Search Results (1,909)

Bio–tillage can continuously regulate the soil environment through plant roots and rhizosphere biological activities and is considered a low disturbance tillage practice that can alleviate soil compaction. However, long term chemical fertilization alone may limit rhizosphere carbon supply and weaken root–microbe interactions. Whether conservation management can coordinate root adaptation and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) responses to ameliorate the compacted soil environment and improve crop growth remains unclear. This study compared five treatments: chemical fertilizer alone (CN), straw return (SR), organic manure application (OM), straw return combined with organic manure application (SROM), and green manure intercropping (GM). SROM and GM showed the most pronounced soil amelioration effects. Compared with CN, SROM enhanced root tensile strength and elongation at break, increased the relative abundances of Glomus and Claroideoglomus and the accumulation of easily extractable and total glomalin–related soil protein (EE–GRSP and T–GRSP), reduced soil bulk density (BD) by 10.68% and 6.57% in the 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers, respectively, and increased MWD and GMD by 78.49–82.08%. The effects of GM were concentrated in the 20–40 cm soil layer, where enhanced soybean root Young’s modulus and complementary interspecific root distribution reduced BD by 7.36% and increased total porosity (TP) by 9.36%. GM also increased AMF root colonization, the relative abundance of Claroideoglomus, and soil nutrient availability. Additionally, SROM generally maintained the highest aboveground dry matter accumulation and exhibited the highest instantaneous growth rate, whereas the current–season growth benefit under GM was relatively limited. These findings highlight the key roles of roots and AMF in soil amelioration and soybean growth and provide a reference for optimizing low disturbance soil management in compacted black soil regions. Full article

This study evaluated the compositional and processing characteristics of 17 rowanberry (Sorbus spp.) genotypes, including sweet cultivars, interspecific hybrids, and a wild rowanberry. Fruit weight, colour parameters, soluble solids content (SSC), and titratable acidity (TA) were determined to assess fruit quality, and the distribution of soluble sugars and organic acids among whole fruit, juice, and pomace fractions was investigated. Significant (p < 0.05) variation was observed among genotypes, with fruit weight ranging from 0.40 g in wild rowanberry to 1.55 g in ‘Alaja Krupnaja’. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into two major clusters according to colour characteristics. Based on the SSC/TA ratio, ‘Burka’ and ‘Oranzevaja’ exhibited the most favourable balance between sweetness and acidity. Sorbitol was the predominant soluble carbohydrate and showed pronounced cultivar-dependent variation, ranging from 46.2 mg/g DW in ‘Likernaja’ to 189.0 mg/g DW in ‘Krasnaja’. Malic acid was the dominant organic acid in all fractions, reaching 70.9 mg/g DW in the pomace of ‘Krasnaja’. This study provides the first comprehensive comparison of sugar and organic acid partitioning among fruit, juice, and pomace fractions in a diverse set of rowanberry genotypes, revealing cultivar-specific patterns of carbon allocation relevant to fruit quality, processing, and by-product valorisation. Full article

The dried roots and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza are widely used and economically important traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Land salinization affects the growth of S. miltiorrhiza, resulting in a decline in its quality and yield. WNK kinases belong to a unique family of serine/threonine kinases. They act as key regulators of plant growth, development and abiotic stress responses. However, this gene family has not been systematically characterized in Salvia miltiorrhiza. In this study, nine SmWNK genes were identified at the whole-genome level in S. miltiorrhiza. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into four structurally conserved subgroups. These genes are distributed across eight chromosomes and contain two pairs of intraspecific syntenic genes. Interspecific collinearity is far stronger between S. miltiorrhiza and dicots than between S. miltiorrhiza and monocots. Cis-element prediction indicated these cis-elements participate in light signaling, hormone responses, stress responses and developmental regulation. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that eight SmWNK genes were significantly induced by salt stress, and SmWNK7 was selected as the key candidate for functional validation. Functional assays via heterologous overexpression in tobacco demonstrated that SmWNK7 overexpression promoted root elongation and enhanced salt tolerance. Compared with wild-type tobacco plants, SmWNK7-overexpressing transgenic tobacco lines had higher catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities, lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and stronger root viability. These changes alleviated oxidative damage by enhancing the antioxidant defense system. Yeast two-hybrid screening yielded 40 SmWNK7-interacting annotated proteins, including 6 transcription factors and 1 protein kinase, which were enriched in 81 GO terms and 27 KEGG pathways. These findings confirm SmWNK7 positively regulates root growth and salt tolerance, laying a theoretical foundation for exploring SmWNK genes’ role in plant stress adaptation. Full article

