Abbreviation (ISO4): Chin Agric Sci Bull
Editor in chief: Yulong YIN
The study aims to breed a new japonica rice variety with high yield, good quality, and multi-resistance suitable for planting in the Huang-Huai rice region. Using ‘Jindao 1007’ as the female parent and ‘Shengdao 18’ as the male parent, a cross was made and pedigree selection was performed. The yield, quality, and resistance traits of ‘Jirudao 1’ were systematically evaluated through multi-year and multi-location trials. In the Shandong Provincial regional trials from 2019 to 2021, ‘Jirudao 1’ achieved an average yield of 10437 kg/hm2, which was 8.1% higher than the control variety ‘Lindao 10’. In the production trial, the average yield of ‘Jirudao 1’ was 9129 kg/hm2, representing a 9.4% increase over the control. The rice quality of ‘Jirudao 1’ showed a brown rice rate of 84.6%, head milled rice rate of 67.8%, chalkiness degree of 4.0%, amylose content of 15.7%, gel consistency of 73 mm, and alkali spreading value of 6.5; its main quality indicators reached the Grade 3 standard for high-quality paddy issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and it was recognized as a superior taste variety by Jiangsu Province in 2023. KASP marker detection confirmed the presence of blast resistance genes pi35 and Pita. It also exhibited good resistance to rice stripe virus disease, bacterial blight, and sheath blight. ‘Jirudao 1’ achieves coordinated improvement in high yield, good quality, and multi-resistance, making it suitable for popularization and cultivation in the Huang-Huai rice region
In order to explore the physiological mechanism of oat salt tolerance and screen excellent germplasm, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for saline land management and variety breeding, a total of 300 core oat germplasms were used as test materials. Six physiological indexes of seedlings were measured by K-means classification combined with salt stress treatment, and the comprehensive salt tolerance was evaluated by membership function method. The 300 varieties were divided into 4 categories, and 20 extreme materials were selected for verification. The MDA content in the aboveground part of the salt-sensitive variety (‘Qingyongjiu 786’) increased by 77.88%, while the MDA content in the underground part of the extremely salt-tolerant variety (‘Hummer’) decreased by 74.22%. The proline content of the salt-tolerant variety (‘Qingyan No.1’) increased by 2329.36%, and the activities of SOD and POD were significantly enhanced, showing excellent physiological regulation ability. The salt tolerance of oats was positively correlated with the maintenance of antioxidant enzyme activity and the accumulation of proline. Finally, three extremely salt-tolerant core germplasms, including ‘Hummer’, ‘Qingyongjiu 461’ and ‘Qingyongjiu 491’, and three salt-sensitive core germplasms, including ‘Taiyangshen’, ‘Qingyin No.2’ and ‘Beile No.2’, were identified. These identified germplasms provide valuable genetic resources for further analysis of oat salt tolerance mechanism, molecular breeding and efficient utilization of saline-alkali land.
To clarify the impact of temperature on seed germination and seedling growth of Lycium barbarum, establish a comprehensive heat tolerance evaluation system for the germination and seedling stages, and provide theoretical and methodological basis for breeding heat-resistant varieties, we selected 14 L. barbarum varieties as experimental materials in this study. We applied four temperature treatments (21℃, 28℃, 35℃, and 38℃) at the germination stage and the seedling stage. Subsequently, we measured morphological indicators, including germination rate, germination potential, germination index, vigor index, root length, shoot length, and root-shoot ratio, and calculated the heat tolerance coefficient for each indicator. Furthermore, we adopted principal component analysis (PCA), membership function analysis, and cluster analysis to comprehensively evaluate the heat tolerance of the L. barbarum varieties. The results showed that all 14 varieties germinated normally at temperatures below 35℃. However, at 35℃, root and shoot elongation was significantly inhibited in seedlings. When the temperature rose to 38℃, seedlings virtually ceased growth and entered a heat-shock state. PCA transformed the eight individual indicators into three mutually independent comprehensive indicators, with a cumulative contribution rate of 91.24%, fully capturing the heat tolerance information of L. barbarum. In conclusion, based on the comprehensive evaluation D value for heat tolerance, we divided the 14 varieties into two major categories: varieties 14-02, 2-182, and 7-8 were classified as heat-tolerant types, whereas varieties N7, 2-184 and 19009-20 were extremely heat-sensitive. The comprehensive evaluation method established in this study is reliable and is simple to operate. It enables rapid preliminary identification of heat tolerance in L. barbarum varieties and provides effective technical support for breeding new heat-resistant L. barbarum cultivars.
