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    Chemical fertilizer and liming-induced changes in aluminum, iron oxides and soil organic carbon fractions: implications for carbon sequestration in an upland red soil
    Mahmoud Abdelaziz, Zhe Shen, Dongchu Li, Lu Zhang, Dong Ai, Jun Yan, Kiya Adare Tadesse, Imtiaz Ahmed, Chu Zhang, Chunhong Wu, Jiwen Li, Huimin Zhang
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.10.005 Online: 17 October 2025
    Abstract2)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Lime application represents an established approach for ameliorating soil acidity, and understanding its effects on the interactions between aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxides and soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions is essential for promoting sustainable agricultural practices that enhance carbon sequestration. This investigation examined the interactions among Al and Fe oxides and SOC fractions under long-term fertilization and liming. A long-term field experiment was implemented with five treatments: CK (no fertilizer), N (nitrogen fertilizer), NCa (N plus lime), NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer), and NPKCa (NPK plus lime). Soil samples were obtained from three depths: 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm. The findings revealed that lime application increased SOC by 20.84% under the N treatment but decreased SOC by 9.97% under NPK, compared with CK. At the 0–10 cm depth, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was substantially higher under NCa (410.51 mg kg-1) and NPKCa (372.83 mg kg-1) compared with CK. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) demonstrated consistent enhancement under NPK and NPKCa across all soil depths compared with CK. DOC exhibited significant positive correlations with both aluminum (Ald), reactive aluminum (Alo) and aluminum (Alp), indicating a key role of organically bound and reactive Al in carbon dynamics. Compared to the CK treatment, SOC stock increased significantly by 43.49% under NPK and by 36.82% under NPKCa. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that lime application mitigated the negative effects of free Al (Ald) on carbon sequestration, while Fe oxides (Fed) contributed positively to SOC stabilization. DOC showed no significant impact on carbon sequestration rate (CSR), while easily oxidizable carbon (EOC) negatively affected CSR directly. These results highlight the crucial role of lime in improving acidic soil conditions and enhancing the stability and sequestration of soil organic carbon.

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    Decrease in abscisic acid (ABA) to jasmonates (JAs) (ABA/JAs) ratio in lodicules induces glume unclosing of two-line hybrid rice grains under high temperature stress during anthesis
    Mahmoud Abdelaziz, Zhe Shen, Dongchu Li, Lu Zhang, Dong Ai, Jun Yan, Kiya Adare Tadesse, Imtiaz Ahmed, Chu Zhang, Chunhong Wu, Jiwen Li, Huimin Zhang
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.10.004 Online: 15 October 2025
    Abstract3)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Lime application represents an established approach for ameliorating soil acidity, and understanding its effects on the interactions between aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxides and soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions is essential for promoting sustainable agricultural practices that enhance carbon sequestration. This investigation examined the interactions among Al and Fe oxides and SOC fractions under long-term fertilization and liming. A long-term field experiment was implemented with five treatments: CK (no fertilizer), N (nitrogen fertilizer), NCa (N plus lime), NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer), and NPKCa (NPK plus lime). Soil samples were obtained from three depths: 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm. The findings revealed that lime application increased SOC by 20.84% under the N treatment but decreased SOC by 9.97% under NPK, compared with CK. At the 0–10 cm depth, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was substantially higher under NCa (410.51 mg kg-1) and NPKCa (372.83 mg kg-1) compared with CK. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) demonstrated consistent enhancement under NPK and NPKCa across all soil depths compared with CK. DOC exhibited significant positive correlations with both aluminum (Ald), reactive aluminum (Alo) and aluminum (Alp), indicating a key role of organically bound and reactive Al in carbon dynamics. Compared to the CK treatment, SOC stock increased significantly by 43.49% under NPK and by 36.82% under NPKCa. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that lime application mitigated the negative effects of free Al (Ald) on carbon sequestration, while Fe oxides (Fed) contributed positively to SOC stabilization. DOC showed no significant impact on carbon sequestration rate (CSR), while easily oxidizable carbon (EOC) negatively affected CSR directly. These results highlight the crucial role of lime in improving acidic soil conditions and enhancing the stability and sequestration of soil organic carbon.

