We established a non-sterile root transformation system in peach seedlings. Using this system, we demonstrated that BA treatment inhibits plant growth and lateral root emergence by SA-mediated disruption of auxin distribution. Allelopathic autotoxins, particularly benzoic acid (BA), are recognized as primary contributors to peach (Prunus persica) replant disease; however, the molecular mechanisms by which BA disrupts root development remain poorly understood. BA treatment significantly reduced stem and root length and inhibited lateral root emergence without affecting lateral root initiation. To investigate the underlying mechanism at cellular resolution, we established a non-sterile Agrobacterium rhizogenes-based root transformation system achieving 27.11

Alfalfa Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium alfalfae, is a globally significant disease with increasing incidence and expanding epidemic areas. This study surveyed six major alfalfa-producing regions in Inner Mongolia, China—Chifeng, Tongliao, Ulanqab, Ordos, Bayannur, and Hohhot—and successfully isolated V. alfalfae exclusively from samples collected in Hohhot and Bayannur. Based on morphological characterization, multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (act, tef1-α, gapdh, and ts genes), and pathogenicity tests fulfilling Koch’s postulates, all 33 isolates were consistently identified as V. alfalfae, with disease severity levels ranging from 3.04 to 4.79 on the susceptible cultivar Zhongmu No. 1. As a preliminary assessment, the in vitro sensitivity of a representative strain, Va8, to eight commercial fungicides was evaluated using the mycelial growth inhibition method. Among the tested fungicides, 30% difenoconazole–propiconazole exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect (EC50 = 0.14 μg/mL), followed by 10% trifloxystrobin & 20% tebuconazole (EC50 = 0.20 μg/mL). However, given the substantial virulence variation observed among isolates, these sensitivity data should be interpreted with caution, as population-level differences may exist. These findings represent the first confirmed report of V. alfalfae in Inner Mongolia and provide a preliminary yet critical reference for prioritizing candidate fungicides for future multi-isolate and field evaluations.

Galeruca daurica (Joannis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an oligophagous pest in which both adults and larvae prefer to feed on Allium forage grasses of the Liliaceae family. In this study, we identified gustatory receptor (GR) genes based on the transcriptome data of G. daurica; analyzed the expression profiles of these GR genes across different larval instars and various tissues of male and female adults using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); detected the electrophysiological responses of the mouthparts of male and female G. daurica adults to flavonoids and carbohydrates using single sensillum recording (SSR); and recorded the changes in food consumption of G. daurica adults after feeding on six host plant-derived metabolites. A total of 26 GR genes were identified from the transcriptome data of adult and larval of G. daurica. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to screen candidate functional gustatory receptor genes, including four sugar receptors (GdauGR7, GdauGR10, GdauGR14 and GdauGR28), seven bitter receptors (GdauGR11, GdauGR16~17, GdauGR22, GdauGR25~26 and GdauGR30), and two CO2 receptors (GdauGR15 and GdauGR20). Larval expression profiling of GdauGRs in G. daurica revealed that the relative expression levels of 17 genes exhibited dynamic changes during larval growth and development. GdauGRs were expressed to varying degrees in the antennae, mouthparts, brain, gut, and forelegs of adult G. daurica, with sex-specific differences. Notably, the expression levels of GdauGR4, GdauGR9 and GdauGR16 in the gut were extremely significantly higher than those in other tissues. In the SSR test, the six tested flavonoids and one carbohydrate were able to induce robust electrophysiological responses in the gustatory sensilla on the antennae and mouthparts of adult G. daurica at specific concentrations. In addition, the supplementation of several host-derived metabolites altered the food consumption of adult G. daurica. These findings lay a solid foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying gustatory recognition and host adaptation in G. daurica.