To address the issues of severe diseases and narrow varietal diversity in tobacco-growing areas of Southeast China, a new flue-cured tobacco variety with high quality, multiple disease resistance, easy curing and high yield was bred to meet production demands. ‘Xiangyan 8’ was developed via systematic pedigree selection from the cross between ‘Xiangyan 4’ (female parent) and ‘K326’ (male parent), and was approved by the National Tobacco Variety Examination Committee in 2023. This variety exhibits stable heredity, strong field growth vigor and easy curing. It is resistant to black shank and moderately resistant to bacterial wilt, with comprehensive resistance superior to that of ‘K326’. Its main economic traits are significantly better than those of ‘K326’ and comparable to those of ‘Yunyan 87’. Compared with ‘K326’, the yield, output value, average price and high-grade leaf proportion of ‘Xiangyan 8’ were increased by 8.64%, 13.68%, 5.35% and 13.48% respectively. The cured leaves are mostly orange-yellow, rich in oil and loosely structured. The internal chemical components are harmonious. Sensory evaluation shows that its aroma quality is medium to high, and its overall sensory quality is superior to that of ‘K326’ and ‘Yunyan 87’. As an elite new variety balancing quality, disease resistance and yield, ‘Xiangyan 8’ is suitable for popularization and cultivation in tobacco-growing areas of Hunan Province and Southeast China.
To analyze the structure of CmoMLO gene family members in clade V of Chinese pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) and their relationship with powdery mildew resistance, this study utilized a highly powdery mildew-susceptible pumpkin line as material. Five MLO homologous genes from clade V of Chinese pumpkin (CmoMLO4, CmoMLO8, CmoMLO13, CmoMLO18, and CmoMLO19) were cloned using TA cloning. Additionally, pTRV2-VIGS silencing vectors for the five genes were constructed through homologous cloning, and changes in the expression levels of the relevant genes were detected. Complete open reading frame (ORF) sequences (1803-2067 bp) of the five CmoMLO genes were obtained. Sequence analysis revealed that the amino acid sequences of the cloned target genes showed ≥99% identity with the reference sequences in the Chinese pumpkin genome database, and all contained seven transmembrane domains with highly conserved transmembrane region amino acid sequences. Following Podosphaera xanthii inoculation for 24 h, the expression levels of CmoMLO8 and CmoMLO19 in the control plants were upregulated by 53.5-fold and 13.5-fold, respectively. After 24 h of inoculation, the target gene expression levels in pTRV2-CmoMLO8 and pTRV2-CmoMLO19 silenced plants were significantly reduced, with upregulation of only 8-fold and 3.7-fold, respectively. The CmoMLO8 and CmoMLO19 genes of clade V CmoMLO family are key genes involved in Chinese pumpkin response to powdery mildew infection.
This study aims to identify the C2H2 zinc finger protein gene family members in rose (Rosa chinensis) using bioinformatics approaches, and to analyze their physicochemical properties, chromosomal localization, gene structures, and expression patterns, thereby providing a foundation for understanding the functional mechanisms of C2H2 proteins. A total of 43 C2H2 genes were identified in rose, distributed across seven chromosomes and classified into five subfamilies. Synteny analysis revealed 41 collinear gene pairs between rose and Arabidopsis thaliana, and 10 collinear gene pairs within the rose genome. Conserved motif analysis identified five motifs, among which Motif 1 was the core motif. Promoter regions contained various cis-acting elements associated with abscisic acid response, anaerobic stress, photoperiod, and others. Protein interaction analysis indicated that 29 C2H2 gene family members exhibited interactions, with RcC2H2zfp7 serving as a central hub node. Tissue expression analysis revealed that members of this gene family exhibited the highest expression levels in roots, followed by stamens. This study systematically elucidates the basic characteristics and expression patterns of the C2H2 zinc finger protein gene family in rose, providing a theoretical reference for further exploration of their functions in growth, development, and stress responses.
This study aimed to reveal the differences in the composition of soil bacterial community and the key environmental drivers across different forest types in the rocky mountainous area along the Yellow River in northern Shaanxi. The Platycladus orientalis forest, Pinus tabuliformis - Amorpha fruticosa forest, Ziziphus jujuba forest, and Pinus tabuliformis - Rhus typhina forest were selected as the study objects, and 16s rRNA high-throughput gene sequencing and soil physicochemical analysis were employed to systematically compare the effects of forest types on soil bacterial community characteristics. The number of soil bacterial OTUs among the four forests followed this order: Pinus tabuliformis - Rhus typhina (6209) > Platycladus orientalis (5817) > Pinus tabuliformis - Amorpha fruticosa (5519) > Ziziphus jujuba (5351), and the β-diversity varied significantly among the forest types. The dominant bacterial phyla were Actinobacteria (26.42%-38.33%), Proteobacteria (16.13%-23.81%), and Acidobacteria (13.66%-21.41%). Soil physicochemical properties explained 83.29% of the variation in bacterial community composition, with total nitrogen (r²=0.8279), soil organic carbon (r²=0.7772), and total phosphorus (r²=0.7765) as the key drivers. The type of forests significantly affects soil bacterial structure in the rocky mountainous area along the Yellow River in northern Shaanxi, with total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and total phosphorus as the core environmental drivers.