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    Genomic surveillance highlights key VP4/VP7 regions, dominant genotypes, and reassortment in bovine rotaviruses among diarrheic calves in China
    Min Sun, Xinru Sun, Li Mao, Jinzhu Zhou, Xuehan Zhang, Xuejiao Zhu, Ran Tao, Baochao Fan, Zihao Pan, Sizhu Suolang, Bin Li
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.10.003 Online: 03 October 2025
    Abstract21)      PDF in ScienceDirect      
    Bovine rotaviruses (RVs) have been confirmed as the important pathogen responsible for calf diarrhea, and in some instances posing a significant threat to public health. The genetic diversity of bovine RVs with at least thirteen P and fifteen G genotypes poses challenges to establish accurate detection methods and collect convincing clinical data, emphasizing the importance of understanding the epidemiological and genomic characteristics for combatting outbreaks. In the present study, the prevalence of bovine RVs in diarrheic calves across 15 provinces in China during 2022-2023 was monitored at a rate of 21.46%, and exhibits certain levels of seasonality and geographic specificity. By a comprehensive analysis based on 62 entire VP4 (determining P genotype) and 84 entire VP7 (determining G genotype) genes, two specific regions within the VP4 and VP7 genes, ranging from 310 to 595 bp and 260 to 631 bp, respectively, were identified as more accurate targets for assessing the evolutionary mechanisms of bovine RVs. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis based on these genomic segments revealed the complexity of bovine RVs epidemics in China, with the dominant genotypes being G6 and P[1], and other genotypes such as G10, P[5], and P[11] being widely distributed. Further analysis in strain CHN/HLJ/N3/2023/G10P[11] provided evidence of multiple-genera reassortant and ongoing evolution of rotaviruses at the whole genome level. This comprehensive research brings valuable insights into the genetic patterns of bovine RVs, and such understanding is essential for addressing the challenges posed by the diverse genotypes of bovine RVs, which can significantly contribute to effective control measures against outbreaks in bovine populations.
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    Identification and functional characterization of GmMACPF1 as a negative regulator of salt tolerance during germination
    Zhiri Xu, Yajun Zhao, Xiaoting Zhang, Jie Huang, Jie Hu, Yuanpeng Liu, Deyue Yu, Guizhen Kan
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.10.002 Online: 03 October 2025
    Abstract18)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Soybeans, a crucial grain and oil crop, are valued for their high protein and oil content.  Soil salinization presents a significant abiotic stress that negatively impacts soybean growth and development, leading to reduced yield and quality.  The germination period represents a critical phase in soybean development.  This study evaluated salt tolerance in 165 soybean mutant lines during germination, resulting in the identification of five elite salt-tolerant germplasm resources.  Multi-environment Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) identified 11 significantly associated and 44 suggestive SNPs, alongside five novel QTLs linked to salt tolerance.  Analysis of candidate regions qtl5-1 and qtl5-2 identified Glyma.05G097200 and Glyma.05G240200 as promising candidate genes, exhibiting distinct expression patterns between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive genotypes. Functional characterization in Arabidopsis demonstrated that overexpression of the soybean gene GmMACPF1 induced salt sensitivity, while the macpf1 mutant of Arabidopsis displayed enhanced salt tolerance.  Additionally, GmMACPF1 underwent selection during soybean domestication, with haplotypes Hap1 and Hap3 conferring improved salt tolerance.  These results indicate that GmMACPF1 functions as a negative regulator of salt tolerance during germination, offering novel insights into the molecular mechanisms governing soybean response to salt stress during this crucial developmental stage.

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    Biochar amendment reduced microbial necromass carbon accumulation in a paddy soil profile
    Ruiling Ma, Suping Ji, Shuo Jiang, Dingyao Lei, Ying Cai, Xiulan Wu, Zhiwei Liu, Qi Yi, Shaopan Xia, Rongjun Bian, Xuhui Zhang, Jufeng Zheng
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.10.001 Online: 03 October 2025
    Abstract10)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) serves a crucial function in the formation and stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC). Although biochar amendment is recognized as a promising approach for enhancing SOC sequestration, its impact on MNC accumulation across the paddy soil profile remains uncertain. Through a 4-year field experiment, this study examined the effect of biochar amendment on MNC accumulation across three soil layers (0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm) in a paddy soil profile by combining vertical soil profiling, microbial community dynamics, and biomarker analysis. The results showed that biochar amendment reduced MNC by 10.5% (0–15 cm), 7.5% (15–30 cm), and 9.6% (30–45 cm), respectively, compared to the unamended control. In the topsoil (0–15 cm), the reduction in MNC under biochar amendment was attributed to decreases in both fungal and bacterial necromass carbon (C), whereas in the subsoil (15–45 cm), it primarily resulted from the decrease in bacterial necromass C. Biochar amendment reduced MNC content by decreasing microbial biomass and increasing nitrogen (N) acquisition enzyme activities, mainly due to a shift in the microbial community toward K-strategists and intensified microbial N limitation. This study provides novel insights into the microbially-mediated SOC dynamics in response to biochar amendment.

