Search Results (1,742)

Aedes koreicus, the Korean bush mosquito, has emerged as a significant invasive threat across Europe since its initial detection in Belgium in 2008. Native to East Asia, this cold-tolerant, container-breeding species has established populations in more than a dozen European countries. During entomological field sampling in the Buzet area (Istria, Croatia), two used-tire depots in the village of Štrped were encountered and identified as potentially suitable breeding habitats for container-breeding mosquitoes. Following the initial detection of these mosquitoes’ larvae, the locality was revisited four times from March to May 2026. Dippers of different sizes were used to sample larvae in the tires. Of the 132 larvae collected, eight species were morphologically identified. Nineteen specimens were identified as Ae. koreicus and were detected during each visit. The identification of Ae. koreicus was confirmed by molecular analysis. Sequencing and analysis of cytochrome c oxidase I showed high similarity among Ae. koreicus populations across Europe. This finding confirms the presence of Ae. koreicus in Croatia, which could potentially lead to further establishment, and highlights the need for continued surveillance of invasive mosquito species. Full article

The hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × E. lanceolatus) is a high-value aquaculture species with limited cold tolerance in temperate regions such as South Korea. Two complementary temperature experiments were conducted. In Experiment I, smaller juveniles (33.9 ± 10.2 g) were subjected to water temperatures (20, 18, 16, 14, and 12 °C) lower than 27 °C for 30 days to assess survival. In Experiment II, larger juveniles (281.1 ± 2.9 g) were reared for 90 days at 27, 24, 21, 18, and 15 °C to evaluate chronic physiological responses; brain and liver RNA-Seq analyses compared the 15 °C low-temperature condition with the 27 °C control condition. Fish maintained at 15 °C exhibited progressive mortality, whereas fish reared at 18–27 °C showed 100% survival during the 90-day trial. Exposure to 15 °C was associated with significant decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit, a >5-fold increase in plasma cortisol, and elevated glucose levels. SOD and CAT activities were also elevated at low temperatures, indicating an enhanced antioxidant response; however, these enzyme measurements do not directly quantify reactive oxygen species. Transcriptomic profiling revealed temperature-associated expression differences, with more DEGs in the liver (1365) than in the brain (221). Brain DEGs were associated with calcium-signaling- and neural-related categories, whereas liver DEGs were associated with metabolic, antioxidant response, and extracellular-matrix-related categories. Functional enrichment findings that did not meet FDR < 0.05 were treated as suggestive or exploratory rather than statistically significant. These findings help define the lower thermal tolerance of hybrid grouper and provide information relevant to aquaculture management under low-temperature conditions. Full article

A stable chromosome count does not imply a static genome. Oryza species have largely retained a basic chromosome number of 12, yet most rearrangements are described against extant references, making ancestral and derived orientations difficult to distinguish. We reconstructed an ancestral Oryza karyotype (AOK) containing 12 chromosomes and 23,010 ordered genes from 24 chromosome-level genome assemblies representing 34 ingroup genome/subgenome units. Unlike a modern reference, the AOK provides gene-order polarity, allowing rearrangements detected in different species and population panels to be compared in the same evolutionary direction. AOK-polarized analysis of 400 rice assemblies revealed structural change at two scales. Across species, the derived allotetraploid karyotypes of Oryza alta and Oryza grandiglumis were parsimoniously accounted for by three reciprocal translocations. Within rice populations, four principal inversion-associated loci showed contrasting lineage distributions. The most complex locus, on chromosome 6, comprised nested structural haplotypes that were unevenly distributed among rice populations and associated with published variation in seedling cold tolerance. These findings show how lineage-specific chromosome exchanges and polymorphic inversion complexes have reshaped a numerically conserved karyotype. More broadly, an ancestral gene-order reference links deep karyotype evolution with standing structural diversity and provides a framework for tracing the direction of chromosome rearrangements during rice diversification. Full article

