Global food production faces enormous challenges in increasing yields while promoting environmental sustainability.A field experiments in the ecotone between the Yangtze River Basin and the HuangHuai-Hai Plain evaluat...Global food production faces enormous challenges in increasing yields while promoting environmental sustainability.A field experiments in the ecotone between the Yangtze River Basin and the HuangHuai-Hai Plain evaluated the effects of changing preceding crop rotation cycles(wheat and rapeseed)on long-term wheat-rice(W)and rapeseed-rice(R)rotation systems.A comprehensive evaluation of crop rotation systems was conducted using life cycle assessment,considering productivity,economic benefits,carbon footprint(CF),and soil health.Compared with fallow-rice rotation(F),alternating rapeseed and wheat rotations increased equivalent yield by 60.4%-82.2%,reduced CF by 0.3%-5.7%,and improved soil health by 0.3%-47.5%.Additionally,adding rapeseed to rotations increased soil nutrient content and raised soil organic carbon stocks by 31.3%-40.5%.The 3R rotation(3-year rapeseed-rice and 1-year wheat-rice)boosted rice yield by 82.2%and annual economic benefits by 84.4%,offering an effective model for optimizing long-term R rotations.Similarly,the 2W rotation(2-year wheat-rice and 1-year rapeseed rice)enhanced rice yield by 70.0% and annual economic benefits by 65.9%,providing a successful example for optimizing long-term W rotations.The 3R rapeseed-based rotation and the 2W wheatbased rotation demonstrated good environmental sustainability.These rotation systems have broad potential in sustainable intensive farming,especially in China and similar regions.展开更多
Modern crops were derived from wild ancestors between 8000 and 12,000 years ago in a process called domestication,when humans selected plant types that gave better yield.For cereal plants,they carry so-called “domest...Modern crops were derived from wild ancestors between 8000 and 12,000 years ago in a process called domestication,when humans selected plant types that gave better yield.For cereal plants,they carry so-called “domestication syndromes”,such as non-shattering spikes,free threshing grains,shorter seed dormancy,and larger grain size[1].But these early crop breeders selected only a small number of domesticated plants to satisfy their limited need,leading to a phenomenon called “domestication bottleneck”resulting in restricted genetic diversity among crop cultivars.Untapped crop wild relatives(CWRs)remain a source of traits to be bred into new cultivars with resilience to challenges facing modern agriculture.展开更多
Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production,significantly reduces crop yields,and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security.Addressing the challenge of effect...Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production,significantly reduces crop yields,and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security.Addressing the challenge of effectively improving crop drought resistance(DR)to mitigate yield loss under drought conditions is a global issue.An optimal root system architecture(RSA)plays a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of crops to efficiently uptake water and nutrients,which consequently strengthens their resilience against environmental stresses.In this review,we discuss the compositions and roles of crop RSA and summarize the most recent developments in augmenting drought tolerance in crops by manipulating RSA-related genes.Based on the current research,we propose the potential optimal RSA configuration that could be helpful in enhancing crop DR.Lastly,we discuss the existing challenges and future directions for breeding crops with enhanced DR capabilities through genetic improvements targeting RSA.展开更多
The NRAMP(natural resistance-associated macrophage protein)family plays a pivotal role in metal ion transport,regulating both essential micronutrient uptake and toxic heavy metal accumulation in plants.In rice(Oryza s...The NRAMP(natural resistance-associated macrophage protein)family plays a pivotal role in metal ion transport,regulating both essential micronutrient uptake and toxic heavy metal accumulation in plants.In rice(Oryza sativa),OsNRAMP transporters critically influence metal homeostasis,stress adaptation,and grain safety.Among them,OsNRAMP5 serves as a major entry point for cadmium(Cd)and manganese(Mn)uptake,making it a prime target for low-Cd rice breeding.However,knockout of OsNRAMP5 leads to severe Mn deficiency,highlighting the need for precise genetic modifications(e.g.,OsNRAMP5-Q337K),which reduce Cd accumulation while maintaining Mn nutrition.Additionally,OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP2 contribute to Cd translocation and plant immunity,whereas OsNRAMP3/4/6/7 participate in Mn,iron,and zinc distribution and stress responses.This review systematically summarizes the structural,functional,and regulatory mechanisms of OsNRAMPs,emphasizing their roles in metal transport,pathogen resistance,and abiotic stress adaptation.Furthermore,we discuss strategies for developing low-Cd rice varieties,including QTL-based breeding,CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing,and multi-gene stacking approaches.Finally,we outline future research directions,such as structural engineering of metal-binding sites and field validation of engineered rice lines,to ensure sustainable rice production in heavy metal-contaminated soils.展开更多
Eggplant(Solanum melongena L.)is a globally important vegetable crop,renowned for its nutritional value and economic significance.It is abundant in bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid,which h...Eggplant(Solanum melongena L.)is a globally important vegetable crop,renowned for its nutritional value and economic significance.It is abundant in bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid,which have been associated with multiple health-promoting properties(Azuma et al.,2008;Gurbuz et al.,2018).Given its significant hybrid vigor,F1 hybrid varieties are widely preferred in commercial cultivation(Mistry et al.,2018).However,traditional breeding practices predominantly rely on phenotypic selection,a process that is not only labor-intensive but also time-consuming.展开更多
Aspergillus species are ubiquitous fungi that produce mycotoxins(secondary metabolites)known as sterigmatocystin and aflatoxins in many different kinds of foods,which leads to serious contamination in agricultural pro...Aspergillus species are ubiquitous fungi that produce mycotoxins(secondary metabolites)known as sterigmatocystin and aflatoxins in many different kinds of foods,which leads to serious contamination in agricultural products,thereby endangering human health.Extensive studies on Aspergillus fungi have been conducted on growth and development,aflatoxin biosynthesis,and their interactions with environment.Here,we summarized a series of functional genes of the main Aspergillus fungi relative to toxins occurrence in foods,which revealed the signal transduction mechanisms of their involvement in growth and development,toxin production,and response to light,anticipating providing theoretical guidance on developing control and prevention technologies for mycotoxin contamination in agricultural products to ensure food safety.展开更多
