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2025 Vol. 24 No. 1 Previous Issue   

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Review
Crop Science
Horticulture
Plant Protection
Animal Science · Veterinary Medicine
Agro-ecosystem & Environment
Food Science
Agricultural Economics and Management
Letter


  Cover illustration


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Cover illustration


Lysobacter enzymogenes is a potent and unique biocontrol bacterium recognized for its production of numerous antimicrobial weapons that inhibit plant pathogens across diverse kingdoms. It synthesizes various distinct antimicrobial metabolites, including Ningnonmycin and WAP-8294A, which eliminate pathogens through a common mechanism termed contact-independent killing, which does not necessitate intercellular contact between L. enzymogenes and the pathogens. Recent studies have uncovered a novel biocontrol mechanism, demonstrating that L. enzymogenes also engages in contact-dependent killing of pathogenic bacteria mediated by a type IV secretion system (T4SS). In this review, the authors summarize the distinct characteristics of L. enzymogenes, including its functional adaptability to flagellum loss, specific signaling transduction pathways that regulate Ningnonmycin biosynthesis, and T4SS-mediated bacterial-bacterial interactions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the research and application of L. enzymogenes as an underappreciated biocontrol agent. The cover photo is attributed to Prof. Guoliang Qian from Nanjing Agricultural University, China. For further details, please refer to pages 23–35.


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Review

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Review on physiological and ecological characteristics and agronomic regulatory pathways of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence of crops Wen Yin, Qiang Chai, Zhilong Fan, Falong Hu, Lianhao Zhao, Hong Fan, Wei He, Cai Zhao, Aizhong Yu, Yali Sun, Feng Wang 2025, 24(1): 1-22.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.04.013 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Intercropping has been widely used in arid and semi-arid regions because of its high yield, stable productivity, and efficient utilization of resources.  However, in recent years, the high yield of traditional intercropping is mainly attributed to the large amount of purchased resources such as water and fertilizer, plastic film, and mechanical power.  These lead to a decline in cultivated land quality and exacerbate intercrops’ premature root and canopy senescence.  So, the application of traditional intercropping faces major challenges in crop production.  This paper analyzes the manifestations, occurrence mechanisms, and agronomic regulatory pathways of crop senescence.  The physiological and ecological characteristics of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence of crops are reviewed in this paper.  The main agronomic regulatory pathways of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence of crops are based on above- and blow-ground interactions, including collocation of crop varieties, spatial arrangement, water and fertilizer management, and tillage and mulch practices.  Future research fields of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence should focus on the aspects of selecting and breeding special varieties, application of molecular biology techniques, and developing or applying models to predict and evaluate the root and canopy senescence process of intercrops.  Comprehensive analysis and evaluation of different research results could provide a basis for enhancing intercropping delay root and canopy senescence through adopting innovative technologies for regulating the physio-ecological characteristics of intercrops.  This would support developing and adopting high-yield, efficient, and sustainable intercropping systems in arid and semi-arid areas with high population density, limited land, and abundant light and heat resources.

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Lysobacter enzymogenes: A fully armed biocontrol warrior Long Lin, Xiaolong Shao, Yicheng Yang, Aprodisia Kavutu Murero, Limin Wang, Gaoge Xu, Yangyang Zhao, Sen Han, Zhenhe Su, Kangwen Xu, Mingming Yang, Jinxing Liao, Kaihuai Li, Fengquan Liu, Guoliang Qian 2025, 24(1): 23-35.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.02.021 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Lysobacter enzymogenes is less-studied, but emerging as a powerful biocontrol bacterium producing multiple antimicrobial weapons including lytic enzymes, toxins, secondary metabolites and protein secretion systems.  The loss of surface-attached flagellum, production of heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF, also named as Ningrongmycin) as a novel antifungal antibiotic, and the use of the type IV secretion system (T4SS) rather than the common type VI secretion system (T6SS) to kill competitor bacteria make this species unique.  These distinct features set L. enzymogenes apart from well-studied plant beneficial biocontrol agents, such as Bacillus and Pseudomonas.  This review describes what takes L. enzymogenes to be a unique biocontrol warrior by focusing to illustrate how the lack of flagellum governs morphological and functional co-adaptability, what adapted signaling transduction pathways are adopted to coordinate the biosynthesis of HSAF, and how to ecologically adapt plant rhizosphere by cell-to-cell interacting with microbiome members via the bacterial-killing T4SS.

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Optimizing crop yields while minimizing environmental impact through deep placement of nitrogen fertilizer Lingxiao Zhu, Hongchun Sun, Liantao Liu, Ke Zhang, Yongjiang Zhang, Anchang Li, Zhiying Bai, Guiyan Wang, Xiaoqing Liu, Hezhong Dong, Cundong Li 2025, 24(1): 36-60.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.05.012 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Nitrogen (N) serves as an essential nutrient for yield formation across diverse crop types.  However, agricultural production encounters numerous challenges, notably high N fertilizer rates coupled with low N use efficiency and serious environmental pollution.  Deep placement of nitrogen fertilizer (DPNF) is an agronomic measure that shows promise in addressing these issues.  This review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of DPNF, beginning with a succinct overview of its development and methodologies for implementation.  Subsequently, the optimal fertilization depth and influencing factors for different crops are analyzed and discussed.  Additionally, it investigates the regulation and mechanism underlying the DPNF on crop development, yield, N use efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.  Finally, the review delineates the limitations and challenges of this technology and provides suggestions for its improvement and application.  This review provides valuable insight and reference for the promotion and adoption of DPNF in agricultural practice.

