2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese lunar calendar.The Snake symbolizes wisdom and wealth,both welcome assets for crop science and scientists.In bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new,I would lik...2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese lunar calendar.The Snake symbolizes wisdom and wealth,both welcome assets for crop science and scientists.In bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new,I would like to thank all editors and reviewers who have generously contributed their time,effort,and expertise to The Crop Journal.I thank our devoted authors and readers for being a part of our journal community.Without all their hard work and passion,The Crop Journal is a mission impossible.展开更多
The International Crop Science Congress(ICSC) is a regularly held event allowing crop scientists to integrate current knowledge into a global context and international applications.The 7th ICSC was held on August 14–...The International Crop Science Congress(ICSC) is a regularly held event allowing crop scientists to integrate current knowledge into a global context and international applications.The 7th ICSC was held on August 14–19,2016 in Beijing,China,with the theme "Crop Science:Innovation and Sustainability".As a companion production for this great congress,the nine papers collected in this special issue feature important fields of crop science in China.This editorial first briefly introduces the 7th ICSC,followed by a brief discussion of the current status of,constraints to,and innovations in Chinese agriculture and crop science.Finally,the main scientific points of the papers published in this special issue are surveyed,covering important advances in hybrid rice breeding,minor cereals,food legumes,rapeseed,crop systems,crop management,cotton,genomics-based germplasm research,and QTL mapping.In a section describing future prospects,it is indicated that China faces a full transition from traditional to modern agriculture and crop science.展开更多
As global population increases and demands for food supplies become greater,we face great challenges in providing more products and in larger quantities from less arable land.Crop science has gained increasing importa...As global population increases and demands for food supplies become greater,we face great challenges in providing more products and in larger quantities from less arable land.Crop science has gained increasing importance in meeting these challenges and results of scientific research must be communicated worldwide on a regular basis.In many countries,however,crop scientists have to publish the results of their investigations in national journals with heterogeneous con-展开更多
Intercropping has been widely used in arid and semi-arid regions because of its high yield,stable productivity,and efficient utilization of resources.However,in recent years,the high yield of traditional intercropping...Intercropping has been widely used in arid and semi-arid regions because of its high yield,stable productivity,and efficient utilization of resources.However,in recent years,the high yield of traditional intercropping is mainly attributed to the large amount of purchased resources such as water and fertilizer,plastic film,and mechanical power.These lead to a decline in cultivated land quality and exacerbate intercrops'premature root and canopy senescence.So,the application of traditional intercropping faces major challenges in crop production.This paper analyzes the manifestations,occurrence mechanisms,and agronomic regulatory pathways of crop senescence.The physiological and ecological characteristics of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence of crops are reviewed in this paper.The main agronomic regulatory pathways of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence of crops are based on above-and blow-ground interactions,including collocation of crop varieties,spatial arrangement,water and fertilizer management,and tillage and mulch practices.Future research fields of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence should focus on the aspects of selecting and breeding special varieties,application of molecular biology techniques,and developing or applying models to predict and evaluate the root and canopy senescence process of intercrops.Comprehensive analysis and evaluation of different research results could provide a basis for enhancing intercropping delay root and canopy senescence through adopting innovative technologies for regulating the physio-ecological characteristics of intercrops.This would support developing and adopting high-yield,efficient,and sustainable intercropping systems in arid and semi-arid areas with high population density,limited land,and abundant light and heat resources.展开更多
Salt stress is a global constraint on agricultural production.Therefore,the development of salt tolerant plants has become a current research hotspot.While salt tolerance has evolved more frequently in C_(4) grass lin...Salt stress is a global constraint on agricultural production.Therefore,the development of salt tolerant plants has become a current research hotspot.While salt tolerance has evolved more frequently in C_(4) grass lineages,few studies have explored the molecular bases underlying salt stress tolerance in the C_(4) crop foxtail millet.In this study,we used a multi-pronged approach spanning the omics analyses of transcriptomes and physiological analysis of the C_(3) crop rice and the C_(4) model crop foxtail millet to investigate their responses to salt stress.The results revealed that compared to C_(3) rice,C_(4) foxtail millet has upregulated abscisic acid(ABA)and notably reduced CK biosynthesis and signaling transduction under salt stress.Salt stress in C_(3) rice plants triggered rapid downregulation of photosynthesis related genes,which was coupled with severely reduced net photosynthetic rates.In the salt-treated C_(3) rice and C_(4) foxtail millet,some stress responsive transcription factors(TFs),such as AP2/ERF,WRKY and MYB,underwent strong and distinct transcriptional changes.Based on a weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA),the AP2/ERF transcription factor Rice Starch Regulator1 SiRSR1(Seita.3G044600)was identified as a key regulator of the salt stress response.To confirm its function,we generated OsRSR1-knockout lines using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in rice and its upstream repressor SimiR172a-overexpressing(172a-OE)transgenic plants in foxtail millet,which both showed increased salt tolerance.Overall,this study not only provides new insights into the convergent regulation of the salt stress responses of foxtail millet and rice,but it also sheds light on the divergent signaling networks between them in response to salt stress.展开更多
