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25 June 2025, Volume 37 Issue 6 Previous Issue   
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Crop Science
Animal Science
Horticultural Science
Plant Protection
Environmental Science
Food Science
Biosystems Engineering
Agricultural Economy and Development
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Contents 2025, 37(6):  0-0.  Abstract ( 28 )   PDF (2565KB) ( 44 )   Related Articles | Metrics

Crop Science

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Endophytic fungal GG22 protein improves growth of Carthamus tinctorius L. seedling under stress conditions ZHOU Danning, XU Jiao, BAI Jing, LIU Xiangnan, ZHU Yunhao 2025, 37(6):  1193-1202.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240691 Abstract ( 23 )   HTML ( 2 )   PDF (2636KB) ( 37 )   To investigate the effects of the protein from endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum GG22 in Rehmannia glutinosa(GG22 protein) on plant growth, different fractions of GG22 protein (designated as G20, G40, G60, and G80) were obtained using graded precipitation with ammonium sulphate. Safflower(Carthamus tinctorius L.) seedlings were treated with these GG22 protein fractions (G20, G40, G60 and G80) to preliminarily explore their impact on seedling growth under three stress conditions(high temperature, low temperature, and salinity). The relative expression levels of genes involved in plant immunity—ARD1 (activated disease resistance gene 1), EDS1 (enhanced disease susceptibility gene 1), PAD4 (plant antitoxin-deficient gene 4), NPR(non-expressors of pathogenesis related gene), and CDKs(cyclin-dependent kinase gene), under stress conditions were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed that the G60 and G80 groups significantly influenced safflower seedling growth under various stress conditions. Under high-temperature stress, the fresh weight of seedlings in the G80 group was 1.41 times that of the control group, while the G60 group was 1.39 times that of the control group. Under low-temperature stress (G80 group) and salt stress (G60 group), shoot length, fresh weight, and dry weight of seedlings significantly increased compared with the control. GG22 protein treatment alleviated stress-induced damage to seedling roots, with the G60 and G80 groups showing significant effects. Additionally, the expression of ARD1, EDS1, PAD4, NPR, and CDKs genes were upregulated to varying degrees in the G60 and G80 groups under all three stress conditions. Proteomic analysis identified three protein sequences with high similarity to known elicitor proteins—Aspf2, PEMG1 and PeaT1, which were selected as candidate elicitors for subsequent isolation, purification, and functional characterization. In conclusion, the protein from Fusarium oxysporum GG22 can improve safflower seedling growth under stress conditions and may contain elicitor proteins that activate plant immune responses, suggesting its potential as a plant immune elicitor. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Animal Science

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Comparative study on growth performance, carcass quality, meat performance and profitability of different crossbreed combinations of Lvjiahei pigs ZHANG Ruonan, MEN Xiaoming, QIN Kaipeng, WANG Binbin, WU Jie, DING Xiangbin, XU Ziwei, QI Keke 2025, 37(6):  1203-1211.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20230840 Abstract ( 15 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (721KB) ( 33 )   To investigate the crossbreeding utilization pattern of Lvjiahei pig as the maternal parent, this experiment was carried out to produce crossbreed combinations of Landrace pig ♂×Lvjiahei ♀ (LL), Yorkshire pig ♂×Lvjiahei ♀ (YL) and Duroc pig ♂×LvJiaHei ♀ (DL). The growth performance of the offspring from the three crossbreed combinations at 180 days of age was measured, and the carcass quality, meat production performance and profitability of the Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire (DLY) and the three crossbreed combinations were compared. The results showed that in the aspect of growth performance; the body length of LL and YL was significantly higher than that of DL (P<0.05); the body height of DL was significantly higher than that of YL and LL (P<0.05); the live backfat thickness of LL and YL was significantly lower than that of DL (P<0.05). In the aspect of carcass quality, the carcass length of LL and YL were significantly higher than that of DL (P<0.05); 35.71% of the DL’s carcass weight was graded as Class Ⅱ and 64.29% was graded as Class Ⅲ, showed the best performance. In the aspect of meat production performance and profitability, DLY had a significant higher proportion of loin in the carcass compared than that of LL(P<0.05); DL had a significant higher proportion of loin, belly fat and pork shank in the carcass compared with that of YL and LL (P<0.05). The sales revenue from the half carcasses of DL, YL, LL and DLY were 1 402.83, 1 385.21, 1 309.05 and 1 108.65 yuan, respectively. The refined segmentation sales revenue of DL was the highest. Crossbreeding Lvjiahei with Landrace, Yorkshire and Duroc pigs, the offspring of the crossbreed combinations showed that LL had the fastest growth rate, and DL had good carcass quality and high profitability in fine segmentation. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of bta-miR-146b on the signaling pathway of milk protein synthesis in heat-stressed bovine mammary epithelial cells ZHANG Yueyu, HUANG Meiqi, ZHANG Lin, QI Ying, LI Qiuling 2025, 37(6):  1212-1220.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240541 Abstract ( 18 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (822KB) ( 35 )   To investigate the impact of bta-miR-146b on milk protein synthesis in dairy cows under heat stress, bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) were transfected with bta-miR-146b mimics, bta-miR-146b inhibitor, bta-miR-146b mimics negative control (NC) and bta-miR-146b inhibitor NC. Following transfection, the cells were subjected to heat stress (40 ℃). The relative expression levels of milk protein-related genes (CSN2, CSN3) and genes associated with milk protein synthesis signaling pathways (JAK2, STAT5, mTOR, MAPK) in each group were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). This allowed for analysis of the effects of bta-miR-146b overexpression and inhibition on milk proteins and their synthesis signaling pathways under both heat stress and non-heat stress conditions. The results showed that: Transfection with the bta-miR-146b mimics significantly increased bta-miR-146b expression in BMECs, while transfection with the inhibitor significantly decreased its expression; Heat stress significantly suppressed the expression of CSN2, CSN3, JAK2, STAT5, mTOR and MAPK genes in the blank control group, the bta-miR-146b mimic group, and the bta-miR-146b inhibitor group; Under non-heat stress conditions, overexpression of bta-miR-146b significantly decreased the expression levels of CSN2, CSN3, JAK2, STAT5, mTOR and MAPK genes, while inhibition of bta-miR-146b significantly increased the expression of CSN3, JAK2, STAT5, mTOR and MAPK genes. Under heat stress conditions, overexpression of bta-miR-146b significantly decreased the expression levels of CSN2, CSN3, JAK2, STAT5, mTOR and MAPK genes, while inhibition of bta-miR-146b significantly increased the expression of these genes. In summary, both heat stress treatment and overexpression of bta-miR-146b significantly inhibit the expression of genes related to milk proteins and their synthesis signaling pathways. Conversely, inhibition of bta-miR-146b expression promotes the expression of these genes. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Pathological lesions in spleen of Chinese spiny frog (Quasipaa spinosa) after Aeromonas hydrophila infection REN Siyu, WU Chunyan, LIU Zhenkun, YANG Yanhui 2025, 37(6):  1221-1232.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240499 Abstract ( 12 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (61842KB) ( 31 )   In order to explore the pathological lesions in spleen of Chinese spiny frog (Quasipaa spinosa) after haemorrhagic septicemia infection, Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from diseased Chinese spiny frog, which was identified as the pathogenic bacterium, was used to replicate haemorrhagic septicemia in health individual with body weight of (130±20) g. The challenge concentration was 1×107 CFU·mL-1 and the injected dose was 0.2 mL per frog. The spleen was selected as representative of the internal organs for clinical symptoms and dynamic pathological observation was carried out at 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 16 h, 24 h, 32 h, 40 h, 48 h, 60 h, 72 h, 96 h(4 d), 120 h(5 d), 144 h(6 d), 168 h(7 d) after infection, respectively. It was shown that the main clinical signs included lethargy and depression with increasing of the spleen index which was significantly (P<0.01) different between the control group and the infection group from 40 h to 5 d. The observation of dynamic pathological showed necrosis and reduction of lymphocytes and reticular cells in white pulp district with an increase of single melano-macrophage, and varying degrees of degeneration and necrosis in tunica. Especially, the typical pathological damage included severe necrosis in white pulp and disappearance of melano-macrophage centres (MMCs) with reticular fibre decomposition from 48 h to 72 h. The research indicated that under the stress of lethal septicemia, the splenic structure of the frog was disintegrated, the cell components were severely necrotic, and the structural basis of the immune organ was destroyed. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Horticultural Science

