The Taihang Mountains, situated in the transitional zone between the Loess Plateau and the North China Plain, serve as a crucial ecological barrier in northern China. Analysing the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation cover and identifying the underlying drivers are fundamental for effective regional resource management and ecological conservation. In this study, the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation change in the Taihang Mountains from 2000 to 2024 were analysed on the basis of MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, climate records, and vegetation maps. Trend analysis, Mann‒Kendall significance tests, and the Hurst index were applied to characterize changes, while residual analysis was used to decompose and quantify the impacts of climate change versus human activities. Our findings reveal a significant greening trend, with the NDVI increasing by 0.0036 per year. High NDVI values were primarily found in southern regions, whereas low values were concentrated in the northwest. Increasing NDVI trends dominated 92.90% of the total area, while decreasing trends were limited (7.10%) and concentrated mainly in the eastern low-elevation foothills and populated urban areas, such as Jincheng. Hurst index analysis indicated that future vegetation changes are predominantly anti-persistent, with 56.97% of the area projected to experience degradation. Human activities dominated the variation in the NDVI (86.16%), compared to 13.84% from climatic factors, and contributed over 70.09% of the changes across all vegetation types. Among vegetation types, coniferous forests showed the most robust improvement under human interventions, whereas the "others" category and cultivated vegetation exhibited higher degradation levels. These findings offer a scientific basis for guiding ecological management strategies in the Taihang Mountains.

Climate-groundwater interactions are the dominant drivers of plant-environment feedback processes in drylands worldwide. However, the responses of dryland ecosystems to acute atmospheric drought and chronic groundwater decline, as well as the underlying feedback loops that control state stability or transition of such ecosystems across different soil properties and plant salt tolerance remain uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, we introduces a comprehensive methodology that integrates a minimalist stochastic species-dependent soil water-salt dynamics model, a novel plant salinity-dependent water stress model, and a robust modelling framework for water and salt stress-vegetation feedbacks. Using lysimeter experiments and field transect studies, these models were showcased in the salt-tolerant Haloxylon ammodendron (H. ammodendron) ecosystem with fine-textured soils and salt-sensitive Haloxylon persicum (H. persicum) ecosystem with coarse-textured soils in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China. Our results indicate that over time water-salt imbalances are becoming more pronounced, driven by shifting precipitation regimes, declining groundwater tables, depleting soil moisture and intensifying salinization. The enhanced feedback between changing water and salt regimes and vegetation is forcing both Haloxylon ecosystems into a new stable state (i.e., bare or sparsely vegetated land), with shift in water-salt stress of the component species contributing to this transition. Furthermore, the tradeoff between resistance and resilience of such ecosystems is declining from the desert margins to the desert hinterlands. The H. ammodendron ecosystem shows lower resistance and resilience (indicating a decrease in stability), while the H. persicum ecosystem exhibits higher resistance and resilience. Although the water and salt stress-vegetation feedback in both Haloxylon ecosystems is driven by atmospheric and groundwater conditions and mediated by plant salt tolerance, their changing condition is ultimately determined by soil properties. These findings have major implications for the conservation and restoration of similar dryland ecosystems worldwide, especially in the context of a changing climate.

Reflection-mode THz-TDS of spatially heterogeneous palm-leaf manuscripts reflects contributions from both material response and measurement geometry. We present a workflow using five duration-labeled specimens (0–160 d; one specimen per label), each measured at left, center, and right positions. Between-specimen comparisons are descriptive, and one ancient specimen serves as an external descriptive case. Mean reflectivity and integrated RAI showed modest position variability, whereas phase slope showed pronounced position variability and was sensitive to measurement context; spectral-shape deviation remained reference-specific. Based on normalized mirror-reference amplitude and position variability, 0.5–1.2 THz was retained as a system- and dataset-dependent working range. Signal-quality and sensitivity checks led to exclusion of local-band descriptors that were sensitive to interpolation or limited by weak reference amplitude. The workflow establishes a measurement-validity basis for spatially contextualized THz analysis and provides a foundation for subsequent material validation and non-invasive monitoring studies in heterogeneous documentary heritage.

