Introduction:Determining the optimal sowing depth suitable for different water conditions is a key agronomic factor for crop establishment and yield potential. This study aimed to identify the optimal sowing depth for rapeseed that maximizes seedling vigor under varying water conditions. Methods:Seedling emergence and plant growth were evaluated under four water conditions (variable moisture, drought, normal water, and waterlogged) at different sowing depths (1-5 cm). Meanwhile, the hypothesis that seedling vigor under deep sowing conditions could be improved by exogenous application of glucosinolates (GS) was tested. Results:Results indicated that the highest seedling emergence percentage (EP) was observed at 3 cm, representing increases of 123.2% (variable moisture), 100% (drought), and 11.1% (normal water) compared with 1 cm. Under waterlogged stress, seedling EP showed no significant differences between 1 and 3 cm for 50% of the 16 cultivars. Moreover, seedling EP was significantly improved at 3 cm after seed priming with GS compared with 1 cm, with increases of 46.4% (drought) and 63.0% (waterlogged), whereas no significant differences were observed under normal water conditions. Furthermore, plant phenotypic performance indices were higher at 3 cm with GS treatment than at 1 cm across all water conditions. Discussion:Collectively, a sowing depth of 3 cm combined with exogenous application of GS not only promoted seedling emergence but also benefited subsequent plant growth in direct-sown rapeseed. These results provide practical insights for ensuring reliable seedling establishment in rapeseed.

Improving lodging resistance without compromising yield is a major challenge in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), a globally important oilseed crop. Here, we demonstrate that calcium application simultaneously enhances lodging resistance and yield of rapeseed under pot and field conditions. In pot studies, calcium treatment enhanced photosynthetic capacity, increased the number of siliques by an average of 29.4%, and improved thousand-seed weight, resulting in higher yields. Calcium treatment also increased stem bending resistance by altering stem structure and cell-wall composition, with upper- and lower-stem strength increasing by 33.0%–35.2% and 23.9%–30.6%, respectively. We confirmed these beneficial effects at multiple field sites with different soil types and planting densities. Physiological and biochemical analyses revealed that calcium treatment strengthens stem mechanical properties by promoting calcium pectate accumulation and reducing pectin methylesterification, as supported by the upregulation of pectin methylesterase (PME) genes. Furthermore, knockout of BnaPME35 abolished the effect of calcium treatment on lodging resistance, highlighting the role of pectin methylesterification levels in lodging susceptibility. These findings suggest that targeted application of calcium-containing fertilizers offers a practical strategy for improving lodging resistance and yield in rapeseed.

Although drying significantly affects rapeseed bolt quality, how different methods alter its metabolite profile remains unclear. This study employed widely targeted metabolomics and physicochemical analysis to compare vacuum freeze drying (VFD), vacuum microwave drying (VMD), and air drying (AD). We identified 1872 metabolites across 12 classes. VFD best preserved heat-sensitive nutrients (vitamin C 85.67 mg/100g; β-carotene 102.17 μg/g) but required the longest time (22.39 h). VMD achieved efficient drying (5.03 h) with superior rehydration, color, and higher levels of amino acids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids than AD. KEGG enrichment revealed differential metabolites enriched in primary metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis (e.g., flavonoid biosynthesis). Drying methods regulate quality by altering metabolic profiles; VMD offers an optimal balance of efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. This study provides a reference for selecting drying methods to enhance dried rapeseed bolt quality.

