Food and Energy Security最新文献

Hybrid fixation is an emerging breeding tool that eliminates the need to purchase costly hybrid seeds on an annual basis. However, this technique is limited to Arabidopsis, rice, and soybean with a severe issue of seed setting. Seed setting rate is affected due to targeting of cell division-related genes and an increase in ploidy in each successive generation. These types of issues can be sorted out by identifying self-haploid indication lines. Egg cell-specific endopeptidases (ECS) play a role during gamete fusion/fertilization by avoiding polytuby and along with gamete fusion work as a haploid inducer in many crops. Here, we knock out BnECS1, BnECS2, and both together in Brassica napus (B. napus) by using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas9) gene editing system. Mutant population causes maternal/self-haploid induction in B. napus. Self-haploid induction will play a significant role in hybrid fixation, allowing hybrid plants to maintain their ploidy level without requiring additional hybridization with other haploid induction lines. Hence, our study provides a baseline for the development of hybrid fix plants in B. napus without an increase of ploidy in each successive generation.

Plants are often attacked by multiple herbivores. Most studies on plant–herbivore interactions focus on pairwise comparisons, examining one or two herbivores attacking a single species, or a single herbivore attacking multiple species. Although sequential herbivory is prevalent, there has been limited investigation on plant and herbivore response to sequential attacks, especially in soybean (Glycine max, L.). To examine this, we imposed sequential and intermittent herbivory with two herbivores—fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (FAW), and soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens (SL)—on two soybean varieties, “Magellan” and “Black Hawk”. A comprehensive evaluation of plant growth, physiology, and fitness traits, alongside herbivore growth and development, was conducted. No significant effects of the sequential attacks were observed on soybean growth traits. However, after the first attack, physiological traits were upregulated but remained unchanged post sequential herbivory. FAW exhibited higher mass gain compared to SL during the first herbivory. In sequential attacks, FAW that fed on SL-primed plants gained more mass, whereas both herbivores that fed on FAW-primed plants gained the least. The frass weight and the number of frass pellets collected from FAW were also higher in both the first and sequential attacks compared to SL. However, yield and fitness were unaffected by sequential herbivory by either FAW or SL. Taken together, these findings suggest that FAW, although a minor but polyphagous pest, was able to feed more and induce higher defenses compared to SL, a major pest of the crop with limited host range. More importantly, we show that sequential and intermittent herbivory has differential effects on host and herbivore traits, but not on yield, suggesting tolerance—an area that should be explored further.

Rice blast is the most significant disease affecting rice production, causing substantial yield loss and quality degradation. Previous studies have focused primarily on the genetic basis of pathogen resistance in rice. Recent studies have revealed the immune response mechanisms induced by pathogen-associated molecular patterns in the pathogen-host system, as well as the immune responses induced by effector proteins of the pathogen. This review summarizes recent advancements in the mechanisms by which rice blast effectors alter host cell structures or functions and interfere with rice immunity, and the molecular mechanisms through which rice blast resistance genes regulate rice resistance. This article explores the urgent problems that need to be solved in the field of molecular breeding research on rice resistance to rice blast and proposes a research concept for systematically mining the rice antagonistic genes corresponding to the virulence genes of the rice blast fungus, constructing new rice varieties with precise disease resistance, and thereby effectively reducing the harmful effects of rice blast on rice production.

The acceleration of urbanization and its resultant expansion of urban sprawl (US) have significantly reshaped agricultural supply chain resilience (ASCR). In this study, we focused on the effects of US and the induction of imbalances in resource allocation. To accomplish this goal, we analyzed the data using a Geographically Weighted Random Forest (GWRF) with SHAP values, a moderated effects model, and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR). These analyses enabled us to evaluate how US undermines ASCR via resource misallocation (RM), with an emphasis on the nonlinear dynamics and spatial heterogeneity of RM. Our results indicate that an apparent nonlinear threshold effect exists between US and ASCR. When US remains below a critical threshold value of 0.33, moderate expansion enhances supply chain resilience. However, once this limit is surpassed, the negative impact of US intensifies exponentially. In addition, we found evidence of spatial disparities, with eastern coastal regions exhibiting more pronounced vulnerabilities, while specific megacity clusters displayed a positive response. RM functions as an amplifier, under conditions where capital distortion (CD) and land distortion (LAD) substantially magnify the marginal adverse effects of US at lower levels. In contrast, labor distortion (LD) demonstrates relatively stable effects, though these effects were spatially differentiated. Collectively, these distortions operate through a cyclical mechanism of “market inefficiency—spatial crowding—labor mismatch,” the net effect of which systematically erodes resilience. Compared with previous studies that mainly focus on linear mean effects or single-factor misallocations, in this study we employed a combined GWRF–SHAP and BKMR framework to systematically reveal the threshold-dependent spatially heterogeneous effects of US and the nonlinear amplification mechanisms of multidimensional RM. With this approach, quantifiable evidence for enhancing agricultural supply chain resilience management in developing countries can be achieved. Accordingly, policy recommendations are proposed to underscore the urgency of establishing urban growth boundary controls and corrective mechanisms for land misallocation to sever the amplification loop of this process.

