Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are crucial functional proteins in plants responding to stress, exhibiting multiple biological roles in rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). This article systematically reviewed recent advances in PR protein research in rubber trees, with emphasis on the functional characteristics in stress resistance mechanisms, laticifer plugging, and allergenicity, while highlighting the critical relationship between PR proteins and laticifer plugging. PR proteins participate in defense responses against stresses through complex molecular networks, potentially influencing latex yield via laticifer plugging processes. Some PR proteins exhibit strong allergenic properties. Although transgenic studies of PR proteins have achieved preliminary progress, further optimization of expression regulation strategies is required to balance stress resistance, yield, and allergenicity. Future research should prioritize elucidating the mechanistic roles of PR proteins, especially investigating how the expression levels of pathogenesis-related proteins (particularly chitinases and β-1,3-glucanases) correlate with rubber productivity. Concurrently, functional exploration of understudied PR protein categories like PR-14 warrants attention. Developing precise molecular breeding technologies based on these findings will provide both theoretical foundations and technical support for rubber tree variety improvement.

The AT-hook Motif Nuclear Localized (AHL) protein family is known for its pivotal roles in plant growth regulation, developmental patterning, and stress signal transduction. Although the gene family has been studied in various plant species, the genomic characteristics, evolutionary mechanism, and expression profiles of the AHL family in cassava (Manihot esculenta) remain unexplored. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the evolutionary features and biological response of the MeAHL gene family through genome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, structural characterization, and large-scale transcriptomes based on the cassava SC205 reference genome. We identified 41 putative members through genome-wide identification. Physicochemical property analysis showed that all 41 MeAHLs were hydrophilic proteins, and 40 of them were unstable proteins, with the number of amino acids generally ranging from 188 to 446 aa. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the MeAHL family members could be divided into two clades, Clade A and Clade B. Two MeAHL gene clusters were located in the distal telomeric regions of chromosomes Chr01 and Chr02, respectively. Replication type analysis revealed that the evolution of MeAHLs was mainly driven by whole-genome duplication (WGD) and dispersed duplication (DSD), with the Ka/Ks values <1. Evolutionary mechanism analysis indicated that whole-genome duplication (WGD) primarily drove the MeAHL gene family expansion. Gene structure analysis showed that MeAHL genes were mainly composed of 1‒10 exons. Analysis of conserved domains and motifs showed that all MeAHLs had the PPC/DUF296 domain and AT-hook motif. Members of Clade A generally contained one Type-I AT-hook motif. Among members of Clade B, except for SC20508G13380 and SC20509G13950, which contained one Type-II AT-hook motif, most members contained two AT-hooks (Type-I and Type-II). Cis-acting element analysis via PlantCARE showed that the cis-acting elements related to light response were the most abundant in MeAHLs, such as Box 4, G-box, and they also contained elements responsive to hormones, biotic stresses, and abiotic stresses, such as ABRE, MBS, W-box, and TC-rich repeats. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed distinct expression patterns between two clades of MeAHL across 11 different tissues. Stress transcriptome analysis demonstrated significant responses of specific MeAHLs to drought (ABA/PEG treatments), cassava bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis), and mite infestation, showing clade-specific regulatory patterns. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network prediction suggested some MeAHLs formed functional modules with bHLH, NAC, ARF, and NB-LRR proteins involved in plant development and stress responses. This study would provide the systematic characterization of AHL family evolution and functional diversification in cassava, offering theoretical foundations for molecular breeding applications.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) plays an important role in the photosynthesis of plants and response to stress. Cassava CA gene was cloned using the cDNA of SC124 as template. The CDS length of MeCA was 1008 nt, encoding 336 amino acids. The homology was 99.70% between the cloned sequence and Manes.15G167500.1 in the database. The evolutionary tree resulted that MeCA belonged to the same branch as the AtβCA subfamily of Arabidopsis.The sequence similarity between MeCA and AtβCA1 protein reached 73.13% and contained identical motif. MeCA gene expression was the highest in functional leaves, followed in young leaves, significantly higher in fibrous roots and stems, and significantly down-regulated in shading stressed cassava leaves. In addition, the gene showed significant upregulated expression in the initial stage, and then it dropped to the control level when cassava leaves were treated with low temperature. This study created transgenic cassava with overexpression of MeCA gene, and observed that MeCA protein was localized in chloroplasts, and the contents of various chlorophyll were significantly higher in the leaves of transgenic plants than that of control. The results of yeast two-hybrid point-to-point experiments showed that MeCA protein interacted with MeH1.2. The result indicated that MeCA gene could respond to light and low temperature stresses, and maight participate in plant response to stress by affecting plant growth interacting with MeH1.2 proteins. This study would provide a new gene resource for genetic improvement of cassava resistance.

