【Objective】To explore the structure and evolution characteristics of cotton NLP transcription factors in the whole genome, and further understand their expressions patterns, so as to lay a foundation for the further function research and utilization of NLP genes. 【Method】The NLP transcription factor family members in the whole genomes of four cotton species, Gossypium arboreum (G. arboreum, Ga), Gossypium raimondii (G. raimondii, Gr), Gossypium barbadense (G. barbadense, Gb) and Gossypium hirsutum (G. hirsutum, GH), were identified using two strategies, BLASTP and HMM search. Further bioinformatics analysis was carried out on the confirmed cotton NLP family members. The molecular weights, theoretical isoelectric points and other physical and chemical properties were predicted using online software Expasy; the MEGA 7 software was used to build the phylogenetic tree; protein conservative motifs were analyzed through MEME website; online software GSDS 2.0 was used to analyze gene structures; TBtools was used to view the chromosome localizations; McscanX was used to analyze the replication genes of cotton NLP family members; the PlantCARE website was used to predict the cis-acting elements in the promoters of cotton NLP family genes. The heat maps of cotton NLP genes expression levels of different tissues and under abiotic stresses were drawn through TBtools to analyze the tissue expression characteristics and abiotic stresses response characteristics. The expressions of GHNLPs in cotton under nitrogen starvation and nitrogen resupply treatments were analyzed by RT-qPCR. 【Result】A total of 11, 11, 21 and 22 NLP members were screened from the four cotton protein databases of G. arboreum, G. raimondii, G. barbadense and G. hirsutum, respectively. These NLP family genes encoded 693-996 amino acids. The relative molecular masses ranged from 76.92-110.02 kDa and the theoretical isoelectric points were 5.13-7.77. The subcellular localization prediction results showed that almost all the NLP members located in the nucleus. Promoter analysis found a large number of cis-acting elements related to phytohormone and stress response. Phylogenetic analysis showed cotton NLPs were divided into three groups, I, II and III. Gene replication analysis showed that fragment replication was the main force for NLP members expansion in cotton. All the Ka/Ks values were less than 1, indicating that evolution of NLP family in cotton mainly underwent purification selection. The results of expression analysis also confirmed that GHNLPs responded to nitrogen starvation and nitrogen resupply. 【Conclusion】From the whole genome of G. arboreum, G. raimondii, G. barbadense, and G. hirsutum, 11, 11, 21 and 22 NLP transcription factor members were identified respectively. They had high conservatism and some degree of differences. The expression levels of GHNLPs changed significantly during nitrogen starvation and nitrogen resupply processes, which may play a role in the response of cotton to nitrate.

Abiotic stress is one of the main factors causing global grain yield reduction. It is of great significance to study the function and response mechanisms of plant stress-related proteins to improve crop stress resistance. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, belong to the largest family of nuclear coding proteins in higher plants and are named because they contain highly specific PPR motifs. Depending on motif type and arrangement, PPR proteins can be classified as P and PLS, and PLS proteins can be further classified as PLS, E, E+, DYW, and other subclasses based on their carboxyl-terminal domains. PPR proteins are widely distributed in terrestrial plants, mainly in chloroplasts and mitochondria, and a few in the nucleus. As sequence-specific RNA binding proteins, PPR proteins are involved in multiple aspects of plant RNA processing, including RNA editing, splicing, stabilization, and translation. PPR protein plays a variety of important roles in the whole life process of plants, but the mechanism of its action in plant stress resistance is not well understood. Based on the localization and function of PPR proteins related to abiotic stress reported, the mechanism of PPR proteins involved in regulation of abiotic stress, including post-transcriptional regulation and retrograde signaling, was reviewed and discussed in this paper. Post-transcriptional regulation is related to the role of PPR proteins in the modification of RNA after transcription. It is generally believed that PPR affects stress resistance in plants by regulating the expression of stress-related genes via binding RNA and by regulating the metabolism of organelle RNA. In terms of retrograde signaling, damage to PPR proteins can lead to impaired mitochondrial or chloroplast function, and then produce various retrograde signals (such as ROS), thereby regulating the expression of related genes and resisting adversity. However, since plastid signaling is affected by many environmental factors, some of which are still unclear, the mechanism of the PPR protein in retrograde signaling remains to be clarified. In addition, PPR proteins are pleiotropic and some have important effects on plant growth and reproduction while acting on stress resistance. Finally, this paper further analyzed the current research status of PPR protein as an RNA editing tool, discussed the remaining problems and research prospects of PPR protein in the direction of abiotic stress, and pointed out the key points and difficulties that need to be paid attention to in future research, to provide references for further research on PPR protein and crop abiotic stress resistance breeding.

【Objective】The yield of wheat, the second-highest-yielding food product in the world, has a major impact by grain weight. This research used materials from a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from Heshangtou (HST) and Longchun 23 (LC23). Based on 55K SNP genotype data, QTL mapping was performed for traits related to grain weight of wheat, and co-segregation markers of major grain length QTL were developed and verified to provide reference for molecular marker assisted selection breeding.【Method】The wheat 55K SNP microarray was used to genotype parents and RIL populations, and a high density genetic linkage map was constructed, and its correlation with Chinese spring reference genome IWGSC RefSeq v1.0 was analyzed. QTL mapping of traits related to grain weight in multiple environments based on inclusive composite interval mapping method. The analysis of variance of major effect QTLs were performed to judge the additive interaction effect among different QTLs, and to analyse its effect on traits related to grain weight. At the same time, the corresponding kompetitive allele specific PCR marker was developed according to the closely linked SNP loci of major QTL for grain length, and verified in 242 wheat accessions worldwide.【Result】In this study, a high density genetic map of Heshangtou/Longchun 23 RIL population was constructed, with full length 4 543 cM, including 22 linkage groups, covering 21 chromosomes of wheat, and the average genetic distance was 1.7 cM. There was a significant correlation between genetic map and physical map, and the Pearson correlation coefficient were 0.77-0.99 (P<0.001). A total of 51 QTLs related to grain weight were detected, among them, 4 stable major QTLs were found in multi-environments (three or more environments) and distributed on 2D, 5A, 6B and 7D chromosomes. According to the physical interval and functional markers, it is inferred that stable major QTLs Qtkw.nwafu-2D.1 and Qtkw.nwafu-7D are photoperiod gene Ppd-D1 and flowering gene FT-D1, respectively. The analysis of variance shows that there is a significant interaction between them. The favorite alleles polymerization of Qtkw.nwafu-2D.1 and Qtkw.nwafu-7D can significantly increase thousand grain weight and grain width of wheat. In addition, the corresponding KASP molecular detection marker AX-111067709 was developed based on the co-segregated SNP of the major locus Qgl.nwafu-5A for grain length, which was significantly correlated with grain length and grain weight traits in a diversity panel comprising of 242 wheat accessions, and could increase grain length by 3.33% to 4.59% and grain weight 5.70% to 10.35% in different environments (P<0.001).【Conclusion】There are several genetic loci that affect traits linked to grain weight in Heshangtou (HST) and Longchun 23 (LC23), and Qtkw.nwafu-2D.1 and Qtkw.nwafu-7D dramatically increased thousand grain weight and grain width through additive interaction effects. Qgl.nwafu-5A is significantly correlated with grain weight and grain length, and its co-segregated molecular marker AX-11106770 can be used in molecular marker assisted selection breeding.

【Objective】The temporal characteristics, spatial pattern, evolution mode, decoupling relationship and performance evaluation of China’s agricultural carbon emissions were analyzed scientifically, so as to provide a basis for helping China achieve the goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” and strengthen the construction of an agricultural power. 【Method】This study constructed an index system for assessing agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural carbon emission performance in China, and measured the systematic measurement index of agricultural carbon emissions in Chinese provinces from 2007 to 2020. The Kernel density estimation and standardized ellipsoidal visualization analysis were used to analyze the regional distribution characteristics and spatial-temporal evolution trends of agricultural carbon emissions, Tapio model was used to examine the decoupling relationship between examining agricultural carbon emissions and economic growth, and the super-efficient SBM model with non-expected output was constructed to report the agricultural carbon emission performance and decomposition efficiency of China and the seven economic regions. 【Result】 From 2007 to 2020, the overall agricultural carbon emissions in China showed an “inverted U-shaped” curve of rising and then declining, with obvious regional differences and stable distribution of ranks. The eastern region had the best emission reduction effect, the central region had a “bipolar” distribution, and the western region had a higher pressure of emission reduction, with the overall spatial pattern dominated by the northeast-southwest direction, and tended to be decentralized to the northeast and northwest. China’s agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural economic development have been maintained at a weakly decoupled level and have made a breakthrough to a strongly decoupled level, which could be divided into two stages: a stable period (2007-2016) and a breakthrough period (2017-2020). The assessment of agricultural carbon emission performance showed a trend of “rapid rise - slow decline - steady improvement”, with the Great Northwest Economic Zone and the Northern Coastal Economic Zone in the first and last positions, respectively, and the contribution of technological change in agricultural production (TC) was more prominent than that of technical efficiency change (EC). 【Conclusion】With 2017 as the inflection point, China’s agricultural carbon emissions as a whole showed a decreasing trend, and the agricultural economic development as a whole was gradually getting rid of the dependence on agricultural carbon emissions, with different agricultural bases and different emission reduction targets in each region and province. It was necessary to reasonably plan the scale and internal structure of agricultural comparative advantage industries according to local conditions, reasonably select the resource endowment production characteristics of industries in the region. At the same time, we should pay attention to technology iteration and updating in the agricultural economic development and energy conservation and emission reduction in the role of promoting, taking into account the regional ecological benefits and economic benefits.

