Cymbidium sinense (Andrews) Willd. has significant ornamental value, but its low rhizome proliferation and differentiation efficiency severely limit industrial development. To establish an efficient in vitro propagation system, the effects of various organic additives and plant growth regulators on rhizome proliferation, bud differentiation, and rooting were investigated. During rhizome proliferation, the combination of 50.0 g l-(1) solid coconut endosperm and 1.0 & micro;mol l(-1) 24-epibrassinolide was optimal, producing an average of 8.2 rhizomes. At the stage of rhizome differentiation into buds, the combination of 100.0 g l(-1 )banana puree and 2.0 & micro;mol l(-1) paclobutrazol yielded the highest number of adventitious buds, with an average of 3.2 buds. At the rooting stage, considering overall rooting quality and transplant readiness, 10.0 g l(-1) potato puree produced the best results, with a rooting rate of 95.0%, an average root number of 3.2, and a root length of 2.1 cm.

Dendrobium huoshanense Z. Z. Tang S. J. Cheng is a rare medicinal orchid characterized by slow growth and low propagation efficiency. This study aimed to establish a comprehensive and efficient in vitro propagation system for D. huoshanense by optimizing culture media via a response surface methodology (RSM). Key factors, including plant growth regulators and organic additives, were optimized for distinct developmental stages. The results indicated that the optimal conditions for protocorm proliferation were 0.2 mg·L⁻¹ naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 1.1 mg·L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), and 97.0 g·L⁻¹ potato homogenate (PH), resulting in a proliferation coefficient of 59.3. The optimal conditions for protocorm differentiation were 1.1 mg·L⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 1.1 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA, and 85.0 g·L⁻¹ banana homogenate (BH), with an average of 6.4 buds per explant. For protocorm-like body (PLB) proliferation, the optimal conditions were 0.3 mg·L⁻¹ NAA, 2.0 mg·L⁻¹ kinetin (KT), and 150.0 g·L⁻¹ PH, resulting in a proliferation coefficient of 55.2. The optimal medium for PLB differentiation comprised 1.1 mg·L⁻¹ 2,4-D, 1.6 mg·L⁻¹ KT, and 140.0 g·L⁻¹ PH, yielding an average of 7.4 buds per explant. The optimal conditions for the proliferation of cluster shoots were 0.3 mg·L⁻¹ 2,4-D, 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ KT, 1.6 mg·L⁻¹ melatonin (MT), and 150.0 g·L⁻¹ BH, resulting in a proliferation coefficient of 6.2. For seedling rooting, the optimal medium was supplemented with 1.4 mg·L⁻¹ NAA, 0.7 mg·L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 90.0 g·L⁻¹ BH. This study not only provides a practical protocol for its rapid propagation and conservation but also a valuable theoretical framework for tissue culture of other endangered orchid species. Response surface methodology enabled the optimization of culture conditions for Dendrobium huoshanense, achieving highly efficient regeneration and providing a theoretical basis for large-scale propagation and conservation of this endangered orchid.

The L-type amino acid transporter (LAT) family facilitates the cellular transport of amino acids and polyamines. However, the functions of LAT transporters in rice remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, we identified a significant negative association between OsLAT1 transcript levels and tiller number in rice. Transcriptional analysis revealed that OsLAT1 is predominantly expressed in leaves, basal tissues, and panicles. Subcellular localization assays showed that the OsLAT1 protein is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and is strongly induced by Asp), Leu, spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm). Furthermore, under hydroponic conditions, moderate concentrations of arginine (Arg) and serine (Ser) partially promoted bud outgrowth and biomass in OsLAT1-overexpressing plants, whereas these effects diminished at higher Arg/Ser concentrations. In contrast, OsLAT1 facilitated the transport of spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm), thereby promoting axillary bud elongation and rice growth. These findings provide insights into amino acid transporter-mediated regulation of rice plant architecture and offer potential targets for yield improvement.

