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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 Monitoring of agricultural drought based on multi-source remote sensing data in Heilongjiang Province, China Chenfa Jiang, Changhui Ma, Sibo Duan , Xiaoxiao Min, Youzhi Zhang, Dandan Li, Xia Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.027 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （4）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Agriculture is the foundation of socio-economic development and is highly influenced by weather and climate conditions. Drought is one of the most significant threats to agricultural development and food security. Currently, in-situ drought monitoring based on weather stations and based on remote sensing data has limitations, including infrequent updates, limited coverage, and low accuracy. This study leverages multi-source remote sensing data to monitor agricultural drought in Heilongjiang Province, China. We develop multi-source composite drought indices (MCDIs) at various timescales (3, 6, 9, and 12 months) by integrating precipitation, land surface temperature, soil moisture, and vegetation indices. Utilizing remote sensing data from various sources, we calculated a series of single drought indices, which are the precipitation condition index (PCI), soil moisture condition index (SMCI), vegetation condition index (VCI), and temperature condition index (TCI). These are then integrated into MCDIs using a multivariable linear regression approach. The analysis reveals that MCDIs correlate more with standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) than single drought indices. When examining the correlation between different MCDIs and the affected area of crops and major grain production, MCDI-9 showed the highest correlation with the affected area of crops, while MCDI-12 showed the highest correlation with grain production. This suggests that these two MCDIs at different timescales were better indicators of agricultural drought. The spatio-temporal analysis of MCDI indicates that drought in Heilongjiang Province primarily occurs in early spring, gradually spreading from the Greater Khingan Mountains region to the southeastern plains. The drought gradually alleviates during the summer, ending by the autumn harvest period. Therefore, the MCDIs constructed in this study can serve as effective methods and indicators for drought monitoring in Heilongjiang Province and similar regions. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select SBEIIb is responsible for chalk2 phnotype by regulating formation of resistant starch in indica rice Xinwei Li, Zihang Wang, Tianxiao Chen, Shen Lin, Guiai Jiao, Shaoqing Tang, Long Chen, Xiangjin Wei, Peisong Hu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.026 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （3）      PDF in ScienceDirect       High-resistant starch rice is a valuable food for human health, especially for individuals with type 2 diabetes, as it supports effective blood sugar control and provides cardiovascular and intestinal benefits.  However, developing rice varieties with high resistant starch content remains a major challenge.  In this study, we identified a mutant, chalk2, with increased chalkiness from the mutant library of indica rice ZJ100.  The chalk2 mutants exhibited significantly higher amylose and protein contents, while total starch and lipid contents were reduced. Analysis of resistant starch in chalk2 revealed substantial increases in two resistant starch (RS) types RS2 and RS3.  Electron microscopy revealed abnormal starch granule development in the endosperm. The chalk2 mutant also showed reduced grain length, width, and thickness, as well as a decreased seed setting rate, which ultimately led to a significant reduction in grain yield.  Through physical localization, Mut-Map analysis, and transgene complementation, we found that SBEIIb was responsible for the chalk2 phynotypes, a member of the starch branching enzyme (SBE) family, specifically expressed in the endosperm.  Furthermore, the expression levels, enzyme activity, and protein abundance of SBEIIb were significantly reduced in chalk2 mutants.  These findings suggest that SBEIIb plays a crucial role in regulating the composition of starch and resistant starch formation in indica rice. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Rice stripe virus protein NS3 exploits synergistically insect vector importin and ubiquitin systems to promote viral replication Lu Zhang, Ze Qu, Yihui Tan, Yao Li, Xinyi Li, Zhipeng Huang, Siyuan Ruan, Shimin Zuo, Fang Liu, Wenxing Hu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.025 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Plant viruses pose significant threats to agriculture, with many vectored by insect pests. The entry of viruses and their encoded proteins into the host nucleus is a critical step for promoting some viral replication and enabling systemic infection. Laodelphax striatellus, also known as the small brown planthopper (SBPH), is an efficient vector for rice stripe virus (RSV), one of the most damaging viruses of rice. In this study, we demonstrate that RSV infection induces the expression of genes in both the classical and non-classical nuclear import pathways of SBPH. A gene belonging to the importin β family, importin 5 (LsIPO5), was upregulated by 84% in SBPH midguts infected with RSV. The nuclear localization signal (NLS, 168YRSPSKKRHKYV179) is located within the nonstructural protein NS3 directly bound to LsIPO5, thereby facilitating NS3 nuclear entry. Moreover, a RING-type E3 ligase (LsRING) in SBPH, which mediated the ubiquitination of NS3 in the insect vector, enhanced NS3 binding to LsIPO5 and facilitated NS3 perinuclear localization. Combined treatment of SBPH with both dsIPO5 and dsRING significantly reduced RSV loads, highlighting the importance of LsIPO5 and NS3 ubiquitination cooperation in facilitating viral replication. Our findings provide new insights into synergistic molecular mechanisms that govern RSV infection and suggest potential therapeutic targets to control viral transmission through their insect vectors. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Research on grain supply and demand matching in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region based on ecosystem service flows Jiaxin Miao, Peipei Pan, Bingyu Liu, XiaowenYuan, Zijun Pan, Linsi Li, Xinyun Wang, Yuan Wang, Yongqiang Cao, Tianyuan Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.024 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       A comprehensive assessment of grain supply, demand, and ecosystem service flows is essential for identifying grain movement pathways, ensuring regional grain security, and guiding sustainable management strategies. However, current studies primarily focus on short-term grain provision services while neglecting the spatiotemporal variations in grain flows across different scales. This gap limits the identification of dynamic matching relationships and the formulation of optimization strategies for balancing grain flows. This study examined the spatiotemporal evolution of grain supply and demand in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region from 1980 to 2020. Using the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area method, the grain provision ecosystem service flows were quantified, the changes in supply–demand matching under different flow scenarios were analyzed and the optimal distance threshold for grain flows was investigated. The results revealed that grain production follows a spatial distribution pattern characterized by high levels in the southeast and low levels in the northwest. A significant mismatch exists between supply and demand, and it shows a scale effect. Deficit areas are mainly concentrated in the northwest, while surplus areas are mainly located in the central and southern regions. As the spatial scale increases, the ecosystem service supply–demand ratio (SDR) classification becomes more clustered, while it exhibits greater spatial SDR heterogeneity at smaller scales. This study examined two distinct scenarios of grain provision ecosystem service flow dynamics based on 100 km and 200 km distance thresholds. The flow increased significantly, from 2.17 to 11.81 million tons in the first scenario and from 2.41 to 12.37 million tons in the second scenario over nearly 40 years, forming a spatial movement pattern from the central and southern regions to the surrounding areas. Large flows were mainly concentrated in the interior of urban centers, with significant outflows between cities such as Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Xingtai, and Hengshui. At the county scale, supply–demand matching patterns remained consistent between the grain flows in the two scenarios. Notably, incorporating grain flow dynamics significantly reduced the number of grain-deficit areas compared to scenarios without grain flow. In 2020, grain-deficit counties decreased by 28.79% and 37.88%, and cities by 12.50% and 25.0% under the two scenarios, respectively. Furthermore, the distance threshold for achieving optimal supply and demand matching at the county scale was longer than at the city scale in both flow scenarios. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationships and heterogeneous patterns of grain matching, and expands the research perspective on grain and ecosystem service flows across various spatiotemporal scales. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Performance and functional responses of the thelytokous and arrhenotokous strains of Neochrysocharis formosa to Tuta absoluta, a globally severe tomato pest Guifen Zhang, Hao Wang, Yibo Zhang, Xiaoqing Xian, Cong Huang, Wanxue Liu, Fanghao Wan DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.023 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （2）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The native thelytokous (TH) and arrhenotokous (AR) strains of Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) are promising biocontrol agents against the invasive tomato pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). This study assessed the performance and preferences of these strains in choice experiments involving five host instar ratios and evaluated their functional responses to seven densities of 1st instar larvae (5 to 40 hosts). In host-attacking behavior assays, an increasing proportion of 1st instar larvae led to a significant rise in host mortality rates for both strains. Both strains exhibited strong preferences for parasitizing and attacking 1st instar larvae over later instars, with the TH strain demonstrating significantly greater host-killing efficacy than the AR strain. Functional response experiments revealed that the attack rates of both strains were positively correlated with host density. Parasitism by both strains and host-stinging behavior by the TH strain showed type III functional responses, while host-feeding by both strains and host-stinging by the AR strain followed type II functional responses. Early establishment of the TH strain in tomato agroecosystems could enhance the management of T. absoluta. These findings provide critical insights into the functional dynamics of the TH and AR strains of N. formosa that can inform the development of effective biocontrol programs for this globally significant pest. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Long-term manure amendment enhances N2O emissions from acidic soil by alleviating acidification and increasing nitrogen mineralization Lei Wu, Jing Hu, Muhammad Shaaban, Jun Wang, Kailou Liu, Minggang Xu, Wenju Zhang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.022 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （3）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Long-term manure application has the potential to alleviate soil acidification, and increase carbon sequestration and nutrient availability, thus improving cropland fertility. However, the mechanisms behind greenhouse gas N2O emissions from acidic soil mediated by long-term manure application remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigated N2O emission and its linkage with gross N mineralization and nitrification rates, as well as nitrifying and denitrifying microbes in an acidic upland soil subjected to 36-year fertilization treatments, including an unfertilized control (CK), inorganic fertilizer (F), 2 x rate of inorganic fertilizer (2F), manure (M), and the combination of inorganic fertilizer and manure (FM) treatments. Compared to the CK treatment (1.34 μg N kg–1 d–1), fertilization strongly increased N2O emissions by 34-fold on average, with more pronounced increases in the manure-amendment (10.6–169 μg N kg–1 d–1) than those in the inorganic fertilizer treatments (3.26–5.51 μg N kg–1 d–1). The manure amendment-stimulated N2O emissions were highly associated with increased soil pH, mean weight diameter of soil aggregates, substrate availability (e.g., particulate organic carbon, NO3− and available phosphorus), gross N mineralization rates, denitrifier abundances and the (nirK+nirS)/nosZ ratio. These findings suggest that the increased N2O emissions primarily resulted from alleviated acidification, increased substrate availability and improved soil structure, thus enhancing microbial N mineralization and favoring N2O-producing denitrifiers over N2O consumers. Moreover, AOB rather than AOA positively correlated with soil NO3− concentration and N2O emissions, indicating that nitrification indirectly contributed to N2O production by supplying NO3− for denitrification. Collectively, manure amendment potentially stimulates N2O emissions, primarily resulting from alleviated soil acidification and increased substrate availability, thus enhancing N mineralization and denitrifier-mediated N2O production. Our findings suggest that consideration should be given to the greenhouse gas budgets of agricultural ecosystems when applying manure for managing the pH and fertility of acidic soils. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Monitoring abandoned cropland in the hilly and gully regions of the Loess Plateau using Landsat time series images Chenxiao Duan, Jiabei Li, Shufang Wu, Liming Yu, Hao Feng, Kadambot H M Siddique DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.021 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Cropland abandonment has become a global issue that poses significant threats to sustainable cropland management, national food security, and the ecological environment. Remote sensing technology is crucial for identifying and monitoring abandoned cropland in large-scale areas. However, limited information is available on the effective identification methods and spatial distribution patterns of abandoned cropland in the hilly and gully regions. This study introduced two methods—the land-use trajectory and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series—for monitoring abandoned cropland and evaluating its spatial distribution in the Yanhe River Basin using Landsat-8 images from 2019 to 2021. The results showed that using a random forest algorithm, high-precision annual land-use classifications were achieved with the generation of reliable land-cover samples and an optimized feature dataset. The overall accuracy (OA) and Kappa coefficient of the land-use maps exceeded 90% and 0.88, respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of the classification over three years. These two distinct change detection methods were used to identify abandoned cropland in the study area, and their accuracy and effectiveness were evaluated. The land-use trajectory method performed better than the NDVI time series method for extracting abandoned cropland, with an OA of 83.5% and an F1 score of 84.7%. According to the land-use trajectory detection results, the study area had 164.6 km2 of abandoned cropland area in 2021, with an abandonment rate of 16.3%. Furthermore, cropland abandonment mainly occurred in the northwestern part of the region, which has harsh natural conditions, while abandonment was rare in the southern and eastern regions. Topography and landforms significantly influenced the spatial distribution of abandoned cropland, with most abandoned cropland located in mountainous regions with higher elevations and steeper slopes. The abandonment rate generally increased with the elevation and slope. These findings provide valuable references and guidance for selecting appropriate methods to identify abandoned cropland and analyze its spatial distribution in the hilly and gully regions. Our proposed methods offer robust solutions for monitoring abandoned cropland and optimizing land-use change detection in similar regions with complex landforms. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select How do scientists use terminology related to cropland? Examining the disparity across disciplines and regions Gehui Jin, Yanbing Wei#, Qiangyi Yu, Wenbin Wu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.020 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       In many existing dictionaries, cropland is defined as land that is suitable for or used to grow crops. It has several synonyms, such as “farmland”, “arable land”, and “cultivated land”. However, in scientific literature, the nuances of these terms are often overlooked. The inconsistent terminology usage could lead to ambiguity and confusion in research and policy discussions. In particular, it creates difficulties for newcomers and students when they search for precise information in the published literature. Hence, exploring the variations of terminology applications is important for the cropland-related research community. In this study, the differences in six cropland-related terminologies were explored through a review of 5,214 scientific articles, by employing the independence test, clustering approach, and correlation analysis. The results showed that disparities exist across disciplines. For example, biodiversity & conservation studies preferentially use “farmland” to highlight effects from human activities, while studies in geology and computer science use “cropland”. The term “cultivated land” tends to be used in geography research for clear geographical demarcation, while “arable land” is related to engineering studies. Moreover, further disparities based on the geographical affiliations of the authors were found. The correlation between China and “cultivated land” was reliable and a close link was found between “agricultural land” and the USA. The regional variations in cropland terminology can be influenced by multiple factors, including the degree of agricultural mechanization, colonial history, and migration patterns. This study reveals variations in cropland-related terminology across disciplines and regions. The results highlight the importance of standardizing cropland terminology to foster interdisciplinary research, improve data comparability, and support global agricultural and environmental policymaking. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select The Protective effects of a live-attenuated genotype I Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine in mice and boars Hailong Zhang, Xin Wang, Yan Zhang, Junjie Zhang, Zongjie Li, Ke Liu, Beibei Li, Donghua Shao, Yafeng Qiu, Juxiang Liu, Zhiyong Ma, Jianchao Wei# DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.019 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （1）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). The virus is transmitted among adult pigs, causing abortion in sows and orchitis in boars. Vaccination remains the most effective strategy for the prevention and control of this disease. Studies have shown that genotype I (GI) JEV has replaced GIII JEV as the dominant strain in many Asian countries. However, all currently licensed JE vaccines, including the widely used SA14-14-2 live attenuated vaccine, are derived from the GIII strain. It has been reported that GIII-based vaccines do not provide complete protection against the GI strain. In this study, we conducted vaccination-challenge protection assays in mice and boars to evaluate the protective efficacy of live attenuated GI (SD12-F120) derived vaccines against challenge by a homologous genotype. In mice, immunisation with the vaccine induced a potent viral-neutralising response against the homologous GI JEV SD12 strain. The SD12-F120 vaccine provided complete protection against lethal challenge by SD12, whilst also attenuating viraemia. JEV was not detected in the blood, oronasal swabs, or testicles of boars receiving the SD12-F120 vaccine. Vaccination induced high levels of neutralising antibodies against the homologous GI strain in boars, with titers as high as 64. Histopathological analysis showed that interstitial cells of the boar testis and spermatogonia at all levels were well preserved in the vaccine-immunised group, effectively suppressing the occurrence of orchitis. These results showed that the SD12-F120 vaccine provides boars complete protection against challenge by SD12, whilst also protecting against viraemia and testicular damage. Our findings indicate that SD12-F120 is a promising live-attenuated vaccine candidate for controlling the spread of GI JEV. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select ZBED6 deficiency enhances porcine carcass traits and meat quality via ISLR-mediated Wnt signaling activation Huan Liu, Jiahe Huang, Junying Xiao, Ruirui Pan, Ruixin Zhang, Xiangyang Xing, Xiao Zhang, Bo Xia, Dengke Pan, and Jiangwei Wu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.018 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （2）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Identification of genes that regulate meat production and quality in pigs is crucial for improving the pork industry. We previously created a Zinc finger-BED domain transcription factor (ZBED6)-deficient pig model which exhibited accelerated postnatal growth. Here, we evaluated the effect of ZBED6 on meat quality, flavor, nutritional value, safety and the mechanisms underlying meat production in pigs. Our results indicated that ZBED6 deficiency enlarges body size by enhancing feed efficiency. The results of carcass characteristics and meat quality measurements showed that ZBED6 deficiency enhances carcass lean percentage (46.49±0.62 % for WT vs. 52.70±0.56 % for ZBED6-/-; P<0.001) and improves redness (12.39±0.42 for WT vs.14.53±0.59 for ZBED6-/-; P=0.04) and reduces cooking loss (50.34±0.43% for WT vs.48.34±0.55% for ZBED6-/-; P=0.04). Analysis of fatty acid and amino acid profiles showed that ZBED6 deficiency enhances both the nutritional value and flavor of pork. A comprehensive analysis utilizing RNA-seq, quantitative proteomics, and ChIP-seq identified the immunoglobulin superfamily containing leucine-rich repeat (ISLR) as a direct negative target of ZBED6. In C2C12 cells with knockdown of Zbed6, Islr expression is elevated, activating the canonical Wnt pathway and promoting myoblast differentiation and myotube formation, while knockdown of Islr significantly attenuated these effects. The subchronic oral toxicity study of ZBED6 deficiency pork in rat revealed no significant differences in daily clinical signs, body weight, feed intake, hematology, and serum biochemistry compares to wild-type pork. In summary, our study demonstrates the potential of ZBED6-deficient pigs as a valuable resource for the livestock and food industry, providing new insights into the mechanisms by which ZBED6 promotes muscle growth through the regulation of ISLR pathway. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select ScD27.2 gene regulation mechanism during sugarcane tillering and growth Zhuandi Wu, Xin Hu, Wenzhi Wang, Zhengying Luo, Naveed ur Rehman, Peifang Zhao, Jiayong Liu, Shuzhen Zhang, Fenggang Zan, Xinlong Liu, Jiawen Guo DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.017 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （3）      PDF in ScienceDirect       The tiller number is a pivotal agronomic trait determining sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) yield. Strigolactones (SLs), as plant hormones, regulate plant architecture. DWARF27 (D27), a crucial enzyme in the SL biosynthetic pathway, catalyzes a reversible isomerization reaction. ScD27.2, the D27 homolog in sugarcane, harbors abiotic stress-responsive elements in its promoter, suggesting its significance in SL biosynthesis and stress tolerance. ScD27.2 may optimize sugarcane agronomic traits, particularly the tiller number and yield. Elucidating its mechanisms will facilitate the development of high-yielding, stress-tolerant sugarcane varieties. To study the role of D27 in sugarcane tillering, we silenced (via RNA interference (RNAi)) and overexpressed (OE) the key carotene isomerase gene ScD27.2 in sugarcane cultivar XTT22 plantlets. ScD27.2 expression decreased, and the tiller number increased in ScD27-RNAi-2 sugarcane compared with wild-type XTT22. ScD27.2 expression increased, and the tiller number decreased in ScD27-OE-1, ScD27-OE-5, and ScD27-OE-9 lines compared with wild-type XTT22. ScD27-OE-9 showed obvious lateral bud germination, while ScD27-RNAi-2 showed decreased drought tolerance. The tiller number and plant height of transgenic sugarcane plants differed significantly under normal light and water management conditions. Under long-term drought, the height of ScD27-RNAi-2 was significantly lower than that of wild-type XTT22 and ScD27-OE-9, exhibiting a dwarf, multi-tiller phenotype. Moreover, the SLs content in ScD27-RNAi-2 decreased significantly. We speculate that ScD27.2 regulates the tiller number of sugarcanes under drought stress, and the drought-related transcription factor ScMYB44 might be involved in the response of ScD27.2 to drought stress. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Radiation use efficiency of maize under high-density optimal growth conditions in Jilin Province, China E Li, Zhijuan Liu, Xiaomao Lin, Tao Li, Dengyu Shi, Huazhe Shang, Suliang Qiao, Guangxin Zhu, Wanrong Yang, Zhenzhen Fu, Jingjin Gong, Wanghua Yang, Zhenkang Yang, Xiaomeng Lu, Jingjing Wang, Lexuan Wang, Jin Zhao, Chuang Zhao, Xiaoguang Yang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.016 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （3）      PDF in ScienceDirect       To evaluate the impact of climate change on maize production, it is critical to accurately measure the radiation use efficiency (RUE) for maize. In this study, we focused on three maize cultivars in Jilin Province, China: Zhengdan 958 (ZD958), Xianyu 335 (XY335), and Liangyu 99 (LY99).  Under the optimal growing conditions for high density (9 plants m-2), we investigated the maize RUE during the vegetative and reproductive phases, and the entire growth period.  The results showed that the canopy light interception for maize peaked during anthesis.  After anthesis, maize plant biomass continued to accumulate.  Based on the absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR), we calculated maize RUE.  During the entire growth period, maize RUE averaged 5.71 g MJ-1 APAR among the three cultivars, with a high-to-low order of ZD958 (5.85 g MJ-1 APAR)>XY335 (5.64 g MJ-1 APAR)>LY99 (5.07 g MJ-1 APAR).  Within the vegetative and reproductive growth periods, maize RUE averaged 6.85 and 5.64 g MJ-1 APAR, respectively.  When utilizing maize models, such as APSIM, that depend on radiation use efficiency (RUE) to predict aboveground biomass accumulation, we observed that the current RUE value of 3.6 g MJ-1 APAR is considerably lower than the measured value obtained under high-density optimal growing conditions.  Consequently, to derive the optimal potential yield for maize in such planting conditions, we recommend adjusting the RUE to a range of 5.07-5.85 g MJ-1 APAR. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select PDCoV nsp14 interferes with the interferon pathway by degrading MAVS, MyD88, and TRAF3 proteins via the autophagy and proteasome pathways Yiyi Song, Ning Kong, Lanlan Zheng, Yu Zhang, Xueying Zhai, Wenzhen Qin, Xinyu Yang, Xiaoquan Wang, Ao Gao, Wu Tong, Changlong Liu, Hao Zheng, Hai Yu, Wen Zhang, Guangzhi Tong, Tongling Shan DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.015 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （2）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a newly found pathogen that could potentially cross-species transmit to threat the safety of swine and human. The mechanism of PDCoV nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14) inhibits the expression of IFN-β is unknown. In this study, we showed that PDCoV nsp14 degrades MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 protein in host cells by proteasomal and autophagy pathway. PDCoV nsp14 recruites E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH8 for catalyzing MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 protein ubiquitination, and which were recognized and transported to lysosome by the cargo receptor NDP52 for degradation to inhibit the expression of IFN-β. Furthermore, we found that MAVS, MyD88 and TRAF3 also degrade PDCoV nsp14 by selective autophagy. These results reveal the dual function of selective autophagy in PDCoV nsp14 and host proteins, which could promote the ubiquitination of viral particles and host antiviral proteins to degrade both of the proteins for regulating the relationship between virus infection and host innate immunity. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Does the adoption of direct-seeded rice affect pesticide use? Evidence from China Chao Zhang, Shanshan Li, Fan Yang, Ruifa Hu DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.014 Online: 22 April 2025 Abstract （5）      PDF in ScienceDirect       In China, farmers have increasingly adopted the direct-seeded rice (DSR). While the impacts of DSR have been investigated, there is little evidence on the impact of DSR adoption on pesticide use. In this study, the impact of DSR adoption on pesticide use is examined using data from a 2018 survey of 982 rice farmers in the Yangtze River Basin in China. The endogenous treatment-regression and switching regression models are employed to address the self-selection issue. The results show that, after accounting for the self-selection issue, the DSR adopters spend 401.72 CNY ha-1 more on pesticides compared to the non-adopters. While DSR adoption significantly increases the use of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, its positive impacts on insecticide and herbicide expenditures are the greatest and smallest, respectively. The robustness is confirmed by replacing the dependent variable, winsorizing the research sample and altering the estimation method. The heterogeneous analysis illustrates that DSR adoption has a greater positive impact on pesticide expenditure for farmers aged below 60 years, with at least 6 years of education, and with rice sown area less than 2 ha. Based on these findings, this study proposes that efforts should be made to enhance the complementary techniques for DSR, popularity of DSR cultivation technologies, and the socialized services. In summary, this study provides a more comprehensive view of the advantages and disadvantages of DSR with a focus on its impact on pesticide use, which has important policy recommendations for pesticide reduction.   Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select A pheromone from cuticular hydrocarbons regulates mating behavior in the hoverfly Eupeodes corollae Wenbiao Liu, Chenxi Cai, Jinan Wu, Bing Wang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.013 Online: 14 April 2025 Abstract （5）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Mating behavior is crucial for most insects, as it is closely tied to reproduction and population growth and relies heavily on chemical communication via cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) between individuals. However, little is known about the mating behavior of Eupeodes corollae, a natural enemy insect, and how CHCs help it communicate. In this study, we performed a behavioral assay of the mating process of hoverfly E. corollae. The cuticular hydrocarbons of both male and female hoverflies were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The electrophysiological activities of these compounds on the antennae of hoverflies were further determined by gas chromatography coupled with electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) and electroantennogram (EAG). The effects of these compounds on the behavioral selection and mating of hoverflies were also determined. The results showed that the mating process of hoverflies was divided into five stages: orientation, approaching, wing fanning, mounting, and copulation. Fifth-aged individuals exhibited the highest copulation and mating success rates, the shortest male latency, and stable mating duration. The results of the determination of cuticular compounds showed that the CHCs of male and female hoverflies exhibited sexually monomorphic chemical profiles, and two compounds (Z)-9-tricosene and n-tricosane could cause significant electrophysiological responses in both male and female hoverflies. Behavioral bioassay results showed that (Z)-9-tricosene can significantly induce the attraction response of male and female E. corollae and can effectively regulate the courtship behavior of male E. corollae. This finding provides a new perspective for a deeper understanding of hoverflies’ chemical communication mechanism and a valuable scientific basis and potential application prospect for developing a pheromone-based behavior strategy to control pests. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Impacts of abiotic stresses on cotton physiology and vigor under current and future CO2 levels Mohan K. Bista, Purushothaman Ramamoorthy, Ranadheer Reddy Vennam, Sadikshya Poudel, K. Raja Reddy, Raju Bheemanahalli DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.012 Online: 07 April 2025 Abstract （7）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Elevated CO2 (eCO2) may mitigate stress-induced damage to cotton (Gossypium spp.) growth and development.  However, understanding the early-stage responses of cotton to multiple abiotic stressors at eCO2 levels has been limited.  This study quantified the impacts of chilling (CS, 22/14°C, day/night temperature), heat (HS, 38/30°C), drought (DS, 50% irrigation of the control), and salt (SS, 8 dS m-1) stresses on pigments, physiology, growth, and development of fourteen upland cotton cultivars under ambient CO2 (aCO2, 420 ppm; current) and eCO2 (700 ppm; future) levels during the vegetative stage.  