Wildtype fruit of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) are typically soft and highly perishable when fully ripe. The development of firm-fruited cultivars by phenotypic selection has greatly increased shelf life, decreased post-harvest perishability, and driven the expansion of strawberry production worldwide. Hypotheses for the firm-fruited phenotype include mutations affecting the expression

Potassium (K) availability in plant cells is critical for maintaining plant productivity across many terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, there is no comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms by which plants respond to potassium application in such conditions, despite the global challenge of escalating osmotic stress. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis using data from 2381 paired observations to investigate

Theanine is a crucial indicator of tea quality, its significance is closely tied to the economic value of tea. There were many reports on the regulation mechanism of theanine synthesis and accumulation, but the mechanism of gibberellin regulates theanine synthesis in tea plants is poorly understood. Previous studies have shown that the content of theanine experiences significant changed in the growth

Peach is one of the most economically valuable fruit trees. Haploid peach trees occur spontaneously at very low frequencies and they are usually highly sterile. Therefore, the haploid with partial fertility is extremely rare germplasm, which is highly valuable to genetic research and breeding programmes. In this study, we investigated the cytological mechanism underlying the fertility of a peach haploid

Optimised contributions of green infrastructure (GI) to urban ecosystem services are strongly related to its multifunctionality. The challenge, however, is that the concept of multifunctionality still needs to be transformed into an operationalised assessment to evaluate current performance, which is instrumental in supporting spatial planning and policy strategies. Using the case of Stavanger City

Over the last four decades, global temperatures have seen a generalized, long-term increase, and Europe is at the forefront of this trend, with temperatures rising by over twice the global average in the past 30 years. And the problem of excessive heat exposure is disproportionately more serious urban areas than it is in rural areas. This study investigates the issue of thermal inequality in Southern

The fruit softening directly impacts its storage life, transportability, and customer acceptance. Auxin plays a key role during fruit ripening, but the underlying mechanisms of how auxin regulates fruit softening remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulatory roles of auxin on berry cell wall degradation during grape (Vitis vinifera L.) softening. During grape berry development, berry

As countries continue to urbanize, an increasing number of adolescents will live in densely populated urban areas, often residing in high-rise buildings. Despite these trends, many high-rises, and their surrounding areas, sparsely consider the needs of adolescents. This results in urban environments that are often ill-suited to sufficiently support the health and development of adolescents. In the

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) is a prominent cultivar in China and is highly favored by consumers. Fruit shape is a critical agronomic trait in horticultural crops, which significantly contributes to their commercial value. In this study, we compared the two inbred lines of Cucurbita maxima, 'CNG2–3–1–1′ and 'BL27–3–2–1′, which exhibited significant difference in fruit shape. We observed that 'CNG2–3–1–1′

Ecological network (EN) is a popular approach for biodiversity conservation, which aims to facilitate animal movement between habitats. However, asymmetric movement caused by the subjectivity of animals and environment heterogeneity is seldom considered in EN design. To design EN based on asymmetric movement, an individual-based model, PDArunner, is developed, which can identify corridors based on

Fruit characteristics (flesh color, sweetness, flavor, etc.) of watermelon are largely the result of human selection. In this study, we combined the metabolome and transcriptome to investigate differentially expressed genes and differential metabolites related to sugar-acid and flesh color in four commercial watermelon cultivars. Fifty-eight genes and nine metabolites were identified in the organic

The study investigated the effects of cropping system (CS), mulching (M) and year (Y) on the nutritional profile and colour parameters of four sweet potato varieties, namely Purple Speclet, Martina, Janja and Lučka. The results showed that the variations were mainly due to the genetic makeup of the varieties, with Purple Speclet having the highest dry matter, protein, vitamin C content, total phenolic

Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) is a major crop cultivated in Northwest China. However, with the extension of storage periods, cantaloupes are increasingly prone to post-ripening senescence, quality deterioration, rot, and other phenomena, which in turn seriously limit shelf life. During postharvest storage, the quality of cantaloupes is affected by a large increase in ROS in the fruit. Herein, the effects

