Photosynthesis underpins plant growth. Leaf-color mutants, displaying aberrant chloroplast development and pigment metabolism, are valuable for elucidating photosynthetic mechanisms. We characterized a natural albino mutant, abl1, from maize inbred line KN5585. Multi-environmental phenotyping confirmed its albino leaves and seedling lethality at the three-leaf stage, accompanied by significantly reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Genetic analysis indicated monogenic recessive inheritance. BSR-seq initially mapped abl1 to a 65-Mb region on chromosome 3. Fine-mapping delineated a 531-kb critical interval harboring 13 candidate genes. Integrated transcriptome and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that Zm00001d043182, encoding a key enzyme in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, was markedly downregulated. The mutant was thus renamed CMK1. Allelism tests with an independent EMS-CMK1 allele (crossing heterozygotes) yielded a 3:1 segregation of albino progeny, confirming Zm00001d043182 as the causal gene. The study identifies Zm00001d043182 as the gene responsible for the abl1 albino phenotype, offering new insights into the molecular basis of leaf color variation in maize.

Crops are the primary source of food for humans, providing essential nutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins. With economic development and rising living standards, demand for high-quality crops has increased, encompassing not only high and stable yields but also enhanced nutritional profiles, flavor, taste, and functional components. These quality traits are typically controlled by complex polygenic networks and often involve trade-offs among yield, nutrition, and processing performance. Traditional breeding methods such as crossbreeding and phenotypic selection are limited by low efficiency, long breeding cycles, and difficulties in the coordinated improvement of multiple traits. The CRISPR/Cas9 system, characterized by its programmability, simplicity, and high editing efficiency, offers a novel strategy for precise trait improvement and the breeding of high-quality crop varieties. Through targeted modification of key genes, CRISPR/Cas9 can effectively regulate the synthesis and accumulation of nutrients such as starch, proteins, lipids, and vitamins, thereby enabling the targeted optimization of crop quality traits. This review systematically summarizes recent applications of CRISPR/Cas9 in enhancing nutritional components, improving eating quality, and reducing harmful substances in crops. In addition, current challenges and future prospects are discussed to provide theoretical guidance and practical support for the precise and efficient application of gene-editing technologies in crop quality improvement.

The traditional cultivation practices of garlic have led to the frequent occurrence of soil-borne diseases and other cropping obstacles. In recent years, shifts in the spectrum of garlic diseases have reduced the effectiveness of conventional control measures, creating an urgent need to identify novel phytopathogens and develop efficient biocontrol strategies. In this study, we systematically screened for novel pathogenic and multifunctional plant-growth-promoting bacteria from garlic seedling tissues and the rhizosphere microbiota. A total of seven Fusarium strains and one novel pathogenic bacterium, Erwinia persicina, were isolated from diseased tissues, thereby expanding the known diversity of garlic phytopathogens. Additionally, sixteen multifunctional plant-growth-promoting strains were identified, among which Paenibacillus polymyxa C2 exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with inhibition rates ranging from 70.17 % to 85.77 %. Pot experiments demonstrated that strain C2 increased garlic seedling height by 109.9 %, and enhanced the activities of soil catalase, neutral phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase. Meanwhile, P. polymyxa C2 can optimize the rhizosphere microbiota of garlic. Furthermore, through self-selection by garlic seedlings, two synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) were constructed, comprising P. hunanensis Y9, Stenotrophomonas geniculata V4, Pseudomonas moraviensis C3, and P. polymyxa C2. These SynComs significantly promoted garlic growth and reduced the incidence of garlic root rot. This study proposes a novel biocontrol approach using garlic-selected SynComs to suppress phytopathogens while optimizing the rhizosphere microbiota, offering a promising foundation for developing effective microbial inoculants aimed at sustainable agricultural production.

Proteins with Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains are widely distributed in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, serving as essential components of immune signaling. Although monocots lack the major TIR nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat-type (TNL) immune receptors, they possess a small number of TIR-only proteins, the function of which remains largely unknown. In the monocot maize (Zea mays), there are 3 conserved TIR-only genes in the reference genome, namely ZmTIR1 to ZmTIR3. A genome-wide scan for TIR genes and comparative analysis revealed that these genes exhibit low sequence diversity and do not show copy number variation among 26 diverse inbred lines. ZmTIR1 and ZmTIR3, but not ZmTIR2, specifically trigger cell death and defense gene expression when overexpressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. These responses depend on the critical glutamic acid and cysteine residues predicted to be essential for TIR-mediated NADase and 2 ',3 '-cAMP/cGMP synthetase activity, respectively, as well as the key TIR downstream regulator Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1 (EDS1). Overexpression of ZmTIR3 in N. benthamiana produces signaling molecules, including 2 ' cADPR, 2 ',3 '-cAMP, and 2 ',3 '-cGMP, a process that requires the enzymatic glutamic acid and cysteine residues of ZmTIR3. ZmTIR expression in maize is barely detectable under normal conditions but is substantially induced by different pathogens. Importantly, the maize Zmtir3 knockout mutant exhibits enhanced susceptibility to the fungal pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus, highlighting the role of ZmTIR3 in maize immunity. Overall, our results unveil the function of the maize ZmTIRs. We propose that the pathogen-inducible ZmTIRs play an important role in maize immunity, likely through their enzymatic activity and via EDS1-mediated signaling. Two conserved, pathogen-inducible genes specifically promote immune responses in maize through their enzymatic activities and via downstream signaling pathways.