Crop Science

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Small auxin-up RNA gene OsSAUR33 promotes seed aging tolerance in rice Shan Sun, Wenjun Li, Yanfen Fang, Qianqian Huang, Zhibo Huang, Chengjing Wang, Jia Zhao, Yongqi He, Zhoufei Wang 2025, 24(1): 61-71.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.07.024 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Seed aging tolerance during storage is generally an important trait for crop production, yet the role of small auxin-up RNA genes in conferring seed aging tolerance is largely unknown in rice.  In this study, one small auxin-up RNA gene, OsSAUR33, was found to be involved in the regulation of seed aging tolerance in rice.  The expression of OsSAUR33 was significantly induced in aged seeds compared with unaged seeds during the seed germination phase.  Accordingly, the disruption of OsSAUR33 significantly reduced seed vigor compared to the wild type (WT) in response to natural storage or artificial aging treatments.  The rice OsSAUR33 gene promotes the vigor of aged seeds by enhancing their reactive oxygen species (ROS) level during seed germination, and the accumulation of ROS was significantly delayed in the aged seeds of Ossaur33 mutants in comparison with WT during seed germination.  Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatments promoted the vigor of aged seeds in various rice varieties.  Our results provide timely theoretical and technical insights for the trait improvement of seed aging tolerance in rice.

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Development and molecular cytogenetic identification of a new wheat–rye 6RL ditelosomic addition and 1R (1B) substitution line with powdery mildew resistance Guohao Han, Jing Wang, Hanwen Yan, Lijun Cao, Shiyu Liu, Xiuquan Li, Yilin Zhou, Wei Liu, Tiantian Gu, Zhipeng Shi, Hong Liu, Lihui Li, Diaoguo An 2025, 24(1): 72-84.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.10.004 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Powdery mildew is a serious disease caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) that critically threatens the yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).  Using effective powdery mildew resistance genes is the optimal method for controlling this disease.  Against the background of high genetic homogeneity among the modern commercial cultivars that are mainly derived from conventional interbreeding, the resistance genes from wheat relatives have especially prominent advantages.  Octoploid triticale, produced from common wheat and rye (Secale cereale L.) through distant hybridization, is a new synthetic species and valuable gene donor for wheat improvement.  In this study, we developed the wheat–rye line YT5 through the hybridization of octaploid triticale and two wheat lines.  YT5 was confirmed to be a 6RL ditelosomic addition and 1R (1B) substitution line using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mc-FISH), multicolor GISH (mc-GISH) and molecular marker analysis.  Genetic analysis showed that the powdery mildew resistance in YT5 was derived from the rye chromosome arm 6RL.  After inoculation with different Bgt isolates at the seedling stage, YT5 had compound reaction patterns with both obvious spores and hypersensitivity, and it gradually became highly resistant until the adult-plant stage, thus showing a resistance response significantly different from the reported Pm genes from rye chromosome 6RL.  YT5 also showed promising agronomic performance, so it is expected to be an elite resistance donor for wheat improvement.  To promote the transfer of the chromosome arm 6RL of YT5 in marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding, we selected and verified two 6RL-specific kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers that can be applied to efficiently detect this chromosome arm in different wheat backgrounds.

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Identification of long InDels through whole genome resequencing to fine map qIF05-1 for seed isoflavone content in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)  Jia Jia, Huan Wang, Ximeng Yang, Bo Chen, Ruqian Wei, Qibin Ma, Yanbo Cheng, Hai Nian 2025, 24(1): 85-100.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.08.011 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Soybean seed isoflavones are a type of secondary metabolites that can provide health and nutrition benefits for humans.  In our previous study, a stable quantitative trait locus (QTL) qIF05-1 controlling the seed isoflavone content in soybean was detected on chromosome (Chr.) 05 in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from a cross of Huachun 2×Wayao.  In this study, the parental lines were re-sequenced using the Illumina Solexa System with deep coverage.  A total of 63,099 polymorphic long insertions and deletions (InDels) (≥15 bp) were identified between the parents Huachun 2 and Wayao.  The InDels were unevenly distributed on 20 chromosomes of soybean, varying from 1,826 in Chr. 12 to 4,544 in Chr. 18.  A total of 10,002 long InDels (15.85% of total) were located in genic regions, including 1,139 large-effect long InDels which resulted in truncated or elongated protein sequences.  In the qIF05-1 region, 68 long InDels were detected between the two parents.  Using a progeny recombination experiment and genotype analysis, the qIF05-1 locus was mapped into a 102.2 kb genomic region, and this region contained 12 genes.  By RNA-seq data analysis, genome sequence comparison and functional validation through ectopic expression in Arabidopsis thaliana, Glyma.05G208300 (described as GmEGL3), which is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor in plants, emerged as the most likely confirmed gene in qIF05-1.  These long InDels can be used as a type of complementary genetic method for QTL fine mapping, and they can facilitate genetic studies and molecular-assisted selection breeding in soybean.

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Effects of increased seeding density on seedling characteristics, mechanical transplantation quality, and yields of rice with crop straw boards for seedling cultivation Yufei Ling, Mengzhu Liu, Yuan Feng, Zhipeng Xing, Hui Gao, Haiyan Wei, Qun Hu, Hongcheng Zhang 2025, 24(1): 101-113.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.12.018 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The high labor demand during rice seedling cultivation and transplantation poses a significant challenge in advancing machine-transplanted rice cultivation.  This problem may be solved by increasing the seeding rate during seedling production while reducing the number of seedling trays.  This study conducted field experiments from 2021 to 2022, using transplanting seedling ages of 10 and 15 days to explore the effects of 250, 300, and 350 g/tray on the seedling quality, mechanical transplantation quality, yields, and economic benefits of rice.  The commonly used combination of 150 g/tray with a 20-day seedling age in rice production was used as CK.  The cultivation of seedlings under a high seeding rate and short seedling age significantly affected seedling characteristics, but there was no significant difference in seedling vitality compared to CK.  The minimum number of rice trays used in the experiment was observed in the treatment of 350–10 (300 g/tray and 10-day seedling age), only 152–155 trays ha–1, resulting in a 62% reduction in the number of trays needed.  By increasing the seeding rate of rice, missed holes during mechanical transplantation decreased by 2.8 to 4%.  The treatment of 300–15 (300 g/tray and 15-day seedling age) achieved the highest yields and economic gains.  These results indicated that using crop straw boards can reduce the application of seedling trays.  On that basis, rice yields can be increased by raising the seeding rate and shortening the seedling age of rice without compromising seedling quality.

