Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) flowers serve as a vital nectar source for pollinators, significantly contribute to agricultural ecosystems and impacting pollination efficiency and fruit set. Understanding the genetic and phenotypic variation of these flowers is essential for improving breeding strategies, optimizing pollination, and ensuring high fruit yields. However, the relationship between flower traits and genetic trends in jujube hybrids remains unexplored. This study investigates the correlation between eleven key flower traits and genetic trends in the F1 hybrid population derived from Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba 'JMS2 ') and wild jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa 'Xing16 '). The flower traits analyzed in this study include Flower Diameter, flower area, nectar disk diameter, nectar disk area, percentage of nectar disk, pollen quantity, full-blossom period, initial-blossom period, flower bud cracking time, number of flowers per inflorescence, and calyx color. Eleven flower traits were measured in progenies and the parent plants, followed by correlation, principal component, and cluster analyses. Significant positive correlations were observed among flower diameter, flower area, nectar disk diameter, and nectar disk area (r = 0.71*** to 0.99*). The Initial-Blossom Period was positively correlated with the fullblossom period (r = 0.496*), while the flower bud cracking Time showed negative correlations with the initial-blossom period (r = -0.17*) and number of flowers per inflorescence (r = -0.14*). principal component analysis revealed five major components that captured the most variation in flower phenotypes. cluster analysis indicated that 84.2 % of the progeny were grouped with the male parent 'Xing16 ', suggesting a trend toward smaller flowers in the hybrid population. Additionally, many progenies exhibited smaller flower areas but larger nectar disks as compared to the parent plants. These results provide valuable insights into the genetic and phenotypic segregation of flower traits in jujube hybrids, which can inform breeding strategies and enhance pollination efficiency, both of which are closely tied to fruit production. This study highlights the importance of flower development in jujube, offers a basis for improving selection criteria for breeding, enhancing pollination, and ultimately boosting fruit yield.

Fruit texture is a critical quality trait affecting the consumer acceptance and processing suitability of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). Soluble sugars and organic acids are not only fundamental to flavor but also serve as key metabolic indicators associated with textural diversity. However, how the accumulation soluble sugars and organic acids relates to textural variation remains largely unexplored. This study systematically evaluated 109 jujube germplasm accessions for soluble sugars, titratable acidity, and fruit hardness at full-red maturity. Hierarchical clustering based on these traits classified the germplasm into three distinct groups: Group I (high acidity and low hardness, 29.36%), Group II (balanced traits, 55.96%), and Group III (high sugar and high hardness, 14.68%). Textural profile analysis revealed that Group III exhibited significantly superior texture, with hardness, gumminess, and chewiness exceeding those of Group I by 97.99%, 99.91%, and 210.22%, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based quantification of the primary metabolites showed that the favourable texture of Group III was associated with a markedly higher accumulation of sucrose, fructose, and glucose. In contrast, Group possessed significantly high concentrations of citric acid and malic acid, which were higher than those of Group III by 401.75% and 141.27%, respectively, and which correlated with its softer texture. Correlation and principal component analyses further highlighted a strong antagonistic relationship between sugar and organic acid accumulation, with sugars positively and organic acids negatively associated with key textural parameters. This germplasm-based classification, coupled with the identified sugar-organic acid signatures, provides a clear phenotypic and biochemical frameworkfor breeding, and suggests that sugar and organic acid metabolism may indirectly influence fruit texture through osmotic regulation and modulation of the cell wall microenvironment.

