Modification of starch traits in commercial wheat through TaWaxy gene editing.

Amylose content (AC) is a key determinant of wheat quality, and the TaWaxy gene determined amylose synthesis with a dose-dependent effect on AC. In this study, the TaWOX5 gene, which significantly enhances wheat transformation efficiency, was combined with CRISPR/SpCas9 system to generate TaWaxy mutants in a commercial winter wheat Jimai 22. Seven transgene-free mutant types were produced, compared to only three transgene-free mutants in the spring wheat variety Ningchun 4.

Development of biodegradable starch-based lambda-cyhalothrin microcapsules for sustainable long-term pest control and enhanced utilization efficacy.

The inefficiency of traditional pesticides leads to significant resource waste, severe environmental pollution, and potential threats to human health. Pesticide microcapsules present a promising strategy for developing environmentally friendly, safe, and sustained-release formulations. In this study, we produced degradable starch nanocrystals (SNCs) via acid hydrolysis and employed octenyl succinic anhydride-modified SNCs (O-SNCs) to fabricate pesticide microcapsules.

Risk prediction and driver tracking based on watershed resilience dynamics: A case study in Dahei River Basin, China.

The watersheds face increasing pressure from both human activities and natural factors, which exacerbate potential risks and pose significant challenges to integrated watershed management. This study developed an effective methodology to evaluate watershed sustainability and predict potential risks based on watershed resilience dynamics by combining catastrophe theory, adaptive cycle theory, and the Copula-Bayesian Network. Taking the Dahei River Basin (DRB) in China as a case study, we systematically evaluated the resilience dynamics, diagnosed risks, and tracked key driving factors to propose management strategies.

A review on microbial metabolic engineering for the improvement of itaconic acid production.

Itaconic acid (IA), also known as methylene-butanedioic acid, is one of the top 12 platform chemicals in the world and demand for it is growing worldwide. The itaconic acid molecule contains one reactive double bond and two carboxyl groups, endowing it with chemical reactivity. It is widely used in fields such as light industry, agriculture, energy, and medical applications.

Maternal polystyrene nanoplastics suppress zebrafish offspring development and locomotion through mitochondrial dysfunction.

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystem, posing growing threats to ecosystem health. Maternal transfer of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) is known to impair offspring development, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms driving these transgenerational effects remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which maternal PS-NPs exposure disrupts embryonic development and locomotion in zebrafish offspring, with a specific focus on mitochondrial dysfunction.

Lactic acid bacteria and yeast co-culture system: Mechanism of quorum-sensing regulation on the high yield of exopolysaccharides in Weissella confusa.

The low yield of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) restricts their industrial application. To overcome this limitation, a single-factor optimization strategy was applied to develop co-culture system involving Weissella confusa P2 and Candida shehatae. This approach resulted in 48.

LlLRP1, an SHI/SRS transcription factor, mediates bulbil formation in Lilium lancifolium via regulation by LlWOX11 and response to NaCl stress.

Bulbil formation in Lilium lancifolium represents a pivotal vegetative reproduction strategy, yet the transcriptional regulatory network governing this process remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we identify LlLRP1 by full-length cloning, sequence analysis and subcellular localization, an SHI/SRS family transcription factor, as a key mediator of bulbil morphogenesis. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that LlLRP1 is a downstream target of LlWOX11, with its promoter harboring conserved binding motifs (AAAG, AGTA) validated by yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase reporter, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays.

MXene-based intelligent sensors in food safety monitoring: Synthesis strategies, on-site applications and novel insights into prospects.

MXene, a family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides, has attracted significant attention in food safety due to its exceptional properties that enable the design of highly efficient sensors. Consequently, a growing consensus in the scientific community highlights the critical role of comprehensive assessments in advancing MXene-based intelligent systems for on-site food quality evaluation. This review covers the advances of MXene based intelligent sensors in fundamental properties, synthesis strategies via various recognition principles and signal output modes, which encompasses multiple areas of food monitoring.

Proteomics-based study for evaluation crossbreeding advantages of cattle-yak milk.