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Genetic diversity analysis and core collection construction of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) germplasm accessions HONG Xia, LU Jilai, QI Huijuan, CHEN Xiaoshang 2025, 37(6):  1233-1243.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240717 Abstract ( 25 )   HTML ( 11 )   PDF (1035KB) ( 36 )   To explore the genetic relationships of different ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) germplasm accessions in Zhejiang Province to enhance their conservation, utilization, and provide foundational materials for breeding programs, the genetic diversity of 30 phenotypic traits for 80 ginger germplasm accessions were analyzed by correlation analysis, principal component analysis(PCA) and cluster analysis. Moreover, the core collection was constructed. The results showed that the genetic diversity index of 15 qualitative traits ranged from 0 to 0.85, with leaf color exhibiting the highest diversity. For 15 quantitative traits, the coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 7.84% to 44.56%, with branch number showing the highest CV. Correlation analysis revealed that rhizome weight per plant showed highly significant positive correlation (P<0.01) with plant height, plant width, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves on main stem, aboveground stem height, aboveground stem diameter, sub-rhizome length, and node number of sub-rhizomes, indicating that germplasm accessions with strong growth had higher yield. PCA extracted six principal components with a cumulative contribution rate of 62.423%. Cluster analysis classified the 80 accessions into six groups, with Groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ exhibiting taller plants, vigorous growth, and higher yields. A core collection comprising 36 superior accessions (45% of the total) was established through systematic stepwise clustering and priority sampling strategies. t-test confirmed that this core collection effectively represents the genetic variation of the original germplasms. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Genome-wide association study and candidate gene prediction of pectin content of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) TAO Peng, DING Xiaoya, YUE Zhichen, ZHAO Yanting, LEI Juanli, HU Qizan, ZANG Yunxiang, LI Biyuan 2025, 37(6):  1244-1251.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240543 Abstract ( 18 )   HTML ( 7 )   PDF (1108KB) ( 36 )   To investigate the genetic regulatory mechanisms of pectin content in pumpkin and identify key genes, and provide a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of pumpkin fruit texture quality, pectin content of 208 pumpkin germplasm resources was determined using sulfuric acid-carbazole method, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted by integrating the pectin content data with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) obtained from whole-genome resequencing, candidate gene screening and functional annotation were performed in the significantly associated genomic regions. The results revealed that pumpkin pectin content followed a normal distribution, 21 SNPs significantly associated with pumpkin pectin content were identified on chromosomes 2, 4, 12, and 20, with 13 significant SNPs located in 8330664-8436445 on chromosome 2. Totally, 40 candidate genes were screened, with three genes (gene ID were CmoCh02G014160, CmoCh02G014170 and CmoCh02G014260) annotated to be involved in sugar metabolism pathways. These three candidate genes had a large number of SNP and InDel variations in the pumpkin germplasm resources, and were expressed in pumpkin fruits, they may be involved in pectin biosynthesis in pumpkin fruits. This study can provides new molecular markers and candidate genes for optimizing pectin content and improving pumpkin quality through genetic breeding. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Comprehensive evaluation of the growth process of different tomato varieties under spring organic greenhouse planting XIANG Ying, CONG Jianmin, PAN Danhong, TAO Yonggang 2025, 37(6):  1252-1261.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20241039 Abstract ( 16 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (933KB) ( 29 )   With increasing public attention to healthy foods and a surge in demand for organic tomatoes through new retail platforms, screening organic tomato varieties suitable for these channels is critical to advancing the organic tomato industry. In this study, nine tomato varieties were cultivated in spring greenhouses following the GB/T 19630-2019. Physiological and quality indicators were systematically investigated, including flowering periods, fruit maturation stages, average fruit number per cluster, single-fruit weight, cluster yield, total yield, soluble solids content, total sugar content, ascorbic acid content, total acid content, calcium content, iron content, and lycopene content. A weighted membership function method was applied for comprehensive evaluation. The results showed that flowering stages concentrated around 28 days post-transplanting, with an average fruit development duration of 48.3 days (ranging 44-52 days). The maturation interval between the first and second clusters was approximately 12 days, shortening to 5-6 days for subsequent clusters, with minimal varietal differences. Average cluster yield decreased progressively from the first to the fifth cluster. Varieties Taoxing, Xindong, and Xiazhi Baoshi exhibited outstanding yields and balanced quality, making them ideal candidates for organic cultivation in spring greenhouses. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of high temperature in summer on the appearance and nutritional quality of Brassica juncea LIU Wenqi, HU Qizan, YUE Zhichen, TAO Peng, LEI Juanli, LI Biyuan, ZHAO Yanting, WANG Huasen 2025, 37(6):  1262-1271.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240704 Abstract ( 18 )   HTML ( 12 )   PDF (4913KB) ( 30 )   The leaf mustard(Brassica juncea) in Zhejiang Province is characterized by its rich variety, unique flavor, and strong stress resistance, making it an excellent resource for the development and utilization of heat-tolerant and fast-growing leafy vegetables. To explore the impact of high temperature in summer on the growth and quality of leaf mustard, 20 germplasms of leaf mustard were used as materials to comparatively analyze the leaf mustard planted in different seasons from three aspects: appearance, nutrition and taste. The results showed that, compared with leaf mustard in fall-winter,leaf mustard in summer exhibited phenomena such as leaf color fading from purple, petiole elongation, and reduced leaf area. The nutritional quality of leaf mustard in summer was excellent, with contents of glucosinolates, soluble sugar, and ascorbic acid significantly higher than those in fall-winter. Most leaf mustard germplasms in summer had a bitter taste, and no correlation was found between bitterness and quality traits including glucosinolates. In summary, although the nutritional quality of leaf mustard is excellent, the reduced leaf area and bitter taste still need further optimization to enhance their overall value. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Development of molecular markers for clubroot resistance and their application in Brassicaceae breeding WANG Yidi, WANG Jinglei, HU Tianhua, XU Yunmin, BAO Chonglai 2025, 37(6):  1272-1284.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240309 Abstract ( 22 )   HTML ( 2 )   PDF (1054KB) ( 34 )   Brassicaceae clubroot is a kind of soil-borne disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae. The disease threatens the safe production of cash crops such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage and radish. Molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) has become an economical and effective method for breeding resistant varieties. Based on published research reports on clubroot-resistance, this paper summarizes the published clubroot-resistance genes, molecular markers and the latest achievements in breeding, discusses the existing difficulties in clubroot-resistance research and breeding, and provides theoretical reference for future clubroot-resistance breeding work. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Plant Protection

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GTP cyclohydrolase: a RNAi target gene against the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) DONG Daixing, YANG Guiying, WANG Aiying, LUO Ju, LIU Shuhua 2025, 37(6):  1285-1292.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240530 Abstract ( 19 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (3776KB) ( 34 )   Guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GCHI) is a crucial regulatory factor for the growth and development of holometabolous insects, involved in melanin synthesis and the molting process. To evaluate the feasibility of the GCHI gene as a target for RNA interference (RNAi) in controlling the hemimetabolous insect Nilaparvata lugens(brown planthopper, BPH), this study cloned the NlGCHI gene from BPH, analyzed its spatiotemporal expression patterns, and validated gene function through microinjection experiments. The results indicated that NlGCHI has two transcripts, designated as NlGCHIa and NlGCHIb. Notably, NlGCHIb exhibited periodic expression dynamics in late-instar nymphs and was highly expressed in the cuticle. Treatment of BPH with dsNlGCHI injection or feeding with the GCHI inhibitor 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) resulted in high mortality rates, primarily due to molting defects characterized by failure to shed the old cuticle properly. Additionally, dsNlGCHI-treated individuals displayed abnormal melanization. The above results indicate that the function of GCHI remains relatively conserved in both holometabolous insects and hemimetabolous insect, influencing cuticle formation and molting processes in insects. Its encoding gene can be utilized to develop RNAi-based pesticides for controlling N. lugens. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Isolation and identification of the pathogen causing tomato canker in Zhejiang Province of China LIU Pengfei, ZHANG Shuhan, HONG Kai, SHAO Yue, LOU Binggan 2025, 37(6):  1293-1300.