As a traditional fruit with both medicine/food, homolog,jujube is widely favored for its rich sugar content and distinctive flavor profile.Notably, triploid jujube germplasms exhibit enhanced sugar and acid accumulation patterns attributable to the effects of ploidy. To elucidate these flavor characteristics, we employed HPLC to quantify soluble sugars and organic acids in 72 triploid jujube offspring.The results showed that the sugar in triploid fruits was mainly composed of sucrose, fructose and glucose, The average proportions were 64.04%, 17.87% and 18.09% respectively. Malic acid, citric acid and ascorbic acid were the main organic acids in the fruit, accounting for about 73.80% in total. Notably, the solid-acid ratio of the fruit ranged from 31.91 to 131.05, with a coefficient of variation of 34.04%.Integration of correlation and PCA analysis identified six core flavor determinants.Through systematic cluster analysis, the 72 offspring were clearly classified into four flavor types.Establishment of critical TSS/TA thresholds at 50 and 90 enabled effective discrimination among distinct flavor chemotypes. Based on this, a digital quantitative flavor grading system was constructed.This study not only established a standardized system for evaluating the flavor of triploid jujube fruits, but also provided a theoretical basis for improving the scientific flavor evaluation of triploid jujube fruits.scientific flavor evaluation.

Soil salinization profoundly affects soil nitrogen (N) transformation and reactive N loss. Although N stabilizers, such as urease/nitrification inhibitors, are promising tools for mitigating N pollution and enhancing nutrient efficiency, their response to soil salinization is unclear. A microcosm aerobiotic incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of salinization (salt addition) combined with N stabilizer amendment on soil NH3, N2O, NO, and CO2 emissions. Additionally, quantitative PCR was combined with metagenomic analysis to identify microbial community shifts and functional gene responses. The results showed that urea with salt addition (SU) increased soil NH3, N2O, and NO emissions by 68.3%, 41.3%, and 45.3%, respectively, compared with urea alone, owing to the rapid growth of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) carrying amoA genes and increased nitrite accumulation. Nitrification inhibitor (NI) amendment reduced N2O and NO emissions by over 60% compared with the corresponding U and SU treatments, although this amendment increased NH3 volatilization. Soil salinization combined with NI increased NH3, N2O, and NO emissions by 55.7%, 22.7%, and 43.6%, respectively, compared with those observed under NI without salinization; this was a direct result of Nitrosospira amplification (gene abundance). Urease inhibitor (UI) or double inhibitor (DI) amendment retained N in the form of urea, thereby reducing substrate availability for reactive N gas emissions by lowering the number of amoA-AOB gene copies and reducing the abundances of the dominant genera. Furthermore, salt addition did not affect the efficacy of UI or DI. These findings suggest that the application of UIs could be prioritized for soils with high pH and salinity levels to reduce N pollution and prolong soil N availability for crops.

Red jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. Hongzao) and winter jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. Dongzao) are important fruit resources in China. This research systematically assessed the effects of normal- (25°C) and low-temperature (4°C) storage on the storage stability and fruit quality of red jujube and winter jujube. The results showed that 4°C low-temperature storage effectively delays postharvest quality deterioration by metabolic activity, respiration, and oxidative stress, significantly delayed the green-to-red color transition, reduced soft fruit and decay incidence, extended the shelf life by 3.5-fold (red jujube) and 5.25-fold (winter jujube) compared to 25°C storage, and effectively suppressed nutrient loss while enhancing water retention capacity. Although both varieties benefit from refrigeration, red jujube exhibits superior storage stability at 4°C, characterized by stronger retention of vitamin C (VC), higher ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, and greater suppression of cell wall-degrading enzymes (polygalacturonase [PG], β-glucosidase, and cellulase). In contrast, winter jujube has a total soluble solids (TSS) and carbohydrate content, resulting in higher respiratory, weight loss and cell membrane damage. Meanwhile, Principal component analysis (PCA) under both temperature conditions indicated that the differences in physiological responses between varieties were attenuated under low-temperature storage. These observations provide valuable theoretical and practical guidance to optimize postharvest storage technologies for jujube fruit.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is one of China’s important specialty fruit trees with high nutritional and medicinal values. With the growing demand for high-quality jujube fruit, genetic improvement of fruit quality has become a key focus of the jujube industry. Fruit flavor is critical for market competitiveness, and soluble solids, soluble sugar and titratable acid are the main components determining fruit flavor quality. To analyze the genetic inheritance of sugar and acid traits in jujube fruits, the F1 generation of 140 progeny from the cross between jujube ‘Yuhong’× ‘Jiaocheng 5’ was established and used for the measurement of sugar and acid contents for a period of 3 years. Thereafter, based on a well-constructed, high-density genetic map of jujube, quantitative trait locus (QTL) localization analysis was carried out. The results showed that a total of 11 QTLs were detected across the sugar and acid traits, which distributed across 6 chromosomes, with LOD values between 3.01 and 4.64, and phenotypic variance explained (PVE) ranged from 12.84

