Low-temperature stress is a critical abiotic constraint that severely impairs rice yield and quality, posing a substantial threat to global food security-especially as rice, a staple food for more than half of the world's population, is inherently susceptible to cold stress. This review systematically summarizes the typical phenotypic and physiological impairments induced by cold stress across key rice growth stages, and elaborates on the multi-layered molecular regulatory networks underpinning rice cold tolerance, which integrate the entire process of cold signal perception, intracellular transduction and nuclear transcriptional regulation. We also synthesize the major practical strategies for enhancing rice cold tolerance, including the optimization of agricultural cultivation management measures and the application of modern molecular breeding technologies. Furthermore, we discuss the core challenges in the genetic improvement of rice cold tolerance such as genotype-environment interaction and efficient multi-gene pyramiding, and outline the promising future research trends involving mechanism integration and intelligent breeding. This review provides a concise and comprehensive theoretical framework for deciphering the physiological and molecular mechanisms of rice cold stress response, and offers important insights to accelerate the development of cold-tolerant rice varieties, thereby laying a solid foundation for safeguarding global food security under the context of climate change.

Whole grains are abundant in polyphenols, phytosterols, dietary fiber β-glucan carotenoids, etc. They are highly bioavailable as intermediate metabolites processed by gut microbiota. These intermediate metabolites can enter the circulation from the gut, and then participate in the biochemical pathways that induce metabolic syndrome and improve the abnormal state of body. Metabolic syndrome is often accompanied by oxidative stress, carbonyl stress, inflammation and other abnormal states. Intermediate metabolites such as polyphenols can signal the brain. Then, under the control of the brain, it regulates the blood sugar level, blood lipid level, bile acid level, etc., and maintains the health. In this process, the brain-gut axis and liver-gut axis play a crucial part. In this review, the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) mellitus, obesity, atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic liver syndrome and the role of brain-gut axis and liver-gut axis in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome were described in detail. The regulatory role of whole grains in these four metabolic syndromes was investigated. Dietary components have great potential for better utilization in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. The importance of a whole grain diet was explored and techniques for improving the bioavailability of functional components in whole grains were also investigated.

The WD40 protein is a key regulator of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. However, its role in the flavonoid-rich aquatic cereal Chinese wild rice (Zizania latifolia) remains unclear. Here, we systematically characterised the WD40 gene family in Z. latifolia. In total, 38 ZlWD40 genes were identified and mapped to 15 chromosomes. Among them, ZlTTG1 (Zla08G018110) was localised to the nucleus. ZlTTG1-overexpression (ZlTTG1) in rice changed the pericarp colour from light brown to dark purple but did not significantly affect agronomic traits. ZlTTG1 overexpression increased flavonoid content and antioxidant activity and enhanced enzyme inhibitory effects in rice seeds. Compared with the control, 155 flavonoids and 269 genes were upregulated in ZlTTG1-overexpressing rice seeds, which may contribute to the dark purple pericarp phenotype. Consistently, ZlTTG1 rice seeds showed higher expression of flavonoid biosynthetic genes (OsCHS, OsCHIL1, OsCHIL2, OsF3H-1, OsF3'H, OsDFR, OsANS, and OsUGT707A3) and increased activities of key biosynthetic enzymes, including CHS, F3H, F3'H, DFR, and ANS. This study provides a foundation for the functional analysis of ZlWD40 genes and identifies new genetic resources for developing flavonoid-rich functional rice.

Polished rice is highly favoured for excellent taste; however, its processing can lead to the loss of flavonoids. To address this issue, this study achieved endosperm-specific expression of ZlRc and ZlMYB1 (Rc-MYB1) in wild-type (WT) rice. Rc-MYB1 rice exhibited a reduction in yield; however, it showed significantly increased flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and enzyme-inhibitory effects in seeds. Flavonoids accumulated in the endosperm of Rc-MYB1 rice seeds. Comparative analyses revealed significant upregulation of 15 flavonoids and 732 genes in Rc-MYB1 seeds relative to those in the WT. Expression of flavonoid biosynthesis-, transport-, and accumulation-associated genes (OsF5HL2, OsVSR6, and Os1-CysPrxB, respectively) and ferulate-5-hydroxylase activity were significantly higher in Rc-MYB1 rice seeds than in the WT. Overall, this study demonstrates successful enrichment of flavonoids in Rc-MYB1 endosperm, providing a promising strategy for improving the nutritional quality of polished rice and advancing the development of functional staple foods.