Convergent evolution of complex traits in distantly related lineages is commonly attributed to diverse molecular pathways. Here, we provide evidence for a shared genetic mechanism underlying the repeated evolution of compound leaves across angiosperms over ~160 million years. Through macroevolutionary analysis of leaf forms in 44 914 angiosperm species, we identified at least 54 independent origins of compound leaves in 63 families. Comparative genomic analysis of 414 high-quality genomes shows that among all gene families analyzed, only KNOTTED1-like HOMEOBOX (KNOX) exhibits consistent expansion in compound-leaved lineages. This expansion is predominantly driven by whole-genome duplications (WGDs), with KNOXI and KNOXM loci preferentially retained across lineages. Functional assays further reveal opposing roles for KNOX subclasses: KNOXI/KNOXM promote, whereas KNOXII suppresses, compound leaf development. Notably, apparent counterexamples-simple-leaved species with unexpectedly high KNOX counts-are attributable to expansion of the inhibitory KNOXII subclass, thus reinforcing rather than contradicting the model. However, a rare exception occurs within a small clade of Fabaceae, where compound leaf development depends on LEAFY instead of KNOXI genes. Overall, our findings demonstrate that preferential retention of KNOXI/M subfamilies after WGD is a recurrent, quantifiable route linking ancient genome duplications to repeated morphological innovation across flowering plants.

INTRODUCTION:Plant cold responses have been extensively studied at the transcriptional level, particularly focusingon conserved transcription factors (TFs) such as C-repeat binding factors (CBFs). However, the post-transcriptional roles of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) remain largely unexplored, with evolutionarily conserved cold-responsive RBPs yet to be investigated across species. OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to identify conserved cold-responsive RBPs across plant species and investigate how a candidate RBP, MAC5A, regulates cold tolerance. METHODS:Integrative analyses of multi-species comparative genomes and low-temperature transcriptomes identified conserved cold-responsive RBPs. MAC5A loss-of-function andoverexpression lines were examinedto validate its genetic role in cold tolerance. Comparative transcriptomics and CUT&Tag-seq were appliedto determine MAC5A-modulated alternative splicing (AS) and cold-regulated (COR) gene expression, which were further validatedthrough minigene and dual-luciferase assays. RESULTS:We identified multiple conserved cold-responsive RBPs and focused on Arabidopsis MAC5A, a spliceosome component. Cold-induced MAC5A expression was independent of both CBF regulation and ABA signaling. Loss-of-function of MAC5A decreased freezing tolerance, while its overexpression enhanced it. The mac5a mutant exhibited extensive cold-responsive transcriptome alterations, with thousands of genes showing differential AS. Minigene assays confirmed MAC5A modulates splicing of COR genes, including CCA1,PRR9,ABF3 andbHLH112. Additionally, MAC5A regulated expression of other COR genes such as ABI1, COR28, GolS2, RD20, GRP4, DIN10 and NIA1 at the transcriptional level, likely through protein complexes. Notably, limited overlap existed betweenMAC5A-modulated AS genes andtranscriptionally regulated CORgenes, suggesting largely independent regulatory pathways. CONCLUSIONS:MAC5A functions as a dual regulator to orchestrate cold response through both transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of COR genes. The limited overlap between genes regulated by these two layers indicates potential uncoupled regulatory manners, warranting further investigation into their coordination during cold stress.