【Objective】Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is one of the main malignant weeds in rice fields in China. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors, such as penoxsulam, are the main herbicides for controlling E. crus-galli in rice fields. Previously, our research team identified a suspected penoxsulam-resistant E. crus-galli population, AHTC-01, in the main rice production area of Tianchang City, Anhui Province, China. The objective of this study is to clarify its resistance levels to major herbicides, investigate the possible resistance molecular mechanisms, and to provide a theoretical basis for the effective control of resistant E. crus-galli and the delay of further development of herbicide resistance.【Method】Using the greenhouse potting method, the resistance levels of AHTC-01 to penoxsulam and its resistance patterns to different herbicides were determined at the whole-plant level. The target resistance molecular mechanism was explored through target gene sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis.【Result】Compared with the susceptible E. crus-galli population AHFY-01, the suspected resistant population AHTC-01 had developed high-level resistance to penoxsulam, with a resistance index (RI) of 620. Analysis of the target-site based resistance mechanisms showed that the ALS2 gene copy in the AHTC-01 population had a mutation from tryptophan (Trp) to leucine (Leu) at codon position 574, with a population mutation frequency of 100%. At 12 h after penoxsulam treatment, the relative expression level of ALS in the resistant E. crus-galli population AHTC-01 was 2.26 times of that in the susceptible E. crus-galli population AHFY-01. AHTC-01 also exhibited varying levels of cross-resistance to three other ALS inhibitors, bispyribac sodium, pyribenzoxim, and imazamox, with RIs of 8.24, 13.36, and 20.36, respectively. However, it remained susceptible to other herbicides with different modes of action (MOAs), including the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors cyhalofop-butyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, and clethodim, the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor tripyrasulfone, and the synthetic auxin mimic florpyrauxifen-benzyl.【Conclusion】Mutation of the ALS2 at amino acid position 574 and ALS overexpression are one of the main reasons for the resistance of E. crus-galli population AHTC-01 to penoxsulam, which also confers cross-resistance to different ALS inhibitors. In actual agricultural production, effective control of this type of resistant E. crus-galli can still be achieved by rotating the use of other herbicides with different MOAs.

Global agriculture is facing severe challenges, and breeding technology is the foundation and key to the development of the seed industry. Gene editing technology refers to the precise modification of target genes to achieve deletion, insertion, and replacement of specific target gene fragments. It can precisely modify target genes or introduce certain excellent genes into crops to produce crops with excellent agronomic traits, which has great potential in molecular design breeding and is of great significance to ensuring food security. Weed damage has a huge impact on the yield and quality of crops. To control weed damage efficiently, safely and sustainably has always been a hot research topic. Currently, more than 200 types of chemical herbicides have emerged in the global market. Using chemical methods to control weeds has become an important part of modern agriculture, and the cost of weed control has been significantly reduced by promoting herbicide-resistant crops. However, with the large-scale promotion of herbicide-resistant crops and the long-term use of single herbicides, environmental safety problems such as weed resistance and escape of resistant genes have gradually been discovered. Currently, the development of functional genomics, bioinformatics and genetic engineering technology (especially the widespread application of gene editing technology in plants) has created conditions for the creation of herbicide-resistant crops and new efficient weed control systems. In this article, the main target genes of herbicides that inhibit amino acid biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, carotenoid, plastoquinone and tocopherol biosynthesis pathways and their action mechanisms are introduced at first. Secondly, two methods for mining new herbicide resistance genes and herbicide systems are introduced, including the directed mutation method of herbicide resistance genes within crops based on CRISPR/Cas system and the resistance gene guidance method based on the co-evolution theory of natural product and organisms in nature. Moreover, the research progress of three breeding methods for herbicide resistant crops was reviewed, including conventional breeding, transgenic breeding and CRISPR/Cas genome editing based breeding. Among them, the research progress of CIRSPR/Cas system, base editing technology, and prime editing system in cultivating herbicide resistant crops were highlighted. The main challenge faced by chemical control of weeds and herbicide resistant crops is resistant weeds and environmental safety issues, and gene escape, respectively. At present, the rapid development of genome editing technology provides new solutions and new opportunities for the development of herbicide resistant crops in the post genome era. Finally, the prospects for the future of herbicide-resistant crops were provided.

【Objective】The purpose of this study is to identify the gene members of the Callosobruchus chinensis heat shock protein (HSP) superfamily, and to clarify the expression changes of HSP genes in C. chinensis after high and low temperature stress, so as to provide a theoretical basis for further exploration of HSP gene function.【Method】The CDS and protein sequences of HSP genes of different insects were downloaded from Insect Base 2.0 and used as a reference for local BLASTp and tBLASTn comparison search in the full-length transcriptome sequencing database of C. chinensis. At the same time, target sequences were screened again by combining HMMER and key words to complete the summary of search results. Bioinformatics analysis of HSP superfamily genes in C. chinensis was performed using CDD, MEGA, ProtParam, and other online analytical tools. Seven candidate HSP genes were screened out based on high and low temperature transcriptome sequencing data of C. chinensis adults and the expression characteristics of 7 CcHsps were compared and analyzed by qRT-PCR technique under different developmental stages and temperature stresses of C. chinensis.【Result】A total of 31 HSP genes were identified, including 3 HSP90s, 8 HSP70s, 8 HSP60s, and 12 sHSPs (small HSP). Physicochemical analysis showed that the proteins encoded by CcHsps contain 159-776 amino acid residues (aa), the molecular weights are about 18.4-88.9 kDa, and the theoretical isoelectric points are 4.95-9.17. Subcellular localization results showed that most CcHsps were located in the cytoplasm, while a few genes were located in the mitochondrial matrix, endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that different family members of HSPs in C. chinensis could integrate well with HSP in other insects, which indicating their evolutionary conservation. The results of qRT-PCR showed that the 7 candidate CcHsps were differentially expressed under different temperature stresses. After high temperature stress, the expression level of CcHsp20.102 in male and female adults was up-regulated by 1 000 and 500 times, respectively, and the expression level of CcHsp70-5 in male and female adults was up-regulated by 500 and 450 times. After the larvae undergoing high and low temperature stress, the expression level of CcHsp19.855 and CcHsp70-5 was significantly different.【Conclusion】A total of 31 complete HSP superfamily gene members were identified by the full-length transcriptome sequencing data of C. chinensis, which were divided into 4 subfamilies. Different HSP families had different gene structures, protein conserved domains and gene expression characteristics. The differential expression of 7 candidate CcHsps in different developmental stages and under different temperature stresses indicated that they played different functions and roles. It is speculated that CcHsp20.102 and CcHsp70-5 may perform important functions in the adult resistance to high temperature stress, and the high temperature tolerance of larvae may be related to the differential expression of CcHsp19.855 and CcHsp70-5.

【Objective】 The aim of this study was to identify the co expression modules of luffa fruit length and diameter development and to screen key regulatory genes, so as to provide the theoretical basis for subsequent research on the molecular mechanism of fruit shape control in luffa. 【Method】 The luffa fruits in 9 fruit development stages (2 days before anthesis, and 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, and 20 days after anthesis) were applied as research materials. The fruit length and diameter of each stage were measured. The WGCNA method was used to jointly analyze transcriptome and fruit length and diameter data, to identify co-expressed gene modules of fruit length and diameter development, and to screen out key regulatory genes.【Result】A total of 14 co expression modules were identified by WGCNA, among which two modules (Turquoise and Lightpink4) were significantly correlated with fruit length and diameter (absolute value of correlation coefficient=0.9); Turquoise module was significantly positively correlated, while Lightpink4 module was significantly negatively correlated. KEGG enrichment analysis found that the Turquoise module was significantly enriched in endocytosis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways, which were closely related to fruit enlargement and growth regulation, and could be used as a key gene module for studying fruit length and diameter in luffa. According to the connectivity and functional annotation of genes in Turquoise module, ten key regulatory genes were screened, including xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase gene XTH23, actin-depolymerizing factor gene ADF2, chaperone protein gene DnaJ10, expansin gene (EXPA1, EXPA4 and EXLA5), kinesin gene kinesin-13A, auxin response genes SAUR21, and Aux/IAA11. The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of ten regulatory genes significantly increased after the fruit entered the rapid growth period (8 day after anthesis), with an increase of 2-50 times approximately. Through constructing a gene interaction network, it was found that some candidate genes interacted with the WRKY, bHLH, and HSF transcription factor families.【Conclusion】The Turquoise module, an important co expression module of luffa fruit length and diameter was obtained, and ten potential candidate genes for luffa fruit shape control were screened. It was found that luffa fruit length and diameter development regulation mainly involved the processes of cell wall reconstruction, cell development and differentiation, and auxin regulation.

Map-based cloning is a classical and effective method to identify candidate genes for specific phenotypic variants. Map-based cloning of functional genes plays important roles in the innovative utilization of germplasm resources, molecular design breeding and improving breeding efficiency. In recent years, the whole-genome sequencing of Gossypium raimondii, Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium hirsutum, and Gossypium barbadense has been completed and improved. Map-based cloning has entered into a crucial period. In 2016, the dominant glandless gene Gl₂^e (GoPGF) was the first map-based cloning gene in cotton. So far, 20 qualitative traits genes and 5 quantitative traits genes have been identified by map-based cloning technology. In this paper, research progress was systematically reviewed in fiber, gland, nectary, leaf type, plant architecture, plant color, and fertility in terms of gene symbols, names, chromosomal positioning, and candidate genes. Moreover, map-based cloning strategies were systematically reviewed in mapping populations and bulked segregate analysis-sequencing (BSA-seq). With the reduction of sequencing cost and utilization of BSA-seq, it is believed that more and more genes will be cloned by map-based cloning technology. In addition, transformation and genome editing have been successfully used to evaluate the function of the candidate gene in the target interval. It is believed that map-based cloning could provide a theoretical basis and genetic resources for molecular design breeding in cotton.

Genomic selection is defined as using the molecular marker information that covered the whole genome to estimate individual’s breeding values. Using genome information can avoid many problems caused by pedigree errors so as to improve selection accuracy and shorten breeding generation intervals. According to different statistical models, methods of estimated genomic breeding value (GEBV) can be divided into based on BLUP (best linear unbiased prediction) theory, based on Bayesian theory and others. At present, GBLUP and its improved method ssGBLUP have been widely employed. Accuracy is the most used evaluation metric for genomic selection models, which is to evaluate the similarity between the true value and the estimated value. The factors that affect the accuracy can be reflected from the model, which can be divided into controllable factors and uncontrollable factors. Traditional genomic selection methods have promoted the rapid development of animal breeding, but these methods are currently facing many challenges such as multi-population, multi-omics, and computing. What’s more, they cannot capture the nonlinear relationship between high-dimensional genomic data. As a branch of artificial intelligence, machine learning is very close to biological mastery of natural language processing. Machine learning extracts features from data and automatically summarizes the rules and use to make predictions for new data. For genomic information, machine learning does not require distribution assumptions, and all marker information can be considered in the model. Compared with traditional genomic selection methods, machine learning can more easily capture complex relationships between genotypes, phenotypes, and the environment. Therefore, machine learning has certain advantages in animal genomic selection. According to the amount and type of supervision received during training, machine learning can be classified into supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, and reinforcement learning. The main difference is whether the input data is labeled. The machine learning methods currently applied in animal genomic selection are all supervised learning. Supervised learning can handle both classification and regression problems, requiring the algorithm to be provided with labeled data and the desired output. In recent years, the application of machine learning in animal genomic selection has been increasing, especially in dairy and beef cattle. In this review, machine learning algorithms are divided into three categories: single algorithm, ensemble algorithm and deep learning, and their research progress in animal genomic selection were summarized. The most used single algorithms are KRR and SVR, both of which use kernel tricks to learn nonlinear functions and map data to higher-dimensional kernel spaces in the original space. Currently commonly used kernel functions are linear kernel, cosine kernel, Gaussian kernel, and polynomial kernel. Deep learning, also known as a deep neural network, consists of multiple layers of connected neurons. An ensemble learning algorithm refers to fusing different learners together to obtain a stronger supervised model. In the past decade, the related literature on machine learning and deep learning has shown exponential growth. And its application in genomic selection is also gradually increasing. Although machine learning has obvious advantages in some aspects, it still faces many challenges in estimating the genetic breeding value of complex traits in animals. The interpretability of some models is low, which is not conducive to the adjustment of data, parameters, and features. Data heterogeneity, sparsity, and outliers can also cause data noise for machine learning. There are also problems such as overfitting, large marks and small samples, and parameter adjustment. Therefore, each step needs to be handled carefully while training the model. This paper introduced the traditional methods of genomic selection and the problems they face, the concept and classification of machine learning. We discussed the research progress and current challenges of machine learning in animal genomic selection. A Case and some application suggestions were given to provide a certain reference for the application of machine learning in animal genomic selection.

