Habitat degradation in recent years has resulted in substantial biodiversity loss and homogenization, with serious ecological and socioeconomic consequences. Afforestation is a globally adopted strategy to mitigate this environmental change. In China, for instance, a total of approximately 87.6 million hectares have been afforested since 1999. However, studies on the impacts of anthropogenically modified plantation ecosystems on biodiversity remain insufficient. This study assessed disparities in bird diversity across three landscape compositions: monoculture artificial forests, mixed tree-shrub artificial forests, and mixed tree-shrub-agricultural artificial forests in the Ansai region, a key area for the implementation of large-scale afforestation programs in China. The analysis focused on the effects of vegetation structures, microhabitat indicators, and anthropogenic disturbances on bird species and functional diversity. The findings revealed that the composition of artificial forest landscapes significantly influenced the taxonomic diversity of birds. Compared to monoculture tree plantations, mixed tree-shrub-agricultural plantations supported greater bird abundance and unique species. Agricultural land area significantly affected bird abundance, richness, and functional richness, driven largely by seasonal dynamics of farmland. This study emphasizes that microhabitat diversity, rather than abundance, is key to supporting bird species richness and functional richness. However, spatial aggregation of deadwood and large trees may lead to resource monopolization by certain functional groups, reducing functional evenness and divergence. Higher grazing intensity reduced bird functional richness while cutting intensity did not lower local bird abundance. To promote development while ensuring ecosystem stability and diversity, a mixed tree-shrub-agricultural plantation model is recommended as a sustainable and resource-efficient strategy.

Anthocyanin-rich foliage plants hold important applications in the pharmaceutical industry and the tea sector, beyond their significant ornamental value. These plants also possess biological and ecological importance, contributing to reproduction, defense against natural enemies, and adaptation to environmental changes. Thus, a deeper understanding of their leaf coloration will be essential for both practical applications and theoretical understanding. The present study comprehensively reviews the factors influencing anthocyanin metabolism, including biosynthesis, transport, degradation, transcription factors (TFS), post-transcriptional regulation, post translation regulation. Next, we summarize the application of omics technologies in unveiling the mechanisms of anthocyanin synthesis in leaves. Furthermore, we review the molecular mechanisms by which environmental factors regulate leaf coloration by inducing anthocyanin biosynthesis. Lastly, the study addresses unresolved issues in the research of plant leaf coloration and proposes future research directions in this field. This study is anticipated to provide a valuable reference for the study of plant leaf coloration.

The epididymis orchestrates sperm maturation through microenvironmental regulation and epididymosome-mediated cargo delivery. Despite emerging evidence implicating protein S-acylation in vesicular trafficking, its compartment-specific dynamics and functional implications in epididymal physiology remain poorly characterized. Here, we employed acyl-biotin exchange-based 4D proteomics to decode the S-acylation proteomic of porcine caput/cauda epididymidis and their exosomes. Comparative analysis identified 2780 and 2084 S-acylated proteins in caput and cauda tissues, respectively, with 317 upregulated and 579 downregulated S-acylated proteins in cauda versus caput. Functional enrichment revealed S-acylation-dependent regulation of signal transduction, vesicle trafficking, and immune pathways, particularly through lysosomal activity, AMPK signaling, and glutathione metabolism. Exosomal profiling demonstrated conserved S-acylated protein signatures between caput and cauda derived exosomes, with 114 S-acylated proteins shared among caput tissue and both exosomal populations, implicating long-distance transport of caput-specific cargoes. Validation identified 5 caput-enriched S-acylated proteins, including evolutionarily conserved OCLN, CDH1, PDZK1, BAG5, and SCRN1, which were detected in S-acylated forms within caput-derived exosomes and cauda exosomes, but absent in cauda tissue. This study reveals a potential role of S-acylation in mediating exosomal cargo trafficking during porcine epididymis. Our findings advance understanding of post-testicular sperm functionalization and highlight S-acylation as a potential therapeutic target for male infertility. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides the comprehensive S-acylation proteomic atlas of the porcine epididymis and its exosomes, revealing how this reversible lipid modification spatiotemporally regulates exosome-mediated protein trafficking to support sperm maturation. We demonstrate that S-acylation governs key pathways including vesicle transport, immune regulation, and metabolic signaling in the epididymal microenvironment. Crucially, we identify a cohort of caput-enriched S-acylated proteins that are packaged into exosomes and transported distally to the cauda region, suggesting a previously unrecognized mechanism for long-distance intercellular communication. These findings establish S-acylation as a central regulator of epididymal function and offer molecular insights into post-testicular sperm maturation. The identified S-acylated proteins and associated pathways may serve as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for male infertility, particularly in cases of defective sperm functionalization.