Cattle-yaks are increasingly cultivated to boost yak dairy production while reports claim that will decrease the nutritional value of yak milk. However, studies on protein composition differences, especially functional proteins, between yak and cattle-yak milk are limited. This study explores these differences using data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics to compare whey proteins and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteins in both types of milk.

Directed Structural Evolution of Nickel Nanoparticles into Atomically Dispersed Sites for Efficient CO Electroreduction.

Electrochemical CO reduction (CORR) to carbon monoxide (CO) offers a sustainable pathway for carbon utilization, yet challenges remain in terms of improving selectivity and activity. Herein, we report a Ni/NC catalyst synthesized via a milling - pyrolysis method, in which Ni particles anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) are electrochemically activated under an Ar atmosphere, leading to their structural evolution into single-atom Ni sites. After activation in Ar atmosphere, the current density nearly doubles (from ≈30 to ≈60 mA cm), and concurrently, the Faradaic efficiency of CO stays at ∼90% with the potential set to -0.

The Liquid Crystal Monomer 3cH2B Affects the Visual System via Neural-Cell-Specific Retinoic Acid Disruption in the Optic Tectum.

As a newly recognized type of emerging contaminant, liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are widely distributed in the environment and human consumptions and their effects on visual systems and the underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. Therefore, this study investigated the visual-neuro influence of 3cH2B (a frequently detected LCM) under environmentally relevant concentrations in zebrafish. The findings revealed that 40 μg/L 3cH2B induced visual behaviors after 40 days of exposure, which was accompanied by decreased retinoic acid (RA) levels and retinal structural deformation in the eyes.

Hollow Double-Layered Mesoporous Silica as an Enzyme Immobilization Platform: Enhancing Biocatalytic Efficiency in Docosahexaenoic Acid Phosphatidylcholine-Phosphatidylcholine.

This study reports the synthesis of bifunctional hollow double-layered mesoporous silica (HdlMS) nanoparticles as an effective support for enzyme catalysis. Using a self-template method combined with sol-gel processing, selective etching, and surface modification with alkyl groups and nitrogenous fatty amine groups, we successfully prepared the NH/C-HdlMS carrier. Phospholipase A1 was then immobilized onto this carrier to construct PLA1@NH/C-HdlMS, which was subsequently applied to the synthesis of docosahexaenoic-acid-enriched phosphatidylcholine.

Reshaping epigenomic landscapes facilitated bread wheat speciation.

Polyploidization is a driving force of wheat (Triticum aestivum) evolution and speciation, yet its impact on epigenetic regulation and gene expression remains unclear. Here, we constructed a high-resolution epigenetic landscape across leaves, spikes, and roots of hexaploid wheat and its tetraploid and diploid relatives. Inter-species stably expressed genes exhibited conserved amino acid sequences under strong purifying selection, while dynamically expressed genes were linked to species-specific adaptation.

Pharmacogenomic analysis of low-density lipoprotein receptor 3' untranslated region genetic variants influencing rosuvastatin efficacy in Chinese dyslipidemia patients.

Objectives: Dyslipidemia is a crucial risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Although rosuvastatin is widely used, treatment response varies significantly due to genetic variation. This study investigated the pharmacogenomic impact of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) 3' untranslated region (UTR) variants on rosuvastatin efficacy in a Chinese Han adult cohort with dyslipidemia.

Residues 27T and 297A in VP2 contribute to the enhanced replication and pathogenicity of raccoon dog parvovirus.

Raccoon dog parvovirus (RDPV) is a highly contagious pathogen causing severe hemorrhagic enteritis that is fatal in young raccoon dogs. Since 2016, epidemiological investigations have documented recurrent outbreaks of RDPV, exhibiting heightened virulence; however, the molecular mechanisms driving this increased pathogenicity remain poorly understood. In this study, an alignment of 67 complete RDPV sequences identified two high-frequency amino acid mutations at positions 27 and 297 in the VP2 capsid protein that distinguish RDPV strains from before and after the 2016 outbreak.

Discovery of insect Fairmaire extracts with anti-tyrosinase activity and anti-melanin deposition.

Background: Fairmaire is a medicinal insect that has been used for a long time by minority ethnic groups in Yunnan, China, due to its immunomodulatory function. However, its potential applications in cosmetics have not been reported.

Methods: experiments were used to verify whether the extracts of Fairmaire (EBR) have the effect of inhibiting TYR activity and eliminating melanin deposition.

Light adaptive image enhancement for improving visual analysis in intercropping cultivation.

Intercropping maize and soybean with distinct plant heights is a typical practice in diversified cropping systems, where shadows cast by taller maize plants onto soybean rows pose significant challenges for image based recognition. This study conducted experiments throughout the entire soybean-maize intercropping period to address illumination variation. Based on the height difference between crops, solar elevation angle, and light intensity at the top of the soybean canopy, an illumination compensation regression model was developed.

Functional differentiation of industrial hemp rhizosphere microbiome along environmental gradients.

The southwestern, central, and northeastern regions of China are the primary cultivation areas for industrial hemp. Microorganisms within the soil-root continuum play a crucial role in plant health. However, the mechanisms by which these microbial communities respond to environmental gradients remain unclear.

The complete chloroplast genome of Franch. & Sav. and its phylogenetic analysis.

Here, we present the first complete chloroplast genome of (154,018 bp), which exhibits a typical quadripartite structure, including an LSC (83,966 bp), SSC (18,910 bp), and two IRs (25,571 bp each). A total of 133 genes were annotated, with 114 unique genes and 19 duplicated in the IRs. .

Adaptive divergence of three Aphis gossypii haplotypes on leguminous hosts.

Background: As a polyphagous agricultural pest of global significance, Aphis gossypii exhibits substantial population differentiation and inflicts damage across a broad host range, including economically important leguminous crops. This study aimed to clarify the adaptation of three A. gossypii haplotypes (Hap1, Hap3, Hap4) to four legume hosts: cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties Zhongshouluchangfeng (ZLC) and Zhongshoucuichangfeng (ZCC), hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus) and winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus).

OsSPT38 encodes a novel SUMO E3 ligase that enhances rice stress resilience and grain yield.

Abiotic stresses severely threaten global food security, underscoring the need for resilient crop varieties. We identified OsSPT38, a previously uncharacterized SUMO E3 ligase in rice, and discovered a rare gain-of-function mutation (Gly212Asp) that enhances both stress resilience and yield. This phenotype was validated in 18 additional independent mutants and by base editing in the elite indica cultivar Huanghuazhan.

RING-Between-RING-Type E3 Ligase Ariadne-Like Protein 8 Negatively Regulates Plant Virus Infection by Targeting a Viral Movement Protein.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is a highly conserved machinery that plays a crucial role in plant defense against viruses. However, the number of E3 ligases targeting viral proteins remains limited. Although RING-between-RING (RBR)-type E3 ligases are evolutionarily conserved across organisms, their functions in plant responses to biotic stress remain largely unknown.

Agricultural disturbance reduces arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and biomass by excluding specialist species.

This study investigates how agricultural disturbance influences arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal diversity, biomass, and community niche structure. Utilizing niche concepts, we show that the AM fungal communities in intensively managed soils exhibited larger niche volumes and an increased proportion of culturable taxa, which negatively impacted biomass production. This process was primarily driven by the reduction in specialist taxa, indicating a functional homogenization of the community.

Systematic analysis of the Aux/IAA gene family in pineapple reveals insights into their structural diversity, expression dynamics, and interaction networks.

Background: The Aux/IAA protein is integral to the modulation of auxin signaling, which is essential for plant growth and development. However, systematic analysis on the Aux/IAA gene family in pineapple ( L.) remains unexplored.

Manganese accumulation characteristics and rhizosphere decontamination mechanisms of Phytolacca icosandra L.

The role of microbial metagenomics in understanding ecological changes associated with rhizosphere heavy metal decontamination by plants has often been overlooked. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the structural, enzymological and metagenomic mechanisms leading to manganese (Mn) decontamination in the rhizosphere by Phytolacca icosandra. Seedlings of P.