Soil alkalization is a major abiotic factor that has a detrimental impact on soil health and crop productivity. To restore and enhance the use of alkaline soils, it is critical to search for alkaline-tolerant plant species with economic value. In this study, we investigated the potential of Rumex japonicus Houtt. as a commercial medicinal crop in alkaline soil. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to compare the morphological traits of R. japonicus planted in alkaline and neutral soils. Specifically, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the content of four main medicinal ingredients, while polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was utilized to assess the soil microbial community diversity. Additionally, we analyzed the variations in soil physiochemical properties at different plant growth stages. Results showed that R. japonicus maintained robust morphological development under alkaline conditions, with no significant reduction in overall biomass compared to neutral soil. Furthermore, natural alkaline soil conditions significantly induced the accumulation of targeted secondary metabolites, increasing physcion content by 58.21% (S7 stage). The cultivation of R. japonicus improved soil fertility, enhanced soil enzyme activity, and induced distinct shifts in dominant soil microbial community profiles. These results indicate that R. japonicus has the potential to be grown as a commercial crop in alkaline soil. This study findings provide theoretical support for the selection of plant species for future utilization and restoration of alkaline soil.

Climate-driven wildfires are intensifying threats to boreal permafrost soils risking their ecological integrity and long-term carbon storage. Restoring post-fire microbial resilience and biogeochemical restoration is therefore critical for global conservation and climate mitigation. We evaluate the long-term effects of contrasting restoration pathways on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial community composition 37 years after a wildfire in boreal forests of northeast China. Using a randomized complete block design, we compared three active restoration strategies: secondary successional forest (SSF), plantation forest (PF), and agroforestry (AF), against an unburned natural forest (UNF) reference benchmark. Analyses of 72 soil samples included key nutrients, enzyme activities, and metagenomic sequencing. Results showed that AF and SSF maintained soil organic carbon (SOC; 33.3 +/- 4.53 and 29.02 +/- 4.86 g kg-1, respectively), while PF exhibited substantially lower values (SOC: 18.8 +/- 1.26 g kg-1), representing reductions of 43.5% in SOC relative to AF. Acid phosphatase activity, a key indicator of phosphorus cycling, was significantly higher in AF and SSF than in PF. Agroforestry supported the highest bacterial Shannon diversity, while the unburned natural forest (UNF) maintained the highest fungal diversity. Microbial community composition shifted markedly: PF was dominated by Proteobacteria, with Acidobacteria depleted, whereas AF was dominated by Actinobacteriota. We conclude that by enhancing organic matter inputs, microbial diversity, and enzyme-mediated nutrient cycling, AF and SSF outperform PF in restoring soil ecological processes, thereby accelerating long-term ecosystem restoration in permafrost regions.

Establishing plantations is a promising approach for enhancing ecosystem carbon (C) sink capacity, yet the variations in soil carbon and nitrogen (N) cycling during plantation succession, as well as the potential mechanisms driving these processes, remain poorly understood. Herein, the dynamics of soil microbial stability and function following a plantation succession chronosequence in northeastern China were investigated using metagenomics and microbial network analysis. Plantation succession significantly increased the α-diversity of tree species, soil organic C and total N content, and the α-diversity of soil microbial community. Network analysis showed that soil microbial network stability initially declined and subsequently increased during the succession process. The relative abundance of most genes involved in most C and N cycling processes significantly increased with plantation succession, indicating that succession promotes soil C and N cycling. Moreover, our results demonstrated that tree species composition, rather than diversity, was the primary biotic factor explaining the variations in C and N cycling genes during succession. Soil microbial network stability mediates the transmission of changes in soil abiotic factors to N cycling, thereby influencing soil C cycling, highlighting the close connection between ecosystem stability and function. These findings deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying C and N cycling in plantation ecosystems, particularly regarding aboveground and belowground interactions, and provide insights into optimizing plantation management practices.

The auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (AUX/IAA) proteins are key repressors in the auxin signaling pathway, playing crucial roles in growth, development, and stress adaptation in trees. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of the AUX/IAA gene family in Populus wilsonii, revealing 35 members designated as PwiAUX/IAAs. All encoded proteins contain the typical conserved domains (I–IV), with lengths ranging from 145 to 368 amino acids, and are predicted to localize to the nucleus. Phylogenetic analysis classified these members into two major subgroups (A and B), showing a conserved clustering relationship with their counterparts in Arabidopsis. Chromosomal mapping indicated that the 35 genes are unevenly distributed across 11 chromosomes, with chromosomes 2 and 6 harboring the highest number (5 genes each). Tandem and segmental duplications were identified as key drivers of family expansion. Promoter analysis revealed that all members possess diverse cis-acting elements associated with hormone responses and abiotic stress. Expression profiling demonstrated distinct tissue- and developmental stage-specific expression patterns. For instance, PwiAUX/IAA4, PwiAUX/IAA13, and PwiAUX/IAA14 showed phloem-specific high expression, PwiAUX/IAA27 was prominently expressed in leaves, while the progressively increasing expression of PwiAUX/IAA35 with stem aging suggests its potential involvement in secondary growth, providing a candidate gene for future functional investigation. This study provides the first systematic analysis of the AUX/IAA gene family in P. wilsonii, offering valuable insights into its auxin signaling regulatory network and providing candidate gene resources for future molecular breeding applications in forest trees.

BACKGROUND:Transgenerational phenotypic plasticity (TGP) allows environmental effects to persist across generations, yet the extent of diet-induced TGP remains incompletely resolved. Prey availability is a key determinant of predator performance in both mass-rearing and field environments, potentially influencing the reliability of pest suppression. Here, we examined how ancestral dietary restriction affects life-history traits in the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis, a widely used biological control agent of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae. RESULTS:Founding (F0) and first-generation (F1) individuals were reared under low- or high-prey diets, followed by three generations (F2-F4) under abundant prey to simulate recovery. In F4, individuals from high-prey ancestral lineages exhibited higher survival and larger body size, although size effects were restricted to females. In a second experiment, F5 offspring from crosses manipulating maternal and paternal ancestral diet histories and paternal mating history showed that maternal diet consistently influenced egg size, female developmental duration, and size at maturity. Paternal effects were context-dependent, interacting with maternal lineage and mating history to affect offspring traits. CONCLUSION:Poor ancestral diet can exert persistent, sex-specific effects on predator performance even after multiple generations of favorable conditions, with maternal influences generally stronger than paternal effects. These findings highlight the complexity of TGP and the importance of considering multigenerational dietary legacies in mass-rearing and field deployment of predatory mites. Optimizing diet during rearing and accounting for ancestral nutritional history may enhance the consistency and effectiveness of biological control programs. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Afforestation enhances soil carbon storage through plant and microbial necromass accumulation, yet the roles of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and the microorganisms that encode them (biomass-decomposers) during plantation development remain poorly understood. Here, we integrated shotgun metagenomics with network analysis to decipher the successional dynamics of CAZyme-encoding genes, biomass-decomposers, and their functional linkages across a chronosequence of plantation development in northeastern China. Plantation development increased the abundance of CAZymes involved in lignin, chitin, and glucan degradation. Network analysis of biomass-decomposers revealed that the dominant function of key module M1 gradually shifted from peptidoglycan to lignin degradation through network reorganization during development. Across all developmental stages, the key modules whose dominant functions were peptidoglycan and hemicellulose degradation consistently harbored keystone species. In the overlap-network, these two functions served as dominant functions in more than one key module, confirming their essential role in maintaining fundamental community functions. Stochastic processes predominantly governed the assembly of biomass-decomposers, with increasing influence during development (R-2 > 0.6). Variation in both biomass-degrading CAZymes and decomposers showed the strongest association with soil organic carbon, with CAZymes further structured by pH and nitrate nitrogen, whereas biomass-decomposers responded to moisture and total nitrogen. Overall, these findings provide new insights into belowground C cycling during plantation development, potentially guiding improved ecosystem management practices for forest restoration.

