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.

The study on the ecological suitability regionalization for jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is of great significance for guiding its cultivation layout and digging its development potential, via utilization of environmental resources efficiently in tropical and subtropical regions. Based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS, this study constructed a suitability analysis model for jackfruit cultivation using four evaluation factors: temperature, precipitation, sunshine hours and soil index. The results of the regionalization are then validated in conjunction with previous research findings and the actual distribution of jackfruit, while further explore the spatial potential for jackfruit cultivation by integrating land use spatial data. The results indicate that the zones able to plant are primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical monsoon climate regions. The suitable zones for planting are mainly found in Hainan, southern Guangxi, southern Guangdong, parts of southern Yunnan and southern Fujian, where there is sufficient heat throughout the year, favorable wintering conditions, and a good combination of light, heat and water. Total plantable area for jackfruit in China is approximately 47.85×10⁴km², of which 22.71×10⁴km² is suitable for cultivating, comprising 8.89×10⁴km² of arable land and 182.05 km² of unused land. In comparison to previous research findings, this study expanded the amount of potentially viable arable land for jackfruit cultivation by about 58 times the existing cultivating area. Considering comprehensive land use, ecological environment, and policy support, jackfruit has a high potential for production in suitable and relatively suitable arable and unused land in China. Priority should be given to developing suitable planting areas in the southern regions of Guangxi and Yunnan. The study findings could provide scientific and analytic references for optimizing the regional layout and development planning of jackfruit cultivation in China.

Six mango varieties (Guiqi Mang, Tainong Mang, Guifei Mang, Jinhuang Mang, Ivory Mang, and Jade Mang) mainly planted in Baise were selected as the research objects, and 22 quality indicators (including appearance quality, internal quality.) were analyzed. The results indicated that the coefficient of variation for indexes such as single fruit weight and fruit shape index exceeded 10% among different varieties in appearance quality. For intrinsic quality, Guiqi mango performed optimally in sweetness-related indexes (TSS, total sugar, soluble sugar) and flavor coordination (solid-acid ratio, sugar-acid ratio), with the highest Vc content reaching 36.6 mg/100 g, while Tainong mango had the lowest Vc content at 28.7 mg/100 g. Yumang mango had the highest contents of phenolic substances (4.33 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (1.12 mg/100 g). Guifei mango and Yumang mango had relatively high protein contents, both at 1.0 g/100 g. Further analysis indicated that there existed both relative independence and close correlation among multiple quality index variables of mango. The 5 principal components extracted by principal component analysis accounted for 100% of the information of the above indexes, and the comprehensive quality ranking was as follows: Yumang mango>Guiqi mango>Tainong mango>Xiangya mango>Guifei mango>Jinhuang mango. Systematic clustering classified the 22 quality indexes into 3 categories: bioactive components (e.g., vitamins, flavonoids), fruit flavor characteristics (e.g., sugar-acid related indexes), and mineral elements (e.g., potassium, calcium). The results revealed the characteristic differences in fruit quality among the main mango varieties in Baise, and suggested that principal component analysis and systematic clustering analysis could be applied to simplify the evaluation of mango fruit quality.

Aquilaria sinensis is the original plant of the precious traditional Chinese medicinal material known as agarwood, with a long history of medicinal application. Seeds play a crucial role in the reproduction process of A. sinensis. The seed is the recalcitrant type, with a short period of viability, cannot be dried in the sun nor stored for long periods. The quality assessment, storage, and germination of the seed are essential for obtaining high-quality seedlings. Additionally, the seed has various application beyond seedlings cultivation. Due to its rich content of various nutrients, high yield, and affordable price, it has numerous applications in medicine, food, feed, health products, and food additives. The article introduced the aspects of seed quality assessment, seed storage, seed development and germination, nutritional components, and application of A. sinensis seeds, and prospects for future research area, aiming to provide references for cultivating high-quality A. sinensis seedlings and the utilization of the seed.

