[Objective] This study focused on the primary tea-producing regions of Shangluo City (ranging from 108°34′20″ E to 111°1′25″ E and 33°2′30″ N to 34°24′40″ N), which include Shangnan County, Zhen’an County, Zhashui County, Danfeng County, and Shanyang County. The aim was to explore the characteristics and influencing factors of soil nutrient content variation across different tea gardens in the area. The study involved an analysis of various soil nutrient indicators and an investigation of their correlations to assess the nutrient status of tea gardens in Shangluo City. [Method] A total of 228 soil samples from these tea gardens were quantitatively analyzed for pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), as well as clay, silt, and sand content. Additionally, the soil texture was qualitatively analyzed. Statistical methods including analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and regression analysis were performed using SPSS software to examine the relationships between soil nutrients and texture in relation to altitude, latitude, and fertility status. [Results] The results indicated that the pH of tea garden soils in Shangluo City was relatively stable, ranging from 4.3 to 7.6, with the mean of 5.9 and a coefficient of variation of 11.0%. The soil organic matter (SOM) content varied from 7.491 to 81.783 g/kg, exhibiting a moderate variability with a coefficient of variation of 38.75%. The mean values for total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), total potassium (TK), available potassium (AK), clay, silt, and sand were 1.53 g/kg, 213 mg/kg, 0.85 g/kg, 49.1 mg/kg, 5.5 g/kg, 110 mg/kg, 3.99, 44.89, and 51.11, respectively. AN and AP displayed higher coefficients of variation at 57% and 120.1%, respectively. Significant differences in pH, SOM, TN, TP, TK, silt, and sand were observed at varying elevations, while TN, TP, TK, clay, silt, and sand varied significantly across different latitudes. Principal component analysis (PCA) results revealed that altitude had four principal components with eigenvalues greater than 1, accounting for 71.366% of the total variance, whereas latitude exhibited five principal components with eigenvalues exceeding 1, explaining 76.304% of the total variance. Regression analysis indicated that altitude exerted a stronger influence on soil indicators, as demonstrated by a well-fitting model (Model 4), where the coefficients of principal components 1, 3, and 4 were positive, while that of principal component 2 was negative. In contrast, latitude influenced soil indicators most effectively in Model 3, where the coefficient of principal component 5 was positive, and the coefficients of principal components 1 and 4 were negative. [Conclusions] The variation in soil nutrients and pH in the tea gardens of Shangluo City is closely associated with altitude and latitude. Notably, there is no discernible trend of pH acidification. Therefore, tea garden management should prioritize the rational application of soil nutrients at varying altitudes and focus on enhancing soil texture at different latitudes to adapt to the diverse soil characteristics under these conditions, thereby promoting sustainable development in tea gardens.

深入了解余杭区茶园土壤养分状况与肥力水平，可为该区径山茶园土壤改良、精准施肥以及优质径山茶叶生产提供科学依据。本研究对余杭区径山茶园面积集中的7个镇街进行实地调查和布点采样，采集并分析了36个样点径山茶园土壤，检测6个肥力指标，既土壤pH、有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾含量，并采用主成分分析法和模糊数学隶属度函数模型，通过计算土壤肥力综合指数(IFI)，对余杭区土壤养分状况进行数值化综合评价。结果表明：余杭径山茶园土壤有酸化趋势；茶园土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量整体丰富，平均值均达到I级优质标准；91.7%的径山茶园土壤肥力综合指数IFI达到I级优质标准，8.3%达到II级标准，余杭径山茶园土壤适宜种植径山茶树。

Microplastics are contaminants of emerging concern; they are ingested by marine biota. About a quarter of global marine fish landings is used to produce fishmeal for animal and aquaculture feed. To provide a knowledge foundation for this matrix we reviewed the existing literature for studies of microplastics in fishmeal-relevant species. 55% of studies were deemed unsuitable due to focus on large microplastics (> 1 mm), lack of, or limited contamination control and polymer testing techniques. Overall, fishmeal-relevant species exhibit 0.72 microplastics/individual, with studies generally only assessing digestive organs. We validated a density separation method for effectiveness of microplastic extraction from this medium and assessed two commercial products for microplastics. Recovery rates of a range of dosed microplastics from whitefish fishmeal samples were 71.3 ± 1.2%. Commercial samples contained 123.9 ± 16.5 microplastics per kg of fishmeal—mainly polyethylene—including 52.0 ± 14.0 microfibres—mainly rayon. Concentrations in processed fishmeal seem higher than in captured fish, suggesting potential augmentation during the production process. Based on conservative estimates, over 300 million microplastic particles (mostly < 1 mm) could be released annually to the oceans through marine aquaculture alone. Fishmeal is both a source of microplastics to the environment, and directly exposes organisms for human consumption to these particles.

Iron is an essential element for most organisms. Both plants and microorganisms have developed different mechanisms for iron uptake, transport and storage. In the symbiosis systems, such as rhizobia–legume symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, maintaining iron homeostasis to meet the requirements for the interaction between the host plants and the symbiotic microbes is a new challenge. This intriguing topic has drawn the attention of many botanists and microbiologists, and many discoveries have been achieved so far. In this review, we discuss the current progress on iron uptake and transport in the nodules and iron homeostasis in rhizobia–legume symbiosis. The discoveries with regard to iron uptake in AM fungi, iron uptake regulation in AM plants and interactions between iron and other nutrient elements during AM symbiosis are also summarized. At the end of this review, we propose prospects for future studies in this fascinating research area.

Background/Aims: Epigenetic regulation is considered the main molecular mechanism underlying the developmental origin of health and disease’s (DOHAD) hypothesis. Previous studies that have investigated the role of paternal exercise on the metabolic health of the offspring did not control for the amount and intensity of the training or possible effects of adaptation to exercise and produced conflicting results regarding the benefits of parental exercise to the next generation. We employed a precisely regulated exercise regimen to study the transgenerational inheritance of improved metabolic health. Methods: We subjected male mice to a well-controlled exercise -training program to investigate the effects of paternal exercise on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in their adult progeny. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance, we determined chromatin markers in the skeletal muscle of the offspring and the paternal sperm. Results: Offspring of trained male mice exhibited improved glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Paternal exercise modulated the DNA methylation profile of PI3Kca and the imprinted H19/Igf2 locus at specific differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in the skeletal muscle of the offspring, which affected their gene expression. Remarkably, a similar DNA methylation profile at the PI3Kca, H19, and Igf2 genes was present in the progenitor sperm indicating that exercise-induced epigenetic changes that occurred during germ cell development contributed to transgenerational transmission. Conclusion: Paternal exercise might be considered as a strategy that could promote metabolic health in the offspring as the benefits can be inherited transgenerationally.