IntroductionThe examination of plant adaptive responses to their native habitats amid global climate change is a critical research focus. Alpine tundra ecosystems, with extreme conditions (e.g., low temperatures and nutrient scarcity), present unique challenges to plant survival. This study aimed to explore how plants adapt to the alpine tundra environment, comparing native species and an encroaching species.MethodsWe analyzed 10 native alpine tundra plant species and one encroaching species (Deyeuxia angustifolia) in the Changbai Mountain region. Our approach combined three methods: Morphological characteristic analysis to assess structural adaptations; CSR strategy evaluation (competitive, stress-tolerator, ruderal strategies) to characterize ecological strategies; Comparative transcriptome analysis to reveal molecular mechanisms of adaptation.ResultsNative dwarf shrubs and herbs: activated defense responses, immune responses, and ubiquitous proteins to cope with thermal and oxidative stress. Evolved distinct pathways to adapt to nitrogen deficiency, cold stimuli, and water scarcity. Key proteins (MYC2, ChiB, PI-PLC, Hsp70, POD) drove stress-tolerator (S-related) strategies. Encroaching species (D. angustifolia): efficient adaptation to nitrogen deficiency, tolerance to water deficits, and insensitivity to cold stimuli likely fueled its proliferation in alpine tundra. Transcriptomic insights: traditional stressors (nitrogen deficiency, water deficit, cold) exerted lower transcriptional regulatory pressure on plants than other stressors. Gene expression patterns linked to resource acquisition traits may influence D. angustifolia’s ecological niche expansion in the tundra.DiscussionThis study emphasizes the convergence of plant adaptive adjustments in alpine tundra ecosystems. By integrating morphological, ecological, and molecular data, our findings provide new foundational insights into plant responses to harsh environments—critical for predicting community dynamics under climate change in alpine systems.

Proprioseiopsis asetus and Amblyseius swirskii (Phytoseiidae) are effective predatory mites in biological control programs. To assess the safety of the commonly used insecticide imidacloprid for these two species o f predatory mites and support the synergistic integration of chemical and biological control strategies, we assessed the toxicity of imidacloprid on different developmental stages (eggs, nymphs, and adult females) of P. asetus and A. swirskii and on the target aphid pest Aphis craccivora, using the foliar spray, slide-dip, and leaf residual toxicity methods. The results showed that, at recommended field concentrations, imidacloprid generally induced corrected mortality rates of 0%-7.27% in both adult females and nymphs of P. asetus and A. swirskii in the spray bioassay, indicating low to negligible toxicity to these predatory mites. The leaf residua l toxicity test revealed no significant effects of imidacloprid on egg hatching compared to controls, with hatchin g rates remaining at 100% for both species, confirming its non-toxicity to predatory mite eggs at tested concentrations. The slide-dip method revealed LC50 values of 3072.06 mgL-1 and 2004.81 mgL-1 for adult females of P. asetus and A. swirskii, respectively. These values were substantially higher than the recommende d field concentrations. The selective toxicity ratio (STR) of imidacloprid was 11.83 for P. asetus and 7.72 for A. swirskii, relative to A. craccivora, indicating a moderate positive selectivity toward P. asetus and positive selectivity toward A. swirskii. These results demonstrate a higher selectivity for P. asetus than A. swirskii. Fo r safety evaluation, safety coefficient analysis showed values of 10.97-21.94 for P. asetus and 7.16-14.32 for A. swirskii adult females, with both values exceeding 5, suggesting that imidacloprid is highly safe for both predatory mites. Overall, the findings confirm that imidacloprid can be safely combined with P. asetus or A. swirskii in IPM systems, enabling simultaneous management of aphids and thrips populations.

Alpine tundra’s harsh conditions challenge plants, but Rhododendron’s adaptive mechanisms remain unclear. This study explored phenotypic/transcriptomic adaptations of three Rhododendron species (R. aureum, R. lapponicum, R. redowskianum) in Changbai Mountains’ tundra vs. timberline. Mature leaves were sampled for leaf length and leaf width measurement and RNA-seq. Results showed leaf width (not leaf length uniformly) reduced in tundra across all species. RNA-seq identified 2399–5716 DEGs per species; plant dwarfism DEGs (e.g., DELLA, EDS1) were up-regulated. Shared DEGs were enriched in carbon/nitrogen metabolism and stress response; IPUT1 (DUH022406.1) and PGT1 (DUH001929.1) were consistently down-regulated (linked to dwarfism). Species-specific responses included R. aureum’s light adaptation, R. lapponicum’s freezing/hypoxia response, and R. redowskianum’s sugar/UV/microbial regulation. Rhododendron adapts to tundra via leaf width adjustment, metabolic optimization, and IPUT1/PGT1-mediated dwarfism, with conserved core mechanisms and species specialization, supporting climate change response predictions and conservation.