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An integrated physiology and proteomics analysis reveals the response of wheat grain to low temperature stress during booting Anmin Zhang, Zihong Li, Qirui Zhou, Jiawen Zhao, Yan Zhao, Mengting Zhao, Shangyu Ma, Yonghui Fan, Zhenglai Huang, Wenjing Zhang 2025, 24(1): 114-131.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.12.003 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Low temperature (LT) in spring has become one of the principal abiotic stresses that restrict the growth and development of wheat.  Diverse analyses were performed to investigate the mechanism underlying the response of wheat grain development to LT stress during booting.  These included morphological observation, measurements of starch synthase activity, and determination of amylose and amylopectin content of wheat grain after exposure to treatment with LT during booting.  Additionally, proteomic analysis was performed using tandem mass tags (TMT).  Results showed that the plumpness of wheat grains decreased after LT stress.  Moreover, the activities of sucrose synthase (SuS, EC 2.4.1.13) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase, EC 2.7.7.27) exhibited a significant reduction, leading to a significant reduction in the contents of amylose and amylopectin.  A total of 509 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified by proteomics analysis.  The Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the protein difference multiple in the nutritional repository activity was the largest among the molecular functions, and the up-regulated seed storage protein (SSP) played an active role in the response of grains to LT stress and subsequent damage.  The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that LT stress reduced the expression of DEPs such as sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase (glgC), and β-fructofuranosidase (FFase) in sucrose and starch metabolic pathways, thus affecting the synthesis of grain starch.  In addition, many heat shock proteins (HSPs) were found in the protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathways, which can resist some damage caused by LT stress.  These findings provide a new theoretical foundation for elucidating the underlying mechanism governing wheat yield development after exposure to LT stress in spring.

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Biochar amendment modulates xylem ionic constituents and ABA signaling: Its implications in enhancing water-use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) under reduced irrigation regimes Heng Wan, Zhenhua Wei, Chunshuo Liu, Xin Yang, Yaosheng Wang, Fulai Liu 2025, 24(1): 132-146.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.073 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   While biochar amendment enhances plant productivity and water-use efficiency (WUE), particularly under water-limited conditions, the specific mechanisms driving these benefits remain unclear.  Thus, the present study aims to elucidate the synergistic effects of biochar and reduced irrigation on maize (Zea mays L.) plants, focusing on xylem composition, root-to-shoot signaling, stomatal behavior, and WUE.  Maize plants were cultivated in split-root pots filled with clay loam soil, amended by either wheat-straw biochar (WSB) or softwood biochar (SWB) at 2% (w/w).  Plants received full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation (DI), or partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRD) from the 4-leaf to the grain-filling stage.  Our results revealed that the WSB amendment significantly enhanced plant water status, biomass accumulation, and WUE under reduced irrigation, particularly when combined with PRD.  Although reduced irrigation inhibited photosynthesis, it enhanced WUE by modulating stomatal morphology and conductance.  Biochar amendment combined with reduced irrigation significantly increased xylem K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NO3–, Cl–, PO43–, and SO42– but decreased Na+, which in turn lowered xylem pH.  Moreover, biochar amendment and especially WSB amendment further increased abscisic acid (ABA) contents in both leaf and xylem sap under reduced irrigation conditions due to changes in xylem ionic constituents and pH.  The synergistic interactions between xylem components and ABA led to refined adjustments in stomatal size and density, thereby affecting stomatal conductance and ultimately improving the WUE of maize plants at different scales.  The combined application of WSB and PRD can, therefore, emerge as a promising approach for improving the overall plant performance of maize plants with increased stomatal adaptations and WUE, especially under water-limited conditions.

Horticulture

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The pseudo-type response regulator gene Clsc regulates rind stripe coloration in watermelon Dongming Liu, Jinfang Liang, Quanquan Liu, Yaxin Chen, Shixiang Duan, Dongling Sun, Huayu Zhu, Junling Dou, Huanhuan Niu, Sen Yang, Shouru Sun, Jianbin Hu, Luming Yang 2025, 24(1): 147-160.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.08.006 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The color and pattern of watermelon rind are crucial external traits that directly affect consumer preferences.  Watermelons with stripes having a stronger color than the background rind are ideal for studying stripe patterns in plants, while there is still limited knowledge about the genetic mechanisms underlying stripe coloration due to the lack of germplasm resources.  In this study, we focused on a watermelon germplasm with colorless stripes, and genetic analysis revealed that the trait is controlled by a single recessive gene.  The gene Clsc (Citrullus lanatus stripe coloration), which is responsible for the colorless stripe, was localized into a 147.6 kb region on Chr9 by linkage analysis in a large F2 mapping population.  Further analysis revealed that the Cla97C09G175170 gene encodes the APRR2 transcription factor, plays a crucial role in determining the watermelon colorless stripe phenotype and was deduced to be related to chlorophyll synthesis and chloroplast development.  Physiological experiments indicated that Cla97C09G175170 may significantly influence chloroplast development and chlorophyll synthesis in watermelon.  The results of this study provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of stripe coloration in watermelon and can be useful in the development of marker-assisted selection (MAS) for new watermelon cultivars.

