The impact of demographic dynamics on food consumption and its environmental outcomes:Evidence from China

With increasing population and changing demographics,food consumption has experienced a significant transition in quantity and quality.However,a dearth of knowledge remains regarding its environmental impacts and how it responds to demographic dynamics,particularly in emerging economies like China.Using the two-stage Quadratic Almost Demand System(QUAIDS)model,this study empirically examines the impact of demographic dynamics on food consumption and its environmental outcomes based on the provincial data from 2000 to 2020 in China.Under various scenarios,according to changes in demographics,we extend our analysis to project the long-term trend of food consumption and its environmental impacts,including greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,water footprint(WF),and land appropriation(LA).The results reveal that an increase in the proportion of senior people significantly decreases the consumption of grain and livestock meat and increases the consumption of poultry,egg,and aquatic products,particularly for urban residents.Moreover,an increase in the proportion of males in the population leads to higher consumption of poultry and aquatic products.Correspondingly,in the current scenario of an increased aging population and sex ratio,it is anticipated that GHG emissions,WF,and LA are likely to decrease by 1.37,2.52,and 3.56%,respectively.More importantly,in the scenario adhering to the standards of nutritional intake according to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents in 2022,GHG emissions,WF,and LA in urban areas would increase by 12.78,20.94,and 18.32%,respectively.Our findings suggest that changing demographics should be considered when designing policies to mitigate the diet-environment-health trilemma and achieve sustainable food consumption.

Complementary Food Situation in Sierra Leone: Nutritional Problems and Possible Strategies—A Review

Low nutrient density and bulkiness of complementary foods, early introduction of solid foods, and unhygienic practices during weaning stage of a child predispose infants to malnutrition, growth retardation, infection and high mortality. In most West African countries, especially in Sierra Leone, the use of a variety of home-made complementary foods prepared from locally grown foodstuffs during the weaning process is popular, with products traditionally known as pap (mesh rice water) fofo from cassava, ogi, gari, akamu and couscous. Sierra Leone is one of the countries in West Africa that has been reported to have a challenging situation with regards to complementary foods, and little effort has so far been done to improve the situation. Despite these challenges, very little work has been directed towards the development of complementary foods using local foodstuffs as practiced in some other African countries. This situation has serious impact on the lives of infants in Sierra Leone, thus increasing the rate of mortality in the country. Complementary food situation in Sierra Leone was reviewed in terms of the past and present practices as well as the types of complementary foods used in Sierra Leone. Thus, the objective of this review was to discuss the complementary food situation in Sierra Leone: Nutritional problems and possible strategies. Formulation of high nutritive value home-made complementary foods in the country was recommended using traditional food processing techniques such as fermentation and germination, since these methods are simple, and could easily be employed at household and community levels without the use of sophisticated machinery. Nonetheless, it was recently reported that a product from the orange-flesh sweet potato could address the issue of complementary food in the country as it is easy to prepare, and the products are easily available in the rural area and even urban settings. Other recommendations made include: community nutrition education, the development of weaning recipe book, reduction in the workload of the suckling mother, promotion of breastfeeding and increased maternity leave period, which were suggested to be the most immediate possible strategies for the problems highlighted.

Roles of fermented plant-,dairy-and meat-based foods in the modulation of allergic responses

This review attempts to delineate the effects and roles of fermented foods on allergic responses(AR),specifically from milk,plant,and meat sources.Evidence for AR alleviation and aggravation were noted for many different fermented food groups.Positive outcomes on AR through fermented foods could be linked to microbial hydrolysis of food allergens,improvement in gut microbiota robustness,and modulation of the immune system that promotes a balance between T helper 1(Th1)and Th2 cells.Studies on plant-based,non-protein rich fermented foods tend to show more favourable results compared to those on meat-based or protein-rich group.The usage of specific and known starter cultures are helpful in alleviating AR,as in the case for many yogurt,Kefir or Dahi products.Sufficient fermentation time was also deemed important,exemplified in studies that showed inefficient AR reduction through consumption of fresh cheese.However,formation of new allergens through fermentation of certain meat-based foods,or by using specific fermenting microbes(e.g.Penicillium sp.),is possible.Thus,combination of starter cultures and food substrates must be considered in preventing or eliminating AR from intake of these foods.This review may aid consumers to make informed decision during the consumption of fermented food.

