Abbreviation (ISO4): Chin Agric Sci Bull
Editor in chief: Yulong YIN
To explore the optimal sowing date and rate configuration for achieving high and stable yield of winter wheat, a field experiment was conducted using the main cultivar ‘Shannong 40’ with five sowing dates (October 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30, designated B1-B5) and three sowing rates. Regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to investigate the effects of sowing date and rate on the developmental process, agronomic traits, yield components, and grain yield of winter wheat. The results showed that: (1) delaying the sowing date significantly shortened the pre-winter growth period and reduced the plant height of wheat seedlings, with tiller number decreasing by 1.4 per 6 days. Population size and grain yield initially increased and then decreased with delayed sowing. As sowing rate decreased, spike number and grain yield generally showed a decreasing trend, while tiller number and plant height at the late growth stage showed an increasing trend. (2) Sowing date and rate significantly affected spike number, grain number per spike (GNPS), and grain yield (P<0.05). (3) Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed among different sowing dates for spike number; between B5 and B1-B4, and between B4 and B1 for GNPS; between B5 and B1-B4 for thousand-grain weight; and between B5 and B1-B4, and between B4-B3 and B1-B2 for grain yield. Additionally, significant differences (P<0.05) in spike number, GNPS and grain yield were found between low sowing rate and the other two rates (high and optimal). Based on these results, the suitable sowing date for winter wheat in northwestern Shandong is Oct. 6-24, and the appropriate basic seedling stand for ‘Shannong 40’ is 225×104-270×104 plants/hm². Within this sowing window, moderately increasing the sowing rate helps achieve high and stable yields in winter wheat.
To solve the problems of difficult quantification of genotype-environment (G×E) interaction and pilot redundancy in Yunnan maize regional trials, this study constructed a collaborative evaluation system based on the data of the regional trial group II of Yunnan maize consortium in 2024, integrating variance analysis and GGE biplot, aiming to optimize the layout of the trial pilot and accurately screen the excellent varieties adapted to the local complex vertical climatic conditions. The results indicated that Xuanwei, Xinping, and Zhanyi should be retained as core fixed sites, while Guangnan and Mengzi should be transformed into specialized testing sites. After removing the redundancy pilots of Zhaotong and Xiangyun, the trial cost was reduced by 30%, while still covering more than 80% of the main maize producing areas in Yunnan. In addition, three cultivars (‘Diwo 20’, ‘Shuijinyu 511’ and ‘Limin 2’) showed outstanding performance in both high yield potential and yield stability, which provided a reliable choice for variety renewal in Yunnan maize industry. Overall, the collaborative evaluation system and pilot optimization scheme proposed in this study can provide scientific support for solving the problems of complicated maize varieties and low approval efficiency, and help promote the high-quality development of Yunnan maize seed industry.
In order to accurately evaluate the high yield, stable yield and adaptability of soybean varieties, and screen excellent soybean varieties, based on the 2023 soybean regional trial data in Henan Province, grey correlation analysis was conducted on the yield and related agronomic traits of the tested soybean varieties, and GGE biplot analysis was performed on the yield. The results showed that the variety with the highest yield was ‘Luodou No.5’. In terms of yield variability, the coefficient of variation of ‘Cundou No.301’ was the largest (24.47%), indicating that its yield stability was relatively poor, and ‘Jianong No.8’ (13.59%) showed better yield stability. The results of regional test showed that the average yield of Yuanyang was the highest and Nanyang was the lowest. In terms of main agronomic traits, the coefficient of variation of effective branches was the highest (43.17%), reflecting the great difference among varieties, and the coefficient of variation of main stem nodes was the lowest (6.11%), indicating that the trait was relatively stable among varieties. The results of grey correlation analysis showed that the order of the correlation degree of yield and major agronomic traits was: number of main stem nodes> grain weight per plant> grain number per plant> plant height> 100-seed weight> effective pod number> bottom pod height> branches per plant. This result suggested that in the breeding process, attention should be paid to the improvement of key traits such as number of main stem node, grain weight per plant, grain number per plant and plant height, so as to improve the overall yield of soybean. The GGE biplot analysis showed that the top three varieties in terms of comprehensive high and stable yield were ‘Luodou No.5’, ‘Zhoudou No.61’, and ‘Zhengdou No.618’, among which ‘Luodou No.5’ had the best comprehensive performance. Changge had the best comprehensive differentiation and representativeness, and was an ideal pilot for screening high-yield and stable-yield varieties. In this study, the yield characteristics of soybean varieties, the correlation between agronomic traits and yield, and the adaptability of varieties in different environments were comprehensively evaluated by grey correlation degree and GGE biplot analysis method. The results provide reference for the breeding and promotion of new soybean varieties with high yield, stable yield and wide adaptability.