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    Asymbiotic biological nitrogen fixation makes a great contribution to nitrogen balance in unfertilized alpine grasslands across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
    Ke Zhang, Feng Zhang, Yaoming Li, Anna Du, Qingpu Wang, Zilong Liu, Fengcai He, Shengnan Wu, Shengmei Li, Chunhui Ma, Xianqi Zhou, Juejie Yang, Huaiying Yao, Richard D Bardgett, Shikui Dong
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.031 Online: 29 September 2025
    Abstract10)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Nitrogen limitation has been well documented in grasslands on the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau (QTP), significantly affecting predictions of plant growth and carbon sequestration potential here under future climate change scenario. Beside atmospheric deposition, asymbiotic biological nitrogen fixation (ANF) may be crucial for nitrogen input in QTP grasslands, due to the lack of artificial fertilization and legume plants. However, little is known about the ANF’s contribution to nitrogen input on the QTP. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied the composition, diversity and activity of ANF diazotrophs across the QTP grasslands by using multiple methods of transect sampling, 15N-labeling and DNA stable isotope probing (SIP), amplicon sequencing, Random Forest algorithm modelling and digital mapping. We found that Skermanella and Mesorhizobium were the most abundant diazotrophic genera. Soil pH and total phosphorus concentration were the dominant driving factors for their composition and diversity. DNA stable isotope probing with 15N2 revealed that Mesorhizobium were the most active nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. The potential N-fixation rates of these diazotrophs ranged from 0 to 18.1 kg N ha-1 yr-1, resulting in an estimated annual input of approximately 0.50 Tg N across the entire QTPs alpine grasslands (i.e. ~25% of annual nitrogen input). The most important factor affecting the ANF rate was soil micronutrient molybdenum, a cofactor in the nitrogen-fixing nitrogenase, accounting for 24.64% of the variance. These findings suggested that ANF diazotrophs play important roles in maintaining nitrogen balance in the QTP grasslands and expand our understanding of Mesorhizobiums ecological roles beyond traditional symbiotic interactions.

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    Effects of land use type on soil organic carbon in different soil types
    Shunjie Zhu, Liangliang Xu, Chengzhong He, Yongxing Guo, Changqun Duan, Xin Jiang, Shiyu Li, Hailong Yu
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.030 Online: 29 September 2025
    Abstract12)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics significantly influence ecosystem carbon source-sink balance, particularly in agroecosystems. However, uncertainty remains regarding optimal land use types for maximizing farmland carbon storage across different soil types, and identifying effective land management practices for enhanced carbon accumulation is essential for reducing agricultural emissions and strengthening carbon sinks. This study examined SOC variations in eastern Yunnan's subtropical highlands (2,132 sites), analyzing topsoil (0-20 cm) across five land uses (dryland, irrigated land, forestland, grassland, plantation) of five soil types (red, yellow, yellow-brown, brown, purple). The investigation explored relationships between SOC and edaphic factors (26 elements) to determine SOC influencing factors. The study area demonstrated a mean SOC content of 27.78 g kg-1, with distinct spatial heterogeneity characterized by lower values in the southwestern sector and higher concentrations in the northeastern region. Brown soils displayed the highest SOC content (P<0.05), followed by yellow-brown then red, yellow, and purple soils. Irrigation significantly enhanced SOC storage, particularly in brown soils where irrigated land contained 2.2-, 2.4-, and 1.6-times higher SOC than forestland, grassland, and dryland, respectively. Similar irrigation benefits occurred in purple, yellow, and yellow-brown soils, indicating moisture limitation as the primary SOC constraint. Notably, SOC exhibited strong positive correlations with nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and selenium (Se). Nitrogen fertilization demonstrated dual benefits: enhancing SOC sequestration and promoting Se enrichment in crops, potentially supporting specialty agriculture. Although land use impacts on SOC varied across soil types (P>0.05), irrigation consistently emerged as the optimal management for carbon sink enhancement. These findings suggest that targeted water management could effectively reduce farmland carbon emissions in moisture-limited subtropical highlands. Strategic nitrogen application offers co-benefits for soil fertility and selenium biofortification, providing practical pathways for climate-smart agriculture in similar ecoregions.

