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Natural variation in SbTEF1 contributes to salt tolerance in sorghum seedlings  Chang Liu, Lei Tian, Wenbo Yu, Yu Wang, Ziqing Yao, Yue Liu, Luomiao Yang, Chunjuan Liu, Xiaolong Shi, Tao Liu, Bingru Chen, Zhenguo Wang, Haiqiu Yu, Yufei Zhou 2025, 24 (11): 4168-4181.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.030 Abstract （693）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Salt stress is a major constraint to crop productivity and quality.  The limited availability of salt-tolerant genes poses significant challenges to breeding programs aimed at enhancing salt tolerance.  Sorghum displays a remarkable ability to withstand saline conditions; therefore, elucidating the genetic underpinnings of this trait is crucial.  This study entailed a comprehensive resequencing of 186 sorghum accessions to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) focusing on relative root length (RL) and root fresh weight (RFW) under salt stress conditions.  We identified eight candidate genes within a co-localized region, among which SbTEF1 - a gene encoding a transcription elongation factor protein - was deemed a potential candidate due to its annotation and expression pattern alterations under salt stress.  Haplotype analysis, gene cloning, linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis, and allele effect analysis revealed that PAV284, located in the promoter region of SbTEF1, modulated gene expression under salt stress, which, in turn, influenced sorghum seedlings’ salt tolerance.  PAV284 holds promise as a genetic marker for selecting salt-tolerant germplasm via marker-assisted breeding, enhancing the development of salt-tolerant sorghum cultivars. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Intramuscular fat deposition in pig: A key target for improving pork quality Qi Han, Xingguo Huang, Jun He, Yiming Zeng, Jie Yin, Yulong Yin 2025, 24 (12): 4461-4483.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.005 Abstract （632）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important economic trait for pork quality, affecting meat flavour, juiciness, and tenderness.  Hence, the improvement of IMF content is one of the hotspots of animal science to provide better meat product.  Here, we found that most IMF-related genes are enriched in lipid metabolism processes, including fatty acid transport and uptake, fatty acid beta oxidation, lipid synthesis, lipid storage, and lipolysis.  PPAR and AMPK signalling pathways are identified to be responsible for IMF deposition.  Genetics and nongenetic factors (i.e., diets, gut microbiota, age, sex and management) also positively or negatively regulate the IMF content in pigs.  Taken together, this review deepens our understanding of how these factors affect pig IMF deposition and provides valuable information for moderately increasing IMF content. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Global trends in the commercialization of genetically modified crops in 2024 Haohui Li, Xingru Cheng, Liqiang Wang, Pei Xie, Haiwen Zhang, Yadong Yang, Tao Liu, Youhua Wang 2026, 25 (4): 1307-1315.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.11.037 Abstract （612）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The ongoing commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops continues to enhance global grain yields, improve crop quality, and reduce pesticide usage. These technological advancements have effectively propelled agricultural production systems toward sustainable transformation. Specifically, GM crops address core challenges such as pest infestations, weed proliferation, and arable land constraints, emerging as a pivotal new productive force in agriculture. This study systematically examines the global spatial distribution patterns of GM crops in 2024 and provides an indepth analysis of the driving forces and evolving regional trends, offering critical informational support and strategic guidance for innovation in agricultural science and technology. In 2024, the global GM crop cultivation area reached 209.8 million hectares, a 1.7% year-on-year increase. GM Glycine max (soybean) and Zea mays (maize) dominated the landscape, accounting for 50.0 and 32.5% of the total area, respectively. Among them, maize with stacked traits of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance accounts for 92.5% of GM maize. The share of cultivation in developing countries expanded substantially, with Brazil and Vietnam emerging as regional growth drivers. Policy support and the diffusion of advanced technologies were identified as core driving forces. Concurrently, applications of gene-editing technology accelerated, and several countries approved novel tr aits such as drought tolerance and disease resistance, marking substantial progress in the commercialization of next-generation GM crops. This research provides multidimensional insights and strategic guidance to support global agricultural biotechnology development, promoting the transition of biotechnology breeding into the ‘4.0 era’. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Establishing an induced infertile chicken line for efficient germline transmission of exogenous PGCs Haimei Qin, Xiaoxuan Jia, Zhenwen Huang, Yifei Zhi, Na Ji, Meiyu Lan, Lang Zhang, Xingting Liu, Huiyan Xu, Yangqing Lu 2026, 25 (1): 227-234.