We investigated the effects of a root-restricted cultivation experiment of netted melons in a greenhouse in south China over two cropping seasons (autumn–winter and spring–summer) with three root-zone volumes (R1: 15 L/plant, R2: 5 L/plant, and R3: 0.75 L/plant) on fruit production and quality. Seasonal temperature and light conditions significantly regulate the balance between yield and quality of netted melons. The high-temperature and strong-light environment in summer promotes vigorous plant growth, fruit expansion and the formation of coarse reticulation, achieving high yield, but it leads to a significant reduction in the content of soluble solids, Vc, soluble protein and antioxidant substances. Under the low-temperature and weak-light conditions in autumn, plants increase the angle between stems and leaves to enhance light interception. Although the fruits are small and the reticulation is fine, they accumulate higher levels of sugar, nutrients and antioxidant substances due to the large diurnal temperature difference. Furthermore, the effect of root restriction cultivation is significantly climate-dependent: severe root restriction (R3) can increase the harvest index in both seasons and improve the fineness of the reticulation in autumn, but it inhibits growth. Therefore, root-zone volume is the key to regulating comprehensive performance, and strategies should be optimized in combination with the climate background: moderate (R2) root restriction in autumn is suitable for improving quality and yield, while severe root restriction (R3) in summer has potential applications in specific quality indicators.

Cadmium toxicity severely restricts plant growth and development. Nuclear transcription factor-YA (NF-YA) plays a critical role in regulating abiotic stress tolerance, but its role in Cd stress remains unknown. We identified AtNF-YA3 transcription factor as a crucial player in Arabidopsis thaliana Cd stress tolerance. AtNF-YA3 overexpression significantly enhances tolerance to Cd stress, while AtNF-YA3 knockout causes heightened sensitivity. Overexpression significantly reduced Cd2+ flux in roots and whole-plant Cd accumulation, whereas AtNF-YA3 knockout enhanced Cd2+ flux, and Cd and ROS accumulation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that Cd stress disrupted immune responsive pathways in the knockout line relative to wild-type. Moreover, AtWRKY41 transcription factor expression levels decreased by approximately two-fold in the knockout line relative to wild-type. Yeast two-hybrid and luciferase assays demonstrated a direct interaction between AtNF-YA3 and AtWRKY41; yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays confirmed that AtWRKY41 directly binds to the AtNF-YA3 promoter. Arabidopsis AtWRKY41 knockout lines exhibited significantly increased sensitivity to Cd stress, and increased Cd2+ flux rates and Cd and ROS accumulation. Genetic analysis indicated that AtWRKY41 acts upstream of AtNF-YA3 to increase Cd stress tolerance. Together, these findings suggest that AtNF-YA3 is a key regulator of Cd tolerance and a potential target for plant heavy metal phytoremediation research.

To investigate the effects of red–blue–green light ratios on the growth, photosynthesis, nutritional quality, and mineral nutrient accumulation of hydroponic lettuce, a controlled experiment was conducted using the deep flow technique (DFT) system. Four light treatments were applied under a constant photosynthetically active radiation of 350 μmol·m−2·s−1: the red–blue light control (CK, R:B = 60:40) and 10% (T1), 20% (T2), and 40% (T3) green light substitution treatments. Growth, photosynthetic characteristics, quality and nutrient indexes were assessed. The results showed that 40% green light (T3) significantly enhanced biomass production, increasing the fresh and dry weights by 33.16% and 21.40%, respectively, compared with the CK (control). In addition, the soluble sugar and vitamin C contents increased by 61.79% and 13.43%, respectively, while the nitrate content decreased by 16.31%. T1 (10% green light) was the most effective at promoting antioxidant compound accumulation, resulting in 148.61% and 81.24% increases in the flavonoid and polyphenol contents. All green light treatments increased the net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate while decreasing the intercellular CO2 concentration and stomatal conductance. Green light supplements generally promoted phosphorus and magnesium uptake, and T3 remarkably enhanced the total accumulation of major mineral elements in shoots. In conclusion, 40% green light substitution optimizes both the biomass and nutritional quality of lettuce, whereas 10% substitution significantly promotes antioxidant accumulation. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing light spectra in controlled environments for hydroponic lettuce production.

