANGDongHua
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(17): 3434-3450. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.006

    【Objective】Rice bacterial leaf streak (BLS) is a quarantine-regulated bacterial disease in China caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), which has severely threatened rice yield and grain quality, becoming one of the main diseases in rice production areas. This study aims to utilize high-quality actinomycete strains to lay a theoretical foundation for developing the products of microbial origin to mitigate crop diseases.【Method】Actinomycete strains were isolated and purified from rhizosphere soil samples of various plants using the serial dilution plating technique. The inhibition ability of different strains against Xoc was compared by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone. The target strain with the best inhibition effect was selected for preservation and identified through polyphasic characterization integrating morphological traits, physiological-biochemical experiments, and multi-gene alignment analysis. The effects of antagonistic actinomycete on the physiological characteristics of Xoc were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), intracellular β-galactosidase leakage determination and SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. The greenhouse pot control effect test was carried out to study the actual benefit of controlling BLS. The growth-promoting characteristics of antagonistic actinomycete were analyzed by designated medium, and its effects on the growth and development of rice seedlings were investigated by watering growth-promoting experiments.【Result】A total of 80 actinomycete strains were isolated. Among them, strain Sv-6 exhibited the most potent antagonism against Xoc, with inhibition zone diameter of (44.87±0.26) mm. Based on the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, strain Sv-6 was identified as Streptomyces virginiae. After treatment with the culture filtrate of Sv-6 strain, Xoc cells swelled, shrunk and aggregated. At the same time, the material composition of the membrane surface changed, the permeability increased, and the protein expression decreased. The results of greenhouse pot experiments showed that the lesion inhibition rates of susceptible rice varieties Yongyou 15 and Xiangliangyou 900 were 57.98%-88.25% after being treated with strain Sv-6 culture fluid, which exhibited a good preventive effect on rice infected with Xoc. The growth-promoting characterization confirmed that strain Sv-6 exhibited siderophore production, inorganic phosphate solubilization, and IAA production. The growth-promoting irrigation experiments confirmed that strain Sv-6 enhanced the growth of rice seedlings, and the root length increased by 48.50% after treatment.【Conclusion】S. virginiae Sv-6 exhibits a good control effect on BLS, and has the potential to be developed into green biocontrol agent and microbial fertilizer.

  • SPECIAL FOCUS: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR ANNUAL RICE-RAPESEED ROTATION
    DONGYunQi, HUANGJian, CHAIYiXiao, YANGShiChao, WANGMin, MENGXuSheng, GUOShiWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(16): 3201-3219. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.16.005

    【Objective】To explore the potential of optimizing fertilization under rice-rapeseed rotation for increasing crop yield and efficiency in medium and low yield fields, this study analyzed the effects of optimized fertilization on yield, nutrient absorption, and soil fertility in rice-rapeseed rotation, as well as the effectiveness of rice-rapeseed rotation in improving soil fertility. This study aimed to identify fertilization strategies suitable for medium and low yield fields and the potential for improving quality and efficiency in rice-rapeseed rotation, so as to provide the theoretical guidance for reducing obstacles in medium and low yield fields, promoting efficient production in rice-rapeseed rotation, and achieving sustainable development of rice-rapeseed rotation.【Method】The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Science Research Institute in Rugao City, Jiangsu Province from 2017 to 2024, with low yield fields as the research objects. Through small-scale experiments, no fertilization treatment (CK), no nitrogen treatment (PK), no phosphorus treatment (NK), farmer's habitual fertilization treatment (FFP), and optimized fertilization treatment (OPT) were set up. By analyzing the annual yield of crops in both water and drought seasons, the nutrient absorption of aboveground parts during maturity, and soil nutrient content, the yield change rules under different fertilization systems of rice-rapeseed rotation were clarified, and the main influencing factors were explored.【Result】During the seven year rotation period, compared with FFP, the yield and yield composition of rice and rapeseed treated with OPT were more stable with increasing rotation cycles. Compared with FFP, OPT treatment significantly increased the nitrogen and phosphorus partial productivity of rice and rapeseed, with rice showing 51.5%-73.3% and 81.8%-107.9% higher nitrogen and phosphorus partial productivity, respectively; rapeseed was 137.2%-152.3% and 89.8%-101.9% higher, respectively. During the four-year rotation period, the aboveground biomass of rice and rapeseed treated with OPT was higher than that treated with FFP. Comparing the two annual rotation periods at the beginning and end of the comparative experiment, it was found that the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the aboveground parts of rice and rapeseed treated with OPT was higher than that under FFP treatment, and OPT treatment had a better effect on improving soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and available potassium than FFP treatment. After 7 years of rice-rapeseed rotation, the soil fertility index significantly increased (63.8%-117.2%) under all treatments. Compared with FFP treatment, the average membership degree of five soil chemical indicators in the rice season treated with OPT was higher than that under FFP treatment, and its comprehensive fertility index increased by 13.4%-19.2%. In addition, the soil phosphorus activation coefficient during the three-year rotation period was monitored, and it was found that the OPT treatment had a higher soil phosphorus activation coefficient than under FFP treatment. 【Conclusion】Compared with the traditional fertilization practices of farmers, optimizing fertilization could be achieved by optimizing fertilizer management. Based on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application by 40% and 50% in rice and 60% and 50% in rapeseed, stabilizing their yield composition, maintaining high biomass and nutrient absorption, and achieving stable annual yield in the rice-rapeseed intercropping system; the performance of optimized fertilization treatment in improving fertilizer utilization efficiency and soil fertility was better than that of farmers' habitual treatment. Therefore, optimizing fertilization under long-term fertilizer reduction could coordinate crop nutrient needs and nutrient supply, maintain stable or increased crop yields, and improve fertilizer utilization efficiency. Rice-rapeseed rotation could improve soil fertility in medium and low yield fields, achieve obstacle reduction in medium and low yield fields, and promote sustainable development of rice-rapeseed rotation.

  • INTELLIGENT MONITORING OF SALINE-ALKALI LAND
    LEIMingKuo, ZHAYan, WANGLi, CHENGGang, WENCaiYun, YINZuoTang, LUMiao
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(20): 4070-4084. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.004