Cultivated land quality grade evaluation serves as an effective means of guiding cultivated land quality management, ensuring national food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Traditional evaluation approaches rely heavily on manual operations, resulting in low efficiency. To address these issues, an automated evaluation method was developed in this study. Based on the national standard Cultivated Land Quality Grade (GB/T 33469—2016), an automated script was developed using ArcPy and encapsulated as an ArcToolbox tool. Evaluation rules were decoupled from program code through an Excel configuration file. An empirical study was conducted using 15986 cultivated land patches in Xinfeng County, Guangdong Province, of year 2022. The results indicated that the tool completed the evaluation calculations for all patches within 20 seconds, with an accuracy rate of 100%. The processing efficiency was significantly improved compared to conventional manual methods. The proposed approach automates and standardizes the cultivated land quality grade evaluation process through the decoupling of rule configuration from program code. This method provided technical support for county-scale batch processing and could be extended to other regions using the same national standard.
The study aims to investigate the differences in drying shrinkage characteristics of paddy soils developed from different parent materials in the red soil region and to provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the formation mechanism of paddy soil structure and optimizing field management practices. Undisturbed soil samples from the plough layer and plow pan of six types of paddy soils developed from different parent materials in the red soil region were collected for drying shrinkage experiments. Soil crack area density was determined using image analysis, and geometric factors were calculated to characterize the drying shrinkage behavior of the soils. The results showed that in the plough layer, the crack area density followed the order: river sediment (RS, 21.41%) > Quaternary red clay (QC, 16.80%) > quartzite weathering material (Q, 10.54%) > lake sediment (LS, 7.17%) > acidic crystalline rock weathering material (ACR, 4.80%) > argillaceous rock weathering material (AR, 2.99%). The axial shrinkage strain followed the order: RS (7.69%) > Q (4.00%) > QC (3.71%) > LS (2.08%) >ACR (1.72%) > AR (1.01%). The slopes of the shrinkage characteristic curves were generally consistent between the plough layer and the plow pan, indicating that the soil had similar deformation characteristics in the vertical direction. Drying shrinkage characteristics of paddy soils in the red soil region varied significantly with parent materials. In the plough layer, paddy soil developed from RS exhibited the highest crack area density, whereas that developed from AR showed the lowest. In the plow pan, the highest crack area density was observed in paddy soil developed from RS, while the lowest was found in soil developed from ACR. Axial shrinkage strain was significantly and positively correlated with crack area density, indicating that vertical shrinkage was closely related to horizontal cracking. However, there was no significant correlation between geometric factors and soil axial shrinkage strain and surface density of shrinkage cracks.
Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in wheat and its transfer into the food chain represent a major global environmental concern. To clarify the physiological mechanism by which silicon (Si) fertilizer alleviates cadmium toxicity in wheat, the paper used the wheat variety ‘Bainong 607’ and conducted a hydroponic experiment. 4 treatments were set up, including control (CK), Cd treatment (Cd, 44.4 µmol/L), Si treatment (Si, 1 mmol/L), and combined Si and Cd treatment (Si+Cd, 1 mmol/L Si+44.4 µmol/L Cd), to investigate the alleviating effects of Si on seedlings growth, root development, Cd accumulation, and the antioxidant system under Cd stress. The results showed that compared with CK, Cd treatment significantly inhibited wheat seedling growth, reducing plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, root surface area, and root volume by 4.3%, 26.5%, 42.9%, 27.4%, and 35.4%, respectively. Compared with Cd treatment, Si+Cd treatment significantly alleviated Cd toxicity, increasing fresh weight, dry weight, root length, root surface area, and root volume by 29.2%, 37.5%, 18.4%, 26.8%, and 37.5%, respectively; meanwhile, Si+Cd treatment significantly altered the Cd distribution in wheat seedlings: the Cd content in the aboveground stems and leaves decreased by 3.3% and 18.4%, respectively, while the Cd retention in the roots increased by 15.7%, reducing the Cd translocation factor from the roots to the aboveground parts. Furthermore, compared with Cd treatment, Si+Cd treatment significantly reduced root malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 27.5% and regulated peroxidase (POD) activity, effectively mitigating oxidative damage. In conclusion, Si application can effectively alleviate Cd stress in wheat seedlings by promoting root development, inhibiting Cd upward transport, and enhancing the antioxidant defense system. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using Si fertilizer to reduce Cd-induced harm and ensure safe wheat production in soils moderately and lightly contaminated with Cd.