Agave triangularis Jacobi is an ornamental agave species that represents a valuable genetic resource for enhancing resistance and tolerance in cultivated agaves such as A. tequilana and A. H11648. In this study, we performed the first de novo transcriptome assembly of A. triangularis using Illumina sequencing. A total of 131,321 transcripts were assembled, comprising 119,764,849 bp. Functional annotation revealed a close evolutionary relationship between A. triangularis and Asparagus officinalis, supporting its phylogenetic placement within the Asparagaceae family. We further identified five SRO genes in both A. triangularis and A. H11648. Their expression profiles in A. H11648, analyzed by qRT-PCR, suggested involvement in leaf development. Notably, AhSRO2 and AhSRO3 were significantly up-regulated following oomycete infection, while AhSRO3 was markedly induced under low-temperature stress. These findings highlight AhSRO2 and AhSRO3 as promising candidate genes for further functional investigation. This study provides the first reference transcriptome for A. triangularis, offering a valuable resource for gene discovery and comparative evolutionary studies in agave. The expression patterns of SRO genes establish a framework for understanding their potential roles in leaf development and stress responses, supporting future efforts toward genetic improvement in agave species.

The morphological establishment and yield formation of rapeseed are fundamentally dependent on root system development. While long-petiole leaves constitute the earliest true leaves in rapeseed, their regulatory effects on root growth under high-density planting conditions remain unexplored. Field experiments were conducted with two planting densities (D3, 4.5×105 plants ha−1; D5, 7.5×105 plants ha−1) and two leaf treatments (CK: no leaf pruning; LP: removal of 50% long-petiole leaves). A continuous 13C-CO2 labeling experiment was implemented in pot-grown plants to track photoassimilate partitioning, with half of the long-petiole leaves receiving 13C-CO2 pulse labeling. The results indicate that compared with CK, LP treatment reduced per-plant leaf area and dry weight while increasing root-to-shoot ratio. From seedling to bolting stages, LP increased relative expansion rate of leaf area (RER LA) by 56.01% (D3) and 19.87% (D5), but decreased relative expansion rates of root surface area (RERRSA) and relative growth rates of root volume (RGR RV) from seedling to flowering stages, with average annual reductions of 32.71% and 56.98% (D3), and 32.60% and 16.61% (D5), respectively. At the seedling stage, LP treatment enhanced root sucrose synthase (SUSY) activity and elevated sucrose, starch, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations, but reduced sucrose transporter (SUT) levels. By the flowering stage, cytokinin (CTK), abscisic acid (ABA), and SUT contents declined under D3 density, coinciding with inhibited lateral root growth. Furthermore, LP treatment increased invertase (INV) activity and sucrose content at both seedling and flowering stages but diminished starch reserves, SUT activity, and IAA levels, collectively impeding lateral root development. Notably, LP treatment significantly elevated ABA content under D5 density, which stimulated taproot elongation. Siliques exhibited the highest 13C assimilation and distribution rates under both planting densities. Elevated density reduced 13C-labeled photoassimilate accumulation in vegetative organs but enhanced their allocation to seeds and stems. Root 13C distribution rates declined from 14.5% (D3) to 11.5% (D5), demonstrating that the contribution of long-petiole leaves to root carbon allocation diminished with increasing plant density. The regulatory influence of long-petiole leaves on root growth diminished with increasing planting density. At D3, reduced long-petiole leaf count enhanced sucrose translocation to roots, whereas at D5, starch remobilization in roots was prioritized to sustain basal root development. This study elucidates key mechanisms by which long-petiole leaves modulate root morphogenesis under varying densities and establishes a theoretical framework for optimizing root-shoot balance in high-density direct-seeded rapeseed cultivation systems.

The objective of this study was to identify developmental stages and regulatory factors underlying stem quality of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) under high-density planting. In two cultivars grown at low and high density, gibberellin (GA)-triggered early stem elongation was associated with delayed secondary cell wall deposition and reduced stem mechanical strength under high density. Foliar application of the GA biosynthesis inhibitor uniconazole at the 10–11 leaf stage delayed GA activation and slowed stem elongation, increasing stem mechanical strength and yield.

