Scientia Agricultura Sinica

Functions of ABC Transporter OsARG1 in Rice Heading Date Regulation

WANG ZhongNi, LEI Yue, LI JiaLi, GONG YanLong, ZHU SuSong

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 1-16. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.001

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【Objective】Heading date is a critical agronomic trait influencing rice yield and quality, regulated by complex networks involving histone-modifying enzymes, transcription factors, protein kinases, florigens, and phytochromes. While ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are known for their roles in substrate transport, their functions in heading date regulation remain unclear. This study investigates the role of the ABC transporter gene OsARG1 in the regulation of rice heading date, which will provide evidence for enriching the heading date regulation network.【Method】A comparative analysis was conducted between wild-type Nipponbare and the osarg1 mutant. Key agronomic traits, including heading date, plant height, tiller number, and panicle length, were assessed. Chlorophyll contents in leaf of Nipponbare (WT), albino leaf (WL), yellow-green leaf (YL) and green leaf (GL) of osarg1 were measured. Metal element contents such as cobalt, nickel, calcium, magnesium and iron in WT, WL, YL and GL were determined by ICP-MS. Hormone profiling, transcriptome sequencing, and integrative analysis were performed on WT, WL and GL to explore the regulatory function of OsARG1.【Result】The osarg1 mutant exhibited an earlier heading date than wild-type in both Guiyang and Changchun. It also showed reduced plant height, tiller number, and panicle length. Chlorophyll levels in WL and YL were significantly lower, accompanied by disrupted metal element homeostasis. Hormonal analysis revealed elevated levels of gibberellins, auxin-related, and cytokinin-related hormones in GL and WL, particularly in WL. Transcriptome analysis identified 2 001 and 6 555 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GL_vs_WT and WL_vs_WT comparisons, respectively. Over 20 heading date-associated genes, including Hd3a, OsMADS14, and chromatin methyltransferase genes, were differentially expressed. GO and KEGG analyses of DEGs from GL vs WT comparison highlighted enrichment in pathways related to metabolism, development, and environmental responses. Integrated transcriptomic and hormonal analysis suggested that OsARG1 may influence gibberellin and cytokinin levels by modulating diterpene and zeatin metabolism and hormone signaling pathways. Expression levels of the selected genes by qRT-PCR were consistent with the transcriptome data, validating the transcriptomic findings. 【Conclusion】The osarg1 mutant heads earlier than the wild-type, with OsARG1 likely regulating heading date through modulating the expression of heading date related genes. Additionally, OsARG1 plays roles in maintaining chlorophyll content and metal element (such as nickel, iron, and magnesium) balance in rice leaves.

Identification, Validation and Genetic Effect Analysis of Major QTL for Spike Density in Wheat

YE MeiJin, CHEN JiaTing, ZHOU JieGuang, YIN Li, HU XinRong, LAN YuXin, CHEN Bin, SU LongXing, LIU JiaJun, LIU TianChao, LI XiaoYu, MA Jian

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 17-28. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.002

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【Objective】Spike density (SD) is an important agronomic trait in wheat, and elucidating its genetic regulatory mechanisms is crucial for constructing ideal spike architecture and achieving yield breakthroughs. This study aimed to identify and genetically characterize key genetic loci controlling SD, providing a theoretical basis for molecular design breeding of wheat spike morphology. 【Method】A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 198 F₆ lines derived from a cross between the natural mutant msf and cultivar Chuannong16 was used. Combined with a genetic linkage map based on the wheat 16K SNP array, quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with SD were systematically identified using phenotypic data from four environments. Furthermore, two populations with different genetic backgrounds were employed to validate the major and stably expressed QTL. The genetic effects of the stable QTL on yield-related traits were analyzed, and their potential for yield improvement was evaluated. 【Result】The SD of the RIL population ranged from 0.62 to 2.35, with a heritability of 0.71. SD showed a significant positive correlation with productive tiller number and spikelet number, while exhibiting a highly significant negative correlation with grains per spike, grain weight per spike, and spike length. Nine QTLs controlling SD were identified, distributed on chromosomes 1A, 1D, 5A (2 QTLs), 5B, 7A (3 QTLs), and 7B. Among them, QSd.sicau-MC-1A was mapped between flanking markers 1A_1208254 and 1A_3911208 on chromosome 1A and detected in two environments and in the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) dataset, explaining 9.05%-15.84% of the phenotypic variation. This QTL, with its positive allele derived from Chuannong 16, was considered a major and stably expressed locus, and its effect was further validated in two independent genetic backgrounds. QSd.sicau-MC-7A.1 was located between markers 7A_671413788 and 7A_672390144 on chromosome 7A and also detected in two environments and BLUP. Although stably expressed, this QTL had a relatively minor effect (7.06%-10.39% phenotypic variation), with its positive allele originating from msf. The remaining seven QTLs were minor-effect loci. Genetic effect analysis revealed that the positive allele of QSd.sicau-MC-1A had negative effects on major yield-related traits, whereas QSd.sicau-MC-7A.1 exhibited positive effects. Additive effect analysis demonstrated that lines carrying both QSd.sicau-MC-1A and QSd.sicau-MC-7A.1 positive alleles had significantly higher SD (9.01% increase) compared to those carrying only one or no positive alleles. Lines with only QSd.sicau-MC-1A or QSd.sicau-MC-7A.1 showed 5.03% and 4.19% increases in SD, respectively, over lines without any positive alleles. Comparative analysis with previously reported SD QTLs suggested that QSd.sicau-MC-1A might be a novel locus. 【Conclusion】Two stably expressed QTLs for SD, QSd.sicau-MC-1A and QSd.sicau-MC-7A.1, were identified in wheat. The latter shows greater potential for breeding applications.