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Genome-wide investigation of defensin genes in apple (Malus×domestica Borkh.) and in vivo analyses show that MdDEF25 confers resistance to Fusarium solani  Mengli Yang, Jian Jiao, Yiqi Liu, Ming Li, Yan Xia, Feifan Hou, Chuanmi Huang, Hengtao Zhang, Miaomiao Wang, Jiangli Shi, Ran Wan, Kunxi Zhang, Pengbo Hao, Tuanhui Bai, Chunhui Song, Jiancan Feng, Xianbo Zheng 2025, 24(1): 161-175.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.039 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Apple replant disease is a complex soil syndrome that occurs when the same fields are repeatedly utilized for apple orchard cultivation.  It can be caused by various pathogens, and Fusarium solani is the main pathogen.  Fusarium solani disrupts the structure and function of the orchard soil ecosystem and inhibits the growth and development of apple trees, significantly impacting the quality and yield of apples.  In this study, we conducted a transcriptome comparison between uninoculated apple saplings and those inoculated with F. solani.  The differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in processes such as response to symbiotic fungus.  Plant defensins are antimicrobial peptides, but their roles during F. solani infection remain unclear.  We performed a genome-wide identification of apple defensin genes and identified 25 genes with the conserved motif of eight cysteine residues.  In wild-type apple rootstock inoculated with F. solani, the root surface cells experienced severe damage, and showed significant differences in the total root length, total root projection area, root tips, root forks, and total root surface area compared to the control group.  qRT-PCR analysis revealed that MdDEF3 and MdDEF25 were triggered in response to F. solani infection in apples.  Subcellular localization showed specific expression of the MdDEF3-YFP and MdDEF25-YFP proteins on the cell membrane.  Overexpressing the MdDEF25-YFP fusion gene enhanced resistance against F. solani in apple, providing a new strategy for the future prevention and biological control of apple replant disease.

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Comparative transcriptome analysis identifies key regulators of nitrogen use efficiency in chrysanthemum Lijiao Ge, Weihao Miao, Kuolin Duan, Tong Sun, Xinyan Fang, Zhiyong Guan, Jiafu Jiang, Sumei Chen, Weimin Fang, Fadi Chen, Shuang Zhao 2025, 24(1): 176-195.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.11.003 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Nitrogen (N) is a limiting factor that determines the yield and quality of chrysanthemum.  Genetic variation in N use efficiency (NUE) has been reported among chrysanthemum genotypes.  We performed a transcriptome analysis of two chrysanthemum genotypes, ‘Nannonglihuang’ (LH, N-efficient genotype) and ‘Nannongxuefeng’ (XF, N-inefficient genotype), under low N (0.4 mmol L–1 N) and normal N (8 mmol L–1 N) treatments for 15 d and an N recovery treatment for 12 h (low N treatment for 15 d and then normal N treatment for 12 h) to understand the genetic factors impacting NUE in chrysanthemum.  The two genotypes exhibited contrasting responses to the different N treatments.  The N-efficient genotype LH had significant superiority in agronomic traits, N accumulation and glutamine synthase activity under both normal N and low N treatments.  Low N treatment promoted root growth in LH, but inhibited root growth in XF.  Transcriptome analysis revealed that the low N treatment increased the expression of some N metabolism genes, genes related to auxin and abscisic acid signal transduction in the roots of both genotypes, as well as genes related to gibberellin signal transduction in roots of LH.  The N recovery treatment just increased the expression of genes related to cytokinin signal transduction in roots of LH.  The expression levels of the NRT2.1, AMT1.1, and Gln1 genes related to gibberellin and cytokinin signal transduction were higher in roots of LH than in XF under different N treatments, suggesting that the genes related to N metabolism and hormone (auxin, abscisic acid, gibberellin, and cytokinin) signal transduction in roots of LH are more sensitive to different N treatments than those of XF.  Co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) also identified hub genes like bZIP43, bHLH93, NPF6.3, IBR10, MYB62, PP2C, PP2C06 and NLP7, which may be the key regulators of N-mediated responses in chrysanthemum and play crucial roles in enhancing NUE and resistance to low N stress in the N-efficient chrysanthemum genotype.  These results revealed the key factors involved in regulating NUE in chrysanthemum at the genetic level, which provides new insights into the complex mechanism of efficient nitrogen utilization in chrysanthemum, and can be useful for the improvement and breeding of high NUE chrysanthemum genotypes.

Plant Protection

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Genome-wide identification and characterization of putative effectors in Heterodera schachtii that suppress plant immune response Ke Yao, Menghan Zhang, Jianjun Xu, Deliang Peng, Wenkun Huang, Ling’an Kong, Shiming Liu, Guangkuo Li, Huan Peng 2025, 24(1): 196-208.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.09.028 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii) is one of the most destructive pathogens in sugar beet production, which causes serious economic losses every year.  Few molecular details of effectors of H. schachtii parasitism are known.  We analyzed the genome and transcriptome data of H. schachtii and identified multiple potential predicted proteins.  After filtering out predicted proteins with high homology to other plant-parasitic nematodes, we performed functional validation of the remaining effector proteins.  37 putative effectors of H. schachtii were screened based on the Nicotiana benthamiana system for identifying the effectors that inhibit plant immune response, eventually determines 13 candidate effectors could inhibit cell death caused by Bax.  Among the 13 effectors, nine have the ability to inhibit GPA2/RBP1-induced cell death.  All 13 effector-triggered immunity (ETI) suppressor genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR and confirmed to result in a significant downregulation of one or more defense genes during infection compared to empty vector.  For in situ hybridization, 13 effectors were specifically expressed and located in esophageal gland cells.  These data and functional analysis set the stage for further studies on the interaction of H. schachtii with host and H. schachtii parasitic control.

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Twinstar is a chitin synthase interacting protein with an essential role in insect cuticle biosynthesis Xu Zou, Jiqiang Chen, Yanwei Duan, Weixing Zhu, Qing Yang 2025, 24(1): 209-219.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.05.027 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Chitin is an abundant natural biopolymer that plays a crucial role in insect growth and development as a fundamental structural component of the exoskeleton.  The membrane-integral β-glycosyltransferase, chitin synthase, has been identified as the central component in chitin biosynthesis.  However, the precise roles of other proteins in facilitating chitin synthase in chitin biosynthesis remain unclear.  In this study, we employed split-ubiquitin membrane yeast two-hybrid (MYTH) and pull-down assays to demonstrate the physical interaction between Twinstar (Tsr), a small molecular protein in the actin-depolymerizing factor ADF/Cofilin protein family, and chitin synthase Krotzkopf verkehrt (Kkv) in Drosophila melanogaster in vitro.  The RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated global knockdown of Tsr in D. melanogaster resulted in larval lethality.  Furthermore, targeted suppression of Tsr in the tracheal and epidermal tissues also led to larval mortality, while knocking down Tsr in the wing tissues led to wrinkled wings.  Additionally, silencing Tsr not only reduced the chitin content in the first longitudinal vein of the wings but also led to the absence of the chitin lamellar structure.  To validate the functional conservation of Tsr in other insect orders, the two agricultural pests Ostrinia furnacalis and Tribolium castaneum, representing lepidoptera and coleoptera insects, respectively, were investigated.  Knockdown experiments targeting the Drosophila Tsr orthologues OfTsr in O. furnacalis and TcTsr in T. castaneum produced abnormal larvae during molting or pupation in O. furnacalis and lethality in T. castaneum.  Our findings not only improve our knowledge of the chitin biosynthesis machinery in insect cuticles but also provide new potential targets for the control of major agricultural pests.