Light quality is a critical regulatory factor for the growth and nutritional quality of hydroponic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and red-blue combined light serves as a key artificial light source for protected horticulture. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different red-blue (R:B) light ratios on the growth, photosynthetic pigment content, nutritional quality, antioxidant capacity, and mineral nutrient content and accumulation of hydroponic lettuce. Lettuce was cultivated under four R:B light treatments (CK: pure red light, 100:0; T1: 90:10; T2: 80:20; and T3: 60:40) with a uniform photosynthetic photon flux density of 350 & micro;mol m-2s-1 and a 12 h photoperiod. The results showed that all red-blue combined light treatments significantly improved the above physiological and nutritional indices compared with monochromatic red light (CK), with the fresh weight increased by 0.73 to 0.78 times and different R:B ratios inducing distinct tissue-specific and element-specific responses in lettuce. Specifically, T3 (60:40) exhibited the highest root dry weight (0.57 +/- 0.02 g plant-1), inhibited excessive leaf elongation to form a compact plant architecture, and its chlorophyll a and b contents increased significantly by 1.6 and 2.25 times compared with CK, respectively. Furthermore, T3 markedly enhanced the accumulation of soluble sugar (0.36 times higher), soluble protein (1.16 times higher), and vitamin C (4.09 times higher), reduced the nitrate content to 0.58 times that of CK, and showed the highest antioxidant capacity (polyphenol content and DPPH free radical scavenging rate), with antioxidant traits positively correlated with the blue light proportion. In contrast, T2 (80:20) effectively promoted plant biomass accumulation and exhibited the most balanced mineral nutrient profile, with significant increases in nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium accumulation, and it also upregulated chlorophyll synthesis to enhance carbon assimilation. T1 (90:10) had moderate regulatory effects on both lettuce growth and nutritional quality and was favorable for potassium accumulation in lettuce tissues. These findings clarify the differential regulatory mechanisms of red-blue light ratios on hydroponic lettuce and provide a theoretical basis for the precise configuration of LED lighting in greenhouse lettuce production. Lettuce producers can select specific R:B ratios according to actual cultivation demands, and the regulatory effects of such light ratios on red leaf lettuce varieties merit further exploration.

Salinity stress is a major obstacle that limits plant growth and productivity. However, plants possess robust defense mechanisms to mitigate its adverse effects. In this study, we found that overexpression of SlPSAN (photosystem I reaction center subunit N) conferred salt stress resistance in both yeast and tomato seedlings. The results showed that the T-DNA mutants were susceptible to salt stress, resulting in a significant decline in seed germination rates and root length in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of SlPSAN enhanced root and shoot fresh weights, as well as root and shoot dry weights, in tomato seedlings under salt stress. In contrast, knockout (psan1 and psan2) lines exhibited increased sensitivity to salt stress and a significant reduction in tomato seedling growth. Moreover, SlPSAN overexpression enhanced nutrient accumulation, chlorophyll content (Chl A, Chl B, Chl A+B, and carotenoids) and enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes (APX, SOD, POD, and CAT), while simultaneously decreasing the accumulation of ROS and MDA when compared with WT and knockout lines. Transcriptome analysis revealed that knockout of SlPSAN altered the enrichment of biological processes, including response to stimulus, immune system processes, and detoxification pathways, under salt stress in tomato. These findings suggested that SlPSAN positively regulates salt stress in tomato seedlings. This study unlocks an innovative research direction for identifying candidate genes for improving salinity stress tolerance and protecting horticultural crop production.

Flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis Tsen et Lee.), an cultivated variant of Brassica rapa var. chinensis in the Brassicaceae family, is distinguished from Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) by its basal leaves, which have non-stippled petioles and slender, grooved leaf stalks. Sugar transport proteins (STPs), a key subfamily within the plant monosaccharide transporter (MST) superfamily, serves as primary hexose transporters that facilitate the transmembrane movement of glucose, fructose, and other hexoses. These proteins play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the BcSTP gene family through genome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, tissue expression profiling, yeast functional complementation, and heterologous overexpression assays. Twenty-seven BcSTP genes were identified, grouped into four major clades, and found to share conserved domains, motifs, and genomic structures. Tissue-specific expression profiling showed that most BcSTPs were highly expressed in flowers and flower buds during the flowering stage. Functional complementation in hexose transport-deficient yeast confirmed that BcSTP6 and its homologs (BcSTP6-like1, BcSTP6-like2) possess hexose transport activity, with BcSTP6 capable of transporting glucose, fructose, and galactose, and responding to exogenous glucose treatment. Heterologous overexpression assays demonstrated that BcSTP6 promotes flowering in flowering Chinese cabbage by upregulating flowering-related genes, including FT and LFY. Together, these findings clarify the composition and core features of the BcSTP gene family, reveal the regulatory role of BcSTP6 in bolting and flowering, and provide a foundation for understanding the STP-mediated sugar transport mechanisms underlying plant growth and development.