    【Background】Soil salinization severely constrains crop growth and ecological balance, and its accurate monitoring is essential for saline-alkali land reclamation, yield forecasting, and precision farmland management. Driven by natural and anthropogenic factors, salinization is governed by the redistribution of water and salt within the soil profile, exhibiting pronounced vertical migration and strong spatial heterogeneity. Although unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing is now widely used for field-scale salinity mapping, it essentially captures surface information and fails to characterize salt gradients in deeper layers. 【Objective】To develop a UAV-image-based, layer-specific modeling framework that integrates machine learning with Kriging interpolation for high-resolution 3-D mapping of subsurface soil salinity.【Method】Firstly, the UAV was equipped with multispectral sensors to obtain high-resolution images of the test field, and the soil salinity data at different depths were measured synchronously, supplemented by real-time dynamic differential positioning technology to ensure spatial accuracy. Then, a spectral feature set including the red-edge band was constructed, and the feature optimization was carried out based on the random forest algorithm. On this basis, machine learning and Kriging interpolation method were combined to establish a stratified soil salinity prediction model and generate a high-resolution salinity distribution map. Finally, the advantages of the proposed method in the spatial representation of deep salinization were verified by comparing it with the cubic fitting depth function prediction method.【Result】The prediction accuracy R2 of each depth of deep soil salinization spatial prediction by the mixed model hierarchical modeling was 0.68 (0-10 cm), 0.51 (10-20 cm), 0.58 (20-40 cm), 0.56 (40-60 cm) and 0.52 (60-80 cm), respectively, and the prediction effect of 0-10 cm surface layer was the best. The red-edged salinity index was an important predictor at all depths, which verified the applicability and effectiveness of the constructed red-edged index. By comparing the prediction results of the mixed model with the cubic fitting depth function, the spatial prediction accuracy of deep soil salinization in the layered model of the mixed model was higher, and it could more truly reflect the salinization degree at different depths in the experimental area.【Conclusion】UAV remote sensing technology is the best in shallow (0-10 cm) soil salinity prediction, and the prediction accuracy of soil properties decreases with the increase of depth, and the depth accuracy still needs to be improved. From the prediction results, the average soil salinity gradually increases with the increase of depth, indicating that there is an accumulation phenomenon of salt in the soil profile. Compared with the cubic fitting depth function method, the hybrid model based on random forest stratification modeling and Kriging residual correction shows higher spatial prediction accuracy in each soil layer, which is more reasonable and practical, and provides a scientific basis for dynamic monitoring of regional soil salinization and accurate layered soil salinity mapping.

  • SOIL & FERTILIZER·WATER-SAVING IRRIGATION·AGROECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
    WUWenQi, JIAOYang, XIJiaZhen, WANGXuFeng, GUOBoSen, SHENYuFang
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(23): 4966-4978. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.012

    【Objective】 This study aimed to explore the effects of different organic amendments combined with chemical fertilizers on maize yield and soil fertility in medium and low yield fields, so as to provide a scientific basis for selecting the best organic fertilization measure. 【Method】 The study focused on medium and low yield fields in Loess Plateau, conducting maize field trials in 2022 and 2023 for two consecutive years. Four organic amendment agent treatments were set up: straw return combined with chemical fertilizer (SF), biochar combined with chemical fertilizer (B), organic fertilizer combined with chemical fertilizer (M), and biological organic fertilizer combined with chemical fertilizer (EM), with chemical fertilizer alone (F) as the control. By measuring maize grain yield and various soil physical, chemical and biological indicators under different treatments, correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to establish the minimum dataset for evaluation indicators. Fuzzy mathematics was then applied to assess soil fertility. 【Result】 Compared with F treatment, the percentage of soil water-stable macroaggregates (R>0.25) significantly increased by 19.8% and 17.8% under SF and B treatment, respectively, while the percentage of soil aggregates <0.053 mm (R<0.053) significantly decreased by 17.2% and 14.0%; soil moisture content significantly increased by 7.6% and 13.0%, respectively. The M and EM treatments similarly improved the percentage of soil water-stable macroaggregates and surface soil moisture, but the differences were not significant. The application of organic amendments combined with fertilizers improved the geometric mean diameter (GMD) and mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregates, with SF treatment showing a significant increase compared with F treatment, but no significant differences were observed under B and M treatments. Compared with the F treatment, different organic amendment treatments significantly increased soil organic matter content by 16.1%-28.5% and available phosphorus content by 23.1%-195.4%. The DOC under SF treatment and the DON under M treatment showed the most significant increases. The MBC and MBP under EM treatment and the MBN under M treatment were the highest, significantly increasing by 36.9%, 216.4% and 63.3% than that under F treatment, respectively. Compared with the F treatment, the activities of β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and leucine aminopeptidase under SF, M and EM treatment increased by 13.3%-57.0%, 21.4%-22.0% and 24.3%-35.1%, respectively. While B treatment showed a significant increase in β-glucosidase activity, but not in N-acetyl-glucosidase and leucine aminopeptidase activity. The soil total enzyme activity index (TEI) ranked as EM>M>SF>B>F treatment, with the EM treatment significantly higher than SF, B and F treatment. The application of organic amendments enhanced soil aggregate structure, increased soil organic matter and nutrient content, and boosted soil enzyme activity, thereby improving soil IFI, with increases ranging from 0.6% to 36.9%, where EM, M and B treatments showed significant increases. Over the two-year trials period, the maize yield was increased significantly by 13.4%-18.5% with the application of organic and biological organic fertilizers compared with F treatment, and the maize yields under these treatments were significantly higher than that under SF treatment. 【Conclusion】 The application of organic amendments combined with chemical fertilizers improved the quality of soil fertility and increased the yield of maize, with M and EM treatment being the most effective.

  • RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY
    FANGJian, QINZhaoJi, YUYuanYuan, YUNingNing, ZHAOBin, LIUPeng, RENBaiZhao, ZHANGJiWang
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(23): 4841-4857. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.004

    【Objective】 To optimize the soybean-maize intercropping system in the Huang-Huai-Hai region, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different row ratio configurations on crop agronomic traits, canopy structure of the population, yield components, edge effects, and overall economic benefits. The goal was to identify suitable row ratio configurations, thereby improving land resource use efficiency and economic returns. 【Method】 Three row ratio configurations were implemented: 4 rows of soybean intercropped with 2 rows of maize (4:2), 6 rows of soybean intercropped with 4 rows of maize (6:4), and 4 rows of soybean intercropped with 4 rows of maize (4:4), using monoculture soybean (SCK) and monoculture maize (MCK) as controls. Crop dry matter accumulation, leaf area index (LAI), relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), canopy light transmittance, and yield components were measured. The inner and outer row sampling approach was adopted to evaluate edge effects and overall economic benefits. 【Result】 Compared with monoculture, intercropping significantly decreased per-plant dry matter accumulation in maize during the filling, milking, and maturity stages, and in soybean during the full flowering, full pod, grain filling, and full maturity stages. Among the row ratio configurations, maize exhibited maximum per-plant dry matter accumulation under the 4:4 pattern, whereas soybean achieved its highest accumulation under the 6:4 pattern. Row ratio configurations significantly influenced inter-row variations in dry matter accumulation and yield for both crops. Maize yield followed the order 4:4 pattern>4:2 pattern>6:4 pattern, representing reductions of 15.22%, 18.02%, and 12.62% relative to MCK, respectively; soybean yield followed the order 6:4 pattern>4:4 pattern>4:2 pattern, corresponding to reductions of 55.99%, 50.43%, and 56.00% compared with SCK, respectively. Intercropped maize exhibited pronounced edge advantage, with border row maize yields significantly exceeding those of inner rows. Within the intercropping system, both maize and soybean demonstrated lower canopy light transmittance, LAI, and SPAD values compared with their monoculture counterparts. Maize canopy light transmittance, LAI, and SPAD values followed the consistent ranking: 4:4 pattern>4:2 pattern>6:4 pattern; soybean canopy light transmittance followed 4:4 pattern>6:4 pattern>4:2 pattern, while its LAI and SPAD values mirrored the ranking pattern observed in maize. Maize LAI was significantly influenced by row ratio configuration, whereas no significant inter-row variations were detected for maize SPAD values or for soybean LAI and SPAD values. In evaluations of economic returns and intercropping advantages, the 4:4 pattern configuration demonstrated superior performance, achieving the highest values for land equivalent ratio (LER), relative crowding coefficient (K), and economic benefits. Maize in intercropping exhibited higher LER and K values relative to soybean, with the maize competition ratio (CRm) being significantly greater than that of soybean (CRs) (CRm>1, CRs<1), demonstrating maize's competitive dominance in interspecific competition. 【Conclusion】 Although intercropping reduced per-plant dry matter accumulation, LAI, and SPAD values for both crops compared with monoculture, it significantly increased the land equivalent ratio (LER) and overall economic benefits. Under the experimental conditions, the 4:4 pattern exhibited more optimal canopy architecture, with maize demonstrating pronounced edge advantage. This system maintained maize yield while generating additional soybean income, thereby achieving the synergistic enhancement of total productivity and economic returns.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    LUOJiaRui, WUSanLing, GUOFu, LIUZhen, SONGJingHan, TANYuanYuan, SHUQingYao
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(15): 2933-2947. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.15.001