Development and Validation of Event-Specific PCR Method for the Quantification of Genetically Modified Soybean DBN8205

WU Qiong, XIE XiangTing, WANG Lei, MOU Yong, LI JinWei

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 29-40. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.003

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【Objective】The genetically modified soybean DBN8205 event has been approved for a biosafety certification (for commercial application) in China, and its derived varieties are nearing commercial planting. This study aimed to establish an event-specific detection method for DBN8205 to support the implementation of biosafety regulations and the threshold labeling policy for genetically modified organisms. 【Method】Event-specific primers and probes were designed based on the unique molecular characteristics of the DBN8205 event. The optimal primer/probe set was selected by comparing the amplification curves and Ct values of multiple combinations. The performance of the DBN8205 event-specific PCR method, including specificity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), dynamic range, and quantitative accuracy, was thoroughly evaluated on both real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) platforms. A collaborative trial was conducted across eight laboratories to validate the qPCR method, with the resulting data statistically analyzed to evaluate its repeatability and reproducibility. 【Result】The primer/probe combination DBN8205-QF/QR/QP was identified as optimal, producing a 120 bp amplicon specifically identified as optimal the DBN8205 event with high specificity. On the qPCR platform, the LOD and LOQ were 10 and 40 copies, respectively. The standard curve exhibited excellent linearity (R²>0.99) over a dynamic range from 40 to 8.2×10⁴ copies, allowing for accurate quantification of samples with DBN8205 content as low as 0.1%. The collaborative validation of eight laboratories confirmed that the qPCR method demonstrated good repeatability and reproducibility. On the ddPCR platform, the LOD and LOQ were identical to those of qPCR. The duplex ddPCR assay also showed a good linear correlation between measured and expected values within the range of 40 to 8.0×10⁴ copies and provided more precise quantification for low-concentration samples (0.1%) compared to qPCR. A t-test indicated no significant difference between the quantitative results obtained from qPCR and ddPCR, demonstrating good consistency between the two platforms. 【Conclusion】The established DBN8205 event-specific PCR method enables unambiguous identification and accurate quantification of the DBN8205 event in products on both qPCR and ddPCR platforms.

Estimation of Rice Grain Protein Content Using Fusion Imagery from UAV-based Multi-Sensors

FEI YaoYing, WANG Di, TANG WeiJie, GUO CaiLi, ZHANG XiaoHu, QIU XiaoLei, CHENG Tao, YAO Xia, JIANG ChongYa, ZHU Yan, CAO WeiXing, ZHENG HengBiao

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 41-56. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.004

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【Objective】Grain protein content (GPC) is a crucial indicator for evaluating rice quality and its commercial value. Establishing a rapid and non-destructive method for estimating rice GPC was established, so as to provide theoretical foundations and technical support for smart breeding and precision crop management. 【Method】This study employed a drone equipped with both an RGB camera and a multispectral camera to collect RGB and multispectral imagery, along with ground-measured grain protein content (GPC) data, from the heading to maturity stages of 522 rice breeding material accessions from 2022 to 2023. The Gram-Schmidt image fusion method was applied to process the RGB and multispectral images for generating fused images. Spectral and texture features extracted from the original multispectral images were combined with fused image features, and three machine learning regression algorithms—Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR)—were employed to construct GPC estimation models. 【Result】The R-band of the RGB images contained richer image information. Vegetation indices derived from the fused R-band exhibited higher correlations with GPC than those calculated from the original multispectral data. The mean texture (Mean) appeared most frequently in texture index construction (accounting for 63.16%), with the MEA₅₆₀-MEA₈₄₀ index showing certain correlations with GPC across different rice types (Huaian conventional japonica: |r²|=0.28; Rugao hybrid japonica: |r²|=0.20). Using a combination of multispectral image features, texture features, and fused image features as input parameters, the GPC estimation models for rice breeding materials achieved higher accuracy at the heading stage (R2 cal=0.64) and maturity stage (R2 cal=0.70) than at the filling stage model (R2 cal=0.53). Incorporating fused image features improved GPC estimation accuracy (ΔR2 cal=0.08-0.26) over using original image features. The interannual model of RF outperformed those of XGBoost and GBR in accuracy(RF: R2 val=0.74, RMSE=0.21%; XGBoost: R2 val=0.58, RMSE=0.23%; GBR: R2 val=0.42, RMSE=0.23%). 【Conclusion】The integration of UAV image fusion technique and machine learning methods could effectively enhance the estimation accuracy of the grain protein content (GPC) in rice breeding materials. These findings provided a theoretical reference and practical approaches for the precise estimation of rice quality parameters on a large scale.

Technical Approaches for Enhancing Rice Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency with Sulfur-Coated Controlled-Release Fertilizers

DONG GuiChun, WANG ZiHan, WANG ShuShen, LI Jie, HUO XiaoQing, YANG Rui, ZHOU Juan, SHU XiaoWei, LI Yan, CAO LiangJing, WANG ZiRui, YAO YouLi, HUANG JianYe

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 57-77. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.005

