Neonatal calves exhibit heightened susceptibility to infections caused by various gut microbiota, primarily due to their immature gastrointestinal barrier functions and underdeveloped immune systems during the pre-weaning period.  Calf diarrhea poses a significant risk to the health of juvenile ruminants and can result in substantial financial losses within the livestock sector.  Therefore, diarrhea is a significant disease that requires improved management practices and preventive measures in cattle rearing.  Antibiotics are commonly administered to combat diarrhea and promote calf growth.  However, their misuse has led to increased bacterial resistance and higher levels of antibiotic residues in meat.  Consequently, finding advanced and alternative ways to treat newborn calf diarrhea for enhanced livestock production and public health is a significant challenge.  Probiotic administration can offer significant advantages such as improving the internal microenvironment of the gut and enhancing the host’s immune response, thereby reducing the likelihood of gastrointestinal diseases.  Additionally, probiotic supplements have been formulated as alternatives to antibiotic treatment to upgrade animal health and productivity, and are essential for maintaining the balance of the gut microbiota.  The treatment of calves with probiotic supplementation has emerged as a significant area of research.  This review highlights the research progress on the pathogenesis of neonatal calf diarrhea and the mechanism of action of probiotics to provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of diarrhea in calves.

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are economically important pests of crops worldwide.  Although increasing evidence suggests that aphid-associated microorganisms have potential applications in integrated pest management (IPM), our understanding of their roles in multitrophic interactions remains limited.  This review synthesizes current knowledge on aphid-associated endosymbionts and secretion-associated microbes, focusing on their influence on aphid physiology, behavior but also on interactions with host plants and natural enemies.  Firstly, the functional diversity of endosymbionts, which contribute to improved nutrition, heat tolerance and resistance to pathogens, parasitoids and pesticides was highlighted.  Secondly, we examined how microbes from aphid saliva and honeydew can act as molecular cues to induce plant defenses and modify the behaviour of aphidophagous beneficials.  Special attention was given to honeydew-associated microbial volatiles (mVOCs), which can modulate the behavior of predators and parasitoids.  Finally, emerging biocontrol strategies that leverage symbionts and mVOCs were discussed to propose future directions for integrating microbial ecology into sustainable aphid management.

Leaf rust is a highly destructive foliar disease in wheat which causes major constraints in wheat production worldwide.  In this study, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of adult plant resistance to leaf rust in 590 accessions from the advanced backcross-nested association mapping plus inter-crossed (AB-NAMIC) population.  We used 660K genotype data to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS), which identified significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 2B, and 7D, and then focused on the candidate gene TaRLK-1B on chromosome 1B.  A cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker developed based on TaRLK-1B haplotypes could effectively differentiate between resistant and susceptible varieties.  This gene encodes a membrane-localized leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK) that is upregulated in response to the fungal infection that causes leaf rust.  Targeted knockout of TaRLK-1B in wheat led to reduced resistance to leaf rust, underscoring its essential role as a positive regulator of the defense against this disease.  We propose that TaRLK-1B interacts with the receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase TaRLCK1B, potentially facilitating immune signal transduction.  Our findings also demonstrate that pyramiding minor effect QTLs significantly increases resistance to leaf rust.  This study provides novel insights into rust resistance genes and valuable QTL information, which can improve marker-assisted wheat breeding efforts.

Kernel length (KL) is one of the components determining grain weight (GW) in wheat.  In this study, we firstly detected a putative locus on chromosome arm 2BL from a mutant BLS2 with long kernels using a Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA) combined with a 60 K SNP array.  This putative locus was then confirmed as a major and stable QTL based on linkage mapping.  The locus, Qkl.sau-BC-2B.1, was mapped in an interval of 0.4 cM, and phenotypic variance explained by it varied from 17.01 to 30.53% across different environments.  Effects of this locus was further verified in a second population.  The positive allele of the locus could significantly increase hundred-kernel weight and prolong anthesis date, but it did not affect plant height, tiller number, spike length, and spikelet number per spike.  Expression and sequencing analyses identified TraesCS2B02G478100, possessing a G to C transition variation leading to an amino acid change, as the likely candidate gene underlying the locus.  Further, a new model for analyzing the genetic basis of yield-related traits was proposed. Taken together, our results provide a foundation for subsequent gene mining and breeding utilization of this promising QTL for KL.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a crucial global crop that serves as a primary source of food and feed.  However, its kernels are susceptible to infection by Aspergillus flavus, a fungus known for producing aflatoxins - which are highly carcinogenic compounds harmful to human and animal health.  Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for aflatoxin resistance and developing aflatoxin-resistant maize varieties are essential for mitigating aflatoxin contamination.  In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using an enlarged genotypic panel of 311 maize inbred lines was used to identify genetic loci associated with A. flavus resistance.  Phenotypic data on A. flavus resistance were collected through controlled inoculation experiments conducted under controlled conditions.  The results revealed that the resistance to A. flavus follows a normal distribution.  In addition, temperate inbreds exhibited stronger resistance to A. flavus than tropical/subtropical materials.  This study identified 13 novel QTLs encompassing 47 highly expressed genes, with each QTL explaining 8.22–27.71% of the phenotypic variation, indicating that the higher marker density improved statistical power.  Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that these genes are related to fatty acid synthesis, glycoside decomposition, and root growth and development.  One specific gene located on ZmAFR16, ZmFUC1, displayed clustered peaks and accounted for an average of 10.21% of the phenotypic variation.  This gene was found to play a role in cell membrane formation and possess alpha-L-fucosidase activity, so it promotes glycoside metabolism and contributes to polysaccharide degradation.  Haplotype analysis showed significant differences in resistance to A. flavus among the different haplotypes of elo1 and ZmFUC1.  Inbreds carrying the favorable haplotype combination of these two genes exhibited strong resistance to A. flavus.  A select sweep analysis indicated that ZmFUC1 was selected during the domestication of teosinte (Zea mays ssp. mexicana) to modern maize, as well as during the adaptation from tropical/subtropical maize to temperate maize.  Importantly, this study developed molecular markers in the promoter region of ZmFUC1 to efficiently identify maize germplasm with beneficial haplotypes for resistance to A. flavus.  These findings not only enhance our understanding of the genetic factors influencing maize kernel resistance to A. flavus but also offer valuable insights for improving existing germplasm and developing new maize varieties with enhanced resistance to this pathogen

Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) enzymes are widely expressed in various plant species, and they contribute to growth, development, and stress responses.  Currently,  information regarding the LPAT gene family in soybeans is limited.  In this study, genome-wide analyses identified 15 soybean LPATs, which were then evaluated for their conserved protein motifs.  These genes were grouped into three clusters based on their phylogenetic relationships.  Confocal microscopy was used to visualize the localization of six GmLPATs within Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts.  cis-Acting regulatory element analyses and qRT-PCR experiments revealed that these GmLPATs were upregulated in response to hormonal stimulation or exposure to abiotic stressors, including drought, alkaline conditions, and salt stress.  The expression patterns of these GmLPATs varied among different soybean tissue types.  One member of the solLPAT1 subtype (GmLPAT11) was found to be upregulated in response to a range of treatments, highlighting its role in soybean salt stress responses.  GmLPAT11 expression in Escherichia coli confirmed the LPAT activity of this recombinant enzyme, and overexpressing this LPAT reduced reactive oxygen species production in transgenic soybean plants, thereby enhancing their salt stress tolerance.  Gene association analyses indicated that GmLPAT11 variants are closely associated with seedling salt tolerance, and a polymorphism in the GmLPAT11 CDS region was potentially associated with salt tolerance.  These results provide new insights into the nature of the LPAT gene family in soybeans while also identifying promising candidate genes for future research efforts to enhance the overall salt tolerance of soybean crops. 

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops worldwide, and the development of rapeseed varieties with high-quality oil is a long-term breeding goal.  Reducing the content of palmitic acid, the main saturated fatty acid in rapeseed oil, can greatly improve oil quality.  Here, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) of seed palmitic acid content (SPAC) were performed using 393 diverse B. napus accessions.  Four genes (BnaA08.DAP, BnaA08.PAA1, BnaA08.DUF106, and BnaC03.DAP) were identified by both GWAS and TWAS.  The transcripts per million (TPM) values of these candidate genes at 20 and 40 days after flowering (DAF) were significantly correlated with SPAC in this association panel.  Based on genetic variation in the candidate genes, four low-SPAC haplotypes were identified by combining candidate gene association analysis and haplotype analysis.  Brassica napus accessions carrying low-SPAC haplotypes had lower SPAC than those carrying high-SPAC haplotypes without affecting seed oil content, seed protein content, or seed yield.  Based on the functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chrA08_9529850 (C/A) in the promoter of BnaA08.DUF106, a molecular marker (Bn_A8_SPAC_Marker) was developed that can be used to facilitate breeding for low SPAC in B. napus.  Our findings provide valuable information for studying the genetic control of SPAC in B. napus.  Moreover, the candidate genes, favorable haplotypes, and molecular marker identified in this study will be useful for breeding low-SPAC B. napus varieties.

To address the dual challenges of water scarcity and rising demand for premium rice, this study investigated the synergistic effects of mild alternate wetting and drying (Mild AWD) irrigation combined with wheat straw biochar application on rice yield and grain quality.  A two-year field experiment (2023–2024) was conducted with the hybrid rice cultivar Yongyou 2640, with two irrigation regimes: continuous flooding (CF) and Mild AWD (re-irrigation at a soil water potential of –10 to –15 kPa at 15–20 cm depth), with or without a one-time biochar application (10 t ha⁻¹).  The results showed that co-application of Mild AWD and biochar significantly increased grain yield by 18.7% in 2023 and 13.4% in 2024 compared to CF alone.  It also comprehensively improved grain quality: milling quality (head rice rate increased by 23.1–24.6%), appearance quality (chalkiness reduced by 36.4–38.2%), cooking and eating quality (higher peak viscosity and lower gelatinization temperature and enthalpy), and nutritional quality (increased glutelin and decreased prolamin content and starch digestion).  These improvements were attributed to enhanced root activity alongside leaf photosynthetic rate, which promotes the accumulation of photoassimilates in vegetative organs and their translocation to grains.  Moreover, elevated activities of key starch synthases further enhanced starch biosynthesis and accumulation, which underpinned the improved yield and superior quality.  We also identified that a minimum soil water potential of –10 to –15 kPa at a depth of 15–20 cm represents the optimal threshold for Mild AWD in rice production.  This research provides a cultivation approach for synergistically producing high-yield, high-quality rice, which shows promising potential for scalable implementation.

