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.