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【Objective】Sulfur-coated slow-release fertilizers comprise four nitrogen (N) products with distinct release periods. This study aimed to determine whether these products should be applied individually or in combination, whether they should be blended with quick-release N fertilizers, and how to optimize their application to synergistically improve rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). 【Method】 The field experiments were conducted in Yangzhou and Changzhou, Jiangsu Province from 2022 to 2024, using rice cultivars Nanjing 9108 and Nanjing 46 as test materials. The trials included comparisons of slow-release N products, screening of optimal product combinations, evaluations of fertilizer types, blending ratios of slow- and quick-release N fertilizers, and application timing of quick-release N, and optimization of slow-release N formulations. The effects of sulfur-coated slow-release fertilizer application methods on rice yield formation and nitrogen uptake and utilization were analyzed。【Result】(1) The rice yield under the straw return treatment increased by 4.50% and 8.88% compared with the half-straw return and no-straw return treatments, respectively. Additionally, the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) under the straw return treatment was 11.35% and 25.64% higher than that under the other two treatments, respectively. (2) The rice yield of the 60-day slow-release nitrogen product was 4.10%, 15.68%, and 19.09% higher than that of the 30-day, 90-day, and 120-day products, respectively, but 4.13% lower than that of the conventional precise fertilization. Overall, the NUE of the 60-day product exceeded that of other slow-release nitrogen products by an average of 8.68%. Under no-straw return and half-straw return conditions, the NUE was 9.88% and 0.93% higher than that under conventional precise fertilization, respectively; however, under full straw return, it was 4.57% lower. (3) The combination of slow-release nitrogen products in the ratio of 3+6+9 achieved the highest rice yield and NUE, yet both were lower than those of the conventional precise fertilization. (4) The treatment with a blending ratio of 7:3 (slow- to quick-release nitrogen) achieved the highest rice yield, nitrogen accumulation, and NUE, averaging 4.31%, 3.25%, and 6.15% higher than that under conventional precise fertilization, respectively. Under this treatment, applying quick-release fertilizer as tillering fertilizer (for medium-duration varieties) or panicle initiation fertilizer (for long-duration varieties) synergistically improved yield, nitrogen accumulation, and NUE. The yield increase was primarily attributed to a significant enhancement in spikelets per panicle on the basis of adequate panicle number. (5) When slow-release nitrogen products were blended at a ratio of 30-day:60-day:90-day = 1:4:1, rice yield, nitrogen accumulation, and NUE all achieved the highest values, averaging 3.76%，5.66% and13.35% higher than conventional precise fertilization, respectively，which was closely associated with significant increases in leaf area index (LAI), sink capacity, and biomass yield. 【Conclusion】A blended slow-release N fertilizer was formulated by combining three controlled-release fertilizer with dissolution periods of 30 d, 60 d, and 90 d at a 1:4:1 mass ratio. Application of this blended slow-release N with quick-release N at a 7:3 ratio—implemented through one-time basal application of slow-release fertilizer and single topdressing of quick-release N as either tillering fertilizer (for 150-day varieties) or flowering-promoting fertilizer (for >160-day varieties)—significantly increased grain yield by 3.76% and nitrogen use efficiency by 13.55% compared with conventional precision quantification. This field-validated protocol demonstrates sulfur-coated fertilizers enabled synergistic gains in rice productivity and nitrogen utilization efficiency.

Developing a Lightweight Multimodal Model for Cropland Remote Sensing Monitoring

TANG HuaJun, WU WenBin, YU QiangYi, SHI Yun, DUAN YuLin, LI WenJuan, QIAN JianPing, SONG Qian, XIA Lang, LI HuiBin, SU BaoFeng, FAN BeiLei, HU Qiong, YE JianQiu, ZHANG Shuai

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 78-89. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.006

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The spatio-temporal dynamics of cropland and their utilization are crucial to national food security, resource security and ecological security. Currently, the approach to cropland remote sensing monitoring generally follows the “data - (model) - information” paradigm. However, this paradigm has a significant “innovation-application” gap, with numerous information products but weak knowledge service capabilities, which fail to meet practical application needs of cropland protection and utilization. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is accelerating the transformation from active data retrieval and analysis to intelligent knowledge services and empowerment. In the new era, the technical system for cropland remote sensing monitoring needs to be restructured. This paper thus proposed an innovative idea for constructing a lightweight multimodal model for cropland remote sensing monitoring. Firstly, it analyzed the demands of different subjects and categorized the application scenarios of cropland remote sensing monitoring into four aspects (cropland area and use, infrastructure, degradation, and crop growth), clarifying the specific requirements for monitoring information and knowledge services in different scenarios. Secondly, from the perspective of human cognition, it analyzed the “macro-level knowledge” and “fine-grained information” characteristics contained in the morphological features of cropland, providing a new entry point for the construction of a multimodal model for cropland remote sensing monitoring. Finally, it combines multi-modal remote sensing data with general large language models to construct an AI agent for cropland remote sensing monitoring, featuring capabilities in perception, reasoning, learning, and execution. It strengthens the attention mechanism to focus on and capture the important features of cropland morphology, and builds a lightweight multimodal model based on these features.

The Photosystem II Protein NbPsbQ1 Inhibits Viral Infection by Promoting Photosynthetic Efficiency

FU Han, YU Yang, AI Niu, ZHANG SiQing, YU LianWei, SUN ShuHao, ZHAO JinZhang, HAN XiaoYu, SHI Yan, YANG Xue

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 90-100. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.007