This study developed an integrated amino acid ionic liquid-mediated microwave-assisted extraction (AAIL-MAE) method for the concurrent recovery of essential oils (EOs), forsythoside A, forsythin, and crude polysaccharides from Forsythia suspensa fruits. Eight amino acid ionic liquids were screened, and [His][HSO4] was selected as the extraction medium. Extraction conditions were optimized using single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. The optimized conditions were 0.23% [His][HSO4], a liquid–solid ratio of 16 mL/g, microwave power of 540 W, and an extraction time of 34 min. Under these conditions, the respective yields were 9.31 ± 0.35, 63.45 ± 2.74, 5.95 ± 0.26, and 62.58 ± 2.21 mg/g. Compared with conventional microwave-assisted extraction and hydrodistillation, AAIL-MAE significantly increased the yields of forsythoside A and forsythin while maintaining comparable yields of EOs and crude polysaccharides. Kinetic analysis showed a rapid initial extraction stage followed by a gradual approach to equilibrium, and the second-order model provided a slightly better fit. GC–MS analysis identified 34 EO constituents, with α-pinene, β-phellandrene, β-pinene, and terpinen-4-ol as the predominant compounds. These results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed process as an integrated strategy for recovering multiple bioactive fractions from F. suspensa fruits.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is often grown under high nitrogen (N) fertilization, increasing the risk of N losses and associated environmental impacts. Using a systematic literature search of Web of Science and Google Scholar (1995-2024) and predefined inclusion criteria, we synthesized 106 field studies to quantify rapeseed yield, nitrogen-use-efficiency (NUE), agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN), and environmental responses to N rate. Across studies, yield responded nonlinearly to N, with rapid gains at low-moderate rates and diminishing returns thereafter; a linear-plus-plateau (LPP) fit indicated yield stabilization around ∼200-225 kg N ha−1 (mean yield ≈2.22 Mg ha−1). Region-specific dose-response functions showed distinct yield-maximizing tendencies: Asia (∼150), Australia (∼125), Europe (∼160-170), and an earlier saturation signal in North America. Both NUE and AEN declined consistently as N rate increased, with greater dispersion and a steeper efficiency erosion in developing-country datasets than developed-country datasets. Environmental context significantly modified the yield-N relationship: mean annual precipitation (MAP), soil pH, and soil organic matter (SOM) shifted response curvature and implied N optima, while yields were highest under intermediate precipitation (500-1000 mm), near-neutral pH (≈6.5-7.5), and higher SOM. Environmental indicators increased disproportionately at higher N supply: N2O and CH4 followed significant nonlinear trends, and soil NO3−-N and NH4+-N pools rose markedly under fertilized treatments. Integrating diminishing yield gains with accelerating environmental costs supports a balanced N management window of ∼100-150 kg N ha−1 for many systems, with rates above ∼150-200 kg N ha−1 requiring clear, site-specific justification and mitigation (e.g., split/variable-rate application, enhanced-efficiency fertilizers, and SOM-building soil management). This framework offers actionable pathways to reconcile agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability.

The seedling stage is one of the stages during which rapeseed is most sensitive to saline-alkali stress. Enhancing the tolerance of rapeseed seedlings is crucial for achieving high biomass and yield when cultivating rapeseed in saline-alkaline soils. This study utilized the salt-sensitive rapeseed variety Yangyou 9 as experimental material to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) improves salinity tolerance under salt stress during the seedling stage. The results indicated that the 150 mM NaCl stress significantly inhibited the growth of rapeseed seedlings. However, foliar application of ZnO NPs at the concentration of 100 mg L-1 resulted in significant increases in biomass, plant height, leaf width, and leaf area of the above-ground parts of the plants. Furthermore, the contents of soluble sugars and soluble proteins increased by 57.03% and 33.43%, respectively. Under salt stress conditions, the application of ZnO NPs significantly enhanced the activities of POD, SOD, and CAT compared to the untreated control, reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and decreased electrolyte leakage by 27.7% as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 30.7%. These findings indicated that ZnO NPs treatment could significantly alleviate oxidative stress and damage to cell membranes. Non-destructive micro-measurement techniques showed that after ZnO NPs treatment, the rates of K+ efflux and Na+ influx in the root tips and leaf mesophyll tissues of rapeseed seedlings were significantly reduced, thus maintaining the sodium-potassium ion balance and enhancing the salt tolerance of rapeseed during the seedling stage.