【Objective】The results of carbon sequestration studies on combining straw returning with nitrogen fertilizer are controversial. Aimed at such problem, this experiment was carried out to reveal the effects of combining straw returning with nitrogen fertilizer on Carbon sequestration capacity and mechanism of farmland, so as to provide a reference for the future research. 【Method】Based on 11 years of long-term positioning experiments, this paper adopted split-zone design, the main treatment included straw returning to soil and removal straw from field, and the subplots included three N application rate, which were no nitrogen (N0), 168 kg·hm^-2 (N168, nitrogen), and 336 kg·hm^-2 (N336, excessive nitrogen application). 【Result】Compared with wheat without nitrogen fertilizer, wheat yield increased by 14.4%-19.5% with nitrogen fertilizer. The effect of straw returning to the field on yield was not significant. Straw returning significantly increased the cumulative input of soil carbon by 70.8% (P<0.05), but had no significant effect on soil organic carbon storage. Compared N0, the nitrogen application significantly increased soil carbon accumulation input and soil organic carbon storage by 7.7%-8.5% (P<0.05) and 4.7%-8.1% (P<0.05), respectively. The application of nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased the carbon fixation rate by 32.7%-56.1% (P<0.05), and N336 significantly increased the soil carbon fixation efficiency by 51.8% (P<0.05); straw returning to the field did not significantly improve the soil carbon fixation rate, but significantly reduced the carbon fixation efficiency by 30.9% (P<0.05). Both nitrogen application and straw returning could improve soil carbon pool capacity, and N0 and N168 have reached carbon saturation. The content of soluble organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and easily oxidized organic carbon (EO) in the soil increased by 4.6%, 11.2% and 4.5% respectively after returning straw to the field. Compared N0, DOC under N168 and N336 increased by 14.12% and 29.54% respectively; MBC decreased by 14.0% and 28.0% on average, respectively; EO increased by 8.2% and 11.5%, respectively. Straw returning to the field was beneficial to the improvement of soil DOC/SOC and microbial entropy. Applying nitrogen fertilizer was beneficial to the increase of DOC/SOC, but reduced the microbial entropy. Both straw returning and nitrogen fertilizer application had no effect on soil EO/SOC. Both straw returning and nitrogen application were beneficial to the improvement of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm), and straw returning significantly increased the organic carbon content of macroaggregates by 5.2%. The average weight diameter (MWD) and geometric average diameter (GMD) of aggregates under non-return showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of nitrogen level, while under straw returning, it showed an increase with the increase of nitrogen level. Straw returning increased the MWD and GMD of aggregates by 8.8% and 7.5% respectively, and the application of nitrogen fertilizer increased the MWD and GMD by 14.1%-22.7% and 16.8%-23.4% respectively, compared with CK. Both straw returning and nitrogen application could improve the distribution of organic carbon in large aggregates. 【Conclusion】Straw returning with nitrogen fertilizer could increase carbon input, increase activated organic carbon content, reduce microbial activity, and improve the protection of organic carbon by aggregates.

【Objective】The objective of this study is to screen Trichoderma strains which have inhibitory effect on the Pythium spp. causing maize stalk rot, and to clarify their taxonomic status, control efficacy and antifungal mechanism. This study will provide important resources for the research and development of biocontrol agent against Pythium stalk rot.【Method】For the antagonistic strains screening, the inhibitory effect of Tichoderma strains on P. inflatum, P. arrhenomanes and P. aristosporum was tested by measuring the mycelia growth. The taxonomic status of Tr21 was determined by morphological and molecular characteristics. The effect of Tr21 on the mycelia morphology of Pythium spp. was observed in the laboratory. In order to analyze the effect of Tr21 fermentation broth on the membrane permeability of Pythium spp., propyridine bromide (PI) dye solution was used to stain, and the absorbance values of protein and nucleic acid in mycelia supernatant at different treatment times were detected. The effect of Tr21 fermentation broth on germination characteristics of maize seeds was tested by seed soaking with different concentrations of fermentation broth. The control efficacy of Tr21 on stalk rot was confirmed through greenhouse pot and field inoculation experiments.【Result】From the 109 strains of Trichoderma spp., seven strains were screened with antagonistic activity against P. inflatum, P. arrhenomanes and P. aristosporum, and the inhibition rate was above 60%. The inhibition rate of Tr21 to three Pythium species reached 100%, the inhibition rate of 5×, 10× and 20× diluent to three Pythium species reached 100%, and the inhibition rate of 50× diluent to three Pythium species was also more than 55.56%. Tr21 strain was identified by morphological and molecular biology as T. afroharzianum. The results of microscopic observation showed that the fermentation broth of Tr21 could cause mycelial malformations, such as rough mycelia, increased mycelial branching, shortened nodes, and overflow of mycelia contents. The result of PI fluorescence stain showed that the cell membrane of three Pythium species was damaged by Tr21 fermentation broth, and the PI dye was more likely to penetrate the damaged cell membrane into the mycelium and stain the mycelia red. The results of nucleic acid and protein leakage showed that the absorbance values of the mycelia treated by the fermentation broth changed greatly. After treatment for 5 h, the OD₂₆₀ increased by 0.08 and OD₂₈₀ increased by 0.10, 0.11 and 0.10, respectively, indicating that the membrane of the mycelia was damaged, leading to the overflow of mycelia contents. The different concentrations of Tr21 fermentation broth had no effect on the germination characteristics of maize seeds, and the 20× diluent had the best effect on germination and growth of seeds. The results of pot experiment showed that 5× diluted fermentation broth of Tr21 had the best control efficacy on Pythium stalk rot caused by three Pythium species, which was 60.67%, 63.15% and 59.66%, respectively. The control efficacy on Pythium stalk rot of 5× diluent was the highest, reaching 82.25%, with a mass ratio of 1﹕100 (5× diluent to seed).【Conclusion】An effective T. afroharzianum strain Tr21 was obtained for preventing and controlling of maize Pythium stalk rot. The fermentation broth of Tr21 can lead to mycelia malformation, breakage, cell membrane damage and contents leakage, etc. In conclusion, the T. afroharzianum strain Tr21 is a promising biocontrol microbial.

Sorghum is the fifth largest grain crop in the world and can be used for food, feed, brewing and bioenergy. Sorghum genetic transformation technology is an essential and important tool in the research of sorghum functional genomics and can also serve as an important complement to traditional breeding methods. In this review, we summarize the research progress of sorghum transformation in recent years, analyze the problems in sorghum genetic transformation and propose strategic solutions to them in order to provide a reference for further improvement of sorghum genetic transformation technology. By summarizing more than 50 literatures on sorghum tissue culture and genetic transformation in recent years, we introduced the current research status of sorghum genotypes, explant sources, and regeneration system construction for genetic transformation, and compared the advantages and disadvantages of four commonly used methods for sorghum genetic transformation: electroporation, pollen-mediated transformation, particle bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, summarized the effects of the main components of genetic transformation vectors, including promoters, target genes, selective marker genes and reporter genes, on transformation efficiency, explained the current application status of sorghum genetic transformation, analyzed the main bottleneck problemns in sorghum genetic transformation technology, and studied countermeasures. Sorghum genotypes have a significant influence on tissue culture and P898012 and Tx430 are the most widely used. Gene bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation are the most commonly used methods for sorghum genetic transformation, and the advantages of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation are gradually emerging. In vector construction, CaMV35S and ubi1 are the most commonly used promoters, and antibiotic resistance genes (nptII, hpt), herbicide resistance genes (bar), and nutrient assimilation genes are the three commonly used selection markers. With the development of sorghum genetic transformation technology and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology, some genes with important agronomic traits have been successfully transferred into sorghum. However, strong genotype dependence, long tissue culture cycle, and poor genetic transformation stability are the main bottlenecks that limit the genetic transformation of sorghum. By introducing morphogenesis regulatory factors, somatic cell generation can be directly performed, which shortens the tissue culture cycle, improves the transformation efficiency, and expands the source of explants. This has become a major breakthrough in sorghum genetic transformation technology. The use of morphogenesis regulatory factors and adoption of cut-dip-budding (CDB) delivery system can further improve the sorghum genetic transformation technology. Combined with the application of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, they will surely provide an important technical basis for the sorghum molecular breeding and gene function identification.

Wheat stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is a devastating disease threaten food security in China and worldwide. Epidemics of wheat stripe rust have been under control through applying resistant cultivars and crop protection approaches. However, due to climate change, innovation of cropping system, improvement of breeding technology, yield level enhancement of wheat cultivars, variation in structure and frequency of virulence genes in Pst populations in the new era, the current status of stripe rust resistance genes in wheat breeding programs need to be evaluated. The results could provide useful information for applying stripe rust resistance genes to develop new wheat cultivars with broad-spectrum and durable rust resistance. After multiple year’s stripe rust resistance survey, genetic analysis, molecular tagging and mining of stripe rust resistance genes in wheat cultivars and advanced breeding lines, the current status of major stripe rust resistance genes utilization was reviewed. We summarized the present situations of major stripe rust resistance gene discovery and germplasm innovation, the most frequently used stripe rust resistance genes, new strategy for pyramiding adult plant partial resistance and all stage resistance, and molecular marker assisted selection for developing wheat cultivars with broad spectrum and durable resistance in China. This review also proposes the major research areas in wheat stripe rust resistance breeding in the new era.

