Improving and upgrading the efficiency of sugar factories and income of sugarcane farmers are the fundamental goals of the sugarcane industrial development. This study introduced the breeding process of the early-maturing, high-sugar, high-yield, automatic defoliation new sugarcane variety Guitang 76 (GT76) and its production efficiency in different regions, in order to provide planting technical basis for this new sugarcane variety in the coming years. Guitang 76 was selected through the “five nurseries” breeding procedure, and developed based on traits of early maturity, high sugar content and high yield, and also included characteristics of strong perennial roots, high uniformity, tolerance to drought, disease and infertility, and automatic defoliation. Finally, the Guitang 76 production performance was evaluated through the Guangxi new sugarcane variety regional test. The main process was as follows: In April 2010, 220 seedlings were obtained from the combination of CP81-1254×ROC22, planted in the hybrid nursery. In February 2011, five healthy individual plants were selected from the hybrid nursery and planted in the selection nursery. In December 2011, two strains were selected from the selection nursery and entered the identification nursery. In January 2013, one strain was selected from the identification nursery (named Guitang 10-2118), and in February 2013, it entered the preparation variety comparison nursery. After observation and screening, it was selected into the variety comparison nursery in March 2014, and later selected for the 2021—2023 of Guangxi sugarcane new variety regional trials (one year new planted sugarcane and two years perennial sugarcane trials). The results of regional trials showed that the stem diameter of Guitang 10-2118 was between 2.5–3.0 cm, which is a medium-large stem variety, the average number of effective stems was 8140 per hm² more than that of the control variety ROC22. The yield of newly planted sugarcane was 7.72% lower than that of ROC22, but the yield of perennial sugarcane in the first year was 7.28% higher than that of ROC22, and the yield of perennial sugarcane in the second year was 15.24% higher than that of ROC22, and the average yield in three years was higher (5.24%) than that of ROC22. The average sucrose content from November to March was 15.04%, which was 1.32% higher than that of ROC22. Guitang 10-2118 also showed other significant traits including tall plants, long internodes, automatic defoliation, strong perennial roots, wide adaptability, high resistance to smut and tip rot, etc. Guitang 10-2118 was renamed as Guitang 76 (GT76). This article also introduced the key points of cultivation strategies of GT76, providing technical support for its promotion, application and better cane production in coming years.

Tea tree oil (TTO) chitosan emulsion was prepared by ultra-high pressure homogenization method with natural TTO and chitosan as raw materials, Tween-80 as emulsifying agent, and ethanol as co-emulsifying agent. The preparation conditions were optimized by response surface test. The storage stability of TTO chitosan emulsion at different temperatures was investigated, and its antioxidant activity and mildew proof properties were evaluated. The optimal preparation conditions of the emulsion were as follows, the homogenization pressure 160 MPa, the mass fraction of tea tree oil 12%, and the mass fraction of compound emulsifier 4%. Under the conditions, the particle size of the emulsion was 99.24 nm. When stored at 4, 25 and 50 ℃ for 28 days, the particle size remained within 164 nm, the Zeta potential all exceeded 39 mV, and the PDI remained within 0.53, indicating that the storage stability of the emulsion was good. The IC₅₀ value of DPPH radical and OH radical of the emulsion was 22.82 μL/mL and 18.75 μL/mL, respectively, indicating that the emulsion had good antioxidant activity. The mildew proof test showed that the mildew proof ability of bamboo treated with TTO chitosan emulsion was higher than that of untreated bamboo. When the treatment concentration was 80 μL/mL, the antifungal effect was significant.

Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith, a traditional medicinal plant widely cultivated in South China, has experienced significant yield and quality reductions due to increasing disease incidence in recent years. This study aimed to identify the causal agent of leaf blight disease in K. coccinea and evaluate fungicide efficacy to establish a scientific foundation for pathogen identification and field management. Pathogens were isolated from symptomatic K. coccinea samples collected in Shaoguan, Guangdong and showing browning and necrosis of leaf and stem tips, using tissue isolation and purification methods. Pathogen was clarified by comprehensive identification combined morphological characterization with multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, rpb2, LSU and tub2). Pathogenicity was confirmed through Koch's postulates, while the indoor toxicity of seven fungicides to the pathogen was determined via mycelial growth inhibition assays. Isolate SGXFD, obtained from the edges of necrotic leaf tissues, was confirmed as the etiological agent through pathogenicity tests. Polyphasic identification classified the pathogen as Didymella segeticola. Fungicide screening revealed dimetachlone as the most effective inhibitor (EC₅₀=1.8210 mg/L), followed by prochloraz (EC₅₀=3.4460 mg/L) and propiconazole (EC₅₀=3.7391 mg/L). Moderate inhibition was observed with difenoconazole (EC₅₀=11.3202 mg/L), tebuconazole (EC₅₀=45.0019 mg/L), and mancozeb (EC₅₀=51.9597 mg/L). Carbendazim demonstrated limited efficacy (<50% inhibition) across tested concentrations (25.0, 50.0, 100.0, 200.0, 400.0 mg/L). This study establishes D. segeticola as the causative agent of K. coccinea leaf blight. Dimetachlone, prochloraz, and propiconazole exhibit significant antifungal activity against this pathogen, recommending the consideration for field application in disease management programs.

Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are crucial functional proteins in plants responding to stress, exhibiting multiple biological roles in rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). This article systematically reviewed recent advances in PR protein research in rubber trees, with emphasis on the functional characteristics in stress resistance mechanisms, laticifer plugging, and allergenicity, while highlighting the critical relationship between PR proteins and laticifer plugging. PR proteins participate in defense responses against stresses through complex molecular networks, potentially influencing latex yield via laticifer plugging processes. Some PR proteins exhibit strong allergenic properties. Although transgenic studies of PR proteins have achieved preliminary progress, further optimization of expression regulation strategies is required to balance stress resistance, yield, and allergenicity. Future research should prioritize elucidating the mechanistic roles of PR proteins, especially investigating how the expression levels of pathogenesis-related proteins (particularly chitinases and β-1,3-glucanases) correlate with rubber productivity. Concurrently, functional exploration of understudied PR protein categories like PR-14 warrants attention. Developing precise molecular breeding technologies based on these findings will provide both theoretical foundations and technical support for rubber tree variety improvement.

Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze is a seawater vegetable with strong tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. Plant thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) are involved in various biological and abiotic stress responses. In order to elucidate the possible roles of a T. tetragonoides thaumatin-like protein gene (TtTLP11) in abiotic stress resistance, we cloned this gene and performed transgenic over-expression assay in Arabidopsis thaliana, then the homozygotic transgenic lines were obtained and performed subsequent analysis for stresses tolerance. In this study, the seeds from transgenic plants over-expressing TtTLP11 and wild type Arabidopsis plants were challenged with high salinity, high osmotic stress, heat and mixed salt-alkali stresses, by detecting the seed germinating rates, seedling growth status, thereby assessing the stress resistance of these transgenic Arabidopsis plants. The purpose of this study was to clarify the abiotic stress resistance functions of the TtTLP11 and the possible molecular mechanisms. The results showed that under various abiotic stress conditions, the over-expression of TtTLP11 could alleviate the inhibition effects of seed germination and relieve the environmental damage to seedlings, thereby improving the abiotic stress tolerance of transgenic plants. It is speculated that TtTLP11 might alleviate dramatic changes in osmotic pressure in plants and maintain water homeostasis, and then affect the stress tolerance of plants. The results could provide a theoretical basis for further analysis of the molecular regulatory network of plant response to alleviate abiotic stress damage.

