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For Selected: Download Citations EndNote Ris BibTeX Toggle Thumbnails Select Cotton science and production in China: A decade of progress and prospects Lei Fang, Guanjing Hu, Yanjun Zhang, Chengzhen Liang, Juyun Zheng, Shangkun Jin, Lei Shao, Yabing Li, Mirza Muhammad Ahad Baig, Wangfeng Zhang, Hezhong Dong, Xiongfeng Ma, Tianzhen Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.028 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is a globally important natural fiber crop and a cornerstone of China’s textile industry security.  Over the past decade, advances in high-throughput sequencing, genome-wide association studies, multi-omics integration, genomic selection, and gene editing have accelerated the transition of cotton research from traditional, experience-based breeding to data-driven, design-oriented improvement.  This review examines changes in China’s cotton production patterns, regional distribution, and consumption structure over the last 10 years.  We summarize major breakthroughs in genomics, from progenitor genomes to telomere-to-telomere gap-free assemblies and pan-genomes, along with progress in functional marker development and the cloning of genes that govern critical agronomic traits, including yield, fiber quality, disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance.  In cultivation, China has developed regionally adapted high-efficiency systems centered on concentrated maturity.  In Xinjiang, precision monoseeding, dry sowing-wet emergence, mulched drip fertigation, density–chemical architecture regulation, and harvest-oriented defoliation have jointly enabled fully mechanized production while reducing water, fertilizer, and labor inputs.  In the Yellow and Yangtze River valleys, simplified systems based on precision sowing or post-harvest direct seeding, higher density, chemical topping, and efficient defoliation have improved labor productivity and production resilience.  Looking forward, cotton improvement is expected to move toward integrated design breeding and smart cultivation, combining genome editing, artificial intelligence, big data, digital phenotyping, and automated management.  The systematic dissection of complex agronomic networks, the effective use of wild resources and underutilized germplasm, and the integration of genetic improvement with intelligent production technologies will be critical to advancing China’s cotton industry toward sustainable, high-quality development. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Morphological, physiological and transcriptome analyses reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of the invasive plant Mikania micrantha to allelopathic effects of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) Shicai Shen, Ruiguo Shi, Fengping Zheng, Rongtao Hu, Gaofeng Xu, David Roy Clements, Michael Denny Day, Bo Liu, Fudou Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.027 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) (Convolvulaceae) exhibits competitive advantages over various invasive plant species and can effectively suppress the seedling growth and population spread of the invasive plant Mikania micrantha Kunth (Asteraceae). One of the primary reasons is that sweet potato may release allelochemicals, but the molecular mechanisms by which these allelopathic substances inhibit the growth of M. micrantha remains unclear. In this study, the morphological, physiological and molecular responses of seed germination and seedling growth of M. micrantha to allelopathy from the three major allelochemicals (linoleic acid, palmitic acid and ethyl palmitate) of sweet potato were explored. The results showed that the three compounds exhibited strong inhibition activity against M. micrantha. The highest inhibition rates were seen from linoleic acid, followed by ethyl palmitate, with the lowest inhibition rates seen from palmitic acid. The root number and root biomass of M. micrantha were most strongly inhibited, then new leaf number and leaf area, while leaf biomass and total biomass were the least affected. Catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of M. micrantha were increased in response to the three compounds, but peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and chlorophyll levels declined. The molecular mechanism by which linoleic acid affected M. micrantha was likely to be related to the disruption of auxin, abscisic acid, and gibberellin biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways. In addition, there was possibly an influence on plant peptide hormone signaling pathways, ultimately leading to root growth inhibition. Palmitic acid and ethyl palmitate exhibited similar inhibitory patterns, primarily by downregulating the expression of genes involved in abscisic acid biosynthesis and plant hormone signaling pathways, thereby affecting root development. These findings suggest that the key allelopathic compounds from sweet potato can exert significant inhibitory effects on the seedling growth of M. micrantha through the coordinated regulation of multiple plant hormone signaling pathways. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Construction of the first high-density genetic linkage map and the identification of QTLs and key candidate genes associated with fruit size for Chinese cherry [Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G.Don] Jing Zhang, Tao Chen, Yan Wang, Hao Wang, Zhenshan Liu, Qing Chen, Wen He, Shaofeng Yang, Haoru Tang, Xiaorong Wang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.026 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Fruit size is a crucial fruit quality trait for Chinese cherry [Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G.Don]. Herein, we constructed the first single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based high-density genetic linkage map for Chinese cherry by applying specific locus amplified fragment sequencing to 200 progenies selected from an F1 segregating population derived from two Chinese cherry landraces. Fruit size-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and QTLs co-located by multiple traits (multi-trait QTL clusters, muQTLs) were identified based on phenotypic data for two years. We discovered key candidate genes within muQTLs through transcriptomic analyses of fruits from crucial developmental stages, SNP detection and RT-qPCR validation. Integrated linkage map was constructed using 2,919 SNPs, comprising eight linkage groups with a total length of 1,185.24 cM and a resolution of 0.41 cM. A total of 107 QTLs were identified for five fruit size-related traits and subsequently merged into 49 non-redundant QTLs. Twelve non-redundant loci were consistently detected across two years, including nine high-confidence loci with logarithm of odds (LOD) scores of 3.01–4.72 and phenotypic variation explained (PVE) of 6.69%–10.30%. Furthermore, ten muQTLs were co-located by three or four traits. Within muQTLs, 23 fruit size-related candidate genes identified by transcriptomic analysis were predominantly enriched in phytohormone-related biosynthesis, metabolism and signal transduction (e.g., IAA), cell expansion and proliferation (e.g., RLF), and cell wall metabolism (e.g., NAC), among which seven candidates were further validated to exert putative crucial functions in governing fruit size via RT-qPCR. This study provides helpful support for genetic improvement by molecular breeding in Chinese cherry. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Green manure modifies particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon accumulation under contrasting organic amendments in a dryland wheat system Yunuo Li , Yuhan Jiang, Yiting Chen, Conghui Liu, Xinyao Zhang, Yapeng Jiao, Jianglan Shi, Xiangtian Meng, Xiaohong Tian DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.025 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Summer fallow is widely used for water storage in dryland wheat systems, but prolonged bare soil limits biological inputs needed to rebuild soil fertility. Straw and manure replenish soil C and nutrients, whereas green manure grown during summer fallow and incorporated before wheat sowing also provides seasonal soil cover and in situ plant-derived inputs. Whether replacing bare fallow with a green-manure phase alters the efficiency with which additional organic C is retained in soil remains unclear. We evaluated how green manure, amendment type, and input loading shape SOC retention in a six-year field experiment on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Winter wheat–summer fallow and winter wheat–summer green-manure systems were each combined with five fertilization regimes: an unfertilized control, mineral fertilizer alone, and mineral fertilizer supplemented with straw, manure, or both. Green manure increased mean weight diameter by 59.6% and particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) stocks by 20.7% and 11.7%, respectively, while supporting greater wheat productivity and nutrient uptake than summer fallow. Within the green-manure system, straw and manure supplied comparable organic C inputs but differed in C-retention patterns. Straw maintained a stronger plant-derived C signal, whereas manure promoted greater microbial necromass, particularly fungal necromass, and MAOC accumulation, and achieved the highest SOC sequestration efficiency (CSE; 47.8%). Straw–manure co-application supplied the greatest organic C input and produced the highest SOC stock, but did not further increase microbial necromass or MAOC beyond manure alone or provide consistent additional benefits for yield or nutrient recovery. These results show that green manure creates a favorable context for SOC retention, while amendment quality governs C partitioning and increasing input loading results in diminishing marginal returns. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select TaTB1 suppresses wheat spikelet formation by interacting with TaDUO1 to synergistically activate WFZP transcription  Baolian Lv, Hongyong Dai, Tianqi Liu, Fei Du, Zhencheng Xie, Xiuying Kong, Chuan Xia, Jijun Yan, Jinfang Chu, Jiaqiang Sun, Xu Liu, Zhiyong Ni, Lichao Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.024 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Increased planting density combined with one-pass shallow rotary drill sowing optimized seedling quality and population structure, thereby improving grain yield and economic return of rice-stubble wheat Lei Yan, Shijie Yan, Guanghui Shi, Yuting Zhang, Can Zhao, Ke Xu, Hongcheng Zhang, Zhongyang Huo, Weiling Wang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.023 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       In recent years, the development and application of large-scale integrated seeders capable of one-pass shallow rotary tillage and drill sowing have greatly improved the sowing quality of rice-stubble wheat. However, the appropriate pre-sowing tillage practice and corresponding planting density under this context remain unclear. In this two-year field experiment, we used such integrated seeders to conduct one-pass shallow rotary drill sowing across all treatments, while varying the pre‑sowing tillage methods and planting densities. The responses of sowing quality, yield formation, and economic return were then evaluated. The results showed that direct sowing under no pre-sowing tillage (NTS) resulted in higher seed exposure rate and surface straw coverage, averaging 21.97 and 63.02%, respectively. Compared with NTS, ploughing followed by rotary tillage before sowing (PTS) and rotary tillage before sowing (RTS) significantly improved sowing quality by increasing sowing depth (29.54–68.40%) and reducing seed exposure rate (37.56–78.88%) and surface straw coverage (30.58–38.04%), with no significant difference between PTS and RTS in the latter. Seedlings under NTS showed better individual growth than those under PTS and RTS, with higher seedling vigor and more tillers per plant. However, NTS had an insufficient population at the mid-to-late growth stages compared with PTS and RTS under low planting density, as reflected by lower leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, and productive spike number, which was associated with its lower productive tiller rate. At high planting density, the population size of NTS was effectively compensated, resulting in significantly higher yield than that at low density, whereas excessive population size under PTS and RTS led to yield reduction. Quadratic fitting showed that the fitted optimum planting densities for PTS, RTS, and NTS were 289.0×104, 294.8×104, and 343.8×104 plants ha-1, respectively. Under one-pass shallow rotary drill sowing, all three tillage practices could achieve high yield levels (>6,500 kg ha-1) when planting density was optimized. Although NTS required greater seed input to attain the target planting density, its reduced machinery and labor costs resulted in the highest net return in both seasons. Collectively, NTS combined with one-pass shallow rotary drill sowing under optimized high planting density constitutes a high-yield and high-efficiency strategy for wheat production in rice-stubble fields using large-scale integrated seeders. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Development and validation of novel MD-100K liquid-phase chip: Advancing genetic research and breeding in dairy and dual-purpose cattle Yatong Wang, Siqian Chen, Hao Zhong, Quanzhen Chen, Yongjie Tang, Xiao Feng, Songyan An, Shanyuan Chen, Kerong Shi, Xixia Huang, Yachun Wang, Qin Zhang, Ying Yu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.022 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Dairy and dual-purpose cattle play an important role in modern livestock production. However, genetic evaluation and improvement in Chinese dual-purpose cattle have been constrained by the lack of efficient and cost-effective genotyping tools. We developed the MD-100K (Milk and Dual-Purpose Cattle 100K) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) liquid‑phase chip for seven dairy and dual-purpose breeds. The chip comprises 101,565 high-quality markers spanning 12 economic and functional traits, selected through multiple approaches and filtered against a reference population of 599 individuals. The chip provides balanced genome-wide coverage. Validation in 1,454 Holstein and Sanhe cattle achieved mean call rates exceeding 99.8%. Genetic structure analysis revealed clear differentiation between the two breeds. The genome-wide average fixation index (Fst) was 0.066, with strong differentiation observed on chromosome 18 (peak Fst=0.864). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 121, 9, and 52 candidate loci in Holstein, Sanhe, and the meta‑analysis, respectively. A prominent genome-wide significant signal was detected for average daily milk yield (ADMY) on chromosome 14, with the lead SNP located in the exon of DGAT1. For immune‑related traits, five suggestive loci were identified, including 15_63147124_G_A, an intronic variant in WT1, which was consistently detected as a candidate association in both granulocyte-to-monocyte ratio (GMR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) meta-GWAS. In consequence, the MD-100K SNP liquid-phase chip serves as a reliable tool for capturing population structure, genomic diversity, and functional trait variation for dairy and dual-purpose cattle populations evaluated in this study, Holstein and Sanhe cattle. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select RpoS negatively regulates type VI secretion system and orfamide A biosynthesis of Pseudomonas protegens FD6 Yongxin Jiao, Tao Wu, Yuxin Zhu, Ziyi Zhang, Qingxia Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.021 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The biological bacterium Pseudomonas protegens FD6 produces a range of antifungal secondary metabolites to inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi. Previous studies showed that the alternative σ factor RpoS negatively regulated the production of antibiotics pyoluteorin (PLT) and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG). In this study, we performed RNA-seq analysis on the rpoS deletion mutant, which indicated the global transcriptional regulation in FD6 by RpoS. We revealed that rpoS deletion increased contact‑dependent killing mediated by the type VI secretion system (T6SS) and led to overproduction of cyclic lipopeptide (CLP) orfamide A. Bacterial one-hybrid (B1H) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) confirmed that RpoS directly bound to the CTANNNT motifs in the promoters of the T6SS operon genes tssA and tagH, as well as the orfamide A biosynthesis regulator gene luxR1. LuxR1 bound to the elements in the promoter of orfamide A biosynthesis gene cluster ofaABC, and acts as a transcriptional activator. Loss of function of luxR1 or ofaA impaired orfamide A biosynthesis, while does not affect antagonism activity against phytopathogens in FD6. Deletion of ofaA resulted in reduced motility, biofilm formation, colonization ability, and orfamide A appeared essential for surface tension. Collectively, our results provided new insights into the pleiotropic regulatory function of RpoS on the orfamide A biosynthesis and T6SS function in P. protegens FD6, laying a foundation for the genetic engineering of biocontrol agent to improve the biological control efficacy. Pseudomonas protegens, RpoS, biocontrol, orfamide A, T6SS Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Multi-omics analysis reveals that wheat enhances resistance to the English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) through JA signaling pathway and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway Zhenyu Wang, Weixi Hao, Yuting Zhao, Yaxin Guo, Dongfu Geng, Hao Wang, Pingchuan Deng, Tingdong Li, Xue Shi, Changyou Wang, Jixin Zhao, Chunhuan Chen, Wanquan Ji, Xinlun Liu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.020 Online: 15 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) is one of the most devastating pests in wheat production, which seriously endangers the yield and quality of wheat. This study evaluated the S. avenae resistance of wheat varieties Lunxuan 144 (S. avenae-resistant) and Jimai 22 (S. avenae-susceptible) at the adult stage. Lunxuan 144 showed stronger antixenosis, antibiosis and tolerance, with fewer aphids on the spikes and lower thousand-grain weight loss than Jimai 22. A total of 3,304 metabolites were detected in wheat spikes at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h post S. avenae infestation. Lunxuan 144 produced far more differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs, 662-1,051) than Jimai 22 (336-594), among which flavonoids and phenolic acids constituted the predominant genotype-specific DAMs. Four core metabolic pathways (plant hormone signal transduction, α-linolenic acid metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis) were more significantly enriched in the spike of Lunxuan 144. Subsequent validation revealed that key defense metabolites accumulated to significantly higher levels in Lunxuan 144 at 72 h post infestation: jasmonic acid (JA) (2.70-fold), JA-Ile (4.90-fold), and total flavonoids (1.40-fold) relative to Jimai 22. These results indicated Lunxuan 144 enhanced S. avenae resistance by activating JA signaling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways, clarifying the metabolic mechanism of S. avenae resistance in wheat and providing potential candidate metabolites for S. avenae-resistant wheat breeding. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Assessing soil health responses to organic amendments in red-soil cropping systems Xuan Peng, Lu Luan, Jie Zheng, Xiaoyue Wang, Jia Liu, Shungui Zhou, Yuji Jiang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.019 Online: 14 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Soil health is widely recognized as a key determinant of sustainable crop production. However, the effects of organic material amendments on soil health and the relative performance of different assessment approaches remain insufficiently explored in red-soil agroecosystems. We quantified the effects of organic material amendments on soil health and crop productivity in maize and peanut cropping systems and compared four soil health assessment approaches: linear scoring (L), sigmoidal scoring (Sig), comprehensive assessment of soil health (CASH), and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Our results indicate that organic material amendments significantly improved soil health, with the greatest improvements observed under the NSM treatment. Among the four approaches evaluated, EFA-SHI showed relatively high sensitivity and a positive relationship with crop yield. Positive relationships between all SHIs and crop yield suggest that improvements in soil health were accompanied by enhanced crop performance. Overall, our findings suggest that the NSM treatment was associated with greater improvements in soil health and crop performance and that EFA-based assessment may provide a useful data-driven approach for soil health evaluation in red-soil agroecosystems. These findings may offer a reference for sustainable soil management in southern China. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select National-scale nitrogen input thresholds and nitrogen use efficiency in global croplands with livestock manure recycling Li Zheng, Wim de Vries, Gerard H. Ros, Ji Liu, Xuekai Jing, Yulong Shi, Yu Liu, Qingwen Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.018 Online: 14 September 2026 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Nitrogen (N) management is crucial for balancing crop productivity and environmental sustainability in crop-livestock systems. However, significant spatial variations in nitrogen inputs, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and nitrogen surplus remain inadequately quantified at the global scale. In this study, we developed national nitrogen budgets for 183 countries from 1961 to 2020 and analyzed long-term relationships among nitrogen inputs, crop N uptake, NUE, and N surplus. Globally, cropland N inputs increased substantially from 1961 to 2020, accompanied by increased crop N uptake, an initial decline followed by a recovery in NUE, and rising N surplus. Our findings reveal that, in 2020, global croplands were predominantly fertilized with synthetic fertilizers, resulting in highly heterogeneous N surpluses (-31 to 441 kg N ha-1). Many regions, particularly in Asia, Europe, and South America, exhibited low NUE alongside high N surplus. Inverted U-shaped response curves between fertilization N rate and crop N uptake were observed in 77 countries, with inflection points identified in 44 countries at varying N thresholds. Optimizing total N input to 165-200 kg N ha-1 could significantly improve NUE in high-input countries, while 80-100 kg N ha-1 of N input enhances efficiency in low-input countries. Strategic adjustment of manure use and total N inputs provides a pathway to higher NUE and greater agricultural sustainability. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Efficient energy metabolism accelerates wheat grain filling by regulating sink strength Xidan Cao, Yimou Zuo, Linjing Yang, Lichuang Gao, Ting Zou, Vinay Nangia, Yang Liu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.017 Online: 14 September 2026 Abstract （0）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Wheat yield per unit area is determined by spike number per unit area, grain number per spike, and 1,000-grain weight, among which 1,000-grain weight is dominated by the grain-filling process. Although energy metabolism participates in the regulation of wheat grain filling, the specific regulatory mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, three comparative treatments including two wheat varieties with distinct grain weights (JM1 and XY22), superior grains (SG) and inferior grains (IG) in the same spike, and inferior grains after superior grain removal (RS-IG) were set up to compare their grain filling differences. Combined with the determination of energy metabolism-related metabolites and the analysis of corresponding gene expression patterns, this study clarified the regulatory mechanism of energy metabolism underlying wheat grain filling. The results showed that the higher 1000-grain weight of JM1 relative to XY22 was mainly attributed to its faster grain-filling rate rather than an extended filling period. SG exhibited better grain weight and filling performance than IG, and the removal of superior grains further enhanced the filling ability of residual RS-IG. Highweight grains exhibited lower ATP levels but higher energy charge and NADPH content, reflecting efficient ATP utilisation and rapid turnover rather than energy deficiency. These grains also showed upregulated expression of genes involved in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and starch synthesis, along with increased activities of key metabolic enzymes, as well as accelerated sucrose degradation and starch accumulation. Collectively, efficient energy metabolism optimizes grain energy supply and allocation, accelerates grain filling and ultimately improves wheat 1000-grain weight. This study provides a reliable theoretical basis for high-yield wheat cultivation and yield potential improvement via regulating grain energy metabolism in field production. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Roles of eIF5A in regulating plant translational elongation and stress adaptation  Dong Ma, Xin Shen, Yunhui Zhang, Weijie Tang, Yunfei Wu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.016 Online: 14 September 2026 Abstract （0）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is uniquely activated by hypusination, a two-step spermidine-derived modification catalysed by deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH). Although historically classified as an initiation factor, hypusinated eIF5A acts primarily during translation elongation and termination by supporting peptide-bond formation at kinetically difficult sequence contexts. Plant genomes encode small eIF5A families whose conserved catalytic core is deployed through isoform-specific expression, protein turnover and tissue context. Genetic studies connect individual