Drought stress is a significant environmental stressor that can have detrimental effects on crop yields, especially during stem elongation.  Drought priming has emerged as a promising technique for enhancing plant drought tolerance.  However, the effects of drought priming on the spike differentiation process and its physiological basis in wheat are not clear.  In this study, we investigated the effects of drought priming on spike development under drought stress by applying drought priming at the three-leaf stage and drought stress during stem elongation.  This study demonstrated that drought priming significantly increased the photosynthetic rate of flag leaves by approximately 25.7% and improved leaf water potential by 17.4% during drought stress.  Moreover, it mitigated oxidative damage by reducing the hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels by 30.6 and 11.1%, respectively, during stem elongation.  Drought priming also markedly enhanced the activities of two key carbon metabolism enzymes, hexokinase and fructokinase, by 170.0 and 236.0%, respectively.  This improved carbon metabolism and stabilized spike differentiation, leading to increased spikelet and floret primordia formation.  Ultimately, drought priming achieved a 13.8% increase in kernel number per spike, demonstrating its potential for improving grain yield under drought conditions.  This study innovatively revealed the “carbon homeostasis-spike development” coordination mechanism underlying drought priming-enhanced reproductive stress tolerance.  The findings advance our understanding of stress memory as it relates to spatiotemporal regulation in crops and offer transformative solutions for stabilizing wheat production under climate change scenarios.

Soil compaction has become a serious limitation for further increasing the grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in the North China Plain (NCP).  However, considerable variability exists among maize hybrids in their grain yield responses to soil compaction.  To understand the physiological processes related to the variation of responses among maize hybrids to different soil compaction levels, a two-year field experiment was conducted with 17 maize hybrids and three soil compaction treatments (NC, no compaction with soil bulk density (SBD) of 1.0–1.3 g cm^–3; MC, moderate compaction with SBD of 1.4–1.5 g cm^–3, and HC, heavy compaction with SBD>1.6 g cm^–3) to examine the root and shoot morphological traits, dry matter accumulation, and grain yield.  Compared to NC, MC and HC significantly reduced the maize yield by 0.9–26.7% and 5.9–41.1% across the hybrids and years, respectively.  Hybrids with high compaction tolerance (H) had greater grain yield than those with middle compaction tolerance (M) and low compaction tolerance (L), particularly under HC.  The yield benefits obtained from the H hybrid were enhanced due to better root and shoot growth under HC conditions.  Greater root length, root surface area, and root weight, as well as root activity, absorption capacity, and antioxidant capacity for H hybrid was found under HC conditions, and it also showed increased leaf area index and dry matter accumulation.  Moreover, the increases in root growth indices for the H hybrid were greater than that of shoot growth, particularly under HC conditions, leading to a greater root/shoot ratio.  We conclude that soil compaction impacts maize root and shoot growth differently depending on genotype, and the root growth advantages of the H hybrid were more obvious than shoot growth, which enhanced the yield benefits from the H hybrid under heavy compaction conditions.

Uneven crop stands arise from natural variations in emergence time, which are influenced by different irrigation measures applied post-sowing.  In the pursuit of high-yielding maize populations, the emergence rate and uniformity of maize stands are critical factors.  This study investigates the effects of different irrigation methods and drip irrigation at various days after sowing on the emergence uniformity and yield of summer maize.  The experiment consisted of six treatments: drip irrigation on the 0th, 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th days after sowing (DAS0, DAS3, DAS6, DAS9, and DAS12), and sprinkling irrigation on the 0th day after sowing (SI0).  Agronomic traits, ear characteristics, harvest yield, and indices of population uniformity were evaluated at critical growth stages. Results indicated that timely drip irrigation (DAS0-3) significantly increased the emergence rate and number of harvestable ears by 9.57% (8621.61 plants ha^-1) and 10.54% (8017.05 ears ha^-1) compared to the SI treatment.  Treatment with DAS0-3 resulted in a significant increase of 13.50% in ear length and 24.85% in kernel weight per ear compared to the SI treatment.  Maize populations subjected to delayed drip irrigation (DAS6-12) demonstrated a progressive decline in quality throughout the growth period.  At the silk stage, the uniformity of plant height and ear height decreased by 47.19 and 44.85%, respectively, compared to the DAS0-3 treatment.  Furthermore, at harvest, the uniformity of dry matter accumulation and leaf area index (LAI) was reduced by 28.24 and 41.83%, respectively, relative to the DAS0-3 treatment.  Correlation analysis reveals that the uniformity of kernel weight per ear is most significantly associated with yield, as indicated by a correlation coefficient of 0.90^**.  The yield in the DAS0-3 treatment was significantly higher than that in the SI treatment by 23.71%.  The yields of the DAS6-12 treatments were notably lower than those of the DAS0-3 treatment, ranging from 13.18 to 23.97% lower, and were comparable to the yields observed in the SI treatment.  The suboptimal implementation of drip irrigation technology has prevented it from realizing its potential for increasing crop yields.  Each day’s delay in initiating drip irrigation after the third day post-sowing reduces yield by an average of 0.32 Mg ha^-1.  Timely drip irrigation following maize seeding significantly enhances emergence rate and population uniformity, increases the number of harvestable ears and kernel weight per ear, ultimately leading to higher final yields.  Drip irrigation for seedling emergence within three days after sowing can better bring out the yield-increasing potential of drip irrigation.

Prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca) has been shown to positively regulate crop tolerance to saline–alkali stress.  However, the optimal concentration of Pro-Ca application and the mechanisms through which it enhances saline–alkali tolerance and yield in soybean remain unclear.  This study aimed to determine the optimal concentration of exogenously applied Pro-Ca and reveal the mechanisms underlying Pro-Ca’s effect on remediation and yield response in soybean under saline–alkali stress.  The results indicated that saline–alkali stress negatively impacted the morphological and physiological traits of soybean seedlings by triggering the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative damage of the grana lamellae due to excessive accumulation of Na⁺.  An application of 100 mg L⁻¹ Pro-Ca was found to be optimal, promoting dry matter accumulation and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) by significantly reducing Na⁺ uptake under saline–alkali stress.  Moreover, integrated physiological, ultrastructural, and transcriptomic analyses indicated that Pro-Ca significantly enhanced the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA–GSH) cycle by up-regulating the expression of related genes to enhance the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and the AsA/dehydroascorbate (DHA) and GSH/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratios to quench ROS, thereby protecting both thylakoid and mitochondrial membranes from degradation.  The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding ascorbate and aldarate metabolism were significantly (P<0.05) enriched in the integral component of the membranes.  Furthermore, Pro-Ca treatment up-regulated the expression of genes encoding photosystems under saline–alkali stress, thereby reducing the photoinhibition and stomatal limitation (L_s), mitigating damage to photosystems, and preventing yield reduction.  In summary, foliar application of Pro-Ca could efficiently enhance soybean seedlings’ tolerance to saline–alkali stress by inhibiting Na⁺ influx, enhancing the AsA–GSH cycle, maintaining the biomembrane system, and improving photosynthetic efficiency.

Bud dormancy is a key adaptive strategy in perennial plants, enabling them to survive adverse environmental conditions.  However, it poses challenges in crop cultivation, especially in fruit crops such as apple, in which synchronized bud break is crucial for consistent growth and yield.  The synthetic cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) promotes dormancy release; however, its molecular and metabolic mechanisms remain largely unclear.  This study investigates dormancy release in nursery-grown Xianheng 01 apple rootstocks through integrated transcriptomic, metabolomic, and hormonal analyses.  Dormant buds were treated with 6-BA, with morphological, biochemical, and molecular profiling performed over 30 d.  6-BA treatment increased plant height and leaf emergence by increasing the levels of cytokinins (DHZR, IPA) and decreasing the level of abscisic acid (ABA).  Transcriptomics analysis identified 7,009 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to 6-BA treatment.  The cytokinin-responsive gene A-ARR8 exhibited a distinct expression pattern, being upregulated at 1, 3, and 6 d post-treatment but downregulated at 11 d.  In contrast, ABA-related genes SnRK2a/b, PP2C, and ABF3, were consistently downregulated throughout the treatment period.  Metabolomic analysis identified 2,053 metabolites, showing early-phase dominance of phenylpropanoids, and flavonoids, followed by a shift towards ABC transporter-mediated nutrient mobilization.  Conjoint analysis highlighted the coordinated activation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis and cytokinin signaling.  These results demonstrate that 6-BA induces dormancy release through cytokinin–ABA antagonism and phased metabolic reprogramming from stress defense to growth promotion.  Our findings provide a comprehensive framework for optimizing dormancy management in apple cultivation and highlight 6-BA as an effective agrochemical for improving temperate fruit production.

The CONSTANS/CONSTANS-LIKE (CO/COL) gene family plays important roles in plants flowering and stress response.  In this study, two variants of the MiCOL14B gene were identified from two different mango cultivars; they were designated as MiCOL14B-GQ and MiCOL14B-JH, which exhibited significant differences in sequence and B-box domain.  Both genes were expressed in various tissues of mango, localized in the nucleus, and responsive to drought and salt stress.  In transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, MiCOL14B-GQ delayed flowering, while MiCOL14B-JH promoted flowering.  This phenotypic divergence stemmed from their molecular regulatory specificity.  Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that both variants directly bind to the promoters of florigen genes (MiFTs), with MiCOL14B-GQ repressing their transcription and MiCOL14B-JH enhancing it.  Altered expression levels of MiFTs in the roots of transgenic mango further validated this mechanism.  Moreover, both MiCOL14B-GQ and MiCOL14B-JH improved stress tolerance under drought and salt conditions in transgenic A. thaliana as well as in transgenic mango roots.  These variants significantly increased stress tolerance by increasing proline (Pro) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation.  Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays revealed that MiCOL14B-GQ and MiCOL14B-JH interact with several stress-related proteins.  This study demonstrates for the first time the functional effects of sequence variation in the MiCOL14B gene on flowering and stress responses, providing valuable genetic resources for mango molecular breeding.

A novel variegated tea cultivar exhibiting a stable variegated phenotype was recently identified, demonstrating significantly elevated amino acid content concomitantly with reduced polyphenolic compound levels compared to conventional green-leaf varieties.  Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.  Here, variegated leaves and normal leaves of ‘Huangshanzhong’ tea plant were used to perform pigment content analysis and comparative transcriptome analysis.  The chlorophyll content in variegated leaves significantly decreased compared to normal leaves, while the ratio of Chl a to Chl b was enhanced.  Multiple genes (CsrpiA, CsGAPDH, CsPGAM, CsPK and CsOGDH) involved in sugar metabolism exhibited downregulated expression in variegated leaves.  Key genes involved in the photosynthetic pathway were down-regulated in variegated leaves, including those encoding light-harvesting protein complex chlorophyll a/b binding proteins (CsLhca1, CsLhca4, CsLhcb1 and CsLhcb3) and photosystem II complex proteins (CspsbP and CspsbW).  Meanwhile, genes involved in chlorophyll degradation metabolism (CsSGR and CsCLH1) were upregulated in variegated leaves.  Compared to the wild type, transgenic plants overexpressing CsCLH1 and CsCLH2 exhibited no significant changes in chlorophyll content.  Enzyme activity assays showed that CsCLH1 could degrade chlorophyll in vitro.  Subcellular localization results revealed that CsCLH1 and CsCLH2 were localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus.  These findings suggest that impaired photosynthetic system function, suppressed carbohydrate synthesis, and accelerated degradation of photosynthetic pigments collectively contribute to the variegated phenotype in tea leaves.  This study advances our understanding of mechanisms underlying leaf variegation in plants.