【Objective】Spike length (SL) plays an important role in determining spike structure and yield potential of wheat. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for spike length were excavated and their genetic effects were further analyzed to provide theoretical basis for molecular breeding. 【Method】This study consisted of a population of 198 F₆ recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from the cross between the natural mutant msf and the cultivar Chuannong 16 (MC population). The MC population and its parents were planted in five different environments including Wenjiang in 2021 and 2022 (2021WJ and 2022WJ); Chongzhou in 2021 and 2022 (2021CZ and 2022CZ); and Ya’an in 2021 (2021YA) for spike length measurement. The 16K SNP chip-based constructed high-quality and high-density genetic linkage maps were used to map QTL for spike length. Additionally, the genotype of the flanking markers for the major spike length QTL was used to analyze its genetic effect on yield-related traits and thus to evaluate its potentiality for yield improvement.【Result】A total of 14 QTL for spike length were identified and they were mainly distributed on chromosomes 1A (one), 1B (one), 2B (one), 3D (three), 4A (one), 4D (two), 5A (one), 5B (one), 7A (one), 7B (one), and 7D (one). Among them, QSl.sau.1A was detected in four environments and the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) value, explained 6.46% to 20.12% of the phenotypic variation, and thus was regarded as a major QTL. The positive allele at QSl.sau.1A came from the parental line msf. QTL analysis across multiple environments also detected QSl.sau.1A, indicating it exhibits minimal environmental influence and represents a major and stably expressed QTL. The effect of QSl.sau.1A was successfully verified in two populations with different genetic backgrounds. Genetic effects analysis showed that the positive allele of QSl.sau.1A showed a significant effect on improving grain number per spike (12.68%), grain weight per spike (14.99%), 1000-grain weight (5.79%), flag leaf width (2.94%), spikelet number (1.48%), and flowering date (0.61%), and a significant effect of reducing plant height (-6.47%) and effective tiller number (-36.11%).【Conclusion】A major and stably expressed spike length QTL, QSl.sau.1A, was detected on chromosome 1A. Its positive allele significantly increased grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, thousand grain weight, and spikelet number per spike, indicating its great breeding value.

【Background】It is of great importance to improve the quality of cotton fiber to meet the improvement of cotton textile production and the pursue of people for high quality cotton. Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) play an important role in the initial development of cotton fibers and secondary wall synthesis. 【Objective】Comprehensive identification and analysis of cotton FLA gene family members to reveal their common characteristics and specific expression patterns, provided a reference for the function study of FLAs in cotton fiber development.【Method】According to the whole genome data of cotton, members of FLA gene family were identified by HMMER3.0 and further verified by online softwares of Pfam and Smart. Physical and chemical properties and transmembrane domains of these proteins were analyzed by ExPASy and TMHMM. Phylogenetic tree construction, chromosome localization, collinearity analysis and protein conserved domain sequence alignment were conducted and displayed using GSDS, MCScanX, MEGA, MEME, TBtools and Jalview. Expression of FLA genes in different tissues were analyzed by cotton transcriptome data. Expression differences of GhFLAs in different developmental stages of ovules and fibers between different fiber quality materials was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Function of GhFLA05 was verified by virus induced gene silencing (VIGS). 【Result】A total of 41, 40, 20 and 21 FLA family members were identified in G.hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. arboreum and G. raimondii, respectively. The phylogenetic tree showed that cotton FLA proteins could be divided into four groups. Gene structure and motif composition were relatively conserved in each group. Further analysis of FLA proteins in Gossypium hirsutum showed that all 41 FLA members had 1-2 AGP-like glycosylation regions and 1-2 fasciclin-like domains (FAS), 37 of which contained signal peptide (SP) and 25 contained glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored protein (GPI) anchoring signals. Subcellular localization showed that GhFLA05_D showing aggregated granules in the cytoplasm was probably localized in endoplasmic reticulum, and GhFLA18_A and GhFLA22 were expressed in cell membrane/wall, cytoplasm and nucleus. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that FLA proteins in Group A and B were mainly highly expressed in fibers, which may be involved in the process of cotton fiber elongation development and secondary wall thickening. In general, group A and B members had a similar expression pattern in two materials with significant differences in fiber quality and expressed mainly in the secondary wall development stage, especially in 20-25 DPA period. GhFLA05 exhibited specific expression at the secondary wall thickening stage with significant differences between two materials, which expressed with a high maximum value in earlier stage of secondary wall thickening stage in high specific strength material RIL229, suggesting GhFLA05 may take a part in the regulation of cotton fiber strength difference formation. The fiber strength and micronaire value decreased in GhFLA05 gene-silenced cotton plants by VIGS.【Conclusion】A sum of 122 FLA family members were identified in Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium raimondii, which could be divided into four groups. Members of different groups had high structural and functional similarities, and the genes related to cotton fiber development were identified. It was clarified that GhFLA05 specifically expressed in the secondary wall synthesis stage, and closely related to the difference in fiber strength of different upland cotton materials.

Although the cotton of Xinjiang has achieved high quality and high yield, its technological leadership and influence are still insufficient. To figure out the key technologies of high-quality cotton production in Xinjiang which can reflect the technical characteristics of cotton production comprehensively and objectively so that other areas where cotton is grown can understand cotton production technology in Xinjiang and show level of cotton production to the world. In addition, this article is to summarize experience, strengthen the popularization and further maturing of advanced technology, improve the application efficiency, and promote the promotion of cotton production technology in Xinjiang to other cotton regions. This paper based on years of experimental data and research results, awards and patented achievements such as “Innovation and application of light and efficient key technologies in cotton industrialization in Xinjiang” “Seeding Protection Method in Cotton Precision Seeding Field in Xinjiang”, combined with literature review, academic exchanges, visits and research. This analysis is carried out according to the order and tightness with technology corresponding to the cotton growth process. A series of key technologies are summarized, including: the seminal seeding and the supporting seedling technology, cotton field short-term, dense, early group control technology, water and fertilizer integration technology, the whole process of tube harvest mechanization and its supporting technology, pest and disease control technology. The relatively perfect cotton production technology system in Xinjiang has been constructed through improvement, optimization, maturation, innovation and application of key technologies, so that the technical level of cotton production in Xinjiang has been greatly improved to cover less than 9% of the world's planted cotton area, harvest more than 20% of the world's cotton, and lead the world in terms of single production level, quality in the world, and the total production, single production, and commodity transfers have been maintained for 28 consecutive years for the first time in the country. The in-depth analysis of innovation, optimization and practicability of cotton production technology in Xinjiang can help cotton regions better understand the inevitability and advanced of high yield and quality of cotton in Xinjiang. Practice also proves that, with the support of a series of key technologies, cotton in Xinjiang has achieved high-quality production and has become the region with the highest per unit yield and mechanization of cotton in China, which means that its technology can guide production practice and promote application.

【Objective】Eestern and Southern Gansu is one of the epidemic centers of stripe rust and over-summering region for Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) with continuous emergening of new Pst races in Northwestern China. The objective of this study is to analyze the genetic architecture of stripe rust resistance in winter wheat cultivars grown in those regions since 1990s for a better genetic diversity control of the disease, breeding of durable resistant cultivars, sustainable green and healthy ecological agriculture in Southern Gansu. 【Method】The seedling and adult plant stage resistance to the prevailing Pst races CYR33, CYR34, etc. of 117 wheat cultivars (lines) were evaluated at greenhouse in 2021 and field trials in Qingshui of Gansu and Pixian of Sichuan, respectively, during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 cropping seasons. Molecualr markers for 15 Yr genes were also applied to detect the presence of known stripe rust resistant genes. 【Result】Of the 117 varieties and lines tested, thirty-four (29.1%) were found to perform adult plant stage resistance (APR) in the field, among these, 25.6% and 3.4% of cultivars were released in Southern Gansu, and Eastern Gansu, respectively. Another 25.6% susceptible cultivars from Southern Gansu exhibited slow rusting with disease severity (DS) less than 20%. Eighty-two cultivars (70.1%) were resistant to the race CYR33 of Pst at the seedling stage. Among them, 67 (57.3%) and 15 (12.8%) were planted in Southern and Eastern Gansu, respectively. However, only seven (6.0%) of the total entries were resistant to the dominant race CYR34 at the seedling stage, and all of these were cultivars from Southern Gansu, such as Lantian 131 etc. The stripe rusts resistant cultivars named as Lantian, Zhongliang, and Tianxuan series at both seedling and adult plant stages were mainly released after 2010. Molecular markers screening identified the presence of Yr9 (49.6%), Yr10 (1.7%), Yr17 (12.8%), Yr18 (7.7%), Yr26 (12.8%), Yr28 (20.5%), Yr29 (10.3%), Yr30 (34.2%), Yr41 (2.6%), Yr46 (16.2%), YrZH22 (15.4%) and YrZH84 (27.4%) in some cultivars, preferly as 2-5 genes combinations in 73 (62.4%) cultivars. Pyramiding of YrZH84, YrZH22, and Yr17 with other stripe rust resistance genes could provide better disease resistance than other gene combinations. In addition, high frequency of Yr10, Yr17, Yr18, Yr28, Yr29, Yr30, Yr41, and Yr46 was detected in wheat cultivars grown in the dry highland Pst oversummering region. However, Yr26, Yr30, YrZH22, and YrZH84 were mainly identified in wheat cultivars of the valley Pst overwintering region, indicating significant genetic architecture difference for the stripe rust resistance genes between the cultivars of the oversummering and overwintering regions. Higher genetic diversity of stripe rust resistance genes was found in the cultivars of the oversummering region, compared with that released in the overwintering region. 【Conclusion】Our results revealed the current status of stripe rust resistance genes and their utilization in winter wheat cultivars of Gansu, the northwest oversummering region for Pst of China, in the past 20 years. Diversification of stripe rust resistance genes have been successfully applied in the winter wheat breeding program to develop commercial wheat cultivars and lines for sustainable control of the stripe rust disease. The development of wheat cultivars with stacked stripe rust resistance genes has solved the historical problem of wheat cultivars with narrow genetic background and mono-resistance gene, domonstrating the successful control of wheat stripe rust epidemics using genetic diversity of wheat resistance gene in this region. The present study provides theoretical basis for genetic diversity control of stripe rust disease and set an example for the sustainable green ecological agriculture by breeding wheat cultivars with durable disease resistance.

