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Origin, Evolution and Spread of Crop Buckwheat WEI YiMin, ZHOU MeiLiang, TANG Yu Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4305-4316.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.001 Abstract （1318）   HTML （41）    PDF （509KB）（634）       Knowledge map    Save China is one of the four major centers of agricultural origin in the world, where two distinct agricultural systems were established: the rice-based system represented by the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the dryland farming system represented by the Yellow River basin. Historical records and archaeological evidence indicate that as early as the Shang Dynasty, oracle bone inscriptions already mentioned crops such as millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), wheat, rice, and soybeans. During the pre-Qin period, the concept of the ‘Five Grains’ was established, and in The Book of Songs (Shijing), the broader term ‘Hundred Grains’ also appeared as a general reference to food crops. However, it is noteworthy that buckwheat, a crop native to China, has long been absent from these documented grain systems. This omission is inconsistent with the fact that buckwheat is an indigenous Chinese crop with high genetic diversity, significant local variation, and a long history of cultivation and domestication in cold mountainous regions. This study conducts a systematic review of the literature related to the origin, evolution, and spread of buckwheat, integrating recent findings in archaeobotany and genetic diversity analysis. Following internationally accepted principles for identifying crop origin centers, and drawing on historical texts, biological characteristics, and distribution patterns, the study presents comprehensive evidence supporting the hypothesis that southwestern China-particularly Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and the southern fringe of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau-is the center of origin, genetic diversity, and domestication for Fagopyrum species. There are 23 species of Fagopyrum identified in China, including three cultivated species-common buckwheat (F. esculentum), tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum), and golden buckwheat (F. cymosum)-and 20 wild species, the majority of which are concentrated in southwestern China. This region is not only the native habitat of the ancestral subspecies of common and tartary buckwheat (F. esculentum ssp. ancestrale and F. tataricum ssp. potanini), but also the area with the richest diversity of Fagopyrum, strongly indicating its status as the origin center. Furthermore, molecular markers and phylogenetic studies confirm close genetic relationships between wild and cultivated buckwheat species in this region, providing key evidence for reconstructing domestication pathways. With advancements in modern research, buckwheat has gained recognition not only for its short growth cycle, broad adaptability, and resilience to poor soils and cold climates, making it suitable for cultivation in remote and mountainous areas, but also for its grain's rich content of proteins, flavonoids, and functional sugar alcohols. As a highly promising functional coarse grain crop, buckwheat is particularly suited to the development of characteristic agriculture in central and western China. It holds significant potential for ecological sustainability, nutritional health, and high-value agricultural development, and is expected to play an important role in China’s national nutrition strategy and food diversity conservation. This study provides theoretical and empirical evidence to support the scientific designation of China as the center of origin and domestication of buckwheat, laying a solid foundation for future work in germplasm conservation, variety improvement, and industrial development. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The Concept, Content and Research Progress of Functional Agriculture LIU JinDong, WANG YaMei, WANG YiCun, YU HaiXia, TIAN JiChun Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (23): 4813-4824.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.001 Abstract （1195）   HTML （52）    PDF （556KB）（651）       Knowledge map    Save Agriculture is the source of human food ingredients and the foundation for survival and development. Modern agriculture meets the demand for sufficient food, it has also led to diet-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia due to unbalanced diets. After the “Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)” jointly held by the FAO and WTO in 2014, functional agriculture research aimed at meeting people’s nutritional and health needs rapidly developed both domestically and internationally, China has issued guiding documents such as the “National Nutrition Plan (2017-2030)” and the “Healthy China 2030” planning outline. This paper systematically reviews the background of functional agriculture emergence and focuses on the functionalization of staple crops to discuss the research progress in functional agriculture of the world. It also summarizes the key research areas of functional agriculture, including exploration of functional components in germplasm resources, breeding of new functional varieties, agronomic enhancement measures, and development and promotion of health foods. On this basis, in accordance with the requirements of the “China Food and Nutrition Development Outline (2025-2030)” proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in February 2025, four suggestions are put forward: Strengthening top-level government design, establishing major projects for staple crop functionalization, accelerating the construction of standard systems, and improving intellectual property protection for varieties. These suggestions aim to provide theoretical support and practical paths for implementing China large-scale agriculture and grain strategy and ensuring national nutrition and health. This paper offers valuable insights for establishing a functional agricultural industry system with Chinese characteristics. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Comprehensive Evaluation of Salt Tolerance at the Seedling Stage and Screening of Tolerant Germplasm in Adzuki Bean (Vigna angularis) CHEN TianXiao, CAO Rong, SONG QianNan, HU LiangLiang, WANG SuHua, WANG LiXia, CHENG XuZhen, CHEN HongLin Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4317-4332.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.002 Abstract （1006）   HTML （50）    PDF （2935KB）（543）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is an important legume crop in China, yet, its production is severely constrained by soil salinity. This study aimed to systematically identify and evaluate the salt tolerance of a large-scale adzuki bean germplasm collection to provide elite genetic resources and a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of salt-tolerant adzuki bean cultivars. 【Method】A total of 398 adzuki bean accessions were evaluated in a hydroponic system under 100 mmol·L-1 NaCl stress a concentration determined as suitable for screening in preliminary experiments. The salt injury index and 10 root morphological traits of each accession were measured post-treatment. A comprehensive salt tolerance value (D-value) for each accession was calculated using a combination of principal component analysis (PCA) combined with the subordinate function method. Based on the D-value, all accessions were systematically evaluated and classified into different salt tolerance grades. Subsequently, differences in salt tolerance among three germplasm types (cultivars, landraces, and wild accessions) were compared. Finally, stepwise regression analysis was employed to identify key indicators for evaluating seedling salt tolerance and to construct a simplified evaluation model. 【Result】Salt stress significantly inhibited root growth in adzuki bean, but extensive genetic variation was observed among the accessions. PCA effectively reduced the 10 root traits to three independent principal components, accounting for a cumulative 88.76% of the total variation. According to the criteria of a comprehensive salt tolerance value (D-value) and salt tolerance grade, a group of highly tolerant accessions at the seedling stage, such as B552 and B533, were identified. Comparative analysis indicated that wild accessions and landraces exhibited stronger seedling stage salt tolerance potential than cultivars, with wild accessions showing particularly outstanding tolerance. Stepwise regression analysis identified the salt tolerance coefficients of five key traits, including root volume, root fresh weight, root dry weight, average root diameter, and number of root crossing as the key indicators. Based on these indicators, an optimal regression equation with a very high coefficient of determination was established. 【Conclusion】This study systematically evaluated the salt tolerance of a large-scale adzuki bean germplasm collection at the seedling stage. It not only identified a group of elite salt-tolerant accessions, but also established a simplified and efficient comprehensive evaluation system for seedling salt tolerance in adzuki bean based on five key root traits. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Green Control of Major Cowpea Pests and Fusarium Wilt: Research and Practical Innovations WU ShengYong, XIE Wen, SHI CaiHua, PAN HuiPeng, CHEN JunYu, KONG XiangYi Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4357-4360.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.005 Abstract （991）   HTML （15）    PDF （271KB）（635）       Knowledge map    Save Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Genetic Diversity Analysis of Phenotypic Traits of 244 Forage Oat Germplasm Resources CHEN CaiJin, MA Lin, JIANG QingXue, LIU JinHui, MIAO Tong, ZHANG ZhiPeng, MENG Xiang, MA XiaoRan, ZHOU XinYue, ZHANG Jian, LIU WenHui, WANG XueMin Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (23): 4825-4836.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.002 Abstract （974）   HTML （64）    PDF （3944KB）（481）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】 To analyze the genetic diversity relationship of phenotypic traits in forage oat germplasm resources worldwide, conduct Cluster analysis and Comprehensive evaluation, explore excellent materials, and provide Material basis and Technical support for Germplasm creation and Breeding utilization of forage oats. 【Method】 Using 244 collected domestic and foreign forage oat germplasm as experimental materials, they were planted in Guyuan City, Ningxia from 2023 to 2024, and 11 Phenotypic traits including plant height, stem diameter, tiller number, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, ear length, whorled layers number, number of spikelets, fresh weight, and hay weight were systematically measured. Multiple evaluation methods such as correlation analysis, principal component analysis, membership function, and hierarchical cluster analysis were comprehensively used for multi-dimensional evaluation. 【Result】 Phenotypic variant analysis showed that the coefficient of variation of the 11 traits ranged from 12.11% to 42.69%, among which tiller number, leaf length, and number of spikelets had higher coefficient of variation, which were 42.69%, 32.90%, and 32.77% respectively; The genetic diversity index ranged from 1.408 to 2.077, among which number of spikelets, stem diameter, and hay weight had higher genetic diversity index, which were 2.077, 2.075, and 2.074 respectively; Correlation analysis revealed that there were 41 pairs of significant or extremely significant relationships among the 11 traits, and the indicators with higher correlation with hay weight of forage oats were fresh weight, leaf number, leaf width, whorled layers number, plant height, and number of spikelets in sequence; The principal component analysis showed that the contribution rate of six principal components were extracted, which were 28.980%, 14.833%, 12.494%, 9.556%, 7.495%, and 6.850% in sequence, with the Cumulative contribution rate reaching 80.209%; Hierarchical cluster analysis divided the 244 germplasm resources into 5 Groups. Among them, the germplasm resources in Group Ⅱ had thick stem diameter, long ear length, and many whorled layers number, belonging to lodging-resistant or high yield materials; The germplasm in Group Ⅲ and Ⅳ had high plant height, long leaf length, and many tiller number, belonging to high yield forage materials; The germplasm in Group Ⅴ had multiple leaves, wide Leaf width, many number of spikelets, and high fresh and hay weight, belonging to high-quality forage type and high grain yield materials. The Comprehensive phenotypic evaluation value (F value) of germplasm resources was obtained through analytical methods such as membership function, and 20 accessions of Core germplasm resources with excellent comprehensive traits were screened out. 【Conclusion】 The results revealed that the 244 forage oat germplasm resources possess rich phenotypic genetic variation and diversity; Cluster analysis divided the 244 germplasm resources into 5 different groups, which can be selected and utilized according to the excellent characteristics of different germplasm resources and breeding objectives; 20 accessions of forage oat germplasm resources with excellent comprehensive traits, such as As166, As129, As163, As131 and As80 were screened out using F value. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The Potential of Alternative Proteins from Edible Fungi Based on Amino Acid and Physicochemical Characterization YU YunYan, MA GaoXing, DUAN YaNing, TAO Qi, LI XinYi, HU QiuHui, MA Ning Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (15): 3097-3117.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.15.012 Abstract （917）   HTML （5）    PDF （3097KB）（420）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】 From the perspectives of nutrition and processing, the amino acid composition, physicochemical properties, and structural characteristics of common edible fungal proteins were analyzed to elucidate the nutritional benefits of proteins derived from fungi, and to explore their prospective applications within the realm of food processing.【Method】 From the vantage points of raw material accessibility and economic advantages, eight species of edible fungi were chosen as subjects for this study: Lentinula edodes, Agaricus bisporus, Hypsizigus marmoreus (white cultivar), Pleurotus ostreatus, Hypsizygus marmoreus (brown cultivar), Agrocybe aegerita, Flammulina filiformis, and Pleurotus eryngii. To evaluate the disparities in amino acid composition and digestibility of their proteins, by utilizing metrics such as ratio of amino acid and amino acid ratio coefficient, the nutritional value and potential benefits of these fungal proteins as substitutes for conventional proteins were assessed by comparing them with whole egg protein, wheat protein, and soybean protein. The physicochemical properties of various edible fungal proteins were analyzed, including solubility, water-holding property, oil-holding property, emulsifying property, and foaming property. The structural characteristics were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The correlation between physicochemical properties and structural characteristics were established, and the potential applications of edible fungal proteins within the food industry were assessed.【Result】 The EAA/TAA ratios of all eight edible fungal proteins were approximately 40%, while the EAA/NEAA ratios exceeded 60%, aligning with the ideal protein model. The amino acid profile of L. edodes protein exhibited the greatest similarity to the amino acid pattern spectrum and the reference protein's amino acid composition, boasting an essential amino acid index of 66.31. Upon adjusting the amino acid score to account for digestibility, L. edodes protein continued to hold the highest overall score, establishing it as a high-quality protein source. Furthermore, the essential amino acids of A. aegerita protein constituted 47.12% of its total amino acid profile, a figure comparable to that of whey protein, thereby rendering it an exceptional supplementary source of these vital essential amino acids. The digestibility of the protein from H. marmoreus (white cultivar) was 89.59%, and as a protein that is rapidly digestible, it would be suitable for facilitating swift physical recovery post-exercise. The physicochemical properties of the eight edible fungal proteins also exhibited considerable differences. Both H. marmoreus (white cultivar) and H. marmoreus (brown cultivar) displayed favorable water-holding, oil-holding and emulsifying properties, suggesting extensive potential applications within the realm of food processing.【Conclusion】 Utilizing the nutritional evaluation system for edible fungi, the amino acid profile of L. edodes protein has been determined to possess the highest overall rating, thus establishing L. edodes protein as a viable standalone protein supplement. The proteins of P. ostreatus, P. eryngii, H. marmoreus (white cultivar) and H. marmoreus (brown cultivar) possessed processing advantages and structural similarities in various aspects, rendering them suitable for application in the production and processing of meat products, flour-based products, and baked goods, thereby optimizing the utilization of their nutritional and processing benefits. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of Acoustic Interference on the Courtship Behavior of Liriomyza sativae XING GuangTao, LÜ BaoQian, WU ShengYong, WU JianTao, ZHOU Ying, GE Jin, ZHANG QiKai Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4372-4381.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.007 Abstract （909）   HTML （7）    PDF （1827KB）（547）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】The objective of this study is to investigate the disruptive effect of acoustic stimuli on the courtship behavior of Liriomyza sativae and its application potential in green pest control. 【Method】Acoustic signals of varying frequencies were emitted by directional loudspeakers. Laser vibrometry coupled with behavioral video recording was employed to measure vibrational responses of cowpea leaves and courtship and mating parameters of L. sativae (latency, frequency, duration, mating success rate). The laboratory population control trial of L. sativae larvae was carried out by using 200 Hz acoustic frequency, and the population density change of L. sativae and effect on cowpea quality (soluble sugar, soluble protein and vitamin C content) were analyzed by setting sound source distance gradient with spatiotemporal dynamic monitoring in the field. 【Result】External acoustic stimulation induced differential leaf vibrational responses, disrupting L. sativae courtship. Cowpea leaves exhibited the strongest vibrational response within 200-300 Hz with peak vibration velocity of ±4 mm·s-1. The 200 Hz frequency significantly prolonged male courtship latency ((15.92±3.99) min vs. control (5.24±1.63) min, P<0.05) and duration ((44.50±2.68) s vs. control (20.22±1.97) s, P<0.05), increased male courtship attempts ((13.20±2.58) times vs. control (5.40±1.21) times, P<0.05), and reduced mating success rate to 20% (control: 60%). Markov chain analysis confirmed greatest behavioral disruption in the mid-frequency band (200-300 Hz), specifically blocking the critical “male courtship→female response” transition pathway. Laboratory trials demonstrated 42.14% larval number reduction under 200 Hz acoustic treatment ((57.67±3.18) individuals vs. control (99.67±9.61) individuals, P<0.05). Field data indicated that with the increase of audio playback time, the mining density in near-source zones (0-25 m) decreased significantly, though efficacy diminished in far-source areas (25-70 m). No significant adverse effects occurred on cowpea quality parameters (soluble sugar, soluble protein and vitamin C content). 