Seed dispersal and predation are critical processes shaping the dynamics of plant communities in tropical forests. However, many seed dispersers and predators, particularly mammals, are increasingly threatened by deforestation and hunting. While the impacts of defaunation on seed dispersal and predation have been extensively studied, key knowledge gaps persist for many economically important African forest tree species. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of defaunation and habitat disturbance, as well as fruiting fluctuations on seed dispersal and predation patterns in Coula edulis. It is a widespread Guineo-Congolian tree species whose seeds are heavily traded by local communities. We tested three predictions in natural forests: (i) defaunation and habitat disturbance reduce fruit removal, (ii) fruit removal declines during high fruiting events, and (iii) dispersers and predators may use spatial memory and prior experience to locate fruiting trees (non-random search). Over two consecutive years (2022-2023), we established 288 fruit removal monitoring plots, 81 of which equipped with camera-traps, at two contrasting forest sites in Cameroon: a relatively intact forest in Campo Ma'an National Park and a disturbed forest near Mbalmayo city where large mammals have disappeared. Experimental plots consisting of 20 fresh fruits placed on the ground and monitored for 14 days were established beneath fruiting and non-fruiting C. edulis trees, as well as beneath individuals of other tree species. Over 1,120 camera trap days, we recorded 1,605 interactions between C. edulis fruits and animals. Rodents (Atherurus africanus, Cricetomys emini, and several squirrel species) were the primary fruit removers (60% of interactions), acting both as predators and dispersers. Their activity was seven times higher at Campo than at Mbalmayo. Large-bodied fauna, such as forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) and mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx), occurred only at Campo and behaved as seed predators, whereas humans harvested fruits at Mbalmayo. Fruit removal rates were significantly higher in the intact site, highlighting the combined effects of defaunation and habitat disturbance, and lower during the high fruiting year (2022), showing a consumer satiation effect. Moreover, fruit removal rates were highest under C. edulis fruiting trees, lower under non-fruiting C. edulis trees, and lowest under other tree species, suggesting that animals selectively target predictable fruit locations. Our findings suggest that defaunation and habitat disturbance alter seed dispersal systems by reducing the involvement of large mammals, while resilient rodent assemblage can sustain some dispersal functions, potentially buffering regeneration of C. edulis in defaunated forests.

Zelkova schneideriana is an important timber species used in the transformation of monoculture coniferous forests in southern China. However, the optimal light conditions for cultivating Z. schneideriana under forest canopies remain to be determined. In this study, one-year-old container seedlings of Z. schneideriana were used in a field experiment under four artificially simulated light intensities: full sunlight (CK, 100% PAR), low shade (L, 70% PAR), medium shade (M, 51% PAR), and high shade (H, 22% PAR). The results showed significant differences in growth, morphology, and photosynthetic physiology of seedlings under different light intensities. Z. schneideriana seedlings exhibited a certain degree of shade tolerance during early establishment, achieving optimal growth performance under medium shade conditions. Compared to CK, the net increments in height and diameter at root collar of seedlings under M increased by 197.69% and 145.27%, respectively. Specific leaf area was greatest under high shade, indicating that leaves tend to utilize a larger leaf area to acquire carbon resources. Seedlings under M exhibited the highest values for photosynthetic pigment content, key photosynthetic enzyme activities, and photosynthetic nitrogen- and phosphorus-use efficiencies, which were consistent with their response to light-saturated photosynthetic rate. The phenotypic plasticity indices of the seedlings ranked in the following order: photosynthetic physiological traits > light response traits > morphological traits. Photosynthetic pigment content was identified as the physiological parameter most sensitive to changes in light intensity. Therefore, for the understory introduction of Z. schneideriana seedlings, it is recommended that canopy thinning be implemented to maintain understory light intensity at approximately 50% of full sunlight, thereby facilitating rapid seedling establishment and growth.

Soil salinity (ECe=8.55 dS m-1), a predominant abiotic stress factor, significantly impairs the growth, yield and pharmaceutical quality of the medicinal plant Silybum marianum (milk thistle). This study evaluated the potential of mango-residue biochar and foliar α-tocopherol (α-Toco) on the physiological stability, agronomic performance, and pharmaceutical quality of milk thistle under saline conditions. A two-season field trial was performed using a split-plot arrangement of biochar amendments (0-15 t ha⁻¹) and α-Toco applications (0-150 ppm). The integrated application of two treatments effectively mitigated salinity stress, leading to significant increases in growth and productivity. The optimal treatment (10 t ha⁻¹ of biochar and 150 ppm α-Toco) markedly enhanced both above- and below-ground biomass compared to the control. This synergistic effect was attributed to improved nutrient uptake (such as N, P, K⁺, Mg2⁺, Zn2⁺), and reduced Na+ accumulation. Furthermore, the highest treatment combination (15 t ha⁻¹ biochar × 150 ppm α-Toco), dramatically enhanced the antioxidant system by increasing endogenous α-tocopherol and ascorbate peroxidase activity. This treatment effectively alleviated oxidative damage, as evidenced by significant reductions in proline, H₂O₂ levels, and IC₅₀ values. Most importantly, these physiological improvements resulted in the highest seed yield (1.95 t ha⁻¹) and a significant increase in silymarin content (up to 3.172%). The synergy between biochar and α-Toco provides a sustainable strategy for enhancing milk thistle resilience and pharmaceutical quality in saline environments, offering a promising approach for the productive utilization of marginal lands under climate change conditions.