【Objective】Exploring the potential physiological and molecular mechanisms of nano-silicon soaking on salt tolerance in rice, especially the synergistic transcriptional and metabolic responses, to provide theoretical basis and technical guidance for stress resistant cultivation of rice in saline soil.【Method】Rice cultivar '9311' was used as the experimental material, with four treatments: Seed soaking with distilled water without NaCl treatment (control, CK), seed soaking with 2.00 mmol/L exogenous nano-silicon without NaCl treatment (exogenous nano-silicon, N), seed soaking with distilled water + 60 mmol/L NaCl treatment (salt stress, S), and seed soaking with 2.00 mmol/L exogenous nano-silicon + 60.00 mmol/L NaCl treatment (nano-silicon + salt stress, N+S). Samples were collected at three-leaf-one-heart stage to measure morphological indicaes, antioxidant enzyme activities, osmotic regulatory substances, and endogenous hormones in leaves and roots. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were integrated to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs).【Result】Salt stress markedly inhibited the growth of rice seedlings. In comparison to the CK, the aboveground dry weight and root dry weight of seedlings subjected to S decreased significantly by 35.53% and 50.69%, respectively. Additionally, the activities of POD in leaves and roots increased significantly by 32.02% and 38.14%, respectively, while MDA content rose significantly by 55.57% in leaves and 18.23% in roots. The Na+ content increased significantly by 1 382.48% and 951.52%, respectively. Compared with the S treatment, the N+S treatment significantly increased the aboveground dry weight and root dry weight of seedlings by 26.28% and 49.53%, respectively. The activities of SOD, POD, and CAT in the root system increased significantly by 57.14%, 20.53%, and 80.59%, respectively. The contents of SP and Pro in the leaves increased by 14.37% and 21.86%, respectively. Furthermore, the MDA content in leaves and roots decreased by 26.37% and 10.20%, respectively, and the Na+ content decreased by 38.20% and 25.75%, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that, compared to S treatment, N+S treatment identified 61 and 276 DEGs in leaves and roots, respectively. The DEGs in leaves treated with N+S were significantly enriched in pathways such as lysine biosynthesis and ABC transporters. In contrast, the DEGs in roots were significantly enriched in pathways related to plant hormone signal transduction and linoleic acid metabolism. Metabolomics analysis identified 104 and 64 DAMs in leaves and roots treated with N+S, respectively, compared to S treatment. Further analysis revealed that the metabolism of nicotinate and nicotinamide was significantly enriched in leaves treated with N+S, while the metabolism of linoleic acid, cysteine, and methionine in roots was significantly enriched. Through the integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics, compared to S treatment, the DEGs and DAMs in the leaves treated with N+S were enriched in pyrimidine metabolism and pyruvate metabolism, whereas those in the root system were enriched in zeatin biosynthesis.【Conclusion】Exogenous nano-silicon seed soaking treatment activates the antioxidant system, enhances osmotic regulation, and balances ion homeostasis and endogenous hormone levels by modulating the transcriptional and metabolic pathways involved in zeatin biosynthesis, thereby mitigating salt stress damage in rice seedlings..