【Conclusion】The 200 Hz acoustic frequency disrupts L. sativae courtship signaling by maximizing cowpea leaf vibrations, effectively suppressing mating behavior and population growth without compromising crop quality. This technique provides an innovative perspective for developing environmentally-friendly pest control strategies. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Control Effect of New Insect-Repellent Screen on Megalurothrips usitatus and Its Impact on the Microclimate in the Field ZHAO HanYang, LI YiHong, XU ShuGuang, WU YueMin, WU ShengYong Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4393-4404.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.009 Abstract （903）   HTML （6）    PDF （1202KB）（529）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】The objective of this study is to evaluate the control effect of a new type of insect-repellent screen on Megalurothrips usitatus, and to clarify its effect on the microclimate environment in the field, so as to provide new technical support for the control of cowpea thrips. 【Method】The barrier effects of a new type of insect-repellent screen and conventional insect-proof screen on M. usitatus were investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Light intensity, ventilation, temperature, and humidity were measured using the illuminometer, anemometer, and thermo-hygrometer, respectively, under three treatments of insect-repellent screen, conventional insect-proof screen and open field. The effect of insect-repellent screen on the field microclimate was further analyzed based on the observed data. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GS-MS) was employed to detect the types, contents of insect-repellent volatile compounds in the screen after two months of field application. 【Result】The laboratory results showed that the barrier rate of the new insect-repellent screen cage against M. usitatus adults generally exhibited a slowly declining trend within one month. The barrier rate of the insect-repellent screen was 52.81%-67.11%, significantly higher than that of the conventional insect-proof screen (46.32%-51.23%). Field results indicated that within one month of investigation during the flowering and pod-setting stage of cowpeas, the adult populations of M. usitatus in the insect-repellent screen, conventional insect-proof screen (both with a porosity of 69.40%), and open field were 4.3-7.4, 6.2-11.1 and 7.8-14.2 individuals/flower, respectively. The overall trend of population in the insect-repellent screen remained at a lower level, significantly lower than that in the conventional insect-proof screen and open-field cowpeas. No significant differences were observed among the three treatments (insect-repellent screen, conventional insect-proof screen, and open field) in terms of light intensity (11 900-73 800, 11 400-73 100, and 12 000- 73 900 lx, respectively), wind speed (0.16-1.38, 0.12-1.39, and 0.20-1.47 m·s-1, respectively), daily mean temperature (18.73-25.75, 19.50-25.62, and 19.51-26.00 ℃, respectively), and daily mean relative humidity (65.00%-72.15%, 66.32%-73.78%, and 62.10%-69.66%, respectively). During a single day at the full blooming stage of cowpea, the temperature and relative humidity under all three treatments exhibited an inverted “U”-shaped and a positive “U”-shaped trend, respectively. Specifically, the temperature reached the highest value in the afternoon (13: 00-16: 00), while the relative humidity dropped to the lowest value in the afternoon (14: 00-15: 00). GC-MS analysis revealed that the volatile components of the insect-repellent screen contained compounds with high similarity to menthol and limonene, with similarity scores of 79.50% and 80.00%, and the volatilization rates after two months of application were 98.47% and 92.86%, respectively. 【Conclusion】The barrier effect of the new insect-repellent screen against M. usitatus is better than conventional insect-proof screen, showing dual effects of physical barrier and biological repellence, and has negligible impact on the field microclimate environment. The development and application of the new insect-repellent screen provides a novel approach for integrated control of cowpea thrips. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Identification and Characterization of Retrotransposon Tos17 in the Genomes of Indica Rice LUO JiaRui, WU SanLing, GUO Fu, LIU Zhen, SONG JingHan, TAN YuanYuan, SHU QingYao Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (15): 2933-2947.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.15.001 Abstract （897）   HTML （47）    PDF （4291KB）（423）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】 Tos17 is a type of retrotransposon in the rice genome. In the japonica variety Nipponbare, a Tos17 located on chromosome 7 (Tos17Chr.7) can be activated during tissue culture. This study aims to reveal the genomic features of Tos17 of indica varieties in China and determine whether their Tos17 can be activated in tissue culture like in japonica rice, which may affect biotechnological breeding. 【Method】 High-quality genome resequencing data of indica varieties or hybrid parents were retrieved from public databases. An in-house program was developed to identify and analyze Tos17 insertion loci, confirmed by IGV visualization and PCR assays. The varieties were classified through hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis, a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, and the association between varietal clusters and Tos17 haplotypes was assessed using Mantel test. Transgenic plants were generated by Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of mature embryo-derived callus of indica varieties, and the changes of Tos17 copy number were analyzed in 125 T0 transgenic plants.【Result】 23 distinct Tos17 insertion loci were identified in 1 511 indica varieties using the Tos17-finder, a program developed specifically for Tos17 identification. All varieties had a Tos17 on Chr.10 (Tos17Chr.10) identical to the one in japonica rice Nipponbare, and there were two high-frequency Tos17 copies on Chr.2, i.e., Tos17Chr.2-1 (79.0%) and Tos17Chr.2-2 (83.7%), but only 85 (5.6%) varieties carried the Tos17Chr.7 common to japonica rice. There were 4.0 Tos17 copies per variety on average, and while 11 varieties had up to 8 Tos17 copies, 35 only had a single Tos17, i.e., Tos17Chr.10. Twelve Tos17 insertions were located within or 2 kb up- or down-stream of annotated genes, with the remaining 11 in intergenic regions. Phylogenetic analysis based on SNPs classified the 1 511 varieties into three subpopulations, each showing partial correlation with specific Tos17 haplotypes. No new Tos17 insertions were detected in the 125 T0 transgenic seedlings of 5 indica varieties. A molecular marker capable of accurately distinguishing Tos17Chr.7 from other Tos17s was developed. 【Conclusion】 The genomic features of Tos17 in indica rice varieties differ from those in japonica rice variety Nipponbare. The developed molecular marker can be used to determine readily whether the test materials carry the activatable Tos17Chr.7. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Identification of GmSZFP-Interacting Proteins and Functional Analysis of GmERF7 in Soybean Resistance to SMV Infection QI MengNan, ZHAO DingLing, ZHANG XueYan, ZHANG YuJie, WANG RongNa, LIU BingQiang, YAN Long, ZHANG Jie, WANG DongMei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (14): 2739-2750.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.14.003 Abstract （890）   HTML （18）    PDF （2458KB）（514）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Soybean, an important economic and oil crop, is frequently threatened by soybean mosaic virus (SMV) disease, which is caused by the soybean mosaic virus (SMV). Previous studies identified a differentially expressed C2H2 single zinc finger protein gene, GmSZFP, which positively regulated soybean resistance to SMV infection. Using a yeast two-hybrid library, we screened for proteins that interact with GmSZFP and explored their functions in the soybean-SMV interaction. This research provides a theoretical basis for further elucidating the regulatory network of transcription factors involved in soybean resistance to SMV infection. 【Method】In this study, the compatible (Jidou 7 and SMV strain SC-8) and incompatible (Jidou 7 and SMV strain N3) combinations were used to screen the potential interaction proteins of GmSZFP by yeast two-hybrid library. the protein-protein interactions were validated through yeast two-hybrid system (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) were employed to analyze the transcriptional expression levels and functions of the identified interaction proteinin the soybean-SMV interaction. 【Result】We identified GmERF7 as apotential target protein of GmSZFP through yeast two-hybrid system. The interaction between GmSZFP and GmERF7 was confirmed by Y2H and BiFC. GmERF7 is a 393 -amino acid protein containing an AP2/ERF domain and two nuclear localization signals (NLS). qPCR results showed that the expression levels of GmERF7 were significantly higher in the compatible combination than those in the incompatible combination at 4, 12, and 24 hours after infection, peaking at 24 hours. VIGS-mediated silencing of GmERF7 in Jidou 7 plants infected with SC-8 (compatible combination) results in increased callose deposition at the inoculation site compared to the control. At the 14 days after inoculation, the expression of SMV coat protein CP gene was undetectable in the upper leaves of the GmERF7-silenced plants, and no SMV infection symptoms were observed. In contrast, the CP gene was detected in the control plants, which exhibited typical susceptibility symptoms such as mosaic and green-loss. These results indicate silencing GmERF7 weakened virus transport and spread between cells, thereby enhancing plant resistance to SMV. This suggest that GmERF7 negatively regulates soybean resistance to SMV. 【Conclusion】The ERF transcription factor GmERF7 interacts with the zinc finger protein GmSZFP, and negatively regulates soybean resistance to SMV. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Characterization of Antioxidant Activities in Sesame Leaves and Screening of High Antioxidant Germplasm LUO ZiShu, ZHANG YiJia, ZHOU Rong, ZHANG YanXin, ZHOU Ting, YOU Jun, WANG LinHai Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (19): 3814-3824.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.19.002 Abstract （859）   HTML （15）    PDF （1168KB）（366）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Flavonoids and polyphenols are the main natural antioxidant active components in plants, which are abundant in sesame leaves. Analyzing the contents of antioxidant active components such as total flavonoids and total polyphenols in sesame leaves at different growth stages and positions, as well as the changes in antioxidant activities, and screening sesame germplasm with high antioxidant active components in leaves, will provide theoretical basis and excellent materials for the development and utilization of sesame leaves.【Method】The extraction process of total flavonoids and total polyphenols from leaves was optimized by a one-way test, and total flavonoids, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging ratio) were determined in sesame leaves at different growth stages and leaf positions, as well as leaves of 154 sesame germplasm.【Result】The optimal conditions for the extraction of total flavonoids and total polyphenols from the leaves were: 80% ethanol as the extraction solvent, solid-liquid ratio of 1:50 (g·mL-1), oscillation time of 4 min, oscillation frequency of 1 250 r/min and ultrasonic time of 35 min. With the process of sesame growth and development, the total flavonoid content of sesame leaves increased rapidly from the initial-bloom stage to the full-bloom stage, and reached the peak at the mature stage. The total polyphenols content generally showed a continuous increasing trend, slightly decreased at the final flowering period, but the difference was not significant. The antioxidant activity generally shows a continuous increasing trend. At mature stage, the total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity in leaves at different leaf positions showed a gradient distribution of middle > lower > upper, while the total polyphenols showed upper > middle > lower. The total flavonoid content in the leaves of 154 sesame germplasm ranged from 20.94 to 57.43 mg CAE·g-1, the total polyphenol content ranged from 16.04 to 65.75 mg GAE·g-1, and the antioxidant activity ranged from 54.09% to 80.45%. Cluster analysis divided 154 materials into four groups, group Ⅰ materials had relatively high total flavonoid and total polyphenol contents and the three indexes were relatively balanced; group Ⅱ had high values of antioxidant activity; group Ⅲ had mostly median levels of total flavonoid and total polyphenol contents and low antioxidant activity; and group Ⅳ had low values of overall antioxidant indexes. Five excellent leaf germplasm with outstanding antioxidant activity indexes were screened: Sesame in Xinjiang E’min, White Sesame in Shaanxi Weinan, White Sesame in Shaanxi Baoji, 68·544 in Nicaragua and K2 in Guinea, respectively.【Conclusion】The differences in antioxidant activity indexes of sesame leaves at different growth stages and different leaf positions were systematically revealed. Sesame leaves harvested from the middle position at mature stage had the highest content of antioxidant substances and antioxidant activity. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Resistance Evaluation and Genetic Stability Analysis of Insect- Resistant and Glyphosate-Tolerant Transgenic Cotton Lines WEN Jin, NING YanFang, QIN Xin, LIU Yuan, ZHANG XiaoLing, ZHU YongHong, TIAN ShiMin, MA YanBin Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (12): 2291-2302.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.12.002 Abstract （854）   HTML （18）    PDF （2519KB）（374）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and field weeds are major constraints to high-yield cotton production. Existing varieties with single traits (insect resistance or herbicide tolerance) fail to meet the demands of efficient cultivation. Developing transgenic cotton varieties with combined insect resistance and glyphosate tolerance will provide high-efficiency germplasm resources for stress-resistant cotton breeding.【Method】The insect-resistant fusion gene cry1Ac-vip3Da and glyphosate-tolerant gene g10-epsps were introduced into cotton R15 through Agrobacterium-mediated method, regenerated transgenic plants were screened via PCR, positive lines underwent multi-generation self-pollination to achieve homozygosity, and stable lines with superior resistance were selected. The expression of target genes in different tissues of transgenic lines was analyzed using qRT-PCR and ELISA. Bioactivity assays and glyphosate tolerance tests were conducted to evaluate the genetic stability of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance across generations (T4-T6). Agronomic traits of transgenic lines were comprehensively assessed. 【Result】Eight positive transgenic lines with dual resistance were identified through PCR screening, and CA-6, CA-7 and CA-17 lines exhibited higher resistance. qRT-PCR revealed high expression of cry1Ac-vip3Da and g10-epsps in all tissues of these lines, and expression levels varied significantly among tissues. ELISA analysis demonstrated significant differences in Cry1Ac-Vip3Da and G10-EPSPS protein content across tissues of the three transgenic lines, with the highest levels observed in leaves. Protein accumulation gradually decreased during the developmental stages (from the four-leaf stage to boll-opening stage), but remained stable across T4-T6 generations. Bioactivity assays and glyphosate tolerance tests demonstrated that three transgenic cotton lines (T4-T6 generations) exhibited corrected mortality rates of 65.12%-82.75%, tolerated glyphosate at over four times the recommended dosage, and showed no attenuation of resistance across generations. There were no significant differences in plant height, number of fruit branches, number of bells per plant, bell weight, lint percentage, seed cotton yield, and lint cotton yield between transgenic lines and R15.【Conclusion】The exogenous genes cry1Ac-vip3Da and g10-epsps were stably inherited across generations in transgenic lines CA-6, CA-7, and CA-17, conferring dual insect resistance and glyphosate tolerance without compromising agronomic performance. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Investigation on Species Composition and Damage Dynamics of Cowpea Pests in Hainan Winter-Spring Cropping System (2020-2025) WU MingYue, FU QiuMei, HUANG ShengLin, LUO Feng, LIU Yong, SHI CaiHua, ZHANG YouJun, KONG XiangYi, XIE Wen Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4451-4466.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.014 Abstract （841）   HTML （7）    PDF （2459KB）（415）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】This study aimed to identify the species composition and population dynamics of major pests in the main cowpea-producing areas of Hainan, and to evaluate the effects of different planting patterns and cultivation managements on the pest community structure, thus providing a theoretical basis for developing precise control strategies. 【Method】Systematic investigations were conducted on the pest species and dominant pests on cowpeas during the winter-spring seasons from 2020 to 2025 in Hainan cowpea planting areas, using plant visual inspection and colored sticky trap methods. The population dynamics of pests were compared under different management practices (non-pesticide-treated and conventionally pesticide-treated) and different cultivation modes (open-field, semi-enclosed, and fully-enclosed). 【Result】(1) A total of 16 pest species infesting cowpea were identified in Hainan Province, which belonged to 6 orders, 9 families. In non-pesticide-treated cowpea fields, a higher diversity of pests was observed (6 orders, 9 families, 16 species), with the dominant species being Megalurothrips usitatus, Frankliniella intonsa, Liriomyza trifolii, Spodoptera exigua, and Aphis craccivora. In contrast, conventional pesticide-treated fields exhibited reduced pest diversity (4 orders, 5 families, 10 species), with thrips and leafminers remaining as the predominant pests. (2) Regardless of pesticide application, thrips and leafminers were present throughout the entire cowpea growth cycle. Thrips populations were significantly higher, showing low numbers at the seedling stage, a continuous increase during vine elongation, and multiple population peaks during the flowering stage coinciding with bloom. Leafminers were abundant from January to March in 2021, but caused only sporadic damage during 2024-2025. (3) Under both open-field and semi-enclosed planting modes, the pest species composition was similar, primarily consisting of thrips and leafminers, with M. usitatus as the dominant thrips species and L. trifolii as the dominant leafminer species. Thrips outbreaks generally occurred around January of the following year, while spider mite outbreaks were occasionally observed in semi-enclosed planting mode in certain years. Compared with open-field and semi-enclosed modes, the species of pests in the fully-enclosed planting mode were relatively few, and only thrips accounted for approximately 66% of the total pest population. During the later growth stages under higher temperatures (i.e., January to March of the following year), populations of Bemisia tabaci and Tetranychus urticae increased significantly. In conclusion, thrips caused the most severe damage throughout the cowpea growth cycle, significantly affecting both yield and quality. In some years, leafminers and T. urticae also inflicted considerable damage, while other pests were less detrimental. 