During the biosynthesis process of lignin in plants, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) plays a crucial role, catalyzing the final step reaction in the entire metabolic pathway. To explore the potential functions of the CAD gene family in tea plants, CAD gene family members were identified in the genome of Huangyan tea plants and a series of bioinformatics analyses were conducted. Based on transcriptome data, the gene expression of the members in different organs of tea plants and after damage by the Empoasca vitis were studied. A total of 36 members of HD-CsCADs were identified, which were unevenly distributed on 9 chromosomes and encoded amino acid lengths ranging from 300 aa to 621 aa and protein molecular weights ranging from 321.40 kDa to 666.49 kDa. HD-CsCADs had 0 to 3 introns and the promoters containing 79 types of cis-acting elements, among which the number of elements related to stress response was the highest. Combined with the phylogenetic tree, HD-CsCADs could be divided into 4 subfamilies. There were significant differences in the expression levels of HD-CsCADs in different organs of tea plants. HD-CsCAD-15 was highly homologous to CAD genes involved in lignin biosynthesis in other plants and was highly expressed in stem tissues. In addition, the expression of the genes after damage by E. vitis on tea seedlings was analyzed. The expression of HD-CsCAD-11 and HD-CsCAD-15 was relatively obvious and could be used as important CAD genes related to lignin metabolism and tea plant defense against pests. The results would provide theoretical basis for the defense mechanism of tea plants against the small green leaf hopper and the utilization of CAD gene functions.

Annona squamosa L., a vital tropical fruit crop in southern China, faces escalating threats from fungal diseases, though rust pathogens had not been previously documented domestically. This study reported the first dectection of Phakopsora cherimoliae, a high-risk rust fungus known to cause severe yield losses (>30%) in Central and South America, detected in Yunxiao county, Fujian province. Field symptoms included chlorotic flecks on adaxial leaf surfaces progressing to reddish-brown necrotic lesions with abaxial yellowish-brown uredinia. Morphometric analysis revealed ellipsoid to ovoid urediniospores, long axis is (28.0±2.5)μm; short axis is (22.7±3.2)μm, consistent with P. cherimoliae descriptions but notably smaller than those reported on A. cherimola hosts, suggesting potential host-driven morphological adaptation. Molecular characterization via LSU rDNA sequencing indicated that the sequence of the three isolates obtained in this study exhibited over 99% identity with the reference strain KF528012. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and the Kimura-2 parameter method positioned the isolates in a distinct monophyletic clade with 100% bootstrap support, separate from other related Phakopsora species. Pathogenicity was confirmed through Koch's postulates. Inoculation of healthy Annona trees with filed urediniospores induced identical symptoms and new urediniospores within 14 days. The absence of telia indicated dependence on urediniospores for asexual propagation, raising concerns about persistent epidemics under Fujian's humid subtropical climate, where monsoon winds may facilitate regional dispersal. Urgent management strategies include pre-monsoon application of tebuconazole, systematic removal of infected debris, and resistance screening across commercial cultivars (e.g., ‘African Pride’). Study limitations include unresolved telial stage biology and unquantified spore dispersal dynamics, warranting long-term phenological monitoring and aerobiological modeling. This invasion event underscores vulnerabilities in China's tropical fruit biosecurity, emphasizing the imperative for enhanced phytosanitary surveillance and international collaboration to mitigate cross-border pathogen spread. The findings establish a critical baseline for rust disease management in Asian Annona production systems, bridging a longstanding gap in regional plant pathology literature.

This study was aimed to identify high-quality and stress-resistant germplasm resources of subtropical tea for the purpose of supporting new variety breeding and the development of characteristic tea products. Leaves from 50 tea accessions cultivated at Tea Teaching and Research Base of Guangxi Vocational and Technical College in Nanning were selected as the samples. 17 leaf anatomical and structural traits were examined to assess the genetic diversity. Based on stress resistance, processing suitability, productivity potential of the traits were evaluated. Principal component analysis combined with hierarchical cluster analysis was employed for the comprehensive evaluation. There existed substantial genetic variation among the accessions, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 11.00% to 39.10%. The accessions demonstrated robust stress resistance with average membership function value for drought resistance and pest resistance 0.67 and 0.61, respectively, along with average cold resistance score 6.28. The average productivity index of 3329.20 suggested a relatively high productivity potential. Based on the leaf anatomical and structural indicators, the accessions were clustered into three distinct groups. The upper cuticle thickness, lower cuticle thickness, upper epidermis thickness, lower epidermis thickness, palisade tissue thickness, palisade tissue layer number, spongy tissue layer thickness, leaf thickness, and calcium oxalate crystal indexes of the Group 2 appeared to be significantly or highly significantly different than those of Group 1 and Group 3. Based on the top five principal component values and the corresponding eigenvalues of the accessions, a linear equation was established to calculate the comprehensive score of the principal components. The top 10 accessions exhibited superior overall characteristics, demonstrating strong potential for breeding elite tea cultivars. These findings would provide valuable references for identification and utilization of the superior local tea germplasm resources in Guangxi.