Pterocarpus santalinus is one of the most famous rosewood (Hongmu) species in the world. Its large-scale development is restricted due to limited seed production in China. A grafted clone seed orchard was established recently using suprior tree materials by Experiment Station of Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry in Jianfengling, Hainan Island, and most trees in the orchard have flowered and fruited. The differences in seed quality among superior trees in the introduction garden and the grafted clones need to be studied. Here the morphological traits were measured, and germination tests were conducted for the seeds of P. santalinus collected from six superior trees in the introduction garden and the grafted clones in the seed orchard at the experiment station. The coefficients of variance for the seed morphological traits were much lower than those for seedling growth traits among superior trees or the grafted clones, and the coefficients of variance was the lowest for the weight of 1000-grain seeds, indicating that the variations of seedling growth were more abundant than those of seed morphorlogy Seed length was significantly different at 0.05 level among the superior trees with No. 7 performing the best, and seed length, width and thickness differed remarkably among the grafted clones, in which No. 9^# performed the best in seed length and width, and No. 7^# did the best in seed thickness. The germination rate and potential differed significantly among superior trees (No. 3 and No. 9 performed the best, respectively) or the clones (No. 5^# did the best), and significant difference occurred in the length of epicotyl, hypocotyl, radicle and total seedling among the superior trees (No. 3 did the best), and in the length of radicle and total seedling among the grafted clones (No. 7^# did the best), demonstrating that abundant variation in seed germination and seedling growth existed among superior trees and among the grafted clones. Significance of difference between each superior tree and its clone varied with gene type, and clones performed as a whole, better than relevant superior trees in seed length and width, seed germination and seedling growth. It was indicated from relationship analysis that seed weight was significantly correlated with germination rate at 0.01 level, the germination rate of the plumper seeds was higher. In conclusion, seeds from the grafted clone seed orchard performed better in the seed morphorlogy and germination than those from the superior trees in the introduction garden, and significant difference was absent in seed weight among the superior trees or the grafted clones, and between each superior tree and its clone (P≥0.05), the seeds developed fully in the seed orchard with 1000-grain weight near 100 g, more than that for scattered individuals early grafted (92.9 g). The findings would provide scientific evidences for elite variety selection, seed orchard establishment and robust seedling cultivation.

Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), an economically significant species, produces natural rubber, a strategic resource for China. Since rubber tree introduced from South America to Southeast Asia in the 19th century, rubber tree productivity has been substantially improved through sustained genetic improvement. This article comprehensively reviewed the botanical characteristics of the rubber tree, traced its history of introduction and domestication, and analyzed the current applications, achievements, challenges, and future research directions of both conventional breeding techniques (including hybrid breeding, polyploid breeding, mutagenesis breeding, etc.) and modern biotechnological breeding techniques (including molecular marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, genetic modification, gene editing, etc.) in rubber tree improvement. The review aims to provide a reference for researchers in rubber tree genetics and breeding, facilitate progress in this field, and promote the sustainable development of the natural rubber industry.

In order to study the effect of chalcone isomerase on the synthesis of flavonoids during the development of rubber leaves, this study used the CHI functional domain chalcone (PF02431) to identify the HbCHI gene family members of the Ccalcone isomerase, and to analyze the physicochemical properties, conserved domain, conserved motif and phylogenetic tree of the protein sequences. qRT-PCR was used to analyze the expression pattern of HbCHI during the development of rubber leaves. The effect of HbCHI2 on plant flavonoid synthesis was analyzed using Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression technique in Nicotiana benjamina. Nine HbCHI gene family members (HbCHI1-HbCHI9) were identified from the genomic database of H. brasiliensis. The proteins encoded by HbCHI1-HbCHI9 contained 177-474 amino acids with isoelectric points ranging from 5.1 to 9.52. The proteins were mainly hydrophilic proteins. Only HbCHI1 contained 6 conserved motif1-motif6 motifs, and phylogenetic analysis showed that HBCHI1-HBCHI4 was type I CHI. HbCHI6-HbCHI9 showed fatty acid binding sites, which were type III CHI. HbCHI5 was type IV CHI. The relative expression level of HbCHI gene family in rubber trees showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing from small bronzer to mature stage. The relative expression level was the lowest in light green stage, and the change trend of total flavonoids content was consistent with the relative expression level of CHI gene. Correlation analysis showed that HbCHI2 had the highest significant correlation with flavoniods content. The Pearson coefficient was 0.97. Overexpression of HbCHI2 in N. benjamina promoted the biosynthesis of flavonoids and increased the total flavonoids content in leaves, which was 2.13 times that of control. These results indicate that HbCHI2 gene regulates flavonoid biosynthesis in rubber leaves.