This study aims to balance yield and quality by selecting varieties and optimizing agronomic management practices. In 2023, field trials evaluated 35 new rice varieties for yield and grain quality. In 2024, four varieties with varying yield and quality performance underwent a split-plot design for further investigation with two sowing dates (S1: 14th May and S2: 29th May) and two nitrogen (N) rates (N1: 120 and N2: 180 kg N ha⁻¹). In 2023, the grain yield of these varieties ranged from 7.3 to 10.2 t ha⁻¹, with chalkiness degree 3.7%–29.0%. The selected variety Cheng Liang You (CLY607) in 2024 reached a peak yield of 9.3 t ha⁻¹ with early sowing on 14th May and 180 kg N ha⁻¹. The increased yield was attributed to higher N uptake, improved grain filling percentage, increased biomass, and a higher harvest index. Delayed sowing resulted in lower daily radiation but maintained heat stress in a hot year of 2024, which reduced leaf area index (LAI) and biomass, lowered grain filling percentage and head rice rate, but increased chalkiness. Early sowing with a low N rate improved eating quality due to the reduced protein content and stabilized amylose levels, yet led to increased chalkiness. It also altered protein composition to more glutelin and less prolamin. On the contrary, a high N rate increased total protein content in grain but negatively affected rice taste quality. In conclusion, CLY607 showed high-temperature tolerance for yield and quality; delaying sowing did not relieve the detrimental impact of high temperatures on crop yield and quality in extreme heat years; a high N rate increased resilience to high temperature by boosting yield and reducing chalkiness, but lowered eating quality.

This study aims to balance yield and quality by selecting varieties and optimizing agronomic management practices. In 2023, field trials evaluated 35 new rice varieties for yield and grain quality. In 2024, four varieties with varying yield and quality performance underwent a split-plot design for further investigation with two sowing dates (S1: 14th May and S2: 29th May) and two nitrogen (N) rates (N1: 120 and N2: 180 kg N ha⁻¹). In 2023, the grain yield of these varieties ranged from 7.3 to 10.2 t ha⁻¹, with chalkiness degree 3.7%–29.0%. The selected variety Cheng Liang You (CLY607) in 2024 reached a peak yield of 9.3 t ha⁻¹ with early sowing on 14th May and 180 kg N ha⁻¹. The increased yield was attributed to higher N uptake, improved grain filling percentage, increased biomass, and a higher harvest index. Delayed sowing resulted in lower daily radiation but maintained heat stress in a hot year of 2024, which reduced leaf area index (LAI) and biomass, lowered grain filling percentage and head rice rate, but increased chalkiness. Early sowing with a low N rate improved eating quality due to the reduced protein content and stabilized amylose levels, yet led to increased chalkiness. It also altered protein composition to more glutelin and less prolamin. On the contrary, a high N rate increased total protein content in grain but negatively affected rice taste quality. In conclusion, CLY607 showed high-temperature tolerance for yield and quality; delaying sowing did not relieve the detrimental impact of high temperatures on crop yield and quality in extreme heat years; a high N rate increased resilience to high temperature by boosting yield and reducing chalkiness, but lowered eating quality.

Over the past three decades, Somalia has experienced recurrent civil conflic and prolonged droughts. These crises have displaced farming communities, weakened traditional seed systems and disrupted local crop diversity. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is Somalia's most important food crop after maize and sorghum, where it provides households with affordable protein and supports the sustainability of low-input farming systems. This study aimed to assess the current status of cowpea production, identify breeding priorities across three agroecological zones in southern Somalia, and establish a core germplasm collection for future breeding programs. Farmer surveys were conducted in Baidoa, Afgoie and Jowhar, involving interviews with 150 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Over 60% of farmers cultivated cowpea for both household consumption and market sale. While cowpea was predominantly grown as an intercrop, nearly 45% of farmers in Afgoie produced it as a sole crop. Regional differences in varietal preferences were evident: more farmers in Afgoie preferred erect, uniformly maturing cultivars with dark-red seeds, while other regions showed more diverse preferences. Production constraints also varied by region, with drought being the primary limitation in Baidoa, and pests and diseases the major challenges in Afgoie and Jowhar. A germplasm collection representing Somalia's cowpea diversity from pre- and post-civil war periods was established, supplemented by global diversity and accessions with desirable agronomic traits. These genetic resources, together with farmer insights, provide a foundation for targeted breeding to improve cowpea productivity and support future food security in Somalia.

