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.

Crops模型在农业灌溉上的应用研究

灌溉是农业灌溉管理中非常重要的问题之一,传统的人工灌溉不仅浪费人力又工作效率不高。基于Crops模型的灌溉装置拟对农田中土壤环境、大气湿度和病虫害情况进行采样研究,掌握农田中的土壤环境以及空气湿度的变化规律,获得不同情况下的相关数据,在对相关数据进行分析的基础上,采用温度湿度传感器对一定范围内的各项指标进行分析,为田地里的农作物精准灌溉提供相关数据。Irrigation is one of the very important issues in agricultural irrigation management, and traditional manual irrigation not only wastes manpower but also has low work efficiency. The irrigation device based on the Crops model intends to sample and study the soil environment, atmospheric humidity and pests and diseases in the farmland, grasp the change law of the soil environment and air humidity in the farmland, obtain the relevant data under different conditions, and on the basis of the analysis of the relevant data, the temperature and humidity sensor is used to analyze the indicators within a certain range, so as to provide relevant data for the precise irrigation of crops in the field.

Trends in the global commercialization of genetically modified crops in 2023

The commercialization of genetically modified(GM)crops has increased food production,improved crop quality,reduced pesticide use,promoted changes in agricultural production methods,and become an important new production strategy for dealing with insect pests and weeds while reducing the cultivated land area.This article provides a comprehensive examination of the global distribution of GM crops in 2023.It discusses the internal factors that are driving their adoption,such as the increasing number of GM crops and the growing variety of commodities.This article also provides information support and application guidance for the new developments in global agricultural science and technology.

Nitrogen rhizodeposition from corn and soybean,and its contribution to the subsequent wheat crops

Nitrogen(N)is a key factor in the positive response of cereal crops that follow leguminous crops when compared to gramineous crops in rotations,with the nonrecyclable rhizosphere-derived N playing an important role.However,quantitative assessments of differences in the N derived from rhizodeposition(NdfR)between legumes and gramineous crops are lacking,and comparative studies on their contributions to the subsequent cereals are scarce.In this study,we conducted a meta-analysis of NdfR from leguminous and gramineous crops based on 34 observations published worldwide.In addition,pot experiments were conducted to study the differences in the NdfR amounts,distributions and subsequent effects of two major wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-preceding crops,corn(Zea mays L.)and soybean(Glycine max L.),by the cotton wick-labelling method in the main wheat-producing areas of China.The meta-analysis results showed that the NdfR of legumes was significantly greater by 138.93%compared to gramineous crops.In our pot experiment,the NdfR values from corn and soybean were 502.32 and 944.12 mg/pot,respectively,and soybean was also significantly higher than corn,accounting for 76.91 and 84.15%of the total belowground nitrogen of the plants,respectively.Moreover,in different soil particle sizes,NdfR was mainly enriched in the large macro-aggregates(>2 mm),followed by the small macro-aggregates(2–0.25 mm).The amount and proportion of NdfR in the macro-aggregates(>0.25 mm)of soybean were 3.48 and 1.66 times higher than those of corn,respectively,indicating the high utilization potential of soybean NdfR.Regarding the N accumulation of subsequent wheat,the contribution of soybean NdfR to wheat was approximately 3 times that of corn,accounting for 8.37 and 4.04%of the total N uptake of wheat,respectively.In conclusion,soybean NdfR is superior to corn in terms of the quantity and distribution ratio of soil macro-aggregates.In future field production,legume NdfR should be included in the nitrogen pool that can be absorbed and utilized by subsequent crops,and the role and potential of leguminous plants as nitrogen source providers in crop rotation systems should be fully utilized.

Use of oilseed crops biomass for heavy metal treatment in water

The treatment of heavy metals in water is of high importance worldwide,and different treatment types have been developed.The use of plant material is becoming more and more important,and oilseed crops biomass have been investigated in terms of phytoremediation and biosorption processes.This article is a review of the literature reporting the applications in 10 different plants and evaluating the removal efficiencies for 12 metals,including the findings of 81 publications.Moringa olifera and Helianthus annuus are the most studied plants,whereas Cu(21.9%),Cd(18.5%),and Pb(19.9%)are the most studied metals.As a result,it was found that more than 90%of Pb,Cu,Cd,Fe,Zn,Ni,Cr,Sr and Mn showed removals in their experiments.At the same time,the variables most related to the efficiency of metal removal are pH,temperature,and contact time.This article includes a review of the biosorption isotherms used in the different studies.

Advances in Understanding Cadmium Stress and Breeding of Cadmium-Tolerant Crops

Cadmium(Cd) pollution has emerged as a critical global environmental concern, due to its significant toxicity, environmental persistence, and the pervasiveness of contamination. Significantly, the bioaccumulation of Cd in agricultural crops constitutes a primary vector for its entry into the human diet. This issue warrants urgent attention from both the scientific community and policymakers to develop and implement effective mitigation strategies. This review delves into the physiological impacts of Cd stress on plants, including the suppression of photosynthetic activity, amplification of oxidative stress, and disruptions in mineral nutrient homeostasis. Additionally, the resistance mechanisms deployed by plants in response to Cd stress have been explored, and the prospective contributions of molecular breeding strategies in augmenting crop tolerance to Cd and minimizing its bioaccumulation have been assessed. By integrating and analyzing these findings, we seek to inform future research trajectories and proffer strategic approaches to enhance agricultural sustainability, safeguard human health, and protect environmental integrity.

Near-Surface Soil Chemical Properties as Affected by Cover Crops Over Time in the Lower Mississippi River Valley

Typical row-crop agricultural practices can potentially be harmful to soil health and future sustainability. The use of cover crops (CC) as a mechanism to improve soil health on a wide scale remains underutilized. Soil health remains a major concern for the sustainability of agricultural productivity, therefore, research into CC implementation as a mean to preserve or improve soil health is warranted. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CC on the soils in the eastern Arkansas portion of the Lower Mississippi River Valley (LMRV) over time for various chemical soil parameters, including pH, soil organic matter (SOM), soil elemental contents (i.e., P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B), soil respiration, and a generalized soil health score index. Soil pH decreased over time under both CC and no-cover-crop (NCC) treatments, by −0.3 and −0.2, respectively. Soil OM decreased over time under NCC by −0.1%, but did not differ between CC treatments. Soil N availability decreased over time under NCC (−22.6 kg·ha−1), but did not change over time under CC. Soil respiration decreased over time under both CC and NCC, by −76.1 mg·L−1 and −77.3 mg·L−1, respectively, though there was no effect of CC treatment. The Haney soil health score index decreased under CC (−7.0) and NCC (−6.8) without an effect from CC treatment. Results of the study place emphasis on the temporal nature of soil health as influenced by cover crops and their potential to improve soil health.

Research Progress on the Growth-Promoting Effect of Plant Biostimulants on Crops

A Plant Biostimulant is any substance or microorganism applied to plants to enhance nutrition efficiency,abioticstress tolerance,and/or crop quality traits,regardless of its nutrient content.The application of Plant biostimulants(PBs)in production can reduce the application of traditional pesticides and chemical fertilizers and improvethe quality and yield of crops,which is conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture.An in-depthunderstanding of the mechanism and effect of various PBs is very important for how to apply PBs reasonablyand effectively in the practice of crop production.This paper summarizes the main classification of PBs;Thegrowth promotion mechanism of PBs was analyzed from four aspects:improving soil physical and chemical properties,enhancing crop nutrient absorption capacity,photosynthesis capacity,and abiotic stress tolerance;At thesame time,the effects of PBs application on seed germination,seedling vigor,crop yield,and quality were summarized;Finally,how to continue to explore and study the use and mechanism of PBs in the future is analyzedand prospected,to better guide the application of PBs in crop production in the future.

A Germplasm Resource Repository:The Book Review of Illustrated Flora of Food Crops and Their Wild Related Plants in China

Illustrated Flora of Food Crops and Their Wild Related Plants in China systematically examines the botanical and morphological characteristics of China's major food crops,such as rice,wheat,corn,sweet potato,potato,mung bean,and buckwheat.Featuring more than 5000 color photos and 200 line drawings,it offers a comparative study that highlights the kinship and internal connections between cultivated and wild species.The book is an invaluable resource for breeders,offering a comprehensive morphological and genetic database that aids in the development of high-yielding,high-quality,and disease-resistant crop varieties.

Comparison of CWSI and T_(s)-T_(a)-VIs in moisture monitoring of dryland crops(sorghum and maize)based on UAV remote sensing

Monitoring agricultural drought using remote sensing data is crucial for precision irrigation in modern agriculture.Utilizing unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)remote sensing,we explored the applicability of an empirical crop water stress index(CWSI)based on canopy temperature and three-dimensional drought indices(TDDI)constructed from surface temperature(T_(s)),air temperature(T_(a))and five vegetation indices(VIs)for monitoring the moisture status of dryland crops.Three machine learning algorithms(random forest regression(RFR),support vector regression,and partial least squares regression)were used to compare the performance of the drought indices for vegetation moisture content(VMC)estimation in sorghum and maize.The main results of the study were as follows:(1)Comparative analysis of the drought indices revealed that T_(s)-T_(a)-normalized difference vegetation index(TDDIn)and T_(s)-T_(a)-enhanced vegetation index(TDDIe)were more strongly correlated with VMC compared with the other indices.The indices exhibited varying sensitivities to VMC under different irrigation regimes;the strongest correlation observed was for the TDDIe index with maize under the fully irrigated treatment(r=-0.93).(2)Regarding spatial and temporal characteristics,the TDDIn,TDDIe and CWSI indices showed minimal differences Over the experimental period,with coefficients of variation were 0.25,0.18 and 0.24,respectively.All three indices were capable of effectively characterizing the moisture distribution in dryland maize and sorghum crops,but the TDDI indices more accurately monitored the spatial distribution of crop moisture after a rainfall or irrigation event.(3)For prediction of the moisture content of single crops,RFR models based on TDDIn and TDDIe estimated VMC most accurately(R^(2)>0.7),and the TDDIn-based model predicted VMC with the highest accuracy when considering multiple-crop samples,with R^(2)and RMSE of 0.62 and 14.26%,respectively.Thus,TDDI proved more effective than the CWSI in estimating crop water content.

Harm of Hail to Crops and Countermeasures of Artificial Hail Suppression in Ulanqab City

Hail is one of meteorological disasters affecting crop growth in Ulanqab City.It happens frequently from May to September,and this period is also the main growing season of crops.In this period,hail will cause damage to crops,make farmland soil harden,and bring varying degrees of harm to agricultural production.Artificial hail suppression is an important scientific and technological means for disaster prevention and mitigation.It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring,analysis and forecast of severe convection weather,intensify the release of early warning information of hail weather,provide accurate and reliable real-time information for the implementation of artificial hail suppression operations,strengthen the implementation of artificial weather modification,effectively carry out artificial hail suppression operations,and avoid and reduce the impact of hail disaster.

基于AquaCrop和WinSRFR组合的夏玉米沟灌方案优化

确定作物合理的灌溉制度和灌水技术要素组合是科学管理农业水资源的基础,可有效缓解水资源短缺矛盾和保障区域粮食安全。基于此,该研究利用在陕西省杨陵区(2022年)和武功县(2017年)进行的夏玉米田间试验,分别对AquaCrop模型和WinSRFR软件进行校准和验证,确定了研究区夏玉米典型水文年(丰水年、平水年和干旱年)的灌溉制度;通过反演沟灌土壤入渗参数和田面糙率,结合确定的灌溉制度,优化了沟灌灌水技术要素组合(入沟流量和灌水时间),并量化评价了优化灌溉制度和灌水技术要素组合对夏玉米的增产能力。结果表明,AquaCrop模型能准确模拟研究区夏玉米生长过程,其中产量模拟值与实测值的相对误差绝对值均值分别为1.85%(校准)和7.47%(验证);研究区夏玉米丰水年(灌浆期)和平水年(拔节期)需灌水1次,干旱年(拔节期和灌浆期)需灌水2次,单次灌水量均为55 mm;反演所得研究区沟灌土壤入渗参数k和α取值范围分别为是55.416~98.437 mm/h^(α)和0.351~0.858,田面糙率n均值为0.056;合理的入沟流量和停水时间取值范围分别为2.2~3.3 L/s和35~16 min,可获得高灌水质量(综合灌水质量指标C_(i)≥85%);以2022年夏玉米优化的灌溉制度和灌水技术要素优化组合为基础,模拟所得夏玉米产量为7.819 t/hm^(2),与无灌溉(5.972 t/hm^(2))、现状条件(7.424 t/hm^(2))和仅对灌溉制度优化(7.659 t/hm^(2))情景相比较,分别提高了30.9%、5.3%和2.1%,且所需灌水量较现状条件可减少59 mm。研究结果可为研究区域夏玉米灌溉制度制定和沟灌方案设计提供理论基础和技术支撑。

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.

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.

Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat-cotton cropping system

Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)cropping system remains uncertain.The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term(10 years)impact of carbon(C)input on SOC sequestration,soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat-cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley,China.Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows:no straw return(Control),return of wheat straw only(Wt),return of cotton straw only(Ct),return of 50%wheat and 50%cotton straw(Wh-Ch)and return of 100%wheat and 100%cotton straw(Wt-Ct).In comparison to the Control,the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2%under straw return.A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input(1.42-7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1))(P<0.05)was detected.The percentages of aggregates of sizes>2 and 1-2 mm at the 0-20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return,with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment(28.1%).The average wheat yields increased by 12.4-36.0%and cotton yields increased by 29.4-73.7%,and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton.The average sustainable yield index(SYI)reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1),which was close to the maximum value(SYI of 0.69,C input of 7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(-1))in the Wt-Ct treatment.Overall,the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration,soil aggregation,yields and their sustainability in the wheat-cotton rotation system.

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.

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.

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.

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.