Centella asiatica is renowned for its medicinal properties, particularly due to its triterpenoid saponins, such as asiaticoside and madecassoside, which are in excess demand for the cosmetic industry. However, comprehensive genomic resources for this species are lacking, which impedes the understanding of its biosynthetic pathways. Here, we report a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) C. asiatica genome. The

Plant trichomes serve as a protective barrier against various stresses. Although the molecular mechanisms governing the initiation of trichomes have been extensively studied, the regulatory pathways underlying the trichome branching in tomato remain elusive. Here, we found that Woolly (Wo) mutant and its overexpression transgenic plants displayed branched type I trichomes. The expression level of SlTCP25

The China National GeneBank Sequence Archive (CNSA) is an open and freely accessible curated data repository built for archiving, sharing, and re-utilizing of multi-omics data. The remarkable advancement in sequencing technologies has triggered a paradigm shift in life science research. However, it also poses tremendous challenges for the research community in data manage and reusability. With the

Over the past decade, genome sequencing, and assembly approaches have been greatly improved resulting in the assembly of many genomes for citrus including wild, domesticated and citrus related genomes. Improvements in technologies have led to assembled genomes with higher completeness, contiguity, quality and accuracy that have greatly facilitated annotation and analysis. This review summarizes the

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) is an economically significant species in the Rosaceae family. Hitherto, there had been limited genetic and genomic resources to elucidate important horticultural traits in this species mainly because of the complex polyploid nature of its genome, a hybrid between Prunus avium and Prunus fruticosa. An important trait that has not been well studied in sour cherry is resistance

Today’s cities grow at the interface of urbanised and open areas. Their impact zones depend on their size and role in the settlement structure. Unplanned urban growth often leads to land-use patterns that conflict with sustainable development principles. This can spark local land use and land cover (LULC) conflicts.

Monoterpenoids are small volatile molecules produced by many plants that have applications in consumer products and healthcare. Plants from the mint family (Lamiaceae) are prodigious producers of monoterpenoids, including a chemotype of Agastache rugosa (Huo Xiang), which produces pulegone and isomenthone. We sequenced, assembled and annotated a haplotype-resolved chromosome-scale genome assembly of

This study was conducted in a commercial ‘Honeycrisp’ apple orchard in 2021 and 2022 season to understand the effectiveness of cyclic evaporative cooling (conventional), continuous fogging, netting and combination of fogging and netting (fognet) in mitigating heat stress on fruits and associated effects on post-harvest fruit quality. Heat stress on fruits was quantified continually during each season

Leaf rust caused by Coleosporium zanthoxyli is a destructive disease that threatens Zanthoxylum bungeanum plantations. To address this, screening for resistant cultivars and exploring their resistance mechanisms are crucial for effective disease management. However, the mechanisms underlying Z. bungeanum's resistance remain unclear. In this study, we conducted in vivo and in vitro experiments to screen

The WRKY genes, belonging to one of the largest families of transcription factors (TFs) in plants, play critical roles in regulating diverse biological processes. In this study, we identified a novel gene from the WRKY IIc subfamily, designated as CsWRKY51, in the tea plant, and confirmed its nuclear localization. Phenotypic analyses of CsWRKY51-overexpressing (OE) plants revealed multiple abnormal

Wild bee populations are threatened by habitat fragmentation and land-use change, but few development plans consider resource competition. However, managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) are often introduced to residential areas by hobbyist beekeepers, placing potential competitive pressure on wild bees. We sampled bee-plant interactions from natural reserves across the peri-urban landscape of Fort Collins

Volatile compounds serve physiological, signaling, and defensive purposes in plants and have beneficial effects on the growth, reproduction, resistance, and yield of horticultural plants. They are released through fragrance glands and become gasses by passing through the plasma membrane, cell walls that contain water, and cuticle. Transporter proteins facilitate their transport and reduce the resistance

Platycodon grandiflorus has been widely used in Asia as a medicinal herb and food because of its anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties. P. grandiflorus has important clinical value because of the active triterpenoid saponins in its roots. However, the biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoid saponins in P. grandiflorus remains unclear, and the related genes remain unknown. Therefore, in this

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are essential secondary metabolites in grapevine, which not only determine the fruit quality but also participate in plant resistance metabolism and plays a vital role in regulating plant stress tolerance. The previous research in our laboratory showed that the contents of proanthocyanidins tended to increase and decrease by SA treatment in grape leaves. However, the mechanism

Maple trees are known for their graceful appearance and high ornamental value, thanks to their attractive leaf shapes and vibrant autumn foliage. However, the Acer phylogenetic relationships remain unclear, particularly the circumscription of the sections and the relationships between species within those sections. Section Lithocarpa is a typical group with an inconsistent circumscription, containing