Primula vulgaris possesses considerable edible, medicinal, and ornamental value. It is widely applied in food and pharmaceutical development and, as an early-spring flowering plant, is used in landscaping. However, its range of applications and scope are significantly limited due to its inability to withstand high temperatures. This study aimed to investigate the heat tolerance of P. vulgaris under natural high temperatures during summer, identify the most heat-resistant varieties, and determine the optimal conditions for summer outdoor cultivation. Eight P. vulgaris varieties were selected and placed under forest shade with three different shading rates during the summer high-temperature period. Additionally, the heat damage index and the following six physiological indicators were measured: malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and relative conductivity. Furthermore, a correlation analysis of the physiological indicators was conducted, and a heat tolerance evaluation was performed using the membership function method. Simultaneously, qRT-PCR was employed to analyze the expression patterns of three heat stress-related genes (PvHSP70, PvNCED6, and PvHSF24) across the different cultivars and experimental sites. Under heat stress conditions, leaf area was found to be positively and highly significantly correlated with stomatal density (p < 0.01). The heat damage index, MDA content, and relative conductivity increased significantly with prolonged stress, and they showed highly significant positive correlations. SOD activity, soluble sugar content, and soluble protein content increased to resist heat damage, while POD activity exhibited no consistent trend. Highly significant positive correlations were observed among protective enzyme activities and osmotic regulatory substances. After a comprehensive evaluation, the eight varieties were ranked according to heat tolerance as follows: “Early Punas Yellow” > “Danova Red” > “Middle Punas Rose Red” > “Middle Punas Blue” > “Middle Punas Red” > “Danova Rose White” > “Middle Punas Crimson” > “Middle Punas Scarlet”. Conclusions: “Early Punas Yellow”, “Danova Red”, and “Middle Punas Rose Red” demonstrated strong heat tolerance. In addition, the expression of PvHSP70 and PvHSF24 was significantly upregulated in heat-tolerant cultivars, while that of PvNCED6 showed a sustained increasing trend with rising temperatures. The results of a three-way ANOVA suggested that P. vulgaris exhibited different regulatory patterns among various traits under natural high-temperature stress. Morphological and integrative damage-related indicators, including leaf area, stomatal density, and the heat damage index, all presented significant “site × time” interaction effects. Meanwhile, some physiological regulatory indicators displayed more complex and inconsistent response patterns. These findings further confirm that a dense forest understory grassland is an ideal environment for the summer outdoor cultivation of P. vulgaris.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver ‘Ziye’ has unique purple-red leaves, which contain a variety of flavonoids, so it has high ornamental and medicinal value. However, the categories of flavonoids and molecular mechanism of specific accumulation of flavonoids in ‘Ziye’ leaves is still unclear. Here, differences in metabolic level, gene expression level, chromatin accessibility and cis-regulatory elements were compared between ‘Ziye’ and ‘Huazhong 1’ with green leaf color by metabolome profiling, RNA-seq, and ATAC-seq. A total of 205 flavonoids were identified from these two varieties using ultraperformance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The accumulation of most delphinidin, cyanidin, quercetin, myricetin, and isorhamnetin derivatives peaked in old leaves of ‘Ziye’. Single-molecule long-read sequencing indicated that genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, as well as many transcription factors including MYB, ERF, and WRKY were highly expressed in ‘Ziye’ leaves. ATAC-seq analysis revealed over 20,000 differentially accessible chromatin regions, annotating to 7715 genes. Examination of variety-specific accessible regions identified hundreds of enriched TF-binding motifs, highlighting MYB, ERF, and WRKY as likely key regulators of leaf color formation in 'Ziye'. Co-expression network analysis constructed based on expression levels and differentially accessible chromatin revealed that ERF5 plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes. Functional validation via heterologous overexpression of ERF5 in Arabidopsis thaliana showed that transgenic plants developed pronounced purplish-red leaf pigmentation under drought stress, concomitant with significantly elevated anthocyanin accumulation compared to wild-type controls. This study elucidates that under the regulation of chromatin accessibility, transcription factors including ERF and MYB families—particularly ERF5—exert a pivotal transcriptional regulatory role in anthocyanin biosynthesis within the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides 'Ziye'. These findings not only advance our understanding of gene regulatory networks in E. ulmoides, but also establish a crucial foundation for future investigations into transcriptional regulation and functional genomics in this economically important species.