During the biosynthesis process of lignin in plants, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) plays a crucial role, catalyzing the final step reaction in the entire metabolic pathway. To explore the potential functions of the CAD gene family in tea plants, CAD gene family members were identified in the genome of Huangyan tea plants and a series of bioinformatics analyses were conducted. Based on transcriptome data, the gene expression of the members in different organs of tea plants and after damage by the Empoasca vitis were studied. A total of 36 members of HD-CsCADs were identified, which were unevenly distributed on 9 chromosomes and encoded amino acid lengths ranging from 300 aa to 621 aa and protein molecular weights ranging from 321.40 kDa to 666.49 kDa. HD-CsCADs had 0 to 3 introns and the promoters containing 79 types of cis-acting elements, among which the number of elements related to stress response was the highest. Combined with the phylogenetic tree, HD-CsCADs could be divided into 4 subfamilies. There were significant differences in the expression levels of HD-CsCADs in different organs of tea plants. HD-CsCAD-15 was highly homologous to CAD genes involved in lignin biosynthesis in other plants and was highly expressed in stem tissues. In addition, the expression of the genes after damage by E. vitis on tea seedlings was analyzed. The expression of HD-CsCAD-11 and HD-CsCAD-15 was relatively obvious and could be used as important CAD genes related to lignin metabolism and tea plant defense against pests. The results would provide theoretical basis for the defense mechanism of tea plants against the small green leaf hopper and the utilization of CAD gene functions.

Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze is a seawater vegetable with strong tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. Plant thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) are involved in various biological and abiotic stress responses. In order to elucidate the possible roles of a T. tetragonoides thaumatin-like protein gene (TtTLP11) in abiotic stress resistance, we cloned this gene and performed transgenic over-expression assay in Arabidopsis thaliana, then the homozygotic transgenic lines were obtained and performed subsequent analysis for stresses tolerance. In this study, the seeds from transgenic plants over-expressing TtTLP11 and wild type Arabidopsis plants were challenged with high salinity, high osmotic stress, heat and mixed salt-alkali stresses, by detecting the seed germinating rates, seedling growth status, thereby assessing the stress resistance of these transgenic Arabidopsis plants. The purpose of this study was to clarify the abiotic stress resistance functions of the TtTLP11 and the possible molecular mechanisms. The results showed that under various abiotic stress conditions, the over-expression of TtTLP11 could alleviate the inhibition effects of seed germination and relieve the environmental damage to seedlings, thereby improving the abiotic stress tolerance of transgenic plants. It is speculated that TtTLP11 might alleviate dramatic changes in osmotic pressure in plants and maintain water homeostasis, and then affect the stress tolerance of plants. The results could provide a theoretical basis for further analysis of the molecular regulatory network of plant response to alleviate abiotic stress damage.

In this study, Cymbopogon winterianus was used as the experimental material, and the DNA sequence of C. winterianus was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platform. The sequencing data were assembled with GetOrganelle v1.7.7.0 software to construct the chloroplast genome. Referring to the known chloroplast genome of C. flexuosus, the chloroplast genome of C. winterianus was annotated, and the genomic characteristics were analyzed and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The chloroplast genome of C. winterianus was 139 823 bp in length, with a typical circular quadripartite structure. The GC content was 38.45%, and the AT content was 61.55%. It included a large single-copy region (LSC) with a length of 82 214 bp, a pair of inverted repeat regions (IR) with a length of 21 368 bp, and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 14 873 bp. A total of 130 genes were annotated in the chloroplast genome of C. winterianus (including 85 mRNA genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes). In addition, among the annotated genes, there were 16 double-copy genes, accounting for 12.31%, including 7 tRNA genes, 4 self-replication genes, 4 rRNA genes, 2 protein genes with unknown functions, and 1 NADH dehydrogenase subunit gene. A total of 144 SSR loci were detected in the chloroplast genome of C. winterianus, with mononucleotide repeats being absolutely dominant, mainly A/T. After comparing the boundaries of the inverted repeat sequences of four Cymbopogon species, it was found that C. flexuosus, C. pospischilii, and C. winterianus exhibited extremely high homology in gene structure and species. Among them, the ndhH gene was located in the small single-copy region (SSC), and the ndhF gene was located in the boundary region between the SSC and IRb. However, C. winterianus had an additional rps3 gene in the LSC region compared with C. flexuosus and C. pospischilii. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that C. winterianus had the closest genetic relationship with C. pospischilii and C. citratus (MK593547.1). This study completed the assembly and annotation of the complete chloroplast genome of C. winterianus, analyzed the characteristics of the chloroplast genome of C. winterianus, and preliminarily explored the phylogenetic position of C. winterianus within the genus Cymbopogon. It would lay a good foundation for the phylogenetic, genetic diversity, and genomic studies of Cymbopogon plants, as well as for the discovery and utilization of important functional genes.