Plant-soil feedback (PSF) and plant-phyllosphere feedback (PPF) critically influence plant performance and community assembly, yet their interactions remain poorly understood for subtropical tree species. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a greenhouse experiment using eight subtropical tree species (four arbuscular mycorrhizal/AM and four ectomycorrhizal/EcM trees). All seedlings were exposed to two soil inoculum sources (conspecific vs. heterospecific soil) and two phyllosphere inoculum treatments (control vs. phyllosphere inoculation), aiming to elucidate PSF-PPF patterns and identify the underlying mechanisms shaping plant performance. Our findings revealed that AM trees exhibited a dramatic shift from weakly to strongly positive PSF following phyllosphere inoculation, whereas EcM trees maintained consistently positive PSF regardless of the treatment. Similarly, PPF strength in AM trees transitioned from positive to negative with soil inoculum switching from conspecific to heterospecific sources, while EcM trees showed consistently negative PPF across soil sources. PSF and PPF were positively correlated in AM but not EcM trees. Co-occurrence nwork analysis showed predominantly positive interactions (99%) within fungal communities and demonstrated that phyllosphere inoculation enhanced network complexity in AM systems but reduced connectivity in EcM systems. Mechanistically, the growth of EcM trees was primarily driven by plant functional traits, whereas that of AM trees depended on synergistic interactions between plant functional traits, soil abiotic properties, and soil fungal community profiles. Our findings highlight mycorrhizal type as a critical regulator of PSF-PPF relationships, offering novel mechanistic insights into subtropical tree community assembly by integrating above- and belowground microbial interactions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:In our previous study, interspecific grafting of Populus cathayana (C) onto Populus deltoides (D) significantly improved the drought tolerance in grafted plants. However, whether this advantage could be maintained under salt stress conditions and the relative underlying mechanism are unclear. METHODS:Physiological, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) sequencing and metabolic analyses were performed to illuminate the mechanism governing the different responses to salt stress between C/D (C grafted onto D) and D/C (D grafted onto C) plants. KEY RESULTS:Salt stress reduced the growth and biomass of all the grafted plants, with C/D plants showing stronger salt tolerance than D/C plants, as evidenced by their greater biomass production and sugar content, less leaf cell damage and better ion homeostasis. More lncRNAs, mRNAs and metabolites related to carbohydrate metabolism were detected in D/C than in C/D plants. Genes related to metabolism of structural and non-structural carbohydrates were respectively up- and down-regulated in C/D and D/C plants, and the changes of citramalic acid, sorbitol and pyruvic acid contents were strongly supported by their different carbohydrate metabolisms. In addition, the lncRNAs MSTRG.102 and MSTRG.4684, as well as their target genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, were less significantly down-regulated in C/D than in D/C plants. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed that MSTRG.7877 and MSTRG.20540 might be key lncRNAs in the grafted plants in response to salt stress. CONCLUSIONS:Our study demonstrates that by affecting the accumulation and metabolism of carbohydrates, different expression and content of multiple lncRNAs, mRNAs and metabolites, associated with structural and non-structural carbohydrates, led to different growth and salt tolerance between C/D and D/C plants. The improved growth and salt tolerance in C/D plants was closely associated with the altered accumulation and metabolism of structural and non-structural carbohydrates.

The walnut industry faces sustainability challenges from declining yield and quality, exacerbated by environmental stressors and soil microbial imbalances. Microbial inoculants can boost crop growth, quality, and stress resistance, but their mechanisms-such as soil modification, pathogen suppression, and microbial community regulation-for enhancing yields require further clarification. In this study, we utilized Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology to investigate the effects of conventional chemical fertilizers and microbial agents (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SDTB009) on disease suppression, soil parameters, microbial communities, as well as walnut yield and quality. The results showed that the implementation of SDTB009 agent as a rhizosphere soil treatment led to notable enhancements in various soil parameters. These included increased levels of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available potassium, soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, as well as heightened activity of soil urease, alkaline phosphatase, catalase, and sucrase enzymes. Furthermore, the application of SDTB009 promoted the enrichment of Bacillus spp. and Sphingomonas spp., and significantly reduced the abundance of Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp., concomitantly enhancing walnut yield, quality (the oil content increased by 1.33 %, the total amino acid content increased by 3.58 %, and the total protein content increased by 0.57 %) and fatty acids content. At the same time, it shows that beneficial microorganisms could positively regulate plant growth by improving nutrients and inducing disease resistance signals. This work highlighted the potential of microbial biofertilizers to simultaneously enhance soil health and agroecosystem productivity.

BACKGROUND:Hickory (Carya cathayensis) nuts, renowned for their health benefits and delightful taste, contain abundant bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenols. However, the specific mechanisms underlying their antioxidant properties and anti-aging effects remain elusive. PURPOSE:This study aims to investigate the effects of hickory nut polyphenols (HNP) on oxidative stress mitigation and aging modulation. METHODS:The innovative integration of medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) with in vitro bioactive screening was employed to discover an optimized HNP fraction (HNP3-2). Anti-aging effects of HNP3-2 on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were determined through lifespan analysis, lipofuscin accumulation quantification, and motility assessments. Oxidative stress resistance was further evaluated by detecting the reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidase activities. Integrative approaches combining transcriptomic, qRT-PCR, GFP reporter strains, and gene knockout mutants were utilized to explore the potential regulatory mechanisms. Non-targeted metabolomics was employed to conduct a comprehensive profiling analysis of HNP and their bioactive fractions. RESULTS:HNP3-2 significantly decreased ROS production, lipofuscin accumulation, and lipid peroxidation, while enhanced the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). It also conferred robust protection against oxidative stress induced by H2O2 and juglone. HNP3-2 regulated lifespan extension mainly via the DAF-16/-2 insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS), which was further validated using loss- and gain-of-function mutants including age-1, akt-1/2, daf-2, and daf-16, as well as worms overexpressing SOD-3, GST-4, and DAF-16. Metabolomic analysis identified 31 kinds of polyphenol compounds displaying abundance patterns congruent with the overall antioxidant potency in vitro. CONCLUSION:This study first reveals the efficacy of HNP as a promising antioxidant and anti-aging intervention. Notably, the screened bioactive fraction HNP3-2 acts primarily by modulating the DAF-16/DAF-2 insulin/IGF-1 signaling cascade, operating through a mechanism independent of dietary restriction. Collectively, these findings position HNP as a breakthrough candidate for next-generation gerotherapeutics, with translational potential for advancing human aging research.