This study investigated the function of epididymal extracellular vesicles (EVs) in overcoming sperm post-testicular modification deficiencies. Although EVs derived from the epididymis play a crucial role in intercellular communication and molecular exchange, there is limited research addressing how EVs released by in vitro cultured epididymal epithelial cells affect sperm function. Pig epididymal caput epithelial cells (pEECs) were successfully established and verified through immunofluorescence, Western blotting, semiquantitative analyses, and RNA sequencing. EVs from pEECs were isolated by low-temperature ultracentrifugation and characterized using NanoSight and scanning electron microscopy. Proteomic sequencing showed that these EVs are enriched in cargoes beneficial to sperm, including antioxidants, motility modulators, sperm-egg recognition molecules, and proteins associated with antigen processing and presentation. To validate their function, sperm were incubated with EVs at 17 degrees C, demonstrating that EVs could attach to sperm, enhance antioxidant capacity and motility, and reduce plasma membrane oxidation, mitochondrial impairment, and DNA damage. These findings indicate that pEECs can sustainably secrete multifunctional EVs in vitro and that these EVs confer protective effects on sperm in a time-dependent manner.

Internode length is an important trait of bamboo and a key indicator affecting the processing and utilization of bamboo materials. Shengyin bamboo is a dwarf variant of Phyllostachys edulis (Moso bamboo) with abnormally shortened internodes, yet its dwarfing mechanism has not been clarified. In this study, we adopted the method of Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) for DNA methylation combined with RNA Sequencing (RNA-seq) to explore the key causes of dwarfism in Shengyin bamboo. Observations via paraffin sections and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicate that abnormal cell division and elongation in internodes are the key causes of dwarfism in Shengyin bamboo. Cell division-related genes such as GRF (Growth-regulating factor) and Cyclin are highly expressed during the cell division stage (early growth stage) of Moso bamboo internodes, while genes associated with cell elongation (Expansin-like A, EXPA) are highly expressed during the cell elongation stage (late growth stage) of Moso bamboo internodes. DNA methylation levels exhibit significant differences between Moso bamboo and Shengyin bamboo. Specifically, the DNA methylation level of Moso bamboo at the late stage of internode elongation is higher than that at the early stage, and this difference is significantly greater than the variation observed between the late and early stages of internode elongation in Shengyin bamboo. The expression of most genes shows a negative correlation with promoter methylation levels, indicating that methylation levels inhibit gene expression. Based on transcriptome data, GRF6a, a gene potentially highly expressed in the early stage of internode growth of Moso bamboo under DNA methylation regulation, was screened out. Genetic transformation of rice showed that GRF10 can promote the growth and development of rice internode cells. In summary, under the regulation of DNA methylation, the expression of genes involved in internode cell division and elongation is inhibited, leading to fewer longitudinal cell lengths and cell numbers in the internodes of Shengyin bamboo compared to Moso bamboo, ultimately resulting in the shortened internodes of Shengyin bamboo.