High temperature stress (HT) significantly reduces maize yield by impairing starch accumulation in kernels.However,the mechanism by which HT affects starch synthesis remains controversial-whether through reduced assim...High temperature stress (HT) significantly reduces maize yield by impairing starch accumulation in kernels.However,the mechanism by which HT affects starch synthesis remains controversial-whether through reduced assimilate supply or direct inhibition on kernel metabolism.To clarify these mechanisms,a heat-sensitive maize hybrid,Xianyu 335 (XY),was exposed to 30℃/20℃ (maximum/minimum temperature,control) and 40℃/30℃ for seven consecutive days during the seed setting stage.Synchronous pollination (SP),apical pollination (AP),and shading treatments were applied to manipulate the inherent source–sink ratio in maize plants.Results showed that apical kernel weight decreased by 11.9%under 40℃ in the SP treatment.The ^(13)C content,starch accumulation,and cell-wall invertase (CWIN) activity also declined by 15.9,36.7,and 16.4%,respectively,under HT.In the shading treatment,40℃/30℃ caused even greater reductions in^(13)C content,starch accumulation,and CWIN activity due to diminished assimilate supply.Conversely,in the AP treatment,starch content and CWIN activity increased by 22.0 and 18.5%,respectively,under 40℃/30℃,resulting in kernel weight and ^(13)C content similar to those in SP and shading treatments regardless of temperature.Consistent with apical kernels under AP,HT did not negatively affect middle kernels in either SP or shading treatments,as kernel weight and starch content remained unchanged under HT.Although all kernels were exposed to the same HT or control environment,their responses varied a lot.The impaired starch synthesis in apical kernels under HT was rescued by increasing carbon supply via AP treatment.The contrasting performance among middle kernels,apical kernels under AP,and apical kernels under SP or shading indicates that reduced carbon supply is a critical factor underlying inhibited starch accumulation.Our findings provide a theoretical basis for further understanding kernel abortion under HT.展开更多
Lignin is a significant secondary metabolite produced through the phenylpropanoid pathway.As a vital component of the plant cell wall,lignin affects various fruit characteristics,including size,seed quantity,and firmn...Lignin is a significant secondary metabolite produced through the phenylpropanoid pathway.As a vital component of the plant cell wall,lignin affects various fruit characteristics,including size,seed quantity,and firmness.In this study,we conducted comprehensive identification and phylogenetic analysis of 265 Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase(COMT)genes across ten different plant species,including Vaccinium corymbosum and four other Vaccinium species.The results reveal that VcCOMT38 is a promising structural gene for the biosynthesis of lignin in blueberry.An in vitro enzymatic assay of VcCOMT38 demonstrated that it is a special enzyme in the lignin biosynthesis pathway and prefers to use caffeic acid as a substrate over 5-hydroxyferulic acid.Transient overexpression and silencing of VcCOMT38 in Vaccinium corymbosum‘Northland’fruits demonstrated that VcCOMT38 participates in lignin biosynthesis and contributes to both an increased number of immature seeds and enhanced fruit firmness.The heterologous overexpression of VcCOMT38 in Nicotiana benthamiana revealed that this gene could increase the lignin content and the syringyl/guaiacyl(S/G)ratio,which determines the maximum monomer yield during lignin depolymerization.These results highlight VcCOMT38 as a crucial gene in lignin biosynthesis and its potential for improving lignin production in industry through genetically modified woody plants.展开更多
Sequence-specific nucleases(SSN) that generate double-stranded DNA breaks(DSBs) in genes of interest are the key to site-specific genome editing in plants. Genome editing has developed into one method of reducing unde...Sequence-specific nucleases(SSN) that generate double-stranded DNA breaks(DSBs) in genes of interest are the key to site-specific genome editing in plants. Genome editing has developed into one method of reducing undesirable traits in crops by the induction of knockout mutations. Different SSN-mediated genome-editing systems, including LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases or meganucleases, zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, are emerging as robust tools for introducing functional mutations in polyploid crops including citrus, wheat, cotton, soybean, rapeseed, potato, grapes, Camelina sativa,dandelion, and tobacco. The approach utilizes knowledge of biological mechanisms for targeted induction of DSBs and their error-prone repair, allowing highly specific changes at designated genome loci. In this review, we briefly describe genome-editing technologies and their application to genetic improvement of polyploid crops.展开更多
The North China Plain （NCP）, one of the most important agricultural regions in China, is facing a major water-resource crisis evoked by excessive exploitation of groundwater. To reduce water use while maintaining hi...The North China Plain （NCP）, one of the most important agricultural regions in China, is facing a major water-resource crisis evoked by excessive exploitation of groundwater. To reduce water use while maintaining high crop production level, improving variety water use efficiency （WUE） is an urgent need, especially because other water-saving measures such as water delivery, irrigation, and agricultural practices have already achieved most possible progresses. Evaluation of variety WUE can be performed accurately at the individual plant level （WUEp）. Reviewing the studies on physiological factors affecting WUE p performed up to date, stomatal conductance was considered to be an important trait associating closely with WUE p . The trait showed a large degree of varietal variability under well-watered conditions. Crop varieties differ highly in sensitivity of stomata to soil and air drying, with some varieties strongly reducing their stomatal conductance in contrast with those lightly regulating their stomata. As a result, difference among varieties in WUE p was enlarged under water deficit conditions in contrast with those under well-watered conditions. The relationship between stomatal conductance and yield depends on water availability of whole growing period in local areas. Usually, large stomatal conductance results in a high yield under good irrigation system, whereas a low stomatal conductance can lead to yield benefit under limited stored soil moisture conditions. In the NCP, winter wheat is the largest consumer of irrigation water, improvement strategies for high WUE aiming at wheat crops are in urgent need. We suggest, for the well-irrigated areas with excessive exploitation of groundwater, the wheat breeding program need to combine medium stomatal conductance （0.35 mmol H2O m-2 s-1 or so）, high carboxylation efficiency, and high harvest index. Areas with partial/full access to irrigation, or infrequent drought, should target wheat varieties with high stomatal conductance under no water stress and low sensitivity of stomata to soil water deficit. Drought-prone rain-fed areas characterized by frequent and long terminal drought should target wheat varieties with low stomatal conductance under no water stress and high stomata sensitivity to soil drying to make water available during grain filling.展开更多
Wheat streak mosaic virus（WSMV）has become a re-emerging pathogen in cereal crops in the Czech Republic.WSMV was first reported in the former Czechoslovakia in the early 1980s,and then no record of the virus was docu...Wheat streak mosaic virus（WSMV）has become a re-emerging pathogen in cereal crops in the Czech Republic.WSMV was first reported in the former Czechoslovakia in the early 1980s,and then no record of the virus was documented until 2009.The incidence of the virus was recorded in recent years in several winter wheat fields and many grass species.Here,we surveyed the incidence of WSMV in cereal crops.The results demonstrated the existence of the virus in winter wheat and volunteer wheat during each year of the monitoring period,which spanned from 2013–2016.Although the range of infected samples was low（6.4%of the total tested samples）,a high incidence of well-distributed virus was recorded.In at least six fields,the virus reached severe and potentially epidemic levels.In accordance with our previous report detailing WSMV infection of native grasses,we tested several grass species commonly grown in the Czech Republic.We found that some grass species acted as experimental hosts and possible reservoirs of the virus;these included Anthoxanthum odoratum（sweet vernal grass）,Arrhenatherum elatius（false oat-grass）,Lolium multiflorum（Italian rye-grass）,Bromus japonicus（Japanese chess）,Echinochloa crus-galli（barnyard grass）,Holcus lanatus（meadow soft grass）and Holcus mollis（creeping soft grass）.Some of these grass species are also important weeds of cereals,which may be the potential source of WSMV infection in cereal crops.Several widely used winter wheat cultivars were tested in the field after artificial inoculation with WSMV to evaluate virus titre by RT-qPCR.Overall,the tested cultivars had a low virus titre,which is associated with mild disease symptoms and may provide a good level of crop resistance to WSMV.展开更多