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240240 Abstract ( 18 )   HTML ( 2 )   PDF (5037KB) ( 32 )   Tomato bacterial canker, a devastating bacterial disease affecting tomatoes, has not been previously reported in Zhejiang Province. This study focused on the first occurrence of tomato bacterial canker in Zhejiang, conducting pathogen isolation, purification, morphological identification, and pathogenicity testing. Seven pathogenic strains were isolated, exhibiting yellow circular smooth colonies on 523 medium. The bacterial cells were rod-shaped, measuring (0.40-0.75) μm×(1.20-3.30) μm, and non-flagellated. Inoculation caused leaf curling and desiccation, stem cankers, and bird’s eye spots on tomato fruits. Further sequencing, comparison, and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and six housekeeping genes revealed that all seven pathogenic strains showed high consistency with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, the causal agent of tomato bacterial canker. Comprehensive morphological, pathogenic, and molecular identification results demonstrated that the newly emerged disease on tomatoes in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, is tomato bacterial canker. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Environmental Science

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Effects of chemical fertilizer reduction combined with soil conditioner on soil acidity, soil nutrients and rice yield ZHANG Zhi, HE Haohao, YU Miao, XU Jianfeng 2025, 37(6):  1301-1308.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20241073 Abstract ( 21 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (699KB) ( 35 )   The effect of chemical fertilizer reduction combined with different soil conditioners on soil acidification and rice yield were studied via a 3-year stationary field experiment. There were 9 fertilization treatments: CK, no fertilization; CF, conventional chemical fertilizaiton; RF, chemical fertilizer reduction; T1, RF+swine manure; T2, RF+lime; T3, RF+ “Natures” soil amendment; T4, RF+organic soil amendment; T5, RF+ “Fengshouyan” soil amendment; T6, RF+high calcium soil amendment. It was shown that, compared with the CF treatment, T1-T6 treatments significantly (P<0.05) elevated soil pH value by 0.44-1.39, reduced soil exchangeable H+ content, exchangeable Al3+ content and exchangeable acidity by 22.8%-39.7%, 33.3%-69.4%, 30.8%-60.4%, respectively, and increased soil exchangeable Ca2+ content, cation exchange capacity, base-exchangeable ions content and base saturation by 63.2%-120.5%, 9.8%-18.5%, 56.4%-95.4% and 42.2%-66.5%, respectively. Besides, the early rice yield under T1, T4, T5 treatments was significantly higher than that under the CF treatment by 20.5%, 16.7%, 9.9%, respectively. Under the experiment conditions, reduction of chemical fertilization rate combined with 3 000 kg·hm-2 organic soil amendment exhibited the best effect on mitigating soil acidification and increasing rice yield. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Effects of organic materials on soil microbial biomass, mineral nitrogen content and rice yield LIN Xiaobing, LI Jiang, CHENG Yanhong, WANG Binqiang, HE Shaolang, HUANG Shangshu, HUANG Qianru 2025, 37(6):  1309-1318.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240456 Abstract ( 17 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (1414KB) ( 34 )   In the present study, a field plot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of application of organic materials[Radix puerariae residues compost (PC), compost of Radix puerariae residues and biochar (PBCC), vermicompost of Radix puerariae residues (PVCC), straw biochar (BC) and vermicompost of cow dung (VC)] with reduced amount of chemical fertilizer on content of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrate nitrogen ({\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-N), ammonium nitrogen ({\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}-N), total reducing substances, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and rice yiel, with the common fertilization as control (CK). It was shown that at the maturity stage, all the treatments with application of organic materials significantly (P<0.05) increased soil MBC content by 89.37%-161.84% than that of CK. Beseides, compared with the CK, BC treatment significantly increased soil MBN content by 108.36%; BC, PC, PVCC treatments significantly increased soil {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-N content by 51.16%-103.88%; VC and BC treatments significantly increased soil {\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}-N content by 44.39%, 37.07%, respectively; VC and PVCC treatments significantly increased soil DOC content by 59.70% and 50.99%, respectively. There was no difference in rice yield among treatments. In general, application of proper organic material with reduced amount of chemical fertilizer could improve soil fertility, decrease the input of chemical fertilizers without any adverse effect on rice yield. Under this experiment condition, PVCC treatment showed the best performance. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Application of nitrogen fertilizer for banana based on nitrate nitrogen concentration in soil solution HE Xinyun, DENG Bichun, HU Qingyu, FENG Hong, GUO Yanbiao 2025, 37(6):  1319-1326.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240215 Abstract ( 88 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (722KB) ( 34 )   A large amount of nitrogen is required in the whole growth period of banana. Reasonable fertilization is the basis to ensure yield, increase fertilizer use efficiency and reduce environmental load. Reasonable fertilization is dependent on the quick and accurate judgment of nitrogen supply level. Plants absorb nutrients mainly from soil solution, so nutrient concentration in soil solution can reflect nutrient supply level of soil in theory. However, there are few studies focusing on fertilization scheme based on nutrient concentration in soil solution. To establish a method which could guide fertilization by monitoring nitrate nitrogen concentration in soil solution, a sand culture experiment with nutrition solution and a pot experiment with soil for banana were carried out in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Seven nitrogen concentrations (0, 35, 70, 140, 210, 280, 420 mg·L-1) were set up in the sand culture experiment, and three nitrate nitrogen concentration ranges (<70, 70-280, >280 mg·L-1) were set up in the pot experiment.The results showed that the plant height, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), leaf area and total dry matter weight of banana were significantly (P<0.05) higher when nitrogen concentration was 70-280 mg·L-1 than those when nitrogen concentration was lower than 70 mg·L-1 or higher than 280 mg·L-1 in the sand culture experiment. The growth of banana plant in the soil pot experiment was the best and the biomass was the largest when the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in soil solution was in the range of 70-280 mg·L-1, which was consistent with the results of sand culture experiment. Therefore, the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in soil solution in the range of 70-280 mg·L-1 could be used as a reference index for nitrogen fertilizer application at banana seedling stage. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Food Science

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Pathogen identification of post-harvest rotten Lycium barbarum and screening of natural fungicides MA Xian, YOU Yuwei, KANG Juan, WANG Guoqin, ZHENG Rui, SU Jianyu, YUE Sijun 2025, 37(6):  1327-1335.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240670 Abstract ( 17 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (2298KB) ( 30 )   The fresh fruit of Lycium barbarum exhibits limited storage resistance and is susceptible to decay after harvest. To elucidate the primary pathogenic fungi responsible for post-harvest decay of L. barbarum, the fresh L. barbarum fruit was utilized to isolate the pathogen causing post-harvest rot. The isolated fungi were identified based on their morphological and molecular characteristics. Additionally, the in vitro effect of 6 natural fungicides against the isolated fungi and their perservation effect on L. barbarum during storage were explored. It was shown that 3 fungi were isolated in the presented study, and were identified as Penicillium raistrickii (encoded as GQ3), Rhizopus oryzae (encoded as GQ4), and Wickerhamomyces anomalus (encoded as GQ5). The indoor toxicity test revealed that nisin exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on the growth of the three fungi, with median effective concentration (EC50) values of 0.032 0, 0.013 0 and 0.034 0 g·mL-1 for GQ3, GQ4 and GQ5, respectively. Chitosan demonstrated the strongest inhibitory effect on spore germination of the three fungi, with EC50 values of 0.006 4, 0.012 2 and 0.010 2 g·mL-1 for GQ3, GQ4 and GQ5, respectively. Nison, glucose oxidase, chitosan, polylysine, steviol glycosides and garlic grinding liquid all exhibited presevation effects on L. barbarum during storage, and nison, glucose oxidase showed the best performace among them. These findings could offer theoretical foundation for the prevention of fresh fruits of L. barbarum in Ningxia, China. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Changes of bacterial community and quality during pickling process of Jinyun pickled and dried mustard ZHANG Chengcheng, FAN Tao, ZHANG Jianming, ZHAO Fengliang, XIN Xiaoting, NIU Haiyue, LIU Daqun 2025, 37(6):  1336-1343.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240471 Abstract ( 13 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (1378KB) ( 30 )   In order to explore the changes of bacterial community and quality during the pickling process of stem and leaf of Jinyun pickled and dried mustard, the dynamic changes of titratable acid, pH value, nitrite content, organic acid content and bacterial community structure in stem and leaf were monitored during the pickling process within 15 days. The results showed that the leaf could reach mature after pickling for 9-12 days, which was suitable for further processing. At this time, the titratable acid content and pH value were stable, and the nitrite content was low within 2.02-2.43 mg·L-1. In addition, the content of organic acids such as lactic and acetic acid was high, and the beneficial lactic acid bacteria such as Latilactobacillus, Weissella, Lactococcus and Leuconostoc were dominant. The ripening rate of stem was slower than that of leaf, its titratable acid content and organic acid content were lower than those of leaf, and its appropriate pickling time was about 15 days. These findings could provide theoretical foundation for processing and quality control of Jinyun pickled and dried mustard. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Biosystems Engineering

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Preliminary exploration of the Δ conductivity quantification method for cell membrane permeability WANG Zhong, YANG Hongbing, YANG Fan, CHEN Yifan, HOU Xiaomin 2025, 37(6):  1344-1352.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240719 Abstract ( 15 )   HTML ( 2 )   PDF (3360KB) ( 32 )   To enhance the reproducibility and comparability of cell membrane permeability assays and further quantify cell membrane permeability based on these improvements, a novel method for quantifying cell membrane permeability was successfully developed through investigating wheat leaf cell membrane permeability: the Δ conductivity quantification method for cell membrane permeability (abbreviated as the Δ conductivity method). The Δ conductivity method defines the unit of cell membrane permeability as the conductivity value of the extracellular solution leaked from 1 g of biomass with intact cell membranes after immersion in 1 L of pure water for 1 h under specific pressure. The calculation formula is: P=[(σe-σi)×V]/(m×R×t), where, P represents cell membrane permeability (with the unit being μS·cm-1·L-1·g-1·h-1), σe and σi represent the electrical conductivity at the end time point and the initial time point, V represents solution volume, m represents dry weight of sample, R represents intact rate of cell membrane, t represents consumption time. By comparing with the two existing common methods(air extraction method and soaking method), the results demonstrated that the three methods showed consistent conclusions and comparable reliability in qualitative research. However, the Δ conductivity method exhibited significantly superior repeatability compared with the air extraction method and soaking methods, proving that the Δ conductivity method can accurately and reliably quantify cell membrane permeability. The Δ conductivity method establishes a foundation for quantifying cell membrane permeability, making it potentially feasible for cell membrane permeability to serve as a hallmark biological indicator. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Parameter calibration of tea garden soil based on discrete element method REN Ning, YU Guohong, ZHENG Hang, CHEN Zhidong 2025, 37(6):  1353-1359.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240386 Abstract ( 13 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (1213KB) ( 32 )   In order to obtain the precise contact parameters of the discrete element simulation model for tea garden soil in Zhejiang, China, soil accumulation experiment was conducted, combined with experimental measurements and EDEM simulation. The soil accumulation angle was selected as the target value, step-by-step calibration optimization was carried out by Plackett-Burman test, the steepest ascent test and the Box-Behnken test to obtain the following optimal combination of soil simulation parameters: the soil-soil restitution coefficient of 0.49, the soil-soil static friction coefficient of 0.58, and the soil JKR surface energy of 13.06 J·m-2. Further, the accuracy of the soil simulation model was compared and analyzed through the simulation test of wire hammer drilling and on-site testing. The simulation and on-site test results of the wire hammer drilling showed that, the characteristics and the movement law of the wire hammer in simulated soil was basically the same as the actual soil, and the relative error between the simulated result and the measured result of hole depth was 4.84%, which indicated that the discrete component simulation parameter calibration method of soil was accurate and feasible. The constructed soil model could provide technical support for subsequent research on tea gardens in Zhejiang. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Agricultural Economy and Development