    【Objective】 Tos17 is a type of retrotransposon in the rice genome. In the japonica variety Nipponbare, a Tos17 located on chromosome 7 (Tos17Chr.7) can be activated during tissue culture. This study aims to reveal the genomic features of Tos17 of indica varieties in China and determine whether their Tos17 can be activated in tissue culture like in japonica rice, which may affect biotechnological breeding. 【Method】 High-quality genome resequencing data of indica varieties or hybrid parents were retrieved from public databases. An in-house program was developed to identify and analyze Tos17 insertion loci, confirmed by IGV visualization and PCR assays. The varieties were classified through hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis, a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, and the association between varietal clusters and Tos17 haplotypes was assessed using Mantel test. Transgenic plants were generated by Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of mature embryo-derived callus of indica varieties, and the changes of Tos17 copy number were analyzed in 125 T0 transgenic plants.【Result】 23 distinct Tos17 insertion loci were identified in 1 511 indica varieties using the Tos17-finder, a program developed specifically for Tos17 identification. All varieties had a Tos17 on Chr.10 (Tos17Chr.10) identical to the one in japonica rice Nipponbare, and there were two high-frequency Tos17 copies on Chr.2, i.e., Tos17Chr.2-1 (79.0%) and Tos17Chr.2-2 (83.7%), but only 85 (5.6%) varieties carried the Tos17Chr.7 common to japonica rice. There were 4.0 Tos17 copies per variety on average, and while 11 varieties had up to 8 Tos17 copies, 35 only had a single Tos17, i.e., Tos17Chr.10. Twelve Tos17 insertions were located within or 2 kb up- or down-stream of annotated genes, with the remaining 11 in intergenic regions. Phylogenetic analysis based on SNPs classified the 1 511 varieties into three subpopulations, each showing partial correlation with specific Tos17 haplotypes. No new Tos17 insertions were detected in the 125 T0 transgenic seedlings of 5 indica varieties. A molecular marker capable of accurately distinguishing Tos17Chr.7 from other Tos17s was developed. 【Conclusion】 The genomic features of Tos17 in indica rice varieties differ from those in japonica rice variety Nipponbare. The developed molecular marker can be used to determine readily whether the test materials carry the activatable Tos17Chr.7.

  • INTELLIGENT MONITORING OF SALINE-ALKALI LAND
    LIMingLi, WENCaiYun, MADongHao, LICunJun, WANGYuWen, KANGLu, LUMiao
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(20): 4054-4069. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.003

    【Objective】Soil salinization is a key environmental problem threatening the sustainable development of agriculture in arid areas, leading to the deterioration of soil structure, crop yield reduction and ecosystem degradation. The purpose of this study is to use spectral transformation, band selection and a variety of machine learning methods to build a soil salinity prediction model, which can quickly and accurately estimate soil salinity, and provide technical support for the scientific management of salinized farmland.【Method】Taking farmland soil in Dalate Banner as the research object, soil samples were collected systematically and their electrical conductivity (EC) and spectral reflectance data were measured. Firstly, Savitzky-Golay (S-G) filter was used to smooth the original spectrum (R). On this basis, 12 kinds of spectral transformation processing including reciprocal, logarithmic, first-order differential and second-order differential were carried out to mine the hidden spectral features. Then, the correlation analysis (CA) and least angle regression (LAR) methods were used to reduce the feature dimension, and the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) algorithm was combined to further screen the sensitive feature bands. Finally, partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector machine (SVM), back propagation neural network (BPNN) and random forest (RF) models were constructed based on the optimal features. The performance of the model was comprehensively evaluated by determination coefficient (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE), and the modeling effects of feature sets in different algorithms were compared.【Result】After spectral transformation, the correlation coefficients of the original spectrum were improved in varying degrees, indicating that spectral transformation could significantly enhance the correlation between soil salinity and spectral characteristics; When CARS was used for feature band optimization, LAR had better feature dimension reduction effect than CA; The reciprocal logarithmic first-order differential (ATFD) combined with PLSR model performed best, and its validation set accuracy was R2=0.81, RMSE=2.04 dS·m-1; The comparison of different modeling methods showed that the performance of PLSR prediction model was better than the other three models (BPNN/RF/SVM), indicating that PLSR model was more suitable for the prediction of soil salinity in this region.【Conclusion】The hyperspectral prediction model of soil salinity based on ATFD-LAR-CARS-PLSR has high accuracy and optimal prediction ability, which proves that hyperspectral technology combined with multi-dimensional feature optimization can effectively realize the prediction of soil salinity in arid areas.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    QIUDongFeng, LIUGang, LIUChunPing, XIAKuaiFei, WANGTingBao, WUYan, HEYong, HUANGXianBo, ZHANGZaiJun, YOUAiQing, TIANZhiHong
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(18): 3571-3582. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.18.001

    【Objective】To meet the increasing food demand driven by population growth and environmental changes, it is necessary to continuously cultivate varieties with high yield, good quality, and multiple resistances. Efficiently create new germplasm with rich genetic backgrounds and genetic diversity to provide a reference for breeding new varieties that balance multiple excellent traits. 【Method】The Sanming dominant genic male sterile material was used to simplify the hybridization procedure. It was hybridized with multiple parents with distant geographical relationships to aggregate multiple excellent traits. Aiming at problems such as a narrow genetic basis and the difficulty of applying molecular markers, S221 was successively and continuously hybridized with materials such as 09598, Ezhong 5, Yuanfengzhan, Yunxiangruan, etc. Fertile plants were selected from the offspring of the last hybridization. The new variety was cultivated by combining the pedigree method with heat-tolerance analysis, rice quality analysis, and resistance screening. The DNA of 60 selected single plants from the F10 series of lines and 4 parents was extracted. Primers for the target sites were designed. The target DNA fragments were captured by PCR and sequenced. Finally, the genotyping analysis of the target sites was carried out. The SLYm1R high-density rice whole-genome SNP chip was used for the analysis of functional genes. 【Result】Genotype analysis is carried out to analyze the degree of genetic relationship or similarity based on the magnitude of the base substitution rate. The parental materials Ezhong 5 and Yunxiangruan have a relatively distant relationship with other parental materials, while 09598 has a relatively close relationship with Yuanfengzhan. The base substitution rates among the three newly obtained lines are as follows: 0.0099545 (170531-170532), 0.0338213 (170531-170533), and0.0371913 (170532-170533). Within each line, the base substitution rate is 0, indicating that there are differences among the three lines, but there is no genetic difference within each line. Through successive generations and expansion propagation, new germplasms were formed, which were named ZY531, ZY532, and ZY533 respectively. The results of functional gene analysis show that the functional genes of the ZY532 series of germplasms are respectively derived from 4 parents, aggregating excellent genes from multiple parents. For example, the Os-MOT1;1 gene is derived from Yunxiangruan, which can reduce abiotic stresses such as molybdenum accumulation; the Bph3 gene is derived from 09598 and Ezhong 5, which can enhance the resistance to brown planthoppers; the OsGSK2 gene is derived from 09598, Yuanfengzhan, and Yunxiangruan, which can increase the length of the mesocotyl and is suitable for direct seeding; the Badh2 gene is derived from Yunxiangruan, making the rice fragrant; multiple blast resistance genes are derived from different parents and can also be aggregated into the innovative resources, enabling it to obtain good blast resistance. ZY532 has excellent rice quality, good blast resistance, and strong heat resistance. ZY532 also has good heat resistance, and the heat resistance of the hybrid combination prepared reaches level 3. 【Conclusion】When using dominant genic male sterility to cultivate new varieties, due to the complex genetic background, the breeding cycle is often long. Combining high-throughput SNP marker detection can quickly screen out stable lines and more types, which not only broadens the genetic basis but also improves the breeding efficiency. It is an efficient breeding method.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    LIUPengPeng, LIJiangBo, XUHongJun, NIEYingBin, HANXinNian, KONGDeZhen, SANGWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(15): 2948-2959. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.15.002