Soil salinity severely limits wheat production. Spelt (Triticum spelta. L.) represents a valuable genetic resource for improving the salt tolerance of common wheat, but its underlying mechanisms remains poorly understood. Field evaluation of 22 spelt accessions identified 12 salt-tolerant genotypes. Further screening under a NaCl gradient (0-200 mM) selected three superior accessions CWI44398, CWI78968, and CWI44183. Under 150 mM NaCl, these three accessions exhibited greater shoot growth than the salt-tolerant control Jimai 22, while root development was more sensitive. Transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct expression patterns among genotypes, with common pathways including abiotic stress response and MAPK signaling, alongside genotype-specific pathways such as sulfur metabolism and fatty acid elongation. Expression patterns analysis under salt stress further confirmed the RNA-seq results, identifying four positively regulated genes. This study identified three salt-tolerant spelt accessions and elucidated conserved and genotype-specific molecular mechanisms, providing valuable resources for salt tolerance breeding in wheat.

Crimson Seedless is a globally important table grape cultivar valued for its color, marketability, and nutritional quality. However, enhancing berry coloration and biochemical quality remains a major challenge, especially under fluctuating environmental conditions. In this context, the individual application of nanoparticles or molasses as natural organic stimulants may offer an effective. This study hypothesizes that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and molasses, either individually or in combination, would increase yield, berry coloration, and antioxidant-related biochemical parameters compared with those of the untreated control. The experiment included eight treatments applied to five grapevines per treatment via a randomized complete block design (RCBD) over two consecutive seasons (2023-2024), and the effects of ZnO NPs at 10, 50, and 100 mg L- 1, applied alone or in combination with molasses at 1.5cm³ L- 1, on productivity, cluster traits, anthocyanin accumulation, and antioxidant-related enzymes were evaluated. In terms of productivity, cluster quality, and berry coloration, the treatment with ZnO NPs plus molasses followed closely by ZnO NPs alone surpassed the nontreated vines. The 10 mg L- 1 ZnO NPs + molasses treatment was superior for most of the studied parameters. For example, the total yield increased by approximately 8.9-11.4%, the total soluble solid (TSS) content increased by 48.4-43.8%, the firmness increased by 8.1-12.0%, and the acidity decreased by 16.3-15.4% compared with those of the control treatment in both seasons. Additionally, the same treatment resulted in the greatest increase in anthocyanin content (104.3-73.4%) and PAL activity (48.4-58.1%) compared with those of the control in both seasons. The application of 10 mg L-1 ZnO NPs + 1.5 cm3 L-1 molasses once at the veraison stage increased the grape yield, color, and biochemical quality. While a single-stage application was effective, further studies could explore multistage applications or alternative timings to optimize the results.

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is a crucial vegetable crop in the Brassicaceae family, which has a high nutritional, medicinal, and dietary therapeutic values. Radish varieties rich in anthocyanins are favored by consumers because of their bright color and high nutritional value. However, the reports on the role of lncRNA in regulating anthocyanin accumulation in radishes are relatively rare. Based on our previous LncRNA sequencing findings, the RsLNC2361 was differentially expressed in red and white skin radish. The results revealed that overexpression of RsLNC2361 can promote anthocyanin accumulation in radish leaves, whereas silencing of RsLNC2361 can decrease the anthocyanin content in radish flesh root using VIGS technology, indicating that RsLNC2361 has a positive regulatory effect on anthocyanin accumulation in radish. Overexpression of RsLNC2361 increased the expresssion anthocyanin structural genes, whereas silencing of RsLNC2361 had opposite effect. A total of 5,032 DEGs and 273 differental metabolites were identified in RsLNC2361-pTY and pTY (control) by transcriptome and metabolome sequencing, respectively. Combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses showed KEGG pathway associated with flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis was commonly enriched. The results found that the miRNA858 was predicted to target RsLNC2361, with expectation values of 4.0. Therefore, we speculate that lncRNA participates in the accumulation of anthocyanins in radishes through the regulatory mechanism of the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) module. This study provides a new perspective on the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis by non-coding RNA and offers a theoretical basis for the breeding of high-anthocyanin radish.