Walnut oil bodies (WOBs), the storage lipid organelles that forms and accumulates with walnut development. However, there is little literature about the lipid compositions and dynamic changes of WOBs during development. To address this gap in knowledge, lipidomics profile and metabolic modulation of WOBs during walnut (wen 185 cultivar) development (60, 74, 88, 102, 116, and 130 days after pollination

The study aimed to identify the optimal concentration of exogenous melatonin for fresh-cut nectarines by evaluating their quality attributes during storage at 0 °C with relative humidity (RH) of 85 % - 90 % after treatments with different concentrations (0 mM, 0.05 mM, 0.1 mM, and 0.5 mM, with 0 mM as the control). Furthermore, the optimal melatonin treatment concentration and control were used to

Biotic and abiotic stresses limit the growth, development, and production of sour passion fruit plants. The use of taller seedlings can reduce the vulnerability of the crop, as can cultivation in protected environments. However, due to the long period seedlings spend in the nursery, coupled with their continuous and indefinite growth, it is necessary to establish proper management to balance the growth

Though the existence of socioeconomic segregation in social interactions has been consistently documented and compared across cities in a growing body of literature, less attention has been paid to within-city analysis of the types of places at which particularly integrated or segregated interactions occur. Dependencies between socioeconomic profile, residential location, preferences and behavior make

During the COVID-19 pandemic, public urban greenspaces were sought as places of respite. However, deep inequities surfaced regarding who had access to safe high-quality greenspaces. The Park Perceptions and Racialized Realities study explored the experiences of racialized people in public urban greenspaces in Toronto, Canada.

Hypocotyl length is regarded to be a crucial seedling trait, influencing many subsequent plant development processes. However, little is known about this trait in Brassica campestris syn. Brasscia rapa. Here, we performed a comparative observation on the early hypocotyl development between two cultivars, ‘SZQ’ belonging to pak-choi (B. campestris ssp. chinensis var. communis) with longer hypocotyls

In this review, the advantages and advances in applying high-throughput sequencing (HTS) in the management of viral diseases in citrus, along with some challenges, are discussed to provide perspectives on future prospects. Since the initial implementation of HTS in citrus virology, a substantial number of citrus viruses have been identified, with a notable increase in the last 7 years. The acquisition

Phalaenopsis orchids require a prolonged period of low temperatures for flowering, which is highly correlated with soluble sugar contents in leaves. This study was conducted to investigate changes in leaf sugar content during sink transition in Phalaenopsis. Phalaenopsis Queen Beer ‘Mantefon’ clones were grown at 28 °C, followed by exposure to 20 °C for floral induction. Leaves were sampled after 0

Nitrogen (N) is essential for the growth and development of tea plants, and ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) are crucial N sources for tea yield and amino acid contents. However, the uptake and utilization of different N forms in tea plants are different. Reasonable N form is an important means to enhance the growth and development of tea plants. Therefore, supplying suitable N forms may be effective

Supplementary lighting is necessary for year-round greenhouse production of fruit vegetables in high-latitude regions. Far-red (FR) radiation can influence plant photomorphogenesis as well as photosynthesis. We aimed to identify the effects of supplementary FR on fruit set and yield of sweet pepper, and its underlying mechanisms via a yield component analysis. A 24-week greenhouse experiment was conducted

Leaf trichome formation is a very important agronomic trait as it confers resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, but the causal genes involved in this process in B. juncea remain largely unexplored. In this study, we first characterized the haplotypes of BjB02.GL1 among different inbred lines with leaf trichomes or glabrous leaves. A comparative analysis of the number and density of leaf trichomes

Carotenoid isomerase (CRTISO) is an important enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis, and it catalyzes the conversion of lycopene precursors to lycopene in several plant species. However, the role of CRTISO in other biochemical processes during plant growth and development remains unclear. Here, we showed that Chinese kale boacrtiso mutants have distinctive characteristics, including a yellow-green hue

Onions (Allium cepa L.) are widely cultivated staple vegetables in daily cooking while, harvested onions as living entities that undergo various physicochemical changes including respiration, weight loss, rotting, and sprouting at storage. Due to high moisture content fresh onions are prone to rapid spoilage which is aggravated by inappropriate handling. Storage is a complicated issue regulated by

