Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) is an important ornamental crop, but its molecular breeding is limited by low regeneration competence and inefficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. This study aimed to establish a reproducible transformation framework for carnation by integrating optimized regeneration conditions with precision microneedle-assisted wounding and infection strategies. Significant genotype-dependent variation in regeneration capacity and auxin responsiveness was observed among six cultivars. Targeted microneedle-assisted wounding at the leaf-base vein junction markedly enhanced direct shoot regeneration, resulting in a 2.27-fold increase in shoot number per explant and earlier regeneration compared with non-wounded controls. Among three infection strategies tested, immersion-wounding with sterile microneedles followed by bacterial immersion produced the highest regeneration frequency (60.0%) and shoot formation. Optimization of non-ionic surfactants revealed that Tween 20 (0.01%) provided a broad and stable operational window, whereas Triton X-100 showed strong concentration-dependent phytotoxicity. Using the optimized protocol, five independent acdS-transgenic carnation lines were successfully recovered, corresponding to a PCR-verified transformation efficiency of 16.67% on an explant basis. PCR and qRT-PCR analyses confirmed stable transgene integration and expression without adverse effects on plant morphology. These results demonstrate that precision microneedle-assisted wounding is a key enabling factor for efficient regeneration and facilitates Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in carnation, providing a practical platform for molecular breeding of regeneration-recalcitrant ornamental crops.

Grain quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) holds significant cultural value for Northeast Asian consumers, with low levels of amylose and protein content preferred for their contribution to the soft and sticky texture of cooked rice. Understanding the genetic diversity at the subpopulation level, in conjunction with local adaptation as identified by the signatures of selection for amylose and protein content, forms the basis for precise calibration of phenotypes in local breeding programs. This study investigated the genetic and phenotypic variations, as well as selective sweeps for amylose and protein content, in rice accessions from China, Japan, and Korea to reveal how their genomic landscapes have been shaped. The Northeast Asian rice accessions were identified as temperate japonica with distinct country-specific population structures. Phenotypic analysis revealed overlapping but distinct distributions of amylose and protein contents, with the Japanese panel exhibiting the lowest mean protein content, the Korean panel showing narrower trait distributions reflecting uniform selection, and the Chinese panel displaying broader variations. Genome-wide scans identified loci under selection for low amylose and protein contents, with major peaks on chromosomes 3, 6, 10, and 11 shared across countries, suggesting conserved loci critical for grain quality improvement. Country-specific selection signals, such as OsAGPS2 on chromosome 8 in Japan, chromosome 6 in Korea, and OsAAP11 on the short arm of chromosome 11 in China, highlight local adaptation and breeding strategies. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic architecture of grain quality traits and suggest candidate loci for applications in marker-assisted selection or genome editing. By addressing both regional preferences and shared targets, this study lays the foundation for developing rice cultivars that align with consumer demands while promoting agricultural sustainability and food security.