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【Background】Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is one of the important quarantined plant viruses in China. It mainly infects Cucurbitaceae crops, causing severe yield losses of Cucurbitaceae crops worldwide. The PsbQ protein (oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 3) is one of the proteins associated with the photosystem II (PSII) oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). It is involved in PSII assembly, stabilizes PSII function, and regulates plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Previous studies have shown that CGMMV infection can significantly downregulate the expression of the host chloroplast regulatory gene NbPsbQ1. 【Objective】This study aims to clarify the mechanism by which NbPsbQ1 participates in CGMMV infection and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of CGMMV infection. 【Method】The expression vector of NbPsbQ1-GFP and CGMMV CP was constructed, transformed into Agrobacterium GV3101 and infiltrated the tobacco leaves to observe the subcellular localization of NbPsbQ1 by confocal microscopy. qRT-PCR was used to analyze the transcriptional levels of NbPsbQ1 at different stages of CGMMV infection and after CP overexpression. The interaction between NbPsbQ1 and CP in vivo and in vitro was verified using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays, respectively. TRV-mediated gene silencing (VIGS) was employed to investigate the role of NbPsbQ1 during CGMMV infection. Transient overexpression of NbPsbQ1 was used to further verify the effect of NbPsbQ1 on the protein level and transcriptional level of CGMMV. The photosynthetic efficiency indicators of plants were determined after NbPsbQ1 silencing and at different stages of CGMMV infection, the effects of NbPsbQ1 and CGMMV on plant photosynthesis were analyzed. 【Result】Subcellular localization results showed that NbPsbQ1 was localized in chloroplasts, while CP was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. After CGMMV infection or CP overexpression, the transcriptional level of NbPsbQ1 was significantly downregulated compared with the control. Results from both BiFC and Co-IP assays demonstrated that NbPsbQ1 interacts with CP in vivo. Furthermore, this interaction causes the subcellular localization of NbPsbQ1 to shift from chloroplasts to the cytoplasm. However, the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay confirmed that the two proteins do not interact in vitro. CGMMV was inoculated into TRV:NbPsbQ1 and TRV:00 plants. Partial systemic leaves of plants in both the TRV:NbPsbQ1 and TRV:00 plants began to show mottling and curling symptoms at 4 dpi. However, the number of symptomatic plants was consistently higher in the TRV:NbPsbQ1 plants than that in the control plants. Meanwhile, detection of mRNA and protein expression levels also indicated that silencing NbPsbQ1 effectively promoted CGMMV accumulation. Transient overexpression of NbPsbQ1 inhibited the accumulation of CP, further confirming that NbPsbQ1 suppresses CGMMV infection. Silencing of NbPsbQ1 significantly reduced the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) of plant leaves, while the intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) increased significantly, indicating that NbPsbQ1 is involved in plant photosynthesis. Additionally, it was found that Gs and Tr decreased significantly, while Ci increased at 9 d during CGMMV infection. 【Conclusion】The CP of CGMMV interacts with NbPsbQ1 in vivo and alters its chloroplast localization. During the CGMMV infection, the expression level of NbPsbQ1 is downregulated, and photosynthetic efficiency is inhibited, thereby promoting the CGMMV accumulation in the late infection stage.

Effects of Alginate Oligosaccharides on Alleviating Atrazine Phytotoxicity in Tobacco

YANG KeXin, ZHANG Yong, LI YanXiu, XIE SiYao, XUE Bo, YANG ShaoJie, SONG DeWei, MA Qiang, ZOU Ping, LI Yang, MA SiQi, JING ChangLiang

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 101-113. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.008

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【Objective】The objective of this study is to explore the function and pathway of alginate oligosaccharides in alleviating atrazine pesticide residues in tobacco, develop new uses of alginate oligosaccharides as biostimulants, verify its potential in the field of crop protection, and to enrich green agricultural techniques. 【Method】This experiment was carried out at Jimo Experimental Base of Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, from March to June 2025. A pot experiment was conducted using the atrazine-sensitive tobacco cultivar YunYan 87 as the test material. Three treatments were established: atrazine + water (T1), atrazine + alginate oligosaccharides (T2), and an untreated control (CK). Atrazine was applied at a concentration of 3.35×10^-3mg·kg^-1, while alginate oligosaccharides were 200 mg·L^-1. Agronomic traits were recorded at 7, 14, and 28 d after treatment, and inhibition rates were calculated. In addition, leaf and rhizosphere soil samples were collected at 28 d for transcriptome and rhizosphere microbial community analyses.【Result】The results showed that 200 mg·L^-1 alginate oligosaccharides could alleviate the inhibition of atrazine on tobacco growth: treatment for 7, 14, 28 d, the leaf length, leaf width, root length and plant weight of atrazine + alginate oligosaccharides (T2) were higher or significantly higher than those of atrazine + water (T1) treatment group. Moreover, after treatment with alginate oligosaccharides (T2), the photosynthetic rate of leaves was increased and the inhibition of atrazine on tobacco root development was alleviated. Compared with the atrazine + water (T1) treatment group, 6 784 genes were up-regulated and 5 792 genes were down-regulated after alginate oligosaccharides (T2) treatment. KEGG analysis showed that 17 metabolic pathways were significantly enriched. Among them, the highest enrichment factor was the metabolic pathway of photosynthesis-antenna proteins. The results were highly consistent with the physiological and biochemical determination results. In terms of rhizosphere microorganisms, alginate oligosaccharides treatment increased the richness and diversity of soil rhizosphere microbial communities, the microbial community structure was changed. Among them, Pseudolabrys with growth-promoting function and Flavisolibacter with pesticide degradation function were significantly enriched.【Conclusion】As a biostimulant, alginate oligosaccharide can effectively alleviate the phytotoxicity caused by atrazine residues. Its potential mechanism of action is mainly reflected in the following three aspects: alleviating the inhibition of atrazine on the morphological structure of tobacco; enhancing plant photosynthesis efficiency by up-regulating the expression of photosynthesis-antenna protein pathway genes; regulating the rhizosphere microenvironment to induce the directional enrichment of beneficial microorganisms.