A critical challenge for global food security and sustainable agriculture is enhancing crop yields while reducing chemical N inputs.Improving N use efficiency in crops is essential for increasing agricultural producti...A critical challenge for global food security and sustainable agriculture is enhancing crop yields while reducing chemical N inputs.Improving N use efficiency in crops is essential for increasing agricultural productivity.The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of intercropping maize with leguminous green manure on grain yield and N utilization under reduced N-fertilization conditions.A field experiment with a split-plot design was conducted in northwestern China from 2018 to 2021.The main plots consisted of two cropping systems:maize-common vetch intercropping(IM)and sole maize(SM).The subplots had three N levels:zero N application(N0,0 kg ha^(-1)),a 25%reduction from the traditional chemical N supply(N1,270 kg ha^(-1)),and the traditional chemical N supply(N2,360 kg ha^(-1)).The results showed that the negative effects of N reduction on maize grain yield and N uptake were compensated by intercropping leguminous green manure,and the improvements increased with cultivation years.The integrated system involving maize-leguminous green manure intercropping and a reduced N supply enhanced N translocation from maize vegetative organs to grains and increased the nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activities in maize leaves.The supercompensatory effect in maize leaves increased year by year,reaching values of 16.1,21.3,and 25.5%in 2019,2020,and 2021,respectively.These findings suggest that intercropping maize with leguminous green manure under reduced chemical N input can enhance N assimilation and uptake in maize.By using this strategy,chemical fertilizer is effectively replaced by leguminous green manure,thereby improving N use efficiency and maintaining stable yields in the maize-based intercropping system.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
Despite its negative impacts on plant functioning,climate change benefits plants at the cellular level.For example,the stimulation of C3 photosynthesis by elevated CO_(2)can increase N2 fixation by 73%and grain yield ...Despite its negative impacts on plant functioning,climate change benefits plants at the cellular level.For example,the stimulation of C3 photosynthesis by elevated CO_(2)can increase N2 fixation by 73%and grain yield by 10%–11%.The global elevated atmospheric CO_(2)concentration has already decreased the nitrogen content in C3 crop species and C3 woody vegetation by 14%and 21%,respectively,regardless of added nitrogen fertilizer.^(15)N-feeding experiments have shown that,after 19 h under elevated CO_(2),the^(15)N concentration in the stems,roots plus rhizomes,and whole plants of Scirpus olneyi(S.olneyi)decreased by 51%,63%,and 74%,respectively.Moreover,S.olneyi showed reduced NH_(4)^(+)assimilation under elevated CO_(2),which decreased the amino acid contents in the stems by 25.6%for glycine and 65.0%for serine,and that in the roots plus rhizomes by 2%for gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)and 80%for glutamate.Wheat grain protein has also been found to decrease by 7.4%under elevated CO_(2)due to reductions in threonine,valine,iso-leucine,leucine,and phenylalanine.The mineral nutrient contents in grains of rice and maize were similarly found to decrease under high CO_(2)by 1.0%and 7.1%for phosphorus,7.8%and 2.1%for sulfur,5.2%and 5.8%for iron,3.3%and 5.2%for zinc,10.6%and 9.9%for copper,and 7.5%and 4.2%for manganese,respectively.In general,mineral concentrations in C3 plants are predicted to decrease by 8%under elevated CO_(2),while total non-structural carbohydrates(mainly starch and sugars)are expected to increase.These decreases in grain protein,amino acids,and mineral nutrients could double the incidence of global protein-calorie malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency—especially in Africa,where agricultural soils are inherently low in nutrient elements.Additionally,the increase in total non-structural carbohydrates(mainly starch and sugars)in cereal crops could elevate diabetes incidence due to heavy reliance on starchy diets.The negative effects of elevated CO_(2)on rice,maize,and wheat—the world's three major staple crops—suggest an increase in global food insecurity with rising atmospheric CO_(2)concentration.展开更多
Grain soybean(Glycine max(L.)Merr.)shows potential as a forage crop following its introduction from low to high latitudes due to in its growth phenotype.However,the application of this approach is impeded by the diver...Grain soybean(Glycine max(L.)Merr.)shows potential as a forage crop following its introduction from low to high latitudes due to in its growth phenotype.However,the application of this approach is impeded by the diverse ecological types of soybean,their adaptability to the introduction,and the uncertainty surrounding the growth phenotype post-introduction.This study introduced 24 grain soybean varieties from low-latitude regions(22-31°N)to the high-latitude northwestern Loess Plateau(39°N)between 2018 and 2019.The growth phenotypes were observed,and their forage productivity potential was assessed.All varieties displayed delayed flowering following cross-latitude introduction,with the vegetative growth phase of some varieties even exceeding their entire growth duration at their origin.Rapid dry matter accumulation rates indicated growth adaptation performance and formed the basis for soybean forage yield.Varieties from the tropical South China region exhibited significant yield advantages,with dry matter yields of 8.97-14.68 t ha^(-1)and crude protein yields of 1.44-2.51 t ha^(-1).Varieties HX3 and GX7 from this region demonstrated optimal growth adaptability and productivity in the cross-latitude environment,achieving the highest dry matter yields of 14.68 and 13.86 t ha^(-1),respectively.As a result,HX3 and GX7 are recommended for local farming systems to provide high-quality forage.The cross-latitude introduction of soybean is proposed as a viable and efficient strategy for forage improvement and application.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
RNA interference(RNAi)has been used for agricultural insect pest control based on silencing of targeted insect genes.However,the effectiveness of RNAi and its applications in insect pest control remain challenging.Her...RNA interference(RNAi)has been used for agricultural insect pest control based on silencing of targeted insect genes.However,the effectiveness of RNAi and its applications in insect pest control remain challenging.Here we review factors that may affect the effectiveness of RNAi application,including the variability in RNAi efficacy among different insect species,a limited understanding of double-stranded RNA(dsRNA)uptake and systemic RNAi mechanisms,and the effective delivery of dsRNA in field conditions.Furthermore,we summarize recent progress in RNAi strategies for crop protection,discuss the advantages and disadvantages of RNAi-based insect control,and propose potential strategies to increase the effectiveness of RNAi in insect control.展开更多