Wheat is the most important cereal crop, and drought is the most significant abiotic stress factor that severely affects wheat growth and development. Plant root system, as a primary organ for crops to acquire water and nutrients, directly determines the efficiency of soil water utilization. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that plant root system architecture (RSA) plays an important role in plant tolerance to drought stress. This review summarizes the current research progress on the regulation of wheat drought tolerance determined by RSA. First, we present how root tropism especially root gravitropism shapes the RSA, summarize the relevant genes and molecular regulatory mechanism involved in root gravitropic growth, and explain how the root tropism-regulated RSA is implicated in wheat adaptation to drought stress. In addition to root tropic growth, the root development also participates in the RSA formation and the plant adaptability to drought stress. Therefore, this review further summarizes how wheat regulates root development to alter its root system morphology (including increasing root length, modifying lateral root number and root hair density, etc.), thereby enhancing its water acqusition from the soil and its adaption to drought environment. The identified genes involved in wheat root development under drought stress conditions are also systematically summarized. Furthermore, as the underground part of plants, the revelation of RSA has always been a challenging task, which hinders our understanding of the relationship between RSA and plant drought tolerance. Therefore, this review also summarized the available techniques used to analyze the RSA at two- and three-dimension levels. These techniques can measure and analyze wheat root length, density, growth direction, and morphology parameters, laying technical support for an insightful understanding of the relationship between wheat RSA and drought resistance. Finally, we discuss the prospect of the improvement of RSA in breeding wheat drought-resistant varieties, as well as provide an outlook for how to identify genes regulating wheat RSA and pinpoint their regulatory mechanism. In summary, the relationship between wheat RSA and drought resistant is closely associated. The continuous development of sequencing techniques, along with the deepening research on the regulatory mechanism of wheat RSA, will provide new means and strategies for the further breeding of drought-tolerance wheat varieties.

【Objective】Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs) are a group of RNA molecules longer than 200 bp with no protein coding capacity, which are involved in various biological regulatory processes. In this study, we aim to analyze the RNA-sequencing data of two Gossypium arboreum isogenic lines, a fuzzless mutant (GA0149) and its wildtype (GA0146), to identify the lncRNA involved in early fuzz fiber development, providing a foundation for investigation the mechanism of fiber development. 【Method】We collected 0 DPA, 3 DPA and 5 DPA ovule and 8 DPA ovule and fiber from the G. arboreum fuzzless mutant GA0149 and its isogenic line GA0146 with normal fuzz and lint fibers, were used for RNA-seq to identify lncRNA and predict their target genes. Differentially expressed mRNA (DE-mRNA) and lncRNA(DE-lncRNAs) between the samples were identified. The KOBAS software was used to predict the KEGG enrichment pathways which DE-lncRNAs targets were involved in. To ensure the quality of high-through sequencing, 25 DE-lncRNAs were selected for RT-qPCR detection. 【Result】We identified 15 339 lncRNA-encoding transcripts that 11 595 lncRNAs were located to intergenic regions, 2 428 lncRNAs were classified as antisense lncRNAs, 350 were categorized as intronic lncRNAs and 966 belonged to sense lncRNAs. Compared to mRNAs, lncRNAs in Asian cotton showed shorter exons and lower GC content. Most of lncRNAs had cis-regulatory effects on their neighboring mRNAs. We identified 1 932 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, with 8 134 predicted DE-lncRNA target genes. Further analysis showed that 788 genes (mRNA) were differentially expressed (DE-genes) during four fiber development stages. KEGG enrichment pathways analysis showed that DE-target-mRNAs were mainly enriched in plant hormone signal transduction and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum. Co-expression network analysis revealed that lncRNA (MSTRG.454250.3) and its associated target genes showed identical expression trends during four fuzz fiber development stages, while lncRNAs (MSTRG.454261.4) and its associated target genes showed contrary expression tendency, exhibiting dramatic higher expression in fuzzless GA0149 compared to wildtype GA0146. The results of RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the authenticity of our RNA-seq data.【Conclusion】A total of 26 specifically expressed lncRNAs were identified which related to cotton fuzz fiber development process. We further confirmed that these lncRNAs affected the fuzz fiber development by regulating the expression of indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetase (Ga03G2421) and Auxin-responsive protein (Ga05G1344) in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway.

【Background】MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules of 18-25 nt in length that play an important role in the regulation of follicle development in mammalian ovary granulosa cells (GCs). The previous sequencing of the transcriptome of the ovaries of high and low kidding individuals in Yunshang black goats showed that miR-535 was able to influence the kidding number of goats, but the specific regulatory mechanism was not yet clear. 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of miR-535 targeting the GRB2 associated binding protein 2 (GAB2) and its associated signaling pathway PI3K/AKT affected the proliferation of goat GCs, so as to further investigate the molecular biological regulation mechanism. 【Method】In this study, three high- and low-fertility Yunshang black goats with the kidding number record of more than two litters were selected, and their follicular ovarian tissues were collected after synchronous estrus treatment for collecting primary GCs. The expression of miR-535 and GAB2 in high- and low-yield ovary tissues of Yunshang black goats was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The overexpression/inhibitor of GAB2 vector was constructed and the effect of candidate GAB2 on the proliferation of goat GCs was detected using RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, CCK8, EdU and Apoptosis, respectively. The prediction of the targeted relationship between miR-535 and GAB2 was performed with miRDB and miRanda software. The Wild-type and Mutant vectors of GAB2 were constructed and the targeting relationship between miR-535 and GAB2 was detected by the dual luciferase activity assay. The overexpression/inhibitor miR-535 vector was constructed to explore the effect of its GCs proliferation and downstream gene function. 【Result】 The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression of GAB2 was significantly lower in ovarian tissues of Yunshang black goats with high-fertility than that in low-fertility groups, and the expression of miR-535 was the opposite (P<0.05). The results of RT-qPCR and Western blot showed that the expression of CCND2, CDK4 and BCL2 was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the expression of BAX was significantly decreased (P<0.05) after overexpression of GAB2 in GCs, and the inhibition of their expression was the opposite. Both EdU and CCK8 assays showed that GAB2 overexpression significantly promoted the proliferation of granulosa cell, while inhibition of its expression was the opposite (P<0.05). Dual luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-535 inhibited dual luciferase activity in the 3'UTR region of the GAB2 gene. The results of RT-qPCR and Western blot showed that the expression of GAB2, CCND2, CDK4 and BCL2 in goat GCs was significantly decreased and the expression of BAX was significantly increased after miR-535 overexpression, while the opposite was true after miR-535 inhibition (P<0.05). Both EdU and CCK8 assays showed that miR-535 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation of GCs, while the opposite was true after miR-535 inhibition (P<0.05). Apoptosis assays showed that miR-535 overexpression promoted GCs proliferation and the opposite was true after inhibition of its expression. The expression levels of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway marker AKT in goat GCs were significantly increased after inhibition of miR-535, respectively (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that miR-535 inhibited the proliferation of goat granulosa cells by suppressing the expression of GAB2. These results provided a theoretical basis for further investigation of the biological functions of miR-535 regulating goat GCs.

【Objective】The Pi9 resistance gene locus, conferring a broad-spectrum resistance against Magnaporthe oryzae, is consist by several tandem homologous genes. Over 10 resistance genes have been cloned from this gene locus. This study aims to clarify the R gene composition at Pi9 locus in rice resource materials and promote the application of those genes in rice resistance breeding.【Method】Comparing the DNA sequence of cloned R genes at Pi9 locus, the specific nucleotide polymorphism sites were screened as the candidate sites. Subsequently, each R gene was blasted with 155 rice genomes in the database of Rice Resource Center. The most specific nucleotide polymorphism sites were picked out from the candidate site in each gene to develop primer pair of molecular markers. The PCR product of primer pairs was used to mark indicated R gene in tested rice materials via parameter optimization. To verify the results, the R genes were cloned from indicated rice variety randomly and examined by Sanger sequencing, or analyzed the R genes from the genome database if the genome sequence of indicated rice variety exists in Rice Resource Center. The R genes in Pi9 locus have high homology, which cause same specific nucleotide polymorphism sites existing in different R genes. Therefore, some R genes are hardly identified by one molecular marker. For this case, several molecular markers were employed to identify the indicated R gene simultaneously. Moreover, some specific nucleotide polymorphism sites are single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), in where the primers of molecular markers have a mismatched base. In order to improve the specificity of PCR amplification, the adjacent base of SNP was mutated to generate two mismatched bases at 3′ site of primer.【Result】Finally, the valid molecular markers were developed for each R gene and identified 32.09% tested materials containing R genes at Pi9 locus. Pi9, Pid4, PigmR, Piz-t, Pi2 and Pi9-type5 are present in 1, 7, 8, 14, 23 and 33 tested materials, respectively. The Pi9 only presents in monogenic line but not in rice parent lines. The other genes are usually present in two or more gene combinations in rice parent lines. The Pi9-type5 often presents in pair with Pi2 and Piz-t, and presents alone in three rice parents, Chenghui 993, HR2168 and Mianhui 365. Yuhui 38 contains the most R genes at Pi9 locus, including Pi2, Pi9-type5, PigmR and Pid4. Chuangu B, Chuannong 4B, Neixiang 6B and Shuang 1B contain Piz-t, PigmR and Pid4. Qianxiang 654B contains Piz-t and Pid4.【Conclusion】This study successfully developed specific molecular markers for six homologous rice blast resistance genes in Pi9 locus and identified the R gene composition in Pi9 locus for 110 rice parent lines that used in rice breeding in Sichuan basin. It also discovered different types of R genes combination at Pi9 locus and provided a clear reference for choosing the resistance source in rice breeding.

