A dual-RPA based lateral flow strip for sensitive,on-site detection of CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab/Ac genes in genetically modified crops

Traditional transgenic detection methods require high test conditions and struggle to be both sensitive and efficient.In this study,a one-tube dual recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA)reaction system for CP4-EPSPS and Cry1Ab/Ac was proposed and combined with a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay,named“Dual-RPA-LFD”,to visualize the dual detection of genetically modified(GM)crops.In which,the herbicide tolerance gene CP4-EPSPS and the insect resistance gene Cry1Ab/Ac were selected as targets taking into account the current status of the most widespread application of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance traits and their stacked traits.Gradient diluted plasmids,transgenic standards,and actual samples were used as templates to conduct sensitivity,specificity,and practicality assays,respectively.The constructed method achieved the visual detection of plasmid at levels as low as 100 copies,demonstrating its high sensitivity.In addition,good applicability to transgenic samples was observed,with no cross-interference between two test lines and no influence from other genes.In conclusion,this strategy achieved the expected purpose of simultaneous detection of the two popular targets in GM crops within 20 min at 37°C in a rapid,equipmentfree field manner,providing a new alternative for rapid screening for transgenic assays in the field.

Selenium species transforming along soil–plant continuum and their beneficial roles for horticultural crops

Selenium(Se)acquirement from daily diet can help reduce the risk of many diseases.The edible parts of crop plants are the main source of dietary Se,while the Se content in crops is determined by Se bioavailability in soil.We summarize recent research on the biogeochemical cycle of Se driven by specific microorganisms and emphasize the oxidizing process in the Se cycle.Moreover,we discuss how plant root exudates and rhizosphere microorganisms affect soil Se availability.Finally,we cover beneficial microorganisms,including endophytes,that promote crop quality and improve crop tolerance to environmental stresses.Se availability to plants depends on the balance between adsorption and desorption,reduction,methylation and oxidation,which are determined by interactions among soil properties,microbial communities and plants.Reduction and methylation processes governed by bacteria or fungi lead to declined Se availability,while Se oxidation regulated by Se-oxidizing microorganisms increases Se availability to plants.Despite a much lower rate of Se oxidization compared to reduction and methylation,the potential roles of microbial communities in increasing Se bioavailability are probably largely underestimated.Enhancing Se oxidation and Se desorption are crucial for the promotion of Se bioavailability and uptake,particularly in Se-deficient soils.Beneficial roles of Se are reported in terms of improved crop growth and quality,and enhanced protection against fungal diseases and abiotic stress through improved photosynthetic traits,increased sugar and amino acid contents,and promoted defense systems.Understanding Se transformation along the plant-soil continuum is crucial for agricultural production and even for human health.

Multi-omics-driven development of alternative crops for natural rubber production

Natural rubber(NR)is an irreplaceable biopolymer of economic and strategic importance owing to its unique physical and chemical properties.The Parárubber tree(Hevea brasiliensis(Willd.ex A.Juss.)Müll.Arg.)is currently the exclusive commercial source of NR,and it is primarily grown in plantations restricted to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia.However,current Parárubber production barely meets the sharply increasing global industrial demand for rubber.Petroleum-based synthetic rubber(SR)has been used to supplement the shortage of NR but its industrial performance is not comparable to that of NR.Thus,there is an urgent need to develop new productive rubber crops with broader environmental adaptability.This review summarizes the current research progress on alternative rubberproducing plants,including horticultural plants(Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin and Lactuca L.species),woody plants(Parthenium argentatum A.Gray and Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.),and other plant species with potential for NR production.With an emphasis on the molecular basis of NR biosynthesis revealed by a multi-omics approach,we highlight new integrative strategies and biotechnologies for exploring the mechanism of NR biosynthesis with a broader scope,which may accelerate the breeding and improvement of new rubber crops.

Germplasm and molecular breeding in horticultural crops

Horticulture is an important part of agricultural planting and production, which is of great significance for enriching human nutrition and beautifying and transforming the human living environment. At present, the area of horticultural crops in China is about 40 million ha, accounting for about onefourth of the national crop planting area, while the production of primary agricultural products is 1 billion tons, and the output value accounts for more than half of the total output value of the planting industry.

Oil Crops:A Potential Source of Biodiesel

1.Introduction Oil crops such as soybeans,sunflower,canola,rapeseed,and peanuts play a vital role in the agricultural economy,second only to food crops in terms of area and yield.Vegetable oil is known for its high energy density,containing approximately 2.25 times more calories per unit mass than carbohydrates or protein.Therefore,vegetable oil is an important source of energy and provides a variety of fatty acids necessary for human health.

Crops Leaf Diseases Recognition:A Framework of Optimum Deep Learning Features

Manual diagnosis of crops diseases is not an easy process;thus,a computerized method is widely used.Froma couple of years,advancements in the domain ofmachine learning,such as deep learning,have shown substantial success.However,they still faced some challenges such as similarity in disease symptoms and irrelevant features extraction.In this article,we proposed a new deep learning architecture with optimization algorithm for cucumber and potato leaf diseases recognition.The proposed architecture consists of five steps.In the first step,data augmentation is performed to increase the numbers of training samples.In the second step,pre-trained DarkNet19 deep model is opted and fine-tuned that later utilized for the training of fine-tuned model through transfer learning.Deep features are extracted from the global pooling layer in the next step that is refined using Improved Cuckoo search algorithm.The best selected features are finally classified using machine learning classifiers such as SVM,and named a few more for final classification results.The proposed architecture is tested using publicly available datasets–Cucumber National Dataset and Plant Village.The proposed architecture achieved an accuracy of 100.0%,92.9%,and 99.2%,respectively.Acomparison with recent techniques is also performed,revealing that the proposed method achieved improved accuracy while consuming less computational time.

Feeding the world: impacts of elevated [CO_(2)] on nutrient content of greenhouse grown fruit crops and options for future yield gains

Several long-term studies have provided strong support demonstrating that growing crops under elevated[CO_(2)]can increase photosynthesis and result in an increase in yield,flavour and nutritional content(including but not limited to Vitamins C,E and pro-vitamin A).In the case of tomato,increases in yield by as much as 80%are observed when plants are cultivated at 1000 ppm[CO_(2)],which is consistent with current commercial greenhouse productionmethods in the tomato fruit industry.These results provide a clear demonstration of the potential for elevating[CO_(2)]for improving yield and quality in greenhouse crops.The major focus of this review is to bring together 50 years of observations evaluating the impact of elevated[CO_(2)]on fruit yield and fruit nutritional quality.In the final section,we consider the need to engineer improvements to photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation to allow plants to take greater advantage of elevated CO_(2) growth conditions.

DNA cytosine methylation dynamics and functional roles in horticultural crops

Methylation of cytosine is a conserved epigenetic modification that maintains the dynamic balance of methylation in plants under the regulation of methyltransferases and demethylases.In recent years,the study of DNA methylation in regulating the growth and development of plants and animals has become a key area of research.This review describes the regulatory mechanisms of DNA cytosine methylation in plants.It summarizes studies on epigenetic modifications of DNA methylation in fruit ripening,development,senescence,plant height,organ size,and under biotic and abiotic stresses in horticultural crops.The review provides a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanisms of DNA methylation and their relevance to breeding,genetic improvement,research,innovation,and exploitation of new cultivars of horticultural crops.

Designing of future ornamental crops: a biotechnological driven perspective

With a basis in human appreciation of beauty and aesthetic values,the new era of ornamental crops is based on implementing innovative technologies and transforming symbols into tangible assets.Recent advances in plant biotechnology have attracted considerable scientific and industrial interest,particularly in terms ofmodifying desired plant traits and developing future ornamental crops.By utilizing omics approaches,genomic data,genetic engineering,and gene editing tools,scientists have successively explored the underlying molecular mechanism and potential gene(s)behind trait regulation such as floral induction,plant architecture,stress resistance,plasticity,adaptation,and phytoremediation in ornamental crop species.These signs of progress lay a theoretical and practical foundation for designing and enhancing the efficiency of ornamental plants for a wide range of applications.In this review,we briefly summarized the existing literature and advances in biotechnological approaches for the improvement of vital traits in ornamental plants.The future ornamental plants,such as light-emitting plants,biotic/abiotic stress detectors,and pollution abatement,and the introduction of new ornamental varieties via domestication of wild species are also discussed.

Genic male and female sterility in vegetable crops

Vegetable crops are greatly appreciated for their beneficial nutritional and health components.Hybrid seeds are widely used in vegetable crops for advantages such as high yield and improved resistance,which require the participation of male(stamen)and female(pistil)reproductive organs.Male-or female-sterile plants are commonly used for production of hybrid seeds or seedless fruits in vegetables.In this review we will focus on the types of genic male sterility and factors affecting female fertility,summarize typical gene function and research progress related to reproductive organ identity and sporophyte and gametophyte development in vegetable crops[mainly tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)and cucumber(Cucumis sativus)],and discuss the research trends and application perspectives of the sterile trait in vegetable breeding and hybrid production,in order to provide a reference for fertility-related germplasm innovation.

Impacts of climate change on the yields of leguminous crops in the Guinea Savanna agroecological zone of Ghana

The impacts of climate change on crop yields are receiving renewed interest,with focus on cereals and staple crops at the regional and national scales.Yet,the impacts of climate change on the yields of leguminous crops in the local context has not been explored.Thus,an in-depth understanding of climate change in the local context may support the design of locally relevant adaptation responses to current and future climate risks.This study examined the impacts of climate variables(annual rainfall,annual average temperature,rainfall indices(rainfall onset,rainfall cessation,and the length of rainy days),and the number of dry days)on the yields of leguminous crops(groundnuts,cowpeas,and soybeans)in the Guinea Savanna agroecological zone of Ghana during the period of 1989-2020.The data were analysed using Mann-Kendall’s trend,Sen’s slope test,correlation analysis,and Multiple Regression Analysis(MRA).The findings revealed that annual rainfall,annual average temperature,rainfall onset,rainfall cessation,and the length of rainy days,and the number of dry days all showed varied impacts on the yields of groundnuts,cowpeas,and soybeans.The trend analysis detected a marginal decrease in the amount of rainfall,rainfall onset,and the number of dry days from 1989 to 2020(P>0.050).Annual average temperature and the length of rainy days substantially varied(P<0.050)from 1989 to 2020,showing an increasing trend.The findings also showed a marked upward trend for the yields of groundnuts,cowpeas,and soybeans during 2005-2020.The climate variables analysed above increased the yields of groundnuts,cowpeas,and soybeans by 49.0%,55.0%,and 69.0%,respectively.The yields of groundnuts,cowpeas,and soybeans fluctuated with the variability of 30.0%,28.0%,and 27.0%from 2005 to 2020,respectively.The three leguminous crops under study demonstrated unpredictable yields due to the variations of annual rainfall,annual average temperature,rainfall onset,rainfall cessation,the length of rainy days,and the number of dry days,which stressed the need for agricultural diversification,changing planting dates,using improved seed variety,and irrigation to respond to climate change.The results of this study implied that climate change considerably impacts crop production in the Guinea Savanna agroecological zone of Ghana,emphasizing the urgency of locally based and farmer-induced adaptation measures for food security and resilient agricultural systems.

Modified Metaheuristics with Transfer Learning Based Insect Pest Classification for Agricultural Crops

Crop insect detection becomes a tedious process for agronomists because a substantial part of the crops is damaged,and due to the pest attacks,the quality is degraded.They are the major reason behind crop quality degradation and diminished crop productivity.Hence,accurate pest detection is essential to guarantee safety and crop quality.Conventional identification of insects necessitates highly trained taxonomists to detect insects precisely based on morphological features.Lately,some progress has been made in agriculture by employing machine learning(ML)to classify and detect pests.This study introduces a Modified Metaheuristics with Transfer Learning based Insect Pest Classification for Agricultural Crops(MMTL-IPCAC)technique.The presented MMTL-IPCAC technique applies contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization(CLAHE)approach for image enhancement.The neural architectural search network(NASNet)model is applied for feature extraction,and a modified grey wolf optimization(MGWO)algorithm is employed for the hyperparameter tuning process,showing the novelty of the work.At last,the extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)model is utilized to carry out the insect classification procedure.The simulation analysis stated the enhanced performance of the MMTL-IPCAC technique in the insect classification process with maximum accuracy of 98.73%.

Prediction of Suitable Crops Using Stacked Scaling Conjugant Neural Classifier

Agriculture plays a vital role in economic development.The major pro-blem faced by the farmers are the selection of suitable crops based on environ-mental conditions such as weather,soil nutrients,etc.The farmers were following ancestral patterns,which could sometimes lead to the wrong selection of crops.In this research work,the feature selection method is adopted to improve the performance of the classification.The most relevant features from the dataset are obtained using a Probabilistic Feature Selection(PFS)approach,and classifi-cation is done using a Neural Fuzzy Classifier(NFC).Scaling Conjugate Gradient(SCG)optimization method is used to update the weights.The data set used for analysis contain various parameters such as soil characteristics,geographical loca-tion,and environmental factors such as temperature and rainfall.The proposed method recommends suitable crops for cultivation based on site-specific para-meters.Experimental result shows that the proposed method provides high accu-racy and efficiency as compared to existing methodologies.

农作物空间格局动态变化模拟模型(CROPS)构建

农作物空间格局指特定区域内农作物种植结构、空间分布等信息,是农业土地系统的核心内容之一,也是农业结构调整的重要依据。随着空间模拟技术的发展,农业土地系统的时空动态表达成为可能,但传统模型方法更多关注土地利用类型的转化,而忽视耕地内部农作物格局时空特征的表达。该研究基于CLUE-S土地利用变化模拟模型,进行了概念模型设计、框架和模块重建、参数本底化和校正,研究并提出一个适用于我国农作物空间格局动态变化模拟模型(CROPS,Crop Pattern Simulator)的可行架构,使其能够实现区域尺度土地利用变化与农作物空间格局变化的双层动态模拟。CROPS模型采用了两层次嵌套模拟的模型结构,第一个层次实现对耕地空间格局动态变化过程和状态的表达,第二层次基于第一层次的模拟输出的耕地空间格局,实现耕地内部的农作物空间格局动态变化的有效模拟。CROPS模型主要包括非空间和空间两个大模块,空间模块又包括空间模块I和空间模块II。CROPS模型在东北三省进行了区域应用,结果表明,模型总体模拟效果较好,能够科学合理的表达耕地空间格局和农作物空间格局的动态变化过程。

Allelopathic effects of Mikania cordata on forest and agricultural crops in Bangladesh

Mikania cordata, an invasive weed is becom- ing a problem in the secondary degraded forests and plantations of Bangladesh, not only competing with but also releasing allelochemicals to cultivated crops. Allelo- pathic effects of the leaves of M. cordata were investigated through an experiment in the green house of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chit- tagong, Bangladesh. Five economically important agricul- tural crops （Oryza sativa L., Triticum aestivum L., Vigna sinensis L., Abelmoschus esculentus L. and Amaranthus tricolor L.） and three forest crops （Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. ＆ Hook, Albizia procera （Roxb.） Benth., and Paraserianthes falcataria （L.） Nielson） were used as bioassay species. Experiments were conducted on trays at an average room temperature 27 ~C. The effects of dif- ferent concentrations of leaf extracts were compared to controls. Water soluble allelochemicals of M. cordata inhibited the germination and initial growth of the tested agricultural and forest crops. Germination percent of forest crops declined with increasing concentration of extracts. The inhibitory effect on root elongation of forest crops was pronounced, whereas a stimulatory effect was found on P. falcataria up to a concentration of 25 %. Abelmoschus esculentus showed poor germination （%） and low shoot development （0.5 cm） and no development of taproot or lateral roots at treatment of 100 % concentration. Theinhibitory effect was proportional to the concentrations of the extracts with higher concentrations producing stronger inhibitory effects. Lower concentrations showed some stimulatory effect. The inhibitory effect was pronounced in root and lateral root development rather than germination or shoot development of the crops. Mikania cordata should be eradicated for healthy growth and development of the forest and adjacent agricultural crops.

转基因作物(GM Crops)技术经济效应及其对农民收入、健康和环境的影响

转基因作物是促进农村新经济增长的一条有效突径。本文通过对发展中国家与发达国家的转基因作物发展的对比,重点对我国转基因作物的研发与技术经济效应进行了讨论,最后提出了转基因作物研发对农民的收入、健康和环境产生积极影响。

Cropscapes and History

In this essay I introduce“Moving Crops and the Scales of History,”an experimental project that proposes a new method for writing global history.Crops are a very special type of human artifact or technological product:living organisms literally rooted in their environments.Explanation of their historical trajectories therefore offers special challenges and opportunities.Working at the intersection of global history,agricultural history,and the histories of science and technology,“Moving Crops”develops the concept of cropscape to explore the dual nature of crops as rooted and moveable things,reconnecting local and global in history.

转基因作物(GM Crops)产业的发展及其对我国农民生存发展的影响

转基因作物是生物技术研究的一个重要方面。作为21世纪我国及世界农业的一场新的科技革命和农业主导产业,转基因作物产业已经成为农业发展新的经济增长点,且对农民的收入、健康和环境产生积极影响。

Carotenoid metabolism and regulation in horticultural crops

Carotenoids are a diverse group of pigments widely distributed in nature.The vivid yellow,orange,and red colors of many horticultural crops are attributed to the overaccumulation of carotenoids,which contribute to a critical agronomic trait for flowers and an important quality trait for fruits and vegetables.Not only do carotenoids give horticultural crops their visual appeal,they also enhance nutritional value and health benefits for humans.As a result,carotenoid research in horticultural crops has grown exponentially over the last decade.These investigations have advanced our fundamental understanding of carotenoid metabolism and regulation in plants.In this review,we provide an overview of carotenoid biosynthesis,degradation,and accumulation in horticultural crops and highlight recent achievements in our understanding of carotenoid metabolic regulation in vegetables,fruits,and flowers.

Breeding better cultivars,faster:applications of new technologies for the rapid deployment of superior horticultural tree crops

Woody perennial plants,including trees that produce fruits and nuts of horticultural value,typically have long breeding cycles,and development and introduction of improved cultivars by plant breeders may require many breeding cycles and dozens of years.However,recent advances in biotechnologies and genomics have the potential to accelerate cultivar development greatly in all crops.This mini-review summarizes approaches to reduce the number and the duration of breeding cycles for horticultural tree crops,and outlines the challenges that remain to implement these into efficient breeding pipelines.