Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Background Root rot is a major disease affecting alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), causing significant yield losses and economic damage. The primary pathogens include Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Pythium spp., and Phytophthora spp., with Fusarium being particularly severe. Breeding disease-resistant varieties is crucial for mitigating these losses. Results Under conditions of inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum, we conducted a statistical analysis of six phenotypic traits in alfalfa. Significant phenotypic variation was observed among different alfalfa varieties. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships among traits such as relative yield, relative plant height (PH), and relative root number (NR), indicating potential synergistic roles of these traits in disease resistance. Through GWAS analysis, we identified 41 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with root rot resistance across eight chromosomes. The transcriptome analysis identified multiple differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with root rot stress, including transcription factors such as WRKY, NAC, AP2, GRAS, HLH, B3, MYB, and ARF. By integrating GWAS and transcriptome data, we identified four key DEGs significantly associated with root rot resistance, offering valuable insights for developing disease-resistant alfalfa varieties and enhancing overall crop resilience. Conclusion Our study identified significant phenotypic variation and key correlations among traits under root rot stress in alfalfa. We pinpointed 41 significant SNPs associated with root rot resistance across eight chromosomes and identified several key DEGs, including WRKY, NAC, and MYB transcription factors. The integration of GWAS and RNA-Seq data identified four key DEGs associated with root rot resistance, providing valuable insights for breeding disease-resistant alfalfa varieties and enhancing crop resilience.

BACKGROUND The invasion of Spodoptera frugiperda into China has caused serious losses to the food industry and has developed varying degrees of resistance to various chemical pesticides. Developing new plant‐based pesticides is of great significance for the sustainable management of S. frugiperda. RESULTS p‐Methyl benzaldehyde, 2‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxybenzaldehyde and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzaldehyde elicited strong electroantennogram (EAG) reactions from S. frugiperda adults. In particular, 14.4 mg/mL p‐methyl benzaldehyde produced the strongest EAG reaction. At this concentration, olfactory selection results showed significant repellent activity against adults, while 0.09 mg/mL had significant attractant activity against males. 2‐Hydroxy‐5‐methoxybenzaldehyde had significant attractive effects at 2.40, 7.20, 14.40 mg/mL. However, 0.80 and 14.4 mg/mL showed significant repellent effects on oviposition selection after treatment with p‐methyl benzaldehyde, while 0.09 mg/mL showed significant attractant activity, with an oviposition index of 0.48 ± 0.12. Three treatments of 2‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxybenzaldehyde showed significant repellent activity against the oviposition selection. In addition, exposure to these two substances could significantly inhibit the number of spermatophores and eggs laid by a single female. CONCLUSION p‐Methyl benzaldehyde and 2‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxybenzaldehyde in the secondary metabolites of the Chinese medicinal herb Periplocae cortex have obvious regulatory effects on the olfactory behavior and oviposition selection of Spodoptera frugiperda and significantly inhibit fertility. This result is helpful to understand the relationship between non‐host plant secondary metabolites and insects, lay the foundation for new active substances as insect behavior regulators. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

BACKGROUND The jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) pathways are often thought to interact antagonistically in plants when mediating anti‐herbivore resistance. However, we previously found that the two pathways in tea plant interact synergistically when treated with 1.5 mmol/L methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and 20 mmol/L SA at 12 h intervals (MeJA+SA treatment). Here, we investigated how and why JA‐SA synergism in tea plants affected chemotaxis of Parapanteles hyposidrae (Wilkinson) wasps, the parasite of tea geometers. RESULTS Wasp attractiveness of MeJA+SA‐treated plants was 1.3‐fold higher than MeJA‐treated plants, although SA‐treated plants could not attract more wasps. Five attractive compounds, including (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, linalool, (E)‐4,8‐dimethyl‐1,3,7‐nonatriene (DMNT), indole and (E,E)‐α‐farnesene, were emitted more by MeJA+SA‐treated than MeJA‐treated plants. Based on the difference in volatiles induced by MeJA and MeJA+SA treatments, five attractive components were separately added to artificial MeJA‐induced volatiles (MV) or taken out from artificial MeJA+SA‐induced volatiles (MSV). The attractiveness of MV to wasps was enhanced when DMNT or indole was added, whereas the attractiveness of MSV decreased when DMNT, indole or linalool was taken out. When DMNT and indole were both added into MV, the attractiveness of volatile blend to wasps became similar to MSV. CONCLUSION Increased DMNT and indole emissions are the key cues causing volatiles mediated by JA‐SA synergism to be more attractive to P. hyposidrae wasps than those mediated by JA pathway alone. This provides new insights into the phytohormone pathway networks in tea plants and the development of natural enemy attractants. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background Ginkgo biloba L., an iconic living fossil, challenges traditional views of evolutionary stasis. While nuclear genomic studies have revealed population structure across China, the evolutionary patterns reflected in maternally inherited plastomes remain unclear, particularly in the Sichuan Basin - a potential glacial refugium that may have played a crucial role in Ginkgo’s persistence. Results Analysis of 227 complete plastomes, including 81 newly sampled individuals from the Sichuan Basin, revealed three distinct maternal lineages differing from known nuclear genome patterns. We identified 170 sequence variants and extensive RNA editing (235 sites) with a bias toward hydrophobic amino acid conversions, suggesting active molecular evolution. A previously undocumented haplotype (IIA2), predominant in western Sichuan Basin populations, showed close genetic affinity with rare refugial haplotypes. Western populations exhibited higher haplotypic diversity and distinctive genetic structure, supporting the basin’s role as both glacial refugium and corridor for population expansion. Ancient trees (314–784 years) provided evidence for interaction between natural processes and historical human dispersal in shaping current genetic patterns. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate substantial genetic diversity within Sichuan Basin Ginkgo populations and reveal dynamic molecular evolution through plastome variation and RNA editing patterns, challenging the notion of evolutionary stasis in this living fossil. This study provides crucial genomic resources for understanding Ginkgo’s evolution and informs conservation strategies for this endangered species.

Lignin, as the abundant carbon polymer, is essential for carbon cycle and biorefinery. Microorganisms interact to form communities for lignin biodegradation, yet it is a challenge to understand such complex interactions. Here, we develop a coastal lignin-degrading bacterial consortium (LD), through “top-down” enrichment. Sequencing and physiological analyses reveal that LD is dominated by the lignin degrader Pluralibacter gergoviae (>98%), with additional rare non-degraders. Interestingly, LD, cultured in lignin-MB medium, significantly enhances cell growth and lignin degradation as compared to P. gergoviae alone, implying a role of additional outliers. Using genome-scale metabolic models, metabolic profiling and culture experiments, modeling of inter-species interactions between P. gergoviae, Vibrio alginolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila and Shewanella putrefaciens, unravels cross-feeding of amino acids, organic acids and alcohols between the degrader and non-degraders. Furthermore, the sub-population ratio is essential to enforce the synergy. Our study highlights the unrecognized role of outliers in lignin degradation.

Deapioplatycodin D (DPD) is a triterpenoid saponin natural compound isolated from the Chinese herb Platycodon grandiflorum that has antiviral and antitumor properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DPD on glioblastoma (GBM) cells and to determine its intrinsic mechanism of action. Using a CCK8 assay, it was found that DPD significantly inhibited the growth of GBM cells. DPD-treated GBM cells contained swollen and degenerated mitochondria with empty vesicular bilayer membrane-like autophagic vesicle structures in the periphery of the mitochondria under transmission electron microscopy. DPD activated autophagy in GBM cells and induced a blockage of autophagic flux in the late stage. Transcriptomics identified differences in mitophagy-related genes, and analysis of the levels of the corresponding proteins indicated that mitophagy in GBM cells was induced mainly through BNIP3L. Increased expression of BNIP3L disrupts the Bcl-2-Beclin-1 complex, thereby releasing Beclin-1 and activating autophagy. Autophagy was inhibited after silencing of BNIP3L and overexpression of Bcl-2 in GBM cells, and the growth inhibitory effect of DPD was significantly reduced. This result demonstrated that DPD induces mitophagy in GBM cells through BNIP3L. Finally, activation of incomplete mitophagy in GBM cells by DPD through BNIP3L in vivo was demonstrated by establishing a mouse subcutaneous xenograft tumor model. In this study, in vitro and in vivo experiments established that DPD inhibited GBM cell growth by inducing BNIP3L-mediated incomplete mitophagy, which provides an experimental basis for studying new treatments of GBM. Graphical Abstract

Calcium-fortified soy protein emulsions stabilized by sodium tripolyphosphate are of considerable importance for the development of calcium-fortified soymilk products. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and stabilities of calcium-fortified soy protein emulsions stabilized by sodium tripolyphosphate. When the concentration of sodium tripolyphosphate ranged from 0 to 0.6%, the emulsion potential and emulsification activity index gradually increased to 35.5 mV and 71.7 ± 0.8%, while the particle size and flocculation index progressively decreased to 756.2 ± 41.3 nm and 16.21%, respectively. However, when the concentration exceeded 0.6%, these characterization data plateaued. Microstructural analysis revealed a uniform distribution of droplets. Raman spectroscopy showed an increase in the ordered structure of proteins in the emulsion. Additionally, the centrifugal, thermal, and storage stabilities of the emulsion were enhanced. These findings offer insights into the properties of calcium-fortified soy protein emulsions stabilized by sodium tripolyphosphate and may contribute to expanding their utilization in emulsions and soy products.

Probiotics as green inputs have been reported to regulate metabolism and immunity of fish. However, the mechanisms by which probiotics improve growth and health of fish are unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1, an indigenous probiotic isolated from fish, on growth performance, host lipid metabolism, liver inflammation and gut microbiota of golden pompano. 160,000 golden pompanos with the initial body weight of 93.6 ± 5.0 g was randomly assigned to two dietary groups: Control and HGCC-1 (control diet supplemented with 0.3 g/kg Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 fermentation product), and after three weeks of feeding, 26 golden pompanos were randomly collected from each group for gut microbiome and host phenotype analysis. Dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 significantly promoted growth performance (P < 0.05) and enhanced feed utilization. Besides, HGCC-1 improved liver health and alleviated hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Furthermore, Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 enhanced intestinal lipid absorption, promoted hepatic utilization of dietary fat by improving hepatic lipid uptake/transport and fatty acid β-oxidation to provide energy, and reduced hepatic TG level (P < 0.05), which may be the potential mechanism of Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1-mediated growth promotion. Finally, Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 significantly altered the structure and function of gut microbiota (P < 0.05), leading to enrichment of beneficial taxa such as Bacillus (P < 0.0001) and increased of the ratio of “Functional Group 2/Functional Group 1” (P = 0.00092). Interestingly, the ratio of “Functional Group 2/Functional Group 1” was linked to the growth traits (Spearman, P < 0.05), while the intestinal abundance of Bacillus was correlated with serum TG in fish (Spearman, R = 0.47, P = 0.00091), suggesting a role of the intestinal microbiota in HGCC-1 mediated effect on growth and lipid metabolism. In summary, Bacillus subtilis HGCC-1 promotes growth performance, alleviate hepatic steatosis and enhances liver health via regulating gut microbiota in golden pompano, which ultimately showed as beneficial effect of fish growth and health.

The optimal strategy for improving cardiometabolic factors (CMFs) in young obese individuals through diet and exercise remains unclear, as do the potential mechanisms. We conducted an 8‐week randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of different interventions in youth with overweight/obesity. Gut microbes and serum metabolites were examined to identify regulating mechanisms. A total of 129 undergraduates were randomly assigned to fiber‐rich (FR) diet, rope‐skipping (RS), combined FR–RS and control groups. The results showed that single interventions were as effective as combined interventions in improving weight, waist circumference, body fat, and lipid profile compared with control group. Notably, the FR group further reduced low‐density lipoprotein (LDL‐C) and uric acid (UA) (all p < 0.05). Mediation analysis revealed four gut microbiota–metabolite–host axes in improving CMFs. Additionally, we used machine learning algorithms to further predict individual responses based on baseline gut microbiota composition, with specific microbial genera guiding targeted intervention selection. In conclusion, FR diet and/or RS were effective in improving CMFs, with the FR diet particular effectiveness in reducing LDL‐C and UA levels. These benefits may drive by gut microbiome–metabolite–host interactions. Moreover, the predictability of gut microbiota composition supports making targeted decisions in selecting interventions. Trial Registration: NCT04834687.

Hosta ( Hosta plantaginea L.) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Liliaceae. It is widely cultivated for its decorative foliage and dainty, colourful flowers. Fusarium is a globally prevalent plant pathogen. During 2020–2021, 116 Fusarium isolates were isolated from 300 hosta leaf blight samples collected from eight cities in China, and 65 representative isolates we selected for further study. The 65 isolates were identified based on the concatenated sequences of the tef1 and rpb2 genes, which grouped them into 12 Fusarium species, including F. acuminatum (27.59%), F. verticillioides (15.52%), F. oxysporum (10.34%), F. armeniacum (10.34%), F. ipomoeae (8.62%), F. proliferatum (6.9%), F. subglutinans (6.9%), F. humuli (3.45%), F. petersiae (3.45%), F. brachygibbosum (3.45%), F. graminearum (1.72%), and F. compactum (1.72%). Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that all Fusarium isolates exhibited high pathogenicity towards hosta leaves. Whereas in F. proliferatum isolates were found to be the most pathogenic. All Fusarium species obtained in this study are first reported as the causal agents of hosta leaf blight in China except F. oxysporum and F. ipomoeae . The current research offers insights into disease management, phylogenetic relationships amongst Fusarium species and the diversity of Fusarium species associated with hosta leaf blight.