For smooth and wide application of conservation agriculture(CA), remaining uncertainties about its impacts on crop yield need to be reduced. Based on previous field experiments in China, a meta-analysis was performed ...For smooth and wide application of conservation agriculture(CA), remaining uncertainties about its impacts on crop yield need to be reduced. Based on previous field experiments in China, a meta-analysis was performed to quantify the actual impacts of CA practices(NT: no/reduced-tillage only, CTSR: conventional tillage with straw retention, NTSR: NT with straw retention) on crop yields as compared to conventional tillage without straw retention(CT).Although CA practices increased crop yield by 4.6% on average, there were large variations in their impacts. For each CA practice, CTSR and NTSR significantly increased crop yield by 4.9%and 6.3%, respectively, compared to CT. However, no significant effect was found for NT. Among ecological areas, significant positive effects of CA practices were found in areas with an annual precipitation below 600 mm. Similar effects were found in areas with annual mean air temperature above 5 °C. For cropping regions, CA increased crop yield by 6.4% and 5.5%compared to CT in Northwest and South China, respectively, whereas no significant effects were found in the North China and Northeast China regions. Among crops, the positive effects of CA practices were significantly higher in maize(7.5%) and rice(4.1%) than in wheat(2.9%). NT likely decreased wheat yield. Our results indicate that there are great differences in the impacts of CA practices on crop yield, owing to regional variation in climate and crop types. CA will most likely increase maize yield but reduce wheat yield. It is strongly recommended to apply CA with crop straw retention in maize cropping areas and seasons with a warm and dry climate pattern.展开更多
Increasing evidence has shown that conservation tillage is an effective agricultural practice to increase carbon （C） sequestration in soils. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the responses of soil org...Increasing evidence has shown that conservation tillage is an effective agricultural practice to increase carbon （C） sequestration in soils. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the responses of soil organic carbon （SOC） to tillage regimes, physical fractionation techniques were employed to evaluate the effect of long-term no-tillage （NT） on soil aggregation and SOC fractions. Results showed that NT increased the concentration of total SOC by 18.1% compared with conventional tillage （CT） under a long-term maize （Zea mays L.） cropping system in Northeast China. The proportion of soil large macroaggregates （〉 2 000 μm） was higher in NT than that in CT, while small macroaggregates （250-2 000μm） showed an opposite trend. Therefore, the total proportion of macroaggregates （〉 2 000 and 250-2 000μm） was not affected by tillage management. However, C concentrations of macroaggregates on a whole soil basis were higher under NT relative to CT, indicating that both the amount of aggregation and aggregate turnover affected C stabilization. Carbon concentrations of intra-aggregate particulate organic matter associated with microaggregates （iPOM-m） and microaggregates occluded within macroaggregates （iPOM-mM） in NT were 1.6 and 1.8 times greater than those in CT, respectively. Carbon proportions of iPOM-n and iPOM-mM in the total SOC increased from 5.4% and 6.3% in CT to 7.2% and 9.7% in NT, respectively. Furthermore, the difference in the microaggregate protected C （i. e., iPOM-m and iPOM-mM） between NT and CT could explain 45.4% of the difference in the whole SOC. The above results indicate that NT stimulates C accumulation within microaggregates which then are further acted upon in the soil to form macroaggregates. The shift of SOC within microaggregates is beneficial for long-term C sequestration in soil. We also corroborate that the microaggregate protected C is useful as a pool for assessing the impact of tillage management on SOC storage.展开更多
A pot experiment was performed to learn the differences in plant productivity and OH4 emission between two rice cultivars, super rice variety Ningjing 1 and traditional variety Zhendao 11, which were currently commerc...A pot experiment was performed to learn the differences in plant productivity and OH4 emission between two rice cultivars, super rice variety Ningjing 1 and traditional variety Zhendao 11, which were currently commercially appUed in Nanjing, China. Similar seasonal changes of CH4 emission fluxes and soil solution CH4 contents were found between the tested cultivars. Although there was no significant difference in plant biomass production between the cultivars, the grain yield of Ningjing 1 was significantly higher by 35.0% （P 〈 0.05） than that of Zhendao 11, whereas the total CH4 emission from Ningjing 1 was 35.2% lower （P 〈 0.05）. The main difference in the amounts of CH4 emission between the cultivars occurred in the period from the tillering stage to the heading stage. The biomass-scaled and yield-scaled CH4 emissions were respectively 3.8 and 5.2 mg/g for Ningjing 1, significantly lower than those for Zhendao 11 （7.4 and 12.8 mg/g, respectively）. According to the relationships between the plant growth characteristics and the CH4 emission, a stronger root system contributed mainly to the lower CH4 emission of Ningjing 1, as compared with Zhendao 11. Our results demonstrated that super rice has advantages not only in grain productivity but also in CH4 emission mitigation. Further expansion of super rice cropping will enhance rice yield and reduce greenhouse gas emission in China.展开更多
The CRISPR/Cas9 technology is evolved from a type II bacterial immune system and represents a new generation of targeted genome editing technology that can be applied to nearly all organisms. Site-specific modificatio...The CRISPR/Cas9 technology is evolved from a type II bacterial immune system and represents a new generation of targeted genome editing technology that can be applied to nearly all organisms. Site-specific modification is achieved by a single guide RNA(usually about 20nucleotides) that is complementary to a target gene or locus and is anchored by a protospaceradjacent motif. Cas9 nuclease then cleaves the targeted DNA to generate double-strand breaks(DSBs), which are subsequently repaired by non-homologous end joining(NHEJ) or homology-directed repair(HDR) mechanisms. NHEJ may introduce indels that cause frame shift mutations and hence the disruption of gene functions. When combined with double or multiplex guide RNA design, NHEJ may also introduce targeted chromosome deletions,whereas HDR can be engineered for target gene correction, gene replacement, and gene knock-in. In this review, we briefly survey the history of the CRISPR/Cas9 system invention and its genome-editing mechanism. We also describe the most recent innovation of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, particularly the broad applications of modified Cas9 variants, and discuss the potential of this system for targeted genome editing and modification for crop improvement.展开更多