In the context of climate change, Rhododendron species are pivotal in sustaining the stability of alpine ecosystems. Within alpine tundra (elevation > 2200 m) and timberline (elevation ~ 2000 m) regions of Changbai Mountain, the three studied Rhododendron species (Rhododendron aureum, Rhododendron lapponicum, and Rhododendron redowskianum) are prevalent; their mechanisms of adaptation to high-altitude environments remain insufficiently understood. This study employed an integrative approach, combining soil chemical analysis, physiological assessments, and molecular evolutionary analysis, to investigate phenotypic plasticity and genetic adaptation of these Rhododendron species. Both habitats demonstrated oligotrophic characteristics, with no significant differences (p > 0.05) observed in the concentrations of soil total organic carbon (TOC), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N), and available phosphorus (AP). Nonetheless, soil nutrient variability was more marked in timberline. Physiological traits, including malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble sugar, proline, and soluble protein, exhibited species-specific patterns; for example, R. redowskianum displayed elevated proline content in the timberline habitat, although no consistent inter-habitat trends were identified. From a total of 1995 orthogroups analysed, we identified 279 positively selected genes (PSGs, dN/dS > 1). These genes were found to be enriched in GO terms associated with DNA replication, amino acid transport, and pathway of nucleocytoplasmic transport. The study highlights tissue development and reproduction as primary evolutionary trajectories, while identifying cold stress as a significant environmental selection pressure. This research elucidates Rhododendron’s alpine adaptability and provides insights into alpine plant adaptation mechanisms and species conservation under climate change.

In this paper, the hyperbolic Anderson equation generated by a time-dependent Gaussian noise is under investigation in two fronts: The solvability and large-$t$ asymptotics. The investigation leads to a necessary and sufficient condition for existence and a precise large-$t$ limit form for the expectation of the solution. Three major developments are made for achieving these goals: A universal bound for Stratonovich moment that guarantees the Stratonovich integrability and ${\cal L}^2$-convergence of the Stratonovich chaos expansion under the best possible condition, a representation of the expected Stratonovich moments in terms of a time-randomized Brownian intersection local time, and a large deviation principle for the time-randomized Brownian intersection local time.

Differences in habitats of medicinal plants can directly influence their quality and effectiveness. For the sustainable development of cultivated medicinal plants, the changes in genetic structure and secondary metabolism caused by habitat changes is an issue that can not be ignored. The wild and cultivated populations of Polygonatum odoratum, Dioscorea nipponica, and Acanthopanax sessiliflorus were selected as the research objects. And the genetic structure and HPLC fingerprint between wild and cultivated populations were compared and analyzed. The wild and cultivated populations of the three medicinal plants still maintained higher genetic diversity and genetic stability, and there was a great genetic differentiation for P. odoratum and D. nipponica populations. Furthermore, Spearman analysis shows that environmental factors significantly influence the secondary metabolism of medicinal plants, Moreover, the wild populations of these plants exhibit a greater complexity in their secondary metabolites when habitat changed. Taken together, Significant differences were generated in the content and composition of secondary metabolites between cultivated and wild populations of the same species, despite their maintaining genetic stability and higher genetic diversity. It also indicated that no obvious consistency oscillation caused by habitat changes was found in the genetic structure and secondary metabolism of medicinal plants.

The manufacturing process is crucial for ensuring the safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) preparations. Using advanced technologies, innovative methods, and new equipment tailored for TCM to enhance the quality control of TCM preparations in the manufacturing process helps to ensure the product quality and foster high-quality development of the TCM industry. Upon current technical requirements, such as Guideline for Studies on Pharmaceutical Changes in Marketed Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations(Trial) and Guideline for Study on Quality Control in Manufacturing Process of Oral Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations(Trial), this paper analyzes the characteristics and current development of quality control in the manufacturing process of TCM preparations. It also discusses the significant roles that quality control in manufacturing process plays in ensuring the quality consistency and in the evaluation and decision-making of changes in marketed TCM preparations. Furthermore, to benefit the high-quality development of the TCM industry, this paper offers recommendations for improving quality control of TCM preparations in the manufacturing process and implementing new technologies and methods.