To explore the feasibility of using rice straw mulching instead of plastic film and study the effects of different rice straw mulching amounts on pepper growth and soil environment, two mulching methods of plastic film (DM) and rice straw were conducted in this study, and three rice straw mulching amounts were set, including 3000 kg/hm2 (JG3), 6000 kg/hm2 (JG6), and 9000 kg/hm2 (JG9), with no mulching as control (CK). The changes of pepper yield and quality, soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, and soil bacterial community diversity in different treatments were analyzed and compared. The results showed that the rice straw decomposition rate was decreased with the increase of their mulching amount; the plant height, stem diameter, and yield were significantly increased in rice straw mulching treatments, and the highest yield was exhibited in treatment JG6 of 20627.90 kg/hm2. Rice straw mulching was also beneficial for reducing the crude fiber content of peppers, increasing the capsaicin content, fruit length, fresh fruit weight, fruit diameter, and flesh thickness. The highest capsaicin content, fresh fruit weight, fruit diameter, and flesh thickness were observed in JG6 treatment by 36.7 mg/kg, 37.2 g, 26.5 mm, and 3.56 mm, respectively. Compared with plastic film mulching treatment, the activities of soil acid phosphatase, sucrase, dehydrogenase, soil pH, total organic carbon, and available phosphorus content was significantly increased in rice straw mulching treatment, while in treatment DM, soil pH was significantly decreased. The urease activity, total organic carbon, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen, and available potassium content were all lower than those in CK. The high-throughput sequencing results showed that the OTU, Shannon diversity index, Chao1 index, and ACE index in DM treatment were all lower than CK, while those in straw mulching treatment were all higher than CK. The dominant bacteria in all five treatments were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria, with relative abundance ranges of 30.49% to 34.13%, 17.19% to 22.11%, and 10.26% to 12.28%, respectively. Relative abundance of Chloroflexi in DM treatment was 12.95%, which was significantly higher than all other treatments. Correlation analysis showed that pepper yield was significantly positive correlated with OTU, Chao1, ACE, and Bacteroidota, while pepper stem thickness was significantly negative correlated with Chloroflexi and Firmicutes. Soil pH, total organic carbon content, enzyme activity, and available potassium content were positively correlated with Bacteroidota. Consequently, higher pepper yield and better quality were observed than other treatments when the rice straw mulching amount was 6000 kg/hm2. Compared with plastic film mulching, rice straw mulching improved the pepper yield, pepper quality, and soil environment.
To evaluate the effects of drip-applied sugar-acid-fertilizer combinations on soil properties and cotton yield in severely saline-alkali cotton fields, a field experiment was conducted in 2025 at the Modern Agricultural Industrial Park in Bachu County, Kashgar, Xinjiang. Eight treatments were established: conventional fertilization (CK), glucose (C), oxalic acid (H), monoammonium phosphate (P), C+H, C+P, H+P, and C+H+P. The amendments were applied through drip irrigation during the first irrigation at the seedling and budding stages, and soil samples were collected from different soil layers 3 days after application. Soil pH and available phosphorus were measured, and cotton dry matter accumulation and yield were determined. The results showed that soil pH responses varied with growth stage and soil depth. The C+H+P treatment produced the greatest decrease in pH in the 0-5 cm layer, by 0.40 and 0.31 units at the seedling and budding stages, respectively, compared with CK. Treatments containing monoammonium phosphate significantly increased available phosphorus at all sampled depths. Under C+H+P, available phosphorus in the 0-5 cm layer increased by 342.69% and 323.36% at the seedling and budding stages, respectively. The C+H+P treatment increased total dry matter accumulation and seed cotton yield by 62.94% and 57.84%, respectively, relative to CK. Under the conditions of this study, drip application of glucose, oxalic acid, and monoammonium phosphate improved phosphorus availability and promoted cotton growth and yield, with C+H+P showing the most favorable overall effect. This study provides a valuable reference for water and fertilizer regulation and yield improvement in severely saline-alkali cotton fields in arid areas.
To identify the impact of climate warming on double-cropping late rice, this study evaluated the climatic advantages and disadvantages at different growth stages of late rice with three sowing dates (late June, early July, and mid-July) based on meteorological data from 1981 to 2024 in Keqiao District, Shaoxing City. The results indicated that compared with the period 1981-2000, during 2001-2024, the temperature during the vegetative growth stage of late rice increased, the duration of suitable temperature during the grain filling and ripening stage extended, and the risk of chilling damage during the heading and flowering stage in autumn decreased significantly. However, the risk of high temperature stress during the jointing and booting stage increased. Early July was identified as the optimal sowing window, as it could effectively avoid high temperature at the booting stage and chilling damage at the heading stage, while providing suitable or relatively suitable temperature conditions for grain filling. This sowing date also was best aligned with the local large-scale harvest period of early rice (mid-July). Late June was the suboptimal sowing date, requiring precautions against high temperature at the booting stage, but it coordinated well with the early rice harvest period in early July. Mid-July was not recommended due to the high risk of autumn chilling damage during the heading stage, insufficient temperature during the late grain filling period, and low benefits in farming schedule coordination. This study provides a quantitative basis for optimizing the sowing date arrangement in Keqiao District and analogous double-cropping rice regions.