Intercropping is one of the most vital practice to improve land utilization rate in China that has limited arable land resource. However, the traditional intercropping systems have many disadvantages including illogic...Intercropping is one of the most vital practice to improve land utilization rate in China that has limited arable land resource. However, the traditional intercropping systems have many disadvantages including illogical field lay-out of crops, low economic value, and labor deficiency, which cannot balance the crop production and agricultural sustainability. In view of this, we developed a novel soybean strip intercropping model using maize as the partner, the regular maize-soybean strip intercropping mainly popularized in northern China and maize-soybean relay-strip intercropping principally extended in southwestern China. Compared to the traditional maize-soybean intercropping systems, the main innovation of field lay-out style in our present intercropping systems is that the distance of two adjacent maize rows are shrunk as a narrow strip, and a strip called wide strip between two adjacent narrow strips is expanded reserving for the growth of two or three rows of soybean plants. The distance between outer rows of maize and soybean strips are expanded enough for light use efficiency improvement and tractors working in the soybean strips. Importantly, optimal cultivar screening and increase of plant density achieved a high yield of both the two crops in the intercropping systems and increased land equivalent ratio as high as 2.2. Annually alternative rotation of the adjacent maize-and soybean-strips increased the grain yield of next seasonal maize, improved the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potasium of maize, while prevented the continuous cropping obstacles. Extra soybean production was obtained without affecting maize yield in our strip intercropping systems, which balanced the high crop production and agricultural sustainability.展开更多
Opencast lignite mining in the Lusatia region of Germany has resulted in large scale landscape disturbances, which require suitable recultivation techniques in order to promote plant growth and establishment in the re...Opencast lignite mining in the Lusatia region of Germany has resulted in large scale landscape disturbances, which require suitable recultivation techniques in order to promote plant growth and establishment in the remaining nutrient-poor substrates with low water-holding capacity. Thus, the effects of two commercial soil additives （CSA）, a hydrophilic polymer mixed with volcanic rock flour and bentonite （a-CSA）, and digester solids from biogas plants enriched with humic acids and bentonite （b-CSA）, on soil organic carbon （SOC） storage, plant yields and root biomass were assessed after cultivating perennial crops （Dactylis 9lornerata L.） in monoculture and Helianthus annuus L.-Brassica napus L. in crop rotation systems. The CSA were incorporated into the top 20 cm soil depth using a rotary spader. The results indicated that a-CSA led to a significant increase in plant yield during the first year, and improved root biomass in the following year. As a result, SOC stocks increased, especially in the 0 10 cm soil layer. No significant sequestration of additional SOC was observed on b-CSA-amended plots at the end of both years. Bulk density values decreased in all treatments under the monoculture system. It can be concluded that application of a-CSA enhanced soil water availability for plant uptake and consequently promoted plant growth and organic carbon sequestration. The relative enrichment of organic matter without effects on water-holding capacities of b-CSA treatments suggested that it was not suitable for rapid land reclamation.展开更多
A large portion of the Loess Plateau of China is characterized as “marginal” with serious land degradation and desertification problems. Consequently, two policies, Grain for Green and Western Development Action wer...A large portion of the Loess Plateau of China is characterized as “marginal” with serious land degradation and desertification problems. Consequently, two policies, Grain for Green and Western Development Action were established by the Chinese government in response to the demand for ecological protection and economic development in the Loess Plateau. These policies are designed to increase forest cover, expand farmlands, and enhance soil and water conservation, while creating sustainable vegetation restoration. Perennial grasses have gained attention as bioenergy feedstocks due to their high biomass yields, low inputs, and greater ecosystem services compared to annual crops. Moreover, perennial grasses limit nutrient runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and soil losses while sequestering carbon. Additionally, perennial grasses can generate economic returns for local farmers through producing bioenergy feedstock or forage on marginal lands. Here, we suggest a United States model energy crop, switchgrass（Panicum virgatum L.） as a model crop to minimize land degradation and desertification and to generate biomass for energy on the Loess Plateau.展开更多
The world population is estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050. The rise in population coupled with improving living standards will require a doubling of the crop yield to fulfill food demand and livestock feed, which ...The world population is estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050. The rise in population coupled with improving living standards will require a doubling of the crop yield to fulfill food demand and livestock feed, which means crop yield will need to increase by 60–110% between 2005 and 2050(Tilman et al. 2011).展开更多
文摘2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese lunar calendar.The Snake symbolizes wisdom and wealth,both welcome assets for crop science and scientists.In bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new,I would like to thank all editors and reviewers who have generously contributed their time,effort,and expertise to The Crop Journal.I thank our devoted authors and readers for being a part of our journal community.Without all their hard work and passion,The Crop Journal is a mission impossible.
