Search Results (118)

Air pollution acts as a pervasive oxidative stressor, disrupting global crop production and ecosystem health through the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hazardous pollutants impair critical physiological processes—photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient uptake—triggering oxidative damage and yield losses. This review synthesizes current knowledge on plant defense mechanisms, emphasizing the integration of enzymatic (SOD, POD, CAT, APX, GPX, GR) and non-enzymatic (polyphenols, glutathione, ascorbate, phytochelatins) antioxidant systems to scavenge ROS and maintain redox homeostasis. We highlight the pivotal roles of transcription factors (MYB, WRKY, NAC) in orchestrating stress-responsive gene networks, alongside MAPK and phytohormone signaling (salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene), in mitigating oxidative stress. Secondary metabolites (flavonoids, lignin, terpenoids) are examined as biochemical shields against ROS and pollutant toxicity, with evidence from transcriptomic and metabolomic studies revealing their biosynthetic regulation. Furthermore, we explore biotechnological strategies to enhance antioxidant capacity, including overexpression of ROS-scavenging genes (e.g., TaCAT3) and engineering of phenolic pathways. By addressing gaps in understanding combined stress responses, this review provides a roadmap for developing resilient crops through antioxidant-focused interventions, ensuring sustainability in polluted environments. Full article

Rural revitalization, as a crucial strategic goal for rural development in contemporary China, encompasses multidimensional connotations and requirements. Following the establishment of the ‘three rights separation’ system in 2014, land transfer has increasingly assumed a vital role, demonstrating a close and complex intrinsic logical relationship with rural revitalization. To comprehensively analyze the diverse impacts of land transfer on rural revitalization as discussed in the literature, we employ a ‘goal–strategy–indicator–outcome’ analytical framework to conduct a meta-analysis and visual assessment of 131 cases drawn from 52 articles published over the past decade. We systematically explore the pathways by which land transfer impacts rural revitalization and validate the results using typical cases reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs through Python 3.9 analysis. The findings reveal the following: (1) Land transfer generally exerts a positive impact on rural revitalization (81.7% of 107 cases). (2) It significantly boosts living standards (84% positive cases) and industrial prosperity (88.4% positive cases); rural cultural civilization shows 100% positive cases yet with statistically insignificant coefficients, while its impacts on ecological livability (60%) and effective governance (70.6%) are insignificant. (3) Among 12 indicators, those related to agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods are positive, whereas those concerning rural ecology and governance are negative. This study indicates that land transfer plays a key role in the rural revitalization strategy, but the ecological impacts and governance challenges that it presents require ongoing attention and optimization at the policy level. Full article

As an extreme event driven by global climate change, drought poses a severe threat to terrestrial ecosystems. The Yangtze River Basin (YZRB) and Yellow River Basin (YRB) are key ecological barriers and economic zones in China, holding strategic importance for exploring the evolution of drought patterns and their ecological impacts. Using meteorological station data and Climatic Research Unit Gridded Time Series (CRU TS) data, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of drought evolution in the YZRB and YRB from 1961 to 2021 using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and run theory. Additionally, this study examined drought effects on ecosystem carbon sequestration (CS) at the city, county, and pixel scales. The results revealed the following: (1) the CRU data effectively captured precipitation (annual r = 0.94) and temperature (annual r = 0.95) trends in both basins, despite significantly underestimating winter temperatures, with the optimal SPEI calculation accuracy found at the monthly scale; (2) both basins experienced frequent autumn–winter droughts, with the YRB facing stronger droughts, including nine events which exceeded 10 months (the longest lasting 25 months), while the mild droughts increased in frequency and extreme intensity; and (3) the drought impacts on CS demonstrated a significant threshold effect, where the intensified drought unexpectedly enhanced CS in western regions, such as the Garzê Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province and Changdu City in the Xizang Autonomous Region, but suppressed CS in the midstream and downstream plains. The CS responded positively under weak drought conditions but declined once the drought intensity surpassed the threshold. This study revealed a nonlinear relationship between drought and CS across climatic zones, thereby providing a scientific foundation for enhancing ecological resilience. Full article