Amino acid transporters (AATs) allow the transport of amino acids and play important roles in the various physiological processes and environmental responses of plants. The lysine and histidine transporter (LHT) subfamily is an important type of AAT. However, a genome-wide overview of the LHT gene family has not been conducted in L. macranthoides Hand.-mazz. In this study, 11 LHT genes were identified in the Lonicera macranthoides genome. To further understand the functions of LmLHT genes, the gene and protein characteristics, transmembrane helices, evolutionary relationships, chromosomal distribution, cis-acting elements of promoters, and expression patterns were systematically analyzed. According to the results, LmLHT genes were divided into two groups based on the phylogenetic analysis. Transmembrane helices of LmLHT proteins ranged from seven to 16. Gene structure and conserved motif analysis revealed that exon-intron structures and motifs were relatively conserved in the LmLHT family. LmLHT genes were distributed on six of the nine chromosomes and had the most collinear gene pairs with NtLHT genes. Additionally, phytohormones, low-temperature, drought-inducibility, defense and stress related cis-acting elements were enriched in the promoters of LmLHT genes. LmLHT genes showed distinct or preferential expression patterns in various tissues, signifying their potential roles in plant growth and development. We also found that some LmLHT genes were responsive to cold and drought stresses, indicating their roles in abiotic stress adaptation. Overall, our results provided comprehensive insight into the LmLHT gene family and will be useful for future functional analyses.

Objective This study aimed to explore the risk factors for preeclampsia and analyze the clinical significance of serum NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) levels in preeclampsia patients, with attention to their association with disease severity.Methods This prospective observational study recruited 113 preeclampsia patients and 100 healthy pregnant women from July 2021 to July 2024. Serum NLRP3 and inflammatory marker levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, demographic and clinical data for all participants were collected, and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for preeclampsia.Results Our results showed that serum NLRP3 levels were significantly higher in preeclampsia patients compared to healthy controls, with NLRP3 levels further elevated in patients with severe preeclampsia. Serum NLRP3 levels were positively correlated with serum interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1β levels, and were also positively correlated with BMI. ROC analysis demonstrated that serum NLRP3 had diagnostic value for preeclampsia (AUC = 0.843, sensitivity 75.2%, specificity 76.0%) and for distinguishing severe preeclampsia (AUC = 0.795, sensitivity 83.0%, specificity 63.6%). Furthermore, elevated NLRP3 levels were identified as an independent risk factor for preeclampsia.Conclusion This study indicated that serum NLRP3 was associated with preeclampsia and its severity. In addition, elevated NLRP3 levels were identified as an independent risk factor for preeclampsia.

In 2022, an outbreak of fungal rot disease affected luffa crops in Shanghai and Zhejiang Province. Infected plants exhibited symptoms including yellowing, chlorosis, wilting, and water-soaked occurred on leaves and fruits. Dark brown, concave lesions developed, often accompanied by white or pale pink mold under moist conditions. Fourteen pathogen strains, morphologically resembling Fusarium species, were isolated. Molecular analysis confirmed Fusarium incarnatum as the causative agent. Pathogenicity tests on luffa plants fulfilled Koch’s postulates, with inoculated plants displaying the same symptoms. Re-isolation of the fungus from the inoculated plants confirmed its role in the disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. incarnatum causing leaf spot and fruit rot on luffa in China. Moreover, the soil bacterial strain Bacillus velezensis BV171 displayed strong inhibition of F. incarnatum mycelia growth and promoted the growth of sponge gourd plants. These findings lay the foundation for the development of diagnostic tools, disease management strategies, and the breeding of resistant luffa varieties.

Proprioseiopsis asetus (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a newly developed and commercialized predatory mite that can prey on various phytophagous mites and small insects. To evaluate its potential as a biocontrol agent against pest thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), we constructed age-stage, two-sex life tables and investigated the biological characteristics of P. asetus fed on two economically important thrip species, Megalurothrips usitatus and Thrips flavus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), both of which cause significant crop damage. Our results show that P. asetus successfully develops and reproduces when fed on both thrips species, indicating its biocontrol potential against these pests. However, P. asetus reared on T. flavus exhibits shorter preadult duration, mean generation time (T), and population doubling time (DT), along with obviously reduced longevity, compared to P. asetus reared on M. usitatus. Despite the shorter lifespan, P. asetus fed on T. flavus shows significantly higher fecundity (F = 36.35 eggs/female), intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.1816 d−1) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.1991 d−1) than on M. usitatus (F = 30.75 eggs/female, r = 0.1375 d−1 and λ = 1.1474 d−1). Notably, no significant differences were observed in net reproductive rate (R0), adult preoviposition period (APOP), total oviposition period (TPOP), or oviposition duration between the two prey species. These findings indicate that P. asetus is a promising biological control agent for both thrip species, with T. flavus being a more suitable prey to support its rapid development, high fecundity and faster population growth, despite the trade-off in adult longevity. Based on these results, we propose tailored biocontrol strategies: frequent releases of P. asetus for T. flavus management to compensate for its shorter lifespan, and early release for M. usitatus to establish a population before the pest reaches damaging levels, aiming for more efficient and sustainable pest management in crop production systems.

Malignant tumors pose a serious threat to human health with their high incidence and mortality rates. Although chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin (DOX) exhibit significant antitumor efficacy, their non-specific distribution leads to toxic side effects and mono-chemotherapy fails to achieve complete tumor eradication, significantly limiting clinical applications. This study presents the development and evaluation of a multifunctional nanoplatform, Fe3O4@Ce6-DOX@liposome, which integrates magnetic targeting, chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for enhanced tumor treatment. The nanoparticles (NPs) were engineered to co-deliver the chemotherapeutic drug DOX and the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6), while superparamagnetic Fe3O4 enabled external magnetic guidance. In vitro studies in MCF-7 cells demonstrated the system's light-activated cytotoxicity, with confocal microscopy revealing precise spatiotemporal control over drug release and ROS generation. In vivo evaluation in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice showed that magnetic navigation significantly enhanced tumor accumulation of NPs, leading to 73% tumor growth inhibition through synergistic chemo-PDT effects. The combination of magnetic targeting and dual therapeutic modalities resulted in superior antitumor efficacy compared to individual treatments, with minimal systemic toxicity. These findings highlight the potential of this multifunctional nanoplatform as a precise and effective strategy for solid tumor therapy, offering improved targeting and reduced off-target effects compared to conventional treatments.

The balance between mating benefits and costs shapes reproductive strategies and life history traits across animal species. For biological control programs, understanding how mating rates influence life history traits is essential for optimising population management and enhancing predator efficacy. This study investigates the impact of mating opportunity availability, delayed mating, and male mating history (copulation frequency) on the lifespan (both sexes), female reproductive traits (duration of oviposition and of pre- and post-oviposition periods, and lifetime oviposition), and offspring quality (egg size and offspring survival) of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae), an important biological control agent against spider mites. We examined three mating treatments—no mating, limited mating opportunity (24-h access), and continuous lifetime access—to assess their effects on lifespan (both sexes), female reproductive traits, and offspring quality. Further analyses examined the impact of delayed mating and male copulation history on female reproductive success and offspring traits. Our results showed a sexually differentiated response to repeated mating: females with continuous access to mates had similar lifespans in comparison with those mated for only 24 h, while males with continuous mating access exhibited significantly shorter lifespans. Both unlimited mating and delayed mating prolonged the female pre-oviposition period. However, neither varied mating opportunities, delayed mating, nor male copulation had any significant effect on other female reproductive traits or offspring quality. This suggests that repeated mating provides no reproductive advantage and imposes no observable costs on P. persimilis females.

Plants adapt to cold stress through a tightly regulated process involving metabolic reprogramming and tissue remodeling to enhance tolerance within a short timeframe. However, the precise differences and interconnections among various organs during cold adaptation remain poorly understood. This study employed dynamic transcriptomic and metabolite quantitative analyses to investigate cold adaptation and subsequent de-adaptation in Artemisia annua, a species known for its robust resistance to abiotic stress. Our findings revealed distinct expression patterns in most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding transcription factors and components of the calcium signal transduction pathway within the two organs under cold stress. Notably, the long-distance transport of carbon sources from source organs (leaves) to sink organs (roots) experienced disruption followed by resumption, while nitrogen transport from roots to leaves, primarily in the form of amino acids, exhibited acceleration. These contrasting transport patterns likely contribute to the observed differences in cold response between the two organs. The transcriptomic analysis further indicated that leaves exhibited increased respiration, accumulated anti-stress compounds, and initiated the ICE-CBF-COR signaling pathway earlier than roots. Differential expression of genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis suggests that leaves may undergo cell wall thickening while roots may experience thinning. Moreover, a marked difference was observed in phenylalanine metabolism between the two organs, with leaves favoring lignin production and roots favoring flavonoid synthesis. Additionally, our findings suggest that the circadian rhythm is crucial in integrating temperature fluctuations with the plant’s internal rhythms during cold stress and subsequent recovery. Collectively, these results shed light on the coordinated response of different plant organs during cold adaptation, highlighting the importance of inter-organ communication for successful stress tolerance.