To clarify the detoxification metabolism and environmental adaptation mechanisms of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) physiological race CYR34, members of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene family were identified based on the their nucleotide sequence and GFF3 annotation files of CYR34. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted on the physicochemical properties of the encoded proteins, chromosomal localization, phylogenetic relationships, and cis-acting elements in the promoter regions. In addition, the temporal expression patterns of GST family genes during urediniospore germination and host infection were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that six GST genes (GST1-GST6) were identified in CYR34. The encoded proteins ranged from 187 to 207 amino acids in length, all containing conserved GST domains and being distributed on three chromosomes. A total of 26 types of cis-acting elements were detected in the promoter regions. During urediniospore germination, GST1, GST3, GST4, GST5, and GST6 all reached relatively high expression levels at 24 hours post inoculation (hpi), among which GST5 showed the greatest up-regulation, reaching 9.04-fold that of the control group. During wheat infection by CYR34, GST4 and GST6 generally exhibited an upward expression trend, with GST4 reaching its highest expression level at 48 hpi, 3.14-fold that of the control group. These results indicate that the GST genes in CYR34 may participate in the regulation of environmental adaptation and detoxification metabolism during urediniospore germination and infection.

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are widely cultivated worldwide for their high economic and nutritional value. However, fungal diseases constitute a major biotic constraint limiting the development of the blueberry industry. To date, more than 20 fungal diseases have been reported on blueberry, causing substantial economic losses. This review systematically summarizes the pathogen species, geographic distribution, typical symptoms, and damage severity of major fungal diseases affecting blueberry production. The principal diseases discussed include stem blight, canker, root rot, leaf spot, anthracnose, powdery mildew, gray mould, and fruit rot. Previous studies have shown that severe outbreaks of these diseases may result in yield losses ranging from 20% to 85%. Pathogenic fungi associated with blueberry exhibit high diversity, encompassing over 150 species from more than 20 genera, including Diaporthe, Fusarium, Neofusicoccum, Pestalotiopsis, Phytophthora, Colletotrichum, and Alternaria. In addition, the main transmission routes of these pathogens are summarized. Based on current knowledge, integrated disease management strategies are proposed, including cultural practices, chemical control, and biological control. Furthermore, the current shortcomings in research on blueberry fungal diseases are clarified, particularly in aspects of etiology, disease epidemiology, and resistance breeding. Future work should focus on strengthening studies on pathogen biology, epidemic dynamics, breeding of high-yield, high-quality, and disease-resistant cultivars, and promoting green control technologies centered on agricultural and biological measures. Overall, this review provides both strong theoretical support and targeted practical guidance for the healthy development of the blueberry industry in China.

To elucidate the cascade effect between the V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A (V-ATPase A), a key regulator of cellular energy metabolism, and the autophagy-related gene HcAtg8 in the fall webworm Hyphantria cunea, the HcAtg8 gene was cloned by PCR. The bioinformatic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed. The HcAtg8 protein was expressed in vitro using a prokaryotic expression system and detected via Western blot. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the expression of HcAtg8 in different developmental stages and tissues (foregut, midgut, and hindgut). Additionally, after silencing HcV-ATPase A, histopathological changes in midgut tissues related to autophagy and the expression of HcAtg8 were examined. The results showed that the cloned coding region of HcAtg8 was 354 bp in length, encoding 117 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that HcAtg8 clustered closely with BmAtg8 from Bombyx mori, suggesting a close evolutionary relationship. A recombinant expression vector pMAL-c2X-HcAtg8 was constructed, and a 56.4 kD HcAtg8 protein was obtained by prokaryotic expression in vitro, with the highest expression level observed after 8 h of induction. HcAtg8 was expressed across all developmental stages and gut tissues, with the highest expression observed in pupae. Among gut tissues, expression was highest in the midgut. After silencing HcV-ATPase A, the number of autophagosomes in the treated group was 11.0, significantly higher than that in the control group (3.5), representing a 3.1-fold increase. The number of lipid droplets in the treated group was 73.8, significantly higher than that in the control group (12.5), representing a 5.9-fold increase. Silencing HcV-ATPase A disrupted the acidic environment of lysosomes, leading to the accumulation of autophagosomes and related metabolites. qRT-PCR results showed that the expression level of HcAtg8 was 6.1-fold higher than that of the control at 24 h, peaked at 375.2-fold at 48 h, and subsequently decreased to 2.5-fold at 72 h, consistent with the histological observations. These results indicate that silencing HcV-ATPase A leads to the upregulation of HcAtg8 expression and the accumulation of autophagosomes and lipid droplets, thereby disrupting midgut cellular homeostasis, and resulting in cellular dysfunction or death.

To assess the feasibility of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS), a key enzyme in juvenile hormone biosynthesis, as a target for RNA interference (RNAi)-based control of pest mites, double-stranded RNA targeting FPPS (dsFPPS) was designed using the dsRNAEngineer online platform. The bioactivity of dsFPPS against two agriculturally important pest mites, Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus evansi, was evaluated with microinjection. The expression levels of FPPS in mites after dsFPPS injection were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, and the safety to non-target organisms, Neoseiulus californicus and Harmonia axyridis, was assessed by feeding and microinjection assays. The results showed that after dsFPPS injection, FPPS transcript levels in T. urticae and T. evansi were significantly reduced by 91.80% and 83.09%, respectively. Deutonymphs of both mite species failed to molt normally and died, with mortality rates of 76.97% and 84.32%, respectively. After feeding on or microinjection dsFPPS, N. californicus and H. axyridis developed normally, indicating no significant effects on these natural enemies. These findings demonstrate that dsFPPS has high lethality against pest mites while being safe for non-target organisms. The FPPS gene can therefore serve as an ideal target for RNAi-based control of pest mites and has potential for development as a novel environmentally friendly acaricide.

