Search Results (14,836)

Chinese rice-field eels (Monopterus albus) are a commercially farmed freshwater fish species in China. In recent years, the rapid expansion of aquaculture has been accompanied by frequent outbreaks of viral diseases, posing a serious threat to the sustainability of the Chinese rice-field eel farming industry. In this study, a rhabdovirus strain was isolated from diseased Chinese rice-field eels at a farm located in Xiantao, Hubei Province, China. Although the complete genomic sequence of CrERV-XT showed higher identity to the infectious hemorrhagic syndrome virus (IHSV) (96.16%) than to CrERV (94.39%), phylogenetic analysis based on the L protein placed CrERV-XT within the same clade as CrERV, supporting its tentative classification as a novel variant of CrERV. Furthermore, the amino acid sequence of the L protein showed greater similarity to that of CrERV (97.89%) than to IHSV, while the N, P, M and G proteins exhibited higher homology with their counterparts in IHSV. CrERV-XT displayed considerable genetic divergence from known CrERV isolates, which is presumably attributed to its geographic isolation in different locations. Alignment of the G protein sequences from five strains (CrERV-XT, CrERV, CrERV-TYY25, CrERV-XY0907 and IHSV) revealed a total of 39 amino acid mutation sites. These findings provide valuable insights for investigating conserved functional domains within the CrERV G protein for the rational design of vaccine antigens against this emerging virus. Full article

Accurate rice detection is essential for food security, sustainable agriculture, and environmental monitoring. Satellite time series observations provide scalable capabilities for rice detection; however, their application in tropical regions is challenged by persistent cloud contamination, asynchronous crop development cycles, and temporal misalignment among multisensor observations, which reduce classification reliability. This study introduces Multivariate Robust Time Series Boosting (MRTS-Boosting), a quality-aware framework for multivariate time series classification (TSC) designed to improve robustness under noisy and irregular observational conditions. The framework integrates quality-weighted feature construction, joint extraction of full-series and interval-based temporal features, and a flexible multivariate formulation that accommodates heterogeneous satellite inputs without strict temporal alignment. Performance was evaluated using synthetic datasets with controlled cloud contamination, 103 benchmark datasets from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) TSC Archive, and 3261 real-world rice field observations from Indonesia. Comparisons were conducted against representative whole-series, interval-based, shapelet-based, kernel-based, and ensemble classifiers. MRTS-Boosting achieved up to 87% accuracy under severe cloud contamination, an average rank of 2.7 on noise-augmented UCR datasets, and 93% accuracy with Cohen’s kappa of 0.76 for Indonesian rice detection, while maintaining moderate computational cost. These results demonstrate that MRTS-Boosting provides a robust, scalable, and computationally efficient framework for satellite-based rice detection. The framework remains competitive in univariate settings while benefiting from multisensor integration, indicating that performance gains arise from both methodological design and the effective use of heterogeneous data. MRTS-Boosting is therefore well-suited for precision agriculture applications under challenging observational conditions. Full article

Strawberry is an economically important horticultural crop cultivated worldwide. However, its growth, yield, and fruit quality are severely constrained by abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, and low temperature, as well as biotic stresses including pathogen attack and pest infestation. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) have been extensively characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice, and increasing evidence highlights their functional diversification and regulatory importance in horticultural crops, including tomato and grapevine. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the roles of WRKY TFs in strawberry responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, based on studies in both the diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) and the octoploid cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne). We discuss their involvement in hormone crosstalk, redox regulation, and transcriptional control within complex stress-response networks, while distinguishing expression-based associations from experimentally validated regulatory functions. To provide a clear framework for evaluating the current evidence, we categorize the findings according to a hierarchy of experimental validation, ranging from direct functional characterization in strawberry, to transient assays, heterologous systems (e.g., Arabidopsis or tobacco), transcriptomic inferences, and predictions based on sequence homology. Finally, we outline potential future directions for exploiting strawberry WRKY TFs as candidate regulators in molecular breeding, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future functional studies and breeding applications. Full article

Hybrid nanomaterials integrating magnetic and semiconductor phases offer promising multifunctional platforms for wastewater remediation; however, their stabilization and recovery remain challenging. In this study, Fe₃O₄ and ZnTiO₃/TiO₂ nanoparticles were incorporated into a rice husk ash-based geopolymer matrix to develop hybrid nanocomposites for synergistic adsorption–photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). The materials were synthesized via alkaline activation followed by nanoparticle incorporation, and characterized by XRD, XRF, FTIR, SEM, EDX, BET surface area analysis, and pHPZC determination. XRD confirmed the presence of nanocrystalline Fe₃O₄ and ZnTiO₃/TiO₂ phases while preserving the amorphous aluminosilicate framework. Modified powders exhibited higher specific surface areas (up to 198 m² g⁻¹) compared to the unmodified geopolymer. Adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics, with spontaneous and exothermic behavior. Under UV irradiation, the ZnTiO₃/TiO₂-modified composite achieved photodegradation efficiencies up to 94% for MB and 92% for MO, whereas the Fe₃O₄-modified material combined adsorption capacity with magnetic recoverability. These results demonstrate that nanoparticle incorporation enables multifunctional performance while maintaining structural integrity of the geopolymeric matrix. Full article