【Objective】In arid and semi-arid regions, the water and nutrients are scarce in the soil. The phosphorus use efficiency between different wheat genotypes varies greatly. Therefore, identification of low phosphorus-tolerant germplasm and mapping of related loci is helpful for genetic improvement of wheat. 【Method】Using 282 Shanxi wheat varieties as materials, twelve seedling morphological indicators were investigated under three phosphorus concentrations, including SDW, RDW, DW, SFW, RFW, FW, MRL, TRL, RS, RV, RD, and RN. Principal component analysis, membership function analysis, and cluster analysis were used to comprehensively evaluate the low phosphorus tolerance characteristics of different varieties at the seedling stage. On this basis, the trait evolution trend and biomass allocation at seedling stage were analyzed. At the same time, GWAS was used to identify significant loci related to the low phosphorus-related traits. 【Result】The response of different traits to low phosphorus at the seedling stage was different. Lower phosphorus concentrations led to changes in biomass allocation strategy, and shoot growth was less affected by change in phosphorus concentrations than root growth. The decrease in phosphorus concentration inhibited the growth of shoot, and SDW and SFW were significantly reduced. In contrast, low phosphorus promoted root growth, and the indicators of RDW, RFW, MRL, TRL, RV and RN increased significantly. According to the correlation analysis between D-value and morphological indicators, it was found that MRL and RD could be used as selection indicators for low phosphorus tolerance at seedling stage. Based on D-value clustering analysis, 9 low phosphorus tolerant varieties were selected, including Jinmai 46, Jinmai 61, Youmangdahongjing, Hongtumai, Hongheshang, Baikehong, Baixianmai, Huoshaotou, Baishanmai. Analysing trends in trait evolution showed that cultivars were not directly selected for their ability to tolerate low phosphorus. The ability to tolerate low phosphorus decreased first and then increased over time. Before 2010, there was a decreasing trend in the ability of varieties to tolerate low phosphorus, and after 2010, there was an increase in the ability of varieties to tolerate low phosphorus. GWAS stably detected eight loci with R²>10% in three environments, in which 1A_545074550, 2B_489279799, 6A_166899658 and 6A_273060644 were not reported previously.【Conclusion】The MRL and RD can be used as selection indicators for low phosphorus tolerance at seedling stage. A total of nine varieties were selected through comprehensive evaluation of ability in Shanxi wheat to tolerate low phosphorus during seedling stage. Association analysis detected four novel loci associated with low phosphorus tolerance on chromosomes 1A, 2B and 6A, and the results provide germplasm resources and QTL for future low phosphorus tolerance wheat breeding.

【Objective】By analyzing the genetic and breeding selection effects of the stable major QTL for spike length in wheat, its genetic effects on yield-related traits were clarified, and the future breeding application potential was evaluated. The results could provide a basis for subsequent gene mining and molecular breeding of wheat. 【Method】A major QTL for spike length, named qSl-2D, was detected in multiple environments using a recombinant inbred lines population derived from the cross of Kenong9204 and Jing411, denoted as KJ-RIL; Two molecular markers closely linked to qSl-2D were developed by using the InDel sites in target interval. The genetic effects of yield-related traits based on KJ-RIL, MY-F₂, NILs and natural mapping populations, were analyzed by combining genotype data of molecular markers or wheat 55K array, respectively. By genotyping the natural mapping population, the breeding selection effect of qSl-2D haplotype was parsed across different wheat regions and different ages. 【Result】QTL mapping results showed that qSl-2D could be detected in 7/10 sets of environmental data, and could explain 4.02%-10.10% of the phenotypic variation. The peak LOD of 5/10 sets of environmental data was positioned at 608.75 Mb. The results of genetic effect analysis showed that the enhancing allele of qSl-2D could significantly increase spike length in the four populations with different genetic backgrounds. In addition, it has positive effects on kernel number per spike and plant height, but has negative effects on thousand kernel weight, kernel weight per spike and yield per plant in most population backgrounds. Further analysis of plant height in KJ-RIL population showed that the enhancing allele had rod lowering effect on all internode lengths except the internode length below spike, which resulted in the insignificant increase in plant height. The results of qSl-2D haplotype analysis showed that the utilization rates of the long-spike haplotype Hap-AA-GG varied greatly in different wheat regions, with the highest utilization rate in the northern winter wheat region, accounting for 24%; while the short-spike haplotype Hap-CC-CC accounted for more than 30% in most wheat regions. Moreover, the utilization rate of qSl-2D long-spike haplotype showed a gradual decrease over time, while that of short-spike haplotype consistently maintained a higher selection trend. 【Conclusion】A stable major QTL-qSl-2D for spike length was identified, the enhancing allele of qSl-2D could significantly increase spike length under different genetic backgrounds, and had certain genetic effects on yield-related traits. The closely linked molecular markers developed in the target region can be used for the genetic improvement of wheat spike length and yield-related traits in wheat.

Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) is a floating microscopic plant that is usually found in standing water. Climate change is characterized by rising temperature, which is mainly due to increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration, and it poses potential risks to food production. Owing to factors such as climate warming and/or the eutrophication of water, duckweed growth in paddy fields has shown an increasing trend year by year in China. This paper focused on the impacts of duckweed on paddy fields and highlighted some vital trends. Duckweed reduced the water temperature of paddy by 0.86-2.76 ℃ and the pH value by 0.10-0.45, changed the structure of microbial community, reduced the NH₃ volatilization by 18.2%-59.0%, and increased the nitrogen utilization rate by 17.2%-78.0%. As a result, the nitrogen sink of paddy increased and the rice yield rose by 9.0%-34.6% upon duckweed growing in paddy. Duckweed grew and reproduced rapidly, and its annual biomass could reach 8×10³-13×10³ kg·hm^-2, making its carbon sink almost equal to that of rice in the same season. The mutualism between duckweed and rice was greater than its competition, and the coexistence of duckweed and rice in paddy showed an adaptation of the rice field ecosystem to environmental changes. Future research in this field should focus on the effect and its mechanism of duckweed on the paddy environment changes, rice growth, yield, and quality, and the risks which might bring to the paddy fields, especially the interaction with environmental factors (elevated temperature and CO₂ concentration, etc.). Such research would provide theoretical support for the sustainable agricultural development of rice farming technology based on biological collaboration, such as rice-duckweed, which can adapt to future changes in climate and environment.

【Objective】The genome-wide association analysis was performed to identify SNP loci significantly associated with nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) traits in Brassica juncea at seedling stage and to predict the relevant candidate genes, providing a theoretical basis for revealing the molecular mechanism of nitrogen use efficiency in rapeseed and creating nitrogen-efficient germplasm. 【Method】The population of 153 Brassica juncea resources was used as the analysis population. Two treatments, low N and normal N, were established using three replicates for each treatment, and two replicated nutrient culture trials were conducted over a two-year period (2021 and 2022). The relative values of root-shoot ratio and shoot nitrogen concentration (low/normal N) were calculated and utilized as NUE traits for a genome-wide association study (GWAS) aimed at exploring candidate genes for NUE. 【Result】NUE traits of Brassica juncea resources exhibited abundant variation, ranging from 0.21-2.44 with coefficients of variation of 22.92%-26.19%. The GWAS identified 45 significant SNP loci, among which 16 overlapped between the first relative root-shoot ratio (RRSR1) and the second relative root-shoot ratio (RRSR2), accounting for a phenotype variance range of 10.69%-15.39%. Additionally, 29 significant SNP loci were shared between the first relative shoot nitrogen concentration (RSNC1) and the second relative shoot nitrogen concentration (RSNC2), explaining a phenotype variance range of 13.22%-23.96%. 15 candidate genes for NUE were identified within 200 kb upstream and downstream regions of significant SNP loci, including 5 genes related to nitrate transport (BjuNPF5.8, BjuNRT2.7, BjuNPF2.3, BjuCLCb and BjuNRT1.3), 3 genes associated with nitrogen metabolism (BjuASN3, BjuGLU2 and BjuADCS), 4 genes involved in plant growth and development (BjuCOBL8, BjuPYL6, BjuSAUR72 and BjuUP3) and 3 genes participated in stress response (BjuNTP7, BjuJUB1 and BjuPYL6). 【Conclusion】45 SNP loci were detected significantly associated with NUE traits and 15 candidate genes for NUE were identified in this study.

【Objective】The F₁ hybrid sterility between XI/indica and GJ/japonica severely hinders the utilization of hybrid advantage between subspecies. Exploring the genetic mechanism and identifying new regulatory genes for XI/GJ hybrid sterility will provide theoretical basis for promoting genetic improvement of XI/GJ hybrid seed setting rate. 【Method】A series of stable genetic recombination inbred lines (RILs) containing 95 plant lines were derived from the cross between XI variety Habataki and GJ variety Sasanishiki after 10 generations inbred using single seed descent method. High throughput sequencing was performed on both parents and RILs on the Illumina platform, and the distribution of Habataki pedigree in RILs was analyzed at the whole genome level. The segregation distortion regions were identified, and hybrid sterile related gene loci were screened within the segregation distortion regions, then identified candidate genes through sequence alignment comparison. The targeted gene was knockout to verify the function using CRISPR gene editing technology. 【Result】The hybrid F₁ plants derived from the cross between Habataki and Sasanishiki showed significant heterosis in panicles, grains per panicle, and thousand grain weight, but its seed setting rate significantly decreased. I₂-KI microscopy revealed a significant decrease in F₁ pollen fertility. High throughput sequencing of the entire genome of RILs revealed significant segregation distortion on Chr.1, Chr.3, Chr.5, Chr.6, Chr.7, and Chr.12, indicating that the genotype in this region tends towards the Habataki. Sequence alignment comparison revealed that Sc, S5, and HSA1 are target genes for the segregation distortion on Chr.3, Chr.6, and Chr.12. The CRISPR gene editing mutants with a knock-out Sc-Haba-3 allele in Habataki successfully improved the pollen fertility and seed setting rate of F₁ hybrid with Sasanishiki. A complex structural variation was found between Sasanishiki and Habataki in the segregation distortion of Chr.1. A 24.7 kb segment containing 4 predicted genes in the Sasanishiki genome was replaced by a 64.8 kb segment containing 10 predicted genes in Habataki, the structural variation may involve in controlling the hybrid sterility of XI and GJ cross. 【Conclusion】This study detected multiple XI/GJ hybrid infertility related loci, and successfully improved F₁ fertility by using CRISPR gene editing to knock out multiple copies of Sc in Habataki, locking in the target gene in the Sd region of Chr.1.