This study aims to breed new sweet potato varieties suitable for both fresh consumption and starch processing, and to provide fine variety support for promoting the industry development of sweet potato in Fujian. ‘Pushu 12’, a high-quality starch-type sweet potato cultivar was selected as female parent for open-pollinated hybridization. After the primary selection of seedlings and lines, a re-selection test, a comparison test, and a regional test in Fujian were conducted to evaluate the adaptability and the disease resistance identification. ‘Pushu 25’ was bred and registered in 2024 under China’s National Variety Registration System for Non-major Crops. The storage root of ‘Pushu 25’ was spindle-shaped with red skin and yellow flesh. In the Fujian Provincial Regional Trials conducted over two consecutive years (2021-2022), the yields of fresh tubers and dried tubers were 31138.09 and 8968.48 kg/hm2, respectively, which were 5.11 and 0.14 lower than those of ‘Guangshu 87’ (CK). The starch yield was 5830.02 kg/hm2, 1.82% higher than CK. The dry matter rate was 29.14%, which was 1.6% higher than that of CK, and the processing potential was outstanding. In terms of sensory quality, the appearance and taste scores were 81.79 and 82.69, respectively, which were 1.79 and 2.69 points higher than those of CK, significantly improving the value of fresh food. The stability analysis showed that ‘Pushu 25’ was superior to the CK cultivar in both productivity and stability for fresh tuber, dried tuber, and starch yields. The results of disease resistance identification showed that this variety was resistant to stem rot but susceptible to sweet potato wilt. Overall, ‘Pushu 25’ exhibited excellent comprehensive traits and can be used for both fresh consumption and starch processing in non-bacterial-wilt areas of Fujian.
This study aims to investigate the alleviating effects of exogenous brassinolide (BR) on the salt stress in growth of kenaf seedlings and to elucidate the underlying physiological mechanisms. The cultivar ‘Zhonghongma 21’, developed by the Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was used as the experimental material. Salt stress was simulated under hydroponic conditions using 125 mmol/L NaCl solution, and four BR concentrations (0.025, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1 mg/L) were applied. The results showed that exogenous BR effectively alleviated the inhibitory effects of salt stress on kenaf seedlings compared with the NaCl treatment alone, and the 0.05 mg/L BR treatment exhibited the most significant alleviating effect. Compared with the NaCl treatment, the 0.05 mg/L BR treatment significantly increased plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight by 74.1%, 57.6%, 88.6%, and 92.2%, respectively (P<0.05), indicating that BR promoted biomass accumulation and morphological development in kenaf seedlings under salt stress. In addition, the relative chlorophyll content and soluble sugar content increased by 44.0% and 58.3%, respectively, which contributed to maintaining cellular osmotic balance and photosynthetic efficiency. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) increased by 68.4%, 241.9%, and 100.6%, respectively, compared with the NaCl treatment. Meanwhile, the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2·-) was reduced, accompanied by significant decreases in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and relative electrical conductivity. These findings indicate that exogenous BR can enhance the salt tolerance of kenaf seedlings by coordinately regulating accumulation of osmotic adjustment substance and the antioxidant enzyme system.
This study investigated the yield, nutrient accumulation, and soil nutrient status of sugarcane under different sowing dates, providing a scientific basis for efficient sugarcane production and fertilization. The field experiments were conducted using the sugarcane variety ‘Guitang42’ as test material, with sowing dates on February 20 (T1), March 11 (T2), March 31 (T3), April 20 (T4), May 10 (T5), and May 30 (T6). The effects of these treatments on emergence, yield, nutrient accumulation, and soil nutrient changes of sugarcane were analyzed. The results showed that sugarcane began to emerge within 10-40 days after sowing, and the rate of emergence increased with the delay of sowing date. The plant height, stalk height, stalk weight, stalk nodes, cane yield, and total dry matter accumulation of sugarcane decreased with the delay of sowing date. The cane yields of T1 and T2 were both increased by more than 10.32% compared with other sowing dates, but the differences between T1 and T2 were not significant. Among the six sowing dates, the total accumulation ranges of N, P, and K in sugarcane were 119.71-184.96, 15.23-24.49 and 129.65-196.05 kg/hm2, respectively. These nutrient accumulations decreased with the delay of sowing date. However, the differences were no significant between T1 and T2. Across all sowing dates, total and available N, P, and K accumulation in soil increased relative to pre-experiment baselines, with smaller increments in T1-T3 than in T4-T6. The contents of alkali-hydrolyzable N, available P, and readily available K in soils under T5 and T6, as well as alkali-hydrolyzable N and readily available K under T4, increased significantly compared with pre-experiment levels. In conclusion, sowing during February 20 to March 11 favors high sugarcane yield and efficient nutrient utilization, whereas sowing on or after April 20 should apply moderate fertilizer reduction based on the increment of soil nutrient accumulation combined with changes of available nutrient content to improve fertilizer use efficiency.
To clarify the suitable sowing and transplanting period for cigar tobacco in areas with different altitudes in Sanming, Fujian, meteorological elements at altitudes of 150-200 m and 700-800 m were compared and analyzed, and the effects of different transplanting periods on the growth, development, yield, and quality of cigar tobacco were studied respectively. The results showed that under the ecological conditions of the Sanming tobacco-growing area in Fujian, tobacco plants transplanted in mid-March in the 150-200 m altitude area and in mid-April in the 700-800 m altitude area showed strong growth potential, full growth and development, the best economic characteristics after air-curing, and the optimal sensory evaluation quality after agricultural fermentation. Transplanting too early was susceptible to low temperature and frost, resulting in slow or even stagnant growth of tobacco plants; transplanting too late shortened the field growth period, and high temperature often caused premature ripening in the later stage, affecting the economic benefits and smoking quality of cigar leaves. The research results were well validated in the production of cigar tobacco in the Sanming tobacco-growing area from 2023 to 2025.
