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2025 Vol. 24 No. 9 Previous Issue   

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Crop Science
Horticulture
Plant Protection
Animal Science · Veterinary Medicine
Agro-ecosystem & Environment
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Over recent decades, the global citrus industry has experienced significant expansion, establishing citrus as the predominant fruit crop in terms of production and cultivation area. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency, however, has emerged as a critical limiting factor in citrus production, particularly in acid soils of subtropical and tropical regions. While soil Mg leaching and subsequent imbalance are hypothesized to be primary causes of soil Mg depletion, the specific leaching rate in citrus cultivation remains understudied. In this cover article, the authors utilized lysimeter equipment to quantify Mg leaching from citrus orchard soils. Furthermore, they established various Mg fertilizer gradient trials to examine soil Mg balance thresholds in citrus orchards. The findings revealed that Mg leaching in the studied citrus orchards constituted 12.1–42.4% of the Mg fertilizer application rate, contributing to soil Mg imbalance and depletion. This research provides evidence for determining appropriate Mg fertilizer application rates and maintaining soil nutrient balance in citrus cultivation. The cover photo, provided by Dr. Yuheng Wang at Southwest University, China, demonstrates that Mg fertilization represents an effective strategy for addressing soil Mg imbalance in citrus production systems. For more details, please see pages 3641–3655.


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Crop Science

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PDL1-dependent trans-acting siRNAs regulate lateral organ polarity development in rice Yi Zhang, Jing You, Jun Tang, Wenwen Xiao, Mi Wei, Ruhui Wu, Jinyan Liu, Hanying Zong, Shuoyu Zhang, Jie Qiu, Huan Chen, Yinghua Ling, Fangming Zhao, Yunfeng Li, Guanghua He, Ting Zhang 2025, 24(9): 3297-3310.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.01.025 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Leaves and glumes act as lateral organs and have essential effects on photosynthesis and seed morphology, thus affecting yield.  However, the molecular mechanisms controlling their polarity development in rice still need further study.  Here, we isolated a polarity defect of lateral organs 1 (pdl1) mutant in rice, which exhibits twisted/filamentous-shaped leaves and cracked/filamentous-shaped lemmas caused by defects in polarity development.  PDL1 encodes a SUPPRESSOR OF GENE SILENCING 3 protein localized in the cytoplasmic granules.  PDL1 is expressed in the shoot apical meristem, inflorescence meristem, floral meristem, and lateral organs including leaves and floral organs.  PDL1 is involved in the synthesis of tasiR-ARF, which may subsequently modulate the expression of OsARFs.  Meanwhile, the expression levels of abaxial miR165/166 and the adaxial identity genes OSHBs were respectively increased and reduced significantly.  The results of this study clarify the molecular mechanism by which PDL1-mediated tasiR-ARF synthesis regulates the lateral organ polarity development in rice.

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Genome wide linkage mapping for black point resistance in a recombinant inbred line population of Zhongmai 578 and Jimai 22 Tiantian Chen, Lei Li, Dan Liu, Yubing Tian, Lingli Li, Jianqi Zeng, Awais Rasheed, Shuanghe Cao, Xianchun Xia, Zhonghu He, Jindong Liu, Yong Zhang 2025, 24(9): 3311-3321.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.12.039 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Black point is a black discoloration of the grain embryo that reduces the grain quality and commodity grade.  Identifying the underlying genetic loci can facilitate the improvement of black point resistance in wheat.  Here, 262 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross of Zhongmai 578/Jimai 22 were evaluated for their black point reactions in five environments.  A high-density genetic linkage map of the RIL population was constructed with the wheat 50K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array.  Six stable QTLs for black point resistance were detected, QBp.caas-2A, QBp.caas-2B1, QBp.caas-2B2, QBp.caas-2D, QBp.caas-3A, and QBp.caas-5B, which explained 2.1–28.8% of the phenotypic variances.  The resistance alleles of QBp.caas-2B1 and QBp.caas-2B2 were contributed by Zhongmai 578 while the others were from Jimai 22.  QBp.caas-2B2, QBp.caas-2D and QBp.caas-3A overlapped with previously reported loci, whereas QBp.caas-2A, QBp.caas-2B1 and QBp.caas-5B are likely to be new.  Five kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers, Kasp_2A_BP, Kasp_2B1_BP, Kasp_2B2_BP, Kasp_3A_BP, and Kasp_5B_BP, were validated in a natural population of 165 cultivars.  The findings of this study provide useful QTLs and molecular markers for the improvement of black point resistance in wheat through marker-assisted breeding.

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A naturally occurring 31 bp deletion in TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 causes branched ears in maize Ling Ai, Ju Qiu, Jiuguang Wang, Mengya Qian, Tingting Liu, Wan Cao, Fangyu Xing, Hameed Gul, Yingyi Zhang, Xiangling Gong, Jing Li, Hong Duan, Qianlin Xiao, Zhizhai Liu 2025, 24(9): 3322-3333.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.12.024 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The female inflorescence, or ear, of maize develops no branch meristem (BM), which differs from the male inflorescence, or tassel.  While the mutations of some well documented genes, such as fea2/3/4 and ramosa1/2/3, can cause the branched architecture of ears in maize, such mutations also change the normal phenotypic performance of the tassels.  In the present study, a natural maize mutant with branched ears, named branched ear1 (be1), was characterized.  be1 shows several branched ears at the base of the central ear with unchanged architecture of the tassels.  Besides, both the branched and central ears of be1 possess regularly arranged kerels.  The phenotypic characteristics of be1 differ completely from those reported mutants of fasciated ears or RAMOSA-like ears in maize.  An SEM survey at the very early development stage showed that meristems with three protrusions, similar to the BM in tassels, were present during the development of the branched ears in be1.  Gene mapping and sequence alignment suggested that TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 (TB1) was the candidate gene of BE1.  Further verification showed that a be1-specific 31 bp deletion at the downstream of BE1 led to statistically reduced expression of this gene in the immature ear, which serves as the potential causal reason for the branched ears of be1.  CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing downstream of TB1 complemented the phenotypic architecture of branched ears, suggesting that TB1 was the target of BE1, and it was named as ZmTB1be1.  The results of the present study implied a novel function of TB1 in female inflorescence development, rather than shaping the plant architecture in maize.  Meanwhile, further functional dissection of ZmTB1be1 might shed new light on TB1, the most famous domestication related gene in maize.