Wave energy is a viable renewable resource for islands and isolated coastal areas looking to lessen their reliance on fossil fuels. However, the majority of wave energy converter (WEC) evaluations address site-specific limitations, including coastal erosion, sedimentary conditions, and cold-region processes, as secondary factors, with a primary focus on hydrodynamic performance and energy generation. This gap matters especially for low-lying island systems, where infrastructure resilience, coastline stability, and energy generation must be supported concurrently. Using the Magdalen Islands (Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada) as a constraint-defining reference system, this work offers a site-constrained, erosion-aware critical analysis of WEC technology. The proposed framework uses an exclusion–prioritization strategy based on technical restrictions, such as seasonal ice processes, erosion-prone sandy beaches, and limited offshore infrastructure tolerance, rather than optimizing only for energy production. The analysis shows that several offshore WEC concepts raise significant technical and environmental concerns under these conditions. The most technically sound solutions are shore-based and nearshore-integrated technologies, especially oscillating water column (OWC) systems and overtopping converters, which feature limited seabed interaction, offer structural robustness, and allow integration with coastal protection infrastructure. The screening logic is expressed as an explicit two-stage procedure that combines a disqualifying exclusion rule based on physical survivability criteria with a weighted rating of the remaining candidates, and its outcome is shown to be robust to weighting within the resolution of the rating scheme. Compared to traditional energy-centric approaches, the framework supports more robust decision-making by offering a transferable methodology for early-stage technology screening in cold-region and erosion-sensitive coastal contexts. Full article

Chilling damage at the booting stage represents a primary constraint limiting stable yields of japonica rice in cold-growing regions, yet the molecular mechanisms driving genotypic variation in chilling tolerance is still unclear. In this study, the cold-tolerant cultivar Kongyu 131 and the cold-sensitive cultivar Longjing 11 were used as contrasting materials and subjected to low-temperature treatment at the booting stage for 0 h (T1), 72 h (T3), and 120 h (T5). The results showed that low-temperature was the dominant factor driving the divergence in yield traits between the two varieties: after T5 treatment, the seed setting rate (SSR) and grain weight per plant (GW) of KY131 were 16.76% and 38.96% higher than those of LJ11, respectively. Physiologically, KY131 maintained higher SOD, POD, and CAT activities and proline content throughout the treatment, with significantly lower accumulation of O₂⁻ and H₂O₂. Metabolomic profiling detected 101 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) between cultivars, which were enriched in of fructose and mannose metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. Notably, D-fructose 6-phosphate (Com_764_neg) was identified as a core DAM (VIP ≥ 1, p < 0.05) that accumulated to a greater extent in KY131 than in LJ11 under cold stress. Transcriptome analysis identified 692 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between varieties, and integrated co-expression network and WGCNA analyses pinpointed OsbZIP69 (Os08g0549600) as the candidate hub transcription factor with the highest connectivity, which showed the strongest co-expression association the hexokinase OsHXK7 (Os05g0187100). The candidate OsbZIP69-OsHXK7 association and the core genes identified in this study provided a theoretical basis and gene resources for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant japonica rice in cold regions. Full article

Pumilio (Pum)-family proteins are evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding proteins that regulate post-transcriptional processes; however, their specific functions in staple crops, for example, wheat (Triticum aestivum), remain poorly understood. We identified 56 TaPum genes and classified them into three phylogenetic subgroups (I–III). The larger TaPum family size in allohexaploid wheat was associated with retention of A-, B-, and D-subgenome homoeologs, segmental duplication, and tandem duplication. After separating homoeologous pairs, 17 segmental duplication pairs and five tandem duplication pairs were identified, and ratios of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (Ka/Ks) below 1 were consistent with purifying selection. Subgroup-specific motifs and the uneven distribution of cis-acting elements, particularly abscisic acid (ABA)- and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-responsive elements, suggested potential divergence in promoter regulatory architecture. Transcriptomic profiling and independent quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed more consistent response of TaPum genes to salt stress than to cold or drought stress. Salt stress strongly promoted TaPum-III-5b expression, and its encoded protein exhibited nuclear and cytoplasmic localization. Heterologous overexpression of TaPum-III-5b in Arabidopsis thaliana increased salt tolerance, as indicated by enhanced survival; augmented peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities; and diminished accumulation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated sequence-specific binding of TaDREB2B to a dehydration-responsive element (DRE)-containing sequence in the TaPum-III-5b promoter, whereas dual-luciferase (Dual-LUC) analysis showed activation of the wild-type promoter. Together, these results support a proposed regulatory framework in which TaPum-III-5b may contribute to salt-stress responses through as-yet-unidentified downstream RNA targets. This study characterizes the Pum gene family in wheat and identifies the TaDREB2B-TaPum-III-5b module as a candidate regulatory pathway associated with salt-stress responses. Its potential application in wheat improvement requires further validation in wheat. Full article