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Empirical study on impact of digital literacy on farmers’ participation in industrial integration ZHANG Xi, HUO Xuexi 2025, 37(6):  1360-1371.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240317 Abstract ( 23 )   HTML ( 2 )   PDF (1253KB) ( 35 )   In the context of digital economy, it is crucial to explore the impact of digital literacy on farmers’ participation in industrial integration to promote the development of rural industrial integration. Based on the 2021 China Land Economy Survey data, the impact and mechanism of digital literacy on farmers’ participation in industrial integration was empirically examined using Probit model and IV-Probit model. It was shown that the improvement of digital literacy could effectively promote farmers’ participation in industrial integration, and the conclusion was robust after endogeneity and robustness tests. Mechanism analysis results showed that digital literacy could promote farmers’ participation in industrial integration by improving information availability and enhancing access to credit. Heterogeneity analysis results revealed that the digital literacy could promote farmers’ participation of all ages in industrial integration, but the effect was relatively greater for young farmers. The digital literacy could promote farmers’ participation in suburban areas in industrial integration, but the effect on farmers in non-suburban areas was not significant. Therefore, the construction of digital infrastructure should be promoted persistently in rural areas, and a rural digital education system should be established, to improve the digital literacy of rural residents. Besides, the advantages of digital economy should be fully played, to further promote the participation of farmers in industrial integration. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Research progress of protocorm and protocorm-like body in Orchidaceae plants ZOU Junyan, WANG Yunzhu, ZHAO Wanqiu, YIN Zhihao, DU Jianke, SUN Chongbo 2025, 37(6):  1372-1389.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240581 Abstract ( 14 )   HTML ( 2 )   PDF (4707KB) ( 34 )   Protocorm and protocorm-like body (PLB) serve as important intermediate propagules during the growth and development of orchid plants. They are not only important regenerative organs but also rich in bioactive compounds in certain species, demonstrating significant scientific value and application potential. However, current understanding of their formation mechanisms remains limited, and there are notable constraints in industrial development and resource utilization. This paper systematically reviews the vital roles of protocorm and PLB in orchid breeding, seedling propagation, and resource exploitation, with a focus on the following aspects: cytological characteristics during morphogenesis and development, endogenous and environmental influencing factors, molecular regulatory mechanisms, and current exploitation and utilization status. Addressing key challenges such as unclear formation mechanisms and insufficient technological development, this study provides an in-depth discussion and prospects their future applications in large-scale seedling production, novel germplasm creation, and high-value product development. The findings aim to offer theoretical references and practical guidance for further research and comprehensive utilization of orchid protocorm and PLB. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Research progress on ectopic fermentation system in treatment of fecal residue and waste water of livestock and poultry YI Ming, SUN Hong, SHEN Qi, TANG Jiangwu 2025, 37(6):  1390-1396.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20240605 Abstract ( 15 )   HTML ( 1 )   PDF (800KB) ( 34 )   The ectopic fermentation system is one of the important technologies for the resource utilization of fecal residue and waste water of livestock and poultry, and it has been widely applied both domestically and internationally. In the present assay, the research progress on ectopic fermentation system is summarized in the treatment of fecal residue and waste water of livestock and poultry. It is shown that the key control factors of this technology consist of temperature, bedding materials, bed volume, manure addition rate, moisture content and ventilation. Thermophilic bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus play a critical role in cellulose degradation and element cycling within this system. Tetracyclines are the most frequently detected and concentrated antibiotics in the ectopic fermentation system. During the resource utilization process, the ectopic fermentation system can effectively reduce the relative and absolute abundance of certain antibiotics (such as tetracyclines and sulfonamides). However, the ectopic fermentation system also produces three major greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) and odorous gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide during manure treatment. To date, research on the ectopic fermentation system has been primarily focused on the selection of thermophilic bacterial agents and bedding material combinations, element cycling, and the detection and removal of antibiotic resistance genes. In contrast, little research has been done on reducing greenhouse gas and odor emissions. References | Related Articles | Metrics