【Conclusion】There are many kinds of pests in cowpea in Hainan, among which thrips are the most serious. The occurrence of pests in open-field planting mode is more serious, and the damage of pests in net-enclosed field is relatively light. The net-enclosed mode can effectively block some pests, but the fully-enclosed planting mode is affected by the micro-environment such as high temperature and high humidity, and the probability of outbreak of B. tabaci, T. urticae and other pests in the late growth stage of cowpea is large. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Research on Ecological Protection Strategy for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Soil in China LÜ GuoHua, WANG QingSuo, SONG JiaShen, LI YuYi, MEI XuRong Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (20): 4047-4053.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.002 Abstract （831）   HTML （54）    PDF （370KB）（417）       Knowledge map    Save This study provided a systematic review of the ecological issues arising from the development of saline-alkali land in China. These included secondary salinization, the formation of groundwater depression cones, wetland shrinkage and functional degradation, and reduction in natural vegetation, as well as high remediation costs and pollution risks. In addition, it clarified the technological development pathways for the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali land. These pathways encompassed four major directions: targeted strategies under a systematic management approach, cost-effective remediation under new ecological requirements, dual-force development through land-crop synergy, and specialized agriculture aligned with the broader concept of food. Furthermore, the study proposed an integrated strategy to strengthen the comprehensive management of saline-alkali lands, including emphasizing zonal rehabilitation of saline-alkali farmland, establishing a collaborative innovation system, and advancing fundamental theories and key technologies for sustainable utilization. It also recommended developing a tiered land-use model to support pilot programs for reserve resources and cultivated land, promoting specialized agriculture, enhancing productive capacity, advancing water-adapted planting, fostering innovation in water-saving agricultural technology, and strengthening ecological monitoring and impact assessment. This study provided the theoretical foundation and strategic support for ecological protection in the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali land in China. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Response Surface Methodology Optimization of Water, Fertilizer, and Pesticide Coupling on Chili Pepper Growth, Photosynthetic Characteristics, and Root Rot XU JiaXin, HUA Nan, WANG YongQiang, XU Hao, LIU Zhen, ZHAO XiaoRui, LI Yue, CHEN QiWei, YE Lin Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (14): 2869-2884.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.14.012 Abstract （823）   HTML （5）    PDF （3218KB）（457）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Aiming at the problems of yield decline and frequent root rot caused by unreasonable application of water and fertilizer in chili pepper production in solar greenhouse, the effects of reasonable application of water and fertilizer on yield increase and root rot control effect of chili pepper were discussed, and a scientific and reasonable management mode of water and fertilizer was screened out for high yield and high quality cultivation techniques of chili pepper in greenhouse.【Method】The experiment was conducted using the chili pepper variety ‘Huamei 105’. Three levels of irrigation amount (2 423, 3 230, 4 037 m3·hm-2), fertilizer application rate (330, 495, 660 kg·hm-2), and pesticide application rate (300, 450, 600 L·hm-2) were designed. Fertilizer was a high-potassium mix (N-P-K: 12-6-40), and the pesticide combination included chlorobromoisocyanuric acid, cymoxanil, and metalaxyl. A three-factor, three-level quadratic regression orthogonal experiment was conducted to analyze the effects of different water, fertilizer, and pesticide combinations on chili pepper growth, photosynthetic characteristics, and root rot occurrence.【Result】The interactions between irrigation amount and pesticide application rate, fertilizer application rate and pesticide application rate significantly impacted the growth comprehensive index and photosynthetic performance comprehensive index (P<0.05), and the interaction between irrigation amount and pesticide application rate had extremely significant effects on the growth comprehensive index (P<0.01). The interaction between irrigation amount and pesticide application rate had a significant effect on water and fertilizer use efficiency (P<0.05), while the interactions between irrigation amount and fertilizer application rate, fertilizer application rate and pesticide application rate had no significant effect on water and fertilizer use efficiency. The interaction between fertilizer application rate and pesticide application rate had a significant effect on the disease index of root rot (P<0.05), while the interactions between irrigation amount and fertilizer application rate, irrigation amount and pesticide application rate had no significant effect on the disease index of root rot. The interactions between irrigation amount and pesticide application rate, fertilizer application rate and pesticide application rate had significant effects on yield (P<0.05), while the interaction between irrigation amount and fertilizer application rate had no significant effect on yield.【Conclusion】The response regression model was used to optimize the yield and water and fertilizer use efficiency. The optimal combination of irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application is irrigation amount 3 213 m3·hm-2, fertilizer application rate 493 kg·hm-2 and pesticide application rate 449 L·hm-2. This combination can effectively improve the growth index and photosynthetic parameters of chili pepper, and significantly reduce the disease index of root rot and improve the yield and water and fertilizer use efficiency. Therefore, this management mode of water, fertilizer and pesticide can provide important theoretical basis and reference for the scientific management and efficient production of chili pepper. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Comparison of the Predation Ability of Four Species of Orius Against Megalurothrips usitatus, Tetranychus urticae and Aphis craccivora DAI XiaoYan, ZHAO JinFeng, WANG RuiJuan, SU Long, WANG Yu, CHENG WenHua, XU QianQian, ZHAO Shan, ZHENG Li, LIU Yan, ZHAI YiFan Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4421-4428.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.011 Abstract （820）   HTML （6）    PDF （465KB）（398）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】The purpose of this study is to identify the dominant species of commercial Orius species (O. nagaii, O. sauteri, O. minutus and O. strigicollis) against the main pest of cowpea Megalurothrips usitatus, Tetranychus urticae and Aphis craccivora, and to provide a scientific basis for field demonstration and commercial production of Orius species. 【Method】The single-headed female adult of a single species of Orius was used to test the predation, functional responses and search effects of different densities of M. usitatus (10, 20, 30, 40 /tube), T. urticae (5, 10, 15, 20 /dish) and A. craccivora young nymphs (5, 10, 15, 20 /dish) under indoor conditions. Holling II equation was used to analyze the predation ability and biological control potential of four Orius species on three pests. 【Result】The daily predation of four Orius species increased with the increase of the density of pests (M. usitatus, T. urticae and A. craccivora). The predatory functional response of the four Orius species conformed to the Holling II model equation, and the search effect of the four Orius species gradually decreased with the increase of prey density. While hunting M. usitatus, the transient attack rate (a′) (0.861), predation ability (a′/Th) (661.932), maximum daily predation amount (1/Th) (769.231) and processing time of single prey (Th) (0.001 d) of O. nagaii were higher than those of the other three species. While hunting T. urticae, the processing time of single prey (0.004 d), predation ability (260.617) and maximum daily predation amount (285.714) of O. nagaii were also higher than those of the other three species. There was no significant difference in the predation ability of the four Orius species on A. craccivora. 【Conclusion】At room temperature, compared with the other three Orius species, O. nagaii has better predation ability on M. usitatus and T. urticae, but the four species have little difference in predation on A. craccivora. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Genome-Wide Association Study on Spike Architecture Traits and Elite Haplotype Mining in Winter Wheat LI Ming, CHENG YuKun, BAI Bin, LEI Bin, GENG HongWei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (18): 3583-3597.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.18.002 Abstract （772）   HTML （25）    PDF （5870KB）（285）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Spike-related traits constitute a key factor influencing wheat yield. This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on wheat spike-related traits to identify significant loci controlling these traits, thereby providing theoretical references for research on genetic improvement of wheat spike-related traits. 【Method】Using a panel of 261 winter wheat varieties (lines), we measured spike-related phenotypic traits and performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with the wheat 90K SNP array, employing the Fixed and Random Model Circulating Probability Unification (Farm CPU) model. Stable and significant loci identified through this analysis were further subjected to haplotype analysis. 【Result】Under three environmental conditions, all 11 panicle-related traits exhibited extensive phenotypic variation, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 3.63 to 64.29. The heritability estimates for these traits varied between 0.42 and 0.84. Highly significant differences (P<0.001) were observed among genotype, environment, and genotype × environment interactions. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 171 loci significantly associated with the 11 traits (P<0.001), including 20 pleiotropic loci detected in two or more environments. These loci were associated with eight panicle traits: panicle length (3 loci), peduncle length (7 loci), sterile spikelet number (1 locus), fertile spikelet number (2 loci), total spikelet number (2 loci), grains per panicle (1 locus), grain weight per panicle (2 loci), and thousand-grain weight (2 loci). The phenotypic contribution rates of these loci ranged from 0.95% to 18.54%. A pleiotropic locus (Ra_c10072_677) significantly associated with both grain weight per panicle and grains per panicle was identified on chromosome 7B, demonstrating phenotypic contribution rates ranging from 2.62% to 6.16%. The marker wsnp_Ex_rep_c69639_68590556, which showed consistent association with peduncle length across two or more environmental conditions (explaining 5.94% of the genetic variation), was selected for haplotype analysis. Three haplotypes (Hap1, Hap2, and Hap3) were characterized, with distribution frequencies of 77.40%, 13.70%, and 8.80%, respectively. Phenotypic analysis revealed that 261 winter wheat cultivars (lines) carrying haplotype Hap3 (30.58 cm) exhibited significantly greater peduncle length (P<0.001) compared to those with Hap1 (28.67 cm) and Hap2 (27.49 cm). The haplotype distribution frequencies showed significant geographic divergence: Hap1 predominated in the Northern Winter Wheat Region, Hap2 was more prevalent in the Huang-Huai Winter Wheat Region, while Hap3 displayed no substantial frequency (>5%) across all winter wheat regions. For stably detected loci across three environments, candidate gene mining identified four genes associated with panicle development. These genes, functionally annotated as encoding MYB transcription factors and F-box domain-containing proteins, represent key candidates influencing panicle architecture. 【Conclusion】The spike traits of wheat exhibited significant variation across different genotypes. A total of twenty stably associated loci were identified across two or more environments. Three distinct haplotypes significantly associated with the peduncle length were detected on chromosome 7B, and four candidate genes potentially related to spike traits were screened out. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Research Progress on the Function of Bovine Thyroid Gene and Its Correlation with Environmental Adaptability LI Hao, TIAN YuYang, ZHANG ZiMing, CAO YiFan, CIREN LuoBu, NIMA CangJue, DANZENG LuoSang, LEI ChuZhao, BASANG ZhuZha, CHEN NingBo Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (13): 2682-2692.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.13.014 Abstract （765）   HTML （16）    PDF （2353KB）（392）       Knowledge map    Save The thyroid gland is an important endocrine organ in cattle that plays a biological role by secreting thyroid hormone (TH), which promotes nutrient metabolism, growth and development, improves neural function; and regulates physiological functions. The multifunctionality of the thyroid gland is indispensable for maintaining a healthy body in animals and has a profound impact on their growth, development and environmental adaptation. The genetic background of Chinese yellow cattle is complex, and after long-term hybridization and selection in various regions, at least 58 local breeds have been formed. During the spread of Chinese yellow cattle, they faced diverse geographical and ecological environments, and their genomes continuously microevolved to adapt to different environments. Among these genes, thyroid-related genes may play important roles in adaptation. This article reviews the research progress on the regulatory functions of the thyroid and related genetic variations from the perspectives of animal physiology and genomics. First, the thyroid gland dynamically regulates TH levels through negative feedback regulation and then regulates animal development, metabolism, rhythm and reproductive function. The thyroid signal is highly sensitive to environmental influences and can respond accordingly, such as increasing heat production under cold conditions, reducing heat production under hot conditions, and regulating immunity and nerve cells to resist diseases and other adverse factors. The process from TH synthesis to its function is complex. Many genes are involved in the regulation of this process, and the genetic variation of some genes has an impact on the health and performance of animals. In recent years, research on the bovine genome has developed rapidly, with in-depth discussions on the origin, production, and stress resistance traits of cattle. With increasing research on the bovine genome, more new functions of bovine thyroid-related genes have been discovered. Thyroid-related genes affect key traits such as growth, metabolism, and environmental adaptation in cattle. For example, the DUOXA2 gene is involved in calcium regulation in dairy cows and in the high-altitude adaptation of Tibetan cattle, and its Leu20Pro variation has a potential impact on yellow cattle in the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau. The TG gene is one of the key regulatory genes related to beef cattle production traits, with three SNPs associated with sexual maturity in bulls, which can significantly reduce the age of sexual maturity in bulls. Finally, this paper highlights the potential of genome resequencing technology and single-nucleus RNA and chromatin accessibility sequencing technology for exploring the genetic variations of thyroid related genes. The feasibility of these two technologies is demonstrated from aspects such as cost, functionality, and application examples. Genome resequencing can identify various types of variant sites and pinpoint key variants on the basis of selection signals. Single-nucleus RNA and chromatin accessibility sequencing technology can be used to investigate the gene expression differences within each cell under different environmental conditions and at various developmental stages, facilitating the verification of the mechanisms of action of key regulatory genes. Hence, delving into the functions of bovine thyroid-related genes and their genetic variations linked to growth and environmental adaptability is pivotal for revealing novel genes associated with important economic traits and stress resistance in cattle. This paper introduces the regulatory mechanism of the thyroid gland and the effects of thyroid-related genes on the growth, metabolism, biological rhythm regulation, reproductive function and environmental adaptation of livestock, and proposes new technologies that can be used for thyroid research in the future to provide a reference for future research on thyroid function and cattle breeding. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Analysis of Annual Population Dynamics of Megalurothrips usitatus on Cowpea in Hainan HUANG ShengLin, XU YiBo, KONG XiangYi, SHI CaiHua, JIAO XiaoGuo, ZHANG YouJun, WU MingYue, XIE Wen Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4439-4450.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.013 Abstract （761）   HTML （6）    PDF （693KB）（339）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Megalurothrips usitatus is a persistent pest in major cowpea production areas in southern China such as Hainan. Its continuous infestation has led to a reduction in cowpea yields and quality, which has become a key biotic factor constraining the sustainable development of the industry. This study aims to provide theoretical support for cowpea thrips disaster early warning and control decision-making in tropical and subtropical cowpea-growing regions of China by systematically monitoring the annual pattern of M. usitatus in the main cowpea production area of Sanya, Hainan. 【Method】The population size of M. usitatus on host plants including Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Poaceae in Yazhou District, Sanya City, Hainan Province was investigated using the sticky trap method: August 2021 to July 2022 (the first year) and October 2023 to October 2024 (the second year). Based on the survey data, population dynamics of M. usitatus were analyzed through graphical visualization. Furthermore, by comparing population dynamic changes of M. usitatus across different years and seasons, the occurrence patterns and host transition behavior of M. usitatus on cowpea and other host plants were further analyzed. 