Shuangyu Zhang’s research while affiliated with Northwest A&F University and other places

Urban parks, key components of green infrastructure (GI), offer paved open spaces that significantly impact physical activity (PA) among older adults. However, the environmental features of these spaces and their effects on PA remain underexplored. Existing studies often overlook factors like spatial configuration, planar morphology, and bag storage facilities, and lack a systematic analytical framework. Many also rely on simplistic PA measurements and struggle with multicollinearity in data analysis. This study addresses these gaps by proposing a comprehensive framework examining four environmental dimensions: spatial configuration, planar morphology, facility provision, and visual greenery. Using GPS-tracked mobility data, behavioral audits, and multicollinearity-robust Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression, we analyze the impact of these features on PA. Results show that functional elements—higher spatial integration (VIP = 1.04), larger activity areas (VIP = 1.82), sufficient bag storage (VIP = 1.64), outdoor fitness equipment (VIP = 1.30), and diverse greenery (VIP = 1.23)—significantly enhance PA. In contrast, factors like floral diversity (VIP = 0.67), water visibility (VIP = 0.48), and shape complexity (VIP = 0.16) have minimal effects. This study provides theoretical insights and practical strategies for retrofitting paved park spaces, contributing to age-friendly urban GI.

Pseudocydonia sinensis, commonly known as Chinese quince, belongs to the Rosaceae family and is closely related to apple and pear. Despite its botanical significance, genomic resources for this species remain limited. We present a high‐quality, chromosome‐scale, and haplotype‐resolved genome assembly of P. sinensis, characterized by high BUSCO completeness and QV scores. The genome sizes of Haplotypes A and B are 581.29 Mb and 561.80 Mb, respectively, each spanning 17 chromosomes with a contig N50 of 15.76 Mb. Comparative genomic analyses place P. sinensis within the Maleae tribe, closely related to Malus domestica and Pyrus communis, both of which have undergone an additional whole‐genome duplication event. Gene family and metabolomic analyses show that the genome has an expansion of 1603 gene families, with an accumulation of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids and phenolic acids (e.g. rutin and caffeoylquinic acid). This duplication has contributed to the expansion of gene families involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, particularly in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways. Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses further revealed the MYB transcription factor ODORANT1 (ODO1) is a key regulator of phenylpropanoid metabolism. Functional assays show that PsMYBODO1 directly binds to and activates the promoters of key genes in this pathway, including PsRT3, PsPAL, PsCAD and PsCOMT. This high‐quality reference genome provides a valuable resource for functional genomic studies and breeding programmes aimed at enhancing the medicinal properties of P. sinensis.

Drought is an important factor that affects plant anthocyanin biosynthesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Ethylene response factors (ERFs) are pivotal regulators in plant growth and environmental responses, particularly in anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study investigated the leaf colour transition from green to red in Malus spectabilis under drought conditions. This transition was primarily attributed to the accumulation of anthocyanins, specifically cyanidin‐3,5‐diglucoside and cyanidin‐3‐O‐galactoside. Our findings elucidate the pivotal role of MsERF17 in drought‐induced anthocyanin biosynthesis. Biochemical and molecular analyses showed that MsERF17 positively regulates anthocyanin synthesis by binding to promoters of MsbHLH3 and MsF3′ H, thereby activating their expression. Moreover, transient overexpression and virus‐induced gene silencing of MsERF17 in fruit peel and leaves, respectively, regulated anthocyanin synthesis. The stable transformation of calli further corroborated the positive regulatory function of MsERF17 in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Our results provide novel insights into the mechanism by which MsERF17, induced by ethylene, promotes anthocyanin accumulation through the positive regulation of MsbHLH3 and MsF3'H expression under drought conditions in M. spectabilis leaves.

Prunus mume (mei), a traditional ornamental plant in China, is renowned for its fragrant flowers, primarily emitted by its petals. However, the cell types of mei petals and where floral volatile synthesis occurs are rarely reported. The study used single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize the gene expression landscape in petals of P. mume ‘Fenhong Zhusha’ at budding stage (BS) and the full-blooming stage (FS). Six major cell types of petals were identified: epidermal cells (ECs), parenchyma cells (PCs), xylem parenchyma cells, phloem parenchyma cells, xylem vessels and fibers, and sieve elements and companion cells complex. Cell-specific marker genes in each cell type were provided. Floral volatiles from mei petals were measured at four flowering development stages, and their emissions increased from BS to FS, and decreased at the withering stage. Fifty-eight differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in benzenoid/phenylpropanoid pathway were screened using bulk RNA-seq data. Twenty-eight DEGs expression increased from BS to FS, indicating that they might play roles in floral volatile synthesis in P. mume, among which PmBAHD3 would participate in benzyl acetate synthesis. ScRNA-seq data showed that 27 DEGs mentioned above were expressed variously in different cell types. In situ hybridization confirmed that PmPAL2, PmCAD1, PmBAHD3,5, and PmEGS1 involved in floral volatile synthesis in mei petals are mainly expressed in EC, PC, and most vascular tissues, consistent with scRNA-seq data. The result indicates that benzyl acetate and eugenol, the characteristic volatiles in mei, are mostly synthesized in these cell types. The first petal single-cell atlas was constructed, offering new insights into the molecular mechanism of floral volatile synthesis.

Drought stress has been demonstrated to enhance the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in the leaves, resulting in an increased aesthetic appeal. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying drought-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis in Chaenomeles speciosa remain unclear. In this study, the metabolites of C. speciosa leaves were analyzed, and it was found that the content of cyanidin-3- O -rutinoside increased significantly under drought stress. The differentially expressed genes CsMYB123 and CsbHLH111 were isolated by transcriptomics data analysis and gene cloning, and gene overexpression and VIGS experiments verified that both play important roles in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Subsequently, Y1H and Dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that CsMYB123 binds to the promoters of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related structural genes (such as CsCHI , CsF3H , and CsANS ), while CsbHLH111 was shown to bind to the promoter of CsCHI , positively regulating its activity. Furthermore, BIFC and Y2H assays unveiled potential protein–protein interactions between CsMYB123 and CsbHLH111 at the cell nucleus. Collectively, these results shed light on the critical roles played by CsMYB123 and CsbHLH111 in anthocyanin biosynthesis, thus providing a valuable insight into understanding the molecular mechanisms of how the MYB and bHLH genes regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in the process of leaf coloration in C. speciosa . Graphical Abstract