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.08.009 Abstract （594）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the stem-cell population of adult animal gametes, which develop into sperm or eggs.  It can be propagated in vitro and injected into the host chicken for genome editing to obtain germline chimeric chicken.  However, it has the limitation that the host embryo contains endogenous PGCs, which raises complications, resultantly donor PGCs fail to compete, and transmission efficiency reduced.  Therefore, to increase the transmission efficiency, we generated a novel sterile chicken with the inducible elimination of endogenous PGCs in the host.  This is the first study that applied the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) cell ablation system in avian.  CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-directed repair was performed to localize the HSV-TK suicide gene to the last exon of the deleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL) gene, and ganciclovir (GCV) was added to induce the apoptosis in the germ cells of the host embryo.  The sterilized host embryo introduced genome-edited PGCs to produce chimeric chicken carrying exogenous germ cells only.  It was observed that the germline transmission efficiency was 100% achieved, and the obtained chicks were purely from donor breeds.  The technologies established in the current study have important applications in germplasm conservation and gene editing in chicken. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Novel characterization of NADC30-like and NADC34-like PRRSV strains in China: epidemiological status and pathogenicity analysis of L1A variants Hu Xu, Siyu Zhang, Zhenyang Guo, Chao Li, Bangjun Gong, Jinhao Li, Qi Sun, Jing Zhao, Menglin Zhang, Lirun Xiang, Yandong Tang, Chaoliang Leng, Jianan Wu, Qian Wang, Jinmei Peng, Guohui Zhou, Huairan Liu, Tongqing An, Xuehui Cai, Zhijun Tian, Hongliang Zhang 2026, 25 (1): 235-246.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.056 Abstract （550）      PDF in ScienceDirect       NADC34-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which first appeared in China in 2017, is currently one of the main epidemic strains in China.  In this study, we found that a new variant of NADC34-like PRRSV evolved, named the L1A variant.  The phylogenetics, epidemic status, and pathogenicity of the LA variants were subsequently comprehensively evaluated.  Based on the results of the ORF5 phylogenetic analysis, the L1A variants were classified as NADC34-like PPRSV.  All the strains had the same discontinuous 131-aa deletion in the NSP2 region (similar to that in the NADC30).  Recombination analysis revealed that the L1A variants were recombinant viruses that contained an NADC30-like PRRSV skeleton, a nonstructural protein-encoding gene region obtained in part from JXA1-like PRRSV and a ORF2-ORF6 gene region partly obtained from NADC34-like PRRSV and that exhibited similar recombination patterns.  We successfully isolated the L1A variant TZJ2756 from PAMs and Marc-145 cells.  In animal experiments, TZJ2756 exhibited moderate pathogenicity in piglets, causing obvious clinical symptoms, namely, persistent fever, significantly reduced body weight, interstitial edema and severe interstitial pneumonia in the lungs, and prolonged high-load viremia.  L1A variants have been detected in at least 12 provinces in China and share many similar epidemiological characteristics with the American L1C variant.  This research will enhance our understanding of the prevalence of L1A variants and furnish valuable data for the ongoing monitoring of NADC34-like PRRSV in China. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Long-term excessive nitrogen application decreases spring maize nitrogen use efficiency via suppressing root physiological characteristics Hong Ren, Zheng Liu, Xinbing Wang, Wenbin Zhou, Baoyuan Zhou, Ming Zhao, Congfeng Li 2025, 24 (11): 4195-4210.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.05.031 Abstract （530）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Long-term excessive nitrogen (N) application neither increases nor enhances grain yield and N use efficiency (NUE) of maize, yet the mechanisms involving root morphological and physiological characteristics remain unclear.  This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying stagnant grain yield under excessive N application by examining root morphological and physiological characteristics.  A 10-year N fertilizer trial was conducted in Jilin Province, Northeast China, cultivating maize at three N fertilizer levels (zero N, N0; recommended N, N2; and high N level, N4) from 2019 to 2021.  Two widely cultivated maize genotypes, ‘Xianyu 335’ (XY335) and ‘Zhengdan 958’ (ZD958), were evaluated.  Grain yield, N content, root morphology, and physiological characteristics were analyzed to assess the relationships between N uptake, N utilization, plant growth, and root systems under different N treatments.  Compared to N0, root biomass, post-silking N uptake, and grain yield improved significantly with increased N input, while no significant differences emerged between recommended N and high N.  High N application enhanced root length and root surface area but decreased root activity (measured by TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) method), nitrate reductase activity, and root activity absorbing area across genotypes.  