Distant hybridization is an important method for pumpkin germplasm innovation that can effectively expand the genetic range of germplasm resources. However, reproductive isolation hinders the application of this technology. This study explored the feasibility and advantages of gynogenesis through unfertilized ovary culture of the first filial generation of Cucurbita maxima Duch. and Cucurbita moschata

The interaction between native and invasive plant species is pivotal for elucidating invasion mechanisms and formulating effective control strategies. This study presents a comprehensive examination of the differences in photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters, gene expression profiles, and rhizosphere soil microbial composition between the native species Ficus tikoua Bur. and the invasive species

Bananas are globally ubiquitous fruit, demands substantial resource inputs, notably water and fertilizers, for its cultivation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of IoT-enabled precision farming in optimizing water and nutrient utilization, augmenting banana cv.Grand Nain productivity, and mitigating cultivation costs. This pioneering endeavour for Indian banana cultivation investigated three

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect has garnered significant attention due to its detrimental effects, such as increased near-surface temperatures, reduced resident comfort, heat-related illnesses, and damage to urban ecosystems. While strategies including expanding green spaces, optimizing building layouts, adjusting vegetation, and using high-albedo materials are known to mitigate urban thermal conditions

Plant factories (PFs), also known as vertical farms, are advanced agricultural production systems that operate independently of geographical and environmental conditions. They utilize artificial light and controlled environments to produce horticultural plants year-round. This approach offers a promising solution for the stable and efficient supply of high-quality horticultural produce in urban areas

Polyploids are widespread in plants and are important drivers for evolution and biodiversity. Allopolyploidy activates transposable elements (TEs) and causes genomic shock. Plant genomes can regulate gene expression by changing the epigenetic modification of TEs, but the mechanism for TEs to capture genes remains to be explored. Helitron TEs used the “peel-and-paste” mechanism to achieve gene capture

Natural antimicrobial compounds (NACs) in the plant stem are crucial for replacing conventional synthetic pesticides in the control of soil-borne diseases, and microbial fermentation can enhance their concentration and bioactivity. In this study, the stems of ten plant species were collected for fermentation by probiotic bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens T-5 to identify the most effective plant resource

Hydroponic cultivation of crops offers a vital strategy for mitigating yield losses resulting from environmental fluctuations; however, it can lead to necrosis at the leaf apex, known as tipburn. To explore the mechanisms contributing to tipburn incidence, we compared two varieties of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. Pekinensis), Haru-torai (HT) and Haru-warai (HW), which have varying sensitivity

Petal size is a key agronomic trait for plant reproduction. However, the genetic basis and developmental regulation of melon petal size remain unexplored. In this study, the examination of F2 populations derived from M1–15 (large-petaled) and PI 614174 (small-petaled) melon lines suggested that petal size is a quantitative trait. Microscopic observation revealed that the difference in petal size between

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is an important fruit tree in China. However, due to the high heterozygosity of jujube, the gene transformation system is not maturely established. With the development of A. rhizogenes mediated transformation technology, it was successfully applied to genetic transformation in different woody plant species, which can be employed for gene transformation in jujube. Thus

NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2 and CUC) transcription factors represent one of the largest plant specific transcription factor families, playing crucial roles in plant growth and development. Chlorophyll, a vital pigment in plant photosynthesis, diminishes during fruit ripening and plant senescence. In this study, we identified 114 NAC genes from the litchi genome. LcNACs were found to be clustered, paired, and

Urban green spaces (UGS) are pivotal elements of the structure of urbanised areas, important for the well-being of the city inhabitants. Therefore, it is necessary to provide tools for determining the accessibility and crowdedness of the UGS. To this end, we assess how much space there is for potential UGS users in individual green spaces. It is pilot quantitative study limited to an area of one city

Trichomes are tiny outgrowths on the plant epidermis that serve defensive purposes against various stresses. While the regulatory mechanisms underlying unicellular trichome development are well understood, those governing multicellular trichome formation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we reveal a new regulatory pathway involving the Hair3 (H3) and H4 genes, which encode C2H2 zinc finger

The auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) transcription repressor acts as a key switch in the auxin signaling pathway and plays important roles in various aspects of plant development and growth, including fruit and seed development. However, little is known about Aux/IAA genes in pomegranate. We carried out a genome-wide association study to identify candidate Aux/IAA genes involved in pomegranate

Hydroponics is a promising cultivation method that increases crop yields per unit area while optimizing water, nutrient, and land use efficiency. However, nutrient recycling can alter solution composition due to preference nutrient uptake by plants, potentially affecting plant growth. This study investigated the effects of nutrient solution recycling on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth, water use