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    Residual nitrogen exhibits lower stability and greater influence on wheat yield formation compared to phosphorus and potassium in drylands of the Loess Plateau1
    Yufeng Wang, Zixuan Chang, Jiayu Wang, Tingliang Li, Zhiping Yang
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.029 Online: 29 September 2025
    Abstract10)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Following the implementation of China's "Zero-Growth Action Plan on Fertilizers" in 2015, research has predominantly focused on replacing synthetic fertilizers with organic amendments to address over-fertilization concerns. However, insufficient attention has been given to the sustainable supply capacity of soil residual nutrients accumulated from previous over-fertilization. To investigate the transformation dynamics and supply capacity of residual nutrients during crop production, a 6-year field experiment was conducted in the dryland wheat growing region of China's Loess Plateau. Five treatments were established: farmer's fertilization (FF), regulated fertilization (RF), regulated fertilization without N (RF-N), regulated fertilization without P (RF-P), and regulated fertilization without K (RF-K). The study examined wheat yield formation, variations and stability of soil N, P, and K fractions, and their correlations with yield. Results indicated that wheat yield sensitivity to nutrient deficiency followed the sequence N>P>K. During the six-year period, the average yield under RF-N decreased by 22.0% compared to RF, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). Mineral N, light fraction organic N (LFON), and heavy fraction organic N (HFON) in RF-N showed progressive decline relative to RF and initial 2018 levels. Dissolved organic N (DON) and easily oxidizable organic N (EON) in RF-N initially decreased but subsequently increased due to N fraction transformations. Under RF-P, H2O-P, NaHCO3-P, and NaOH-P levels decreased by 40.0, 51.5, and 10.3% respectively (P<0.05) compared to the RF treatment, while HCl-P, residual P, and total P (TP) remained stable. The absence of K application (RF-K) reduced water-soluble K (WSK) by 10.9% (P<0.05), whereas exchangeable K (EK), non-exchangeable K (NEK), mineral K (MK), and total K (TK) showed no significant changes compared to the RF treatment. These findings demonstrated that the soil nitrogen pool exhibits lower stability compared to phosphorus and potassium pools during continuous residual nutrient supply. Notably, NO3-N and LFON significantly influenced spike number and kernels per spike, driving yield formation. This research advances our understanding of sustained residual nutrient supply capacity in soil and provides theoretical foundations for optimizing fertilization strategies in dryland agroecosystems.

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    Improved selected soil properties predictions using MIR and pXRF sensor fusion
    Junwei Wang, Qi Zou, Huimin Yuan
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.028 Online: 29 September 2025
    Abstract9)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    The timely and accurate assessment of soil nutrient information is essential for ensuring global food security and sustainable agricultural development. This study evaluated the individual and fusion performance of mid-infrared (MIR) and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectroscopy for predicting selected soil properties. Four sensor fusion strategies were implemented: direct concatenation (DC), feature-level fusion using stability competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (sCARS) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithms (sCARS-C and LASSO-C), multi-block fusion via sequential orthogonal partial least squares (SO-PLS), and Granger-Ramanathan model averaging (GRA) method to enhance prediction accuracy for 13 soil properties. The findings revealed that single sensor models using either MIR or pXRF provided accurate estimations for soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and pH, but showed limitations for total potassium (TK), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), available potassium (AK), and total phosphorus (TP). The DC model significantly improved predictions for Mg (Rp2=0.76, RMSEp=358.76 mg kg-1, RPDp=2.03) and TK (Rp2=0.75, RMSEp=775.96 mg kg-1, RPDp=2.00). The LASSO-C model demonstrated superior prediction accuracy compared to the DC model for AP, AK, TP, Zn, Mn, and Cu, achieving optimal results for AP (Rp2=0.89, RMSEp=21.37 mg kg-1, RPDp=3.01) and Zn (Rp2=0.80, RMSEp=9.88 mg kg-1, RPDp=2.32). This enhancement is attributed to LASSO's effective selection of feature information from the complete MIR and pXRF spectra. The GRA models achieved the highest prediction accuracy for TP, pH, AK, and Cu, with Rp2 values of 0.80, 0.82, 0.82, and 0.65, RMSEp values of 129.21 mg kg-1, 0.13, 48.38 mg kg-1, and 3.87 mg kg-1, and RPDp values of 2.23, 2.34, 2.37, and 1.67, respectively. For single-sensor applications, MIR spectra are recommended for predicting SOM, TN, and Ca (Rp2≥0.88, RPDp≥2.87), while pXRF is more cost-effective for measuring Ca, Fe, and Mn (Rp2≥0.80, RPDp≥2.22). This research demonstrates the effectiveness of MIR and pXRF sensor fusion in enhancing soil nutrient assessment accuracy, particularly for available nutrients and micronutrients.

