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Effects of increased seeding density on seedling characteristics, mechanical transplantation quality, and yields of rice with crop straw boards for seedling cultivation

Yufei Ling, Mengzhu Liu, Yuan Feng, Zhipeng Xing, Hui Gao, Haiyan Wei, Qun Hu, Hongcheng Zhang

2025, 24 (1): 101-113. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.12.018

Abstract （110） PDF in ScienceDirect

The high labor demand during rice seedling cultivation and transplantation poses a significant challenge in advancing machine-transplanted rice cultivation. This problem may be solved by increasing the seeding rate during seedling production while reducing the number of seedling trays. This study conducted field experiments from 2021 to 2022, using transplanting seedling ages of 10 and 15 days to explore the effects of 250, 300, and 350 g/tray on the seedling quality, mechanical transplantation quality, yields, and economic benefits of rice. The commonly used combination of 150 g/tray with a 20-day seedling age in rice production was used as CK. The cultivation of seedlings under a high seeding rate and short seedling age significantly affected seedling characteristics, but there was no significant difference in seedling vitality compared to CK. The minimum number of rice trays used in the experiment was observed in the treatment of 350–10 (300 g/tray and 10-day seedling age), only 152–155 trays ha–1, resulting in a 62% reduction in the number of trays needed. By increasing the seeding rate of rice, missed holes during mechanical transplantation decreased by 2.8 to 4%. The treatment of 300–15 (300 g/tray and 15-day seedling age) achieved the highest yields and economic gains. These results indicated that using crop straw boards can reduce the application of seedling trays. On that basis, rice yields can be increased by raising the seeding rate and shortening the seedling age of rice without compromising seedling quality.

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Optimized tillage methods increase mechanically transplanted rice yield and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions

Shuang Cheng, Zhipeng Xing, Chao Tian, Mengzhu Liu, Yuan Feng, Hongcheng Zhang

2024, 23 (4): 1150-1163. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.05.033

Abstract （159） PDF in ScienceDirect

Biaxial rotary tillage in dryland (DBRT) can complete biaxial rotary tillage with straw incorporation, secondary suppression, and ditching, and it has been previously studied in direct-seeded rice and wheat. However, the effects of DBRT on the mechanically transplanted rice yield and greenhouse gas emissions remain unclear. To evaluate the effects of DBRT on improving the food security of mechanically transplanted rice and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions, we conducted an experiment for two years with wheat straw incorporation. Three tillage methods were set up: DBRT, uniaxial rotary tillage in dryland and paddy (DPURT), and uniaxial rotary tillage in paddy (PURT). The results showed that compared with DPURT and PURT, DBRT increased the yield of machine-transplanted rice by 7.5–11.0% and 13.3–26.7%, respectively, while the seasonal cumulative CH₄ emissions were reduced by 13.9–21.2% and 30.2–37.0%, respectively, and the seasonal cumulative N₂O emissions were increased by 13.5–28.6% and 50.0–73.1%, respectively. Consequently, DBRT reduced the global

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Genome-wide identification and function analysis of the sucrose phosphate synthase MdSPS gene family in apple

ZHANG Li-hua, ZHU Ling-cheng, XU Yu, LÜ Long, LI Xing-guo, LI Wen-hui, LIU Wan-da, MA Feng-wang, LI Ming-jun, HAN De-guo

2023, 22 (7): 2080-2093. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.05.024

Abstract （241） PDF in ScienceDirect

Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) is a rate-limiting enzyme that works in conjunction with sucrose-6-phosphate phosphatase (SPP) for sucrose synthesis, and it plays an essential role in energy provisioning during growth and development in plants as well as improving fruit quality. However, studies on the systematic analysis and evolutionary pattern of the SPS gene family in apple are still lacking. In the present study, a total of seven MdSPS and four MdSPP genes were identified from the Malus domestica genome GDDH13 v1.1. The gene structures and their promoter cis-elements, protein conserved motifs, subcellular localizations, physiological functions and biochemical properties were analyzed. A chromosomal location and gene-duplication analysis demonstrated that whole-genome duplication (WGD) and segmental duplication played vital roles in MdSPS gene family expansion. The Ka/Ks ratio of pairwise MdSPS genes indicated that the members of this family have undergone strong purifying selection during domestication. Furthermore, three SPS gene subfamilies were classified based on phylogenetic relationships, and old gene duplications and significantly divergent evolutionary rates were observed among the SPS gene subfamilies. In addition, a major gene related to sucrose accumulation (MdSPSA2.3) was identified according to the highly consistent trends in the changes of its expression in four apple varieties (‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Qinguan’ and ‘Honeycrisp’) and the correlation between gene expression and soluble sugar content during fruit development. Furthermore, the virus-induced silencing of MdSPSA2.3 confirmed its function in sucrose accumulation in apple fruit. The present study lays a theoretical foundation for better clarifying the biological functions of the MdSPS genes during apple fruit development.

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OsPPR9 encodes a DYW-type PPR protein that affects editing efficiency of multiple RNA editing sites and is essential for chloroplast development

CHEN Chang-zhao, WANG Ya-Liang, HE Meng-xing, LI Zhi-wen, SHEN Lan, LI Qing, RE De-yong, HU Jiang, ZHU Li, ZHANG Guang-heng, GAO Zhen-yu, ZENG Da-li, GUO Long-biao, QIAN Qian, ZHANG Qiang

2023, 22 (4): 972-980. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2022.08.026

Abstract （333） PDF in ScienceDirect

Photosynthesis occurs mainly in chloroplasts, whose development is regulated by proteins encoded by nuclear genes. Among them, pentapeptide repeat (PPR) proteins participate in organelle RNA editing. Although there are more than 450 members of the PPR protein family in rice, only a few affect RNA editing in rice chloroplasts. Gene editing technology has created new rice germplasm and mutants, which could be used for rice breeding and gene function study. This study evaluated the functions of OsPPR9 in chloroplast RNA editing in rice. The osppr9 mutants were obtained by CRISPR/Cas9, which showed yellowing leaves and a lethal phenotype, with suppressed expression of genes associated with chloroplast development and accumulation of photosynthetic-related proteins. In addition, loss of OsPPR9 protein function reduces the editing efficiency of rps8-C182, rpoC2-C4106, rps14-C80, and ndhB-C611 RNA editing sites, which affects chloroplast growth and development in rice. Our data showed that OsPPR9 is highly expressed in rice leaves and encodes a DYW-PPR protein localized in chloroplasts. Besides, the OsPPR9 protein was shown to interact with OsMORF2 and OsMORF9. Together, our findings provide insights into the role of the PPR protein in regulating chloroplast development in rice.