Aquatic fungi serve as core ecological engines in freshwater ecosystems, driving organic matter decomposition and energy flow to sustain environmental balance. Wetlands, with their distinct hydrological dynamics and nutrient-rich matrices, serve as critical habitats for these microorganisms. As an internationally designated Ramsar Site, Yunnan Dashanbao Black-Necked Crane National Nature Reserve in China not only sustains endangered black-necked cranes but also harbors a cryptic reservoir of aquatic fungi within its peat marshes and alpine lakes. This study employed high-throughput sequencing to characterize fungal diversity and community structure across 12 understudied wetland sites in the reserve, while analyzing key environmental parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus). A total of 5829 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) spanning 649 genera and 15 phyla were identified, with Tausonia (4.17%) and Cladosporium (1.89%) as dominant genera. Environmental correlations revealed 19 genera significantly linked to abiotic factors. FUNGuild functional profiling highlighted saprotrophs (organic decomposers) and pathogens as predominant trophic guilds. Saprotrophs exhibited strong associations with pH, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, whereas pathogens correlated primarily with pH. These findings unveil the hidden diversity and ecological roles of aquatic fungi in alpine wetlands, emphasizing their sensitivity to environmental gradients. By establishing baseline data on fungal community dynamics, this work advances the understanding of wetland microbial ecology and informs conservation strategies for Ramsar sites. Full article

To elucidate the modification mechanism of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) on emulsified asphalt, anionic and cationic WPUs are utilized as modifiers. As well, their effects on physical properties, microstructure, and compatibility are characterized using basic performance tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results show that WPU-modified emulsified asphalt exhibited a higher softening point, reduced penetration, and decreased ductility, suggesting enhanced high-temperature stability but diminished low-temperature flexibility. Among all samples, the combination of cationic WPU with cationic emulsified asphalt shows the highest softening point (54.1 °C), whereas cationic emulsified asphalt alone exhibits the lowest one (52.9 °C). Anionic emulsified asphalt demonstrates the highest penetration (79 mm), while non-ionic WPU combined with cationic emulsified asphalt shows the lowest one (59.3 mm). The ductility decreases from 90.3 cm to 28.7 cm. The storage stability varies with WPU ion type. Cationic WPU-modified samples showed the poorest storage stability (0.7% residue), while anionic-modified samples exhibit the best one (0.4% residue). FTIR analysis confirms the presence of characteristic WPU absorption peaks, indicating that physical blending occurs, and chemical interaction is limited. AFM observations reveal that anionic WPUs provide superior compatibility, forming fine, uniformly distributed particles with the lowest surface roughness (5.655 nm). In contrast, cationic WPUs form chain-like structures that cure effectively but exhibit poor dispersion. This study provides a basis for the development of high-performance WPU-modified emulsified asphalt. Full article

Gastrodia elata, known as Tianma in Chinese, is a valuable medicinal and nutritional resource. The favorable climate of Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, China, facilitates its growth and nurtures rich biocultural diversity associated with Tianma in the region. Local people not only cultivate Tianma as a traditional crop but have also developed a series of traditional knowledge related to its cultivation, processing, medicinal use, and culinary applications. In this study, field surveys employing ethnobotanical methods were conducted in Yiliang County, Zhaotong City, from August 2020 to May 2024, focusing on Tianma. A total of 114 key informants participated in semi-structured interviews. The survey documented 23 species (and forms) from seven families related to Tianma cultivation. Among them, there were five Gastrodia resource taxa, including one original species, and four forms. These 23 species served as either target cultivated species, symbiotic fungi (promoting early-stage Gastrodia germination), or fungus-cultivating wood. The Fagaceae family, with 10 species, was the most dominant, as its dense, starch-rich wood decomposes slowly, providing Armillaria with a long-term, stable nutrient substrate. The cultural importance (CI) statistics revealed that Castanea mollissima, G. elata, G. elata f. flavida, G. elata f. glauca, G. elata f. viridis, and Xuehong Tianma (unknown form) exhibited relatively high CI values, indicating their crucial cultural significance and substantial value within the local community. In local communities, traditionally processed dried Tianma tubers are mainly used to treat cardiovascular diseases and also serve as a culinary ingredient, with its young shoots and tubers incorporated into dishes such as cold salads and stewed chicken. To protect the essential ecological conditions for Tianma, the local government has implemented forest conservation measures. The sustainable development of the Tianma industry has alleviated poverty, protected biodiversity, and promoted local economic growth. As a distinctive plateau specialty of Zhaotong, Tianma exemplifies how biocultural diversity contributes to ecosystem services and human well-being. This study underscores the importance of biocultural diversity in ecological conservation and the promotion of human welfare. Full article

Driven by global climate change and sustainable development, the coordinated development of multiple industries based on photovoltaic energy in the “Desert-Gobi-Wilderness” region has become the key to achieving sustainable development, as well as transforming and upgrading the energy structure. However, the site selection decision for “Photovoltaic +” multi-industry integration, which takes into account economic, social and ecological benefits in a complex ecological environment, is still a key difficulty that restricts the feasibility and scalability of the project. This study first identified and systematically analyzed six “PV +” multi-industry integrations suitable for development in China, including “PV + sand control”, “PV + agriculture”, “PV + agriculture + tourism”, “PV + animal husbandry”, “PV + animal husbandry + tourism”, and “PV + tourism”. Then, a site selection decision framework for “PV +” multi-industry integration consists of three parts. Part 1 establishes a multi-dimensional suitability assessment system that takes into account heterogeneous data from multiple sources. Part 2 uses an integration method based on BWM-CRITIC-TODIM for priority ranking analysis, which first uses a Geographic Information System (GIS) to carry out suitability simulation for the entire region of China—identifying six alternative regions—then uses the interactive and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method to prioritize the alternative areas. Part 3 carries out further sensitivity analyses, scenario analyses, and comparative analyses to verify the dynamics and scientific nature of the site selection decision framework. Finally, this study identifies regions of high suitability for development corresponding to the six multi-industry integrations. The framework is designed to help decision stakeholders achieve precise site selection and benefit optimization for “PV +” multi-industry integration and provides a replicable planning tool for achieving industrial synergy and sustainable development in the “Desert-Gobi-Wilderness” region driven by green energy. Full article

The large-scale disposal of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) flowers during fruit thinning represents a significant waste of bioactive resources. This study systematically evaluated how three processing methods—fresh (FS), heat-dried (HD), and freeze-dried (FD) treatments—affect the flavonoid composition and antioxidant capacity of loquat flower extracts, with the aim of developing value-added, sugar-free functional tea ingredients. Using UPLC-MS/MS and DPPH assays, we analyzed both pre-(FS/HD/FD) and post-extraction samples (FSP/HDP/FDP) to assess processing-specific metabolic signatures and extraction efficiency. The results revealed that heat-dried powder (HDP) exhibited the highest total flavonoid content and DPPH scavenging capacity (615.24 µg Trolox/g), attributed to enhanced release of stable compounds like quercetin. Freeze-dried powder (FDP) better preserved heat-sensitive flavonoids, such as catechin-(4α→8)-gallocatechin and naringenin, but showed lower overall antioxidant activity. Multivariate analysis confirmed distinct clustering patterns, with heat-drying favoring flavonoid extractability while freeze-drying maintained metabolic diversity. These findings demonstrate that processing methods significantly influence bioactive compound retention and functionality, with heat-drying offering optimal balance between yield and practicality for industrial applications. This work provides a scientific foundation for upcycling loquat flowers into standardized nutraceutical ingredients, addressing both agricultural waste reduction and the growing demand for natural functional foods. Full article

Rural tourism plays a crucial role in promoting industrial revitalization in mountainous regions. Drawing inspiration from the site selection mechanisms of nature reserves, this study constructs a gap analysis framework tailored to rural tourism destinations, aiming to provide technical support for their spatial layout and systematic planning. By integrating a potential evaluation system based on tourism resources, market demand, and synergistic factors, the study identifies rural tourism priority zones and proposes a development typology and spatial optimization strategy across five provinces in Southwest China. The findings reveal: (1) First- and second-priority zones are primarily located in the core and periphery of provincial capitals and prefecture-level cities, while third-priority zones are concentrated in resource-rich areas of Yunnan and Guizhou and market-oriented areas of Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guangxi. (2) The Chengdu Plain emerges as the core region for rural tourism development, with hotspots clustered around Chengdu, northern and western Guizhou, central Chongqing, eastern Guangxi, and northwestern Yunnan, whereas cold spots are mainly situated in the western Sichuan Plateau and the Leshan–Liangshan–Zhaotong–Panzhihua–Chuxiong–Pu’er belt. (3) The alignment between tourism resources and rural tourism destinations is highest in Yunnan and Guizhou, while Chongqing exhibits the strongest match between destinations and tourism market potential and synergistic development conditions. Overall, 79.35% of rural tourism destinations in the region are situated within identified priority zones, with Chongqing, Guizhou, and Sichuan exhibiting the highest proportions. Based on the spatial mismatch between potential and existing destinations, the study delineates four development types—maintenance and enhancement, supplementation and upgrading, expansion, and reserve development—and offers regionally tailored planning recommendations. The proposed framework provides a replicable approach for spatial planning of rural tourism destinations in complex mountainous settings. Full article

Acrylamide (ACR), utilized as a precursor for producing polyacrylamide for water purification, has demonstrated neurotoxic properties. However, the mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity remain inadequately understood. In this investigation, Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to ACR at concentrations ranging from 250 to 1000 μg/mL and then their locomotor behavior, neuronal development, neurotransmitter concentrations, and gene expression profiles were assessed. Exposure to 250–1000 μg/mL ACR resulted in observable behaviors such as head swiveling and body bending, accompanied by a significant reduction in body size. Furthermore, ACR exposure caused damage to serotonergic, cholinergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic neuronal structures. In this context, elevated levels of serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, and glutamate were detected, along with notable upregulation of the expression of genes associated with neurotransmitters, including tph-1, cat-4, mod-1, mod-5, cat-1, ser-1, dat-1, dop-1, dop-3, unc-17, cho-1, eat-4, and glr-2. Moreover, ACR exposure elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), O₂, and H₂O₂ levels while concurrently depleting glutathione (GSH), thereby compromising the antioxidant defense system. This led to a significant upsurge in the expression of genes involved in the nematode ACR detoxification pathway, specifically daf-16, skn-1, mlt-1, sod-3, gst-4, gcs-1, hsf-1, and hsp-16.2. Additionally, Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant inverse relationship between certain neurotransmitter and antioxidant genes and locomotor activities, highlighting the role of these genes in mediating ACR-induced neurotoxicity in C. elegans. Collectively, this research enhances the understanding of the mechanisms related to ACR neurotoxicity. Full article

With economic development and improved living standards, the demand for mutton and wool continues to grow, and improving the production performance and genetic potential of sheep breeds has become the key to promoting the high-quality development of the sheep industry. Thus, this study analyzes the influencing factors of the early production traits of Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep, optimizes the genetic evaluation model, and relies on accurate genetic parameter estimation to provide a theoretical basis for formulating a scientific and efficient breeding strategy for this breed. Data were collected from the Laishishan and Xiaohai breeding farms in Qiaojia, Yunnan, covering production records of the core flock from 2018 to 2022. Using the GLM procedure in SAS 9.4 software, this study analyzed the non-genetic influences on early production traits in Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep. Concurrently, Danish Milk Unit 5 (DMU 5) software estimated the variance components across various animal models for each trait. Employing the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and likelihood ratio test (LRT), six models were tested, incorporating or excluding maternal inheritance and environmental impacts, to identify the optimal model for deriving the genetic parameters. The results show that the birth year, dam age, sex, flock and litter size significantly affect both the Birth Weight (BWT) and Weaning Weight (WWT) (p < 0.01). Additionally, the birth month was found to exert a significant effect on Birth Weight (BWT) (p < 0.01), the weaning month has a significant effect on the Weaning Weight (WWT) (p < 0.05). No significant effects of farm location were observed on either trait (p > 0.05). The most accurate genetic evaluation model determined the heritability of the Birth Weight (BWT) and Weaning Weight (WWT) as 0.3123 and 0.3471. From a production perspective, improving lamb birth, Weaning Weight (WWT), feed composition, and maternal nutrition during gestation is vital for breeding efficiency. This study not only identified the optimal animal models for early growth traits in Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep, offering a precise basis for estimating genetic parameters but also provides theoretical guidance for genetic selection and breed improvement in this population. Full article

Strawberries are nutrient-rich fruits containing beneficial phytochemicals and bioactive compounds with significant health benefits. Among secondary metabolites, the polyphenolic compounds have been extensively studied. However, limited research exists on bioactive alkaloids in strawberry fruits. Additionally, the local “Akihime” strawberry variety cultivated in the high altitude of Zhaotong city is of inferior quality; in contrast, the “Red Face” variety cultivated in the lower altitude of Dandong city demonstrates superior quality attributes. This study aimed to introduce the “Red Face” strawberry variety from the lower altitude region of Dandong to the high altitudes of Zhaotong. The primary objectives were to enhance local strawberry quality and investigate the diversity of alkaloids and their biosynthesis genes in response to varying ecological conditions. In this study, a transcriptomic and LC–MS/MS approach identified several biosynthesis genes, 33 alkaloids, and 38 other bioactive compounds, reported for the first time in the strawberry fruits. Five alkaloids ergotamine, 3-indoleacrylic acid, L-pipecolic acid, 8-hydroxyquinoline, and indole, were abundantly found in both strawberry varieties. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis revealed significant variation in the individual alkaloid compounds among the different strawberry varieties and ecological conditions. Cultivation of the “Red Face” variety at high-altitude environments modified the gene expressions and enhanced the total alkaloid contents and the antioxidant activity and capacity of strawberry fruits. Our study concluded that strawberries possess a diversity of bioactive alkaloid compounds, and introducing the “Red Face” variety at high-altitude environments produces superior quality of strawberry fruits with improved total alkaloid contents and antioxidant activities. Full article

Increasing the proportion of clean energy within the energy structure is a crucial strategy for achieving energy transformation. Hydrogen and ammonia, as leaders in clean energy technologies, have garnered significant global attention. The combination of hydrogen and ammonia has emerged as a novel form of energy storage, transportation, and conversion; however, the safety aspects of their application process warrant closer attention. Research on hydrogen safety has been conducted extensively, with particular focus on the leakage, diffusion, combustion, and explosion processes. Both theoretical research and engineering applications have advanced significantly. In particular, hydrogen detection technology, primarily based on electrical measurement, has matured considerably, while schlieren imaging-based flow field visualization technology is progressing steadily. In contrast, safety research concerning ammonia remains in its early stages. Research on the leakage and diffusion characteristics of ammonia predominantly focuses on liquid ammonia, with a strong emphasis on engineering applications. Studies on the combustion and explosion characteristics of ammonia primarily address flame parameters and the combustion development laws. Ammonia serves as an efficient hydrogen storage medium. The conversion process involving hydrogen and ammonia will occur simultaneously in both time and space. Current research has not adequately addressed the safety concerns associated with the application process of hydrogen–ammonia mixtures. Future research on the safety of hydrogen–ammonia application processes should focus on the diffusion characteristics and combustion and explosion behaviors, as well as the development of electrical measurement detection technologies and optical flow field visualization techniques for hydrogen–ammonia mixtures. Full article

The content of the watercore in apples plays a decisive role in their taste and selling price, but there is a lack of methods to accurately assess it. Therefore, this paper proposes an OCRNet-based method for apple watercore content evaluation. A total of 720 watercores of apples from Mengzi, Lijiang, and Zhaotong City in Yunnan Province were used as experimental samples. An appropriate watercore extraction model was selected based on different evaluation indicators. The watercore feature images extracted using the optimal model were stacked, and the watercore content of apples in different regions was evaluated by calculating the fitted area of the stacked watercore region. The results show that the OCRNet model is optimal in all evaluation metrics when facing different datasets. The error of OCRNet is also minimized when extracting overexposed as well as underexposed images with 0.15% and 0.38%, respectively, and it can be used to extract the characteristics of the apple watercore. The evaluation result of the watercore content of apples in different regions is that Lijiang apples have the highest watercore content, followed by Mengzi apples, and Zhaotong apples have the least watercore content. Full article

Deep-sowing tolerance (DST) is a key trait for the field germination of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) seeds, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the mechanisms of DST are poorly understood in sorghum. In this study, we compared two sorghum lines with contrasting tolerance to deep sowing for morphological, biochemical, and cytological changes during germination from deep soil (15 cm). The deep-sowing-tolerant (DT) line (Daluochui) showed 79% seedlings establishment (SE), while the deep-sowing-sensitive (DS) line (Xiaobailiang) showed no established seedlings at 7 days after sowing. Mesocotyl elongation is a key morphological change that accounted for the difference in seedling establishment between DT and DS. The mesocotyl elongation in DT was jointly established by both cell division and expansion. The levels of ethylene, auxin, and spermidine were markedly higher in DT than DS and were also supported by enzyme activity and qPCR, indicating that phytohormones play an important role in seed emergence from deep soil. Furthermore, α-amylose activity, soluble sugar, and ATP contents in DT were markedly higher than in DS, suggesting that there was a better energy supply in DT during deep-sowing emergence. The activities of endo-1,4-β-xylanase and endo-β-mannanase, as well as the expression of the corresponding genes, were higher in DT than DS. This study identified potential key regulatory factors that may control sorghum DST and yield potential, thus, providing new insights into the molecular mechanism of sorghum DST. Full article