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    Stem-breaking strength affects stem lodging and BnaC04.NST1–BnaA10.COMT enhances its resistance in Brassica napus

    Bo Song, Yuan Guo, Wanlong Zhang, Yunyun Ma, Wenhui Liao, Yuxin Liao, Dengmao Yang, Jungang Dong, Saiqi Yang, Zijin Liu, Mingxun Chen
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.027 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract24)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Brassica napus represents a major oilseed crop essential for global vegetable oil production.  Stem lodging, which constitutes the primary form of lodging, significantly reduces yield and seed quality.  Nevertheless, the agronomic characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying stem lodging remain inadequately understood.  Through a two-year field assessment of 158 B. napus accessions, this study identified stem-breaking strength as the trait most highly correlated with stem-lodging angle, establishing it as the principal predictor of stem lodging in this species.  Comparative analysis between accessions with contrasting stem-breaking strength (‘Sy28’ high, ‘Gl210’ low) demonstrated that enhanced stem-breaking strength correlates with increased xylem and interfascicular fiber areas, along with higher concentrations of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose in stems.  Transcriptome analysis of these accessions revealed stem-breaking strength associated genes involved in cambium activity; lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose biosynthesis; and transcriptional regulation of secondary cell wall formation.  This research identified the BnaC04.NST1–BnaA10.COMT pathway as a fundamental regulator of stem-breaking strength, controlling xylem and interfascicular fiber development and lignin accumulation.  These insights advance understanding of stem-breaking strength's role in lodging resistance and establish a molecular pathway for its enhancement in B. napus.

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    Global Evolutionary and Transmission Dynamics of Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus, 1952–2023
    Wenqiang Wang, Qilin Zhao, Zhenbang Zhu, Wei Wen, Xiangdong Li
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.026 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract10)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is an enteric coronavirus that poses a significant threat to the swine industry. However, the ecology, evolutionary history, and transmission dynamics of TGEV remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed 67 complete TGEV genomes collected globally between 1952 and 2023, employing comparative genomics to uncover the evolutionary dynamics and spatial dissemination of TGEV. Our findings reveal that TGEV can be classified into three major genotypes: the admixed GIa lineage with intercontinental distribution, the Europe-specific GIb lineage, and the U.S.-restricted GII lineage. Recombination events were identified in the ORF1a and S gene regions of GIa strains, suggesting that these genetic changes may have contributed to the evolutionary diversification of TGEV. Notably, the S gene is under strong positive selection, with five key codons under selection pressure, suggesting that the potential host–virus evolutionary arms race accelerates TGEV adaptation and diversification. Haplotype network analysis revealed that U.S. strains exhibit the highest genetic diversity, while Chinese strains are characterized by two dominant haplotypes surrounded by multiple closely related minor haplotypes. Bayesian phylogeographic analysis further confirmed that China has played an important role in the global dissemination of TGEV and clarified its transmission routes to regions such as the United States and Vietnam. Overall, this study advances our understanding of the evolution and spread of TGEV, and may contribute to the development of more effective strategies for its prevention and control.