【Objective】Canopy activity is an important indicator of wheat growth and development. Identification the loci for canopy activity related traits and their relationships with grain yield (GY) related traits can provide theoretical support for the dissection of genetic structure of yield trait and assisted wheat breeding.【Method】A total of 166 wheat varieties originating from both domestic and international sources were planted in Anyang of Henan province and Suixi of Anhui province in cropping seasons. With the integrated physical map containing 326 570 SNP markers from the wheat 90K and 660K chips, genome-wide association studies for normalized difference vegetation index at seedling stage (NDVI-S) and 10 days after flowering (NDVI-10), and chlorophyll content in flag leaf at 10 days after flowering (Chl-10) were carried out. The results were compared with the previous study for GY related traits using the same material. 【Result】Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed highly significant effects (P<0.01) of genotypes, environments and genotype×environment interactions on NDVI-S, NDVI-10 and Chl-10, with broad-sense heritabilities (h2 b) of 0.81, 0.81 and 0.91, respectively. Thirteen, 12 and 15 loci were detected to be significantly correlated with NDVI-S, NDVI-10 and Chl-10, respectively, among which 12, 11 and 12 were new, and five loci were associated with two or more traits. The number of favorable alleles for NDVI-S, NDVI-10 and Chl-10 ranged from 4 to 11, 3 to 11 and 4 to 12, respectively, in the 166 wheat varieties, and the phenotypic values increased with the accumulation of favorable alleles. NDVI-S showed significant (P<0.01) and positive correlations with thousand-kernel weight, kernel length and kernel width. Chl-10 was significant positively correlated with GY and flag leaf width (P<0.01), whereas significant negatively correlated with spike number per unit area, plant height and uppermost internode length (P<0.01). Seven pleiotropic loci were detected co-related with both GY and canopy activity related traits.【Conclusion】NDVI-S can be directly used for selection of yield traits. The stable and pleiotropic loci detected in this study can be used for marker-assisted selection.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) refers to the germination of cereal crops on the spike in high humidity conditions before grain harvest. Wheat PHS is a significant problem that affects both the yield and quality of wheat. Seed dormancy level is a major factor influencing the resistance of wheat PHS, and domesticated crops often exhibit reduced seed dormancy levels, making cultivated wheat more prone to PHS compared to its wild ancestors. Wheat PHS is mainly regulated by external environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, as well as internal plant hormones (GAs, ABA, IAA, MeJA, ET, BR). Researchers have identified a range of materials resistant to PHS, cloned key genes regulating PHS resistance, such as PM19, MFT, MKK3, Myb10-3D, Vp1. New wheat materials resistant to PHS have been successfully developed through molecular marker-assisted selection, artificial synthesis of wheat, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. This article reviews the genetic mechanism of PHS resistance in wheat and the latest progress in PHS resistance breeding research. In the future, it is necessary to continue exploring key genes related to PHS resistance, and employ biotechnological breeding methods to cultivate new PHS-resistant wheat varieties.

【Objective】 Livestock production is one of the important emission sources of greenhouse gases, while China is a major country in pig farming. Scientifically assessing the carbon footprint of pig farming system can provide a reference for further promoting carbon emission reduction of animal husbandry. 【Method】 This paper reviewed the research status of carbon footprint assessment of pig breeding system, including model, results and composition. The results of carbon footprint assessment were related to many factors, such as system boundary, emission sources, accounting methods and functional unit. In this study, we considered the main factors which affect the evaluation results, and analyzed the reasons for the difference of results. 【Result】 Through reviewing the domestic and foreign literature on carbon footprint assessment, it was realized that the assessment model of livestock had been constructed well in developed country. The carbon footprint of 1 kg functional unit product was 2.2-10.3 kg CO_2-eq. The assessment results varied due to the different evaluation methods in various studies. Different system boundaries and functional units were the important reasons for different results. The different emission sources, accounting parameters selected for the same emission source, or diverse allocation methods under the same system boundary also led to great differences. For the contribution to the carbon footprint of the pig production system, feed production was the largest link, accounting for 49%-83%; the second was manure management, accounting for 12%-41%. 【Conclusion】 In order to widely precise the carbon footprint of China’s pig production system, the suggestions were as follows: monitoring the key parameters of greenhouse gas emissions for various feeding modes in all regions of China should be carried out; the Chinese carbon footprint assessment database according to the development status of Chinese pig breeding systems should be established; the unified and standardized evaluation methods should be appeared publicly; an carbon footprint assessment model fit for different regions of Chinese production practice should be created to provide data reference support for the sustainable development of Chinese pig production system.

【Objective】 As an important negative transcriptional regulator in cotton MADS-box gene family, AGL16 plays an important role in resisting drought and salt stress. Virus-induced gene editing (VIGE) was used to screen sgRNAs that knockout the cotton GhAGL16 and verify the specificity of these sgRNAs, which laid a foundation for the creation of cotton agl16 mutants.【Method】 Three sgRNAs could knockout GhAGL16 were predicted based on the actual GhAGL16 genomic sequence cloned on subgroup A and D in cotton YZ-1; Three CLCrV-AtU6-26::GhAGL16-sgRNAs vectors were constructed based on the cotton leaf crumple virus (CLCrV)-mediated VIGE system; The expression of Cas9 in Cas9 over-expression (Cas9-OE) plants was detected by qPCR to determine whether Cas9 was stably genetically expressed; Three CLCrV-AtU6-26::GhAGL16-sgRNAs vectors were transformed respectively into Cas9-OE cotton cotyledons and detected the mutations of the three targets by PCR/RE; The secondary structures of three GhAGL16-sgRNAs were analyzed by bioinformatics; Hi-TOM high-throughput sequencing was performed on mutant plants to determine the efficiency of gene editing. Meanwhile, the off-target rate of GhAGL16-sgRNA2 mutant plants were identified to detect the specificity of gene editing.【Result】 Three sgRNAs capable of simultaneously knocking out GhAGL16-A and D subgroups were successfully constructed. The detection results of Cas9 expression showed that Cas9 was stably expressed in different Cas9-OE cotton plants. PCR/RE mutation detection results showed that GhAGL16-sgRNA2 could be effectively used for the knockout of GhAGL16. Different mutation types with base deletions appeared at the target sites of cotton subgroups A and D, while GhAGL16-sgRNA1 and GhAGL16-sgRNA3 were two invalid sgRNAs. The secondary structure analysis results of three GhAGL16-sgRNAs indicated that GhAGL16-sgRNA1 and GhAGL16-sgRNA3 might have a phenomenon that the guide sequence was easy to pair with other sequences and difficult to unwind, which interfered with the recognition of the target site by the guide sequences and lead to the invalid sgRNA. To further quantify the editing efficiency of GhAGL16-sgRNA2 on GhAGL16, the mutation detection results of each Cas9-OE plant transformed with CLCrV-AtU6-26::GhAGL16-sgRNA2 showed that six of the nine Cas9-OE plants were mutated, with a mutation efficiency of 66.67%. In addition, Hi-TOM high-throughput sequencing results showed that the editing efficiency of GhAGL16-sgRNA2 for GhAGL16 was 13.69%-54.42%. The off-target identification results showed that no off-target phenomenon was detected at the four predicted off-target sites, indicating that GhAGL16-sgRNA2 not only has high gene editing efficiency, but also has specific gene editing specificity.【Conclusion】 A sgRNA that can effectively knocking out the GhAGL16 was obtained by transforming Cas9-OE cotton using the CLCrV-mediated VIGE system, providing an ideal sgRNA for creating cotton agl16 mutants.

【Objective】The two main types of allotetraploid cotton that are currently cultivated are upland cotton, known for its high yield and good adaptability, and island cotton, which boasts excellent fiber quality but lower yield. EXO70, a vital subunit of the exocyst complex, plays a significant role in plant growth, development, and stress response. By identifying and analyzing members of the EXO70 gene family in upland and island cotton at the whole-genome level, and studying their functions in fiber development and environmental adaptation, we can shed light on the molecular basis for the differences in traits between these two varieties. 【Method】The reference sequences of EXO70 protein in Arabidopsis were obtained from the TAIR database. HMMER, ExPASy, MEME, TBtools, and other analysis tools were used to identify and analyze the members of EXO70 gene family in the genomes of upland cotton TM-1 and island cotton Hai7124. The similarities and differences in gene expression patterns, correlations with crucial agronomic traits, and stress responses of this family were systematically compared. 【Result】Through genome-level analysis of upland cotton and sea-island cotton, 54 EXO70 family members were identified in both upland and sea-island cotton, which could be divided into eight subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis. Orthologous genes between upland cotton and sea-island cotton can be paired one-to-one and are distributed across the 20 chromosomes of both species. The majority of the members have single exons, while 12 pairs of homologous genes displayed significant differences in the reading frame sequences. Most orthologous genes in Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense display similar expression patterns, but differences in expression levels are observed during the same fiber development stage, such as GH_A04G1208 and its orthologous gene GB_A04G1253 in subgroup A. Single gene association analysis revealed that more genes were associated with fiber quality traits in sea-island cotton, while more genes were associated with yield traits and environmental adversity sensitivity in upland cotton. Some trait association differences resulted from genetic structural differences between Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense. Under different stresses, upland cotton showed a significantly higher number of induced genes compared to sea-island cotton. 【Conclusion】The sequence structure and gene expression patterns of the EXO70 family were found to be relatively conserved in both upland and island cotton during the formation, differentiation, and domestication of tetraploid cotton. However, in terms of EXO70 family members, island cotton had more genes related to fiber quality traits, while upland cotton had more genes related to yield traits and exhibited greater sensitivity to environmental stress.

【Objective】As the fourth staple food crop in China, potato suitability evaluation is of great significance to ensure national food security. Based on climate data, this study constructed an integrated species distribution model to predict the climate suitable area of potato in China in the future, and provided an important scientific reference for optimizing potato planting in China.【Method】In this study, the future climate data derived from six different global climate models (GCMs) were used to drive an ensemble of five different species distribution models (SDMs) to simulate the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of climate suitable areas of potato cultivation in China in the historical (1970-2000) and four future (2021-2040, 2041-2060, 2061-2080, and 2081-2100) periods under four greenhouse gas emission scenarios (ssp126, ssp245, ssp370, and ssp585). 【Result】 (1) The precipitation in the wettest month, the highest temperature in the warmest month, and the average temperature in the coldest quarter were the main meteorological factors that affected the climate suitability of potato in China, with their contribution rates of 54.7%, 21.4% and 18.1%, respectively. (2) In four scenarios of greenhouse gas emission, the prediction results of various suitable areas were basically the same, showing the similar trends that the areas of suitable and low suitable would become larger, while the area of high suitable would become smaller. Only in Hainan, Tibet, Xinjiang and some other regions, the climate was not suitable for potato planting. The suitable potato planting areas (including both suitable and high suitable) exceed 50% in all cases. (3) In the future, the low suitable and suitable areas for potato planting will increase greatly, while the high suitable areas will decrease. The order of areas of different suitable grades would remain: suitable areas>low suitable areas>high suitable areas. (4) With the increase of greenhouse gas emission level, the high suitable area in China would be greatly reduced. For spatial distribution, the high suitable areas were mainly in Northeast China, Gansu, western Xinjiang, and some parts of southwest China. From the perspective of time, the future climate change would greatly affect the northwest of Shaanxi, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the central and western Inner Mongolia and other regions. The climate suitability of potato planting would obviously decrease. 【Conclusion】In this study, the integrated species distribution models were constructed to predict the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of potato climate suitable areas in the future. Northeast, Gansu, Southwest and other regions of China could be the main potato planting areas, while Xinjiang and other regions could be the main development areas. The rest regions should be given priority to the development of other staple crops and cash crops according to local conditions.