The leaf area index (LAI) is a crucial parameter for crop growth management. While UAV remote sensing has been utilized to estimate LAI at the plot scale, its application to complex farmland environments—characterized by heterogeneous backgrounds (e.g., soil, residue, and weeds)— has been less explored. This study employed UAV-mounted hyperspectral and RGB sensors to gather data from both experimental plots and farmland environments. Data from diverse rapeseed cultivars and growth stages were used as the calibration dataset, while farmland-level data validated the models. The study compared three models: the PROSAIL model, an empirical model incorporating canopy spectral and morphological parameters without differentiating canopy cover types, and the proposed canopy morphological parameters (CMP) model. The CMP model estimated LAI using fractional vegetation cover (FVC) for sparse canopies and canopy height for closed canopies. Despite challenges such as UAV image resolution and the limited availability of spatial data, the CMP model showed strong performance, with an R2 of 0.779 and RMSE of 0.732. Although its R2 was similar to that of the empirical spectral–morphological (ESM) model (R2 = 0.780), the CMP approach achieved a notably lower RMSE (0.732 vs. 0.814). This improvement stems from its canopy-aware design, which adaptively uses fractional vegetation cover for sparse canopies and canopy height for closed canopies. Such differentiation enhances model stability and generalization in heterogeneous farmland scenes—conditions in which background interference and structural variability often degrade empirical models. In comparison, the PROSAIL model performed less accurately (R² = 0.618, RMSE = 1.094). These results highlight that the CMP model provides a robust and cost-effective solution for LAI estimation, supporting crop growth assessment and management in real farmland.

The rapeseed cropping system following rice in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) universally faces the challenge of tight crop succession. To address this, integrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sowing with no-tillage practices and high-density direct seeding has been recognized as a crucial agronomic approach. However, high-density planting intensifies intraspecific competition, quantified as relative competition intensity (RCI), which impairs root-shoot development and creates a prominent contradiction between lodging resistance and yield. To investigate this, a two-year field experiment was conducted to quantify the interactive effects of tillage methods (CK, tillage with manual sowing; N, no-tillage with UAV-sowing; T, tillage with UAV-sowing) and seeding rates (S1, 3.75; S2, 5.25; S3, 6.75 kg ha−1). Across the three tillage modes, sequential increases in seeding rate from S1 to S3 resulted in significant increases in population density, grain yield, and RCI, but a significant reduction in yield per plant. Integrated data from the two years revealed that the N mode significantly reduced the Relative Competition Intensity (RCI) by 32.3-37.7% compared to the CK and T modes. This management practice also optimized dry matter partitioning, increasing the root-shoot ratio and root mass fraction by 30.8-44.3%, which enhanced root anchorage. Concurrently, it reinforced stem mechanical properties; the contents of stem lignin and cellulose increased by 6.8-10.4%, leading to significantly greater stem strength and a consequent 18.6-35.8% reduction in the lodging index. Furthermore, under the N mode, moderate competitive stress activated key enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) by 7.6-46.9%) in the phenylpropanoid pathway, driving the synthesis of structural carbohydrates and enhancing mechanical support. Crucially, the no-tillage with UAV-sowing (N mode) synergistically achieved the dual objectives of high yield and lodging resistance by optimizing root-shoot coordination and reinforcing stem structure. The NS2 and NS3 treatments were identified as the optimal practices for balancing these goals, with yields comparable to or approaching the highest-yielding treatment (TS3) while offering superior lodging resistance. These findings elucidate a cascading relationship of “intraspecific competition - structural plasticity - functional enhancement - high yield and lodging resistance”, providing a precise agronomic framework for simultaneous yield increase and lodging resistance improvement in the YRB.