The value of thrips in ecosystems is often ignored. Most thrips in agroecosystems are indirectly or directly killed by default as pests, but their ecological effects have rarely been studied, especially with respect to their potential pollination value for crops. Identifying the potential value of thrips in agroecology will help change our understanding of these species. Here, we showed through the thrips-sunflower study model that thrips provide pollination services while harming sunflowers. We found through pollination manipulation assays that thrips can pollinate, which can help increase the yield of sunflowers, and are an important wild pollination resource. Furthermore, we demonstrated through a pollen-carrier model that thrips have a remarkable ability to carry pollen. Therefore, the ecological function and value of thrips urgently need to be reconsidered; at the same time, the ecological value of thrips revealed by this research will help us balance the advantages and disadvantages of crop losses by pests of ecological value.

Background Orobanche cumana ( O. cumana ), a root parasitic plant, causes significant losses to crop like sunflowers. While breeding resistant varieties is a key solution, a standardized method for analyzing resistance mechanisms has been lacking due to the complex infection process. In this study, we established a method to analyze O. cumana resistance phenotypes using O. cumana and two sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) lines with differing resistance levels, a susceptible cultivar LD5009 and a resistant cultivar JK103. Results Specifically, we combined statistical analysis and tissue sectioning to track the parasite infection process, through which seven distinct infection stages were clearly defined. Using this established method, we analyzed the O. cumana resistant line JK103. Results revealed that chemical signaling communication before physical infection remained unaffected. However, the parasite infection process was prolonged, with high mortality observed in the tubers. Furthermore, additional investigations showed that in JK103, parasite invasion induced lignin accumulation adjacent to parasite invading cells; the vascular bridge failed to develop properly. These observations most likely explain the prolonged infection duration and programmed cell death in the terminal haustorium of O. cumana infecting JK103. Conclusions This research provides a standardized screening strategy for breeding sunflower germplasm resistant to O. cumana , facilitates the exploration of parasite-host molecular interactions, and serves as a reference for similar systems (e.g. Striga parasitism on cereals).

The rice E2F/DP gene family plays a crucial role in regulating the cell cycle and responses to environmental stresses. In this study, we identified and analyzed eight members of the rice E2F/DP gene family (OsE2F1 to OsE2F8) using the RiceSuperPIRdb database. Each protein contains the conserved E2F_TDP domain. Phylogenetic analysis classified the E2F/DP proteins into three groups. Physicochemical property analysis revealed that the E2F/DP proteins are hydrophilic, with varying amino acid lengths, isoelectric points, and molecular weights, and are primarily localized in the nucleus and chloroplast. Chromosomal localization indicated that these genes are distributed across six rice chromosomes. Gene structure analysis revealed diverse exon-intron arrangements, while motif analysis identified 10 conserved motifs. Collinearity analysis showed gene duplication events, suggesting purifying selection. Cis-regulatory element analysis indicated their involvement in abiotic stress responses. The protein-protein interaction analysis revealed that most OsE2F/DP proteins are associated with cell cycle regulation and transcriptional control. Expression analysis revealed tissue-specific expression patterns and differential expression under various stress conditions. Specifically, qRT-PCR validation under cold stress showed that some E2F/DP genes were upregulated at 12 hours and downregulated at 24 hours, indicating their potential role in cold tolerance. These findings provide a foundation for further investigation of the roles of the rice E2F/DP gene family in development and stress responses.

Translocation of elite cultivars across distinct climatic regions often induces transplantation shock. Although the rhizosphere microbiome can facilitate host acclimation, the underlying functional mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated microbiome-mediated adaptation in “Hongdeng” sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) moved from a humid coastal region (Dalian, DL) to a semi-arid inland habitat (Hohhot, HS). We integrated plant physiological assays, metagenomic sequencing, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to compare the source population (DL), the introduced population (HS), and a locally acclimated reference cultivar (“Summit”, HSY). The introduced trees adjusted physiologically to the semi-arid environment by elevating proline levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. Although environmental stress reduced microbial alpha diversity, the core taxonomic framework persisted. Community assembly analysis indicated that the semi-arid climate intensified environmental filtering. Network analysis identified Sphingomonas as a keystone taxon; notably, it maintained a highly connected topological role despite a stable relative abundance. Furthermore, structural equation modeling showed that the environmental stress index positively correlated with the upregulation of microbial DNA repair pathways (R = 0.81, p < 0.001). Ultimately, the SEM demonstrated that environmental stress primarily shapes microbial functional profiles rather than driving species turnover, thereby contributing to host adaptation. The successful establishment of introduced sweet cherry in semi-arid regions is tied more closely to rhizosphere functional plasticity than to taxonomic restructuring. These findings highlight the role of the keystone taxon Sphingomonas in maintaining rhizosphere homeostasis, offering a theoretical framework for targeted microbiome engineering to mitigate transplant shock and enhance crop resilience.