Northern wild rice (NWR; Zizania palustris L.), an annual aquatic plant in the Poaceae family, has high economic importance due to its nutrient-rich grains. However, the existing NWR genome assembly for this species has severe fragmentation and incomplete gene representation. A near-complete genome was assembled in this study to provide a high-quality genomic reference for NWR-associated research. The assembled genome exhibited a total contig length of 1.41 Gb and a contig N50 of 109.22 Mb. Overall, a 73.60% repetitive sequence content was identified and 47,804 genes predicted. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Z. palustris was most closely related to Zizania latifolia, with an estimated divergence time of 4.57-8.15 Mya. Meanwhile, Z. palustris underwent a recent, species-specific long terminal repeat (LTR) expansion, associated with its larger genome size. We identified two genomic blocks in the Z. palustris and Z. latifolia genomes that exhibit strong synteny with the rice phytocassane biosynthetic gene cluster. The centromeric satellite repeats in Z. palustris identified in this study primarily comprised a 145 bp repetitive unit. The findings also revealed centromere homogenisation and rearrangement accompanied by LTR invasion in NWR. Among the genes missing in the previous NWR genome, we observed LTR insertion events that resulted in expanded gene lengths in our updated NWR genome. The present updated NWR genome provides a valuable resource for crop genetic improvement, functional gene discovery, and research on critical biological processes. (c) 2025 Crop Science Society of China and Institute of Crop Science, CAAS. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NCND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Whole grains represent key components of a healthy diet, helping to meet the nutritional needs of consumers and playing a crucial role in preventing chronic diseases. Whole grains are rich in various types of flavonoids with antioxidants and health-promoting properties at varying levels. This article defines and elucidates different whole grain types, analyses the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used metabolomics instruments, and systematically organises and classifies flavonoids detected in whole grains. Additionally, we mapped flavonoid biosynthetic pathways and discussed the usefulness of metabolomic techniques in elucidating the functions of key genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. The MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) complex regulates flavonoid biosynthesis during seed development, regulating seed colour and flavonoid content. In addition, MBW complex expression is highly tissue-specific; it is preferentially expressed in purple or black tissues. This review describes flavonoid diversity and biosynthetic pathways in whole grains and provides a theoretical foundation for functional whole grain development and usage.

Cold stress severely impacts crop production, making it crucial to dissect the metabolic and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of cold-resistant plants for breeding cold-tolerant varieties. This study systematically explored the response mechanism of Zizania latifolia to cold stress by integrating widely targeted metabolomics and genome-wide analysis for the first time. Metabolomics analysis revealed that 690 out of 810 metabolites showed significant differences after cold treatment at 4°C, with significant enrichment of flavonoids, amino acid derivatives, and alkaloids, involving key pathways such as antioxidant defense, osmotic adjustment, and signal transduction. This indicates that Z. latifolia copes with cold stress through the coordination of secondary and primary metabolism. A total of 115 bZIP transcription factors (ZlbZIPs) were identified from the Z. latifolia genome, with 18 genes located in known cold-resistant quantitative trait locus (QTL) intervals. Four cold-tolerant candidate genes were screened through collinearity analysis with the rice genome. Expression analysis showed that ZlbZIP005, ZlbZIP075, and ZlbZIP084 were significantly upregulated (29.17-4.10 fold) at 24 hours of cold treatment, and their promoter regions with high-density G-box elements implied strong cold response potential. Phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses showed that the bZIP family of Z. latifolia is highly homologous to that of rice but exhibits subfamily-specific expansion (such as subfamily Ⅶ) and conserved motif variations related to functional differentiation. This study first elucidated the metabolic reprogramming and bZIP transcription factor regulatory network of Z. latifolia under cold stress. The screened key cold-tolerant genes provide important genetic resources for cold-resistant breeding of gramineous crops and lay a foundation for analyzing the molecular mechanism of plant cold resistance and genetic improvement.

Pigmented rice (e.g., black or purple rice), rich in flavonoids and other active compounds, has lower yields than non-pigmented rice. The study aimed to breed pigmented rice with stable yields. To this end, we created transgenic rice by inserting the ZlRc and ZlRd genes from Chinese wild rice (Zizania latifolia) into rice (Oryza sativa) and investigated the resulting yield and flavonoid content. Rc encodes a transcription factor that regulates flavonoid biosynthesis, while dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR/Rd) is an important flavonoid biosynthetic enzyme. The dark brown colour of the pericarp rice was attributed to the co-overexpression of ZlRc and ZlRd (ZlRcRd), which did not influence the agronomic traits or yield. No significant difference was observed in the chlorophyll content or photosynthetic gas exchange parameters between the ZlRcRd and wild-type (WT) rice. The flavonoid content in the ZlRcRd rice seeds was significantly enhanced, and so were antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, α-amylase, pancreatic lipase, and tyrosinase. Compared with WT rice, 1080 genes and 82 flavonoids were upregulated in the ZlRcRd rice. The expression of key genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis (CHS, F3'H, and F3'5'H) and the activities of related key enzymes were significantly higher in ZlRcRd than WT rice. This study proposes new germplasm resources and technical approaches for breeding pigmented rice with stable yields and high flavonoid content, which will address the challenge of low yields of pigmented rice and increase farmers' enthusiasm for planting pigmented rice.

Cembranoids and labdanes are two important types of diterpenes in tobacco (Nicotiana genus) that are predominantly found in the leaf and flower glandular trichome secretions. This is the first systematic review of the biosynthesis, chemical structures, bioactivities, and utilisation values of cembranoid and labdane diterpenes in tobacco. A total of 131 natural cembranoid diterpenes have been reported in tobacco since 1962; these were summarised and classified according to their chemical structure characteristics as isopropyl cembranoids (1-88), seco-cembranoids (89-103), chain cembranoids (104-123), and polycyclic cembranoids (124-131). Forty natural labdane diterpenes reported since 1961 were also summarised and divided into epoxy side chain labdanes (132-150) and epoxy-free side chain labdanes (151-171). Tobacco cembranoid and labdane diterpenes are both formed via the methylerythritol 4-phosphate pathway and are synthesised from geranylgeranyl diphosphate. Their biosynthetic pathways and the four key enzymes (cembratrienol synthase, cytochrome P450 hydroxylase, copalyl diphosphate synthase, and Z-abienol cyclase) that affect their biosynthesis have been described in detail. A systematic summary of the bioactivity and utilisation values of the cembranoid and labdane diterpenes is also provided. The agricultural bioactivities associated with cembranoid and labdane diterpenes include antimicrobial and insecticidal activities as well as induced resistance, while the medical bioactivities include cytotoxic and neuroprotective activities. Further research into the cembranoid and labdane diterpenes will help to promote their development and utilisation as plant-derived pesticides and medicines.

Nowadays, due to the rise of fast-food consumption, the metabolic diseases are increasing as a result of high-sugar and high-fat diets. Therefore, there is an urgent need for natural, healthy and side-effect-free diets in daily life. Whole grain supplementation can enhance satiety and regulate energy metabolism, effects that have been attributed to polyphenol content. Dietary polyphenols interact with gut microbiota to produce intermediate metabolites that can regulate appetite while also enhancing prebiotic effects. This review considers how interactions between gut metabolites and dietary polyphenols might regulate appetite by acting on the gut-brain axis. In addition, further advances in the study of dietary polyphenols and gut microbial metabolites on energy metabolism and gut homeostasis are summarized. This review contributes to a better understanding of how dietary polyphenols regulate appetite via the gut-brain axis, thereby providing nutritional references for citizens' dietary preferences.

The increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases has resulted in an escalating need for natural dietary supplements with cardioprotective properties. This review provides a thorough analysis of laboratory and clinical studies conducted on dietary quercetin, a widely available flavonoid, and its influence on the management of cardiovascular health and disease. The references cited in this review were obtained from reputable databases, including SciFinder, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov, with a specific focus on the period spanning from 1999 to 2023 pertaining to this subject matter. Notably, a bibliometric approach was used to analyze the bibliometric attribute trends of the research on quercetin associated with vascular health for the first time. Numerous investigations conducted on animal and human subjects at different phases of cardiac illness have consistently shown that the administration of quercetin substances improves cardiac function, suggesting the potential efficacy of quercetin in the management of heart disease. Evidently, the consumption of quercetin through dietary sources holds promise in conferring significant cardiovascular benefits through physiological mechanisms and biochemical signaling pathways, thus positioning it as a promising dietary contender for the prevention of cardiovascular disorders. Renewable food resources, including lovage leaves, elderberry, and radish leaves, which are abundant in quercetin, exhibit significant potential for the development and production of novel healthcare products with the objective of preventing cardiovascular disorders. This review is anticipated to provide valuable insights for the advancement of cardioprotective functional foods in the foreseeable future.

ABSTRACTReductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is an effective method to inhibit soilborne pathogens. However, it remains unclear how RSD combined with different types of organic materials affects the soil ecosystems of perennial plants. Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of RSD incorporated with perilla (PF), alfalfa (MS), ethanol, and acetic acid on soil properties, enzyme activities, microbial communities and functions, and seedling growth. Results showed that RSD-related treatments improved soil properties and enzyme activities, changed microbial community composition and structure, enhanced microbial interactions and functions, and facilitated seedling growth. Compared with CK, RSD-related treatments increased soil pH, available nitrogen, and available potassium contents, sucrase and catalase activities, and decreased soil electric conductivity values. Meanwhile, RSD-related treatment also significantly reduced the relative abundance of Fusarium while increasing the relative abundance of Arthrobacter, Terrabacter, and Gemmatimonas. The reduction was more evident in PF and MS treatment, suggesting the potential for RSD combined with solid agricultural wastes to suppress pathogens. Furthermore, the microbial network of RSD-related treatment was more complex and interconnected, and the functions related to carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and hydrogen cycling were significantly increased, while the functions of bacterial and fungal plant pathogens were decreased. Importantly, RSD-related treatments also significantly promoted seed germination and seedling growth. In summary, RSD combined with solid agricultural wastes is better than liquid easily degradable compounds by regulating the composition and function of microbial communities to improve soil quality and promote plant growth.IMPORTANCEReductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is an effective agricultural practice. We found that RSD combined with solid agricultural wastes is better than that of liquid easily degradable compounds, may improve soil quality and microbial community structure, inhibit the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, and contribute to the growth of replanted crops. Thus, RSD combined with solid agricultural wastes is more effective than liquid easily degradable compounds.

Ginsenoside Rb1 is an allelopathic self-toxic substance that can affect the growth and development of ginseng. This study investigated whether the application of exogenous Rb1 enhances the pathogenicity of ginseng by regulating the antioxidant system and endogenous hormones. Rb1 can inhibit the growth and development of Panax ginseng by inducing Fusarium oxysporum under three concentrations. At the same time, the activities of four antioxidant enzymes and the contents of three endogenous hormones in the roots of Panax ginseng decreased significantly. Compared with the control group, the incidence of ginseng in different treatment groups was significantly increased and the underground growth was significantly inhibited. In conclusion, exogenous ginsenoside Rb1 with different concentrations can enhance the pathogenicity of ginseng.

The secretions of the glandular trichomes of tobacco leaves and flowers contain abundant secondary metabolites of different compounds, such as cebradanes, labdanes, and saccharide esters. These secondary metabolites have shown interesting biological properties, such as antimicrobial, insecticidal, and antioxidant activity. In this study, 81 air/sun-cured tobacco germplasms were used as experimental materials. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the glandular secretion components were conducted using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The ethanol extracts of glandular trichomes from tobacco leaves and flowers were evaluated for antifungal activity against the fungus Botrytis cinerea using the mycelial growth rate method. Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (OPLS) analysis was then performed to determine the relationship between the trichome secretion components and their anti-fungal activity. The results showed significant differences among the antifungal activities of the tested ethanol extracts of tobacco glandular trichomes. The inhibition rates of the upper leaves and flower extracts against B. cinerea were significantly higher than those of the middle and lower leaves, and 59 germplasms (73.75% of the tested resources) showed antifungal rates higher than 50%, with four germplasms achieving a 95% antifungal rate at the same fresh weight concentration (10 mg/mL). The OPLS analysis revealed that the antifungal activity was primarily associated with alpha-cembratriene-diol (α-CBT-diol (Peak7)) and beta-cembratriene-diol (β-CBT-diol (Peak8)), followed by sucrose esters III (SE(III)) and cembratriene-diol oxide. These findings help identify excellent tobacco germplasms for the development and utilization of botanical pesticides against fungi and provide a theoretical reference for the multipurpose utilization of tobacco germplasms.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), the products of non-enzymatic browning reactions between the active carbonyl groups of reducing sugars and the free amines of amino acids, are largely considered oxidative derivatives resulting from diabetic hyperglycemia, which are further recognized as a potential risk for insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The accumulation of AGEs can trigger numerous negative effects such as oxidative stress, carbonyl stress, inflammation, autophagy dysfunction and imbalance of gut microbiota. Recently, studies have shown that cereal polyphenols have the ability to inhibit the formation of AGEs, thereby preventing and alleviating T2D. In the meanwhile, phenolics compounds could produce different biological effects due to the quantitative structure activity-relationship. This review highlights the effects of cereal polyphenols as a nonpharmacologic intervention in anti-AGEs and alleviating T2D based on the effects of oxidative stress, carbonyl stress, inflammation, autophagy, and gut microbiota, which also provides a new perspective on the etiology and treatment of diabetes.

Citrus polyphenols can modulate gut microbiota and such bi-directional interaction that can yield metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to aid in gut homeostasis. Such interaction provides citrus polyphenols with powerful prebiotic potential, contributing to guts' health status and metabolic regulation. Citrus polyphenols encompass unique polymethoxy flavonoids imparting non-polar nature that improve their bioactivities and ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Green extraction technology targeting recovery of these polyphenols has received increasing attention due to its advantages of high extraction yield, short extraction time, low solvent consumption, and environmental friendliness. However, the low bioavailability of citrus polyphenols limits their applications in extraction from citrus by-products. Meanwhile, nano-encapsulation technology may serve as a promising approach to improve citrus polyphenols' bioavailability. As citrus polyphenols encompass multiple hydroxyl groups, they are potential to interact with bio-macromolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides in nano-encapsulated systems that can improve their bioavailability. This multifaceted review provides a research basis for the green and efficient extraction techniques of citrus polyphenols, as well as integrated mechanisms for its anti-inflammation, alleviating metabolic syndrome, and regulating gut homeostasis, which is more capitalized upon using nano-delivery systems as discussed in that review to maximize their health and food applications.

Solanesol, which accumulates predominantly in the leaves of tobacco plants, has medically important bioactive properties. To investigate the genetic basis of solanesol in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), the solanesol contents of 222 accessions, 206 individuals from an N. tabacum Maryland609 (low-solanesol) × K326 (high-solanesol) F2 population and their corresponding F1 self-pollinations, were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) and association analysis were performed to identify QTLs and markers associated with solanesol content based on simple sequence repeat molecular markers. A total of 12 QTLs underlying solanesol content were mapped to seven linkage groups (LGs), with three of the QTLs (QTL3-1, QTL21-6, and QTL23-3) explaining 5.19–10.05% of the phenotypic variation. Association analysis revealed 38 significant marker-trait associations in at least one environment. The associations confirmed the QTLs located on LG3, LG10, LG14, LG21, and LG23, while new elite makers were located on 11 additional LGs, each explaining, respectively, 5.16–20.07% of the phenotypic variation. The markers LG14-PT54448, LG10-PT60114-2, LG10-PT60510, LG10-PT61061, and LG-21PT20388 may be useful for molecular-assisted selection of solanesol content in tobacco leaves. These results increase our understanding of the inheritance of solanesol-associated genes and will contribute to molecular-assisted breeding and further isolation of regulatory genes involved in solanesol biosynthesis in tobacco leaves.

Foods rich in carbohydrates or fats undergo the Maillard reaction during frying, which promotes the color, flavor and sensory characteristics formation. In the meanwhile, Maillard reaction intermediates and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have a negative impact on food sensory quality and gut homeostasis. This negative effect can be influenced by food composition and other processing factors. Whole grain products are rich in polyphenols, which can capture carbonyl compounds in Maillard reaction, and reduce the production of AGEs during frying. This review summarizes the Maillard reaction production intermediates and AGEs formation mechanism in fried food and analyzes the factors affecting the sensory formation of food. In the meanwhile, the effects of Maillard reaction intermediates and AGEs on gut homeostasis were summarized. Overall, the innovative processing methods about the Maillard reaction are summarized to optimize the sensory properties of fried foods while minimizing the formation of AGEs.

Anthocyanins are natural flavonoids with a high antioxidant power and many associated health benefits, but most rice produce little amounts of these compounds. In this study, 141 MYB transcription factors in 15 chromosomes, including the nucleus-localised ZlMYB1 (Zla03G003370) and ZlMYB2 (Zla15G015220), were discovered in Zizania latifolia. Overexpression of ZlMYB1 or ZlMYB2 in rice seeds induced black pericarps, and flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, and α-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibition effects significantly increased compared to those in the control seeds. ZlMYB1 and ZlMYB2 overexpression induced the upregulation of 764 and 279 genes, respectively, and the upregulation of 162 and 157 flavonoids, respectively, linked to a black pericarp phenotype. The expression of flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase and UDP-glycose flavonoid glycosyltransferase, as well as the activities of these enzymes, increased significantly in response to ZlMYB1 or ZlMYB2 overexpression. This study systematically confirmed that the overexpression of ZlMYB1 and ZlMYB2 promotes flavonoid biosynthesis (especially of anthocyanins) in rice.

Chinese wild rice (CWR) is a nutritious and healthy whole grain, worth developing. To develop and use its value, a new type of huangjiu was brewed with CWR, and the flavour characteristics, sensory quality, functional and bioactive components were evaluated. CWR (67 flavour substances) and glutinous rice (GR)-CWR huangjiu (62 flavour substances) had a better flavour than GR huangjiu (54 flavour substances), and the overall style of GR-CWR huangjiu was more skewed towards GR. The fruity, honey, caramel-like, herb and smoky aroma attributes of CWR huangjiu were higher than those of GR huangjiu (P < 0.05), while only the alcoholic was weaker (P < 0.05) due to the lower alcohol content. The huangjiu brewed using CWR had a better taste than that brewed using only GR. Furthermore, CWR huangjiu had the highest content of total dietary fiber (732.0 ± 15.2 mg/100 g), followed by GR-CWR (307.0 ± 8.5 mg/100 g), and GR (127.0 ± 2.3 mg/100 g). CWR huangjiu also had the highest total phenolic compounds (3.32 ± 0.05 mg/100 g/%vol) and total saponins (2.46 ± 0.03 mg/100 g/%vol) contents, followed by GR-CWR and GR. This study provides guidance for exploring further possibilities for CWR in the future.