Phosphorus (P) deficiency severely limits the growth and yield of crop plants, and anthocyanin accumulation is a key adaptive physiological response to low-P stress. However, the role of MYB transcription factors in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis under P-deficient conditions and the application of favorable haplotypes in foxtail millet low-P tolerance breeding remain unclear. Here, we performed genome-wide identification of SiMYB genes, elucidated their evolutionary characteristics, and identified key members regulating anthocyanin accumulation under P deficiency to provide genetic resources and a theoretical basis for foxtail millet molecular breeding aimed at improving nutrient use efficiency. Specifically, a total of 229 SiMYB genes were identified in the foxtail millet genome and classified into three subgroups, with the R2R3-MYB subfamily accounting for 59.8%. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses across 15 plant species revealed diverse divergence times and complex relationships, with 29 R2R3-MYB genes showing conserved collinearity with rice and maize orthologs. Association analysis using 196 foxtail millet accessions showed that 38 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 16 SiMYB genes were significantly associated with leaf anthocyanin content under P deficiency (p < 0.001). Notably, the SiMYB169 gene exhibited differential tissue expression and was highly upregulated in the leaves of a P-tolerant genotype after 24 h of P deficiency treatment. Furthermore, accessions carrying the favorable G allele of SiMYB169 showed significantly higher anthocyanin accumulation under P deficiency (p < 0.01). Network prediction analysis found that SiMYB169 interacted with key genes and multiple transcription factors in the biosynthesis pathway of anthocyanin. These findings highlight SiMYB169 as an evolutionarily conserved regulator that modulated anthocyanin biosynthesis under P-deficient conditions. Full article

Water quality plays a central role in determining the environmental performance of pond-based tropical aquaculture systems. This study aimed to evaluate the relative environmental performance of different tropical pond-based aquaculture systems by identifying multivariate water quality patterns that allow their discrimination and comparison under commercial production conditions. Four pond-based production systems were evaluated: an aquaponic system (APS), a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), a conventional earthen pond system (CEP), and an integrated rice–chame system (RCS). Fourteen physicochemical water quality variables were monitored throughout the production cycle under real commercial conditions using a comparative observational design. Multivariate discriminant analysis was applied to identify the variables with the highest discriminatory power and evaluate the ability of water quality patterns to correctly classify observations among production systems. The results revealed a clear multivariate separation between technologically intensive systems (APS and RAS) and less intensive and integrated systems (CEP and RCS), reflecting distinct water quality structures and environmental functioning. Variables associated with mineralization and nutrient dynamics, including electrical conductivity, dissolved solids, turbidity, phosphates, chlorides, dissolved oxygen, nitrites, and temperature, contributed most strongly to system discrimination. The discriminant functions achieved a high overall correct classification rate, demonstrating the robustness of the multivariate approach. These findings support the use of water quality variables as consistent environmental signatures for distinguishing tropical pond-based aquaculture systems, providing an operational framework for assessing their relative environmental performance. Discriminant analysis emerges as a valuable tool for system characterization and comparative evaluation, supporting environmentally informed management and optimization of chame aquaculture under tropical conditions. Although water quality represents a robust integrative indicator, it captures only one dimension of environmental performance, and additional factors such as production efficiency, energy use, and effluent characterization should be incorporated in future studies to achieve a comprehensive sustainability assessment. Full article