Chitinase plays a crucial role in plant stress resistance and growth development. To elucidate the effects of plant hormones and environmental stress on the expression of the mustard chitinase gene, this study investigated three plant hormones-salicylic acid (SA), 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)— and the influence on the transcriptional regulation of the chitinase gene family in Brassica oleracea cv. BaiHua. Additionally, seedlings were subjected to two stress conditions: infection by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Brasiliense and exposure to high temperature. The transcriptional levels of the Chinese kale chitinase gene family members were analyzed using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method. Results demonstrated that among the 18 genes within the chitinase gene family of Chinese mustard, 16 exhibited significant induction under soft rot fungal infection, while 8 responded to high-temperature stress. Furthermore, all 18 genes showed responsiveness to plant hormone-induced expression. This study highlights the potential role of the chitinase gene in mediating responses to hormonal signals and environmental stress, thereby contributing to stress resistance and growth development in plants. The findings would provide valuable insights for future molecular breeding strategies targeting Chinese kale.

Improving and upgrading the efficiency of sugar factories and income of sugarcane farmers are the fundamental goals of the sugarcane industrial development. This study introduced the breeding process of the early-maturing, high-sugar, high-yield, automatic defoliation new sugarcane variety Guitang 76 (GT76) and its production efficiency in different regions, in order to provide planting technical basis for this new sugarcane variety in the coming years. Guitang 76 was selected through the “five nurseries” breeding procedure, and developed based on traits of early maturity, high sugar content and high yield, and also included characteristics of strong perennial roots, high uniformity, tolerance to drought, disease and infertility, and automatic defoliation. Finally, the Guitang 76 production performance was evaluated through the Guangxi new sugarcane variety regional test. The main process was as follows: In April 2010, 220 seedlings were obtained from the combination of CP81-1254×ROC22, planted in the hybrid nursery. In February 2011, five healthy individual plants were selected from the hybrid nursery and planted in the selection nursery. In December 2011, two strains were selected from the selection nursery and entered the identification nursery. In January 2013, one strain was selected from the identification nursery (named Guitang 10-2118), and in February 2013, it entered the preparation variety comparison nursery. After observation and screening, it was selected into the variety comparison nursery in March 2014, and later selected for the 2021—2023 of Guangxi sugarcane new variety regional trials (one year new planted sugarcane and two years perennial sugarcane trials). The results of regional trials showed that the stem diameter of Guitang 10-2118 was between 2.5-3.0 cm, which is a medium-large stem variety, the average number of effective stems was 8140 per hm² more than that of the control variety ROC22. The yield of newly planted sugarcane was 7.72% lower than that of ROC22, but the yield of perennial sugarcane in the first year was 7.28% higher than that of ROC22, and the yield of perennial sugarcane in the second year was 15.24% higher than that of ROC22, and the average yield in three years was higher (5.24%) than that of ROC22. The average sucrose content from November to March was 15.04%, which was 1.32% higher than that of ROC22. Guitang 10-2118 also showed other significant traits including tall plants, long internodes, automatic defoliation, strong perennial roots, wide adaptability, high resistance to smut and tip rot, etc. Guitang 10-2118 was renamed as Guitang 76 (GT76). This article also introduced the key points of cultivation strategies of GT76, providing technical support for its promotion, application and better cane production in coming years.

This study was aimed to identify high-quality and stress-resistant germplasm resources of subtropical tea for the purpose of supporting new variety breeding and the development of characteristic tea products. Leaves from 50 tea accessions cultivated at Tea Teaching and Research Base of Guangxi Vocational and Technical College in Nanning were selected as the samples. 17 leaf anatomical and structural traits were examined to assess the genetic diversity. Based on stress resistance, processing suitability, productivity potential of the traits were evaluated. Principal component analysis combined with hierarchical cluster analysis was employed for the comprehensive evaluation. There existed substantial genetic variation among the accessions, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 11.00% to 39.10%. The accessions demonstrated robust stress resistance with average membership function value for drought resistance and pest resistance 0.67 and 0.61, respectively, along with average cold resistance score 6.28. The average productivity index of 3329.20 suggested a relatively high productivity potential. Based on the leaf anatomical and structural indicators, the accessions were clustered into three distinct groups. The upper cuticle thickness, lower cuticle thickness, upper epidermis thickness, lower epidermis thickness, palisade tissue thickness, palisade tissue layer number, spongy tissue layer thickness, leaf thickness, and calcium oxalate crystal indexes of the Group 2 appeared to be significantly or highly significantly different than those of Group 1 and Group 3. Based on the top five principal component values and the corresponding eigenvalues of the accessions, a linear equation was established to calculate the comprehensive score of the principal components. The top 10 accessions exhibited superior overall characteristics, demonstrating strong potential for breeding elite tea cultivars. These findings would provide valuable references for identification and utilization of the superior local tea germplasm resources in Guangxi.

The study explored the growth regularity and genetic variation characteristics of Aquilaria sinensis Qi Nan clones to provide a theoretical basis for selection superior A. sinensis Qi Nan clones and application. 25 A. sinensis Qi Nan clones cultivated in the Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry of the Chinese Academy of Forestry were investigated, the tree height and basal diameter were measured at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. The study analyzed early growth performance, adaptability, growth trait variations among different clones, and the intercorrelations. Comprehensive estimation of genetic parameters and cluster analysis were used to select superior clones. There were significant differences in tree height, basal diameter and preservation rate among the clones. The average tree height, basal diameter and preservation rate at 3 years old was 134.15 cm, 2.89 cm and 68.40%, respectively. The highest was Qi NYH, and the lowest was Bo LZ. There were substantial variations in the annual growth increments of tree height and basal diameter among the clones. Generally, the tree height and basal diameter increased remarkably in the third year. The clones showed different ranges of variation in tree height and basal diameter at different growth stages. The basal diameter showed a high degree of dispersion and the richest variation. The broad-sense heritability of growth traits in 3 years was high and stable, above 0.63. Basal diameter, tree height and preservation rate showed significant or extremely significant positive correlation. Principal component analysis revealed that the clones were comprehensively evaluated and ranked based on the scores. According to the selection rate of 20%, the top five were Qi NYH, Ao S, Jin SZ, Tu YW and Cuan T in turn. The results of cluster analysis showed that the clones were divided into 4 categories. Class Ⅰ grew better, and had stronger potential for growth in the later period than others, including Ao S, Qi NYH, Lan BS, Tu YW, Jin SY, Xi GY, Jin SZ and Cuan T, with the tree height, basal diameter and preservation rate above 158.00 cm, 3.00 cm and 73.00%, respectively. Class Ⅱ and Class Ⅲ grew relatively fast. Class Ⅳ grew the slowest with the slowest tree height, basal diameter and preservation rate. Through comprehensive evaluation, Qi NYH, Ao S, Jin SZ, Tu YW and Cuan T clones had the best performance in tree height, basal diameter and preservation rate. They could be popularized and planted as the excellent comprehensive quality of A. sinensis Qi Nan clones in Pingxiang and other suitable places.

Aquilaria sinensis is the original plant of the precious traditional Chinese medicinal material known as agarwood, with a long history of medicinal application. Seeds play a crucial role in the reproduction process of A. sinensis. The seed is the recalcitrant type, with a short period of viability, cannot be dried in the sun nor stored for long periods. The quality assessment, storage, and germination of the seed are essential for obtaining high-quality seedlings. Additionally, the seed has various application beyond seedlings cultivation. Due to its rich content of various nutrients, high yield, and affordable price, it has numerous applications in medicine, food, feed, health products, and food additives.The article introduced the aspects of seed quality assessment, seed storage, seed development and germination, nutritional components, and application of A. sinensis seeds, and prospects for future research area, aiming to provide references for cultivating high-quality A. sinensis seedlings and the utilization of the seed.

Leguminous green manure cover cropping and incorporation play a crucial role in improving soil conditions and enhancing nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Studying the decomposition characteristics and nutrient release patterns of green manure is of significant importance for the sustainable production of rubber plantations. This study selected four representative tropical leguminous green manures: Pueraria phaseoloides Benth (GT), Crotalavia anagroides H.B.K (ZSD), Tephrosia candida DC. (SMD), and Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. (ZHC). During the vigorous growth period of the green manures, a 260-day field in-situ decomposition experiment was conducted using the nylon mesh bag method to explore the decomposition characteristics and nutrient release patterns of the leguminous green manures from different genera. The dry matter decomposition characteristics followed the “Olson” exponential model. The decomposition constants (k) ranked as follows, GT (3.01)>SMD (2.51) and ZHC (2.36)>ZSD (2.01), with GT being significantly higher than ZSD (P<0.05). At the end of the experiment, the dry matter remaining rate of the four green manures was ZSD (24.7%)>SMD (22.7%)>ZHC (21.7%)>GT (17.3%). The time required for 95% decomposition was 17.9, 15.3, 14.3, and 11.9 months, respectively. For carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), the remaining rate across the four green manures (GT, ZSD, SMD, ZHC) was N (15.5%-34.0%)>P (11.9%-30.4%)>C (15.1%-22.2%)>K (0.58%-1.07%). Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) residue ratea was Ca (45.0%-64.0%)>Mg (11.5%-31.9%). Iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) showed average residue rate of 160.9%, 138.3%, and 110.6%, respectively, indicating enrichment effects, while manganese (Mn) had an average residue rate of 36.3%. Notably, GT exhibited complete nutrient release for all elements, with the lowest remaining rate among the four green manures. In contrast, ZSD, SMD, and ZHC demonstrated enrichment effects for Fe, Cu, and Zn. In conclusion, the differences in decomposition and nutrient release characteristics among green manures would provide critical theoretical support for nutrient cycling and soil fertility improvement in rubber plantations, and technical guidance for sustainable rubber plantation management.

40 newly developed domestic sugarcane varieties (lines) were used to screen sugarcane varieties with strong cold tolerance and excellent comprehensive traits in Quanzhou county, Guangxi. The results indicated that the value of plant height, stem diameter, millable stalk number, single stalk weight and cane yield of plant crop were higher than those in ratoon crop under natural low temperature conditions, with extremely significant difference observed in plant height, single stalk weight, and cane yield between plant crop and ratoon crop. There were significant or highly significant difference in plant height, stem diameter, millable stalk number, single stalk weight and cane yield among different varieties. Field brix, sucrose content and purity of plant crop and ratoon crop exhibited an ascending trend before the arrival of the first strong low-temperature weather, afterwards exhibited an declining trend. Stalk length damage rate (SDR) demonstrated a progressive increase across three survey periods in both plant crop and ratoon crop, but green leaves percentage (GLP) was gradually decreasing. Plant damage rate (PDR) differed among varieties initially, while in the second and third investigation, PDR reached 100% for all varieties. GT51, GT32, GT13-532, DZ09-78, GT58 and GT52 exhibited strong cold tolerance based on the the subordinate function method. The result from maximum entropy-minimum residual composite index model demonstrated that sugar content, cane yield and millble cane number in ratoon crop ranked the top three in weight coefficients, exerting significant impacts on the comprehensive evaluation of sugarcane varieties. DZ07-36, ZT1, ZZ6, YT07-913, FN38, DZ09-78, GT55, GT51, GT52, GT42 and GT58 showed overall superior performance and are suitable for promotion in colder northern sugarcane-growing regions.

It was aimed to understand the nutrient contents in soil and the characteristics of ecological stoichiometry in the main coffee producing areas of Yunnan Province, Baoshan, Pu’er, and Xishuangbanna. The nutrient content and ecological stoichiometry of both coffee soil and leaves were assessed, thereby enhancing our understanding of the interplay between crops and soil elements while also revealing the status of soil nutrient limitations. Among the regions studied, the C content in Baoshan soil was significantly lower than that of Xishuangbanna (P<0.05), and C/N ratio in Baoshan soil was notably lower than that of Xishuangbanna and Pu’er, while N/P ratio in Baoshan was significantly higher than that of Pu’er coffee. The C content of coffee leaves in Pu’er was more than that of both Baoshan and Xishuangbanna significantly. There were obvious differences in C content and C/N ratios among the leaves from the regions (P<0.01). Leaf N/P threshold analysis indicated that Pu’er coffee had an N/P ratio ranging between 14 and 16, suggesting growth constraints due to both N and P elements, while leaf N/P ratio exceeded 16 for Baoshan and Xishuangbanna coffees, indicating a restriction primarily by phosphorus. Correlation analyses revealed a highly significant positive correlation between C and N levels within coffee soils (P<0.01). Moreover, significant positive correlations were observed between leaf C with C/N ratio and C/P ratio (P<0.01), alongside a notable positive correlation between leaf carbon content and soil nitrogen levels (P<0.01). The results indicated that nitrogen and phosphorus were the limiting factors for Pu’er coffee cultivation and applying nitrogen and phosphorus in production is advisable. In contrast, phosphorus was the primary limiting factor for both Baoshan’s and Xishuangbanna’s coffees production, therefore, appropriate application of phosphorus should be recommended.

Coconut wood (Cocos nucifera L.), an economically significant tropical tree, exhibits variations in fiber morphology and chemical composition that directly influence its processing performance and comprehensive utilization potential. This study systematically investigated the spatial variability of fiber morphological indices (length, width, cell wall thickness, lumen diameter, aspect ratio, and cell wall-lumen ratio) and chemical components (holocellulose, cellulose, and lignin) across different trunk heights (bottom, middle, top) and radial positions (outer, middle, inner) in 40-year-old coconut trees from Hainan. The analyses were conducted using wood microscopy, image analysis software, and chemical assays. Fiber length (696.84-969.94 μm), cell wall thickness (9.78-18.36 μm), and cell wall-lumen ratio (1.13-5.82) decreased significantly from the bottom to the top, while lumen diameter (3.60-10.15 μm) increased. Fiber width (17.41-20.76 μm) and aspect ratio (40.39-48.79) showed minor variations but exhibited an overall downward trend with increasing height. Fiber length, cell wall thickness, and cell wall-lumen ratio decreased from the outer to inner regions, whereas lumen diameter increased. Chemical analysis indicated decreasing trends for holocellulose (59.14%-70.32%) and cellulose (41.03%-44.85%) content along both vertical and radial gradients, while lignin (21.40%-23.60%) initially decreased and then increased vertically, with higher inner-region content. The study identified superior fiber morphology (longer fibers, thicker cell walls, smaller lumen diameters) and higher holocellulose and cellulose content in the bottom and outer regions. Compared to bamboo, coconut fibers are thicker, with thicker cell walls and smaller lumens but lower aspect ratio, making them particularly suitable for medium-to-short fiber pulping processes. This research elucidates the spatial variation mechanisms of coconut wood fiber morphology and chemical composition, could providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing pulping, fiberboard manufacturing, and bioenergy applications, Such insights can enhance resource utilization efficiency and support sustainable development in tropical timber industries.

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), a crucial sugar crop in China, faces yield and quality constraints due to soil nutrient limitations. Severe soil acidification and nutrient imbalances in the southwestern Yunnan sugarcane-growing areas hinder the sustainable development of the industry. This study aimed to clarify the driving effects of soil stoichiometric characteristics on sugarcane leaf nutrient uptake, identify critical thresholds for soil acidification and nutrient limitations, and provide theoretical and technical foundations for precision fertilization and soil improvement. Soil (0-30 cm depth) and leaf samples were systematically collected from 121 sugarcane fields across nine townships in Lianghe County, Yunnan Province using a grid-based sampling strategy. Soil parameters analyzed included pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and DTPA-extractable micronutrients. Leaf nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium) were analyzed after H₂SO₄-H₂O₂ digestion. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to construct multi-path networks linking soil fertility (organic matter, total N/P/K, available nutrients), micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn), and environmental factors (pH) to leaf nutrient dynamics. Model parameters were optimized via maximum likelihood estimation, with standardized path coefficients (β) and determination coefficients (R²) quantifying factor contributions. Soils exhibited pronounced acidification (mean pH=5.07), with 78.23% of samples ≤pH 5.5. Zinc deficiency (<1.5 mg/kg) occurred at 84.75% of sites, while TK (2.27%), available Fe (59.90 mg/kg), and available Cu (1.04 mg/kg) remained relatively high; Organic matter correlated strongly with TN (r=0.929^**), TP (r=0.614^**), AN (r=0.847^**), AP (r=0.642^**), and AK (r=0.399^**), indicating its central role in nutrient retention. Soil acidification (pH<5.5) reduced cation exchange capacity by 26.7% and negatively correlated with AN (r=-0.290^**). Neutral to slightly acidic conditions (pH 6.0-6.5) enhanced phosphorus and potassium availability. Soil available nutrients emerged as pivotal drivers of leaf nutrient assimilation. This study systematically illustrated the multi-path regulatory mechanisms of soil stoichiometric traits driving sugarcane leaf nutrient uptake in southwestern Yunnan’s sugarcane belt, quantitatively linking acidification with nutrient dysregulation. It is proposed that an integrated fertilization strategy—“ameliorate acidity-supplement zinc-regulate nitrogen-enhance carbon” should serve as the technical paradigm for high-yield sugarcane cultivation and sustainable soil management, which also could be universally referred by the agricultural ecosystems in tropical and subtropical acidic soils.

Cymbidium ensifolium ‘Dongfang Honghe’, as a new cultivar of C. ensifolium, has an elegant posture and a distinctive pink-white colour, which is of high value for garden application. In order to deeply understand the flower formation rules of C. ensifolium, and to produce high-quality flowers to meet the demand of the holiday market, ‘Dongfang Honghe’ was used as the experimental material to elaborate the morphological change process of flower buds and flower development during the process of flower formation, and to study the effect of forchlorfenuron (CPPU) on its flowering period and blooming quality. The process of flower bud differentiation was divided into six periods according to the results of paraffin sections: floral primordial induction, inflorescence primordial differentiation, floral primordial differentiation, sepal primordial differentiation, petal primordial differentiation, as well as the stage of gynostemium and pollen block differentiation. The process of flower development was divided into six periods according to the characteristics of the morphology changes of inflorescences: the end of inflorescence bud differentiation, bract wrapping period, inflorescence elongation period, coloring period of flower buds, blossom period and flower wilting period. Spraying CPPU and cytokinin could advance the flowering period of C. ensifolium by about 1 month, among which 1 g/L CPPU+1∶1000 cytokinin had the best effect, and the treatment entered into the stage of flower development in 44 d. The flowering period was advanced by 26.55 d, and the duration of blooming was prolonged by 1.89 d compared with that of the control, and the flower buds increased by 0.54 per pot, and the scape diameter was thickened by 0.28 mm. It is assumed that CPPU stimulates the cell division of pseudobulbs, prompts their expansion, and then accumulates sufficient nutrients for the transformation of flower formation. In this study, the flowering process in ‘Dongfang Honghe’ was delineated, which provides key information for the subsequent in-depth study of the mechanism of flower formation to determine the sampling period and the prediction of flowering time in the industry. The effect of CPPU on the flowering of ‘Dongfang Honghe’ was investigated, which lays a theoretical basis for the establishment of a precise technical system of flower regulation.

In flowering plants, pollen grains land on the stigma surface, undergo hydration, and germinate to produce pollen tubes. Subsequently, the pollen tube grows through the stigma toward the ovule. Within the ovule, the pollen tube ruptures to release sperm cells. The two sperm cells fuse with the egg cell and the central cell, respectively, forming a diploid embryo and a triploid endosperm, thereby completing the double fertilization process. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth are crucial physiological processes in the sexual reproduction of flowering plants. The processes are of significant importance for the propagation of plant species and serve as the fundamental basis for the yield of grain crops. Calcium signaling, functioning as a critical secondary messenger, plays a central role in pollen germination and pollen tube growth. In plants, calcium signaling refers to the regulatory mechanism driven by dynamic changes in cytosolic calcium ion (Ca²⁺) concentrations. Calcium signaling serves as a key regulatory mechanism in plant cell signal transduction, involved in critical processes such as pollen grain perception of osmotic stress, germination, pollen tube growth, and guidance. Simultaneously, through modulating various pathways including calcium channels, calcium pumps, and calcium-binding proteins on the cell membrane, calcium signaling facilitates dynamic remodeling of the pollen tube cytoskeleton, thereby enabling pollen tube elongation and directional growth at the tip. Furthermore, calcium signaling coordinates with pathways involving auxin and abscisic acid to regulate pollen tube growth while promoting dynamic remodeling of the cytoskeleton and tip-focused growth through membrane-associated calcium channels and transporters. The review provides an in-depth exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying calcium signaling in pollen germination and pollen tube growth, and its synergistic interactions with other signaling networks. These insights advance our understanding of plant reproductive biology and offer potential theoretical foundations for crop genetic improvement and agricultural innovation.

Annona squamosa L., a vital tropical fruit crop in southern China, faces escalating threats from fungal diseases, though rust pathogens had not been previously documented domestically. This study reported the first dectection of Phakopsora cherimoliae, a high-risk rust fungus known to cause severe yield losses (>30%) in Central and South America, detected in Yunxiao county, Fujian province. Field symptoms included chlorotic flecks on adaxial leaf surfaces progressing to reddish-brown necrotic lesions with abaxial yellowish-brown uredinia. Morphometric analysis revealed ellipsoid to ovoid urediniospores, long axis is (28.0±2.5)μm; short axis is (22.7±3.2)μm, consistent with P. cherimoliae descriptions but notably smaller than those reported on A. cherimola hosts, suggesting potential host-driven morphological adaptation. Molecular characterization via LSU rDNA sequencing indicated that the sequence of the three isolates obtained in this study exhibited over 99% identity with the reference strain KF528012. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and the Kimura-2 parameter method positioned the isolates in a distinct monophyletic clade with 100% bootstrap support, separate from other related Phakopsora species. Pathogenicity was confirmed through Koch’s postulates. Inoculation of healthy Annona trees with filed urediniospores induced identical symptoms and new urediniospores within 14 days. The absence of telia indicated dependence on urediniospores for asexual propagation, raising concerns about persistent epidemics under Fujian’s humid subtropical climate, where monsoon winds may facilitate regional dispersal. Urgent management strategies include pre-monsoon application of tebuconazole, systematic removal of infected debris, and resistance screening across commercial cultivars (e.g., ‘African Pride’). Study limitations include unresolved telial stage biology and unquantified spore dispersal dynamics, warranting long-term phenological monitoring and aerobiological modeling. This invasion event underscores vulnerabilities in China’s tropical fruit biosecurity, emphasizing the imperative for enhanced phytosanitary surveillance and international collaboration to mitigate cross-border pathogen spread. The findings establish a critical baseline for rust disease management in Asian Annona production systems, bridging a longstanding gap in regional plant pathology literature.

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a virus that can infect various monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Two efficient detection methods for CMV in orchids, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) were developed in the study. For RT-qPCR, a TaqMan probe-based assay was designed using conserved regions of the coat protein (cp) gene, with a cloned cp plasmid serving as the standard for calibration curve construction. For RT-LAMP, specific inner and outer primers were designed based on the cp gene conserved sequences too. Both methods specificity detection were performed using virus RNA from CMV, Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV), and Odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV) as templates, and for sensitivity detection was performed using 10-fold serial dilutions of CMV RNA as a template. Additionally, field-collected orchid samples were screened for CMV infection using both techniques. The CMV RT-qPCR and RT-LAMP detection methods established in this study detected only CMV-positive samples without cross-reactivity with CymMV or ORSV. The sensitivity of RT qPCR and RT LAMP was consistent with a dilution of 10⁶ times the original solution. The positive rate of CMV in field orchid samples was 26.7%. The results demonstrate that the RT-qPCR and RT-LAMP established in this study have strong specificity and high sensitivity, and are suitable for monitoring CMV infection in orchids in actual production processes.

Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith, a traditional medicinal plant widely cultivated in South China, has experienced significant yield and quality reductions due to increasing disease incidence in recent years. This study aimed to identify the causal agent of leaf blight disease in K. coccinea and evaluate fungicide efficacy to establish a scientific foundation for pathogen identification and field management. Pathogens were isolated from symptomatic K. coccinea samples collected in Shaoguan, Guangdong and showing browning and necrosis of leaf and stem tips, using tissue isolation and purification methods. Pathogen was clarified by comprehensive identification combined morphological characterization with multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, rpb2, LSU and tub2). Pathogenicity was confirmed through Koch’s postulates, while the indoor toxicity of seven fungicides to the pathogen was determined via mycelial growth inhibition assays. Isolate SGXFD, obtained from the edges of necrotic leaf tissues, was confirmed as the etiological agent through pathogenicity tests. Polyphasic identification classified the pathogen as Didymella segeticola. Fungicide screening revealed dimetachlone as the most effective inhibitor (EC₅₀=1.8210 mg/L), followed by prochloraz (EC₅₀=3.4460 mg/L) and propiconazole (EC₅₀=3.7391 mg/L). Moderate inhibition was observed with difenoconazole (EC₅₀=11.3202 mg/L), tebuconazole (EC₅₀=45.0019 mg/L), and mancozeb (EC₅₀=51.9597 mg/L). Carbendazim demonstrated limited efficacy (<50% inhibition) across tested concentrations (25.0, 50.0, 100.0, 200.0, 400.0 mg/L). This study establishes D. segeticola as the causative agent of K. coccinea leaf blight. Dimetachlone, prochloraz, and propiconazole exhibit significant antifungal activity against this pathogen, recommending the consideration for field application in disease management programs.

The 3^rd to 5^th instar nymphs and adults were released in tobacco fields and greenhouses to investigate the differences in dispersal capacity and dynamic patterns across developmental stages of Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff). Under greenhouse conditions, dispersal characteristics including release timing, spatial distribution, diffusion coefficients and colonization rates were analyzed. Additionally, dispersal velocities across different developmental stages were measured under field conditions. Results demonstrated variations in dispersal capacity among developmental stages within 12-48 hours post-release, showing a gradual enhancement trend with advancing insect age. Throughout the release period, adults exhibited significantly higher dispersal coefficients than nymphs in tobacco fields, while in greenhouses, adult dispersal coefficients only surpassed nymphs significantly during 12-24 hours post-release. During dispersal, nymphs in the greenhouse primarily clustered on tobacco plants, while the majority of adults exhibited a radial dispersal tendency. At 72 hours post-release, significant differences in colonization rates emerged among developmental stages in greenhouses, with adults achieving markedly higher rates than nymphs, demonstrating a stepwise decline as instar levels decreased (adult>5^th>4^th>3^rd). Dispersal patterns stabilized with prolonged release duration. This study would provide critical evidence for scientifically evaluating the biocontrol potential of E. furcellata, offering substantial significance for enhancing natural enemy efficacy and advancing scientific pest management strategies.

The study established an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technique for the simultaneous determination of six methoxyacrylate fungicides to clarify the possible cumulative dietary intake risk of methoxyacrylate fungicides in fresh mango. The Monte Carlo simulation and relative potency factor methods were employed to assess the cumulative risk of acute and chronic exposure to strobilurin intake from mango consumption in the targeted populations. In 126 mango samples from Hainan, Guangxi and Yunnan, 3 of 6 methoxyacrylate fungicide were detected. The detection rate of pyraclostrobin, azoxystrobinthe and kresoxim-methyl was 31%, 37% and 14% respectively. Picoxystrobin,trifloxystrobin and fluoxastrobin in mango samples were not detected. The ratio of methoxyacrylate fungicide found in a mango sample was 22%. The ratio of 2 and 3 kinds methoxyacrylate fungicides found in a mango sample was 22% and 5%. The most common co-occurrence of methoxyacrylate fungicides was pyraclostrobin and azoxystrobin. The results of dietary risk assessment showed that the risk of residual methoxyacrylate fungicides in mango ranged between 0.1% and 10.2% for acute dietary exposure and between 0.1% and 1.2% for chronic dietary exposure. The exposure was far below the thresholds of dietary risk. The study showed that the cumulative chronic and acute dietary exposure risk of methoxyacrylate fungicide residues in mango are within an acceptable range and do not pose an unacceptable risk to the health of the targeted population.

Tea tree oil (TTO) chitosan emulsion was prepared by ultra-high pressure homogenization method with natural TTO and chitosan as raw materials, Tween-80 as emulsifying agent, and ethanol as co-emulsifying agent. The preparation conditions were optimized by response surface test. The storage stability of TTO chitosan emulsion at different temperatures was investigated, and its antioxidant activity and mildew proof properties were evaluated. The optimal preparation conditions of the emulsion were as follows, the homogenization pressure 160 MPa, the mass fraction of tea tree oil 12%, and the mass fraction of compound emulsifier 4%. Under the conditions, the particle size of the emulsion was 99.24 nm. When stored at 4, 25 and 50 ℃ for 28 days, the particle size remained within 164 nm, the Zeta potential all exceeded 39 mV, and the PDI remained within 0.53, indicating that the storage stability of the emulsion was good. The IC₅₀ value of DPPH radical and OH radical of the emulsion was 22.82 μL /mL and 18.75 μL/mL, respectively, indicating that the emulsion had good antioxidant activity. The mildew proof test showed that the mildew proof ability of bamboo treated with TTO chitosan emulsion was higher than that of untreated bamboo. When the treatment concentration was 80 μL/mL, the antifungal effect was significant.