Root length and root to shoot ratio negatively affected N uptake (by –1.2 and –24.6%), while root surface area, root activity, nitrate reductase activity, and root activity absorbing area contributed positively.  The interaction between cultivar and N application significantly influenced NUE.  XY335 achieved the highest NUE (11.6%) and N recovery efficiency (18.4%) through superior root surface area (23.6%), root activity (12.5%), nitrate reductase activity (8.3%), and root activity absorbing area (6.9%) compared to other treatments.  Recommended N application enhanced Post N uptake, NUE, and grain yield through improved root characteristics, while high N application failed to increase or decreased NUE by reducing these parameters.  This study demonstrates that root surface area, root activity, nitrate reductase activity, and root activity absorbing area limit NUE increase under high N application. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Abscisic acid reduces Cd accumulation by regulating Cd transport and cell wall sequestration in rice Zhijun Xu, Jiashi Peng, Yanlei Fu, Jing Zhao, Yan Peng, Bohan Liu, Xujun Hu, Yuchuan Liu, Meijuan Duan, Nenghui Ye, Zhenxie Yi, Shuan Meng 2025, 24 (10): 3703-3718.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.010 Abstract （497）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Cadmium (Cd) uptake by rice plants and its subsequent movement through food chains pose a notable risk to the health of both plants and humans.  Therefore, understanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying the uptake and movement process is essential.  Through transcriptome analysis, we found that numerous abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes responded to Cd stress.  Exogenous application of ABA significantly reduced Cd accumulation in the shoots and roots of rice plants.  The increased ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme activity, decreased H2O2 content, and elevated Cd tolerance index collectively suggest that ABA may mitigate the toxicity of Cd in rice plants.  Further study revealed that exogenous ABA reduced Cd accumulation by regulating Cd transport and cell wall sequestration.  Consistently, mutation of the ABA signaling factor OsABI5 resulted in a significant increase in Cd accumulation in shoots.  Moreover, foliar spraying of ABA during the grain-filling stage significantly reduced Cd accumulation in rice grains, which was attributed mainly to decreased Cd uptake and the inhibition of Cd transportation from roots to shoots and from leaves to grains.  These findings elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the ABA-mediated response to Cd stress in rice and provide a practical reference for coping with Cd pollution in farmlands Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Fhb9, a major QTL for Fusarium head blight resistance improvement in wheat Fuping Zhang, Hongjun Zhang, Jilu Liu, Xiaomeng Ren, Yanpeng Ding, Fangyao Sun, Zhenzhen Zhu, Xi He, Yang Zhou, Guihua Bai, Zhongfu Ni, Qixin Sun, Zhenqi Su 2025, 24 (11): 4127-4137.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.045 Abstract （491）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Fusarium head blight (FHB), mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide. Identification and validation of major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for FHB resistance without negative effects on agronomic traits is critical to success in breeding FHB-resistant cultivars.  In this study, a stable major QTL on chromosome arm 2DL was identified by evaluating a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from Shi4185×Shijiazhuang 8 in both field and greenhouse experiments.  QTL mapping and pedigree analyses indicated that the 2DL QTL is the same QTL as QFhb-2DL previously identified in Ji5265, therefore, designated Fhb9.  Four kompetitive amplicon sequence polymorphism (KASP) markers were developed based on exome capture sequencing data to enhance marker density in the Fhb9 region, and it was delimited to an interval between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers KASP-12056 (533.8) and KASP-525 (525.9 Mb) explained 26.0-30.1% of the phenotypic variation.  Analysis of the geographic distribution of the Fhb9 resistance allele suggested that it originated from Huang-Huai winter wheat region in China, and very low frequency of Fhb9 in modern Chinese cultivars reveals that it has not been widely deployed in breeding programs.  Field and greenhouse evaluation of yield-related traits of near-isogenic lines (NILs) contrasting in Fhb9 alleles indicated that Fhb9 resistance allele did not show any adverse effects on those traits.  Fhb9 showed an additive effect on enhancing FHB resistance with Fhb1.  Therefore, Fhb9 is a valuable major QTL for improving FHB resistance in wheat and the near-diagnostic markers developed in this study will facilitate its deployment in wheat breeding programs. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Optimizing nitrogen application and planting density improves yield and resource use efficiency via regulating canopy light and nitrogen distribution in rice Zichen Liu, Liyan Shang, Shuaijun Dai, Jiayu Ye, Tian Sheng, Jun Deng, Ke Liu, Shah Fahad, Xiaohai Tian, Yunbo Zhang, Liying Huang 2026, 25 (1): 81-91.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.04.006 Abstract （481）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Coordinating light and nitrogen (N) distribution within a canopy is essential for improving rice yield and resource use efficiency.  