Sphenobaiera is one of the oldest and most widespread ginkgophyte foliage genera. Within the genus, Sphenobaiera huangii (Sze) Hsü ex Lee, 1963 stands out as the most characteristic and geographically extensive species in the Mesozoic across China, distinguished by its wedge-shaped, sessile leaves, yet most specimens of this typical Chinese species S. huangii are poorly preserved and lack cuticular information. Here, the cuticles of S. huangii are studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultra-thin sections and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Thirty quantitative characters measured from the ultra-thin sections are analyzed using Student's t-tests and multivariate methods, including factorial component analysis (FCA) and hierarchical component analysis (HCA). We also present a three-dimensional reconstruction of the cuticular ultrastructure and provide a dichotomous key for cuticle type identification. New results indicate that Baiera–Sphenobaiera group in Ginkgoales is characterized by a homogeneous cuticle formula (granular A2–fibrilous B1 layers) in all four types of cuticles (upper/lower ordinary epidermal cells, subsidiary cells and guard cells). FCA reveals a hierarchical structure in Ginkgoales Baiera–Sphenobaiera group among the four types of cuticles and their ultrastructural components. These hierarchies differ from those of two other studied plant groups, Bennettitales and Araucariaceae, suggesting that these features may have taxonomic significance at the order level. Comparison with S. huangii material from a different stratigraphic horizon at a nearby locality suggests a possible palaeoenvironmental, particularly micropaleoenvironmental influence. This interpretation is supported by differences in the associated rock matrices and in the ultrastructural equilibria between granular and fibrillous components of the cuticles. These new quantitative data refine and expand previous observations, allowing a more precise characterization of the genera Sphenobaiera and Baiera.

Context: Food production in northern China faces persistent challenges from cold stress and water limitations, which threaten regional food security. To address this, plastic film mulching (PFM) is widely used in the region because of its dual effects of increasing temperatures and conserving soil moisture. Most assessments of PFM focus on crop yields, but research on the temporal yield stability across years remains insufficient. Methods: We compiled a dataset of 58 studies based on 87 comparisons to assess the temporal yield stability of maize and wheat in northern China. A machine learning model using 1089 yield observations was subsequently developed to generate maize and wheat yields across northern China during the historical (2000-2009) and future period (2031-2040), followed by an assessment of yield stability. Results and Conclusions: The results revealed that compared with the control, long-term PFM (>= 3 years) increased crop yields by 27% and resulted in significantly greater temporal yield stability (30%). With increasing water input, the maize relative yield stability initially increased but then plateaued in both the control and PFM systems. In addition, climate was a key factor affecting the relative yield stability ratio of PFM in maize, whereas it was primarily driven by N rates in wheat. PFM increased crop yields by 16.0-21.3% and the relative yield stability by 11.1-12.8% in northern China during 2000-2009. PFM achieved the greatest improvements in terms of both yields and relative yield stability in northwestern China, whereas its improvements were relatively limited in northeastern China. Furthermore, the yield and yield stability benefits of PFM were projected to decline under future climate conditions. In conclusion, PFM shows considerable potential for increasing yield and yield stability across northern China's cropland; however, its actual effectiveness is strongly influenced by local edaphic and climatic conditions. Sihnificance: This study provides the first rigorous assessment of how PFM influences crop yield stability using field experiments conducted over three years. By integrating long-term observations with a random forest algorithm, we identify nonlinear relationships between yield stability and key environmental drivers. Structural equation model further revealed distinct climate-soil-N fertilization pathways underlying the relative yield stability ratio under PFM in maize and wheat. Furthermore, we developed a machine learning model to evaluate its impact on yield stability across northern China, revealing regional heterogeneity and indicating that future climate change may reduce both yield gains and stabilizing effects of PFM relative to historical conditions.