[Objectives] This study was conducted to investigate the effects on agronomic traits,yield and benefit of one-year triple cropping " maize-soybean" strip intercropping system under reduced fertilizer applica...[Objectives] This study was conducted to investigate the effects on agronomic traits,yield and benefit of one-year triple cropping " maize-soybean" strip intercropping system under reduced fertilizer application. [Methods]A single factor randomized block design was used,and wide and narrow strip intercropping was adopted. Three different fertilization treatments,namely fertilizers for conventional field fertilization( A1),80% A1( A2) and 60% A1( A3) were applied to the field production. The fertilizing sites were about 25 cm away from maize and repeated three times. [Results]Compared with A1,the change laws of the agronomic traits and yield in the A2 and A3 intercropping systems were described as below. Agronomic traits: The plant height became shorter gradually for the spring soybean,but increased gradually for the summer soybean,the bottom pod height gradually reduced,and the node number,pods per plant and seeds per plant increased;and the plant height,ear length,rows per ear,seeds per row and 1 000-seed weight of the spring maize decreased. Yield: The yield of maize as the main crop decreased but not significant,by 3. 20% and 3. 99%,respectively in A2 and A3,both smaller than 5. 00%;the yield of the spring soybean significantly increased by 9. 70% and 11. 84%,respectively;the yield of the summer soybean increased by 5. 18% and 8. 98%,respectively;and the total yield increased by 0. 20% and 0. 92%,respectively. Benefit: The total output value increased by 2. 97 % and 4. 91 %,respectively,and the total benefit increased by 6. 39% and 11. 22%,respectively. [Conclusions] Under a 40% reduction in fertilizer applied in the field,the one-year triple cropping " maize-soybean" strip intercropping system still met the multi-target requirements of increasing grain production and economic benefits,and thus can be promoted and applied in Guangxi.展开更多
Peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)is an important oil and cash crop in the world.Peanut germplasm collected in China are abundant,which provides important material guarantee for peanut breeding and industrial development.Her...Peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)is an important oil and cash crop in the world.Peanut germplasm collected in China are abundant,which provides important material guarantee for peanut breeding and industrial development.Here,the safe conservation technology and indicators of peanut germplasm resources in the Oil Crops Middleterm Genebank of China were expounded from three processes of storage,monitoring,reproduction and renewal.We summarized and reviewed the situation of conservation and utilization of peanut germplasm resources in the Middle-term Genebank in the past 20 years.The future research direction of peanut resources in the Oil Crops Middle-term Genebank of China is prospected.展开更多
Since it was first recognized in bacteria and archaea as a mechanism for innate viral immunity in the early 2010 s,clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein(Cas)has ra...Since it was first recognized in bacteria and archaea as a mechanism for innate viral immunity in the early 2010 s,clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein(Cas)has rapidly been developed into a robust,multifunctional genome editing tool with many uses.Following the discovery of the initial CRISPR/Cas-based system,the technology has been advanced to facilitate a multitude of different functions.These include development as a base editor,prime editor,epigenetic editor,and CRISPR interference(CRISPRi)and CRISPR activator(CRISPRa)gene regulators.It can also be used for chromatin and RNA targeting and imaging.Its applications have proved revolutionary across numerous biological fields,especially in biomedical and agricultural improvement.As a diagnostic tool,CRISPR has been developed to aid the detection and screening of both human and plant diseases,and has even been applied during the current coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.CRISPR/Cas is also being trialed as a new form of gene therapy for treating various human diseases,including cancers,and has aided drug development.In terms of agricultural breeding,precise targeting of biological pathways via CRISPR/Cas has been key to regulating molecular biosynthesis and allowing modification of proteins,starch,oil,and other functional components for crop improvement.Adding to this,CRISPR/Cas has been shown capable of significantly enhancing both plant tolerance to environmental stresses and overall crop yield via the targeting of various agronomically important gene regulators.Looking to the future,increasing the efficiency and precision of CRISPR/Cas delivery systems and limiting off-target activity are two major challenges for wider application of the technology.This review provides an in-depth overview of current CRISPR development,including the advantages and disadvantages of the technology,recent applications,and future considerations.展开更多
Soybean is one of the major oil seed crops,which is usually intercropped with other crops to increase soybean production area and yield.However,soybean is highly sensitive to shading.It is unclear if soybean morpholog...Soybean is one of the major oil seed crops,which is usually intercropped with other crops to increase soybean production area and yield.However,soybean is highly sensitive to shading.It is unclear if soybean morphology responds to shading（i.e.,shade tolerance or avoidance）and which features may be suitable as screening materials in relay strip intercropping.Therefore,in this study,various agronomic characteristics of different soybean genotypes were analyzed under relay intercropping conditions.The soybean materials used in this study exhibited genetic diversity,and the coefficient of variations of the agronomic parameters ranged from 13.84 to 72.08%during the shade period and from 6.44 to 52.49%during the maturity period.The ratios of shading to full irradiance in stem mass fraction（SMF）were almost greater than 1,whereas opposite results were found in the leaves.Compared with full irradiance,the average stem length（SL）,leaf area ratio（LAR）and specific leaf area（SLA）for the two years（2013 and 2014）increased by 0.78,0.47 and 0.65 under shady conditions,respectively.However,the stem diameter（SD）,total biomass（TB）,leaf area（LA）,number of nodes（NN）on the main stem,and number of branches（BN）all decreased.During the shady period,the SL and SMF exhibited a significant negative correlation with yield,and the SD exhibited a significant positive correlation with yield.The correlation between the soybean yield and agronomic parameters during the mature period,except for SL,the first pod height（FPH）,100-seed weight（100-SW）,and reproductive growth period（RGP）,were significant（P〈0.01）,especially for seed weight per branch（SWB）,pods per plant（PP）,BN,and vegetative growth period（VGP）.These results provide an insight into screening the shade tolerance of soybean varieties and can be useful in targeted breeding programs of relay intercropped soybeans.展开更多
Drought is one of the most important environmental constraints limiting plant growth, development and crop yield. Many drought-inducible genes have been identified by molecular and genomic analyses in Arabidopsis, ric...Drought is one of the most important environmental constraints limiting plant growth, development and crop yield. Many drought-inducible genes have been identified by molecular and genomic analyses in Arabidopsis, rice and other crops. To better understand reaction mechanism of plant to drought tolerance, we mainly focused on introducing the research of transcription factors （TFs） in signal transduction and regulatory network of gene expression conferring drought. A TF could bind multiple target genes to increase one or more kinds of stress tolerance. Sometimes, several TFs might act together with a target gene. So drought-tolerance genes or TFs might respond to high-salinity, cold or other stresses. The crosstalk of multiple stresses signal pathways is a crucial aspect of understanding stress signaling.展开更多