【Objective】Ziziphus jujuba Mill., a hallmark fruit crop in China, holds significant economic and cultural value due to its dual utility for fresh consumption and drying. However, the rapid postharvest quality deterioration of fresh jujube limits its market circulation and storage duration. The physiological changes and nutrient retention in fruits postharvest are profoundly influenced by maturity stages, making the determination of the optimal harvest period a critical issue for balancing fruit quality, storability, and commercial value. Tayou 12, a superior line derived from seedling progeny of the Tailihong jujube, stands out for its stable yield, high productivity, intense sweetness, and large fruit size. Despite its outstanding agronomic traits, systematic studies on the postharvest quality dynamics of its fruit at different maturity stages remain scarce. This research aims to elucidate quality changes during ambient storage of Tayou 12 fruits at varying maturity stages, and to provide reference for precise harvest timing.【Methods】Fruits at three maturity stages, including white-ripe stage (＜5% reddening, greenwhite peel, crisp texture), half-red stage (50%-70% reddening, transitional green-red coloration), and full-red stage(＞95% reddening, physiological maturity with complete sugar accumulation), were studied. For each stage, 20 kg of intact, undamaged, disease-free fruits were stored in ventilated plastic crates at 25±1℃ and 75%±5% relative humidity. Daily sampling was conducted to assess water loss (gravimetric method, %), firmness (TMS-PRO texture analyzer, N), total phenolics (Folin-Ciocalteu method, mg·g-1), flavonoids(aluminum nitrate-sodium nitrite colorimetry, mg·g-1), vitamin C(2,6-dichloroindophenol titration, mg·100 g-1), malondialdehyde(spectrophotometry, μmol·100 g-1), respiration rate(closed-system gas chromatography, mg·kg-1·h-1), decay rate(visual inspection, %), organic acids, and sugar profiles(HPLC, mg·g-1).【Results】During storage, the sensory evaluation of fruits at different maturity stages showed significant differences. The total evaluation score of the white-ripe stage was the highest at 25.3 points on the 4th day; the half-red stage(26.4 points)and the full-red stage(28.9 points)both had the highest total scores on the 1st day. After 9 days of storage, fruit at full-red stage showed the best sensory evaluation during the storage period, making it suitable for fresh consumption. After harvest, the white-ripe and half-red stage fruits increased in the red area of the peel with the increase of storage time. The half-red stage fruits turned completely red on the 7th day, indicating that the post-harvest ripening process of immature jujube fruits continued. During storage, the firmness of jujube fruits at different maturity stages decreased. The white-ripe stage fruits had the highest initial firmness(9.35 N)and the greatest degree of decline. The firmness of the full-red fruits decreased to 5.92 N on the 7th day. The firmness of the half-red stage jujube fruits was between those of the white-ripe fruits and full-red fruits. The full-red fruits had the highest initial respiration rate(35.50 mg·kg-1· h-1), which was 2.24 times that of the white-ripe fruits(15.89 mg·kg-1· h-1)and 1.67 times that of the half-red fruits(21.28 mg·kg-1· h-1), reflecting vigorous metabolic activities. However, during storage, the respiration rate of the full-red fruits showed a significant downward trend, and became lower than that of the half-red fruits from the 5th day. The white-ripe and half-red fruits both showed respiration peaks during storage, and they had no significant difference in initial respiration rate and final respiration rate, indicating that immature fruits could maintain metabolic vitality during post-harvest storage. The water loss rate during storage increased with the increase of maturity: white-ripe stage(2.73% on the 9th day of storage)＜half-red stage(3.57%)＜full-red stage(4.92%), which was related to the stomatal density and cuticle thickness of the peel. The full-red fruits deteriorated rapidly, with a decay rate of 21.9% on the 4th day of storage, mainly due to peel softening and a decrease in the content of antibacterial substances. The white-ripe fruits had significantly higher initial contents of total phenols(7.63 mg·g-1), flavonoids(5.95 mg·g-1), and vitamin C(286.59 mg·100 g-1), which might be related to the active synthesis of phenolic substances in the early stage of maturity. The sugar composition in jujube fruits varies with ripeness. In fruits at white-ripe stage, fructose and glucose accounted for a larger proportion, while in the half-red and full-red fruits, sucrose was the dominant sugar component. The total sugar content in the white-ripe fruits showed increased first and then decreased; in the half-red fruits total sugar presented a trend of increasing first, then decreasing and increasing again; and in the full-red fruits displayed a gradual increasing trend. The order of total sugar content among different stages was full-red stage＞half-red stage＞white-ripe stage. Specifically, the total sugar content in the white-ripe fruits reached the maximum on the 3th day(233.04 mg·g-1). In the half-red fruits, it increased significantly to 362.78 mg·g-1 on the 9th day. In the full-red fruits, the total sugar content rose significantly to 403.65 mg·g-1on the 8th day. The major acids in the fruit included citric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid. During storage, the acid content in the full-red fruits showed constantly increased, and was generally higher than that in the white-ripe and half-red fruits.【Conclusions】This study systematically reveals the postharvest quality changes in“Tayou 12”jujube at maturity stages during storage. The half-red fruits proved to be optimal for harvest, balancing nutrient retention (high antioxidants, balanced sugars), acceptable firmness (6.78 N at day 9), and moderate decay resistance(23.33% decay at day 9). White-ripe fruits are suitable for long-distance transportation or long-term storage; however, their low sugar content and rapid loss of nutrients restrict the fresh-eating quality. Full-red stage is ideal for immediate consumption or processing but requires strict logistics due to poor storage performance. These findings provide a scientific framework for precision harvesting tailored to end-use purposes. Future research should explore controlled atmosphere storage technologies to extend the shelf life of fruit at half-red stage, so as to maximize commercial benefits and consumer satisfaction.