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Effects of grape seed extract on meat color and premature browning of meat patties in high-oxygen packaging

YANG Xiao-yin, XU Bao-chen, LEI Hong-mei, LUO Xin, ZHU Li-xian, ZHANG Yi-min, MAO Yan-wei, LIANG Rong-rong

2022, 21 (8): 2445-2455. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63854-6

Abstract （267） PDF in ScienceDirect

This study investigated the effects of grape seed extract (GSE) on fresh and cooked meat color and premature browning (PMB) in ground meat patties (85% beef and 15% pork back fat) packaged under high-oxygen modified atmospheres (HiOx-MAP). The GSE was added to patties at concentrations of 0, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g kg^–1. This study evaluated the surface color, pH, lipid oxidation, and total viable counts (TVC) of raw patties, and the internal color and pH of patties cooked to a temperature of 66 or 71°C over 10-day storage at 4°C. Compared with the control (0 g kg^–1 GSE), GSE improved the color stability (P<0.05) and significantly inhibited the lipid and myoglobin oxidation of raw patties from day 5 to 10, but GSE had no effect (P>0.05) on TVC. Patties containing 0.50 and 0.75 g kg^–1 GSE cooked to 66°C exhibited greater (P<0.05) interior redness than the control and reduced the PMB of cooked patties in the late storage stage. These results suggested that 0.50 and 0.75 g kg^–1 GSE can improve fresh meat color and minimize PMB of HiOx-MAP patties.

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Epigenome-wide DNA methylation analysis reveals differentially methylation patterns in skeletal muscle between Chinese Chenghua and Qingyu pigs

WANG Kai, WU Ping-xian, WANG Shu-jie, JI Xiang, CHEN Dong, JIANG An-an, XIAO Wei-hang, JIANG Yan-zhi, ZHU Li, ZENG Yang-shuang, XU Xu, QIU Xiao-tian, LI Ming-zhou, LI Xue-wei, TANG Guo-qing

2022, 21 (6): 1731-1739. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63814-5

Abstract （271） PDF in ScienceDirect

Chenghua (CH) pig and Qingyu (QY) pig are typical Chinese native fatty breeds. CH pig is mainly distributed in Chengdu Plain, while QY pig is widely distributed throughout the mountain areas around the Sichuan Basin. There are significant differences in their phenotypic traits, including body image, growth performance, and meat quality. This study compared several meat quality traits of CH and QY pigs and conducted a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). It was observed that the pH at 45 min (pH_45min, P=5.22e–13), lightness at 45 min (L*_45min, P=4.85e–5), and lightness at 24 h (L*_24h, P=3.57e–5) of CH pigs were higher than those of QY pigs. We detected 10 699 differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs) and 2 760 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) associated with these DMCs. Functional analysis showed that these DMGs were mainly enriched in the AMPK signaling pathway, Type II diabetes mellitus, Insulin signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, and Insulin resistance. Furthermore, 15 DMGs were associated with fat metabolism (ACACA, CAB39, CRADD, CRTC2, FASN, and GCK), muscle development (HK2, IKBKB, MTOR, PIK3CD, PPARGC1A, and RPTOR), or meat quality traits (PCK1, PRKAG2, and SLC2A4). The findings may help to understand further the epigenetic regulation mechanisms of meat quality traits in pigs and provide new basic data for the study of local pigs.

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Response of carbohydrate metabolism-mediated sink strength to auxin in shoot tips of apple plants

SU Jing, CUI Wei-fang, ZHU Ling-cheng, LI Bai-yun, MA Feng-wang, LI Ming-jun

2022, 21 (2): 422-433. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63593-6

Abstract （213） PDF in ScienceDirect

Auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) has a considerable impact on the regulation of plant carbohydrate levels and growth, but the mechanism by which it regulates sugar levels in plants has received little attention. In this study, we found that exogenous IAA altered fructose (Fru), glucose (Glc), and sucrose (Suc) concentrations in shoot tips mainly by regulating MdSUSY1, MdFRK2, MdHxK1 and MdSDH2 transcript levels. Additionally, we used 5-year-old ‘Royal Gala’ apple trees to further verify that these genes play primary roles in regulating sink strength. The results showed that MdSUSY1, MdFRK2, MdHxK1/3 and MdSDH2 might be major contributors to sink strength regulation. Taken together, these results provide new insight into the regulation of the carbohydrate metabolism mechanism, which will be helpful for regulating sink strength and yield.

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Effects of chemical topping on cotton development, yield and quality in the Yellow River Valley of China

ZHU Ling-xiao, LIU Lian-tao, SUN Hong-chun, ZHANG Yong-jiang, ZHANG Ke, BAI Zhi-ying, LI An-chang, DONG He-zhong, LI Cun-dong

2022, 21 (1): 78-90. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63559-6

Abstract （350） PDF in ScienceDirect

Topping is a cultivation method that is widely practiced due to the indeterminate growth character of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Among the different methods of accomplishing topping, manual topping is common in the Yellow River Valley of China, although it is time- and labor-intensive. The objective of this study was to characterize the responses of cotton to different topping treatments with respect to development, yield and quality. This study included field experiments from 2015 to 2016 with three different topping methods: manual topping (MT), chemical topping (CT) using mepiquat chloride, and a non-decapitation treatment (NT). We found that the plant height, the number of fruiting branches and the length of upper fruiting branches of cotton treated with CT were significantly lower than NT. The chlorophyll content of cotton treated with CT was not significantly different from NT, but was higher than that of MT in the later season. CT enhanced plant development with reduced endogenous gibberellic acid and abscisic acid contents, and the apical development of the main stem was inhibited. Compared with MT, CT significantly increased the biomass of the vegetative parts. Most importantly, there were no significant differences in the yield or fiber quality between MT and CT. These findings suggested that CT, a simplified and effective topping method, could be utilized as an alternative in the Yellow River Valley of China.