To investigate the patterns of phenological stage evolution and their driving mechanisms for winter wheat in Hengshui City, this study utilized observational data from agricultural meteorological stations in the region from 1990 to 2020 to establish a comprehensive database covering the entire growth and development process of winter wheat and corresponding meteorological elements. Using a combination of Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression models, we conducted a quantitative study of the temporal variations in winter wheat phenological stages over the past 30 years and systematically analyzed the trends in major climatic elements during the growing season (October-June of the following year), ultimately clarifying the intrinsic relationship between phenological dynamics and meteorological factors. The analysis results showed that between 1990 and 2020, the average air temperature and average soil temperature throughout the entire growth period of winter wheat in Hengshui City generally exhibited a fluctuating upward trend. Among these, the upward trends in May air temperature and March soil temperature were the most pronounced, with increases of 0.81℃/10 years (P<0.001) and 1.54℃/10 years (P<0.01), respectively, while the number of hours of sunshine showed a downward trend. The pre-winter growth period of winter wheat consistently exhibited a trend of delay, while the post-winter growth period consistently showed a trend of advancement, resulting in an overall shortening of the growth cycle at a rate of approximately 3.46 days per 10 years. From the perspective of growth stages, there was a significant negative relationship between the growth-day index and sunshine duration during the pre-winter stages, whereas the growth-day index during the post-winter stages showed a clear negative correlation with both air temperature and soil temperature. Among meteorological factors, air temperature has the most significant impact on changes in the growth period, exerting a pronounced negative regulatory effect on the number of growth days. The growth cycle of winter wheat in Hengshui City exhibits a distinct asymmetric pattern characterized by “delayed pre-winter growth and shortened post-winter growth.” The fundamental driving force behind this is the strategy of shortening the growth period to avoid the harmful effects of high temperatures; however, this may also result in reduced tillering and insufficient grain filling due to insufficient time for the accumulation of photosynthetic products.
This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of meteorological conditions and disaster risks during different growth periods of sorghum in the Zunyi region, and to assess the comprehensive meteorological risk. Based on data from 12 national meteorological stations in Zunyi from 1981 to 2024, methods including linear trend analysis, Mann-Kendall (M-K) mutation test, and entropy weight method were employed. The spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of meteorological conditions and major disaster risks (late spring cold/high temperature, drought, cloudy-rainy weather) during the sorghum nursery period, growth period, early maturation period, and late maturation period were systematically analyzed, followed by a comprehensive risk assessment. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) From 1981 to 2024, temperatures during all sorghum growth periods in Zunyi generally increased, with the most significant warming during the nursery period (0.7 ℃/10a, P<0.01). Precipitation exhibited a pattern of “increase in early stages, decrease in later stages”, with the largest decrease in the late maturation period (-8.6 mm/10a). Sunshine duration showed fluctuating changes, increasing during the nursery period and decreasing during the growth period. Concentrated mutations in meteorological elements occurred around 2000 and 2010, with temperatures generally rising by 0.3-1.8℃ after the mutations. (2) Disaster risks displayed a transition characteristic of “decreasing low-temperature risk and increasing high-temperature risk”. The number of late spring cold days during the nursery period decreased significantly (-1.3 d/10a, P<0.01), while the number of high-temperature days from the growth period to the late maturation period all increased significantly (0.1-1.1 d/10a). (3) Dominant risks varied significantly across different growth periods. Late spring cold was the core risk during the nursery period (weight 51.7%). During the growth period, early maturation period, and late maturation period, overcast, rainy and low-light weather became the dominant risk (weights 36.2%-39.9%), with high temperature and drought having similar weights (29.8%-32.4%). The northern and eastern parts of the region exhibited higher risks during the nursery period (≥0.8). Chishui City was identified as the area with the most prominent meteorological risks during the middle and late growth periods (≥0.6-0.8). The sorghum production in Zunyi exhibits a spatiotemporal differentiation pattern characterized by “late spring cold days in the early stage, and superimposed overcast, rainy and lowlight weather with high temperature and drought in the middle and late stages,” necessitating precision defense measures tailored to growth stage, region, and disaster type.