Fertilization Significantly Changed Soil Bacterial Diversity and Dominant Microbial Community in Croplands of Northern China—Meta Analysis

GUO HuiTing, SUN YanWen, NIU YiHeng, LI YaPeng, LI JianHua, XU MingGang

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 114-128. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.009

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【Objective】This study aimed to clarify the response and driving factors of soil bacterial diversity and dominant microbial community to fertilization measures in farmland ecosystems in northern China under different natural factors, soil properties and farmland management measures, so as to provide a scientific basis for revealing the regulatory mechanism of fertilizer application on the structure of soil microbial communities, enhancing soil biological fertility, and maintaining the stability of farmland ecosystems. 【Method】In this study, 50 papers published between 2014 and 2024 were synthesized, 207 groups of relatively independent data on bacterial diversity and dominant community were obtained, and the effects of fertilizer application on soil bacterial diversity and dominant microbial community in agricultural fields in northern China from fertilizer application measures, region, climate, soil pH level, soil SOC level, crop species, and nitrogen application were quantitatively analyzed by using the meta-analysis method and the randomized forest model.【Result】In general, fertilization significantly enhanced the number of soil bacterial OTUs (5.6%), Chao1 index (4.3%), and the relative abundance of Ascomycota (5.3%), and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteriaceae (-5.6%) and Greenbenders (-10.4%) (P<0.05), but there was no significant effect on the bacterial Shannon's index. In those areas with mean annual temperature <10 ℃and annual rainfall >400 mm, fertilization significantly enhanced the number of soil bacterial OTUs, Chao1 index and Ascomycota, but significantly decreased the Acidobacteria phylum and Green Benders phylum (P<0.05). In alkaline soil and soil poor in starting organic carbon (SOC) (<12 g·kg^-1), fertilization significantly increased the number of bacterial OTUs and Chao1 index; in neutral soil and different initial SOC, fertilization significantly increased the relative abundance of Aspergillus phylum, but decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacterium phylum and Greenscope phylum. Compared with wheat and other crops, fertilizer application increased the number of bacterial OTUs (9.4%), Chao1 index (6.4%), and relative abundance of Ascomycota (4.8%), and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria (7.4%) and Greencurvata (11.7%) in maize (P<0.05); fertilization significantly increased the number of bacterial OTUs and Chao1 index (6.4%), and relative abundance of Aspergillus species (4.8%) in Nitrogen application >200 kg·hm^-2. Nitrogen application at >200 kg·hm^-2significantly increased the number of bacterial OTUs, Chao1 index and relative abundance of Ascomycetes, while significantly decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria and Green Benders. Soil organic carbon was the main controlling factor affecting the number of soil bacterial OTU and bacterial Shannon index, annual rainfall was the main controlling factor affecting bacterial Chao1 index, annual mean temperature was the main controlling factor affecting soil bacterial Aspergillus and Acidobacteria phylum, and pH was the main controlling factor affecting soil bacterial Green Benders phylum.【Conclusion】It was recommended that in different regions of northern China, different fertilization measures should be selected according to local conditions, taking into full consideration of local natural factors, soil properties and farmland management measures, so as to achieve the scientific fertilization to maintain soil bacterial diversity and promote soil health.

Effects of Intelligent Mechanized Layered Fertilization on Root-Soil Nutrient Distribution and Yield in Wheat Fields

LÜ XuDong, SUN ShiYuan, LI YaNan, LIU YuLong, WANG YanQun, FU Xin, ZHANG JiaYing, NING Peng, PENG ZhengPing

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 129-146. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.010

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【Objective】To address the issues of irrational fertilizer application, uneven soil nutrient distribution, low fertilizer efficiency, and suboptimal crop yields in medium- and low-yield fields in North China, the precision fertilization was employed to enhance fertilizer use efficiency, increase wheat yield, and improve soil nutrient distribution. 【Method】Based on preliminary pot and field plot experiments, the field trials were conducted using intelligent layered fertilization machinery in Ningjin and Quzhou counties, Hebei Province. Six fertilization treatments were established: conventional farmer practice (MF1), optimized nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization applied in a single layer using conventional machinery (MF2), optimized N, P, and K fertilization applied in two layers using intelligent machinery (MF3), optimized N and P fertilization applied in two layers and K fertilization in three layers using intelligent machinery (MF4), optimized N and K fertilization applied in two layers and P fertilization in three layers using intelligent machinery (MF5), and optimized N fertilization applied in two layers and P and K fertilization in three layers using intelligent machinery (MF6). The study aimed to investigate the effects of precision fertilization on soil enzyme activity, spatiotemporal supply capacity of soil available N, P, and K, wheat root characteristics, fertilizer efficiency, and grain yield. 【Result】The layered fertilization significantly increased the content of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the 20-40 cm soil layer by 5.9%-34.5%, 6.4%-25.3%, and 12.9%-91.0%, respectively, while also enhancing the available potassium content in the 40-60 cm soil layer by 3.9%-38.5%. Additionally, layered fertilization significantly enhanced the activities of catalase and urease in the 20-40 cm soil layer by 10.3%-19.7% and 18.4%-31.2%, respectively, improved phosphatase activity in the 0-60 cm soil layer by 18.1%-32.9%, and increased root length, root surface area and root volume in the 20-40 cm soil layer by 13.2%-45.1%, 4.4%-36.4% and 8.7%-45.3%, respectively. Compared with the single-layer optimized N, P, and K fertilization treatment, layered fertilization significantly improved the partial productivity of N, P, and K fertilizers and grain yield, with the MF6 treatment performing the best in both experimental areas. 【Conclusion】The intelligent mechanized layered fertilization was an efficient and precise fertilization technique that demonstrated significant advantages in synergistically improving the spatiotemporal distribution of soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and wheat root distribution characteristics, making it highly recommendable for practical agricultural production.

