Rapeseed research and production in China

Rapeseed(Brassica napus L.) is the largest oilseed crop in China and accounts for about 20% of world production.For the last 10 years,the production,planting area,and yield of rapeseed have been stable,with improvement of seed quality and especially seed oil content.China is among the leading countries in rapeseed genomic research internationally,having jointly with other countries accomplished the whole genome sequencing of rapeseed and its two parental species,Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa.Progress on functional genomics including the identification of QTL governing important agronomic traits such as yield,seed oil content,fertility regulation,disease and insect resistance,abiotic stress,nutrition use efficiency,and pod shattering resistance has been achieved.As a consequence,molecular markers have been developed and used in breeding programs.During 2005–2014,215 rapeseed varieties were registered nationally,including 210 winter-and 5 spring-type varieties.Mechanization across the whole process of rapeseed production was investigated and operating instructions for all relevant techniques were published.Modern techniques for rapeseed field management such as high-density planting,controlled-release fertilizer,and biocontrol of disease and pests combined with precision tools such as drones have been developed and are being adopted in China.With the application of advanced breeding and production technologies,in the near future,the oil yield and quality of rapeseed varieties will be greatly increased,and more varieties with desirable traits,especially early maturation,high yield,high resistance to biotic and abiotic stress,and suitability for mechanized harvesting will be developed.Application of modern technologies on the mechanized management of rapeseed will greatly increase grower profit.

Genome editing opens a new era of genetic improvement in polyploid crops

Sequence-specific nucleases(SSN) that generate double-stranded DNA breaks(DSBs) in genes of interest are the key to site-specific genome editing in plants. Genome editing has developed into one method of reducing undesirable traits in crops by the induction of knockout mutations. Different SSN-mediated genome-editing systems, including LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases or meganucleases, zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, are emerging as robust tools for introducing functional mutations in polyploid crops including citrus, wheat, cotton, soybean, rapeseed, potato, grapes, Camelina sativa,dandelion, and tobacco. The approach utilizes knowledge of biological mechanisms for targeted induction of DSBs and their error-prone repair, allowing highly specific changes at designated genome loci. In this review, we briefly describe genome-editing technologies and their application to genetic improvement of polyploid crops.

Wheat streak mosaic virus： incidence in field crops, potential reservoir within grass species and uptake in winter wheat cultivars

Wheat streak mosaic virus（WSMV）has become a re-emerging pathogen in cereal crops in the Czech Republic.WSMV was first reported in the former Czechoslovakia in the early 1980s,and then no record of the virus was documented until 2009.The incidence of the virus was recorded in recent years in several winter wheat fields and many grass species.Here,we surveyed the incidence of WSMV in cereal crops.The results demonstrated the existence of the virus in winter wheat and volunteer wheat during each year of the monitoring period,which spanned from 2013–2016.Although the range of infected samples was low（6.4%of the total tested samples）,a high incidence of well-distributed virus was recorded.In at least six fields,the virus reached severe and potentially epidemic levels.In accordance with our previous report detailing WSMV infection of native grasses,we tested several grass species commonly grown in the Czech Republic.We found that some grass species acted as experimental hosts and possible reservoirs of the virus;these included Anthoxanthum odoratum（sweet vernal grass）,Arrhenatherum elatius（false oat-grass）,Lolium multiflorum（Italian rye-grass）,Bromus japonicus（Japanese chess）,Echinochloa crus-galli（barnyard grass）,Holcus lanatus（meadow soft grass）and Holcus mollis（creeping soft grass）.Some of these grass species are also important weeds of cereals,which may be the potential source of WSMV infection in cereal crops.Several widely used winter wheat cultivars were tested in the field after artificial inoculation with WSMV to evaluate virus titre by RT-qPCR.Overall,the tested cultivars had a low virus titre,which is associated with mild disease symptoms and may provide a good level of crop resistance to WSMV.

De novo design of future rapeseed crops:Challenges and opportunities

To address the global demand for rapeseed while considering farmers’profit,we face the challenges of making a quantum leap in seed yield and,at the same time,reducing yield loss due to biotic and abiotic stresses.We also face the challenge of efficiently applying new transformative biotechnology tools such as gene editing and breeding by genome design to increase rapeseed productivity and profitability.In this Perspective,we review advances in research on the physiological and genetic bases of both stress factorsaffected yield stability and seed yield potential,focusing on source–sink relationships and allocation of photosynthetic assimilates to vegetative growth and seed development.We propose research directions and highlight the role of plant architecture in the relative contributions of the root system,leaves,and pods to seed yield.We call for de novo design of new rapeseed crops.We review trait variation in existing germplasm and biotechnologies available for crop design.Finally,we discuss opportunities to apply fundamental knowledge and key germplasm to rapeseed production and propose an ideotype for de novo design of future rapeseed cultivars.

Safe conservation and utilization of peanut germplasm resources in the Oil Crops Middle-term Genebank of China

Peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)is an important oil and cash crop in the world.Peanut germplasm collected in China are abundant,which provides important material guarantee for peanut breeding and industrial development.Here,the safe conservation technology and indicators of peanut germplasm resources in the Oil Crops Middleterm Genebank of China were expounded from three processes of storage,monitoring,reproduction and renewal.We summarized and reviewed the situation of conservation and utilization of peanut germplasm resources in the Middle-term Genebank in the past 20 years.The future research direction of peanut resources in the Oil Crops Middle-term Genebank of China is prospected.

Regulatory Network of Transcription Factors in Response to Drought in Arabidopsis and Crops

Drought is one of the most important environmental constraints limiting plant growth, development and crop yield. Many drought-inducible genes have been identified by molecular and genomic analyses in Arabidopsis, rice and other crops. To better understand reaction mechanism of plant to drought tolerance, we mainly focused on introducing the research of transcription factors （TFs） in signal transduction and regulatory network of gene expression conferring drought. A TF could bind multiple target genes to increase one or more kinds of stress tolerance. Sometimes, several TFs might act together with a target gene. So drought-tolerance genes or TFs might respond to high-salinity, cold or other stresses. The crosstalk of multiple stresses signal pathways is a crucial aspect of understanding stress signaling.

Research status of soybean symbiosis nitrogen fixation

Soybean(Glycine max)is one of the most important economic legume crops with largest planting area,and is also an important oil crop,as well as food and feed material.Soybean-rhizobia symbiosis plays important roles in plant cultivation and fertilizer application.However,there are many problems in agricultural application of soybean symbiotic nitrogen fixation.In this review,we summarized three restriction factors(host specificity,low nitrogen fixation efficiency and abiotic stress)and discussed research progresses of these factors.Clarification of host specific mechanism will help to select and apply rhizobia inoculants.Both maintaining high nitrogenase activity and delaying nodule senescence can improve the efficiency of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.Abiotic stress-tolerant rhizobia can improve the abiotic stress tolerance of soybean.Breeding stress tolerant genotypes of soybean and rhizobia,obtaining correlated genes are the common strategies to improve soybean symbiotic nitrogen fixation under extreme conditions.Regulatory mechanisms of these restriction factors are still poorly understood and needs further clarification.

Possible Experimental Mistakes in Agricultural Research

The basic question is whether our contemporary methods really describe exactly the “plant world” around us, experiments or if it is the result of the current “imperfect” level of pieces of knowledge. Frankly, experiments are often burdened with many errors in sampling, in the selection of experimental plants, at the simulation of environmental stress, in light composition and lighting methods, shortly by a lot of mistakes. Experimental conditions of individual authors in evaluating the same issue often differ—that is to say, results are difficult to compare. The artificial experimental environment should simulate selected average external conditions of a given crop. Very important is the identification of important growth phases and traits that are suitable for the evaluation of the main experimental task. Bad results and also conclusions of experiments can be by either ignorance of these facts or by incorrectly prepared experiments. Very important is also a knowledge level of concerning tested problematic. The main goal is not only to point out the need for measuring important properties of plants in a physiologically correct stage of growth and development, by suitable methods but also on the influence of the properties of utilized seeds in experiments that they can modify plant growth and development. It is often forgotten that impact of stress on the seeds’ properties and through the seed traits on the plant properties, for example, the same variety in of different provenance may give different results, especially influence on the roots, because plant roots are the most sensitive part of plants. Only the different origins of used seeds in identical experiments at two workplaces can significantly change the results of every repeated standard experiment.

A Study on the Agricultural Scientific Research Management in the New Situation

As the core of the management of agricultural institutes,scientific research management plays a vital role in strategic development,and also affects the strategic development of agricultural research institutes. This paper expounds the connotation and characteristics of agricultural scientific research management as well as management ability requirements of management personnel. This paper puts forward the recommendations for improving agricultural scientific research management from the view of management personnel.

Progress on genetic and genomic research for enhanced oil content and quality in peanut

Peanut or groundnut （ Arachis hypogaea L. ） is an important source of vegetable oil in the world. Genetic enhancement for high yield and high oil content has greatly contributed to enhanced pro-ductivity of peanut and increased supply of peanut oil. Further improving oil content and quality of peanut is still crucial for increasing productivity of arable land and market competitiveness of peanut oil. Based on investigation among the peanut germplasm accessions including wild Arachis species, the oil content could be as high as 65%. Heterosis has been observed for oil content in hybrids derived from diverse crossing parents. Segregates with enhanced oil content have been obtained by pyramiding different genes or alleles with major and minor additive effects. Improved testing techniques for oil content in breeding lines with reduced cost have accelerated breeding progress for high oil content. SSR markers associated with oil content have been identified by association and linkage analysis. The stability of oil content in peanut across seasons and locations is highly associated with cold tolerance, high nutrition efficiency and drought tolerance. Recent progress on improving fatty acids in particular marker assisted backcrossing breeding has contributed to higher quality peanut oil and other products. High oil peanut lines with im-proved resistance to aflatoxin production have been developed. The wild Arachis species would be of great value for peanut breeding in increasing oil content.

Integrated physiological and molecular approaches to improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in two pulse crops of the semi-arid tropics

Chickpea(Cicer arietinum L.) and pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan L.(Millsp.)] play an important role in mitigating protein malnutrition for millions of poor vegetarians living in regions of the semi-arid tropics. Abiotic stresses such as excess and limited soil moisture(water-logging and drought), heat and chilling(high and low temperature stresses), soil salinity, and acidity are major yield constraints, as these two crops are grown mostly under rainfed conditions in risk-prone marginal and degraded lands with few or no inputs. Losses due to such stresses vary from 30% to 100% depending on their severity. The literature abounds in basic information concerning screening techniques, physiological mechanisms, and genetics of traits associated with resistance/tolerance to abiotic stresses in these two crops. However, the final outcome in terms of resistant/tolerant varieties has been far from satisfactory. This situation calls for improving selection efficiency through precise phenotyping and genotyping under high-throughput controlled conditions using modern tools of genomics. In this review, we suggest that an integrated approach combining advances from genetics, physiology, and biotechnology needs to be used for higher precision and efficiency of breeding programs aimed at improving abiotic stress tolerance in both chickpea and pigeonpea.

Research on the Significance of Incremental Utilization of Natural Resources Based on "Fenlong Science of Natural Resources"

The basic principle of Fenlong technology is to make full use of the cultivated layer and the below soil resources and natural precipitation. It can increase the amount of loosen soil by 1-2 times, water and oxygen by 1 time, and available nutrients by 10%-30%, surface air humidity by more than 10%, crop net photosynthetic efficiency by 10%-30%, biomass by 20%-30%, crop yield by 10%-50%, and crop quality by 5%, and decrease salt content by 20%-40% and the emission of methane and other gases by 10%. In this study, it is firstly proposed to establish a new research field——"Fenlong science of natural resources"(referred to as "Fenlong science"), and the research contents include Fenlong-based sciences of modern agricultural machinery and equipment for full-layer ploughing and bottom ploughing, tillage, crop cultivation, utilization of water resources (natural precipitation, farmland water conservancy, groundwater resources, etc.), conversion and utilization of saline-alkali land, arable degraded grassland reconstruction, ecological reconstruction of desertification land, ecological environment, climate change, economic and social development. It clarifies theory and enriches technology, and provides a major platform for carrying global population developing from more than 7 billion to 10 billion and helping people and nature to mutually benefit.

Research Progress of Main Pests in Sweetsop ( Annona squamosa L. ) and Its Insecticide Activity

The research progress on pests and insecticide activity of Annona squamosa L. is summarized in the paper, including symptom, occurrence regularity and control methods. Furthermore, the comprehensive technique for controlling pests of A. squamosa in the future is preliminarily discussed.

Influence of preceding crop and tillage system on forage yield and quality of selected summer grass and legume forage crops under arid conditions

Among the crop production factors,preceding crop and tillage management affect the sustainable use of soil resources and ultimately crop growth and productivity.This study aimed at investigating the impact of preceding winter crops(grass or legume)and different tillage systems on forage yield,quality and nutritive values of three summer grass(Sudan grass,pearl millet and teosinte)and two legume forage crops(cowpea and guar)under arid conditions.The results exhibited that growing forage crops after legumes(as berseem clover)produced the highest fresh and dry forage yields and quality attributes compared with grasses(as wheat)with the exception of crude fiber content,which was decreased.Moreover,tillage practices showed positive impact on forage yields and quality attributes.The maximum forage yields and quality parameters were recorded under conventional tillage(CT)practice compared with reduced tillage(RT)and no-tillage(NT)systems.Among the evaluated crops,the highest yields of fresh forage,dry forage,crude fiber,crude protein and total digestible nutrient were exhibited by grass forage crops(Sudan grass,pearl millet and teosinte),whereas the highest crude protein content and the digestible energy values were produced by legume forage crops(cowpea and guar).The maximum fresh forage,dry forage,crude fiber,crude protein,total digestible nutrient and digestible crude protein yields were produced by pearl millet followed by Sudan grass under CT and RT after berseem clover.The highest net return was recorded by sowing pearl millet after berseem clover and applying CT followed by RT practices,which could be recommended for the commercial production.Moreover,it could be assumed that the combination of growing grass forage crops after legume crops under CT or RT systems could enhance forage crop yield and quality with an improvement in soil properties for sustainable agriculture with low cost and the highest net income.

Research on the Peanut Leaf Etiolation Prevention and Film Mulching Effect in Hubei Province

The possible nutrient problems existing in leaf etiolation,the influence of film mulching on the yield of peanut and benefits of balanced fertilization were analyzed. The results showed that the deficiency of nutrient elements was not main limiting factor in leaf etiolation of peanut in Hong'an. Deep trench,film mulching,liming and organic manure could be used to prevent leaf etiolation. The film mulching could increase the yield of peanut by improving the rate of germination and seedling,the number of branches and full pod,and it was beneficial to playing the effect of balanced fertilization.

Corrigendum to“De novo design of future rapeseed crops:Challenges and opportunities”[Crop J.10(2022)587-596]

The authors regret to report some mistakes in the text and associated changes necessary to section 4.1 of the paper.On page 591 in the right-hand column,line 34,“far light”should be changed to“far-red light”.On page 592 in the left-hand column,line 28,the sentence reads:“If the YP/FP ratio can be as high as 42%(the average YP/FP of the UK and China.Table S2),the farm yield will be 5.0 t ha1.”

Introduction to the International Symposium on Lipid Science and Health and research progress in lipid science and health

The International Symposium on Lipid Science and Health(ISLSH),which was organized annually by Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(OCRI-CAAS)since 2016,has gained a strong reputation and attracted hundreds of delegates from around the world for discussion of lipid research trends and advances every year,to promote research and academic exchanges in the fields of lipid science and health.The 5th International Symposium on lipid Science and Health was successfully held in Wuhan,China,from October 23rd to 25th,2020,to celebrate the 60th anniversary of OCRI-CAAS.The two-day symposium gathered wellknown experts specialized in lipid science to share the current state of lipid research with emphasis on aspects covering:(1)lipid profiling and characterization,(2)lipid preparation and modification,(3)lipid improvement and regulation,and(4)lipid nutrition and health.The symposium was conducted by a combination of on-site and network meeting.More than 250 distinguished delegates from academia and industry participated in the on-site multidisciplinary meeting,and thousands of scholars attended the virtual event.This paper is as a record of the symposium proceedings and a brief summary of the advances and trends in 4 aspects of lipid science and health.

Research on Chemical Prevention and Control against Stem Base Rot of Sweet Potato

[Objective]The paper was to effectively control stem base rot of sweet potato.[Method]Chemical prevention and control test against stem base rot of sweet potato were conducted for consecutive three years from 2016 to 2018.[Result]The use of carbendazim or carbendazim+mancozeb,and carbendazim+embamycin had significant control effect on stem base rot of sweet potato.However,the applied concentration should be higher than the recommended concentration.Especially the concentration of 50%carbendazim WP should be no more than 300 times,and the prevention and control effect of 100 times dilution would be better.[Conclusion]The types and concentrations of prevention and control agents are determined in the test,which will provide certain basis for chemical prevention and control against stem base rot of sweet potato.

Research Progress of Polygonatum Germplasm Resources in China

Polygonatum is a traditional and precious Chinese medicine in China,as well as a traditional medicinal and food homologous material.It has a long history of cultivation and medicinal use.It not only has the effects of boosting qi and nourishing yin,nourishing the spleen and lungs,and tonifying the kidney,but also application value in food,health products,ornamental,cosmetics,etc.There are many varieties of Polygonatum resources all over China,which are easy to be mixed.There are three species of medicinal Polygonatum recorded in the 2015 edition of Pharmacopeia of the People s Republic of China.In order to sustainably use and fully develop Polygonatum medicinal resources,we conducted textual research on relevant data and research on the distribution of Polygonatum resources,germplasm identification,genetic diversity and breeding research,so as to provide a reference for the selection and breeding of polygonatum,artificial cultivation and the development and utilization of potential Polygonatum resources and for the solution of the contradiction between supply and demand in the Polygonatum market.

Systems research helping to meet the needs and managing the trade-offs of a changing world

Facing the challenges of an increasing world population, a changing climate and ever depleting resources, agricultural intensification （Keating et al. 2010） is one of the few options for meeting the demand of food security. It is necessary to apply a dynamic and systematic approach to effectively man- age the complex agri-eco production and green processing systems. Indeed, farming systems approach for appropriate technology development and simulation modeling is a result of adopting the system thinking by the agricultural research community （Norman et al. 1995）.