However, limited research has examined light and N distribution in response to planting density and N rate, and their relationships with grain yield, radiation use efficiency (RUE), and N use efficiency for grain production (NUEg) in rice.  A two-year field experiment was conducted with two hybrid varieties under three N levels, 0 kg ha–1 (N1), 90 kg ha–1 (N2) and 180 kg ha–1 (N3), and two planting densities, 22.2 hills m–2 (D1) and 33.3 hills m–2 (D2).  Results showed 3.4% higher yield and 4.4% higher NUEg under N2D2 compared with N3D1.  The extinction coefficient for N (KN) and light (KL) and their ratio (KN/KL) at heading stage were significantly influenced by N rate, planting density, and their interaction.  KN decreased with the increase of N input or planting density.  Compared to N1, KN decreased by 43.5 and 58.8% under N2 and N3, respectively, while KN under D2 decreased by 16.0% compared to D1.  Higher KL and KN/KL values occurred under low N rates, with opposite trends under high N rates.  Increased planting density led to decreased KL and KN/KL values.  N2D2 demonstrated higher KL and KN, and thus comparable KN/KL, compared to N3D1.  Correlation analysis revealed KL negatively correlated with RUE, while KN and KN/KL positively correlated with NUEg.  These findings indicate that increasing planting density under reduced N input could maintain rice yield while enhancing resource use efficiency through regulation of canopy light and N distribution. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Rhizosphere flavonoids alleviate inhibition of soybean nodulation caused by shading under maize–soybean strip intercropping Ping Lin, Shanshan Liu, Zhidan Fu, Kai Luo, Yiling Li, Xinyue Peng, Xiaoting Yuan, Lida Yang, Tian Pu, Yuze Li, Taiwen Yong, Wenyu Yang 2026, 25 (3): 952-964.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.09.030 Abstract （468）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Flavonoids produced by legume roots act as signaling molecules that induce the expression of nod genes in symbiotic rhizobia.  However, the role of flavonoids in root exudates under intercropping systems in promoting soybean nodulation remains unclear.  Two consecutive years of field experiments were conducted using maize–soybean strip intercropping with interspecific row spacings of 30 cm (MS30), 45 cm (MS45), and 60 cm (MS60), along with sole cropping of soybean (SS) and maize (MM).  Root interactions were manipulated using either no root barrier (NB) or a polyethylene plastic barrier (PB) to assess the relationship between flavonoids in root exudates and soybean nodulation.  We found that root–root interaction between soybean and maize increased nodule number and fresh weight in intercropped soybean, with enhancement gradually increasing as interspecific distance widened.  The proportion of nodules with diameters exceeding 0.4 cm was higher in intercropped soybean under NB compared to PB.  Additionally, the expression of nodule-related genes - GmENOD40, GmNIN2b, and GmEXPB2 - was up-regulated.  Furthermore, compared to monocropping, isoflavone secretion by soybean roots decreased, whereas flavonoid and flavonol secretion by both maize and soybean roots increased under intercropping.  The abundance of differentially secreted flavonoid metabolites in the rhizosphere of both species declined when root contact was prevented by the barrier.  In soybean roots, the expression of GmCHS8 and GmIFS1 was up-regulated, while GmICHG was down-regulated under root interaction.  Most flavonoid and flavonol compounds showed positive correlations with nodule diameter.  Nodule number, fresh weight, and the proportion of nodules larger than 0.2 cm increased in diverse soybean genotypes treated with maize root exudates, which contributed to enhanced nitrogen fixation capacity.  Therefore, maize–soybean strip intercropping, combined with optimal row spacing, enhances the positive effects of underground root interactions and improves nodulation and nitrogen fixation in intercropped soybean. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Abiotic stress responses in crop plants: A multi-scale approach Yanqing Wu, Jiao Liu, Lu Zhao, Hao Wu, Yiming Zhu, Irshad Ahmad, Guisheng Zhou 2026, 25 (1): 1-15.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.09.003 Abstract （464）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Global population pressures have necessitated increased focus on protecting and developing resilient plant species that can maintain productivity despite environmental challenges.  Environmental degradation, driven by climate change and anthropogenic activities, poses significant threats to global food security through various forms of physical stress.  Major environmental constraints affecting agricultural yields worldwide include salinity, water scarcity, nutritional imbalances (encompassing mineral toxicity and deficiencies), and extreme temperatures.  Crop yield is influenced by multiple abiotic factors, including agronomic conditions, climatic variables, and soil nutrient availability.  Plants develop various survival mechanisms at molecular, cellular, and physiological levels in response to stress.  Abiotic stress, whether occurring individually or in combination, significantly impacts crop growth and productivity.  For instance, drought stress reduces leaf area, plant height, and overall crop development.  