Nuclear factor Y alpha proteins (NF-YAs) are conserved transcription factor proteins crucial to plant growth and development that exhibit specific responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Using bioinformatics approaches to investigate the NF-YA family in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), we identified nine SbNF-YA genes unevenly distributed on four of the 10 sorghum chromosomes. Despite variations in gene structure, all encode proteins have the characteristic CBFB_NFYA domain and other predicted motifs. The secondary structure of SbNF-YA members is predominantly composed of α-helices and random coils. A phylogenetic analysis of NF-YAs of sorghum and other plant species indicated that SbNF-YAs are closely related to NF-YAs from maize (Zea mays) and distantly related to those in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). A colinearity analysis determined that six of the nine SbNF-YA genes arose from segmental duplication events. Transcriptome and RT-qPCR analyses showed that the expression levels of eight of the SbNF-YA genes (SbNF-YA5 being the exception) are responsive to drought stress to varying degrees. Notably, SbNF-YA1, SbNF-YA4, SbNF-YA6, SbNF-YA8, and SbNF-YA9 expression was significantly upregulated under the stress conditions, suggesting that they participate in drought response. When heterologously expressed in Arabidopsis, SbNF-YA6 conferred greater tolerance of drought stress imposed by treatment with the osmolyte mannitol, with the transgenic Arabidopsis lines showing superior germination rates; longer roots; higher fresh weight; higher activities of the enzymes peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase; and higher soluble protein and proline contents, compared to the wild type. Additionally, the transgenic Arabidopsis lines accumulated lower levels of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, and malondialdehyde. The expression levels of several drought-responsive genes were elevated in transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings relative to the wild type, indicating that the heterologous expression of SbNF-YA6 enhances the drought tolerance of Arabidopsis.

Hickory (Carya cathayensis), a valuable woody oil species with considerable economic importance, often suffers from reduced yields in its primary production regions due to soil salinization. Brassinosteroids (BRs), essential hormones that regulate plant growth, development, and stress responses, play a pivotal role in enhancing plant stress resistance. However, the functions and underlying mechanisms of key genes involved in BR biosynthesis in C. cathayensis under salt stress have yet to be fully elucidated. This study centered on the key BR biosynthetic genes CcCPD, CcDWF4, and CcDET2 in C. cathayensis, systematically examining their fundamental characteristics, including evolutionary conservation, protein properties, subcellular localization, and tissue expression patterns. Our findings also revealed that these genes exhibited dynamic expression patterns in response to salt, drought, and cold stresses, indicating their potential involvement in stress resistance through the modulation of BR biosynthesis. Functional validation through heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana further substantiated the roles of these genes in stress responses and unveiled their multifaceted regulatory mechanisms in salt tolerance. These mechanisms involve the maintenance of ion homeostasis, enhancement of antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment, as well as potential remodeling membrane integrity via fatty acid metabolism. This study provides preliminary insights into the mechanisms by which BR biosynthetic genes in C. cathayensis enhance salt tolerance, offering vital targets for the molecular breeding of salt-tolerant woody plants.