    【Objective】 To provide high-quality parental materials for broadening the genetic foundation of Xinjiang wheat resources as well as parental selection and cultivar development in breeding programs, the genetic diversity and relationships of protein quality traits and storage protein components in Xinjiang wheat germplasm resources were analyzed in this study. 【Method】 A total of 303 Xinjiang wheat accessions were evaluated for variation, correlation, and cluster analysis of protein quality traits and storage protein component contents. Genetic diversity indices (H') and membership function values were calculated to comprehensively assess the materials.【Result】 The coefficients of variation (CV) for protein quality traits and storage protein component contents in Xinjiang wheat resources ranged from 5.52% to 60.99% and 9.17% to 23.69%, respectively. The highest CV for protein quality traits was observed in 8-minute width (60.99%), while the highest CV for storage protein components was found in unextractable polymeric protein (UPP, 23.69%). Genetic diversity indices ranged from 1.06 to 2.15 with an average of 1.78. In addition, the gluten index (GI) exhibiting the highest value (2.15) and peak time (PT) the lowest (1.06). Correlation and multiple regression analyses demonstrated that the comprehensive evaluation value (F15) effectively assessed protein quality (gluten quality). Key traits for protein quality evaluation included gluten index (GI), peak time (PT), 8 minute width, sedimentation value (SV), and unextractable polymeric protein (UPP), which are applicable for future breeding applications. Cluster analysis classified the 303 accessions into three groups (15.84%, 43.23%, and 40.92%, respectively). Group I exhibited the highest comprehensive evaluation value (F15) and optimal quality indices, with significantly superior means for seven parameters, including percentage of unextractable polymeric protein (%UPP), unextractable polymeric protein (UPP), gluten index (GI), peak time (PT), 8 minute width, 8 minute area, and sedimentation value (SV). This confirmed the reliability of F15 in evaluating gluten quality. 【Conclusion】 The genetic diversity distribution patterns and relationships of protein quality traits and storage protein components in Xinjiang winter wheat resources were elucidated. Critical traits for protein quality evaluation were identified, and a set of accessions with superior comprehensive performance in storage protein components and protein quality traits were selected based on F15. These resources hold significant potential for utilization in future wheat breeding programs of Xinjiang.

  • SPECIAL FOCUS: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR ANNUAL RICE-RAPESEED ROTATION
    XIONGZhiHao, LIUJunQuan, YELin, ZHUDanDan, HOUSuSu, FANGYaTing, CONGRiHuan, RENTao, LIXiaoKun, LUJianWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(16): 3293-3303. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.16.012

    【Objective】This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term different straw return methods on productivity and apparent balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients in rice-rapeseed rotation system, in order to provide the theoretical basis for the efficient utilization of straw resources in the rotation system.【Method】The field experiment was located in Wuxue City, Hubei Province, and started in 2014, with three treatments of straw not return (NPK), direct straw return (NPK+St) and burning straw return (NPK+Sb), to determine and analyze the yields, nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium nutrient uptake and their apparent balances and other related indicators of rice and rapeseed in the consecutive 10-year period from 2014 to 2024.【Result】The average results of the 10-year experiment showed that compared with the NPK treatment, the rice and rapeseed yield in the NPK+St treatment increased significantly by 7.7% and 10.7%, respectively; the rapeseed yield in the NPK+Sb treatment increased significantly by 5.2%, and the effect of yield increase on rice was not significant. The yield increase effects of NPK+Sb and NPK+St increased with the increase in years of straw return, and in the 6th year reached the significant level. Based on the annual nutrient uptake characteristics, compared with the NPK treatment, the annual nitrogen uptake in the NPK+St and NPK+Sb treatments increased by an average of 11.6% and 2.9%, respectively, the annual phosphorus uptake increased by an average of 11.9% and 10.2%, respectively, and the annual potassium accumulation increased by an average of 55.8% and 39.1%, respectively. Direct straw return significantly enhanced the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients in the rotation system. Burning straw return effectively increased the absorption of phosphorus and potassium nutrients in the rotation system. The annual nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium surplus of rice-rapeseed rotation in the NPK treatment were 101.3 kg N·hm-2·a-1, -8.9 kg P2O5·hm-2·a-1 and -296.6 kg K2O·hm-2·a-1, respectively. The annual nitrogen surplus in the NPK+St treatment averaged 166.1 kg N·hm-2·a-1, with an increase of 64.0%. The annual phosphorus and potassium nutrient surpluses were realized for both NPK+St and NPK+Sb treatments, with surpluses of 33.0 and 19.0 kg P2O5·hm-2·a-1, 79.4 and 21.3 kg K2O·hm-2·a-1, respectively. 【Conclusion】Direct and burning straw return significantly increased the crops production potential and nutrient uptake by promoting nutrient cycling in the rice-rapeseed rotation system. The effect of stabilizing rice yield and increasing rapeseed yield was shown among the different crops in the rotation. The straw direct return was more favorable to increase crop yield and to maintain the nutrient balance of the farmland than the straw burning return. Therefore, it was recommended to promote the direct straw return approach in the process of farmland production in order to fully utilize its advantages of yield enhancement, stabilization, and nutrient balancing, and to promote the sustainable development of the rice-oil rotation system.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    XIANGAiHui, BAIRongJi, HAOYuQiong, ZHAOJiaJia, WUBangBang, LIXiaoHua, ZHENGXingWei, GUANPanFeng, ZHENGJun
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(17): 3372-3388. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.002