【Result】(1) M. usitatus could cause damage on cowpeas throughout the year, and at all stages of growth. In the first year, the occurrence peaks of M. usitatus on cowpea and non-cowpea host plants occurred in winter and spring (December and January of the following year), which coincided with the peak planting period of cowpeas. In the second year, the occurrence peaks of M. usitatus on cowpeas occurred in summer and autumn (June and September), corresponding to the sporadic planting period of cowpeas. Its occurrence peaks on non-cowpea host plants occurred from early March to late April, coinciding with the large-scale crop termination period of cowpeas (pulling up seedlings after harvest). (2) M. usitatus exhibited a wide range of hosts, with significantly higher population densities on leguminous host plants (such as cowpeas, green beans, peanuts, and sesbania) than on non-leguminous host plants. (3) Studies on thrips host transfer patterns found that M. usitatus primarily infested cowpeas during the concentrated planting period of cowpea. Once cowpeas undergo large-scale crop termination (pulling up seedlings after harvest), it was likely to be transferred to the surrounding host plant plots such as eggplant, sesbania to conceal its infestation. 【Conclusion】In the Sanya region, the population density of M. usitatus on Fabaceae host plants was significantly higher than that on non-Fabaceae host plants. This pest can occur year-round in fields of cowpea, eggplant, and weeds, and exhibits the characteristic of shifting hosts to cause damage. The population dynamics of M. usitatus on cowpea and other plants show inter-annual and seasonal variations. Based on the annual population dynamic patterns of thrips in cowpea fields, it is recommended to conduct field sanitation before cowpea planting, including the removal of surrounding Fabaceae crops and weeds. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of Diets with Different Nutritional Levels on Maternal-Infant Integrated Production Performance and Rumen Microorganisms of Double-Lamb Shanbei White Cashmere Goats JIA ZiCheng, QIN BingYu, MA CaiYing, DU Yong, LIU TongGao, XUE RuiLin, WANG XiaoLong, ZHOU ShiWei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2026, 59 (3): 668-686.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.03.014 Abstract （759）   HTML （8）    PDF （1413KB）（409）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Through studying the effects of diets with different nutritional levels on the production performance, serum biochemical parameters, milk composition, rumen microbial community structure and function, and lamb growth performance of Shaanbei white cashmere goats during the twin-bearing lactation period, this research aimed to provide the scientific evidence for establishing a precision nutrition supply technical system for twin-bearing lactating Shaanbei white cashmere goats, which would help reduce breeding costs, enhance economic efficiency, and improve the sustainable development capacity of the Shaanbei white cashmere goat industry. 【Method】This investigation established a precision feeding paradigm for twin-bearing Shaanbei white cashmere ewes during peak lactation through a multifactorial experimental design. Thirty-two genetically uniform primiparous ewes (2-3 years old, (46.60±1.45) kg) were stratified by parity and body weight, then randomly allocated to four dietary treatments using a completely randomized design. The ewes were respectively fed the basal diet (CON group), low nutritional level diet with a nutritional level of 112% of the basal diet (LEL group), medium nutritional level diet with a nutritional level of 124% of the basal diet (MEL group), and high nutritional level diet with a nutritional level of 136% of the basal diet (HEL group). Trial sheep were weighed for initial body weight (IBM) and final body weight (FBW) under fasting conditions before morning feeding at 0 and 90 days of the trial. Daily feed provided and residual feed were recorded during the trial period to calculate body weight gain (BWG), average daily gain (ADG), and dry matter intake (DMI). For ewes, estrus detection was performed twice daily starting from 45 days postpartum to record estrus timing. Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted via rectal ultrasonography 30 days after mating to calculate pregnancy rates. Lambs were weighed every two weeks after birth, and weaning days were recorded to calculate lamb ADG. From each group, 5 ewes were randomly selected to collect fasting venous blood samples at 0, 30, and 60 days postpartum for serum separation, respectively, and 10 serum biochemical parameters including triglycerides (TG) were measured. For the same batch of 5 ewes, manual milking (100 mL) was performed at 0, 30, and 60 days postpartum to analyze milk composition parameters, such as milk fat and milk protein. On the 60th day of the trial, before morning feeding, rumen fluid was collected from 6 randomly selected ewes per group for metagenomic analysis. 【Result】(1)The medium-energy diet group (MEL) demonstrated significantly higher maternal body weight gain compared with the other three groups (P<0.01), and alongside a markedly shorter postpartum estrus interval than the control group (CON), while both MEL and high-energy diet groups (HEL) exhibited significantly greater average daily gain (ADG) and earlier weaning ages in their lambs compared with CON and low-energy diet groups (LEL) (P<0.01). (2) At 60 days postpartum, MEL ewes showed significantly elevated serum glucose (GLU) concentrations (P<0.05) and both MEL/HEL groups displayed significantly higher lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL) compared with CON/LEL groups (P<0.05). (3) Milk analysis revealed significantly increased fat and protein contents in MEL/HEL groups (P<0.05) with HEL milk showing exceptionally elevated urea nitrogen levels (P<0.05). (4) Metagenomic profiling showed no alpha diversity differences (Ace, Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices) among groups (P>0.05) but principal coordinate analysis revealed significant structural variations in rumen microbiota composition (P<0.05). Notable taxonomic shifts included higher Bacteroidota abundance in CON vs. HEL (P<0.05) and greater Bacillota abundance in HEL vs. CON (P<0.05), with HEL group exhibiting significantly elevated Selenomonas genera compared with CON/LEL (P<0.05). Functional analyses demonstrated nutrient-level dependent effects: KEGG pathway enrichment for Two-component system and Flagellar assembly in higher-nutrient diets (MEL/HEL) contrasted with Nucleotide metabolism and Carbon fixation pathway enrichment in lower-nutrient diets (CON/LEL) at level 3 (P<0.05). Carbohydrate-active enzyme profiling revealed progressive reductions in GH28, GH2, and CBM13 genes (P<0.05) with increasing dietary energy density, paralleled by significant enrichments in CBM43, GT9, and GT41 genes (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】In conclusion, the optimal diet for lactating Shaanbei white cashmere goats was the medium nutritional level diet group (MEL) (metabolizable energy: 9.91 MJ·kg-1, crude protein: 10.64%). Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Physiological Characteristics in Response to Salt Stress and Allelic Variation and Expression of Salt-Responsive Genes in Seedling Stage of Nangeng Rice Varieties with Salt-Tolerance Ability DENG LiCheng, LI Cheng, HE Lei, AN HongQiang, WANG CaiLin, ZHANG YaDong, ZHAO ChangJiang, LU Kai Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (12): 2275-2290.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.12.001 Abstract （742）   HTML （58）    PDF （2427KB）（273）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Salt stress is one of the main environmental stresses that restrict rice production. Studying the physiological characteristics under salt stress and analysis the allelic variation and expression of salt-tolerance genes provide key gene resources and genetic materials for breeding salt-tolerance rice varieties. 【Method】This study first evaluated the salt-tolerance ability of the Nangeng series high-quality rice varieties/lines during the seedling stage, using survival rate as an indicator for screening salt-tolerance varieties, which physiological changes under salt stress were analyzed, including chlorophyll, Na+, K+, MDA, H2O2 and soluble sugar. The variation types and expression levels of salt-tolerance genes in rice varieties with resistance to high salt concentration were also analyzed to explaining their molecular mechanisms in response to salt stress. 【Result】Under the condition of treating with 140 mmol·L-1 NaCl for 6 days, the survival rates of NG9108, NG5718, and NGY1 were greater than 60%, with the highest survival rate among the tested varieties. Compared with Nipponbare, the seedlings of NG9108, NG5718, and NGY1 under salt stress had higher chlorophyll content and lower MDA content, indicating that salt stress caused less cell damage to the three varieties. The Na+/K+ values in the roots of NG9108, NG5718, and NGY1 were significantly higher than those in Nipponbare, while the Na+/K+ values in the aerial parts were significantly lower than those in Nipponbare, implying that the three varieties absorb or store more Na+ in roots, but transport less Na+ upwards, which is beneficial for maintaining cell ion balance and causing less ion toxicity and osmotic stress in aerial parts of the seedlings. The three salt-tolerance varieties have 94 SNPs or InDel sites, distributing in exons, introns, 5′UTR, and 3′UTR of the 23 salt-tolerance genes. 24 variation sites of 11 genes occur in the exons, including 7 genes with frameshift mutations or missense mutations which distributed in Os02g0813500 (OsGR2), Os05g0343400 (OsWRKY53), Os06g0685700 (OsRST1), Os07g0685700 (OsEIL2), Os10g0431000 (OsPQT3), Os11g044600 (OsRSS3), Os12g0150200 (P450). Salt stress significantly induces expression of OsSKC1, OsBAG4, OsGPX1, OsCCX2, OsGR3, OsDREB2a, OsRAB21, OsP5CS, OsbZIP23, OsAPX37 and OsLEA3, which help to enhance salt tolerance and reduce the adverse effects of salt damage on rice growth. 【Conclusion】NG9108, NG5718 and NGY1 showed strong salt tolerance phenotype during the seedling growth stage, which is closely related to the balance of sodium and potassium ions under salt stress, allelic variations of multiple salt tolerance genes, and gene expression levels. NG9108, NG5718 and NGY1 have pyramided multiple salt tolerant and high-quality genes, which can be used as backbone parents for genetic improvement and breeding. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of Different Host Plants on Digestive Enzyme Activity and Nutrient Content in Megalurothrips usitatus WANG HuanTing, HUANG LiFei, CAO XueMei, GONG Rui, SU GuoLian, ZHENG XiaLin, WU MingYue, YANG Lang Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4429-4438.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.012 Abstract （711）   HTML （11）    PDF （1215KB）（356）       Knowledge map    Save 【Background】Megalurothrips usitatus can successfully develop and reproduce on host plants such as cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and white bean (Vigna cylindrica), with cowpea being the most suitable host. In contrast, its development and reproductive capacity are significantly limited on wax gourd (Benincasa hispida). 【Objective】The objective of this study is to determine the digestive enzyme activity and nutrient content in M. usitatus after feeding on different hosts, and to explore the adaptation mechanism of M. usitatus to different host plants. 【Method】F1 adults of M. usitatus reared on cowpeas for 3 d were transferred to petri dishes containing cowpea, green bean, white bean, or wax gourd, with four replicates per treatment. Sampling was conducted at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after feeding. The dynamic changes in the activities of key digestive enzymes (including α-amylase, trehalase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin) were systematically measured. Concurrently, changes in the content of major nutrients, such as glycogen, soluble protein, and fat, were analyzed. 【Result】Significant changes were observed in the activities of digestive enzymes and the content of nutrients in M. usitatus after feeding on different host plants. The activities of various digestive enzymes in M. usitatus fed on cowpea, green bean and white bean were generally higher than those fed on wax gourd. Specifically, the α-amylase activity of M. usitatus fed on cowpea was the highest (1.33 mg·min-1·mg-1 protein), along with high trehalase activity (469.80 nmol·min-1·mg-1 protein). Trypsin and chymotrypsin activities reached 20.42 and 24.86 U·mg-1 protein, respectively. M. usitatus fed on green bean had the highest α-amylase activity (1.49 mg·min-1·mg-1 protein), but the activities of trehalase (304.81 nmol·min-1·mg-1 protein) and two proteases were slightly lower than those of cowpea group. Trehalase activity in white bean group was significantly decreased (175.61 nmol·min-1·mg-1 protein), while trypsin activity was increased (21.15 U·mg-1 protein). In contrast, all enzyme activities of M. usitatus fed on wax gourd were at the lowest level, the trehalase activity was only 152.89 nmol·min-1·mg-1 protein. Regarding nutrient content, glycogen content (1.61 mg·mg-1 protein) and fat content (5.54 μg per individual) were highest in M. usitatus fed on cowpea, while the lowest values were observed in the wax gourd group (glycogen content 0.79 mg·mg-1 protein; fat content 3.37 μg per individual). 【Conclusion】Different host plants significantly influenced the digestive enzyme activities and nutrient contents of M. usitatus. M. usitatus rapidly adjusted these physiological parameters after feeding on cowpea, green bean, and white bean, but exhibited slower adaptation on wax gourd. These findings indicate that M. usitatus has higher adaptability to cowpea, green bean, and white bean, whereas its adaptability to wax gourd is comparatively poorer. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Development and Application of Novel Physical Control Technologies Based on the Correlation Between Megalurothrips usitatus Outbreaks and Cowpea Flower Development Dynamics SHI CaiHua, JIN Jie, HUA DengKe, HU JingRong, ZHANG YouJun, HUANG ShengLin, WU MingYue, KONG XiangYi, XIE Wen Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4382-4392.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.008 Abstract （680）   HTML （3）    PDF （571KB）（277）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Megalurothrips usitatus is a major biotic disaster for leguminous crops, particularly prone to damaging cowpeas. The study aims to clarify the relationship between field population dynamics of M. usitatus and cowpea flowers, and to develop new green control technologies. 【Method】The population dynamics of M. usitatus across different growth stages and plant organs of cowpeas were investigated, along with the influence of flower opening and shedding times on their activity patterns. The optimal timing for pesticide application was determined, and the abscission efficiency of five abscission methods (natural abscission, fan-induced abscission, lever-induced abscission, climbing net-induced abscission, and a combined method using both fan and lever) was compared. Additionally, the effectiveness of various flower-absorbing carriers (silver-gray plastic film, shading net, weed-proof fabric, hundred-knot net, and bare soil) was evaluated. Based on these findings, a novel integrated green control strategy, termed the “trinity, internal and external killing” approach, was developed and assessed for its efficacy in controlling M. usitatus, as well as its impact on cowpea quality and yield. 【Result】The population density of M. usitatus exhibited a trend of initial increase followed by a decline from the seedling stage to the end of flowering. The lowest population density was observed during the seedling stage, with a significant increase noted during the early flowering stage, peaking at full flowering stage. M. usitatus adults predominantly reside within flowers, while nymphs preferentially inhabit pods, followed by flowers and tender shoots. As flower buds open, the number of M. usitatus adults within flowers increases progressively. Flower closure typically occurs after 10: 00, encapsulating the insects within the floral structures. These closed flowers generally fall off gradually the following day; however, substantial numbers of M. usitatus remain concealed within the fallen flowers. Notably, flowers with receptacles harbor significantly higher numbers of M. usitatus compared to those without. A mass exodus of M. usitatus from the floral structures typically begins after 6: 00, at which point they migrate to new plant organs. For effective chemical control, application during the evening or early morning—when flowers are open—is most effective. Among the tested abscission methods, the combined use of a fan and lever demonstrated the highest efficiency in removing flowers. Additionally, the hundred-knot net significantly enhanced the effectiveness of flower collection. The implementation of the “trinity, internal and external killing” integrated green control strategy resulted in a 93.71% reduction in black head and black tail symptoms, a 96.87% reduction in wrapper tail, and a 91.55% reduction in overall malformation in cowpeas, accompanied by a 20.40% increase in yield. 【Conclusion】The “trinity, internal and external killing” technique not only challenges the conventional reliance on chemical pesticides, but also effectively suppresses M. usitatus populations, enhances cowpea quality and yield, and provides a valuable theoretical and practical framework for the development of green pest control strategies in other crops. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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GENETIC DIVERSITY OF MTCO1 IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL POPULATIONS OF MEGALUROTHRIPS USITATUS LIU XiaoXu, ZHONG ZeXin, QIU JiaRen, YANG ChunXiao, ZHANG YongJun, XIE Wen, ZHANG YouJun, PAN HuiPeng Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4361-4371.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.006 Abstract （679）   HTML （6）    PDF （1041KB）（283）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Megalurothrips usitatus is a significant vegetable pest in China, causing substantial damage to legume crops as economic plants. The purpose of this study is to compare the genetic diversity of M. usitatus in different geographical populations and ascertain the genetic differentiation of M. usitatus, and to provide a theoretical basis for the precise control of M. usitatus. 【Method】A total of 18 geographical populations of M. usitatus were collected from 6 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong Province and 9 prefecture-level cities outside Guangdong Province. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene sequence was obtained based on PCR. The haplotype diversity (Hd), nucleotide diversity (π) of different geographical populations were analyzed, and Tajima’s D neutrality test based on the mtCO1 was performed to evaluate the genetic structure of M. usitatus populations across different geographical regions. The fixation index (FST) and gene flow (Nm) were calculated to evaluate the degree of genetic differentiation among populations. 【Result】A total of 111 mtCO1 gene sequences were detected in 18 geographical populations of M. usitatus. A total of 617 conserved sites and 24 variable sites were detected, accounting for 3.68% of the total sequence length. A total of 20 haplotypes (H1-H20) were detected, of which H4 was the dominant haplotype, accounting for 48.6% of the total sequence and distributed in 17 populations. The overall population of M. usitatus exhibited relatively high haplotype diversity (Hd=0.677) and nucleotide diversity (π=0.00425), but nucleotide sequence divergence among different genetic types was not pronounced. The nonsignificant Tajima’s D neutrality test indicated stable population size without marked expansion. Furthermore, the population fixation coefficient (FST=0.04973<0.05) and gene flow (Nm=9.55>1) suggested sufficient genetic exchange and low genetic differentiation among geographically distinct populations. The results of molecular variance analysis showed that the main factor causing the overall population variation was intra-population variation. 【Conclusion】The geographically distinct populations of M. usitatus exhibited relatively high genetic diversity, with frequent gene flow and minimal genetic differentiation among populations, suggesting a stable overall population size. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the integrated management of M. usitatus field populations in diverse regions. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (20): 0-.   Abstract （665）      PDF （312KB）（84）       Knowledge map    Save Related Articles | Metrics