To explore the effect of a ‘two-year alfalfa-one-year tobacco’ rotation system and the appropriate combined application scheme of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and to alleviate the continuous tobacco cultivation obstacles, ‘K326’ tobacco and the alfalfa variety ‘Algonquin’ were used as materials for the experiment in the tobacco-growing area of Xundian, Yunnan Province. A L9(33) orthogonal design was adopted to set up 9 combined application treatments of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and 1 blank control (CK). The effects of different fertilization strategies on soil physical and chemical properties and tobacco yield and quality under this planting system were analyzed. The results showed that the fresh weight and dry weight of alfalfa in the second year were 31.6% and 44.2% higher than those in the first year, respectively, and the best cutting period was in the late spring and early summer. The combined application of fertilizers had no significant effect on soil pH and water-soluble chlorine content (P>0.05). The T7 treatment (N 127.5 kg/hm2, P2O5 82.5 kg/hm2, K2O 382.5 kg/hm2) had the best effect on improving soil organic matter and other nutrient indicators. The agronomic traits were the best in the T7 treatment, and the growth vigor of tobacco plants was the best. In terms of economic traits, the T7 treatment had the highest yield, and the T6 treatment (N 105.0 kg/hm2, P2O5 112.5 kg/hm2, K2O 247.5 kg/hm2) had the best comprehensive benefits, with a value of 67984.5 yuan/hm2 and a proportion of high-quality tobacco of 75.83%. The T3 (N 82.5 kg/hm2, P2O5 112.5 kg/hm2, K2O 382.5 kg/hm2), T4 (N 105.0 kg/hm2, P2O5 82.5 kg/hm2, K2O 315.0 kg/hm2), T6 and T7 treatments had excellent tobacco leaf appearance quality, and the T4, T6 and T7 treatments had higher chemical component availability indices of middle tobacco leaves. The blank control was significantly lower than the fertilization treatments (T1-T9) in all indicators (P<0.05), and the growth and yield and quality of tobacco were severely inhibited. In conclusion, the ‘two-year alfalfa + one-year tobacco’ rotation system can improve the basic fertility of tobacco field soil. Combined with the appropriate application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, it can significantly improve the soil and enhance the yield and quality of tobacco. Among them, the T6 treatment is the optimal fertilization treatment that takes into account both yield and quality and economic benefits, and the T7 treatment is the appropriate fertilization treatment that focuses on increasing yield.
Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a major constraint limiting the improvement of quinoa yield and quality. To enhance the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying PHS in quinoa and advance research on management strategies, this study reviews the progress on PHS in quinoa over the past five years. Key influencing factors such as seed physiological characteristics, environmental conditions, and phytohormones are discussed, and the genetic regulatory basis and technical approaches for PHS control are outlined. Studies indicate that quinoa PHS is co-regulated by seed dormancy characteristics, endosperm structure, and interactions between ambient temperature and humidity. Various phytohormones coordinate the balance between dormancy and germination through signaling networks, and key genes involved in related metabolic pathways have been preliminarily identified. Key loci such as CqNCED provide important molecular targets for breeding pre-harvest sprouting-resistant varieties. Although multi-omics approaches and biotechnological applications have become important tools in studies on PHS in quinoa, the key regulatory mechanisms still require further elucidation. For instance, the coupling mechanisms between environmental and hormone signaling remain unclear, and the dormancy regulatory pathways specific to quinoa are still not fully validated. Future efforts should strengthen the application of advanced breeding technologies such as gene editing and haploid breeding to promote the development of new quinoa germplasm with enhanced resistance to pre-harvest sprouting, thereby providing technical support for the sustainable development of the quinoa industry.
The study aims to analyze the diversity of DNA level of introduced wheat germplasm resources from home and abroad and reveal the genetic relationship between different wheat germplasms, and further provide abundant materials for wheat genetic improvement. The cluster analysis and principal component analysis were conducted for 48 wheat germplasms using SCoT and ISSR molecular markers. The mean number of band amplified by a single primer for SCoT marker or ISSR marker was 3.50. The mean number of effective alleles of SCoT primers and ISSR primers were 1.66 and 1.69, respectively. On the Shannon’s information index and Nei’s gene diversity index, the values of SCoT primer and ISSR primer were 0.57 and 0.39 respectively. The genetic similarity coefficient between wheat germplasm varied from 0.1703 to 0.9849 with an average value of 0.5580, which indicated that the genetic diversity of the tested wheat germplasms was rich. Based on Nei’s genetic similarity coefficient, 48 wheat germplasms could be divided into five groups. The results of principal component analysis were basically consistent with those of cluster analysis. There is the abundant genetic diversity among wheat germplasm. According to Nei’s genetic similarity coefficient between wheat germplasm, 48 wheat germplasm could be divided into five groups.
