Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a highly lethal and contagious viral pathogen, and it is also a potent oncolytic virus that selectively replicates in tumor cells.  NDV demonstrates high replication efficiency in avian and tumor cells, causing various types of cell death, including ferroptosis, necrosis, apoptosis and autophagic cell death, with apoptosis being the most thoroughly studied.  Organelles play critical and distinctive roles in the regulation and execution of apoptosis.  However, the involvement of peroxisomes, an important organelle that regulates redox balance and lipid biosynthesis, in virus-induced apoptosis remains unclear.  Our findings reveal that NDV infection promotes the downregulation of several peroxisome biogenesis factors (PEXs) at the mRNA level.  Peroxisomal biogenesis factor 5 (PEX5), a critical peroxisomal shuttle protein, was identified to be significantly downregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels.  Further, gain- and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated the negative regulation of NDV-induced apoptosis by PEX5.  In addition, PEX5 inhibits NDV-induced apoptosis by regulating the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expression.  These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which NDV-induced apoptosis is modulated through the downregulation of PEXs, particularly PEX5, shedding light on the potential role of peroxisome in apoptosis regulation in response to virus infection.

Bacterial blight (BB) of rice caused by the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a disease of global importance.  Xoo utilizes the type III secretion system (T3SS) and its effectors for virulence, and XopM is a conserved T3SS effector in Xanthomonas spp.  However, the virulence function of XopM is largely unknown.  In this study, we show that XopM contributes to Xoo virulence in rice.  We demonstrate that XopM interacts with allene oxide synthase OsAOS3, a key enzyme involved in jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis.  The expression levels of OsAOS3 and three homologues of OsAOS were elevated after Xoo infection.  Knockout mutants of OsAOS3 exhibited decreased JA accumulation and reduced resistance to Xoo and X. oryzae pv. oryzicola.  Moreover, JA-related defense genes were downregulated in osaos3 mutants during Xoo infection.  Based on our results, we propose a model showing how XopM hijacks OsAOS3 to interfere with JA-mediated defenses, leading to a suppression of rice immunity.  Our findings reveal a novel virulence strategy where Xanthomonas pathogens interfere with the JA pathway and modulate the host defense response.

Kiwifruit bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), is a significant threat to the kiwifruit industry.  The two-component signaling systems (TCSs) play a crucial role in regulating the virulence of P. syringae, yet their specific function in Psa remains largely unclear.  In this study, we found that disrupting the TCS RegAB (encoded by Psa_802/Psa_803) resulted in a notable increase in the virulence of P. syringae pv. actinidiae M228 (Psa M228) in host plant and hypersensitive reaction (HR) in nonhost plant.  Through comparative transcriptome analysis of the Psa M228 wild-type strain and the regA mutant, we identified the pivotal role of RegAB in controlling various physiological pathways, including the type III secretion system (T3SS), a key determinant of Psa virulence.  Additionally, we discovered that the RegA has binding sites in the promoter region of the hrpR/S, and the transcriptional level of the hrpR and other T3SS-related genes increased in the regA deletion strain relative to the Psa M228 wild-type.  The DNA-binding affinity of RegA, and therefore the repressor function, is enhanced by its phosphorylation.  Our findings unveil the function of TCS RegAB and the regulatory mechanism of T3SS by RegAB in Psa, highlighting the diverse functions of the RegAB system.