Green Manure Returning via Sheep Digest with Nitrogen Fertilizer Reduction are Beneficial to Improve Wheat Yield and Soil Quality at Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

LU Hao, ZHANG MingLong, HAN Mei, YAN QingBiao, LI ZhengPeng, YIN Wen, FAN ZhiLong, HU FaLong, CHAI Qiang

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 147-160. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.011

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【Objective】Aiming at the issues of insufficient input of organic matters and high reliance on nitrogen fertilizers of wheat production in the Qinghai Plateau, the study investigated the influences of different incorporation methods of green manure after wheat combing nitrogen fertilizer reduction on wheat yield and soil quality, so as to provide the theoretical basis and practical guidance of efficiently and sustainably producing wheat in this area. 【Method】The experiment was conducted in the experimental field of the Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences of Qinghai University from 2022 to 2023. A split plot design was adopted, and three nitrogen application levels were set up in the main plot of wheat season: conventional nitrogen application (225 kg·hm^-2, N2), nitrogen reduction by 30% (158 kg·hm^-2, N1), and no nitrogen application (N0). The subplot was setup as three green manure incorporation methods in the previous season: only green manure root returning (RR), overground straw returning via sheep digest combined with root returning (SDRR), and overground straw and root returning (OSRR).【Result】The content of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium of treatment nitrogen reduction by 30% and overground straw returning via sheep digest combined with root returning (N1SDRR) were increased by 10.3%, 8.6%, 23.8%, 9.1%, and 8.4%, respectively, than those under nitrogen reduction by 30% and overground straw and root returning (N1OSRR). Meanwhile, the content of soil nitrate nitrogen under N1SDRR was 4.4% and 11.3% lower than that of treatment conventional nitrogen application and overground straw returning via sheep digest combined with root returning (N2SDRR) and N1OSRR, respectively. Additionally, the activities of soil alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, and urease under N1SDRR treatment were increased by 8.5%, 10.2%, and 3.7%, respectively, compared with the N1OSRR treatment; however, the activity of soil catalase was 7.1% and 10.0% lower than that under N2SDRR and N1OSRR, respectively. The soil quality index of the N1SDRR treatment was the highest (0.79), showing no significant difference from the N2SDRR treatment, but significantly increasing by 72.0% compared with the N1OSRR treatment. Furthermore, SDRR significantly enhanced the grain yield of wheat by 28.1% and 7.3% compared with RR and OSRR, respectively, and no yield reduction occurred even 30% nitrogen fertilizer was reduced. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the soil quality index and yield. The random forest model indicated that the main factors influencing soil quality index were soil organic matter, available phosphorus, ammonium nitrogen, and total nitrogen, while the main factors influencing grain yield of wheat were soil organic matter, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and urease activity.【Conclusion】Under the condition of 30% reduction of nitrogen fertilizer, the overground straw returning via sheep digest combined with root returning could effectively improve soil quality and wheat grain yield by reducing soil bulk density, increasing soil organic matter, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium content and alkaline phosphatase, urease and sucrase activity, which was a suitable management measure for sustainable wheat production in this area.

Differences in Vascular Bundle Morphological Structure, Distribution, and Water Transport Function in Grape Fruits of Different Shapes

FENG WeiQing, NI YuanQian, FEI Teng, LI YouMei, XIE ZhaoSen

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 161-178. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.012

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【Objective】This study aims to explore the impact of different fruit shapes on vascular bundle distribution and their relationship with water transport in grape fruits. It focused on the growth patterns, vascular bundle structure, and water transport functions in five grape varieties with distinct fruit shapes, providing a theoretical basis for managing different fruit-shaped grapes in production. 【Method】Under uniform cultivation and management, four-year-old plants of ‘Xiao Lajiao’ (curved fruit), ‘Sweet Sapphire’ (long-cylindrical fruit), ‘Muscat Hamburg’ (round fruit), ‘Shine Muscat’ (elliptical fruit), and hormone-treated ‘Shine Muscat’ (inverted-ovate fruit, treated with GA3+CPPU) were used as experimental materials. The morphology and spatial distribution of vascular bundles in fruits of contrasting shapes were examined using hand sectioning, paraffin sectioning, and dye-tracer techniques. Xylem vessel number and diameter were quantified using Image J, and hydraulic conductivity was calculated with Hagen-Poiseuille equation to assess the water-transport efficiency of fruit vascular bundle in different fruit shapes.【Result】Pronounced differences were observed in vascular bundle architecture among grape fruits of contrasting shapes. After entering the fruit, the pedicel bundles diverged into peripheral, central, and embryo (in seeded cultivars) systems. ‘Xiao Lajiao’ had the most primary peripheral vascular bundles, forming numerous branches towards the fruit apex, resulting in the highest vascular bundle density in the upper fruit. ‘Sweet Sapphire’ had abundant and highly dense peripheral vascular bundles in the fruit’s middle and lower parts. Hormone-treated ‘Shine Muscat’ showed significantly increased vascular bundle number and density, indicating that exogenous hormones promote peripheral vascular bundle distribution. In terms of vascular bundle structure and water transport, ‘Sweet Sapphire’ had the largest peripheral vascular bundle cross-sectional area, while ‘Xiao Lajiao’ had the largest central vascular bundle cross-sectional area. Long-shaped grape fruits exhibited larger vascular bundle vessel diameters, resulting in higher hydraulic conductivity. Hormone treatment increased the peripheral vascular bundle area and vessel diameter in ‘Shine Muscat’, enhancing water transport. The water transport rate peaked at the green-hard stage. ‘Xiao Lajiao’ had the highest rate at 16.67 cm·h^-1, while ‘Muscat Hamburg’ had the lowest at 5.67 cm·h^-1. During the veraison, when the water transport rate decreased, the maximum water transport rate of ‘Sweet Sapphire’ grapes was 4.34 cm·h^-1. At the mature stage, the rate declined further, but ‘Xiao Lajiao’ still maintained the highest rate at 0.69 cm·h^-1 due to its vascular bundle advantages. Hormone-treated ‘Shine Muscat’ showed improved water transport rates across all stages, highlighting the close relationship between water transport rate and vascular bundle area and vessel diameter.【Conclusion】The structure and distribution of vascular bundles in grape fruits with different shapes are different, which affects the water transport function of grape fruits.