To investigate the regulatory effects of exogenous acetoin on the growth and edible quality of spinach, a pot experiment was conducted with six treatment groups. These included root irrigation with acetoin solutions at concentrations of 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25 g/L, foliar spraying with acetoin solution at 0.15 g/L, and a control (CK) involving root irrigation with distilled water. Growth indices and quality parameters of spinach were systematically measured under each treatment. The results indicated that exogenous acetoin application significantly enhanced plant growth and modulated specific quality traits. The root irrigation with 0.15 g/L acetoin notably increased plant height and fresh weight yield (P<0.05), with foliar spraying demonstrating a stronger effect than root irrigation (P<0.05). Root irrigation with 0.05 g/L acetoin significantly promoted root growth (P<0.05). Regarding quality, leaf chlorophyll and vitamin C contents were highest under the 0.15 and 0.25 g/L treatments (P<0.05), whereas oxalic acid and nitrate contents were most effectively reduced by the 0.05 and 0.20 g/L treatments (P<0.05). Comparative analysis of application methods revealed that foliar spraying resulted in significantly lower chlorophyll and vitamin C levels, but higher oxalic acid and nitrate levels compared to root irrigation (P<0.05), suggesting that foliar application may be less favorable for improving edible quality. In conclusion, foliar spraying of 0.15 g/L acetoin represents an effective agronomic strategy for enhancing spinach biomass. For the purpose of improving edible quality, root irrigation is recommended. Furthermore, root irrigation with 0.05 g/L acetoin shows potential for applications aimed at promoting root development, such as in seedling cultivation or stress resistance.
This study aims to deeply analyze that blue light promotes the expansion and development of tuberous roots of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum by regulating endogenous hormone levels and their signaling pathways. Using the MetWare LC-MS/MS platform, we quantified the changes in the contents of eight major plant hormones, including auxin (IAA), cytokinin (CK), abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), gibberellin (GA), ethylene (ETH), and strigolactone (SL), along with their intermediates in T. hemsleyanum tubers before and after blue light treatment. Combined with transcriptome sequencing to analyze differentially expressed genes, we correlated hormonal changes with the differential expression of key genes in their signaling pathways and validated target genes using qPCR, thereby investigating the effects of blue light on tuber development from the perspective of transcriptional regulation and hormonal metabolic synergy. Hormone metabolomics revealed that while IAA levels showed no significant change, the expression of its signaling-related genes was markedly downregulated, indicating that IAA contributes minimally to tuber expansion under blue light. The significant accumulation of zeatin-O-glucoside following blue light treatment may indirectly promote tuber development through sucrose metabolism and starch storage. Furthermore, the decrease in GA20 content and stable expression of GID genes led to the attenuation of gibberellin signaling, potentially exerting a positive regulatory effect on tuber swelling. Additionally, blue light significantly upregulated JA levels while suppressing the expression of ThJAZL2663, a negative regulator of JA signal transduction, suggesting that blue light directly enhances JA physiological activity to promote tuber development. Low-intensity blue light irradiation increases JA content and inhibits the expression of ThJAZL2663 gene, thereby amplifying JA physiological activity and directly promoting development. Moreover, blue light exerts a synergistic effect through differential regulation of the hormonal network, including weakening the gibberellin (GA20-GID) signaling pathway and inducing cytokinin glycosylation metabolism, to facilitate tuber expansion in T. hemsleyanum. This study not only elucidates the impact of blue light-mediated hormonal metabolic changes on tuber development but also provides critical theoretical support for optimizing blue light-regulated supplemental cultivation techniques in T. hemsleyanum.
To comprehensively and systematically grasp the research status, hotspots, and development trends in the field of orchid fertilizer, relevant literature published between 2005 and 2025 was collected from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Web of Science (WoS) core databases. Utilizing CiteSpace software, a visual analysis was conducted through bibliometric methods, including the analysis of publication volume, institutional collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and burst detection. The results indicated that the overall annual publication volume in this field remained relatively low but showed a fluctuating growth trend over the specified period. International research in this domain started earlier and demonstrated stronger continuity, showing a recovery trend in recent years. In contrast, domestic research experienced a boom between 2009 and 2013, followed by a rapid decline. Regarding institutional collaboration, both domestic and international networks exhibited the characteristics of ‘overall dispersion and local agglomeration’. However, the closeness of international collaboration was superior to that of domestic collaboration, with core institutions forming small-scale collaborative networks respectively. The research hotspots have gradually deepened from cultivation techniques to physiological mechanisms. Domestic studies mainly focused on the industrialization technologies of specific varieties, such as Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium hybridum, while international research placed more emphasis on fundamental regulatory mechanisms, including nitrogen nutrition and mineral nutrition. According to the comprehensive analysis of the statistical data, it can be inferred that the regulation of the flowering period, nutrient absorption, environmental stress tolerance, and the optimization of cultivation substrates will become the frontier research directions in this field. It is suggested that future efforts should strengthen cross-institutional coordination and international cooperation, further deepening the research on nutritional physiological mechanisms and intelligent fertilization technologies.