This study examined the involvement of cytokinins in the process by which moderate water limitation (MWL) mediates nitrogen (N) remobilization from source to sink during the grain-filling phase in wheat.  Field experiments were performed using N application rates of low (LN), medium (MN), and high (HN).  Two soil moisture regimes were implemented for each N rate: conventional well-watered (CWW) and MWL post anthesis.  The MWL application optimized N, total free amino acids (FAA), and trans-zeatin (Z)+trans-zeatin riboside (ZR) reallocation from the source organs (stems and leaves) to the sink organ (spikes) in wheat.  Compared to those in the CWW regime, the activities of proteolytic enzymes, including endopeptidase, carboxypeptidase, and aminopeptidase within stems and leaves, and the expression levels of total FAA transporter genes in spikes were significantly elevated in the MWL regime, showing a close correlation with the Z+ZR levels in the spikes.  Application of kinetin to stems and leaves significantly inhibited proteolytic enzyme activities, promoting N retention in stems and leaves, decreasing N accumulation in the sink organ, and reducing the N harvest index.  In contrast, applying kinetin to spikes significantly upregulated expression levels of FAA transporter genes, reducing N retention in stems and leaves, increasing N accumulation in the sink organ, and raising the N harvest index.  Such facilitation induced by the MWL in the remobilization of N from source to sink was greater at HN than at LN or MN.  Results demonstrate that post-anthesis MWL can significantly intensify the remobilization of N from source to sink, while also synergistically enhancing grain yield and N use efficiency through strategically redistributing cytokinins (Z+ZR) between source and sink in wheat.

The role of β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) includes providing energy, regulating signaling pathways, and ameliorating the gut microbiota in the host, while its nutrient mechanism to improve rumen epithelium development in young ruminants is still unclear.  In this study, a total of 12 female Haimen goats with 30 d of age were chosen and divided into two groups.  One group was fed with basic diet (CON), and the other group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 6 g d–1 dietary β-hydroxybutyrate sodium (BHBA-Na).  The experimental period was 30 d, and all goats were slaughtered at 60 d of age.  The joint analysis of multi-omics, including rumen microbiota, rumen epithelial transcriptome and rumen epithelial metabolomics in young goat model, was performed to systematically investigate the effect of dietary BHBA-Na on rumen development in young goats.  As the results, we found that dietary BHBA-Na improved the growth performance of young goat including body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI) (P<0.05).  Dietary BHBA-Na also increased the weight of rumen, and promoted the growth of rumen epithelium development (P<0.05).  The abundance of several beneficial bacteria was increased (Fibrobacter, Succinivibrio, Clostridiales, etc.).  The rumen epithelium transcriptome and metabolomics indicated that BHBA-Na supplementation showed a remarkable effect on the nutrient metabolism of the rumen epithelium.  Specifically, the pathways of “fatty acid metabolism”, “cholesterol homeostasis”, “reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway” and “peroxisome” were activated in response to BHBA-Na addition (P<0.05).  Moreover, the genes (HMGCS2, ECSH1, ACAA2, ECH1, ACADS etc.) and metabolites (succinic acid, alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, etc.) involved in these pathways were also regulated positively (P<0.05).  The rumen epithelium obtained the energy for its development from the process of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) decomposition.  Finally, we observed the close correlations among the phenotypes, ruminal microbiota, host genes and epithelial metabolites.  Overall, our results revealed that the BHBA-Na promoted the growth and rumen development of young goats possibly by enhancing DMI and regulating the rumen microbiota and the metabolisms of VFA and amino acid in the rumen epithelium.

A microbial strain designated Bacillus licheniformis QX928 was screened from hot springs in Sichuan Province, China, and a compound generated in the culture of this strain clearly inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853.  The measured minimum inhibitory and lowest bactericidal concentrations were (13±0.17) and (22±0.72) mg L^–1, respectively.  The compound was identified as 3-isopropylhexahydro-4H-pyrido[1,2-α]pyrazine-1,4(6H)-dione (IPHPPD).  A SciFinder search revealed that IPHPPD could be the first compound synthesized by microorganisms that had both antibacterial and anti-quorum sensing properties.  At low concentrations, IPHPPD interfered with the signaling factors and population effects of P. aeruginosa, thereby altering the biofilm morphology and structure.  IPHPPD more strongly inhibited P. aeruginosa at high concentrations, primarily by reducing its virulence factors, cell membrane permeability and energy metabolism.  A transcriptome analysis highlighted the role of IPHPPD in the transcriptional regulation of cellular metabolism and quorum sensing.  Thus, the results of this study provide critical evidence that IPHPPD is a potential target for drug development to prevent and treat diseases in animals.

