Microspore embryogenesis (ME) relies on the cellular reprogramming of the default gametophytic developmental pathway, which normally directs microspores toward pollen formation, into an embryogenic pathway that leads to the development of embryo–like structures (ELS) and, subsequently, haploid or doubled haploid (DH) plants. To test how redox control underpins this switch, we have carried out an extended in silico analysis of previously published RNA-seq data from two barley cultivars differing in ME competence (Igri, responsive; Golden Promise, recalcitrant) across four early induction stages (0–III). A curated set of 472 antioxidant/redox genes—core detoxification enzymes, the ASC–GSH cycle, TRX/GRX/PRX systems and GST s—was examined. The analysis revealed that the expression of antioxidative defense genes is dynamically modulated during ME induction, underscoring the importance of redox homeostasis in successful microspore reprogramming. Both cultivars shared a late (stages II–III) program with increased SOD s, selected CAT/GPX genes, rising MDHAR s, deployment of specific TRX/GRX/PRX members and broad GST s upregulation. Divergence emerged during progression: Igri showed a pronounced stage-III rise of GR s and targeted TRX/GRX/PRX transcripts, together with stronger activation of multiple GST s. When considered alongside diverse experimental data, these stage-restricted, cultivar-biased signatures support a hypothetical model in which strengthened ASC–GSH recycling and thiol-redox hubs sustain H 2 O 2 signaling while limiting oxidative damage. Targeting MDHAR s, GR s, selected TRX/GRX/PRX genes, and GST subsets could improve ME efficiency and accelerate the integration of DH technology into modern crop breeding programs.

Tea winnowing is a key process in tea processing. At present, tea winnowing parameters are adjusted by manual observation of tea leaves. This results in the uncertainty of winnowing quality. In this work, we propose a new tea winnowing method based on deep learning for the characteristics of white tea. Firstly, the YOLOv11 model is improved by introducing ACmix and EUCB. The recognition accuracy of the improved YOLO-AE model is improved by 2.1%, and the detection time is shortened by 40%, which significantly improves the detection performance and shortens the inference time. The region segmentation and convolution neural network algorithm are used to distinguish the proportion parameters of each grade in tea in real time, and the accurate wind selection parameters are obtained by combining the winnowing theory. The recognition accuracy of the verification set of the recognition model attains 94%. The MAP (0.5:0.95) is 0.93. A test on the tea winnowing parameter control test bench reveals that the identification accuracy of tea materials with different proportions is consistent. Additionally, the difference between the two batches of high-quality white tea is less than 3%. The winnowing scheme proposed in this study can provide the basic theory and technical support for the design of tea precision winnowing equipment.

Introduction Class III peroxidase (PRX) functions as a pivotal enzyme in lignin polymerization and participates in the regulation of cell wall hardening and elongation. Nevertheless, comprehensive investigations on PRX involvement in the rind cracking of melon ( Cucumis melo ) remain absent. Methods In this study, melon was used as experimental material. Physiological analyses were performed to compare peroxidase activity and lignin accumulation between cracking-susceptible and resistant cultivars, as well as between cracked and non-cracked rinds. Genome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, chromosome localization, collinearity analysis, and cis -acting element prediction were conducted to characterize the melon PRX gene family. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze CmPRX expression patterns across different rind types, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed for validation. Protein-protein interaction networks were predicted to explore the functional associations of candidate genes. Results and discussion Peroxidase activity and lignin accumulation were significantly higher in cracking-susceptible cultivars compared to cracking-resistant cultivars, with cracked rinds displaying elevated levels relative to intact rinds. Sixty-four PRX genes were identified in the melon genome, and phylogenetic analysis categorized them into six subgroups. The CmPRX genes were unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes, and collinearity analysis uncovered eight duplicated gene pairs within the melon genome. Comparative synteny analysis revealed that the number of collinear PRX gene pairs between melon and other Cucurbitaceae species, specially cucumber and watermelon, was greater than that observed with the more distantly related Arabidopsis . Promoter cis- acting element examination revealed that the 64 CmPRX genes harbored 25 classes of elements associated with hormones, stress responses, and growth and development. Transcriptome data from melon rinds revealed that the CmPRX genes could be clustered into six groups based on expression patterns across different rind types. Among these, CmPRX genes in clusters 1 and 6 exhibited higher transcript levels in cracked rinds compared to non-cracked rinds. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed that CmPRX39 , CmPRX48 , and CmPRX51 were expressed at significantly elevated levels in cracked rinds compared with those of non-cracked rinds. Protein interaction network prediction showed that these three candidate genes interacted with multiple proteins involved in the lignin synthesis pathway, suggesting their potential regulatory roles in rind cracking of melon through mediating lignin polymerization. These findings identified candidate genes influencing rind cracking in melon, thereby offering potential molecular targets for the breeding of cracking-resistant cultivars.

Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) has emerged as a promising platform for the sustainable production of high-value metabolites. In this study, we demonstrate that plant architecture remodeling via genome editing can be exploited as a chassis optimization strategy in plant biofactories. Building on the previously established Tomaffron line, which accumulates saffron apocarotenoids in the fruit, and based on the established knowledge that mutations in SELF-PRUNING ( SP ) and SP5G genes generate compact, determinate tomato plants, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the SP and SP5G genes in Tomaffron to improve crocin production. The resulting sp sp 5g double mutants exhibited a compact growth habit combined with significantly higher fruit yield, total crocin content, and firmer ripe fruits compared with non-mutants. Remarkably, crocin yields per square meter increased nearly fourfold compared to non-mutant Tomaffron plants grown at the same density, representing progress toward achieving the crocin yields of Crocus sativus and offering the advantage of easier cultivation and harvesting in the tomato system. Our results show that genome editing of plant architecture is not only a tool for agronomic improvement but also a powerful strategy to fine-tune our tomato biofactory performance, offering a scalable and sustainable approach for the production of valuable metabolites.

Citrus species are among the most important fruit tree crops grown worldwide. Their long juvenile period joined with their complex genetic and reproductive characteristics severely hampers genomic studies and the improvement of traits of interest. Among these, seedlessness represents a major fruit quality trait. Genetic engineering is the fastest way to unequivocally characterize the function of citrus genes and to develop better varieties. In this study, two genes from Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan., CcGLT1 and CcRBP1 , that putatively encode a glycosyltransferase-like (GLT) protein and an RNA binding (RBP) family protein, respectively, were characterized as highly expressed in male and female reproductive tissues and then evaluated as candidate genes involved in male and/or female gametic development by silencing them using RNA interference (RNAi) in Carrizo citrange, used as model citrus type easy to transform. Concurrently, the early flowering and fruiting phenotype was induced by ectopic overexpression of the citrus ortholog of the floral integrator FLOWERING LOCUS T gene ( FT ) which enabled flower and fruit production less than six months after transformation. Histological observations of flower tissues from genetically modified plants showed that silencing CcGLT1 affects pollen performance by reducing pollen germinability and viability which results in an increased rate of ovule abortion resulting in fewer seeds in self-pollinated fruits. Conversely, the silencing of CcRBP1 led to severe alterations in plant growth and development in the transgenic RBP lines preventing the characterization of its role in fertility, which therefore remains unresolved. These results provide useful insights into male and female sterility in citrus for the genetic improvement of commercial varieties aimed to obtain seedless fruits.