Winter jujube is highly favored by consumers, and improving both the fruit quality and yield during cultivation is a key issue in horticultural research. Fertilization is a critical measure regulating growth. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of basal fertilizer combined with two novel synergistic additives—graphene and microbial inoculants—on the growth, fruit quality, and metabolic profiles of winter jujube, providing new fertilization strategies. The selected doses of graphene (0.38 g/plant) and microbial inoculant (0.26 g/plant) were based on the previous literature to balance efficacy, cost, and environmental safety. The graphene used was functionalized graphene oxide provided by Shanxi Datong University, chosen for its enhanced dispersibility and plant compatibility. Although this study focused on physiological and metabolic responses, the economic feasibility and potential environmental implications of these additives are discussed in the context of sustainable jujube production. Six-year-old winter jujube trees were treated with four fertilization regimes: basal fertilizer + graphene (T1), basal fertilizer + microbial fertilizer (T2), basal fertilizer + graphene + microbial fertilizer (T3), and basal fertilizer only (CK). Growth indices, mineral element contents in different organs, and fruit quality traits were measured. Widely targeted metabolomics was used to analyze metabolic variations among treatments. Compared with CK, all three synergistic fertilizer treatments tended to promote growth, increasing leaf area, chlorophyll content, and jujube bearing shoot length; contributed to the accumulation of P, K, Ca, Mg, and other minerals in various organs; and helped improve fruit quality by increasing the total sugars and flavonoids. T1 and T3 exhibited relatively better overall performance. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant differences in the metabolite profiles of winter jujube fruits across different treatments. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were closely associated with the improvement in fruit quality; further screening identified seven differential metabolites, predominantly belonging to phenolic acids. Basal fertilizer combined with graphene alone or with microbial inoculants may effectively promote growth and improve fruit quality by optimizing mineral uptake and regulating metabolic processes. These findings provide potential theoretical and practical support for high-quality, high-yield fertilization strategies for winter jujube.

【Objective】In order to investigate the genetic variation characteristics of fruit sugar and acid in the triploid jujube offsprings, we determined the sugar and acid contents of triploid hybrids and their parents by HPLC. Jujube is a characteristic economic fruit tree species native to China. With the increasing diversification of consumer preferences for fruit flavor, polyploid breeding has become an important approach for creating new varieties. In previous studies, the tetraploid cultivar Chenguang was used as the male parent and diploid Dongzao as the female parent to generate a triploid hybrid progeny population through interspecific hybridization. However, the genetic patterns of sugar and acid components in triploid jujube have not yet been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the inheritance mechanisms of fruit sugar and acid contents in triploid jujube offsprings and provide a theoretical basis for ploidy hybridization in jujube breeding programs.【Methods】The tetraploid Chenguang (CG, 2n=48) was used as the male parent and diploid Dongzao(DZ,2n=24)as the female parent. A total of 41 trip loid progeny populations were generated through controlled hybridization under net-covered conditions, along with fruits from both parents serving as test materials. In 2023, 30 fruits were collected from each tree for sugar and acid composition analysis. The samples were freeze-dried for 48 hours using a vacuum freeze dryer, weighed, and ground into powder using a grinder. Each sample was then thoroughly mixed to form three technical replicates and stored in a-80℃ freezer for subsequent experiments. Sugar and acid components were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Genetic variation in fruit traits was assessed based on the coefficient of variation(CV), transgressive segregation, and genetic transmission rates. Pie charts and box plots were employed to illustrate the distribution and content levels among the progeny, while normal distribution plots were used to depict the overall genetic trends. Data analysis was conducted using Excel 2016, and graphing was performed using Origin 2024.【Results】The sugar composition in the triploid hybrids fruit primarily consisted of sucrose, fructose, and glucose. Among these components, sucrose exhibited the highest content, accounting for 67.18% of total sugars, with a range from 98.76 mg·g-1to 222.60 mg·g-1and an average of 153.62 mg·g-1. Fructose and glucose followed, representing 16.09% and 16.73%, respectively. The average contents of fructose, glucose, and total sugar were higher than those observed in the midparents. The variation coefficients among sugar components in the hybrid progeny ranged from 18.40% to 52.45%. The genetic transmission rates of fructose, glucose, and sucrose in the triploid hybrids were 174.96%,193.25%, and 94.83%, respectively, indicating that the variation in sugar components was predominantly influenced by genetic factors. Furthermore, the proportions of total sugar, fructose, and glucose were 78.05%,80.49%, and 78.05%, respectively. However, the sucrose content in the hybrid progeny fruits was lower than that of the parents, with only 65.85% similarity to the low parent, suggesting a tendency for fructose and glucose levels to increase while sucrose levels tend to decrease in the progeny. The acid composition in the fruit of triploid hybrids was ranked as follows: citric acid＞ascorbic acid＞malic acid＞quinic acid＞tartaric acid＞oxalic acid＞fumaric acid. Citric acid(1.41-5.98 mg·g-1) and ascorbic acid(0.93-5.68 mg·g-1)were the predominant organic acids, accounting for 36.62% and 29.28%, with average contents of 3.32 mg·g-1and 2.54 mg·g-1, respectively. The total organic acid contents ranged from 3.84 to 15.78 mg·g-1, with an average of 9.07 mg·g-1. Citric acid, ascorbic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, and total acid exhibited a normal distribution, whereas the frequency distributions of oxalic acid, quinic acid, and tartaric acid showed skewed patterns. The coefficient of variation among acid components ranged from 34.04% to 67.57%. On average, the acid content of triploid-hybrid fruits was higher than that of the midparent value. The midparent heterosis rate varied between 31.94% and 166.78%, with the heterosis rate for total acid being 67.68%. The proportion of individuals exhibiting superior performance over the high parent was 87.80%. The results indicated a genetic predisposition toward the accumulation of organic acids beyond that observed in the parental lines. Fructose and glucose showed an extremely significant positive correlation with each other; fructose and glucose showed an extremely significant positive correlation with total sugar; both fructose and glucose showed an extremely significant negative correlation with sucrose. Citric acid was positively correlated with oxalic acid, quinic acid, and malic acid. Quinic acid demonstrated positive correlations with malic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, and total sugar, while showing a negative correlation with tartaric acid. Total acidity was positively associated with quinic acid, malic acid, citric acid, and ascorbic acid. The total sugar content across the tested samples ranged from 268.03 mg·g-1to 282.00 mg·g-1. Among the four high-acid genotypes, the total acid contents ranged from 12.10 to 15.78 mg·g-1. Two genotypes with total sugar content ≥274.95 mg·g-1and total acid content≥12.72 mg·g-1were identified as superior germplasm resources with high sugar and acid content.【Conclusion】Sucrose, fructose, and glucose were identified as the primary components of soluble sugars, whereas citric acid and ascorbic acid were the main organic acids present in the triploid hybrid progeny. Fructose, glucose, sucrose, citric acid, and ascorbic acid are quantitative traits that are regulated by polygenes. The contents of fructose, glucose and acid components show a tendency of high heredity, while the content of sucrose shows a tendency of low heredity. Four superior lines exhibiting high sugar content, four lines with high acidity, and two lines characterized by both high sugar and acid contents were successfully selected within the triploid hybrid progeny.

Walnut is valued for being rich in nutrients and polyphenols, which are key bioactive metabolites; however, a comprehensive and dynamic assessment of metabolites in the husk and pellicle is still lacking. In this study, multi-omics approaches combining untargeted metabolomics and transcriptome analysis were conducted to systematically characterize the differential metabolite profile and regulatory networks in walnut husk and pellicle. Metabolomic profiling revealed a clear divergence in polyphenol compositions between the husk and the pellicle; the husk was predominantly enriched in nine phenolic acid compounds, whereas the pellicle accumulated eleven flavonoid compounds. Through co-expression network analysis, a transcription factor, JrMYB8, was identified and shown to act as a specific inhibitor and regulator of polyphenol biosynthesis. Functional characterization demonstrated that JrMYB8 overexpression significantly reduced the accumulation of the total phenol content (TPC) and the total flavonoid content (TFC) by directly repressing the expression of JrC4H. These findings not only provide a molecular target for manipulating polyphenol content in walnut tissues but also offer a target for improving flavor in walnut breeding.

To explore the phenotypic diversity of jujube germplasm resources and identify superior genotypes, this study systematically evaluated 150 jujube accessions. Multiple organ-related traits—including branches, thorns, bearing shoots, leaves, flowers, and fruits—were investigated. A comprehensive, multidimensional analysis was conducted to assess phenotypic variation and diversity. The results provide valuable insights for germplasm conservation and the selection of elite jujube varieties. The results showed that the variation coefficient of 18 quantitative traits ranged from 5.07% to 21.43%; the variation coefficient of fruit quality traits ranged from 4.25% to 13.48%; and the results of the cluster analysis showed that the germplasm resources were classified into three categories according to the quantitative traits and four categories according to the fruit quality traits. Principal component analysis extracted six significant components for fruit quality traits, accounting for 86.88% of the total variance. Based on the comprehensive evaluation of factor analysis, Sanlengzao, Linyilajiaozao, Zan 2, Jinmanguo, and Jing 39 performed well and ranked high in the comprehensive ranking, which can be used as an important reference for the evaluation of jujube germplasm resources and the selection and breeding of good varieties.

Pyrus bretschneideri ‘Xinli No.7’, a progeny of Pyrus sinkiangensis ‘Korla Fragrant Pear’, is an early-maturing, high-quality pear (Pyrus spp.) cultivar. As a dominant variety in China’s pear-producing regions, it holds significant agricultural importance. Investigating its male sterility (MS) mechanisms is critical for hybrid breeding and large-scale cultivation. Integrated cytological, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses were conducted to compare dynamic differences between male sterility (MS, ‘Xinli No.7’) and male-fertile (MF, ‘Korla Fragrant Pear’) plants during anther development. Cytological observations revealed that, compared with ‘Korla Fragrant Pear’, the tapetum of ‘Xinli No.7’ exhibited delayed degradation and abnormal thickening during the uninucleate microspore stage. This pathological alteration compressed the microspores, ultimately leading to their abortion. Physiological assays demonstrated excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, lower proline content, higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and reduced activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and catalase) in MS plants. Comparative transcriptomics identified 283 co-expressed differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment linked these DEGs to ROS-scavenging pathways: galactose metabolism, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, fatty acid degradation, pyruvate metabolism, and flavonoid biosynthesis. qRT-PCR validated the expression patterns of key DEGs in these pathways. A core transcriptome-mediated MS network was proposed, implicating accelerated ROS generation and dysregulated tapetal programmed cell death. These findings provide theoretical insights into the molecular mechanisms of male sterility in ‘Xinli No.7’, supporting future genetic and breeding applications.

As an agricultural planting practice, preceding cropping can not only enhance soil fertility and reduce pests and diseases but also boost crop yield and quality. In this study, SZS samples from different preceding cropping areas were selected as research subjects. Phenolic compounds were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and antioxidant activities were assessed based on free radical scavenging effects. Variety differences were explored through chemical pattern recognition, and the spectrum-effect relationship between the fingerprint spectra of SZS and antioxidant activity was investigated using Pearson correlation analysis, grey relational analysis, and other methods. A total of 17 peaks were observed, among which 4 peaks were identified. They are gallic acid, catechin, spinosin, and scutellarin. The 22 SZS samples could be categorized into 3 groups, with cluster analysis and principal component analysis results being largely consistent. Spinosin, a marker compound of SZS, is a crucial contributor to the total antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the spectrum-effect relationship between phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of SZS was established, and the main characteristic components affecting antioxidant activity were identified, providing a reference for the quality evaluation of SZS and the development of its products.

This study investigates the effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on postharvest storage of winter jujube. The results indicate that after 1-MCP treatment, the pyruvate (PA) content in winter jujube decreased by 20% at 30 days compared to the control. The energy charge (EC), ATP, and ADP levels increased by 7%, 17%, and 27%, respectively. Activities of key enzymes involved in energy metabolism, including succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome c oxidase (COX), H+-ATPase, and Ca2+-ATPase were elevated. Furthermore, the activities of acid invertase (AI) and neutral invertase (NI) were 27% and 26% lower, respectively, than those in the control. Sucrose synthase (SS) activity increased by 52%, while the activities of hexokinase (HK) and phosphofructokinase (PFK) decreased by 19% each. Activities of key antioxidant enzymes-superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR)-were significantly enhanced. Non-enzymatic antioxidants, including vitamin C (VC), flavonoids, total phenols, and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents, were effectively retained, and suppressing the accumulation of the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA). These findings suggest that 1-MCP treatment preserves the postharvest quality of winter jujube by enhancing energy metabolism, delaying sugar metabolism, and improving antioxidant capacity.

IntroductionPolyploid hybrid progeny have both ploidy and hybridization effect, and abound in genetic variation of traits, which is an important material for the breeding of excellent new varieties.Ploidy breeding is an important means to improve and cultivate new varieties, which could overcome distant hybridization incompatibility and play a great significance to species evolution and environmental adaptation.Therefore, triploid breeding has a wide range of application value in germplasm innovation and cultivation of excellent new varieties of fruit trees.MethodsIn order to reveal the trait characteristics and variation analysis of leaves and fruits of triploid hybrids, the ploidy identifications and SSR analysis were carried out through all progeny, and the leaf, stomata, thorn, fruit quality and other traits were compared and analyzed between the triploid and diploid progeny. The genetic variation of the triploid progeny were further analyzed, which could provide reference for hybrid parents selection, offspring traits prediction, ploidy breeding of jujube.ResultsThe results indicated that the triploid progeny exhibited significantly higher values for leaf width, straight thorn length, and stomatal length compared to diploid individuals. However, the leaf shape index and stomatal density were significantly lower in triploids than in diploids. Furthermore, a low genetic trend was observed for leaf traits in triploid progeny, while needle prick traits displayed a high genetic trend. In contrast, stomatal width and stomatal density showed moderate to low genetic trends. Significantly, the single fruit weight, single fruit kernel weight and soluble solids content were significantly higher in triploids compared to diploids. However, the kernel index and titratable acid content were significantly lower in triploids than diploids. The genetic trend showed a high inclination towards single fruit weight, fruit length, fruit shape index, kernel transverse diameter and vitamin C content in triploid offspring. The edible rate exhibited a moderate genetic trend, while kernel longitudinal diameter, kernel index, and titratable acid content displayed a low genetic trend.DiscussionFirst, the occurrence of polypoloid hybrid progeny. Second, triploid hybrid progeny of jujube has typical polypolid traits. Finally, abondance of genetic variations of traits in triploid progeny.

As an important and nutrient-rich economic crop, apple is significantly threatened by leaf diseases, which severely impact yield, making the timely and accurate diagnosis and segmentation of these diseases crucial. Traditional segmentation models face challenges such as low segmentation accuracy and excessive model size, limiting their applicability on resource-constrained devices. To address these issues, this study proposes RMP-UNet, an efficient and lightweight model for apple leaf disease segmentation. Based on the traditional UNet architecture, RMP-UNet incorporates an efficient multi-scale attention mechanism (EMA) along with innovative lightweight reparameterization modules (RepECA) and multi-scale feature fusion dynamic upsampling modules (PagDy), optimizing feature extraction and fusion processes to improve segmentation accuracy while reducing model complexity. The experimental results demonstrate that RMP-UNet achieves superior performance compared to mainstream models across multiple metrics, including a mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 83.27%, mean pixel accuracy of 89.84%, model size of 9.26 M, and computational complexity of 21.55 G FLOPs, making it suitable for deployment in resource-constrained environments and providing an efficient solution for real-time apple leaf disease diagnosis.

Plants dynamically regulate ions in the tree to defend against abiotic stresses such as drought and saline-alkali, However, it is not clear how ‘Junzao’ jujube regulates ions to maintain a normal life cycle under saline-alkali stress. Therefore, in this study, the roots of 10-year old steer jujube trees were watered using a saline and alkaline gradient solution simulating the main salt (NaCl) and alkali (NaHCO3) of Aral with NaCl:NaHCO3 = 3:1 gradient of 0, 60, 180, and 300 mM, and three jujube trees with uniform growth were taken as samples in each treatment plot, and the ion contents of potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and carbon (C) in each organ of the fruit at the dot red period (S1) and full-red period (S2) were determined, in order to elucidate the relationship between physiological adaptation mechanisms of saline-alkali tolerance and the characteristics of mineral nutrient uptake and utilisation in jujube fruit. The results showed that under saline-alkali stress, Na was stored in large quantities in the roots, Ca and Mg in the perennial branches at S1, Na and Fe in the leaves at S2, and K, Mg and Mn in the perennial branches. There was no significant difference in the distribution of C content in various organs of ‘Junzao’. Compared with CK (0 mM), under salinity stress, the K content in the leaves was significantly reduced at S1 and S2, and the K/Na ratios remained > 1.0. At S2, under medium and high concentrations of saline-alkali stress (180–300 mM), the K/Na is less than 1, and the ionic homeostasis was disrupted, and the leaves die and fall off, and the Na is excreted from the body. The selective transport coefficients SK/Na, SCa/Na and SMg/Na from root to leaf showed a downward trend at S1, but still maintained positive transport capacity. At S2, this stage is close to leaf fall, the nutrient transport coefficient is less than 1, and a large amount of nutrients are returned to the perennial branches and roots occurred. These results indicated that the mechanism of nutrient regulation and salt tolerance in jujube trees was different at different growth stages.