To explore the molecular mechanisms by which autophagy contributes to pepper’s heat tolerance, we previously identified the zinc-finger protein B-BOX 9/CONSTANS-LIKE 13 (CaBBX9/CaCOL13) as an interaction partner of the autophagy related protein (ATG) CaATG8c, a core component in autophagy.  However, the involvement of CaBBX9 in both autophagy and heat tolerance remains unclear.  In this study, we further confirmed the interaction between CaBBX9 and CaATG8c and defined the interaction regions of CaBBX9 as CONSTANS, CONSTANS-Like, and TOC1 (CCT) domain and the fragment region.  The expression of CaBBX9 can be induced by heat treatment.  CaBBX9 is co-localized with CaATG8c in the nucleus and exhibits a transcriptional activity.  When the expression of CaBBX9 is silenced, the heat tolerance of pepper is enhanced, shown by the decrement of MDA content, H₂O₂ and dead cells accumulation, and relative electrolyte leakage, along with the increment of chlorophyll content and expression level of heat-tolerance-related genes.  Overexpression of CaBBX9 in tomatoes displays the opposite effects.  Taken together, we demonstrate that CaBBX9 negatively regulates the heat tolerance of peppers by exacerbating oxidative damage and inhibiting the expression of heat-related genes.  Our findings provide a new clue for guiding crop breeding for pepper tolerance to heat stress.

Introducing the inherent genetic diversity of wild species into cultivars has become one of the hot topics in crop genetic breeding and genetic resource research.  Fiber- and seed-related traits, which are critical to the global economy and people’s livelihoods, are the principal focus of cotton breeding.  Here, the wild cotton species Gossypium tomentosum was used to broaden the genetic basis of G. hirsutum and identify QTLs for fiber- and seed-related traits.  A population of 559 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) was established with various chromosome segments from G. tomentosum in a G. hirsutum cultivar background.  Totals of 72, 89, and 76 QTLs were identified for three yield traits, five fiber quality traits, and six cottonseed nutrient quality traits, respectively.  Favorable alleles of 104 QTLs were contributed by G. tomentosum.  Sixty-four QTLs were identified in two or more environments, and candidate genes for three of them were further identified.  The results of this study contribute to further studies on the genetic basis of the morphogenesis of these economic traits, and indicate the great breeding potential of G. tomentosum for improving the fiber- and seed-related traits in G. hirsutum.

The velvet protein family serves as a crucial factor in coordinating development and secondary metabolism in numerous pathogenic fungi.  However, no previous research has examined the function of the velvet protein family in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON), a pathogen causing a highly destructive disease in watermelon.  In this study, ∆fovel1 and ∆folae1 deletion mutants and ∆fovel1-C and ∆folae1-C corresponding complementation mutants of FON were validated.  Additionally, the phenotypic, biochemical, and virulence effects of the deletion mutants were investigated.  Compared to the wild-type strains, the ∆fovel1 and ∆folae1 mutants exhibited altered mycelial phenotype, reduced conidiation, and decreased production of bikaverin and fusaric acid.  Furthermore, their virulence on watermelon plant roots significantly decreased.  All these alterations in mutants were restored in corresponding complementation strains.  Notably, yeast two-hybrid results demonstrated an interaction between FoVel1 and FoLae1.  This study reveals that FoVEL1 and FoLAE1 play essential roles in secondary metabolism, conidiation, and virulence in FON.  These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic and functional roles of VEL1 and LAE1 in pathogenic fungi.

Cotton is an important natural fiber crop worldwide which plays a vital role in our daily life.  High yield is a constant goal of cotton breeding, and lint percentage (LP) is one of the important components of cotton fiber yield.  A stable QTL controlling LP, qLP_A01.1, was identified on chromosome A01 from Gossypium hirsutum introgressed lines with G. tomentosum chromosome segments in a previous study.  To fine-map qLP_A01.1, an F₂ population with 986 individuals was established by crossing G. hirsutum cultivar CCRI35 with the chromosome segment substitution line HT_390.  A high-resolution genetic map including 47 loci and spanning 56.98 cM was constructed in the QTL region, and qLP_A01.1 was ultimately mapped into an interval corresponding to an ~80 kb genome region of chromosome A01 in the reference genome, which contained six annotated genes.  Transcriptome data and sequence analysis revealed that S-acyltransferase protein 24 (GoPAT24) might be the target gene of qLP_A01.1.  This result provides the basis for cotton fiber yield improvement via marker-assisted selection (MAS) and further studies on the mechanism of cotton fiber development.