【Objective】The study investigated the impact of salicylic acid (SA) priming on the germination vigor and physiological response of rice seeds under low temperatures. It aimed to reveal the expression patterns of genes related to abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) metabolic pathways as well as cell wall relaxation genes by SA priming. This research provided a theoretical basis for the study of rice seed germination at low temperatures.【Method】Using indica three-line hybrid rice Taifengyou 208 seeds as materials, the effects of SA on seed germination vigor and physiology responses under low temperature were analyzed through seed priming treatment, and the expression patterns of genes related to ABA, GA and expansin in response to SA were analyzed by qRT-PCR.【Result】Low temperature (15 ℃) significantly delayed the germination process of rice seeds. In seeds germinated at low temperatures for one day, the endogenous SA concentration was 1.7 times higher than that at normal temperatures (28 ℃). However, for five-day-old seedlings, the SA concentration under low temperature was only 0.6% of that at normal temperatures. SA could effectively enhanced germination vigor of seeds at low temperature, with the most significant effects observed at 2 000 μmol·L^-1 SA. This concentration significantly increased the germination index, vigor index, shoot length, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of seeds under low temperature conditions. Notably, the vigor index was three times that of non-primed seeds (CK1) and two times that of water-primed seeds (CK2). In terms of physiological indexes, SA priming increased the contents of soluble sugar, proline and active oxygen, enhanced the activities of total amylase, β-amylase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). Compared with CK1, 2 000 μmol·L^-1 SA decreased the ABA content by 79%, and increased the IAA and GA₁ contents by 32.2% and 2.66 times, respectively. In terms of gene expression, the expression levels of ABA synthesizing genes OsNCED2 and OsNCED3 were decreased by 94.26% and 90.24% compared with CK1 in seeds primed by 2 000 μmol·L^-1 SA, respectively, whereas the expression levels of ABA decomposing genes OsABA8’ox2 and OsABA8’ox3 were 5.9 and 3.9 times higher than that of CK1, respectively. Compared with CK1, SA priming significantly upregulated the expression of GA synthesizing genes OsCPS1, OsKAO and OsGA20ox1, while it significantly downregulated the expression of GA decomposing genes OsGA2ox2 and OsGA2ox6. In several candidate genes encoding cell wall relaxation protein, e.t. expansin, all but OsEXPB11 were significantly upregulated to some extent by priming. Compared with CK1, 2 000 μmol·L^-1 SA increased the expression levels of OsEXPA2, OsEXPB4 and OsEXPB6 to 12.2, 5.9 and 6.1 times, respectively.【Conclusion】SA priming can significantly alleviate the impact of low temperatures on rice seed germination and seedling growth, which is likely due to SA enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and CAT, reducing the production of MDA, and increasing the content of soluble sugars and proline, thereby strengthening the tolerance of seeds and seedlings to low temperatures. On the other hand, SA priming decreases endogenous ABA content, increases GA₁ content, enhances the activities of total amylase and β-amylase, and promotes the expression of genes related to cell wall relaxation, thus facilitating seed germination and seedling growth at low temperature.

【Objective】 This study adopted different methodologies to identify the key texture characteristics and physicochemical indexes affecting the total sensory quality of pineapple (Ananas comosus (Linn.) Merr.), and to establish a new comprehensive evaluation method for the precise testing of fruit texture and taste quality.【Method】 In this study, seven different varieties of pineapple were selected for the measurement of sensory attributes, texture characteristics, and physicochemical compositions. Based on the variance and correlation analysis, the key texture properties and physicochemical indexes that affect sensory quality were identified. Further, the principal component regression analysis was performed, with key texture characteristics and physicochemical indexes as independent variables, and the total score of sensory evaluation as dependent variables, to obtain a statistically significant prediction model for the comprehensive evaluation of pineapple quality.【Result】 There were significant differences in some texture properties and physicochemical indexes among different varieties of pineapple, such as hardness, chewiness, maximum shear force, sugar-acid ratio, soluble protein, vitamin C and soluble pectin; the coefficient of variation among varieties was greater than 25%, while the difference in elasticity and cohesiveness was not significant among varieties. The overall satisfaction score of different pineapple varieties from the highest to lowest was Tainong 17>Tainong 16>Tainong 4>MD-2>Tainong 11>Smooth Cayenne>Comte de Paris. Tainong 17 showed the best quality of fruit texture and taste, its total soluble solid content was 16.23%, sugar to acid ratio was 31.82, soluble pectin content was 23.72 mg∙g^-1, hardness was 1 826.55 N, Chewiness was 789.77 mJ, and the maximum shear force was 3 491.37 N. Correlation analysis showed that there were six key indexes affecting the overall satisfaction of sensory significantly, including hardness, chewiness, maximum shear force and physicochemical index of soluble solids, sugar-acid ratio and soluble pectin. The determination coefficient R² of the sensory quality prediction model based on the principal component regression analysis was 0.916, and the standard deviation was 0.11. 【Conclusion】 The texture and taste quality of pineapple vary greatly among different varieties, and a single evaluation method could not accurately evaluate its comprehensive quality. A prediction model was established for pineapple sensory evaluation based on the key texture properties and physicochemical indexes, which could accurately predict the texture and taste quality of pineapple, and made up for the lack of objectivity in artificial sensory analysis.

The self-sufficiency rate of edible vegetable oil is less than 31 percent in China, with a high degree of import dependence. Rapeseed is the only winter oilseed crop with a wide range of suitable planting region, and it is an important source of edible vegetable oil in China. Planting more rapeseed is an important measure to guarantee national edible oil supply security. Making full use of the winter fields in the southern double cropping rice area to promote “rice-rice-rapeseed” production is an important approach to expand the planting area of rapeseed. The area suitable for the “rice-rice-rapeseed” production mode is mainly distributed in the double cropping rice area of Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi and Hubei provinces in China, with a potential area of about 1.87 million hm². According to the conditions of temperature and light resources, three suitable areas for the “rice-rice-rapeseed” production include the ample area, tightly balanced area and the constrained area. All the areas require early-maturing rapeseed varieties with a growth period of around 180 days, which are suitable for being sown in mid- to late October and harvested in mid- to late April. Among a total of 75 new rapeseed lines participated in the early-maturity group of the national rapeseed variety trials from 2013 to 2022, the average growth period ranged from 169.3 to 185.5 days, and the average yield was 1 635.90-2 228.55 kg·hm^-2, with 22 varieties out yielded the check variety. There are 72 early-maturing winter oilseed rape varieties with a growth period less than 190 days were registered by the end of May 2023. These varieties are suitable to be used in the “rice-rice-rapeseed” mode, and most of them are hybrid varieties with low erucic acid and low glucosinolate quality. 11 varieties, Yangguang 131, Fengyou 730, Fengyou 320, Fengyou 847, Ganyouza 906, Shengguang 127, Xiangyou 420, Jingyou 69, Fengyou 112, Huayouza 652, Ganyouza 1009, are the most promoted and applied early-maturing winter rapeseed varieties in the “rice-rice-rapeseed” production area, with more than 135 hm² each in 2022. The present varieties can basically meet the early-maturation demand in the ample area. In the tightly balanced and constraint areas, however, the growth period of these varieties is too long. To expand the production and efficiency of rapeseed industry, it is urgently needed to strengthen the policy and financial security in the future, carry out joint breeding projects for short-growth-period winter rapeseed varieties to further improve the yield in the ample area and shorten the growth period in the tightly balanced and constrained areas. Meanwhile, to strengthen the research and promotion of supporting cultivation technology for elite varieties, match well early rice, late rice, and rapeseed varieties are also good measures to support the expansion of rapeseed production in the “rice-rice-rapeseed” production area. In addition, improving agricultural socialized services, expanding agricultural insurance and increasing subsidies for rapeseed planting to ensure production benefit will enhance the farmers’ enthusiasm for the “rice-rice-rapeseed” production.

【Objective】Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), significantly reduced wheat production worldwide. Breeding resistant wheat varieties is currently considered to be one of the most economical and effective ways to control this disease. Understanding the resistance level of Chinese and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) wheat breeding materials and the distribution of known disease resistance genes will greatly helpful for discovering the new resistance resources and improving the utilization efficiency of disease resistance genes. 【Method】In the present study, we phenotyped 153 wheat breeding lines derived from China and CIMMYT at both seedling against prevalent Chinese Pst races CYR33 and CYR34. In 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, using the Pst races CYR33 and CYR34 to identify the materials at the adult plant stages in Ezhou, Hubei. In addition, we used the gene-based or closely linked molecular markers of known stripe rust resistance genes Yr5, Yr9, Yr10, Yr15, Yr17, Yr18, Yr26, Yr29 and YrSP to genotype the whole set of wheat collections. 【Result】We found 10 lines immune against CYR33 at the seedling stage (IT: 0), including seven Chinese cultivars (Shannong 28, Luomai 163, Shimai 13, Zhongyi 6, Tanmai 98-2, Zhongmai 175, Taishan 21) and three CIMMYT lines (CIM-53, CIM-60 and CIM-71). However, only two cultivars, Tanmai 98-1 and Shannong 102, showed immune to CYR34 at the seedling stage. Based on the three years field tests, we found 64 lines showed highly resistance to stripe rust (final disease severity, FDS≤5%), including seven Chinese cultivars and 57 CIMMYT lines. The molecular marker analysis of known stripe rust resistance genes showed that there were 31, 23, 73, 2, 4, 50 and 2 lines carrying resistance genes Yr9, Yr10, Yr17, Yr18, Yr26, Yr29 and YrSP, respectively. None of any lines had Yr5 and Yr15. Based on the phenotype, only CIM-53 showed immune against two races at both seedling and adult plant stages (IT=0, FDS=0) and it might carry the known stripe rust resistance gene combination of Yr17+Yr29 based on the genotype. 【Conclusion】A total of 153 wheat collections from China and CIMMYT were showed adult plant resistance to the prevalent Pst races. Among these, Chinese wheat varieties mainly carry Yr9, Yr10 and Yr26, while CIMMYT wheat line mainly carry Yr17, Yr18 and Yr29, indicating that near-immunity resistance of CIMMYT wheat lines due to combinations of 1-2 moderate seedling resistance gene and 2-3 adult plant resistance genes resulting in durable resistance. Therefore, it is very urgent to expand the resistance sources and identify new resistance genes for pyramiding more genes biotechnology methods to develop new wheat varieties with durable rusts resistance and good agronomic traits. This plays an important role for controlling stripe rust in China by improving the resistance level of wheat variety overall.