Propiconazole reveals a BraBZR1-BraGRP5 transcriptional module that promotes leaf growth via cell expansion in Flowering Chinese cabbage. Flowering Chinese cabbage, also known as Caixin (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis var. parachinensis), plays a significant and industrial role, particularly in South China. Propiconazole (PCZ), a triazole fungicide, is widely used in leafy vegetable production as a brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis inhibitor to improve plant architecture and marketability. However, the molecular mechanism by which PCZ regulates leaf growth in Flowering Chinese cabbage remains poorly understood. Through transcriptome analysis of PCZ-treated plants, we identified a glycine-rich protein 5 (BraGRP5). BraGRP5 expression was highest in cotyledons, leaves, flowers, and siliques, and was induced by BR application. Functional studies demonstrated that BraGRP5 acts as a positive regulator of leaf growth, as overexpression (OE) lines developed larger leaves, while RNA interference (RNAi) and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) lines had smaller leaves. RNA-seq analysis of BraGRP5-overexpressing lines identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in hormone signaling and cell wall remodeling pathways. Furthermore, we established that the transcription factor (TF) BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BraBZR1) directly binds to the BraGRP5 promoter and activates its transcription, forming a BraBZR1-BraGRP5 transcriptional module. Our findings demonstrate that BraGRP5 promotes leaf growth by stimulating cell expansion and define a key BR-mediated regulatory pathway in B. rapa, with PCZ serving as the critical experimental catalyst that enabled the discovery of this novel molecular module.

The essential photoprotective role of proton gradient regulation 5 (PGR5)-dependent cyclic electron flow (CEF) has been reported in Arabidopsis, rice, and algae. However, its functional assessment has not been performed in tomato yet. In this study, we focused on elucidate the function of SlPGR5 and SlPGR5-like photosynthetic phenotype 1 (PGRL1) in tomato. We performed RNA interference and found that SlPGR5/SlPGRL1-suppressed transformants exhibited extremely low CO2 assimilation capacity, their photosystem I (PSI) and PSII were severely photoinhibited and chloroplasts were obviously damaged. The SlPGR5/SlPGRL1-suppressed plants almost completely inhibited CEF and Y(ND), and PSII photoinhibition may be directly related to the inability to produce sufficient proton motive force to induce NPQ. The transgenic plants overexpressing SlPGR5 and SlPGRL1 driven by 35S promoter capable alleviate photoinhibition of plants under low night temperature. The transcriptomic and proteomic analyses suggested that the nuclear gene transcription and turnover of chloroplast proteins, including the plastoglobule-related proteins, were closely related to SlPGR5/SlPGRL1 pathway dependent CEF. The bridge relationship between CEF and chloroplast quality maintenance was a novel report to our knowledge. In conclusion, these results revealed the regulatory mechanism of the SlPGR5/SlPGRL1 pathway in photoprotection and maintenance of chloroplast function in tomato, which is crucial for reduce yield loss, especially under adverse environmental conditions.