Globally recurrent extreme high temperature (HT) events severely limit rice production.  This study investigated whether a controlled moderate soil drying (MD) could replace the conventional well-watered (WW) regime to more effectively mitigate HT stress on pistil fertilization in photo-thermosensitive genetic male-sterile (PTGMS) rice, and examined the role of brassinosteroids (BRs).  Two PTGMS rice varieties were cultivated under normal temperature (NT) and HT conditions, paired WW and MD strategies during anthesis.  In conventional WW regime, waterlogging reduces BRs levels in roots and pistils due to excessive decomposition, weakening active water uptake driven by root activity and failing to alleviate transpiration-pulled passive water extraction hampered by restricted stomatal openings.  Thereby, it causes water imbalance in plants and weakened pistil function due to a suppressed ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle and hyperactive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) activity.  This exacerbates pistil fertilization impairment and hybrid seed yield loss under HT stress.  Conversely, by promoting BR synthesis and inhibiting its decomposition in roots and pistils, the MD strategy enhanced root activity and transpiration-driven water uptake.  It maintained plant water balance and supported pistil function through suppressed NOX activity and an enhanced AsA-GSH cycle-driven redox homeostasis.  Thus, it mitigated HT-induced pistil fertilization impairment and hybrid seed yield loss.  The precise function of BRs in moderating the protective effects of MD against the detrimental impacts of HT stress on pistil fertilization in PTGMS rice was confirmed through genetic and chemical approaches.  Consequently, a controlled MD method proved to be more effective than the conventional WW regime in alleviating HT stress on pistil fertilization in PTGMS rice by promoting BR enhancement.

This study investigated the role of jasmonates (JAs) in mitigating high temperature (HT) stress-induced spikelet opening impairment in photo-thermosensitive genetic male-sterile (PTGMS) rice under controlled moderate soil drying (MD).  Two PTGMS rice varieties were grown under normal temperature (NT) and HT conditions, using paired well-watered (WW) and MD strategies during anthesis, in both controlled-climate pot and open-air field conditions over multiple years.  Compared to the conventional WW regime under HT stress, which significantly reduced JAs levels in lodicules and worsened spikelet opening impairment and hybrid seed yield loss, the MD treatment demonstrated significant protective effects.  The MD regime enhanced JAs accumulation in lodicules, effectively alleviating HT-induced spikelet opening impairment and hybrid seed yield reduction.  This protective mechanism operates through multiple pathways: (1) promoting starch hydrolysis into soluble sugars, (2) upregulating the expression of aquaporin genes, and (3) enhancing antioxidant capacity, thereby maintaining cellular osmotic and redox homeostasis in lodicules.  The crucial role of JAs in this mechanism was confirmed using JA-deficient mutants, transgenic rice lines with varying JA biosynthesis capacities, and exogenous JAs applications.  These findings indicate that MD is a more effective cultivation strategy than traditional WW in protecting PTGMS rice from HT stress, achieved by modulating JAs levels to maintain osmotic and redox homeostasis in lodicules, thus improving spikelet opening and hybrid seed yield under HT stress during anthesis.

‘Zaosu’ pear fruit, a climacteric fruit, is susceptible to rapid softening diminished quality and marketability during the climacteric phase. Ethyl-N^α-lauroyl-L-arginate hydrochloride (LAE), a cationic surfactant, exhibits high safety and broad-spectrum antimicrobial capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of LAE dipping on the senescence and storage quality of ‘Zaosu’ pears, as well as its influences on cell wall, carbohydrate, and phospholipid metabolisms. Results showed that LAE treatment delayed exocarp surface yellowing and the increase of mass loss, while maintaining higher levels of soluble solids, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoid in pears. LAE also restrained respiration rate and ethylene production, as well as the expressions of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACC) synthetase and ACC oxidase genes. Furthermore, LAE enhanced soluble sugar content by modulating gene expressions and enzymatic activities involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Meanwhile, LAE reduced the degradation of cell wall polysaccharide and phospholipid by down-regulating the gene expressions and enzymatic activities of enzymes in cell wall and phospholipid degradation. Collectively, LAE treatment regulated ethylene synthesis, inhibited cell wall degradation, regulated carbohydrate and phospholipid metabolism, thereby effectively maintaining the postharvest storage quality and delaying senescence of ‘Zaosu’ pears. 