Damage caused by Frankliniella intonsa to sunflower seeds results in the emergence of rusty speckling on the seedcoat, severely compromising seed quality in recent years. Although chemical control has remained the primary management strategy, its application during the flowering period—when F. intonsa is the most active—poses significant risks to pollinating insects and natural enemies, highlighting the urgent need for effective and environmentally sustainable control alternatives. Previous studies have shown that F. intonsa is attracted by buckwheat and that it could be a promising trap crop for F. intonsa. Thus, the attractiveness of Fagopyrum esculentum and F. tataricum to F. intonsa was compared, and the preference of F. intonsa between two buckwheat varieties was examined. Furthermore, the behavioral responses of F. intonsa to volatiles emitted by these plants in different developmental stages were assessed. The study results indicated that F. intonsa had a clear preference for F. tataricum over F. esculentum. In cage trials, the selection rates of 2nd instar nymphs and adults of F. intonsa for F. tataricum were 61.63% and 60.19% at the seedling stage, and 60.74% and 62.50% at the full-bloom stage, all significantly surpassing those of F. esculentum. Olfactory bioassays further confirmed that flowers of F. tataricum were notably more appealing to both 2nd instar nymphs and adults of F. intonsa, with selection rates of 64.17% and 61.67%, respectively. Twenty distinct floral volatiles of two buckwheat varieties were detected through the phytochemical analysis. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) identified seven key compounds that accounted for the observed behavioral differences. Both 2nd instar nymphs and adults of F. intonsa demonstrated a significant selection for Δ-Cadinene, with the highest selection rates of 75.00% and 76.67% recorded at a concentration of 0.1 μg/μL. Furthermore, F. intonsa exhibited a marked attraction to higher concentrations of Verbenone, which was unique to F. tataricum, and (S)-2-Methyl-1-butanol, which was unique to F. esculentum. Field intercropping experiments confirmed that F. tataricum outperformed F. esculentum in trapping F. intonsa within sunflower plots. In conclusion, the results indicated that F. tataricum possessed considerable potential as a trap crop for the integrated management of F. intonsa in sunflower cultivation systems.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the world’s most important feed crop and is known as “the Queen of forage”, providing animal feed with high protein, a balanced amino acid profile, as well as rich vitamins and minerals (Ye et al. 2025). Alfalfa has been cultivated in about 80 countries around the world, mainly concentrated in the United States, Argentina, and China, with a total area of over 30 million hectares (Zhang et al. 2025). In June 2025, alfalfa plants showing yellowing, mosaic, and dwarfing symptoms, suspected to be caused by viral infection, were found in fields in Qujing City, Yunnan Province. The observed area showing disease symptoms was approximately 0.2-0.33 hectares and the disease incidence was calculated to be about 40% from 20 randomly selected plants. For viral pathogen identification, symptomatic leaves from 10 alfalfa plants were pooled for small RNA deep sequencing (sRNA-Seq). Total RNA extraction from plant samples was performed using the VAMNE Magnetic Universal Plant Total RNA Kit (Vazyme Biotech, Nanjing, China). Small RNA library construction was performed using the small RNA Sample Pre Kit (Genepioneer, Nanjing, China), and high-throughput sequencing was performed on the Illumina NovaSeq platform by Genepioneer (Nanjing, China). A total of 0.23 G Reads were obtained from small RNA sequencing, and the Q30 was above 95.33%. Redundant reads were removed by using the cutadapt software (version 1.18) to obtain 10,316,710 high-quality Clean Read sequences (between 18 and 26 nucleotides) for subsequent analysis. The sRNA clean reads were aligned to reference virus sequences using bwa (version 0.7.17-r1188). A total of 846,069 reads were aligned to the reference virus genome, with a mapping ratio of 8.3%. Then, velvet (version 1.1.07) was used to de novo assemble the viral contigs of the unaligned sRNA sequences. After merging the contig sequences and using cd-hit to remove redundancy, a total of 509 unique contigs were obtained. The redundant contig sequences were sequentially aligned with the viral nucleic acid database using BLASTN; a total of 55 small contigs, ranging from 51 to 1033 nt, were identified, with nucleotide sequence identities of 91.82 to 95.07% to Alfamovirus AMV (Alfalfa mosaic virus, genus alfamovirus, family Bromoviridae). To confirm the sRNA-Seq results, PCR was performed with the specific primers AMV-RNA3-F/AMV-RNA3-R (5'-GTTTTAATACCATTTTCAAAATATTCC-3'/5'-GCATCCCTTAGGGGCATTCATGC-3'). The primer were originally designed from the complete sequence of Alfamovirus AMV strain HZ segment RNA3 (GenBank accession numbers: HQ316637.1). Amplicons approximately 2,100 bp in size were amplified, sequenced (Tsingke, Beijing, China), and obtained the complete AMV-QJ RNA3 genome sequence (accession no. PX412439.1). Blastn analysis revealed 99.65% sequence identity with the Alfamovirus AMV isolate AMV_R3_ALF1071 (ON669107.1) based on the complete RNA3 genome. Alfamovirus AMV is distributed worldwide and highly harmful. To our knowledge, it has not been reported in Yunnan, China. This study enriches the distribution of Alfamovirus AMV in China and supports comprehensive prevention and control of forage virus diseases.

Verticillium dahliae is a soilborne plant pathogen that infects over 660 plant species, causing Verticillium wilt (VW). Microsclerotia are specialized latent structures generated in the late infection stage of V. dahliae, serving as the primary inoculum for many hosts. Our previous research demonstrated that alpha-1,6-Mannosyltransferase (VdOCH1) regulates microsclerotia formation and pathogenicity in V. dahliae. Subsequently, transcriptome analysis comparing the VdOCH1 gene knockout mutant and wild-type (WT) strain of V. dahliae revealed significant alterations in the expression profiles of 1563 genes in the knockout mutant, with 739 genes upregulated and 824 downregulated. The VdFtr1 (VDAG_09918) gene was selected for further function analysis based on its significantly down-regulated knockout mutant. The knockout (Delta VdFtr1) and complemented (ComVdFtr1) mutants of the VdFtr1 gene were obtained via homologous recombination. The biological characteristics and pathogenicity were compared between WT, Delta VdFtr1, and ComVdFtr1 mutants. The results indicate that knockout of VdFtr1 (Delta VdFtr1) significantly reduced conidial production and inhibited microsclerotial formation. Concurrently, the expression levels of genes involved in melanin formation and microsclerotium formation were down-regulated, leading to a markedly diminished ability for microsclerotia formation. Also, the pathogenicity of the Delta VdFtr1 was dramatically attenuated. All impaired phenotypes of Delta VdFtr1 could be restored in ComVdFtr1, in which the full-length VdFtr1 gene was complemented in a knockout mutant. In conclusion, VdFtr1, encoded iron transporter permease, functions as a downstream target in alpha-1,6-Mannosyltransferase (OCH1) regulated microsclerotia formation and pathogenicity signal pathway.