Introduction Hosta capitata , which has recently been placed in the monotypic section Capitatae , and H. nakaiana , were originally described in Iya Valley, Japan and Mt. Baegun, Korea, respectively, and have been considered the same from a morphological perspective. However, considering the significant genetic distance between these groups, the identity of H. nakaiana deserves further investigations. Recently, the populations of H. capitata from Kochi, Japan, and Wando Island, Korea have been distinguished from the other groups by their distinctive morphological traits. On the basis of these observations, the present study aimed to provide a complete taxonomic revision of the section Capitatae in Korea and Japan based on extensive morphological observations and multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeats genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) analysis. Methods Samples of the section Capitatae were collected from Japan and Korea. Comprehensive morphological observation of the section Capitatae was performed using both quantitative and qualitative characteristics, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted with the quantitative characters. For the molecular analysis of the section Capitatae , MIG-seq library was constructed and SNPs were identified. A phylogenetic tree was inferred using the maximum likelihood (ML) method. The genetic structure of the section Capitatae was determined by performing the STRUCTURE analysis and generating the Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) plot. Results The quantitative characteristics exhibited clear separation between the Kochi lineage and the other groups of the section Capitatae , and the qualitative characteristics showed distinct division between the Wando population and the other groups. The PCA results clearly identified two distinct groups, the Kochi lineage and the others. In the phylogenetic tree, the monophyly of the section Capitatae was strongly supported, and the section Capitatae consisted of three distinct clusters, H. capitata , H. nakaiana and the Kochi lineage. The Kochi lineage was supported as monophyletic (96% BS), and the Wando population was embedded within H. nakaiana cluster. Both the STRUCTURE analysis and the PCoA identified clear genetic differentiation among H. capitata , H. nakaiana and the Kochi lineage. Discussion Our findings identified three species and two varieties in the section Capitatae . In particular, we described two new taxa, H. pseudonakaiana sp. nov. and H. nakaiana var. wandoensis var. nov., from Japan (Shikoku) and Korea (southern Jeollanam-do), respectively. Our study provides the most comprehensive framework for the classification of the section Capitatae , ultimately advancing the taxonomy of the genus Hosta .

Rice is a vital staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where improving grain yield is critical for food security and economic growth. Assessing genetic gain over time is essential for measuring breeding effectiveness and guiding future strategies and evaluating the return on investment in rice improvement programs. This study aimed to estimate baseline genetic gains in grain yield from AfricaRice-bred released and pre-released varieties between 1986 and 2020 using multilocation data from ERA trials. “ERA trials” are designed to estimate historic rates of genetic gain for grain yield by testing a series of varieties released over different years or different breeding periods or “eras.” Three sets of trials representing irrigated lowland, rainfed lowland, and rainfed upland ecologies were conducted in 2021 and 2022 at AfricaRice breeding stations in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal as well as National Agricultural Research and Evaluation Systems (NARES) sites in Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, and Mali. The trials were conducted using an alpha- lattice design with three replications, and data were collected on grain yield, plant height, and days to flowering. A two-stage analysis was implemented, where genotype-by-environment (G × E) means from the first stage were used in the second stage to model G × E interaction with a second-order factor analytic model, thereby accommodating genetic heteroscedasticity across environments and enabling estimation of genetic trends. Finlay–Wilkinson regression model identified high-performing and stable varieties in each ecology. Consistent positive genetic trends were estimated across all the ecologies, though gains remained low: 12 kg/ha/year (0.34%) in rainfed lowland, 10 kg/ha/year (0.27%) in rainfed upland, and 7 kg/ha/year (0.14%) in irrigated lowland. The top-performing varieties contributed maximum gains was ARICA 18 in rainfed lowland (16 kg/ha/year), FARO 59 (NERICA 8) in rainfed upland (11 kg/ha/year), and Yiriwamalo in irrigated lowland (8 kg/ha/year).These results highlight the steady progress of AfricaRice breeding programs and underscore the need for continued investment in rapid varietal development using modernized breeding tools to deliver high-yielding, climate-resilient, and market-driven rice varieties for SSA.

Introduction Members of receptor like cytoplasmic kinase VII (RLCK VII) subfamily are important participants in plant growth and development, innate immunity, and resistance to abiotic stress. However, in broad beans, the regulatory mechanisms of RLCK VII subfamily genes involved in these processes remains unclear. Methods To further elucidate the regulatory mechanisms, a comprehensive whole-genome analysis was conducted. To investigate the disease resistance function of VfRLCK VII genes, their expression patterns under infection by Alternaria alternata were analyzed through transcriptome sequencing. And functional validation of VfRLCK VII4 (VfRLCK176) was performed via transformation into Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). Results VfRLCK VII subfamily comprised 45 members, which were unevenly distributed across 6 chromosomes. These genes encoded protein sequences ranging from 296 to 595 aa in length, with 39 located in the nucleus and 6 in chloroplasts. VfRLCK VII proteins were classified into 9 subgroups and 3 members, all of which contained only a single PKc_like superfamily domain. Promoter analysis indicated that VfRLCK VII genes possessed various cis-acting elements, including light responsive elements, plant hormone responsive elements, stress responsive elements, and growth and development regulatory elements. Among them, 21 genes exhibited differential expression level, which might be involved in the disease resistance function of broad beans. The disease resistance assessments demonstrated that after inoculation with A. alternata , transgenic tobacco plants displayed milder symptoms and significantly smaller lesion areas compared to wild type controls. This finding suggested that VfRLCK VII4 could positively regulate tobacco's resistance to A. alternata . Discussion This study provides novel insights into the RLCK VII-mediated defense network and offers candidate genes for breeding disease-resistant broad bean varieties.

Proanthocyanidins (PAs), polymers of flavan-3-ols, are crucial for the sensory quality and stress defense of mulberry ( Morus spp.). The biosynthesis of their monomers, catechin and epicatechin, are catalyzed by leucoanthocyanidin reductase ( LAR ) and anthocyanidin reductase ( ANR ), respectively, representing key rate-limiting steps that determine PA composition and abundance. In this study, systematic functional analyses including phylogenetic analysis, quantified spatio-temporal expression profiles during fruit development (S1-S4 stages), in vitro enzymatic assay, knock-down using Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) in mulberry leaves and heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana were conducted to reveal their roles in proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in mulberry. Results showed that MaLAR (969 bp) and MaANR (1014 bp) were successfully cloned and phylogenetically conserved. Spatio-temporal expression analysis revealed distinct patterns: MaLAR expression continuously increased, reaching highest expression level at the fully ripe stage (S4), whereas MaANR showed highest expression level at the color-turning stage (S2). In vitro enzymatic assays confirmed that MaLAR catalyzed the formation of catechin from leucoanthocyanidin, and MaANR catalyzed the formation of epicatechin from anthocyanidin. VIGS-mediated silencing of either gene in mulberry leaves led to significant reduction in total PA content. Conversely, heterologous overexpression of MaLAR or MaANR in Arabidopsis resulted in significant increase of PA in the seed coat. Our findings confirm that MaLAR and MaANR are conserved, key positive regulators of PA biosynthesis in mulberry. The differential expression patterns during fruit ripening suggest they play distinct, temporally regulated roles in determining the final PA composition and content. These results provide an important theoretical basis and represent important targets for the metabolic engineering and molecular breeding of mulberry for improved fruit quality.

Pineapple is widely favored by consumers for its rich proteins, vitamin C and other nutrients. Soluble solids content (SSC) has long been the core indicator for pineapple quality assessment, directly affecting its market acceptability and sales. To accurately detect pineapple SSC, this study used a hyperspectral imaging system to collect hyperspectral images in the 400–1700 nm range, with SSC measured by an Atago PAL-1 digital sugar meter as the reference. Five pretreatments (including multiple scattering correction (MSC), polynomial smoothing (SG) and mathematical transformations) were applied to raw spectral data, and three prediction models (partial least squares regression (PLSR), Lasso regression, ridge regression (RR)) were established. All models performed well: PLSR showed R²=0.9459 and RMSE = 0.5746, Lasso R²=0.8965 and RMSE = 1.0221, RR R²=0.8560 and RMSE = 1.2632. After screening characteristic bands via Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA) and re-modeling, the ddA-PLSR model was optimal (R²=0.9869, RMSE = 0.1250), with four key wavelengths (673-676nm, 711-715nm, 971-990nm, 1357-1367nm) extracted. This confirms hyperspectral imaging (HSI) enables efficient and accurate SSC detection in pineapples, with great application potential in pineapple quality identification.