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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Synthetic metabolic engineering of functional crops: Boosting nutrition and human health
Available online 4 July 2025
A growing global population and the increasing prevalence of diet-related health issues such as “hidden hunger”, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes necessitate a fundamental rethinking of crop design...
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Developing eco-friendly, pest-resistant cotton by a heterologous multi-gene transformation system for caffeine synthesis
Available online 3 July 2025
Cotton production faces significant challenges from insect pests, with chemical pesticide use becoming increasingly limited by resistance and environmental concerns. This study explores the potential...
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Exploiting phKL-mediated homoeologous recombinants to map stripe rust resistance gene YrAev from Aegilops variabilis
Available online 3 July 2025
Aegilops variabilis (SvSvUvUv) is a source of resistance to wheat stripe rust. The phKL locus in Chinese common wheat landrace Kaixian-Luohanmai (KL) can induce homoeologous wheat-alien chromosome pairing...
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TaIAA10-6D orchestrates processing quality and grain yield by modulating glutenin/gliadin ratio and plant morphogenesis in wheat
Available online 3 July 2025
High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), major components of seed storage proteins in wheat, have large effects on processing quality. GLU-1 genes encode HMW-GS and their expression is mainly...
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Prolonged endosperm filling and embryo enlargement phases contribute to the impaired development of inferior grains in japonica rice
Available online 3 July 2025
Inferior grains exhibit delayed developmental processes and reduced metabolic activities compared to superior grains, leading to unstable rice yield and quality. While significant advancements have...
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MORF1 regulates the editing of orf224 transcript to modulate fertility in the polima cytoplasmic male sterility system of Brassica napus L.
June 2025
The Brassica polima cytoplasmic male sterility (pol CMS) line causes complete and stable sterility and is most extensively used in breeding. The regulatory pathway, however, is not clear. In this work,...
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ABA-activated subclass III SnRK2s control kernel maturation in maize
June 2025
Seed maturation is a critical development transition and it largely affects the final yield and quality of crops. Abscisic acid (ABA)-activated sucrose-non-fermentation kinase subfamily 2 (SnRK2s) constitute...
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Amino acid derivatives as regulatory molecules: Mechanisms in plant growth and stress tolerance
June 2025
Plants produce many amino acid derivatives (AADs). Some have been used by humans as medicines and nutrients, but many also act as phytochemical signals in plant growth and stress tolerance. The fluctuating...
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Chloride-dependent plasma membrane hyperpolarization confers superior salinity tissue tolerance in wild rice Oryza coarctata
June 2025
Salinity tissue tolerance is a key trait that confers adaptive potential in halophytic species. The aim of this study was to understand the mechanistic basis of salinity tissue tolerance in the Oryza...
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DCL2-dependent regulation of sRNA biogenesis and translocation in soybean
June 2025
Small RNAs (sRNAs) are essential for regulating plant growth and development, and they possess the notable ability to travel long distances within organisms to regulate target gene expression. Our study...
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