The composition and function of root exudates in rhizosphere iron (Fe) mobilization are significantly influenced by environmental pH conditions.  While the role of organic acids in Fe solubilization is well-recognized, the molecular mechanisms underlying this pH-dependent process remain poorly understood.  Here, we demonstrate that under weakly acidic conditions, proton excretion alone is insufficient to solubilize sparingly soluble Fe.  Instead, a pH-dependent ligand specificity emerges as a critical factor in Fe mobilization.  Notably, within the pH range of 5.0–6.0, citric acid exuded by roots exhibits superior Fe solubilization efficacy compared to oxalic acid and malic acid.  We identified SlFRDL1, a gene induced by Fe deficiency, as a key player in this process.  SlFRDL1 encodes a plasma membrane-localized protein with citrate permeability, as confirmed by its functional expression in Xenopus oocytes.  Knockout mutants of SlFRDL1 displayed exacerbated Fe deficiency symptoms, which were associated with a significant reduction in citrate secretion from roots.  Furthermore, we discovered that SlSTOP1, a transcription factor, binds to the promoter region of SlFRDL1 and activates its expression.  Slstop1 mutants exhibited leaf chlorosis symptoms similar to those observed in Slfrdl1 mutants, highlighting the functional interplay between these two genes.  Interestingly, while Fe deficiency triggers the FER-mediated Fe uptake system under both acidic and alkaline conditions, the SlSTOP1–SlFRDL1 module is specifically activated only in acidic environments.  This pH-specific regulation underscores the importance of the SlSTOP1–SlFRDL1 pathway in root-mediated Fe solubilization under acidic conditions.

Leaf curling is a key agronomic trait that promotes the formation of leafy heads in heading vegetable crops.  However, the role of auxin in regulating leaf curling in Chinese cabbage remains largely unknown.  In this study, we identified a Chinese cabbage mutant, lic86, which exhibited inward leaf curling and displayed significantly increased transverse curvature indices compared to the wild type.  Additionally, among the measured hormones the concentration of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was significantly reduced in lic86.  Exogenous application of IAA caused outward leaf curling, whereas applying the auxin transport inhibitor, TIBA, resulted in inward leaf curling in both wild type and lic86 plants.  Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes between WT and lic86 were predominantly associated with hormone signal transduction pathways.  Notably, the expression levels of two Brassica rapa asymmetric leaves1 (BrAS1) homologs were significantly elevated in lic86, while the expression of B. rapa LIKE-AUX1 (BrLAX1), the auxin influx carrier gene, was markedly downregulated compared to WT plants.  Virus-induced gene silencing of BrLAX1 in WT plants resulted in leaf inward curvature, whereas silencing of BrAS1s in lic86 seedlings led to flattened leaf morphology.  These findings offer insights into the molecular mechanism underlying leaf curling and leafy head development in Chinese cabbage.

Photosynthesis serves as the primary source of nutrients synthesized in higher plants, and improving photosynthetic efficiency can significantly increase crop yield and fruit quality.  Leaf color mutants represent ideal materials for studying chloroplast development and photosynthesis mechanisms and have been widely characterized in field crops.  However, relevant research on watermelon leaf color mutants remains scarce.  In this study, we isolated a yellow-green phenotype mutant, PKH352, from an EMS-mutagenized watermelon mutant library.  The chlorophyll content and maximal photochemical efficiency in PKH352 were significantly decreased.  Genetic analysis showed that the mutated trait was controlled by a single nuclear gene, which was named Clygp (Citrullus lanatus yellow-green plant).  Through MutMap and linkage analysis in an F₂ population of 440 plants, we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation within ClG42_04g0106300, which encoded a signal recognition particle 54 kDa protein, as the causal variant for the yellow-green phenotype.  Further validation using a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated system confirmed that knockout of ClG42_04g0106300 results in the yellow-green phenotype in watermelon.  In addition, comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that mutations in ClG42_04g0106300 greatly affected the expression of key genes associated with chloroplast development and photosynthesis, providing strong evidence that this gene plays a critical role in these biological pathways.  Taken together, these findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying chloroplast development and photosynthetic efficiency, offering a theoretical basis for breeding watermelon varieties with high photosynthetic efficiency.

Plant pathogenic fungi release cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs), which are significant weapons for breaking down plant cell walls, although only a few reports focus on their pathogenesis.  The current study demonstrates that MoFco1, a conserved α-L-fucosidase in several pathogenic fungi, degrades the hemicellulose component XXFG and contributes to the pathogenicity of Magnaporthe oryzae.  In addition, MoFco1 enzyme activity is essential for its pathogenic function, as the enzyme activity mutation induced pathogenesis defects identical to the ΔMofco1 mutant.  We further performed a structure-based virtual screening targeting MoFco1 and discovered 0989, which binds to MoFco1 and effectively inhibits M. oryzae pathogenesis.  In brief, our study reveals the pathogenic mechanism of MoFco1 and explored the application of structure-based virtual screening in plant protection.