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Identifying SNPs associated with birth weight and days to 100 kg traits in Yorkshire pigs based on genotyping-by-sequencing

WU Ping-xian, ZHOU Jie, WANG Kai, CHEN De-juan, YANG Xi-di, LIU Yi-hui, JIANG An-an, SHEN Lin-yuan, JIN Long, XIAO Wei-hang, JIANG Yan-zhi, LI Ming-zhou, ZHU Li, ZENG Yang-shuang, XU Xu, QIU Xiao-tian, LI Xue-wei, TANG Guo-qing

2021, 20 (9): 2483-2490. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63474-8

Abstract （130） PDF in ScienceDirect

Birth weight (BW) and days to 100 kg (D100) are important economic traits that are both affected by polygenes. However, the genetic architecture of these quantitative traits is still elusive. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) data containing a large number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become a powerful tool in genomic analysis. To better understand their complex genetic structure, a total of 600 Yorkshire pigs were sequenced using GBS technology. After quality control, 279 787 SNPs were generated for subsequent genome-wide association study (GWAS). A total of 30 genome-wide SNPs (P<1.79E–07) were identified for D100. Furthermore, a total of 22 and 2 suggestive SNPs (P<3.57E–06) were detected for D100 and BW, respectively. Of these, one locus located on SSC12 (position: 46 226 512 bp) were evaluated to affect both BW and D100 in Yorkshire pigs, indicating the pleiotropism in different traits. Considering the function of candidate genes, two genes, NSRP1 and DOCK7, were suggested as the most promising candidate genes involved in growth traits. Thus, use of GBS is able to identify novel variants and potential candidate genes for BW and D100, and provide an opportunity for improving pig growth traits using genomic selection in pigs.

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Genome-wide identification, molecular evolution, and expression divergence of the hexokinase gene family in apple

ZHU Ling-cheng, SU Jing, JIN Yu-ru, ZHAO Hai-yan, TIAN Xiao-cheng, ZHANG Chen, MA Feng-wang, LI Ming-jun, MA Bai-quan

2021, 20 (8): 2112-2125. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63562-6

Abstract （157） PDF in ScienceDirect

Hexokinase (HXK) is the first irreversible catalytic enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, which not only provides energy for plant growth and development but also serves as a signaling molecule in response to environmental changes. However, the evolutionary pattern of the HXK gene family in apple remains unknown. In this study, a total of nine HXK genes were identified in the Malus×domestica genome GDDH13 v1.1. The physiological and biochemical properties, exon-intron structures, conserved motifs, and cis-elements of the MdHXK genes were determined. Predicted subcellular localization indicated that the MdHXK genes were mainly distributed in the mitochondria, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Gene duplication revealed that whole-genome duplication (WGD) and segmental duplication played vital roles in MdHXK gene family expansion. The ω values of pairwise MdHXK genes indicated that this family was subjected to strong purifying selection during apple domestication. Additionally, five subfamilies were classified, and recent/old duplication events were identified based on phylogenetic tree analysis. Different evolutionary rates were estimated among the various HXK subfamilies. Moreover, divergent expression patterns of the MdHXK genes in four source-sink tissues and at five different apple fruit developmental stages indicated that they play vital roles in apple fruit development and sugar accumulation. Our study provides a theoretical basis for future elucidation of the biological functions of the MdHXK genes during apple fruit development.

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Genome-wide scan for selection signatures based on whole-genome re-sequencing in Landrace and Yorkshire pigs

WANG Kai, WU Ping-xian, CHEN De-juan, ZHOU Jie, YANG Xi-di, JIANG An-an, MA Ji-deng, TANG Qian-zi, XIAO Wei-hang, JIANG Yan-zhi, ZHU Li, QIU Xiao-tian, LI Ming-zhou, LI Xue-wei, TANG Guo-qing

2021, 20 (7): 1898-1906. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63488-8

Abstract （161） PDF in ScienceDirect

We performed a genome-wide scan to detect selection signatures that showed evidence of positive selection in the domestication process by re-sequencing the whole genomes of Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. Fifteen annotated elements with 13 associated genes were identified using the Z-transformed FST (Z(FST)) method, and 208 annotated elements with 140 associated genes were identified using the Z-transformed heterozygosity (ZHp) method. The functional analysis and the results of previous studies showed that most of the candidate genes were associated with basic metabolism, disease resistance, cellular processes, and biochemical signals, and several were related to body morphology and organs. They included PPP3CA, which plays an essential role in the transduction of intracellular Ca²⁺-mediated signals, and WWTR1, which plays a pivotal role in organ size control and tumor suppression. These results suggest that genes associated with body morphology were subject to selection pressure during domestication, whereas genes involved in basic metabolism and disease resistance were subject to selection during artificial breeding. Our findings provide new insights into the potential genetic variation of phenotypic diversity in different pig breeds and will help to better understand the selection effects of modern breeding in Landrace and Yorkshire pigs.