BACKGROUND:Rop (RHO of plants) proteins are the plant-specific subfamily of RHO small GTP-binding proteins and act as a molecular switch to converge on a wide range of upstream signals and elicit downstream signaling cascades involving in modulating developmental processes and managing environmental stress. Although the function of Rops has been well studied in many plant species, the research conducting on Rops in potato is limited. RESULTS:In this work, a total of 11 Rop members were identified in the potato (Solanum tuberosum) genome. A comprehensive analysis encompassing their phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal locations, collinearity, conserved motifs, gene structures, cis-regulatory elements, tissue-specific expression profiles, and responses to biotic stress were undertaken. Phylogenetic and collinearity analyses suggested that 11 StRops were categorized into four groups, and five StRop genes (StRop6, StRop7, StRop8, StRop9 and StRop10) were incorporated in segmental duplication events. Synteny analysis indicated that five and eight StRop genes were orthologous to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), respectively. Tissue-specific expression analysis confirmed that StRops were widely expressed in various potato tissues, with variety-specific expression, implicating their multiple roles in growth and development in potato. The cis-regulatory elements related to stress response and hormone response were found in the promoters of StRop genes. Most StRops, including StRop2, StRop3, StRop8, StRop9, StRop10 and StRop11, were shown to be significantly differentially expressed in three different cultivars after infection with various pathogens (Phytophthora infestans, Fusarium oxysporum and Verticillium dahliae). Knock-down each of StRop3, StRop7 and StRop8 by virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) resulted in increased susceptibility of potato to pathogens P. infestans and V. dahliae, and transient silencing of StRop6 led to enhanced potato root colonization by V. dahliae, indicating their distinct roles in response to different pathogen challenges. CONCLUSIONS:The results unveil the structural characteristics of StRop genes, and provide the basic knowledge for further elucidating the gene functions of individual members in response to biotic stress.

Urea is a primary nitrogen source used as fertilizer in agricultural plant production and a crucial nitrogen metabolite in plants, playing an essential role in modern agriculture. In plants, DUR3 is a proton-driven high-affinity urea transporter located on the plasma membrane. It not only absorbs external low-concentration urea as a nutrient but also facilitates nitrogen transfer by recovering urea from senescent leaves. Despite its importance, the high-affinity urea transport mechanism in plants remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we determine the structures of Arabidopsis thaliana DUR3 in two different conformations: the inward-facing open state of the apo structure and the occluded urea-bound state, with overall resolutions of 2.8 Å and 3.0 Å, respectively. By comparing these structures and analyzing their functional characteristics, we elucidated how urea molecules are specifically recognized. In the urea-bound structure, we identified key titratable amino acid residues and proposed a model for proton involvement in urea transport based on structural and functional data. This study enhances our understanding of proton-driven urea transport mechanisms in DUR3. DUR3 absorbs low-concentration urea from soil and recycles urea from senescent leaves. Here, authors resolve the DUR3 structure, clarify how urea is specifically recognized, and elucidate the proton-driven urea transport mechanisms of DUR3.

COI1 (CORONATINE INSENSITIVE) is a central regulator of plant defense against biotic stresses, yet its family members remain uncharacterized in the globally important forage crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Here, we identified 32 MsCOI1 genes, which were phylogenetically classified into four subfamilies (I–IV). The four subfamilies each contain 5, 6, 9, and 12 MsCOI1 genes, respectively. Structural analysis revealed conserved three-exon architecture and six critical motifs, with Motif 3 exclusively absent in Subfamily IV. Promoter cis-element profiling showed enrichment in stress-responsive elements: 93.8% contained ABRE (abscisic acid response), 68.8% harbored MeJA-responsive elements, and 50% possessed TC-rich repeats (defense/stress response). Expression dynamics demonstrated tissue specificity (e.g., MsCOI1-24/25/26 in nodules/roots) and hormone responsiveness (40.6% induced by MeJA/ABA). Crucially, six of eight tested MsCOI1s were upregulated during Alfamovirus AMV (commonly known as Alfalfa mosaic virus, AMV) infection. However, MsCOI1–8 was significantly inhibited at 5 dpi, indicating that the virus manipulates the COI1-mediated plant response. This study provides the first comprehensive resource of MsCOI1 genes for enhancing viral resistance in alfalfa breeding.