The explosive increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers has put forward new requirements for pesticide formulations, and there is an imperative necessity to develop targeted, precise, and efficient pesticide formulations based on the surface characteristics of targets to meet the demand for low-volume spraying by UAVs.  Herein, a performance-matched oxaziclomefone nanosuspension (NS) was constructed based on the hydrophobic surface characteristics of barnyardgrass for UAV sprayers.  The results showed that the solid surface free energy of the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of barnyardgrass at different growth stages ranged from 23.73 to 28.00 mJ m^–2 and was dominated by dispersive components.  The average sizes of micro-nanostructures on the barnyardgrass surfaces ranged from 251.7 to 266.8 nm, and the oxaziclomefone nanoparticles in the NS could be suitably embedded into the micro-nanostructures of the barnyardgrass surface.  The atomization test showed that the NS could significantly decrease the percentage of spray droplets with sizes for droplet drift.  Due to the precise regulation of the formulation components, the NS exhibited superior wetting, spreading, and adhesion performance on the barnyardgrass surface.  Moreover, the NS remarkably enhanced the uptake and translocation of oxaziclomefone in barnyardgrass.  Field trials showed that, compared to the commercial formulation, the NS could significantly improve the control efficacy against barnyardgrass in direct-seeded rice fields while demonstrating acceptable safety for rice.  Our research provides a novel, promising, and feasible strategy for the development of pesticide formulations based on target surface characteristics and for improving the physicochemical properties of dilutions, which is valuable for enhancing dosage delivery efficiency and improving control efficiency against pests for UAV sprayers.

Saliva plays a crucial role in mediating plant–insect interactions, yet the functional diversity of salivary proteins remains poorly understood.  Here, we identify NlSP6935, a salivary gland-specific protein conserved among rice planthoppers but absent in bamboo-feeding relatives.  Silencing NlSP6935 causes severe lethality, feeding impairment, and infertility in Nilaparvata lugens, independent of host plant resistance.  Transient expression assays reveal that NlSP6935 suppresses H₂O₂ accumulation in plants, while overexpression in rice downregulates terpenoid biosynthesis and enhances host attractiveness.  However, transgenic NlSP6935 plants only weakly rescue RNAi-induced lethality, demonstrating its dual role in insect physiology and plant defense suppression.  Our findings reveal a novel effector essential for both planthopper survival and host adaptation, providing new insights into pest control strategies.

The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is a major pest of soybeans in East Asian countries.  Male-released aggregation pheromones attract both adults and nymphs, offering potential for eco-friendly pest control.  However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the detection of the aggregation pheromones remain unclear.  In the present study, functional analysis using the Xenopus oocyte expression system demonstrated that two ORs (OR23h and OR109d) were responsible for sensing aggregation pheromones, with the primary component (E)-2-hexenyl (E)-2-hexenoate (E2HE2H) being shared by the two ORs.  Further quantitative PCR (qPCR) profiling indicated that OR109d was expressed only in male antennae, while OR23h was expressed in both sexes at similar levels.  RNA interference (RNAi) assays demonstrated that dsOR23h-treatment significantly reduced the electroantennographic (EAG) response of (E)-2-hexenyl (Z)-3-hexenoate (E2HZ3H) in both sexes.  Furthermore, simultaneous RNAi knockdown of the two ORs significantly reduced the male EAG response to E2HE2H and abolished male attraction to this compound.  These results were consistent with the sex expression profile, demonstrating the sex and functional differentiation between the two ORs.  Taken together, this study characterizes the ORs responsible for chemical perception and the associated aggregation behaviors driven by these pheromones.  Thus, this study enhances our understanding of olfactory signaling in a hemipteran insect and contributes to the knowledge required for improved pest management.

Although pigs lack classical brown adipose tissue, several studies have demonstrated that porcine adipocytes possess the capacity to undergo thermogenesis through UCP1-independent mechanisms.  However, the developmental processes and regulatory mechanisms underlying these thermogenic adipocytes remain poorly characterized.  Here, we found that dorsal subcutaneous adipose tissues (subWATs) in pigs exhibits significant thermogenic potential under cold stress.  Notably, we observed substantial cold-induced structural remodeling in dorsal subWATs, characterized by increased fibrotic deposition.  An integrated analysis of snRNA-seq and RNA-seq data on dorsal subWATs identified MFAP5, which encodes a microfibril-associated glycoprotein in the extracellular matrix, as a potential regulator of the cold-induced plasticity of dorsal subWATs.  Both MFAP5 overexpression and MFAP5-conditioned medium (MFAP5-CM) not only inhibited preadipocyte differentiation into adipocytes but also promoted their commitment to non-adipogenic fibrogenic lineages.  Furthermore, MFAP5 treatments significantly enhanced the mitochondrial biogenesis of these fibrogenic cells. Mechanistic investigations showed that these phenotypic alterations are predominantly mediated through the Hippo signaling pathway.  In summary, our findings elucidate the pivotal role of MFAP5 in regulating adipocyte development following cold exposure, thus providing crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying porcine adaptation to cold stress.

Ovulation is paramount for female animal fertility, necessitating a thorough understanding of its process and molecular underpinnings.  This study aimed to delineate the temporal dynamics of ovulation in the goat ovary.  Utilizing single-cell sequencing, we analyzed follicular fluid samples obtained at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h post-hCG administration, identifying 4 cell types and 6 myeloid cell subtypes.  We elucidated gene expression and functional changes in granulosa cells (GCs) over the time course of ovulation.  Notably, our study detected and confirmed immune cell infiltration at 6 h post-luteinizing hormone (LH) peak.  Additionally, cell–cell communication analysis revealed strong predicted interactions between GCs and macrophages, involving signaling programs associated with immune-cell recruitment, extracellular-matrix remodeling, and oocyte maturation.  Collectively, our investigation has established a comprehensive single-cell transcriptome atlas of the ovulatory goat follicular microenvironment for advancing exploration into ovulation mechanisms and developing therapies for ovulatory disorders.

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally occurring isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in the body.  However, whether its dietary addition impacts porcine liver health remains unclear, and if it does, the mechanisms are unknown.  In this study, supplementing the diet of growing pigs with 1 g kg^–1 SFN was found to improve growth performance and hepatocellular proliferation.  Further analyses revealed that SFN reduced hepatic and serum malondialdehyde levels, while increasing glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity in the liver.  Transcriptomic and proteomic studies demonstrated that SFN down-regulated multiple pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation, inflammatory responses, IL-6-JAK-STAT3 signaling, and TNFα signaling via NFκB.  Meanwhile, it upregulated NRF2/GPX4/HO-1 expression and reduced IL-6 and TNFα expression.  Mechanistic studies identified potential NR1D1 and NRF2 binding elements in the promoters of the GPX4 and HO-1 genes in the liver.  Furthermore, metabolomic profiling revealed a decline in serum β-hydroxybutyrate levels after the administration of SFN, while further analysis confirmed that SFN enhanced a type of epigenetic modification in the liver, lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation (Kbhb).  These results highlight the protective roles of SFN against liver inflammation and oxidative damage, and a novel mechanism involving NRF2 and NR1D1 synergy is proposed, although the promotion of hepatic Kbhb by SFN still requires further exploration.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a newly identified pathogen that can potentially undergo cross-species transmission to threaten the safety of swine and humans.  The mechanism by which PDCoV nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14) inhibits the expression of IFN-β is unknown.  In this study, we showed that PDCoV nsp14 degrades the MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 proteins in host cells by proteasomal and autophagy pathways.  PDCoV nsp14 recruits the E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH8 for catalyzing MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 protein ubiquitination.  These proteins were recognized and transported to lysosomes by the cargo receptor NDP52 for degradation to inhibit the expression of IFN-β.  Furthermore, MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 were also found to degrade PDCoV nsp14 by selective autophagy.  These results reveal the dual function of selective autophagy in the PDCoV nsp14 and host proteins, which can promote the ubiquitination of viral particles and host antiviral proteins to degrade them both for regulating the relationship between virus infection and host innate immunity.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) can cause colibacillosis, which is economically devastating to poultry industries worldwide.  The bacterial membrane is critical to its environment adaptability and virulence.  The inner membrane protein TolA maintains membrane integrity, but its roles in the fitness and pathogenesis of APEC are not completely understood.  Thus, a tolA gene mutant and complemented strains of APEC were constructed and characterized.  Mutant strain ΔtolA showed damage in the inner and outer membranes, as well as altered morphology, impaired flagella production, reduced motility, increased outer membrane vesicle (OMV) production, and reduced resistance to antibiotics and environmental stress.  Deletion of the tolA gene resulted in significant reductions in biofilm formation and interbacterial competition, due to the downregulated expression of biofilm-associated genes and type VI secretion system (T6SS) genes, respectively.  In addition, the mutant strain exhibited reductions in serum bactericidal resistance, cell infection capacity, intracellular survival, consequently leading to attenuated bacterial survival and virulence in mice.  Compared with the wild-type and complemented strains, the mutant strain induced less expression of inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) in HD-11 macrophages, consistent with the pathological damage in mice.  In conclusion, inner membrane protein TolA contributes to the antibiotic resistance, environmental adaptability, biofilm formation and virulence of APEC.

Nitrogen (N) leaching is a major pathway of N loss in subtropical crop production systems, contributing to groundwater pollution and thus posing serious threats to human health.  However, the characteristics of annual N leaching in subtropical open-field vegetable systems and the effectiveness of integrative N fertilization management practices in reducing N leaching remain poorly understood.  In this study, two plot-based field experiments were conducted with open-field Chinese cabbage–pepper rotation system in subtropical Southwest China to quantify annual N leaching and evaluate the effectiveness of integrated N fertilization management practices.  Experiment 1 compared five N fertilizer application rates using conventional urea, while Experiment 2 compared different N sources including conventional urea, organic fertilizer, nitrification inhibitor-based fertilizer, and controlled-release urea which were all applied at the optimized N rate.  Results showed that the annual N leaching under farmers’ N practice (FNP) was 251 kg N ha⁻¹, with contributions of 55, 31, and 14% from the pepper season, Chinese cabbage season, and fallow period, respectively.  Total N leaching increased exponentially with N rate.  The seasonal N leaching factor was 32% for pepper and 17% for Chinese cabbage in the FNP treatment, respectively.  Compared to FNP, optimizing N rate based on crop requirement and soil supply significantly reduced N leaching by 68% and gray water footprint by 66−75%, while improving N use efficiency (NUE) from 35 to 54%.  In Experiment 2, mixing organic and inorganic fertilizers, applying nitrification inhibitor, and using controlled-release urea further reduced annual N leaching by 27, 54, and 25%, respectively, compared to conventional urea.  These practices also improved crop yields by 2−11% and NUE by 10−13%, and lowered gray water footprint by 28−58%.  In summary, integrative N stewardship practices, particularly use of nitrification inhibitors under optimized N rates, effectively reduced N leaching while achieving high NUE and vegetable yields, providing a promising strategy for sustainable subtropical vegetable production

While straw mulching has the potential to reduce fertilizer-nitrogen (N) losses in intensively managed cropland, how soil organic carbon (SOC) regulates this fate of fertilizer-N at soil aggregate or profile scales remains unresolved.  Here, micro-plots were nested within a four-year field experiment to assess fertilizer-N fates and their linkages with SOC fractions and stabilization processes via ¹⁵N-tracing and ¹³C natural abundance analyses.  Three treatments were included: (i) conventional N application (FN), (ii) reduced N application (RN), and (iii) reduced N with straw mulching (RS).  While RN reduced crop yields compared to FN, RS achieved comparable yields and 7.71% higher N recovery efficiency (P<0.05).  The δ¹³C fractionation between aggregates and bulk soil was significantly positively correlated with the fertilizer-N content in the >2 mm and <0.053 mm fractions, indicating that N retention was coupled with SOC stabilization processes.  Compared with RN, RS resulted in a 2−3.4 times greater SOC conversion probability into the <0.053 mm fraction and a 1.4 times higher aggregate-associated fertilizer-N content.  SOC fractions differentially regulated the profile distribution of fertilizer-N, with nonlabile organic carbon (C) correlated positively, while dissolved organic C correlated negatively but increased plant N recovery.  Compared with RN, RS increased the SOC stock by 24%, reduced NO₃⁻-N accumulation by 37%, and immobilized 36% more N into the microbial biomass (P<0.05).  Our findings demonstrate that straw mulching increases N recovery by mediating SOC fractionation, stabilization, and microbial N immobilization.  These results provide new insights into SOC–N interactions that could aid in the development of optimal soil C and N management strategies.

Improving soil organic matter (SOM) maintenance is crucial for terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration and ecosystem functioning.  Conservation tillage favors SOM pool buildup; however, it remains unclear how the decomposition of heterogeneous components is manipulated by microbial substrate utilization strategy from the view of SOM stability.  Here, a one-year microcosm incubation was conducted using surface soils developed under 12 years of conservation tillage (high-C soil) and maize residue removal (low-C soil).  Temporal changes in lignin phenols, neutral sugars, and amino sugars in the soil were monitored along with microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and enzyme activities.  Throughout incubation, lignin phenols declined more (20.8–26.3%) than the SOM (12.3–14.5%) and amino sugars (10.6–12.3%), highlighting the key role of plant debris in SOM mineralization, and complementarily, the greater contribution of microbial necromass to SOM stabilization.  Moreover, the decomposition dynamics of neutral sugars and lignin were strongly influenced by C availability.  In the low-C soil, these two types of compounds decomposed with similar temporal patterns and extents, and such substrate co-metabolism was dominantly mediated by actinomycetes.  In contrast, in the high-C soil, a lower oxidases-to-carbohydrolases ratio regulated the sequential decomposition of labile neutral sugars followed by recalcitrant lignin.  Such microbial substrate selectivity was associated with a shift in microbial community from bacterial dominance toward increased fungal contribution.  Overall, our findings underscore the significant interplay between soil C availability and flexible microbial substrate utilization strategy in regulating decomposition of heterogeneous SOM components, as well as their distinct contributions in SOM turnover and stabilization.

The interactions between nematodes and fungi are important for soil carbon cycling.  However, their cascading effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) accrual remain unclear, particularly the role of soil aggregates and manure amendments in mediating this trophic cascade.  Using a 19-year fertilization experiment, we examined how nematode predation influences fungal necromass carbon (FNC) and glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSPs), and quantified their contributions to SOC across soil aggregates under different manure amendments.  Our findings showed that nematode predation significantly enhanced fungal biomass and promoted deterministic assembly of fungal communities.  These effects were strongly dependent on aggregate size, with the most pronounced responses observed in the large macroaggregate (LA) fraction.  A complementary microcosm experiment confirmed that nematode predation increased fungal biomass by over 6%, particularly in the LA fraction.  Manure amendments further stimulated fungal growth and reinforced deterministic community assembly, thereby enhancing trophic cascade-driven accrual of FNC and GRSPs.  Of the two fungal-derived carbon sources, FNC contributed more substantially to SOC (40%) than GRSPs (17%), with the greatest contribution found in the LA fraction.  Path analysis further revealed that nematode-induced changes in fungal communities mediated the positive effects of manure amendments on fungal-derived carbon accrual.  Overall, these findings underscore the pivotal role of nematodes in driving positive trophic cascade impact on SOC accrual.  Our study offers new insights into aggregate-scale carbon dynamics and biologically mediated strategies for soil carbon management.

Chemical fumigants such as dazomet (DZ) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) effectively suppress soil-borne pathogens but there is uncertainty regarding the restoration of soil ecological functions in continuous cropping obstacles after fumigation, such as microbe-mediated organic carbon cycling.  However, the mechanism by which microbial remediation measures enhance carbon mineralization activity after soil fumigation remains unclear.  In this study, we conducted microcosm experiments to investigate the impacts of Bacillus velezensis inoculation on exogenous organic carbon (EOC) mineralization and bacterial community composition and interactions following chemical fumigation.  Relative to fumigation alone, B. velezensis addition increased cumulative EOC mineralization by 27% in DZ-treated soils and by 22% in DMDS-treated soils.  This enhancement was associated with the enrichment of core taxa and keystone species, which collectively increased microbial activity.  Structural equation modeling further confirmed that core taxa (OTU56, belonging to Bacillus) induced positive interactions with indigenous species, which drove the observed enhancement in EOC mineralization.  We conclude that B. velezensis facilitates the rapid recovery of soil carbon mineralization after fumigation by selectively reshaping the bacterial community and strengthening bacterial cooperative networks.  This work provides a mechanistic framework for microbially driven ecological restoration of fumigant-impacted continuous-cropping obstacle soils and informs the development of sustainable soil-management practices in chemically challenged agroecosystems.