Ixostrobus Raciborski is a well-documented male cone genus of the extinct gymnosperm order Czekanowskiales, with a broad distribution in Northern Hemisphere Mesozoic floras. Nevertheless, preservation-related constraints have resulted in scattered, incomplete investigations, with a lack of detailed comparative morphological analyses and global systematic revisions. This study provides a comprehensive systematic re-appraisal of Ixostrobus, integrating new fossil material from the Jurassic in the Qaidam Basin, NW China, with previously published records from Asia and Europe. The generic diagnosis is refined, focusing on diagnostic characters including cone dimensions, microsporophyll morphology and pollen sac arrangement. Several specimen assignments are revised, and a new species, Ixostrobus bilobus Chen, Wang et Zhang sp. nov., characterized by its distinctive bilobed scales, is erected. Global taxonomic revision confirms 13 valid species from 18 described taxa, establishing a robust systematic framework and clarifying longstanding taxonomic uncertainties between Ixostrobus and relevant taxa. The updated spatio-temporal framework reveals a temporal range from the Early Triassic to Early Cretaceous with Early Jurassic diversity peak and an exclusively Laurasian distribution, offering critical evidence for evaluating Mesozoic gymnosperm floristic turnover, palaeogeographic connectivity and palaeoclimatic responsiveness. These results elevate Ixostrobus to a pivotal reference taxon for deciphering the systematics, diversification dynamics and evolutionary patterns of Mesozoic gymnosperms.

Large-scale and difficult to decompose greenhouse gas (GHG) have challenged the agrifood sector to achieve net zero. While mulching perturbs GHG emissions and soil carbon sequestration, its potential in reducing GHG emissions remains unexplored. Here, we combined life cycle assessment with process-based model to evaluate carbon footprints and net environmental and economic benefits of maize, wheat and rice under no-mulching (CK), plastic film (PM) and straw mulching (SM) in China. We show that carbon footprint of rice was highest, methane (CH4) and nitrogen fertilizer were main contributor. In China, GHG emissions of three crops were 668 Tg CO2 eq yr(-1) (rice: 38 %, maize: 33 %, wheat: 29 %), SM increased yield (12 %), agricultural profit (9 %) and reduced emissions (9 %), which promotes agricultural co-development, but PM needs to be combined with other mitigation measures. Our study paved ways for comprehensively understanding the impact of mulching, and developing effective strategies towards sustainable future.

Once widespread in the Mesozoic but now represented by a single species, Ginkgoales is an example of long-term morphological stasis (evident in the similarities between fossil and modern forms), providing critical evidence for systematics and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. In this study we investigate the Early to Middle Jurassic Ginkgoales from the Dameigou and adjacent areas in the Qaidam Basin, northeastern Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau, China, focusing on three common fossil genera: Ginkgoites, Baiera and Sphenobaiera. Based on 128 fossil specimens from eight fossil-bearing layers in the succession and their macro/microcharacters, we identified 10 species, illustrating the diversity within Ginkgoales during the Early-Middle Jurassic interval in the area. Multivariate analyses of the macrocharacters matrix, based on quantitatively measurable leaf traits, facilitated the classification of ginkgoalean fossils that were not preserved with cuticles at the genus level. Species-level classification remains challenging due to the potential heterophylly of the Ginkgoalean leaves. Micromorphological traits, however, show promise in resolving species boundaries. The species- and morphology-level diversity in ginkgoaleans may emphasize their different adaptative strategies to local environmental conditions across time. Despite substantial environmental changes, some species, including Ginkgoites qaidamensis (Li) Zhang & Wang, G. longifolius Harris and Sphenobaiera spectabilis (Nathorst) Florin, show morphological stability spanning Early to Middle Jurassic strata. These findings enhance our understanding of the evolution and resilience of Ginkgoales, and offer insights into plant adaptability during the Early to Middle Jurassic.