This research aims to facilitate the gradual transition of traditional irrigation districts into ecological ones, offering decision-making support and references for their sustainable development. Focusing on the main canals of the Ganfu Plain Irrigation District, this study established a comprehensive water ecological health assessment system based on the entropy weight method. The assessment framework integrates eight indicators categorized into three groups: water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, etc.), benthic macroinvertebrate community structure, and habitat quality (HQI), and a corresponding five-level grading standard was established. Combining field investigations and quantitative analysis via the entropy weight method, the study achieved an objective and quantitative evaluation of the water ecological health status of the irrigation canals. The results showed that the overall water ecological health of the study area was at the fair-good grade (comprehensive score: 52-77). Among the sampling sections, the old Fuhe River section performed excellently (score: 82, rated as great) due to its superior habitat integrity and biodiversity. This study is the first to systematically incorporate habitat quality parameters into an ecological assessment framework for irrigation districts, effectively revealing the spatial heterogeneity of water ecological health along the canal system. Despite limitations related to seasonal sampling bias and regional standard variations, the results objectively reflect the actual water ecological conditions of the main canals in the irrigation district. The findings provide a scientific basis for environmental management and ecological restoration of irrigation districts, and offer technical support and decision-making references for safeguarding water ecological security in the Poyang Lake Basin.
Rural wastewater in China is characterized by high dispersion, significant fluctuations in flow volume, inconsistent water quality, and weak operation and maintenance capabilities. Traditional centralized treatment processes commonly face the dilemma of being “affordable to build, unaffordable to operate, and difficult to manage”. To address this current challenge, this paper proposes an approach combining “ecological methods with resource reclamation”. Ecological treatment technologies rely on a soil-plant-microorganism synergistic purification system and offer advantages, such as low investment, low energy consumption, ease of operation and maintenance, and the potential for resource reclamation. This paper systematically reviews the characteristics of rural domestic wastewater in terms of water quality and quantity, as well as the current state of treatment. It focuses on the purification mechanisms and research progress of constructed wetlands, stabilization ponds, land treatment systems, and ecological ditches. It summarizes typical combined processes of “pre-treatment + ecological units” and outlines resource reclamation models. The results indicate that the deep integration of ecological methods with resource reclamation can significantly reduce construction and operational costs. Although bottlenecks such as low efficiency at low temperatures, substrate clogging, inadequate operation and maintenance, and misalignment of standards still exist, numerous studies have begun to address these challenges. In conclusion, the deep integration of ecological treatment with resource reclamation is the core pathway to resolve the challenges of rural wastewater treatment and can provide theoretical guidance and technical support for rural water environment management in China. Future efforts should focus on promoting low-carbon enhancement, smart operation and maintenance, regional adaptation, and standard refinement to establish a rural wastewater treatment pathway that is “low-cost, easy to manage, and sustainable”.
To investigate the effects of combined application of bacterial agent and organic fertilizer on the remediation of coastal saline-alkali soil, a simulated indoor soil column leaching experiment was conducted. Different treatments, including BF (bacterial agent B. flexus E1 alone), OC (organic fertilizer alone), BO (combined application of B. flexus E1 and organic fertilizer), and CK (control), were compared for their effects on leaching rate, desalination rate, water-stable aggregates (>0.25 mm) and soil nutrients. The results showed that the amendments significantly influenced the above indicators. Compared with CK, the leaching rates of the BF, OC, and BO treatments increased by 1.4, 1.3, and 1.0 times, respectively, while the desalination rates were significantly increased by 223.6%, 237.3%, and 151.0%, respectively. BO demonstrated the best improvement in soil structure and nutrient enhancement, with water-stable aggregates, organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium increasing by 104.6%, 128.3%, 594.9%, 212.0% and 233.1%, respectively, compared to CK. The leaching rate and desalination rate were significantly positively correlated with the aggregate content. The ranking of improvement effectiveness across treatments was BO>BF>OC>CK. The combined application of B. flexus E1 and organic fertilizer could effectively improve soil structure, enhance nutrient levels, and promote salt leaching through synergistic effects, representing an efficient strategy for the remediation of coastal saline-alkali soil.
This study investigated the impacts of future climate change on the suitable planting areas of summer maize in Henan Province by comparing climatic regionalization results between historical and future periods, with the aim of providing a scientific reference for adaptive planting layout strategies. Using historical meteorological data from 82 weather stations in Henan during 1975-2007, along with concurrent CMIP6 model outputs and future climate projections under two emission scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585) for 2015-2064, six climatic indices, including precipitation, solar radiation, and accumulated temperature (daily mean ≥10℃) over the entire growth period, were selected as regionalization criteria. For the baseline period (1975-2007) and three future periods under SSP245 and SSP585 (2044: 2015-2044, 2054: 2025-2054, 2064: 2035-2064), multi-year averages of the six indices were calculated, bias-corrected using the Delta method, and spatially interpolated to a 1 km × 1 km resolution via ArcGIS. Based on these interpolated results, a fuzzy mathematics approach was applied to classify Henan Province into three climatic suitability grades, and subsequent analyses examined changes in both the spatial distribution and area proportions of each grade. The results indicated that under the SSP245 scenario, the three suitability grades exhibited only minor fluctuations compared with the baseline over the next 40 years, suggesting a generally stable pattern. In contrast, under the SSP585 scenario, the suitable area experienced pronounced volatility, initially decreasing sharply and then recovering gradually, while the moderately suitable and unsuitable areas first expanded and later contracted. Given that the SSP245 scenario was more consistent with observed climate trends, it was recommended that the current summer maize planting layout in Henan Province could be maintained over the next 40 years without major adjustments.