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    Systematic characterization of the N-terminal acetyltransferase gene family reveals that OsNAA30 regulates plant height and tillering in rice
    Yibin Wang, Haoran Wang, Lu Sun, Xiangchao Kong, Chunjing Nie, Xingjun Li, Yihan Wang, Pingli Lu
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.025 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract6)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs) fundamentally regulate plant growth and development through protein N-terminal acetylation (NTA), a crucial post-translational modification.  Although their functional importance is recognized, systematic characterization of NATs remains unexplored in Oryza sativa.  This study identified 14 OsNAA genes distributed non-uniformly across 12 chromosomes in japonica rice.  Phylogenetic analysis combined with conserved domain studies revealed distinct evolutionary clades of OsNAT catalytic subunits with preserved structural architectures.  Analysis of promoter regions identified a prevalence of stress-responsive and growth-related cis-elements, corresponding to developmental stage-specific expression patterns throughout vegetative and reproductive phases.  Several OsNAA genes exhibited substantial transcriptional responses to cold, drought, NaCl, and heat stresses.  Furthermore, gibberellin (GA) promotes the upregulation of specific OsNAA genes during seedling development.  Collinear analysis demonstrated that segmental and singleton duplication events drive the expansion of the OsNAT family.  Functional characterization revealed that OsNAA30 localizes to the nucleus and cytoplasm, displaying canonical NatC activity in vitro.  Deletion of OsNAA30 led to reduced plant height and fewer tillers, accompanied by decreased cell elongation in the stem internodes.  OsNAA30 appears to regulate rice growth by suppressing the expression of GA catabolism genes and cell cycle regulators of plant height and tillering.  Additionally, analysis of the OsNAA30 haplotype links this gene to variations in plant height, culm length, and tiller number, indicating that the OsNAA30 locus may have influenced the local adaptation of plant architecture.  This research provides essential insights into the OsNAT gene family and establishes OsNAA30 as a valuable genetic target for molecular breeding in rice.

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    Integrated transcriptome and hormone reveals transgenerational effects of drought priming in enhancing low-temperature tolerance in wheat offspring
    Junhong Guo, Fasih Ullah Haider, Bing Dai, Peng Mu, Xiangnan Li
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.024 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract10)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Drought priming enhances plant tolerance to various abiotic stresses, including low temperature; however, its multigenerational effects in wheat remain incompletely characterized.  To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive multi-omics investigation combining transcriptomic profiling and hormone analysis to examine how drought priming across six consecutive generations influences offspring responses.  Wheat plants primed during grain-filling produced offspring with substantial alterations in gene expression and metabolism when exposed to low-temperature stress.  Analysis identified 424 and 1,679 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between primed and non-primed offspring under normal and low-temperature conditions, respectively.  Under low-temperature stress, primed progeny exhibited a significant reduction in N-(3-Indolylacetyl)-L-valine and marked increases in tryptamine, dihydrozeatin, and gibberellin A20 levels.  Pathway enrichment analysis revealed predominant effects on plant hormone signal transduction, brassinosteroid biosynthesis, and zeatin biosynthesis pathways, highlighting the central role of hormonal regulation in enhancing stress tolerance.  Analysis of carbohydrate metabolism revealed distinct generational patterns: grandparental drought priming primarily enhanced glucose-related enzyme activities, suggesting a sustained impact on glucose metabolism, while parental drought priming influenced sucrose metabolism more directly, indicating stage-specific regulatory roles.  These metabolic alterations corresponded with improved physiological performance under low-temperature stress, evidenced by higher chlorophyll fluorescence and increased antioxidant enzyme activities in primed offspring.  These findings demonstrate that ancestral drought priming induces heritable molecular and metabolic modifications that enhance low-temperature tolerance in wheat offspring.  This transgenerational stress memory presents a promising approach for breeding wheat varieties with improved resilience to cold stress and variable climates. Integration of both parental and grandparental environmental histories into breeding programs may optimize crop stability under abiotic stress.

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    Rapid and Visual On-Site Detection System for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Based on a Combination of CRISPR-Cas12a and RT-ERA
    Dong Zhou, Junyong Guan, Haibo Yu, Yuntong Shao, Changyou Xia, Caixia Gao, Yinglin Qi
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.023 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract5)      PDF in ScienceDirect      
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    Root architecture plasticity in response to drought stress in cotton revealed by a high-throughput automatic root phenotyping platform (HT-ARPP)
    Simin Sun, Baoqi Li, Jiawei Shi, Linjie Xia, Haokun Wang, Yuxin Wang, Mengsi Gao, Junhao Wei, Wanneng Yang, Xianlong Zhang, Xiyan Yang
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.022 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract17)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Global climate change has intensified drought stress, presenting a significant challenge to agricultural production and breeding. The root system, as the primary organ sensing stress signals, plays a crucial role in determining plants' drought adaptability in soil conditions. Consequently, identifying optimal root architecture under drought conditions has become essential in crop breeding. This study employed a HT-ARPP to systematically analyze a natural population of 228 representative upland cotton accessions in specialized root boxes during seedling-stage drought stress. Root phenotypes were monitored 11 times across 20 days, generating over 20,000 images through an automatic root phenotypic robot, which yielded 27 image-based digital underground root traits (i-Rtraits). The drought-resistant coefficient (DRC, ratio between drought and control of i-Rtraits) was utilized to evaluate phenotypic responses. A comprehensive index of drought adaptability (CIDA) was developed through root traits analysis, and stepwise regression analysis established a model of key i-Rtraits, enabling classification of accessions into 5 groups based on root adaptability to water deficiency. An ideal drought-adaptability root architecture was proposed through combined analysis of aboveground and underground phenotypes. The findings indicate that medium and intermediate drought resistant cotton accessions represent optimal breeding materials for maintaining stable growth under variable conditions, offering a novel strategy for future breeding programs focused on optimized root architecture.