Low temperature during germination of late-seeded rapeseed disrupts multiple physiological and biochemical processes and thus limits growth and yield. Accordingly, methods to improve cold tolerance in late-sown rapeseed are needed. In this study, Zhongshuang 11 seeds were primed for 10 h with different concentrations of erucic acid (EA) or glucosinolates (GSLs). After drying, seeds were germinated at low temperature (15 °C/10 °C, 16 h/8 h light/dark) for 14 days. Compared with the control (distilled water priming), the optimal treatments—500 mg/L EA and 300 mg/L GSLs—increased germination rates by 2.9% and 15.6%, respectively, and raised total seedling biomass by 14–24%. Physiological assays on day 14 showed that EA priming increased peroxidase (POD) activity by 28.3%, while GSL priming enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and POD activities by 12.6% and 36.2%, respectively. EA seed priming increased auxin (IAA), brassinolide (BR), cytokinin (CTK), and gibberellin (GA) contents in underground tissues by 37.2%, 18.7%, 53.9%, and 46.7%, respectively, while GSL priming raised IAA, BR, and GA levels in aerial tissues by 74.0%, 59.0%, and 26.6%. Moreover, EA seed priming significantly increased the activities of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (LACS) and carnitine acyltransferase (CPT) in rapeseed seedlings, whereas GSL priming elevated glutathione S-transferase (GST) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activities. Field experiments confirmed that EA and GSL priming enhanced seedling biomass accumulation, producing 31.4% and 23.8% increases in total dry weight, respectively, and increased silique number per plant by 15.6% and 17.3%, ultimately raising grain yield by 12.9% and 20.0%. These results indicate that EA or GSL seed priming can improve cold tolerance and yield of late-seeded rapeseed, although further multi-environment and mechanistic studies are required.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a globally vital sugar crop, yet its productivity faces severe challenges from infestation by Chilo sacchariphagus. To decipher the plant’s molecular and metabolic defense mechanisms, this study applied an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis to three field-grown sugarcane cultivars (Zhongtang 4, 5, and 6) under natural borer stress. The transcriptomic analysis identified a total of 34,004 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 18,674 were up-regulated, and 15,330 were down-regulated. The three cultivars exhibited distinct transcriptional regulatory patterns: Z4 and Z5 showed a global suppression-type response and a strong activation-type response, respectively, and Z6 presented a balanced-type response. A functional enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly involved in metabolic processes, stress response, plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. Metabolomic analysis detected 963 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), primarily including flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids and their derivatives, and lipids. These metabolites were significantly enriched in pathways such as amino acid metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and glutathione metabolism. Integrated multi-omics analysis further revealed strong synergistic regulatory relationships between gene expression and metabolite accumulation, particularly in defense-related secondary metabolic pathways, such as phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. Several key regulatory hubs were identified, including novel transcripts and D-xylulose-5-phosphate. Sugarcane employs a genetic background-dependent, multi-layered transcriptional reprogramming and metabolic restructuring to cope with borer stress. Cultivars Z4 and Z6 tend to activate and accumulate defensive compounds, while Z5 exhibits a different pattern of metabolic resource allocation. This research provides a systematic elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying insect resistance in sugarcane and offers important candidate genes and metabolites for breeding resistant varieties.

It is often required for the inversion accuracy of the soil TN content under small sample size using visible and near-infrared(Vis-NIR)spectroscopy.In this study,a data augmentation framework was proposed to invert the soil TN content using generative adversarial networks(GANs).Specifically,a conditional generative adversarial network(CGAN)architecture was employed to improve the quality of the generated spectral data.The generation process was also guided using auxiliary information.Three types of the adversarial generative networks were evaluated:a standard GAN,a label-conditional generative adversarial network(LCGAN)with the soil TN content values as the conditional labels,and a variable importance in projection(VIP)-CGAN with the extremum scores as the conditional vectors in the feature wavelength sets.The feature wavelength was refined to identify the appropriate extreme points on the VIP score curve.Feature wavelengths were then extended with the less affected by the noise and external environmental interference.The more effective performance was validated this approach,compared with the higher VIP scores alone.The Vis-NIR spectra were collected in situ from the agricultural soils in the field.The experimental dataset was constructed with the TN content from the field and laboratory.Qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed on the fidelity of the synthetic samples that generated by the standard GAN,LCGAN,and various configurations of the VIP-CGAN.The results show that the best performance was observed in the VIP-CGAN variant with 9 extended feature wavelength bands(referred to as VIP-CGAN(T9)).The generated samples were achieved in the maximum mean discrepancy(MMD)and Fréchet inception distance(FID)scores as low as 0.003 and 0.005,respectively.There was the high statistical consistency between the generated data and the original data distribution.The reliable synthetic spectra were generated to fully learn the relationship between constraints and features.An enhanced dataset was constructed to combine the real samples with the synthetic samples after VIP-CGAN.The data augmentation was evaluated after enhancement.A systematic test was carried out to evaluate the predictive performance of three regression models—partial least squares regression(PLSR),support vector regression(SVR),and a one-dimensional convolutional neural network(1D-CNN).The optimal performance was achieved using synthetic samples generated by VIP-CGAN(T9)at a proportion of 300％(three times the size of the original training set).The PLSR model was attained a coefficient of determination(R2)of 0.86 with a root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.028 g/kg;The SVR model was achieved an R2of 0.84 and an RMSE of 0.009 g/kg;And the 1D-CNN model was performed best,with an R2 of 0.88 and an RMSE of 0.026 g/kg.There was the significant improvement over the baseline models that trained only on the original dataset.The generator was conditioned on the VIP-selected wavelengths.The spectral regions were associated with the chemical information that related to the nitrogen compounds and organic matter,thus forming a physically meaningful constraints.The data augmentation was provided a more robust training environment for the regression models,in order to effectively mitigate the overfitting.In conclusion,an effective framework was obtained to enhance the hyperspectral inversion accuracy of the soil TN content under small sample size.The finding can provide a sound solution to the small samples in the soil Vis-NIR spectroscopy.The future applications of the soil properties can be extended to explore the more advanced generative architectures.