Innovations in Agriculture and Food Supply in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

In human history,the long-term expansion of populations has been limited by the availability of food and constraints of disease(Diamond,1997).The domestication of plants and animals has facilitated the development of human societies,and the resulting larger human populations have increased the risk of major disease outbreaks(pandemics).The recent COVID-19 pandemic resulted from the emergence of a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).This has caused major disruption to economic activity with severe restrictions on international travel.The impact on agriculture and global food security will be complex(Torero,2020),and many of the consequences are yet to be identified and understood(Jámbor et al.,2020).Despite growing stocks of foods such as cereals(FAO,2020),it has been estimated that the number of people facing a food crisis will grow from 135 million to 265 million by the end of 2020(Anthem,2020;Figure 1).The pandemic has added to the food security challenges posed by climate change and major conflicts,both of which have been major factors contributing to recent food insecurity.Plant scientists need to determine how investment in innovation needs to change in response to the pandemic.Concerns about shortages of labor and food safety will intensify efforts to use automation at all stages in the food production system to ensure supply.

Spatiotemporal characteristics of cultivated land use eco-efficiency and its influencing factors in China from 2000 to 2020

Improving cultivated land use eco-efficiency(CLUE)can effectively promote agricultural sustainability,particularly in developing countries where CLUE is generally low.This study used provincial-level data from China to evaluate the spatiotemporal evolution of CLUE from 2000 to 2020 and identified the influencing factors of CLUE by using a panel Tobit model.In addition,given the undesirable outputs of agricultural production,we incorporated carbon emissions and nonpoint source pollution into the global benchmark-undesirable output-super efficiency-slacks-based measure(GB-US-SBM)model,which combines global benchmark technology,undesirable output,super efficiency,and slacks-based measure.The results indicated that there was an upward trend in CLUE in China from 2000 to 2020,with an increase rate of 2.62%.The temporal evolution of CLUE in China could be classified into three distinct stages:a period of fluctuating decrease(2000-2007),a phase of gradual increase(2008-2014),and a period of rapid growth(2015-2020).The major grain-producing areas(MPAs)had a lower CLUE than their counterparts,namely,non-major grain-production areas(non-MPAs).The spatial agglomeration effect followed a northeast-southwest strip distribution;and the movement path of barycentre revealed a"P"shape,with Luoyang City,Henan Province,as the centre.In terms of influencing factors of CLUE,investment in science and technology played the most vital role in improving CLUE,while irrigation index had the most negative effect.It should be noted that these two influencing factors had different impacts on MPAs and non-MPAs.Therefore,relevant departments should formulate policies to enhance the level of science and technology,improve irrigation condition,and promote sustainable utilization of cultivated land.

Anti-methanogenic potential of seaweeds and seaweed-derived compounds in ruminant feed:current perspectives,risks and future prospects

With methane emissions from ruminant agriculture contributing 17%of total methane emissions worldwide,there is increasing urgency to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this sector.One of the proposed strategies is ruminant feed intervention studies focused on the inclusion of anti-methanogenic compounds which are those capable of interacting with the rumen microbiome,reducing the capacity of ruminal microorganisms to produce methane.Recently,seaweeds have been investigated for their ability to reduce methane in ruminants in vitro and in vivo,with the greatest methane abatement reported when using the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis(attributed to the bromoform content of this species).From the literature analysis in this study,levels of up to 99%reduction in ruminant methane emissions have been reported from inclusion of this seaweed in animal feed,although further in vivo and microbiome studies are required to confirm these results as other reports showed no effect on methane emission resulting from the inclusion of seaweed to basal feed.This review explores the current state of research aiming to integrate seaweeds as anti-methanogenic feed additives,as well as examining the specific bioactive compounds within seaweeds that are likely to be related to these effects.The effects of the inclusion of seaweeds on the ruminal microbiome are also reviewed,as well as the future challenges when considering the largescale inclusion of seaweeds into ruminant diets as anti-methanogenic agents.

Effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum and rumen protected fat on meat quality,oxidative stability,and chemical composition of finishing goats

Background Clostridium butyricum(CB)is a probiotic that can regulate intestinal microbial composition and improve meat quality.Rumen protected fat(RPF)has been shown to increase the dietary energy density and provide essential fatty acids.However,it is still unknown whether dietary supplementation with CB and RPF exerts beneficial effects on growth performance and nutritional value of goat meat.This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary CB and RPF supplementation on growth performance,meat quality,oxidative stability,and meat nutritional value of finishing goats.Thirty-two goats(initial body weight,20.5±0.82 kg)were used in a completely randomized block design with a 2 RPF supplementation(0 vs.30 g/d)×2 CB supplementation(0 vs.1.0 g/d)factorial treatment arrangement.The experiment included a 14-d adaptation and 70-d data and sample collection period.The goats were fed a diet consisted of 400 g/kg peanut seedling and 600 g/kg corn-based concentrate(dry matter basis).Result Interaction between CB and RPF was rarely observed on the variables measured,except that shear force was reduced(P<0.05)by adding CB or RPF alone or their combination;the increased intramuscular fat(IMF)content with adding RPF was more pronounced(P<0.05)with CB than without CB addition.The pH24h(P=0.009),a*values(P=0.007),total antioxidant capacity(P=0.050),glutathione peroxidase activities(P=0.006),concentrations of 18:3(P<0.001),20:5(P=0.003)and total polyunsaturated fatty acids(P=0.048)were increased,whereas the L*values(P<0.001),shear force(P=0.050)and malondialdehyde content(P=0.044)were decreased by adding CB.Furthermore,CB supplementation increased essential amino acid(P=0.027),flavor amino acid(P=0.010)and total amino acid contents(P=0.024)as well as upregulated the expression of lipoprotein lipase(P=0.034)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ)(P=0.012),and downregulated the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase(SCD)(P=0.034).The RPF supplementation increased dry matter intake(P=0.005),averaged daily gain(trend,P=0.058),hot carcass weight(P=0.046),backfat thickness(P=0.006),concentrations of 16:0(P<0.001)and c9-18:1(P=0.002),and decreased the shear force(P<0.001),isoleucine(P=0.049)and lysine content(P=0.003)of meat.In addition,the expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase(P=0.003),fatty acid synthase(P=0.038),SCD(P<0.001)and PPARγ(P=0.022)were upregulated due to RPF supplementation,resulting in higher(P<0.001)content of IMF.Conclusions CB and RPF could be fed to goats for improving the growth performance,carcass traits and meat quality,and promote fat deposition by upregulating the expression of lipogenic genes of Longissimus thoracis muscle.

Hydrothermal treatment of pearl millet grains:Effects on nutritional composition,antinutrients and flour properties

Pearl millet(Pennisetum glaucum)is one of the major millets with high nutritional properties.This crop exhibits exceptional resilience to drought and high temperatures.However,the processing of pearl millet poses a significant challenge due to its high lipid content,enzyme activity,and presence of antinutrients.Consequently,it becomes imperative to enhance the quality and prolong the shelf life of pearl millet flour by employing suitable technologies.Hydrothermal treatment in the food industry has long been seen as promising due to its potential to reduce microbial load,inactivate enzymes,and improve nutrient retention.This study aims to investigate the effects of hydrothermal treatment on the quality characteristics of pearl millet.The independent variables of the study were soaking temperature(35,45,55℃),soaking time(2,3,4 h),and steaming time(5,10,15 min).Treatment conditions had a statistically significant effect on nutrient retention.Major antinutrients like tannins and phytates were reduced by 0.99% to 5.94% and 0.36% to 6.00%,respectively,after the treatment.Lipase activity decreased significantly up to 10% with the treatment conditions.The findings of this study could potentially encourage the use of pearl millet flour in the production of various food items and promote the application of hydrothermal treatment in the field of food processing.