Screening of Key Genes Related to Gibberellic Acid Regulation of Rachis Hardening in Honey Grapes

WANG SiQi, ZOU LiRen, BAI RuiWen, YAN Ke, WANG SiYang, QI XiaoGuang, SHEN HaiLin, WEN JingHui

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 179-189. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.013

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【Objective】Gibberellins treatment usually leads to an increase in the grape rachis hardening. Under the treatment of gibberellic acid, study the morphological and transcriptomic differences, screen gibberellic acid related functional genes, would help develop grape rachis softening measures in production. 【Method】The Honey grape was treated with gibberellic acid at the flowering stage, and the water treatment was used as the control. The middle part of the rachis was collected for morphological observation and transcriptomic analysis on the 15th day after treatment. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to lignin synthesis were screened between the control and gibberellic acid treatment, and real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-qPCR was used to verify their expression levels. In order to identify the key genes involved in rachis hardening, a correlation analysis was conducted between phenotypic traits, key differentially expressed genes, related enzyme activities, and lignin content. 【Result】After gibberellic acid treatment, no visible "intercellular space" was observed between the xylem and the cambium. Cellulose structures were observed in the epidermis, phloem, and pith. A total of 4459 DEGs were identified, among which 26 were involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway-a key route for lignin formation. Four key differentially expressed genes (F6HNF5 (Vitvi13g00622), D7SYR4 (Vitvi01g00658), F6H218 (Vitvi19g00186), and F6GS10 (Vitvi17g00898)) were screened from the pathway. Their qRT-PCR expression patterns were consistent with the trends in the transcriptomic analysis. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and cinnamaldehyde dehydrogenase (CAD) which are regulated by these genes increased significantly and lignin content increased substantially. These results indicate that the four lignin synthesis genes screened are pivotal in the process of rachis hardening. 【Conclusion】Gibberellic acid treatment caused significant changes in the morphological structure of grape rachis. F6HNF5, D7SYR4, F6H218 and F6GS10 may be the key genes affecting rachis hardening of 'Honey' grape.

Agroelementomics: Concept, Progress and Perspective in Analytical Techniques

LI Xue, XU Yan, MAO XueFei

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 190-204. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.014

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Elements are fundamental constituents of matter, ubiquitous across agricultural systems-from crops and livestock to inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides-with profound implications for productivity and environmental quality. Responding to the need for precise element management in sustainable agriculture, this review proposed “Agroelementomics” as an interdisciplinary field. Agroelementomics characterizes the presence, concentration, distribution, and speciation of elements within agricultural organisms and matrices. It seeks to decode their roles in agricultural processes and their interactions with other omics layers, such as the genome and metabolome. Thus, its scope extends beyond individual elements to encompass the interplay of multiple elements and their collective impact on crop growth, food safety, and environmental health. Deciphering these complex interactions requires advanced elemental analysis. This review focused on analytical techniques for Agroelementomics, surveying cutting-edge methods- including spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and synchrotron-based approaches-for ultra-sensitive, high-throughput elemental analysis, and their applications, advantages, and limitations in analyzing agricultural samples and outline future directions were discussed. The future advancement of Agroelementomics hinges on creating more robust analytical frameworks with greater interference resistance and wider elemental coverage. Critical breakthroughs are needed in high-resolution isotope analysis, direct solid sampling, non-destructive techniques, and the characterization of elemental species and macromolecular complexes. Pushing the resolution to micro/nano and even single-cell levels, coupled with integrating artificial intelligence for data processing, would be pivotal. In application, agroelementomics must be integrated with other omics platforms (e.g., genomics, proteomics, metabolomics). By building cross-omics networks and leveraging their combined strengths, those fundamental questions in agricultural biology were addressed. Ultimately, this integration would be key to advancing crop breeding, nutrient management, pollution source tracking, and food quality safety, thereby providing a scientific foundation for sustainable agriculture.

Prediction of the Potential Habitat Suitability of Luopanshan Pigs in Chongqing Based on the Optimized MaxEnt Model

ZHOU Qi, ZHANG ShiHao, ZHANG Liang, PAN Yu, ZHANG LiJuan, TU Zhi, PAN HongMei, LONG Xi

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 205-219. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.015