This study demonstrates that CRISPR-mediated cis-regulatory element editing (CRE editing) of the SD1 promoter effectively reduces plant height in Kam sweet rice, without compromising yield or grain quality, offering a precise strategy for crop improvement. Kam sweet rice, a unique aromatic variety, faces challenges with excessive plant height and suboptimal yield. This study explores a precision breeding approach by strengthening an endogenous TCP19–SD1 repression module through CRISPR-Cas9-mediated CRE editing to modulate the expression of the SD1 gene, a key regulator of gibberellin biosynthesis and stem elongation. By introducing an adenine insertion in the GGCCCCCC cis-regulatory element in the SD1 promoter, we enhanced the binding affinity of the transcription factor TCP19, resulting in down-regulated SD1 expression. This led to a reduction in gibberellin levels, shortening internodes, and reducing plant height. Phenotypic evaluations revealed that the edited lines exhibited significantly shorter plant height while maintaining grain yield and nitrogen utilization efficiency compared to wild-type plants. Microscopic analysis of the internodes confirmed that the reduced plant height correlated with decreased cell length. Transcriptomic studies indicated that CRE editing modulated a network of genes involved in both gibberellin and auxin signaling pathways, critical for plant growth. Importantly, the genetic modification did not adversely affect grain quality. This study demonstrates the potential of strengthening endogenous transcriptional repression via CRE editing as a precise alternative to conventional gene knockout techniques, offering a powerful strategy for optimizing complex agronomic traits in rice, with applications in modern crop breeding strategies.

Cymbidium goeringii Rchb. f. is an endangered orchid that is difficult to culture due to low rhizome proliferation, limited differentiation, and severe browning. An in vitro propagation system was established to culture this orchid by evaluating the effects of different basal media and decomposed animal-derived additives on rhizome proliferation, and the effects of anti-browning agents on rhizome differentiation and shoot rooting. Optimal medium for rhizome proliferation was determined to be 1/2 Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 0.5 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), 1.0 mg·L−1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 7.5 g·L−1 activated charcoal, and 0.1 g·L−1 decomposed squid, resulting in a rhizome proliferation coefficient of 15.0 within 90 d. For rhizome differentiation, 1/2 MS supplemented with 1.0 mg·L−1 6-BA, 0.1 mg·L−1 NAA, and 0.25 g·L−1 succinic acid, significantly suppressed browning (9.5

Synergistically improving the yield and grain quality of rice remains a major breeding challenge. Amino acid transporters play key roles in regulating plant growth and development,but their mechanisms in synergistically regulating yield and quality remain unclear.

Amino acids are crucial nutrients for growth in crops. In this study, we found an amino acid transporter-like 13 (OsATL13), that coordinately determined rice yield and quality. OsATL13 was primarily expressed in the root and panicle, its protein was localized on plasma membrane, and it principally transported phenylalanine and methionine. Overexpression (OE) of OsATL13 increased the tiller number by 31.4%, resulting in a 16.18% increase in grain yield compared to Zhonghua 11 (ZH11). It also decreased amylose content and increased protein content in OsATL13 OE lines compared to ZH11, whereas the OsATL13 mutant exhibited opposite effects. RNA-seq analysis revealed that upregulation of OsATL13 influenced the expression of genes associated with nitrogen and starch metabolism pathways. Notably, exogenous treatment with phenylalanine and methionine promoted axillary buds outgrowth, increased tiller number and rice yield, improved milled and head rice rates, and decreased chalky rice rate. Furthermore, rapid viscosity analysis supported the observation that phenylalanine and methionine treatments influenced rice eating and cooking quality. This research offers new perspectives on the synchronized enhancement of both rice yield and quality with amino acid transporter OsATL13.

This review synthesizes how amino acid (AA) metabolism regulates rice stress tolerance, growth and quality through stress protection and growth-modulating pathways, bridging mechanisms to field applications. Under abiotic stresses, rice accumulates specific AAs—notably proline (Pro), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and branched-chain AAs (BCAAs)—as osmoprotectants and antioxidants, correlating strongly with stress tolerance. Genetic evidence establishes causality: overexpression of biosynthetic genes (e.g., OsOAT for Pro, OsDIAT for BCAAs), while suppressing catabolism (e.g., OsProDH knockout) or engineering AA transporters (AATs) (e.g., ABA-induced OsANT1 for amino acids redistribution) enhances tolerance. Integrated AA biosynthetic, catabolic, and transport pathways collectively maintain cellular function under stress. These insights enable practical strategies: exogenous AA treatments (e.g., Pro, GABA) mitigate stress damage, while breeding/engineering (e.g., OsAAP3, OsAAP11, and OsProDH knockout) develops high-yield, high-quality, and stress-tolerant rice. Future work should translate molecular insights into field applications, addressing trade-offs between growth, nutrition, and tolerance to enhance climate-resilient rice production.