Chinese cabbage is an important vegetable in southern China. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application can lead to the accumulation of nitrate in edible organs, which affects food value. Hence, the cultivation of varieties with high nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) and low nitrate accumulation is essential for molecular breeding. In flowering Chinese cabbage, Ammonium transporter 1;2 (AMT1;2,XM_009113156.2) significantly promotes plant growth, while reducing the nitrate content and ultimately improving the nutritional value of the crop; however, the exact underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the response pattern of BcAMT1;2 to nitrogen (N) deficiency and mixed ammonium-nitrate nutrition and the potential roles played by its interacting proteins, Lateral organ boundaries domain 41 (LBD41,XM_009120072.3) and Membrane-anchored MYB (MAMYB,XM_009103351.3), in N metabolism. We found that transient silencing and overexpression of BcAMT1;2 regulated the absorption and accumulation of ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) in flowering Chinese cabbage. BcLBD41 may directly induce BcAMT1;2 expression, thereby regulating NH4+ accumulation in flowering Chinese cabbages. The expression of BcLBD41 and BcAMT1;2 were downregulated during N-deficiency and upregulated after NH4+ supply restoration. Overexpression of BcLBD41 in Arabidopsis improved root and shoot growth under both LA (low-ammonium; 0.25 mM NH4+) and A/Ni (ammonium [NH4+]: nitrate [NO3-]; 0.25 mM:0.75 mM) conditions by facilitating the expression of AtAMT1;2 in transgenic plants, leading to enhanced NH4+ uptake and accumulation. The BcMAMYB protein serves as a transmembrane protein and has a strong interaction with the BcAMT1;2 protein, as well as inducing the expression of the BcAMT1;2 promoter. In the OE-BcMAMYB strain, the expression of both BcMAMYB and BcAMT1;2 were repressed under N-deficiency conditions, whereas after silencing BcMAMYB, the expression of BcAMT1;2 was not induced by ammonium. Our findings contribute to a more profound understanding of the regulatory mechanisms responsible for nitrogen absorption and accumulation in relation to BcAMT1;2.

Soil cadmium pollution is becoming an increasingly acute environmental problem for both plants and humans. Although several nanoparticles seemingly play a significant role in tolerance to cadmium toxicity, the role of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NP) in cadmium tolerance remains unclear. In this study, we showed that pretreatment with NiO-NPs enhanced tomato tolerance to cadmium stress and reduced its toxic effects. Our findings showed that NiO-NP treatment promoted tomato seedling growth by enhancing root and shoot nutrient accumulation and increasing chlorophyll content. Concomitantly, NiO-NP treatment significantly reduced root and shoot cadmium contents, leading to a significant reduction in cadmium phytotoxicity. Furthermore, NiO-NP treatment increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduced malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species contents in roots and leaves of seedlings growing under cadmium stress. Mechanistic investigations revealed that NiO-NP treatment regulated the expression of stress-responsive genes, including transcription factors SlERF4 and SlWRI1. Consistently, overexpression of SlERF4 and SlWRI1 in yeast cells resulted in cadmium stress tolerance. Notably, cadmium content in overexpressing cells was reduced by 39.10 % and 81.21 % for SlERF4 and SlWRI1, respectively, compared to the wild-type. These results suggest that NiO-NPs enhanced cadmium stress tolerance by activating SlERF4 and SlWRI1, thereby promoting tomato seedling growth. Our study opens a new avenue for gene identification and genetic modification to develop cadmium-tolerant crops, thereby ensuring vegetable production and food security. Additionally, it has significant implications for the development of novel strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of cadmium pollution on agricultural productivity.

As a primary macronutrient, nitrogen is integral to plant growth and regulates their development; ammonium transporters (AMTs) mediate nitrogen absorption and its involvement in metabolism. In this study, nine BcAMT genes were identified in flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris) and were systematically categorized into two subfamilies. Their evolutionary relationships, conserved motifs, chromosomal distribution, cis-regulatory elements, and expression profiling were systematically characterized. RNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses demonstrated that BcAMT1.1 was abundantly expressed in roots, leaves, and stems of flowering Chinese cabbage and was markedly upregulated under nitrogen deficiency. Assessing subcellular location using GFP fusion demonstrated that BcAMT1.1 localized to the plasma membrane. Functional assays identified heterologous expression in the yeast mutant strain 31019b, and transgenic Arabidopsis validated that BcAMT1.1 acted as a functional ammonium transporter. Compared with the wildtype, overexpressing BcAMT1.1 promoted seedling growth, enhanced NH4+ influxes and NO3− effluxes under low-nitrogen conditions, and significantly increased the transcription levels of key nitrogen assimilation genes (i.e., AtGLN1.1, AtGLN2, AtGDH2). Collectively, our findings enhance the fundamental understanding of BcAMT gene functions and highlight BcAMT1.1 as a crucial component in nitrogen uptake and assimilation under low-nitrogen conditions, providing valuable genetic resources for improving nitrogen efficiency in vegetable crops.

Due to their nutritious, crisp and juicy fruit, the commercial cultivation of blueberries industry has experienced rapid development over the last decade. Previous studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between branches and fruits at the macroscopic level. In this study, blueberry fruiting branches were classified into dorsal and terminal branches based on their origin and morphology. We systematically investigated their physiological and biochemical differences through photosynthetic analysis, tissue sectioning, and endogenous substance calibration. Results revealed that leaves on dorsal branches exhibited superior photosynthetic capacity. Meanwhile, fruits from dorsal branches demonstrated earlier maturation phases, higher yields, and superior overall quality scores. The enhanced commercial value of dorsal branch fruits primarily stemmed from their larger transverse diameter, sweeter flavour, and firmer texture. Endogenous hormones present in the fruit were identified as crucial regulators of fruit differentiation. However, limitations in production potential were observed due to the relatively fewer number of dorsal branches and their leaves’ reduced stress resistance. This study concludes optimizing cultivation practices for dorsal branches could enhance planting yields to meet the market demand. Further research into dorsal branch development mechanisms is warranted.

BACKGROUND:The bolting and flowering processes are crucial for the yield of stem vegetables and require sugar support. Sugar is synthesized through photosynthesis in the leaves and transported to the stems via transmembrane transport. Brassica campestris (flowering Chinese cabbage) is a unique vegetable that does not require vernalization for flowering and has a distinct flowering regulation mechanism. "Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters" (SWEET), a relatively newly identified group of sugar transporters, play vital roles in plant development. However, the role of B. campestris SWEET (BcSWEET) genes in the growth and development of flowering Chinese cabbage remains to be elucidated. RESULTS:In this study, 32 BcSWEET genes were identified, which are unevenly distributed across nine chromosomes and classified into four groups based on their homology with Arabidopsis. Significant differences were observed in the physicochemical properties, motif composition, and gene structure of the BcSWEET gene family. However, all BcSWEET proteins are predicted to be localized in the cell membrane. Prediction of transmembrane regions showed that all members contained the MtN3/saliva domain. The BcSWEET promoter regions contain different cis-regulatory elements involved in developmental and hormonal regulation, stress responses, and light-responsive regulation. Expression pattern analysis of the 32 BcSWEET genes revealed that most are associated with reproductive growth in different tissues, with the majority being upregulated in petals and flower buds. BcSWEET1-2 has been confirmed to be localized in the cell membrane and to function as a hexose transporter. Overexpression of BcSWEET1-2 in Arabidopsis promotes stem carbohydrate accumulation, upregulates flowering gene expression, enhances Arabidopsis stem elongation, and advances flowering time. CONCLUSIONS:This study systematically identified the BcSWEET gene family in flowering Chinese cabbage and characterized its physicochemical properties, evolutionary relationships, and expression patterns. Further analysis demonstrated that some BcSWEET gene members may play crucial roles in flowering regulation. These findings provide theoretical guidance for further research on the role of SWEET-induced sugar accumulation in flower development in flowering Chinese cabbage.

To ensure the year-round efficient production of high-quality cherry tomatoes, this study evaluated how four cherry tomato cultivars can enhance yield and quality through optimized nutrient solution and supplementary lighting. Nutrient solutions (N1 and N2) were adjusted, with EC at 1.6 dS/m (N1: nitrogen 10.7 me/L, phosphorus 2.7 me/L, potassium 5.3 me/L) during flowering stage, and 2.4 dS/m (N1: nitrogen 16 me/L, phosphorus 4 me/L, potassium 8 me/L; N2: nitrogen 10.7 me/L, phosphorus 5.4 me/L, potassium 10.8 me/L) from fruit setting to harvest. N1 used standard adjustments, while N2 was optimized by adding solely with KCl and KH2PO4. Lighting treatments included L1 (natural light) and L2 (supplemental red/blue light). The application of N2 effectively decreased nitrate levels while it significantly enhanced the content of soluble sugars, flavor, and overall palatability, especially fruit coloring in cherry tomatoes, irrespective of supplementary lighting conditions. However, such optimization also increased sourness or altered the sugar–acid ratio. Supplementary lighting generally promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars, sweetness, and tomato flavor, although its effects varied markedly among different fruit clusters. The combination of optimized nutrient solutions and supplementary lighting exhibited synergistic effects, improving the content of soluble sugars, vitamin C, proteins, and flavor. N1 combined with L2 achieved the highest plant yield. Among the cultivars, ‘Linglong’ showed the greatest overall quality improvement, followed by ‘Baiyu’, ‘Miying’, and ‘Moka’. In conclusion, supplementary lighting can enhance the effect of nitrogen on yield and amplify the influence of phosphorus and potassium on fruit quality improvement in cherry tomatoes. The findings of this study may serve as a theoretical basis for the development of year-round production techniques for high-quality cherry tomatoes.

We conducted an analysis on the combined effects of two light conditions (L1: greenhouse natural lighting; L2: greenhouse natural lighting plus supplemental lighting (SL)) and three nutrient solution concentrations (EC, NS1: 3.2 dS/m; NS2: 3.7 dS/m; NS3: 4.2 dS/m) on the growth, fruit production, and quality of two cherry tomato cultivars with different fruit coloring (‘Baiyu’ and ‘Qianxi’). The plants subjected to NS2 exhibited enhanced growth, photosynthetic parameters, and fruit production. The utilization of SL further enhanced stem diameter, leaf number, and single fruit weight, resulting in higher fruit weight per plant in ‘Baiyu’, which was not observed in ‘Qianxi’. The growth, fruit size, and fruit weight of both cultivars cultivated under NS3 conditions were suppressed, while these fruits exhibited elevated levels of total soluble solids (TSS), soluble sugars, vitamin C, polyphenols, fructose, glucose, sucrose, citric acid, and carotenoids. These levels were further enhanced by SL treatment. The improvement of fruit quality through the application of SL was found to be cultivar and EC dependent. In ‘Baiyu’, SL at NS1 significantly enhanced the accumulation of fruit water, minerals (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), TSS, vitamin C, fructose, sucrose, and carotenoids. However, this effect was not observed in ‘Qianxi’. The combination of SL and EC 4.2 dS/m (NS3) generally contributes to the enhancement of fruit quality, while SL and EC 3.7 dS/m can ensure consistent fruit production. The yellowish-white fruit cultivar exhibited higher levels of soluble sugars, vitamin C, and polyphenols under L2NS3 conditions compared to the red fruit cultivar, whereas the carotenoid content showed an opposite trend. The findings are anticipated to establish a theoretical foundation for the consistent annual cultivation of cherry tomatoes in protected horticultural settings.

Glycoside hydrolases (GHs), enzymes that break down glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates and between carbohydrates and non-carbohydrates, are prevalent in plants, animals, microorganisms, and other organisms. The tomato is a significant crop that contains the GH17 gene family. However, its role in tomatoes has yet to be fully investigated. In this study, we identified 43 GH17 genes from the tomato genome, distributed unevenly across 12 chromosomes. We further analyzed their gene structure, phylogenetic relationships, promoter elements, and expression patterns. The promoter element analysis indicated their potential roles in response to biotic and abiotic stresses as well as phytohormone effects on growth and development. The expression studies across different tomato tissues revealed that 10 genes were specifically expressed in floral organs, with SlA6 prominently expressed early during bud formation. By using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, SlA6 knockout plants were generated. Phenotypic characterization showed that pollen viability, pollen tube germination, fruit weight, and seed number were significantly reduced in the Sla6 mutant, but the soluble solids content (TSS) was significantly higher in the Sla6 mutant, suggesting that SlA6 affects pollen development and fruit quality.

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a small pulp shrub, which prefers to grow on a soilless culture. For soilless culture, nutritional management remains typically vital for blueberry production. However, the effect of different nutritional treatments on blueberry growth and production is largely unknown. This study was designed to investigate to formulate a specific nutritional treatment for blueberry. The results showed that NH4 +-N: NO3 --N ratios significantly affected the growth, nutrient uptake, physiological characteristics, and flowering, as well as the fruiting characteristics of blueberry plants. The number of shoots and top projection area was increased considerably by 25:75 treatment. In contrast, 50:50 treatment promotes plant height, shoot length, and stem thickness, increasing chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic capacity, and P, Ca, and Mg in leaves. In contrast, 50:50 treatment promotes the flowering fruiting rate and prolongs the blueberry flowering period. The maximum soluble sugar contents were noted in 25:75, while maximum starch contents were reported in the 50:50 treatment. The treatments 100:0 and 75:25 promote early flowering and accelerate fruit set. Notably, NH4 +-N: NO3 --N ratios; 50:50 treatment significantly encourages plant growth, nutrient uptake, chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic capacity, and fruit setting rate in blueberry plants. These findings suggested that NH4 +-N: NO3 --N ratios 50:50 is the most appropriate treatment that significantly promotes vegetative growth and enhances production in blueberry plants. This study provides valuable information for improved blueberry production under a controlled environment.

Choy Sum, a stalk vegetable highly valued in East and Southeast Asia, is characterized by its rich flavor and nutritional profile. Metabolite accumulation is a key factor in Choy Sum stalk development; however, no research has focused on metabolic changes during the development of Choy Sum, especially in shoot tip metabolites, and their effects on growth and flowering. Therefore, in the present study, we used a widely targeted metabolomic approach to analyze metabolites in Choy Sum stalks at the seedling (S1), bolting (S3), and flowering (S5) stages. In total, we identified 493 metabolites in 31 chemical categories across all three developmental stages. We found that the levels of most carbohydrates and amino acids increased during stalk development and peaked at S5. Moreover, the accumulation of amino acids and their metabolites was closely related to G6P, whereas the expression of flowering genes was closely related to the content of T6P, which may promote flowering by upregulating the expressions of BcSOC1, BcAP1, and BcSPL5. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of the relationship between the accumulation of stem tip substances during development and flowering and of the regulatory mechanisms of stalk development in Choy Sum and other related species.

Far-red light exerts an important regulatory influence on plant growth and development. However, the mechanisms underlying far-red light regulation of morphogenesis and photosynthetic characteristics in blueberry plantlets in vitro have remained elusive. Here, physiological and transcriptomic analyses were conducted on blueberry plantlets in vitro supplemented with far-red light. The results indicated that supplementation with low far-red light, such as 6 μmol m−2 s−1 and 14 μmol m−2 s−1 far-red (6FR and 14FR) light treatments, significantly increased proliferation-related indicators, including shoot length, shoot number, gibberellin A3, and trans-zeatin riboside content. It was found that 6FR and 14 FR significantly reduced chlorophyll content in blueberry plantlets but enhanced electron transport rates. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) showed the enrichment of iron ion-related genes in modules associated with photosynthesis. Genes such as NAC, ABCG11, GASA1, and Erf74 were significantly enriched within the proliferation-related module. Taken together, we conclude that low far-red light can promote the proliferative capacity of blueberry plantlets in vitro by affecting hormone pathways and the formation of secondary cell walls, concurrently regulating chlorophyll content and iron ion homeostasis to affect photosynthetic capacity.

In flowering Chinese cabbage, early booting is one of the most important characteristics that is linked with quality and production. Through fixed light intensity (280 μmol·m−2·s−1) and fixed intermittent lighting in flowering Chinese cabbage, there was early bolting, bud emergence, and flowering. Moreover, the aboveground fresh weight, blade area, dry weight of blade, and quantification of the leaves in flowering Chinese cabbage were significantly reduced, while the thickness of tillers, tillers height, dry weight of tillers, and tillers weight were significantly increased. The chlorophyll contents and soil–plant analysis and development (SPAD) value decreased in the early stage and increased in the later stage. The nitrate content decreased, while the photosynthetic rate, vitamin C content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, phenolic content, and flavonoid content increased, and mineral elements also accumulated. In order to explore the mechanism of intermittent light promoting the early bolting and flowering of ‘49d’ flowering Chinese cabbage, this study analyzed the transcriptional regulation from a global perspective using RNA sequencing. A total of 17,086 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained and 396 DEGs were selected that were closely related to early bolting. These DEGs were mainly involved in pollen wall assembly and plant circadian rhythm pathways, light action (34 DEGs), hormone biosynthesis and regulation (26 DEGs), development (21 DEGs), and carbohydrate synthesis and transport (6 DEGs). Three hub genes with the highest connectivity were identified through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA): BrRVE, BrLHY, and BrRVE1. It is speculated that they may be involved in the intermittent light regulation of early bolting in flowering Chinese cabbage. In conclusion, intermittent light can be used as a useful tool to regulate plant growth structure, increase planting density, enhance photosynthesis, increase mineral accumulation, accelerate growth, and shorten the breeding cycle.