Over the past three decades, Somalia has experienced recurrent civil conflic and prolonged droughts. These crises have displaced farming communities, weakened traditional seed systems and disrupted local crop diversity. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is Somalia's most important food crop after maize and sorghum, where it provides households with affordable protein and supports the sustainability of low-input farming systems. This study aimed to assess the current status of cowpea production, identify breeding priorities across three agroecological zones in southern Somalia, and establish a core germplasm collection for future breeding programs. Farmer surveys were conducted in Baidoa, Afgoie and Jowhar, involving interviews with 150 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Over 60% of farmers cultivated cowpea for both household consumption and market sale. While cowpea was predominantly grown as an intercrop, nearly 45% of farmers in Afgoie produced it as a sole crop. Regional differences in varietal preferences were evident: more farmers in Afgoie preferred erect, uniformly maturing cultivars with dark-red seeds, while other regions showed more diverse preferences. Production constraints also varied by region, with drought being the primary limitation in Baidoa, and pests and diseases the major challenges in Afgoie and Jowhar. A germplasm collection representing Somalia's cowpea diversity from pre- and post-civil war periods was established, supplemented by global diversity and accessions with desirable agronomic traits. These genetic resources, together with farmer insights, provide a foundation for targeted breeding to improve cowpea productivity and support future food security in Somalia.

High nitrogen (N) application usually increases protein content to impair rice cooking and eating quality. Mitigating this deterioration under high N conditions remains to be explored. Alternate wetting and moderate drying irrigation (AWMD) can interact with N fertilizer to improve rice quality. To investigate the effects of AWMD on rice protein content and cooking and eating quality, Nanjing 9108 (NJ9108), a superior-tasting japonica variety, was planted. With 150 kg N hm⁻² applied as the base-tiller fertilizer, four panicle-stage N rates (0, 70, 140, and 210 kg hm⁻², denoted as 0, 70, 140, and 210 N, respectively) were tested. Two irrigation regimes of conventional irrigation (CI) and AWMD were implemented during the grain-filling stage. The results showed that increasing panicle N fertilizer enhanced the contents of protein and total amino acids (TAAs) in milled rice, as well as the activities and gene expressions of the key enzymes involved in protein synthesis. Compared with CI, AWMD increased the contents of protein and TAAs and enzymatic activity and gene expressions under 0 and 70 N treatments, but it reduced these parameters at high panicle N rates (140 and 210 N). Principal component analysis indicated that expression levels of OsAAT and OsAlaAT1 genes and TAAs content can be key parameters for evaluating protein synthetic capacity in rice grains. Correlation analysis revealed that the measured parameters related to protein synthesis had a significant negative correlation with rice cooking and eating quality. These results suggest that the AWMD regime can alleviate the decline in rice cooking and eating quality by reducing protein content at high panicle N fertilizer levels. The taste quality of superior taste japonica rice can be improved by adopting the AWMD regime under high panicle N fertilizer conditions.

High nitrogen (N) application usually increases protein content to impair rice cooking and eating quality. Mitigating this deterioration under high N conditions remains to be explored. Alternate wetting and moderate drying irrigation (AWMD) can interact with N fertilizer to improve rice quality. To investigate the effects of AWMD on rice protein content and cooking and eating quality, Nanjing 9108 (NJ9108), a superior-tasting japonica variety, was planted. With 150 kg N hm⁻² applied as the base-tiller fertilizer, four panicle-stage N rates (0, 70, 140, and 210 kg hm⁻², denoted as 0, 70, 140, and 210 N, respectively) were tested. Two irrigation regimes of conventional irrigation (CI) and AWMD were implemented during the grain-filling stage. The results showed that increasing panicle N fertilizer enhanced the contents of protein and total amino acids (TAAs) in milled rice, as well as the activities and gene expressions of the key enzymes involved in protein synthesis. Compared with CI, AWMD increased the contents of protein and TAAs and enzymatic activity and gene expressions under 0 and 70 N treatments, but it reduced these parameters at high panicle N rates (140 and 210 N). Principal component analysis indicated that expression levels of OsAAT and OsAlaAT1 genes and TAAs content can be key parameters for evaluating protein synthetic capacity in rice grains. Correlation analysis revealed that the measured parameters related to protein synthesis had a significant negative correlation with rice cooking and eating quality. These results suggest that the AWMD regime can alleviate the decline in rice cooking and eating quality by reducing protein content at high panicle N fertilizer levels. The taste quality of superior taste japonica rice can be improved by adopting the AWMD regime under high panicle N fertilizer conditions.