Potato Solanum tuberosum is a cornerstone food crop in China. However, its production is significantly compromised by various pests and diseases, including late blight, early blight, black scurf, blackleg, grubs, aphids, and weeds. Consequently, the scientific and judicious application of pesticides is essential for ensuring both yield and quality. As of March 20, 2025, a total of 804 pesticide products have been registered in China for potato cultivation, comprising 497 fungicides, 128 herbicides, 109 insecticides, and 70 plant growth regulators. This review evaluates the current status of these registrations, identifies the prevailing challenges, and proposes optimization strategies to enhance integrated pest management, promote the rational use of pesticides, and facilitate the sustainable development of the potato industry.

The evolution of insecticide resistance in pests has become a critical challenge restricting the sustainable development of global agriculture. Compared with target-site resistance and metabolic resistance, cuticular penetration resistance is an early-stage resistance strategy adopted by insects to defend against insecticides with contact action. It primarily reduces the efficiency of insecticide penetration through the insect’s outer barrier and its delivery to the target site. On one hand, it decreases the amount of insecticide that penetrates; on the other hand, it prolongs the detoxification time of the insecticide within the body, thereby enhancing the resistance effect. This mechanism often synergizes with other resistance mechanisms. This systematic review summarizes the latest research progress on the cuticle-mediated mechanisms of insecticide resistance in pests. It focuses on the molecular basis underlying the formation of cuticular penetration resistance, the key regulatory networks, and its evolutionary characteristics. Future perspectives are also discussed, aiming to provide new insights for pest resistance management strategies.

The Moroccan locust Dociostaurus maroccanus is one of the most devastating phytophagous pests worldwide. This study focuses on elucidating the current invasion status of D. maroccanus in China and comprehensively analyzes its potential risks from three aspects: habitat characteristics in invaded areas, environmental conditions, and biological traits. In combination with the Biosecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China and current control practices, targeted control strategies and recommendations are proposed. This study aims to provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for decision-making in the early warning and effective management of D. maroccanus in China.

To investigate the population structure and phylogenetic relationships among different geographic populations of Asiatic rice borer Chilo suppressalis in Ningbo City, China,whole-genome resequencing was performed on 37 individuals from eight populations (six from Ningbo, one from Beijing, and one from Hangzhou). Genomic variations were identified, and population genetic analyses including population structure, selective sweeps, genetic diversity, and historical effective population size were conducted. The results showed that a total of 42 149 215 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 11 912 812 insertions/deletions were identified across the 37 genomes, with most variations located in intergenic and intronic regions. Among the six Ningbo populations, Yinzhou, Yuyao and Haishu populations were closely related, whereas the Xiangshan population showed the greatest genetic distance from the other Ningbo populations and exhibited moderate genetic differentiation. Genes within the selective sweep regions of the Xiangshan population was significantly enriched in seven signaling pathways, including melanogenesis and circadian entrainment. Among the Ningbo populations, nucleotide diversity was relatively higher in the Haishu and Yinzhou populations, but lower in the Xiangshan and Fenghua populations. The Ningbo populations experienced a rapid contraction approximately 3 000—1 000 years ago, followed by a rapid population expansion.

To systematically investigate the differences in predation capacity and control efficiency of predatory ladybirds against aphids under different conditions, laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate predation at different aphid densities, environmental temperatures, and predator density gradients. The data were fitted with Holling’s disc equation and models of interference and competition. The results showed that the functional responses of Harmonia axyridis to Aphis gossypii, Aphis glycines, Aphis sophoricola, and Chaitophorus populeti all conformed to Holling type II functional response. Among the tested aphid species, H. axyridis exhibited the strongest predation capacity and control efficiency against C. populeti, with a theoretical maximum daily predation of 500.00 individuals, whereas its control efficiency against A. sophoricola was the weakest, with a theoretical maximum daily predation of only 90.91 individuals. The predation capacity of H. axyridis against A. glycines increased with temperature within the range of 21-33 ℃ and reached a maximum at 33 ℃, after which it declined at higher temperatures. Moreover, the fourth-instar larvae of H. axyridis exhibited higher control efficiency against A. glycines than adult females. Increasing predator density intensified intraspecific competition in H. axyridis populations; although total predation increased, the mean predation per individual decreased significantly with increasing predator density, indicating that predation efficiency was constrained by density-dependent interference. Compared with H. axyridis, Adonia variegata showed stronger predation capacity against A. sophoricola. With increasing aphid density, the searching efficiency of both species declined. These results indicate that predatory ladybirds have strong predation potential against aphids, and their functional responses and predation efficiencies are influenced by aphid species, temperature, and the intensity of intraspecific competition, with notable differences among ladybird species.