Rice tillering determines grain yield, yet the molecular regulatory network is still limited. In this study, we demonstrated that the transcription factor OsMADS60 promotes the expression of the auxin transporter OsPIN5b to affect auxin distribution and inhibit rice tillering and grain yield. Natural variation was observed in the promoter region of OsMADS60, with its expression level negatively correlated with tiller number and inducible by auxin. Overexpression of OsMADS60 resulted in reduced tillers and grain yield, whereas CRISPR-mediated knockouts of OsMADS60 led to increased tillering and yield. OsMADS60 was found to directly bind the CArG motif [CATTTAC] in the OsPIN5b promoter, thereby upregulating its expression. Moreover, we found that auxin content in various tissues of OsMADS60 and OsPIN5b overexpression lines increased relative to the wild-type ZH11, whereas the auxin levels in mutant lines showed the opposite trend. Genetic analysis further confirmed that OsPIN5b acted downstream of OsMADS60, coregulating the expression of genes involved in hormone pathways. Our findings reveal that OsMADS60 modulates auxin distribution by promoting OsPIN5b expression, thereby influencing rice tillering. This regulatory mechanism holds significant potential for the genetic improvement of rice architecture and grain yield.

Gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays an important role in regulating plant growth and response to various stresses. Here, we studied the natural variation of GABA transporter gene OsGAT3 in rice germplasm and found four primary promoter haplotypes. OsGAT3 was highly expressed in roots, culms, and leaf blades and was strongly induced in roots by GABA, salt, drought, and low temperature. OsGAT3 expression level was positively correlated with tiller number and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE). OsGAT3 was localized in the plasma membrane. Overexpression of OsGAT3 significantly promoted GABA accumulation in basal parts suggesting it boosted axillary bud formation, tillering, and grain yield. OsGAT3 overexpression also enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed enriched phenylpropanoid and pentose phosphate pathways, and MAPK signaling underlining tolerance to salt stress, whereas drought tolerance was attributed to enhanced photosynthesis, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and carotenoid biosynthesis. Taken together, our data support the potential application of the gene for increasing yield under abiotic tolerance.

Amino acids are necessary nutrients for the growth of Oryza sativa (rice), which can be mediated by amino acid transporter; however, our understanding of these transporters is still limited. This study found that the expression levels of amino acid permease gene OsAAP12 differed between indica and japonica rice. Altered expression of OsAAP12 negatively regulated tillering and yield in transgenic rice lines. Subcellular localization revealed that OsAAP12 was primarily localized to the plasma membrane. Moreover, it was indicated that OsAAP12 transported polar neutral amino acids asparagine (Asn), threonine (Thr), and serine (Ser) through experiments involving yeast heterologous complementation, fluorescence amino acid uptake, and amino acid content determination. Additionally, exogenous application of amino acids Asn, Thr, and Ser suppressed axillary buds outgrowth in OsAAP12 overexpression lines compared with wild-type ZH11. Conversely, the opposite trend was observed in CRISPR mutant lines. RNA-seq analysis showed that the expression patterns of genes involved in the nitrogen and cytokinin pathways were generally altered in OsAAP12 modified lines. Hormone assays indicated that OsAAP12 mutant lines accumulated cytokinins in the basal part of rice, whereas overexpression lines had the opposite effect. In summary, CRISPR mutant of OsAAP12 boosted rice tillering and grain yield by coordinating the content of amino acids and cytokinins, which has potential application value in high-yield rice breeding.

Kam sweet rice is a cultural treasure in Qiandongnan, Guizhou Province. However, the situation with low yield and economic value in Kam sweet rice urgently requires improved mechanistic understanding of tillering to increase its yield. In this study, we found that the rate of axillary bud elongation differed significantly among Kam sweet rice varieties, which was positively correlated with tiller number. Transcriptome analysis suggests that genes involved in nitrogen metabolism and plant hormone signaling pathways could be the main reasons for the differences in tillering among these varieties. The amino acid transporter OsAAP11 in the transcriptome was essential for bud outgrowth and rice tillering based on the phenotypic performance of its transgenic plants. Further results found that OsAAP11 was able to transport amino acids such as proline, glycine, and alanine in rice. Natural variations were found in the promoter region of this gene in different Kam sweet rice varieties, which may lead to differences in the transcription levels of OsAAP11. Overall, the results suggest that the natural variations of OsAAP11 in rice might lead to variations in its expression levels, further affecting bud outgrowth and tillering through regulating the transport and accumulation of amino acids.

Kam Sweet Rice is a high-quality local variety of Guizhou province in China, but most varieties have awns on lemma. In this study, we aimed to obtain awnless varieties of Kam Sweet Rice by blocking the awn development-related gene OsGAD1 using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. We determined that natural variations of the OsGAD1 triggered different lengths of awns of Kam Sweet Rice. We found that the awning rate of the CRISPR lines of OsGAD1 in Guxiangnuo, Goujingao and Gouhuanggang decreased by over 65%, and the number of grains per panicle and yield per plant increased by more than 17% and 20% compared to the wild-types. Furthermore, we indicated that blocking OsGAD1 resulted in an increase of over 2% in the brown rice rate and milled rice rate in these varieties. In addition, the analysis of the transcriptome revealed that the regulation of awn development and yield formation in CRISPR lines of OsGAD1 may involve genes associated with phytohormone and nitrogen pathways. These results suggest that blocking OsGAD1 in Kam Sweet Rice using CRISPR/Cas9 technology can be used for breeding programs seeking high yield and grain quality of Kam Sweet Rice.

Dendrobium species, esteemed as a group of orchid plants with important ornamental and medicinal value, are currently experiencing significant developmental advancements. This research encompasses a comprehensive review of Dendrobium tissue culture literature spanning 2008 to 2023, sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Employing the bibliometric analysis tool CiteSpace, we conducted a visualization and presentation of data encompassing research institutions, authorship patterns, key terminology, and emergent themes, elucidating the current status, hotspots, and frontiers of Dendrobium tissue culture research. After thorough screening, a total of 261 papers were included in this study. The publication count exhibited a consistent annual increase. Chinese Acad Sci, Univ Sains Malaysia, North Eastern Hill Univ, Univ Debrecen, and Univ Putra Malaysia emerged as primary research institutions, while a core team led by J.A. Teixeira da Silva, S. Sreeramanan, S. Kumaria, and N. Chen played a dominant role. Central research themes revolve around optimizing the tissue culture system of medicinal Dendrobium, and exploring the genetic stability and gene function. Furthermore, the field is witnessing a trajectory towards future multidisciplinary cross-collaboration.

Amino acids are the primary form of nitrogen utilization in higher plants, mainly transported by amino acid transporters. In this study, we analyzed the natural variation of amino acid transporter-like 4 (OsATL4) in rice germplasm resources, identified its spatiotemporal expression characteristics, determined its substrate transport, and validated its function using transgenic plants. We found that the promoter sequence of OsATL4 varied across 498 rice varieties. The expression level of OsATL4 was higher in japonica rice, which was negatively correlated with tiller number and grain yield. OsATL4 was highly expressed in the basal part, leaf sheath, stem, and young panicle, with its two splicing variants localized to the cell membrane. OsATL4a (the long splicing variant) had a high affinity for transporting Ser, Leu, Phe, and Thr, while OsATL4b (the short splicing variant) had a high affinity for transporting Ser, Leu, and Phe. Blocking OsATL4 promoted axillary bud outgrowth, rice tillering, and grain yield, whereas overexpression lines exhibited the opposite phenotype. Exogenous application of low concentrations of Ser promoted axillary bud outgrowth in overexpression lines, while high concentrations of Ser inhibited it. Conversely, the mutant lines showed the opposite response. Altered expression of OsATL4 might affect the expression of genes in nitrogen, auxin, and cytokinin pathways. We propose that two splicing variants of OsATL4 negatively regulate rice tillering and yield by mediating the transport of amino acids, making it a significant target for high-yield rice breeding.

Background Amino acids are not only the main form of N in rice, but also are vital for its growth and development. These processes are facilitated by amino acid transporters within the plant. Despite their significance, only a few AAP amino acid transporters have been reported. Results In this study, we observed that there were differences in the expression of amino acid transporter OsAAP7 among 521 wild cultivated rice varieties, and it directly negatively correlated with tillering and grain yield per plant. We revealed that OsAAP7 protein was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and had absorption and transport affinity for amino acids such as phenylalanine (Phe), lysine (Lys), leucine (Leu), and arginine (Arg) using subcellular localization, yeast substrate testing, fluorescent amino acid uptake, and amino acid content determination. Further hydroponic studies showed that exogenous application of amino acids Phe, Lys and Arg inhibited the growth of axillary buds in the overexpression lines, and promoted the elongation of axillary buds in the mutant lines. Finally, RNA-seq analysis showed that the expression patterns of genes related to nitrogen, auxin and cytokinin pathways were changed in axillary buds of OsAAP7 transgenic plants. Conclusions This study revealed the gene function of OsAAP7, and found that blocking of amino acid transporter OsAAP7 with CRISPR/Cas9 technology promoted tillering and yield by determining basic and neutral amino acids accumulation in rice.