The biological macromolecules such as polysaccharides and terpenes in Sanghuangporus spp. aqueous extract have inhibitory effects on tumor cells, but the function was not yet clear. This study obtained small molecule compounds of Sanghuangporus sanghuang Sheng H. Wu, L. W. Zhou & Y. C. Dai and Phellinus baumii aqueous extracts through 3000 D ultrafiltration, and studied the inhibitory activities on mouse hepatocarcinoma cells Hepa 1-6 using dual fluorescence labeling. The anticancer active ingredients were analyzed using metabolomics analysis. The results showed that the small molecule compounds of S. sanghuang Sheng H. Wu and P. baumii could induce injury and apoptosis of Hepa 1-6, with inhibition rates of (38.64±4.35)% and (32.52±3.57)%, respectively. Meanwhile, the inhibition rates of small molecule compounds reached (77.27±6.21)% and (76.92±5.45)%, respectively, after mixing with crude polysaccharides. Metabolomic analysis showed that anti-cancer small molecular agents such as ellipticine, betonicine, cerebroside-B etc., were identified in the aqueous extract of Sanghuangporus spp. Antitumor related substances such as heterocyclic compounds (6-fluoroindole, 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, 1'-naphthoyl-2-methylindole, etc.), nucleoside and bases (1-methyladenosine, N6-methyladenosine, 2'-O-methyladenosine, etc.), dipeptides (leucine+*, isoleucine+*, γ-glutamine+*, etc.), sugar alcohols (xylitol, ribose, mannitol, erythritol, etc.), were identified too. The results indicate that the aqueous extract of Sanghuangporus spp. contains multiple small molecular agents against tumor cells, which have a synergistic anti-cancer effect with biological macromolecules such as polysaccharides. This would provide a scientific basis for understanding the mechanism of anti-tumor of Sanghuangporus spp. and the development and application of functional substances.

The pepper is a widely cultivated vegetable and its domestication and dissemination history have received significant attention from the academic community. This article summarizes the pathways of pepper's dissemination worldwide. The wild pepper species originated in the northwestern part of the Andes Mountains in South America and expanded, spread, and evolved in South and Central America. The Capsicum cultivars migrated outward from Mexico and underwent parallel domestication in multiple regions. After Christopher Columbus brought peppers back to Spain from South America, they began to spread to other European countries and eventually spread throughout Central Europe by the mid-16th century. Simultaneously, a large number of pepper varieties introduced into Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe via the "Eurasian Trade Route" and the "Galleon Trade Route". The prevalent slave trade in the 17th century further facilitated the comprehensive dissemination of peppers in Africa and North America. With the development of global trade, the Capsicum cultivars from different regions were exchanged more extensively. Among them, C. annuum spread to Asia, Africa, North America, Oceania, and Eastern Europe, becoming the most widely cultivated peppers worldwide. C. frutescens and C. chinense were introduced to Eastern Europe, tropical regions of Africa, and Asia, while C. baccatum and C. pubescens are mainly grown in Central and South America, Indonesia, and South Africa. Genomic research results have provided important genetic evidence for the global dissemination history of pepper, while also offering a new perspective for the study of pepper evolution.

Yinggeling area of the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest preserves the largest and most intact tropical rainforest in South China. It is extraordinarily rich in fungal species, especially the fungi of Boletales with important ecological, scientific and economic values. Nearly 300 specimens of Boletales were collected from Yinggeling area in the past 10 years. On the basis of morphology, molecular phylogenetic analyses, ecological characteristics, and geographical information, a total of 82 species of Boletales, belonging to 37 genera and 5 families, have been identified. Among them, 2 genera and 26 species were typified from Yinggeling, 2 were new to China, and 20 were new to Hainan Province. In the Boletales in Yinggeling area, the only dominant family, with more than 10 species, was Boletaceae, accounting for 91.46% of the total species. There were 6 dominant genera (Aureoboletus, Boletellus, Neoboletus, Phylloporus, Strobilomyces, and Tylopilus), with more than 5 species, haboring 48.78% of the total species of this Order. Among the Boletales species from Yinggeling area, 20, 4, and 8 are considered to be edible, medicinal and poisonous mushrooms, respectively.