Cold stress inhibits plant development and crop efficiency, leading to diminished productivity.  Salinity stress not only induces water stress in plants but also negatively affects cytosolic metabolism, cell development, membrane function, and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.  Elevated CO2 concentrations may enhance global precipitation patterns, potentially resulting in increased rainfall that can adversely affect crop development.  Plants under excessive water stress exhibit reduced amylose content but increased crude protein levels.  This affects both quality and quantity of crop production by inhibiting seed germination and causing growth impairment through combined effects of elevated osmotic potential and ion toxicity.  Plants have evolved various escape-avoidance and tolerance mechanisms in response to abiotic stress, including physiological adaptations and integrated cellular or molecular responses.  This review paper examines the impact of abiotic stress on morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular activities across various crops.  Additionally, it analyzes crop interactions with abiotic stress regarding response and adaptation mechanisms, providing a fundamental framework for species selection and development of stress-tolerant varieties in the future. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Soil nitrogen dynamics regulate differential nitrogen uptake between rice and upland crops Shending Chen, Ahmed S. Elrys, Siwen Du, Wenyan Yang, Zucong Cai, Jinbo Zhang, Lei Meng, Christoph Müller 2026, 25 (1): 302-312.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.03.014 Abstract （455）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Nitrogen use efficiency in rice is lower than in upland crops, likely due to differences in soil nitrogen dynamics and crop nitrogen preferences.  However, the specific nitrogen dynamics in paddy and upland systems and their impact on crop nitrogen uptake remain poorly understood.  The N dynamics and impact on crop N uptake determine the downstream environmental pollution from nitrogen fertilizer.  To address this poor understanding, we analyzed 2,044 observations of gross nitrogen transformation rates in soils from 136 studies to examine nitrogen dynamics in both systems and their effects on nitrogen uptake in rice and upland crops.  Our findings revealed that nitrogen mineralization and autotrophic nitrification rates are lower in paddies than in upland soil, while dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium is higher in paddies, these differences being driven by flooding and lower total nitrogen content in paddies.  Rice exhibited higher ammonium uptake, while upland crops had over twice the nitrate uptake.  Autotrophic nitrification stimulated by pH reduced rice nitrogen uptake, while heterotrophic nitrification enhanced nitrogen uptake of upland crops.  Autotrophic nitrification played a key role in regulating the ammonium-to-nitrate ratio in soils, which further affected the balance of plant nitrogen uptake.  These results highlight the need to align soil nitrogen dynamics with crop nitrogen preferences to maximize plant maximize productivity and reduce reactive nitrogen pollution. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Integrative identification of Aphelenchoides fragariae (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) parasitizing Fuchsia hybrid in China Qiuling Huang, Yan Liao, Chunhui Huang, Huan Peng, Lingchiu Tsang, Borong Lin, Deliang Peng, Jinling Liao, Kan Zhuo 2026, 25 (2): 769-774.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.07.002 Abstract （448）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The strawberry crimp nematode (Aphelenchoides fragariae) is a serious pathogen of ornamental crops and a significant quarantine concern in approximately 50 countries and regions, including China.  A nematode population belonging to the genus Aphelenchoides was isolated from symptomatic leaves of fuchsia plants (Fuchsia×hybrida Hort. ex Sieb. & Voss.) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.  Morphological and morphometric characteristics were determined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.  Detailed examination revealed diagnostic features consistent with A. fragariae.  Three ribosomal DNA (rDNA) regions, i.e., partial small subunit (SSU) rRNA, D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), were amplified and sequenced.  Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on these sequences placed the isolate in a well-supported monophyletic clade with reference A. fragariae specimens, clearly separated from other Aphelenchoides species.  Furthermore, host-suitability assays demonstrated that this nematode population not only infects and reproduces on Fuchsia×hybrida, but also on Fragaria ananassa and Pteris vittata, two known hosts of A. fragariae.  Collectively, morphological, molecular, and host-range evidence confirm the identification of this nematode as A. fragariae.  To our knowledge, this represents the first molecular and morphological confirmation of A. fragariae in China, and the first report of Fuchsia×hybrida as a natural host for this species. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Identification of novel QTLs for resistance to late leaf spot in peanut by SNP array and QTL-seq analyses Guanghui Chen, Li Sheng, Lijun Wu, Liang Yin, Shuangling Li, Hongfeng Wang, Xiao Jiang, Heng Wang, Yanmao Shi, Fudong Zhan, Xiaoyuan Chi, Chunjuan Qu, Yan Ren, Mei Yuan 2025, 24 (10): 3772-3788.