文摘The International Crop Science Congress(ICSC) is a regularly held event allowing crop scientists to integrate current knowledge into a global context and international applications.The 7th ICSC was held on August 14–19,2016 in Beijing,China,with the theme "Crop Science:Innovation and Sustainability".As a companion production for this great congress,the nine papers collected in this special issue feature important fields of crop science in China.This editorial first briefly introduces the 7th ICSC,followed by a brief discussion of the current status of,constraints to,and innovations in Chinese agriculture and crop science.Finally,the main scientific points of the papers published in this special issue are surveyed,covering important advances in hybrid rice breeding,minor cereals,food legumes,rapeseed,crop systems,crop management,cotton,genomics-based germplasm research,and QTL mapping.In a section describing future prospects,it is indicated that China faces a full transition from traditional to modern agriculture and crop science.
文摘As global population increases and demands for food supplies become greater,we face great challenges in providing more products and in larger quantities from less arable land.Crop science has gained increasing importance in meeting these challenges and results of scientific research must be communicated worldwide on a regular basis.In many countries,however,crop scientists have to publish the results of their investigations in national journals with heterogeneous con-
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32101857 and U21A20218)the China Agricultural University Corresponding Support Research Joint Fund(GSAU-DKZY-2024-001)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Program in Gansu Province,China(24ZDNA008and23JRRA1407)the Fuxi Young Talents Fund of Gansu Agricultural University,China(Gaufx-03Y10).
文摘Intercropping has been widely used in arid and semi-arid regions because of its high yield,stable productivity,and efficient utilization of resources.However,in recent years,the high yield of traditional intercropping is mainly attributed to the large amount of purchased resources such as water and fertilizer,plastic film,and mechanical power.These lead to a decline in cultivated land quality and exacerbate intercrops'premature root and canopy senescence.So,the application of traditional intercropping faces major challenges in crop production.This paper analyzes the manifestations,occurrence mechanisms,and agronomic regulatory pathways of crop senescence.The physiological and ecological characteristics of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence of crops are reviewed in this paper.The main agronomic regulatory pathways of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence of crops are based on above-and blow-ground interactions,including collocation of crop varieties,spatial arrangement,water and fertilizer management,and tillage and mulch practices.Future research fields of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence should focus on the aspects of selecting and breeding special varieties,application of molecular biology techniques,and developing or applying models to predict and evaluate the root and canopy senescence process of intercrops.Comprehensive analysis and evaluation of different research results could provide a basis for enhancing intercropping delay root and canopy senescence through adopting innovative technologies for regulating the physio-ecological characteristics of intercrops.This would support developing and adopting high-yield,efficient,and sustainable intercropping systems in arid and semi-arid areas with high population density,limited land,and abundant light and heat resources.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32241042)the National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFD1000700 and 2019YFD1000703)the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project,China(2022ZD04017).
文摘Salt stress is a global constraint on agricultural production.Therefore,the development of salt tolerant plants has become a current research hotspot.While salt tolerance has evolved more frequently in C_(4) grass lineages,few studies have explored the molecular bases underlying salt stress tolerance in the C_(4) crop foxtail millet.In this study,we used a multi-pronged approach spanning the omics analyses of transcriptomes and physiological analysis of the C_(3) crop rice and the C_(4) model crop foxtail millet to investigate their responses to salt stress.The results revealed that compared to C_(3) rice,C_(4) foxtail millet has upregulated abscisic acid(ABA)and notably reduced CK biosynthesis and signaling transduction under salt stress.Salt stress in C_(3) rice plants triggered rapid downregulation of photosynthesis related genes,which was coupled with severely reduced net photosynthetic rates.In the salt-treated C_(3) rice and C_(4) foxtail millet,some stress responsive transcription factors(TFs),such as AP2/ERF,WRKY and MYB,underwent strong and distinct transcriptional changes.Based on a weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA),the AP2/ERF transcription factor Rice Starch Regulator1 SiRSR1(Seita.3G044600)was identified as a key regulator of the salt stress response.To confirm its function,we generated OsRSR1-knockout lines using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in rice and its upstream repressor SimiR172a-overexpressing(172a-OE)transgenic plants in foxtail millet,which both showed increased salt tolerance.Overall,this study not only provides new insights into the convergent regulation of the salt stress responses of foxtail millet and rice,but it also sheds light on the divergent signaling networks between them in response to salt stress.