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Intelligent field monitoring system for cruciferous vegetable pests using yellow sticky board images and an improved Cascade R-CNN Yufan Gao, Fei Yin, Chen Hong, Xiangfu Chen, Hang Deng, Yongjian Liu, Zhenyu Li, Qing Yao 2025, 24(1): 220-234.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.06.017 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Cruciferous vegetables are important edible vegetable crops.  However, they are susceptible to various pests during their growth process, which requires real-time and accurate monitoring of these pests for pest forecasting and scientific control.  Hanging yellow sticky boards is a common way to monitor and trap those pests which are attracted to the yellow color.  To achieve real-time, low-cost, intelligent monitoring of these vegetable pests on the boards, we established an intelligent monitoring system consisting of a smart camera, a web platform and a pest detection algorithm deployed on a server.  After the operator sets the monitoring preset points and shooting time of the camera on the system platform, the camera in the field can automatically collect images of multiple yellow sticky boards at fixed places and times every day.  The pests trapped on the yellow sticky boards in vegetable fields, Plutella xylostella, Phyllotreta striolata and flies, are very small and susceptible to deterioration and breakage, which increases the difficulty of model detection.  To solve the problem of poor recognition due to the small size and breaking of the pest bodies, we propose an intelligent pest detection algorithm based on an improved Cascade R-CNN model for three important cruciferous crop pests.  The algorithm uses an overlapping sliding window method, an improved Res2Net network as the backbone network, and a recursive feature pyramid network as the neck network.  The results of field tests show that the algorithm achieves good detection results for the three target pests on the yellow sticky board images, with precision levels of 96.5, 92.2 and 75.0%, and recall levels of 96.6, 93.1 and 74.7%, respectively, and an F1 value of 0.880.  Compared with other algorithms, our algorithm has a significant advantage in its ability to detect small target pests.  To accurately obtain the data for the newly added pests each day, a two-stage pest matching algorithm was proposed.  The algorithm performed well and achieved results that were highly consistent with manual counting, with a mean error of only 2.2%.  This intelligent monitoring system realizes precision, good visualization, and intelligent vegetable pest monitoring, which is of great significance as it provides an effective pest prevention and control option for farmers.

Animal Science · Veterinary Medicine

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Genomic selection for meat quality traits based on VIS/NIR spectral information Xi Tang, Lei Xie, Min Yan, Longyun Li, Tianxiong Yao, Siyi Liu, Wenwu Xu, Shijun Xiao, Nengshui Ding, Zhiyan Zhang, Lusheng Huang 2025, 24(1): 235-245.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.09.019 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The principle of genomic selection (GS) entails estimating breeding values (BVs) by summing all the SNP polygenic effects.  The visible/near-infrared spectroscopy (VIS/NIRS) wavelength and abundance values can directly reflect the concentrations of chemical substances, and the measurement of meat traits by VIS/NIRS is similar to the processing of genomic selection data by summing all ‘polygenic effects’ associated with spectral feature peaks.  Therefore, it is meaningful to investigate the incorporation of VIS/NIRS information into GS models to establish an efficient and low-cost breeding model.  In this study, we measured 6 meat quality traits in 359 Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire pigs from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and genotyped them with high-density SNP chips.  According to the completeness of the information for the target population, we proposed 4 breeding strategies applied to different scenarios: I, only spectral and genotypic data exist for the target population; II, only spectral data exist for the target population; III, only spectral and genotypic data but with different prediction processes exist for the target population; and IV, only spectral and phenotypic data exist for the target population.  The 4 scenarios were used to evaluate the genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) accuracy by increasing the VIS/NIR spectral information.  In the results of the 5-fold cross-validation, the genetic algorithm showed remarkable potential for preselection of feature wavelengths.  The breeding efficiency of Strategies II, III, and IV was superior to that of traditional GS for most traits, and the GEBV prediction accuracy was improved by 32.2, 40.8 and 15.5%, respectively on average.  Among them, the prediction accuracy of Strategy II for fat (%) even improved by 50.7% compared to traditional GS.  The GEBV prediction accuracy of Strategy I was nearly identical to that of traditional GS, and the fluctuation range was less than 7%.  Moreover, the breeding cost of the 4 strategies was lower than that of traditional GS methods, with Strategy IV being the lowest as it did not require genotyping.  Our findings demonstrate that GS methods based on VIS/NIRS data have significant predictive potential and are worthy of further research to provide a valuable reference for the development of effective and affordable breeding strategies.

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The VGLL2 gene participates in muscle development in Gushi chickens Wenya Li, Haoxiang Ma, Yanxing Wang, Yushi Zhang, Yang Liu, Ruili Han, Hong Li, Hanfang Cai, Xiaojun Liu, Xiangtao Kang, Ruirui Jiang, Zhuanjian Li 2025, 24(1): 246-260.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.06.017 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Previous studies have shown that VGLL2, a member of the mammalian Vestigial-like (VGLL) family, plays important roles in the growth and development of animal skeletal muscle, but its specific role in the development of chicken skeletal muscle is unclear.  The main goal of this study was to explore the biological functions of VGLL2 in the development of chicken skeletal muscle and the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle cells in vitro.  In this study, we detected the effect of VGLL2 on the proliferation of myoblasts by CCK8, EdU and flow cytometry analyses after overexpressing and interfering with VGLL2.  Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect the effect of VGLL2 on the differentiation of myoblasts.  qRT-PCR and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were used to evaluate the effects of VGLL2 overexpression on the growth rate and muscle fiber structure of chicken skeletal muscle.  The results showed that VGLL2 inhibited the proliferation of primary cultured chicken myoblasts and promoted the differentiation of these cells.  Interestingly, food intake and muscle fiber development were significantly enhanced by the overexpression of VGLL2 in chickens.  Taken together, these data demonstrate that the VGLL2 gene may be a useful marker for improving muscle mass in poultry.