Based on the observation data from monitoring stations in the Xinghua river-crab aquaculture area from 1991 to 2024, this paper established a forecasting model between meteorological factors and the first-day stocking of crab seedlings using the stepwise regression method. It provides technical support for river-crab farmers to avoid low-temperature risks and select accurate stocking periods so as to improve the survival rate of crab seedlings. The results showed that from 1991 to 2024, the average first stocking date in Xinghua fell on February 21 (in common years) or February 22 (in leap years), with a trend of advancing over time at a rate of 0.09 days/year. The ten-day mean temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration prior to the stocking period were significantly correlated with the first stocking date. Using stepwise regression, three key factors were identified, including sunshine duration in late January, extreme minimum temperature in early March, and extreme maximum temperature in mid-September of the previous year, to construct a prediction model for the first stocking date based on preceding meteorological factors. The model demonstrated good fitting performance for the data of 1991-2015; for the year of 2016-2024, the minimum error between predicted and actual values was 0.76 days, with an average prediction error of 3.65 days. The model results are reasonably reliable and can better serve crab farming production.
This study aims to deeply elucidate the key effect of ATF4 on porcine early embryonic development, laying a theoretical foundation for further exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to quantify ATF4 expression during different stages of porcine parthenogenetic embryo. Furthermore, ATF4 mRNA and ATF4 siRNA were microinjected into the cytoplasm of porcine parthenogenetic embryos, and the effect of ATF4 on porcine early embryonic development was subsequently analyzed by evaluating the embryo development rate. The results indicated that ATF4 expression showed a trend of initially increase followed by a decline across different stages of porcine early embryonic development, with the highest expression level at the 8-cell stage. Cytoplasmic microinjection of 10 pL of 500 ng/μL ATF4 mRNA at 4-5 h post-activation significantly promoted the development of porcine early embryos. Whereas injection of 10 pL of 20 μM ATF4 siRNA suppressed the embryonic development rate. These results indicate that ATF4 effectively alleviate the developmental arrest and promote embryonic development.
The wild boar (Sus scrofa) population in Beijing Songshan Nature Reserve has shown an increasing trend in distribution and density, implying a potential threat to local wildlife and ecosystems. To investigate the genetic structure and population dynamics of the wild boar population, we conducted genetic analyses on 122 fecal samples by using high-throughput sequencing technology and non-invasive sampling method. The results showed that species and individual identification confirmed 44 unique wild boar samples. Genetic diversity analysis revealed an average of 1505393 SNP loci per sample, with an observed heterozygosity of 0.214, indicating moderate genetic diversity. For genetic diversity and genetic structure analysis for the populations, the results showed that the Songshan population samples were divided into two branches with low to moderate differentiation (Fst=0.059). The inbreeding coefficient (Fis) of branch A was 0.061, while that of branch B was 0.1810, suggesting a certain degree of inbreeding within branch B. Effective population size analysis indicated historical fluctuations in the wild boar population. This study provides the basic genetic data of wild boar in Songshan Reserve, and provides a scientific basis for formulating protection and management strategies and maintaining ecological balance.
To meet the demand for high-performance biofilter media in aquaponics systems, a closed-loop aquaponics system was established with 5 treatments: volcanic stone (T1), zeolite (T2), maifan stone (T3), ceramsite (T4), and mixed stones (T5). The impact of these media on water quality indicators, lettuce growth, and fish performance was analyzed, and the underlying mechanisms were explored in relation to the pore structure and chemical composition of the materials. The results indicated that the volcanic stone group (T1) significantly optimized water quality compared to other media. The concentration of ammonia nitrogen decreased to 0.70 mg / L, the concentration of nitrite was the lowest, and the average dissolved oxygen was as high as 7.64 mg / L. In T1, lettuce root length (375.06 cm) and root volume (13.47 cm3) increased significantly, the net photosynthetic rate reached 16.32 μmol/(m2·s), and the yield was 35674 kg/hm2, all of which were higher than that of other treatments. Furthermore, the crucian carp in T1 achieved a weight gain of 147.67 g, and the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level significantly decreased to 392.20 U/L. In contrast, while the zeolite group (T2) showed the lowest total phosphorus at the end of the experiment (4.52 mg/L), its ammonia nitrogen accumulated to 1.35 mg/L, leading to physiological stress in the fish with AST levels rising to 753.03 U/L. The maifan stone group (T3) significantly increased the soluble protein content of lettuce to 29.18 mg/g and maintained good health indicators in the fish. The mixed stone group (T5) did not demonstrate the expected synergistic advantages. In conclusion, volcanic stone performs best overall in improving water quality, promoting lettuce growth, and maintaining fish health, and its high porosity and specific surface area facilitate microbial attachment and nitrogen transformation, making it a highly efficient biological filter medium for aquaponics systems. These findings provide a valuable reference for the development of water-saving facility agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions.