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Evolutionary and expression analysis of sugar transporters from Tartary buckwheat revealed the potential function of FtERD23 in drought stress Dili Lai, Md. Nurul Huda, Yawen Xiao, Tanzim Jahan, Wei Li, Yuqi He, Kaixuan Zhang, Jianping Cheng, Jingjun Ruan, Meiliang Zhou 2025, 24(9): 3334-3350.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.031 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Drought is becoming a common threat to crop production.  Identifying and utilizing excellent drought-resistant genes is crucial to combating this stress and ensuring global food security by developing drought-resistant crop varieties.  Although sugar transporters are involved in stress tolerance in many plants, the sugar transporter gene family of Tartary buckwheat has yet to be systematically analyzed.  This study identified 140 sugar transporter genes from the ‘Pinku’ Tartary buckwheat genome and classified them into 10 subfamilies.  Structural analysis showed that subfamily SGB/pGlcT had the highest number of introns compared to other subfamilies, and abundant abiotic stress-related cis-acting elements existed in the promoter region.  Collinear analysis revealed relatively ancient genes FtSUT7, FtSTP28, FtPLT1, and FtINT2.  The expression of sugar transporter genes was screened under various abiotic stresses, which revealed the association of stress tolerance with different sugar transporter genes, i.e., FtERD23, FtINT2, FtpGlcT2, and FtSTP27.  Further, we observed that the overexpression of FtERD23 maintains osmotic pressure through glucose transport, which may enhance drought stress tolerance.  Moreover, gene co-expression analyses using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and fuzzy c-means algorithm (FCMA) identified six transcription factors that may regulate FtERD23 expression and are involved in plant drought tolerance.  Our systematic analysis provides a theoretical basis for the further functional characterization of sugar transporter genes to improve drought tolerance in Tartary buckwheat and its related species.

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Untargeted lipidomic analysis of milled rice under different alternate wetting and soil drying irrigation regimes Yunji Xu, Xuelian Weng, Shupeng Tang, Weiyang Zhang, Kuanyu Zhu, Guanglong Zhu, Hao Zhang, Zhiqin Wang, Jianchang Yang 2025, 24(9): 3351-3367.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.04.005 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Alternate wetting and soil drying irrigation (AWD) technique is crucial in influencing grain quality in rice (Oryza sativa L.).  Lipids are the third most abundant constituents in rice grains, after starch and proteins, and are closely related to grain quality.  However, it remains unclear about the changes in lipids profiling under different AWD regimes.  This study set up three irrigation regimes including conventional irrigation (CI), alternate wetting and moderate soil drying irrigation (AWMD), and alternate wetting and severe soil drying irrigation (AWSD).  It explored lipidome changes in milled rice of Yangdao 6 (YD6) using the untargeted lipidomics approach and analyzed rice cooking and eating quality.  The results identified seven lipid classes, 55 lipid subclasses, and 1,086 lipid molecular species.  Compared with the CI regime, the AWMD regime mainly altered lipid subclasses consisting of triglyceride (TG), ceramide (Cer), diglyceride (DG), bis-methyl lysophosphatidic acid (BisMePA), phosphocholine (PC), phosphoethanolamine (PE), monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), and digalactosyl diglyceride (DGDG) in milled rice and improved cooking and eating quality of rice; in contrast, the AWSD regime distinctly changed lipid subclasses like TG, Cer, DG, PC, PE, hexosylceramide (Hex1Cer), DGDG, and BisMePA and degraded cooking and eating quality of rice.  Specifically, AWMD most significantly altered the expressions of lipid molecules, including DGDG(18:0_18:2), DGDG(16:0_14:0), PC(33:1), Cer(t17:0_26:0), and Cer(t17:0_16:0); AWSD most obviously influenced the expressions of TG(6:0_14:0_18:3), PC(41:1), TG(19:1_18:4_18:4), Hex1Cer(d18:2_24:0+O), and Hex1Cer(d18:2_24:1).  These 10 altered lipid molecules in milled rice can be preferentially used for investigating their relationships with grain quality in rice.

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Can a delayed sowing date improve the eating and cooking quality of mechanically transplanted rice in the Sichuan Basin, China? Yuxin He, Fei Deng, Chi Zhang, Qiuping Li, Xiaofan Huang, Chenyan He, Xiaofeng Ai, Yujie Yuan, Li Wang, Hong Cheng, Tao Wang, Youfeng Tao. Wei Zhou, Xiaolong Lei, Yong Chen, Wanjun Ren 2025, 24(9): 3368-3383.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.023 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Adjustment of the sowing date is a widely used measure in rice production for adapting to high-temperature conditions.  However, the impact of a delayed sowing date (DS) on rice quality may vary by variety and ecological conditions.  In this study, we conducted experiments using four different sowing dates, the conventional sowing date 1 (CS1), CS2 (10 d later than CS1), DS1 (30 d later than CS1), and DS2 (30 d later than CS2), and three rice varieties, i.e., Yixiangyou 2115, Fyou 498, and Chuanyou 6203.  This experiment was conducted at four sites in the Sichuan Basin in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate the influence of DS on the pasting properties of rice, which are a proxy for the eating and cooking quality (ECQ).  In DS1 and DS2, the rice had a significantly greater amylose content (AC) but a lower protein content (PC), peak viscosity (PKV), cool paste viscosity (CPV), and hot paste viscosity (HPV) than in CS1 and CS2.  Moreover, except for CS2 and DS1 in 2018, DS1 and DS2 led to 2.15–11.19% reductions in breakdown viscosity (BDV) and 23.46–108.47% increases in setback viscosity (SBV).  However, the influence of DS on rice pasting properties varied by study site and rice variety.  In 2019, DS1 and DS2 led to BDV reductions of 2.35–9.33, 2.61–8.61, 10.03–17.78, and 2.06–8.93%, and SBV increases of 2.32–60.93, 63.74–144.24, 55.46–91.63, and –8.28–65.37% at the Dayi, Anzhou, Nanbu, and Shehong (except for SBV in CS2 and DS1) sites, respectively.  DS resulted in greater reductions in PKV, HPV, CPV, and BDV and greater increases in the AC and SBV for Yixiangyou 2115 than for Chuanyou 6203 and Fyou 498.  The correlation analysis indicated that PKV and HPV were significantly and positively related to the mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures after heading.  These temperatures must be greater than 25.9, 31.2, and 22.3°C, respectively, to increase the relative BDV and reduce the relative SBV of rice, thereby enhancing ECQ.  In conclusion, DS might contribute to a significant deterioration in ECQ in machine-transplanted rice in the Sichuan Basin.  A mean temperature above 25.9°C after heading is required to improve the ECQ of rice.