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.008 Abstract （430）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Late leaf spot disease (LLS) is one of the most important diseases that cause severe yield losses in peanut.  Peanut has various sources of resistance to LLS, so the identification of resistant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and the development of related molecular markers are of great importance for the breeding of LLS-resistant peanut.  In this study, 173 individual lines of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population and the 48K SNP array for genotyping were used to construct a high-density genetic map with 1,475 bin markers and 20 linkage groups.  A total of 11 QTLs were obtained through QTL analysis using the constructed genetic map.  Among them, the stable major QTL qLLS.LG02 was identified on linkage group 2 in all six environments, with the phenotypic variation explained (PVE) ranging from 15.57 to 31.09%.  QTL-seq technology was also employed for a QTL analysis of LLS resistance.  As a result, 14 QTL loci related to LLS resistance were identified using the G prime algorithm.  Notably, the physical positions of qLLS02 and qLLS03 coincided with those of qLLS.LG02 and qLLS.LG03, respectively.  Gene annotation analysis within the 14 QTL intervals from QTL-seq revealed a total of 163 nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) disease resistance genes, accounting for 22.86% of all resistance (R) genes in the peanut genome and showing a 4.26-fold enrichment with a P-value of 5.19e–57.  Within the QTL region qLLS02 of the resistant parent Mi-2, there was a 5 Mb structural variation (SV) interval containing 81 NBS-LRR genes.  A PCR diagnostic marker was developed, and validation data suggested that this SV might lead to gene deletion or replacement with other genes.  This SV has the potential to enhance peanut resistance to LLS.  The results of this study have significant implications for improving peanut breeding for LLS resistance through the development of associated molecular markers. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Transcriptome-metabolome and anatomy conjoint analysis of vital component change of photosynthesis in foxtail millet under different drought conditions Jing Wang, Zexin Sun, Lei Tian, Wei Sun, Xinning Wang, Zhihao Wang, Zhiying Wang, Zhao Li, Wei Liu, Qianchi Ma, Chuanyou Ren, Xinning Gao, Yue Li, Liwei Wang, Xiaoguang Wang, Chunji Jiang, Chao Zhong, Xinhua Zhao, Haiqiu Yu 2025, 24 (12): 4588-4612.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.04.001 Abstract （429）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Drought caused by extreme climate change has become more severe and unpredictable, causing imperceptible effects on leaf photosynthesis in foxtail millet.  To investigate the damage, we performed light drought (LD) and heavy drought (HD) treatments at both the elongation (Y) and booting stages to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the morphological, anatomical, physiological, transcriptome, and metabolome levels.  Under drought stress, the length and area of leaves decreased, especially during the HD treatment at the booting stage.  The number of mesophyll cells and the area of large vascular bundles decreased under LD and HD treatments at the booting stage, with more blurring vascular bundle structure and Kranz anatomy.  However, these numbers decreased with no significance under Y-LD and Y-HD treatments at the elongation stage.  The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductivity, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration significantly decreased at the booting stage.  In addition, the efficiency of electron transfers in photosystem II (PSII) decreased.  Conjunction analyses of the transcriptome and metabolome were utilized to uncover the underlying mechanism at the booting stage.  The results showed no common differentially enriched pathway in the transcriptome and metabolome under LD treatment.  However, 32 pathways were enriched in both the transcript and metabolome under HD treatment.  Among these, three pathways, including arginine and proline metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and ubiquinone, along with other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis pathways, were differentially enriched in both the transcript and metabolome.  The accumulation of homogentisate, salidroside, homoprotocatechuate, L-DOPA, tyramine, and L-tyrosine increased under drought stress.  Although genes related to PSII and the Calvin cycle were slightly up-regulated under LD conditions, they were down-regulated under HD conditions.  The metabolites of ribose-5P, glycerate-3P, D-fructose-1, 6P2, and D-fructose-6P were all decreased in both the LD and HD treatments, especially D-fructose-6P, confirming that drought stress harmed the Calvin cycle.  The results revealed that regardless of the severity of drought, the photosynthetic function was compromised not only at the morphological and anatomical levels but also in terms of impaired ATP synthase and inhibited photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Combining GWAS and RNA-seq approaches identifies the FtADH1 gene for drought resistance in Tartary buckwheat Jiayue He, Yanhua Chen, Yanrong Hao, Dili Lai, Tanzim Jahan, Yaliang Shi, Hao Lin, Yuqi He, Md. Nurul Huda, Jianping Cheng, Kaixuan Zhang, Jinbo Li, Jingjun Ruan, Meiliang Zhou 2025, 24 (10): 3739-3756.