To investigate the antibacterial effects of citric acid and lactic acid under different concentrations and compounding conditions against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, we determined the optimal antibacterial proportion by evaluating inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and growth-killing curves. When the stock solution concentration of citric acid was 4.0% and lactic acid was 2.0%, mixed in a volume ratio of 3:1, the antibacterial effect against E. coli and S. aureus was the best, with inhibition zone diameters reaching 13.5 mm and 14.2 mm respectively, and the synergistic bacteriostasis effect was significantly better than that of single components. Finally, the optimal citric acid/lactic acid compound was applied to beef preservation. By evaluating indicators such as total bacterial count, texture, color difference, and water-holding capacity of beef, the results showed that the total bacterial count of chilled beef during storage was significantly lower than that of the control group, the color L value reduced by 2.3, the a value decreased by 1.5, and the water-holding capacity was significantly improved, effectively extending the shelf life. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical reference for the industrial application of natural organic-acid composite preservatives in chilled meat processing, and has good market application potential and promotion prospects.
In order to evaluate the adaptability of lemongrass in Yibin, Sichuan Province, and to provide a reference for the development and utilization of lemongrass and its essential oil, lemongrass from Guangxi was used as the test material and cultivated in Yibin. Growth indicators were measured. The essential oil was extracted using ultrasonic-assisted steam distillation. Tween-80 and Span-80 were selected as surfactants to prepare emulsions in water. The formulation was optimized using the Box-Behnken response surface method. The inhibition rate of the essential oil emulsions in water against natural airborne bacterial colonies was measured by incorporating it into PCA medium. The results showed that lemongrass cultivated in Yibin area had excellent growth potential. The lemongrass had a clump height of approximately 1.21 m, a crown width area of about 1.2 m², 136 tillers per clump, and a fresh weight per plant of about 1.9 kg. Under the conditions of ultrasonication for 90 minutes, a sodium chloride concentration of 11%, a solid-liquid ratio of 1:20 g/mL, and distillation for 2 hours, the extraction rate of lemongrass essential oil was 2.58%. GC-MS analysis revealed that the essential oil contained 32 chemical components, mainly including geranial (49.38%), neral (28.06%), and β-myrcene (8.49%). When the ratio of Tween-80 to Span-80 was 3:1, the content of the compound surfactant was 4.19%, and the content of lemongrass essential oil was 9.91%, the stability of the prepared lemongrass essential oil aqueous emulsion was optimal. When the volume of the aqueous emulsion was 35 μL/mL (concentration of 3.5%), the inhibition rate against airborne microorganisms was 98.0%. The introduced lemongrass in this experiment is suitable for the climatic conditions of Yibin, grows well, has a relatively high essential oil extraction rate, and the aqueous emulsion exhibits good stability and strong antibacterial effect, laying a foundation for the development and utilization of lemongrass and its essential oil.
In recent years, frequent soil degradation has severely constrained food security. Microalgae, as a novel soil conditioner, has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing degraded soil quality and sustainable agricultural productivity, becoming a current research hotspot. To investigate the research status and trends of microalgae-mediated soil improvement, 164 Chinese and 688 English papers were separately retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science core collection (WOS). Bibliometric approaches combined with CiteSpace software were used for systematic analysis of domestic and international publications. Results indicate that annual publication volume has risen overall since 2001. China and India hold prominent research positions, accounting for 32.85% of total WOS publications; among these, the Chinese Academy of Sciences leads globally in both publication volume and influence. Domestically, research efforts are primarily concentrated in the Northwest and North China regions. Chlorella vulgaris is the most studied core microalgae species in both Chinese and English literature, with Chinese studies emphasizing practical agricultural applications while English literature covers both fundamental research and macro-level ecological-economic topics. Chronologically, early CNKI literature (2001-2014) examined microalgae-soil interactions, while the mid-period (2015-2019) emphasized algal fertilizer development, soil conditioning, and pollution remediation. Recent research (2020-present) focuses on precision improvement of specific soils and key production indicators. WOS literature evolved from ecological remediation (2010-2017) to system optimization research integrating circular economy concepts (2018-present). Looking ahead, efforts should focus on four key areas: integrating the deepening of micro-level mechanisms with the expansion of macro-level applications; shifting from single-purpose soil improvement to “multifunctional synergy”; achieving breakthroughs in key technologies that reduce costs and enhance efficiency; and advancing research through cross-disciplinary integration. This research provides a theoretical foundation for degraded soil remediation and green transformation of agriculture, while offering technical support for the global synergistic application of microalgae.