基金supported by the‘Double First-Class’Key Scientific Research Project of Education Department in Gansu Province,China(GSSYLXM-02)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20218 and 32160765)+3 种基金the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System(CARS-22-G-12)the Science and Technology Project of Gansu Province,China(20JR5RA037 and 21JR7RA836)the Postdoctoral Research Start-up Foundation of Gansu Province,China(03824034)the Postdoctoral Research Start-up Foundation of Gansu Agricultural University,China(202403)。
文摘A critical challenge for global food security and sustainable agriculture is enhancing crop yields while reducing chemical N inputs.Improving N use efficiency in crops is essential for increasing agricultural productivity.The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of intercropping maize with leguminous green manure on grain yield and N utilization under reduced N-fertilization conditions.A field experiment with a split-plot design was conducted in northwestern China from 2018 to 2021.The main plots consisted of two cropping systems:maize-common vetch intercropping(IM)and sole maize(SM).The subplots had three N levels:zero N application(N0,0 kg ha^(-1)),a 25%reduction from the traditional chemical N supply(N1,270 kg ha^(-1)),and the traditional chemical N supply(N2,360 kg ha^(-1)).The results showed that the negative effects of N reduction on maize grain yield and N uptake were compensated by intercropping leguminous green manure,and the improvements increased with cultivation years.The integrated system involving maize-leguminous green manure intercropping and a reduced N supply enhanced N translocation from maize vegetative organs to grains and increased the nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activities in maize leaves.The supercompensatory effect in maize leaves increased year by year,reaching values of 16.1,21.3,and 25.5%in 2019,2020,and 2021,respectively.These findings suggest that intercropping maize with leguminous green manure under reduced chemical N input can enhance N assimilation and uptake in maize.By using this strategy,chemical fertilizer is effectively replaced by leguminous green manure,thereby improving N use efficiency and maintaining stable yields in the maize-based intercropping system.
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 Nanfan special project,CAAS(YBXM2408)the Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS-CSIAF-202303)to Huihui Li+1 种基金a grant from Sanya Municipal Program for Science and Technology Innovation(2022KJCX87)the Nanfan special project,CAAS(YBXM2319),to Jun Zhao。
文摘Despite its negative impacts on plant functioning,climate change benefits plants at the cellular level.For example,the stimulation of C3 photosynthesis by elevated CO_(2)can increase N2 fixation by 73%and grain yield by 10%–11%.The global elevated atmospheric CO_(2)concentration has already decreased the nitrogen content in C3 crop species and C3 woody vegetation by 14%and 21%,respectively,regardless of added nitrogen fertilizer.^(15)N-feeding experiments have shown that,after 19 h under elevated CO_(2),the^(15)N concentration in the stems,roots plus rhizomes,and whole plants of Scirpus olneyi(S.olneyi)decreased by 51%,63%,and 74%,respectively.Moreover,S.olneyi showed reduced NH_(4)^(+)assimilation under elevated CO_(2),which decreased the amino acid contents in the stems by 25.6%for glycine and 65.0%for serine,and that in the roots plus rhizomes by 2%for gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)and 80%for glutamate.Wheat grain protein has also been found to decrease by 7.4%under elevated CO_(2)due to reductions in threonine,valine,iso-leucine,leucine,and phenylalanine.The mineral nutrient contents in grains of rice and maize were similarly found to decrease under high CO_(2)by 1.0%and 7.1%for phosphorus,7.8%and 2.1%for sulfur,5.2%and 5.8%for iron,3.3%and 5.2%for zinc,10.6%and 9.9%for copper,and 7.5%and 4.2%for manganese,respectively.In general,mineral concentrations in C3 plants are predicted to decrease by 8%under elevated CO_(2),while total non-structural carbohydrates(mainly starch and sugars)are expected to increase.These decreases in grain protein,amino acids,and mineral nutrients could double the incidence of global protein-calorie malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency—especially in Africa,where agricultural soils are inherently low in nutrient elements.Additionally,the increase in total non-structural carbohydrates(mainly starch and sugars)in cereal crops could elevate diabetes incidence due to heavy reliance on starchy diets.The negative effects of elevated CO_(2)on rice,maize,and wheat—the world's three major staple crops—suggest an increase in global food insecurity with rising atmospheric CO_(2)concentration.
基金funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFD1300803)the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-34)。
文摘Grain soybean(Glycine max(L.)Merr.)shows potential as a forage crop following its introduction from low to high latitudes due to in its growth phenotype.However,the application of this approach is impeded by the diverse ecological types of soybean,their adaptability to the introduction,and the uncertainty surrounding the growth phenotype post-introduction.This study introduced 24 grain soybean varieties from low-latitude regions(22-31°N)to the high-latitude northwestern Loess Plateau(39°N)between 2018 and 2019.The growth phenotypes were observed,and their forage productivity potential was assessed.All varieties displayed delayed flowering following cross-latitude introduction,with the vegetative growth phase of some varieties even exceeding their entire growth duration at their origin.Rapid dry matter accumulation rates indicated growth adaptation performance and formed the basis for soybean forage yield.Varieties from the tropical South China region exhibited significant yield advantages,with dry matter yields of 8.97-14.68 t ha^(-1)and crude protein yields of 1.44-2.51 t ha^(-1).Varieties HX3 and GX7 from this region demonstrated optimal growth adaptability and productivity in the cross-latitude environment,achieving the highest dry matter yields of 14.68 and 13.86 t ha^(-1),respectively.As a result,HX3 and GX7 are recommended for local farming systems to provide high-quality forage.The cross-latitude introduction of soybean is proposed as a viable and efficient strategy for forage improvement and application.