    【Objective】Dwarf genes play a crucial role in wheat genetics and breeding. Different ecological zones and wheat varieties have varying requirements for plant height. Therefore, understanding the distribution pattern and characteristics of dwarf genes in Shanxi wheat, as well as identifying novel genetic loci related to plant height will contribute to wheat genetic improvement.【Method】Based on the accurate identification of plant height and component traits, a total of 11 known dwarfing gene types were genotyped in 306 Shanxi wheat samples and integrated with a 16K SNP chip to conduct genome-wide association analysis aimed at identifying new loci controlling plant height.【Result】With the exception of spike length, both of the plant height and component traits of Shanxi wheat exhibited a gradual decline over the years of breeding and the various compositional traits associated with plant height were influenced by distinct selection pressures. The distribution frequency of 11 dwarfing genes in Shanxi wheat from high to low was Rht12, Rht24, Rht8, Rht26, Rht13, Rht25, Rht2, Rht5, Rht4, Rht1, and Rht9, among which Rht1, Rht2, and Rht25 have not been found in landraces. Except for Rht2 and Rht25 is more widely distributed in irrigated cultivars than in dryland cultivars, the distribution of other dwarfing genes is relatively similar in dryland cultivars and irrigated cultivars. A total of 125 different dwarf genes combination were identified, of which the combination with the highest distribution frequency was Rht8+Rht12+Rht24. Combined with association analysis, a total of 26 stable genetic loci were identified to be distributed on 14 chromosomes including 1A, 2A, and 2B. Notably, eight loci such as QPH-6D, QPH-7A, and Q3rd IL-1D have not been reported yet. Among these, QPH-6D mainly reduced plant height by shortening the length of the third and fourth internodes by approximately 13.68 %, while QPH-7A reduced the plant height by 16.87 % via shortening the length of the second and third internodes.【Conclusion】The main dwarf genes in Shanxi wheat were mainly Rht12, Rht24, and Rht8. 26 stable genetic loci were located on chromosomes 1A, 2A, and 2B, among which eight loci such as QPH-6D, QPH-7A, and Q3rd IL-1D may be novel loci related to plant height.

  • TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY·AGRICULTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
    ZHANGTingTing, ZHANGGuoQiang, LIShaoKun, WANGKeRu, XIERuiZhi, XUEJun, FANGLiang, LIXiaoHong, FUJiaLe, LIJiaKai, LIANGChen, GEJunZhu, MINGBo
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(17): 3418-3433. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.005

    【Objective】This study aimed to explore the effects of combining new bio-breeding insect-resistant varieties with dense-planting precision-controlled high-yield technology on maize yield and economic benefits, and to propose the optimal cultivation mode suitable for new bio-breeding insect-resistant varieties, so as to provide the theoretical basis for optimizing the high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation system of spring maize in the Xiliaohe Plain.【Method】Through a field trial in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia from 2023 to 2024, the experiment was conducted in a split-zone design, with cultivation mode as the main zone, setting up two modes of local traditional farmer mode (FP) and dense planting precision regulation mode (DPDI); varieties as the sub-zone, four maize varieties were used, namely, Dongdan 1331 (DD1331), Dongdan 1331K (DD1331K), Youdi 919 (YD919), Youdi 919HZ (YD919HZ). Then, the impact of varietal insect resistance traits on maize yield and economic benefits under different technical models were analyzed.【Result】During a two-year trial, the insect pests in the fields of insect-resistant varieties occurred lightly, with the insect plant rate of 6.80%-9.87%; the fields of conventional varieties occurred moderately or heavily, with the insect plant rate of 22.27%-36.31%. In 2023 (insect plant rate>30%), compared with conventional varieties (DD1331, YD919), the new insect-resistant varieties (DD1331K, YD919HZ) significantly increased thousand kernel weight, thus improving maize yield (0.84%-9.31%) and economic benefits (0.3%-13.3%), whereas in 2024, when the insect plant rate was about 23%, there was no significant difference in the number of thousand kernels and the number of grains between insect-resistant varieties, and there were no significant differences in ear grain number, thousand kernel weight and yield between conventional varieties. With increasing planting density, maize yield reached its maximum at 9.0×104 or 10.5×104 plants/hm2, which was significantly higher than that at 6.0×104 plants/hm2 density, by 13.54%-19.94% and 7.48%-21.01%, respectively. The two-year average yields of the dense planting precision regulated model were significantly higher than those of the traditional farmers' model, with yield increases ranging from 13.50% to 19.19% in 2023 and from 7.03% to 14.42% in 2024. Compared with the traditional farmers' model, the economic benefits of the dense planting precision regulation model were generally improved by 0.19×104-1.02×104 yuan/hm2.【Conclusion】Insect-resistant varieties (DD1331K, YD919HZ) significantly improved yield (up to 9.31%) and economic efficiency (up to 40.3%) in years of severe insect infestation (>30% of insect plants), but did not differ significantly from conventional varieties under low insect pressure. Through optimized density (9.0×104-10.5×104 plants/hm2) and precise management of water and fertilizer, DPDI increased yields by an average of 22.18% in two years and improved economic benefits by 0.57×104 yuan/hm2 compared with the conventional mode (FP); the core principle of DPDI was that insect resistant varieties could reduce the threat of pests, decrease yield losses, reduce the use of insecticides, and lower production input costs. By increasing the production capacity of maize populations through reasonable planting density and combining drip irrigation with water and fertilizer integration for precise regulation, the yield and income of maize could be increased. The synergistic application of insect-resistant varieties and DPDI model could achieve technological superposition and further improve the ability of high and stable yield.

  • TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY·AGRICULTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
    MIAOTongTong, WANGLongJin, YANGRuiTing, DAIChengCheng, LIUShiChao, LINan, LIDongXiao-
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(17): 3400-3417. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.004

    【Objective】This research has been conducted to clarify how exogenous melatonin interacts with stress responsive factors of abscisic acid (ABA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to enhance wheat drought resistance of wheat and explore the underlying mechanism.【Method】Wheat varieties Jimai 22 and Hengguan 35 were used as experimental materials, and six treatments were designed: normal water treatment (CK), exogenous melatonin treatment (MT), drought treatment (DS), melatonin treatment under drought stress (DS+MT), melatonin and ABA inhibitor fluoridone treatment under drought stress (DS+MT+Flu), and the treatment of melatonin and H2O2 scavenger diphenyl chloride iodide salt (DS+MT+DPI) under drought stress. The key physiological indicators of wheat roots and above-ground plants (chlorophyll, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), ABA, endogenous melatonin, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion (), H2O2 and their antioxidant enzyme activities) were studied, focusing on the changes and response relationships in wheat roots and aboveground plants.【Result】Under normal conditions, the application of exogenous MT could significantly increase the endogenous melatonin content in plant leaves and roots, improve the chlorophyll a/b, Pn, and root fresh weight of the two wheat varieties, enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (CAT) in plants, and reduce the content of MDA, , and leaf ABA. Under drought conditions, applying MT treatment (DS+MT) could significantly increase the total chlorophyll content, Pn, transpiration rate (Tr), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUET) of Jimai 22 and Hengguan 35, with the increases compared with the DS treatment being 14.62%, 26.22%, 18.06%, 6.92% and 6.20%, 49.32%, 16.41%, 28.89%, respectively; Additionally, the SOD activity, CAT activity and MT content in the leaves and roots of Jimai 22 increased by 2.66%, 34.40%, 136.72% and 4.80%, 25.96%, 0.48%, respectively, compared with DS treatment. The SOD activity, CAT activity and MT content in the leaves and roots of Hengguan 35 increased by 32.08%, 24.08%, 24.65% and 83.51%, 4.49%, 61.80%, respectively, compared with DS treatment. At the same time, compared with DS treatment, DS+MT treatment showed better effects on Jimai 22 and Hengguan 35, the leaf ABA content significantly decreased by 36.94% and 6.78%, while the MDA, H2O2, and , contents in the leaves and roots also significantly decreased. The DS+MT+Flu and DS+MT+DPI treatments further enhanced the improvement effect of MT on the aboveground dry weight and SOD activity of Jimai 22, while significantly reducing the contents of ABA, endogenous MT, and peroxidation product; but it showed a negative regulatory effect on Hengguan 35, such as reducing chlorophyll content, leaf area, and aboveground fresh weight, whereas increasing POD activity and leaf MDA and ABA content. All these demonstrated the differences between the varieties.【Conclusion】Under drought stress, the application of exogenous melatonin could effectively enhance the drought resistance of wheat seedlings, and melatonin had two pathways for drought resistance: ABA-dependent and ABA-independent response factors; ABA and H2O2 act as downstream signals of MT. There were both antagonistic and synergistic relationships between ABA and MT, and an antagonistic effect between H2O2 and MT. The interaction between ABA and H2O2 varied by variety and plant parts.

  • RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY
    ZHANGMengYu, HEZaiJu, WANGXingXing, RENHao, RENBaiZhao, LIUPeng, ZHANGJiWang, ZHAOBin
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(23): 4886-4904. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.007

    【Objective】 This study aimed to explore the regulatory effects of different plant height combinations of maize varieties on the light distribution and light resource utilization of the population canopy under the soybean and maize strip intercropping pattern. 【Method】 From 2023 to 2024, four maize varieties with different plant heights were used as experimental materials, including the short-stemmed varieties of MY73 and Denghai 605 (DH605), and the tall varieties of Jingke 968 (JK968) and Xianyu 1466 (XY1466), as well as the soybean variety Qihuang 34. The row configuration of maize and soybean was both 4:4. Different intercropping patterns were set, including intercropping of the same maize variety in all four rows as the control (S-MY, S-DH, S-JK, and S-XY), with 6.75×104 plants/hm2 for each of the four rows and intercropping of tall and short varieties (middle row tall variety JK968, edge row short variety MY73: MY-JK-1, MY-JK-2; middle row tall variety XY1466, edge row short variety DH605: DH-XY-1, DH-XY-2), and two types of planting densities were set, with 6.75×104 plants/hm2 for each of the four rows (MY-JK-1, DH-XY-1), 6.75×104 plants/hm2 for the middle rows, and 8.25×104 plants/hm2 for the edge rows (MY-JK-2, DH-XY-2). The plant spacing of soybean in each treatment was the same. The focus was on analyzing the effects of different intercropping patterns on the canopy structure of the population, light distribution, photosynthetic characteristics of maize and crop yield. 【Result】 The combined planting of maize varieties with different plant height optimized the canopy structure, significantly improved the light transmittance of the spike layer in the maize population, increased the leaf area index and photosynthetic characteristics, and ultimately promoted the increase in total system yield. During the silk production stage, the light transmittance of the spike layer in MY-JK-1 and MY-JK-2 increased by 18.55%-88.22% compared with S-MY and S-JK, and that in DH-XY-1 and DH-XY-2 increased by 39.26%-55.77% compared with S-DH and S-XY. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of the four varieties (except MY73) in the tall and short plant combination pattern was all increased. Among them, the Pn of DH605 in the DH-XY-2 pattern is 6.88% higher than that of S-DH, and the Pn of XY1466 in the DH-XY-2 pattern is 10.31% higher than that of S-XY. At the same time, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and potential activity (Fv/Fo) of the spike leaf also increased. The yield of maize under the MY-JK-2 pattern increased by an average of 19.44%, 9.58% and 1.66% over two years compared with the S-MY, S-JK and MY-JK-1 patterns, respectively. The average increase of DH-XY-2 over two years was 30.20%, 14.94% and 9.21% compared with the S-DH, S-XY and DH-XY-1 patterns, respectively. The maize yield (12 536.58 kg·hm-2) and total system yield (14 001.29 kg·hm-2) under the DH-XY-2 pattern were the highest in both years. 【Conclusion】 Compared with the intercropping pattern of single maize varieties, the combined planting of maize varieties with different plant heights could optimize the canopy structure of the population, improve the light distribution of the population canopy, and increase the light transmittance of the maize ear position layer and the photosynthetically active radiation at the top of soybean. At the same time, it improved the leaf area index and photosynthetic characteristics of maize, promoted the accumulation of photosynthetic products, and ultimately increased the total system yield. With the increase of edge row density, the maize yield was further enhanced. Under the conditions of this experiment, in the eastern part of the Huang-Huai-Hai region, it was recommended to use the combined planting of short-stemmed DH605 and tall XY1466, with a middle row density of 6.75×104 plants/hm2 and an edge row density of 8.25×104 plants/hm2.

  • TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY·AGRICULTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
    YANGLong, ZHANGXueKun, CHENAiWu, LIMei, CHENGTai, MAWuHui, XUBenBo, XUJinSong
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(21): 4333-4345. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.003

    【Objective】Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is the first major oil-bearing crop in China. Enhancing rapeseed yield per unit area is the key to increase its effective supply and economic benefits. Under the condition of mechanical direct seeding, further clarifying the impacts of major technical factors, such as variety selection, overwintering regulation, and disease and pest control, on the yield per unit area could provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of rapeseed yield per unit area in China. 【Method】Nine high-yield and high-quality rapeseed varieties were selected, and mechanical direct-seeding experiments were conducted at 22 experimental sites (major rapeseed-producing counties) over 2 years from 2021 to 2023. A systematic study was carried out to investigate the impacts of factors such as rapeseed variety, seed treatment, overwintering regulation, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum control on the yield per unit area under the condition of reduced topdressing application of nitrogen fertilizer. 【Result】The application of three combined treatment techniques, namely seed treatment (Maishuping coating for pest prevention, D1), overwintering regulation (D2), and novel Sclerotinia sclerotiorum control (fluxapyroxad, D3), all significantly increased the yield per unit area of rapeseed under reduced nitrogen topdressing (urea 45 kg·hm-2). Compared with the traditional loss-reduction technology mode (uncoated seeds+no overwintering regulation and prochloraz for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum control+urea topdressing, CK), with a yield of 112.5 kg·hm-2, the yields under D1, D2 and D3 treatments increased significantly by 6.2%, 6.4%, and 10.9%, respectively, while the corresponding yields reached 2 594.2, 2 600.4 and 2 708.9 kg·hm-2, respectively. However, only the incidence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was extremely significantly reduced by 49.1% under the D3 treatment. Different technical combinations exhibited significant interaction effects on yield per unit area improvement. When seed treatment and overwintering regulation were combined with the novel Sclerotinia sclerotiorum control technology respectively, the yields were significantly 15.7% and 16.1% higher than those under the traditional technology, respectively, reaching 2 820.0 and 2 834.2 kg·hm-2, respectively, while the incidence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum decreased by 55.6% and 55.3%, respectively. Additionally, there was a significant interaction effect between rapeseed variety genotypes and technology. The application of new technologies could exceed the national regional trial yields of the corresponding varieties. For instance, the regional trial yields of Yangguang 131, Dadi 199 and Zhongyouza 39 were 2 341.2, 3 085.5, and 2 982.0 kg·hm-2, respectively. Under optimized combinations of regulatory technology, the yields were 11.7%, 5.0% and 3.5% higher than their respective regional trial yields, respectively. A multiple stepwise regression analysis was conducted between the experimental yield and factors including the regional trial yield, disease resistance of rapeseed varieties, as well as different technological combinations, and the results revealed that the critical factors determining yield levels were the 1000-seed weight in regional trials, regional trial yield of varieties, novel Sclerotinia sclerotiorum control, and reduced winter urea topdressing rate. Canonical correlation analysis further confirmed that the regional trial yield, regional trial 1000-seed weight, and regional trial silique number of varieties determined the yield levels. Meanwhile, fluxapyroxad and Maishuping played a very important role in enhancing yield increase rates. Additionally, the novel Sclerotinia sclerotiorum control technology and overwintering stress resistance regulation were related to reducing the incidence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. 【Conclusion】In the mechanical production of rapeseed, the regional trial yield of varieties was a key factor affecting the rapeseed yield levels. The use of fluxapyroxad to control Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was an effective factor for reducing the yield loss caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at present. The combination of seed treatment, overwintering regulation and the novel Sclerotinia sclerotiorum control technology could further exert the yield potential of rapeseed varieties. It was suggested that in practical production, high-yield and high-quality varieties should be selected, and loss-reduction technologies, such as supporting seed treatment, overwintering regulation and fluxapyroxad, should be matched to achieve a significant improvement in rapeseed yield per unit area.

  • TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY·AGRICULTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
    LIUHuan, WANGGaoFeng, HUANGYuFang, ZHAOYaNan, YANGXue, YEYouLiang
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(22): 4603-4616. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.22.004

    【Objective】The smallholder farming model has proven inadequate in meeting the demands of modern agricultural development, with large-scale planting emerging as a crucial pathway for agricultural modernization that facilitates sustainable agriculture development. This study aimed to investigate the current situation of wheat fertilization, irrigation, pest control, yield and economic benefits under different planting scales in Henan Province. Furthermore, it elucidated the impact of scale farming on wheat production, thereby providing a theoretical foundation and practical references for achieving sustainable wheat production. 【Method】A field investigation was conducted in Henan Province to examine the current situation of wheat production and its economic benefits from October 2023 to June 2024. By integrating yield with fertilizer use efficiency, this study systematically analyzed the variations in field management, wheat yield, fertilizer efficiency, and economic performance across different cultivation scales. 【Result】There were significant differences in wheat production among farmers with different cultivation scales. The majority of wheat cultivation areas in Henan Province fell within the range of 6.67-20.00 hm2, with the Zhengmai wheat series being the predominant cultivar. The most common seeding rate was 225 kg·hm-2. The application rates of nitrogen and phosphorus as basal fertilizers were lower in farms with 6.67-20.00 hm2 compared with other planting scales. Phosphorus and potassium applied during topdressing were also lower than that of other planting scales ≤33.33 hm2. Most surveyed farmers irrigated their fields three times, with the highest irrigation frequency observed in farms ranging from 20.00-33.33 hm2. Pesticide use primarily involved insecticides and fungicides, with the highest application frequencies for both observed in the 6.67-20.00 hm2 scale. Yields and partial factor productivity of fertilizers were significantly higher in farms sized 6.67-20.00 hm2 and 20.00-33.33 hm2 than in other scales. Wheat yields in these two groups were significantly increased by 3.57%-20.80%, and by 6.03%-23.67%, respectively, compared with other planting scales. Similarly, partial factor productivity improved by 15.87%-43.02%, and by 10.26%-36.10%, respectively. The output-input ratio was significantly higher in fields ≤6.67 hm2 compared with other scales, while the highest net returns were observed at farm sizes ≤33.33 hm2. 【Conclusion】Substantial variations in wheat management practices were observed across different farm scales in Henan Province. Comprehensive evaluation of yield, fertilizer partial factor productivity, net returns, and output-input ratio identified 6.67-33.33 hm2 as the optimal cultivation scale. Substantial efficiency gaps were observed among large-scale wheat growers, indicating considerable potential for optimization through improved management practices. The adoption of more efficient management measures could significantly enhance the operational efficiency of different planting scales.

  • HORTICULTURE
    YUHuan, LINLing, GUORongRong, CAOXiongJun, WANGBo, FANGJingGui, XIEShuYu, HUANGXiaoYun, HANJiaYu, BAIXianJin
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(17): 3503-3515. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.011

    【Objective】In recent years, with the promotion of rain-shelter cultivation and double cropping techniques, grape production in hot zones has achieved off-season and high-efficiency production. However, hot-region grapes face problems such as poor flower bud differentiation, uneven germination, and "flower running", which are the main constraints on stable and high-quality production. This study aims to systematically investigate and evaluate the inflorescence attachment characteristics and development quality of 98 grape germplasms in hot zones Guangxi, clarify the adaptability differences among different germplasms in hot zones, and provide theoretical basis and technical guidance for variety breeding and production management.【Method】This study investigated and evaluated the germination rate, flower bud rate, shoot formation rate, number of inflorescences per shoot, inflorescence attachment node, inflorescence type and quality of 98 grape germplasms in hot zones Guangxi for two consecutive years, covering European, American, and European-American hybrids. It deeply analyzed the quality differences and patterns among different varieties and inflorescence attachment nodes.【Result】Under the treatment of hydrogen cyanamide, all 98 germplasms could germinate and form shoots smoothly, among which 92 varieties could form normal inflorescences. The average germination rate was 90.42%, the shoot formation rate was 92.13%, the flower bud rate was about 61.06%, and the average number of inflorescences per shoot was 1.67. However, abnormal inflorescences were quite prominent, with a total proportion of 40.56%. This study classified abnormal inflorescences into three major types: tendrils type, differentiation cessation type and trophic tissue type. Among them, the tendril type was the most common, further divided into one to five tendril types, and all investigated varieties had two tendrils type inflorescences; the differentiation cessation type included single head type (only scales or death point), tendrils death point type, and branch death point type; the trophic tissue type included branch tendril and leaf tendril types. Shine Muscat showed all abnormal types and were representative materials of high sensitivity. Among the 8 investigated nodes, the inflorescence attachment was most concentrated at the 3rd and 4th nodes, accounting for 27.99% and 27.06% of the total inflorescences, respectively. The abnormal inflorescence rate at the 3rd node was the lowest, only 17.22%. Further population analysis indicated that V. vinifera L.×V. labrusca L. had higher flower bud rates (68.60%), more inflorescences per shoot (about 1.8), and higher normal inflorescence rates than V. vinifera (flower bud rate 46.59%). Moreover, varieties with high germination rates, flower bud rates, and shoot formation rates had more inflorescences per shoot and significantly lower abnormal inflorescence rates.【Conclusion】The attachment node of inflorescences significantly affects their quality performance. Among them, the middle nodes, especially the 3rd node, had the lowest abnormal inflorescence rate. Therefore, in production, for varieties prone to abnormal inflorescences, it is recommended to prioritize the retention of inflorescences at the 3rd node. Varieties with high germination rates, flower bud rates, and shoot formation rates and more inflorescences per shoot are more likely to obtain normal and high-quality inflorescences. Different grape populations show significant differences in inflorescence development and abnormal occurrence. V. vinifera L.×V. labrusca L. perform better in hot zones, with higher flower bud rates and normal inflorescence proportions. They are recommended as the preferred germplasm resources for cultivation in hot zones.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    LILinYan, ZHANGGaoYang, FENGXianYang, GUShiLong, HUANGYeNan, SUNZhongKe, LIChengWei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2025, 58(22): 4557-4569. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.22.001