Genome editing technologies hold significant potential for targeted mutagenesis in crop development, aligning with evolving agricultural needs. Point mutations, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), define key agronomic traits in various crop species and play a pivotal role. The implementation of single nucleotide variations through genome editing-based base editing offers substantial promise in expediting crop improvement by inducing advantageous trait variations. Among many genome editing techniques, base editing stands out as an advanced next-generation technology, evolved from the CRISPR/Cas9 system.Base editing, a recent advancement in genome editing, enables precise DNA modification without the risks associated with double-strand breaks. Base editors, designed as precise genome editing tools, enable the direct and irreversible conversion of specific target bases. Base editors consist of catalytically active CRISPR-Cas9 domains, including Cas9 variants, fused with domains like cytidine deaminase, adenine deaminase, or reverse transcriptase. These fusion proteins enable the introduction of specific point mutations in target genomic regions. Currently developed are cytidine base editors (CBEs), mutating C to T; adenine base editors (ABEs), changing A to G; and prime editors (PEs), enabling arbitrary base conversions, precise insertions, and deletions. In this review, the research, development, and progress of various base editing systems, along with their potential applications in crop improvement, were intended to be summarized. The limitations of this technology will also be discussed. Finally, an outlook on the future of base editors will be provided.

Plant growth, crop yield, and pest and disease control are enhanced by PGPR (Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria), which are beneficial microorganisms found in a close symbiosis with plant roots. Phytohormones are secreted, nutrient uptake is improved, and soil properties along with the microbiological environment are regulated by these microorganisms, making them a significant focus in agricultural research. In this study, the efficient PGPR strain T1 was isolated and screened from tobacco inter-root soil, and identified and confirmed by ITS sequencing technology. Tobacco growth indicators and soil property changes were observed and recorded through potting experiments. The activities of key enzymes (e.g., sucrase, catalase, urease) in soil were further determined. High-throughput sequencing technology was utilized to sequence the soil microbial community, and combined with macro-genomics analysis, the effects of T1 strain on soil microbial diversity and metabolic pathways were explored. Following the application of T1, significant improvements were observed in the height, leaf length, and width of tobacco plants. Furthermore, the physical and chemical properties of the soil were notably enhanced, including a 26.26% increase in phosphorus availability. Additionally, the activities of key soil enzymes such as sucrase, catalase, and urease were significantly increased, indicating improved soil health and fertility. Comprehensive joint microbiomics and macrogenomics analyses revealed a substantial rise in the populations of beneficial soil microorganisms and an enhancement in metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, synthesis, and production of secondary metabolites. These increase in beneficial microorganisms and the enhancement of their metabolic functions are crucial for plant growth and soil fertility. This study provides valuable references for the development of innovative microbial fertilizers and offers programs for the sustainable development of modern agriculture.

Tobacco, a crop of significant economic importance, was greatly influenced in leaf quality by protein content. However, current processing parameters fail to adequately meet the requirements for protein degradation. Microorganisms possess potential advantages for degrading proteins and enhancing the quality of tobacco leaves, and hold substantial potential in the process of curing. To effectively reduce the protein content in tobacco leaves, thereby improving the quality and safety of the tobacco leaves. In this study, tobacco leaf were used as experimental material. From these, the BSP1 strain capable of effectively degrading proteins was isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis by 16S rDNA analysis. Furthermore, the mechanisms were analyzed by integrating microbiome, transcriptome, and metabolome. Before curing, BSP1 was applied to the surface of tobacco leaves. The results indicated that BSP1 effectively improves the activity of key enzymes and the content of related substances, thereby enhancing protein degradation. Additionally, protein degradation was achieved by regulating the diversity of the microbial community on the surface of the tobacco leaves and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. This study provided new strategies for extracting and utilizing functional strains from tobacco leaves, opening new avenues for enhancing the quality of tobacco leaves.

To adapt to the climate change faced by agricultural production in recent years and to avoid abiotic stresses such as frost damage during transplanting of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L). New management strategies need to be adopted. The negative effects of abiotic stresses could be mitigated to promote tobacco growth and quality formation by appropriately altering the transplanting period. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of four different transplanting periods (April 29, May 7, May 15, and May 23) on the growth of flue-cured tobacco to determine the optimal transplanting period.And further, the mechanism of transplanting period affecting tobacco growth and development was analyzed by joint Multiple Omics. Better agronomic traits, physiological indicators, and chemical composition were shown by May 7 and May 15. Microbiome analysis revealed that beneficial microorganisms were enriched more and harmful microorganisms were reduced during the transplanting period on May 15th. Further by transcriptome analysis of transplanting period on May 9th and May 15th, antioxidant enzymes and carbon and nitrogen metabolism genes were significantly up-regulated in the transplanting period on May 15th, and resistance and nutrient cycling of the tobacco plant were improved. Metabolomic analysis showed that the sucrose-galactose pathway, amino acid metabolism and related metabolites of nucleotides were up-regulated in the transplanting period on May 15th, and energy metabolism was further enhanced, which was favorable for the growth and development of the tobacco plant and the formation of quality. In summary, the transplanting period on May 15th could provide a sustainable production strategy for tobacco to avoid abiotic stresses and improve resilience.

Tobacco, a vital economic crop, had its quality post-curing significantly influenced by starch content. Nonetheless, the existing process parameters during curing were inadequate to satisfy the starch degradation requirements. Microorganisms exhibit inherent advantages in starch degradation, offering significant potential in the tobacco curing process. Our study concentrated on the microbial populations on the surface of tobacco leaves and in the rhizosphere soil. A strain capable of starch degradation, designated as BS3, was successfully isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis by phylogenetic tree analysis based on 16SrDNA sequence. The application of BS3 on tobacco significantly enhanced enzyme activity and accelerated starch degradation during the curing process. Furthermore, analyses of the metagenome, transcriptome, and metabolome indicated that the BS3 strain facilitated starch degradation by regulating surface microbiota composition and affecting genes related to starch hydrolyzed protein and key metabolites in tobacco leaves. This study offered new strategies for efficiently improving the quality of tobacco leaves.

Edible fungi are not only delicious but are also rich in nutritional and medicinal value, which is highly sought after by consumers. As the edible fungi industry continues to rapidly advance worldwide, particularly in China, the cultivation of superior and innovative edible fungi strains has become increasingly pivotal. Nevertheless, conventional breeding techniques for edible fungi can be arduous and time-consuming. CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9) is a powerful tool for molecular breeding due to its ability to mediate high-efficiency and high-precision genome modification, which has been successfully applied to many kinds of edible fungi. In this review, we briefly summarized the working mechanism of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and highlighted the application progress of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome-editing technology in edible fungi, including Agaricus bisporus, Ganoderma lucidum, Flammulina filiformis, Ustilago maydis, Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus, Coprinopsis cinerea, Schizophyllum commune, Cordyceps militaris, and Shiraia bambusicola. Additionally, we discussed the limitations and challenges encountered using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in edible fungi and provided potential solutions. Finally, the applications of CRISPR/Cas9 system for molecular breeding of edible fungi in the future are explored.

微生物菌肥是一种绿色、无污染肥料,近年来得到了广泛的应用.为探究微生物菌肥在烟草种植中的应用,介绍了微生物菌肥的特点、功能及作用机理,阐述了微生物菌肥对土壤改良的作用、对烟草生长发育及烟叶品质影响等,并对微生物菌肥的未来发展趋势作出展望.

Abiotic stress such as cold, drought, saline-alkali stress and biotic stress including disease and insect pest are the main factors that affect plant growth and limit agricultural productivity. In recent years, with the rapid development of molecular biology, genome editing techniques have been widely used in botany and agronomy due to their characteristics of high efficiency, controllable and directional editing. Genome editing techniques have great application potential in breeding resistant varieties. These techniques have achieved remarkable results in resistance breeding of important cereal crops (such as maize, rice, wheat, etc.), vegetable and fruit crops. Among them, CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated) provides a guarantee for the stability of crop yield worldwide. In this paper, the development of CRISRR/Cas and its application in different resistance breeding of important crops are reviewed, the advantages and importance of CRISRR/Cas technology in breeding are emphasized, and the possible problems are pointed out.

为明确沂蒙丘陵生态区蜜甜焦香型烤烟化学成分对感官质量的影响,选取2020年山东潍坊、临沂、日照产烟区176份典型代表性烤烟样品(包括下部烟X2L、X3L、X2F、X3F,中部烟C2F、C3F、C2L、C3L,上部烟B2F、B3F、B2L、B3L),进行常规化学成分及感官质量指标的统计分析及相关性分析.简单相关分析显示,燃烧性与总烟碱和两糖差分别呈显著和极显著负相关关系,与淀粉、还原糖和钾含量分别呈显著和极显著正相关关系;灰分与还原糖和氯、两糖差均表现为极显著负相关关系,与淀粉呈极显著正相关关系;刺激性与氯呈显著负相关关系.典型相关分析显示,总烟碱与浓度、劲头呈正相关,氮碱比与浓度、劲头呈负相关,氯与刺激性、余味呈负相关.综上,总烟碱、氮含量、氯含量是影响沂蒙丘陵生态区烤烟感官质量的关键因素.