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Increased ammonification, nitrogenase, soil respiration and microbial biomass N in the rhizosphere of rice plants inoculated with rhizobacteria

ZHANG Jun-hua, HUANG Jing, Sajid HUSSAIN, ZHU Lian-feng, CAO Xiao-chuang, ZHU Chun-quan, JIN Qian-yu, ZHANG Hui

2021, 20 (10): 2781-2796. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63454-2

Abstract （151） PDF in ScienceDirect

Azospirillum brasilense and Pseudomonas fluorescens are well-known plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. However, the effects of A. brasilense and P. fluorescens on the N cycles in the paddy field and rice plant growth are little known. This study investigated whether and how A. brasilense and P. fluorescens contribute to the N transformations and N supply capacities in the rhizosphere, and clarified the effects of A. brasilense and P. fluorescens on the N application rate in rice cultivation. Inoculations with A. brasilense and P. fluorescens coupled with N application rate trials were conducted in the paddy field in 2016 and 2017. The inoculations of rice seedlings included four treatments: sterile saline solution (M₀), A. brasilense (M_b), P. fluorescens (M_p), and co-inoculation with a mixture of A. brasilense and P. fluorescens (M_bp). The N application rate included four levels: 0 kg N ha^–1 (N₀), 90 kg N ha^–1 (N₉₀), 180 kg N ha^–1 (N₁₈₀), and 270 kg N ha^–1 (N₂₇₀). The results indicated that the M_bp and M_p treatments significantly enhanced the ammonification activities in the rhizosphere compared with the M₀ treatment, especially for higher N applications, while the M_bp and M_b treatments greatly enhanced the nitrogenase activities in the rhizosphere compared with the M₀ treatments, especially for lower N applications. Azospirillum brasilense and P. fluorescens did not participate in the nitrification processes or the denitrification processes in the soil. The soil respiration rate and microbial biomass N were greatly affected by the interactions between the rhizobacteria inoculations and the N fertilizer applications. In the M_bp treatment, N supply capacities and rice grain yields showed no significant differences among the N₉₀, N₁₈₀, and N₂₇₀ applications. The N application rate in the study region can be reduced to 90 kg N ha^–1 for rice seedlings co-inoculated with a mixture of A. brasilense and P. fluorescens.

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Alphaherpesvirus-vectored vaccines against animal diseases: Current progress

HU Yang, WANG Ming-shu, CHENG An-chun, JIA Ren-yong, YANG Qiao, WU Ying, LIU Ma-feng, ZHAO Xin-xin, ZHU De-kang, CHEN Shun, ZHANG Sha-qiu, WANG Yin, GAO Qun, OU Xu-min, MAO Sai, WEN Xing-jian, XU Zhi-wen, CHEN Zheng-li, ZHU Ling, LUO Qi-hui, TIAN Bin, PAN Lei-chang, Mujeeb Ur REHMAN, LIU Yun-ya, YU Yan-ling, ZHANG Ling, CHEN Xiao-yue

2020, 19 (8): 1928-1940. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63175-6

Abstract （242） PDF in ScienceDirect

Recombinant virus-vectored vaccines are novel agents that can effectively activate specific and nonspecific immunity, are multivalent and multieffective, and have high safety ratings. Animal alphaherpesviruses have a large genome, contain multiple nonessential regions that do not affect viral replication and are capable of accepting the insertion of an exogenous gene and expressing the antigen protein. Furthermore, animal alphaherpesviruses have a wide host spectrum, can replicate in the host and continuously stimulate the animal to produce immunity to the corresponding pathogen, thus making them ideal carriers for recombinant virus-vectored vaccines. With the development of gene-editing technology, recombinant viruses capable of expressing foreign genes can be constructed by various methods. Currently, studies on recombinant virus-vectored vaccines constructed based on animal alphaherpesviruses have involved poultry, pigs, cattle, sheep, and companion animals. Studies have shown that the construction of recombinant animal alphaherpesviruses enables the acquisition of immunity to multiple diseases. This article mainly summarizes the current progress on animal alphaherpesvirus-vectored vaccines, aiming to provide reference for the development of new animal alphaherpesvirus-vectored vaccines.

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Implications of step-chilling on meat color investigated using proteome analysis of the sarcoplasmic protein fraction of beef longissimus lumborum muscle

ZHANG Yi-min, ZHANG Xiu-ze, WANG Tian-tian, David L. Hopkins, MAO Yan-wei, LIANG Rong-rong, YANG Guang-fu, LUO Xin, ZHU Li-xian

2018, 17 (09): 2118-2125. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)62028-3

Abstract （457） PDF （5571KB）（308）

In order to improve beef color and color stability, step-chilling (SC) was applied on excised bovine longissimus lumborum muscle, with chilling starting at 0–4°C for 5 h, then holding the temperature at 12–18°C for 6 h, followed by 0–4°C again until 24 h post-mortem. pH and temperature were measured during rigor on SC loins as well as those subjected to routine chilling (RC, 0–4°C, till 24 h post-mortem). Color L*, a*, b* values, metmyoglobin (MetMb) content, MetMb reducing ability (MRA) and NADH content were determined on samples aged for 1, 7, and 14 d. Sarcoplasmic proteome analysis was only conducted on d 1 samples. The results showed muscles subjected to SC maintained a temperature at around 15°C for 5 to 10 h post-mortem, and exhibited a slow temperature decline, but rapid pH decline. Beef steaks treated with SC had higher L*, a*, b* and chroma values than those of RC samples at 1 and 7 d chilled storage (0–4°C), while showing no significant difference for a*, b* and chroma values at d 14. The SC samples also exhibited a lower relative content of surface MetMb, higher MRA and NADH content, compared with RC beef steaks during storage, indicating the SC-treated beef showed an improved color stability. Eleven differential protein spots/nine proteins were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, and those proteins were mainly involved in redox, chaperone binding, metabolic and peroxidase activity. Oxidoreductases play a role in decreasing the oxidation-induced myoglobin oxidation and benefiting the production of NADH, and finally improving the colour of beef. Of these, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component subunit beta showed a positive correlation with color L*, a*, b* values and accounted for more than 60% of the variation in color values; this protein can be considered as a potential beef color biomarker. The present study provided valuable information for studies on the molecular mechanism of color improvement from step-chilling, as well as for identifying markers associated with beef color.

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Characterisation of pH decline and meat color development of beef carcasses during the early postmortem period in a Chinese beef cattle abattoir

ZHANG Yi-min, David L. Hopkins, ZHAO Xiao-xiao, Remy van de Ven, MAO Yan-wei, ZHU Li-xian, HAN Guang-xing, LUO Xin

2018, 17 (07): 1691-1695. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61890-2

Abstract （600） PDF in ScienceDirect

This study investigated the pH/temperature decline of beef carcasses in a typical Chinese abattoir and color development as pH declined during rigor onset. A natural cubic spline model was used to model the pH/temperature decline for those carcasses which passed through pH 6.0. Six of the 97 carcasses that exhibited a high (≥6.10) ultimate pH (pHu) (dark-cutting) in the M. longissimus lumborum (LL) were sampled, along with the same numbers of normal pHu and intermediate pHu carcasses (5.40–5.79; 5.80–6.10, respectively), to examine color development within 24 h postmortem. It was shown that 66.7% of the modeled carcasses were outside the ideal pH/temperature window with a temperature@pH6.0 lower than ideal, suggesting the need for acceleration of the pH decline. The stable and low a*, b* and chroma values of high pHu beef within the first 12 h indicated dark-cutting beef might be detected earlier than expected.