Amino acid transporters (AATs) play important roles in plant growth and stress tolerance; however, whether the abscisic acid signaling pathway regulates their transcription in rice (Oryza sativa) under salt stress remains unclear. In this study, we report that the transcription factor OsMYB2 (MYB transcription factor 2) of the abscisic acid signaling pathway mediates the expression of the gene encoding the AAT aromatic and neutral AAT 1 (OsANT1), which positively regulates growth and salt tolerance in rice. OsANT1 was mainly expressed in the leaf blade and panicle under normal conditions and transports leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and proline (Pro), positively regulating tillering and yield in rice. Nevertheless, salt stress induced the accumulation of abscisic acid and strongly increased the expression level of OsANT1 in the root, resulting in enhanced salt tolerance of rice seedlings, as evidenced by higher Pro concentration and antioxidant-like enzyme activities and lower malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Moreover, we showed that OsMYB2 interacts with the promoter of OsANT1 and promotes its expression. Overexpression of OsMYB2 also improved tillering, yield, and salt tolerance in rice. In conclusion, our results suggest that the transcription factor OsMYB2 triggers OsANT1 expression and regulates growth and salt tolerance in rice, providing insights into the role of the abscisic acid signaling pathway in the regulatory mechanism of AATs in response to salt stress.

Kam Sweet Rice (KSR) is a rice cultivar cultivated for thousands of years in China. Proper and balanced use of nitrogen sources is essential for achieving optimal growth and yield in KSR. This study was carried out to find the most effective hydroponic nutrient solution for cultivating and promoting the growth of KSR. Different nitrogen treatments were applied to KSR cultivars GouDan (GD), GouHa (GH), HongHe (HH), LeiLongGang (LG), and ZaiBianXiaoXiangHe (ZH), resulting in noticeable changes in both growth and physiological traits. Our findings revealed that D3 treatment [1.2 mM NH4Cl + 2.4 mM NaNO3+ neutral amino acids (0.1 mM Ser + 0.2 mM Thr + 0.2 mM Gly + 0.2 mM Pro +0.3 mM Ala)] had a notable positive impact on the growth of GH and ZH which showed the best performance in terms of plant height, root length and fresh weight when compared to the control (CK). Through transcriptome analysis, we discovered that these treatments altered the expression levels of genes associated with carbon metabolism, photosynthesis, and nitrogen pathways within 40 days. Interestingly, by altering the growth and tillering in rice transgenic plants, we validated the role of amino acid transporter OsAAP13 identified in transcriptome profiling, underscoring its significance. Our results are helpful for large-scale production of KSR with the key methods for controlling the growth of KSR. It is a valuable asset for future investigations aimed at unravelling the intricate mechanisms governing plant growth in the context of different nitrogen supplies.

Cymbidium faberi, a member of the Cymbidium genus known for its fragrant blooms and graceful foliage, has recently become endangered in the wild due to reproductive challenges. This study aimed to establish systematically a tissue culture system for Cymbidium faberi Rolfe (wild species) by evaluating the effects of various plant growth regulators its propagation stages, including rhizome proliferation, differentiation, shoot strengthening, and rooting. The results showed that 0.5 mg·L−1 thidiazuron significantly promoted rhizome proliferation, achieving a proliferation coefficient of 6.08 after 60 days of culture. For adventitious bud induction, 1.92 mg·L−1 brassinolide was most effective, inducing 6.43 buds per rhizome with an average bud height of 5.25 mm after 90 days of culture. The optimal strategy for shoot growth was using 3.0 mg·L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, resulting in an average shoot height of 6.47 cm after 60 days. The highest rooting rate of 87.5% was achieved with 0.5 mg·L−1 zeatin, producing an average of 3.5 roots per shoot with an average root length of 3.06 cm. This study successfully developed a propagation system for C. faberi and highlighted the significant role of BL in promoting rhizome differentiation. In conclusion, this study provides a robust propagation method to support the conservation and industrial development of C. faberi.

通过对武汉市部分城市公园中可食地景现状进行调查与分析,研究了游客对可食地景的认识度、参与度、满意度等.发现公园内主要的可食植物有52种,其中以药用类、果木类、蔬菜类为主,而香草类植物较少.结合公园不同功能分区特点,选择了较具代表性的可食植物群落,对其植物种类、层次、季相及空间等进行了植物配置分析,旨在为可食地景在城市公园的应用提供指导参考.