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<jats:p>Plant Elicitor Peptides (Peps) induce plant immune responses and inhibit root growth through their receptors PEPR1 and PEPR2, two receptor-like kinases. In our study, we found a previously unknown function of Peps that enhance root hair growth in a PEPRs-independent manner. When we characterized the expression patterns of <jats:italic>PROPEP</jats:italic> genes, we found several gene promoters of <jats:italic>PROPEP</jats:italic> gene family were particularly active in root hairs. Furthermore, we observed that <jats:italic>PROPEP2</jats:italic> is vital for root hair development, as disruption of <jats:italic>PROPEP2</jats:italic> gene led to a significant reduction in root hair density and length. We also discovered that <jats:italic>PROPEP2</jats:italic> regulates root hair formation via the modulation of <jats:italic>CPC</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>GL2</jats:italic> expression, thereby influencing the cell-fate determination of root hairs. Additionally, calcium signaling appeared to be involved in PROPEP2/Pep2-induced root hair growth. These findings shed light on the function of Peps in root hair development.</jats:p>

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>This study aimed to investigate the promoting effect of a <jats:italic>Bacillus velezensis</jats:italic> (BV) strain on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and determine its influence on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of silage.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Flat colony counting method was used to evaluate the effect of BV on the growth of LAB. Freshly harvested whole-plant corn was inoculated separately with BV and L. plantarum (LP), along with an uninoculated control group (CK), and assessed at 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, and 30 days of ensiling.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The results indicated that BV exhibited a proliferative effect on <jats:italic>Weissella confusa, Lactobacillus plantarum</jats:italic> L-2, and Pediococcus pentosaceus. And exhibited a more rapid pH reduction in BV-inoculated silage compared with that in CK and LP-inoculated silage during the initial stage of ensiling. Throughout ensiling, the BV and LP experimental groups showed enhanced silage fermentation quality over CK. Additionally, relative to LP-inoculated silage, BV-inoculated silage displayed reduced pH and propionic acid. BV also prolonged aerobic stability under aerobic conditions. The microbial community in BV-inoculated silage showed greater stability than that in LP-inoculated silage. Additionally, <jats:italic>Firmicutes</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Lactobacillus</jats:italic> exhibited more rapid elevation initially in BV versus LP-inoculated silage, but reached comparable levels between the two inoculation groups in the later stage.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>In summary, BV enhanced the efficacy and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage fermentation by stimulating LAB proliferation.</jats:p></jats:sec>

<jats:p>Terpenes are important mediators of plant chemical response to environmental cues. Here, we describe the genome-wide identification and biochemical characterization of TPS-a members in <jats:italic>Medicago truncatula</jats:italic>, a model legume crop. Genome mining identified thirty-nine full-length terpene synthases with a significant number predicted to produce monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Biochemical characterization of the TPS-a subfamily associated with sesquiterpene biosynthesis revealed such compounds, that exhibit substantial biological activity in other plants. Gene expression analysis using qPCR and the <jats:italic>Medicago</jats:italic> gene atlas illustrated distinct tissue and time-based variation in expression in leaves and roots. Together our work establishes the gene-to-metabolite relationships for sesquiterpene synthases in <jats:italic>M. truncatula</jats:italic>. Understanding the biosynthetic capacity is a foundational step to defining the ecological roles of this important family of compounds.</jats:p>