The molecular dynamics of plant-pathogen interactions are complex, involving a constant defense race between host plants and pathogens. Plants deploy antimicrobial metabolites and physiological responses to inhibit pathogens, while pathogens counteract these defenses using secreted proteinaceous effectors. Chorismate mutases (CMs) are effectors largely studied in biotrophic fungi and nematodes for their ability to hijack the host shikimate pathway by diverting chorismate from salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis, subsequently undermining SA-mediated defenses against biotrophic infection. While CMs have been primarily linked to biotrophy, we identified a novel bifunctional CM from the broad host range and predominantly necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and demonstrate that orthologs of this secreted CM are present in far more diverse fungal lifestyles than initially theorized. Unlike currently characterized secreted CMs, S. sclerotiorum CM (SsCM1) localizes to the plant chloroplast where it interacts with plant plastidic CMs. While SsCM1 is a functional, albeit weak CM, it contains a novel domain architecture of bacterial origin, including a putative isochorismate pyruvate lyase (IPL) domain. Interestingly, transient expression of SsCM1 in planta increases rather than decreases host SA levels. Our results indicate that secreted CMs are broadly conserved in many plant-associating fungi beyond canonical biotrophs and likely facilitate infection through a novel manipulation of the plant shikimate pathway that redirects the flow of this pathway toward increased SA production and away from the biosynthesis of downstream antimicrobial compounds. We propose that SsCM1-like effectors represent a novel class of secreted CMs that may be commonly utilized by plant-associated necrotrophs to achieve pathogenic success.IMPORTANCEMicrobial effectors are small secreted proteins that help pathogens establish disease within the host environment. In biotrophic fungi, secreted chorismate mutases (CMs) like Cmu1 suppress the production of salicylic acid (SA), a key plant hormone involved in resistance against biotrophic pathogens. Since Cmu1 and its homologs are exclusively found in biotrophic pathogens, secreted CMs have been considered a hallmark of biotrophy. Surprisingly, we identified a secreted CM, encoded by SsCM1, in the predominantly necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Structural and functional studies suggest SsCM1 is likely a functional homolog acquired from bacteria and specifically acts to suppress the production of antimicrobial compounds that would otherwise enhance plant resistance to necrotrophs. Unlike Cmu1, SsCM1 localizes to plastids, inversely regulates SA, and is conserved more broadly across the fungal kingdom. Thus, our findings reveal a new branch of plastid-localized CMs in necrotrophs, offering new avenues for the development of potential broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatments targeting this pathogen group.

Frankliniella intonsa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a significant invasive pest that can damage numerous plants and crops and spread the tomato spotted wilt virus. During the sunflower flowering period in the primary sunflower production area in China, F. intonsa-infested sunflower heads produce kernels with marked visual damage, including peel scratches, which reduce seed quality and profitability. In this study, the behavioral responses of F. intonsa to buckwheat and sunflowers were measured in a Y-tube. Meanwhile, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed to determine the volatile components of inflorescences of both sunflower and buckwheat and the behavioral effects of these components were evaluated on F. intonsa in a Y-tube. The results revealed that sunflower leaves significantly repelled adults and nymphs of F. intonsa both in olfactometer bioassays. However, F. intonsa was significantly attracted by the volatiles from the leaves and flowers of buckwheat. Interestingly, F. intonsa adults preferred sunflower flowers over buckwheat flowers. Among the four kinds of sunflower flower volatiles selected, F. intonsa was attracted by two kinds of volatiles (γ-terpinene and (R)-( +)-limonene), while one volatile (β-pinene) had the effect of repelling F. intonsa, while among the four selected buckwheat flower volatiles, F. intonsa were attracted by three kinds of volatiles (α-caryophyllene, verbenone, octane). Finally, the field-trapping effect of buckwheat on F. intonsa was verified by a sunflower-buckwheat intercropping experiment. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the feasibility of intercropping with buckwheat and sunflower to control F. intonsa. Thus, buckwheat can be used as a trapping plant in fields to prevent F. intonsa invasion.