To explore the herbicidal mechanism of 4,8-dihydroxy-1-tetrahydronaphthone (4,8-DHT), this study carried out a weed seed germination experiment to assess the inhibitory effects of four concentrations of 4,8-DHT (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mmol/L) on nine weed species (Lindernia procumbens, Eleusine indica, Salvia japonica, Taraxacum mongolicum, Avena fatua, Poa annua, Digitaria sanguinalis, Cynodon dactylon, Echinochloa crusgalli). In accordance with industry standards, representative weeds (L. procumbens and A. fatua) that meet germination rate criteria and sensitivity to 4,8-DHT were selected. Physiological-biochemical parameters analyses and transcriptomic profiling were employed to further reveal their potential mechanisms of action. The results demonstrated that high concentrations of 4,8-DHT (>2.5 mmol/L) significantly inhibited the seed germination of all nine tested weed species, and the inhibitory effect was concentration-dependent. At 5.0 mmol/L, 4,8-DHT exhibited inhibition rate of 89.9% and 86.3% for L. procumbens and A. fatua, respectively. The physiological-biochemical analyses revealed that as the concentration of 4,8-DHT increased, the activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) in the weeds exhibited a pattern of initially increasing and subsequently decreasing. Meanwhile, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) continuously increased, indicating that 4,8-DHT might impede the physiological activities of the weeds by interfering with the antioxidant defense system and the metabolism of osmotic regulatory substances. Transcriptomic analysis further disclosed that after treating L. procumbens with 4,8-DHT, a substantial number of differentially expressed genes were generated. Among these, the treatment group at 5 mmol/L (3295 genes) was significantly larger than that at 0.5 mmol/L (1858 genes), and these genes were mainly enriched in pathways including glutathione metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, carbon fixation pathways, and plant-pathogen interactions. The research findings uncovered the potential mechanism by which 4,8-DHT inhibits the growth of weeds at the physiological-biochemical levels, offering scientific guidance for the development and practical application of 4,8-DHT as a novel plant-based herbicide.
Invasive alien organisms pose a severe threat to China’s ecological security and food security. Invasive agricultural pests (mites) are often mixed with native allied pests (mites) with feature diverse morphologies and complex groups. Accurate differentiation between them requires professional taxonomic expertise, which remains a major challenge for grassroots agricultural technicians. This study established a standardized protocol combining morphological identification and DNA barcoding technology as follows: field technicians preserve suspected invasive pests (mites) in 75% ethanol and submit samples to a laboratory capable of molecular biology analysis, and the application of DNA barcoding technology enables precise identification of invasive agricultural pest (mites) species. Using this protocol, the samples of suspected invasive agricultural pests (mites) collected in Shaanxi Province were identified, and the following species were accurately distinguished: the invasive species Frankliniella occidentalis from the native species F. intonsa, the invasive species Liriomyza sativae, L. huidobrensis from the native species Chromatomyia horticola, and L. bryoniae, the invasive Mediterranean cryptic species of Bemisia tabaci from the native Trialeurodes vaporariorum, and the invasive Tetranychus urticae from the native green-type Tetranychus truncatus and Tetranychus viennensis. Furthermore, the protocol confirmed the distribution of the invasive pests Tuta absoluta and the Bruchophagus roddi in northern Shaanxi. This standardized protocol allows for accurate identification of alien invasive insect (mite) species within one week, and the cost of single sample can be controlled at around 30 RMB. It holds significant importance for the rapid and accurate identification, monitoring, early warning, and control of invasive pests.
