New aspects of a small GTPase RAB35 in brain development and function

In eukaryotic cells,organelles in the secretory,lysosomal,and endocytic pathways actively exchange biological materials with each other through intracellular membrane trafficking,which is the process of transporting the cargo of proteins,lipids,and other molecules to appropriate compartments via transport vesicles or intermediates.These processes are strictly regulated by various small GTPases such as the RAS-like in rat brain(RAB)protein family,which is the largest subfamily of the RAS superfamily.Dysfunction of membrane trafficking affects tissue homeostasis and leads to a wide range of diseases,including neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.Therefore,it is important to understand the physiological and pathological roles of RAB proteins in brain function.RAB35,a member of the RAB family,is an evolutionarily conserved protein in metazoans.A wide range of studies using cultured mammalian cells and model organisms have revealed that RAB35 mediates various processes such as cytokinesis,endocytic recycling,actin bundling,and cell migration.RAB35 is also involved in neurite outgrowth and turnover of synaptic vesicles.We generated brain-specific Rab35 knockout mice to study the physiological roles of RAB35 in brain development and function.These mice exhibited defects in anxiety-related behaviors and spatial memory.Strikingly,RAB35 is required for the precise positioning of pyramidal neurons during hippocampal development,and thereby for normal hippocampal lamination.In contrast,layer formation in the cerebral cortex occurred superficially,even in the absence of RAB35,suggesting a predominant role for RAB35 in hippocampal development rather than in cerebral cortex development.Recent studies have suggested an association between RAB35 and neurodegenerative diseases,including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.In this review,we provide an overview of the current understanding of subcellular functions of RAB35.We also provide insights into the physiological role of RAB35 in mammalian brain development and function,and discuss the involvement of RAB35 dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.

Influences of Financial Development and Energy Price on Renewable Energy:An Italian Case

Global climate change has created substantial difficulties in the areas of sustainability,development,and environmental conservation due to the widespread dependence on fossil fuels for energy production.Nevertheless,the promotion of renewable energy programs has the potential to significantly expedite endeavors aimed at tackling climate change.Thus,it is essential to conduct a thorough analysis that considers the financial aspects to fully understand the main hurdles that are preventing the advancement of renewable energy initiatives.Italy is a leading country in the worldwide deployment of renewable energy.The objective of this research is to assess the impact of financial growth,economic progress,and energy expenses on Italy’s adoption of renewable energy sources.By employing the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag(ARDL)technique,we analyzed annual data spanning from1990 to 2022.Findings revealed that a 1%increase in financial and economic development would boost renewable energy consumption in the long run by 0.29%and 0.48%,respectively.Instead,a 1%increase in energy prices might reduce consumption of renewable energy by 0.05%in the long run.This study’s primary significance lies in furnishing actionable strategies for Italy to augment green finance for renewable energy,fostering sustained social and economic progress.Moreover,the analytical insights gleaned from this research offer valuable insights for energy-importing nations worldwide.

Establishment of human cerebral organoid systems to model early neural development and assess the central neurotoxicity of environmental toxins

Human brain development is a complex process,and animal models often have significant limitations.To address this,researchers have developed pluripotent stem cell-derived three-dimensional structures,known as brain-like organoids,to more accurately model early human brain development and disease.To enable more consistent and intuitive reproduction of early brain development,in this study,we incorporated forebrain organoid culture technology into the traditional unguided method of brain organoid culture.This involved embedding organoids in matrigel for only 7 days during the rapid expansion phase of the neural epithelium and then removing them from the matrigel for further cultivation,resulting in a new type of human brain organoid system.This cerebral organoid system replicated the temporospatial characteristics of early human brain development,including neuroepithelium derivation,neural progenitor cell production and maintenance,neuron differentiation and migration,and cortical layer patterning and formation,providing more consistent and reproducible organoids for developmental modeling and toxicology testing.As a proof of concept,we applied the heavy metal cadmium to this newly improved organoid system to test whether it could be used to evaluate the neurotoxicity of environmental toxins.Brain organoids exposed to cadmium for 7 or 14 days manifested severe damage and abnormalities in their neurodevelopmental patterns,including bursts of cortical cell death and premature differentiation.Cadmium exposure caused progressive depletion of neural progenitor cells and loss of organoid integrity,accompanied by compensatory cell proliferation at ectopic locations.The convenience,flexibility,and controllability of this newly developed organoid platform make it a powerful and affordable alternative to animal models for use in neurodevelopmental,neurological,and neurotoxicological studies.

Postnatal development of rat retina:a continuous observation and comparison between the organotypic retinal explant model and in vivo development

The organotypic retinal explant culture has been established for more than a decade and offers a range of unique advantages compared with in vivo experiments and cell cultures.However,the lack of systematic and continuous comparison between in vivo retinal development and the organotypic retinal explant culture makes this model controversial in postnatal retinal development studies.Thus,we aimed to verify the feasibility of using this model for postnatal retinal development studies by comparing it with the in vivo retina.In this study,we showed that postnatal retinal explants undergo normal development,and exhibit a consistent structure and timeline with retinas in vivo.Initially,we used SOX2 and PAX6 immunostaining to identify retinal progenitor cells.We then examined cell proliferation and migration by immunostaining with Ki-67 and doublecortin,respectively.Ki-67-and doublecortin-positive cells decreased in both in vivo and explants during postnatal retinogenesis,and exhibited a high degree of similarity in abundance and distribution between groups.Additionally,we used Ceh-10 homeodomain-containing homolog,glutamate-ammonia ligase(glutamine synthetase),neuronal nuclei,and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 immunostaining to examine the emergence of bipolar cells,Müller glia,mature neurons,and microglia,respectively.The timing and spatial patterns of the emergence of these cell types were remarkably consistent between in vivo and explant retinas.Our study showed that the organotypic retinal explant culture model had a high degree of consistency with the progression of in vivo early postnatal retina development.The findings confirm the accuracy and credibility of this model and support its use for long-term,systematic,and continuous observation.

Exploring the dynamics of creative tourism:A tourist-centric perspective to achieve economic sustainable development

Creative tourism is a dynamic and innovative approach to tourism,which points out the importance of people's active participation and their immersion in such experiences.In a vernacular context,it should attract people(local and tourists)attention to accomplish its main goals.Despite its rich cultural and natural assets,Kurdistan province faces several challenges that impact its tourism potential.To achieve that,the study uses quantitative approach to thoroughly analyze and evaluate the components of creative tourism in this province.The research focuses on tourists who visited the province's ten towns during the spring and summer of 2023.Data collection utilized a Likert-scale questionnaire ranging from"very good"to"very poor".The study employed a semistructured questionnaire developed through qualitative interviews alongside a researcher-made questionnaire validated by experts from the University of Kurdistan.The qualitative questionnaire achieved a high-reliability score of 93%using Cronbach's alpha coefficient.In-depth interviews and literary research were conducted to identify creative tourism components and indicators,informing the development of a quantitative questionnaire.Data analysis was performed using SPSS 20 and AMOS software to scrutinize the survey findings,providing insights into enhancing creative tourism strategies in Kurdistan province.The results reveal the varying significance of these dimensions,with the cultural dimension identified as the most crucial(factor loading:0.95),followed by the social(0.92),economic(0.88),and managerial/political dimensions(0.83).The study highlights the importance of cultural planning,community engagement,and infrastructural support in fostering creative tourism.Furthermore,it explores the impact of creative industries,such as music and arts rooted in Kurdish culture,on tourism development.Economic diversification and spatialphysical considerations are critical factors in enhancing Kurdistan's appeal as a creative tourism destination,emphasizing sustainable growth and cultural preservation.

Effects of Microbial Fermented Feed on Growth and Development of Farmed Crayfish

Microbial fermented feed possesses a natural fermentation flavor and exhibits good palatability.It is not only easily digestible and absorbable by livestock but also non-toxic.Additionally,it has the capacity to inhibit the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria,facilitate the growth and development of animals,and enhance their immune response,disease resistance,and overall production performance.This paper summarizes the selection of common feed materials and microbial strains used in fermented feed,as well as their effects on the growth performance,muscle quality,antioxidant capacity,and immune function of crayfish.The aim of this study is to provide a reference for the further popularization and application ofmicrobialfermented feed in crayfishaquaculture.

Leucine-Rich Repeat Protein Family Regulates Stress Tolerance and Development in Plants

The leucine-rich repeat(LRR)protein family is involved in a variety of fundamental metabolic and signaling processes in plants,including growth and defense responses.LRR proteins can be divided into two categories:those containing LRR domains along with other structural elements,which are further subdivided into five groups,LRR receptor-like kinases,LRR receptor-like proteins,nucleotide-binding site LRR proteins,LRR-extensin proteins,and polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins,and those containing only LRR domains.Functionally,various LRR proteins are primarily involved in plant development and responses to environmental stress.Notably,the LRR protein family plays a central role in signal transduction pathways related to stress adaptation.In this review,we classify and analyze the functions of LRR proteins in plants.While extensive research has been conducted on the roles of LRR proteins in disease resistance signaling,these proteins also play important roles in abiotic stress responses.This review highlights recent advances in understanding how LRR proteins mediate responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.Building upon these insights,further exploration of the roles of LRR proteins in abiotic stress resistance may aid efforts to develop rice varieties with enhanced stress and disease tolerance.

Effects of Water-retaining Agents on Growth, Development, Yield and Quality of Soybean under Drought Stress

[Objectives]The paper was to explore the effects of different doses of water-retaining agent on the growth and development indicators,yield and quality of soybean plants subjected to drought stress.[Methods]The effects of drought stress(MDS)and drought stress with low(MDS-L),medium(MDS-M)and high doses(MDS-H)of the water-retaining agent on the growth and development indicators,root activity,MDA content,antioxidant enzyme activity,yield and quality of soybean were studied by field plot test,with the normal water supply serving as the control(CK).[Results]In response to drought stress,the plant height,stem diameter,and yield of soybean exhibited a notable decline.Additionally,the contents of protein,fat,linoleic acid,and linolenic acid in seeds demonstrated a significant reduction.Conversely,the root activity and antioxidant enzyme activity exhibited a noticeable decline,while the MDA content exhibited an increase.The application of varying doses of the water-retaining agent was found to significantly enhance soybean growth,stimulate root activity,and elevate antioxidant enzyme activity,while concurrently reducing MDA content.The observed effects were found to be dose-dependent,with the greatest effects observed at the highest dose.In comparison to MDS,the yields of soybean in the MDS-L,MDS-M,and MDS-H treatments exhibited a 18.38%,25.58%,and 46.26%increase,respectively.Additionally,the content of protein,fat,linoleic acid,and linolenic acid in seeds demonstrated a notable enhancement.[Conclusions]The application of the water-retaining agent has been demonstrated to significantly promote the growth of soybean plants under conditions of drought stress,resulting in an improvement in both the yield and the quality of the soybean crop.The recommended dosage of the water-retaining agent is 3.3 kg/667 m 2.

Comparative analysis of SIMILAR to RCD ONE(SRO)family from tetraploid cotton species and their diploid progenitors depict their significance in cotton growth and development

Background SRO(Similar to RCD1)genes family is largely recognized for their importance in the growth,develop-ment,and in responding to environmental stresses.However,genome-wide identification and functional characteri-zation of SRO genes from cotton species have not been reported so far.Results A total of 36 SRO genes were identified from four cotton species.Phylogenetic analysis divided these genes into three groups with distinct structure.Syntenic and chromosomal distribution analysis indicated uneven distribu-tion of GaSRO,GrSRO,GhSRO,and GbSRO genes on A2,D5 genomes,Gh-At,Gh-Dt,Gb-At,and Gb-Dt subgenomes,respectively.Gene duplication analysis revealed the presence of six duplicated gene pairs among GhSRO genes.In promoter analysis,several elements responsive to the growth,development and hormones were found in GhSRO genes,implying gene induction during cotton growth and development.Several miRNAs responsive to plant growth and abiotic stress were predicted to target 12 GhSRO genes.Organ-specific expression profiling demonstrated the roles of GhSRO genes in one or more tissues.In addition,specific expression pattern of some GhSRO genes dur-ing ovule development depicted their involvement in these developmental processes.Conclusion The data presented in this report laid a foundation for understanding the classification and functions of SRO genes in cotton.

Smad8 is involvement in follicular development via the regulation of granulosa cell growth and steroidogenesis in mice

Background:SMAD family proteins(SMADs)are crucial transcription factors downstream of transforming growth factor beta(TGF-ß)/SMAD signaling pathways that have been reported to play a pivotal role in mammalian reproduction.However,the role of SMAD family member 8(SMAD8,also known as SMAD9),a member of the SMAD family,in mammalian reproduction remains unclear.Methods:We employed RNA interference techniques to knock down Smad8 expression in mouse granulosa cells(GCs)to investigate the effects of Smad8 on GC growth and steroidogenesis.Results:Our findings revealed a significant decrease in the proliferative capacity and a substantial increase in the apoptosis rate of GCs after transfection with Smad8-siRNA for 48 h.Subsequent hormone assays demonstrated a significant decrease in estradiol(E2)levels,whereas progesterone(P4)remained unchanged.Further mechanistic analysis showed that the mRNA expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(Pcna),Cyclin D2,cell cycle-dependent kinase 4(Cdk4),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),estrogen receptor(Er),luteinizing hormone receptor(Lhr)and cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1(Cyp19a1)significantly decreased.Conversely,the mRNA of cysteine aspartate proteinase 3(Caspase 3)significantly increased,wheras Bcl2-associated X(Bax),folliclestimulating hormone receptor(Fshr)and cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1(Cyp11a1)remained unchanged compared to the controls.Conclusion:This study indicates that Smad8 knockdown inhibits cell proliferation,promotes apoptosis,reduces Er and Lhr transcription,and decreases E2 production in mouse GCs.These findings suggest that Smad8 may serve as a novel genetic marker for mammalian reproduction.

Assessment of growth monitoring among children younger than 5 years at early childhood development centres in Nelson Mandela Bay,South Africa

Introduction:Early childhood development(ECD)centres are important community hubs in South Africa and act as sites for community detection of childhood nutrition problems.This study aimed to assess the ability of trained ECD practitioners with optimal support to correctly classify the nutritional status of infants and young children at ECD centres in the Nelson Mandela Bay.Methods:A descriptive,cross-sectional study was used to collect data from 1645 infants and children at 88 ECD centres.Anthropometric measurements were taken by trained fieldworkers and growth monitoring and promotion infrastructure was audited at ECD centres.Results:Of the sample,4.4%(n=72)were underweight by weight for age Z-score(WAZ<-2)and 0.8%(n=13)were severely underweight(WAZ<-3).Results showed that 13.1%(n=214)were stunted by height for age Z-score(HAZ<-2)and 4.5%(n=74)were severely stunted(HAZ<-3).The prevalence of moderate acute malnutrition was 1.2%and severe acute malnutrition was 0.5%,while the prevalence of overweight was 9.2%and the prevalence of obesity was 4%.A significant level of agreement between the correct interpretation and the ECD practitioners'interpretation was observed across all the anthropometric indicators investigated.The true positive wasting cases had a mean mid-upper arm circumference(MUAC)of 14.6 cm,which may explain the high false negative rate found in terms of children identified with wasting,where ECD practitioners fail to use the weight for height Z-score(WHZ)interpretation for screening.Conclusion:By using ECD centres as hub to screen for malnutrition,it may contribute to the early identification of failure to thrive among young children.Although it was concerning that trained ECD practitioners are missing some children with an unacceptably high false negative rate,it may have been due to the fact that wasting in older children cannot be identified with MUAC alone and that accurate WFH plotting is needed.Onsite mentorship by governmental health workers may provide ECD practitioners with more confidence to screen children for growth failure based on regular WFH measurements.Moreover,ECD practitioners will be more confident to monitor the Road to Health booklets for missed vaccinations,vitamin A and deworming opportunities.

Transformation power or development pressure:economic growth targets and urban carbon productivity

Maintaining moderate economic growth targets(EGTs)is the key for local governments to effectively implement the“carbon peak and carbon neutrality”goals under the refreshed development pattern.Utilizing panel data of 276 prefecture-level cities in China's Mainland from 2010 to 2020,and employing methods such as intermediary and threshold models,this study empirically analyzes the internal mechanism of EGT’s impact on urban carbon productivity(UCP).Our findings demonstrate that:①The overall EGT during the analyzed period is not conducive to improving UCP.This conclusion remains valid after a series of robustness tests.This effect is more pronounced in the central region and resource-based cities than in the east-west region and non resource-based cities.②EGT not only directly suppresses UCP but also exerts indirect negative impacts on UCP from three aspects:delaying the digital economy(DE),constraining financial expansion(FE),and hindering green technology innovation(GTI).This negative indirect effect is similar to or even surpasses the direct effect,suggesting that the internal relationship between EGT and“dual-carbon”goals should be re-evaluated from a new compound perspective.③EGT not only has a simple linear impact on UCP but also significantly exhibits a dynamic evolution pattern in inverted“U”shape.That is,as EGT continuously upgrades,a nonlinear impact on UCP emerges in the form of“promoting first,suppressing later”.This indicates that surpassing the“degree”limit for EGT will be detrimental to the improvement of UCP.This study broadens the scope of carbon productivity analysis by introducing a new perspective centered on EGT.The insights gleaned from this research offer valuable guidance for local governments to effectively manage economic growth expectations and promote the synchronized achievement of dual-carbon objectives.

Perinatal Morbidity, Mortality, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Neonates with Fetal Growth Restriction

Objective: This study aimed to assess perinatal morbidity, mortality rates, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the management of fetal growth restriction (FGR) at a single tertiary institute. Methods: Among 2465 deliveries between 2013 and 2019, 109 cases of FGR were reviewed retrospectively for causes, indications for pregnancy termination, perinatal death, overall neonatal outcomes, and long-term prognosis. Results: Excluding FGR due to congenital anomalies (n = 17), the mortality rate was 3.3% (3/92). One neonate delivered at 23 weeks developed cerebral palsy (1.1%). Retinopathy of prematurity occurred in four neonates (4.3%). Neurodevelopmental disorders were present in six neonates (6.5%), all of whom were delivered at 32 - 38 weeks. Significantly lower gestational age at delivery, lower birth weight, and higher umbilical artery resistance indices were observed in neonates with neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusions: Intact survival before 27 weeks of gestation at delivery with FGR is uncommon. Neurodevelopmental disorders may still develop after delivery at 32 - 38 weeks;consideration should be given to the timing of delivery usingfetal ductus venosus Doppler waveforms measurements to reduce neurodevelopmental disorders.

Research progress on the development of hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met signaling pathway in gastric cancer:A review

Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)and its receptor,c-Met,play important roles in the occurrence,development,and treatment of gastric cancer(GC).This review explored the function of the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway in GC and its potential targeted therapeutic mechanisms.As one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide,GC has a complex pathogenesis and limited therapeutic options.Therefore,a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanism of GC is very important for the development of new therapeutic methods.The HGF/c-Met signaling pathway plays an important role in the proliferation,migration,and invasion of GC cells and has become a new therapeutic target.This review summarizes the current research progress on the role of HGF/c-Met in GC and discusses targeted therapeutic strategies targeting this signaling pathway,providing new ideas and directions for the treatment of GC.

Growth, Development and Yield of Kenaf as Affected by Planting Dates and N Fertilization

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L) consists of various beneficial components like stalks, seeds, leaves, fibers, oils, proteins, allelopathic chemicals, and fiber strands, among other things. Despite the numerous uses of the crop, there is little or no information on optimum agronomic practices such as planting date and N fertilization of the crop in the Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana where the crop is widely cultivated by smallholder farmers. Field experiments were therefore carried out in 2020 and repeated during the 2021 cropping season in the study area. The objective of the study was to determine appropriate planting date and N fertilization for increased kenaf productivity. In each year, the treatments consisted of 3 × 5 factorial combinations of three planting dates (1st July, 7th July and 14th July) and five levels of N (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg/ha) replicated three times. The design of the experiment was a split-plot with the N fertilizer as the main plot and the planting date assigned to sub plot. The results showed that, planting kenaf in early (1st) July or N fertilization at the rate of 60 kg/ha increased plant density, stem height, stem diameter, dry bast and core yields in both cropping seasons.

Research and development trends in plant growth regulators

Continued population growth and limited land availability will facilitate the utilization of plant growth regulators(PGRs)in sustainable agriculture to enhance crop yields.The PGRs industry has progressed significantly from 2003 to 2022,resulting in a surge of research activities in the field of PGRs.However,the existing studies lack the exploration of the industry trends,as well as the challenges and opportunities for innovation in PGR development.Here,we analyze the dynamic trends within the PGR industry by examining key factors such as the PGR market,patent applications,scientific papers,and PGRs registrations from 2003 to 2022.Additionally,we investigate the specific effects of major agrochemicals on plants.These data will provide essential insights into the ongoing evolution and future trends of PGRs.Importantly,it is crucial to actively pursue research and development(R&D)of a broader range of PGRs to respond to the current needs of the PGR market and drive further growth therein.

Exploration and development of artificially synthesized plant growth regulators

Plant growth regulators(PGRs)are a critical regulatory factor that influences plant development and against abiotic or biotic stress.The chemical synthesis of phytohormone analogues represents an effective approach for developing novel PGRs with enhanced bioactivity,reduced costs,and simplified synthesis.This review provides a comprehensive examination of artificially synthesized PGRs(phytohormone structural analogues and functional analogues)over the past five years,emphasizing the synthesis strategy,bioactivity,structure-activity relationships,and target protein.This review argues that the synthesis of functional analogues of phytohormones represents a crucial in the advancement of novel PGRs,and optimization of synthetic procedures would greatly facilitate the commercialization of these PGRs.

Comparison of Growth and Development Traits among Crossbreds of Dorset and Local Sheep Varieties in Gansu Province

In order to improve the meat production performance of local sheep varieties in Gansu Province, Dorset was introduced to crossbreed with the local sheep varieties, including Tan sheep, Small Tail Han sheep and Mongolia sheep. The offspring of different crossbreeding combinations were sampled randomly at different growth stages, and their growth and development traits were measured so as to screen out the best crossbreeding mode. The results showed that under the same crossbreeding mode, the growth rate of F3 was higher than that of F2, and of F2 was higher than that of F1. Among the F3 population, the growth rates of Dorset ×Han and Dorset × Mongolia hybrids were higher. Compared with those of Dorset ×Tan F3 hybrids, the body weights of male and female Dorset × Han and Dorset ×Mongolia F3 hybrids were increased by 5.59%, 4.40%, 5.93% and 3.76%, respectively. Among the F2 population, the growth rates of Dorset × Han and Dorset ×Mongolia hybrids were also higher. The body weights of male and female Dorset ×Han and Dorset × Mongolia F2 hybrids were higher than those of Dorset × Tan ×Han F2 hybrids by 5.99%, 3.67%, 9.80% and 5.00%, respectively. In the F1 population, the growth rates of Dorset × Han and Dorset × Mongolia hybrids were higher.Compared with those of Tan × Han F1 hybrids, the body weights of male and female Dorset × Han and Dorset × Mongolia F1 hybrids were increased by 11.32%,5.22%, 7.60% and 7.20%, respectively. Therefore, in the feeding area of Small Tai Han sheep, Mongolia sheep and Tan sheep, Dorset was the best sire for producing hybrid lambs. The economic benefit of crossbred offspring was obvious.

Dynamic Characteristics of Growth and Development of Xiangsha Taro in Jingjiang

The growth and development of Jingjiang Taro [Colocasia esculenta（L.） Schott] were observed, laying foundation for highly-yielding cultivation technology system of Xiangsha taro. The results indicate that germination of the second taro happened from 46 d after sprouting （7-8 leaves）; the first taro began to expand, from 125 d after sprouting （12 leaves） when the the second taro was been formed; the third taro began to form from 141 to 150 d after sprouting （15-16 leaves）. The fresh weight of the second and third taros quickly increased from the time of 15 leaves to harvest. Early September is a transformation term of Xiangsha taro from vegetative body dominant to corm growth dominant.

Effects of Nitrogen Application Amount on Growth Characteristics,Boll Development and Lint Yield of High Quality Cotton

[Objective] This study aimed to explore an optimum application amount of nitrogen for cotton cultivation. [Method] In this study, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen application amount on the growth characteristics, boll development and lint yield of high quality cotton line FZ-1. [Result] Compared with the nitrogen level of 225 kg/hm2, the lint yield had increased by 28.46% and 18.73%, respectively, with the nitrogen application amount of 300 and 375 kg/hm2. When the nitrogen application amount had increased from 225 to 300 kg/hm2, boll number per plant, boll weight and lint yield had significantly increased. At the nitrogen level of 375 kg/hm2, however, the effects of increasing lint yield were significantly less than that at the nitrogen level of 300 kg/hm2. Compared with the nitrogen levels of 225 and 375, 300 kg/hm2 of nitrogen was the optimum application amount to improve the plant height, daily increment of plant height, number of fruit branches, number ratio of nodes to fruit branches, boll volume and seed cotton weight per boll. [Conclusion] The rational management of nitrogen is the most effective way to promote the growth and development of cotton plants, ensure high yielding ability and minimize the environmental pollution caused by the overuse of nitrogen. This study had provided a sound nitrogen application strategy for the cultivation of this high-quality cotton line in the field plantation.