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Florfenicol can inhibit chick growth and lead to immunosuppression Fanliang Meng, Kuihao Liu, Yesheng Shen, Peixun Li, Tailong Wang, Yiran Zhao, Sidang Liu, Mengda Liu, Gang Wang 2025, 24(1): 261-271.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.11.040 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Florfenicol (FLO) is a chemically synthesized broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent of amide alcohols for animals, which is one of the most widely used antimicrobials in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.  With the use of FLO, more and more attention has been paid to its hematopoietic toxicity, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, and embryotoxicity.  In this study, SPF chicks at the age of 3 d began to drink water with the FLO at a dose of 100 mg L–1 for 6 consecutive days, and the growth performance of chicks was monitored, the effect of FLO on immune organs was detected by pathological examination and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) apoptosis staining.  In order to evaluate the level of organism immunity, the level of Newcastle disease virus antibody in serum was detected by hemagglutination inhibition test, the content of cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in serum was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the transcription of interferon-related genes (IRF-7, 2´-5´OAS, Mx1) and cytokine genes (IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in immune organs were detected by real time fluorescence quantitative PCR.  The results showed that the early application of FLO could inhibit the growth and development of chicks, and the body weight and immune organ index of the treatment group were lower than those of the control group.  Histopathological examination showed that there was a decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the bursa of Fabricius in the treatment group in the early stage of drug withdrawal, and the results of TUNEL apoptosis staining in the bursa of Fabricius showed that obvious lymphocyte apoptosis occurred in the FLO treatment group.  Compared with the control group, the transcription levels of interferon-related genes IRF-7, 2´-5´OAS, and cytokine genes IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ in FLO treatment group decreased to a certain extent, while the transcription level of Mx1 gene had no significant difference at all time points.  The level of serum Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibody and the contents of cytokines IL-1, IL-2 and IFN-γ in the FLO treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group in the early stage of drug withdrawal, but recovered gradually in the later stage.  This study showed that FLO has a certain degree of effect on the immune function of chicks, and the results of the study laid the foundation for further research on the mechanism of FLO-induced immunotoxicity.

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Deletion of Salmonella pathogenicity islands SPI-1, 2 and 3 induces substantial morphological and metabolic alternation and protective immune potential Gaosong Liu, Xuelian Lü, Qiufeng Tian, Wanjiang Zhang, Fei Yi, Yueling Zhang, Shenye Yu 2025, 24(1): 272-289.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.11.009 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) play crucial roles in the progression of Salmonella infection.  In this study, we constructed an improved λ Red homologous recombination system to prepare single and triple deletion mutants of 3 prominent SPIs (SPI-1, 2, and 3), aiming at the impact of deletion on morphology, carbon source metabolism, adhesion and invasion capacity, in vivo colonization, and immune efficacy in chicks.  Our examination revealed that the surface of the single deletion mutants (SM6ΔSPI1, ΔSPI2, and ΔSPI3) exhibited a more rugged texture and appeared to be enveloped in a layer of transparent colloid, whereas the morphology of the triple deletion mutant (SM6ΔSPI1&2&3) remained unaltered when compared to the parent strain.  The carbon metabolic spectrum of the SPI mutants underwent profound alterations, with a notable and statistically significant modification observed in 30 out of 95 carbon sources, primarily carbohydrates (17 out of 30).  Furthermore, the adhesion capacity of the 4 mutants to Caco-2 cells was significantly reduced when compared to that of the parent strain.  Moreover, the invasion capacity of mutants SM6ΔSPI1 and SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 exhibited a substantial decrease, while it was enhanced to varying degrees for SM6ΔSPI3 and SM6ΔSPI2.  Importantly, none of the 4 mutants induced any clinical symptoms in the chicks.  However, they did transiently colonize the spleen and liver.  Notably, the SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 mutant was rapidly cleared from both the spleen and liver within 8 days post-infection and no notable pathological changes were observed in the organs.  Additionally, when challenged, the mutants immunized groups displayed a significant increase in antibody levels and alterations in the CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ subpopulations, and the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines in the SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 immunized chicken serum surpassed those of other groups.  In summary, the successful construction of the 4 SPI mutants lays the groundwork for further exploration into the pathogenic (including metabolic) mechanisms of SPIs and the development of safe and effective live attenuated Salmonella vaccines or carriers

Agro-ecosystem & Environment

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Long-term combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers increases crop yield sustainability by improving soil fertility in maize–wheat cropping systems Jinfeng Wang, Xueyun Yang, Shaomin Huang, Lei Wu, Zejiang Cai, Minggang Xu 2025, 24(1): 290-305.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.07.003 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Organic material combined with inorganic fertilizer has been shown to greatly improve crop yield and maintain soil fertility globally.  However, it remains unclear if crop yield and soil fertility can be sustained in the long term under the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers.  Three long-term field trials were conducted to investigate the effects of organic amendments on the grain sustainable yield index (SYI), soil fertility index (SFI) and nutrient balance in maize–wheat cropping systems of central and southern China during 1991–2019.  Five treatments were included in the trials: 1) no fertilization (control); 2) balanced mineral fertilization (NPK); 3) NPK plus manure (NPKM); 4) high dose of NPK plus manure (1.5NPKM); and 5) NPK plus crop straw (NPKS).  Over time, the grain yields of wheat and maize showed an increasing trend in all four fertilization treatments at the Yangling (YL) and Zhengzhou (ZZ) locations, while they declined at Qiyang (QY).  The grain yield in the NPKM and 1.5NPKM treatments gradually exceeded that of the NPK and NPKS treatments at the QY site.  The largest SYI was recorded in the NPKM treatment across the three sites, suggesting that inorganic fertilizer combined with manure can effectively improve crop yield sustainability.  Higher SYI values were recorded at the YL and ZZ sites than at the QY site, possibly because the soil was more acid at QY.  The key factors affecting grain yield were soil available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK) at the YL and ZZ sites, and pH and AP at the QY site.  All fertilization treatments resulted in soil N and P surpluses at the three sites, but soil K surpluses were recorded only at the QY site.  The SFI was greater in the 1.5NPKM, NPKM and NPKS treatments than in the NPK treatment by 13.3–40.0 and 16.4–63.6% at the YL and ZZ sites, respectively, and was significantly higher in the NPKM and 1.5NPKM treatments than in the NPK and NPKS treatments at the QY site.  A significant, positive linear relationship was found between SFI and crop yield, and SYI and nutrient balance, indicating that grain yield and its sustainability significantly increased with increasing soil fertility.  The apparent N, P and K balances positively affected SFI.  This study suggests that the appropriate amount of manure mixed with mineral NPK fertilizer is beneficial to the development of sustainable agriculture, which effectively increases the crop yield and yield sustainability by improving soil fertility.

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Organic fertilizer enhances soil aggregate stability by altering greenhouse soil content of iron oxide and organic carbon Lijun Ren, Han Yang, Jin Li, Nan Zhang, Yanyu Han, Hongtao Zou, Yulong Zhang 2025, 24(1): 306-321.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.05.026 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Both soil organic carbon (SOC) and iron (Fe) oxide content, among other factors, drive the formation and stability of soil aggregates.  However, the mechanism of these drivers in greenhouse soil fertilized with organic fertilizer is not well understood.  In a 3-year field experiment, we aimed to investigate the factors which drive the stability of soil aggregates in greenhouse soil.  To explore the impact of organic fertilizer on soil aggregates, we established four treatments: no fertilization (CK); inorganic fertilizer (CF); organic fertilizer (OF); and combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizers (COF).  The application of organic fertilizer significantly enhanced the stability of aggregates, that is it enhanced the mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter and aggregate content (%) of >0.25 mm aggregate fractions.  OF and COF treatments increased the concentration of SOC, especially the aliphatic-C, aromatic-C and polysaccharide-C components of SOC, particularly in >0.25 mm aggregates.  Organic fertilizer application significantly increased the content of free Fe (Fed), reactive Fe (Feo), and non-crystalline Fe in both bulk soil and aggregates.  Furthermore, non-crystalline Fe showed a positive correlation with SOC content in both bulk soil and aggregates.  Both non-crystalline Fe and SOC were significantly positively correlated with >2 mm mean weight diameter.  Overall, we believe that the increase of SOC, aromatic-C, and non-crystalline Fe concentrations in soil after the application of organic fertilizer is the reason for improving soil aggregate stability.

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Aerated irrigation increases tomato production by improving soil nitrogen availability Chuandong Tan, Yadan Du, Xiaobo Gu, Wenquan Niu, Jinbo Zhang, Christoph Müller, Xuesong Cao 2025, 24(1): 322-338.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.04.004 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Soil nitrogen (N) is the main limiting nutrient for plant growth, which is sensitive to variations in the soil oxygen environment.  To provide insights into plant N accumulation and yield under aerated and drip irrigation, a greenhouse tomato experiment was conducted with six treatments, including three fertilization types: inorganic fertilizer (NPK); organic fertilizer (OM); chemical (75% of applied N)+organic fertilizer (25%) (NPK+OM) under drip irrigation (DI) and aerated irrigation (AI) methods.  Under AI, total soil carbon mineralization (Cmin) was significantly higher (by 5.7–7.0%) than under DI irrigation.  Cmin in the fertilizer treatments followed the order NPK+OM>OM>NPK under both AI and DI.  Potentially mineralizable C (C0) and N (N0) was greater under AI than under DI.  Gross N mineralization, gross nitrification, and NH4+ immobilization rates were significantly higher under the AINPK treatment than the DINPK treatment by 2.58–3.27-, 1.25–1.44-, and 1–1.26-fold, respectively.  These findings demonstrated that AI and the addition of organic fertilizer accelerated the turnover of soil organic matter and N transformation processes, thereby enhancing N availability.  Moreover, the combination of AI and organic fertilizer application was found to promote root growth (8.4–10.6%), increase the duration of the period of rapid N accumulation (ΔT), and increase the maximum N accumulation rate (Vmax), subsequently encouraging aboveground dry matter accumulation.  Consequently, the AI treatment yield was significantly greater (by 6.3–12.4%) than under the DI treatment.  Further, N partial factor productivity (NPFP) and N harvest index (NHI) were greater under AI than under DI, by 6.3 to 12.4%, and 4.6 to 8.1%, respectively.  The rankings of yield and NPFP remained consistent, with NPK+OM>OM>NPK under both AI and DI treatments.  These results highlighted the positive impacts of AI and organic fertilizer application on soil N availability, N uptake, and overall crop yield in tomato.  The optimal management measure was identified as the AINPK+OM treatment, which led to more efficient N management, better crop growth, higher yield, and more sustainable agricultural practices.

Food Science

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Characterization and correlation of engineering properties with microstructure in peanuts: A microscopic to macroscopic analysis Fei Xiang, Zhenyuan Li, Yichen Zheng, Caixia Ding, Benu Adhikari, Xiaojie Ma, Xuebing Xu, Jinjin Zhu, Bello Zaki Abubakar, Aimin Shi, Hui Hu, Qiang Wang 2025, 24(1): 339-352.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.11.037 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Peanut varieties are diverse globally, with their characters and nutrition determining the product quality.  However, the comparative analysis and statistical analysis of key quality indicators for peanut kernels across the world remains relatively limited, impeding the comprehensive evaluation of peanut quality and hindering the industry development on a global scale.  This study aimed to compare and analyze the apparent morphology, microstructure, single-cell structure, engineering and mechanical properties, as well as major nutrient contents of peanut kernels from 10 different cultivars representing major peanut-producing countries.  The surface and cross-section microstructure of the peanut kernels exhibited a dense “blocky” appearance with a distinct cellular structure.  The lipid droplets were predominantly spherical with a regular distribution within the cells.  The single-cell structure of the kernels from these 10 peanut cultivars demonstrated varying morphologies and dimensions, which exhibited correlations with their mechanical and engineering properties.  Furthermore, the mass loss versus temperature profiles of the peanut kernels revealed five distinct stages, corresponding to moisture loss, volatile loss, protein denaturation, and the degradation of various biomacromolecules.  Variations were also observed in the lipid, protein, and sucrose contents, texture, bulk density, true density, porosity, geometric mean diameter, and sphericity among the different peanut varieties.  This study establishes relationships and correlations among microstructure, engineering properties, and nutritional composition of commonly grown peanut varieties in major peanut-processing countries.  The findings provide valuable insights into peanut quality evaluation, empowering the peanut industry to enhance their processing and product development efforts.

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Mitigating ethyl carbamate production in Chinese rice wine: Role of raspberry extract Yuxin Liu, Chi Shen, Xiaoyu Wang, Chaogeng Xiao, Zisheng Luo, Guochang Sun, Wenjing Lu, Rungang Tian, Lijia Dong, Xueyuan Han 2025, 24(1): 353-365.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.08.021 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   This study investigated the use of raspberry extract (RBE) for mitigating ethyl carbamate (EC) accumulation in Chinese rice wine (Huangjiu), a traditional fermented beverage.  It focused on the addition of RBE to the fermentation mash and its effects on EC levels.  The results showed a significant reduction in EC production that could be attributed to RBE’s role in altering urea and citrulline catabolism and inhibiting arginine metabolism, thus preventing EC precursors from reacting with ethanol.  Additionally, RBE enhanced the rice wine’s flavor profile, as shown by volatile component and amino acid analysis.  This study also explored RBE’s impact on the metabolism of arginine by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a simulated fermentation environment, and found increased arginine, reduced urea and citrulline levels, altered enzyme activities, and gene expression changes in the arginine metabolism and transport pathways.  In conclusion, the results clearly demonstrated RBE’s efficacy in reducing the EC content in Chinese rice wine, offering valuable insights for EC reduction strategies.

Agricultural Economics and Management

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Herders’ willingness to accept compensation for grassland grazing ban in Northwest China Huifang Liu, Lingling Hou, Zhibiao Nan, Jikun Huang, Liufang Su 2025, 24(1): 366-379.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.11.036 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) has been widely acknowledged as an effective tool for mitigating grassland degradation and enhancing ecosystem services provision.  However, critical factors, such as herders’ willingness to accept (WTA) preferences and compensation expectations, are often overlooked, leading to insufficient effectiveness of PES initiatives.  This study focused on grassland ecological compensation policy (GECP), quantifying herders’ WTA compensation for grassland grazing bans.  Through face-to-face surveys and employing the contingent valuation method, we estimated households’ WTA for participating in a grassland conservation program to bolster ecosystem service provision.  Our findings indicated that herders required an average compensation of 237 CNY mu–1 yr–1 to engage in the grazing ban program.  Notably, herders’ environmental awareness positively influenced their willingness to participate, whereas larger family sizes were negatively correlated with WTA.  Additionally, herders in better health, with higher livestock incomes or categorized as semi-herders, tended to accept lower compensation levels.  These insights are crucial for improving the effectiveness of GECP and provide valuable reference points for similar analyses in economically disadvantaged and ecologically fragile regions.

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Impact of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) implementation on agricultural sector in regional countries: A global value chain perspective Shaowen Xu, Jingfei Qian, Yangfen Chen, Huijie Zhang 2025, 24(1): 380-397.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.11.035 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has created favorable conditions for building deeply integrated agricultural value chains (AVC) in Asia-Pacific.  Based on the RCEP agreement, this study employed the global trade analysis project (GTAP) model to evaluate the impact of RCEP on AVC of member countries in terms of time, tariff reduction, and reduction of non-tariff barriers (NTB).  The results indicate that (1) the implementation of RCEP boosts the value-added to agricultural exports for most member countries, particularly in competitive industries; (2) the increase in domestic production and processing capacity, reflected in domestic value-added (DVA), is the primary factor driving the rise in the value-added of agricultural exports across various industries of member countries; (3) RCEP enhances the participation of most regional countries in AVC, with varying impacts on AVC positioning, thereby fostering regional AVC development; and (4) RCEP has a positive effect on AVC indicators both in the short and long term, with the effect becoming more pronounced over time.  Additionally, reducing NTB enhances the positive effects of tariff reductions on AVC indicators.  Based on the analyses, the following recommendations are proposed: (1) Leverage the development opportunities arising from RCEP implementation to enhance the agricultural DVA; (2) capitalize on cooperative opportunities created by RCEP to build cohesive regional AVC; and (3) prioritize the effective implementation of RCEP’s high-quality rules.

Letter

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Development of a fast LC-QqQ-MS/MS method for detecting flavonoids in the phenylpropanoid pathway of plants Dili Lai, Yu Fan, Md. Nurul Huda, Yuanfen Gao, Tanzim Jahan, Wei Li, Yuqi He, Kaixuan Zhang, Jianping Cheng, Jingjun Ruan, Baoping Zhao, Meiliang Zhou 2025, 24(1): 398-402.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.11.010 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect

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Emerging patterns of antimicrobial resistance: Concurrent presence of mcr-1.1 and mcr-8.1 in a ST15 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from poultry in China Dong’an Cui, Panpan Liu, Ling Wang, Jiongjie He, Yuzhang Yan, Mengke Ru, Baocheng Hao, Yan Sun, Shengyi Wang 2025, 24(1): 403-407.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.09.025 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect