The tube-nosed bat genus Murina is widely distributed across the tropical and subtropical forests of Asia, with many species exhibiting overlapping ecological niches and distribution ranges. Among them, M. annamitica and M. walstoni have been documented in several forest types (including semi-evergreen and deciduous forests) throughout the Indo-China Peninsula. During a bat survey conducted at Xishuangbanna, China (April-May 2019), fifteen medium-sized Murina specimens were collected and subsequently identified through an integrative taxonomic approach as M. annamitica and M. walstoni. These specimens represent the first documented records of both species in China and the broader East Asian region. To improve the systematics and phylogenetics of Murina, we generated the complete mitogenomes of both species, with 17,116 bp for M. annamitica and 16,738 bp for M. walstoni. Both mitogenomes contain the typical set of 37 mitochondrial genes, and the predominance of heavy-strand-encoded genes is consistent with previously reported Murina mitogenomes. Prior to this study, 31 Murina species had been recorded from China. The discovery of M. annamitica and M. walstoni raises the total number of Murina species recorded in China to 33. These findings suggest that the true species diversity of Murina in China is likely underestimated and underscore the importance of increased geographic sampling in specialized habitats such as tropical rainforests of southwestern China and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Abstract The taxonomy of genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) has long posed considerable challenges, with numerous species in China remaining poorly defined. To address long-standing taxonomic ambiguities in Chinese Myotis, this study integrates over 15 years of fieldwork and conducts a comprehensive assessment of 197 specimens collected primarily in eastern China, which represent approximately 70% of the country’s known species. Molecular species delimitation, phylogenetic reconstruction, and multivariate analyses of morphological data were jointly employed to reassess species diagnostic traits. Phylogenetic and molecular delimitation supported the validity of 30 Myotis species in China, and resolved several long-debated complexes, including M. davidii, M. siligorensis, and M. frater. Principal component and hierarchical clustering analyses revealed mixed and overlapping patterns among species, particularly within small to medium size taxa. These results highlighted the limitations of traditional morphometric traits for distinguishing closely related Myotis. Initial classification accuracy using morphological traits alone was modest. However, when categorical phenotypic data was added into the dataset, model performance improved markedly: Random forest accuracy increased from 77.9% to 90.5%, and the decision tree model successfully discriminated 16 taxonomic units. These suggested that categorical phenotypic data can substantially enhance identification within morphologically conservative groups. Based on integrative evidence, we established an updated identification key. In addition, high-resolution 3D digital models of craniodental structures were generated to facilitate open access for future research. This study provided a foundation for subsequent phylogeny, ecology, and conservation biology studies on this taxonomically difficult genus.

In July 2025, one small vespertilionid bat was collected from a building of Jinguang Temple Provincial Nature Reserve, Dali, Yunnan, China. Based on integrative analyses of morphological and morphometric characters, together with phylogenetic evidence based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b ( Cytb ) gene, we identified the specimen as Hypsugo petersi . Previously, this species has been documented only in Borneo and the Philippines; therefore its discovery represents the first record of H. petersi in China and the Asian mainland. Furthermore, an identification key to all Chinese Hypsugo species is presented to facilitate accurate species identification and to support future biodiversity surveys and conservation management.

The Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus-S. montanus species complex) is a small soricid mammal widely distributed across southern Asia and the Indian Ocean region. We examined the relative contributions of long-term natural divergence and human-mediated dispersal in shaping the genetic structure of house shrew populations across their geographic range. Previous studies have suggested that human-mediated introductions influenced its distribution, but comprehensive genome-wide analyses across the entire range have been lacking. Here, we analyse whole-genome data from 29 individuals and mitochondrial sequences from 219 individuals sampled across its range. Phylogenetic network analyses based on genome-wide single nucleotide variants revealed four major lineages: (i) the East-Southeast Asia main lineage, (ii) the Myanmar main lineage, (iii) the Sri Lanka lineage, and (iv) the South Asia-western Indian Ocean region lineage. Genomic analyses indicate recent admixture among regional populations, consistent with hybridization. Mitochondrial phylogenetic analyses further suggest human-mediated range expansion across regions. Divergence-time estimates indicate that dispersal events in Southeast Asia occurred after the onset of the Holocene. These results demonstrate that the present distribution of the Asian house shrew has been shaped by both natural divergence and recent human-mediated dispersal.

Miniopterus fuliginosus is a widely distributed vespertilionid bat in East Asia. Due to its strong long-distance flight capability and the inherent challenges of morphological classification, systematic studies on the population genetics and morphological variation remain limited. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of M. fuliginosus populations from China and Japan, integrating molecular phylogenetics, traditional morphometrics, and skull-based geometric morphometrics. Our results reveal pronounced morphological divergence between the Chinese and Japanese populations, despite genetic admixture. Chinese individuals exhibit larger body and skull dimensions, while geometric morphometrics highlight distinct skull shape differences, particularly in molar row, rostral configuration, braincase shape, orientation of the auditory meatus, and mandible morphology. Those variations are closely associated with diet, ecological niches, and flight behaviors of bats' ecology, suggesting the island-mainland environmental contrasts, as well as climatic zonation differences between China and Japan may play an important role in shaping the morphological divergence of M. fuliginosus. The observed genetic admixture likely results from the species' inherent long-distance dispersal and/or seasonal migratory behavior, which facilitates frequent gene flow among populations. Additionally, our study reviewed the Japanese endemic species M. fuscus and reports a potential new distribution in Taiwan, China.

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is widespread in bats, yet its magnitude, direction, and underlying mechanisms vary substantially among species and remain incompletely understood. The hairy-winged bat (Harpiocephalus harpia) represents a particularly informative case, as pronounced female-biased SSD has historically led to taxonomic confusion, underscoring its value for exploring the mechanisms driving SSD at the species level. Here, we quantified intersexual morphological differences underlying female-biased SSD in 80 H. harpia individuals (41♂, 39♀) sampled across China. After excluding potential geographic effects, females exhibited both absolute and relative size advantages over males in multiple craniodental characteristics, whereas sexual differences in wing elements were detected only in absolute terms. Craniodental differentiation and sex-specific allometric patterns in skull morphology, particularly in regions associated with bite force and mastication, suggest that females potentially exploit larger and/or harder prey during energetically demanding reproductive stages. In contrast, wing morphology in H. harpia exhibited little evidence of sex-specific allometric growth or shape differentiation, and female wing dimensions appeared sufficient to accommodate pregnancy-related mass gain without additional compensatory enlargement. Moreover, the absence of sex-biased reduction in body-size variance provides limited support for intrasexual resource competition. Collectively, our findings indicate that SSD in H. harpia is best explained by niche divergence, with the "Big Mother" and "Resource Competition" hypotheses playing secondary roles.

In this study, a complete mitochondrial genome of Murina yushuensis, sampled from Sichuan, China, was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 S4 platform. Results showed that the mitochondrial genome was a circular structure with a total length of 16,520 bp, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and 1 control region. Phylogenetic analysis based on 13 protein coding genes from limited mitochondrial genome data of 10 species of Murina revealed that M. yushuensis is closely related to M. eleryi. This study provides genetic data for further taxonomic and phylogenetic researches on Murina bats.

The Indian flying fox (Pteropus medius), the largest of four fruit bat species found in Nepal, is endemic to South Asia and has recently been classified as 'Near Threatened' on the global conservation status due to growing threats to its survival. This species plays a vital ecological role in pollinating and dispersing seeds of 26 families of flowering plants in Nepal. The majority of the known roosts are located outside protected areas in human dominated landscapes, which are vulnerable to land use changes and climate change, but these impacts have yet to be evaluated. The roosts of P. medius are distributed within elevations of 75 to 1,322 meters above sea level (a.s.l.), spanning the Tarai, Chure, Inner Tarai, and Middle Mountain regions, with records primarily from the central Middle Mountain and no documentation from the eastern and western parts. Based on the occurrence data of 44 roosts, 12 low correlated bioclimatic variables and land-use data (r < 0.75), we ran an ensemble of machine learning algorithms in R using the 'sdm' package. Altogether, four variables - including urban land, mean diurnal range, annual mean temperature, and precipitation of the wettest month - emerged as significant predictors. The current potential distribution of the species spans 7,836 km2, approximately 5% of Nepal's total land area. Based on future climate scenarios SSP 4.5 and SSP 8.5, our projections indicate that the species' range will significantly expand within elevations of 500-1,500 m a.s.l. in the Inner Tarai and Middle Mountain regions, while contracting in lower elevations below 500 m a.s.l. in the Tarai and Chure regions. Since roosting colonies are mainly located in settlements and farmlands, the study's findings can help guide regular monitoring and health surveillance of these colonies. Conservation efforts should prioritize the protection of native, broad leaved tall trees and implement systematic roost monitoring to safeguard existing populations.

Improving fruit growth and quality without compromising yield is a highly sought-after goal in crop breeding. Here, we report that an EAR motif-containing transcription factor SlPLT6 controls the onset of fruit ripening and quality traits in tomato. SlPLT6 knockout caused precocious ripening initiation and enhanced fruit qualities without penalizing yield in two tomato cultivars. SlPLT6 represses genes involved in ripening initiation and major quality traits by directly binding to their promoters. Moreover, SlPLT6 connects two repressive mechanisms by recruiting Histone Deacetylase 1 via its C-terminal EAR motif and LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN 1b through the first AP2 domain. Furthermore, Sly-miR159 acts upstream of SlPLT6 to release its repression. Taken together, our data provide insights into the operating mode of SlPLT6 in modulating fruit ripening and quality traits and define a unique gene for targeted crop improvement aimed at upgrading fruit quality without yield penalty.

Fruits constitute a vital component of a nutritious diet but are highly perishable, contributing substantially to food waste. Consequently, identifying safe and edible biological agents to enhance product quality and extend shelf life is of critical importance. In this study, we demonstrate that exogenous pre-harvest foliar application with nanoselenium (nano-Se) in tomato enhances fruit quality, prolongs fruit shelf life, and enhances the resistance of tomato fruit to Botrytis cinerea infection. Transcriptomic analysis revealed coordinated upregulation of genes associated with quality maintenance and modulation of phytohormone-related pathways. Notably, nano-Se treatment induced expression patterns of ripening-related genes that resembled those triggered by ethylene (ET) but were antagonistic to the effects of 1-MCP. We further demonstrated that although SlMYC2 knockout increased susceptibility to B. cinerea, nano-Se application restored resistance in a manner independent of the SlMYC2-associated jasmonic acid signaling pathway, implicating ET as the primary regulatory mechanism. Collectively, these findings support nano-Se as a promising biostimulant for reducing post-harvest losses while preserving the nutritional and sensory quality of tomato fruits.

The phylogenetic relationships within the order Chiroptera (bats) have long been debated. The suborder classification of Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera, based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic studies, remains controversial. The topologies of the superfamilies Noctilionoidea, Emballonuridea, and Vespertilionidea, as well as the subfamilies within Vespertiliondae and Phyllostomatidae and tribes within Vespertilionae, are unstable. Moreover, the classification of the species group within Rhinolophus remains to be clarified. To address these issues, we compiled a dataset of 219 complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) for 187 bat species, including 54 newly sequenced mitogenomes. This extensive dataset covers 13 bat families and 32% of all extant bat genera, enabling the construction of a comprehensive bat phylogeny. Furthermore, we constructed a phylogenetic tree containing 50 bat species based on 200 orthologous nuclear genes to compare with the mitogenome-based phylogeny. Our results supported the suborder classification of Yinptero- and Yangochiroptera. Bayesian dating suggests that bats originated approximately 59 Mya, with two suborders diverging at the beginning of the Eocene epoch. Our findings highly supported the superfamily Emballonuridea as the sister to Noctilionoidea and Vespertilionidea. We found that conflicts in suborder and superfamily topologies were mainly caused by incomplete lineage sorting. Furthermore, we refined the topology of subfamilies within Vespertiliondae and Phyllomatidae, and six tribes within Vespertilioninae. Our study also revealed Myotinae as a subfamily rather than a family. Additionally, we observed a decrease in C/T ratios in the family Vespertilionidae, likely related to their higher mass-specific metabolic rates. We identified a significant negative correlation between selection pressure on COX3 and migratory distance, indicating its importance in flight adaptability. This study offers novel insights into bat phylogeny and flight adaptation.

Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are major plant defense metabolites against pests, while they are considered poisonous in food. The genetic basis that guides negative selection of SGAs production during tomato domestication remains poorly understood. Here, we identify a distal enhancer, GAME Enhancer 1 (GE1), as the key regulator of SGAs metabolism in tomato. GE1 recruits MYC2-GAME9 transcriptional complex to regulate the expression of GAME cluster genes via the formation of chromatin loops located in the neighboring DNA region. A naturally occurring GE1 76 allelic variant is found to be more active in stimulating GAME expression. We show that the weaker GE1 allele has been the main driver for selecting reduced SGAs levels during tomato domestication. Unravelling the "TFs-Enhancer-Promoter" regulatory mechanism operating in SGAs metabolism opens unprecedented prospects for SGAs manipulation in Solanaceae via precision breeding strategies. This study identified a distal enhancer GE1, which acts as the key regulator controlling steroidal glycoalkaloids metabolism by modulating the GAME gene cluster and guides negative selection of steroidal glycoalkaloids production during tomato domestication.

The subfamily Murininae is renowned for its inherent taxonomic challenges associated with sampling difficulties and morphological similarities. At present, three genera are acknowledged within the subfamily; however, their phylogenetic interrelations and systematic classification remain debated. In this study, the separation of Harpiola at the genus level was robustly supported by our phylogenomic analyses based on the mitochondrial genome, coding sequences (CDSs) and ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from 12 individuals covering all three genera of Murininae. Notably, a distinctive mito-nuclear discordance emerged, with the nuclear genealogy ((Harpiocephalus, Harpiola), Murina) contrasting with the mitochondrial genealogy (Harpiocephalus, (Harpiola, Murina)). The integration of these findings with inferences of demographic history reveals that dramatic environmental changes during the Pleistocene glacial and inter-glacial cycles have shaped the current distribution of Murininae. Moreover, the detection of extensive gene flow between ancient lineages of Harpiola and Murina suggests that an ancestral 'ghost' Murina lineage may have contributed its mitochondrial DNA, along with a limited portion of nuclear DNA, to Harpiola in a bygone hybridization zone. In addition to molecular analyses, we employed traditional and geometric morphometric analyses of skulls to differentiate the three genera. Harpiocephalus is readily distinguishable, but Harpiola and certain species of Murina exhibit overlapping characteristics both morphometrically and geometrically which may be the outcome of ancient introgression events. This finding highlights the importance of fine-scale morphological distinctions within the latter genera, which may be the outcome of ancient introgression events.

Background Rapid identification and classification of bats are critical for practical applications. However, species identification of bats is a typically detrimental and time-consuming manual task that depends on taxonomists and well-trained experts. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs) provide a practical approach for the extraction of the visual features and classification of objects, with potential application for bat classification. Results In this study, we investigated the capability of deep learning models to classify 7 horseshoe bat taxa (CHIROPTERA: Rhinolophus) from Southern China. We constructed an image dataset of 879 front, oblique, and lateral targeted facial images of live individuals collected during surveys between 2012 and 2021. All images were taken using a standard photograph protocol and setting aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the DCNNs classification. The results demonstrated that our customized VGG16-CBAM model achieved up to 92.15% classification accuracy with better performance than other mainstream models. Furthermore, the Grad-CAM visualization reveals that the model pays more attention to the taxonomic key regions in the decision-making process, and these regions are often preferred by bat taxonomists for the classification of horseshoe bats, corroborating the validity of our methods. Conclusion Our finding will inspire further research on image-based automatic classification of chiropteran species for early detection and potential application in taxonomy.

Rapid identification and classification of bats are critical for practical applications. However, species identification of bats is a typically detrimental and time-consuming manual task that depends on taxonomists and well-trained experts. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs) provide a practical approach for the extraction of the visual features and classification of objects, with potential application for bat classification. In this study, we investigated the capability of deep learning models to classify 7 horseshoe bat taxa (CHIROPTERA: Rhinolophus) from Southern China. We constructed an image dataset of 879 front, oblique, and lateral targeted facial images of live individuals collected during surveys between 2012 and 2021. All images were taken using a standard photograph protocol and setting aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the DCNNs classification. The results demonstrated that our customized VGG16-CBAM model achieved up to 92.15

Carotenoids are important nutrients for human health that must be obtained from plants since they cannot be biosynthesized by the human body. Dissecting the regulatory mechanism of carotenoid metabolism in plants represents the first step toward manipulating carotenoid contents in plants by molecular design breeding. In this study, we determined that SlAP2c, an APETALA2 (AP2) family member, acts as a transcriptional repressor to regulate carotenoid biosynthesis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Knockout of SlAP2c in both the "MicroTom" and "Ailsa Craig" backgrounds resulted in greater lycopene accumulation, whereas overexpression of this gene led to orange-ripe fruit with significantly lower lycopene contents than the wild type. We established that SlAP2c represses the expression of genes involved in lycopene biosynthesis by directly binding to the cis-elements in their promoters. Moreover, SlAP2c relies on its EAR motif to recruit the co-repressors TOPLESS (TPL)2/4 and forms a complex with histone deacetylase (had)1/3, thereby reducing the histone acetylation levels of lycopene biosynthesis genes. Furthermore, SlAP2a, a homolog of SlAP2c, acts upstream of SlAP2c and alleviates the SlAP2c-induced repression of lycopene biosynthesis genes by inhibiting SlAP2c transcription during fruit ripening. Therefore, we identified a transcriptional cascade mediated by AP2 family members that regulates lycopene biosynthesis during fruit ripening in tomato, laying the foundation for the manipulation of carotenoid metabolism in plants.

In 2018, an adult male of a small-sized Tube-nosed Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murina) was captured at an arid cave located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Yushu City, Qinghai Province, China. Despite external morphological similarities with those of M. harpioloides and M. chrysochaetes, the individual in question displays explicit craniodental differences that distinguish it from either species. Morphological and morphometric evidence, coupled with phylogenetic analyses utilizing the mitochondrial COI gene, confirmed that it represents a distinct and still unknown species of Murina, described herewith as M. yushuensis sp. nov. Our research highlights the importance of future surveys aimed at exploring cryptic species diversity in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent under-surveyed regions.

Kiwifruit ripening is a complex and highly coordinated process that occurs in conjunction with the formation of fruit edible quality. The significance of epigenetic changes, particularly the impact of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification on fruit ripening and quality formation, has been largely overlooked. We monitored m6A levels and gene expression changes in kiwifruit at four different stages using LC-MS/MS, MeRIP, RNA-seq, and validated the function of AcALKBH10 through heterologous transgenic expression in tomato. Notable m6A modifications occurred predominantly at the stop codons and the 3 ' UTRs and exhibited a gradual reduction in m6A levels during the fruit ripening process. Moreover, these m6A modifications in the aforementioned sites demonstrated a discernible inverse relationship with the levels of mRNA abundance throughout the ripening process, suggesting a repression effect of m6A modification in the modulation of kiwifruit ripening. We further demonstrated that AcALKBH10 rather than AcECT9 predominantly regulates m6A levels in ripening-related genes, thereby exerting the regulatory control over the ripening process and the accumulation of soluble sugars and organic acids, ultimately influencing fruit ripening and quality formation. In conclusion, our findings illuminate the epi-regulatory mechanism involving m6A in kiwifruit ripening, offering a fresh perspective for cultivating high-quality kiwifruit with enhanced nutritional attributes.