In order to find the best intercropping pattern of fresh maize and mung bean, five planting patterns, namely fresh maize monocropping, mung bean monocropping, fresh maize and mung bean intercropping at row ratios of 2...In order to find the best intercropping pattern of fresh maize and mung bean, five planting patterns, namely fresh maize monocropping, mung bean monocropping, fresh maize and mung bean intercropping at row ratios of 2∶4, 3∶3 and 4∶2 were set up, and the yields and economic benefits of these planting patterns were analyzed. The results showed that the LERs of the three intercropping patterns were all above 1, and the economic benefits of 2∶4, 3∶3 and 4∶2 fresh maize and mung bean intercropping patterns were seen an increase of 2.85%, 17.64% and 14.26% respectively compared with fresh maize monocropping and an increase of 52.06%, 73.92% and 68.93% respectively compared with mung bean monocropping.Among the three intercropping patterns, the intercropping pattern with row ratio 3∶3showed the best effect, which also derived the highest LER with greatest economic benefit.展开更多
To address the global demand for rapeseed while considering farmers’profit,we face the challenges of making a quantum leap in seed yield and,at the same time,reducing yield loss due to biotic and abiotic stresses.We ...To address the global demand for rapeseed while considering farmers’profit,we face the challenges of making a quantum leap in seed yield and,at the same time,reducing yield loss due to biotic and abiotic stresses.We also face the challenge of efficiently applying new transformative biotechnology tools such as gene editing and breeding by genome design to increase rapeseed productivity and profitability.In this Perspective,we review advances in research on the physiological and genetic bases of both stress factorsaffected yield stability and seed yield potential,focusing on source–sink relationships and allocation of photosynthetic assimilates to vegetative growth and seed development.We propose research directions and highlight the role of plant architecture in the relative contributions of the root system,leaves,and pods to seed yield.We call for de novo design of new rapeseed crops.We review trait variation in existing germplasm and biotechnologies available for crop design.Finally,we discuss opportunities to apply fundamental knowledge and key germplasm to rapeseed production and propose an ideotype for de novo design of future rapeseed cultivars.展开更多
Adjustment of planting geometry along with suitable maize cultivar can be a viable tool for maximizing land usage and net return. A two-year study was carried out at Serw Agricultural Experiments and Research Station,...Adjustment of planting geometry along with suitable maize cultivar can be a viable tool for maximizing land usage and net return. A two-year study was carried out at Serw Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, A.R.C., Domiate governorate, Egypt, during 2015 and 2016 seasons to evaluate intercropping cowpea with suitable maize cultivar and its planting geometry for maximizing land usage and net return. The treatments were the combinations between three maize cultivars (SC 30K08, TWC 310 and TWC 352) and three maize plant distributions (one plant/hill distanced at 25, 50 and 75 cm between hills, respectively). Ridge width with maize plant distribution formed maize planting geometry (25 cm × 140 cm, 50 cm × 140 cm and 75 cm × 140 cm). These treatments were compared in a split plot distribution in randomized complete block design with three replications. Maize cultivar SC 30K08 had the highest grain yield and its attributes compared with the other cultivars in both seasons. Also, maize planting geometry 25 cm × 140 cm resulted in the highest grain yield and its attributes compared with the other planting geometries in both seasons. Ear length, ear weight, 100-grain weight and grain yield/fad were affected significantly by maize cultivars × maize planting geometry. Intercropping cowpea with maize cultivar TWC 352 had the highest seed yield and its attributes compared with those intercropped with the other cultivars in both seasons. Also, maize planting geometry 75 cm × 140 cm resulted in the highest seed yield and its attributes through growing two cowpea rows between maize hills compared with the other maize planting geometries in both seasons. Number of pods/plant and seed yield/fad were affected significantly by maize cultivars × maize planting geometry. LER and LEC values of the intercrops were much greater than 1.00 and 0.25, respectively, for all the combinations indicating less land requirements of intercropping system than solid culture of both crops. Growing one row of maize cultivar TWC352 in both sides of bed 140 cm width with cowpea two rows in middle of the bed increased land productivity and net return compared with solid culture of maize.展开更多
Chickpea(Cicer arietinum L.) and pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan L.(Millsp.)] play an important role in mitigating protein malnutrition for millions of poor vegetarians living in regions of the semi-arid tropics. Abiotic str...Chickpea(Cicer arietinum L.) and pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan L.(Millsp.)] play an important role in mitigating protein malnutrition for millions of poor vegetarians living in regions of the semi-arid tropics. Abiotic stresses such as excess and limited soil moisture(water-logging and drought), heat and chilling(high and low temperature stresses), soil salinity, and acidity are major yield constraints, as these two crops are grown mostly under rainfed conditions in risk-prone marginal and degraded lands with few or no inputs. Losses due to such stresses vary from 30% to 100% depending on their severity. The literature abounds in basic information concerning screening techniques, physiological mechanisms, and genetics of traits associated with resistance/tolerance to abiotic stresses in these two crops. However, the final outcome in terms of resistant/tolerant varieties has been far from satisfactory. This situation calls for improving selection efficiency through precise phenotyping and genotyping under high-throughput controlled conditions using modern tools of genomics. In this review, we suggest that an integrated approach combining advances from genetics, physiology, and biotechnology needs to be used for higher precision and efficiency of breeding programs aimed at improving abiotic stress tolerance in both chickpea and pigeonpea.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971855)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science(CAAS-ASTIP-2021-OCRI)+2 种基金the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2024AFB442)the Wuhan Knowledge Innovation Special Program(2023020201020400)the China Agriculture Research System(CARS-12)。
文摘Global food production faces enormous challenges in increasing yields while promoting environmental sustainability.A field experiments in the ecotone between the Yangtze River Basin and the HuangHuai-Hai Plain evaluated the effects of changing preceding crop rotation cycles(wheat and rapeseed)on long-term wheat-rice(W)and rapeseed-rice(R)rotation systems.A comprehensive evaluation of crop rotation systems was conducted using life cycle assessment,considering productivity,economic benefits,carbon footprint(CF),and soil health.Compared with fallow-rice rotation(F),alternating rapeseed and wheat rotations increased equivalent yield by 60.4%-82.2%,reduced CF by 0.3%-5.7%,and improved soil health by 0.3%-47.5%.Additionally,adding rapeseed to rotations increased soil nutrient content and raised soil organic carbon stocks by 31.3%-40.5%.The 3R rotation(3-year rapeseed-rice and 1-year wheat-rice)boosted rice yield by 82.2%and annual economic benefits by 84.4%,offering an effective model for optimizing long-term R rotations.Similarly,the 2W rotation(2-year wheat-rice and 1-year rapeseed rice)enhanced rice yield by 70.0% and annual economic benefits by 65.9%,providing a successful example for optimizing long-term W rotations.The 3R rapeseed-based rotation and the 2W wheatbased rotation demonstrated good environmental sustainability.These rotation systems have broad potential in sustainable intensive farming,especially in China and similar regions.
文摘Modern crops were derived from wild ancestors between 8000 and 12,000 years ago in a process called domestication,when humans selected plant types that gave better yield.For cereal plants,they carry so-called “domestication syndromes”,such as non-shattering spikes,free threshing grains,shorter seed dormancy,and larger grain size[1].But these early crop breeders selected only a small number of domesticated plants to satisfy their limited need,leading to a phenomenon called “domestication bottleneck”resulting in restricted genetic diversity among crop cultivars.Untapped crop wild relatives(CWRs)remain a source of traits to be bred into new cultivars with resilience to challenges facing modern agriculture.
基金supported by the Key Technologies Research and Development Program,China(2022YFE0100500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971954,31960405,32061143031)+2 种基金Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab and China National Seed Group(B23YQ1510)Gansu Province Industrial Support Plan(2022CYZC-46)Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(GZC20230909).
文摘Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production,significantly reduces crop yields,and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security.Addressing the challenge of effectively improving crop drought resistance(DR)to mitigate yield loss under drought conditions is a global issue.An optimal root system architecture(RSA)plays a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of crops to efficiently uptake water and nutrients,which consequently strengthens their resilience against environmental stresses.In this review,we discuss the compositions and roles of crop RSA and summarize the most recent developments in augmenting drought tolerance in crops by manipulating RSA-related genes.Based on the current research,we propose the potential optimal RSA configuration that could be helpful in enhancing crop DR.Lastly,we discuss the existing challenges and future directions for breeding crops with enhanced DR capabilities through genetic improvements targeting RSA.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program,China(Grant No.2022YFD1201505)the Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Open Project,China(Grant No.2023LYKF02)+1 种基金the Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund,China(Grant No.CPSIBRF-CNRRI-202306)the Sichuan Provincial Financial Independent Innovation Project,China(Grant No.2022ZZCX001).
文摘The NRAMP(natural resistance-associated macrophage protein)family plays a pivotal role in metal ion transport,regulating both essential micronutrient uptake and toxic heavy metal accumulation in plants.In rice(Oryza sativa),OsNRAMP transporters critically influence metal homeostasis,stress adaptation,and grain safety.Among them,OsNRAMP5 serves as a major entry point for cadmium(Cd)and manganese(Mn)uptake,making it a prime target for low-Cd rice breeding.However,knockout of OsNRAMP5 leads to severe Mn deficiency,highlighting the need for precise genetic modifications(e.g.,OsNRAMP5-Q337K),which reduce Cd accumulation while maintaining Mn nutrition.Additionally,OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP2 contribute to Cd translocation and plant immunity,whereas OsNRAMP3/4/6/7 participate in Mn,iron,and zinc distribution and stress responses.This review systematically summarizes the structural,functional,and regulatory mechanisms of OsNRAMPs,emphasizing their roles in metal transport,pathogen resistance,and abiotic stress adaptation.Furthermore,we discuss strategies for developing low-Cd rice varieties,including QTL-based breeding,CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing,and multi-gene stacking approaches.Finally,we outline future research directions,such as structural engineering of metal-binding sites and field validation of engineered rice lines,to ensure sustainable rice production in heavy metal-contaminated soils.
基金supported by Yuelushan Laboratory Breeding Program(Grant No.YLS-2025-ZY02013)The Project of National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding(Grant No.NKLTCB202341)+4 种基金The New Variety Breeding Project of the Major Science and Technology Projects of Zhejiang(Grant No.2021C02065-1-3)Hunan Provincial Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund Project(Grant No.2025CX115)Key R&D Projects in Hainan Province(Grant No.ZDYF2023XDNY041)Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund(Grant No.1630062022003)2024 Sanya Technology Stars Program(Grant No.2024KJFX022).
文摘Eggplant(Solanum melongena L.)is a globally important vegetable crop,renowned for its nutritional value and economic significance.It is abundant in bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid,which have been associated with multiple health-promoting properties(Azuma et al.,2008;Gurbuz et al.,2018).Given its significant hybrid vigor,F1 hybrid varieties are widely preferred in commercial cultivation(Mistry et al.,2018).However,traditional breeding practices predominantly rely on phenotypic selection,a process that is not only labor-intensive but also time-consuming.