The ABC1K (activity of bc1 complex kinase) atypical protein kinase family regulates diverse physiological functions in plants, including the development, growth, and response of plants to various stress stimuli. However, to date, only a few members of the alfalfa (Medicago sativa) ABC1K gene family have been identified, which severely limits the exploration of the functional mechanism of alfalfa ABC1K. Here, we identified 22 ABC1K genes from the alfalfa genome and categorized them into four types on the basis of phylogenetic analysis results and gene structure. We then characterized the physical and biochemical properties, chromosomal location, subcellular localization, cis-regulatory elements, and conserved motifs of these genes. Transcript profiling analysis confirmed that MsABC1Ks were widely expressed in various alfalfa tissues, with tissue-specific expression. We also found that salt and drought conditions significantly regulated MsABC1K gene expression, thus indicating that MsABC1K genes perform critical functions in alfalfa’s response to abiotic stress. In summary, the findings of our study serve as an important basis to enhance the stress resistance of alfalfa and provide valuable insights to better comprehend the functions of the MsABC1K gene family.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a globally significant field crop, and disease resistance is crucial for ensuring yield stability and crop quality. Verticillium dahliae is a notorious soilborne pathogen that causes Verticillium Wilt (VW) and threatens sunflower production worldwide. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of sunflower resistance to V. dahliae across 231 sunflower cultivar lines, from the Sunflower Association Mapping (SAM) population. We employed EMMAX and ridge regression best linear unbiased prediction (rrBLUP) and identified 148 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and 23 putative genes associated with V. dahliae resistance, including receptor like kinases, cell wall modification, transcriptional regulation, plant stress signalling and defense regulation genes. Our enrichment and quantitative real-time PCR validation results highlight the importance of membrane vesicle trafficking in the sunflower immune system for efficient signaling and defense upon activation by V. dahliae. This study also reveals the polygenic architecture of V. dahliae resistance in sunflowers and provides insights for breeding sunflower cultivars resistant to VW. This research contributes to ongoing efforts to enhance crop resilience and reduce yield losses due to VW, ultimately benefiting sunflower growers and the agricultural sector.

Sunflower Verticillium Wilt (SVW) caused by Verticillium dahliae is a significant threat to sunflower production in China. This soilborne disease is difficult to control. It has been observed that delayed sowing reduces the severity of SVW on different varieties and across various locations. Soil was collected from multiple locations with different sowing dates to understand the underlying biological mechanisms driving this phenomenon. The soil bacterial community was characterized through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing performed on the Illumina MiSeq platform, followed by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. Microsclerotia numbers in soil were detected using both NP-10 selective medium and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). By delaying the sowing date, the number of microsclerotia in soil and the biomass of V. dahliae colonized inside sunflower roots were reduced during the early developmental stages (V2–V6) of sunflowers. Amplicon sequencing revealed an increased abundance of bacterial genera, such as Pseudomonas, Azoarcus, and Bacillus in soil samples collected from delayed sowing plots. Five bacterial strains isolated from the delayed sowing plot exhibited strong antagonistic effects against V. dahliae. The result of the pot experiments indicated that supplying two different synthetic communities (SynComs) in the pot did increase the control efficiencies on SVW by 19.08% and 37.82% separately. Additionally, soil temperature and humidity across different sowing dates were also monitored, and a significant correlation between disease severity and environmental factors was observed. In conclusion, delayed sowing appears to decrease microsclerotia levels by recruiting beneficial rhizosphere bacteria, thereby reducing the severity of SVW.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an important oil crop, ranking behind soybean, peanut, and rapeseed in terms of planting area in China. Throughout its cultivation, sunflower is susceptible to various diseases that can significantly reduce its seed yield. Among them, Fusarium species pose a major threat to numerous crops. The accurate identification of Fusarium species responsible for specific diseases is crucial for developing effective control measures. In Inner Mongolia, sunflower disk rot (SDR) has been observed in various sunflower fields, with an average infection rate of approximately 8.50%. The infection rate can reach up to 11.67% in certain highly susceptible cultivars. Samples of diseased sunflower receptacles were collected from different locations, and Koch’s postulates were employed to identify the causal agent. The results confirmed Fusarium verticillioides as the pathogen responsible for SDR. Fungicide toxicity tests were conducted, screening six fungicides for efficacy against F. verticillioides. Fludioxonil and Flutolanil were identified as the most effective, with EC50 values of 0.05 µg/mL (R = 0.9825) and 0.96 µg/mL (R = 0.9964), respectively. This is the first report of SDR caused by F. verticillioides, and it will alert sunflower researchers to include SDR in the disease list, so as to control sunflower diseases with integrated management strategies successfully.