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funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32188102 to Lanqin Xia)Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Jiangxi province(20212ACB215001 to Xiudao Yu)+1 种基金supported by the China Scholarship Council(202303250062)the GSCAAS-ULg Joint PhD Program。
文摘RNA interference(RNAi)has been used for agricultural insect pest control based on silencing of targeted insect genes.However,the effectiveness of RNAi and its applications in insect pest control remain challenging.Here we review factors that may affect the effectiveness of RNAi application,including the variability in RNAi efficacy among different insect species,a limited understanding of double-stranded RNA(dsRNA)uptake and systemic RNAi mechanisms,and the effective delivery of dsRNA in field conditions.Furthermore,we summarize recent progress in RNAi strategies for crop protection,discuss the advantages and disadvantages of RNAi-based insect control,and propose potential strategies to increase the effectiveness of RNAi in insect control.
基金jointly supported by the National Key Technology R&D Program of China(2011BAD16B14)the Natural Science Foundation of China(31201179)the Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
文摘For smooth and wide application of conservation agriculture(CA), remaining uncertainties about its impacts on crop yield need to be reduced. Based on previous field experiments in China, a meta-analysis was performed to quantify the actual impacts of CA practices(NT: no/reduced-tillage only, CTSR: conventional tillage with straw retention, NTSR: NT with straw retention) on crop yields as compared to conventional tillage without straw retention(CT).Although CA practices increased crop yield by 4.6% on average, there were large variations in their impacts. For each CA practice, CTSR and NTSR significantly increased crop yield by 4.9%and 6.3%, respectively, compared to CT. However, no significant effect was found for NT. Among ecological areas, significant positive effects of CA practices were found in areas with an annual precipitation below 600 mm. Similar effects were found in areas with annual mean air temperature above 5 °C. For cropping regions, CA increased crop yield by 6.4% and 5.5%compared to CT in Northwest and South China, respectively, whereas no significant effects were found in the North China and Northeast China regions. Among crops, the positive effects of CA practices were significantly higher in maize(7.5%) and rice(4.1%) than in wheat(2.9%). NT likely decreased wheat yield. Our results indicate that there are great differences in the impacts of CA practices on crop yield, owing to regional variation in climate and crop types. CA will most likely increase maize yield but reduce wheat yield. It is strongly recommended to apply CA with crop straw retention in maize cropping areas and seasons with a warm and dry climate pattern.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program(973Program)of China(No.2009CB118601)the Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(No.082060302-19)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30571094)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University,China(No.NCET-05-0492)the Doctoral Foundation of the Ministry of Education,China(No.B200608)
文摘Increasing evidence has shown that conservation tillage is an effective agricultural practice to increase carbon （C） sequestration in soils. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the responses of soil organic carbon （SOC） to tillage regimes, physical fractionation techniques were employed to evaluate the effect of long-term no-tillage （NT） on soil aggregation and SOC fractions. Results showed that NT increased the concentration of total SOC by 18.1% compared with conventional tillage （CT） under a long-term maize （Zea mays L.） cropping system in Northeast China. The proportion of soil large macroaggregates （〉 2 000 μm） was higher in NT than that in CT, while small macroaggregates （250-2 000μm） showed an opposite trend. Therefore, the total proportion of macroaggregates （〉 2 000 and 250-2 000μm） was not affected by tillage management. However, C concentrations of macroaggregates on a whole soil basis were higher under NT relative to CT, indicating that both the amount of aggregation and aggregate turnover affected C stabilization. Carbon concentrations of intra-aggregate particulate organic matter associated with microaggregates （iPOM-m） and microaggregates occluded within macroaggregates （iPOM-mM） in NT were 1.6 and 1.8 times greater than those in CT, respectively. Carbon proportions of iPOM-n and iPOM-mM in the total SOC increased from 5.4% and 6.3% in CT to 7.2% and 9.7% in NT, respectively. Furthermore, the difference in the microaggregate protected C （i. e., iPOM-m and iPOM-mM） between NT and CT could explain 45.4% of the difference in the whole SOC. The above results indicate that NT stimulates C accumulation within microaggregates which then are further acted upon in the soil to form macroaggregates. The shift of SOC within microaggregates is beneficial for long-term C sequestration in soil. We also corroborate that the microaggregate protected C is useful as a pool for assessing the impact of tillage management on SOC storage.
基金supported by the National Key Technology Support Program of China (Grant No. 2011BAD16B14)Youth Science and Technology Innovation Foundation of Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing,China (Grant No. KJ2012002)
文摘A pot experiment was performed to learn the differences in plant productivity and OH4 emission between two rice cultivars, super rice variety Ningjing 1 and traditional variety Zhendao 11, which were currently commercially appUed in Nanjing, China. Similar seasonal changes of CH4 emission fluxes and soil solution CH4 contents were found between the tested cultivars. Although there was no significant difference in plant biomass production between the cultivars, the grain yield of Ningjing 1 was significantly higher by 35.0% （P 〈 0.05） than that of Zhendao 11, whereas the total CH4 emission from Ningjing 1 was 35.2% lower （P 〈 0.05）. The main difference in the amounts of CH4 emission between the cultivars occurred in the period from the tillering stage to the heading stage. The biomass-scaled and yield-scaled CH4 emissions were respectively 3.8 and 5.2 mg/g for Ningjing 1, significantly lower than those for Zhendao 11 （7.4 and 12.8 mg/g, respectively）. According to the relationships between the plant growth characteristics and the CH4 emission, a stronger root system contributed mainly to the lower CH4 emission of Ningjing 1, as compared with Zhendao 11. Our results demonstrated that super rice has advantages not only in grain productivity but also in CH4 emission mitigation. Further expansion of super rice cropping will enhance rice yield and reduce greenhouse gas emission in China.
