Enemies atpeace:Recentprogressin Agrobacterium-mediated cereal transformation

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated plant transformation is a versatile tool for plant genetic engineering following its discovery nearly half a century ago.Numerous modifications were made in its application to increase efficiency,especially in the recalcitrant major cereals plants.Recent breakthroughs in transformation efficiency continue its role as a mainstream technique in CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing and gene stacking.These modifications led to higher transformation frequency and lower but more stable transgene copies with the capability to revolutionize modern agriculture.In this review,we provide a brief overview of the history of Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation and focus on the most recent progress to improve the system in both the Agrobacterium and the host recipient.A promising future for transformation in biotechnology and agriculture is predicted.

Miniature tunable Airy beam optical meta-device

Tunable Airy beams with controllable propagation trajectories have sparked interest in various fields,such as optical manipulation and laser fabrication.Existing research approaches encounter challenges related to insufficient compactness and integration feasibility,or they require enhanced tunability to enable real-time dynamic manipulation of the propagation trajectory.In this work,we present a novel method that utilizes a dual metasurface system to surpass these limitations,significantly enhancing the practical potential of the Airy beam.Our approach involves encoding a cubic phase profile and two off-axis Fresnel lens phase profiles across the two metasurfaces.The validity of the proposed strategy has been confirmed through simulation and experimental results.The proposed meta-device addresses the existing limitations and lays the foundation for broadening the applicability of Airy beams across diverse domains,encompassing light-sheet microscopy,laser fabrication,optical tweezers,etc.

Edge enhanced depth perception with binocular meta-lens

The increasing popularity of the metaverse has led to a growing interest and market size in spatial computing from both academia and industry.Developing portable and accurate imaging and depth sensing systems is crucial for advancing next-generation virtual reality devices.This work demonstrates an intelligent,lightweight,and compact edge-enhanced depth perception system that utilizes a binocular meta-lens for spatial computing.The miniaturized system comprises a binocular meta-lens,a 532 nm filter,and a CMOS sensor.For disparity computation,we propose a stereo-matching neural network with a novel H-Module.The H-Module incorporates an attention mechanism into the Siamese network.The symmetric architecture,with cross-pixel interaction and cross-view interaction,enables a more comprehensive analysis of contextual information in stereo images.Based on spatial intensity discontinuity,the edge enhancement eliminates illposed regions in the image where ambiguous depth predictions may occur due to a lack of texture.With the assistance of deep learning,our edge-enhanced system provides prompt responses in less than 0.15 seconds.This edge-enhanced depth perception meta-lens imaging system will significantly contribute to accurate 3D scene modeling,machine vision,autonomous driving,and robotics development.

Special issue on meta-lenses

About a decade ago,the unveiling of generalized Snell’s laws heralded a significant advancement in nanophotonics,leading to the emergence of metasurfaces1−6.This revolutionary milestone has set the stage for the development of advanced optical devices,particularly metalens7−11.Researchers are already well-versed in the fundamental principles and functions of meta-lenses,which exemplify the concept of phase discontinuities with clarity.However,the exploration of meta-lenses is far from over.

Does astrocytic L-lactate enhance cognition through myelination?

Introduction:Astrocytes,the predominant glial cell in the brain,play a vital role in a plethora of central nervous system functions.They are the major storage site of glycogen in the central nervous system.They produce L-lactate by glycogenolysis and glycolysis which is then transported to neurons(Magistretti and Allaman,2018).Multiple evidence using diverse behavioral paradigms,such as fear conditioning,conditioned place avoidance,rat gambling task(RGT),and flavor-place paired associate(PA)learning suggest that L-lactate has a beneficial effect on various aspects of cognition(Wang et al.,2017;Akter et al.,2023b).While the molecular mechanisms underlying the cognitive benefits of L-lactate are still emerging,it is well-established that astrocytic L-lactate can be used as an energy substrate by neurons and can induce N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent plasticity-driven gene expression during cognition(Magistretti and Allaman,2018).Additionally,recent evidence has revealed more roles of L-lactate which include myelination,neuronal mitochondrial biogenesis,and antioxidant defense(Sanchez-Abarca et al.,2001;Ichihara et al.,2017;Akter et al.,2023a,b).Myelin in the central nervous system is a specialized lipid-rich membrane formed by oligodendrocytes.

Genome-wide prediction for hybrids between parents with distinguished difference on exotic introgressions in Brassica napus

Extensive exotic introgression could significantly enlarge the genetic distance of hybrid parental populations to promote strong heterosis.The goal of this study was to investigate whether genome-wide prediction can support pre-breeding in populations with exotic introgressions.We evaluated seed yield,seed yield related traits and seed quality traits of 363 hybrids of Brassica napus (AACC) derived from two parental populations divergent on massive exotic introgression of related species in three environments.The hybrids presented strong heterosis on seed yield,which was much higher than other investigated traits.Five genomic best linear unbiased prediction models considering the exotic introgression and different marker effects (additive,dominance,and epistatic effects) were constructed to test the prediction ability for different traits of the hybrids.The analysis showed that the trait complexity,exotic introgression,genetic relationship between the training set and testing set,training set size,and environments affected the prediction ability.The models with best prediction ability for different traits varied.However,relatively high prediction ability (e.g.,0.728 for seed yield) was also observed when the simplest models were used,excluding the effects of the special exotic introgression and epistasis effect by5-fold cross validation,which would simplify the prediction for the trait with complex architecture for hybrids with exotic introgression.The results provide novel insights and strategies for genome-wide prediction of hybrids between genetically distinct parent groups with exotic introgressions.

Research progress and strategies for multifunctional rapeseed： A case study of China

financially supported by the Key R＆D Program of Jiangxi Province of China （20152ACF60010）;the Key Projects of Hunan Science and Technology Support Program of China （Application research of Guiye A male sterile line）;the Research Project of Humanities and Social Sciences in Universities of Jiangxi Province, China（JC1315）;supported by Emmy Noether DFG grant MA 6473/1-1

甘蓝型油菜籽粒含油量、蛋白质、纤维素及半纤维素含量QTL分析

以甘蓝型黄籽油菜GH06和甘蓝型黑籽油菜P174为亲本,通过单粒法连续自交8代构建重组自交系群体,应用SSR标记绘制31个连锁群(LGs)的遗传连锁图谱,图谱总长1437.1cM,相邻标记间的平均距离为3.89cM。对4个不同环境下RIL8群体中每个株系籽粒含油量、蛋白质、纤维素和半纤维素含量进行了近红外检测。性状相关性分析表明,含油量与其他3个性状均表现负相关,蛋白质含量与纤维素和半纤维素分别表现负相关和正相关。结合构建的遗传图谱,采用复合区间作图法分析4个性状QTL,共检测到26个QTL,分布在N2、N3、N8、N9、N11、N13、N16和N17连锁群上,其中8个含油量QTL可解释表型变异的4.96%～21.83%;6个蛋白含量QTL,可解释表型变异的3.12%～14.28%;4个纤维素含量QTL,可解释表型变异的4.60%～17.29%;8个半纤维素含量QTL,可解释表型变异率的6.66%～16.68%。在N8上,发现有含油量QTL与半纤维素含量QTL重叠的区段。在N9上,发现有纤维素含量QTL与半纤维素含量QTL重叠的区段,上述2个区段重叠QTL加性效应方向相反。本研究认为油菜种子含油量、蛋白质、纤维素和半纤维素属于典型的数量性状,受环境影响较大,与这些QTL紧密相关的分子标记可为下一步分子标记辅助育种提供一定技术支撑。

Plasmonic bound states in the continuum for unpolarized weak spatially coherent light

Plasmonic resonances empowered by bound states in the continuum(BICs) offer unprecedented opportunities to tailor light–matter interaction. However, excitation of high quality-factor(Q-factor) quasi-BICs is often limited to collimated light at specific polarization and incident directions, rendering challenges for unpolarized focused light. The major hurdle is the lack of robustness against weak spatial coherence and poor polarization of incident light. Here, addressing this limitation, we demonstrate sharp resonances in symmetric plasmonic metasurfaces by exploiting BICs in the parameter space, offering ultraweak angular dispersion effect and polarization-independent performance. Specifically, a high-Q(≈71) resonance with near-perfect absorption(>90%) is obtained for the input of unpolarized focused light covering wide incident angles(from 0° to 30°). Also, giant electric and magnetic field enhancement simultaneously occurs in quasi-BICs. These results provide a way to achieve efficient near-field enhancement using focused light produced by high numerical aperture objectives.

Clinical relevance of cancer genome sequencing

The arrival of both high-throughput and bench-top next-generation sequencing technologies and sequence enrichment methods has revolutionized our approach to dissecting the genetic basis of cancer. These technologies have been almost invariably employed in wholegenome sequencing (WGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) studies. Both WGS and WES approaches have been widely applied to interrogate the somatic mutational landscape of sporadic cancers and identify novel germline mutations underlying familial cancer syndromes. The clinical implications of cancer genome sequencing have become increasingly clear, for example in diagnostics. In this editorial, we present these advances in the context of research discovery and discuss both the clinical relevance of cancer genome sequencing and the challenges associated with the adoption of these genomic technologies in a clinical setting.

Effects of nanopillars and surface coating on dynamic traction force

The extracellular matrix serves as structural support for cells and provides biophysical and biochemical cues for cell migration.Topography,material,and surface energy can regulate cell migration behaviors.Here,the responses of MC3T3-E1 cells,including migration speed,morphology,and spreading on various platform surfaces,were investigated.Polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)micropost sensing platforms with nanopillars,silicon oxide,and titanium oxide on top of the microposts were fabricated,and the dynamic cell traction force during migration was monitored.The relationships between various platform surfaces,migration behaviors,and cell traction forces were studied.Compared with the flat PDMS surface,cells on silicon oxide and titanium oxide surfaces showed reduced mobility and less elongation.On the other hand,cells on the nanopillar surface showed more elongation and a higher migration speed than cells on silicon oxide and titanium oxide surfaces.MC3T3-E1 cells on microposts with nanopillars exerted a larger traction force than those on flat PDMS microposts and had more filopodia and long protrusions.Understanding the relationships between platform surface condition,migration behavior,and cell traction force can potentially lead to better control of cell migration in biomaterials capable of promoting tissue repair and regeneration.

Meta-device:advanced manufacturing

Metasurfaces are one of the most promising devices to break through the limitations of bulky optical components.By offering a new method of light manipulation based on the light-matter interaction in subwavelength nanostructures,metasurfaces enable the efficient manipulation of the amplitude,phase,polarization,and frequency of light and derive a series of possibilities for important applications.However,one key challenge for the realization of applications for meta-devices is how to fabricate large-scale,uniform nanostructures with high resolution.In this review,we review the state-of-the-art nanofabrication techniques compatible with the manufacture of meta-devices.Maskless lithography,masked lithography,and other nanofabrication techniques are highlighted in detail.We also delve into the constraints and limitations of the current fabrication methods while providing some insights on solutions to overcome these challenges for advanced nanophotonic applications.

Advanced manufacturing of dielectric metadevices

Metasurfaces,composed of two-dimensional nanostructures,exhibit remarkable capabilities in shaping wavefronts,encompassing phase,amplitude,and polarization.This unique proficiency heralds a transformative paradigm shift in the domain of next-generation optics and photonics,culminating in the development of flat and ultrathin optical devices.Particularly noteworthy is the all-dielectric-based metasurface,leveraging materials such as titanium dioxide,silicon,gallium arsenide,and silicon nitride,which finds extensive application in the design and implementation of high-performance optical devices,owing to its notable advantages,including a high refractive index,low ohmic loss,and cost-effectiveness.Furthermore,the remarkable growth in nanofabrication technologies allows for the exploration of new methods in metasurface fabrication,especially through wafer-scale nanofabrication technologies,thereby facilitating the realization of commercial applications for metasurfaces.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in state-of-the-art fabrication technologies in dielectric metasurface areas.These technologies,including standard nanolithography[e.g.,electron beam lithography(EBL)and focused ion beam(FIB)lithography],advanced nanolithography(e.g.,grayscale and scanning probe lithography),and large-scale nanolithography[e.g.,nanoimprint and deep ultraviolet(DUV)lithography],are utilized to fabricate highresolution,high-aspect-ratio,flexible,multilayer,slanted,and wafer-scale all-dielectric metasurfaces with intricate nanostructures.Ultimately,we conclude with a perspective on current cutting-edge nanofabrication technologies.

Metalenses phase characterization by multidistance phase retrieval

Metalens,characterized by their unique functions and distinctive physical properties,have gained significant attention for their potential applications.To further optimize the performance of metalens,it is necessary to characterize the phase modulation of the metalens.In this study,we present a multi-distance phase retrieval system based on optical field scanning and discuss its convergence and robustness.Our findings indicate that the system is capable of retrieving the phase distribution of the metalens as long as the measurement noise is low and the total length of the scanned light field is sufficiently long.This system enables the analysis of focal length and aberration by utilizing the computed phase distribution.We extend our investigation to measure the phase distribution of the metalens operating in the near-infrared(NIR)spectrum and identify the impact of defects in the sample on the phase.Additionally,we conduct a comparative analysis of the phase distribution of the metalens in air and ethanol and observe the variations in the phase modulation of the metalens in different working mediums.Our system provides a straightforward method for the phase characterization of metalens,aiding in optimizing the metalens design and functionality.

Integrated-resonant metadevices:a review

Integrated-resonant units(IRUs),associating various meta-atoms,resonant modes,and functionalities into one supercell,have been promising candidates for tailoring composite and multifunctional electromagnetic responses with additional degrees of freedom.Integrated-resonant metadevices can overcome many bottlenecks in conventional optical devices,such as broadband achromatism,efficiency enhancement,response selectivity,and continuous tunability,offering great potential for performant and versatile application scenarios.We focus on the recent progress of integrated-resonant metadevices.Starting from the design principle of IRUs,a variety of IRU-based characteristics and subsequent practical applications,including achromatic imaging,light-field sensing,polarization detection,orbital angular momentum generation,metaholography,nanoprinting,color routing,and nonlinear generation,are introduced.Existing challenges in this field and opinions on future research directions are also provided.

Advance of large-area achromatic flat lenses

A new framework of light coherence optimization is proposed to design non-ideal broadband achromatic lenses,enabling large-scale flat lenses'implementation and high performance.The strategy paves the way for practical planar optical devices and full-color imaging systems.

Electromagnetic Wave Tailoring:From One Dimension to Multiple Dimensions

Metasurfaces,known as arrays of subwavelength antennas,provide a wide range of options for controlling electromagnetic waves and effectively reducing the size and complexity of electromagnetic devices.Metasurfaces can manipulate five degrees of freedom of electromagnetic waves:amplitude,wavelength,polarization,phase,and orbital angular momentum;these are customized to provide a variety of remarkable functionalities,including metalenses and meta-holograms.With the advancement of simultaneously manipulating two or more degrees of freedom of the electromagnetic field,there has been a significant increase in the amount of information that electromagnetic waves can carry.The wavefront can be precisely tailored for specific applications,facilitating new possibilities for innovative applications with high performance and diverse functionalities,such as full-color vectorial meta-holograms achieved by a single-layer metasurface.This review briefly overviews the latest developments in metasurfaces,categorizing them based on their various degrees of freedom used to manipulate the electromagnetic waves.The use of metasurfaces to control electromagnetic waves from one dimension to multiple dimensions is systematically explored.The challenges and opportunities for future research are discussed.

Structure-function Aspects of Extracellular Leucine-rich Repeat-containing Cell Surface Receptors in Plants

Plants exploit several types of cell surface receptors for perception of extracellular signals, of which the extracellular leucine-rich repeat （eLRR）-containing receptors form the major class. Although the function of most plant eLRR receptors remains unclear, an increasing number of these receptors are shown to play roles in innate immunity and a wide variety of developmental processes. Recent efforts using domain swaps, gene shuffling analyses, site-directed mutagenesis, interaction studies, and crystallographic analyses resulted in the current knowledge on ligand binding and the mechanism of activation of plant eLRR receptors. This review provides an overview of eLRR receptor research, specificallysummarizing the recent understanding of interactions among plant eLRR receptors, their co-receptors and corresponding ligands. The functions of distinct eLRR receptor domains, and their role in structure, ligand perception and multimeric complex formation are discussed.

Early osmotic adjustment responses in drought-resistant and drought-sensitive oilseed rape

The impact of osmotic stress on growth, physiolo- gy, and metabolism of winter oilseed rape （Brassica napus L.） was investigated by detailed analysis of biomass traits, hormone metabolites and osmolytes in two genetically unrelated drought-tolerant genotypes and two unrelated drought-sensitive genotypes. Seedlings were grown in vitro under controlled conditions and osmotic stress was simulated by applying a gradual treatment with polyethylene glycol （PEG 6ooo）, followed by hypo-osmotic treatment of variants used for metabolite determination. The results provide a basis for the identification of reliable selection criteria for drought resistance in oilseed rape. The in vitro cultivation system established during this study enabled effective discrimination of early osmotic stress responses between drought-resistant and -susceptible oilseed rape genotypes that also show large differences in relative seed yield under drought conditions in the field. Clear physiological and metabolic differences wereobserved between the drought-resistant and drought-sensitive genotypes, suggesting that osmotic adjustment is a key component of drought response in oilseed rape. Unexpected- ly, however, the drought-resistant genotypes did not show typical hormonal adjustment and osmolyte accumulation, suggesting that they possess alternative physiological mech- anisms enabling avoidance of stress symptoms.

Deletion of a Stay-Green Gene Associates with Adaptive Selection in Brassica napus

Chlorophyll levels provide important imrormation about plant growth and physiological plasticity in response to changing environments. The stay-green gene NON-YELLOWING 1 （NYE1） is believed to regu-late chlorophyll degradation during senescence, concomitantly affecting the disassembly of the light- harvesting complex and hence indirectly influencing photosynthesis. We identified Brassica napus acces- sions carrying an NYE1 deletion associated with increased chlorophyll content, and with upregulated expression of light-harvesting complex and photosynthetic reaction center （PSI and PSII） genes. Compar- ative analysis of the seed oil content of accessions with related genetic backgrounds revealed that the B. napus NYE1 gene deletion （bnnyel） affected oil accumulation, and linkage disequilibrium signatures suggested that the locus has been subject to artificial selection by breeding in oilseed B. napus forms. Comparative analysis of haplotype diversity groups （haplogroups） between three different ecotypes of the allopolyploid B. napus and its A-subgenome diploid progenitor, Brassica rapa, indicated that introgres- sion of the bnnyel deletion from Asian B. rapa into winter-type B. napus may have simultaneously improved its adaptation to cooler environments experienced by autumn-sown rapeseed.