<jats:p>Plant functional traits reflect the capacity of plants to adapt to their environment and the underlying optimization mechanisms. However, few studies have investigated trade-off strategies for functional traits in desert-wetland ecosystems, the mechanisms by which surface water disturbance and groundwater depth drive functional trait variation at the community scale, and the roles of intraspecific and interspecific variation. Therefore, this study analyzed specific differences in community-weighted mean traits among habitat types and obtained the relative contribution of intraspecific and interspecific variation by decomposing community-weighted mean traits, focusing on the Daliyabuyi Oasis in the hinterland of the Taklamakan Desert. We also explored the mechanisms by which surface water and groundwater influence different sources of variability specifically. The results showed that plant height, relative chlorophyll content, leaf thickness, leaf nitrogen content, and nitrogen-phosphorus ratio were the key traits reflecting habitat differences. As the groundwater depth becomes shallower and surface water disturbance intensifies, plant communities tend to have higher leaf nitrogen content, nitrogen-phosphorus ratio, and relative chlorophyll content and lower height. Surface water, groundwater, soil water content, and total soil nitrogen can influence interspecific and intraspecific variation in these traits through direct and indirect effects. As arid to wet habitats change, plant trade-off strategies for resources will shift from conservative to acquisitive. The study concluded that community functional traits are mainly contributed by interspecific variation, but consideration of intraspecific variation and the covariation effects that exist between it and interspecific variation can help to further enhance the understanding of the response of community traits in desert-wetland ecosystems to environmental change. Surface water disturbance has a non-negligible contribution to this adaptation process and plays a higher role than groundwater depth.</jats:p>

<jats:p>Soybean [<jats:italic>Glycine max</jats:italic>(L.)Merr.] is a leading oil-bearing crop and cultivated globally over a vast scale. The agricultural landscape in China faces a formidable challenge with drought significantly impacting soybean production. In this study, we treated a natural population of 264 Chinese soybean accessions using 15% PEG-6000 and used GR, GE, GI, RGR, RGE, RGI and ASFV as evaluation index. Using the ASFV, we screened 17 strong drought-tolerant soybean germplasm in the germination stage. Leveraging 2,597,425 high-density SNP markers, we conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and identified 92 SNPs and 9 candidate genes significantly associated with drought tolerance. Furthermore, we developed two KASP markers for S14_5147797 and S18_53902767, which closely linked to drought tolerance. This research not only enriches the pool of soybean germplasm resources but also establishes a robust foundation for the molecular breeding of drought tolerance soybean varieties.</jats:p>

<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>While no tillage (NT) can significantly influence soil structure stratification compared to conventional tillage (CT), a comprehensive understanding of the degree of root trait plasticity and trade-offs of lateral roots of crops at various growth stages along a deep soil profile in response to NT remains elusive. This knowledge gap is important for understanding soil resource acquisition strategies and yield of crops.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>We systematically investigated the traits of lateral roots at jointing and flowering stages in a long-term (12 years) experiment in Northeast China where maize (<jats:italic>Zea mays</jats:italic>) has been continuously planted under CT and NT with or without maize residue mulch on soil surface. We also measured soil penetration resistance and bulk density.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Soil penetration resistance was reduced at the jointing stage, and was increased at the flowering stage under NT especially at a depth of 10 - 40 cm. Root length density decreased under NT across the two growth stages by on average 22%. In contrast, specific root length and diameter showed greater plasticity, ranging from -14% to 20% and from -11% to 8%, respectively, relative to those under CT.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion</jats:title><jats:p>These responses could be attributed to changes in root length proportions with different diameters associated with differences in soil penetration resistance between tillage practices. The negative relationships between root traits were stronger under CT than NT, and became weaker from the jointing stage to the flowering stage. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, our study provides empirical evidence for pivotal root trait plasticity and trade-offs across growth stages as key indicators of changes in soil structure and resources in response to NT. These insights contribute to a better understanding of soil resource acquisition strategies of crops under NT.</jats:p></jats:sec>

<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>More than ever, traditional agricultural practices need a shift towards more resilient, sustainable, modern and adaptable practices that benefit the health of the planet and people. Today's consumers are constantly on the lookout for novel, highly nutritious foods that have a positive impact on their overall health and well-being. Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is gaining recognition not only as a popular medicinal plant, but also as a desirable green leafy vegetable rich in phytonutrients. As it is difficult and even expensive to control the quality standards of wild-collected plants, the implementation of sustainable cultivation methods, especially hydroponics, with effective greenhouse management could be a possible solution to obtain a standardized product with high nutritional value. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of four nutrient solutions differing in the content of macro- and micronutrients (especially nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron) and two consecutive cuts on the number of leaves, yield, nitrate and mineral content and the content of specialized metabolites of stinging nettle from a floating hydroponic system.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Nettle plants were cultivated in a hydroponic system using the floating hydroponics technique. The two-factorial experiment was performed with nutrient solution and consecutive cuts as factors.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The highest yield (2.49 kg/m2) was achieved after the 1st cut with plants cultivated in the nutrient solution with higher nutrient concentration. All tested nutrient solutions resulted in high levels of minerals and bioactive compounds in the plant material (ascorbic acid content of 102.30 mg/100 g fw and total phenolics content of 465.92 mg GAE/100 g fw), confirming floating hydroponics as a sustainable approach for cultivating nettle with enhanced nutritional value and antioxidant potential.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>It is important to highlight that the nutrient solution with the lowest nutrient composition yielded the highest concentrations of calcium (5.54%) and iron (180.67 mg/kg dw). Furthermore, it exhibited elevated levels of specific phenolic compounds, including caffeoylmaleic acid, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, naringin, and rutin trihydrate. Notably, this solution demonstrated the lowest nitrate content (4225.33 mg/kg fw) in the plant material. Therefore, it can be recommended as a preferable formulation for hydroponic nettle cultivation.</jats:p></jats:sec>

<jats:p>The knowledge of pollen morphology, suitable storage condition, and species compatibility is vital for a successful grapevine improvement programme. Ten grape genotypes from three different species, <jats:italic>viz.</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Vitis vinifera</jats:italic> L., <jats:italic>Vitis parviflora</jats:italic> Roxb., and <jats:italic>Vitis champini</jats:italic> Planc., were studied for their pollen structure and pollen storage with the objective of determining their utilization in grape rootstock improvement programs. Pollen morphology was examined through the use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The viability of the pollen was assessed using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). <jats:italic>In vitro</jats:italic> pollen germination was investigated using the semi-solid medium with 10 % sucrose, 100 mg/L boric acid, and 300 mg/L calcium nitrate. The results revealed variations in pollen micro-morphology in 10 genotypes, with distinct pollen dimensions, shapes, and exine ornamentation. However, species-wise, no clear difference was found for these parameters. Pollen of <jats:italic>V. parviflora</jats:italic> Roxb. and Dogridge was acolporated and did not germinate. The remaining eight genotypes exhibited tricolporated pollen and showed satisfactory <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic> pollen germination. Storage temperature and duration interactions showed that, at room temperature, pollen of most of the grape genotypes can be stored for up to 1 day only with an acceptable pollen germination rate (&amp;gt;30 %). However, storage for up to 7 days was successfully achieved at 4 °C, except for ‘Pearl of Csaba’. The most effective storage conditions were found to be at −20 °C and −196 °C (in liquid N<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>), enabling pollen storage for a period of up to 30 days, and can be used for pollination to overcome the challenge of asynchronous flowering. Four interspecific combinations were studied for their compatibility, among which <jats:italic>V. parviflora</jats:italic> Roxb. × <jats:italic>V. vinifera</jats:italic> L. (Pusa Navrang) and <jats:italic>V. parviflora</jats:italic> Roxb. × <jats:italic>V. champini</jats:italic> Planc. (Salt Creek) showed high cross-compatibility, offering their potential use for grape rootstock breeding. However, <jats:italic>V. parviflora</jats:italic> Roxb. × <jats:italic>V. vinifera</jats:italic> L. (Male Hybrid) recorded the lowest compatibility index among studied crosses. In the case of self-pollinated flowers from <jats:italic>V. parviflora</jats:italic> Roxb. and <jats:italic>V. parviflora</jats:italic> Roxb. × <jats:italic>V. champini</jats:italic> Planc. (Dogridge), pollen failed to germinate on the stigma due to male sterility caused by acolporated pollen. As a result, the flowers of these genotypes functioned as females, which means they are ideal female parents for grape breeding without the need for the tedious process of emasculation.</jats:p>

<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>Branching angle is an essential trait in determining the planting density of rapeseed (<jats:italic>Brassica napus</jats:italic> L.) and hence the yield per unit area. However, the mechanism of branching angle formation in rapeseed is not well understood.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>In this study, two rapeseed germplasm with extreme branching angles were used to construct an F<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> segregating population; then bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping were utilized to localize branching anglerelated loci and combined with transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for candidate gene mining</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results and discussion</jats:title><jats:p>A branching angle-associated quantitative trait loci (QTL) was mapped on chromosome C3 (C3: 1.54-2.65 Mb) by combining BSA-seq as well as traditional QTL mapping. A total of 54 genes had SNP/Indel variants within the QTL interval were identified. Further, RNA-seq of the two parents revealed that 12 of the 54 genes were differentially expressed between the two parents. Finally, we further validated the differentially expressed genes using qPCR and found that six of them presented consistent differential expression in all small branching angle samples and large branching angles, and thus were considered as candidate genes related to branching angles in rapeseed. Our results introduce new candidate genes for the regulation of branching angle formation in rapeseed, and provide an important reference for the subsequent exploration of its formation mechanism.</jats:p></jats:sec>

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) scavenges toxic aldehyde molecules by catalyzing the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. Although ALDH gene family members in various plants have been extensively studied and were found to regulate plant response to abiotic stress, reports on <jats:italic>ALDH</jats:italic> genes in the common bean (<jats:italic>Phaseolus vulgaris</jats:italic> L.) are limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of neutral (NS) and basic alkaline (AS) stresses on growth, physiological and biochemical indices, and ALDH activity, <jats:italic>ALDH</jats:italic> gene expression of common bean. In addition, We used bioinformatics techniques to analyze the physical and chemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, gene replication, collinearity, cis-acting elements, gene structure, motifs, and protein structural characteristics of PvALDH family members.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>We found that both NS and AS stresses weakened the photosynthetic performance of the leaves, induced oxidative stress, inhibited common bean growth, and enhanced the antioxidative system to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, we our findings revealed that ALDH in the common bean actively responds to NS or AS stress by inducing the expression of <jats:italic>PvALDH</jats:italic> genes. In addition, using the established classification criteria and phylogenetic analysis, 27 <jats:italic>PvALDHs</jats:italic> were identified in the common bean genome, belonging to 10 ALDH families. The primary expansion mode of <jats:italic>PvALDH</jats:italic> genes was segmental duplication. Cis-acting elemental analysis showed that <jats:italic>PvALDHs</jats:italic> were associated with abiotic stress and phytohormonal responses. Gene expression analysis revealed that the <jats:italic>PvALDH</jats:italic> gene expression was tissue-specific. For instance, <jats:italic>PvALDH3F1</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>PvALDH3H1</jats:italic> were highly expressed in flower buds and flowers, respectively, whereas <jats:italic>PvALDH3H2</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>PvALDH2B4</jats:italic> were highly expressed in green mature pods and young pods, respectively. <jats:italic>PvALDH22A1</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>PvALDH11A2</jats:italic> were highly expressed in leaves and young trifoliates, respectively; <jats:italic>PvALDH18B2</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>PvALDH18B3</jats:italic> were highly expressed in stems and nodules, respectively; and <jats:italic>PvALDH2C2</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>PvALDH2C3</jats:italic> were highly expressed in the roots. <jats:italic>PvALDHs</jats:italic> expression in the roots responded positively to NS–AS stress, and <jats:italic>PvALDH2C3</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>PvALDH5F1</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>PvALDH10A1</jats:italic> were significantly (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0.05) upregulated in the roots.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>These results indicate that AS stress causes higher levels of oxidative damage than NS stress, resulting in weaker photosynthetic performance and more significant inhibition of common bean growth. The influence of <jats:italic>PvALDHs</jats:italic> potentially modulates abiotic stress response, particularly in the context of saline–alkali stress. These findings establish a basis for future research into the potential roles of <jats:italic>ALDHs</jats:italic> in the common bean.</jats:p></jats:sec>