Wheat powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), remains a major constraint on wheat production. Resistance genes with diagnostic markers and deployed without obvious agronomic disadvantages are essential for durable breeding. Here, we genetically and molecularly characterized powdery mildew resistance in the common wheat line YZ16 through inheritance analysis, bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR-Seq), linkage mapping and allele validation. YZ16 showed high seedling resistance to Bgt isolate E09 and resistance to nine of ten additional Bgt isolates, indicating a relatively broad resistance spectrum. Under field inoculations, YZ16 also displayed stable adult-plant resistance. Genetic analysis of an F2 population and F2:3 families indicated a single dominant resistance gene controlling resistance, temporarily designated PmYZ16. BSR-Seq localized the resistance locus to a distal interval on chromosome 2A (766.9-784.6Mb), and linkage mapping revealed complete co-segregation between resistance and JS717×JS718, a functional marker of the cloned Pm4 gene. Sequencing comparison showed that the encoded protein is identical to Pm4d/Pm4e, indicating that YZ16 carries a Pm4 allele. Expression profiling further indicated dynamic regulation of two splice variants (PmYZ16_V1 and PmYZ16_V2) after Bgt inoculation. Across two seasons, YZ16 showed generally comparable performance for key yield-related traits. Powdery mildew resistance in YZ16 is conferred by the Pm4 allele on chromosome arm 2AL and can be efficiently tracked using a functional marker. Together with resistance at both seedling and adult stages generally competitive agronomic performance under the tested conditions, YZ16 represents a valuable donor for marker-assisted selection and resistance gene pyramiding in wheat breeding.

Melissa officinalis (balm) is a perennial medicinal. Climate change and high cultivation costs necessitate the breeding of new cultivars with improved stress tolerance and high metabolite content. However, the high costs of phenotyping large collections limit breeding progress. This study characterized the genetic diversity and population structure of 256 genotypes from 215 international accessions using flow cytometry and genotyping by sequencing (GBS). The primary objective was to identify untapped genetic resources and establish core sets to streamline future breeding and research efforts. Morphological characterization and flow cytometry revealed a clear division by ploidy and subspecies. The collection comprised 209 diploid and three polyploid genotypes of ssp. officinalis (2C = 1.79pg) and 44 tetraploid genotypes of ssp. altissima (4C = 3.57pg). GBS generated 29,307 and 9,909 SNPs for the entire collection and a subset of ssp. officinalis genotypes, respectively. We identified significant genetic differentiation between the subspecies, as confirmed by PCA (PC1 = 69.9%), STRUCTURE, and hierarchical clustering. With 21,770 private alleles and HE = 0.38 subspecies altissima exhibited greater genetic divergence than ssp. officinalis (2,953 private alleles, HE = 0.07). Within ssp. officinalis, several clusters of untapped genetic diversity from Armenia, France, Georgia, and Spain were identified. Furthermore, genomic analysis revealed inconsistencies in varietal purity in three out of four investigated traditional cultivars, where genotypes bearing the same name were assigned to different genetic clusters. Based on a clustering approach, two core sets were constructed. The first core set (Core15, 5.7% of the collection) of 9 officinalis and 6 altissima genotypes aimed to comprise the diversity of the entire collection with minimal redundancy for long-term breeding programs. An extended core set of 30 genotypes (Core30, 11.3%) focused on the subspecies officinalis and included more cultivated material. This study provides a genomic characterization of a comprehensive M. officinalis collection. The identification of distinct genetic clusters and the development of optimized core sets significantly reduce the resources required for future evaluations. These core sets serve as a robust foundation for breeding programs aimed at enhancing agronomic traits such as drought tolerance, while increasing pharmaceutical quality.

The red pigmentation of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruit peel arises from the accumulation of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins, a pivotal determinant of fruit coloration, not only define commercial appeal but also confer nutritional and antioxidant benefits. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a naturally occurring plant growth substance, has been shown to significantly intensify fruit redness by stimulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. In this investigation, we identified and functionally characterized MdBBX47, an ALA-responsive transcription factor whose transcriptional activation exhibits strong correlation with anthocyanin accumulation across apple fruits, leaves, and callus tissues, implicating it is a key regulatory node in the anthocyanin biosynthesis cascade. Subcellular localization assays confirmed that MdBBX47 is localized within the nucleus. Overexpression of MdBBX47 substantially elevated the anthocyanin content, whereas RNA interference-mediated silencing markedly attenuated ALA-induced pigmentation, underscoring its positive regulatory function. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), luciferase (LUC), GUS, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) revealed that MdBBX47 directly binds to the promoters of MdCHS and MdUFGT to activate their expressions. Additionally, MdBBX47 can bind to the promoter of MdMYB110a, indirectly mediating anthocyanin accumulation. Collectively, these findings elucidate how MdBBX47 serves as a novel regulatory component involved in ALA-induced apple anthocyanin accumulation.