Impacts of controlled-release fertilizer application on maize yield stability, soil quality and carbon footprint in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain
Available online 2 March 2026
Although controlled-release urea (CRU) has demonstrated higher nitrogen use efficiency compared to conventional urea, comprehensive evaluations of its multi-year continuous application on yield stability...
Metabolic adaptations of Qingke: A review of stress resilience and nutritional functions
February 2026
Qingke, a staple crop grown on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, has evolved a metabolomic profile providing both environmental stress resilience and human nutrition. We review the hypothesis that...
Differing functions of two CYP716 genes for saikosaponin biosynthesis in Bupleurum chinense
February 2026
Saikosaponins are the major pharmacologically active components in Bupleurum genus and exhibit significant application potential in multiple fields such as immune regulation and anti-tumor activity....
Message from the Editor-in-Chief: From metabolic pathway design to synthetic biology breeding
February 2026
Crop metabolic engineering towards enhanced resistance to pests and pathogens
February 2026
Plants produce a vast array of specialized metabolites that serve as essential defenses against herbivores and pathogens. However, the capacity to produce these compounds differs substantially among...
Biological nitrogen and carbon fixation: Bridging the gap between synthetic symbioses and synthetic biology
February 2026
Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and photosynthetic carbon fixation underpin food production and climate mitigation, yet natural systems are constrained by oxygen sensitivity, high energy demand,...
Metabolic engineering for increased nutritional quality in rice
February 2026
Nutritional imbalance has led to many chronic diseases and severely affected people’s quality of life. Developing nutrient-dense crops has emerged as a strategy for improving the current state of human...
Development of eRUBY maize with betalain-enriched endosperm using a push-and-pull synthetic metabolic engineering strategy
February 2026
Betalain, an economically valuable water-soluble natural plant pigment, is prized for its strong antioxidant activity, making it popular as a dietary supplement and a visual marker for plant transformation....
Editing-overexpression coupling system synchronizes photosynthetic enhancement, yield optimization, and abiotic stress tolerance in rice
February 2026
Source-sink coordination serves as the foundation for improving crop yield. Current research primarily focuses on individual factors, such as increasing the source or expanding the sink, which often...
PcUGT84A82 catalyzes a key step in the biosynthesis of galloylated macrocyclic polyphenols in Penthorum chinense Pursh
February 2026
Penthorum chinense Pursh has been used for centuries as an herbal medicine and food in East Asia. The main active substances in P. chinense are galloylated macrocyclic polyphenolic compounds, which...
Natural and artificial evolution of acetolactate synthase for crop breeding
February 2026
Acetolactate synthase (ALS)-targeting herbicides are among the most widely used weed-control chemicals globally. Mutations in the ALS gene can confer herbicide resistance in crops, thereby allowing...
Phytoene synthase gene GbDYA modulates carotenoids accumulation and confers yellow anther and pollen antioxidant activity in cotton
February 2026
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,...
Post-translational control of biotic stress-related nicotine biosynthesis by a MAP kinase signaling cascade
February 2026
The evolutionarily conserved mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades relay extracellular signals into cells, triggering a variety of cellular responses. We previously revealed NtMPK4 as a positive...
Chromosome-level genome of Iris domestica reveals genes involved in isoflavonoid biosynthesis
February 2026
Iris domestica, a perennial herb of the Iridaceae family, is widely recognized for its rich isoflavone content and broad therapeutic properties. To elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of these medicinally...
Development of a “Golden fiber” cotton germplasm via carotenoid biofortification
February 2026
Natural colored cotton (NCC) offers a sustainable, dye-free, and eco-friendly alternative for producing colored textiles. Carotenoids, a group of important natural liposoluble pigments, are known for...
Developing eco-friendly, pest-resistant cotton by a heterologous multi-gene transformation system for caffeine synthesis
February 2026
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...
Soybean MYB diversification identifies GmMYBA1 as a light-responsive anthocyanin activator
February 2026
Anthocyanin biosynthesis in plants is spatiotemporally controlled by a suite of transcription factors, with MYB proteins playing a key regulatory role. However, the evolution of the distinct roles of...
Efficient genetic transformation and gene editing in Erigeron breviscapus using developmental regulators
February 2026
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...
PSY4-mediated carotenoid biosynthesis confers yellow anther and enhances heat tolerance in cotton
February 2026
Carotenoids are lipophilic isoprenoid pigments with essential roles in plants. While the cultivated allotetraploid cottons exhibit distinct mature anther coloration — yellow in Gossypium barbadense...
Metabolic engineering of vegetative organs for enhanced oil accumulation in biofuel feedstocks
February 2026
Plant oils are increasingly sought after as sustainable sources of bioenergy for biodiesel production and high-value biochemicals. Although oilseed crops currently serve as the primary source of plant...
A synthetic glycolate metabolism bypass in rice chloroplasts increases photosynthesis and yield
February 2026
Photorespiration consumes photosynthetically fixed carbon and reduces yields by 20%–50% in C3 crops. In an attempt to increase photosynthetic efficiency in rice by bypassing the carbon-consuming process...
The miR166–ATHB14-LIKE module regulates flavonoid biosynthesis in soybean
February 2026
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,...
Optimizing carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4 (CCD4) for enhanced β-ionone production in Nicotiana tabacum
February 2026
Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4 (CCD4) controls the rate-limiting step of β-ionone biosynthesis, making it a valuable target for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications. Nicotiana tabacum, a carotenoid-richd...
GiMYB76, a MeJA-inducible R2R3-type transcription factor, regulates licochalcone A biosynthesis in licorice (Glycyrrhiza inflata)
February 2026
Licochalcone A (LCA) is a characteristic compound in licorice Glycyrrhiza inflata and is widely utilized in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory mechanisms...