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Subsoiling before winter wheat alleviates the kernel position effect of densely grown summer maize by delaying post-silking root–shoot senescence Lichao Zhai, Shijia Song, Lihua Zhang, Jinan Huang, Lihua Lv, Zhiqiang Dong, Yongzeng Cui, Mengjing Zheng, Wanbin Hou, Jingting Zhang, Yanrong Yao, Yanhong Cui, Xiuling Jia 2025, 24(9): 3384-3402.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.12.021 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The intensified kernel position effect is a common phenomenon in maize production under higher plant density, which limits crop productivity.  Subsoiling is an effective agronomic practice for improving crop productivity.  To clarify the effect of subsoiling before winter wheat on the kernel position effect of densely grown summer maize and its regulatory mechanism, field experiments were conducted during the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 growing seasons using a split-plot design.  The main plots included two tillage practices: conventional tillage practice (CT) and subsoiling before the sowing of winter wheat (SS); and the subplots consisted of three plant densities (D1–D3 at 6.0×104, 7.5×104, and 9.0×104 plants ha–1).  Compared with CT, SS alleviated the kernel position effect by increasing the weight ratio of inferior to superior kernels (WR) in the D2 and D3 treated plants.  The higher WR of SS treated plants contributed largely to the improved filling of inferior kernels.  Under the same plant density, SS significantly improved the root dry matter accumulation (DMA) and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD)), and it reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, especially for the plants grown under higher plant densities.  These results indicated that SS delayed the root senescence, which is associated with the reduced soil bulk density.  In addition, compared with CT, SS increased the leaf chlorophyll content from 20 days after silking to physiological maturity and the post-silking leaf area duration, and it reduced the post-silking leaf chlorophyll reduction rate and leaf area reduction rate, indicating that the post-silking leaf senescence had been alleviated.   Under the same plant density, the post-silking DMA of SS was obviously higher than that of CT, which was probably related to the improved leaf area duration and photosynthetic enzyme activities (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and Rubisco).   The correlation analysis revealed that the main mechanism of SS in alleviating the kernel position effect of densely grown summer maize is as follows: SS delays the post-silking root–shoot senescence by regulating soil physical properties, and further improves the post-silking DMA and filling of inferior kernels, which ultimately alleviates the kernel position effect and improves grain yield.  The results of this study provide new theoretical support for the promotion of summer maize yield by subsoiling before winter wheat.

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No-tillage with total green manure incorporation: A better strategy to higher maize yield and nitrogen uptake in arid irrigation areas Hanqiang Lü, Aizhong Yu, Qiang Chai, Feng Wang, Yulong Wang, Pengfei Wang, Yongpan Shang, Xuehui Yang 2025, 24(9): 3403-3417.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.07.028 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The efficacy of integrating green manure in arid irrigation regions to enhance maize yield and nitrogen (N) uptake efficiency has been extensively explored.  However, limited research has delineated the contribution of green manure N vs. soil N on crop N utilization efficiency.  This study integrated field experiments with micro-plot experiments to examine green manure (common vetch) management practices for achieving high maize yield and N uptake.  In a micro-plot experiment, 15N technology was utilized to label green manure crops.  Five treatments were applied in the research methodology: conventional tillage without green manure as the control (CT), tillage with total green manure incorporation (TG), no-tillage with total green manure mulching (NTG), tillage with only root incorporation (T), and no-tillage with removal of aboveground green manure (NT).  The results of the micro-plot experiment were consistent with those observed in the field, demonstrating that the utilization of green manure substantially increased maize yield and nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUPE) compared to CT.  In particular, under NTG, N uptake by maize from green manure was higher than NT and T, accounting for 59.1% of maize N uptake.  Furthermore, applying NTG boosted the NUPE of soil N in maize to 50.7%, higher than TG by 5.5%.  Meanwhile, it decreased the proportion of soil N in the maize.  The difference between NTG and TG was primarily shown in the maize grains.  For N transport in the soil, NTG decreased N loss while increasing soil N retention.  Also, it facilitated the mineralization of soil organic N before the flowering stage.  In conclusion, adopting no-tillage with total green manure mulching increased N uptake from green manure and the soil and decreased the proportion of soil-derived N in maize.

Horticulture

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Functional analysis of the xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase gene MdXTH2 in apple fruit firmness formation Li Liu, Yifeng Feng, Ziqi Han, Yaxiao Song, Jianhua Guo, Jing Yu, Zidun Wang, Hui Wang, Hua Gao, Yazhou Yang, Yuanji Wang, Zhengyang Zhao 2025, 24(9): 3418-3434.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.12.034 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Apple fruit firmness is a crucial index for measuring the internal quality of apples, which influences palatability, storage capacity and transportability.  The primary cause of reduced firmness during fruit development is the hydrolysis of cell wall polysaccharides.  Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase (XTH) is a key enzyme involved in the depolymerization of cell wall polysaccharides, but the mechanism of its involvement in the formation of fruit firmness remains unclear.  Here, we identified the gene MdXTH2 by integrating metabolomic and transcriptomic data, and analyzed its function and molecular mechanism in the formation of apple fruit firmness.  The results showed downward trends in both fruit firmness and cell wall components throughout fruit development.  The contents of cell wall material, cellulose, and hemicellulose in various apple varieties exhibited significant positive correlations with firmness, with total correlation coefficients of 0.862, 0.884, and 0.891, respectively.  Overexpression of MdXTH2 significantly increased fruit firmness in apple and tomato, inhibited fruit ripening, and significantly suppressed the growth of calli.  The upstream transcription factor MdNAC72 of the MdXTH2 gene can promote the expression of fruit ripening-related genes.  Furthermore, dual-luciferase, yeast one-hybrid, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated that MdNAC72 down-regulates the transcription of MdXTH2 by binding to its promoter.  In summary, the results of this study provide a strategy for examining fruit quality regulation and a theoretical basis for breeding apple varieties with moderate firmness through genetic improvement.

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The role of the transcription factor NAC17 in enhancing plant resistance and stress tolerance in Vitis quinquangularis Xiaolin Liu, Jie Zhu, Ruixiang Li, Yang Feng, Qian Yao, Dong Duan 2025, 24(9): 3435-3450.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.035 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Stilbenes, a natural plant phytoalexin, are involved in the plant’s response to various biotic and abiotic stresses in its environment.  STILBENE SYNTHASE (STS) is the key enzyme regulating resveratrol synthesis in grapevine.  However, the regulatory mechanism of STS gene expression remains unclear.  In this study, we reported a NAC transcription factor, VqNAC17, in Vitis quinquangularis, which can improve plant resistance to salt stress, drought stress, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.  Additionally, the interaction between the transcription factors VqNAC17 and VqMYB15 was confirmed using yeast two-hybrid and BiFC.  In transgenic A. thaliana, VqNAC17 participates in plant immunity through interaction with VqMYB15 to affect the stilbene synthesis.  Furthermore, the experimental results of the yeast one-hybrid assay and LUC transient expression assay found that VqNAC17 can also bind to the promoter of VqMYB15.  These results indicate that VqNAC17 is a key regulator that can promote the expression of STS by interacting with VqMYB15.

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The homeodomain transcription factor VvOCP3 negatively regulates white rot resistance in grape Zhen Zhang, Cui Chen, Changyue Jiang, Hong Lin, Yuhui Zhao, Yinshan Guo 2025, 24(9): 3451-3464.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.07.001 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Grape white rot is a fungal disease caused by Coniella diplodiella (Speg.) Sacc. that seriously affects fruit quality and yield; however, the underlying mechanism governing the plant response to C. diplodiella pathogens is still poorly understood.  Here, we characterized a homeodomain (HD) transcription factor from grape (Vitis vinifera), VvOCP3, and demonstrated its significance in C. diplodiella resistance.  Expression analysis showed that VvOCP3 expression was significantly down-regulated upon inoculation with C. diplodiella.  Functional analysis with transient injection in grape berries and stable overexpression in grape calli demonstrated that VvOCP3 negatively regulates grape resistance to C. diplodiella.  Further studies showed that VvOCP3 directly binds to the promoter of VvPR1 (pathogenesis-related protein 1) and inhibits its expression, resulting in reduced resistance to C. diplodiella.  In addition, VvOCP3 can interact with the type 2C protein phosphatase VvABI1, which is a negative modulator of the ABA signaling pathway.  In summary, our findings suggest that VvOCP3 plays a crucial role in regulating white rot resistance in grape, and offer theoretical guidance for developing grape cultivars with enhanced C. diplodiella resistance by regulating the expression of VvOCP3.

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Uncovering the miRNA-mediated regulatory network involved in postharvest senescence of grape berries Mingxin Feng, Ying Hu, Xin Yang, Jingwen Li, Haochen Wang, Yujia Liu, Haijun Ma, Kai Li, Jiayin Shang, Yulin Fang, Jiangfei Meng 2025, 24(9): 3465-3483.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.12.039 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   The postharvest senescence phase of table grapes comprises a series of biological processes.  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate downstream genes at the post-transcriptional level; however, whether miRNAs are involved in postharvest grape senescence remains unclear.  We used small RNA sequencing to identify postharvest-related miRNAs in ‘Red Globe’ (Vitis vinifera) grapes harvested after 0, 30, and 60 d of storage at 4°C (RG0, RG30, RG60).  In total, 42 known and 219 novel miRNA candidates were obtained.  During fruit senescence, the expression of PC-3p-3343_1921, miR2950, miR395k, miR2111, miR159c, miR169q, PC-5p-1112_4500, and miR167b changed significantly (P<0.05).  Degradation sequencing identified 218 targets associated with cell wall organization, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycling, pathogen defense, carbon metabolism, hormone signaling, the anthocyanin metabolism pathway, and energy regulation, of which ARF6, GRF3, TCP2, CP1, MYBA2, and WRKY72 were closely related to fruit senescence.  We also verified that VIT_00s2146g00010, VIT_02s0012g01750, and VIT_03s0038g00160 with unknown functions are cleaved by senescence-related PC-5p-1112_4500 via the dual luciferase assay, and the transient transformation of grape berries showed that they regulate berry senescence.  These results deepen our understanding of the role of miRNAs in regulating grape berry senescence and prolonging the shelf life of horticultural products.  Based on these results, we propose a new theoretical strategy for delaying the postharvest senescence of horticultural products by regulating the expression of key miRNAs (e.g., PC-5p-1112_4500), thereby extending their shelf life.

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Functional differences between two homologous MYB transcription factors in regulating fruit color in octoploid strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) Lixia Sheng, Yuqi Zhang, Xiaoke Yang, Yujia Yin, Jianqiang Yu 2025, 24(9): 3484-3493.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.12.040 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Anthocyanins are the flavonoid pigments responsible for vibrant fruit and flower colors, and they also play key roles in both plant physiology and human health.  MYB transcription factors are crucial regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation, but the functional differences of homologous MYB transcription factors in regulating anthocyanin content are still unclear.  In strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa), FaMYB44.1 and FaMYB44.3 are highly homologous MYB transcription factors localized in the nucleus and can be significantly induced by weak light.  However, they differ in their effects on anthocyanin accumulation in the fruits.  FaMYB44.1 inhibits anthocyanin synthesis by transcriptionally suppressing FaF3H, which is essential for anthocyanin regulation, in the ‘BeniHoppe’ and ‘JianDe-Hong’ strawberry varieties.  In contrast, FaMYB44.3 does not affect anthocyanin levels.  This study provides a comprehensive overview of the roles of FaMYB44.1 and FaMYB44.3 in anthocyanin regulation in strawberry fruits.  By elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying their regulation, this study enhances our understanding of how the interactions between genetic and environmental factors control fruit pigmentation and enhance the nutritional value of the fruit.

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Genome-wide identification of sucrose transporter genes in Camellia oleifera and characterization of CoSUT4 Jing Zhou, Bingshuai Du, Yibo Cao, Kui Liu, Zhihua Ye, Yiming Huang, Lingyun Zhang 2025, 24(9): 3494-3510.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.07.048 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Anthocyanins are the flavonoid pigments responsible for vibrant fruit and flower colors, and they also play key roles in both plant physiology and human health.  MYB transcription factors are crucial regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation, but the functional differences of homologous MYB transcription factors in regulating anthocyanin content are still unclear.  In strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa), FaMYB44.1 and FaMYB44.3 are highly homologous MYB transcription factors localized in the nucleus and can be significantly induced by weak light.  However, they differ in their effects on anthocyanin accumulation in the fruits.  FaMYB44.1 inhibits anthocyanin synthesis by transcriptionally suppressing FaF3H, which is essential for anthocyanin regulation, in the ‘BeniHoppe’ and ‘JianDe-Hong’ strawberry varieties.  In contrast, FaMYB44.3 does not affect anthocyanin levels.  This study provides a comprehensive overview of the roles of FaMYB44.1 and FaMYB44.3 in anthocyanin regulation in strawberry fruits.  By elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying their regulation, this study enhances our understanding of how the interactions between genetic and environmental factors control fruit pigmentation and enhance the nutritional value of the fruit.

Plant Protection

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Activity of fungicide cyclobutrifluram against Fusarium fujikuroi and mechanism of the pathogen resistance associated with point mutations in FfSdhB, FfSdhC2 and FfSdhD Yang Sun, Yu Liu, Li Zhou, Xinyan Liu, Kun Wang, Xing Chen, Chuanqing Zhang, Yu Chen 2025, 24(9): 3511-3528.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.01.004 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Rice bakanae disease (RBD) is a devastating plant disease caused by Fusarium fujikuroi. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of cyclobutrifluram, a novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI), to control RBD, and determine the risk and mechanism of resistance to cyclobutrifluram in F. fujikuroi. In vitro experiments showed that cyclobutrifluram significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination, and altered the morphology of mycelia and conidia. Treatment with cyclobutrifluram significantly decreased mycotoxin production and increased cell membrane permeability in F. fujikuroi. The baseline sensitivity of 72 F. fujikuroi isolates to cyclobutrifluram was determined using mycelial growth and spore germination inhibition assays, which revealed EC50 values of 0.0114 – 0.1304 μg mL-1 and 0.0012 – 0.016 μg mL-1, with mean EC50 values of 0.0410 ± 0.0470 μg mL-1 and 0.0038 ± 0.0015 μg mL-1, respectively. Pot experiments demonstrated that the protective effect of cyclobutrifluram against F. fujikuroi was more significant than that of phenamacril and azoxystrobin, indicating that cyclobutrifluram is a promising antifungal agent for the control of RBD. Six cyclobutrifluram-resistant mutants of F. fujikuroi were obtained via fungicide adaptation. Moreover, these mutants exhibited weaker fitness than their parental isolate and positive cross-resistance with other SDHI fungicides, including pydiflumetofen and penflufen; however, no cross-resistance was detected with other classes of fungicides, including phenamacril, fludioxonil, prochloraz, or azoxystrobin. These results indicated that the resistance risk of F. fujikuroi to cyclobutrifluram might be moderate. Sequencing analysis revealed that mutations, including H248D in FfSdhB, A83V in FfSdhC2, and S106F and E166K in FfSdhD, contributed to resistance, which was confirmed by molecular docking and homologous replacement experiments. The results suggest a high potential for cyclobutrifluram to control RBD and a moderate resistance risk of F. fujikuroi to cyclobutrifluram, which are meaningful findings for the scientific application of cyclobutrifluram.

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Enrichment, domestication, degradation, adaptive mechanism, and nicosulfuron bioremediation of bacteria consortium YM2 Yufeng Xiao, Meiqi Dong, Xian Wu, Shuang Liang, Ranhong Li, Hongyu Pan, Hao Zhang 2025, 24(9): 3529-3545.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.004 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Nicosulfuron (NSR), a sulfonylurea herbicide, readily infiltrates water bodies, potentially compromising aquatic ecosystems and human health.  In this study, bacteria consortium YM2 was isolated and cultivated from pesticide plant active sludge for NSR wastewater bioremediation.  Response surface methodology analysis demonstrated that under optimal cultivation conditions (9.41 g L–1 maltodextrin, 21.37 g L–1 yeast extract, and 12.45 g L–1 NaCl), the YM2 bacteria consortium achieved 97.49% NSR degradation within 4 d.  Optimal degradation parameters were established at 30°C, pH 6.0, 1% inoculum, and 20 mg L–1 initial NSR concentration.  The degradation system demonstrated resistance to heavy metal ions including Cd2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, with degradation primarily occurring through bacterial extracellular enzymes (92.17%).  During the degradation process, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, cell membrane permeability, cell surface hydrophobicity, and apoptosis rate exhibited initial increases followed by decreases.  Additionally, biofilm formation-related genes luxS, waaE, spo0A, and wza showed temporal and concentration-dependent expression patterns.  NSR concentrations in wastewater and soil were reduced to 1.92 and 2.72 mg L–1, respectively.  In a simulated wastewater treatment unit with a 12-h hydraulic retention time, YM2 achieved 84.55% NSR degradation after 10 d.  These findings provide a theoretical foundation for microbial remediation of NSR contamination.

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The TRPA1 channel regulates temperature preference in the green peach aphid Myzus persicae Lulu Yang, Tianyu Huang, Jie Shen, Bing Wang, Guirong Wang 2025, 24(9): 3546-3558.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.046 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a class of ion channel proteins that are closely related to thermosensation in insects. They are involved in detecting the ambient temperature and play vital roles in insect survival and reproduction. In this study, we identified and cloned two variants of the TRPA subfamily gene in Myzus persicae, MperTRPA1(A) and MperTRPA1(B), and analyzed their tissue expression by real-time quantitative PCR. Subsequently, these two variants of MperTRPA1 were expressed in the Xenopus oocyte system, and their functions were investigated using the two-electrode voltage clamp technique. The role of the MperTRPA1 gene in temperature adaptation of M. persicae was further determined by RNA interference and a behavioral choice assay to evaluate responses to temperature gradients. The results showed that the MperTRPA1 gene is widely expressed in tissues of M. persicae, with MperTRPA1(A) highly expressed in the mouthparts and MperTRPA1(B) mainly expressed in the antennae. The functional characterization results showed that both variants of MperTRPA1 could be activated and were not desensitized when the temperature increased from 20 to 45°C. The current value and thermal sensitivity (coefficient Q10 value) of MperTRPA1(B) were significantly higher than those of MperTRPA1(A). When the MperTRPA1 gene was knocked down, the behavioral preference of M. persicae for the optimal temperature was reduced and tended to be at a higher temperature, showing a shift in the temperature adaptation range compared to both the wild type and dsGFP-treated M. persicae. In summary, our results elucidated the molecular mechanism of adaptive temperature perception in M. persicae mediated by the thermal sensor MperTRPA1.

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Automatic diagnosis of agromyzid leafminer damage levels using leaf images captured by AR glasses Zhongru Ye, Yongjian Liu, Fuyu Ye, Hang Li, Ju Luo, Jianyang Guo, Zelin Feng, Chen Hong, Lingyi Li, Shuhua Liu, Baojun Yang, Wanxue Liu, Qing Yao 2025, 24(9): 3559-3574.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.008 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Agromyzid leafminers cause significant economic losses in both vegetable and horticultural crops, and precise assessments of pesticide needs must be based on the extent of leaf damage.  Traditionally, surveyors estimate the damage by visually comparing the proportion of damaged to intact leaf area, a method that lacks objectivity, precision, and reliable data traceability.  To address these issues, an advanced survey system that combines augmented reality (AR) glasses with a camera and an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm was developed in this study to objectively and accurately assess leafminer damage in the field.  By wearing AR glasses equipped with a voice-controlled camera, surveyors can easily flatten damaged leaves by hand and capture images for analysis.  This method can provide a precise and reliable diagnosis of leafminer damage levels, which in turn supports the implementation of scientifically grounded and targeted pest management strategies.  To calculate the leafminer damage level, the DeepLab-Leafminer model was proposed to precisely segment the leafminer-damaged regions and the intact leaf region.  The integration of an edge-aware module and a Canny loss function into the DeepLabv3+ model enhanced the DeepLab-Leafminer model’s capability to accurately segment the edges of leafminer-damaged regions, which often exhibit irregular shapes.  Compared with state-of-the-art segmentation models, the DeepLab-Leafminer model achieved superior segmentation performance with an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 81.23% and an F1 score of 87.92% on leafminer-damaged leaves.  The test results revealed a 92.38% diagnosis accuracy of leafminer damage levels based on the DeepLab-Leafminer model.  A mobile application and a web platform were developed to assist surveyors in displaying the diagnostic results of leafminer damage levels.  This system provides surveyors with an advanced, user-friendly, and accurate tool for assessing agromyzid leafminer damage in agricultural fields using wearable AR glasses and an AI model.  This method can also be utilized to automatically diagnose pest and disease damage levels in other crops based on leaf images.

Animal Science · Veterinary Medicine

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Enhancing the genomic prediction accuracy of swine agricultural economic traits using an expanded one-hot encoding in CNN models Zishuai Wang, Wangchang Li, Zhonglin Tang 2025, 24(9): 3574-3582.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.03.071 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Deep learning (DL) methods like multilayer perceptrons (MLPs) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been applied to predict the complex traits in animal and plant breeding.  However, improving the genomic prediction accuracy still presents significant challenges.  In this study, we applied CNNs to predict swine traits using previously published data.  Specifically, we extensively evaluated the CNN model’s performance by employing various sets of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and concluded that the CNN model achieved optimal performance when utilizing SNP sets comprising 1,000 SNPs.  Furthermore, we adopted a novel approach using the one-hot encoding method that transforms the 16 different genotypes into sets of eight binary variables.  This innovative encoding method significantly enhanced the CNN’s prediction accuracy for swine traits, outperforming the traditional one-hot encoding techniques.  Our findings suggest that the expanded one-hot encoding method can improve the accuracy of DL methods in the genomic prediction of swine agricultural economic traits.  This discovery has significant implications for swine breeding programs, where genomic prediction is pivotal in improving breeding strategies.  Furthermore, future research endeavors can explore additional enhancements to DL methods by incorporating advanced data pre-processing techniques.

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FGF7 secreted from dermal papillae cell regulates the proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cell Niu Wang, Weidong Zhang, Zhenyu Zhong, Xiongbo Zhou, Xinran Shi, Xin Wang 2025, 24(9): 3583-3597.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.10.012 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Hair follicle stem cell (HFSC), capable of self-renewal and differentiation in hair follicle, represents an emerging stem cell model for regenerative medicine.  The interaction between HFSC and dermal papilla cell (DPC) governs hair follicle development.  FGF7 functions as a paracrine protein regulating epithelial proliferation, differentiation and migration.  The single-cell transcriptome profiling and immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that FGF7 localizes at DPC, while FGF7 receptor (FGFR2) expresses in both DPC and HFSC.  Through co-culture experiments of HFSC and DPC, the results indicated that FGF7 secreted from DPC promotes the proliferation of DPC and HFSC via Wnt signaling pathway and induces HFSC differentiation.  Furthermore, CUT&Tag assay revealed genomic colocalization between FGF7 and pluripotency-related genes and GSK3β.  Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated that FGF7 interacts with the promoter region of CISH and PRKX.  This research provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the hair cycle.  Understanding the interaction between HFSC and DPC, as well as the role of FGF7, may advance regenerative medicine and hair loss treatment.