The eCO2 partially negated the effects of all stresses by improving one or more of the pigments, physiological, growth, and development traits, except CS.  For instance, HS at aCO2 significantly increased stomatal conductance by 36% compared with non-stressed plants at aCO2.  However, HS at eCO2 significantly decreased stomatal conductance by 18% compared with HS at aCO2.  The first squaring was delayed by one day under SS at aCO2 but two days earlier under SS at eCO2 than non-stressed plants at aCO2.  Root and shoot dry mass and the total leaf area were significantly higher under all stresses, except for CS, at the eCO2 compared with similar stresses at the aCO2.  Most growth and development traits, including plant height, leaf area, and shoot dry mass, displayed a mirroring response pattern between aCO2 and eCO2 under all environments except CS.  Cultivars exhibited significant interaction with stressed environments.  Further, results revealed differential sensitivity and adaptation potential of cultivars to stress environments at varying CO2 levels.  This study highlights the need to consider eCO2 in designing breeding programs to develop stress-tolerant varieties for future cotton-growing environments.  Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Impact of tillage and straw management on cadmium bioavailability and uptake in rice: A long-term field study Shuai Yuan, Pingping Chen, Songyuan Guo, Wenxin Zhou, Kaikai Cheng, Hongmei Liu, Xiaoping Xiao, Haiming Tang, Zhenxie Yi DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.011 Online: 07 April 2025 Abstract （5）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Tillage practices alter the interaction between soil and rice straw, impacting soil quality and cadmium (Cd) dynamics.  However, the effects of tillage and straw management strategies on soil Cd accumulation and rice uptake remain unclear.  This study investigated how tillage and straw practices influence rice Cd uptake by altering soil Cd mobility and bioavailability.  A long-term field experiment was conducted with four treatments: no-tillage with straw return on the soil surface (NTS), rotary tillage with straw incorporate (RTS), plow tillage with straw incorporate (PTS), and plow tillage with straw removed (PT).  Results showed that Cd concentrations in rice organs (root, stem, leaf and rice grain) decreased in the order NTS>RTS>PTS, with only PTS maintaining grain Cd levels below 0.2 mg kg⁻¹.  Compared with NTS and RTS, the average Cd concentrations in rice grain under PTS were significantly reduced by 56.76 and 25.88%, respectively.  A partial least squares path model indicated that reductions in available Cd (Avail-Cd) and acid-soluble Cd (Aci-Cd), combined with iron plaque (IP) formation on the roots, were key factors in lowering rice Cd levels.  PTS reduced Avail-Cd and Aci-Cd by decreasing soil bulk density, increasing soil organic matter, pH, and the abundances of Nitrospirota and Bacteroidota.  Moreover, PTS enhanced soil nutrient and Fe²⁺ levels, promoted IP formation on rice roots through improved root morphology and antioxidant activity, and limited Cd uptake.  Although PTS increased total and available soil Cd compared to PT, its promotion of IP formation mitigated rice Cd uptake, resulting in comparable grain Cd concentrations between the two.  Thus, long-term plow tillage with straw incorporate emerges as a sustainable practice to enhance soil quality and reduce Cd uptake in rice cropping system. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Variations and major driving factors for soil nutrients in a typical karst region in southwest China Miaomiao Wang, Hongsong Chen, Wei Zhang, Kelin Wang DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.010 Online: 07 April 2025 Abstract （3）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Understanding the spatial distributions and corresponding variation mechanisms of key soil nutrients in fragile karst ecosystems can assist in promoting sustainable development. However, due to the implementation of ecological restoration initiatives such as land-use conversions, novel changes in the spatial characteristics of soil nutrients remain unknown. To address this gap, we explored nutrient variations and the drivers of the variation in the 0–15 cm topsoil layer using a regional-scale sampling method in a typical karst area in northwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southwest China. Descriptive statistics, geostatistics, and spatial analysis were used to assess the soil nutrient variability. The results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) concentrations showed moderate variations, with coefficients of variance being 0.60, 0.60, 0.71, and 0.72, respectively. Moreover, they demonstrated positive spatial autocorrelations, with global Moran’s indices being 0.68, 0.77, 0.64, and 0.68, respectively. However, local Moran’s index values were low, indicating large spatial variations in soil nutrients. The best-fitting semi-variogram models for SOC, TN, TP, and TK concentrations were spherical, Gaussian, exponential, and exponential, respectively. According to the classification criteria of the Second National Soil Census in China, SOC and TN concentrations were relatively sufficient, with the proportions of rich and very rich levels being up to 90.9 and 96.0%, respectively. TP concentration was in the medium-deficient level, with the areas of medium and deficient levels accounting for 33.7 and 30.1% of the total, respectively. TK concentration was deficient, with the cumulative area of extremely deficient, very deficient, and deficient levels accounting for 87.6% of the total area. Consequently, the terrestrial ecosystems in the study area were more vulnerable to soil P and K than soil N deficiencies. Furthermore, variance partitioning analysis of the influencing factors showed that, except for the interactions, the single effect of other soil properties accounted more for soil nutrient variations than spatial and environmental variables. These results will aid in the future management of terrestrial ecosystems. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Quantitative assessment of the transport and distribution of photosynthetic carbon and exogenous nitrogen in a rice-soil system under long-term straw return: An isotope trial using 13C and 15N labelling Shiqi Yang, Liming Chen, Yifan Tang, Xueming Tan, Yongjun Zeng, Xiaohua Pan, Yanhua Zeng DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.009 Online: 07 April 2025 Abstract （5）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Straw return has demonstrated significant potential for enhancing carbon (C) sequestration and nitrogen (N) uptake while concurrently promoting plant productivity. However, the specific transport and distribution of C produced by photosynthesis and exogenous N within the rice plant-soil system under straw return remains unclear. A long-term straw return pot trial experiment was conducted in a double cropping rice system, incorporating treatments of inorganic fertilizer application with straw removal (F), straw burning and ash return with reducing inorganic fertilizers (SBR), and straw return with reducing inorganic fertilizers (SR) to investigate C sequestration and exogenous N uptake using 13C pulse and 15N isotope tracer techniques. The SR treatment had significantly higher soil 13C abundance, by 24.4 and 25.4% respectively, 13C concentrations in aboveground plant parts, by 18.4 and 35.8% respectively, and 15N concentrations in rice panicles, by 12.8 and 34.3% than the SBR and F treatments. This enhancement contributed to a higher total organic C concentration and increased rice grain yield in the SR treatment. Furthermore, the SR treatment had significantly higher photosynthetic C, by 9.8%, which was directly transferred to soil C. The SR treatment had a higher distribution of photosynthetic C in the leaves and stems, but a lower distribution in the panicle compared to the SBR treatment. This finding is advantageous for sequestering photosynthetic C into the soil through straw return; conversely, opposite trends were observed in 15N distribution. In addition, rice plants in the SR treatment had increased N uptake from urea and soil N sources, enhancing N recovery by 9.2 and 12.5% respectively and reducing soil N residues. Correlation analysis showed that the SR treatment increased the concentrations of 13C in leaves and roots while decreasing the 15N abundance in all rice organs, thereby contributing to an increase in rice yield. The partial least square path model suggested that the increase in rice yield under the SR treatment was primarily linked to 13C accumulation within the rice plant-soil system. The results suggest that straw return increases the sequestration of photosynthetic C and exogenous N in the rice plant-soil system and increases N utilization efficiency, which subsequently improves both rice and soil productivity. Reference | Related Articles | Metrics Select Genome-wide association analysis locates FtAUR3 in Tartary buckwheat that contributes to enhance plant salt resistance Xiang Lu, Qian Zuo, Md. Nurul Huda, Yaliang Shi, Guangsheng Li, Xiangru Wang, Yawen Xiao, Muhammad Khurshid, Tanzim Jahan, Namraj Dhami, Dhurva Prasad Gauchan, Md. Arfan Ali, Jianping Cheng, Yu Meng, Jingjun Ruan, Meiliang Zhou DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.008 Online: 07 April 2025 Abstract （8）      PDF in ScienceDirect       Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), an under-utilized pseudocereal, has important nutritional and pharmaceutical properties and is resistant to drought and nutrient deficiency.  However, this environmentally friendly crop is sensitive to salt stress that can result in water loss, stomatal closure, affect photosynthesis and metabolism, and reduce yield and quality of Tartary buckwheat.  Thus, it is important to understand the mechanism of salt stress tolerance in buckwheat. In this study, we identified a locus including 35 candidate genes on chromosome 2 that is significantly associated with salt tolerance of Tartary buckwheat by genome-wide association analysis (GWAS).  Transcriptome analysis revealed that the serine/threonine-protein kinase Aurora-3 (FtAUR3) family gene was up-regulated in response to salt stress.  The deletion of a single nucleotide in the FtAUR3 promoter leads to increased FtAUR3 expression and enhanced salt tolerance in Tartary buckwheat.  Overexpression of FtAUR3 in buckwheat hairy roots leads to the accumulation of flavonoids, including rutin and cinnamic acid, as well as the induction of the expression of flavonoid biosynthesis genes, such as PAL, C4H, F3H and F3’H, under salt stress.  In addition, it was shown that over-expression of FtAUR3 in Arabidopsis thaliana induced the expression of salt-resistant genes (SOS1, AVP1, etc.) and enhanced salt tolerance compared to wild type plants.  Furthermore, under salt stress, FtAUR3 can significantly enhances the levels of reactive oxygen species pathway components, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, thereby improving plant salt tolerance.  Thus, we demonstrated that FtAUR3 interacts with the critical enzyme FtGAPB in the ROS pathway, suggesting a potential mechanism through which FtAUR3 contributes to ROS signaling.  Taken together, these results demonstrated that FtAUR3 may play a critical positive role in Tartary buckwheat resistance against salt stress. 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