All taxa of plants have undergone several rounds of whole-genome duplication (WGD), accompanying interspecific and intergeneric crosses; subsequently, some part of one or both parent genomes in hybrid plants can be eliminated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships of the intergeneric hybrid ×Agrotrigia (Poaceae) species with the taxa of parental genera Agropyron and Elytrigia and to determine the distribution as well as conservation or loss of parental genomes in the genomes of hybrid species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear (ITS, ETS) and several chloroplast DNA markers confirmed that the most likely parents of this hybrid were really species of Agropyron and Elytrigia. The compositions of ribotypes (sequences of the 18S–ITS1–5.8S rDNA region) assessed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) showed that the genomes of hybrid species of ×Agrotrigia hajastanica and of the sample of ×A. androssovii from Turkmenistan carry ribotypes of both Agropyron and Elytrigia. However, the samples of ×A. kotovii and ×A. androssovii from Pskov Oblast bear ribotypes of the Elytrigia type only, whereas the genome of one sample of the ×Agrotrigia genus collected in Stavropol Krai consists exclusively of two clusters of Agropyron-type ribotypes (P genome) and may represent a new species. Therefore, these two (or three) species may be subject to the elimination of portions of the genome of one of the parents, though the extent of elimination may be different. Full article

Prunus salicina × P. armeniaca, an interspecific hybrid of Chinese plum and apricot, shows substantial variation in peel and flesh color and quality traits. Ten cultivars were characterized by integrating physicochemical measurements, spectrophotometric assays of phytochemical content and antioxidant capacity, and widely targeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) metabolite profiling. Tissue type was the main source of chemical variation. Peel contained higher total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), and anthocyanin (TAC) contents and greater 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging capacity, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical-scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), whereas flesh showed higher relative abundances of sugars, sugar alcohols, organic acids, amino acid derivatives, lipids, nucleotides, and terpenoids. Among 248 annotated metabolites, flavonoids were predominant, and color-related differentially accumulated metabolites were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways, particularly in purple–yellow comparisons. Integrating tissue-specific correlations, random forest models, and color-gradient patterns prioritized cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, dihydromyricetin, genistin, and orientin as cross-tissue color-associated metabolites. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside showed the strongest association with coloration and anthocyanin content, whereas 4′-O-glucosylvitexin was strongly connected with phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and antioxidant traits. Comprehensive nutritional quality index rankings further distinguished cultivar-specific peel and flesh quality profiles. These results provide a tissue-resolved metabolic basis for evaluating and utilizing plum–apricot hybrid germplasm. Full article

Interspecific hybridization is a key strategy for germplasm innovation in lilies (Lilium spp., Liliaceae). However, successful hybridization between aneuploid female and aneuploid male gametes has not been reported in this genus. We used two triploid female parents—autotriploid (AAA) and allotriploid (LAA)—crossed with an odd-allotetraploid (LAAA) male that produces functional aneuploid pollen—to explore the effects of maternal genotype on chromosome introgression. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analysis was performed on mitotic metaphase chromosomes of the progeny to determine chromosome number and genome composition. Both crosses were successful, confirming aneuploid female × aneuploid male compatibility. The AAA × LAAA progeny had concentrated chromosome numbers (40–45), averaging 2.33 Longiflorum (L) chromosomes, with L and L/A recombinants accounting for 6.67–20%. In contrast, the LAA × LAAA progeny showed wider variation (38–61), averaging 10.67 L chromosomes, with L and L/A proportions of 25.00–39.53%. Therefore, the maternal genotype decisively affects introgression: LAA (containing the L genome) promotes high-proportion alien introgression, whereas AAA (lacking L) favors low-proportion introgression. This is the first report on maternal regulation in aneuploid × aneuploid crosses, providing a theoretical basis for targeted parental selection in lily germplasm introgression breeding. Full article

The present study evaluated the insecticidal efficacy of a commercial formulation containing azamethiphos (Teenox^® EC) against adults of the saw-toothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.), under laboratory conditions. The azamethiphos formulation was assessed both as grain treatment on wheat and barley at 0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 ppm for all species, and as surface treatment on concrete and plastic surfaces at 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 μg a.i./cm² for O. surinamensis and R. dominica. In grain treatments, adult mortality increased significantly with concentration and exposure interval for all species. Mortality was generally higher in barley than in wheat, particularly after longer exposure periods. Sitophilus granarius was the most susceptible species, reaching high mortality at the highest concentration, whereas R. dominica exhibited lower mortality responses, especially at lower concentration. Progeny production was significantly reduced with increasing concentration for all species, although the effect was more pronounced in barley than in wheat, particularly for O. surinamensis. In surface treatments, mortality was strongly influenced by surface type, with significantly higher efficacy on concrete compared to plastic. Mortality increased with both concentrations and exposure time for all species, while interspecific differences were less pronounced than in grain treatments. These responses indicate that both substrate characteristics and exposure time are important parameters of azamethiphos efficacy. Overall, the results indicate that the azamethiphos formulation tested can provide effective control of key stored-product beetle species when applied either on grains or different surfaces, although its performance is influenced by commodity and surface type. These findings highlight the potential of azamethiphos as a versatile tool in integrated stored-product pest management programs. Full article

Troglonectes is an endemic cavefish genus of Nemacheilidae, mainly distributed in Guangxi and Guizhou, China. In April 2025, ten specimens of Troglonectes were collected from a subterranean stream of a Liujiang River tributary in Jinchengjiang District, Hechi City, Guangxi. Based on morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial Cyt b and COI genes, these specimens were identified as two new species, namely Troglonectes bottazzii sp. nov. and Troglonectes chenlixini sp. nov. Troglonectes bottazzii sp. nov. can be distinguished from congeners by having scales posterior to the dorsal fin origin, 9–10 branched dorsal fin rays, 12–13 branched pectoral fin rays, and 14 branched caudal fin rays. Troglonectes chenlixini sp. nov. is characterized by 12 branched caudal fin rays. Phylogenetically, the two new species form reciprocally monophyletic lineages with strong support, and their genetic distances meet the interspecific divergence level of Nemacheilidae. The two new species live in sympatry in the same cave waterbody, which is rare among cave loaches. Their stable morphological differences imply niche differentiation in their microhabitat and feeding ecology, which may reduce interspecific competition and likely contributes to reproductive isolation. This discovery enriches the diversity of Troglonectes and represents a valuable case and promising system for future investigations of sympatric distribution and adaptive evolution of cave-dwelling fishes. Full article

Cyclamen cyprium Kotschy, an endemic species of Cyprus, remains largely unexplored in terms of its chemical content and biological activity, despite the well-documented effects of other Cyclamen spp. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition and biological activities of leaf extracts from the endemic C. cyprium and to compare them with those of Cyclamen persicum, the most extensively investigated species within the genus, in order to evaluate interspecific variation in phytochemical composition and bioactivity. Plant extracts prepared with methanol, ethanol, and acetone were assessed for total phenolic and flavonoid content. Their antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays), metal chelating ability, antimicrobial activity, and possible inhibitory effect related to α-amylase, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase were also evaluated. The results demonstrated that solvent type significantly influenced extraction efficiency, with acetone yielding the highest phenolic (127.88 mg gallic acid/g) and flavonoid (110.42 mg rutin/g) content, while methanol extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 30.18 μg/mL). Overall, C. persicum showed greater antioxidant capacity compared to C. cyprium, although both species demonstrated moderate antimicrobial activity (MIC = 0.31 mg/mL) and enzyme inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ values ranging from 14.07 to 39.64 μg/mL). Present findings highlight the presence of bioactive compounds (such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, and quercetin) in C. cyprium, supporting their potential as a natural source of antioxidant and pharmacologically relevant agents. Studying both C. cyprium and C. persicum thus provides essential comparative context, revealing species-specific bioactivities and supporting the broader pharmaceutical relevance of the genus. Full article

Background/Objectives: Clariid catfishes are a cornerstone of Southeast Asian aquaculture, where intensive breeding and interspecific hybridization have significantly decreased genetic diversity. To address the limited understanding of growth-governing molecular determinants, we characterized the genomic architecture and evolutionary dynamics of the myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) gene, a master regulator of myogenesis, in 511 individuals from 17 catfish populations in Thailand. Methods: A total of 511 individuals representing 17 catfish populations were analyzed. A 334-bp fragment of exon 1 of the Myf5 gene was sequenced using Illumina short-read technology. Genetic diversity indices were calculated to evaluate sequence variation, population structure, and selective constraints acting on the locus. Results: Sequence analysis of a 334-bp segment of exon 1 using Illumina short-read technology identified 17 haplotypes and 92 variable sites, which revealed moderate allelic richness despite low overall nucleotide diversity (π ≈ 0.008). Evolutionary analyses indicated that the Myf5 locus is governed by stringent purifying selection (ω = 0.063), wherein site-specific constraints preserve the stability of the α-helix folding architecture, which is essential for myogenic regulation. Population genetic analyses revealed substantial differentiation among taxa (56% among-population variation), while Bayesian clustering successfully resolved a hierarchical structure (K = 2) that distinguished Clarias gariepinus, Clarias macrocephalus, and Clarias batrachus. These findings demonstrate that species-specific Myf5 haplotypes serve as diagnostic markers for identifying parental species and assisting in the identification of F₁ hybrid stocks. Conclusions: Overall, this study provides the molecular markers for species identification, broodstock authentication, hybrid detection, and sustainable genetic management of Thai Clariid resources, which are critical for balancing production efficiency with the conservation of native biodiversity in Southeast Asia. Full article

Sheep- and goatpox are highly contagious, transboundary viral diseases caused by capripoxviruses (CaPV), severely impacting small ruminant production and resulting in significant economic losses. Our study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal SGP distribution using the available genome sequence data and to evaluate the recombination occurrence. For this, the WAHIS, WOAH and FAO databases were utilized for the epidemiological analysis of SGP outbreaks. The cross-correlation was calculated to assess the impact of massive animal movements associated with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha on the SGP epizootic situation, and phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis, as well as a recombination analysis were performed. A total of 1629 SGP outbreaks were reported to WAHIS during 2010–2024, with the majority occurring in Mongolia, the Balkan countries, Russia and the Middle East. Over 60% of all SGP outbreaks were associated with croplands or grasslands, with the highest proportion corresponding to animal densities of 10–50 head/km². Statistically significant positive cross-correlation (p < 0.05) was identified between the month of the Eid al-Adha celebration and the number of SGP outbreaks in Russia, Mongolia, Bulgaria and Tajikistan, while in Greece and China no significant correlation was found. The inferred goat pox virus (GTPV) transmission pathways from China to Vietnam and from India to Bangladesh; for the sheeppox virus SPPV, the routes between Kazakhstan and Russia, Kazakhstan and India, as well as between Russia and China, had the strongest Bayes factor support. Intra-specific recombination events were not detected for the SSPV and GTPV datasets. However, inter-specific CaPV recombination analysis identified a single recombination event in GTPV. Therefore, the use of molecular epidemiological tools, along with the time-calibrated phylodynamic and phylogeographic analyses, has significant applications in the local and international surveillance of the occurrence of SGP outbreaks and for identification of potential recombination events. Full article

Stem blight, caused by Phomopsis asparagi, is the most serious disease affecting the cultivation of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) in the warm regions of East and Southeast Asia, including Japan. Although Asparagus kiusianus, a wild species endemic to Japan, shows strong resistance to this disease and is cross-compatible with cultivated asparagus, the genetic basis of this resistance remains unclear. In this study, we used BC₁ populations from interspecific crosses between A. officinalis and A. kiusianus to dissect stem blight resistance inheritance and identify markers suitable for marker-assisted selection. Disease severity was evaluated using P. asparagi inoculation, and RAD sequencing was used to construct a linkage map and perform QTL analysis. Segregation patterns suggested that resistance was controlled by major genes and polygenic factors which depended on the cross combination. A major QTL was detected on chromosome 1 and SNP_PRK showed a significant association (LOD > 3). A dCAPS marker derived from SNP_PRK was associated with resistance, with approximately 80% of individuals carrying the associated genotype showing resistance. CAPS marker PR1 distinguished the same genotype classes and produced results consistent with those obtained using PRK in the evaluated materials. PR1 may therefore facilitate resistant individual selection in breeding programs. Full article

Camellia oleifera is a significant woody oil tree species native solely to China. The bud–seedling grafting technique has been widely applied to this tree due to its significant advantages in improving propagation efficiency and shortening the growth cycle. However, the healing process and its underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms during interspecific heterografting in Camellia remain poorly understood. In this study, we established both homografting and heterografting systems using C. oleifera bud seedlings as rootstocks, grafted with scions from C. oleifera, C. meiocarpa, and C. weiningensis. We systematically investigated the response patterns and differences in metabolites and gene expression before and after grafting healing through endogenous hormone detection, LC-MS untargeted metabolomics, and transcriptomic sequencing. The results showed that the grafting survival rates between C. oleifera and the other species were high (>88%), indicating strong compatibility. Metabolomic analysis revealed that differential metabolites, such as Gibberellin A53, Sophoramine, and Morellin, accumulated significantly with prolonged grafting time, and interspecific grafting combinations exhibited specific highly expressed metabolite profiles. We integrated multi-dimensional data comprising hormone levels, differential metabolites, and DEGs. A “hormone-gene” interaction network was constructed using WGCNA. The analysis revealed that key hub genes, including CYP73A, F3H, CHS, LHCA1, and LHCB5, were significantly correlated with flavonoid biosynthesis and elevated iPR content. We hypothesize that these genes enhance graft healing capacity by regulating secondary metabolism and hormone signaling pathways. The identified candidate genes, phytohormones, and metabolites provide potential molecular markers and regulatory targets for evaluating graft compatibility, selecting suitable rootstock–scion combinations, and optimizing grafting and propagation practices in C. oleifera, providing a crucial theoretical basis for superior cultivar breeding and the investigation of graft compatibility mechanisms. Full article

This study sequenced and comparatively analyzed the mitochondrial genomes of three agriculturally important Aulacophora pests: the polyphagous A. indica, the oligophagous A. lewisii, and the early-diverging A. nigripennis. All three mitogenomes contained the typical 37 genes with conserved gene order. However, total length varied substantially (15,258–18,766 bp), driven primarily by control region length variation. All species exhibited pronounced AT bias, and relative synonymous codon usage analysis revealed marked interspecific divergence. Phylogenetic analysis based on 13 protein-coding genes resolved A. nigripennis as the basal lineage and A. lewisii and A. indica as closely related sister species. Both widespread species displayed maximum haplotype diversity (Hd = 1.000); however, A. indica exhibited approximately 2.4-fold higher nucleotide diversity (Pi = 0.00478) than A. lewisii (Pi = 0.00198), indicating differential population genetic architectures between the two species. These findings established a comparative mitogenomic framework for Aulacophora and provide baseline data for future phylogenomic and phylogeographic investigations. Full article

Two new millipede species of the genus Coxobolellus Pimvichai, Enghoff, Panha & Backeljau, 2020 (Diplopoda, Spirobolida: Pseudospirobolellidae) are described from southern Thailand based on morphological characters and mtDNA sequences (COI and 16S rRNA). The new species are: Coxobolellus kaengkrachanensis sp. nov. from Phetchaburi Province and Coxobolellus planiprocessus sp. nov. from Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Both species are distinguished from all congeners by the posterior gonopod telopodite terminating apically in a coarsely serrate lamella. They differ from each other in the shape of the apical process of the posterior gonopod telopodite, being either a pointed spine in Coxobolellus kaengkrachanensis sp. nov. or a broad, flattened process in Coxobolellus planiprocessus sp. nov. The mean interspecific sequence divergence between the two new species is 0.08 for COI and 0.09 for 16S rRNA, while their mean interspecific sequence divergences with respect to other Coxobolellus species are 0.12 for COI and 0.15 for 16S rRNA. Phylogenetic analyses of COI and 16S rRNA firmly place the two new species as sister taxa within the Coxobolellus clade and reassign another pseudospirobolellid species, viz. Benoitolus siamensis (Attems, 1936), to the genus Pseudospirobolellus. Hence this latter species should be referred to as Pseudospirobolellus siamensis comb. nov. This conclusion is supported by a re-interpretation of the original description of the species’ gonopod morphology. In contrast, the phylogenetic analysis of COI sequences places Benoitolus birgitae (Hoffman, 1981) with strong support in the genus Litostrophus Chamberlin, 1921, within the family Pachybolidae, thus raising the question as to whether the genus Benoitolus can be maintained in the family Pseudospirobolellidae. Full article