This study investigates the biosynthesis, characterization, and application of melatonin-functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs@MT) in alleviating chromium (Cr) toxicity in tomato plants. The biosynthesis of ZnO NPs@MT was achieved using leaf extract from Achillea millefolium. The characteristic properties of ZnO NPs@MT were analyzed using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FESEM, XRD, and HR-TEM. UV–Vis

Advancing towards urban futures in which both human communities and ecosystems can thrive requires transformative change (TC). Spatial planning can serve as a backbone for inspiring and fostering the desired transformation of cities. However, to support this transformation, the challenge for spatial planning is to create unconventional plans that account for the complex trade-offs and interactions

The sexual reproduction of triploids induces chromosomal karyotype variations, which are significant for germplasm resource innovation. Most triploid plants are with low fertility. Therefore, triploid offspring karyotypes’ variation pattern and phenotypic response remain poorly understood. Here, we employed three diploids with diverse genetic distances as male parents to cross-pollinate the female

Rapid urbanization and growing population are leading to food and land scarcity hampering the sustainable development of the society. New urban greening concepts have come up to mitigate these problems in a natural way. Hydroponic crop production is a promising approach in the field of urban farming, because of its high resource-use and land-use efficiency. Hydroponic technology attracted the city

Parthenocarpy can ensure fruit setting without fertilization and generate seedless fruits. PbCYP78A6 has been shown to play a role in gibberellin (GA)-induced parthenocarpy in pears. However, the transcriptional response mechanism of PbCYP78A6 to GA remains unclear. In this study, using a yeast one-hybrid assay combined with co-expression analysis, PbMYB56 was initially identified as a transcription

Ethylene, a plant hormone, is essential for apple (Malus domestica) ripening. The precise molecular mechanism by which melatonin (MT) influences ethylene biosynthesis during apple fruit ripening remains unclear. This study found that exogenous MT treatment inhibited ethylene production and postponed apple fruit ripening. The endogenous MT content of apple fruits exhibited an inverse correlation with

Light is essential for rose (Rosa spp.) growth and development. Different light qualities play differing roles in the rose floral transition, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their effects are not fully understood. Here we observed that red light suppresses rose flowering and increases the expression of Sensitivity to Red Light Reduced 1 (RcSRR1) compared with white light. Virus-induced gene

Cold damage poses a significant challenge to the cultivation of soft-seeded pomegranate varieties, hindering the growth of the pomegranate industry. The genetic basis of cold tolerance in pomegranates has remained elusive, largely due to the lack of high-quality genome assemblies for cold-tolerant varieties and comprehensive population-scale genomic studies. In this study, we addressed these challenges

Plants undergo dynamic morphological changes in response to fluctuating light conditions. Despite significant progress in elucidating the mechanisms of light signal transduction, the precise influence of light on the development and regulation of shoot architecture remains a central research question. Studies focusing on model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice suggest light modulates shoot

Nowadays modern agriculture systems are challenged by adopting sustainable and eco-friendly practices to boost crop yield while reducing chemical usage. In this context, the application of biostimulants has emerged as a promising solution. This study compares the efficacy of organic (Lombrico®) and non-organic (Nobrico®) biostimulants on cucumber plants under hydroponic conditions in a plant growth

Water scarcity has been a persistent challenge impeding the progress of the potato industry in northwest China. This field study was conducted in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China, specifically in Dingxi, Gansu Province, during the years 2018 and 2019, within a rain exclusion shelter. The 'Hermes' potato variety was selected as the experimental material. According to different field

Losses during the transport and marketing of banana fruits account for 25-50 %. An experiment was conducted at Jorhat, India in 2017-18 and 2018-19 to study the effects of treatments on the shelf life of bananas. The experiment comprising two bunch spray (pre-harvest) treatments, viz. B1-Calcium chloride 2 % twice and B2: Tracel 2 % twice, six solutions for hand dipping (post-harvest), viz. H1: 1 %

Over the past three decades, urban gardening initiatives have proliferated in cities. The community garden has emerged as a global model for participatory urban greening. To date, few studies have engaged on greening licenses. These schemes have emerged in French cities along community gardens to green the interstices of urban space, such as the feet of trees or holes in pavements. The role of urban

The synergistic regulatory effect of the ethylene transcription factor MdERF2 and ubiquitin ligase MdPUB17 on apple (Malus domestica) epidermal wax was examined by transferring the pRI101-MdPUB17-MdERF2 dual overexpression vector (PUB17-ERF2), the empty vector (pRI101), the pRI101-MdPUB17 overexpression vector (PUB17), and the pRI101-MdERF2 overexpression vector (ERF2) into Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Urban agriculture is often considered a tool to increase the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cities and city food systems. However, sustainability is difficult to measure, resulting in debate about how sustainable urban agriculture truly is. There is therefore a lack of incentive to promote urban agriculture or protect existing initiatives that are threatened by development pressure