Reaction pathways and selectivity in the chemo-catalytic conversion of cellulose and its derivatives to ethylene glycol:A review

Biomass-to-ethylene glycol is an effective means to achieve high-value utilisation of cellulose but is hindered by low conversion efficiency and poor catalyst activity and stability.Glucose and cellobiose are derivatives of cellulose conversion to ethylene glycol,and it is found that studying the reaction process of both can help to understand the reaction mechanism of cellulose.It is desirable to develop a reusable,highly active catalyst to convert cellulose into ethylene glycol.This ideal catalyst might have one or more active sites described the conversion steps above.Here,we discuss the catalyst development of celluloseto-ethylene glycol,including tungsten,tin,lanthanide,and other transition metal catalysts,and special attention is given to the reaction mechanism and kinetics for preparing ethylene glycol from cellulose,and the economic advantages of biomass-to-ethylene glycol are briefly introduced.The insights given in this review will facilitate further development of efficient catalysts,for addressing the global energy crisis and climate change related to the use of fossil fuels.

Combining field data and modeling to better understand maize growth response to phosphorus(P) fertilizer application and soil P dynamics in calcareous soils

We used field experimental data to evaluate the ability of the agricultural production system model (APSIM) to simulate soil P availability,maize biomass and grain yield in response to P fertilizer applications on a fluvo-aquic soil in the North China Plain.Crop and soil data from a 2-year experiment with three P fertilizer application rates(0,75 and 300 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(–1)) were used to calibrate the model.Sensitivity analysis was carried out to investigate the influence of APSIM SoilP parameters on the simulated P availability in soil and maize growth.Crop and soil P parameters were then derived by matching or relating the simulation results to observed crop biomass,yield,P uptake and Olsen-P in soil.The re-parameterized model was further validated against 2 years of independent data at the same sites.The re-parameterized model enabled good simulation of the maize leaf area index (LAI),biomass,grain yield,P uptake,and grain P content in response to different levels of P additions against both the calibration and validation datasets.Our results showed that APSIM needs to be re-parameterized for simulation of maize LAI dynamics through modification of leaf size curve and a reduction in the rate of leaf senescence for modern staygreen maize cultivars in China.The P concentration limits (maximum and minimum P concentrations in organs)at different stages also need to be adjusted.Our results further showed a curvilinear relationship between the measured Olsen-P concentration and simulated labile P content,which could facilitate the initialization of APSIM P pools in the NCP with Olsen-P measurements in future studies.It remains difficult to parameterize the APSIM SoilP module due to the conceptual nature of the pools and simplified conceptualization of key P transformation processes.A fundamental understanding still needs to be developed for modelling and predicting the fate of applied P fertilizers in soils with contrasting physical and chemical characteristics.

Betalains protect various body organs through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways

Betalains are natural coloring pigments with betalamic acid as the core structure of all subclasses.Besides their coloring properties,betalains exhibit various biological activities,including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,which are highly imperative.Further in-vivo studies reported that betalains protect various body organs,leading to health enhancement.Body organs,including the heart,liver,kidney,lung,etc.,are important for a healthy life.However,these organs can be affected or damaged by various stress factors,toxicants,and harmful substances.Recent studies have claimed that betalains could protect all vital organs of the body through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.This review article described the in-vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of betalains in various cell-line or animal models.A comprehensive discussion has been provided on the mechanism of action of betalains in protecting various body organs,including cardio-protective effect,hepato-protective ability,renal protection capacity,repro-protective ability,neuro-protective effect,lung protection,and gut protection ability.Finally,future research directions and conclusions have been outlined.

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.

Plant Nitrogen Metabolism: Balancing Resilience to Nutritional Stress andAbiotic Challenges

Plant growth and resilience to abiotic stresses,such as soil salinity and drought,depend intricately on nitrogen metabolism.This review explores nitrogen’s regulatory role in plant responses to these challenges,unveiling a dynamic interplay between nitrogen availability and abiotic stress.In the context of soil salinity,a nuanced rela-tionship emerges,featuring both antagonistic and synergistic interactions between salinity and nitrogen levels.Salinity-induced chlorophyll depletion in plants can be alleviated by optimal nitrogen supplementation;however,excessive nitrogen can exacerbate salinity stress.We delve into the complexities of this interaction and its agri-cultural implications.Nitrogen,a vital element within essential plant structures like chloroplasts,elicits diverse responses based on its availability.This review comprehensively examines manifestations of nitrogen deficiency and toxicity across various crop types,including cereals,vegetables,legumes,and fruits.Furthermore,we explore the broader consequences of nitrogen products,such as N_(2)O,NO_(2),and ammonia,on human health.Understand-ing the intricate relationship between nitrogen and salinity,especially chloride accumulation in nitrate-fed plants and sodium buildup in ammonium-fed plants,is pivotal for optimizing crop nitrogen management.However,prudent nitrogen use is essential,as overapplication can exacerbate nitrogen-related issues.Nitrogen Use Effi-ciency(NUE)is of paramount importance in addressing salinity challenges and enhancing sustainable crop productivity.Achieving this goal requires advancements in crop varieties with efficient nitrogen utilization,pre-cise timing and placement of nitrogen fertilizer application,and thoughtful nitrogen source selection to mitigate losses,particularly urea-based fertilizer volatilization.This review article delves into the multifaceted world of plant nitrogen metabolism and its pivotal role in enabling plant resilience to nutritional stress and abiotic challenges.It offers insights into future directions for sustainable agriculture.

Harness the power of genomic selection and the potential of germplasm in crop breeding for global food security in the era with rapid climate change

Crop genetic improvements catalysed population growth,which in turn has increased the pressure for food security.We need to produce 70%more food to meet the demands of 9.5 billion people by 2050.Climate changes have posed challenges for global food supply,while the narrow genetic base of elite crop cultivars has further limited our capacity to increase genetic gain through conventional breeding.The effective utilization of genetic resources in germplasm collections for crop improvement is crucial to increasing genetic gain to address challenges in the global food supply.Genomic selection(GS)uses genome-wide markers and phenotype information from observed populations to establish associations,followed by genome-wide markers to predict phenotypic values in test populations.Characterizing an extensive germplasm collection can serve a dual purpose in GS,as a reference population for predicting model,and mining desirable genetic variants for incorporation into elite cultivars.New technologies,such as high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping,machine learning,and gene editing,have great potential to contribute to genomeassisted breeding.Breeding programmes integrating germplasm characterization,GS and emerging technologies offer promise for accelerating the development of cultivars with improved yield and enhanced resistance and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.Finally,scientifically informed regulations on new breeding technologies,and increased sharing of genetic resources,genomic data,and bioinformatics expertise between developed and developing economies will be the key to meeting the challenges of the rapidly changing climate and increased demand for food.

Climate change adaptation, greenhouse gas mitigation and economic profitability of conservation agriculture: Some examples from cereal systems of Indo-Gangetic Plains

Achieving sustainability of the cereal system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains（IGP）of India under progressive climate change and variability necessitates adoption of practices and technologies that increase food production,adaptation and mitigation in a sustainable way.This paper examines conservation agriculture（CA）from the perspective of：（i）increased yield and farm income,（ii）adaptation to heat and water stresses,and（iii）reduction in greenhouse gas（GHGs）emissions.The analyses and conclusions are based on the literature and evidences from a large number of on-station as well as farmers’field trials on CA in the cereal systems of IGP.Our analyses show that CA-based system substantially reduces the production cost（up to 23%）but produces equal or even higher than conventional system;thereby increasing economic profitability of production system.CA-based production systems also moderated the effect of high temperature（reduced canopy temperature by 1–4°C）and increased irrigation water productivity by 66–100%compared to traditional production systems thus well adapting to water and heat stress situations of IGP.Our continuous monitoring of soil flux of CO2,N2O and CH4 revealed that CA-based rice-wheat systems emit 10–15%less GHGs than conventional systems.This is the first time that CA and its components are synthesized and analyzed from food security-climate change nexus.From this holistic analysis,we suggest that wide-scale promotion of suitable CA practices by integrating into national agriculture development strategy is a way forward to address food security,climate change adaptation and mitigation challenges faced by present agriculture.

The effects of dietary supplementation with mushroom or selenium enriched mushroom powders on the growth performance and intestinal health of post-weaned pigs

Background There is an urgent need to identify natural bioactive compounds that can enhance gastrointestinal health and promote pig growth performance in the absence of pharmacological levels of zinc oxide(ZnO).The objectives of this study were to:1)compare the effects of mushroom powder supplemented with inorganic selenium(inSeMP)to mushroom powder enriched with organic selenium(orgSeMP)to pharmacological levels of ZnO on growth performance and faecal scores(FS)for the first 21 d post-weaning(Period 1);and 2)compare the molecular and microbial effects of inSeMP and orgSeMP in these pigs on d 39 post-weaning(Period 2).Methods In Period 1,pigs(3 pigs/pen;8 pens/treatment)were assigned to:(1)basal diet(control);(2)basal diet+zinc oxide(ZnO)(3100 mg/kg d 1–14,1550 mg/kg d 15–21);(3)basal diet+mushroom powder supplemented with inorganic selenium(inSeMP)containing selenium(selenite)content of 0.3 mg/kg feed;(4)basal diet+mushroom powder enriched with organic selenium(orgSeMP)containing selenium(selenocysteine)content of 0.3 mg/kg feed.Mushroom powders were included at 6.5 g/kg of feed.Results In Period 1,there was no effect of diets on average daily gain(ADG)and gain:feed(G:F)ratio(P>0.05).The orgSeMP supplemented pigs had a lower average daily feed intake(ADFI)compared to all other groups(P<0.05).The ZnO supplemented pigs had reduced FS compared to the basal and mushroom group,while the orgSeMP supplemented pigs had lower FS compared to the basal group during the 21 d experimental period(P<0.05).In Period 2,there was no effect of diets on ADFI,ADG and G:F ratio(P>0.05).The orgSeMP supplementation increased the caecal abundance of bacterial members of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phylum,including Lactobacillus,Agathobacter,Roseburia,and Prevotella and decreased the abundance of Sporobacter compared to the basal group,while inSeMP increased the caecal abundance of Prevotella and decreased the caecal abundance of Sporobacter compared to the basal group(P<0.05).Dietary supplementation with inSeMP increased expression of TLR4 and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene IL10 and decreased nutrient transporter gene FABP2 compared to the orgSeMP group(P<0.05).Conclusion OrgSeMP is a novel and sustainable way to incorporate selenium andβ-glucans into the diet of weaned pigs whilst improving FS and modulating the caecal microbiota.

Fusarium pseudograminearum and F.culmorum affect the root system architecture of bread wheat

Yield losses of bread wheat due to crown rot can be more severe when drought conditions occur during the grain-filling period.Root architecture characteristics are important for soil exploration and belowground resource acquisition and are essential for adaptation to water-limited environments.Traits such as root angle,length and density have been strongly associated with acquisition efficiency and contribute to yield stability of the crop.The impact of crown rot pathogens on wheat root architecture is poorly understood.We examined differences in root angle,length and number,as well as dry root weight of the crown rot-susceptible bread wheat cultivar,Livingston inoculated with one of two crown rot pathogens Fusarium culmorum or Fusarium pseudograminearum in a transparent-sided root observation chamber.Significant adverse impacts on plant health and growth were revealed by visual discolouration of the leaf sheaths;fresh and dry shoot weight;leaf area of the oldest and the youngest fully expanded leaf and leaf number.Values of most recorded root system measurements were reduced when inoculated with either F.culmorum or F.pseudograminearum.In contrast,root angle was increased in the presence of F.culmorum but was not significantly changed by F.pseudograminearum.The development of whiteheads and grain losses in bread wheat caused by crown rot have previously been associated with blockages of the vascular systems.The method employed here was able to identify differences in the pathogen impacts on roots,which were not detected using previous systems.This research indicates that in the presence of F.culmorum and F.pseudograminearum infection,not only reductions in the size and biomass of the shoot system but also changes in the length,biomass and architecture of the root system could play an important role in yield loss.

Body Size but Not Food Size Determined Head Sexual Dimorphism in Rana kukunoris from the Tibetan Plateau

Sexual dimorphism between males and females is a common pattern observed in the natural world and has become one of the main focuses of evolutionary biology.Amphibian head size and shape are important factors that may influence food acquisition,but knowledge about the sexual differences between amphibian head size and shape is relatively scant.Here,intersexual differences in the head size and shape of Rana kukunoris,which is a high-elevation frog from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,were investigated.Significant differences were found in the head shape but not the head size between sexes.A significant correlation was also observed between prey size and head size.However,these correlations disappeared when individual body size was controlled,suggesting that body size but not food size was the main factor resulting in intersexual differences in head size/shape.The results suggested that food competition between sexes did not result in sexual dimorphism of head shape among these frogs.

Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses provide insights into postharvest ripening and senescence of tomato fruit under low temperature

Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world and is a model plant used to study the ripening of climacteric fleshy fruit.During the ripening process of tomato fruit,flavor and aroma metabolites,color,texture and plant hormones undergo significant changes.However,low temperatures delayed the ripening process of tomato fruit,inhibiting flavor compounds and ethylene production.Metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses of tomato fruit stored under low temperature(LT,5°C)and room temperature(RT,25°C)were carried out to investigate the effects of storage temperature on the physiological changes in tomato fruit after harvest.The results of transcriptomics changes revealed that the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)involved in tomato fruit ripening,including several kinds of transcription factors(TFs)(TCP,WRKY,MYB and bZIP),enzymes involved in cell wall metabolism[beta-galactosidase(β-GAL),pectinesterase(PE)and pectate lyase(PL),cellulose and cellulose synthase(CESA)],enzymes associated with fruit flavor and aroma[acetyltransferase(AT),malic enzyme(ME),lipoxygenase(LOX),aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH),alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH)and hexokinase(HK)],genes associated with heat stress protein 70 and genes involved in the production of plant hormones such as Ethylene responsive factor 1(ERF1),Auxin/indoleacetic acids protein(AUX/IAA),gibberellin regulated protein.Based on the above results,we constructed a regulatory network model of the effects of different temperatures during the fruit ripening process.According to the analysis of the metabolomics results,it was found that the contents of many metabolites in tomato fruit were greatly affected by storage temperature,including,organic acids(L-tartaric acid,a-hydroxyisobutyric acid and 4-acetamidobutyric acid),sugars(melezitose,beta-Dlactose,D-sedoheptulose 7-phosphate,2-deoxyribose 1-phosphate and raffinose)and phenols(coniferin,curcumin and feruloylputrescine).This study revealed the effects of storage temperature on postharvest tomato fruit and provided a basis for further understanding of the molecular biology and biochemistry of fruit ripening.

The complete reference genome for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) genetics and breeding

Grapevine is one of the most economically important crops worldwide.However,the previous versions of the grapevine reference genome tipically consist of thousands of fragments with missing centromeres and telomeres,limiting the accessibility of the repetitive sequences,the centromeric and telomeric regions,and the study of inheritance of important agronomic traits in these regions.Here,we assembled a telomere-to-telomere(T2T)gap-free reference genome for the cultivar PN40024 using PacBio HiFi long reads.The T2T reference genome(PN_T2T)is 69 Mb longer with 9018 more genes identified than the 12X.v0 version.We annotated 67%repetitive sequences,19 centromeres and 36 telomeres,and incorporated gene annotations of previous versions into the PN_T2T assembly.We detected a total of 377 gene clusters,which showed associations with complex traits,such as aroma and disease resistance.Even though PN40024 derives from nine generations of selfing,we still found nine genomic hotspots of heterozygous sites associated with biological processes,such as the oxidation–reduction process and protein phosphorylation.The fully annotated complete reference genome therefore constitutes an important resource for grapevine genetic studies and breeding programs.