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Structure and expression analysis of the sucrose synthase gene family in apple

TONG Xiao-lei, WANG Zheng-yang, MA Bai-quan, ZHANG Chun-xia, ZHU Ling-cheng, MA Feng-wang, LI Ming-jun

2018, 17 (04): 847-856. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61755-6

Abstract （628） PDF in ScienceDirect

Sucrose synthases (SUS) are a family of enzymes that play pivotal roles in carbon partitioning, sink strength and plant development. A total of 11 SUS genes have been identified in the genome of Malus domestica (MdSUSs), and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the MdSUS genes were divided into three groups, named as SUS I, SUS II and SUS III, respectively. The SUS I and SUS III groups included four homologs each, whereas the SUS II group contained three homologs. SUS genes in the same group showed similar structural characteristics, such as exon number, size and length distribution. After assessing four different tissues, MdSUS1s and MdSUS2.1 showed the highest expression in fruit, whereas MdSUS2.2/2.3 and MdSUS3s exhibit the highest expression in shoot tips. Most MdSUSs showed decreased expression during fruit development, similar to SUS enzyme activity, but both MdSUS2.1 and MdSUS1.4 displayed opposite expression profiles. These results suggest that different MdSUS genes might play distinct roles in the sink-source sugar cycle and sugar utilization in apple sink tissues.

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Effects of salt stress on rice growth, development characteristics, and the regulating ways: A review

Sajid Hussain, ZHANG Jun-hua, ZHONG Chu, ZHU Lian-feng, CAO Xiao-chuang, YU Sheng-miao, Allen Bohr James, HU Ji-jie, JIN Qian-yu

2017, 16 (11): 2357-2374. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61608-8

Abstract （1113） PDF in ScienceDirect

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is highly susceptible to the rhizosphere salinity than other cereals. High sensitivity has been observed, mainly at vegetative and reproductive stages in rice. It is the duty of plant physiologists to comprehend the growth, development, and physiological processes of rice plants under stress. This paper includes the overview of rice growth and developmental processes influenced by salt stress and the regulation pathways involved in these processes. It also includes the promising salt tolerance strategies, i.e., genetic modification techniques, agronomic practices to improve rice growth, yield, and role of phytohormones and their management, especially inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis by using inhibitors 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Rice cultivation may be a first choice for improvement of salt tolerance through plant growth regulators and improved cultivation techniques. This study will significantly improve the understanding toward low rice grain yield and poor rice resistance under salt stress and will also stream scientific knowledge for effective utilization of salt affected soils by using different regulating ways.

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Utilizing modified ubi1 introns to enhance exogenous gene expression in maize (Zea mays L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)

PAN Yang-yang, CHEN Rui, ZHU Li, WANG Hai, HUANG Da-fang, LANG Zhi-hong

2016, 15 (8): 1716-1726. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61260-6

Abstract （2076） PDF in ScienceDirect

The phenomenon of intron-mediated enhancement (IME) was discovered in 1990 based on the observation that plant introns can stimulate gene expression, particularly in monocots. However, the intrinsic mechanism of IME remains unclear because many studies have yielded various results depending on the promoter, reporter gene, flanking sequences of the intron, and target cell or tissue. In this study, the effect of the first intron of the maize ubiquitin gene (ubi1 intron) was investigated by changing insertion sites, deleting specific regions and mutating individual motifs in maize (Zea mays L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) using ubi1 intron-containing GUS (β-glucuronidase) constructs. In maize callus, the integration of the full-length ubi1 intron into the GUS coding sequence at the +13, +115 and +513 positions by particle bombardment increased GUS activity approximately five-, four- and two-fold, respectively. Eight truncated ubi1 introns in the pSG(13i)N construct significantly influenced GUS gene expression to different degrees in transient assays. Notably, the 3´ region deletions significantly reduced the IME effect, whereas a 142-nt deletion, pSG(13i-P5)N, in the 5´ region caused a 1.5-fold enhancement relative to pSG(13i)N. Furthermore, four site-directed mutageneses were performed in pSG(13i-P5)N; these constructs resulted in the up-regulation of GUS gene expression to different levels. The most effective modified ubi1 intron, pSG(13i-M4)N, was further evaluated and proved in rice using transient experiments. In addition, the sequences flanking the GUS insertion significantly influenced the IME effect of the vectors that were constructed. The modified ubi1 intron had the potential application on crop genetic engineering.

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Genetic diversity center of cultivated soybean (Glycine max) in China - New insight and evidence for the diversity center of Chinese cultivated soybean

WANG Li-xia, LIN Fan-yun, LI Lin-hai, LI Wei, YAN Zhe, LUAN Wei-jiang, PIAO Ri-hua, GUAN Yuan, NING Xue-cheng, ZHU Li, MA Yan-song, DONG Zhi-min, ZHANG Hai-yan, ZHANG Yue-qiang, GUAN Rongxia, ......

2016, 15 (11): 2481-2487. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61289-8

Abstract （1466） PDF in ScienceDirect

Information on the center of genetic diversity of soybean (Glycine max) will be helpful not only for designing efficient strategies for breeding programs, but also for understanding the domestication and origin of this species. Here, we describe an analysis of genetic diversity based on simple-sequence repeat (SSR) variations within a core collection of 2 111 accessions of Chinese soybean landraces. Prior to the diversity assessment, the geographic origin of each accession was mapped. The map was then divided into grids each 2.5° in latitude and 5° in longitude. We found two regions that had higher number of alleles (NA) and greater polymorphic information content (PIC) values than the others. These regions are adjacently located within grid position of 30°–35°N×105°–110°E, which includes the valley of the middle and lower reaches of the Wei River, and the valley of the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River. It was also observed that in many regions, genetic diversity decreased with the increase in distance from the center. Another region, in northern Hebei Province (115°–120°E×40°–42.5°N), was observed having higher diversity than any surrounding regions, indicating that this is a sub-center of soybean diversity. Based on the presented results, the domestication and origin of soybean are also discussed.