This study aims to screen optimal oat varieties adaptable to the alpine regions of Qinghai, so as to tackle long-standing problems including single forage cultivar structure and persistent imbalance between forage supply and livestock demand in the region. Using 20 oat varieties as test materials, a randomized block trial design was adopted. The introduction experiment was conducted from May to November 2024 in Ningxiu Town, Zeku County, Huangnan Prefecture. By comparing the differences in yield and nutritional indicators among various oat varieties, and combining K-means cluster analysis with the TOPSIS-multicriteria decision-making model, the optimal oat varieties suitable for local extension and cultivation were screened out. The results indicated significant differences in production performance and nutritional quality among the different oat varieties. A. sativa ‘Qingyan No.1’ had the tallest plant height (149.50 cm), A. sativa ‘Qingyan No.3’ had the largest flag leaf area (49.93 cm2), both A. sativa ‘Baiyan No.7’ and A. sativa ‘Qingyan No.3’ had the highest number of tillers (2.67 per plant), and A. sativa ‘Baiyan No.7’ achieved the highest dry hay yield (26.42 t/hm2). A. sativa ‘Qingyin No.4’ had the lowest stem-to-leaf ratio (1.59). In terms of nutritional quality, A. sativa ‘Qinghai’ had the highest crude protein content at 7.80%; A. sativa ‘Baiyan No.7’ showed the highest relative feed value at 87.84, and simultaneously the lowest fiber contents, with 36.06% acid detergent fiber and 55.96% neutral detergent fiber. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations (P<0.05) between plant height, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, flag leaf area, and dry hay yield. Flag leaf length, flag leaf area, and stem-to-leaf ratio had extremely significant effects on crude protein content (P<0.01). Plant height and flag leaf width significantly influenced the relative feed value (P<0.05). The TOPSIS model evaluation demonstrated that A. sativa ‘Baiyan No.7’ and A. sativa ‘Qingyan No.3’ possess high-yield and high-quality potential in the alpine region, making them ideal oat varieties for cultivation in this area.
By measuring the stem and leaf biomass, as well as the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents in alfalfa, the effects of mowing frequency (three and four cuts, designated as C3 and C4, respectively) and fertilization level [the N:P2O5:K₂O application rates (kg/hm2) were 0:0:0(CK), 8.775:22.5:37.5(F1), 17.55:45:75(F2), 26.325:67.5:112.5(F3), and 35:90:150(F4), respectively] on organ biomass and the C, N, P stoichiometric characteristics of stems and leaves in the Horqin Sandy Land were investigated. The goal was to provide theoretical support for implementing high-yield cultivation practices in this region. The results showed that mowing frequency and fertilization level significantly affected alfalfa biomass and the C, N, P contents and stoichiometric characteristics in various organs (P<0.05). Under the condition of three mowings, aboveground biomass initially increased and then decreased with increasing fertilization levels, reaching a maximum value (1825.50 g/m2) under the F2 treatment, which was significantly higher than that under CK, F3, and F4 treatments (P<0.05). Under the condition of four mowings, aboveground biomass exhibited a ‘bimodal’ pattern, with the F1 and F3 treatments performing best. The C, N, P contents and stoichiometric ratios in different organs varied significantly among treatments. The highest carbon contents in new leaves, old leaves, reproductive stems, and vegetative stems were observed under treatments C3F1, C3F4, C3F2, and C3F2, respectively; the highest nitrogen contents were found under treatments C3F3, C3F1, C3F2, and C3F2, respectively; and the highest phosphorus contents were recorded under treatments C3F3, C3F1, C4F3, and C4F2, respectively. Within each organ, N and P contents were positively correlated, while stoichiometric ratios were mainly inversely regulated by the corresponding element contents, with C:N and C:P ratios negatively correlated with N and P contents. Comprehensive evaluation using the membership function method indicated that among the ten treatments, C3F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation value (0.78), demonstrating the best effect on total biomass accumulation and element uptake in alfalfa.
To clarify the regulatory effects of exogenous citric acid on the germination of alfalfa seeds and seedling growth, and to investigate its impact on the antioxidant physiological characteristics of the seedlings, the effects of exogenous citric acid at different concentrations on the germination rate, germination potential, germination index, root length, plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content, soluble protein, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities of alfalfa were analyzed through the hydroponic experiments using alfalfa as the research object. The results showed that exogenous citric acid negatively affected both seed germination and seedling growth of alfalfa. However, the impact on photosynthesis was not significant. Exogenous citric acid could enhance the antioxidant capacity and stress adaptability of alfalfa seedlings by affecting the soluble protein content, SOD, and POD activity of the seedlings. It was found that alfalfa seedlings could maintain normal growth and development through oxidative stress response when the concentration of exogenous citric acid was <6 mmol/L. When the concentration of exogenous citric acid was ≥8 mmol/L, the germination of alfalfa seeds and growth of alfalfa seedlings were significantly inhibited.
With the prohibition of antibiotics, sub-health issues in livestock and poultry production have attracted increasing attention, and the screening of high-performance probiotics has evolved into a key approach to tackle this prominent industrial challenge. In this study, cow milk was used as the sample source to screen Lactococcus lactis strains with excellent gastrointestinal tolerance and strong adhesion ability. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated and purified using MRS-CaCO3 selective medium, and the isolated strains were identified as Lactococcus lactis through morphological observation, biochemical tests and 16S rDNA molecular identification. Subsequently, the gastrointestinal tolerance of Lactococcus lactis was evaluated via tests of resistance to artificial gastrointestinal fluid, acid resistance and bile salt resistance, while the surface adhesion ability of the strains was assessed by determining the auto-aggregation rate, hydrophobicity rate, co-aggregation rate with pathogenic bacteria and biofilm formation ability. The results showed that a total of 3 strains of Lactococcus lactis (H1-H3) were isolated in this study. Their survival rates in artificial gastric juice and intestinal juice for 3 hours were as high as 104.9%-171.0% and 99.3%-234.2%, respectively, and the survival rates gradually increased with the increase of pH (3.0-5.0) (P<0.05). In addition, the three strains exhibited certain bile salt tolerance, with survival rates ranging from 18.6% to 57.5% at bile salt concentrations of 0.1% to 0.3%. Meanwhile, all three strains were sensitive to 5 antibiotics, including enrofloxacin, erythromycin, penicillin, doxycycline and streptomycin, indicating their high biological safety. In terms of surface adhesion characteristics, the auto-aggregation rates of strains H1, H2 and H3 were 17.52%, 52.93% and 48.47%, respectively, and their hydrophobicity rates were 10.40%, 56.55% and 54.39%, respectively. Moreover, the co-aggregation rates of the three strains with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were all above 78%, and all strains showed strong biofilm formation ability. In conclusion, the three isolated Lactococcus lactis strains possess strong gastrointestinal tolerance, among which strain H2 presents more prominent adhesion ability. This strain can provide excellent strain resources for the development and application of feed probiotics for livestock.