    【Objective】Wheat starch mainly consists of amylose and amylopectin. Long-term consumption of refined flour products increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, whereas consuming flour with a high content of resistant starch has a positive effect on regulating blood glucose levels. Given the generally positive correlation between resistant starch and amylose, increasing the amylose content in wheat germplasm has become a goal for quality improvement breeding research. 【Method】Four gene fragments of starch branching enzyme (TaSBEIIb) were selected to successfully construct a high-efficiency dsRNA expression vector. A gradient optimization based on culture medium components significantly enhanced dsRNA yield. Based on this, the effects of naked dsRNA and dsRNA encapsulated with the nanocarrier hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (HACC) on wheat starch metabolism were explored through foliar spraying. Utilizing a wheat seedling culture system, the impact of dsRNA spraying on the amylose content in wheat seedlings and the expression of starch-related genes was observed. Furthermore, a field trial analyzed the effects of dsRNA spraying on the amylose content in mature wheat grains. The protective effect of chitosan quaternary ammonium salt-coated dsRNA and its influence on amylose content in mature wheat grains were also investigated. 【Result】Four recombinant plasmids (pRNAI-TaSBE1-pRNAI-TaSBE4), expressing dsRNA were successfully constructed. The optimized fermentation medium increased the dsRNA yield from 26.54 mg·L-1 to 50.65 mg·L-1, representing a 91% increase compared to the initial medium. Spraying dsRNA interfered with the expression of the target genes, with the highest interference efficiency observed on day 7 for the TaSBEIIb1 fragment. After interference with the four fragments, the expression of TaSBEIIb was reduced by an average of 47.73%. Additionally, the interference of TaSBEIIb affected the expression of other genes in the starch synthesis pathway, including TaSSII, TaSSIV, and TaSBEIIa1 with peak interference efficiencies occurring on days 3, 7, and 3, respectively. Their expression levels decreased by an average of 54.53%, 59.94%, and 47.64%. The 2023 field trial indicated that spraying naked dsRNA increased the amylose content in wheat grains by 17.2%-36.5% after 7 days of treatment, although the effect diminished to 0.2%-8.3% by the maturity stage. In the 2024 field trial, multiple applications of both naked dsRNA and chitosan quaternary ammonium salt-coated raised the amylose content in mature wheat grains from 27.72% to 30.37%, about 10% increase compared to the control. 【Conclusion】Exogenous spraying of TaSBEIIbs-dsRNA effectively increases the amylose content in starch.

  • CROP GENETICS & BREEDING·GERMPLASM RESOURCES·MOLECULAR GENETICS
    CHENMin, JIAOZiLan, QIAOChengBin, XUHao, ZHANGBi, MADongHua, KONGWeiRu, WANGJingWen, SONGJiaWei, LUOChengKe, LIPeiFu, TIANLei
    Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(4): 705-722. https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.04.001

    【Objective】Soil salinization severely constrains the sustainable development of rice production. The specific goals are to: comprehensively evaluate the salt tolerance of rice core germplasm accessions at the seedling stage, investigate the morphological and physiological characteristics of different rice subspecies under salt stress, clarify the associated variations in their responses, and summarize their adaptive strategies, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for screening and breeding salt-tolerant rice varieties.【Method】The salt tolerance score (STS), plant height, root length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight and SPAD were measured for 276 rice core germplasm accessions after treatment using 125 mmol·L-1 NaCl for 6 days. The relative values of each trait, except for STS and shoot fresh weight were calculated, along with the shoot water content (SWC). T-tests, significance analysis and correlation analysis were used to explore the morphological and physiological differences for salt stress responses among different rice subspecies. Principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise linear regression were applied to screen key indicators for salt tolerance. The D-value was calculated to identify typical salt-tolerant accessions and salt-sensitive accessions, which were used to elucidate the regulatory patterns and response strategies of salt stress in different subspecies of rice.【Result】Salt stress affected the growth of seedlings of the three subspecies of rice. Compared with japonica rice, indica rice and AUS exhibited milder inhibitory effects from salt stress, and AUS demonstrated greater phenotypic variation. The STS, relative seedling height (RSH), relative root length (RRL), relative root dry weight (RRDW), relative SPAD (RSPAD) and SWC among the three subspecies of rice accessions were not significantly different. However, the relative shoot dry weight (RSDW) of indica rice was significantly higher than that of japonica rice and AUS, and the salt tolerance of temperate japonica rice seedlings was significantly higher than that of tropical japonica rice and admixed japonica rice. Correlation patterns of the seven salt-tolerance-related traits varied between the three subspecies. Three principal components were extracted from japonica rice, indica rice and AUS, with cumulative contribution rates of 82.587%, 80.117%, and 88.700%, respectively. Based on this, the D-values for the comprehensive evaluation of salt tolerance were calculated for each accession, and key parameters for salt tolerance were screened. It was found that RSDW is a common key indicator affecting the salt tolerance of rice seedlings, while RSH and RRDW are shared by japonica rice and AUS, and STS is the common key parameter for indica rice and AUS. In the three subspecies, high-D-value accessions and low-D-value accessions were selected to analyze root characteristics, ion balance, reactive oxygen species accumulation, and osmotic regulation substance content under salt stress. The root total number (RTN), root tip number (RN), total root length (TRL), and root surface area (RSA) of high-D-value accessions in the three subspecies were significantly higher than those of the three categories of low-D-value accessions. Among the three types of high-D-value accessions, the RTN and RN of indica rice were significantly higher than those of japonica rice and AUS. The root average diameter (RAD) of indica rice and AUS was significantly higher than that of japonica rice. AUS had significantly higher surface area and volume of roots in the 0.5-1 mm diameter range than japonica rice and indica rice, while japonica rice had significantly higher root volume in the 0-0.5 mm diameter range than indica rice and AUS. In terms of ion balance, the shoot Na+ content (SNC) of the three types of high-D-value accessions was significantly lower than that of the three types of low-D-value accessions. Among the three types of high-D-value groups, AUS had significantly lower SNC and shoot Na+/K+ (SNK) than that of japonica rice, japonica rice had significantly lower root Na+ content (RNC) than AUS, indica rice had significantly higher root K+ content (RKC) than AUS, and japonica rice and indica rice had significantly lower root Na+/K+ (RNK) than AUS. In terms of reactive oxygen species content, among the three categories of high-D-value accessions, the hydrogen peroxide content of japonica rice was significantly lower than that of indica rice and AUS. In terms of osmoregulatory substance content, among the three types of high-D-value accessions, the soluble sugar content of indica rice and AUS was significantly higher than that of japonica rice, and the proline content of indica rice was significantly higher than that of japonica rice.【Conclusion】Significant differences were observed in the morphological and physiological characteristics of rice germplasm accessions from different subspecies under salt stress. RSDW is a common key indicator affecting salt tolerance of rice seedlings. In response to salt stress, typical salt-tolerant germplasm from japonica, indica, and AUS developed distinct combinatorial profiles of regulatory modes, which varied in their emphasis on four key aspects: root morphological characteristics, ion homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and osmotic adjustment.