Advanced Online Publication

Note: The papers published below will continue to be available from this page until they are assigned to an issue. To see an article, click its [PDF] link. To review many abstracts, check the boxes to the left of the titles you want, and click the 'Selected articles' button. To see one abstract at a time, click its [Abstract] link. Please wait a minute... For Selected: Download Citations EndNote Ris BibTeX Toggle Thumbnails Select Impacts of Bacillus velezensis inoculation on exogenous organic carbon mineralization and bacterial community composition in fumigated continuous-cropping obstacle soils Yixian Liu, Runa Zhang, Shuai Ding, Shuang Wang, Liang Wei, Cuiyan Wu, Wensheng Fang, Qiuxia Wang, Dongdong Yan, Aocheng Cao, Jianping Chen, Tida Ge, Zhenke Zhu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.076 Online: 02 January 2026 Abstract （7）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Chemical fumigants such as dazomet (DZ) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) effectively suppress soil-borne pathogens but  there  is  uncertainty  regarding  the  restoration  of  soil  ecological  functions  in  continuous  cropping  obstacles  after fumigation, such as microbe-mediated organic carbon cycling.   However, the mechanism by which microbial remediation measures enhance carbon mineralization activity after soil fumigation remains unclear.   In  this study, we conducted microcosm experiments to investigate the impacts of Bacillus velezensis inoculation on exogenous organic carbon (EOC) mineralization and bacterial community composition and interactions following chemical fumigation.  Relative to fumigation alone, B. velezensis addition increased cumulative EOC mineralization by 27% in DZ-treated soils and by 22% in DMDS- treated soils.  This enhancement was associated with the enrichment of core taxa and keystone species, which collectively increased microbial activity.   Structural equation modeling further confirmed that core taxa (OTU56, belonging to Bacillus) induced positive interactions with indigenous species, which drove the observed enhancement in EOC mineralization. We conclude that B. velezensis facilitates the rapid recovery of soil carbon mineralization after fumigation by selectively reshaping the bacterial community and strengthening bacterial cooperative networks.   This work provides a mechanistic framework for microbially driven ecological restoration of fumigant-impacted continuous-cropping obstacle soils and informs the development of sustainable soil-management practices in chemically challenged agroecosystems. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Vacuolar metabolomic and proteomic profiling reveals vacuole composition of ripe juice sacs and functions of CsTST2 and CsERDL6 for sugar accumulation in citrus Youfu Fan, Wenxin Shangguan, Rong Hu, Yong Liu, Li Yang, Wei Hu, Jie Song, Jingheng Xie, Yingjie Huang, Mingjun Li, Dechun Liu, Liuqing Kuang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.074 Online: 02 January 2026 Abstract （5）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Vacuolar composition, particularly the type and abundance of metabolites and tonoplast proteins, critically determines fruit quality and flavor. However, the specific vacuolar composition of fruits with different flavors at the fully ripe stage, especially regarding sugar accumulation, remains unclear. In this study, we established an optimized protocol to overcome technical barriers in isolating intact vacuoles from four types of fresh ripe citrus juice sacs. Subsequently, quasi-targeted metabolomics analysis and 4D-label-free proteomic analysis were conducted, identifying 640 metabolites and 1,782 proteins, respectively. Notably, amino acids, flavonoids, lipids, carbohydrates, and organic acids collectively represented 70% of the total vacuolar metabolites. Pummelo MJY vacuoles exhibited the highest sucrose accumulation, whereas tangerine NFMJ showed minimal sucrose content. Proteomic profiling revealed vacuolar proteins participating in protein fate determination, metabolism, vesicle trafficking, solute transport, and energy supply. Comparative analysis demonstrated significantly greater protein abundance variation between MJY and NFMJ than between other varieties. In total, 158 transport proteins, including sugar-related transporters, were identified, and most of them were more abundant in MJY vacuoles. The protein abundance of CsTST2 and CsERDL6 was greater in MJY vacuoles compared to other varieties, and the relative expression patterns of their encoding genes were consistent with sugar accumulation during fruit ripening. Subcellular localization analysis confirmed their tonoplast localization. Importantly, transgenic tomato fruits overexpressing these genes demonstrated both enhanced gene expression and increased sugar content. This study systematically revealed cultivar-specific vacuolar composition and sugar accumulation strategies in ripe citrus fruits and provided key tonoplast proteins responsible for fruit quality improvement.   Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Brassinosteroid signaling regulates floral transition defects in Camellia sinensis 'Ziyang 1' via CsBZR2-mediated suppression of CsFLC Yingao Zhang, Huike Li, Siqing Wan, Yongheng Zhang, Dan Chen, He Zhang, Yezi Xiao, Lu Liu, Pengjie Wang, Youben Yu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.073 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is an economically important leaf crop in which the flowering process consumes substantial nutrients, thereby negatively impacting tea yield and quality. Therefore, deciphering the molecular basis of floral transition is essential for enhancing tea cultivars and optimizing plantation management. The natural mutant ‘Ziyang 1’ (ZY1H, which had not flowered for years) and its wild-type cultivar ‘Ziyang’ (ZYQT, normal flowering) were used to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the non-flowering phenotype in ZY1H. Phenotypically, ZY1H exhibited shortened internodes, prolonged vegetative growth, and failure to develop floral meristems. Chromosomal analysis confirmed that ZY1H maintains a normal diploid chromosome number (2n=30), excluding triploidy as a cause of its sterility. Transcriptome analysis revealed defective vegetative-to-reproductive transition in ZY1H, manifesting as insufficient expression of SPL genes and sustained high expression of flower-inhibiting AP2-like genes. Additionally, elevated expression of the flowering repressor SVP and reduced expression of the flowering integrator FT further disrupted the integration of floral induction signals. Notably, brassinosteroid (BR) levels and CsBZR2 expression were elevated in ZY1H. Functional assays showed that CsBZR2 directly interacts with the CsFLC promoter and suppresses its expression, thereby blocking the flowering process. These findings suggest that the floral transition defect in ZY1H is driven by dysregulated BR signaling and excessive vegetative growth, to provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of flowering regulation in tea plants and valuable theoretical support for cultivar improvement. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Proton-responsive SlSTOP1-SlFRDL1 regulatory pathway modulates citrate-driven iron acquisition in tomato roots Huihui Zhu, Liqiong Jia, Yuzhi Bai, Junqiang Xu, Xulu Luo, Wei Fan, Weiwei Chen, Jianli Yang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.072 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （6）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The composition and function of root exudates in rhizosphere iron (Fe) mobilization are significantly influenced by environmental pH conditions. While the role of organic acids in Fe solubilization is well-recognized, the molecular mechanisms underlying this pH-dependent process remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that under weakly acidic conditions, proton excretion alone is insufficient to solubilize sparingly soluble Fe. Instead, a pH-dependent ligand specificity emerges as a critical factor in Fe mobilization. Notably, within the pH range of 5.0-6.0, citric acid exuded by roots exhibits superior Fe solubilization efficacy compared to oxalic acid and malic acid. We identified SlFRDL1, a gene induced by Fe deficiency, as a key player in this process. SlFRDL1 encodes a plasma membrane-localized protein with citrate permeability, as confirmed by its functional expression in Xenopus oocytes. Knockout mutants of SlFRDL1 displayed exacerbated Fe deficiency symptoms, which were associated with a significant reduction in citrate secretion from roots. Furthermore, we discovered that SlSTOP1, a transcription factor, binds to the promoter region of SlFRDL1 and activates its expression. Slstop1 mutants exhibited leaf chlorosis symptoms similar to those observed in Slfrdl1 mutants, highlighting the functional interplay between these two genes. Interestingly, while Fe deficiency triggers the FER-mediated Fe uptake system across both acidic and alkaline conditions, the SlSTOP1-SlFRDL1 module is specifically activated only in acidic environments. This pH-specific regulation underscores the importance of the SlSTOP1-SlFRDL1 pathway in root-mediated Fe solubilization under acidic conditions.  Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select The heat shock transcription factor SlHSFA3 enhances heat tolerance in tomato by directly modulating both APX activity and SlAPX1 expression Chunrui Chen, Licheng Xiao, Yaling Wang, Rong Huang, Sunan Gao, Wenran Su, Jiajun Ran, Lei Song, Taotao Wang, Jie Ye, Yongen Lu, Zhibiao Ye, Jinhua Li, Junhong Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.071 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （8）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Global climate warming and extreme high-temperature events significantly impact crop growth, development, and economic productivity. Plants typically enhance heat tolerance by regulating heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) and antioxidant enzymes to reduce the detrimental impacts of heat stress. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms by which HSFs confer heat tolerance in tomato remain to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of the heat-induced transcription factor SlHSFA3 in tomato heat tolerance. We demonstrated that knockout of SlHSFA3 increases tomato plants' sensitivity to heat stress, while enhanced expression of SlHSFA3 improves heat tolerance by promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging through increased ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity. Similarly, overexpression of SlAPX1 enhances heat tolerance in tomato by reducing ROS accumulation, whereas its knockout increases heat stress sensitivity. Furthermore, SlHSFA3 interacts with SlAPX1 to further augment APX activity. Molecular analysis revealed that SlHSFA3 directly upregulates the expression of SlAPX1 by binding to its promoter region. In summary, our findings elucidate the molecular mechanism of the SlHSFA3-SlAPX1 regulatory pathway in tomato heat tolerance, providing a theoretical foundation for developing advanced biotechnological and breeding strategies to improve crop adaptation under elevated temperature conditions. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Multi-omics analyses unveil dynamic metabolic and transcriptomic changes of swelling potato tubers Jiangyue Long, Wei Tan, Chunzhi Zhang, Guangtao Zhu, Zhong Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.070 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （4）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Potato is a vital global food source, yet the metabolic and transcriptional regulation governing tuber development and quality remains poorly understood. Here, we performed integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses on wild and cultivated potato tubers, revealing dynamic and distinct metabolic accumulation patterns. The 849 metabolites exhibited 10 distinct temporal accumulation patterns, including six shared patterns between accessions and four genotype-specific patterns. The wild genotype exhibited an early decrease in lipids, followed by an increase in phenolic acids, whereas the cultivated genotype displayed an early increase in phenolic acids, accompanied by a decrease in some phenolic acids, amino acids, and flavonoids. A comparative analysis highlighted a key metabolic trade-off: the cultivated genotype exhibited significantly lower levels of bitter steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) but higher levels of beneficial flavonoids compared to its wild counterpart. Co-expression network analysis revealed 35 SGA- and 57 phenylpropanoid-related genes that underlie metabolite dynamics. Notably, we functionally validated that the transcription factor StMYB113 plays a previously unknown role in positively regulating phenolic acid biosynthesis in tuber flesh. Our work provides a comprehensive map of tuber metabolism and a valuable resource of high-confidence targets for accelerating the genetic improvement of key potato quality traits. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Geographical origin authentication of fruits: A decadal review (2014-2024) of technological progress and outlook Jiyun Nie, Mengying Shuai, Yihui Liu, Xiaoming Li, Mingyu Liu, An Li, Duoyong Zhao, Qiusheng Chen, Xiaoli Liu, Zhichao Li DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.069 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （4）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Food fraud is an increasing deliberate act of deception for profits. Hence, it is highly necessary to develop powerful analytical approaches to assess the authenticity of foods. In recent years, the geographical origin authenticity of fruits has become a particular public concern. The geographical origin of fruit is generally determined based on specific indicators such as elements, stable isotopes, and metabolites. Many studies have demonstrated that mineral elements and stable isotope ratios are effective indictors for geographical origin authentication as they are directly related to the geographical environment. Some other techniques, such as spectroscopy and chromatography, have shown potential in identifying geographical origin and assessing the authenticity of fruits. Nonlinear PCA, PLS-DA, and LDA are commonly used for geographical origin authentication of fruits. A modern approach for data classification is machine learning, including SVM, RF, and ANN, which have been applied to identify the origin of fruits with high accuracies.  Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Multi-omics analysis reveals WRKY31 and MATE as key regulators of flavonoid-based waterlogging tolerance in Welsh Onion (Allium fistulosum L.) Yueting Li, Pengtao Yang, Yu Yuan, Chao Yan, Yue Jia, Yongqin Wang, Yue Liu, Zhonghua Zhang, Bingsheng Lv DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.068 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （3）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Waterlogging poses a major challenge to Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) production, exacerbated by climate change-induced extreme weather. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of waterlogging tolerance is essential for breeding resilient cultivars. Here, we compared two Welsh onion varieties: BJQC (tolerant) and YZDC (sensitive). Waterlogging treatment revealed that YZDC exhibited higher accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide ions (O2⁻), and malondialdehyde (MDA), leading to increased mortality. In contrast, BJQC demonstrated enhanced waterlogging tolerance, attributed to its ability to upregulate flavonoid biosynthesis genes, resulting in higher flavonoid accumulation under waterlogging stress. Transcriptomic analysis identified that the activation of flavonoid pathway-related genes in BJQC was central to this response. In addition, genes associated with jasmonic acid and gibberellin signaling were also activated. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that WRKY31 and MATE likely play critical roles in regulating flavonoid biosynthesis under waterlogging conditions. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) results from natural populations further supported the significance of these genes in waterlogging tolerance. Our comprehensive multi-omics analysis, including phenotypic, physiological, transcriptomic, and genomic approaches, provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Welsh onion responses to waterlogging. These findings highlight WRKY31 and MATE as key candidates for improving waterlogging tolerance in crop breeding programs.  Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select BrRRG affects leaf size by regulating cell cycle gene expression in Chinese cabbag Qianyun Wang, Rui Yang, Daling Feng, Yongcheng Li, Rui Li, Mengyang Liu, Yiguo Hong, Na Li, Wei Ma, Jianjun Zhao DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.067 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （5）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) is a significant leafy vegetable in the Brassica genus of the Brassicaceae family. The size of edible leaves is an essential trait that determines its economic and nutritional values. However, current understanding of leaf development in Chinese cabbage is limited. Here, through forward genetic analyses of the mutant mini24 with defective leaf and root development, we identified the BrRRG gene, which regulates cell division in Chinese cabbage by map-based cloning. We demonstrated that BrRRG impacts leaf size by regulating the expression of E2Fa transcription factors and cell cycle-related genes in Chinese cabbage. Furthermore, BrRRG was found to modulates Chinese cabbage responds to IAA hormones and cytokinins, revealing distinct regulatory mechanisms by which BrRRG controls underground root and aboveground leaf development. Thus, these results suggest that BrRRG mutant causes damage to plant growth and development in Chinese cabbage. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Farmers’ preferences for agricultural drone services under uncertainty: A Choice Experiment in Hubei, China Hua Zhang, Lena Kuhn, Hang Xiong, Zhanli Sun DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.066 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （3）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Agricultural drones can improve productivity, save labor, and reduce environmental impacts by offering digital multifunctions in agricultural production. Yet, the lagging adoption among smallholders is still prevalent. Existing literature commonly explains it by lack of capital, land fragmentation, and digital illiteracy, with little delving into specific adoption modes under uncertainty. In this study, we demonstrate the potential of hiring agricultural drone services and investigate the role of supplier uncertainty in the adoption decision. We conduct a discrete choice experiment among 338 farmers in Hubei Province, China. Mixed logit models are used to analyze farmers’ preferences for the agricultural drone service (ADS) and its attributes. The results show that the large majority of sampled farmers are willing to adopt ADS. Besides low prices, farmers prefer services with local suppliers and contracts. Potential adopters in this choice experiment are characterized by youth, high education, owning poor-topography farms, drone learning via word-of-mouth, and adoption experience. The willingness to pay analysis indicates that farmers would like to spend 25 CNY per mu (53 USD per ha) on average for ADS. Notably, farmers value the localness of suppliers more than the form of agreements when choosing a particular drone service. These findings suggest that the mode of hiring ADS can effectively motivate farmers’ adoption intention, thereby, the supply-side incentives and uncertainty-reducing promotion strategies needed to enhance smallholders’ access to and adoption of agricultural drones. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Epigenomic regulation of flowering in apple: Insights from two contrasting cultivars Jiahui Song, Lin Li, Jiahe Wang, Yuqing Xia, Heyu Zhang, Jingwen Li, Juanjuan Ma, Do Zhang, Jiangping Mao, Na An, Libo Xing DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.065 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （4）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Flowering is a necessary condition and the basis for yield in the life cycle of woody fruit trees. Although there has been considerable interest in the regulatory mechanisms underlying floral induction and flowering, the associated epigenetic modifications remain poorly characterized. We identified genome-wide DNA methylation changes and the transcriptional responses in axillary buds of ‘Qinguan’ (QA) and ‘Fuji’ (FA) varieties with contrasted flowering behaviors. The DNA methylation levels were19.35, 62.96 and 17.68% for FA, and 19.64, 62.49 and 17.86% for QA in the CG, CHG and CHH contexts, respectively. The number of hypermethylated or hypomethylated DMRs in different regions contributed to significantly up/downregulated gene expression. DNA methylation can positively or negatively regulate gene expression depending on the CG, CHG and CHH contexts and their locations in different regions. Additionally, the huge differences in transcription of MIKCc-Type MADS-box genes, and multiple flowering genes in multiple flowering pathways (i.e., light, age, GA and sugar) by changing DNA methylation, contributed to contrasted flowering behaviors in both QA and FA. Specifically, the floral meristem identity genes (i.e., FT, LEAFY, AP1 and SOC1) were significantly higher expression in QA than FA, but the floral repressor (i.e., SVP, AGL15, and AGL18) showed the opposite trend. Significant differences in multiple hormone levels were due to DEGs and their DMRs in their synthesis pathways, leading to both contrasted axillary bud outgrowth and flowering behaviors. These findings reflect the diversity in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression and may be helpful for elucidating the epigenetic regulatory mechanism underlying the axillary bud flowering in apple. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Distinct decomposition dynamics of heterogeneous carbon components in cultivated agricultural soils controlled by flexible microbial substrate utilization strategy Wanqi Wang, Xuefeng Zhu, Yuzhu Li, , Shuhan Dong, Yan Liu, Kaikai Min, Huijie Lü, Wei Zhang, Hongbo He, Xudong Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.063 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （7）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Improving soil organic matter (SOM) maintenance is crucial for terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration and ecosystem functioning. Conservation tillage favors SOM pool buildup; however, it remains unclear how the decomposition of heterogeneous components is manipulated by microbial substrate utilization strategy from the view of SOM stability. Here, a one-year microcosm incubation was conducted using surface soils developed under 12 years of conservation tillage (high-C soil) and maize residue removal (low-C soil). Temporal changes in lignin phenols, neutral sugars, and amino sugars in the soil were monitored along with microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and enzyme activities. Throughout incubation, lignin phenols declined more (20.8-26.3%) than the SOM (12.3-14.5%) and amino sugars (10.6-12.3%), highlighting the key role of plant debris in SOM mineralization, and complementarily, the greater contribution of microbial necromass to SOM stabilization. Moreover, the decomposition dynamics of neutral sugars and lignin were strongly influenced by C availability. In the low-C soil, these two types of compounds decomposed with similar temporal patterns and extents, and such substrate co-metabolism was dominantly mediated by actinomycetes. In contrast, in the high-C soil, a lower oxidases-to-carbohydrolases ratio regulated the sequential decomposition of labile neutral sugars followed by recalcitrant lignin. Such microbial substrate selectivity was associated with a shift in microbial community from bacterial dominance toward increased fungal contribution. Overall, our findings underscore the significant interplay between soil C availability and flexible microbial substrate utilization strategy in regulating decomposition of heterogeneous SOM components, as well as their distinct contributions in SOM turnover and stabilization.  Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Galactose transporters VfSWEET19 and VfSWEET26 attenuate plant immunity but enhance drought and salt tolerance Xiaohui Yin, Guoyi Yang, Shuo Han, Xiaowen Han, Ting Huang, Limeng Dong, Junliang Yin, Lu Hou, Yujiao Liu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.075 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （8）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Faba bean is a vital food and industrial crop, yet its production is increasingly threatened by various stresses. SWEETs, a class of plant-specific genes, play essential roles in plant stress responses. However, knowledge regarding Vicia faba SWEETs remains limited. In this study, 27 VfSWEETs were identified from the faba bean genome. A comprehensive analysis revealed that these genes are under strong purifying selection and primarily encode hydrophobic proteins localized to the plasma membrane, featuring the characteristic MtN3_slv domain. Promoters of VfSWEETs were found to contain numerous stress-responsive cis-elements, suggesting their involvement in stress responses and growth regulation in faba bean. Notably, VfSWEET19 and VfSWEET26 were upregulated under drought and salt stress; both encode plasma membrane-localized galactose transporters. These transporters attenuate plant immunity by inhibiting pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and disrupting ROS homeostasis, thereby facilitating pathogen infection. Additionally, they enhance drought and salt tolerance by reducing stomatal aperture and improving water retention, which contributes to better water status, scavenging ROS, and alleviating leaf wilting under stress. In conclusion, this study highlights the dual role of galactose transporters VfSWEET19 and VfSWEET26 in attenuating plant immunity while enhancing drought and salt tolerance, offering valuable candidate genes for resistance breeding. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select SbNAC22 coordinates starch biosynthesis in sorghum grain by regulating pathway related functional genes Min Yin, Yi Zheng, Haotong Zeng, Zheyu Yan, Anqi Sun, Kuang Ma, Xiangling Gong, Jing Li, Qianlin Xiao, Zhizhai Liu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.079 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （5）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Starch, the predominant component in sorghum grains and a key component for utilization, is primarily regulated by spatiotemporally specific starch biosynthesis-related genes (SBRGs) with poorly characterized transcriptional mechanisms. This study elucidates the functional role of the NAC-type transcription factor (TF) SbNAC22 in starch biosynthesis in sorghum grains. SbNAC22 exhibits preferential expression levels in developing grains and demonstrates co-expression trends with multiple sorghum SBRGs. SbNAC22 possesses nuclear targeting, autoactivation activity, and intrinsic activity domain. The integrated results of DAP-seq, dual-luciferase analysis, and EMSA imply that SbNAC22 could bind to the conserved motif of 5’-CACGCAA-3’, influencing the promoter activities of the corresponding SBRGs. Transient overexpression assays revealed that SbNAC22 can also upregulate critical SBRGs of SbAGPLS1, SbGBSSI, and SbSSI, while suppress SbISA1 in sorghum. Heterologous expression in rice further demonstrates the conserved regulatory capacity of SbNAC22, elevating transcript levels of rice SBRGs, enhancing grain length and weight, and significantly increasing the starch content in rice grains. The findings of this study identify SbNAC22 as a key transcriptional regulator that orchestrates starch biosynthesis by differentially activating and repressing SBRGs, positioning SbNAC22 as a prime target for novel molecular breeding strategies designed to enhance both grain yield and quality in sorghum. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Identification of a 6P chromosome segment from Agropyron cristatum that increases anthocyanin and hydrolyzed amino acid contents in wheat Junli Yang, Haiming Han, Baojin Guo, Shenghui Zhou, Jinpeng Zhang, Weihua Liu, Xinming Yang, Lihui Li DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.078 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （4）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Wheat is a major staple crop worldwide, and with the ongoing changes in dietary patterns, the demand for improved nutritional quality in wheat has been increasing. Black-grained wheat is a promising germplasm rich in nutrients. Agropyron cristatum (2n = 4x = 28, PPPP) is a wild relative of wheat that carries several desirable genes for genetic improvement. Here, we identified black-grained lines PB31334 and PB31340 from wheat–A. cristatum derivatives, which exhibited significantly higher anthocyanin content and possibly increased amino acid content compared with common wheat. These lines were identified as wheat–A. cristatum 6P (6A) disomic substitution lines, with the alien chromosome 6P from A. cristatum responsible for the black grain trait, as revealed by genetic analysis of four segregated populations created by crossing PB31334 and PB31340 with Fukuho and Xinong979. Additionally, three lines were identified, including telosomic lines carrying the short arm (6PS) and the long arm (6PL) of alien chromosome 6P, as well as a 6PL-deletion line lacking a partial segment of the long arm (bin 6–17). The line with 6PL displayed the black grain trait, whereas the other two did not. The gene was localized to the 6PL (bin 6–17) region without affecting the grain number per spike or thousand-grain weight. Notably, the total anthocyanin content increased in 6PL telosomic line and was positively correlated with grain coloration. The newly identified 6PL chromosomal region is a valuable resource rich in anthocyanins, offering a promising avenue for increasing the nutritional content of wheat. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Identification and fine mapping of the male sterility gene msgN13401 reveals defective pollen starch accumulation in barley Qi Liu, Zhidong Qi, Chaofan Li, Zhenghan Chen, Wenqian Liu, Baoshen Liu, Chaozhong Zhang, Jiajie Wu, Juan Qi, Fei Ni DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.077 Online: 31 December 2025 Abstract （3）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Feasibility of using X-ray to irradiate adult for control of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta in orchards Xiaoting Sun, Wei He, Jiajie Ma, Bo Chu, Xianming Yang, Kongming Wu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.050 Online: 30 December 2025 Abstract （6）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta Busck, is a major pest of fruit trees worldwide, it is necessary to develop green control technology instead of the traditional chemical pesticide. Although the sterile insect technique (SIT) is a safe and effective method for controlling G. molesta, the high cost of mass rearing irradiated pupae hinders its widespread adoption. In this study, we identified the optimal sub-sterilizing X-ray dose for G. molesta adults and evaluated its effects on the mating competitiveness of males, growth and reproduction of the F1 generation population, and the sterility rate of field-caught males. The results showed that the sub-sterilizing dose of 1-day-old male was 130 Gy, which rendered most males sterile (76.34%) and females nearly sterile (97.41%). Moreover, the sterile trait of the male parents that had been irradiated with 130 Gy of X-rays was successfully transmitted to the F1 generation, whose sterility rate (84.13–93.61%) exceeded that of F0 males. The F1 generation population exhibited significantly lower values for the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) compared to the non-irradiated group. Furthermore, the competitive mating index and sterility rate of irradiated males were highest when they were paired with unirradiated males and females at a release ratio of 20:1:1. The irradiating wild males captured by sex pheromones in pear orchards with the sub-sterilizing dose achieved a 75.69% sterility rate, comparable to the laboratory-reared population. This study introduces a novel X-ray irradiation method for adult G. molesta captured in the orchard field and lays a theoretical foundation for promoting the wide application of the SIT. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals key genes and pathways involved in the development of adventitious roots in tomato Hexuan Wang, Xinyi Zhang, Guohao Yang, Xinyi Jia, Jiayi Gao, Haoran Wang, Jingbin Jiang, Jingfu Li, He Zhang, Xiangyang Xu, Huanhuan Yang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.045 Online: 30 December 2025 Abstract （10）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The evolutionary development of adventitious roots (ARs) in plants enhances their capacity to adapt to various stress conditions. A thorough analysis of the influencing factors in its morphological construction holds significant theoretical value and practical guidance for overcoming rooting obstacles in cuttings, as well as for cultivating superior varieties characterized by broad adaptability and stress resistance. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of ARs in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).by performing transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). We analyzed the transcription profiles of relevant genes in the "Y962" strain, which exhibits spontaneous AR formation, and the "W961" strain, which does not form ARs. Our findings indicate that the AR induction stage represents an active phase of development, during which we identified 1,676 overlapping genes across the three comparison groups, highlighting the most differentially expressed genes. Functional enrichment analysis showed that they were most closely related to response to auxin, and were also dependent on the crosstalk between other hormones and carbohydrates. Furthermore, through the measurement of endogenous auxin levels and the induction tests with exogenous auxin, it was established that the formation of ARs is closely linked to the accumulation and transport of auxin. Notably, the auxin efflux SlPIN3, which was enriched in the auxin response pathway, exhibited significantly high expression during the induction phase of ARs. The slpin3 mutant, generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 editing system, exhibited a significant reduction in the number of ARs, highlighting the close relationship between polar transport regulated by SlPIN3 and auxin-induced AR formation. In summary, this study not only enriches the developmental network of AR formation in tomatoes with a wealth of data but also elucidates the potential mechanisms for promoting AR development by targeting SlPIN3.  Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Genome-wide association study of sucrose content and stem diameter in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Fenggang Zan, Zhuandi Wu, Chengcai Xia, Long Zhao, Qi Liu, Zihao Wang, Yanjie Lu, Meiling Zou, Yong Zhao, Peifang Zhao, Xuan Luo, Jiayong Liu, Zhiqiang Xia DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.044 Online: 30 December 2025 Abstract （6）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Increasing the sucrose content of sugarcane, a major sugar crop, is a breeding objective. However, the complex genetic background of sugarcane affects development of sugarcane hybrids. In this study, we sequenced 292 sugarcane germplasm accessions and identified 2,542,965 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (InDels). We performed a genome-wide association analysis of two important sugarcane traits—sucrose content and stem diameter. Both traits conform to a normal distribution and exhibit typical characteristics of quantitative traits. Population structure analysis revealed Four subpopulations with an average genetic distance of 0.236 were identified. Genome-wide association analysis of the sucrose content revealed 27 SNPs. After annotating genes at or near significant loci, 17 candidate genes were screened. For stem diameter, genome-wide association analysis revealed 19 SNPs, from which 9 candidate genes were identified. These results improve our understanding of genetic mechanisms affecting sucrose content in sugarcane, and identify important genetic resources to accelerate breeding of new sugarcane varieties with high sucrose content. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Product or Ability? Research on e-commerce performance of fruit farmers Rong Chen, Lei Xu, Jinyong Guo DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.062 Online: 30 December 2025 Abstract （10）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Scholars have explored various ways to improve farmers' e-commerce performance from different perspectives. However, the debate between "marketable product" and "marketing ability" in practice remains insufficiently addressed in academic research. To further explore this issue, based on dual-micro survey data from consumers and fruit farmers regarding five major fruits in Jiangxi Province, this study applies Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess farmers' e-commerce performance. The study tests the direct and interaction effects of product online adaptability ("marketable product") and e-commerce marketing ability ("marketing ability"), and examines the moderating role of industry clustering. The results show that improving product online adaptability boosts e-commerce performance, especially for medium-level performers. E-commerce marketing ability promotes performance, displaying a "Matthew effect". Product online adaptability and marketing ability act synergistically. Marketing ability has a stronger effect on performance than product online adaptability. Industry clustering amplifies the effects of both product online adaptability and marketing ability on performance. This study offers a new perspective on farmers' e-commerce performance and guidance for optimizing rural e-commerce development paths. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics page Page 1 of 19 Total 365 records First page Prev page Next page Last page