Soil salinization is a major environmental hazard, hindering rapeseed development due to sodium ion (Na+) toxicity and ionic imbalances in plant cells. Understanding tolerance mechanisms and categorizing reliable physiochemical indicators is vital for enhancing rapeseed tolerance. Herein, we aimed to enhance knowledge about the stress-responsive mechanism of ten rapeseed varieties (C71, C88, C91, C97, C123, C136, C196, C272, C280, and C320) exposed to five NaCl concentrations (0, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mM) through determining key factors related to salt tolerance at the seedling stage. Our results showed that salt stress significantly reduced seedling growth and biomass with increasing salt stress concentration in a similar pattern in all studied varieties, especially in sensitive seedlings. Furthermore, photosynthetic pigment, osmotic solutes, and MDA showed significant variations under salt treatment versus control in all studied varieties. Based on morpho-physiochemical trait analysis of ten rapeseed varieties, C71 and C272 were selected as tolerant and sensitive varieties to study stress responses during six weeks (weekly time points) in the leaf, petiole, stem, and root of seedlings under 250 mM NaCl. Current findings demonstrated superior osmotic adjustment of C71 through higher accumulation of total soluble sugars and protein, reflected in lower MDA levels, which contributed to maintaining cellular homeostasis and membrane integrity to improve resilience under salinity versus C272. Besides, total amino acid content was enhanced in C71 versus C272 seedlings, which was attributed to stress tolerance. In different tissues of C71 and C272, Na+ and K+ levels varied with increasing growing time, reaching the maximum increment at the 6th week under salt stress conditions. Moreover, Na+ initially accumulates in roots and enhances the K+ level in tolerant seedlings; besides, K+ was accumulated higher in the roots of tolerant seedlings, resulting in K+ homeostasis, thereby improving stress tolerance. Our results can be a great reference value for rapeseed plant breeders to develop salt-tolerant cultivars.