Cymbidium ensifolium ‘Dongfang Honghe’, as a new cultivar of C. ensifolium, has an elegant posture and a distinctive pink-white colour, which is of high value for garden application. In order to deeply understand the flower formation rules of C. ensifolium, and to produce high-quality flowers to meet the demand of the holiday market, ‘Dongfang Honghe’ was used as the experimental material to elaborate the morphological change process of flower buds and flower development during the process of flower formation, and to study the effect of forchlorfenuron (CPPU) on its flowering period and blooming quality. The process of flower bud differentiation was divided into six periods according to the results of paraffin sections: floral primordial induction, inflorescence primordial differentiation, floral primordial differentiation, sepal primordial differentiation, petal primordial differentiation, as well as the stage of gynostemium and pollen block differentiation. The process of flower development was divided into six periods according to the characteristics of the morphology changes of inflorescences: the end of inflorescence bud differentiation, bract wrapping period, inflorescence elongation period, coloring period of flower buds, blossom period and flower wilting period. Spraying CPPU and cytokinin could advance the flowering period of C. ensifolium by about 1 month, among which 1 g/L CPPU+1∶1000 cytokinin had the best effect, and the treatment entered into the stage of flower development in 44 d. The flowering period was advanced by 26.55 d, and the duration of blooming was prolonged by 1.89 d compared with that of the control, and the flower buds increased by 0.54 per pot, and the scape diameter was thickened by 0.28 mm. It is assumed that CPPU stimulates the cell division of pseudobulbs, prompts their expansion, and then accumulates sufficient nutrients for the transformation of flower formation. In this study, the flowering process in ‘Dongfang Honghe’ was delineated, which provides key information for the subsequent in-depth study of the mechanism of flower formation to determine the sampling period and the prediction of flowering time in the industry. The effect of CPPU on the flowering of ‘Dongfang Honghe’ was investigated, which lays a theoretical basis for the establishment of a precise technical system of flower regulation.

Coconut wood (Cocos nucifera L.), an economically significant tropical tree, exhibits variations in fiber morphology and chemical composition that directly influence its processing performance and comprehensive utilization potential. This study systematically investigated the spatial variability of fiber morphological indices (length, width, cell wall thickness, lumen diameter, aspect ratio, and cell wall-lumen ratio) and chemical components (holocellulose, cellulose, and lignin) across different trunk heights (bottom, middle, top) and radial positions (outer, middle, inner) in 40-year-old coconut trees from Hainan. The analyses were conducted using wood microscopy, image analysis software, and chemical assays. Fiber length (696.84–969.94 μm), cell wall thickness (9.78–18.36 μm), and cell wall-lumen ratio (1.13–5.82) decreased significantly from the bottom to the top, while lumen diameter (3.60–10.15 μm) increased. Fiber width (17.41–20.76 μm) and aspect ratio (40.39–48.79) showed minor variations but exhibited an overall downward trend with increasing height. Fiber length, cell wall thickness, and cell wall-lumen ratio decreased from the outer to inner regions, whereas lumen diameter increased. Chemical analysis indicated decreasing trends for holocellulose (59.14%–70.32%) and cellulose (41.03%–44.85%) content along both vertical and radial gradients, while lignin (21.40%–23.60%) initially decreased and then increased vertically, with higher inner-region content. The study identified superior fiber morphology (longer fibers, thicker cell walls, smaller lumen diameters) and higher holocellulose and cellulose content in the bottom and outer regions. Compared to bamboo, coconut fibers are thicker, with thicker cell walls and smaller lumens but lower aspect ratio, making them particularly suitable for medium-to-short fiber pulping processes. This research elucidates the spatial variation mechanisms of coconut wood fiber morphology and chemical composition, could providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing pulping, fiberboard manufacturing, and bioenergy applications, Such insights can enhance resource utilization efficiency and support sustainable development in tropical timber industries.