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    Manure increases temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon by increasing soil alphaproteobacteria, phenols, and pH and decreasing soil esters
    Tianjing Ren, Yikang Xue, Tiantian Miao, Kailou Liu, Wenju Zhang, Andong Cai
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.021 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract8)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    The temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil organic carbon (SOC) is a critical parameter in SOC response models concerning climate warming, which governs both the direction and magnitude of soil carbon-climate feedback. However, the relative importance of soil organic compounds in the regulation of the Q10 remains unclear, partly due to the relative stability of SOC compounds. Long-term different fertilization could change the quantity and quality of soil organic compounds. Here, a 38-year fertilization experiment combined with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was used to identify the effect of key soil organic compounds on the Q10. Five treatments were chosen: no fertilization (CK), nitrogen fertilization (N), N combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilization (NPK), manure (M), and NPK combined with manure (NPKM). The results revealed that the Q10 under M and NPKM were 1.59 and 1.66, respectively, which were significantly higher than those under CK (1.35), N (1.29), and NPK (1.36). There was a positive linear relationship between the Q10 and SOC (R²=0.76, P<0.01), whereby manure-enriched SOC is more vulnerable to decomposition under future warming. Among the soil organic compounds, esters and phenols predominated, representing 30.30% and 18.83% of the composition, respectively. Manure increased soil stable organic compounds relative to CK and chemical fertilizer. The increased stable organic compounds under manure led to a high Q10. In addition to the positive effect of soil alphaproteobacteria and pH on the Q10, manure increased the Q10 by increasing phenols and decreasing esters, whereas chemical fertilization did the opposite. These findings first provide substantial evidence that soil organic compounds play an important role in the magnitude and mechanism of SOC response to climate change. Manure-induced SOC, when compared to chemical fertilizers, conferred a heightened sensitivity to climate warming within agroecosystems.

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    Straw tissues quality influence the formation pathways of soil organic carbon via living microbes or microbial necromass in a Mollisols, Northeast China
    Qilin Zhang, Xiujun Li, Guoshuang Chen, Nana Luo, Shufeng Zhang, Ezemaduka Anastasia Ngozi, Xinrui Lu
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.020 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract14)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Soil organic carbon (SOC), representing the largest terrestrial organic carbon pool, significantly influences soil quality. The incorporation of residues is widely recognized as a method to regulate SOC sequestration. A 365-day incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the contribution of straw-derived carbon (SDC) of varying quality to SOC fractions (free particulate OC (fPOC), occluded POC and mineral-associated OC (MAOC)), and examine the relationships between microorganisms and SOC fractions by incorporating 13C-labelled maize stems (ST), leaves (LE), sheaths (SH) residues (1%) in Chinese Mollisol. Results indicated that compared to control (CK), ST, LE and SH treatments enhanced SOC, fPOC and MAOC by 4.8-19.5, 35.7-49.5 and 1.6-3.9%, respectively. The SDC-SOC and MAOC content of LE were 29.1-38.1% and 17.5-44.5% higher than ST and SH, respectively. The SDC-oPOC content of SH was 3.1% higher than LE. The PLFA concentration decreased steadily throughout the incubation period, while necromass remained in-fluctuating until an obvious increasing trend observed at later stage. Furthermore, structural equation model (SEM) revealed that lignin to nitrogen ratio (LigN) of ST exhibited negative association with SDC-fPOC, and bacterial diversity in SH showed negative correlation with LigN and positive correlation with SDC-oPOC, while demonstrating positive correlation between microbial necromass and SDC-MAOC in LE. These findings indicated that POC dynamics correlated with straw chemical traits, while MAOC showed links to both microbial necromass traits and straw chemical characteristics. These findings advance our understanding of how straw residue quality influences SOC turnover and stabilization through microbial community interactions, contributing to the development of policies to improve soil fertility, and promote the rational and efficient utilization of straw.

