From defense chemistry to agroecological solutions: The evolving role of benzoxazinoids in plants
Available online 29 July 2025
Benzoxazinoids (BXDs) are a class of plant secondary metabolites that play pivotal roles in plant defense against pathogens and pests, as well as in allelopathy. This review synthesizes recent advances...
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Gma-miR398c/d negatively regulates soybean resistance to Soybean mosaic virus by targeting SOD family genes
Available online 28 July 2025
Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) poses a substantial threat to the yield and quality of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), leading to significant economic losses in soybean production. However, the mining...
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Molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis gene ZmCNX6 regulates vivipary and drought tolerance in maize
Available online 28 July 2025
Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) or vivipary is a major problem affecting cereal quality and grain quantity and is primarily linked to the dysregulation of abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis in plants. Therefore,...
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PSY4-mediated carotenoid biosynthesis confers yellow anther and enhances heat tolerance in cotton
Available online 28 July 2025
Carotenoids are lipophilic isoprenoid pigments with essential roles in plants. While the cultivated allotetraploid cottons exhibit distinct mature anther coloration — yellow in Gossypium barbadense...
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A single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of peanut seedlings unveils gene regulatory dynamics governing hypocotyl development
Available online 25 July 2025
Peanut seedlings develop from seeds by hypocotyl elongation and differentiation. However, the intricate gene regulatory networks and molecular crosstalk underlying hypocotyl growth in peanuts remain...
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Exogenous ethephon application promotes nitrogen accumulation by modifying root characters in rice seedlings
Available online 25 July 2025
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) root characteristics are closely associated with nitrogen (N) uptake, root growth and development are greatly influenced by ethylene. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was...
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LeafPoseNet: a low-cost, high-accuracy method for estimating flag leaf angle in wheat
Available online 25 July 2025
Flag leaf angle (FLANG) is one of the key traits in wheat breeding due to its impact on plant architecture, light interception, and yield potential. An image-based method of measuring FLANG in wheat...
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Precision modification and de novo design of metabolic pathways to enhance crop nutritional quality and stress tolerance
Available online 25 July 2025
In light of the pressing global challenges of climate change, declining crop resilience, and hidden hunger, it is imperative to overcome the limitations of conventional crop breeding to enhance both...
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Structural variation in Heinong 531 soybean genome underlies yield and resistance traits
Available online 24 July 2025
Soybean (Glycine max) is a globally important crop that serves as a primary source of edible oil and protein for both humans and animals. Cultivated soybean varieties exhibit considerable genetic diversity...
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Characterization of adult plant leaf rust resistance loci in an international wheat collection using a re-sequencing genotyping system
Available online 16 July 2025
Leaf rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina, is one of the most destructive diseases affecting global wheat production. Developing disease-resistant wheat varieties is the most cost-effective...
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Optimizing maize growth and N dynamics in Northeast China by combining dairy cattle slurry and synthetic fertilizer
Available online 12 July 2025
Dairy cattle slurry is a source of nitrogen (N) that can substitute for synthetic fertilizers. This study aimed to identify combinations of synthetic fertilizers and slurry optimal for maize growth...
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Sustainable transition for cereal-based agri-food systems in China: Prospective advantages of whole-grain adoption
Available online 12 July 2025
A dietary transition from refined to whole grains would optimize grain processing, reduce food loss and emissions, and increase food nutritional contents. The results of systematical analysis and calculations...
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Phytoene synthase gene GbDYA modulates carotenoids accumulation and confers yellow anther and pollen antioxidant activity in cotton
Available online 11 July 2025
Carotenoids are natural pigments that are widely distributed in the flowers, fruits, and seeds of many plant species. These compounds not only endow diverse colors but also exhibit antioxidant, immune-modulatory,...
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The miR166–ATHB14-LIKE module regulates flavonoid biosynthesis in soybean
Available online 10 July 2025
Flavonoids are crucial secondary metabolites widely distributed in plants, playing vital roles in diverse biological processes. Although the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway has been extensively characterized,...
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The pentatricopeptide repeat protein AL5 modulates early chloroplast development in rice
Available online 9 July 2025
Chloroplasts are essential for normal plant growth and development. In plants, pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins mediate RNA processing in chloroplasts. Here, we characterized a rice albino leaf...
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Uncovering genes essential in domestication and breeding of sugar beet
Available online 8 July 2025
The genus Beta encompasses economically important root crops such as sugar and table beet. A Beta diversity set including the wild relative B. vulgaris ssp. maritima was grown in the field, and a large...
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Functional characterization of the effects of gene TaPLT8 on iron distribution in different wheat organs
Available online 7 July 2025
Iron (Fe) is a micronutrient for living organisms, and maintenance of Fe homeostasis is required for normal physiological functions. In this study, we report the function of a plasma membrane localized...
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The ZmPIF4.1-ZmPTI1c-ZmMYB31 module regulates maize immunity to Gibberella stalk rot caused by Fusarium graminearum
Available online 7 July 2025
Gibberella stalk rot (GSR) caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the most devastating diseases of maize, seriously impacting maize yield and quality, as well as the ability to use technology of mechanical...
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QTN mapping, gene prediction and molecular design breeding of seed protein content in soybean
Available online 7 July 2025
Soybean seeds contain approximately 40% protein, making soybeans an important source of plant-based protein. Research on QTN mapping, molecular design breeding and mining of genes related to seed protein...
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Glucosylceramides containing very long-acyl-chain fatty acid are critical for cotton fiber elongation by influencing brassinosteroid synthesis and signaling
Available online 7 July 2025
Sphingolipids are not only a pivotal component of membranes but also act as bioactive molecules. Cotton fiber is one of the longest plant cells and sphingolipids are closely associated with the development...
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Nitrogen sources and sinks – Understanding the fate of nitrogen fertiliser when applied at various times and quantifying internally remobilised nitrogen in cotton
Available online 5 July 2025
Achieving a sustainable cropping system requires the efficient use of resources, particularly nitrogen (N). Nitrogen fertiliser is applied in most irrigated cotton fields to maximise yield potential,...
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Diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) and planting density optimize soybean growth and yield formation in maize–soybean strip intercropping
Available online 5 July 2025
The exogenous plant growth regulator, diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6), in combination with suitable varieties and planting densities, is important to increase yield in the maize–soybean strip intercropping...
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Integrated physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal the mechanism of reduction in wheat fertile floret number under spring low-temperature stress
Available online 5 July 2025
With the intensification of climate change, spring low-temperature stress (SLTS) leads to floret degeneration and a decrease in grain number. This study investigated the physiological mechanisms underlying...
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Alternative splicing of ZmHsf23 modulates maize heat tolerance by regulating sHSPs and TIL1 expression
Available online 5 July 2025
Heat stress is a major threat to maize (Zea mays L.) production worldwide. Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) play vital roles in plant responses to heat stress. However, the molecular and genetic...
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Efficient genetic transformation and gene editing in Erigeron breviscapus using developmental regulators
Available online 4 July 2025
The demand for Erigeron breviscapus, a medicinal Compositae plant with cardiovascular therapeutic properties, has been increasing by 15% annually, exceeding production capacity and necessitating improvements...
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