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.11.009 Abstract （427）      PDF in ScienceDirect        Drought is one of the major environmental constraints that significantly affects seedling emergence, yield, and quality of Tartary buckwheat, thereby hindering the development of its industry.  However, the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance genes in Tartary buckwheat remain largely unexplored.  Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), one of the essential plant proteins, plays a crucial role in growth, development, and stress responses, but its specific role in drought resistance is still unclear.  In this study, we identified an ADH gene FtADH1, using a membership function value of drought tolerance (MFVD) combined with a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptomic profiles that confers drought tolerance in Tartary buckwheat. Our findings demonstrated that the overexpression of FtADH1 in Arabidopsis and Tartary buckwheat hairy roots enhances drought tolerance by promoting root elongation and mitigating elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).  Our findings demonstrated that FtADH1 can enhanced tolerance to drought stresses in both Tartary buckwheat and Arabidopsis.  This study identifies the FtADH1 as a new player in affecting ROS level and the stress response of Tartary buckwheat by regulating protective enzyme activities at a high level to scavenge ROS and modulating root growth under drought stress.  Further, we identified proteins interacting with FtADH1 through a prokaryotic expression pull-down assay combined with mass spectrometry, revealing that FtADH1 specifically interacts with the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) synthetase protein, FtSAMS1.  Overexpression of FtSAMS1 was found to enhance ADH enzymatic activity, leading to increased SAM content in overexpressing Tartary buckwheat hairy roots under water-deficit conditions.  Additionally, FtSAMS1 overexpression induced a drought-resistant phenotype in Arabidopsis and Tartary buckwheat hairy roots under drought stress, revealing the biological function of FtADH1. Evolutionary analysis indicates that ADH1 in Fagopyrum species has undergone significant evolutionary events, including duplication and purifying selection, which may contribute to functional diversification and adaptive advantages such as drought resistance in cultivated buckwheat.  In summary, this study proposes that FtADH1 is a key contributor to drought tolerance, and its interaction with FtSAMS1 holds potential for the development of drought-resistant varieties in Tartary buckwheat and its relative species. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Optimizing planting density to improve growth, yield and resource use efficiencies for winter oilseed rape under ridge-furrow film mulching Xiaobo Gu, Zhikai Cheng, Yadan Du, Huanjie Cai, Yupeng Li, Yuannong Li, Heng Fang, Shikun Sun 2025, 24 (10): 3819-3837.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.04.028 Abstract （422）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Ridge-furrow film mulching has been widely used as a water-saving and yield-increasing planting pattern in arid and semiarid regions.  Planting density is also a vitally important factor influencing crop yield, and the optimal planting density will vary in different environments (such as ridge-furrow film mulching).  How the combination of film mulching and planting density will affect the growth, physiology, yield, and water and radiation use efficiencies of winter oilseed rape is not clear yet.  Therefore, a three-year field experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2020 to explore the responses of leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), leaf area index (LAI), aboveground dry matter (ADM), root growth and distribution, yield, evapotranspiration (ET), water use efficiency (WUE), and radiation use efficiency (RUE) of winter oilseed rape to different film mulching patterns (F, ridge-furrow planting with plastic film mulching over the ridges; N, flat planting without mulching) and planting densities (LD, 100,000 plants ha–1; MD, 150,000 plants ha–1; HD, 200,000 plants ha–1).  The results showed that the F treatments led to significantly greater leaf Chl contents, Pn, LAI, and ADM, and a stronger root system than treatments without film mulching throughout the whole winter rapeseed growing seasons.  Winter oilseed rape in the MD treatments had better physiological (leaf Chl contents and Pn) and growth (LAI, ADM, taproot, and lateral root) conditions than in LD and HD at the late growth period after stem-elongation.  Grain yield in FMD was the greatest, and it was significantly greater by 34.8–46.0%, 6.7–9.6%, 87.8–108.3%, 38.7–50.3%, and 50.2–61.8% compared to those of FLD, FHD, NLD, NMD, and NHD, respectively.  Furthermore, the ET in FMD was equivalent to FLD and FHD, but was markedly lower by 12.2–18.4%, 14.5–20.3%, and 14.6–20.4% than in NLD, NMD, and NHD.  Finally, the WUE and RUE in FMD were significantly improved by 88.5–94.0% and 29.0–41.8% compared to NHD (the local conventional planting pattern and planting density for winter rapeseed).  In summary, FMD is a favorable cultivation management strategy to save water, increase yield and improve resource utilization efficiencies in winter oilseed rape in Northwest China. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Advances in rice synthetic biology: Toward a better staple crop and beyond Chenchen Zhang, Yan Wang, Lu Chen, Xixi Wang, Sheng Teng 2026, 25 (5): 1741-1759.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.036 Abstract （422）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field that applies engineering principles to design and construct novel biological systems or organisms.  Initially focused on microbial systems, its applications have expanded to include plants.  Plant synthetic biology offers promising solutions to pressing global challenges in agriculture and human health.  As a staple crop for much of the world’s population and a model species in plant science, rice has emerged as a pivotal platform in this domain.  Significant progress has been achieved in genome engineering through multiplex genome editing, synthetic hybrid rice systems, induction of apomixis, reconstruction of photosynthesis and nitrogen-fixation pathways, and biosynthesis of micronutrients, pharmaceuticals, and therapeutic proteins or peptides.  This review summarizes recent advances in rice synthetic biology, outlines current developments, and discusses future research directions. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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ZmCals12 impacts maize growth and development by regulating symplastic transport Ziwen Shi, Sheng Zhang, Qing He, Xiaoyuan Wang, Bo yang, Tao Yu, Hongyang Yi, Tingzhao Rong, Moju Cao 2026, 25 (1): 42-55.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.05.010 Abstract （421）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Carbohydrate partitioning from source to sink tissues is essential for plant growth and development.  However, in maize (Zea mays L.), the molecular mechanisms by which callose synthase genes regulate this process remain largely unexplored.  This study demonstrates that mutation of maize callose synthase12 (ZmCals12) results in increased carbohydrate accumulation in photosynthetic leaves but decreased carbohydrate content in sink tissues, leading to plant dwarfing and male sterility.  Histochemical β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity assay and mRNA in situ hybridization (ISH) revealed that ZmCals12 expression mainly occurs in the vascular transport system.  ZmCals12 loss-of-function decreased callose synthase activity and callose deposition in plasmodesmatas (PDs) and surrounding phloem cells (PCs) of the vascular bundle.  The drop-and-see (DANS) assay indicated reduced PD permeability in photosynthetic cells and diminished transport competence of leaf veins in Zmcals12 mutants, resulting in decreased symplastic transport.  Paraffin section analysis revealed that less-developed vascular cells (VCs) in Zmcals12 mutants likely disrupted sugar transport, contributing to the pleiotropic phenotype.  Furthermore, impaired sugar transport inhibited internode development by suppressing auxin (IAA) biosynthesis and signaling in Zmcals12 mutant.  These findings elucidate the mechanism by which ZmCals12-mediated callose deposition and symplastic transport regulate maize growth and development Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Simultaneously enhancing plant growth and immunity through the application of engineered Bacillus subtilis expressing a microbial pattern Shuangxi Zhang, Xinlin Wei, Hejing Shen, Qinhu Wang, Yi Qiang, Langjun Cui, Hongxing Xu, Yuyan An, Meixiang Zhang 2026, 25 (5): 1971-1980.   DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.04.034 Abstract （420）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Simultaneously enhancing plant growth and disease resistance is an ideal goal in agriculture.  Significant efforts have been made to promote plant growth or immunity through the use of biological reagents, such as the application of beneficial microbes and plant immunity inducers.  However, balancing plant immunity and growth remains a challenging task.  In this study, we engineered the plant growth-promoting bacterium Bacillus subtilis OKB105 to express a secreted microbial pattern, flg22, and assessed its activity in enhancing both plant growth and disease resistance.  The OKB105 (flg22) strain exhibited plant growth-promoting activity similar to the OKB105 strain containing an empty vector, OKB105 (EV).  Furthermore, the OKB105 (flg22) strain significantly enhanced plant resistance against two distinct pathogens, Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 ΔhopQ1-1 and Phytophthora parasitica, compared to OKB105 (EV), confirming that the engineered OKB105 (flg22) effectively enhances plant disease resistance.  Interestingly, root irrigation with OKB105 (flg22) also markedly boosted the plant’s aboveground resistance to pathogens compared to OKB105 (EV).  We further demonstrated that OKB105 (flg22) can be applied to confer resistance to pathogens in other plants that recognize flg22. Finally, RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analyses illustrated that OKB105 (flg22) effectively induced the expression of defense-related genes in pattern-triggered immunity.  Our results prove that employing an engineered beneficial microbe expressing a microbial pattern is a promising strategy for simultaneously enhancing plant growth and immunity. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics