Transcriptional regulation is one of the pivotal mechanisms governing biological activities. Natural rubber (NR), a crucial industrial raw material, is predominantly derived from rubber trees. The transcriptional regulation of NR biosynthesis has emerged as a focal point in the fundamental research of rubber tree in recent years. Mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase (MVD) is a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of NR, yet its transcriptional regulation remains poorly understood. In this study, a 1500 bp promoter region of the HbMVD1 gene from rubber tree was cloned. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of various cis-acting elements, including the responsive to jasmonic acid, ethylene, mechanical wounding, light, and MYC binding. A gradient assay for autoactivation suppression demonstrated that the transcriptional autoactivation of the pAbAi-pHbMVD1 bait vector was effectively inhibited at an AbA concentration of 100 ng/mL. 13 non-redundant proteins from a rubber tree latex yeast cDNA library that interact with the HbMVD1 promoter, including one WRKY transcription factor (HbWRKY1), one heat shock transcription factor, and one G-box binding factor were identified utilizing yeast one-hybrid screening. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated that the genes encoding the proteins exhibited distinct expression patterns across different tissues. Transcriptional regulation analysis showed that HbWRKY1 activated the expression of HbMVD1 in vivo. Molecular docking revealed that HbWRKY1 bound to the mechanical wounding element of the HbMVD1 promoter, and 11 potential amino acid binding sites were identified. This study would lay the groundwork for further elucidating the transcriptional regulatory network of HbMVD1 in rubber tree.

Cassava is one of the three major tuber crops in the world, and is also an important food crop in tropical and subtropical regions. Bacterial blight (CBB) is an important disease for cassava. CCCH (C3H)-type zinc finger proteins are widely present in most of organisms, not only involved in plant growth and development, hormone regulation, but also in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although the function of some C3H genes in other plants has been reported, but that in cassava has not been reported. In this study, we analyzed the phylogenetic characteristics, chromosome location, gene structure, promoter cis-acting elements and collinearity of cassava C3H genes. A total of 89 C3H genes (MeC3H01-MeC3H89) were identified in cassava, which were distributed on 18 chromosomes. The phylogenetic tree showed that 89 MeC3H proteins were classified into 4 subfamilies. The C3H gene promoters contains multiple stress, hormones, plant growth and development response elements. 39 pairs of cassava C3H genes had homologous relationships, indicating that these genes may be amplified by replication during evolution. We also analyzed the response expression pattern of C3H genes after cassava was infected by Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis (Xpm) by transcriptome and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) experiments. The expression levels of MeC3H49, MeC3H42 and MeC3H68 were significantly up-regulated, and those of MeC3H35, MeC3H77, MeC3H36, MeC3H31 and MeC3H86 were significantly down-regulated. In summary, we identified the cassava C3H gene family members and their expression patterns in response to Xpm infection, which lays a foundation for further analysis of the function of MeC3Hs.

To investigate the function of the sensory neuron membrane protein (SNMP) in the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta, the SNMP genes were identified at the whole genome level using BLAST and HMMER homology search approaches. Full-length cDNA sequences of TabsSNMPs were obtained by RT-PCR, followed by comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to characterize the gene structures, physicochemical properties, spatial structures, and phylogenetic relationships. Furthermore, the expression patterns of TabsSNMPs in different tissues were detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed that there were two SNMP genes in T. absoluta, namely TabsSNMP1 and TabsSNMP2. The gene sequence lengths were 47 817 bp and 41 859 bp, respectively, with open reading frames (ORFs) of 1572 bp and 1560 bp, encoding 523 and 519 amino acids, respectively. The predicted protein molecular weights were 58.64 kDa and 57.94 kDa, and the isoelectric point were 7.54 and 6.72, respectively. The structural modeling indicated that both proteins contained two transmembrane regions and a large extracellular loop. The phylogenetic tree suggested that TabsSNMP1 clustered with Ostrinia furnacalis OfurSNMP1 and Chilo suppressalis CsupSNMP1, while TabsSNMP2 formed a clade with Pectinophora gossypiella PgosSNMP2. Tissue expression profiles showed that TabsSNMP1 and TabsSNMP2 were highly expressed in the antennae of both sexes, with significantly higher expression in male antennae, suggesting the involvement in male-specific sex pheromone recognition. Our findings would provide a theoretical basis for further study of the SNMP genes function in T. absoluta.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has excellent characteristics such as barren resistance, drought resistance and strong stress resistance. Its roots are rich in carbohydrates, which can provide food rations for 1 billion people around the world, and plays an important role in consumption. The glycemic index (GI) is an indicator of how fast blood sugar rises after eating food containing carbohydrates for a certain period of time. Edible cassava with low glycemic index can improve blood sugar level, control body weight, and promote the edible and diversified development of cassava. Resource evaluation can provide a basis for the improvement of cassava varieties with low glycemic index. With three domestic popular edible cassava varieties for the test materials (SC9, SC12, SC6068), the determination of the important agronomic traits and cooking before and after the total starch, fast digest starch, slow digestion starch, resistant starch, amylose, amylopectin, crude protein, crude fiber and other quality traits and in vitro sugar rise index were evaluated. The average weight of single potato was 3.31-4.13 kg, the starch rate of fresh potato was 25.07%-27.53%, and the dry rate was 37.07%-38.91%. GI of SC9, SC12 and SC6068 was 42.6, 43.5 and 43.4, respectively, which was low glycemic index, 69.4, 66.9 and 64.0, respectively, all belonging to medium glycemic index food. In addition, the nutrient components changed significantly before and after cooking, in which the rapidly digested starch content and crude fiber content increased, the resistant starch content and soluble sugar content decreased significantly. Correlation analysis of each index found that the correlation between the glycemic index and the rapidly digested starch content and crude fiber content, the correlation coefficient was 0.95, with the resistant starch content and soluble sugar content, the correlation coefficient was -0.99 and -0.88 respectively, and the glycemic index and gelatinization characteristics. The differences of cassava varieties, processing methods, starch content and fiber content have a great influence on the glycemic index. Before cooking, SC9 has the lowest glycemic index, the highest taste evaluation, and good stability in processing, so it has the most potential for development among the three varieties.

The study was aimed to evaluate the adaptability of new sugarcane varieties from the 2021 national regional trials in Kaiyuan and other sugarcane-growing regions of Yunnan, and to provide a scientific basis for the promotion in Yunnan and other ecologically similar sugarcane regions. 13 new sugarcane varieties from the 15^th round of the national sugarcane regional trials were used. Guiliu 05136 and Yunzhe 05-51 were used as the controls. The trial was carried out in Kaiyuan, Yunnan, with one year of plant and two years of ratoon crops. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on 12 traits, including cane yield, sugar yield, early-stage average sucrose content, full-cycle average sucrose content, germination rate, ratoon tillering rate, tillering rate, plant height, stalk diameter, millable stalks, dead heart rate and smut incidence, using the DTOPSIS method. The results showed that the varieties ranked by the DTOPSIS analysis (C_i values) were as follows: Liucheng 1539>Yunzhe 15505>Zhongtang 1211>Guiliu 05136>Yunzhe 05-51>Guitang 13334>Zhongzhe No. 14>Zhongzhe No. 8>Guitang 14811>Funong 1311808>Guitang 161253>Funong 141854>Yuegan No.59>Guinan Ya 146210>Yunrui 14662. The top three varieties based on C_i values were Liucheng 1539 (0.7413), Yunzhe 15505 (0.6225) and Zhongtang 1211 (0.5975), all of which exhibited superior comprehensive traits and outperformed both controls. Liucheng 1539 had the highest cane yield (141 279.00 kg/hm²) and sugar yield (19 930.44 kg/hm²) among the tested varieties, with rapid early growth, good tillering, healthy leaves, strong vigor, good clumping and easy defoliation. It also showed low rates of dead hearts and smut incidence. Zhongtang 1211 had the highest number of millable stalks (107 226 stalk/hm²), rapid early growth, healthy leaves, high yield potential, and relatively high sucrose content and sugar yield, along with low rates of dead hearts, smut, and mosaic disease incidence. Yunzhe 15505 demonstrated the strongest disease resistance, with the lowest rates of dead hearts (2.29%) and smut incidence (0.14%), easy defoliation, lodging resistance, and relatively high sucrose content and sugar yield. Varieties Liucheng 1539, Yunzhe 15505, and Zhongtang 1211 exhibited significant advantages in early field performance, yield traits, and stress resistance, demonstrating excellent overall performance. They show great potential for large-scale promotion in Kaiyuan, Yunnan, and other ecologically similar areas.

The aim of the study was to investigate the differences in fruit quality and conduct a comprehensive evaluation of major mango cultivars across different regions in Guangxi. Four cultivars (Jinhuang, Guifei, Tainong, and Guiqi) from four producing areas (Baise, Nanning, Yulin, and Qinzhou) were selected as the research subjects. The quality of mangoes was assessed using national standard analytical methods. Systematic analyses were performed via correlation analysis, cluster heatmap analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). Jinhuang exhibited higher average values in single-fruit weight (748.86 g), peel thickness (2.30 mm), stone weight (98.37 g), edible rate (89.91%), fruit shape index (1.92), firmness (10.53 N), and sugar-acid ratio (52.73). Guiqi showed superior performance in color difference (19.30), SSC (22.67%), Vc (52.73 mg/100 g), total sugar (52.73 mg/g), and β-carotene (39.30 mg/g). Significant regional differences (P<0.05) were observed in peel thickness, sugar-acid ratio, Vc, total sugar, and β-carotene among the same cultivars from different areas. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlations between single-fruit weight and stone weight, edible rate, and fruit shape index (r=0.78); color difference and SSC (r=0.75); SSC and total sugar (r=0.81); and Vc and β-carotene (r=0.87). Fruit shape index was negatively correlated with Vc and β-carotene (r=-0.85), while titratable acidity showed a strong negative correlation with sugar-acid ratio (r=-0.80). Cluster analysis categorized the 13 indices into four groups, morphological traits, peel characteristics, physicochemical properties, and nutritional quality. PCA extracted four principal components (cumulative variance contribution: 88.41%), capturing the majority of original quality information. Comprehensive scores ranked cultivars as Guiqi>Jinhuang>Tainong>Guifei and regions as Baise>Nanning>Yulin>Qinzhou. Significant quality variations existed among cultivars, with Guiqi demonstrating superior sweetness and nutritional quality compared to the more acidic Guifei. Guiqi from Baise, Jinhuang and Guifei from Nanning, and Tainong from Yulin exhibited optimal fruit quality traits, highlighting regional and cultivar-specific advantages.

This study investigated the sexual cross-compatibility of the double-flowered Lagerstroemia speciosa ‘Yunchang’, using it as the maternal parent and crossing it with Lagerstroemia speciosa (Deep Purple), Lagerstroemia speciosa (Deep Purplish Pink A), L. indica ‘Red Rocket’, L. indica ‘Pink Velour’, L. balansae, L. siamica, L. tomentosa, and L. indica ‘Red Leaf’ as paternal parents. Through experiments including pollen viability testing, stigma receptivity assessment, hybridization, hybrid seed germination, and fluorescence microscopy observation of pollen tube germination and growth after pollination, the cross-compatibility of double-flowered Lagerstroemia speciosa ‘Yunchang’ during sexual reproduction was systematically analyzed. The results showed: (1) The stigmas of double-flowered Lagerstroemia speciosa ‘Yunchang’ exhibited receptivity throughout the day, peaking between 10: 00 AM and 12: 00 PM when the stigma surface appeared dark blue with abundant bubble formation. (2) The cross between double-flowered Lagerstroemia speciosa ‘Yunchang’ and Lagerstroemia speciosa (Deep Purplish Pink A) demonstrated significantly higher fruit set rate (22.2%), fruit longitudinal diameter (19.45 mm), thousand-seed weight (7.9 g), and seedling emergence rate (8.7%) compared to other combinations. The cross with L. indica 'Red Rocket' produced the highest number of seeds (153 seeds), while no fruit set was observed in the cross with L. balansae. Severe distant hybridization barriers were identified, particularly showing the lowest compatibility between double-flowered Lagerstroemia speciosa ‘Yunchang’ and L. balansae. (3) Fluorescence microscopy observations of combinations with high and low fruit set rates revealed that no pollen germination occurred on stigmas within 0-48 hours post-pollination in low fruit set combinations. In high fruit set combinations, no pollen grain germination was observed at 0 h and 2 h post-pollination; however, at 4 h and 6 h, a few pollen tubes began elongating, accompanied by significant callose deposition on stigmas and pollen tube rupture. Pollen tube elongation became more pronounced at 8 h and 24 h post-pollination. By 48 h, pollen tubes had elongated to the style position, with substantial callose interference and pollen tube distortion. These observations suggest that the sexual hybridization barriers in double-flowered Lagerstroemia speciosa ‘Yunchang’ may originate from extensive callose interference on the stigma.

The objective of this study is to elucidate the floral characteristics and flowering dynamics of Bougainvillea spp., investigate the variations in pollen viability, stigma acceptability, and cross-compatibility among different varieties, and provide theoretical and technical guidance for the crossbreeding in Bougainvillea spp.. Nine varieties of Bougainvillea were chosen to examine the floral traits and flowering patterns, also to assess pollen viability and stigma acceptability. Suitable parents were selected for cross-pollination, and the germination of pollen tubes along with the seed-setting rate of hybridization were observed. The pollen viability of the six male varieties, measured by the ex vivo germination method was high. Among which, three varieties exhibited high pollen viability and could be used as the male parents. The results from the stigma detection of three varieties by benzidine-hydrogen peroxide method showed that the stigma had the strongest deliverability in the V. period, it was concluded that the low seed-setting rate was due to the substantial amount of callose produced in the stigma and the columella following pollination, which distorted and deformed the pollen tube, resulting in only a limited number of pollen tubes reaching the ovule to complete fertilization. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the seed-setting rates among various hybrid combinations. Incompatibility was noted across various cross combinations, predominantly attributed to pre-fertilization disorders.

Ethrel is widely used as a stimulant in rubber tree plantations, which plays an important role in increaisng latex yield effectively and reducing labor requirements for tapping. However, the stimulatory effect of ethrel exhibits a pronounced dose-response relationship, excessive application may lead to adverse effects, such as tapping panel dryness (TPD). In this study, rubber tree clone Reyan 73397 was used as the experimental material, and an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the trace determination of ethrel in the bark was developed. The distribution of ethrel at various time points and different parts of the bark following its application was investigated. The samples were extracted using a methanol∶1% formic acid aqueous solution (9∶1,V/V), and directly analyzed after filtration. The samples were separated by waters CORTECS HILIC C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.6 μm) with mobile phase A (0.01% ammonia solution) and mobile phase B (acetonitrile∶water 80∶20, V/V) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection was performed under electrospray ion source, negative ion scanning and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Quantitative analysis was conducted using external standard calibration curves, quantitative ion was 107. The results showed a good linear relationship for ethrel within the range of 0.02 μg/mL to 1.00 μg/mL, with coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9997. Recoveries ranged from 85.3% to 101.2% at spiked levels 0.1 µg/kg to 1.0 µg/kg, with relative standard deviations of 1.14%-7.28%, and limits of quantification (LOQ) of 0.1 µg/kg. This method was applied to study the distribution characteristics of ethrel in stimulated bark rings, both above and below the ethrel-treated 5 cm and 10 cm areas, after applying different concentrations of ethrel (0.5%, 2.0%,4.0%) over 0-96 h. The results revealed that ethrel was unevenly distributed in the rubber tree, the concentration at the stimulated area was significantly higher than that in other areas, areas closer to the stimulated bark were higher than that in distant areas, and the areas below the stimulated bark were higher than that above it. The concentration of ethrel at the stimulated area showed a significant positive correlation with the stimulated ethrel concentration. Additionally, the concentration displayed an initial increase followed by a gradual decline over time. For the three concentrations, peak levels were observed between 12 h and 24 h post-stimulation, after which a gradual decrease occurred, with relatively high concentrations still detectable at 96 h. Compared to the indirect measurement of ethylene release rates by gas chromatography, this method has many significant advantages, including simplicity, rapidity, excellent reproducibility, and high sensitivity, thereby providing reliable technical support for the quantitative analysis of ethrel in rubber trees. The study preliminarily revealed the absorption, distribution and transport patterns of externally stimulated ethrel on rubber tree tapping cuts. It was found that the diffusion and transport of ethrel were limited, with the compound primarily concentrated at the stimulation site. The findings would provide a theoretical basis for further elucidating the dose-dependent effects of ethrel on yield stimulation and guiding its safe and efficient application.

The root system of Taraxacum kok-saghyz (short for TK) contains laticifers capable of producing natural rubber, and the structure and properties closely resemble the laticifers of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). So,. Tk is recognized as an ideal alternative plant source for natural rubber production. Due to morphological disparities between Hevea and Taraxacum, conventional iodine-bromine (I₂Br₂) staining proves unsuitable for laticifers morphological studies in T. kok-saghyz. Furthermore, bromine (Br₂), the primary component of traditional I₂Br₂ staining solution, is classified as a Category II precursor chemical under stringent regulatory controls owing to its potent corrosivity, irritancy, and high procurement/transportation costs. To develop safer and more economical staining protocols for laticifer morphology, this study substituted Br₂ with sodium bromide (NaBr) and hydrogen bromide (HBr). Light microscopic analysis of root sections stained with various NaBr/HBr-I₂ formulations revealed I₂Br₂ staining induced light tan coloration of latex in laticifer, but caused severe structural degradation, and yielding suboptimal staining and section quality, NaBr-based formulation (1 mol/L NaBr+0.2 mol/L I₂ in acetic acid) demonstrated improved staining efficacy with preserved root morphology, HBr-based formulation (2.5 mmol/L HBr+0.2 mol/L I₂ in acetic acid) achieved optimal staining intensity while maintaining perfect histological integrity, and aqueous solvent systems (NaBr/HBr+I₂ in H₂O) failed to stain laticifers and induced significant tissue damage. The results confirmed that NaBr and HBr could serve as safer, cost-effective alternatives to Br₂ for laticifer morphological studies. The developed methodologies would provide critical technical foundations for investigating laticifers in non-woody rubber-producing plants, including T. kok-saghyz, Lactuca species, etc.

This study investigated the population stability and productivity of ratoon sugarcane through inter-varietal replanting, aiming to provide agronomic insights for prolonging ratoon cycles and enhancing population stability and productivity through improved cultivation management. Using the second ratoon crop of sugarcane variety Guitang 42(GT) scheduled for replanting after mechanical harvest, replanting was done with the variety Guifu 98-296 (GF) seedcanes (termed inter-varietal replanting) in the place where the cropping row was broken because of missing sugarcane stubbles, with the same untreated ratoon crop as the control (CK). Emergence rate, ratoon sprouting rate, plant height, stalk formation rate, and cane yield in the first-year replanted GT ratoon sugarcane (R₁), R₁+newly planted GF (GF₀) (set the same CK as CK₁), second replanted ratoon (R₂), and R₂+first ratoon GF (GF₁) (set the same CK as CK₂) were evaluated. Economic benefits were analyzed across treatments. The results indicated that in the first year after replanting, the GF₀ exhibited a emergence rate of 88.61%, which was significantly higher than that of R₁ and CK₁. GF demonstrated markedly greater plant height increment compared to CK₁ and R₁ but no significant difference existed between CK₁ and R₁ between May and December. At the maturity stage, neither the stalk formation rate nor the cane yield differences showed statistically significant between CK₁ and R₁. However, the millable stalks in the sugarcane population (R₁+GF₀) significantly increased to 62 265 per hectare, resulting in extremely significantly higher cane yield with 24.60 tons per hectare or 35.34% increase over CK₁. In the second year, the sprouting rate of GF₁ reached 260.48%, which was extremely significantly higher than that in R₂ and CK₂. Its plant height difference between May and December was also extremely significantly greater than that of CK₂ and R₂, and there was no significant difference in that between CK₂ and R₂. At the maturity period, the stalk formation rate and cane yield in CK₂ and R₂ were both significantly lower than those in the previous ratoon crop, but the cane yield in the treatment R₂+GF₁ was extremely significantly higher than that in CK₂ by 4.62% with an increase rate of 161.75%. This indicated that the increased cane yield in variety mixed ratoon crop populations mainly came from GF. Economic benefit analysis showed that in the first year after replanting, sugarcane farmers and sugar factories increased their income by 8164.88 Yuan/hm² and 17 655.00 Yuan/hm², respectively. After replanting treatment, the difference in increased revenue between the first and second years for sugarcane farmers and sugar factories was approximately 2.98 times. Replanting the elite sugarcane variety GF to the ratoon cane of the main cultivated variety GT under mechanical harvesting conditions could effectively address the severe problem of missing plants and broken rows caused by mechanical compaction. This approach significantly increased the millable stalks in the sugarcane population, prolonged the ratoon duration by two more years, and showed a noticeable increase in cane yield and income. Therefore, the replanting technology system of GF is worth promoting in China’s sugarcane-growing areas.

It was aimed to screen drought-resistant pepper varieties and clarify the correlation between drought resistance at the seedling stage and key morphological and biochemical indicators. Eight pepper inbred lines were selected for the study. The experiment adopted a pot-based natural drought treatment method, and the drought resistance of the lines was ranked using the membership function value analysis method. The order of drought resistance was as follows:4-1>163-2 UP>112 D>10-2 UP>134 UP>34>158 D>115 D. Through correlation analysis between drought resistance at the seedling stage and key morphological and biochemical indicators, it was found that the order of correlation between morphological indicators and seedling drought resistance was aboveground-to-underground area ratio>aboveground area>root system area>leaf area>main root length, aboveground to-underground area ratio showed a significant negative correlation with drought resistance at the seedling stage, with a correlation coefficient of -0.625. The order of correlation between biochemical indicators and seedling drought resistance was peroxidase (POD)>proline (PRO)> malondialdehyde (MDA)>superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase and proline exhibit significant correlations with drought resistance at the seedling stage, with correlation coefficients of 0.675 and -0.638, respectively. The results would lay a foundation for gradually improving the establishment of a drought resistance screening system for peppers and further enable the large-scale screening of resistant pepper varieties using phenomics, and provide new insights for breeding drought-resistant pepper varieties and hold significant importance for promoting the sustainable development of the pepper industry.

Diploid (2n) and tetraploid (4n) seedlings were used in this study to access the optimal light quality for the growth of Anthurium andraeanum Pink Champion seedlings. Different LED light configurations with varying ratios of red light (R) and blue light (B) served as the light source, while fluorescent daylight lamps were used as the control (CK). Seven types of light qualities were set up: CK, R, B, R5∶B5, R6∶B4, R7∶B3, and R8∶B2. The study evaluated how different light qualities affected the growth of A. andraeanum seedlings, as well as the contents of soluble sugar (SS), soluble protein (SP), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the leaves. Additionally, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) was measured. The results indicated that, compared with the control, red light (R) reduced leaf width, leaf area, and biomass of the two types of seedlings, and increased the POD activity in both seedlings, also the CAT activity and MDA content in the 2n seedlings. Blue light (B) significantly decreased the biomass, SS, and H₂O₂ content of the 4n seedlings, and increased the CAT and POD activity in both 2n and 4n seedlings, and the SOD activity in the leaves of the 2n seedlings. The combination of red and blue light qualities had the ability to mitigate the growth reduction or MDA increase caused by the individual light types. The combined red and blue light treatment increased the number of leaves, leaf area, leaf width, root length, biomass, SP content, and SOD and CAT activity in both types of seedlings. As the proportion of red light increased, biomass and protective enzyme activity initially rose and then declined, peaking under the R7∶B3 treatment. Conversely, H₂O₂ and MDA content exhibited an inverse trend. In conclusion, the appropriate ratio of combined red and blue light significantly promotes the morphogenesis and biomass accumulation of A. andraeanum seedlings, and enhances the antioxidant capacity. After a comprehensive evaluation using membership functions, R7∶B3 was determined to be the most effective among the seven light qualities, making it the optimal choice for the growth of A. andraeanum seedlings.

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly mobile heavy metal in soil, exhibiting greater mobility than other heavy metals and readily entering the topsoil in free ionic forms, thereby facilitating uptake by crops. Application of silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) fertilizers can modulate Cd accumulation in rice, while novel nano-fertilizers, owing to their unique physicochemical properties, effectively mitigate Cd stress. A pot experiment was conducted with six treatments: conventional fertilizer (CF), Cd + conventional fertilizer (Cd), Cd + conventional Si fertilizer (Cd+Si), Cd + nano-Si fertilizer (Cd+nSi), Cd + conventional Zn fertilizer (Cd+Zn), and Cd + nano-Zn fertilizer (Cd+nZn). This study investigates the effects of different Si and Zn fertilizer types on rice growth, Cd uptake, and translocation under Cd stress. The results revealed: (1) Under Cd stress, rice plant height, stem diameter, biomass, and root growth decreased significantly. Silicon and zinc fertilizers effectively alleviated Cd-induced growth inhibition. At the booting stage, nano-Si treatment restored plant height and stem diameter to levels comparable to the CF control. Compared with the Cd treatment, biomass increased by 38.68% (Cd+nSi) and 35.20% (Cd+nZn), while root fresh weight rose by 31.44% (Cd+nSi) and 24.84% (Cd+nZn). (2) Cd stress markedly reduced leaf chlorophyll content, suppressing chlorophyll biosynthesis. Foliar Si and Zn applications enhanced chlorophyll by 5.99%–7.68% and nitrogen content by 4.70%–8.19% at the booting stage, with nano-Si achieving the highest levels. (3) Soil pH increased notably after Si and Zn amendments, peaking under nano-Si (+10.51% vs. Cd). Bioavailable Cd declined significantly: Cd+nSi and Cd+nZn reduced it by 14.54% and 16.36%, respectively, and lowered the Cd transfer coefficient by 17.77% and 15.54%. (4) Nano-Si outperformed nano-Zn in suppressing Cd uptake and translocation. The bioconcentration factor decreased by 36.63% (Cd+nSi) and 31.08% (Cd+nZn), while the translocation factor dropped by 13.70% (Cd+nSi) and 2.72% (Cd+nZn) versus the Cd treatment. Overall, nano-fertilizers surpassed conventional fertilizers in mitigating Cd stress, with nano-Si demonstrating superior efficacy over nano-Zn in restricting Cd accumulation and transfer in rice.

A controlled experiment was conducted using Wisteria sinensis seedlings inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae to investigate the effects and physiological mechanisms of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the Pb stress tolerance of W. sinensis seedlings. Pb contamination gradients were established (400, 800, 1200 mg/kg) to measure the growth parameters (growth, biomass, tolerance index) and physiological indicators (chlorophyll content, malondialdehyde content, proline content and related antioxidant enzyme activities). AM fungi inoculation significantly enhanced both aerial and root growth of W. sinensis seedlings while improving the Pb stress tolerance. The translocation factor and shoot bio-concentration factor were lower than those of the control, whereas the root bio-concentration factor exceeded the level of the control groups. This demonstrated that AM fungi effectively reduced Pb accumulation in the aerial parts while significantly enhancing Pb sequestration capacity in the roots. Physiological analysis indicated that AM fungi-treated seedlings exhibited higher chlorophyll content and elevated the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, APX), along with significantly lower MDA accumulation compared to the non-inoculated controls. Principal component analysis combined with cluster heat-map visualization further demonstrated that AM fungi primarily enhanced the Pb tolerance of W. sinensis through three mechanisms: activation of antioxidant enzyme systems, regulation of growth-related processes, and modulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis pathways. The results provide theoretical and practical basis for mycorrhizal plant remediation of heavy metal pollution.

The biological property by which plant root tips perceive moisture gradients and bend toward regions of higher water potential is termed hydrotropism. As a critical adaptive strategy for plants to respond to dynamic water environments, hydrotropism drives roots to actively navigate toward water sources, optimizing water acquisition. The regulatory mechanism of hydrotropism involves the coordinated mediation of second messengers (reactive oxygen species and calcium ions), phytohormones (abscisic acid, auxin and cytokinin), and key regulators such as MIZ1. Plants achieve adaptive responses to water stress through integrating processes of moisture gradient perception, signal transduction, and asymmetric hormone distribution. However, significant differences exist in hydrotropic regulatory mechanisms among species, and in the interactions with other tropisms (gravitropism, phototropism, and thigmotropism). Elucidating the core regulatory factors of hydrotropism and the interaction patterns of the signaling networks would provide a theoretical basis for genetic improvement of water-use efficiency in crops and sustainable agricultural development.

Citrus is a dominant fruit industry in China, which is of great significance for promoting rural revitalization. However, there are many natural pores on the surface of citrus fruits. During post-harvest storage and transportation, they are highly susceptible to infection by pathogens, leading to diseases. Among them, citrus green mold is caused by the infection of Penicillium digitatum. The disease progresses rapidly and is highly contagious, severely deteriorating the quality of fruits after harvest and causing huge economic losses to the citrus industry. Our research team targeted the pathogen of citrus green mold. An actinomycete strain, R₂A-77, which exhibits excellent antagonistic effects against the pathogen of citrus green mold, was isolated and screened from the rhizosphere soil of red-orange plants in the Jiuzhoujiang Red-orange Orchard in Lianjiang, Zhanjiangy, Guangdong. The strain was characterized through morphological observation, physiological and biochemical tests, and molecular biological identification. The antibacterial activity of the fermentation broth was determined by measuring the diameter of the growth inhibition zone of the target bacteria according to the growth rate method. Single-factor and cross-combination experiments were conducted to optimize the fermentation conditions of the strain, aiming to enhance the antibacterial activity of the fermentation broth. The results indicated that the actinomycete R₂A-77 was preliminarily identified as the genus Streptomyces. The optimal fermentation medium was sucrose 10 g/L, soybean peptone 35 g/L, and distilled water 1000 mL. The optimal fermentation conditions were as follows: initial pH of 7.0, fermentation time of 6 days, inoculum size of 3%, and liquid volume of 150 mL in a 250 mL flask. After optimization, the antibacterial activity of the fermentation broth of actinomycete R₂A-77 increased by 15% compared to that before optimization, with an antibacterial rate of 98%. The results suggest that actinomycete R₂A-77 has a good antagonistic effect against P. digitatum, demonstrating promising practical application prospects. It would accumulate resources for the green prevention and control of citrus green mold and lays a foundation for large-scale fermentation and the development of microbial agents in the future.

Camellia oleifera, a vital woody oil crop in China, has been increasingly threatened by declining soil fertility and frequent disease outbreaks due to improper cultivation practices. Among these, anthracnose is one of the primary diseases limiting yield. To explore environmentally friendly and sustainable control strategies, this study employed biochar as a carrier to deliver Bacillus velezensis SK1-5-2, aiming to evaluate its plant growth-promoting potential and its efficacy in suppressing anthracnose. Pot experiments demonstrated that biochar-loaded SK1-5-2-GFP significantly enhanced C. oleifera growth, improved soil physicochemical properties, and increased disease resistance, indicating a strong synergistic effect. Compared to CK, the biochar-loaded bacterial treatment (BB) significantly improved plant height, leaf area, basal stem diameter, chlorophyll content, and fresh weight. Notably, stem diameter in the BB group increased more substantially than that in the group treated with bacterial suspension alone (BV). Colonization assays revealed that strain SK1-5-2-GFP stably adhered within the porous structure of biochar and efficiently colonized the intercellular spaces in the rhizosphere of C. oleifera, with its viability and functionality unaffected by GFP labeling. Soil properties, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and organic matter contents in the BB group increased by 55.2%,334.0%, and 181.0%, respectively, compared to CK. Additionally, available potassium in the biochar-only group (BC) increased by 63.1%. Regarding soil enzyme activities, the BB group exhibited significant increases in catalase (28.0%), sucrase (44.4%), urease (57.9%), and acid phosphatase (338.6%) activities compared to CK. Rhizosphere microbial community analysis showed that BB treatment significantly elevated the relative abundance of beneficial microbes, with Bacillus and Priestia emerging as dominant genera. Among fungal communities, the abundance of Talaromyces increased, whereas the pathogenic Fusarium genus obviously declined. The anthracnose incidence in the BB group dropped to 55.6%, markedly lower than that in the BV (60.1%) and BC (77.8%) groups. In conclusion, biochar-loaded B. velezensis enhanced plant growth and disease resistance in C. oleifera by optimizing the rhizosphere microenvironment, modulating microbial community composition, and suppressing phytopathogens. This study would provide a novel microbial regulation strategy for the sustainable cultivation of C. oleifera, offering valuable insights for future applications of agricultural microorganisms and soil improvement technologies.

Natural rubber serum (NRS), a by-product generated during the processing of natural rubber (NR), contains all essential plant nutrients and numerous high-value bioactive components such as quebrachitol, ergothioneine, glutathione, and functional proteins, demonstrates significant resource utilization potential. Effective exploitation of NRS can not only mitigate environmental pollution and reduce disposal costs but also extend the NR industrial chain and enhance the economic benefits of the NR industry. In recent years, technological innovations in membrane separation, crystallization purification, fermentation, and biological extraction have facilitated substantial progress in the resource utilization of NRS. This paper systematically reviewed the component characteristics of NRS and advances in its application in multiple fields. It detailed the research and utilization of plant-derived nutrients in NRS, with a focus on the application progress of its bioactive components in high-value fields such as biomedicine and cosmetics. Finally, prospects for future applications were discussed, aiming to provide references for related research and support the green transformation and sustainable development of the NR industry.

Pineapple fruit is rich in water, not suitable for storage, and has a relatively short shelf life, which seriously restricts the sales of fresh pineapple fruit. Low temperature storage is one of the effective measures to delay the quality deterioration of pineapple fruits after harvesting. To investigate the changes in antioxidant activity and quality of pineapples fruits at different shelf periods after low temperature storage, principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis methods were used to comprehensively evaluate twelve antioxidant activity and quality parameters of pineapple fruits storage at 10 ℃ and shelf life at 25 ℃. The results indicated that the trend of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and total phenolics (TP) content of fruits changes during the shelf life after low-temperature storage was consistent, with a significant decrease in titratable acidity (TA) and vitamin C (AsA) content, but no significant change in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and total soluble solids (TSS) content. Correlation analysis showed that the shelf life AsA content was significantly positively correlation with TAOC. PCA showed that the content of H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) exhibited the determined antioxidant activity of pineapple fruits, while TP and TA content acted as important parameters for evaluating pineapple fruits during shelf life. The comprehensive evaluation score of pineapple fruits storage at low temperature for fifteen days showed the highest, and the comprehensive evaluation score of pineapple fruits with one day shelf life showed relatively high. Therefore, storing pineapples at low temperatures for 15-20 days followed by a shelf life of 1 day can effectively maintain their antioxidant activity and quality.

The favorable climatic resources in Yunnan Province have nurtured the rich and diverse plant resources, providing various sources of forage for the development of local herbivorous animal husbandry. Yet, the vast majority of the plant resources has not been well excavated and utilized, which not only severely restricts the development of herbivorous animal husbandry, but also leads to high consumption of feed grains. Consequently, exploring protein-rich plants with high feeding value is of great significance for the green and healthy development of herbivorous animal husbandry in Yunnan Province. This study measured 16 nutritional indicators, including crude protein, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, calcium and phosphorus of 25 common protein forages collected from the subtropical areas of Yunnan Province. The nutritional values of the plants were comprehensively evaluated using grey correlation analysis. The crude protein content of the tested plants varied from 11.03% to 21.73%, among which the crude protein content of 6 plants, including Trifolium repens L. cv. Haifa, Lablab purpureus, Medicago sativa, Sophora davidii, Amorpha fruticosa and Robinia pseudoacacia was above 20%, suggesting good protein for rotein feed. The crude protein content of the remaining 19 plants, such as Broussonetia papyrifera and Leucaena leucocephala, ranged from 11.03% to 18.69%, meeting the basic requirements for the protein feed. According to the comprehensive evaluation, there were 15 plants with excellent nutritional value, among which the top 4 were L. purpureus, T. repens L. cv. Haifa, B. papyrifera and Stylosanthes guianensis, which have significant development and utilization value. Among the 10 plants evaluated as moderate, the crude protein content of S. davidii and R. pseudoacacia exceeded 20%, while the trace element content of Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se in Cajanus scarabaeoides, C. cajan, R. pseudoacacia, S. davidii, Haymondia wallichii and Lespedeza cuneata demonstrated significantly higher levels than that of corn. In the future development and application, the nutritional characteristics of protein-rich forages should be fully utilized, and it should be used in combination with the other feeds to meet the balanced nutritional needs of livestock, achieve cost saving and efficiency improvement by reducing soybean meal reduction and promoting healthy breeding of herbivorous livestock.

Moringa oleifera seed oil was extracted using an aqueous enzymatic method following microwave pretreatment of M. oleifera seed power. The antioxidant activity of M. oleifera seed oil was evaluated by its ability to scavenge hydroxyl radical. Single-factor experiments were initially conducted to evaluate the effects of key parameters, raw material particle size, microwave power, and microwave duration. Based on the findings, an orthogonal experimental design was employed to optimize the microwave pretreatment conditions, ultimately determining the most effective pretreatment parameters. The results showed that the optimal microwave pretreatment conditions were raw material crushing particle size of 60 mesh, microwave power of 800 W, and microwave time of 7 min. Under these conditions, the hydroxyl radical (·OH) scavenging rate of the obtained M. oleifera seed oil (at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL) was 43.98%. Compared to the sample without microwave pretreatment, the antioxidant activity increased by 15.16% (an absolute increase of 5.79%). This demonstrated that microwave pretreatment effectively enhanced the antioxidant capacity of M. oleifera seed oil extracted via the aqueous enzymatic method. The antioxidant activity tests revealed that M. oleifera seed oil extracted using microwave pretreatment combined with the aqueous enzymatic method possessed significant hydroxyl radical (·OH) scavenging ability, with a half inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 0.14 mg/mL. Additionally, the oil showed certain reducing ability toward Fe³⁺. Furthermore, compared to samples without microwave pretreatment, microwave pretreatment increased the acid value, iodine value, and the levels of polyphenols, total flavonoids, squalene, and phytosterols in Moringa oleifera seed oil extracted via the aqueous enzymatic method. Therefore, microwave pretreatment is a suitable pretreatment method for the enzymatic extraction of M. oleifera seed oil. Compared with the conventional aqueous enzymatic method, it can significantly improve the antioxidant activity of M. oleifera seed oil, increase the concentrations of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, squalene, and plant sterols. However, it also results in higher acid and iodine values, which may slightly compromise the overall quality of the oil. The results of this study could provide technical insights and references for the comprehensive development and high-value utilization of M. oleifera resources.

After intercropping pepper with areca nut, the growth of pepper is restored and the intercropping barrier is alleviated. This is related to the increase in soil microbial diversity by the root exudates of areca nut. However, the specific components that play a role and the effects are still unclear. Three specific components of areca nut root exudates identified were added them to the deionized water for cultivation as the control and the differences in soil microbial carbon source utilization ability among different treatment groups were analyzed using the Biolog microplate method. This was done to clarify the effects of the specific component on the functional diversity and community structure of the rhizosphere soil microorganisms of intercropped pepper and to analyze the correlation between the treatment groups and related indicators using the PCA method. The average absorbance values (AWCD) of the three specific components treatments reached the maximum and were stable significantly higher than those of the deionized water control. The Shannon index and Shannon evenness of the treatments containing flavonoids and phenolic acids were significantly higher than those of the deionized water control, while the Shannon index of the organic acid treatment was only significantly different. The Simpson dominance index of the deionized water control was significantly higher than that of other treatments, while the yellowing acid treatment was significantly lower than that of other treatments. The number of carbon sources changed in the Biolog culture plates caused by the addition of organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids and deionized water was 17, 18, 15 and 12 respectively, and the carbon sources decomposed by the three specific component treatments were mainly carbohydrates. With the addition of specific components, the soil microbial community structure also changed significantly. The changes in the yellowing acid treatment were the most obvious, followed by organic acids and phenolic acids, and the soil nutrient indicators also changed with the addition. In summary, the addition of the three specific components of areca nut root exudates significantly enhanced the carbon utilization activity of soil microorganisms in the rhizosphere of intercropped pepper and increased the functional diversity of the soil community. The three treatment groups mainly increased the utilization of carbon sources by microorganisms to enhance diversity and maintained the stability of the community structure, thereby improving the nutrient status of the pepper rhizosphere and alleviating the harm of pepper intercropping barrier.

Organic fertilizer can effectively improve soil fertility and microbial diversity, as well as metabolic activity, in facility cultivation. It can also alleviate problems such as water-heat imbalance, soil secondary salinization, acid-base imbalance, reduced microbial diversity, and insufficient nutrient supply in facility greenhouses. Currently, however, research on organic fertilizers mostly focuses on open fields and field crops, and most studies use animal manure as the organic fertilizer. This study selected Hainan coir organic fertilizer and bio-enzyme-active bacterial fertilizer as bottom fertilizers. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to study how different bottom fertilizers and their dosages affect soil nutrient and microbial changes in facility greenhouses. The goal was to identify effective fertilization methods for improving soil. The results showed that: (1) The application of 14 286 kg/hm² of coir organic fertilizer effectively improved soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, effective phosphorus, and quick-acting potassium. The bio-enzyme-activated bacterial fertilizer improved the soil's total nitrogen, effective phosphorus, and quick-acting potassium levels, but the effect was weaker than that of the coir organic fertilizer. The CK indicators were generally lower than the pre-planting levels. (2) The number of soil bacterial OTUs generally decreased after planting. However, organic fertilizer treatments, especially bioenzyme treatments, could partially restore or enhance microbial diversity. Coconut coir organic fertilizer was more conducive to the proliferation of beneficial bacterial flora, such as Rhizobiales and Paecilomyces spp. WSH L07. Bioenzyme-activated bacterial fertilizers had an effect on Sphingomonadales, Rhodospirillales, and Aspergillus terreus.