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Plug-and-display nanoparticle immunization of the core epitope domain induces potent neutralizing antibody and cellular immune responses against PEDV Minghui Li, Yilan Chen, Siqiao Wang, Xueke Sun, Yongkun Du, Siyuan Liu, Ruiqi Li, Zejie Chang, Peiyang Ding, Gaiping Zhang 2025, 24(9): 3598-3613.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.05.002 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), an enteric coronavirus, is widely spread worldwide and causes huge economic losses.  The effective measure to control the viral infection is to develop ideal vaccines.  Here, the collagenase equivalent domain (COE) of PEDV was displayed on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs) in order to develop a newer, safer and more effective subunit vaccine against PEDV.  The monomeric COE was displayed on the mi3 protein, which self-assembles into nanoparticles composed of 60 subunits, using the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system.  The size, zeta potential, microstructure of the COE-mi3 virus-like particles (VLPs) were investigated.  The COE-mi3 VLPs that possessed good security, stability and better retention can be more efficiently taken up by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and help promote dendritic cells (DCs) maturation.  Moreover, COE-mi3 VLPs could prominently improve specific antibody levels including neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), and serum IgG, mucosal IgA.  Moreover, COE-mi3 VLPs elicited more activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and production of IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines.  In particular, COE-mi3 VLPs is an effectual antigen-delivery platform to enhance germinal center (GC) B cell responses.  This structure-based self-assembly of NP gives great potential to be developed as a new subunit vaccines attractive platform, and may also provide new ideas for the development of other enteric coronavirus vaccines.

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H5N1 avian influenza virus PB2 antagonizes duck IFN-β signaling pathway by targeting mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein Zuxian Chen, Bingbing Zhao, Yingying Wang, Yuqing Du, Siyu Feng, Junsheng Zhang, Luxiang Zhao, Weiqiang Li, Yangbao Ding, Peirong Jiao 2025, 24(9): 3614-3625.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.12.040 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Type I interferon (IFN)-mediated innate immune responses represent the first line of host defense against viral infection.  However, the molecular mechanisms by which avian influenza virus (AIV) inhibits type I IFN production in ducks are not well understood.  Here, we first found that the polymerase basic 2 (PB2) protein of H5N1 subtype AIV inhibited the type I IFN responses by targeting duck mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS).  We further demonstrated that H5N1-PB2 bound to the Δtransmembrane (ΔTM) domain of duck MAVS, and the polymerase basic 1 (PB1) binding domain (PBD) and RNA binding nuclear import domain (RND) of H5N1-PB2 interacted with MAVS to inhibit type I IFN expression in ducks.  Collectively, our findings contribute to understanding the molecular mechanism by which AIV proteins regulate the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway to evade host antiviral immune responses in ducks.

Agro-ecosystem & Environment

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Paired nitrogen management for improving wheat yields while minimizing nitrogen losses Xiaotian Mi, Wanyi Xie, Lei Fan, Tianli Zhang, Yaru Liu, Gang He 2025, 24(9): 3626-3640.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.12.030 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Excellent nitrogen (N) management techniques can improve crop yields while mitigating reactive N (Nr) losses.  The synergistic effects of applying paired N management techniques have important implications for designing excellent N management strategies, but the interaction effects remain poorly known.  Here, a meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the effects of optimized N management techniques (optimized N application rate, optimized topdressing, and applying enhanced-efficiency fertilizers) on wheat yield, N use efficiency (NUE), and Nr losses, as well as the interactive effects of paired N management techniques (combining an optimized N rate with topdressing or enhanced-efficiency fertilizers).  The results demonstrated that an optimized N fertilizer rate reduced Nr losses by 28–31% while the wheat yield declined by 2%; however, the wheat yield increased by 2% when the reduction of N fertilizer was less than 20%.  The adoption of topdressing and enhanced-efficiency fertilizers significantly increased wheat yields by 4–8% and NUE by 8–14%, while reducing Nr losses by 28–40%, and high topdressing frequency and nitrification inhibitors showed stronger positive effects on wheat yield.  Paired N management techniques increased wheat yields by 3–4% and NUE by 37–38%, with additive or synergistic effects; and they also reduced Nr losses by 5–66% but showed an antagonistic effect.  Such non-additive interactions amplified the positive effects on wheat production, but the benefits in terms of environmental risk reduction were weakened.  Overall, this study highlights the importance of synergistic effects in innovative N management to address the trade-off between crop yield and Nr losses.

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Magnesium supply is vital for improving fruit yield, fruit quality and magnesium balance in citrus orchards with increasingly acidic soil Yuheng Wang, Furong Kang, Bo Yu, Quan Long, Huaye Xiong, Jiawei Xie, Dong Li, Xiaojun Shi, Prakash Lakshmanan, Yueqiang Zhang, Fusuo Zhang 2025, 24(9): 3641-3655.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.12.025 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is becoming a limiting factor for citrus production in acid soils of subtropical and tropical zones.  It is speculated that soil Mg leaching and thereby its imbalance may be a major cause of yield decline, yet Mg deficiency in citrus receives little attention.  A two-year field experiment was therefore conducted to quantify soil Mg leaching in a typical citrus orchard in China fertilized with varying levels of Mg (Mg0, no Mg fertilizer; Mg45, 45 kg MgO ha–1 yr–1; Mg90, 90 kg MgO ha–1 yr–1; Mg180, 180 kg MgO ha–1 yr–1).  Results showed that Mg application significantly increased citrus fruit yield by 4.1–16.4% compared with where MgO was not added.  The average amount of soil Mg leaching was 65.7 kg ha–1 yr–1 where no Mg fertilizer was added, while it reached up to 91.3 kg Mg ha–1 yr–1 where MgO was added at the rate of 180 kg ha–1.  Over the 4 treatments, Mg leaching accounted for 12.1–42.4% of the applied Mg fertilizer.  Mg leaching and its removal through harvested fruits resulted in an orchard soil Mg balance of –69.9, –51.1, –27.4 and 10.9 kg ha–1 in the Mg0, Mg45, Mg90 and Mg180, treatments, respectively.  The pH values of leachate from the acid soil were alkaline and it contained higher amounts of calcium and potassium than that of Mg.  Considering the high leaching of Mg from the acid soils of citrus orchards, applications of Mg fertilizer or Mg-fortified soil conditioner are vital to sustain soil Mg balance, high fruit yield and fruit quality in citrus production systems in humid subtropical regions.