paralogues with meristem activity, vascular differentiation, organ growth, senescence, programmed cell death, abiotic-stress adaptation and immunity. Recent tobacco genetics combined with ribosome profiling provides emerging plant translatomic evidence that the NtDHS1–NteIF5A1 axis remodels translation of growth- and chlorophyll-related genes. However, direct codon-resolved evidence that a plant eIF5A isoform rescues a defined ribosomal pause motif remains lacking. Here, we distinguish expression-, phenotype-, protein-turnover- and translatome-level evidence, integrate results across Arabidopsis, rice, maize, tobacco, tomato and woody species, and propose a conditional translational-buffer model in which a conserved spermidine–hypusination–eIF5A module produces different outputs according to the translated mRNA pool and cellular state. Mammalian studies are used as a methodological bridge to define a causal workflow based on matched RNA sequencing, ribosome profiling, collision mapping, proteomics, motif manipulation and genetic rescue. Finally, we discuss multigene pathway tuning, precision cis-regulatory editing and pangenome- and artificial-intelligence-guided candidate prioritisation as routes to exploit eIF5A networks while minimising growth–defence trade-offs in crops. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Soybean science and production in China: A decade of progress and future prospects Cailong Xu, Tingting Wu, Chao Qin, Yong Guo, Dong Cao, Wenwu Ye, Zhe Yan, Yanting Shen, Xunchao Zhao, Yuan Li, Yan Zhang, Kaixin Yu, Zhenjie Qian, Liang Cao, You Ge, Xiaobo Yu, Yong Zhan, Zhaoming Qi, Taiwen Yong, Chengqian Jin, Jun Li, Yuxian Zhang, Zhixi Tian, Yingpeng Han, Rongxia Guan, Shi Sun, Cunxiang Wu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.014 Online: 08 September 2026 Abstract （32）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Soybean, a critical crop for China’s food security and edible oil supply, has achieved substantial progress in research and production over the past decade.  This review summarizes advances in soybean production and consumption, regional planting patterns, and yield-improving strategies.  Chinese researchers have led breakthroughs in soybean genome assembly, pan-genome construction, and multi-omics integration, identifying key genes governing yield, quality, stress tolerance, photoperiod adaptability, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.  Innovations in molecular breeding, transgenic technology, and genome editing have accelerated variety improvement.  Meanwhile, precision cultivation, dense planting, green management, and low-loss mechanical harvesting have boosted yield and efficiency.  Future efforts will focus on mining novel genetic variation, intelligent breeding, and climate-resilient green cultivation to enhance soybean self-sufficiency and sustainable agricultural development in China. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Ammonium enhances soil organic phosphorus conversion by regulating phoC- and phoD-harboring bacteria Chunquan Zhu, Yulian Yan, Qinshan Xu, Yali Kong, Hangfeng Wang, Chunxin Chi, Shangpan Li, Lianfeng Zhu, Xiaoxia Liu, Jie Wang, Xiaochuang Cao, Wenhao Tian, Jingwang Li, Qiaoling Li, Junhua Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.013 Online: 08 September 2026 Abstract （8）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Ammonium facilitates higher absorption and remobilization of phosphorus (P) in rice compared with nitrate nitrogen; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, a five-year pot experiment was conducted with ammonium or nitrate applied with or without P fertilizer (NH4++P, NH4+-P, NO3-+P and NO3--P) to investigate the mechanisms by which ammonium enhances organic P release under P-deficient conditions. The results showed that rice growth and yield, together with total aboveground P content, were significantly higher in the NH4+-P treatment than in the NO3--P treatment. Treatment with NH4+-P improved the transfer of moderately labile organic P to labile organic P, thereby enhancing the available P content in the rhizosphere soil of rice. In addition, the acid phosphatase activity and the expression of related genes (phoC) in the rhizosphere soil of rice was significantly higher in the NH4+-P treatment than in the NO3--P treatment. In contrast, alkaline phosphatase activity did not different significantly between the NH4+-P and NO3--P treatments, although the expression of its related gene (phoD) was significantly higher in the NO3--P treatment than in the NH4+-P treatment. The α-diversity indices, such as Shannon, Chao1, abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) and observed species, of phoC-harboring bacteria were significantly higher under the NH4+-P treatment than under the NO3-P treatment, whereas no significant differences in α-diversity were observed for phoD-harboring bacteria between these two treatments. Under P-deficient conditions, ammonium had a stronger effect than nitrate on the enrichment of Serratia, Raoultella, and Stenotrophomonas among the phoC-harboring bacteria, as well as Mesorhizobium, Ralstonia, and Rhizobacter among phoD-harboring bacteria. Soil pH was the primary environmental factor significantly influencing the abundance of both phoC- and phoD-harboring bacteria. In conclusion, ammonium was associated with enhanced available P from organic P by regulating the community structure of phoC- and phoD-harboring phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, with soil pH acting as a key driver of community composition. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Clade 2.3.4.4b H5 subtype avian influenza viruses circulating in wild birds continue to spread into domestic waterfowl in China Congcong Wang, Yan Wang, Xuyong Li, Jianzhong Shi, Yuan Chen, Chuncheng Zhu, Jiahao Miao, Peng Chen, Xianying Zeng, Guobin Tian, Pengfei Cui, Guohua Deng DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.015 Online: 08 September 2026 Abstract （25）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The clade 2.3.4.4b H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has triggered an unprecedented global panzootic since 2020. We previously reported that the clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses rapidly formed 16 different genotypes since it emerged in 2020 and four of them were detected in wild birds and domestic poultry in China before March 2022. To monitor the circulation and evolution of these viruses, we collected 60,286 samples from wild bird habitats, domestic poultry farms, and poultry slaughterhouses in China from April 2022 to July 2024, and isolated 30 clade 2.3.4.4b H5 influenza viruses (25 H5N1 and five H5N6), 19 of which were isolated from wild bird samples and 11 were isolated from domestic ducks and geese. Detailed analysis revealed that the 25 H5N1 viruses and the five H5N6 viruses formed seven and three genotypes, respectively, and only two genotypes of H5N1 viruses were previously detected and all other genotypes were newly identified in this study. These H5 viruses exhibited different pathogenicity in mice, ranging from non-lethal to highly lethal, but antigenically they were all well-matched with the H5-Re14 vaccine strain currently used in China. Our findings indicate that the clade 2.3.4.4b H5 viruses remain endemic in wild bird populations and repeatedly spill over into domestic waterfowl. Consequently, sustained monitoring of the evolutionary dynamics of clade 2.3.4.4b H5 viruses is essential to inform evidence-based prevention and control strategies. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Rural household aging, farmers' property rights cognition and migration intentions Tao Xu, Yufeng Ren, Bo Dong, Guangcheng Wei, Yuting Wang, Zhemin Li, Xinru Han DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.012 Online: 04 September 2026 Abstract （10）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Rural China's accelerating demographic transition is reshaping rural household migration patterns and socioeconomic development trajectories. Based on data from the 2023 China Rural Homestead Survey, a multinomial logit model is constructed to examine the effect of rural household aging on migration intention and the moderating role of farmers’ property rights cognition. The results show that rural household aging significantly strengthens households’ willingness to remain in their village and reduces the willingness of some household members to migrate, whereas its effect on the intention of all household members to migrate together is not significant. Further analysis reveals that the moderating effect of property rights cognition is not significant in the full sample, but heterogeneity analysis indicates marked conditional features. In villages with relatively abundant policy resources and clearer institutional interpretation, farmers' cognition of collective property rights can alleviate the inhibitory effect of aging on partial migration intention. In contrast, in villages with insufficient policy support, farmers' cognition of collective property rights strengthens their willingness to remain in their village. These findings provide empirical evidence from China for understanding the interactions among population aging, rural property rights institutions, and household migration intention in economies undergoing structural transformation. They also offer policy implications for jointly advancing the provision of rural elderly care, the construction of land rights institutions, and the orderly migration of rural households. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Molecular mechanisms of reactive oxygen species homeostasis in fruit development and maturation: An integrated perspective from reproductive biology to postharvest preservation Xueying Zhang, Hang Su, Ke Li, Lihu Wang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.011 Online: 04 September 2026 Abstract （12）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as pivotal signaling molecules that play a dual role in fruit development and maturation processes, serving as both essential regulators of physiological pathways and potential inducers of oxidative damage. Dynamic changes in ROS during fruit development are precisely orchestrated by a regulatory network consisting of plant hormones, metabolic pathways, transcription factors, functional genes, and epigenetic modifications. ROS signaling participates in gametophyte development, tapetum programmed cell death, pollen-pistil recognition, pollen tube growth, and