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Molecular mapping of leaf rust resistance genes in the wheat line Yu 356-9

HAN Liu-sha, LI Zai-feng, WANG Jia-zhen, SHI Ling-zhi, ZHU Lin, LI Xing, LIU Da-qun, Syed J A Shah

2015, 14 (7): 1223-1228. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60964-3

Abstract （2360） PDF in ScienceDirect

The Chinese wheat line Yu 356-9 exhibits a high level of resistance to leaf rust. In order to decipher the genetic base of resistance in Yu 356-9, gene postulation, inheritance analyses, and chromosome linkage mapping were carried out. Gene postulation completed using 15 leaf rust pathotypes and 36 isogenic lines indicated that Yu 356-9 was resistant to all pathotypes tested. F1 and F2 plants from the cross Yu 356-9 (resistant)/Zhengzhou 5389 (susceptible) were tested with leaf rust pathotype “FHNQ” in the greenhouse. Results indicated a 3:1 segregation ratio, indicative of the presence of a single dominant leaf rust resistance gene in Yu 356-9 which was temporarily designated as LrYu. Bulk segregant analysis and molecular marker assays were used to map LrYu. Five simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers on chromosome 2BS were found closely linked to LrYu. Among these markers, Xwmc770 is the most closely linked, with a genetic distance of 5.7 cM.

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Developing transgenic maize (Zea mays L.) with insect resistance and glyphosate tolerance by fusion gene transformation

SUN He, LANG Zhi-hong, LU Wei, ZHANG Jie, HE Kang-lai , ZHU Li, LIN Min, HUANG Da-fang

2015, 14 (2): 305-313. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60855-8

Abstract （1803） PDF in ScienceDirect

Using linker peptide LP4/2A for multiple gene transformation is considered to be an effective method to stack or pyramid several traits in plants. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry gene and epsps (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene are two important genes for culturing pest-resistant and glyphosate-tolerant crops. We used linker peptide LP4/2A to connect the Bt cry1Ah gene with the 2mG2-epsps gene and combined the wide-used manA gene as a selective marker to construct one coordinated expression vector called p2EPUHLAGN. The expression vector was transferred into maize by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, and 60 plants were obtained, 40% of which were positive transformants. Molecular detection demonstrated that the two genes in the fusion vector were expressed simultaneously and spliced correctly in translation processing; meanwhile bioassay detection proved the transgenic maize had preferable pest resistance and glyphosate tolerance. Therefore, linker peptide LP4/2A provided a simple and reliable strategy for producing gene stacking in maize and the result showed that the fusion gene transformation system of LP4/2A was feasible in monocot plants.

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Effects of root restriction on nitrogen and gene expression levels in nitrogen metabolism in Jumeigui grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.×Vitis labrusca L.)

YU Xiu-ming, LI Jie-fa, ZHU Li-na, WANG Bo, WANG Lei, BAI Yang, ZHANG Cai-xi, XU Wen-ping, WANG Shi-ping

2015, 14 (1): 67-79. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60876-5

Abstract （1805） PDF in ScienceDirect

To decipher the relationship between the inhibited shoot growth and expression pattern of key enzymes in nitrogen metabolism under root restriction, the effects of root restriction on diurnal variation of expression of nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthetase (GS1-1, GS1-2, GS2) and glutamate synthase (Fd-GOGAT, NADH-GOGAT) genes and nitrogen levels were evaluated in two-year-old Jumeigui grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.×Vitis labrusca L.) when significant differences in shoot growth were observed between treatments at expansion stage (22 days after anthesis). Grapevines were planted in root-restricting pits as root restriction and in an unrestricted field as the control. Results showed that root restriction significantly reduced shoot growth, but promoted the growth of white roots and fibrous brown roots and improved the fruit quality. (NO3 –+NO2 –)-N concentration in all plant parts, NH4 +-N concentration in white roots and total N concentration in leaves and brown roots were significantly reduced under root restriction. Gene expression analysis revealed that mRNA levels of genes related to the GS1/NADH-GOGAT pathway were lower in root-restricted than in control petioles, whereas genes involved in the GS2/Fd-GOGAT pathway were up-regulated under root restriction. Root restriction also resulted in downregulation of genes involved in nitrogen metabolism in leaves, especially at 10:00, while transcript levels of all these genes were enhanced in root-restricted white and brown roots at most time points. This organ-dependent response contributed to the alteration in NO3 – reduction and NH4 + assimilation under root restriction, leading to less NO3 – transported from roots and then assimilated in root-restricted leaves. Therefore, this study implied that shoot growth inhibition in grapevines under root restriction is closely associated with down-regulation of gene expression in nitrogen metabolism in leaves.

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Soil mulching can mitigate soil water deficiency impacts on rainfed maize production in semiarid environments

ZHU Lin, LIU Jian-liang, LUO Sha-sha, BU Ling-duo, CHEN Xin-ping； LI Shi-qing

2015, 14 (1): 58-66. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60845-5

Abstract （1775） PDF in ScienceDirect

Temporally irregular rainfall distribution and inefficient rainwater management create severe constraints on crop production in rainfed semiarid areas. Gravel and plastic film mulching are effective methods for improving agricultural productivity and water utilization. However, the effects of these mulching practices on soil water supply and plant water use associated with crop yield are not well understood. A 3-yr study was conducted to analyze the occurrence and distribution of dry spells in a semiarid region of Northwest China and to evaluate the effects of non-mulching (CK), gravel mulching (GM) and plastic film mulching (FM) on the soil water supply, plant water use and maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield. Rainfall analysis showed that dry spells of ≥5 days occurred frequently in each of 3 yr, accounting for 59.9–69.2% of the maize growing periods. The >15-d dry spells during the jointing stage would expose maize plants to particularly severe water stress. Compared with the CK treatment, both the GM and FM treatments markedly increased soil water storage during the early growing season. In general, the total evapotranspiration (ET) was not significantly different among the three treatments, but the mulched treatments significantly increased the ratio of pre- to post-silking ET, which was closely associated with yield improvement. As a result, the grain yield significantly increased by 17.1, 70.3 and 16.7% for the GM treatment and by 28.3, 87.6 and 38.2% for the FM treatment in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, compared with the CK treatment. It’s concluded that both GM and FM are effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of water deficit and improving maize production in semiarid areas. However, FM is more effective than GM.

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Acquisition of Insect-Resistant Transgenic Maize Harboring a Truncated cry1Ah Gene via Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation

LI Xiu-ying, LANG Zhi-hong, ZHANG Jie, HE Kang-lai, ZHU Li , HUANG Da-fang

2014, 13 (5): 937-944. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60531-6

Abstract （2075） PDF in ScienceDirect

A novel insecticidal gene cry1Ah was cloned from Bacillus thuringiensis isolate BT8 previously for plant genetic engineering improvement. Truncated active Cry1Ah toxin has a toxicity level similar to that of the full-length Cry1Ah toxin. In this study, plant expression vector pMhGM harboring truncated cry1Ah gene was transformed into maize (Zea mays L.) immature embryos by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation at which maize alcohol dehydrogenase matrix attachment regions (madMARs) were incorporated on both sides of the gene expression cassette to improve gene expression. A total of 23 PCR positive events were obtained with a transformation efficiency of 5% around. Bioassay results showed that events 1-4 and 1-5 exhibited enhanced resistance to the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis). These two events were further confirmed by molecular analysis. Southern blot suggested that a single copy of the cry1Ah gene was successfully integrated into the maize genome. Western blot and ELISA showed that the foreign gene cry1Ah was expressed stably at high level in maize and could be inherited stably over generations. The results of a bioassay of T1-T4 transgenic maize plants indicated that the transgenic plants were highly toxic to the Asian corn borer and their resistance could be inherited stably from generation to generation. Thus, events 1-4 and 1-5 are good candidates for the breeding of insect-resistant maize.

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Temporal Variation in Sap-Flux-Scaled Transpiration and Cooling Effect of a Subtropical Schima superba Plantation in the Urban Area of Guangzhou

ZHU Li-wei , ZHAO Ping

2013, 12 (8): 1350-1356. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60548-1

Abstract （1605） PDF in ScienceDirect

Agriculture could suffer the water stress induced by climate change. Because climate warming affects global hydrological cycles, it is vital to explore the effect of tree transpiration, as an important component of terrestrial evapotranspiration, on the environment. Thermal dissipation probes were used to measure xylem sap flux density of a Schima superba plantation in the urban area of Guangzhou City, South China. Stand transpiration was calculated by mean sap flux density times total sapwood area. The occurrence of the maximum sap flux density on the daily scale was later in wet season than in dry season. The peak of daily sap flux density was the highest of 59 g m-2 s-1 in July and August, and the lowest of 28 g m-2 s-1 in December. In the two periods (November 2007-October 2008 and November 2008-October 2009), the stand transpiration reached 263.2 and 291.6 mm, respectively. During our study period, stand transpiration in wet season (from April to September) could account for about 58.5 and 53.8% of the annual transpiration, respectively. Heat energy absorbed by tree transpiration averaged 1.4×108 and 1.6×108 kJ per month in this Schima superba plantation with the area of 2 885 m2, and temperature was reduced by 4.3 and 4.7°C s-1 per 10 m3 air.

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Improvement of Yield and Its Related Traits for Backbone Hybrid Rice Parent Minghui 86 Using Advanced Backcross Breeding Strategies

ZHANG Hong-jun, WANG Hui, YE Guo-you, QIAN Yi-liang, SHI Ying-yao, XIA Jia-fa, LI Ze-fu, ZHU Ling-hua, GAO Yong-ming, LI Zhi-kang

2013, 12 (4): 561-570. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60273-7

Abstract （1468） PDF in ScienceDirect

How to overcome yield stagnation is a big challenge to rice breeders. An effective method for quickly developing new cultivars is to further improve an outstanding cultivar. In this study, three advanced backcross populations under yield selection that consist of 123 BC2F2:4 introgression lines (ILs) were developed by crossing Minghui 86 (recurrent parent, RP) with three high-yielding varieties (donors), namely, ZDZ057, Fuhui 838, and Teqing, respectively. The progeny testing allowed the identification of 12 promising ILs that had significantly higher mean grain yields than Minghui 86 in two environments. A total of 55 QTLs that affect grain yield and its related traits were identified, which included 50 QTLs that were detected using the likelihood ratio test based on stepwise regression (RSTEP-LRT) method, and eight grain yield per plant (GY) QTLs were detected using chi-squared (c2) test. Among these QTLs, five QTLs were simultaneously detected in different populations and 22 QTLs were detected in both environments. The beneficial donor alleles for increased GY and its related traits were identified in 63.6% (35 out of 55) of the QTLs. These promising ILs and QTLs identified will provide the elite breeding materials and genetic information for further improvement of the grain yield for Minghui 86 through pyramiding breeding.

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QTL Mapping for Stalk Related Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Different Densities

ZHU Li-ying, CHEN Jing-tang, Li Ding, ZHANG Jian-hua, HUANG Ya-qun, ZHAO Yong-feng, SONG Zhan-quan , LIU Zhi-zeng

2013, 12 (2): 218-228. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60221-X

Abstract （1522） PDF in ScienceDirect

Stalk related traits, comprising plant height (PH), ear height (EH), internode number (IN), average internode length (AIL), stalk diameter (SD), and ear height coefficient (EHC), are significantly correlated with yield, density tolerance, and lodging resistance in maize. To investigate the genetic basis for stalk related traits, a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from a cross between NX531 and NX110 were evauluated under two densities over 2 yr. The additive quantitative trait loci (QTLs), epistatic QTLs were detected using inclusive composite interval mapping and QTL-by-environment interaction were detected using mixed linear model. Differences between the two densities were significant for the six traits in the DH population. A linkage map that covered 1 721.19 cM with an average interval of 10.50 cM was constructed with 164 simple sequence repeat (SSR). Two, two, seven, six, two, and eight additive QTLs for PH, IN, AIL, EH, SD, and EHC, respectively. The extend of their contribution to penotypic variation ranged from 10.10 to 31.93%. Seven QTLs were indentified simultaneously under both densities. One pair, two pairs and one pair of epistatic effects were detected for AIL, SD and EHC, respectively. No epistatic effects were detected for PH, EH, and IN. Nineteen QTLs with environment interactions were detected and their contribution to phenotypic variation ranged from 0.43 to 1.89%. Some QTLs were stably detected under different environments or genetic backgrounds comparing with previous studies. These QTLs could be useful for genetic improvement of stalk related traits in maize breeding.

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Genetic Analysis of Cold Tolerance at Seedling Stage and Heat Tolerance atAnthesis in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

CHENG Li-rui, Veronica Uzokwe, WANG Yun, ZHU Linghua

2012, 12 (3): 359-367. DOI: 10.1016/S1671-2927(00)8553

Abstract （1980） PDF in ScienceDirect

A set of 240 introgression lines derived from the advanced backcross population of a cross between a japonica cultivar,Xiushui 09, and an indica breeding line, IR2061, was developed to dissect QTLs affecting cold tolerance (CT) at seedlingstage and heat tolerance (HT) at anthesis. Survival rate of seedlings (SRS) and spikelet fertility (SF), the index traits of CTand HT, showed significant differences between the two parents under stresses. A total of four QTLs (qSRS1, qSRS7,qSRS11a and qSRS11b) for CT were identified on chromosomes 1, 7, 11, and the Xiushui 09 alleles increased SRS at all lociexcept qSRS7. Four QTLs for SF were identified on chromosomes 4, 5, 6, and 11. These QTLs could be classified into twomajor types based on their behaviors under normal and stress conditions. The first was QTL expressed only under normalcondition; and the second QTL was apparently stress induced and only expressed under stress. Among them, two QTLs(qSF4 and qSF6) which reduced the trait difference between heat stress and normal conditions must have contributed toHT because of their obvious contribution to trait stability, and the IR2061 allele at the qSF6 and the Xiushui 09 allele at the qSF4improved HT, respectively. No similar QTL was found between CT at seedling stage and HT at anthesis. Therefore, it ispossible to breed a new variety with CT and HT by pyramiding the favorable CT- and HT-improved alleles at above locifrom Xiushui 09 and IR2061, respectively, through marker-assisted selection (MAS).

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Diversity, Structure, and Marker-Trait Association Analysis of the Maize Recombinant Inbred Line Population

CHEN Jing-tang; HU Li-zong; ZHU Li-ying; GUO Jin-jie; ZHAO Yong-feng and HUANG Ya-qun

2011, 10 (7): 975-986. DOI: 10.1016/S1671-2927(11)60084-9

Abstract （1688） PDF in ScienceDirect

Association mapping has emerged as a new tool to elucidate complex quantitative trait loci in maize, but there are fewreports about systematic association analysis for the specific SSR markers with agronomic traits of interest in China.We investigated the morphological and genetic diversity and population structure for 76 maize recombinant inbredlines, and then association analysis were further performed between 48 simple sequence repeat loci and 17 morphologicaltraits, consisting of nine ear-related traits and eight other traits. The 48 SSR markers were screened out and furtherclassified into two groups including a group of loci in regions harboring reported quantitative trait loci that affect earshape and a group of markers distributing on the whole genome randomly. The result indicated that the population ofrecombinant inbred lines was structured, showing five subpopulations. Our association results revealed that therewere 82, 59, and 40 significant associations detected by K-test, logistic regression, and both analysis, respectively.When the 17 traits were considered separately, the significant associations between Q-SSRs and E-traits were raised to27.8%, whereas the other groups of combinations ranged between 2.3 and 6.3%. As the proportion of significantassociations is higher among the Q-SSR subset of markers and the subset of traits related to ear shape than those forall of the other combinations, we conclude that this approach is valid for establishing true positive marker-traitrelationships. Our results also demonstrated that association mapping could complement and enhance previous QTLinformation for marker-assisted selection.

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Optimizing tillage and fertilization practices to improve the carbon footprint and energy efficiency of wheat-maize cropping systems

Kun Han, Xinzhu Li, Liang Jia, Dazhao Yu, Wenhua Xu, Hongkun Chen, Tao Song, Peng Liu

DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.026 Online: 03 April 2024

Abstract （42） PDF in ScienceDirect

To make agricultural systems sustainable in terms of their greenness and efficiency, it is essential to optimize the tillage and fertilization practices. To assess the effect of tilling and fertilization practices in the wheat-maize cropping systems, we carried out a three-year field experiment designed to quantify the carbon footprint (CF), and energy efficiency of the cropping systems in the North China Plain. As the study parameters, we used four tillage practices (no tillage (NT), conventional tillage (CT), rotary tillage (RT) and subsoiling rotary tillage (SRT)), and two fertilizer regimes (inorganic fertilizer (IF), and hybrid fertilizer with organic and inorganic components (HF)). Our results indicated that the most prominent energy inputs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions could be ascribed to the use of fertilizers and fuel consumption. Assuming the same fertilization regime, ranking the tillage patterns with respect to the value of the crop yield, the profit, the CF, the energy use efficiency (EUE) or the energy productivity (EP) for either wheat or maize always gave the following result: SRT>RT>CT>NT. For the same tillage, the energy consumption associated with HF was higher than IF, but its GHG emissions and CF were lower while the yield and profit were better. In terms of the overall performance, tilling is more beneficial than NT, and reduced tillage (RT and SRT) are more beneficial than CT. The fertilization regime with the best overall performance was HF. Combining SRT with HF has significant potential for reducing CF and increasing EUE, improving the sustainability. Adopting measures promoting these optimizations can help overcome the challenges posed by lack of food security, energy crises and ecological stress.

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