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    Apple gene MdXTH30, encoding endotransferase/hydrolase for xyloglucan, can improve plant resistance to drought, salt and pathogens stresses
    Shou Ma, Tong Li, Ziquan Feng, Yali Zhang, Han Jiang, Yuanyuan Li
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.019 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract11)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Xyloglucan is the main component of hemicellulose in the cell walls of higher plants, which provides mechanical support. The XTH gene family encodes xyloglucan endotransferase/hydrolase, which is a key enzyme in cell wall remodeling. However, studies on XTH family-related genes in apples are rare. In this study, the MdXTH30 gene, isolated from apple (Malus×domestica), was responsive to abscisic acid, NaCl, and PEG 6000, and was localized to the cytoplasm according to a subcellular mapping technique. To further investigate the role of MdXTH30 in the stress response, we generated transgenic MdXTH30 apple calli and heterologously expressed this gene in Arabidopsis by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The results demonstrated that MdXTH30 enhanced resistance to drought, salt stress, and pathogens by regulating the expression of relevant genes in apple calli and Arabidopsis. These findings provide valuable insight into potentially important candidate genes for improving biotic and abiotic stress resistance at the cell wall level.

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    Regulation of lignin biosynthesis by a group IIe WRKY transcription factor PlWRKY29 in herbaceous peony
    Yanqing Wu, Zhanyu Dong, Yuehan Yin, Jun Tao, Daqiu Zhao, Yuhan Tang
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.018 Online: 24 September 2025
    Abstract10)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Stem strength represents one of the most critical agronomic traits, as it enables plants to resist lodging and bending, thereby contributing to their overall yield and quality. Various transcription factors have been shown to regulate stem strength in crops; however, the mechanisms underlying stem strength formation and regulation remain largely unexplored, particularly in ornamental plants. This study identified a group IIe WRKY transcription factor PlWRKY29 in herbaceous peony. Tobacco plants overexpressing PlWRKY29- exhibited significantly enhanced stems, expanded xylem, thickened cell walls and elevated lignin content compared to wild-type specimens. Conversely, PlWRKY29-silenced herbaceous peony demonstrated opposite characteristics. Further investigation of the regulatory mechanism revealed that PlWRKY29 bound to the promoter of PlLAC15, which encodes a monolignol polymerization gene that facilitates lignin deposition. These findings demonstrate that PlWRKY29 positively regulates lignin biosynthesis and stem strength, advancing our understanding of lignin biosynthetic regulation in plants.

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    Amur grape VaMYB4a mediates grapevine cold tolerance via dual regulation of CBF-COR and ABA pathways
    Qinhan Yu, Yue Sun, Yaping Xie, Jiaxin Li, Rong Wang, Qiaoling Zheng, Chang Liu, Ningbo Zhang, Weirong Xu
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.09.005 Online: 15 September 2025
    Abstract22)      PDF in ScienceDirect      

    Cold stress represents a critical constraint on crop productivity, particularly in temperate climates. Despite the established role of abscisic acid (ABA) in cold stress responses, the precise mechanisms through which transcription factors mediate ABA-dependent cold tolerance remain elusive. Here, we identify VaMYB4a, a MYB transcription factor from Vitis amurensis Rupr. (Amur grape), as a key regulator of cold tolerance. It integrates ABA signaling with the CBF (C-repeat binding factors)-COR (cold-regulated) pathway to orchestrate cold stress adaptation. Through a combination of overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout lines in Arabidopsis thaliana, grape callus, and Vitis vinifera.L seedlings, we demonstrate that VaMYB4a enhances freezing tolerance by promoting osmotic regulation, ROS (Reactive oxygen species) scavenging, and stomatal closure. VaMYB4a functions as a homo-dimer, with its C-terminal domain being essential for transcriptional activation. Mechanistically, VaMYB4a directly upregulates CBF and COR genes while fine-tuning ABA signaling components such as ABI1 and ABF4. Notably, ABA exhibits a dual role: enhancing VaMYB4a-mediated freezing tolerance under short-term stress but attenuating its effects during prolonged cold exposure, revealing an intricate regulatory crosstalk between cold and hormonal pathways. Our work not only advances the molecular understanding of cold adaptation but also provides a promising genetic target for developing stress-resilient grape varieties to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

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