Cotton (Gossypium spp.), a globally important cash crop, is increasingly threatened by abiotic stresses that significantly affect yield and fiber quality. In this study, data on 3,016 abiotic stress-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) described in 31 published papers were integrated through meta-QTL analysis, a total of 34 MQTLs were identified. Nine major MQTLs with numerous initial QTLs, high R² values, narrow confidence intervals (CIs), and close colocalizations were successfully detected. Combined with the transcriptome data, the candidate gene GhPCMP-E17 was identified. Through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology, the role of GhPCMP-E17 in the response to abiotic stress was clarified. Compared with the TRV:00 plants, the GhPCMP-E17-silenced plants presented more severe wilting and yellowing under drought and salt stress conditions. Silencing GhPCMP-E17 weakens the function of antioxidant enzymes, thereby increasing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. These results indicate that downregulation of GhPCMP-E17 gene expression enhances the sensitivity of cotton plants to drought and salt stress. This research provides excellent genetic resources for adaptive abiotic crop breeding in upland cotton.

During wheat grain filling, exogenous nitrogen supply can enhance grain yield and protein accumulation by delaying senescence and increasing nitrogen reserves. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The efficacy of canopy nitrogen spraying at 15 days after anthesis (AS) was first evaluated in a pot experiment, and the associated regulatory mechanisms were further investigated in a field trial under water-saving cultivation conditions. The pot experiment demonstrated that AS treatment increased grain weight, yield, and nitrogen accumulation by improving both pre-anthesis nitrogen remobilization and post-anthesis nitrogen assimilation. Canopy-derived nitrogen began accumulating significantly in grains at 12 h after spraying, accounting for 32.52% of the increase in grain nitrogen accumulation. The field experiment further validated that AS treatment increased grain filling rate and nitrogen accumulation rate during fast and slow growth stages, significantly increasing grain yield by 5.21% and protein content by 7.50% compared to spraying equal amounts of deionized water (CK). AS treatment upregulated key enzymes in the C₄ pathway—including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH), NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK)—and increased malate levels in glumes, lemmas, and paleae. These responses suggested that AS treatment facilitated the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycleand the Calvin cycle, providing reaction substrates for protein and starch biosynthesis. Additionally, AS treatment promoted grain nitrogen metabolism, facilitating protein accumulation. This study presents a viable strategy to mitigate post-anthesis drought stress and improve wheat productivity and grain quality in regions with similar agroclimatic conditions.

Metabolite–microbe interactions are pivotal hubs for maintaining crop productivity under abiotic stress, and silicon (Si) fertilization has been widely recognized for enhancing plant stress tolerance. However, the mechanisms by which Si mediates rhizosphere metabolic reprogramming and microbial regulation to synergistically improve crop drought resilience remain unclear. Here, a two-year field experiment (2023–2024) was conducted using upland rice cultivar “Hanyou 73”. Treatments included well-watered conditions (CK), drought stress (D), and four Si application rates under drought (DS1-DS4, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha^-1, respectively). We systematically investigated the coupled effects of Si on rhizosphere metabolites, microbial communities, and plant stress responses. Drought stress disrupted oxidative homeostasis, reduced photosynthetic capacity, and inhibited carbon and nitrogen metabolism, resulting in yield reductions of 27.96 and 20.37% in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Compared with D, DS3 significantly increased the levels of rhizosphere N- and sugar-related metabolites and enhanced soil microbial diversity, thereby stabilizing soil nitrogen cycling and enriching beneficial taxa (g_Bacillus). Consequently, nitrogen use efficiency increased by 26.21%, leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased by 40.31%, and grain yield increased by 22.98 and 20.90% across the two years. Validation experiments further demonstrated that the combined application of Si and N/sugar-related metabolites (Ethanamine, Tagatose, Urea, Sorbose, and Fumaric acid) significantly promoted upland rice growth and soil nutrient accumulation, stimulated the proliferation of strain BT021, strengthened soil N cycling, increased soil N-related enzyme activities, and enhanced plant growth and antioxidant capacity. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that Si directly regulated yield variation under drought through metabolite–microbiome coupling–driven nutrient cycling. Overall, Si fertilization reshapes rhizosphere processes via metabolite–microbe synergy, improves soil N cycling and rhizosphere environmental quality under drought, promotes plant nutrient transport, and stabilizes yield, providing new mechanistic insights and an applicable paradigm for green, stress-resilient yield improvement in upland agriculture.