基金supported in part by the Key Transgenic Breeding Program of the Ministry of Agriculture of China(ZX2014X08009-001 and ZX2016X08009-001)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of CAAS
文摘The CRISPR/Cas9 technology is evolved from a type II bacterial immune system and represents a new generation of targeted genome editing technology that can be applied to nearly all organisms. Site-specific modification is achieved by a single guide RNA(usually about 20nucleotides) that is complementary to a target gene or locus and is anchored by a protospaceradjacent motif. Cas9 nuclease then cleaves the targeted DNA to generate double-strand breaks(DSBs), which are subsequently repaired by non-homologous end joining(NHEJ) or homology-directed repair(HDR) mechanisms. NHEJ may introduce indels that cause frame shift mutations and hence the disruption of gene functions. When combined with double or multiplex guide RNA design, NHEJ may also introduce targeted chromosome deletions,whereas HDR can be engineered for target gene correction, gene replacement, and gene knock-in. In this review, we briefly survey the history of the CRISPR/Cas9 system invention and its genome-editing mechanism. We also describe the most recent innovation of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, particularly the broad applications of modified Cas9 variants, and discuss the potential of this system for targeted genome editing and modification for crop improvement.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31401308, 31371555 and 31671445)
文摘Intercropping is one of the most vital practice to improve land utilization rate in China that has limited arable land resource. However, the traditional intercropping systems have many disadvantages including illogical field lay-out of crops, low economic value, and labor deficiency, which cannot balance the crop production and agricultural sustainability. In view of this, we developed a novel soybean strip intercropping model using maize as the partner, the regular maize-soybean strip intercropping mainly popularized in northern China and maize-soybean relay-strip intercropping principally extended in southwestern China. Compared to the traditional maize-soybean intercropping systems, the main innovation of field lay-out style in our present intercropping systems is that the distance of two adjacent maize rows are shrunk as a narrow strip, and a strip called wide strip between two adjacent narrow strips is expanded reserving for the growth of two or three rows of soybean plants. The distance between outer rows of maize and soybean strips are expanded enough for light use efficiency improvement and tractors working in the soybean strips. Importantly, optimal cultivar screening and increase of plant density achieved a high yield of both the two crops in the intercropping systems and increased land equivalent ratio as high as 2.2. Annually alternative rotation of the adjacent maize-and soybean-strips increased the grain yield of next seasonal maize, improved the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potasium of maize, while prevented the continuous cropping obstacles. Extra soybean production was obtained without affecting maize yield in our strip intercropping systems, which balanced the high crop production and agricultural sustainability.
基金Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
文摘Opencast lignite mining in the Lusatia region of Germany has resulted in large scale landscape disturbances, which require suitable recultivation techniques in order to promote plant growth and establishment in the remaining nutrient-poor substrates with low water-holding capacity. Thus, the effects of two commercial soil additives （CSA）, a hydrophilic polymer mixed with volcanic rock flour and bentonite （a-CSA）, and digester solids from biogas plants enriched with humic acids and bentonite （b-CSA）, on soil organic carbon （SOC） storage, plant yields and root biomass were assessed after cultivating perennial crops （Dactylis 9lornerata L.） in monoculture and Helianthus annuus L.-Brassica napus L. in crop rotation systems. The CSA were incorporated into the top 20 cm soil depth using a rotary spader. The results indicated that a-CSA led to a significant increase in plant yield during the first year, and improved root biomass in the following year. As a result, SOC stocks increased, especially in the 0 10 cm soil layer. No significant sequestration of additional SOC was observed on b-CSA-amended plots at the end of both years. Bulk density values decreased in all treatments under the monoculture system. It can be concluded that application of a-CSA enhanced soil water availability for plant uptake and consequently promoted plant growth and organic carbon sequestration. The relative enrichment of organic matter without effects on water-holding capacities of b-CSA treatments suggested that it was not suitable for rapid land reclamation.
基金supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Project (1001878)
文摘A large portion of the Loess Plateau of China is characterized as “marginal” with serious land degradation and desertification problems. Consequently, two policies, Grain for Green and Western Development Action were established by the Chinese government in response to the demand for ecological protection and economic development in the Loess Plateau. These policies are designed to increase forest cover, expand farmlands, and enhance soil and water conservation, while creating sustainable vegetation restoration. Perennial grasses have gained attention as bioenergy feedstocks due to their high biomass yields, low inputs, and greater ecosystem services compared to annual crops. Moreover, perennial grasses limit nutrient runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and soil losses while sequestering carbon. Additionally, perennial grasses can generate economic returns for local farmers through producing bioenergy feedstock or forage on marginal lands. Here, we suggest a United States model energy crop, switchgrass（Panicum virgatum L.） as a model crop to minimize land degradation and desertification and to generate biomass for energy on the Loess Plateau.
基金funding from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFD0300100)。
文摘The world population is estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050. The rise in population coupled with improving living standards will require a doubling of the crop yield to fulfill food demand and livestock feed, which means crop yield will need to increase by 60–110% between 2005 and 2050(Tilman et al. 2011).