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Polyphosphate-enriched algae fertilizer as a slow-release phosphorus resource can improve plant growth and soil health Jiahong Yu, Bingbing Luo, Yujie Yang, Suna Ren, Lei Xu, Long Wang, Xianqing Jia, Yiyong Zhu, Keke Yi 2025, 24(9): 3656-3670.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.004 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Using phosphorus (P) fertilizers has historically increased agricultural productivity, yet the highly dissipative nature of phosphate rock and the low efficiency due to soil fixation and runoff raise sustainability concerns.  Algae fertilizers have emerged as a promising eco-friendly alternative.  However, the potential of algae fertilizers for providing sustained P availability and their impacts on plant growth, soil microbes, and nutrient cycling remains to be explored.  In this study, we developed a polyphosphate-enriched algae fertilizer (PEA) and conducted comparative experiments with chemical P fertilizers (CP) through soil and solution cultures, as well as crop growth trials.  Soil cultivation experiments showed that PEA released twice as much labile P as initially available in the soil, and it functioned as a slow-release P source.  In contrast, soils treated with CP initially exhibited high levels of labile P, which was gradually converted to stable forms, but it dropped to 30% of the labile P level in PEA after three months.  Further tests revealed that the slow release of P from PEA was linked to increased microbial activity, and the microbial biomass P (MBP) content was about eight times higher than in soils treated with CP after three months, resulting in a 75% decline in the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) to MBP ratio.  Microbial diversity analysis showed that algae fertilizers could recruit more beneficial microbes than CP, like phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, plant growth-promoting bacteria, and stress-resistant bacteria.  Crop pot experiments, along with amplicon and metagenomic analysis of tomato root-associated microbes, revealed that algae fertilizers including PEA promoted plant growth comparable to CP, and enhanced soil P cycling and overall nutrient dynamics.  These data showed that algae fertilizers, especially PEA, can stabilize soil P fertility and stimulate plant growth through their slow P release and the recruitment of beneficial microbes.  Our study highlights the potential of PEA to foster sustainable agriculture by mitigating the P scarcity and soil P loss associated with chemical fertilizers and improving plant growth and soil health.

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System fertilization improves soil quality and increases primary production in an integrated crop-livestock system Vicente José Laamon Pinto Simões, Lóren Pacheco Duarte, Rafaela Dulcieli Daneluz Rintzel, Amanda Posselt Martins, Tales Tiecher, Leonardo Dallabrida Mori, Carolina Bremm, Marco Aurélio Carbone Carneiro, Paulo César de Faccio Carvalho 2025, 24(9): 3671-3688.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.03.002 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect   Managing fertilization in integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) during periods of low nutrient export, known as system fertilization, can optimize nutrient use by enhancing the soil’s biochemical and physical-hydric properties.  However, interdisciplinary studies on processes that improve input utilization in ICLS remain scarce.  This study aimed to assess the relationships between the efficiencies of different nutrient management strategies in ICLS and pure crop systems (PCS) and the biochemical and physical-hydric quality of soil.  Two fertilization strategies (system fertilization and crop fertilization) and two cropping systems (ICLS and PCS) were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replicates.  In the PCS, soybean was grown followed by ryegrass as a cover crop.  In the ICLS, sheep grazed on the ryegrass.  In the crop fertilization, phosphorus and potassium were applied to the soybean planting, and nitrogen was applied in the ryegrass establishment.  Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were applied during ryegrass establishment in the system fertilization.  Soil quality indexes were calculated using fourteen physical-hydric and biochemical soil indicators, and primary production and nutrient utilization efficiency were evaluated.  System fertilization in ICLS enhanced the soil functions of water storage and availability for plants, structural stability, and resistance to degradation.  System fertilization in ICLS improved the soil quality by 14% over PCS and 13% over crop fertilization in ICLS.  Notably, this optimized system yielded the highest primary production.  These findings underscore the pivotal role of system fertilization in ICLS to boost food production and enhance soil ecosystem services without increasing the consumption of external fertilizers.  They advocate for a strategic shift towards system-level fertilization in integrated systems, and demonstrate for the first time in ICLS, the delicate balance between nutrient management, soil health, and sustainable productivity.

Letter

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Enhancing wheat tolerance to salinity using wolfberry-derived carbon dots Jiahao Liu, Xiaolei Cao, Tingyong Mao, Qinglin Wen, Dan Zhang, Linfeng Bao, Desheng Wang, Wei Sang, Sifeng Zhao, Yunlong Zhai 2025, 24(9): 3689-3692.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.045 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect

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Natural variations in the promoter alter SGT3 gene expression and affect steroidal glycoalkaloid content in potatoes Nanling Zhou, Xiaomei Zhang, Ruqian Bai, Chao Wang, Junmei Guan, Ding Fan, Yi Shang, Yuxin Jia, Ling Ma 2025, 24(9): 3693-3697.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.03.006 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect

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Sheep with partial RXFP2 knockout exhibit normal horn phenotype but unilateral cryptorchidism Yawei Gao, Siyuan Xi, Bei Cai, Tingjie Wu, Qian Wang, Peter Kalds, Shuhong Huang, Yuhui Wang, Saizheng Han, Menghao Pan, Chong Yang, Qifang Kou, Baohua Ma, Xiaolong Wang, Shiwei Zhou, Yulin Chen 2025, 24(9): 3698-3702.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.11.045 Abstract ( )   PDF in ScienceDirect