Pod shattering is an important domesticated trait which can cause great economic loss of crop yield in cultivated soybean.  In this study, we utilized two recombinant inbred line populations (RILs, CY, Huachun 2×Wayao; GB, Guizao 1×B13) to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with pod shattering in soybean across multiple environments.  A total of 14 QTLs for pod shattering were identified in the two RIL populations, which had LOD scores ranging from 2.64 to 44.33 with phenotypic variance explanation (PVE) ranging from 1.33 to 50.85%.  One QTL qPS16-1, located on chromosome 16, included a well-known functional gene Pod dehiscence 1 (Pdh1) that was reported previously.  Ten new putative QTLs were validated in two RIL populations, and their LOD scores were between 2.55 and 4.24, explaining 1.33 to 2.60% of the phenotypic variation.  Of which four novel QTLs (qPS01-1, qPS03-2, qPS05-1, and qPS07-1) could be detected in two environments where nine genes had specific changes in gene expression.  Although the nine genes may have significant effects on pod shattering of soybean, their detailed functions still need to be further explored in the future.  The results of this study will facilitate a better understanding of the genetic basis of the pod shattering-resistant trait and benefit soybean molecular breeding for improving pod shattering resistance

Three main phytotoxic compounds including lunatoic acid A (1), 5Z-7-oxozeaenol (2) and zeaenol (3) were isolated from the fermentation broth of Cladosporium oxysporum DH14, a fungus residing in the locust (Oxya chinensis ) gut.  Two additional derivative compounds, compound 1a and 1b, were synthesized by methylation and chlorination of compound 1, respectively.  The structures of such compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the corresponding data to those previously reported in the literature.  Compounds 1–3 exhibited significantly phytotoxic activities against the radicle growth of Amaranthus retroflexus L. with the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀ values) of 4.51, 4.80 and 8.16 μg mL^–1, respectively, which is comparable to that positive control 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (IC₅₀=1.95 μg mL^–1).  Furthermore, the compound 1 showed selective phytotoxic activity with the inhibition rate of less than 22% against the crops of Brassica rapa L., Sorghum durra, Brassica campestris L., Capsicum annucm and Raphanus sativus L. under the concentration of 100 μg mL^–1.  Both derivatives of compound 1 had moderate phytotoxic activity against the radicle growth of A. retroflexus L.  The findings of our present study suggest that these compounds provide new promising candidates for the potential management strategies of weeds.