Aquatic angiosperms are crucial to global ecosystems. They independently transitioned from land to water multiple times, yet the overarching pattern of these transitions remains poorly understood. We analyzed over 330,000 angiosperm species, including 1,001 sequenced genomes, alongside ecoenvironmental datasets. Our results identify at least 132 transitions from terrestrial-to-aquatic habits and 86 reversals. Notably, terrestrial-to-aquatic transitions are marked by the contraction of 232 gene families, with no evidence of expansion. This contraction follows a gradient: greater aquatic adaptations, more contractions. Knowledge-enhanced machine learning associates these contractions with reduced functions in plant organ growth and development, structural support, drought responses, hormone regulation, and microbial defense. Interestingly, the contraction of microbial defense genes highlights a gradient of immune system reduction across aquatic plants. Biogeographic analysis further shows that precipitation and elevation, rather than temperature, shape the global distribution of aquatic species. However, historical temperature shifts, such as Cenozoic cooling, contributed to the decline of aquatic plants by reducing precipitation and elevation during polar ice-sheet formation. By contrast, ongoing global warming may reverse this trend by expanding aquatic habitats, though increased evaporation and drought are expected in some regions. This study provides a molecular framework for understanding aquatic plant evolution and offers insights into their potential responses to future climate change.

Microbial and plant residues are the primary sources of soil organic carbon (SOC) in forest ecosystems. However, the relative contributions of microbial and plant residues to SOC in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests remain poorly understood, despite Moso bamboo's unique growth pattern distinct from that of tree species. In this study, we analyzed amino sugars and lignin phenols as biomarkers for microbial and plant residues, respectively, in the topsoil (0-10 cm) and subsoil (20-40 cm) of a Moso bamboo forest and investigated their regulatory factors. The results showed that microbial-derived amino sugars contributed 1.6% and 1.0% to SOC in the topsoil and subsoil, respectively, comparable to the contributions of plant-derived lignin phenols (1.6% and 0.8%). Both amino sugars and lignin phenols exhibited higher contributions to SOC in the topsoil than in the subsoil. Fine root biomass and microbial phosphorus (P) limitation regulated the contribution of amino sugars to SOC, while fine root biomass and the ratio of gram-positive to gram-negative bacteria controlled the contribution of lignin phenols. These findings highlight that microbial and plant residues contribute equally to SOC sequestration in Moso bamboo forests, with soil carbon and P availability playing critical roles in regulating their contributions. These findings may contribute to SOC management in Moso bamboo forests.

Plant trait networks (PTNs) quantitatively describe the trait correlation patterns, which constrain the dynamic responses and individual fitness of plants under climate change. Despite renewed attention directed toward intraspecific trait correlation within trait-based ecology in the last decade, thorough descriptions of how trait correlation patterns within species respond to changing environments ontogenetically and influence ecological strategies are still lacking. In this study, a controlled experiment was conducted on Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type (Columbia), with three treatment groups (control/drought/heat) over three stages of the life cycle (vegetative/inflorescence/reproductive stage). Thirty traits (aboveground biomass and seed biomass were not used in trait correlation analyses) were obtained to investigate how trait correlation patterns in particular life stages (three T-PTNs constructed based on trait variation across treatments within life stages) and during whole-life cycles (three L-PTNs constructed based on trait variation across life stages in particular treatments) respond to stress. The results showed that traits were correlated along an axis within life stages, reflecting an economic trade-off between acquisitive strategies (in control plants) and conservative strategies (in drought/heat plants). With ontogeny, the higher sensitivity of central traits (highly connected with other plant traits in a network) in T-PTNs to stress resulted in more significant separation among treatment groups along the axis. Second, based on life cycles, stress decoupled trait correlations in L-PTNs and decreased the value of central traits (related to carbon assimilation/accumulation) compared with the ambient control, resulting in lower fitness. These results suggested that central traits in PTNs drove the shifts in ecological strategies across changing environments, and the network topology (the connection frequency or clustering degree among traits in a network, describing the correlation patterns) constrained the resource utilization efficiency in plants; both affect plant fitness collectively. These insights will facilitate more accurate and broader applications (e.g., the assessment of plant fitness or sensitivity to stress) of PTNs in trait-based ecology.

Forest soil organic matter (SOM) is a critical component of forest ecosystems and plays a vital role in the global carbon (C) cycle. Global climate change profoundly affects forest SOM dynamics, particularly its sources and formation processes, which are crucial initial stages of the forest soil C cycle. Therefore, understanding these processes and the impacts of climate change is essential for developing effective forest management strategies and climate policies. In this study, VOSviewer 1.6.18 was used to conduct a bibliometric analysis of research published from 1975 to 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database, focusing on the sources and formation processes of forest SOM under climate change. The analysis covers annual publication trends, author co-occurrence networks, publication distributions by country and region, keyword clustering, and evolving keyword trends, integrating both quantitative results and a literature review to provide an understanding of the research progress in the field. The results highlight continuous growth in research publications, which can be categorized into four stages: initial emergence, sustained exploration, rapid development, and deep expansion. A solid theoretical foundation and good research strength have been established, driven by prominent academic groups led by researchers such as Jari Liski, as well as leading countries, including the United States and China. The research progress is divided into four topics: the sources of forest SOM; the formation processes of forest SOM; the impacts of climate change; and measurement methods and model-based analysis techniques, which mainly elaborate upon plant-, microbial-, and soil fauna-derived aspects. Research hotspots have evolved from basic C and nitrogen (N) cycles to in-depth studies involving microbial mechanisms and multiparameter climate change interactive effects. This study provides an overview of the research progress and hotspots in the field, offering basic knowledge and theoretical support for potential future research and climate change mitigation strategies.

Despite increasing reports of convergent adaptation, evidence for genomic convergence across diverse species worldwide is lacking. Here, our study of 205 Archaeplastida genomes reveals evidence of genomic convergence through tandem duplication (TD) across different lineages of root plants despite their genomic diversity. TD-derived genes, notably prevalent in trees with developed root systems embedded in soil, are enriched in enzymatic catalysis and biotic stress responses, suggesting adaptations to environmental pressures. Correlation analyses suggest that many factors, particularly those related to soil microbial pressures, are significantly associated with TD dynamics. Conversely, flora transitioned to aquatic, parasitic, halophytic, or carnivorous lifestyles-reducing their interaction with soil microbes-exhibit a consistent decline in TD frequency. This trend is further corroborated in mangroves that independently adapted to hypersaline intertidal soils, characterized by diminished microbial activity. Our findings propose TD-driven genomic convergence as a widespread adaptation to soil microbial pressures among terrestrial root plants.

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity is a universal environmental threat to plant growth. Either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or biochar have been shown to effectively mitigate Cd toxicity in plants. Additionally, the camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) has been used for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils. However, the potential interacting effects of these treatments and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a mesocosm experiment to examine the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation (inoculation with sterilized AMF, with Rhizophagus intraradices and Diversispora versiformis, either alone or their mixture) and/or rice-husk biochar amendment on camphor trees grown in Cd-spiked soils (0, 15, 150 mg Cd per kg soil). We found that Cd addition significantly reduced plant biomass and increased Cd accumulation in plant tissues and soil. Single application of either AMF or biochar significantly inhibited Cd uptake by plants. Nevertheless, AMF inoculation alone improved plant biomass, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), phosphorus (P) uptake and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) production, as well as alleviated Cd accumulation in plant shoots to a greater extent than biochar amendment; biochar performed better than AMF in reducing soil Cd mobilization under the highest Cd contamination. These results suggest that AMF and biochar adopt different strategies to reduce Cd toxicity in plants. Moreover, the combination of AMF and biochar showed the highest mycorrhizal colonization, Pnand plant biomass, as well as the lowest Cd uptake by plants under the highest Cd contamination. Particularly, the mixed fungi of R. intraradices and D. versiformis combined with biochar produced the most profound effect on plant biomass under Cd contaminations. These results suggested that the combination of AMF inoculation and biochar amendment had synergistic effects, and their combination performed better than their single application under Cd-contaminated soil. Furthermore, these additive benefits were mainly attributed to the higher total GRSP and mycorrhizal viability. This work suggests that applying mixed fungi of R. intraradices and D. versiformis together with biochar amendment may be a potential method not only for camphor production but also for the phytoremediation of soil exposed to Cd contamination.

As the core of Brassinosteroids (BR) signaling pathway, BR-resistant (BZR) transcription factor regulates thousands of targeted genes mediating photomophogenesis, pollen sterility, cell expansion and stress response. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is a famous trees species of Carya, and its nut has high nutritional and economic values. However, there has no report on BZR genes family in pecan yet. Herein, totals of seven CiBZR members were identified in pecan genome, which were predicted to be hydrophilic unstable proteins and located in the nucleus. CiBZR genes had close evolutionary relationships with CcBZRs and JrBZRs in both Carya cathayensis and Juglans regia. These seven CiBZR genes were located independently on 7 chromosomes without doubling or tandem duplication. Based on the analysis of conserved motifs and gene structures, CiBZR genes were divided into three categories. More than 40 cis-acting elements were found in the 2kb promoter regions of CiBZRs, which were mainly involved in hormone, light, and stress response, and plant growth and development. Notably, some of these CiBZR proteins were mainly located in the nucleus, had the self-activation ability and interaction relationship with BIN2 kinase, and negatively regulated the expression of CiCPD and CiDWF4. Gene expressions analysis further showed that CiBZR genes could express in many tissues and shared similar expression trends during embryo development. Moreover, most CiBZR genes responded to BR, Gibberellin (GA), Strigolactone (SL), salt, acid and osmotic stress. This study provides theoretical basis for the subsequent study on the role of CiBZR family genes in plant growth, development and stress responses.

Background: Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite produced by intestinal microbiota through metabolizing phosphatidylcholine, choline, l-carnitine and betaine in the diet, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). Concurrently, dietary polyphenols have garnered attention for their potential to ameliorate obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis primarily by modulating the intestinal microbial structure. Hickory (Carya cathayensis) nut, a polyphenol-rich food product favored for its palatability, emerges as a candidate for exploration. Hypothesis/Purpose: The relationship between polyphenol of hickory nut and atherosclerosis prevention will be firstly clarified, providing theoretical basis for the discovery of natural products counteracting TMAO-induced AS process in hickory nut. Study Design and Methods: Employing Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and histological examination of aortic samples, the effects of total polyphenol extract on obesity index, inflammatory index and pathological changes of atherosclerosis in C57BL/6 J mice fed with high-fat and high choline diet were evaluated. Further, the composition, abundance, and function of mouse gut microbiota were analyzed through 16srDNA sequencing. Concurrently, the levels of TMAO and the expression of key enzymes (CutC and FMO3) involved in its synthesis are quantified using ELISA, Western Blot and Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Additionally, targeted metabolomic profiling of the hickory nut polyphenol extract was conducted, accompanied by molecular docking simulations to predict interactions between candidate polyphenols and the CutC/FMO3 using Autodock Vina. Finally, the docking prediction were verified by microscale thermophoresis (MST) . Results: Polyphenol extracts of hickory nut improved the index of obesity and inflammation, and alleviated the pathological changes of atherosclerosis in C57BL/6 J mice fed with high-fat and high-choline diet. Meanwhile, these polyphenol extracts also changed the composition and function of intestinal microbiota, and increased the abundance of microorganisms in mice. Notably, the abundance of intestinal microbiota endowed with CutC gene was significantly reduced, coherent with expression of CutC catalyzing TMA production. Moreover, polyphenol extracts also decreased the expression of FMO3 in the liver, contributing to the reduction of TMAO levels in serum. Furthermore, metabonomic profile analysis of these polyphenol extracts identified 647 kinds of polyphenols. Molecular docking predication further demonstrated that Casuariin and Cinnamtannin B2 had the most potential inhibition on the enzymatic activities of CutC or FMO3, respectively.

Walnut, pecan, and hickory nuts are well known for their nutritional value and health benefits, with consumption having increased significantly in recent years. Outstanding aroma is an important indicator for nut quality evaluation. However, the impacts of thermal processing on their aroma formation are not well understood. To address this gap, a comprehensive analysis of the aroma profiles were conducted during the roasting process using both sensory evaluation and advanced analytical equipment, including an electronic nose (E-nose), headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS). The results indicated that thermal processing had a substantial effect on the sensorial characteristics of the nuts, with hickory nuts exhibiting a distinct nutty aroma compared to walnuts. HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis further identified 118 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), encompassing 33 heterocyclic compounds, 18 aldehydes, 11 aromatics, 18 ketones, and other compounds, while HS-GC-IMS analysis detected 63 volatile compounds. Notably, the roasting process led to the reduction in alcohols and acids, while simultaneously caused the increase of esters, ketones, pyrazines, and phenols, all of which are crucial for the development of nut aroma. Especially, some components like 1-Octanol, 2-Pentyl-furan, Hexanal, Acetylpyrazine, Benzophenone, and Octyl ester may contribute to unique odors of pecan and hickory nuts. These findings provide valuable insights into the flavor formation of the three nuts and the optimization of roasting process.