Currently, effective strategies to enhance yield under high-density conditions in winter rapeseed production are lacking. Uniconazole and 2, 4-epibrassinolide are important plant growth regulators (PGRs) modulating crop development and yield formation. Therefore, flower bud differentiation and non-carbohydrate metabolism were analyzed under two rapeseed planting densities (D3: 45 × 104 plants ha-1, D5: 75 × 104 plants ha-1) to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of these PGRs on the yield. Under controlled conditions (double-distilled water), increasing planting density reduced the yield, total revenue, and the net profit of rapeseed plants. The PGR S3307 (uniconazole at the seedling stage), BR (2, 4-epibrassinolide at the flowering stage), and S-BR (combined S3307 and BR treatments) significantly enhanced these parameters under both D3 and D5 conditions versus the control. Notably, the yield increased by 13.8% and 15.6% (D3), 26.2% and 27.8% (D5) in S-BR compared to the control, and increased by 2.9% and 4.7% at D5 than D3 in S-BR, over two growing seasons, respectively. Furthermore, our findings indicated that compared to the control, S3307 accelerated flower bud differentiation by increasing the levels of cytokinin and abscisic acid. Meanwhile, both BR and S-BR significantly enhanced the activities of α-amylase, β-amylase, sucrose phosphate synthetase, and cell wall invertase. These improvements were associated with an enhanced translocation of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs), their translocation efficiency, and their contribution to yield. Moreover, the increases in NSC translocation, those enzyme activities, yield, and net profit under D5 were greater than those under D3 in S-BR. Overall, S-BR effectively promoted flower bud differentiation and NSC transport, resulting in increasing yield, numbers of effective branches bearing rapeseed siliques, and siliques per plant under high-density (D5) conditions.

Anthracnose is an emerging threat to Epimedium sagittatum, a cornerstone species in traditional Chinese medicine; however, its etiology in biodiversity hotspots remains unresolved. In this study, we comprehensively identified the anthracnose pathogens affecting E. sagittatum in China's Shennongjia Forest District. Through a combination of multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (based on ITS2, GAPDH, TUB2, and ACT sequences) and pathogenicity assays, we identified Colletotrichum fructicola as the primary causal agent. Beyond pathogen identification, we found that infection triggers a sharp decline in key flavonoids (epimedin A, B, and C; icariin; and icaritin). Concurrent rhizosphere microbiome profiling revealed a shift toward dysbiosis, characterized by the Rhizoclosmatium, Fusarium, and Coccidioides). Strikingly, in detached leaf assays, the plant-derived phenolic compound carvacrol inhibited the growth of C. fructicola by 86.7%. Together, our findings not only identify a pathogen of concern but also delineate a disease progression pathway primarily driven by metabolic reprogramming of the host (flavonoid depletion) and concomitant rhizosphere dysbiosis. We also propose carvacrol as a potent biocontrol agent. This work addresses critical knowledge gaps in medicinal plant pathology and proposes an eco-sustainable strategy for managing anthracnose.

Ridge tillage (RT) is an adaptive and increasingly adopted conservation farming practice aimed at improving productivity and resource use efficiency. However, a comprehensive understanding of its integrated effects and underlying mechanisms across diverse climatic, soil, and management conditions remains limited. We conducted a global meta-analysis of 1579 observations from 65 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the effects of RT on microclimatic, evapotranspiration (ET), crop yield, water use efficiency (WUE), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and thermal use efficiency (TUE). In addition, we quantified the relative contributions of climatic, soil, and managerial drivers. Microclimate analysis showed that RT reduced soil temperature (-2.7%), increased canopy CO2 concentration (+1.4%) and wind speed (+30.3%), while slightly decreasing canopy humidity. These microclimatic improvements contributed to enhanced WUE, RUE, and TUE by 11.9%, 17.0%, and 14.3%, respectively. Ultimately, RT led to a significant yield increase of 14.9% without affecting ET. Yield increases were more pronounced in high-altitude (>= 1500 m, +26.9%) and warmer (>= 18 degrees C, +24.3%) regions. Greater yield gains were also observed in soils with medium to low nutrient levels and moderate bulk density. Among management practices, a < 1 ridge-to-furrow ratio and the application of film mulching on ridges further enhanced RT benefits. Decision tree analysis identified soil characteristics as the dominant factors influencing both yield and ET responses (45.5% and 58.3%, respectively), with soil bulk density emerged as the most influential single factor, explaining 18.6% and 24.5% of the relative importance for yield and ET, respectively. Overall, this study provides robust empirical evidence supporting the application of RT across diverse agroecosystems. By integrating microclimatic, physiological, and soil factors at a global scale, our study offers novel insights into the mechanisms driving RT effectiveness-highlighting a new direction for site-specific optimization of conservation tillage strategies under changing environmental conditions.