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The Breeding History, Current Status and Prospects of Alfalfa ZHANG Fan, YANG QingChuan Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4471-4481.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.016 Abstract （652）   HTML （17）    PDF （537KB）（148）       Knowledge map    Save Alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa L.), as the world's most important leguminous forage, plays an indispensable role in modern livestock farming and ecological systems due to its high yield, superior quality, and excellent adaptability. However, China's alfalfa industry has long faced a "bottleneck" in its seed industry, primarily characterized by the insufficient innovation capacity in germplasm resources and a low supply rate of elite proprietary varieties. The root of this challenge lies not only in the relatively late start and underdeveloped technical framework of alfalfa breeding in China, but also in the complex genetic characters obstacles inherent to alfalfa itself—namely, its autotetraploid nature with high heterozygosity and a self-incompatibility mechanism. Therefore, a systematic review of alfalfa's breeding history, current research status, and a forward-looking perspective on biotechnological breeding is of significant referential value for accelerating genetic improvement in China. The history of alfalfa domestication and spread was extensive. Originating from the Transcaucasus region, it was introduced to China via the "Silk Road" and subsequently spread worldwide. The vast enrichment of its genetic diversity benefited historically from the introduction of germplasm from different geographical origins and inter/intraspecific hybridization, particularly through genetic introgression from the stress-tolerant subspecies, M. sativa subsp. falcata. This laid a solid genetic foundation for breeding varieties adapted to diverse ecological niches. Developed countries, such as the United States, have established a comprehensive system for alfalfa breeding that covered germplasm collection, evaluation, and new variety development, with a history spanning over a century. Nevertheless, even in the United States, yield improvement plateaued after 1990, revealing the potential limitations of conventional breeding strategies. Although China has made considerable progress in alfalfa breeding, successfully developing adapted varieties, such as the "Zhongmu" and "Gannong" series, the overall effort still faced significant challenges. Firstly, the number of registered varieties is relatively less (128 as of 2024, far fewer than the 1 738 in the U.S.), which severely limits the ability to select optimal varieties for China's diverse ecological environments. Secondly, conventional breeding strategies themselves have constrained the effective utilization of heterosis. Historically, breeders often employed a strategy of population mixing and recurrent selection with varieties from different geographical origins. However, this approach aggregated favorable genes to some extent, and it also led to a homogenization of the genetic backgrounds among different breeding populations, thereby diminishing the potential for generating strong heterosis through subsequent hybridization. Consequently, breaking through the limitations of traditional methods by introducing efficient modern biotechnologies has become an inevitable choice for contemporary alfalfa breeding. In recent years, modern biotechnology centered on genomics has presented unprecedented opportunities to overcome the challenges in alfalfa breeding. China has achieved notable success in foundational genomics research, completing tasks ranging from genetic analysis of germplasm resources and genetic mapping to the key molecular markers and the development of elite germplasm. These genomic resources have made it possible to dissect the genetic regulatory networks of complex traits, such as yield, quality, and stress resistance at the molecular level. Looking ahead, alfalfa breeding in China should adopt a strategy that integrates conventional breeding with modern biotechnology, transitioning from source innovation to the "Breeding 4.0" era of precision design. The integration of modern biotechnologies—including genomics, marker-assisted selection, and gene editing—to conduct precise and efficient molecular design breeding is the core pathway to resolving the "bottleneck" in China's alfalfa seed industry and achieving fast development. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of Different Organic Fertilizers on the Control of Cowpea Wilt by Bacillus velezensis SD13 XIE HaiPeng, LIN JunXu, LIU Yong, MAI XianJun, LUO Feng, WANG XueWu, XIE Wen, LI ShaoKa, KONG XiangYi, WU XiaoYan Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (21): 4405-4420.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.21.010 Abstract （620）   HTML （14）    PDF （3109KB）（278）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】The objective of this study is to investigate the biological control effect of Bacillus velezensis SD13 against cowpea wilt when combined with different organic fertilizers, and to provide a theoretical basis for the application of biological control technology of cowpea wilt. 【Method】A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of applying 10% sheep manure, 10% vermicompost, and a 5% sheep manure+5% vermicompost mixture as fertilizer carriers on the efficacy of B. velezensis SD13 in controlling cowpea wilt. The experiment included eight treatments: blank control (CK), pathogen control (F), pathogen+SD13 (FB), pathogen+10% vermicompost (FW), pathogen+SD13+10% vermicompost (FBW), pathogen+10% sheep manure (FS), pathogen+SD13+10% sheep manure (FBS), and pathogen+SD13+5% vermicompost+5% sheep manure (FBWS). Each treatment was replicated three times, with three pots per replicate. After 45 d of cultivation in a greenhouse, the incidence rate of cowpea wilt, plant biomass (above-ground and below-ground dry weight), and defense enzyme activity (catalase) were measured for each treatment. Rhizosphere soil samples were collected, and the structure, diversity, and key microbial taxa of the soil bacterial community were analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. 【Result】The control effect of sheep manure, vermicompost and mixed organic fertilizer combined with B. velezensis SD13 on cowpea wilt was more than 75%. The combination of sheep manure and SD13 significantly increased soil total nitrogen by 30%, with the dominant soil bacteria being Firmicutes, which showed a negative correlation with other bacterial communities. The combination of vermicompost and SD13 significantly increased the above-ground dry weight of diseased cowpea plants by 29% and the below-ground dry weight by 30%, enhanced the activity of catalase in cowpea by 10%, and significantly increased the richness and diversity of soil bacteria, restoring the community structure to a healthy level. The combination of mixed organic fertilizers and SD13 significantly increased the below-ground dry weight of diseased cowpea plants by 155%, with the soil community structure being influenced by the microbial communities of both vermicompost and sheep manure. 【Conclusion】The type of organic fertilizer affects the biocontrol effect of B. velezensis SD13 against cowpea wilt in the soil. Vermicompost is more suitable for combination with SD13 than sheep manure. This combination not only ensures high biocontrol effect, but also further enhances cowpea biomass, catalase activity, and soil bacterial richness and diversity. It increases the abundance of beneficial bacterial communities and restores the soil bacterial community structure and composition to levels associated with healthy cowpea soil, making it a suitable organic fertilizer for the application of SD13 in controlling cowpea wilt in soil. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Identification and Gene Mapping of Rice Grain Shape Mutant sgd13 ZHUANG LiHua, LUO Lei, ZHAO ChunFang, WANG JiZhong, ZHANG YaDong, HE Lei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (24): 5097-5109.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.24.001 Abstract （575）   HTML （94）    PDF （3776KB）（332）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Grain shape is an important agronomic trait affecting rice yield and quality, and its development is regulated by the three-dimensional morphology of grain (grain length, grain width, grain thickness). Identification and cloning of grain shape regulatory genes can enrich the molecular mechanism of rice grain development regulation, and provide theoretical basis and genetic resources for high-yield molecular design breeding of rice. 【Method】A stable inherited grain type mutant sgd13 (small grain and dwarf 13) was screened from the mutant library of Nanjing 9108 induced by ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). The grain morphology, 1000-grain weight, seed setting rate, yield per plant, plant height, panicle length and other phenotypes of the mutants were statistically analyzed. Paraffin sections and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze the changes in the number and size of glume and stem cells. The genetic analysis of sgd13 and Nanjing 9108 was carried out. The F2 population constructed by sgd13 and Nanjing 9108 was used to locate the gene by BSA-seq technology. The SWISS-MODEL website was used to predict the three-dimensional structure of wild-type and mutant proteins. 【Result】The grains of sgd13 were significantly smaller and narrower, the grain length decreased by 19.98%, and the grain width decreased by 7.81%. Compared with WT, the plant height, spike length and yield per plant of sgd13 were significantly reduced. There was no significant difference in the number of internodes between sgd13 and WT, but the lengths of the first, second, third and sixth internodes were shorter. Cytological analysis showed that the glume and stem cells of sgd13 became smaller and less, indicating that sgd13 may affect organ development by regulating cell division and expansion. Genetic analysis confirmed that the trait was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene. The candidate gene was mapped to LOC_Os01g52550 by BSA-seq, which encodes an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter. The ABC transporter contains two typical core domains: A highly conserved nucleotide binding domain (NBD) and a less conserved transmembrane domain (TMD). In the sgd13 mutant, a single base substitution (T→A) occurred in the exon region of the gene, which was located in the NBD domain. This single base substitution directly causes the encoded amino acid to change from glutamic acid (E) to aspartic acid (D). Due to the differences in side chain structure and chemical properties between glutamic acid and aspartic acid, this change is likely to affect the spatial structure of SGD13 protein, thereby interfering with its normal function, and ultimately leading to a unique phenotype of the mutant sgd13. Genetic complementation experiments showed that the introduction of wild-type LOC_Os01g52550 could restore the grain shape of sgd13 to the wild-type level.【Conclusion】The sgd13 mutant phenotype was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene, which was caused by the LOC_Os01g52550 mutation. The T→A mutation in the exon region of the gene causes the glutamic acid in the NBD domain to become aspartic acid, which affects the three-dimensional structure of the protein. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Screening of Wheat Varieties with Low Nitrogen Tolerance and Genome-Wide Association Studies of Low Nitrogen Stress Tolerance Index LI Ning, GAO LiFeng, HUANG Xin, SHI HuaWei, YANG JinWen, SHI YuGang, CHEN Ming, JIA JiZeng, SUN DaiZhen Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (13): 2487-2503.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.13.001 Abstract （566）   HTML （61）    PDF （7056KB）（258）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】 The excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers has led to ecological pollution and waste of agricultural resources. Developing nitrogen-efficient wheat varieties and improving nitrogen use efficiency are effective approaches for achieving sustainable agricultural development and environmental protection. Screening low-nitrogen-tolerant germplasm resources and identifying genetic loci and candidate genes associated with low-nitrogen tolerance can provide materials and theoretical foundations for breeding nitrogen-efficient wheat varieties. 【Method】 A natural population consisting of 389 wheat varieties was cultivated under high-nitrogen (HN) and low-nitrogen (LN) treatments in 10 field environments. Grain yield per plant (GYP) was measured to calculate the stress tolerance index (STI), thereby enabling the classification of varieties with differential low-nitrogen tolerance. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted using 660K SNP array genotyping data to identify stable genetic loci associated with low-nitrogen tolerance. Candidate genes were prioritized through haplotype analysis, expression profiling, and functional annotation. 【Result】 Twelve wheat varieties with strong low-nitrogen tolerance were identified, including Zhongluo 08-1, Jimai 15, Jinghua 2, Kehong 1, Mianyang 19, Jimai 22, Zhenmai 4, Yumai 35, Fengkang 7, Mianyang 11, Jinmai 31, and Lumai 5. Fourteen loci significantly associated with STI were detected, among which four (qSTI1A.1, qSTI3B, qSTI6A, and qSTI7A.2) overlapped with previously reported low-nitrogen tolerance or yield-related QTLs. Notably, qSTI3B-replicated across three environments-was identified as a key locus governing low-nitrogen tolerance. Functional annotation revealed that its candidate gene, TraesCS3B02G042400, encodes an AP2/EREBP (APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element-binding protein) transcription factor. Haplotype analysis showed significant STI divergence among varieties carrying distinct haplotypes, while expression levels of TraesCS3B02G042400 exhibited nitrogen dose-responsive upregulation. 【Conclusion】 Twelve wheat varieties with strong low-nitrogen tolerance were screened. A stable genetic locus, qSTI3B, and a candidate gene, TraesCS3B02G042400, associated with low-nitrogen tolerance were identified. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Foliar Spraying TaSBEIIbs-dsRNA to Increase Amylose Content in Wheat LI LinYan, ZHANG GaoYang, FENG XianYang, GU ShiLong, HUANG YeNan, SUN ZhongKe, LI ChengWei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (22): 4557-4569.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.22.001 Abstract （555）   HTML （70）    PDF （922KB）（293）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Wheat starch mainly consists of amylose and amylopectin. Long-term consumption of refined flour products increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, whereas consuming flour with a high content of resistant starch has a positive effect on regulating blood glucose levels. Given the generally positive correlation between resistant starch and amylose, increasing the amylose content in wheat germplasm has become a goal for quality improvement breeding research. 【Method】Four gene fragments of starch branching enzyme (TaSBEIIb) were selected to successfully construct a high-efficiency dsRNA expression vector. A gradient optimization based on culture medium components significantly enhanced dsRNA yield. Based on this, the effects of naked dsRNA and dsRNA encapsulated with the nanocarrier hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (HACC) on wheat starch metabolism were explored through foliar spraying. Utilizing a wheat seedling culture system, the impact of dsRNA spraying on the amylose content in wheat seedlings and the expression of starch-related genes was observed. Furthermore, a field trial analyzed the effects of dsRNA spraying on the amylose content in mature wheat grains. The protective effect of chitosan quaternary ammonium salt-coated dsRNA and its influence on amylose content in mature wheat grains were also investigated. 【Result】Four recombinant plasmids (pRNAI-TaSBE1-pRNAI-TaSBE4), expressing dsRNA were successfully constructed. The optimized fermentation medium increased the dsRNA yield from 26.54 mg·L-1 to 50.65 mg·L-1, representing a 91% increase compared to the initial medium. Spraying dsRNA interfered with the expression of the target genes, with the highest interference efficiency observed on day 7 for the TaSBEIIb1 fragment. After interference with the four fragments, the expression of TaSBEIIb was reduced by an average of 47.73%. Additionally, the interference of TaSBEIIb affected the expression of other genes in the starch synthesis pathway, including TaSSII, TaSSIV, and TaSBEIIa1 with peak interference efficiencies occurring on days 3, 7, and 3, respectively. Their expression levels decreased by an average of 54.53%, 59.94%, and 47.64%. The 2023 field trial indicated that spraying naked dsRNA increased the amylose content in wheat grains by 17.2%-36.5% after 7 days of treatment, although the effect diminished to 0.2%-8.3% by the maturity stage. In the 2024 field trial, multiple applications of both naked dsRNA and chitosan quaternary ammonium salt-coated raised the amylose content in mature wheat grains from 27.72% to 30.37%, about 10% increase compared to the control. 【Conclusion】Exogenous spraying of TaSBEIIbs-dsRNA effectively increases the amylose content in starch. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Genome-Wide Association Study and Genetic Improvement Study of Rice Blast Resistance ZHENG MinHua, CHEN Luo, XING JiaLe, XIE YueLan, JIANG XianYa, NIE Shuai, CAI FuGe, WU HaoXiang, LU ZhanHua, SUN Wei, HUO Xing, BAI Song, ZHAO JunLiang, YANG Wu Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (14): 2707-2719.