Skeletal muscle is composed of multinucleated muscle fibers, which play a crucial role in determining the quality of meat products in livestock. Quantifying the total number of muscle fibers (TNM) is essential for understanding muscle composition, yet remains challenging in poultry, particularly due to the size of the livestock that complicates the preparation of tissue sections for analysis and renders the counting process laborious. Our previous study developed an automatic muscle fiber quantification tool powered by deep learning, named MyoV, which has addressed this bottleneck. This study aimed to employ the tool for the accurate quantification of the TNM in the pectoral muscles of slow-growing (SL), medium-growing (ML), and fast-growing (FL) broilers. Results showed that FL exhibited higher growth performance compared to ML and SL from embryonic to rearing stages. Processing of whole slide images of pectoral muscle revealed significantly higher TNM in FL and ML than in SL (P < 0.01). The TNM of FL, ML and SL were 693,568.00 ± 54,169.80, 652,122.00 ± 65,822.60 and 539,778.57±40,722.94 at 7 days of age (D7), respectively. And the TNM at D35 were 663,014.93±58,801.11, 645,784.76±80,204.34 and 507,280.29±98,092.16 of FL, ML and SL. Differences in cross-sectional area (CSA) of muscle fibers among the three groups were consistent with TNM results. Correlation analysis showed a correlation coefficient of 0.73-0.89 between body weight (BW) and TNM and a correlation coefficient of 0.78-0.87 between BW and CSA. These findings directly indicate that the number of muscle fibers in broilers is an important foundation for their rapid growth and development. This study precisely quantifies the muscle fiber number of important skeletal muscle in poultry for the first time, providing the direct evidence for the physiological basis of rapid development in broilers and offering important data support for further in-depth researches on muscle fiber development.

This study explored the effects of a wetting alternating with mild drying (WMD) management strategy, on rice productivity and methane (CH₄) emissions, and its underlying mechanisms. A high-yielding hybrid rice cultivar was grown in field trials under either conventional irrigation (CI) or the WMD regimen from transplanting to maturity. Results revealed that the WMD approach significantly boosted grain yield while simultaneously reducing CH₄ emissions. It was accompanied by a slight increase in nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions versus CI. However, the mitigation benefits of decreased CH₄ emissions in lowering global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse-gas intensity (GHGI) outweighed the adverse contributions of elevated N₂O emissions. Elevated BR levels in roots enhanced antioxidant defense through the ascorbate-glutathione cycle pathway, which reduced ROS accumulation, thereby not only maintaining root activity but also suppressing root aerenchyma formation—ultimately restricting CH₄ transport pathways under WMD regime. Furthermore, the increased root BR levels suppressed CH₄ production by directly or indirectly inhibiting the mcrA gene abundance, while promoting CH₄ oxidation through rhizosphere exudates enriched with specific organic acids that stimulated the pmoA gene abundance in paddy soil. Under the WMD regime, BR-induced enhancement of root activity significantly boosted photosynthetic capacity, establishing a positive feedback loop that promoted assimilate accumulation. Concurrently, WMD facilitated photosynthate allocation from vegetative tissues to grains, collectively improving rice yield. Collectively, our data suggest that the WMD practices can effectively reduce CH₄ emissions, GWP, and GHGI in rice paddies while maintaining high grain yield by stimulating root-derived BR biosynthesis.