Previous studies have revealed the expression of anti-complement factors on the surface of sperm across various species to resist attacks from complement components in reproductive tracts. Here we show that the anti-complement factor The caput of the porcine epididymis specifically expresses C4BPA, which is then transported to the surface of sperm via epididymosomes. The presence of C4BPA in epididymosomes depends on its palmitoylation modification, specifically at the Cys13 and Cys23 residues. ZDHHC8 has been pinpointed as the palmitoyl transferase that carries out this modification. Palmitoylated C4BPA in epididymosomes significantly resists attacks by complement C4 on sperm, maintaining porcine sperm motility. Our findings reveal a critical role for palmitoylated C4BPA in mitigating C4-mediated damage to sperm, highlighting its physiological relevance in preserving sperm motility and viability.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1747179.].

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) originating from testicular somatic cells act as pivotal intermediaries in cell signaling crosstalk between spermatogenic cells and the testicular microenvironment. The intricate balance between palmitoylation and depalmitoylation governs the positioning of protein cargos on the membrane, thereby influencing cellular activities by concentrating these proteins in EVs for delivery to recipient cells. Here, we reveal that GNA13 undergoes specific S-palmitoylation at Cys14 and Cys18 residues in Sertoli cells (SCs), a modification essential for its localization to the plasma membrane. We identify DHHC13, a member of the zinc finger DHHC-type palmitoyltransferase family that catalyzes protein S-palmitoylation, as the enzyme responsible for this critical post-translational modification. Additionally, GNA13 palmitoylation is indispensable for its selective enrichment in EVs emanating from SCs. Intriguingly, we discovered the presence of palmitoylated GNA13 in SC-derived EVs significantly downregulates autophagy levels in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), and the inhibition of GNA13 palmitoylation attenuates its interaction with ARHGEF12 which leads to diminished RhoA activity and consequent elevation of autophagy in SSCs. Our results illuminate the crucial role of DHHC13-mediated GNA13 S-palmitoylation in modulating autophagy levels in SSCs through SCs-derived EVs, suggesting that PM-GNA13-EV may serve as a potential candidate for further exploration in addressing fertility-related challenges during spermatogenesis.

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) are key substances for metabolic processes in plants, providing energy for growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. Pruning mother bamboo in a clump can significantly affect the NSCs allocation of new shoots, thereby affecting their growth. Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is an important economic bamboo species with a highest planting area in China. However, it remains unclear how many mother bamboo left maximize the influence in moso bamboo seedlings at different age. This study investigated the effects of retaining different number of mother bamboo on the morphological characterization and NSCs allocation of new-born seedlings in moso bamboo at two-year-old and three-year-old, respectively. Retaining more mother bamboo significantly promoted the plant height and diameter of new shoots, particularly in the two-year-old clumps. The growth rate of new shoots increased with the number of mother bamboo in the two-year-old clumps, while it remained relatively stable in the three-year-old clumps. The allocation strategy of NSCs also showed significant differences when retaining different number of mother bamboo across growth stages. NSCs content continuously increased with the growth of new shoots during the rapid growth phase, which reached peak in all parts at the end of the rhizome elongation stage. In two-year-old bamboo seedlings, the NSCs content increased with the number of retained mother plants. Significant differences were found between different treatments, particularly between those with one and four mother bamboos left. It was similar in the three-year-old clumps. However, there were no significant differences in NSCs content among the treatments. Reducing the number of mother bamboo appropriately can promote the growth of new shoots in moso bamboo. The two-year-old clumps were more dependent on the number of mother bamboo, while it was less pronounced for three-year-old clumps. In production practice, it is recommended that three mother bamboos are retained for two-year-old clumps and two to three mother bamboos for three-year-old clumps. This approach can expand the afforestation area while ensuring the survival rate of new seedlings in moso bamboo.

Seasonal breeding is an important adaptive strategy for animals. Recent studies have highlighted the potential role of the gut microbiota in reproductive health. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota and reproduction in seasonal breeders remains unclear. In this study, we selected a unique single food source animal, the flying squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes), as a model organism for studying seasonal breeding. By integrating transcriptomic, metabolomic, and microbiome data, we comprehensively investigated the regulation of the gut-metabolism-testis axis in seasonal breeding. Here, we demonstrated a significant spermatogenic phenotype and highly active spermatogenic transcriptional characteristics in the testes of flying squirrels during the breeding season, which were associated with increased polyamine metabolism, primarily involving spermine and gamma-amino butyric acid. Moreover, an enrichment of Ruminococcus was observed in the large intestine during the breeding season and may contribute to enhanced methionine biosynthesis in the gut. Similar changes in Ruminococcus abundance were also observed in several other seasonal breeders. These findings innovatively revealed that reshaping the gut microbiota regulates spermatogenesis in seasonal breeders through polyamine metabolism, highlighting the great potential of the gut-testis axis in livestock animal breeding and human health management.

In peanut cultivation, fertility and seed development are essential for fruit quality and yield, while pod number per plant, seed number per pod, kernel weight, and seed size are indicators of peanut yield. In this study, metabolomic and RNA-seq analyses were conducted on the flowers and aerial pegs (aerpegs) of two peanut cultivars JNH3 (Jinonghei) and SLH (Silihong), respectively. Compared with SLH, JNH3 had 3840 up-regulated flower-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 5890 up-regulated aerpeg-specific DEGs. Compared with the JNH3 aerpegs, there were 4079 up-regulated variety-specific DEGs and 18 up-regulated differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) of JNH3 flowers, while there were 3732 up-regulated variety-specific DEGs and 48 up-regulated DAMs in SLH flowers. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that the DEGs of JNH3 were associated with pollen germination and phenylalanine metabolism in flower and aerpeg tissues, respectively. In contrast, the DEGs of SLH were associated with protein degradation, amino acid metabolism, and DNA repair. However, there were significant differences in the lipids and lipid-like molecules between JNH3 flowers and SLH flowers. This investigation provides candidate genes and an experimental basis for the further improvement of high-quality and high-yield peanut varieties.

Phyllostachys nigra, commonly known as purple bamboo, is distinguished by its purple-black culms and is highly valued for both economic and ornamental purposes. The culms of this species are exceptionally hard, making them well-suited for furniture production, while its rhizomes and roots have medicinal applications. Bamboo flowering represents a rare and unique physiological event, occurring once every several decades or even up to a century. For most bamboo species, flowering results in death, which severely impacts local ecosystems. Unlike these species, purple bamboo survives post-flowering, but its vegetative growth is significantly impaired, leading to a drastic reduction in its economic value. The mechanisms by which flowering affects the vegetative growth of purple bamboo remain poorly understood. This study examines the rhizomes of flowering and non-flowering purple bamboo groves at the anatomical, physiological, and transcriptional levels. Our results demonstrate that rhizomes from flowering groves exhibit shorter internodal cell lengths and lower ratios of cell division phases. Levels of stress- and senescence-associated hormones-namely abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA)-were elevated in flowering rhizomes, while sugar content was reduced. Transcriptome sequencing indicated differential expression in hormone signaling genes: genes related to auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin were upregulated in non-flowering rhizomes, whereas those related to SA and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were more prevalent in flowering rhizomes. Co-expression network analysis pinpointed Isoform0018733 (WRKY53) and Isoform0018292 (WRKY24) as central regulators in the flowering rhizomes. Overexpression of WRKY53 in Arabidopsis thaliana accelerated leaf senescence and upregulated ABA-related genes compared to wild types. In conclusion, the flowering of purple bamboo serves as a senescence signal that significantly influences the growth and development of rhizomes, regulated by hormonal signaling pathways such as abscisic acid and salicylic acid, with transcription factors like WRKY53 playing pivotal roles.

Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.), renowned for its large, colorful, and fragrant flowers. Although flower color and fragrance together determine the ornamental and economic value of tree peony, the coordinated regulatory properties between them are still poorly understood, which represents an important knowledge gap for both breeding efforts for specific color and fragrance combinations and industrial production. In this study, a multilevel correlation analysis between pigment and volatile was conducted across nine wild tree peony, including phenotype-sensory level, phenotype-volatile organic compound (VOCs) level and pigment-VOCs level. Phenotypically, yellowness (b*) and chroma (C) positively correlated with floral type and benzenoid alcohols while redness (a*) associated with aldehydes. Furthermore, anthocyanins are closely related to ketones, while carotenoids are significantly associated with benzenes and terpenes. Therefore, there was indeed a potential correlation between flower pigments and VOCs in wild tree peony species. Taken together, the results inform synergistic breeding strategies for optimizing both flower color and fragrance in tree peony and provide a valuable theoretical basis for the rapid screening of germplasm resources of materials with both aroma and color. Also for specific flower color-flavor combinations it is possible to further screen for specific pollinators in the future, resulting in pollinator syndromes.

Habitat loss is a major driver of global biodiversity decline, and grassland ecosystems are critical for habitat conservation. In the Loess Plateau of China, prolonged agricultural practices and overgrazing have led to severe degradation of grasslands, causing biodiversity loss and reduced ecological functionality. This study examined the effects of connectivity and edge heterogeneity in three landscape mosaic types-farmland-grassland, river-grassland, and woodland-grassland-on biodiversity restoration. Using seven experimental units in the Ansai District, we assessed species richness, abundance, and community composition of butterflies, carabid beetles, and vascular plants. Our findings showed that connected habitats, particularly in farmland-grassland and river-grassland mosaics, on average increased species richness by over 38% compared to isolated habitats. Rare species were predominantly distributed in river-grassland mosaics, highlighting the importance of edge connectivity in supporting biodiversity. In contrast, biodiversity was lower in connected woodland-grassland mosaics, suggesting taxon-specific responses to connectivity. Vegetation played a key role in regulating biodiversity by providing food and shelter, emphasizing the need to conserve plant diversity for ecosystem recovery. Grazing intensity negatively affected vascular plants and carabid beetles, highlighting the importance of rational grazing management. Our findings highlight principles of connectivity and heterogeneity that are applicable to grassland restoration in arid and semi-arid ecosystems globally. Future research should explore how climate change and extreme weather events may moderate these effects. The results provide actionable recommendations for designing ecological corridors, optimizing landscape mosaics, and integrating sustainable grazing practices to restore degraded grasslands effectively.

Pigments and fragrances are pivotal traits in horticultural plants, not only enhancing their aesthetic appeal but also playing critical roles in attracting pollinators, ensuring reproductive success, and ecological adaptability such as stress tolerance and herbivore deterrence. Recent studies highlight the emerging role of WRKY transcription factors (TFs) as key regulators of pigments and volatile compounds biosynthesis, which shape visual and olfactory traits essential for plant-environment interactions and horticultural value. As one of the largest and most functionally diverse TF superfamilies in plants, WRKY TFs are defined by their characteristic WRKY domain and play pivotal roles in controlling metabolite accumulation. By directly controlling structural genes and interacting with other transcription factors, such as MYB, bHLH, and WD40, they can modulate pigment and fragrance biosynthesis. and subsequently fine-tune pigment and fragrance biosynthesis, allowing plants to precisely regulate metabolite production in dynamic environments. However, the complexity of WRKY-mediated regulatory networks poses challenges in fully deciphering their roles in ornamental trait formation. This review outlines recent progress in understanding the regulatory mechanisms of WRKY TFs in pigment and fragrance metabolism, emphasizing their dual roles in coordinating these biosynthetic pathways and their adaptive functions under environmental fluctuations. Furthermore, it provides insights into the potential applications of WRKY TFs in breeding strategies to enhance the ornamental and horticulture value of plants.

β-Amylase (BAM) is a kind of amylase in plants and microorganisms, which plays an important role in regulating plant growth and development and stress response. This study conducted a genome-wide identification and analysis of the BAM gene family in peanuts, identifying a total of 18 AhBAM genes. The encoded proteins exhibited significant variations in length, molecular weight, and isoelectric points, with primary localization in chloroplasts and nuclei. These genes were unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes, with chr05 and chr15 each containing three genes. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into four subfamilies, with motif 3 serving as a conserved domain, and segmental duplication identified as the primary mechanism for family expansion. Synteny analysis indicated a closer evolutionary relationship between cultivated peanuts and soybeans. Cis-acting element analysis revealed that AhBAM genes may participate in light signaling, hormone regulation, and stress responses. AhBAM3 emerged as a key node within the protein-protein interaction network, then the GO analysis pinpointed starch metabolism and drought response as the primary functional enrichments for this gene family. Expression profiling showed that AhBAM8 was highly expressed in multiple tissues, whereas most members exhibited no significant response to web blotch disease. This comprehensive analysis provides a holistic view of the potential functions of the AhBAM families in peanuts and lays the foundation for future experimental validation of their roles in enhancing peanut stress resistance and productivity.

Busulfan, an indispensable medicine in cancer treatment, can cause serious reproductive system damage to males as a side effect of its otherwise excellent therapeutic results. Its widespread use has also caused its accumulation in the environment and subsequent ecotoxicology effects. As a Chinese medicine, Wulingzhi (WLZ) has the effects of promoting blood circulation and improving female reproductive function. However, the potential effects of WLZ in male reproduction and in counteracting busulfan-induced testis damage, as well as its probable mechanisms, are still ambiguous. In this study, busulfan was introduced in a mouse model to evaluate its production of the testicular damage. The components of different WLZ extracts were compared using an untargeted metabolome to select extracts with greater efficacy, which were further confirmed in vivo. Here, we demonstrate abnormal spermatogenesis and low sperm quality in busulfan-injured testes. The WLZ extracts showed a strong potential to rehabilitate the male reproductive system; this effect was more prominent in room-temperature extracts. Additionally, both water and ethanol WLZ extracts at room temperature alleviated various busulfan-induced adverse effects. In particular, WLZ recovered spermatogenesis, re-activated arginine biosynthesis, and alleviated the increased oxidative stress and inflammation in the testis, ultimately reversing the busulfan-induced testicular injury. Collectively, these results suggest a promising approach to protecting the male reproductive system from busulfan-induced adverse side effects, as well as those of other similar anti-cancer drugs.

There are limited studies on the cytology of bamboo leaf development from primordium to maturity. This study delves into the leaf morphological characteristics and growth patterns of Sasaella kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’ and provides a three-dimensional anatomical analysis of cell division, expansion, and degradation. Leaves on the same branch develop bottom-up, while individual leaves develop the other way around. Like bamboo shoots and culms, the leaves follow a “slow–fast–slow” growth pattern, with longitudinal growth being predominant during their development. The growth zones of individual leaves included division, elongation, and maturation zones based on the distribution of growth space. By measuring 13,303 epidermal long cells and 3293 mesophyll cells in longitudinal sections of rapidly elongating leaves, we observed that in the rapid elongation phase (S4–S5), the division zone was located in the 1–2 cm segment at the bottom of the leaf blade and maintained a constant size, continuously providing new cells for leaf elongation, whereas in the late rapid elongation phase (S6), when the length of the leaf blade was approaching that of a mature leaf, its cells at the bottom of the blade no longer divided and were replaced by the ability to elongate. Furthermore, to gain an insight into the dynamic changes in the growth of the S. kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’ leaves in the lateral and periclinal directions, the width and thickness of 1459 epidermal and 2719 mesophyll cells were counted in the mid-cross section of leaves at different developmental stages. The results showed that during the early stages of development (S1–S3), young leaves maintained vigorous division in the lateral direction, while periplasmic division gradually expanded from the bottom to the top of the leaf blade and the number of cell layers stabilized at S4. The meristematic tissues on both sides of the leaf were still able to divide at S4 but the frequency of the division gradually decreased, while cell division and expansion occurred simultaneously between the veins. At S6, the cells at the leaf margins and between the veins were completely differentiated and the width of the leaf blade no longer expanded. These findings revealed changes in cell growth anisotropically during the leaf development of S. kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’ and demonstrated that leaf elongation was closely related to the longitudinal expansion of epidermal cells and proliferative growth of mesophyll cells, whereas the cell division of meristematic tissues and expansion of post-divisional cells contributed to the increases in blade width and thickness. The presented framework will facilitate a further exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of leaf development in S. kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’ and provide relevant information for developmental and taxonomic studies of bamboo plants.