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.14.001 Abstract （553）   HTML （28）    PDF （2128KB）（158）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Rice blast critically compromises rice production. The genetic enhancement of blast resistance remains challenging due to pathogen variability and limited genetic diversity in breeding parents. This study seeks to accelerate resistance breeding by identifying novel resistance loci through systematic germplasm characterization. 【Method】A panel of 265 sequenced indica rice accessions (including 120 international germplasms and 145 cultivars from South China) underwent field-based blast resistance evaluation. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was subsequently employed to identify blast resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL). Haplotype effects of these QTL on blast resistance were analyzed, and candidate genes within newly identified QTL regions were predicted using rice genome annotation. 【Result】Field resistance evaluation identified 47 accessions (18 international germplasms and 29 cultivars from South China) exhibiting high resistance to both panicle and leaf blast. GWAS detected nine blast resistance QTL distributed across chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 11, and 12, respectively. Among them, four QTL was co-localized with previously reported blast resistance genes and five QTL were newly identified. Haplotype analysis revealed significant resistance variations associated with peak SNP alleles, with eight QTL showing higher frequency of resistant haplotypes in cultivars from South China compared to international germplasms. Notably, the qPB11 locus demonstrated an inverse distribution pattern, where its resistant haplotype frequency was substantially lower in cultivars from South China (1%) than in international germplasm (16%). Candidate gene analysis within novel QTL regions identified four NBS-LRR disease resistance proteins and four NB-ARC domain-containing proteins, with eight candidate genes clustered within a 27.22-27.35 Mb interval on chromosome 11.【Conclusion】Cultivars from South China exhibit superior blast resistance compared to international germplasms. The high-resistance haplotypes of qPB1-1, qPB1-2, qPB1-3, qPB5, qPB6, qPB12-1, and qLB12/qPB12-2 have been preferentially selected during the genetic improvement of cultivars from South China. Furthermore, the qPB11 locus harbors genes encoding NBS-LRR disease-resistant proteins and NB-ARC domain-containing proteins, representing new potential resistance gene for rice blast disease. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The Effects of Biochar Combined with Fulvic Acid on the Physical and Chemical Properties, Enzyme Activities and Multifunctionality of Soil in Coastal Saline-Alkali Land ZHANG HaiRui, JIA AngYuan, GAO QiQi, HAN ZheQun, NAN ShanShan, DUAN BiHua, WU XuePing Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (20): 4178-4188.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.011 Abstract （546）   HTML （19）    PDF （585KB）（167）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】This study aimed to explore the effects of biochar combined with fulvic acid on the improvement of coastal saline-alkali soil and its influence on soil multifunctionality (SMF), providing the theoretical support for the scientific application of biochar and fulvic acid.【Method】Based on a three-year field experimental study, four treatments were set up in the coastal saline-alkali land, including (control (CK), single application of 30 t·hm-2 biochar (C1), single application of 0.15 t·hm-2 fulvic acid (H1), and combined application of biochar and fulvic acid (C1H1). The soil physical and chemical properties and soil enzyme activities in the 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm soil layers and rhizosphere soil were determined, and the soil multifunctionality was calculated based on the average value method.【Result】The results showed that the combined application of biochar and fulvic acid could significantly improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Compared with CK, the soil bulk density under C1H1 treatment at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers decreased by 9.2% and 11.2%, respectively; the saturated soil moisture content increased by 11.3% and 9.8%, respectively; the total soil porosity increased by 12.6% and 12.8%, respectively; the soil pH value decreased by 4.4% and 3.9%, respectively; the soil EC value decreased by 19.9% and 22.8%, respectively; the soil SOC increased by 44.6% and 44.7%, respectively; available phosphorus (AP) increased by 48.3% and 44.8%, respectively; the availability of potassium (AK) increased by 45.3% and 43.3%, respectively. The enzyme activity analysis revealed that C1H1 had the most significant promoting effect on the carbon-nitrogen cycle-related enzymes (β-glucosidase, cellobiose hydrolase, leucine aminopeptidase), with an increase ranging from 23.4% to 47%. Under the combined treatment of biochar and fulvic acid, the SMF index had the greatest increase, rising by 77.5%. 【Conclusion】The combined application of biochar and fulvic acid significantly enhanced soil multifunctionality by improving the pore structure of coastal saline-alkali land and increasing nutrient availability and enzyme activity. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Intelligent Monitoring and Ecological Utilization of Saline-Alkaline Land MEI XuRong, LI YuYi, WU WenBin, WU XuePing Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (20): 4039-4046.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.001 Abstract （534）   HTML （45）    PDF （371KB）（296）       Knowledge map    Save Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Current Status and Countermeasures of Innovative in Chinese Veterinary Medicine in China: Based on the Research on Approved Products from 2006 to 2024 WANG JianZhong, YAN Hang, LIU Jing, ZHOU Rui, YAN YingFu, LI HongQuan Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (14): 2914-2923.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.14.015 Abstract （531）   HTML （15）    PDF （845KB）（88）       Knowledge map    Save Since the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of our country fully implemented the "feed ban on antibiotics" policy, the research and approval process of veterinary traditional Chinese medicine has significantly accelerated. A series of innovative veterinary products have been approved for use in animal disease prevention and treatment, promoting the development of green farming. However, at present, the research and application of veterinary traditional Chinese medicine still face key challenges, such as insufficient coverage of target animals (such as ruminants, aquatic animals, and pet medication is scarce), incomplete quality standard system, lack of toxicity evaluation methods, and lack of systematic clinical data, which seriously restrict its modernization and internationalization process. This study systematically analyzed the new veterinary traditional Chinese medicine drugs and preparations approved in China from January 2006 to December 2024, evaluated their research trends, indication distribution, target animal coverage and quality standards, and revealed existing problems and proposed countermeasures to promote the standardization, modernization and internationalization of veterinary traditional Chinese medicine. Based on the "National Veterinary Drug Basic Database" and "Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department Announcements", this study collected approved veterinary traditional Chinese medicine data, conducted a comprehensive analysis from the dimensions of research trends, indications, target animals and formulation innovation, and combined with literature and policies to assess their innovation potential. The study found: (1) The number of research and development has continued to increase, but the target animals were concentrated on pigs and poultry (accounting for > 80%), while ruminants, aquatic animals and pet medication were less than 25%; (2) The indications were mainly respiratory/digestive tract diseases and immune regulation, and antiviral drugs were scarce; (3) The standardization degree of production processes was low, and the quality of raw materials fluctuated greatly; (4) Some innovative products (such as Astragalus polysaccharide injection, Forsythia extract preparations) showed high scientific value, but the overall research level still lagged significantly behind chemical drugs and biological products. Veterinary traditional Chinese medicine had great potential in green and healthy farming, but it needed to overcome the following bottlenecks: (1) strengthen basic research to clarify the pharmacological basis of the drug; (2) establish a full-chain quality control system; (3)expand the target animal range and develop new drugs for anti-viral and metabolic diseases; (4) build toxicity evaluation standards that conform to the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine; (5) promote collaborative innovation among industry, academia and research institutions and international standard formulation. By integrating traditional medical theory with modern technology, veterinary traditional Chinese medicine is expected to build a safer and more efficient animal disease prevention and control system, providing a Chinese solution for the global "antibiotic reduction" initiative. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Integrated Nutrient Management Technology and Its Effects for Annual Rice-Rapeseed Rotation REN Tao, FANG YaTing, LU JianWei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (16): 3159-3163.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.16.001 Abstract （525）   HTML （88）    PDF （246KB）（242）       Knowledge map    Save Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Identification of Salt Tolerance in Maize Natural Populations at the Seedling Stage and Analysis of Salt Tolerance-Associated Genes WU ShuYu, HENG YanFang, YU TaiFei, WANG ShiJia, YU SiJia, LI Yuan, HU Zheng, ZHANG Hui, SUN XianJun, LI Liang, JIANG QiYan Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (20): 4085-4099.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.005 Abstract （506）   HTML （50）    PDF （4369KB）（226）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Soil salinization significantly impairs the growth and development of maize, resulting in reduced yields. Investigating the salt tolerance of various maize inbred lines and identifying favorable allelic variants associated with salt tolerance can provide valuable SNP markers and candidate gene resources for salt-tolerant maize varieties.【Method】This study utilized a natural population comprising 238 inbred maize lines as experimental materials. Twenty-day-old maize seedlings at the three-leaf stage were subjected to treatment with a 300 mmol·L-1 NaCl solution, and changes in biomass, moisture contents as well as salt damage phenotypes were evaluated after 40 days of salt stress. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was subsequently performed to identify favorable allelic variants associated with salt tolerance in maize.【Result】Through salt tolerance assessment of a maize natural population at the seedling stage, the materials were categorized into five distinct salt tolerance grades based on the salt damage rate: 22 highly tolerant materials (Grade 1), 93 tolerant materials (Grade 2), 62 moderately tolerant materials (Grade 3), 41 salt-sensitive materials (Grade 4), and 20 highly sensitive materials (Grade 5). The number of materials with different salt tolerance levels shows a normal distribution characteristic, with high-tolerance and highly sensitive materials comprising 17.6% of the total, while intermediate-grade materials accounted for 82.4%. Statistical analysis revealed that the salt damage rate was significantly and negatively correlated with the fresh weight, dry weight, and moisture content of plants under salt stress. The investigated traits exhibited considerable variability, indicating substantial differences among the genotypes. Genome-wide association analysis identified a total of 40 SNP loci associated with maize salt tolerance. Further investigation revealed one significantly associated SNP locus on chromosome 1 and another on chromosome 10. Analysis of the candidate genes within the 100 Kb confidence interval upstream and downstream of these two loci identified a total of 18 functional genes, including 9 genes with functional annotations and 9 genes with unknown functions.【Conclusion】22 first-class salt-tolerant maize inbred line materials were selected from a natural population consisting of 238 lines. 40 SNP loci associated with salt tolerance in maize seedlings were identified, among which two key SNPs showed significant association with the trait. Two salt tolerance-related candidate genes, ZmSTYK46 and Zm00001eb004810, were identified. ZmSTYK46 encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase, while the function of Zm00001eb004810 remains unknown. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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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 Abstract （506）   HTML （22）    PDF （6611KB）（233）       Knowledge map    Save 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. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Morpho-Physiological Responses and Adaptive Strategies of Rice Germplasm Accessions from Different Subspecies Under Salt Stress CHEN Min, JIAO ZiLan, QIAO ChengBin, XU Hao, ZHANG Bi, MA DongHua, KONG WeiRu, WANG JingWen, SONG JiaWei, LUO ChengKe, LI PeiFu, TIAN Lei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2026, 59 (4): 705-722.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.04.001 Abstract （498）   HTML （64）    PDF （5879KB）（327）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Soil salinization severely constrains the sustainable development of rice production. The specific goals are to: comprehensively evaluate the salt tolerance of rice core germplasm accessions at the seedling stage, investigate the morphological and physiological characteristics of different rice subspecies under salt stress, clarify the associated variations in their responses, and summarize their adaptive strategies, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for screening and breeding salt-tolerant rice varieties.【Method】The salt tolerance score (STS), plant height, root length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight and SPAD were measured for 276 rice core germplasm accessions after treatment using 125 mmol·L-1 NaCl for 6 days. The relative values of each trait, except for STS and shoot fresh weight were calculated, along with the shoot water content (SWC). T-tests, significance analysis and correlation analysis were used to explore the morphological and physiological differences for salt stress responses among different rice subspecies. Principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise linear regression were applied to screen key indicators for salt tolerance. The D-value was calculated to identify typical salt-tolerant accessions and salt-sensitive accessions, which were used to elucidate the regulatory patterns and response strategies of salt stress in different subspecies of rice.【Result】Salt stress affected the growth of seedlings of the three subspecies of rice. Compared with japonica rice, indica rice and AUS exhibited milder inhibitory effects from salt stress, and AUS demonstrated greater phenotypic variation. The STS, relative seedling height (RSH), relative root length (RRL), relative root dry weight (RRDW), relative SPAD (RSPAD) and SWC among the three subspecies of rice accessions were not significantly different. However, the relative shoot dry weight (RSDW) of indica rice was significantly higher than that of japonica rice and AUS, and the salt tolerance of temperate japonica rice seedlings was significantly higher than that of tropical japonica rice and admixed japonica rice. Correlation patterns of the seven salt-tolerance-related traits varied between the three subspecies. Three principal components were extracted from japonica rice, indica rice and AUS, with cumulative contribution rates of 82.587%, 80.117%, and 88.700%, respectively. Based on this, the D-values for the comprehensive evaluation of salt tolerance were calculated for each accession, and key parameters for salt tolerance were screened. It was found that RSDW is a common key indicator affecting the salt tolerance of rice seedlings, while RSH and RRDW are shared by japonica rice and AUS, and STS is the common key parameter for indica rice and AUS. In the three subspecies, high-D-value accessions and low-D-value accessions were selected to analyze root characteristics, ion balance, reactive oxygen species accumulation, and osmotic regulation substance content under salt stress. The root total number (RTN), root tip number (RN), total root length (TRL), and root surface area (RSA) of high-D-value accessions in the three subspecies were significantly higher than those of the three categories of low-D-value accessions. Among the three types of high-D-value accessions, the RTN and RN of indica rice were significantly higher than those of japonica rice and AUS. The root average diameter (RAD) of indica rice and AUS was significantly higher than that of japonica rice. AUS had significantly higher surface area and volume of roots in the 0.5-1 mm diameter range than japonica rice and indica rice, while japonica rice had significantly higher root volume in the 0-0.5 mm diameter range than indica rice and AUS. In terms of ion balance, the shoot Na+ content (SNC) of the three types of high-D-value accessions was significantly lower than that of the three types of low-D-value accessions. Among the three types of high-D-value groups, AUS had significantly lower SNC and shoot Na+/K+ (SNK) than that of japonica rice, japonica rice had significantly lower root Na+ content (RNC) than AUS, indica rice had significantly higher root K+ content (RKC) than AUS, and japonica rice and indica rice had significantly lower root Na+/K+ (RNK) than AUS. In terms of reactive oxygen species content, among the three categories of high-D-value accessions, the hydrogen peroxide content of japonica rice was significantly lower than that of indica rice and AUS. In terms of osmoregulatory substance content, among the three types of high-D-value accessions, the soluble sugar content of indica rice and AUS was significantly higher than that of japonica rice, and the proline content of indica rice was significantly higher than that of japonica rice.【Conclusion】Significant differences were observed in the morphological and physiological characteristics of rice germplasm accessions from different subspecies under salt stress. RSDW is a common key indicator affecting salt tolerance of rice seedlings. In response to salt stress, typical salt-tolerant germplasm from japonica, indica, and AUS developed distinct combinatorial profiles of regulatory modes, which varied in their emphasis on four key aspects: root morphological characteristics, ion homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and osmotic adjustment. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Breeding of a New Heat-Tolerance Fragrant Rice Germplasm ZY532 Using Sanming Dominant Genic Male Sterile Rice QIU DongFeng, LIU Gang, LIU ChunPing, XIA KuaiFei, WANG TingBao, WU Yan, HE Yong, HUANG XianBo, ZHANG ZaiJun, YOU AiQing, TIAN ZhiHong Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (18): 3571-3582.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.18.001 Abstract （498）   HTML （30）    PDF （1257KB）（127）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】To meet the increasing food demand driven by population growth and environmental changes, it is necessary to continuously cultivate varieties with high yield, good quality, and multiple resistances. Efficiently create new germplasm with rich genetic backgrounds and genetic diversity to provide a reference for breeding new varieties that balance multiple excellent traits. 【Method】The Sanming dominant genic male sterile material was used to simplify the hybridization procedure. It was hybridized with multiple parents with distant geographical relationships to aggregate multiple excellent traits. Aiming at problems such as a narrow genetic basis and the difficulty of applying molecular markers, S221 was successively and continuously hybridized with materials such as 09598, Ezhong 5, Yuanfengzhan, Yunxiangruan, etc. Fertile plants were selected from the offspring of the last hybridization. The new variety was cultivated by combining the pedigree method with heat-tolerance analysis, rice quality analysis, and resistance screening. The DNA of 60 selected single plants from the F10 series of lines and 4 parents was extracted. Primers for the target sites were designed. The target DNA fragments were captured by PCR and sequenced. Finally, the genotyping analysis of the target sites was carried out. The SLYm1R high-density rice whole-genome SNP chip was used for the analysis of functional genes. 【Result】Genotype analysis is carried out to analyze the degree of genetic relationship or similarity based on the magnitude of the base substitution rate. The parental materials Ezhong 5 and Yunxiangruan have a relatively distant relationship with other parental materials, while 09598 has a relatively close relationship with Yuanfengzhan. The base substitution rates among the three newly obtained lines are as follows: 0.0099545 (170531-170532), 0.0338213 (170531-170533), and0.0371913 (170532-170533). Within each line, the base substitution rate is 0, indicating that there are differences among the three lines, but there is no genetic difference within each line. Through successive generations and expansion propagation, new germplasms were formed, which were named ZY531, ZY532, and ZY533 respectively. The results of functional gene analysis show that the functional genes of the ZY532 series of germplasms are respectively derived from 4 parents, aggregating excellent genes from multiple parents. For example, the Os-MOT1;1 gene is derived from Yunxiangruan, which can reduce abiotic stresses such as molybdenum accumulation; the Bph3 gene is derived from 09598 and Ezhong 5, which can enhance the resistance to brown planthoppers; the OsGSK2 gene is derived from 09598, Yuanfengzhan, and Yunxiangruan, which can increase the length of the mesocotyl and is suitable for direct seeding; the Badh2 gene is derived from Yunxiangruan, making the rice fragrant; multiple blast resistance genes are derived from different parents and can also be aggregated into the innovative resources, enabling it to obtain good blast resistance. ZY532 has excellent rice quality, good blast resistance, and strong heat resistance. ZY532 also has good heat resistance, and the heat resistance of the hybrid combination prepared reaches level 3. 【Conclusion】When using dominant genic male sterility to cultivate new varieties, due to the complex genetic background, the breeding cycle is often long. Combining high-throughput SNP marker detection can quickly screen out stable lines and more types, which not only broadens the genetic basis but also improves the breeding efficiency. It is an efficient breeding method. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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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 Abstract （480）   HTML （86）    PDF （4062KB）（319）       Knowledge map    Save 【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. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of Straw Returning Combined with Chemical Fertilizer on Soil Ecosystem Multifunctionality XUAN ZePeng, FENG HuiYao, CHEN MeiQi, XU JiSheng, LIU MengXuan, ZHAO BingZi, ZHANG JiaBao Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (14): 2821-2837.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.14.009 Abstract （462）   HTML （40）    PDF （2155KB）（207）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】This study aimed to explore the impact of combined application of straw returning and chemical fertilizers on the multifunctionality of farmland ecosystem, so as to provide the theoretical support for the scientific combined application of straw and chemical fertilizers and the improvement of crop productivity. 【Method】An eight-year winter wheat-summer maize rotation experiment (2012-2020) was conducted with four treatments: no fertilization control treatment (NF), single application of chemical fertilizers (F), single application of straw (S), and combined application of straw returning and chemical fertilizers (FS). 17 general indexes of farmland ecosystem service function were determined to calculate soil ecosystem multifunction index (MFI). In addition, the compositions of bacterial and fungal communities in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil were determined. The coupling effects of chemical fertilizers and straw returning on the multifunctionality of soil ecosystem and the main driving factors in soil properties were explored. 【Result】Compared with NF, F and FS treatments significantly increased crop yields and MFI, but S treatment only increased soil MFI without significant effect on yield. A random forest model showed that n-acetyl-β-glucosaminase (NAG) and total nitrogen (TN) were the most important factors affecting MFI. Long-term fertilization also significantly changed the community structure of bacteria and fungi in both the rhizosphere and bulk soil compartments. Compared with the NF treatment, F and FS treatments significantly increased the relative abundance of bulk microorganisms, such as Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Basidiomycota, as well as the relative abundance of rhizosphere fungi, such as Basidiomycota. The redundancy analysis showed that SOM and its component, dissolved organic carbon, were the key factors affecting the composition of bulk soil bacterial and fungal communities. Network analysis and correlation analysis further showed that MFI was significantly correlated with the relative abundances of network modules for both bulk and rhizosphere microorganisms. Moreover, the F and FS treatments with the high production level enriched bulk soil microorganisms, such as Hannaella and Chaetomium, which had strong metabolism of amino acid and nucleotide, contributing to the soil ecosystem multifunctionality. Nevertheless, for the low-yielding group (NF and S treatments), the species that were not favorable to soil nutrient retention were enriched in both the bulk and rhizosphere soil, such as Solibacterales, Phycicoccus, and Pleosporales. 【Conclusion】The combined treatment of straw incorporation and chemical fertilizer could significantly improve both crop yield and ecosystem multifunction indexes. Long-term straw returning combined with chemical fertilizer could enhance ecosystem multifunctionality by increasing soil enzyme activity and total nitrogen content. This practice also fostered the proliferation of specific species (Hannaella, Chaetomium, etc.), which played key roles in nutrient cycling, enzyme activity, and promoted amino acid and nucleotide metabolism in the bulk soil, thus contributing to the maintenance of ecosystem multifunctionality. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of Straw Returning Methods and Nitrogen Application Rates on Soil Organic Carbon Components and Enzyme Activity MA YuJie, LI Xu, ZHAI YingFang, LI JingYu, FU Xin, PENG ZhengPing Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (12): 2397-2410.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.12.010 Abstract （445）   HTML （30）    PDF （546KB）（188）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Straw returning is the main conservation tillage measure in the North China Plain, but long-term shallow rotary tillage has caused problems, such as shallow soil layer and nutrient accumulation, which has become an obstacle to the improvement of cultivated land quality in this area. This study was based on a 2-year field experiment to investigate the effects of different straw returning methods and nitrogen application rates on soil organic carbon components and enzyme activity, for providing a theoretical basis for the rational application of straw in North China.【Method】 The experiment set up different straw returning methods (rotary tillage without straw returning (CK), rotary tillage with straw returning (RT), and deep tillage with straw returning (DT)) and nitrogen fertilizer application rates (180 kg N·hm-2 (N1), 240 kg N·hm-2 (N2), and 300 kg N·hm-2 (N3)) as dual factor treatments to analyze the changes in soil organic carbon and labile fractions and enzyme activity under different straw returning methods and nitrogen fertilizer application rates.【Result】 In 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, compared with CK treatment, straw returning treatment significantly increased the soil organic carbon (SOC) content in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil layers, with an increase of 5.6%-20.8% and 10.1%-18.8%, respectively, and increased the content of active organic carbon components, such as soil particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and easily oxidizable organic carbon (ROC). Compared with RT treatment, DT treatment could significantly increase the POC content in the 20-40 cm soil layer and the ROC content in the 0-40 cm soil layer. Under different straw returning methods, the effect of nitrogen application rate on SOC did not reach a significant level, but nitrogen application rate increased the content of some activated carbon components. N2 nitrogen application level was more conducive to increasing POC content in the 0-20 cm soil layer, while N3 nitrogen application level was more conducive to increasing microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and DOC content in the 0-20 cm soil layer. In 2022-2023, compared with the CK treatment, the straw returning treatment significantly increased enzyme activities in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil layers by 2.3%-30.3% and 5.1%-50.3%, respectively. Compared with RT treatment, the activity of N-acetylglucosamine glucosidase (N-AG) was significantly increased in the 0-20 cm soil layer treated under DT, but the activities of urease (UG) and β - glucosidase (β-G) were significantly decreased. Under RT treatment, the nitrogen application rate of N2 could significantly increase the activity of UG and N-AG compared to other nitrogen application rates; under DT treatment, the nitrogen application rate of N2 could significantly increase the activity of UG and β - G. In the 0-20 cm soil layer, SOC and DOC were positively correlated with catalase (CG) activity, while ROC was positively correlated with CG and N-AG activity. In the 20-40 cm soil layer, ROC and MBC were positively correlated with most enzyme activities. 【Conclusion】In summary, returning straw to the field could enhance the organic carbon, active components, and enzyme activity of surface and sub surface soils. Deep tillage straw returning combined with 240 kg·hm-2 nitrogen fertilizer was more conducive to increasing the accumulation of soil particulate organic carbon and easily oxidizable organic carbon, as well as enzyme activity, promoting soil fertility and farmland quality improvement. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Construction of Infectious Clones for Canine Parvovirus CPV-2c SX-LC Strain and Virus Rescue LIU ChenXi, ZHAO BingBing, SHI ZhiBin, WANG ShiDa, WANG JingFei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (17): 3561-3570.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.015 Abstract （442）   HTML （14）    PDF （2188KB）（78）       Knowledge map    Save 【Background】Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), a member of the genus Parvovirus within the family Parvoviridae, is a non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA virus that mainly infects canines and poses a great threat to puppies in particular. The virus has become one of the most significant epidemic threats to the global canine breeding industry. Currently, vaccination is the main strategy for preventing CPV-2 infection; however, cases of disease have still been reported in vaccinated dogs. Therefore, the fundamental research on the pathogenic mechanisms and immunological characteristics of circulating CPV-2 strains is essential for optimizing prevention and control strategies.【Objective】This study aimed to establish a reverse genetics system for the currently prevalent CPV-2c subtype, providing an essential experimental tool for future investigations into viral pathogenicity, immune escape mechanisms, and host adaptive evolution.【Method】Based on the published genome sequence of the CPV-Y1 strain (GenBank ID: D26079.1), specific primers were designed to amplify the near full-length genome of the CPV-2c SX-LC strain, which was isolated in our laboratory using segmented PCR. The inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) of CPV-2 were synthesized and combined with the PCR products to clone the complete CPV-2 genome into the pBluescript SK (+) vector. An XhoI restriction site was introduced into the genome as a genetic marker, facilitating the construction of a stable and operable reverse genetics plasmid. The purified recombinant plasmid was transfected into canine-derived F81 cells to rescue the virus, followed by serial passaging. Successfully rescue of the virus was confirmed through the observation of cytopathic effects (CPE), detection of the VP2 major capsid protein using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and morphological identification of viral particles by negative staining under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, the proliferation kinetics of the rescued virus were assessed via a one-step growth curve assay, and hemagglutination activity (HA) was evaluated too. These characteristics were compared to those of the parental wild-type strain to verify the stability and utility of the constructed reverse genetics system.【Result】Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing confirmed the successful construction of the full-length CPV-2c SX-LC genome plasmid. After transfection of the recombinant plasmid into F81 cells and five serial passages, the significant cytopathic effects were observed. IFA results confirmed stable expression of the VP2 antigen in infected cells. TEM analysis revealed virus particles with typical CPV-2 morphological characteristics, further validating the successful rescue of the recombinant virus rCPV-2c SX-LC. Growth curve analysis and hemagglutination assays demonstrated that the rescued virus exhibited replication kinetics and hemagglutination activity comparable to those of the parental strain, indicating similar biological characteristics.【Conclusion】By optimizing the cloning of ITRs, a plasmid containing the complete CPV-2 ITR structure was successfully constructed, which improved rescue efficiency and ensured genome integrity compared to traditional construction strategies. The established reverse genetics system for the CPV-2c SX-LC strain provided a robust technical platform for further basic and applied research on canine parvovirus. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Comprehensive Evaluation of the Maize-Soybean Intercropping Pattern in the Huang-Huai Region YANG ShuQi, ZHAO YingXing, QIAN Xin, ZHANG XuePeng, MENG WeiWei, SUI Peng, LI ZongXin, CHEN YuanQuan Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (23): 4936-4951.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.010 Abstract （442）   HTML （9）    PDF （1916KB）（57）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】 Based on of “High-Yield and High-Efficiency Maize-Soybean Intercropping Technology R&D and Integrated Demonstration” project of National Key Research and Development Program in the 14th Five-Year Plan seven demonstration sites were established across Shandong, Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu Provinces. Key technology research and integrated demonstrations were conducted. To comprehensively evaluate the yield performance, economic benefits, and ecological effects of the project demonstration sites, this study conducted a systematic assessment using neighboring farmers as a control, so as to provide a scientific basis for optimizing maize-soybean intercropping in the region. 【Method】 A comprehensive evaluation index system was established, covering three dimensions: yield, economy, and ecology. Through field surveys in seven demonstration sites and their neighboring farms, the differences in overall benefits of maize-soybean intercropping between the demonstration fields and local farmers were assessed. 【Result】 For yield, the intercropping in the demonstration fields was about 10% to 19% higher compared with neighboring farmers. In terms of economic benefits, the net output value per unit area in the demonstration sites was 5% to 21% higher on average. However, input costs increased by 7% to 15%, resulting in a net benefit per unit area only 2% to 18% higher. From an ecological perspective, the carbon footprint of the demonstration areas was approximately 9% to 34% higher than that of surrounding farmers, and the nitrogen footprint was 5% to 45% higher. This was mainly due to the increased use of fertilizers and diesel to ensure high yields. Based on the differences in yield, economic, and ecological dimensions between surrounding farmers and the demonstration areas, the CVI (comprehensive variation index) levels of all seven demonstration areas were at a moderate difference level (corresponding value of level 3). Among them, the ECI (economic convergence index) performed well (levels 3 to 4), especially with the smallest land output rate differences (the North Shandong, North Anhui, and North Jiangsu regions reaching the optimal level 5). This further proved that although surrounding farmers had lower yields and land output, the high inputs in the demonstration areas reduced the unit output efficiency, objectively narrowing the net profit gap with surrounding farmers and supporting the higher ECI value. The main limitation for the improvement of the comprehensive index in all regions was the relatively low yield, as the YCI (yield convergence index) of all regions concentrated at the poor level of 1 to 2. 【Conclusion】 The technological innovation and application of the project had a positive effect on promoting the yield and economic benefits of maize and soybean intercropping in the Huang-Huai region. But its sustainable promotion still faces challenges, such as rising costs and increasing ecological pressure. Finding ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency was therefore a key focus for the next stage of technological innovation. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Changes of Monoterpenes and Anthocyanins Accumulation During Veraison in Red Muscat-Type Grape WANG HuiLing, ZHANG YingYing, YAN AiLing, WANG XiaoYue, LIU ZhenHua, REN JianCheng, XU HaiYing, SUN Lei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (13): 2645-2662.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.13.012 Abstract （439）   HTML （32）    PDF （2165KB）（105）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】 The accumulation of anthocyanins and monoterpenes during grape berry color change at both metabolic and transcriptional levels were analyzed, to explore the spatio-temporal synthesis mechanisms of anthocyanins and monoterpenes, and provide a theoretical basis for the regulation of anthocyanin and monoterpene synthesis in table grape. 【Method】 The grape berries of Ruiduhongyu were used as materials, sampling was started at 5 days before the veraison and continued until 40 days after the initial color change. The contents of total soluble solids and titratable acid in the berry samples were determined by conventional methods; The changes in monoterpene components and content in berries were determined with headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPEME-GC-MS); The content of total flavonoids and total anthocyanins were detected using a spectrophotometer; The expression changes of key genes involved in monoterpenes and anthocyanins synthesis were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. 【Result】 With the advancement of the coloration process, the main components of 25 free and bound monoterpenes in the Ruiduhongyu berries fluctuated. Most of the free monoterpenes began to be synthesized in large quantities from the 20th day of coloration and reached the highest level at the 35-40 th day of coloration. The content of bound monoterpenes reached the highest level at 30 days after coloration. The content of bound monoterpenes was higher than that of free monoterpenes. Flavonoids were synthesized and accumulated in large quantities before the fruit coloration; the synthesis of anthocyanins was initiated along with the fruit coloration and reached the highest level at 20 days after coloration, followed by a slight decrease. Based on transcriptome sequencing, a total of 5 836 differentially expressed genes were identified, and the number of differentially expressed genes varied significantly among different developmental stages. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in the pathways of phenylalanine synthesis, flavonoid synthesis, and monoterpene synthesis. Among them, 14 differentially expressed genes were related to the monoterpene synthesis pathway, and 11 were related to the anthocyanin synthesis pathway. The expression patterns of these genes were consistent with the accumulation of monoterpenes and anthocyanins. Further correlation analysis screened out 24 transcription factors that were significantly correlated with the expression of multiple genes involved in the monoterpene and anthocyanin synthesis pathways. 【Conclusion】 The synthesis of anthocyanins in red Muscat type grape berries initiates earlier than that of the aroma compound monoterpenes, and the synthesis of the two types of compounds is regulated in a spatio-temporal pattern. The accumulation of monoterpenes and anthocyanins is closely related to the expression of multiple key enzyme genes in their synthesis pathways, and their synthesis is regulated at the transcriptional level of various genes. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Evaluation of 111 Alfalfa Germplasm Resources for Seedling Phenotypic Drought Tolerance Characterization BAO MingFang, QIN Yan, CHEN CaiJin, ZHANG ShangPei, ZHANG GuoHui, SHA XiaoDi Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (19): 3825-3836.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.19.003 Abstract （438）   HTML （21）    PDF （1960KB）（102）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】To explore the ideal traits and methods that can characterize the drought resistance of the core germplasm population of alfalfa at the seedling stage, and to mine excellent drought-resistant germplasm, so as to provide technical support and material basis for the identification of drought resistance of alfalfa at the seedling stage, germplasm innovation and breeding.【Method】Using 111 core germplasms of alfalfa as materials, the single drought resistance coefficients of six traits, namely plant height (PH), shoot fresh weight (SFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), main root length (MRL), root fresh weight (RFW), and root dry weight (RDW), were determined under natural drought stress and normal water supply (control). Combining the analysis methods such as the single drought resistance coefficient, correlation, principal component, membership function, linear stepwise regression, and clustering of each trait of alfalfa, the response differences of each alfalfa germplasm to drought stress were evaluated, the traits and methods for identifying drought resistance at the seedling stage were screened, and the excellent resources of drought resistance at the seedling stage of alfalfa were explored.【Result】The analysis of the single drought resistance coefficient indicated that drought stress significantly inhibited all six traits of alfalfa at the seedling stage. The results of trait correlation showed that there was a positive correlation among the six traits. The principal component results indicated that the six individual drought-resistant traits of alfalfa could be combined into four comprehensive drought-resistant traits, and the cumulative contribution rate reached 86.885%. The methods such as single drought resistance coefficient, correlation, principal component and linear stepwise regression were comprehensively evaluated to determine that SFW, SDW, RFW and RDW were the ideal traits for evaluating alfalfa materials at the seedling stage. Using the classification methods of CDC value and D value, the drought resistance of 111 core germplasm populations of alfalfa at the seedling stage was classified. It was found that there were only subtle differences in the classification of drought resistance of various germplasm by the two drought resistance classification methods. The D values of 111 alfalfa core germplasms were clustered and classified. The various germplasms were divided into 5 categories, which belonged to strongly drought-resistant, moderately drought-resistant, moderately drought-resistant and drought-sensitive germplasms respectively.【Conclusion】Determine that SFW, SDW, RFW and RDW are the best traits for drought resistance evaluation of alfalfa at the seedling stage; The number of highly drought-resistant and relatively drought-resistant materials of alfalfa at the seedling stage excavated was 6 and 25 respectively. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Identification of Dwarf Genes and Mining of Plant Height Genetic Loci in Shanxi Wheat XIANG AiHui, BAI RongJi, HAO YuQiong, ZHAO JiaJia, WU BangBang, LI XiaoHua, ZHENG XingWei, GUAN PanFeng, ZHENG Jun Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (17): 3372-3388.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.002 Abstract （436）   HTML （38）    PDF （4463KB）（144）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Dwarf genes play a crucial role in wheat genetics and breeding. Different ecological zones and wheat varieties have varying requirements for plant height. Therefore, understanding the distribution pattern and characteristics of dwarf genes in Shanxi wheat, as well as identifying novel genetic loci related to plant height will contribute to wheat genetic improvement.【Method】Based on the accurate identification of plant height and component traits, a total of 11 known dwarfing gene types were genotyped in 306 Shanxi wheat samples and integrated with a 16K SNP chip to conduct genome-wide association analysis aimed at identifying new loci controlling plant height.【Result】With the exception of spike length, both of the plant height and component traits of Shanxi wheat exhibited a gradual decline over the years of breeding and the various compositional traits associated with plant height were influenced by distinct selection pressures. The distribution frequency of 11 dwarfing genes in Shanxi wheat from high to low was Rht12, Rht24, Rht8, Rht26, Rht13, Rht25, Rht2, Rht5, Rht4, Rht1, and Rht9, among which Rht1, Rht2, and Rht25 have not been found in landraces. Except for Rht2 and Rht25 is more widely distributed in irrigated cultivars than in dryland cultivars, the distribution of other dwarfing genes is relatively similar in dryland cultivars and irrigated cultivars. A total of 125 different dwarf genes combination were identified, of which the combination with the highest distribution frequency was Rht8+Rht12+Rht24. Combined with association analysis, a total of 26 stable genetic loci were identified to be distributed on 14 chromosomes including 1A, 2A, and 2B. Notably, eight loci such as QPH-6D, QPH-7A, and Q3rd IL-1D have not been reported yet. Among these, QPH-6D mainly reduced plant height by shortening the length of the third and fourth internodes by approximately 13.68 %, while QPH-7A reduced the plant height by 16.87 % via shortening the length of the second and third internodes.【Conclusion】The main dwarf genes in Shanxi wheat were mainly Rht12, Rht24, and Rht8. 26 stable genetic loci were located on chromosomes 1A, 2A, and 2B, among which eight loci such as QPH-6D, QPH-7A, and Q3rd IL-1D may be novel loci related to plant height. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Identification and Evaluation of Biocontrol Actinomycetes Against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola for Disease Suppression and Growth Promotion in Rice HU JiaYan, SHEN ZhiHan, WEN LiHui, YU JiaHao, ZHANG YuJun, JIANG DongHua Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (17): 3434-3450.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.17.006 Abstract （431）   HTML （32）    PDF （8032KB）（138）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Rice bacterial leaf streak (BLS) is a quarantine-regulated bacterial disease in China caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), which has severely threatened rice yield and grain quality, becoming one of the main diseases in rice production areas. This study aims to utilize high-quality actinomycete strains to lay a theoretical foundation for developing the products of microbial origin to mitigate crop diseases.【Method】Actinomycete strains were isolated and purified from rhizosphere soil samples of various plants using the serial dilution plating technique. The inhibition ability of different strains against Xoc was compared by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone. The target strain with the best inhibition effect was selected for preservation and identified through polyphasic characterization integrating morphological traits, physiological-biochemical experiments, and multi-gene alignment analysis. The effects of antagonistic actinomycete on the physiological characteristics of Xoc were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), intracellular β-galactosidase leakage determination and SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. The greenhouse pot control effect test was carried out to study the actual benefit of controlling BLS. The growth-promoting characteristics of antagonistic actinomycete were analyzed by designated medium, and its effects on the growth and development of rice seedlings were investigated by watering growth-promoting experiments.【Result】A total of 80 actinomycete strains were isolated. Among them, strain Sv-6 exhibited the most potent antagonism against Xoc, with inhibition zone diameter of (44.87±0.26) mm. Based on the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, strain Sv-6 was identified as Streptomyces virginiae. After treatment with the culture filtrate of Sv-6 strain, Xoc cells swelled, shrunk and aggregated. At the same time, the material composition of the membrane surface changed, the permeability increased, and the protein expression decreased. The results of greenhouse pot experiments showed that the lesion inhibition rates of susceptible rice varieties Yongyou 15 and Xiangliangyou 900 were 57.98%-88.25% after being treated with strain Sv-6 culture fluid, which exhibited a good preventive effect on rice infected with Xoc. The growth-promoting characterization confirmed that strain Sv-6 exhibited siderophore production, inorganic phosphate solubilization, and IAA production. The growth-promoting irrigation experiments confirmed that strain Sv-6 enhanced the growth of rice seedlings, and the root length increased by 48.50% after treatment.【Conclusion】S. virginiae Sv-6 exhibits a good control effect on BLS, and has the potential to be developed into green biocontrol agent and microbial fertilizer. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Isolation and Identification of Rhizosphere Growth-Promoting Bacteria of Myroides odoratimimus PJ-3 and Their Salt/ Alkali-Tolerance and Growth-Promoting Effects on Maize WU DongMing, XU Jing, YUAN JiaMei, WANG KeXuan, LI YuYi, HE Ping, ZHANG JianFeng, SONG DaLi, GAO Miao, ZHOU Wei Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (20): 4131-4143.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.20.008 Abstract （429）   HTML （17）    PDF （794KB）（134）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】Soil salinization is a significant limiting factor for global agricultural production and food security. Based on the mutualistic symbiotic relationships between rhizosphere beneficial bacteria (PGPR) and plants, this study aimed to screen out PGPR strains that possessed multiple functions, such as salt tolerance, alkali tolerance, and promoting growth, with the salt-stressed soil from maize rhizosphere. The study would provide raw materials and theoretical basis for the development of microbial agents for salt-alkali soil improvement and support the comprehensive management of salt-alkali land. 【Method】The PGPR strains were isolated by using the dilution plate coating method. The isolates were identified through morphological and microscopic observation, Biolog Gen III microplate analysis, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A microcosmic experiment was employed to assess the salt-alkali tolerance and plant growth promotion potential (PGP) of the PGPR strains. 【Result】23 PGPR isolates were screened and obtained, and the PJ-3 isolate exhibited the optimal salt-alkali tolerance and PGP potential. It was identified as Myroides odoratimimus with the attributes of Gram-negative. Specifically, the strain PJ-3 possessed a robust fructose-glycolytic pathway and lactic acid-pyruvate and phosphosugar transformation systems, enabling tolerance to extreme saline-alkaline conditions of up to 5% NaCl with a pH of 11. Pot experiments further demonstrated that under moderate saline-alkaline stress, the strain PJ-3 significantly increased maize germination rate of maize by 70% and promoted plant height, leaf length, leaf width, aboveground fresh weight, and belowground fresh weight by over 50%. Further analysis revealed that its superior tolerance and PGP mechanisms included the secretion of proteases, siderophores, and the plant hormone IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging by antioxidant enzymes SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CAT (catalase) in maize. Moreover, it could stimulate the conservative growth strategy in roots, with the enchantment in root surface area, root tip number, branching frequency and root vigor. As a result, these positive effects improved the improved chlorophyll a-dominated photosynthesis. 【Conclusion】Collectively, it was the first to report that Myroides odoratimimus PJ-3 possesses multiple novel functions, including remarkable salt tolerance, alkali tolerance, and the promotion of both aboveground and belowground development in maize. It demonstrated broad application potential for the integrated management of saline-alkaline lands and agricultural development. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Genome-Wide Analysis of AP2/ERF Transcription Factors in Peony XU DuoDuo, DU QianQian, ZHAO LiXiang, LI Yan, HUANG Gan, LI YongHua, LU JiuXing Scientia Agricultura Sinica    2025, 58 (23): 5031-5045.   DOI: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.017 Abstract （428）   HTML （17）    PDF （11615KB）（85）       Knowledge map    Save 【Objective】 To investigate the roles of the AP2/ERF gene family in peony flower development and provide a theoretical foundation for the precise regulation of flower type breeding in peony. 【Method】 Using the peony genome as a reference, we systematically identified members of the AP2/ERF gene family and performed phylogenetic, gene structure, cis-element, and repeat event analyses. Genome sequences of Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, grape, and sweetgum were retrieved from public databases for interspecific synteny analysis using peony as the reference. RNA-seq datasets from various peony tissue types were obtained from global public repositories, processed by file segmentation and sequence alignment, and subsequently used to construct heatmaps with TBtools for functional prediction of AP2/ERF gene family members. Principal component and hierarchical clustering analyses were conducted to evaluate overall sample correlations. Tissue-specific expression patterns were further validated via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) of 12 selected genes. 【Result】 A total of 126 AP2/ERF family members were identified and classified into four subfamilies (AP2, ERF, DREB, and RAV) and one unclassified group (Soloists) based on phylogenetic analysis. Synteny analysis revealed that 122 of these genes were anchored to the five chromosomes of peony, comprising 73 syntenic gene pairs. The number of homologous gene pairs between peony and sweetgum or grape was substantially higher than that between peony and Arabidopsis thaliana or rice, indicating a high degree of subfamily conservation, frequently accompanied by loss of the untranslated region (UTR). Cis-element analysis indicated that AP2/ERF family genes in peony are predominantly involved in plant growth and development, hormone signaling, abiotic stress responses, and light signal regulation. Expression profiling revealed that 48% of the 126 identified AP2/ERF members were associated with flower development. Twelve genes potentially related to flower development were identified, including three from the AP2 subfamily, six from the DREB subfamily, and three from the ERF subfamily. Using roots, stems, leaves, fully bloomed petals, and flower buds at five differentiation stages of the Fengdanbai cultivar as materials, qRT-PCR validation was performed. The results showed that 83% of these genes exhibited expression patterns consistent with RNA-seq predictions. 【Conclusion】 The expansion of the peony AP2/ERF gene family is attributed to both tandem and segmental duplications and occurred subsequent to the divergence between peony and Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition to members of the AP2 subfamily, certain genes from the ERF and DREB subfamilies also contribute to flower development in peony, highlighting a notable functional divergence of AP2/ERF family members in peony compared to other plant species. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics