Biology and Life Sciences

Abstract: White-fruited bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is a rare species of Momordica charantia L, valued for its pearl-like white pericarp. However, limited research is available regarding its supporting cultivation techniques and fruit quality. Two-season field trials were performed using ‘Kuzhongle’ as scion to evaluate the applicability of luffa rootstocks and seasonal variation in rootstock-mediated effects. Three luffa inbred lines (SS07, SS11, SS26) were screened in spring, and the superior SS26 was further compared with the commercial rootstock ’Yinzhen No.1’ in autumn. All rootstocks thickened stems, shortened internodes and promoted female flower formation in spring, with genotypically divergent influences on fruit quality. SS26 exhibited the highest survival rate and significantly enhanced soluble solid content, water content, crude protein content and vitamin C content, while reducing crude fiber content and total acid content. Seasonal comparison revealed consistent quality-modulating effects of SS26 across seasons, except for crude fiber, with a comprehensive performance comparable to the commercial rootstock. Overall, luffa rootstocks consistently modulate vegetative and flowering traits within a season, whereas their impacts on fruit quality show genotypic differences. SS26 exhibits stable and superior grafting performance, providing important material support for bitter gourd rootstock breeding research.

Abstract: Capparis spinosa L. (caper) is a resilient, perennial xerophytic shrub widely distributed across the Mediterranean and other seasonally dry regions. Due to its remarkable physiological capacity to persist under severe water limitation and adapt to degraded, rocky soils, there is growing interest in integrating this species into diversified and sustainable agroecosystems. Beyond its ecological resilience, C. spinosa is highly valued for its deep cultural heritage and diverse phytochemical profile, which includes an array of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, glucosinolates, phytosterols, vitamins, and organic acids. However, recent literature indicates that both biological activities and phytochemical expressions vary significantly depending on the plant organ, genotype, developmental stage, environmental fluctuations, and post-harvest processing methods. Agronomic evaluations similarly reveal substantial phenotypic and metabolic variations among caper biotypes, highlighting the critical need for targeted genotype selection, optimized propagation strategies, and site-specific management. Implementing efficient water conservation practices, bio-inputs, sustainable harvesting, and advanced valorization techniques (such as controlled fermentation and drying) can further maximize resource-use efficiency and economic viability. This review synthesizes current scientific evidence regarding the historical heritage, physiological and biochemical abiotic-stress responses, agronomic dynamics, and phytochemical characteristics of C. spinosa. Particular emphasis is placed on distinguishing individual physiological persistence from systemic agronomic productivity, while integrating the interactions between genotype, environment, management, and product quality to support the sustainable cultivation of caper in vulnerable marginal lands.

Abstract: Food security is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. The growing demand for food production has generated negative impacts on natural resources, especially soil, highlighting the need for more sustainable agricultural practices. Consequently, a new agricultural revolution based on biological inputs is a promising alternative. Microorganisms stand out due to their beneficial mechanisms for soil health and plant development, and their application in food production systems has gained global prominence. Bioinputs are economically viable and environmentally sustainable, delivering benefits such as increased productivity and environmental preservation, representing alternatives to conventional chemical products, whose costs have increased while effectiveness has decreased over time. Among the microorganisms used in agriculture, Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) play a significant role by promoting plant growth through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), phosphate solubilization, phytohormone production, protection against pathogens, and improved water and nutrient uptake. Although legislation and incentive programs have encouraged the adoption of bioinputs across several countries, regulation and implementation challenges remain. Our aim is to present the progress in the adoption of bionputs in countries where this practice is well established, outlining their historical background, current legislation, and incentive initiatives, which can contribute to the quality and sustainability of global agriculture.

Abstract: This study examined the impact of nitrogen applied at booting stage on grain yield, protein content, grain N uptake, and nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE) of common winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Transylvanian Plain, in the period 2019-2026. The experiment included eight consecutively years, four varieties and, two nitrogen doses: N50 and N100. In the variant of fertilization N50, 50 kg ha-1 nitrogen active substance were applied in autumn before sowing as basic fertilization and in the variant N100, other 50 kg ha-1 nitrogen were applied at the booting stage in addition to the base fertilization. Our research has shown that, compared to other wheat growth stages, applying nitrogen at the booting stage (one week before heading) significantly improved yield and protein content. Nitrogen applied at the booting stage conducted to an increase of yield by an average of 763 kg ha⁻¹ and in grain protein content by 2.24%. The NRE values ​​for all the studied varieties indicate an efficient utilization of nitrogen fertilizers applied at the booting stage, except the years marked by drought in May, such as 2019/2020 or when drought from June is accompanied by scorching heat, such as 2023/2024.

Abstract: In the context of increasing agricultural plant productivity and crop yields, water losses due to weeds pose a significant constraint. Therefore, this review aims to examine weed-induced water losses and evaluate the potential of various cultural practices, in combination with reduced herbicide rates, to conserve water through effective weed management. Applying mulch to the substrate surface can reduce or even eliminate weeds while decreasing irrigation frequency. Green manure is utilised in different agricultural systems to suppress weeds and prevent reinfestation through allelopathic effects, restricting growth space and competing for water, light, oxygen, and nutrients. Similarly, cover crops have the potential to form an important component in agroecosystems and are considered a useful tool for weed suppression in sustainable agricultural systems. Intercropping further enhances weed control through physical dominance, space occupancy, enhanced competition, and allelopathic influences. Finally, crop rotation may be an effective practice for weed control, particularly for serious weeds, affecting weed growth and reproduction, which may greatly reduce weed density. In most cases, utilisation of the above-mentioned cultural practices in combination with reduced herbicide rates additionally affects weed species.

Abstract: Leguminous crops contribute approximately 40–60 million tonnes of biologically fixed nitrogen annually to agricultural soils through symbiotic associations with rhizobia, underpinning the sustainability of diverse cropping systems. However, rising herbicide use, driven by the adoption of herbicide-tolerant crops and intensifying weed resistance, poses significant threats to the integrity of the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. This review synthesises current mechanistic and agronomic evidence on herbicide-induced disruption of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We discuss evidence from studies demonstrating that herbicides impair symbiosis through multiple interconnected pathways, such as cytotoxicity to rhizobia and soil microbial communities, inhibition of flavonoid biosynthesis and Nod factor signalling, disruption of cytoskeletal dynamics that enhance the progression of thread infection, oxidative stress induction, alterations of auxin-cytokinin homeostasis, and modification of soil physicochemical parameters to the detriment of rhizobia spp. Furthermore, we synthesise recent advances from field and greenhouse studies demonstrating that symbiotic impairment is dose- and time-dependent, species-specific, and strongly influenced by rhizobial strain genotype. Additionally, we discuss mitigation strategies, such as herbicide-tolerant rhizobial strains, organic soil amendments, optimised herbicide application, and integrated weed management frameworks, which have shown considerable promise. Nevertheless, research gaps regarding tropical legume systems and long-term evolutionary consequences of herbicides on legume-rhizobia compatibility are highlighted.

Abstract: Recycling drainage solutions (DS) in closed-loop soilless culture systems reduces fertilizer and water consumption in greenhouse production while preventing environmental pollution caused by nitrogen and phosphorus emissions. However, recycling DS increases the risk of spreading root- infective pathogens through the irrigation system, making disinfection necessary prior to reuse. In this study, two oxygen-containing oxidizing agents, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) were evaluated as nutrient solution (NS) disinfectants against Verticillium dahliae. The experiment was conducted in a closed-loop soilless pepper crop grown in a greenhouse during the spring–summer period. All treatments received nutrient solutions (NS) of identical composition. Three treatments were applied with three replicates each: (i) non-treated NS (control), (ii) NS supplemented with 2 ppm ClO₂, and (iii) NS supplemented with 2 ppm H₂O₂. Six-week-old pepper plants were inoculated with V. dahlia strain 402V. Both disinfectants significantly improved pepper fruit yield and quality compared with the non-disinfected control. ClO₂ resulted in the highest number of marketable fruits and total fruit yield, while both ClO₂ and H₂O₂ reduced unmarketable fruits and increased average fruit weight. Pathogen biomass quantification by qPCR demonstrated that ClO₂ significantly reduced pathogen presence in the hydroponic system, achieving approximately 63% lower biomass compared with the untreated control. In contrast, H₂O₂ showed limited efficacy and pathogen levels comparable to the control treatment. Application of H₂O₂ and ClO₂ significantly enhanced mineral accumulation in pepper tissues, increasing macronutrient (P, K, Mg, Ca) and micronutrient (Fe, Zn, Cu) concentrations compared with the control treatment.

Abstract: Suboptimal soils with limited nutrient availability and unfavorable physical properties constrain the productivity of maize–soybean intercropping systems, highlighting the need for sustainable soil fertility management strategies. This study evaluated the effects of different bioameliorant formulations on soil nitrogen availability, nutrient uptake, crop growth, and productivity in maize–soybean intercropping on suboptimal sandy soil. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used to evaluate five formulations: M0, an untreated control; M1, comprising 30% compost, 30% manure, 20% rice husk biochar, and 20% mycorrhizal biofertilizer; M2, containing 20% each of compost, manure, and mycorrhizal biofertilizer with 40% rice husk biochar; M3, containing equal proportions (25% each) of compost, manure, rice husk biochar, and mycorrhizal biofertilizer; and M4, comprising 20% each of compost, manure, and rice husk biochar with 40% mycorrhizal biofertilizer. The results showed that M4 consistently provided the most favorable response, significantly increasing soil nitrogen availability, nutrient uptake, growth, and yield of maize and soybean compared with the control and other formulations. The enhanced performance of M4 was associated with its higher proportion of mycorrhizal biofertilizer combined with organic amendments and rice husk biochar, which collectively improved nutrient availability and acquisition under nutrient-limited soil conditions. These findings demonstrate that bioameliorant mixtures, particularly the M4 formulation, have strong potential to improve nitrogen availability, nutrient uptake, and crop productivity while reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers in maize–soybean intercropping systems on suboptimal sandy soils.

Abstract: To investigate the effects of dryland tailwater recharge on rice rhizosphere fungi and phosphorus concentrations in the Erhai Lake Basin, two-year (2024–2025) field experiments were conducted in Gusheng Village on the western shore of Erhai Lake. Four water management treatments were established: conventional flooding (CK), controlled irrigation (C), low water layer tailwater recharge (CDC-L), and high water layer tailwater recharge (CDC-H). High-throughput sequencing and the molybdenum-antimony colorimetric method were used to analyze the dynamics of rhizosphere fungal communities and to reveal the coupled responses among phosphorus fractions in surface water, shallow soil water (0–20 cm), and rhizosphere fungi. The results showed that: (1) Compared with CK, the phosphorus activation coefficient (PAC) in surface water under CDC-L and CDC-H decreased by 35.1% and 33.6% in 2024, and by 4.5% and 18.4% in 2025, respectively. The proportion of particulate phosphorus (PP) increased by 67.5% and 66.1% in 2024, and by 5.1% and 21.2% in 2025, respectively. The ratio of dissolved phosphate (DP) to PP decreased by 77.3% and 79.2% in 2024, and by 37.6% and 49.8% in 2025, respectively. (2) Water management significantly reshaped the rhizosphere fungal community structure, with regulation effects showing significant stage-specificity.Tailwater recharge increased fungal OTU richness at the tillering stage. In 2024, richness at tillering was 23.8% and 14.3% higher than the value at the heading and milk stages, respectively; in 2025, the corresponding increases were 14.2% and 5.9%. respectively. (3) Controlled irrigation and tailwater recharge enriched Basidiomycota, which reduced surface water DP through biological immobilization and promotion of particulate phosphorus sedimentation. Tailwater recharge also induced the enrichment of Mortierellomycota, which increased total phosphorus (TP) and DP in soil water by activating insoluble phosphorus. Although exogenous phosphorus input at the tillering stage caused a TP peak, the wet-dry alternation effectively inhibited the transformation of phosphorus into dissolved forms. In conclusion, the CDC-H treatment enabled the resource recovery of dryland tailwater while mitigating agricultural non-point source phosphorus pollution. These synergistic outcomes demonstrate that CDC-H is more than a technical fix—it is a coupled water-food-environment solution. This approach offers an optimized management model for water conservation and pollution reduction at the Erhai Lake Basin and similar regions.This study elucidates the phosphorus migration and transformation mechanisms in tailwater-recharged paddies from the perspective of rhizosphere fungi, providing theoretical support and a practical paradigm for the green development of agriculture in plateau lake basins.

Abstract: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the major oilseed crops cultivated in Ukraine, particularly in the southern and steppe regions, where agricultural soils have been affected by military activities and explosive disturbance. These environments expose plants to complex combinations of chemical and physical stressors, including heavy metals, nitroaromatic explosives, perchlorates, soil structural disruption, and thermal and oxidative perturbations. Classical models of plant stress responses largely conceptualize stressors as independent inputs acting through parallel signaling pathways and scaling approximately with stress intensity. Such a framework is insufficient for describing plant responses to combined stress, because multiple stressors converge on shared regulatory, metabolic, energetic, and biophysical networks. In this work, we propose a conceptual model of stress emergence in plants under the action of multiple interacting stressors, termed the Plant Threat Matrix (PTM). Within this framework, the plant is conceptualized as a multistable nonlinear adaptive system that transitions between discrete physiological attractor states—from active growth (S1), through a pre-stress priming window (PSW), moderate adaptive stress (S2), immune–metabolic exhaustion (S3), and ultimately irreversible collapse (CS). The unifying architecture is represented by the SA–JA/ET–ABA–TOR immune–metabolic network, with LLPS-mediated sensing, ABA–TOR antagonism involving the SnRK2→SnRK1→RAPTOR cascade, SOURCE–SINK disruption associated with reduced CWIN activity, and FLZ proteins as candidate modulators of SnRK1 activity. Within this framework, post-explosive contaminants are considered interacting destabilizing factors rather than independent toxicants, capable of driving plants toward chronic immune–metabolic exhaustion through combined oxidative stress, altered phase behavior, protein aggregation, and energetic depletion. The PTM provides a general framework for explaining how interacting stressors can drive transitions between adaptive, exhausted, and collapse states. The framework further provides a basis for phase-oriented agronomic management and for developing quantitative threshold datasets for sunflower and other oilseed crops exposed to combined environmental stress.

Abstract: 3-Chlorophenoxypropionic acid (3-CPA; cloprop; CAS 101-10-0), formulated commercially as the propionamide-dominant preparation Fruitone CPA, is a synthetic auxin-class plant growth regulator with an experimental record across four horticultural crops spanning approximately six decades. This review synthesizes the available 3-CPA-specific literature on peach (Prunus persica), pineapple (Ananas comosus), grape (Vitis vinifera), and pecan (Carya illinoensis), keeping 3-CPA carefully distinguished from the structurally related chlorophenoxyacetic and pyridine compounds with which it is readily confused in the broader fruit-growth-regulation literature. The evidence is strongest in peach and pineapple. In peach, fruitlet thinning emerges as the product of four interacting conditions, developmental timing, cultivar identity, applied dose, and tree physiological status, with developmental timing the most consistently corroborated across independent research programs and no mechanism of action demonstrated. In pineapple, three biologically distinct responses are documented over four decades and multiple cultivars: inhibition of natural-differentiation flowering, delayed fruit maturation, and reduced crown size. Pineapple is also the only crop system in which 3-CPA-treated tissue was directly assayed for hormonal markers: ethylene-pathway indicators increased under 3-CPA treatment while flowering was simultaneously inhibited, the opposite of ethephon’s flowering-inducing effect, and the underlying mechanism remains, in the original investigator’s words, not known. Grape and pecan each contribute a single preliminary observation that extends the documented activity range without providing corroborative depth. Across all four systems, directional polar auxin transport flux has not been measured under 3-CPA treatment, so pool-level hormone data cannot resolve the mechanistic question that most interpretive frameworks require. This review covers the available 3-CPA-specific literature rather than a global systematic search; it makes no application or dosing recommendations, and modern validation under contemporary germplasm and applicable regulatory frameworks would be required before any historical finding could inform current practice. Our contribution is to organize a dispersed record, enforce compound-specific evidence boundaries, and define the questions that the six-decade literature leaves open.

Abstract: Abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, temperature extremes, flooding, and exposure to toxic elements restrict crop productivity by disrupting plant water relations, hormonal regulation, redox homeostasis, osmotic balance, ion transport, photosynthesis, and reproductive development. Plant-associated microorganisms offer a biologically based means of supporting crop acclimation, although their effectiveness depends on the microbial strain, host genotype, environmental conditions, and capacity to colonise and persist in the target system. This review critically examines the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms through which beneficial bacteria and fungi influence plant responses to abiotic stress. Particular attention is given to microbial modulation of abscisic acid, auxins, cytokinins, ethylene and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate metabolism, together with less extensively characterised interactions involving gibberellins, jasmonates, salicylic acid, brassinosteroids, and strigolactones. Microbial regulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, compatible-solute metabolism, Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis, root hydraulic conductivity, aquaporins, and rhizosphere hydraulic properties is also evaluated. The evidence indicates that these mechanisms operate as interconnected regulatory networks rather than as independent protective processes. Particular caution is required when interpreting changes in stress markers, hormone concentrations, antioxidant activities, osmolytes, or transporter transcripts because these responses may indicate either enhanced acclimation or differences in stress severity. Stronger mechanistic evidence is provided by microbial biosynthetic mutants, complemented strains, hormone- or signalling-impaired plants, direct hydraulic measurements, protein localisation, ion-flux analysis, and isotopic tracing. Future progress will require time-resolved and tissue-specific studies that integrate microbial colonisation with functional plant measurements, followed by validation across representative soils, genotypes, climates, and management systems. Microbial inoculants should therefore be regarded as context-dependent components of integrated crop-management strategies rather than universal substitutes for good agronomic practices.

Abstract: The increasing specialization of crop and livestock production has disrupted traditional nutrient cycling in agricultural systems, creating a dual challenge of excessive dependence on synthetic fertilizers and inefficient utilization of livestock manure. Crop–livestock circular agriculture offers a promising pathway to address these interconnected problems by recoupling animal production, manure management, and crop cultivation within an integrated nutrient-recycling framework. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in crop–livestock circular agriculture, with particular emphasis on manure valorization, nutrient recovery and reuse, enabling treatment technologies, crop–livestock nutrient matching, and regionally adapted implementation models. Current evidence demonstrates that appropriately managed manure recycling can partially substitute synthetic fertilizers, improve soil fertility and structure, enhance nutrient-use efficiency, and reduce nutrient losses and associated environmental pressures. Technologies including solid–liquid separation, aerobic composting, anaerobic digestion, and emerging resource-recovery approaches further expand the potential for converting livestock waste into fertilizers, energy, and other value-added agricultural inputs. However, the environmental and agronomic benefits of these systems depend strongly on balancing manure-derived nutrient supply with crop demand and local land carrying capacity. This requirement is particularly important in the hilly agricultural regions of Southwest China, where fragmented farmland, dispersed livestock production, complex terrain, and high transportation costs constrain the direct adoption of large-scale centralized models. Locally adapted strategies integrating decentralized manure treatment, nearby land application, and coordinated regional nutrient allocation may therefore provide more practical solutions. Despite substantial progress, broader implementation remains limited by spatial mismatches between manure production and cropland demand, insufficient technological adaptation, economic constraints, and a lack of long-term system-level assessments. Future research should move beyond individual waste-treatment technologies toward integrated crop–livestock management that combines nutrient budgeting, precision manure application, resource recovery, digital decision support, and region-specific governance. Such advances are essential for transforming livestock manure from an environmental liability into a strategic nutrient resource and for accelerating the transition toward resource-efficient, low-impact, and resilient agricultural systems.

Abstract: Yellow leaf disease (YLD) is a major threat to the areca palm (Areca catechu L.) industry. Accumulating evidence indicates that areca palm velarivirus 1 (APV1) is a key pathogen associated with YLD. In addition, areca palm latent totivirus 1 (APLTV1) and areca palm yellow leaf-associated ormycovirus (APYLaoMV) are two recently reported viruses that frequently co-infect areca palms. These three viruses can infect betel palms either individually or in combination, and their associated symptoms cannot be reliably distinguished by visual observation alone. In this study, LAMP primer sets were designed based on the conserved sequences of the three viruses. Through primer screening and optimization of key factors affecting amplification efficiency, including Mg²⁺ concentration, dNTP concentration, and outer-to-inner primer ratio, independent LAMP assay systems were separately established for each virus. The optimal LAMP conditions for APYLaoMV were 12 mM Mg²⁺, 1.7 mM dNTPs, an outer-to-inner primer ratio of 2:1, and a reaction temperature of 65 °C, with a detection limit of 10-3 dilution of the template cDNA. For APV1, the optimal system contained 10 mM Mg²⁺, 1.0 mM dNTPs, an outer-to-inner primer ratio of 4:1 at 65 °C, yielding a detection limit of 10-5 dilution. For APLTV1, the optimum conditions were 10 mM Mg²⁺, 0.8 mM dNTPs, an outer-to-inner primer ratio of 8:1, and a reaction temperature of 63 °C, giving a detection limit of 10-4 dilution. Together, these results demonstrate that the developed RT-LAMP assays are sensitive and practical tools for routine molecular diagnosis and epidemiological investigation of APV1, APLTV1, and APYLaoMV in areca palms.

Abstract: Fermented Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) may provide a plant-derived strategy for modulating rumen function. This study evaluated 360 mid-lactation Holstein cows assigned to a control diet (CON; n = 180) or the same total mixed ration supplemented with 30 g CHM/cow/day for 50 days. Rumen fluid from six cows per group was analyzed using shotgun metagenomics and untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolomics. CHM did not alter alpha diversity or overall Bray–Curtis community structure, but selectively changed microbial taxa and functional profiles. CHM-enriched taxa included Nanobdellati and Candidatus Iainarchaeota lineages and Candidatus Saccharimonadota, accompanied by differences in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous Groups, and carbohydrate-active enzyme annotations. Metabolomics identified 29 differential features, with pathway signals involving butyrate, glycerolipid, energy, and plant-derived compound metabolism. Integrated Spearman and Mantel analyses linked Prevotella-related and other carbohydrate-associated taxa with differential metabolites and associated CHM supplementation with 10-gingerol, megastigmatriene, and a benzoxazinone-related feature. Overall, CHM selectively remodeled rumen microbial functions and metabolic output while preserving global community stability, supporting the potential of fermented herbal feed additives to modulate rumen microecology in mid-lactation dairy cows.

Abstract: Salinization is a major constraint to agricultural sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. Soda saline-alkali soils, characterized by high pH, elevated exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and poor physical structure, pose particularly severe challenges for forage production in Northeast China. This study investigated the ameliorative effects of grass powder mulching on soda saline-alkali soil and its regulatory mechanisms on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growth and forage quality. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, using a randomized block design with four mulching treatments: no-mulch control (CK), low-density (LC, 6,000 kg·ha⁻¹), medium-density (MC, 12,000 kg·ha⁻¹), and high-density (HC, 18,000 kg·ha⁻¹). Soil physicochemical properties, alfalfa growth parameters, photosynthetic characteristics, and forage quality were systematically measured, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to quantify the causal pathways.The results showed that grass powder mulching significantly improved soil physical, chemical, and nutrient properties in a density-dependent manner. Grass powder mulching significantly improved soil physical, chemical, and nutrient properties in a density-dependent manner. Medium-density mulching (MC) achieved the highest soil water content (18.3% vs. 14.9% in control), the lowest bulk density (1.26 g cm⁻³ vs. 1.48 g cm⁻³), and the greatest total porosity (52.4% vs. 44.2%). Soil pH decreased by 0.10 units (p < 0.01), electrical conductivity dropped to 0.15 mS·cm⁻¹, total salt content fell to 480 mg·kg⁻¹, and exchangeable sodium percentage declined from 57.39% to 45.24% under MC. Soil organic matter increased to 11.4 g·kg⁻¹, with integrated soil quality showing progressive improvement across all dimensions. Alfalfa overwintering survival rose to 89.1% under high-density mulching (HC), a 9.3% increase over control. Photosynthetic capacity improved significantly, with net photosynthetic rate reaching 3.4 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and stomatal conductance increasing to 0.045–0.046 mol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ under MC and HC. First-cut hay yield increased by 25.0–27.4% (3,866–3,938 kg·ha⁻¹ vs. 3,093 kg·ha⁻¹ in control). Forage quality was enhanced, with crude protein rising to 20.42% (8.2% improvement), crude fat increasing by 15.1%, acid detergent fiber decreasing by 11.1% (to 28.20%), and relative feed value exceeding 167 (premium quality threshold >150). Structural equation modeling confirmed that mulching density exerted the strongest direct effects on soil nutrient enrichment (β = 0.91) and chemical amelioration (β = 0.84), which cascaded through plant physiological enhancement to increase forage yield (R² = 0.56) and quality (R² = 0.65) with a global goodness-of-fit of 0.76.

Abstract: Rootstocks that reduce the tree vigor in demand for all fruit species, including peach. The study evaluated the suitability of four rootstocks (Prunus besseyi, Hui-Hun-Tao, Rakonievicka, and Minnesota) and two peach cultivars (‘RedHaven’ and ‘Harnaś’) for the production of maiden peach trees in a nursery. The percentage of successful budding, tree height, stem diameter, branching characteristic, and root system development were evaluated according to rootstock and cultivar. In addition, the accumulation of macronutrients in the leaves were determined., The highest percentage of successful maiden trees was obtained on the Hui-Hun-Tao rootstock (89.7%), whereas the lowest percentages were recorded for the Rakonievicka (81.1%) and Minnesota seedling (80.4%). The cultivar ‘Harnaś’ showed significantly higher budding success (86.0%) than ‘Red Haven’ (82.7%). The Minnesota seedling and Prunus besseyi rootstocks significantly reduced tree height and stem diameter compared with the Hui-Hun-Tao and Rakonievicka rootstocks. The two cultivars did not differ significantly in tree growth. Better-branched maiden trees were produced on the Rakonievicka and Hui-Hun-Tao rootstocks. Trees budded onto the Rakonievicka rootstock had the greatest fresh weight. The highest number of roots was recorded for young trees on the Prunus besseyi rootstock (13.4), whereas the Minnesota seedling produced the fewest roots (8.7). Leaves of trees budded onto the Rakonievicka and Prunus besseyi rootstocks contained higher accumulation of phosphorus and magnesium. Potassium level was highest in leaves from trees produced onto the Rakonievicka rootstock. Leaves of trees on the Minnesota seedling contained significantly lower calcium content than those on the other rootstocks, which was associated with its lower vigor and less-developed root system. Compared with the Rakonievicka rootstock, the Minnesota seedling reduced maiden tree height by 18%, while Prunus besseyi reduced it by 17%. In addition, the Minnesota seedling reduced the number of lateral shoots by 29%, and their total length by 32%, whereas the corresponding reductions for Prunus besseyi were 41% and 35%, respectively. Despite its dwarfing effect, Prunus besseyi produced a root system comparable in size to that of the well-rooted Hui-Hun-Tao rootstock. The Minnesota seedling and Prunus besseyi rootstocks appear to be suitable for the production of maiden peach trees with reduced growth in the nursery.

Abstract: Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.; A. carambola) is an important fruit crop cultivated mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. The high soluble oxalate content of star fruit has become a major obstacle to the further expansion of its consumer market. Elucidating the origin and accumulation mechanisms of oxalate from the perspective of star fruit physiology is particularly important, as it provides the theoretical foundation for modern molecular breeding and the development of advanced cultivation and management practices. In this study, we quantified three oxalate-related organic acids in star fruit at two developmental stages and performed an integrated analysis combining targeted metabolomic and transcriptomic data. Our results showed that during the fruit expansion stage, when oxalate accumulation is relatively high, genes encoding several key enzymes involved in the glycolate oxidative degradation pathway and the L-ascorbate oxidative degradation pathway were significantly up-regulated. Our findings suggest a potential physiological role in regulating cell expansion and conversion between glycolate and amino acids for oxalate in star fruit, thereby addressing the knowledge gap regarding the mechanism underlying the progressive increase in oxalate content during fruit growth.

Abstract:

Ionizing radiation induces oxidative damage and disrupts plant growth and photosynthetic function. This study evaluated whether seed pre-treatment with a synthesized imatinib–zinc complex (ZnIM), with the proposed composition Zn(C₂₉H₃₁N₇O)₂, could mitigate the effects of gamma irradiation in maize (Zea mays L.). Maize seeds were pre-treated with 0.001%, 0.01%, or 0.1% (w/v) ZnIM and subsequently exposed to 150 Gy gamma irradiation. Germination, seedling growth, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, photosynthetic pigments, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and selected mature-plant traits were assessed. Irradiation reduced germination, germination energy, root length, and shoot length by 9.3%, 9.7%, 9.8%, and 12.7%, respectively. Chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and Fv/Fm decreased by 32.0%, 30.4%, and 6.2%, while first-week MDA content increased 2.06-fold. Plant height and 1000-grain weight declined by 11.1% and 5.4%, respectively. ZnIM partially mitigated these effects, with responses varying among concentrations. The 0.01% treatment most consistently restored germination, germination energy, and root length and improved chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and Fv/Fm. The 0.1% treatment produced the most sustained MDA reduction. Improvements in mature-plant traits were numerical but not statistically significant. Overall, ZnIM provided partial radioprotection, particularly during germination and early seedling development.

Abstract: Wheat and rice have high economic and food importance, making the use of seeds with proven physical and physiological quality essential. This study aimed to evaluate whether reducing sampling intensity changes the results of mandatory and complementary analyses used in the seed certification system. Sampling was performed in big bags from commercial wheat and rice seed lots, using four collection intensities corresponding to 100, 75, 50 and 25% of the recommended number of primary samples. The samples were analyzed at the Flávio Farias da Rocha Seed Laboratory, Federal University of Pelotas, for physical purity, determination of other seeds, inert material, germination and viability by the tetrazolium test. The results were compared based on the tolerances established in the Rules for Seed Testing, at 5% probability. No significant differences were observed among the evaluated intensities for the studied lots and cultivars. Thus, under the conditions of this study, sampling intensity could be reduced to 25% without impairing the interpretation of laboratory results.