stress resistance during fruit set initiation. During fruit development, maturation, and ripening, ROS mediate crucial processes including cell expansion, pigment biosynthesis, cell wall remodeling, epigenetic modifications, and hormonal crosstalk. Excessive ROS causes membrane and cell wall damage, accelerating senescence, softening, and flavor deterioration. Appropriate exogenous treatments enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce ROS accumulation, and maintain postharvest fruit quality and shelf life. This review presents novel insights into the dual functions of ROS during fruit development, identifies key unresolved questions and current limitations in the field, and proposes promising future research directions, and offers a theoretical basis for developing effective approaches to improve fruit production and postharvest quality. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Transcriptomic analysis reveals a regulatory network of adventitious root formation in blueberry and significance of VcWOX4a in lateral root formation Botian Zheng, Fanglong Li, Jiaqi Zhu, Pinda Xing, Lulu Zhai, Jingying Wang, Tianye Liang, Xuyan Li, Shaomin Bian DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.010 Online: 04 September 2026 Abstract （7）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Adventitious rooting (AR) is a key step for asexual propagation of blueberry. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying AR in blueberry remain poorly understood. In this study, transcriptomic analysis was performed across four morphological stages of AR in juvenile blueberry stems. Stage-specific transcriptional alterations were observed during rooting, exemplified by upregulation of WOX11, EXPA4, EXPA8, and PILS1 during primordium initiation; changes in LBD36, MYB93, and LRP1 during proliferation; and specific activation of EXPB15 and CYP735A1 during AR elongation. Further comparative analysis indicated that, relative to the slower rooting of perennial stems, rapid rooting in juvenile stems hinges on transcriptional reprogramming of CKX3 and IPT9, thereby swiftly resetting cytokinin homeostasis to a range permissive for adventitious root initiation. In addition, 26 VcWOX genes exhibited differential expression during AR formation, and a subset displayed hormone-responsive expression patterns. Notably, overexpression of VcWOX4a in blueberry significantly reduced the number of lateral roots, whereas RNAi-mediated knockdown produced the opposite phenotype, underscoring its role in shaping adventitious root system architecture. These findings lay the groundwork for deciphering the morpho-developmental and regulatory architecture of adventitious rooting in juvenile stems of blueberry. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Identification of novel resistance sources and insights into resistance against cucumber green mottle mosaic virus in watermelon germplasms Zhiling Liang, Liming Liu, Luyi Zhao, Leiyan Yan, Yanfei Geng, Yaoxing Zang, Yuhong Wang, Qinsheng Gu, Baoshan Kang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.09.009 Online: 04 September 2026 Abstract （7）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) from the Tobamovirus genus poses a significant threat to global watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production due to limited resistant resources. To identify CGMMV-resistant sources, 40 watermelon accessions, representing four subspecies: Citrullus lanatus, Citrullus amarus, Citrullus colocynthis, and Citrullus mucosospermus, were evaluated for resistance. The plants were inoculated with CGMMV and resistance was evaluated based on virus accumulation and visual symptoms compared with susceptible controls. ZGCL22-P3 showed no symptoms and had undetectable virus levels at 20- and 45-days post-inoculation (dpi), indicating high resistance. Nine accessions, including ZGCL13-P3, PI 388770, PI 386015, PI 220778, PI 195927, PI 537300, PI 386026, PI 386014, and PI 432337, exhibiting segregation in disease rating, resistant, tolerant, or susceptible individuals were observed, and ZGCL13-P3 displayed the lowest disease index among them. The viral accumulation in some asymptomatic ZGCL13-P3 and PI 388770 plants was undetectable at both 20 and 45 dpi, indicating high resistance to CGMMV. The remaining 30 accessions were susceptible to CGMMV. As tolerant individuals were present in all nine accessions, representative resistant and tolerant plants of ZGCL13-P3, along with the susceptible control ‘Hongyihao’, were specifically selected for transcriptome analysis, enabling a direct comparison of molecular responses among accessions. The CGMMV-tolerant ZGCL13-P3 exhibited large-scale transcriptional reprogramming, with enhanced phenylpropanoid enzyme activity, particularly PAL and LAC/PRX involved in reinforcing lignified cell walls, resulting in milder symptoms and lower virus accumulation, whereas susceptible variety was activated by general stress and hormone pathways instead of structural defenses. These findings highlight valuable genetic resources for breeding and provide novel targets for breeding virus‐resistant watermelon cultivars. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics page Page 1 of 24 Total 480 records First page Prev page Next page Last page