9-cis-epoxy carotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) is a pivotal enzyme in the biosynthesis of abscisic acid (ABA), playing an essential role in plant development and responses to abiotic stress. Despite its significance, the NCED gene family in honeysuckle has not been previously characterized. In this study, through whole-genome screening, we identified four NCED genes in honeysuckle, distributed across three

Lily bulbils originate from the leaf axils of the middle and upper stems of lilies and play an important role in the reproduction of triploid Lilium lancifolium. The development process of lily bulbils results from cell division and expansion, but the roles of plant hormones and carbohydrate metabolism remains unclear. In this study, we treated L. lancifolium with exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)

Sustainable water management and enhanced irrigation efficiency in the growing macadamia sector in subtropical regions such as South Africa are essential amid severe periodic water scarcity exacerbated by climate change. This requires precise modelling of tree water demand under varying conditions. However, current methods often lack accuracy or require extensive data inputs. In this study, we adopted

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) trees have been seed-propagated for over a thousand years in Tibet, thriving under variable climatic conditions at altitudes exceeding 3,000 m. This study conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the nutritional quality of 175 walnuts, identifying the highest-performing accessions. Additionally, 20 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were employed to assess the extent of genetic

The rapid expansion of urban areas often leads to degradation, fragmentation, and loss of natural habitats, threatening biodiversity. While urban ponds might contribute substantially to the biodiversity of urban blue-green infrastructure, the role of garden ponds is still largely unknown. We lack a comprehensive understanding of how local habitat features, different forms of management, and urbanisation

In recent years, high temperature stress caused by global warming has become a significant constraint on the growth and development of pak choi (Brassica chinensis var. pekinensis. cv. ‘Suzhouqing’). In order to explore whether nano-selenium treatment could enhance the heat resistance, three nano-selenium concentrations (H1: 2.5 mg l-1; H2: 5 mg l-1; H3:10 mg l-1) and a water-sprayed control group

The cultivation of grapes is highly influenced by climatic conditions, and widespread cultivation reflects their adaptability to different climates around the world. Understanding the effects of climatic conditions on grape cultivation is crucial for optimizing grape production and maintaining quality. Few field studies have examined the impacts of changing climate and weather patterns on plant physiology

Proximity to urban green spaces offers numerous benefits, sparking increased research and policy interest in equitable access for different population groups. While spatial analyses evaluate access to urban green space, previous studies overlook fine-grained spatial disparities, needed for targeted urban planning. Spatial clustering models (Local Indicators of Spatial Association – LISA) group values

Urban greenspaces (UGS) are increasingly recognised as crucial for mitigating urban heat exposure in advancing sustainable development goals. However, limited understanding of spatial heterogeneity in cooling effects hinders optimizing UGS benefits. Moreover, most studies focus solely on relationship exploration, lacking comprehensive assessment frameworks for practical decision-making. We propose

The quality of traditional herbs depends on organ morphogenesis and the accumulation of active pharmaceutical ingredients. While recent research highlights the significance of cell mechanobiology in model plant morphogenesis, our understanding of mechanical signal initiation and transduction in traditional herbs remains incomplete. Recent studies reveal a close correlation between cell wall (CW) biosynthesis

Edible flowers are nutritionally, culinary and aesthetically valuable addition to food and beverages. Chemical composition of edible flowers (phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant activity etc.) has been analyzed in many studies from various parts of the world. Number of papers focused on content analysis of edible flowers markedly increased from year 2019. Species Calendula officinalis and species of genera

Cold chain systems are essential for preserving the quality and nutritional value of kiwifruit and other fruits, as well as facilitating their transportation and supply. Cold chain breaks can adversely affect fruit quality and value. Therefore, exploring its metabolism and molecular basis research is of great significance for regulating cold chain breaks. Herein, the effects of kiwifruit storage under

Vegetables are indispensable nutritional sources, forming a significant part of the human diet and holding substantial market value. However, with the expanding global population, there is an urgent need to prioritize the consumption of high-quality vegetables to improve health and address the risks posed by biotic and abiotic stresses. Conventional breeding methods are time-consuming and challenging

Norisoprenoids, which are produced by the cleavage of various carotenoids, are a class of volatile aroma compounds that widely distributed in plants. In wine, they represent a significant source of floral and fruity aromas. β-Damascenone is the most abundant and important norisoprenoid constituent in grape berries (Vitis vinifera L.) and wines. However, the regulatory mechanism of β-damascenone biosynthesis

In flowering plants, pollen tube growth is essential for delivering immotile sperm cells during double fertilization, directly influencing seed yield. This process relies on vesicle-mediated trafficking to drive tip growth and maintain fertility. However, investigating pollen tube growth is challenging in non-model plants due to the lack of transgenic tools. Here, we established a method to transiently