Trans-grafting revolution: From molecular regulation mechanisms to biotech applications.

A systematic identification and characterization of long noncoding RNAs during abiotic stress in Medicago truncatula.

Promotion of creative thinking and students' well-being are now seen as important indicators of human capital; however, role of creativity skills and self-beliefs in academic success remains unclear. This study analyzes the relationship between creativity-related factors and student achievement in Spain using PISA 2022 data from 30,800 fifteen-year-old students across 966 schools. Two-level cross-sectional multilevel modeling provided manner to examine both student and school levels of predictors of outcomes — mathematics achievement, life satisfaction, and stress resistance. Analysis indicated that creative thinking had positive relationship (p < .001) with mathematics achievement at student level (β = 3.95) and school level (β = 2.55). On the other hand, different factors explained well-being outcomes; all life satisfaction and stress resistance were positively predicted by creative self-efficacy (β = 0.17 and β = 0.10, p <.001). This study highlights unique roles of creative performance (related to academics) and creative confidence (related to well-being).

Genome-wide identification of APX gene family in peach and functional characterization of PpAPX1 in salt tolerance.

• Stress alters pigment production and composition in Talaromyces purpureogenus • EtOH and H 2 O 2 addition increases red pigment productivity • T. purpureogenus pigments exhibit anti-glycation activity • Fungal pigments show potential as sustainable, functional food dyes Biological pigment production has become increasingly important because of adverse health effects associated with chemical dyes. The fungus Talaromyces purpureogenus has been used to produce extracellular water-soluble red pigments similar to those produced by Monascus . Several studies have investigated Monascus pigment production under certain stress conditions; however, few have examined extracellular pigment production in Talaromyces . Furthermore, little research has been conducted on the use of fungal pigments as functional food dyes. Therefore, we evaluated the ability of T. purpureogenus to withstand abiotic stress in cultivation media and the effects of stress on pigment productivity. Abiotic stress was induced via the addition of sodium chloride (NaCl), sea salts, ethanol (EtOH), and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Stressful conditions altered pigment production and composition. An increase in yellow-to-red pigment production ratio was observed under saline stress with both NaCl and sea salts. The yield of yellow pigment increased 1.44-fold in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl, while the yellow-to-red pigment ratio rose from 1.59 to 3.88 in the presence of 2% (w/v) sea salts. Addition of 1% (v/v) EtOH and 0.5% v/v H 2 O 2 (30% w/w) increased red pigment production by 2.59- and 1.67-fold, respectively. Differences in colourant properties were highlighted using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic measurements. Partially purified pigments inhibited bovine serum albumin glycation in the presence of ᴅ-ribose, demonstrating their potential to prevent the formation of advanced glycation end products. Overall, these findings demonstrated that stress conditions can improve pigment productivity in T. purpureogenus and highlight the possibility of producing functional food dyes.

Interactive effect of melatonin and gamma aminobutyric acid in Nostoc muscorum and Anabaena sp. and their mechanisms of cadmium toxicity alleviation

Soybean ( Glycine max ) root nodules, formed through symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, are essential for biological nitrogen fixation. While quantifying key nodulation traits, nodule number and weight, is critical for assessing symbiotic efficiency and yield potential, current methods are destructive and labor-intensive, unsuitable for longitudinal monitoring and high-throughput phenotyping. Here, we established hyperspectral leaf reflectance as a non-destructive, high-resolution tool capable of monitoring root nodule development. Using Partial Least Squares Regression models, we connected spectral data with nodule metrics from 528 unique soybean plants across 18 genotypes, inoculated with different rhizobium strains, and under different abiotic stresses. These models achieved high accuracy for predicting nodule number (R 2 = 0.75, nRMSE = 6.02%) and moderate accuracy for nodule weight (R 2 = 0.53, nRMSE = 12.38%). Crucially, spectral analyses revealed distinct hyperspectral signatures sensitive to nodule traits. While different rhizobium strains induced comparable changes in both nodule traits, and therefore produced highly overlapped spectral domains, diagnostically distinct spectral patterns were generated under drought versus salt stress, with the former suppressing nodulation more significantly than the latter. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effectiveness of our models for real-time in-situ monitoring of nodule development for individual plants. Spectral-nodule trait covariation analyses further revealed leaf signatures correlated with nodule traits primarily through systemic physiological coupling governed by carbon-nitrogen exchange dynamics and plant water status. This study showcased hyperspectral sensing as a transformative methodology, enabling the unprecedented non-destructive quantification of nodulation dynamics, revealing novel physiological insights into plant-microbe-environment interactions, facilitating breeding and management strategies for sustainable soybean production.

The APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) superfamily plays a central role in plant metabolism, stress responses, and hormone signaling. Rheum officinale Baill. is an important traditional medicinal plant whose roots and rhizomes are rich in anthraquinones and other secondary metabolites. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying its development and secondary metabolism remain unclear, and systematic analyses of its AP2/ERF family are lacking. This study aimed to characterize the genomic features, expression patterns, and potential functions of the AP2/ERF family in R. officinale. A total of 167 RoAP2/ERF genes were identified, unevenly distributed across 11 chromosomes. Gene family expansion was mainly driven by segmental and tandem duplications, with extensive collinearity observed betweenR. officinaleand related species. Phylogenetic, conserved domain, gene structure, and motif analyses classified these genes into five subfamilies (ERF, dehydration reaction element binding factor; AP2, related to abscisic acid insensitive 3/viviparous 1; and Soloist), with similar sequence characteristics within each subfamily. RNA-seq analysis revealed tissue-specific expression patterns, with Cluster 5 genes preferentially expressed in roots and rhizomes. RT-qPCR of 18 representative genes confirmed their involvement in various signaling pathways. RoERF065 and RoERF079 were exclusively nuclear-localized and strongly responsive to stress and hormone treatments. Functional assays indicated that RoERF079 acts as a C-terminal-dependent transcriptional activator, whereas RoERF065 may function as a repressor due to two EAR motifs. These genes may regulate root and rhizome development and secondary metabolism in R. officinale. This study provides a basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of organ development and bioactive compound biosynthesis and identifies candidate genes for molecular breeding.

Unveiling the multifaceted roles of crop secondary metabolites: From quality enhancement and stress resilience to molecular regulation and precision improvement.

Understanding the probiotic potential of a healthy human vaginal flora, Lactobacillus gasseri K9: genomic and in vitro aspects

The chemically defined herbal mixture ADAPT-232 delays mitochondrial dysfunction and promotes healthspan through mitophagy-related pathways mediated by the DAF-16/NHR-49 axis.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles in smart agricultural fertilization: Current developments and future perspectives

Obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease with pandemic-level prevalence, characterized by excessive or abnormal fat accumulation, dysregulation of body homeostasis, and chronic low-grade inflammation. This complex comorbidity shares some etiological pathways with other diseases such as endometriosis, an inflammatory and estrogen-dependent disorder that affects 5-10% women of reproductive age. The literature shows an inverse correlation between low body mass index (BMI) and the onset of endometriosis, linking obesity to more severe cases. Both endometriosis and obesity share similar underlying mechanisms, including inflammation and angiogenesis. Fat accumulation leads to overactivation of the classical renin-angiotensin system (RAS) axis, triggering impaired lipolysis and adipogenesis, increased lipogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance in white adipose tissue (WAT). Although studies concerning the RAS activity of WAT in women with endometriosis are limited, the chronic inflammatory environment linked to obesity demands further investigation. This review examines the interconnections among RAS, adipogenesis, and inflammation in women with obesity and endometriosis, as well as their potential clinical implications.

A genome-wide study of the AP2/ERF gene family in mangrove Avicennia marina reveals the role of AmERF1 in salt tolerance through mediating proline biosynthesis and H₂O₂ homeostasis.

VviAHA10, a tonoplast P3A-type ATPase from Vitis vinifera, reveals a functional link between vacuolar flavonoid accumulation and abiotic stress responses.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis establishes a 14-3-3-centric regulatory hub for integrative drought adaptation in trifoliate orange.

Precision genome editing, particularly using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), is advancing crop improvement by enabling targeted and efficient genetic modifications. Root and tuber crops such as potato, cassava, sweet potato, and yam are vital for global food and nutritional security but remain highly vulnerable to climate change, pests, diseases, and limited genetic diversity. Genome editing technologies facilitate the development of improved traits, including enhanced disease resistance, tolerance to abiotic stress, improved nutritional quality, and extended shelf life. This review synthesizes recent advances in genome editing for root and tuber crops across global production systems, including illustrative examples from Sub-Saharan Africa, where active genome editing initiatives are being implemented. It further examines key technical constraints, such as low efficiency of plant transformation and regeneration, and highlights regulatory challenges arising from differing policy frameworks across countries. Emerging solutions are discussed, including genotype-independent editing strategies and DNA-free approaches that avoid the integration of foreign genetic material. Addressing these challenges will be critical for developing resilient and sustainable food systems. Unlike previous reviews, this study integrates mechanistic insights with cross-crop synthesis and proposes next-generation genome editing strategies for engineering complex traits in polyploid root and tuber crops.

Nitrogen regulates starch biosynthesis and multiscale structural properties of Sorghum under low-light stress.

Involvement of two ESCRT-Ⅲ accessory proteins, MoDid2 and MoVta1, in development, pathogenicity, and endocytosis in Magnaporthe oryzae.

Spermidine improves plant growth and reduces dinotefuran accumulation in strawberries by competitively occupying ABC transporters.