The Early-Middle Jurassic impression/compression macroflora and the palynoflora from the Qaidam Basin in the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau have been well studied; however, fossil wood from this region has not been previously documented systematically. Here, we describe an anatomically well-preserved fossil wood specimen from the Lower Jurassic Huoshaoshan Formation at the Dameigou section in northern Qinghai Province, northwestern China. This fossil exhibits typical Metapodocarpoxylon Dup & eacute;ron-Laudoueneix et Pons anatomy with usually araucarian radial tracheid pits and variable cross-field pits, representing a new record for Metapodocarpoxylon in the Qaidam Basin. This discovery indicates that trees with this type of wood anatomy were not confined to northern Gondwana but also grew in more northerly regions in Laurasia. The wood displays distinct growth rings, with abundant, well-formed earlywood and narrow latewood. This observation, along with previous interpretations based on macroflora, palynoflora and sedimentological data, suggests that a warm and humid climate with mild seasonality prevailed in the region during the Early Jurassic.

Context: Mineral nitrogen (N) management and organic matter management in the paddy fields directly affect yield and soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the rice-wheat rotation system of China. However, comprehensive research on the combined impacts of these two practices remains insufficient, and there is a lack of quantitative analyses on a large regional scale as well as identification of the main drivers. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the impact of mineral N management and organic matter management on rice yield and global warming potential (GWP) and their spatial distribution patterns, and to investigate influential factors. Methods: We combined machine learning algorithms based on meta-analysis to assess the effect of mineral N management (synthetic N fertilizer, slow-/controlled- release fertilizer) and organic matter management (organic fertilizer, biochar amendment, and straw return) on rice yield and GHG in the rice-wheat system by compiling 163 peer-reviewed journal articles and high-resolution multi-source databases in China. Results: Mineral N management significantly increased rice yield (412 %) and N2O (162.3 %), and reduced GHG emissions intensity (GHGI; 20.1 %). Organic matter management increased CH4, GWP, and GHGI by 74.4 %, 60.8 %, and 55.1 %, respectively. Machine learning (random forest (RF), support vector machine, multiple layer perceptron, and gradient boosting machine) suggested that RF was the optimal method for predicting rice yield and GHG (R2 = 0.43-0.90). The spatial distribution indicated that mineral N management boosted rice yield and N2O while reducing GHGI, especially in the Middle-lower Yangtze River (MLY) region, by 37.6 %, 277 %, and 25.2 %, respectively. Structural equation modeling and RF analysis revealed that field management practices and edaphic factors had major contributions to rice yield, while climatic factors were positively with CH4 and N2O emissions. Implications: Our findings provide insights into the importance of inorganic and organic managements to ensure food security and environmental sustainability, thereby contributing to the promotion of sustainable rice production.

In precision agriculture research, it is important to monitor maize growth conditions in real time for effective field diagnosis, management, and accurate yield prediction. This study aimed to develop an inverse model of vegetation index and maize yield using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) multispectral imagery. The objective was to investigate how the vegetation index, maize growth stages, and growth parameters respond to plastic film mulching on the Loess Plateau. Annual field trials (2019–2020) employed a factorial design to evaluate mulch and nitrogen regimes. The results show that vegetation index long-time series curves, combined with maize phenological growth stages, can be used to monitor maize growth and yield estimation (R2 > 0.9). The 13 vegetation indices (VIs) obtained by UAVs had a good regression relationship with the leaf area index, with the enhanced vegetation index 2 (EVI2) performing the best. The VIs obtained by UAVs at different stages of growth and development predicted yields, finding that EVI2 performed best with an R2 of 0.92 and an RMSE of 0.52 t ha-1 when maize entered the heading stage in 2019. The regression effect of VIs and yield based on maize without plastic film mulching management entering the heading stage was the best in 2020, with an R2 of 0.94 and an RMSE of 0.44 t ha−1. When maize enters the heading stage, the best simulation results can be obtained by using the VIs to establish a yield prediction model. Spectral signatures during reproductive transition (VT-R1) proved most indicative of the final yield. Convergence of UAV-based spectral phenotyping with crop developmental physiology enables high-resolution growth diagnostics, providing empirical support for precision farming adaptations.

Biochar application has been recognized as a promising strategy to improve crop productivity while mitigating climate change. However, comprehensive studies examining its effects on rice production and agro-environmental benefits in rice–wheat rotation systems are still limited. To address this gap, we evaluated the impact of biochar addition on rice yield, soil organic carbon (SOC), CH4 emissions, N2O emissions, global warming potential (GWP), and greenhouse gas emissions intensity (GHGI) in rice–wheat rotation system in China using 630 pairwise observations from 56 publications. The results showed that biochar addition increased rice yield by 10.70% (0.1 t ha−1), with the improvements ranging from 9.42% (0.07 t ha−1) to 14.11% (0.13 t ha−1) across different application rates. Biochar addition also enhanced SOC by 30.45%, reduced N2O emissions by 19.88%, and consequently lowered GWP and GHGI by 11.07% and 19.03%, respectively. We further examined the impact of biochar properties (raw materials, initial pH, total nitrogen (TN), and ash fraction) on yield improvement and climate change mitigation. The results indicated that raw materials, TN, and pH of biochar significantly increased rice yield and SOC by 8.19–10.79% and 30.51–34.53%, respectively, as well as reduced N2O emissions, GWP, and GHGI by 20.33–25.60%, 10.76–13.14%, and 19.41–21.60%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that rice yield initially increased but declined at higher biochar application rates, whereas SOC increased and GWP decreased with rising biochar rates. These findings highlight the potential of biochar to simultaneously enhance yield while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions under high addition rates, providing a practical strategy for promoting green, low-carbon, and sustainable agricultural ecosystems.

Keteleeria Carrie = re (Pinaceae) is a small genus of evergreen conifer trees, with three to five extant species and six variants distributed across China, Laos, and Vietnam. A new species of conifer fossil wood, Keteleeria huolinhensis sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Huolinhe Formation in Inner Mongolia, China. This species is characterized by a heterogeneous pith, endarch primary xylem, the presence of axial resin canals, abietinean radial tracheid pitting, mostly taxodioid and occasionally cupressoid cross-field pitting, nodular horizontal and end walls of ray parenchyma cells, and uniseriate rays of 1-15 (mainly 1-8) cell height. This newly discovered fossil wood represents the earliest record of Keteleeria wood, and sheds light on its evolutionary history and palaeogeographical distribution ranges in the geological past. Cladistic analysis based on 12 morphological characteristics supports the assignment of Protopiceoxylon as the ancestral group of Keteleerioxylon and Keteleeria, reflecting the evolution of radial tracheid pitting from the mixed to abietinean type. Quantitative analysis of the growth rings indicated that K. huolinhensis sp. nov. is an evergreen tree with a Leaf Retention Time (LRT) of 1-3 years. The growth ring patterns in the present fossil wood specimen suggest that the Huolinhe Basin experienced a temperate climate with regular seasonal fluctuations, and relatively sufficient water supply during the Early Cretaceous. Traumatic resin canals, wound scars, presumed fungal remains, and insect tracks in the stem contribute to a further understanding of the complex ecological relationships in the Early Cretaceous Huolinhe flora.

Vegetative leaves have long been considered a significant receiver of gaseous Hg in the atmosphere, offering the potential to passively monitor palaeo-atmospheric Hg concentrations; however, few constraints on this exist. In this study, we conduct Hg measurements on three Ginkgo leaf collections: i) modern leaves from ten sampling sites across China, ii) modern leaves collected monthly across one growing season in Nanjing (China), iii) fossil ginkgoaleans leaves from the Middle Jurassic (China). The results from this study reveal that the foliar Hg concentrations (with an average concentration of 61 ng.g(-1), N = 272) were higher than those observed in Ginkgo leaf samples previously studied from Ireland and the USA. Additionally, the leaf age and atmospheric Hg concentrations represent two primary factors impacting foliar Hg contents in Ginkgo. Hg concentrations in fossil cuticular samples (with an average concentration of 585.5 ng.g(-1)) were observed notably higher than those in modern Ginkgo leaves (avg. 61 ng.g(-1)) and sediments from the same layers (avg. 113 ng.g(-1)). Considering possible Hg migration during fossilization, we suggested that the elevated Hg concentrations in fossil cuticles were attributed to both the retention of Hg in leaves and the loss of leaf content during fossilization. Based on 23 fossil ginkgoalean samples from 6 beds of the Dameigou section (spanning from the Early to the Middle Jurassic), Qaidam Basin, China, we detected a Hg anomaly through Hg concentrations in fossil cuticles during the presumed palaeo-volcanic event (the Karoo-Ferrar Large Igneous Province (LIP)). This preliminary test supports the notion that variations in Hg concentrations in fossil cuticle may potentially reflect the gaseous Hg changes in the Jurassic palaeo-atmosphere, triggered by LIP volcanism at this time. This finding highlights the possibility of using fossil plant cuticle as a Hg proxy of palaeo-atmospheric Hg loading.

Palaeoglacier modelling is a crucial approach for reconstructing palaeoclimate. Although the timing of glaciations during the Little Ice Age (LIA) and Neoglacial in the central Gangdise Mountains has been partially determined, there are still undated fresh-looking moraines. This study utilized coupled mass balance and ice flow models to simulate the palaeoclimate during the five LIA glacial events (LIA-1 to LIA-5) and two Neoglacial glacial events (Neo-1 and Neo-2). The results revealed that the glacial volumes in the Gangdise Mountains during the LIA and Neoglacial periods ranged from similar to 1.10 to 1.57 km(3). Comparing the reconstructed climate with other proxies, it was found that Neo-2 and Neo-1 exhibited temperatures 0.54 to 0.82 degrees C and 0.7 to 1.0 degrees C lower than the present, respectively, with precipitation levels at 110-140% of the present. The temperatures during the LIA periods were 0.36 to 1 degrees C lower than the present, with precipitation levels at 80-120% of the present. The interannual variability of climate at decadal or centennial scales may have played a significant role in the formation of the LIA moraines.

Understanding the pattern and timing of glacial fluctuations in the latest Holocene (<1000 years), along with their cause, is necessary for deconvolving natural drivers of climate variability from anthropogenic impacts. Yet, debates remain on the importance of a global or more regional forcing mechanism. Here, we use Be-10 surface exposure dating, in conjunction with geomorphological mapping, to develop a moraine chronology with decades-to-century-scale resolution in the Xianza Range, southern Tibetan Plateau (TP). Five moraine records east of Mt. Jiare are dated to similar to 991 Common Era (CE), similar to 1415 CE, similar to 1567 CE, similar to 1711 CE, and similar to 1875 CE. The well-established moraine chronologies demonstrate that glaciers achieved the latest Holocene glacial maximum during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). The less extensive Little Ice Age (LIA) glacial events release an unprecedented finding, which disproves the traditional viewpoint presuming that the LIA in the TP was represented by 2-3 glacial advances. Our results, paired with other climate records, point to, at least, a regional climate cooling signal during the LIA. In the MWP, glacial advance likely reflects the positive North Atlantic Oscillation-related cooling signal as recorded in the Northwestern Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. The strengthened northern mid-latitude westerlies at that time may play a key role in transferring cooling signal to the southern TP.

In order to explore the mechanism underlying chemosensation in the tea looper, Scopula subpunctaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), the types, morphology, quantity and distribution of sensilla on the antenna were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that females and males antennae were filiform, bipectinate, respectively, which be divided into three segments, scape, pedical and flagellum that consisted numerous individual flagellomeres, respectively. There were eight kinds and twelve types of sensilla on the antennae, including 4 subtypes of sensilla trichodae, 2 subtypes of sensilla basiconica, sensilla chaetica, B & ouml;hm bristles, sensilla squamiformia, sensilla auricillica, sensilla coeloconica, and sensilla styloconica. No differences were found about the morphology, abundance, and distribution of most sensillum. However, the distributions and abundances of ST III, sensilla coeloconica and sensilla styloconica dimensions showed significant sexual dimorphism between male and female adults. In addition, the possible functions of sensilla were analyzed and discussed according to their morphology, distribution, and the previously reported sensilla function. These results could help to understand the chemical communication of S. subpunctaria and their host, and provide a scientific basis for the development of a novel biological control strategy of S. subpunctaria .

Global warming and extremely high temperatures affect insect survival and distribution. In this study, we characterized the gene expression profiles of red (PAR) and green (PAG) morphs of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) at three high temperatures (30 °C, 36 °C, and 38 °C) and three treatment durations (6 h, 12 h, and 24 h) by high-throughput sequencing. Both PARs and PAGs increased the number of significantly differentially expressed genes as temperature and treatment duration increased, particularly for genes associated with stress resistance, lipid metabolism, cuticular protein expression, and the initiation of various regulatory mechanisms. However, the response mechanisms and their intensities varied between the morphs. More cuticular protein genes were down-regulated in PAGs, while more stress resistance genes up-regulated in PARs. JAK-STAT, MAPK, Estrogen, Insulin signaling, and Longevity-regulating pathways were enriched in PARs, whereas AMPK, Insulin signaling, and Circadian rhythm pathways were enriched in PAGs. These results suggested that PARs possesses greater adaptability than PAGs under extreme high temperatures. The different temperature adaptability between morphs may represent an ecological strategy developed by A. pisum to adapt to global warming. This research enhances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying insect survival in high-temperatures environments and provides guidance for the development of control strategies.

Grassland caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Gynaephora) are important pests in alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). These pests have morphological, behavioral, and genetic adaptations for survival in high-altitude environments. However, mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation in QTP Gynaephora species remain largely unknown. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of the head and thorax transcriptomes of G. aureata to explore the genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation. We detected 8,736 significantly differentially expressed genes (sDEGs) between the head and thorax, including genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, epidermal proteins, and detoxification. These sDEGs were significantly enriched in 312 Gene Ontology terms and 16 KEGG pathways. We identified 73 pigment-associated genes, including 8 rhodopsin-associated genes, 19 ommochrome-associated genes, 1 pteridine-associated gene, 37 melanin-associated genes, and 12 heme-associated genes. These pigment-associated genes were related to the formation of the red head and black thorax of G. aureata. A key gene, yellow-h, in the melanin pathway was significantly upregulated in the thorax, suggesting that it is related to the formation of the black body and contributed to the adaptation of G. aureata to low temperatures and high ultraviolet radiation in the QTP. Another key gene, cardinal, in the ommochrome pathway was significantly upregulated in the head and may be related to red warning color formation. We also identified 107 olfactory-related genes in G. aureata, including genes encoding 29 odorant-binding proteins, 16 chemosensory proteins, 22 odorant receptor proteins, 14 ionotropic receptors, 12 gustatory receptors, 12 odorant degrading enzymes, and 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins. Diversification of olfactory-related genes may be associated with the feeding habits of G. aureata, including larvae dispersal and searching for plant resources available in the QTP. These results provide new insights into high-altitude adaptation of Gynaephora in the QTP and may contribute to the development of new control strategies for these pests.

Introduction: Carboxylesterases (CXEs) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) can terminate olfactory signals during chemosensation by rapid degradation of odorants in the vicinity of receptors. The tea grey geometrid, Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera, Geometridae), one of the most devastating insect herbivores of tea plants in China, relies heavily on plant volatiles to locate the host plants as well as the oviposition sites. However, CXEs and GSTs involved in signal termination and odorant clearance in E. grisescens remains unknown.Methods: In this study, identification and spatial expression profiles of CXEs and GSTs in this major tea pest were investigated by transcriptomics and qRT-PCR, respectively.Results: As a result, we identified 28 CXEs and 16 GSTs from female and male antennal transcriptomes. Phylogenetic analyses clustered these candidates into several clades, among which antennal CXEs, mitochondrial and cytosolic CXEs, and delta group GSTs contained genes commonly associated with odorants degradation. Spatial expression profiles showed that most CXEs (26) were expressed in antennae. In comparison, putative GSTs exhibited a diverse expression pattern across different tissues, with one GST expressed specifically in the male antennae.Disscussion: These combined results suggest that 12 CXEs (EgriCXE1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 18, 20-22, 24, 26, and 29) and 5 GSTs (EgriGST1 and EgriGST delta group) provide a major source of candidate genes for odorants degradation in E. grisescens.