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【Background】The Luopanshan pig, a rare indigenous breed native to Chongqing, is recognized as a key genetic resource at both national and regional levels. However, due to factors such as changes in breeding structures and outbreaks of African swine fever, its population has declined sharply, leading to a significant loss of genetic diversity. Urgent conservation measures are required to prevent its extinction. While in situ conservation remains the primary strategy, establishing ex situ conservation farms serves as a crucial supplementary approach to mitigate risks associated with habitat degradation and disease outbreaks. 【Objective】In accordance with the Measures for the Administration of Conservation Farms, Protected Areas, and Gene Banks for Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, ex-situ conservation farms should be established in locations where the natural ecological conditions closely match those of the breed’s original habitat. To facilitate the formulation of evidence-based strategies for the ex-situ conservation of the Luopanshan pig, this study aimed to identify potential areas within Chongqing Municipality that were environmentally suitable for its survival and reproduction. The findings were expected to provide a scientific basis for future conservation farm site selection and to support the sustainable development of large-scale breeding programs. 【Method】Utilizing 105 georeferenced occurrence records of Luopanshan pigs collected through field surveys in Chongqing, a Random Forest machine learning model via the scikit-learn library was employed to assess the relative importance of 16 environmental and anthropogenic variables, including soil properties (Available Phosphorus, Available Potassium, Available Nitrogen, Cation Exchange Capacity, Soil Organic Matter and Soil pH), land surface temperature, precipitation, digital elevation model, and STREAM. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were used to quantify the marginal contribution of each variable to the model's predictions. Pearson correlation coefficients (PCC) were calculated to evaluate multicollinearity among variables, and variance inflation factors (VIF) were applied for further collinearity diagnostics. The refined set of variables and species occurrence data were then input into the Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt) model to predict habitat suitability and identify key environmental factors influencing the distribution of Luopanshan pigs. 【Result】The MaxEnt model achieved a high predictive performance, with an average Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of 0.995, indicating excellent model accuracy. The primary environmental factors influencing the habitat suitability of wild boars in Luopanshan, Chongqing, were precipitation (39.7%), pH (24.1%), available phosphorus(18.9%), land surface temperature (6.2%), and distance to buildings(5.7%), with a total contribution of 94.6%. Secondary environmental factors include available potassium(1.9%), digital elevation model(1.4%), STREAM(1.2%), cation exchange capacity(0.8%), and available nitrogen(0.1%), contributing 5.4% in total. Suitable habitats for Luopanshan pigs were predominantly scattered across Tongnan, Hechuan, Dazu, and Rongchang districts, encompassing a total area of 4 217.59 km², which represented 5.1% of Chongqing's land area. Among these, highly suitable habitats covered 189.44 km², notably in Xingsheng, Wofu, and Tangba towns of Tongnan District; Gaoping, Sanqu, Zhuxi, and Youting towns of Dazu District; Fenggao Subdistrict and Wanling Town of Rongchang District; Weixin Town of Tongliang District; and Chashan Zhuhai Subdistrict of Yongchuan District. Moderately suitable habitats spanned 554.97 km², while low suitability areas covered 1 034.78 km², and marginally suitable areas accounted for 2 438.39 km². 【Conclusion】This study provided a scientific basis for the strategic planning of ex situ conservation farms for Luopanshan pigs in Chongqing. The methodology and findings also offered a reference framework for habitat suitability assessments and conservation management of other indigenous and rare livestock breeds.

Preparation of Monoclonal Antibody to Porcine Rotavirus VP4 and Preliminary Characterization of Antigenic Epitope

ZHAO JiaLi, BIAN XianYu, SONG JiaPeng, WANG Chen, TANG XueChao, LI YunChuan, ZHOU JinZhu, ZHU XueJiao, TAO Ran, DONG HaiLong, ZHANG XueHan, LI Bin

Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 2026, 59(1): 220-232. doi:10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.01.016

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【Background】Porcine Rotavirus (PoRV) is one of the key pathogens causing viral diarrhea in newborn and young piglets, and its infection can lead to severe gastrointestinal dysfunction in the host, with clinical manifestations, including dehydration, diarrhea, and even death, resulting in huge economic losses to the global pig industry. The VP4 protein is one of the key structural proteins on the surface of PoRV virions. The VP4 protein is cleaved by trypsin to generate two functional subunits, such as VP8 and VP5, which play a core role in the initial stage of viral infection of host cells, mediating the adsorption of the virus to host cell receptors and the subsequent membrane penetration process. Meanwhile, the VP4 protein is also an important target antigen that elicits the host immune response. However, current research on specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the PoRV VP4 protein is relatively scarce, which limits the development of related diagnostic methods and new vaccines. 【Objective】This study aimed to prepare specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the VP4 protein of Porcine Rotavirus (PoRV), and on this basis, comprehensive biological characterization of these mAbs were analyzed, including reactivity, antigenic epitope types (conformational or linear), and subtype identification, and key neutralizing activities were evaluated too. The aim was to precisely identify the antigenic epitope regions with important functional significance on the VP4 protein, thereby providing support for the accurate diagnosis of PoRV infection and the design of novel vaccines. 【Method】BALB/c mice were immunized with purified VP4*P23 recombinant protein, and hybridoma cell lines were screened using splenocyte fusion technology. The reactivity of monoclonal antibodies was identified by Western blot, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA). The conformational sensitivity of monoclonal antibodies was evaluated by indirect ELISA. VP5 truncated proteins were constructed to determine the antigenic epitope regions, and the neutralizing ability of VP5 monoclonal antibodies was assessed by in vitro neutralization assay. 【Result】A total of 26 hybridoma cell lines stably secreting antibodies were successfully obtained. The antibody subtypes included multiple types such as IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgM, among which the light chain type was mainly κ chain. Among the obtained 26 mAbs, 15 of them were confirmed to specifically react with natural PoRV virions (detected by IFA and IPMA). Indirect ELISA detection showed that mAb11, 14, 15 and 23 were conformation-insensitive mAbs, while mAb16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25 and 26 were conformation-sensitive mAbs. It was worth noting that the reactivity of three mAbs (mAb1, 2 and 22) was enhanced after antigen denaturation. Western blot analysis further focused on mAbs recognizing linear epitopes (mAb11, 14, 15), and the results showed that they could all specifically recognize the linear epitope within the amino acid region of about 300-360 on the VP5 protein, possibly targeting the same antigenic epitope. However, in vitro neutralization assay evaluation showed that these three mAbs had no neutralizing effect on PoRV strains. 【Conclusion】Multiple mAbs targeting the PoRV VP4 protein were successfully prepared, among which 15 mAbs exhibited the ability to bind to natural viruses. Through systematic characterization, not only the subtype distribution and light chain type of mAbs were clarified, but more importantly, the antigen recognition characteristics of mAbs were deeply analyzed: conformation-sensitive and conformation-insensitive mAbs were successfully distinguished, and the linear antigenic epitope regions recognized by mAb11, 14, and 15 were precisely located. This study provided key antibody resources for the optimization of PoRV diagnostic reagents and the development of subunit vaccines, and laid a foundation for in-depth research on the immunological functions and antiviral mechanisms of the VP4 protein.

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