基金supported by the key project of National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(U22A20551,32030085)the Major Project of Hubei Hongshan Laboratory,China(2021hszd015)+2 种基金the Hubei Province Major Science and Technology Special Project,China(2023BBA002)the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(U22A20551)the National Natural Science Foundation of China Excellent Youth Fund(32422072)。
文摘Aspergillus species are ubiquitous fungi that produce mycotoxins(secondary metabolites)known as sterigmatocystin and aflatoxins in many different kinds of foods,which leads to serious contamination in agricultural products,thereby endangering human health.Extensive studies on Aspergillus fungi have been conducted on growth and development,aflatoxin biosynthesis,and their interactions with environment.Here,we summarized a series of functional genes of the main Aspergillus fungi relative to toxins occurrence in foods,which revealed the signal transduction mechanisms of their involvement in growth and development,toxin production,and response to light,anticipating providing theoretical guidance on developing control and prevention technologies for mycotoxin contamination in agricultural products to ensure food safety.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32071978)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD2300901 and 2022YFD2300905)。
文摘High temperature stress (HT) significantly reduces maize yield by impairing starch accumulation in kernels.However,the mechanism by which HT affects starch synthesis remains controversial-whether through reduced assimilate supply or direct inhibition on kernel metabolism.To clarify these mechanisms,a heat-sensitive maize hybrid,Xianyu 335 (XY),was exposed to 30℃/20℃ (maximum/minimum temperature,control) and 40℃/30℃ for seven consecutive days during the seed setting stage.Synchronous pollination (SP),apical pollination (AP),and shading treatments were applied to manipulate the inherent source–sink ratio in maize plants.Results showed that apical kernel weight decreased by 11.9%under 40℃ in the SP treatment.The ^(13)C content,starch accumulation,and cell-wall invertase (CWIN) activity also declined by 15.9,36.7,and 16.4%,respectively,under HT.In the shading treatment,40℃/30℃ caused even greater reductions in^(13)C content,starch accumulation,and CWIN activity due to diminished assimilate supply.Conversely,in the AP treatment,starch content and CWIN activity increased by 22.0 and 18.5%,respectively,under 40℃/30℃,resulting in kernel weight and ^(13)C content similar to those in SP and shading treatments regardless of temperature.Consistent with apical kernels under AP,HT did not negatively affect middle kernels in either SP or shading treatments,as kernel weight and starch content remained unchanged under HT.Although all kernels were exposed to the same HT or control environment,their responses varied a lot.The impaired starch synthesis in apical kernels under HT was rescued by increasing carbon supply via AP treatment.The contrasting performance among middle kernels,apical kernels under AP,and apical kernels under SP or shading indicates that reduced carbon supply is a critical factor underlying inhibited starch accumulation.Our findings provide a theoretical basis for further understanding kernel abortion under HT.
文摘Lignin is a significant secondary metabolite produced through the phenylpropanoid pathway.As a vital component of the plant cell wall,lignin affects various fruit characteristics,including size,seed quantity,and firmness.In this study,we conducted comprehensive identification and phylogenetic analysis of 265 Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase(COMT)genes across ten different plant species,including Vaccinium corymbosum and four other Vaccinium species.The results reveal that VcCOMT38 is a promising structural gene for the biosynthesis of lignin in blueberry.An in vitro enzymatic assay of VcCOMT38 demonstrated that it is a special enzyme in the lignin biosynthesis pathway and prefers to use caffeic acid as a substrate over 5-hydroxyferulic acid.Transient overexpression and silencing of VcCOMT38 in Vaccinium corymbosum‘Northland’fruits demonstrated that VcCOMT38 participates in lignin biosynthesis and contributes to both an increased number of immature seeds and enhanced fruit firmness.The heterologous overexpression of VcCOMT38 in Nicotiana benthamiana revealed that this gene could increase the lignin content and the syringyl/guaiacyl(S/G)ratio,which determines the maximum monomer yield during lignin depolymerization.These results highlight VcCOMT38 as a crucial gene in lignin biosynthesis and its potential for improving lignin production in industry through genetically modified woody plants.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31700316)the Science and Technology Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Group No.118)+2 种基金the Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System(CARS-12)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Non-Profit Scientific Institution(1610172018009)Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
文摘Sequence-specific nucleases(SSN) that generate double-stranded DNA breaks(DSBs) in genes of interest are the key to site-specific genome editing in plants. Genome editing has developed into one method of reducing undesirable traits in crops by the induction of knockout mutations. Different SSN-mediated genome-editing systems, including LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases or meganucleases, zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, are emerging as robust tools for introducing functional mutations in polyploid crops including citrus, wheat, cotton, soybean, rapeseed, potato, grapes, Camelina sativa,dandelion, and tobacco. The approach utilizes knowledge of biological mechanisms for targeted induction of DSBs and their error-prone repair, allowing highly specific changes at designated genome loci. In this review, we briefly describe genome-editing technologies and their application to genetic improvement of polyploid crops.
基金supported by the National 863 Program of China (2011AA100501)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30871447)
文摘The North China Plain （NCP）, one of the most important agricultural regions in China, is facing a major water-resource crisis evoked by excessive exploitation of groundwater. To reduce water use while maintaining high crop production level, improving variety water use efficiency （WUE） is an urgent need, especially because other water-saving measures such as water delivery, irrigation, and agricultural practices have already achieved most possible progresses. Evaluation of variety WUE can be performed accurately at the individual plant level （WUEp）. Reviewing the studies on physiological factors affecting WUE p performed up to date, stomatal conductance was considered to be an important trait associating closely with WUE p . The trait showed a large degree of varietal variability under well-watered conditions. Crop varieties differ highly in sensitivity of stomata to soil and air drying, with some varieties strongly reducing their stomatal conductance in contrast with those lightly regulating their stomata. As a result, difference among varieties in WUE p was enlarged under water deficit conditions in contrast with those under well-watered conditions. The relationship between stomatal conductance and yield depends on water availability of whole growing period in local areas. Usually, large stomatal conductance results in a high yield under good irrigation system, whereas a low stomatal conductance can lead to yield benefit under limited stored soil moisture conditions. In the NCP, winter wheat is the largest consumer of irrigation water, improvement strategies for high WUE aiming at wheat crops are in urgent need. We suggest, for the well-irrigated areas with excessive exploitation of groundwater, the wheat breeding program need to combine medium stomatal conductance （0.35 mmol H2O m-2 s-1 or so）, high carboxylation efficiency, and high harvest index. Areas with partial/full access to irrigation, or infrequent drought, should target wheat varieties with high stomatal conductance under no water stress and low sensitivity of stomata to soil water deficit. Drought-prone rain-fed areas characterized by frequent and long terminal drought should target wheat varieties with low stomatal conductance under no water stress and high stomata sensitivity to soil drying to make water available during grain filling.