To investigate the effects of heat and cold stress on the blood biochemical indicators of Leiocassis longirostris, the fishes were transferred from rearing water at 26℃ (control) to water at 4℃ (cold stress group) and 32℃ (heat stress group), respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0, 4, 12, 24, and 48 h after stress exposure to determine the dynamic changes of 10 parameters, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TBIL), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), blood glucose (Glu), and urea (UREA). The results showed that under heat stress, TC, Glu, UREA, AST, and LDH increased to varying degrees, while TG, TP, and ALB decreased significantly. ALT decreased gradually at first and then increased at 48 h. Under cold stress, TC, TP, and ALB decreased significantly, Glu and ALT showed an increasing trend, TG, AST, and LDH first increased and then decreased, and UREA generally exhibited an initial decrease followed by an increase. This study reveals the blood biochemical response patterns of Leiocassis longirostris under acute temperature stress. The changes in these indicators, to some extent, reflect the effects of temperature stress on lipid metabolism, protein metabolism, energy metabolism, and liver function, providing a theoretical basis for research on the healthy aquaculture and environmental adaptation mechanisms of Leiocassis longirostris.
In order to investigate the effects of aquaculture models on the growth performance and nutritional quality of ‘Liu Yuehuang’ Eriocheir sinensis, healthy buckle crab with body weight of (5.93±0.57) g was selected in outdoor ponds for farming experiments. Two treatment groups were set up: the mixed culture group and the all-male group. A 146-day outdoor cultivation experiment was conducted, after that the growth performance, conventional nutrients, mineral elements, free amino acids and fatty acids across various breeding patterns were tested. The results showed as follows: The final body weight (FBW) and hepatopancreatic index (HSI) of male crabs were higher than those of female crabs. In terms of specific growth rate (SGR) and survival rate (SR), the index of all-male group crabs were 1.84% and 76.40% respectively, while those of mixed-culture group female crabs were 1.75% and 60.19% respectively, and those of mixed-culture group male crabs were 1.78% and 65.52% respectively. The SGR and SR of crabs in the all-male group were significantly higher than those crabs in the mixed culture group (P<0.05). The crude fat content in the hepatopancreas of ‘Liu Yuehuang’ was higher than that of muscle, while the crude protein and water content showed the opposite trend. The calcium contents in the hepatopancreas and muscles of male crabs in the all-male group were 271.44 mg/100g and 215.4 mg/100g respectively, both of which were higher than those in the mixed culture group. The alanine contents in the hepatopancreas and muscles of the all-male group crabs were 0.49 g/100 g and 1.55 g/100 g respectively, while the alanine contents in the same tissues of the mixed-culture group female crabs were 0.40 g/100 g and 1.40 g/100 g respectively, which were significantly lower than those of the all-male group crabs (P<0.05). The contents of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), total polyunsaturated fatty acid (ΣPUFA), and EPA+DHA in the edible tissues of the all-male experimental crabs were all higher than those of the mixed culture group, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). It is concluded that the all-male mode of ‘Liu Yuehuang’ could improve their growth performance and nutritional quality, and has a very promising industrial prospect.
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fermented chicken manure supplementation on growth performance, muscle nutritional composition and immune function of Procambarus clarkii. Four isonitrogenous and isolipid diets containing 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% fermented chicken manure were formulated and fed to crayfish, which were designated as groups S0, S15, S30 and S45, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 56 days. The results showed that in terms of growth performance, the final body weight (23.26 g), relative weight gain rate (286.32%) and specific growth rate (2.40%/d) of crayfish in the S15 group were the highest, and the S0 group had the highest survival rate (78.9%). There was no significant difference in the above indicators among all groups (P>0.05). In terms of muscle nutritional composition, with the increase of fermented chicken manure inclusion level, the muscle crude protein content increased firstly and then decreased, reaching the maximum value of 17.46% in the S15 group; while the muscle crude fat content showed a gradual downward trend. For intestinal digestive enzymes, no significant difference was observed in intestinal trypsin activity among all groups (P>0.05), with the highest value of 0.27 U/g prot in the S30 group. The activities of amylase and lipase presented a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, both peaked in the S15 group at 30.68 U/g prot and 7.80 U/g prot, respectively. In terms of immune and antioxidant indices, the activities of acid phosphatase and superoxide dismutase increased gradually with the rising addition of fermented chicken manure. Alkaline phosphatase activity increased first and then decreased, with the maximum value of 362.4 U/g prot in the S30 group. Catalase activity and malondialdehyde content decreased firstly and then increased, reaching the lowest levels in the S30 group (3.29 U/mg prot) and S15 group (2.82 nmol/mg prot), respectively. In conclusion, fermented chicken manure can be used as an alternative protein source in the feed of Procambarus clarkii, and the optimal supplemental level is 15%. Under this addition amount, fermented chicken manure has no or slight adverse effects on growth performance, nutritional composition and digestive ability of crayfish, and can effectively enhance their immune performance.
ISSN 1000-6850 (Print)
Started from 1984
Published by: China Association of Agricultural Science Societies