To investigate the differences in intrinsic characteristics and the patterns of quality change under room-temperature and low-temperature storage among three tomato cultivars (‘Chuanguofan No.1’, ‘Hemei 809’, and ‘Hongshuo Haomai’) from Miyi County, Panzhihua, 90%-mature fruits of the three cultivars were used as experimental materials. A total of 12 indicators covering physical quality, nutritional quality, and oxidative stability were determined. The study was conducted by integrating principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and correlation analysis, and kinetic models for quality change during storage were established for the three tomato cultivars. The results showed that during storage, quality deterioration phenomena (including decreased fruit firmness, rising weight loss rate, malondialdehyde accumulation, and nutrient loss) were more pronounced in the 25℃ room-temperature group than in the 10℃ low-temperature group. Meanwhile, low-temperature treatment at 10℃ significantly elevated lycopene content and weakened the correlations among various quality indicators (P<0.05). Principal component analysis and cluster analysis results indicated that ‘Chuanguofan No.1’ achieved the highest comprehensive quality score. Based on tomato firmness, kinetic models of quality change were constructed by coupling the first-order kinetic equation with the Arrhenius equation. This study obtained quality change data of the three tomato cultivars under room temperature and low temperature conditions. Storage at 10℃ can effectively delay the fruit deterioration process of all three cultivars. For freshly harvested tomatoes, the comprehensive ranking in terms of physical quality, nutritional quality, and oxidative stability is as follows: ‘Chuanguofan No.1’> ‘Hemei 809’> ‘Hongshuo Haomai’. The established kinetic models enable rapid prediction of the shelf life of these three tomato cultivars, providing a reference for quality assessment of tomatoes stored at different temperatures.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of soaking treatment with quantum selenium (food-grade) on the preservation of fresh-cut apples. ‘Fuji’ apples were sliced into approximately 5-6 mm thick pieces, and the slices were soaked in quantum selenium solutions diluted 300000, 150000 and 100000 times for 40 minutes. Control groups consisted of slices soaked in clean water and slices with no soaking treatment. The samples were stored at 4℃. Assessments, including photography and color difference measurement, were conducted at 0, 2, 4, and 6 days of storage. The browning degree, activities of browning-related enzymes (POD, PPO, PAL), contents of polyphenols and total quinones, and microbial counts of the treated groups were compared with the control groups. The results indicated that the soaking treatment with the 150000-fold diluted quantum selenium solution significantly inhibited the browning of fresh-cut apples, reduced the activities of related enzymes, decreased the contents of polyphenols and total quinones, maintained the sensory quality of the fresh-cut apples, inhibited microbial proliferation, and extended the shelf life of the fresh-cut apples.
To address the issue of quality differences in Bletilla striata from different producing areas, 22 B. striata samples from different habitats in Yunnan were taken as the research objects. By determining the contents of extracts, polysaccharides, militarine, total phenols, and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Cu), and combining fingerprint analysis, fuzzy matter-element evaluation, and grey pattern recognition methods, a comprehensive assessment and analysis were conducted to provide a scientific basis for the quality control of B. striata and the selection of planting areas. The results showed that the contents of extracts, polysaccharides, militarine, and total phenols in the 22 Yunnan B. striata samples were 36.54%-79.42%, 138.75%-327.66%, 15.00-70.19 mg/g, and 2.12-11.26 mg/g, respectively. Fingerprint analysis revealed five common peaks among the 22 different habitats in Yunnan, indicating that the quality of B. striata could not be distinguished by fingerprints alone. Combined with fuzzy matter-element and grey correlation analysis, it was concluded that the comprehensive quality of B. striata from high-altitude producing areas in western Yunnan was the best. When further considering the heavy metal content, B. striata produced in Qianshan Village, Qihe Town, Gucheng District, Lijiang City exhibited better quality. This study makes up for the deficiencies of traditional appearance-based or single-component evaluation of B. striata and is expected to promote the establishment of a comprehensive quality evaluation model for B. striata based on multiple indicators, including mathematical models and heavy metal content.
ISSN 1000-6850 (Print)
Started from 1984
Published by: China Association of Agricultural Science Societies