基金supported by the grants from the Ministry of Agriculture, Czech Republic from projects QJ1230159 (50%) and RO0415 (50%)
文摘Wheat streak mosaic virus（WSMV）has become a re-emerging pathogen in cereal crops in the Czech Republic.WSMV was first reported in the former Czechoslovakia in the early 1980s,and then no record of the virus was documented until 2009.The incidence of the virus was recorded in recent years in several winter wheat fields and many grass species.Here,we surveyed the incidence of WSMV in cereal crops.The results demonstrated the existence of the virus in winter wheat and volunteer wheat during each year of the monitoring period,which spanned from 2013–2016.Although the range of infected samples was low（6.4%of the total tested samples）,a high incidence of well-distributed virus was recorded.In at least six fields,the virus reached severe and potentially epidemic levels.In accordance with our previous report detailing WSMV infection of native grasses,we tested several grass species commonly grown in the Czech Republic.We found that some grass species acted as experimental hosts and possible reservoirs of the virus;these included Anthoxanthum odoratum（sweet vernal grass）,Arrhenatherum elatius（false oat-grass）,Lolium multiflorum（Italian rye-grass）,Bromus japonicus（Japanese chess）,Echinochloa crus-galli（barnyard grass）,Holcus lanatus（meadow soft grass）and Holcus mollis（creeping soft grass）.Some of these grass species are also important weeds of cereals,which may be the potential source of WSMV infection in cereal crops.Several widely used winter wheat cultivars were tested in the field after artificial inoculation with WSMV to evaluate virus titre by RT-qPCR.Overall,the tested cultivars had a low virus titre,which is associated with mild disease symptoms and may provide a good level of crop resistance to WSMV.
基金Supported by Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System(CARS-04-CES30)Key Research and Development Project of Guangxi(GK AB16380097,GK AB18221057)Fundamental Scientific Research Fund of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences(GNK 2020YM118)。
文摘[Objectives] This study was conducted to investigate the effects on agronomic traits,yield and benefit of one-year triple cropping " maize-soybean" strip intercropping system under reduced fertilizer application. [Methods]A single factor randomized block design was used,and wide and narrow strip intercropping was adopted. Three different fertilization treatments,namely fertilizers for conventional field fertilization( A1),80% A1( A2) and 60% A1( A3) were applied to the field production. The fertilizing sites were about 25 cm away from maize and repeated three times. [Results]Compared with A1,the change laws of the agronomic traits and yield in the A2 and A3 intercropping systems were described as below. Agronomic traits: The plant height became shorter gradually for the spring soybean,but increased gradually for the summer soybean,the bottom pod height gradually reduced,and the node number,pods per plant and seeds per plant increased;and the plant height,ear length,rows per ear,seeds per row and 1 000-seed weight of the spring maize decreased. Yield: The yield of maize as the main crop decreased but not significant,by 3. 20% and 3. 99%,respectively in A2 and A3,both smaller than 5. 00%;the yield of the spring soybean significantly increased by 9. 70% and 11. 84%,respectively;the yield of the summer soybean increased by 5. 18% and 8. 98%,respectively;and the total yield increased by 0. 20% and 0. 92%,respectively. Benefit: The total output value increased by 2. 97 % and 4. 91 %,respectively,and the total benefit increased by 6. 39% and 11. 22%,respectively. [Conclusions] Under a 40% reduction in fertilizer applied in the field,the one-year triple cropping " maize-soybean" strip intercropping system still met the multi-target requirements of increasing grain production and economic benefits,and thus can be promoted and applied in Guangxi.
基金The National Program for Crop Germplasm Protection of China(19210163)National Natural Science Foundation of China(32172006)+2 种基金The Plant Germplasm Resources Sharing Platform(NICGR2021-016)National Peanut Industry Technology System Construction(CARS-13)Central Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund(CAAS-OCRI-ZDRW-202101)。
文摘Peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)is an important oil and cash crop in the world.Peanut germplasm collected in China are abundant,which provides important material guarantee for peanut breeding and industrial development.Here,the safe conservation technology and indicators of peanut germplasm resources in the Oil Crops Middleterm Genebank of China were expounded from three processes of storage,monitoring,reproduction and renewal.We summarized and reviewed the situation of conservation and utilization of peanut germplasm resources in the Middle-term Genebank in the past 20 years.The future research direction of peanut resources in the Oil Crops Middle-term Genebank of China is prospected.
基金supported in part by Cotton Incorporated and the National Science Foundation(award 1658709)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31700316)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Nonprofit Scientific Institution(No.1610172018009)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(No.2018CFB543),China。
文摘Since it was first recognized in bacteria and archaea as a mechanism for innate viral immunity in the early 2010 s,clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein(Cas)has rapidly been developed into a robust,multifunctional genome editing tool with many uses.Following the discovery of the initial CRISPR/Cas-based system,the technology has been advanced to facilitate a multitude of different functions.These include development as a base editor,prime editor,epigenetic editor,and CRISPR interference(CRISPRi)and CRISPR activator(CRISPRa)gene regulators.It can also be used for chromatin and RNA targeting and imaging.Its applications have proved revolutionary across numerous biological fields,especially in biomedical and agricultural improvement.As a diagnostic tool,CRISPR has been developed to aid the detection and screening of both human and plant diseases,and has even been applied during the current coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.CRISPR/Cas is also being trialed as a new form of gene therapy for treating various human diseases,including cancers,and has aided drug development.In terms of agricultural breeding,precise targeting of biological pathways via CRISPR/Cas has been key to regulating molecular biosynthesis and allowing modification of proteins,starch,oil,and other functional components for crop improvement.Adding to this,CRISPR/Cas has been shown capable of significantly enhancing both plant tolerance to environmental stresses and overall crop yield via the targeting of various agronomically important gene regulators.Looking to the future,increasing the efficiency and precision of CRISPR/Cas delivery systems and limiting off-target activity are two major challenges for wider application of the technology.This review provides an in-depth overview of current CRISPR development,including the advantages and disadvantages of the technology,recent applications,and future considerations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31571615)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0300602, 2016YFD0300209)+1 种基金the Major Project of Education Department in Sichuan, China (16ZA0041)the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System, China (CARS-04-PS19)
文摘Soybean is one of the major oil seed crops,which is usually intercropped with other crops to increase soybean production area and yield.However,soybean is highly sensitive to shading.It is unclear if soybean morphology responds to shading（i.e.,shade tolerance or avoidance）and which features may be suitable as screening materials in relay strip intercropping.Therefore,in this study,various agronomic characteristics of different soybean genotypes were analyzed under relay intercropping conditions.The soybean materials used in this study exhibited genetic diversity,and the coefficient of variations of the agronomic parameters ranged from 13.84 to 72.08%during the shade period and from 6.44 to 52.49%during the maturity period.The ratios of shading to full irradiance in stem mass fraction（SMF）were almost greater than 1,whereas opposite results were found in the leaves.Compared with full irradiance,the average stem length（SL）,leaf area ratio（LAR）and specific leaf area（SLA）for the two years（2013 and 2014）increased by 0.78,0.47 and 0.65 under shady conditions,respectively.However,the stem diameter（SD）,total biomass（TB）,leaf area（LA）,number of nodes（NN）on the main stem,and number of branches（BN）all decreased.During the shady period,the SL and SMF exhibited a significant negative correlation with yield,and the SD exhibited a significant positive correlation with yield.The correlation between the soybean yield and agronomic parameters during the mature period,except for SL,the first pod height（FPH）,100-seed weight（100-SW）,and reproductive growth period（RGP）,were significant（P〈0.01）,especially for seed weight per branch（SWB）,pods per plant（PP）,BN,and vegetative growth period（VGP）.These results provide an insight into screening the shade tolerance of soybean varieties and can be useful in targeted breeding programs of relay intercropped soybeans.
基金Supported by Cultivation of New Varieties of Genetically Modified Major Projects (2011ZX08004-005)Soybean Industry Technology System(CARS-04-PS08)
文摘Drought is one of the most important environmental constraints limiting plant growth, development and crop yield. Many drought-inducible genes have been identified by molecular and genomic analyses in Arabidopsis, rice and other crops. To better understand reaction mechanism of plant to drought tolerance, we mainly focused on introducing the research of transcription factors （TFs） in signal transduction and regulatory network of gene expression conferring drought. A TF could bind multiple target genes to increase one or more kinds of stress tolerance. Sometimes, several TFs might act together with a target gene. So drought-tolerance genes or TFs might respond to high-salinity, cold or other stresses. The crosstalk of multiple stresses signal pathways is a crucial aspect of understanding stress signaling.
基金Supported by Hunan Dry Grain Industry Technology System Project (Xiangnongfa [2019]105)Hunan Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund Project (2021CX22)。
文摘In order to find the best intercropping pattern of fresh maize and mung bean, five planting patterns, namely fresh maize monocropping, mung bean monocropping, fresh maize and mung bean intercropping at row ratios of 2∶4, 3∶3 and 4∶2 were set up, and the yields and economic benefits of these planting patterns were analyzed. The results showed that the LERs of the three intercropping patterns were all above 1, and the economic benefits of 2∶4, 3∶3 and 4∶2 fresh maize and mung bean intercropping patterns were seen an increase of 2.85%, 17.64% and 14.26% respectively compared with fresh maize monocropping and an increase of 52.06%, 73.92% and 68.93% respectively compared with mung bean monocropping.Among the three intercropping patterns, the intercropping pattern with row ratio 3∶3showed the best effect, which also derived the highest LER with greatest economic benefit.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U20A2034 and 32070217)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS-ZDRW202105 and CAASASTIP-2013-OCRI)。
文摘To address the global demand for rapeseed while considering farmers’profit,we face the challenges of making a quantum leap in seed yield and,at the same time,reducing yield loss due to biotic and abiotic stresses.We also face the challenge of efficiently applying new transformative biotechnology tools such as gene editing and breeding by genome design to increase rapeseed productivity and profitability.In this Perspective,we review advances in research on the physiological and genetic bases of both stress factorsaffected yield stability and seed yield potential,focusing on source–sink relationships and allocation of photosynthetic assimilates to vegetative growth and seed development.We propose research directions and highlight the role of plant architecture in the relative contributions of the root system,leaves,and pods to seed yield.We call for de novo design of new rapeseed crops.We review trait variation in existing germplasm and biotechnologies available for crop design.Finally,we discuss opportunities to apply fundamental knowledge and key germplasm to rapeseed production and propose an ideotype for de novo design of future rapeseed cultivars.
文摘Adjustment of planting geometry along with suitable maize cultivar can be a viable tool for maximizing land usage and net return. A two-year study was carried out at Serw Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, A.R.C., Domiate governorate, Egypt, during 2015 and 2016 seasons to evaluate intercropping cowpea with suitable maize cultivar and its planting geometry for maximizing land usage and net return. The treatments were the combinations between three maize cultivars (SC 30K08, TWC 310 and TWC 352) and three maize plant distributions (one plant/hill distanced at 25, 50 and 75 cm between hills, respectively). Ridge width with maize plant distribution formed maize planting geometry (25 cm × 140 cm, 50 cm × 140 cm and 75 cm × 140 cm). These treatments were compared in a split plot distribution in randomized complete block design with three replications. Maize cultivar SC 30K08 had the highest grain yield and its attributes compared with the other cultivars in both seasons. Also, maize planting geometry 25 cm × 140 cm resulted in the highest grain yield and its attributes compared with the other planting geometries in both seasons. Ear length, ear weight, 100-grain weight and grain yield/fad were affected significantly by maize cultivars × maize planting geometry. Intercropping cowpea with maize cultivar TWC 352 had the highest seed yield and its attributes compared with those intercropped with the other cultivars in both seasons. Also, maize planting geometry 75 cm × 140 cm resulted in the highest seed yield and its attributes through growing two cowpea rows between maize hills compared with the other maize planting geometries in both seasons. Number of pods/plant and seed yield/fad were affected significantly by maize cultivars × maize planting geometry. LER and LEC values of the intercrops were much greater than 1.00 and 0.25, respectively, for all the combinations indicating less land requirements of intercropping system than solid culture of both crops. Growing one row of maize cultivar TWC352 in both sides of bed 140 cm width with cowpea two rows in middle of the bed increased land productivity and net return compared with solid culture of maize.
文摘Chickpea(Cicer arietinum L.) and pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan L.(Millsp.)] play an important role in mitigating protein malnutrition for millions of poor vegetarians living in regions of the semi-arid tropics. Abiotic stresses such as excess and limited soil moisture(water-logging and drought), heat and chilling(high and low temperature stresses), soil salinity, and acidity are major yield constraints, as these two crops are grown mostly under rainfed conditions in risk-prone marginal and degraded lands with few or no inputs. Losses due to such stresses vary from 30% to 100% depending on their severity. The literature abounds in basic information concerning screening techniques, physiological mechanisms, and genetics of traits associated with resistance/tolerance to abiotic stresses in these two crops. However, the final outcome in terms of resistant/tolerant varieties has been far from satisfactory. This situation calls for improving selection efficiency through precise phenotyping and genotyping under high-throughput controlled conditions using modern tools of genomics. In this review, we suggest that an integrated approach combining advances from genetics, physiology, and biotechnology needs to be used for higher precision and efficiency of breeding programs aimed at improving abiotic stress tolerance in both chickpea and pigeonpea.