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) from polymer-modified asphalt pavements often contains a recovered binder that is stiff and brittle, which reduces workability and increases durability risk. Waste cooking oil (WCO) is a promising circular rejuvenator, but its effectiveness remains inconsistent because oil source and degradation state are often not well controlled, particularly in polymer-modified RAP systems. This study introduced a controlled simulated WCO approach and compared four oil sources (Palm, Soy, Olive, and Rice) as rejuvenators for recovered RAP binder and RAP mixtures. Simulated oils were added at 4% and 8% by mass of recovered RAP binder. The simulated WCOs produced clear dosage-dependent softening of the recovered binder. Penetration increased, while softening point and rotational viscosity decreased, indicating partial restoration of binder mobility and improved workability. At the mixture level, the 4% dosage provided the most balanced performance, improving moisture resistance and reducing Cantabro loss compared with the control mixture. Specifically, tensile strength ratio (TSR) increased from 75% to 80.9–83.7%, while Cantabro loss decreased from 19.8% to 13.2–14.6%, showing better cohesion and resistance to particle loss. However, Hamburg wheel tracking (HWT) results revealed strong oil-source dependence, with Soy showing the lowest rut depth and Olive the highest, indicating that excessive softening can reduce deformation resistance. The results demonstrate that controlled simulated WCO can support practical oil-source selection for polymer-modified RAP mixtures. A moderate dosage is more effective because it improves binder restoration and mixture durability without causing excessive softening, while rutting verification remains essential before field application. Full article

Soil salinity remains a major constraint to rice productivity, particularly during early developmental stages when plants are highly sensitive to osmotic and ionic stress. In this study, we evaluated 201 genetically diverse rice genotypes from the 3K Rice Diversity Panel to investigate stage-specific mechanisms of salinity tolerance and develop machine learning-based predictive models for rapid phenotypic screening. Morphological and physiological traits were measured under control and saline conditions at germination and early seedling stages to derive Stress Tolerance Indices (STIs). The average membership function value (AMFV), calculated from multi-trait STI profiles, effectively captured variation in salinity responses and enabled classification of genotypes into five tolerance categories. Genome-wide association analysis using high-density SNP markers identified 36 significant marker–trait associations, including potentially novel SNPs on chromosomes 1 and 12. Several loci co-localized with candidate genes (LTR1, LGF1, OsCPS4, OsNCX7, and OsNHX4), while functional SNPs within genes (OsDRP2C, RLCK168, and OsMed37_2) and non-synonymous variants (qSVII11.1 and qSNaK3.1) further supported their candidacy in salinity tolerance. Mining favourable SNPs of causal genes identified superior multilocus combinations consistent with STI-based phenotypic patterns, with genotype 91-382 emerging as the strongest performer, exhibiting enhanced Na⁺ exclusion, K⁺ retention, and biomass resilience across developmental stages. To address multicollinearity among STI traits, we applied cross-validated LASSO (germination) and Elastic Net (early seedling) models, achieving high predictive accuracy and revealing a developmental shift from biomass-driven tolerance at germination to ion-regulatory processes at the seedling stage. Independent validation showed strong agreement between predicted and observed AMFVs. By integrating physiological indices, GWAS-derived SNP signals, and regularized machine learning approaches, this study provides a robust framework for identifying elite donors and accelerating breeding for salt-tolerant rice. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain quality is a critical determinant of market value, consumer acceptance, and nutritional security. This multifaceted trait is governed by the dynamic interaction of genotype (G), environment (E), and management practices (M). In this review, we synthesize recent advances in understanding these multifaceted determinants. We first delineate the genetic architecture, emphasizing key genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) such as Wx, ALK, Chalk5, and the GS3/GW families, which control starch composition, gelatinization temperature, chalkiness, and grain dimensions, forming the foundational blueprint for quality potential. We examine how this genetic potential is influenced by environmental factors, focusing on the detrimental impacts of abiotic stresses, particularly high temperatures during grain filling and drought, which impair milling yield, increase chalkiness, and modify starch and protein profiles. Furthermore, we discuss how optimized agronomic strategies—including precision water management (e.g., alternate wetting and drying), balanced nitrogen fertilization, and targeted micronutrient (e.g., silicon) application—can mitigate these adverse effects and potentially improve specific quality parameters. Post-harvest handling is identified as the final determinant of product quality. We conclude that achieving high and stable rice quality under climate variability requires an integrated G × E × M approach. Prospects include next-generation breeding for climate-resilient quality, precision agronomy guided by real-time sensing, synergistic soil health management, and the integration of systems biology with digital agriculture to design sustainable, high-quality rice production systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Having longer mesocotyls is beneficial for the deep-sowing tolerance of rice, which is important for seedling establishment. Methods: Here, we performed transcriptome analysis of the elongating mesocotyl of Zhengdao 209 in response to three different sowing depths to identify the pivotal genes regulating rice mesocotyl elongation. Results: Three groups with different mesocotyl lengths were compared using transcriptome analysis, and 60 common differentially expressed genes were detected. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses revealed that these genes are primarily involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, cutin suberine and wax biosynthesis, the plant mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, diterpenoid biosynthesis, cyanoamino acid metabolism, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, flavonoid biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression network and hierarchical clustering analyses showed that most of the differentially expressed genes are implicated in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, photosynthesis antenna proteins, and plant–pathogen interactions. Among the genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis processes, the expression levels of OsPHT3 and LOC_Os04g59260 increased, while OsCCR1, OsPGIP4, and LOC_Os01g45110 expression decreased with increasing sowing depth. Among the genes involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, the expression levels of LOC_Os07g03319 and LOC_Os07g03580 increased, while LOC_Os07g03409 decreased with increasing sowing depth. Among the genes involved in diterpenoid biosynthesis processes, the expression levels of OsCYP76M5 and OsCYP71Z2 decreased, while OsCYP71Z21 increased with increasing sowing depth. Furthermore, the expression levels of these genes were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, which confirmed the transcriptome analysis results. Conclusions: This study identified candidate genes governing rice mesocotyl length and provides novel insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying mesocotyl elongation in rice. Full article

Lodging is a major constraint to rice productivity and grain quality. The mechanical strength of basal internodes, particularly bending resistance (BDR), is a critical determinant of lodging resistance. In this study, we evaluated the BDR of the third and fourth basal internodes (BDR3 and BDR4) in a diverse panel of 340 rice accessions. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified three QTLs significantly associated with BDR3, which were defined and designated as qBDR1, qBDR4, and qBDR5. Further analysis revealed that OsWRKY102 on qBDR1 was identified as a key candidate gene. Haplotype analysis revealed distinct allelic variations between subspecies, with the elite haplotypes (Hap.1 and Hap.4) contributing to superior lodging resistance, while Hap.2 was predominantly found in lodging-susceptible Japonica accessions. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of OsWRKY102 in the ZH11 background resulted in a significant reduction of more than 50% in both BDR3 and BDR4 compared to the wild type. Detailed phenotypic characterization of the oswrky102 mutants revealed a substantial decrease in cellulose content and culm diameter, accompanied by an increase in culm wall thickness. These findings demonstrate that OsWRKY102 maintains culm mechanical strength by promoting radial expansion and cellulose accumulation. Biomechanical analysis further suggests that culm diameter and cellulose content are more critical for bending strength than wall thickness. Our results elucidate the regulatory role of OsWRKY102 in coordinating culm morphology and cell wall composition, providing a valuable genetic target for molecular breeding of high-yielding, lodging-resistant rice varieties. Full article

Land-use change contributes significantly to climate change mitigation through biophysical changes (albedo, α) and biogeochemical (greenhouse gases, GHG) emissions (here refers to methane, CH₄, and nitrous oxide, N₂O). While the impact of grassland–cropland conversion on global warming potential (GWP) is well-documented globally, research remains scarce in the saline-alkaline agropastoral transition zone (APTZ) of the western Songnen Plain, Northeast China, an ecotone uniquely characterized by soil-crusting and seasonal inundation. We conducted in situ bi-weekly measurements of N₂O and CH₄ fluxes (June–September) to acquire growing season ${\mathrm{GWP}}_{{\mathrm{N}}_2\mathrm{O}}$ and ${\mathrm{GWP}}_{{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_4}$, alongside α. The study compared an undisturbed fenced meadow (FMD) with three adjacent land-use types, clipped meadow (CMD), saline-alkaline meadow (SAL), and paddy rice field (PDY), converted from FMD from 2018 to 2022. Annual α-induced GWP (GWPΔα) was positive across all converted sites (CMD, SAL, and PDY), indicating a warming effect due to lower α compared to FMD. The PDY exhibited the highest CH₄ emission (5.04 kg CO₂ m⁻² yr⁻¹), exceeding other land uses by three orders of magnitude (p < 0.05). Conversely, N₂O emissions remained consistently minimal and stable across all sites. When integrating the net ecosystem exchange of CO₂ (NEE), the PDY functioned as a net warming source. In contrast, the warming effects of α and non-CO₂ GHGs were effectively offset by the NEE in other land uses. Machine learning identified soil water content (SWC) as the dominant predictor of α across all land uses in growing season. However, a mechanistic divergence was observed, i.e., α in low saline-alkali ecosystems (FMD, CMD and PDY) was shaped by coupled biotic and soil moisture controls, whereas in the degraded SAL ecosystem, α is almost exclusively abiotic-driven. These findings demonstrate that land-use conversion in the Songnen Plain governs complex land-surface feedbacks through distinct pathways. This study provides a quantitative framework for integrating biophysical and biogeochemical impacts to optimize land management for climate resilience in saline-alkaline agropastoral ecotones. Full article

Red yeast rice (RYR), a traditional fermented product obtained via rice fermentation with Monascus purpureus, has a millennia-long history of culinary and medicinal use in East Asia and has gained global attention as a prominent functional food ingredient for its well-recognized cholesterol-lowering properties. This review is driven by one core question: How can the dual challenges of standardizing key bioactive constituents, particularly monacolin K (MK), while eliminating the mycotoxin citrinin be addressed through biotechnological and analytical advances? This narrative review consolidates the latest research progress on RYR-derived bioactive compounds, with a specific focus on their production optimization, multifaceted health-promoting potentials, safety regulation, and application prospects in health food development. We elaborate on key advances in fermentation biotechnology and strain engineering for enhancing the yield of the core lipid-lowering component MK while eliminating the nephrotoxic mycotoxin citrinin, and comprehensively summarize the synergistic bioactivities of RYR metabolites beyond MK. The current applications of RYR in functional foods, dietary supplements, and traditional fermented products are detailed, alongside a comparison of the divergent regulatory frameworks for RYR across major global markets. Finally, we identify critical bottlenecks restricting RYR industrialization, including extreme inter-product heterogeneity and global regulatory fragmentation, and propose evidence-based future research directions to facilitate the development of safe, standardized, and effective RYR-based health foods. Full article

Oxy-fuel combustion is a near-zero emission technology that utilizes high-concentration O₂ in place of air, combined with recycled flue gas, to achieve efficient combustion and enable effective CO₂ capture. In this study, air (21% O₂/79% N₂) was used as the control atmosphere, and rice straw combustion experiments were conducted using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry coupled with mass spectrometry (TG-MS) at heating rates of 10, 20, and 30 °C/min under oxy-fuel conditions of 30% O₂/70% CO₂, 50% O₂/50% CO₂, and 70% O₂/30%CO₂. The combustion behavior, pollutant emissions, reaction kinetics, and underlying mechanisms were systematically evaluated. The results show that CO₂ in oxy-fuel atmospheres exhibits a higher thermal inertia, due to its greater density and specific heat capacity, thereby enhancing flame stability. Oxy-fuel atmospheres reduce the ignition temperature (Tᵢ) and burnout temperature (T_f), shorten the combustion duration, shift DTG and DSC peaks to lower temperatures, and result in sharper peaks along with an increased ignition index (Cᵢ), burnout index (C_b), and comprehensive combustion index (S). Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis reveals that oxy-fuel atmospheres combined with heating rates of 20–30 °C/min suppress O₂ diffusion and thermal NO formation, reducing NO_x emissions by over 75% and simultaneously inhibiting the release of SO₂ and COS. Kinetic analysis using the FWO and Friedman methods shows that the activation energy decreases from 210.5 kJ/mol and 219.1 kJ/mol under air conditions to 110.5 kJ/mol and 114.6 kJ/mol in oxy-fuel atmospheres, representing a reduction in reaction barriers of 47.5% and 47.7%, respectively. The reaction mechanisms were identified as three-dimensional diffusion-controlled processes at heating rates of 20–30 °C/min, and random nucleation followed by growth under high O₂ concentration conditions at a heating rate of 30 °C/min. Optimizing the combustion atmosphere and heating rate enhances the rice straw combustion efficiency and reduces pollutant emissions, thereby providing theoretical support for its clean and efficient utilization. Full article

Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), a typical organophosphate flame retardant, has been listed as an emerging pollutant, yet its biodegradation remains poorly studied. Herein, an efficient TPHP-degrading marine bacterium, Pseudomonas abyssi RL-WG04, was isolated from mangrove sediments, which could degrade 95.22% of 100 mg/L TPHP within 120 h. RL-WG04 exhibited good tolerance to varied environmental conditions, maintaining over 70% TPHP degradation percentages (100 mg/L, 7 d) across 20–50 °C, pH 7.0–9.0, and salinity 2.0–4.0% (NaCl, w/v). Organic solvents (p-xylene, biphenyl, toluene and ethyl acetate, 0.5% v/v) had a negligible impact, whereas metal ions (Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Co²⁺) strongly inhibited degradation, especially at 1 mM. Under optimized conditions, TPHP degradation by RL-WG04 followed the improved Gompertz model (R² = 0.99927). Metabolite identification indicated that RL-WG04 transformed TPHP into phenol but failed to utilize phenol for growth because of the phenol 2-monooxygenase deficiency. Nevertheless, the constructed consortia of RL-WG04 and Pseudomonas sp. RL-LY03 (phenol-degrading bacterium) achieved complete TPHP degradation and cell proliferation. Additionally, RL-WG04 could efficiently remove TPHP (25 mg/kg) from clay and sandy mangrove sediments with 100% and 90.04% removal percentages, respectively. Overall, this work provides novel insights into the fate of TPHP and a potential approach for its remediation. Full article