As a primary apple rootstock extensively cultivated across Northeast China, Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. constantly suffers from low temperature, drought and salt damage throughout its growth cycle. NAC transcription factors take critical parts in coordinating plant adaptation to various adverse environments, yet relevant functional research on this woody rootstock species remains limited. In this work, a NAC family gene designated MbNAC40 was cloned from M. baccata, and its biological function was explored via heterologous transformation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Sequence analysis revealed that the open reading frame of MbNAC40 spans 1467 bp and encodes a 488-amino-acid protein targeted to the cell nucleus. After 24 h cold acclimation at 4 °C, plants were subjected to −4 °C freezing stress for 12 h, then recovered at 25 °C for 3 d. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing MbNAC40 exhibited much stronger cold tolerance relative to wild-type plants. Transgenic materials retained more chlorophyll and synthesized more osmoprotective proline, accompanied by enhanced activity of three antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT). Meanwhile, multiple stress-marker genes (AtCAT1, AtCSD1, AtAPX6, and AtP5CS1) associated with ROS and osmotic adjustment were significantly activated in overexpression lines. Taken together, these results confirm that MbNAC40 acts as a positive modulator of cold resistance in Arabidopsis, which provides a valuable gene resource for molecular breeding of cold-resistant M. baccata rootstock varieties. Full article

Juncus lomatophyllus, an indigenous South African aquatic plant with reported tyrosinase-inhibitory activity and potential cosmeceutical value, remains poorly studied regarding large-scale propagation. This study established the first documented vegetative propagation protocol for the species using division under outdoor conditions. Two genotypes from Mpumalanga (MP) and the Western Cape (WC) were evaluated in a 2 × 5 × 3 factorial experiment arranged in a randomised complete block design. Five growing substrates were assessed for their effects on sprouting, survival, rooting percentage, root development, and sprout production over three months under constant water conditions. Growing substrate, genotype, and trial period significantly influenced propagation success. The substrate composed of red soil, bark, and compost (2:1:1, v/v) produced the most favourable rooting and sprouting responses. Overall, the MP genotype outperformed the WC genotype across most growth parameters. A further 11-month evaluation confirmed distinct phenotypic differences, with the MP genotype exhibiting greater cold tolerance and earlier reproductive development. These findings highlight the importance of substrate selection, genotype choice, and seasonal conditions in successful cultivation. The superior performance of the MP genotype suggests strong potential for commercial biomass production, cosmeceutical applications, and future breeding and biotechnological improvement programmes targeting J. lomatophyllus and other indigenous aquatic species. Full article

Body size is a critical trait shaping ectotherm thermal tolerance, yet how body size mediates thermal acclimation remains poorly understood in insects. Here, we conducted 15-day daily cold (9 °C, 2.5 h) and heat (30 °C, 2.5 h) acclimation treatments on large, medium, and small Solenopsis invicta workers, followed by extreme temperature survival assays and comparative RNA-seq transcriptome profiling to uncover size-dependent acclimation phenotypes and molecular regulatory pathways. Survival results revealed that both cold and heat acclimation significantly boosted extreme thermal resistance of medium and small workers, whereas large workers exhibited inherently low mortality under lethal temperatures with no significant acclimation-induced survival improvement. Transcriptomic analyses showed striking body-size-specific transcriptional reprogramming: medium workers produced the largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under both acclimation regimes, followed by large workers, while small workers displayed minimal transcriptional shifts. Functional enrichment highlighted core pathways including lipid and small-molecule cryoprotectant metabolism, cuticle/membrane homeostasis, ion transport, antioxidant detoxification and sensory nervous signaling. Notably, hundreds of odorant receptor genes were sharply downregulated in acclimated medium workers, suggesting potential repression of olfactory function. Unlike acute thermal stress, long-term repeated acclimation triggered only mild transcriptional fluctuations of heat shock proteins with limited fold changes. Our findings demonstrate that thermal acclimation capacity in red fire ant workers is strongly correlated with body size, and coordinated remodeling of metabolic, osmotic, and chemosensory gene networks underpins this thermal plasticity. This body-size-dependent acclimation mechanism advances our understanding of invasive ant climate adaptation and helps predict their range expansion risks under global warming. Full article

Background: Kinesins are ATP-dependent molecular motors that mediate intracellular transport, cytoskeleton remodeling, and abiotic stress responses in plants. The KIN gene family remains poorly characterized in Prunus mume. This study aimed to explore the evolutionary features and cold-responsive functions of the PmKIN gene family. Methods: A systematic genome‑wide analysis was performed in P. mume. We performed phylogenetic classification, conserved domain detection, gene duplication and selection pressure analysis, cis-element prediction, tissue expression profiling, cold stress expression assay, and protein interaction network prediction. Results: Fifty PmKIN family members were defined and grouped into 10 subfamilies. K14 subfamily contained the largest number of members. All members harbor conserved motor domains, and segmental duplication drove the expansion of this gene family, which was overall constrained by purifying selection. The PmKIN homologous genes were highly conserved among Rosaceae species, including Prunus persica, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus avium, and Malus domestica. Our promoter analysis detected abundant cis-elements for light, hormone, cold, and drought signals in PmKIN genes, especially in the K14 and K7 subfamilies. These genes displayed tissue-biased expression, with roots and stems showing much higher transcript levels than fruits. Under low-temperature stress, the tolerant cultivar appeared to mount a relatively rapid PmKIN upregulation, whereas the sensitive one seemed to show a sluggish response and poor recovery. Three members (PmKIN22/27/35) were suggested to be potentially critical in low-temperature-response regulation. A 285-pair interaction network predicted PmKIN45 as the central hub, and functional predictions imply that PmKIN proteins may be linked to microtubules, hormone pathways, and stress signaling, possibly coordinating growth and low-temperature responses. Conclusions: This work screens candidate genes associated with low-temperature responses in P. mume, providing genetic resources for the molecular breeding of cold-resistant cultivars and expanded cultivation of P. mume and other ornamental horticultural species. Full article

Tropical ornamental Anthurium andraeanum requires substantial electrical heating for overwintering when cultivated in greenhouses in subtropical regions, making cold tolerance improvement a key factor for cost reduction. However, whether exogenous 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BA) can enhance cold hardiness in Anthurium and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a controlled experiment to compare the physiological and biochemical responses of A. andraeanum ‘Alabama’ subjected to low-temperature stress following foliar application of 6-BA versus water. Our results show that, compared with water treatment, 6-BA application was associated with better preservation of subcellular structural integrity, higher proline accumulation, lower hydrogen peroxide content, decreased relative electrical conductivity, increased leaf fresh weight, dry weight, and area along with reduced water content, and lower stomatal density. These findings suggest that, under defined low-temperature conditions, 6-BA is associated with enhanced physiological performance in A. andraeanum, potentially through coordinated effects on subcellular stability, osmotic adjustment, reactive oxygen species accumulation, leaf morphology and water metabolism, and stomatal density. This work provides a theoretical basis and technical reference for cold-tolerant cultivation of Anthurium. Full article

Revealing gene expression patterns is essential for comprehending the genetic control of complex traits like lifespan. Analyzing structural variation in gene regulatory regions within natural populations is a promising approach in functional genetics, allowing us to identify regulatory sites that influence transcription and phenotype in vivo. We describe the structural variability of the 5′ regulatory region of the shuttle craft (stc) gene in the Alexandrov population (Russia) of Drosophila melanogaster, encoding a transcription factor homologous to human NF-X1. We evaluated the association of frequently occurring polymorphisms with fly lifespan from inbred lines sampled in 2010, 2011, and 2014. Two polymorphisms in the stc 5′ regulatory region exhibit strong associations with both lifespan and embryonic stc transcript levels. Their role in expression regulation was evaluated via reporter gene assays conducted in S2 Drosophila cell culture. The ‘C’ allele at one polymorphic site and ‘T’ at the other are associated with increased longevity and decreased embryonic stc transcription, reaffirming the link between gene expression and lifespan we previously established. Furthermore, comparing stc 5′ regulatory region variability across Alexandrov, European and African populations suggests that the macro-geographic distribution of these longevity-associated variants is consistent with a potential role in latitudinal or climatic adaptation. Full article

This study evaluated cold tolerance and selected superior individuals from 100 Zoysia japonica ‘Zenith’ plants. Following pre-cold treatment at 4 °C for 24 h, candidates were screened using electrolyte leakage (EL) with a 10% selection intensity. Selected candidates and cold-sensitive controls were exposed to 0, −5, and −10 °C for 24 h and assessed using visual injury, EL, Evans blue staining, and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining. Visual injury increased with decreasing temperature but did not clearly distinguish cold tolerance. Individual 11 exhibited the lowest lethal temperature causing 50% injury (LT₅₀) based on both EL (−10.4 °C) and Evans blue staining (−11.0 °C). The two LT₅₀ estimates were strongly correlated (r = 0.996) and concordant (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient = 0.909). DAB-based recovery analysis showed effective hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) clearance in individuals 5, 11, 21, 23, and 40, with individual 23 exhibiting the lowest reactive oxygen species area under the curve (121.5). A modified Generalized Value Index integrating visual injury, mean LT₅₀, oxidative stress, and recovery slope identified individuals 5, 11, 18, 23, and 30 as superior cold-tolerant selections. Therefore, combining membrane-damage and oxidative-recovery indicators can provide a robust framework for selecting cold-tolerant Z. japonica ‘Zenith’ for field validation and breeding. Full article

Torpor is a hypometabolic and hypothermic state that enables survival under extreme energetic constraints. Pharmacological induction with 5′-AMP produces a controllable torpor-like hypothermic state with hypometabolic features documented for this model, relevant to long-duration spaceflight. Such a state could mitigate the physiological hazards of deep-space missions, including cosmic radiation exposure and muscle wasting, and, by minimizing oxygen demand, preserve neural integrity and enhance radiation tolerance. However, translational application requires confirmation that induced hypometabolism does not impair cognitive or behavioral function; this is especially pressing given evidence that the state causes reversible tau hyperphosphorylation at phospho-sites also altered in Alzheimer’s disease, but without tau aggregation. We subjected C57BL/6 mice to 5′-AMP combined with a mildly reduced ambient temperature (15–18 °C) and compared them with cold-exposed and room-temperature vehicle controls using systematic neurobehavioral testing. Despite the deep hypothermia (and the hypometabolism documented for this model), Y-maze spontaneous alternation performance was unaffected. Locomotor activity fell transiently during post-arousal recovery, with concurrent increases in self-directed behaviors. These results support further evaluation of this reversible metabolic intervention for critical care medicine and future human space missions. Full article

Developing early-maturing maize varieties with improved tolerance to high-density planting is essential for enhancing yield in China. In this study, a unique panel of 498 cold-adapted early-maturing inbred lines were evaluated for ear length (EL) and ear diameter (ED) across two locations under contrasting planting densities in one growing season. Phenotypic analysis revealed abundant phenotypic variation in these ear traits among the tested lines, and there were significant correlations between environments. A total of 406,897 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNPs) were obtained from liquid chip analysis. Population structure analysis classified the early-maturing maize germplasm into 9 distinct genetic groups, with obvious genetic differentiation between groups. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis demonstrated rapid LD decay and high genetic variation in the population. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 380 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for both ED and EL under two planting densities. In total, 138 and 89 annotated genes were identified within QTLs detected under normal and high-density planting conditions, respectively. Among them, Zm00001eb288330 (a TPX2 family protein) and Zm00001eb366770 (an OVATE family transcription factor), which were located close to the top SNPs for ED and EL under high planting density, were considered positional candidate genes based on their annotations. Furthermore, by integrating candidate gene analysis with selection signatures, we found that candidate genes detected under high-density planting conditions show signatures of ongoing selection during maize breeding. These findings identify candidate genes for future functional validation and breeding-oriented follow-up studies. Full article