Vivipary is a common phenomenon in nature. However, vivipary in cucumber affects seed production and processing, and it is necessary to understand the mechanism. In this study, the phenotype, physiology and transcriptome of easy-viviparous cucumber inbred line ‘D1158’ were analyzed. The vivipary manifested on the 35th day after pollination, and the viviparous germination rate reached 50 % on the 55th

Understanding the basis of Phytophthora tolerance is essential for targeted improvement of citrus. Here, we determined the short term and long-term plant (leaf and root tissues) response of Phytophthora tolerant (Swingle citrumelo; SC) and susceptible (rough lemon; RL) citrus genotypes by examining important defense related genes belonging to structural reinforcement, receptors, salicylic acid (SA)

Sweet potato tips are a potential vegetable with special flavor and high nutrients, but only the leafy type is popular among consumers, while most types of sweet potato tips are not widely accepted as a vegetable due to their bitter and astringent taste. Here, to reveal the biological pathway involved in the formation of bitter and astringent compounds in sweet potato tips, metabolomics and transcriptomics

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L., family Grossulariaceae) is a perennial shrub that is widely cultivated for its edible berries. These are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and anthocyanins, making them a valuable ingredient in the food and beverage industry. However, prolonged periods of drought during the fruiting season lead to drought stress, which has serious ecological and agricultural implications

With the bulk of the global population now living in cities, creating a cool, green refuge through extensive urban forests is a priority. However, we are concerned that tree species currently growing in our cities may not tolerate future climates. Esperon-Rodriguez et al. (2024) recently presented an estimate of ‘climate risk’ for a given tree species in a given location using a climate safety margin

Terpenoids are vital secondary metabolites in plants that function as agents for defense and stress resistance. These genes not only play crucial roles in plant growth and development but also function in diverse biological group interactions. Terpenoids released by fruit trees possess defensive properties and constitute a class of aromatic compounds. For some fruits, terpenoids are indispensable indicators

Curcuma aeruginosa, a valuable medicinal plant of Zingiberaceae family, has been used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases by the locals of Southeast Asian countries. The demand of this plant coupled with its slow growing habit have resulted in gradual declining of its population. The aim of the study is to establish an efficient micropropagation technique for production of C. aeruginosa

Tenderness is a core index for evaluating the quality of young tea plant shoots and ultimately influences the quality and yield of tea products in terms of bioactive components, processing adaptability, tenderness-keeping ability, and other factors. In this study, we describe the underlying regulatory mechanism of tenderness changes in young shoots of tea plants, combined with biochemical composition

In urban environments, invertebrate communities are subjected to a broad mixture of impacts, including diffuse pollution. Pollutant mixtures and habitat degradation can combine to apply stress on community diversity. Water quality is influenced by the assemblage and mosaic of catchment land cover. Amongst a wider suite of Nature-Based Solutions, the value of urban woodland is increasingly recognized

Recent years have seen an increasing emphasis on peri-urban parks (PUPs) in urban green spaces (UGS) development, However, little is known about how PUPs moderate overall UGS accessibility and contribute to environmental justice, particularly for high-density cities. To address this salient gap, the present study examines the overall urban green space accessibility, the moderating effects of PUPs,

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar have potential applications in agriculture and ecological restoration. However, the effects of AMF combined with biochar on the bioenergy quality of plants under saline-alkali stress have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we examined the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis (Ri) and biochar application, individually or in combination, on the growth

Enzymatic browning is one of the main problems during storage of fresh-cut apples. Pre-cut treatment with L-cysteine has been shown to effectively inhibit browning on fresh-cut apples, but its mechanism is still unclear. This work investigated the browning-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after pre-cut treatment with L-cysteine, and analyzed the relationship between ethylene biosynthesis

Light manipulation for plant cultivation is a critical area of study in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), where a variety of artificial lighting conditions are often employed in plant factories, growth chambers and greenhouses. With this aim of manipulation, two lettuce cultivars, green and red, were treated with two different LED treatments: a continuous LED in which an average photosynthetic

Pitaya, belonging to the genus Hylocereus of Cactaceae family, is increasingly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions due to its high tolerance to drought and heat stresses. The transition from the vegetative to reproductive stage significantly impacts the fruit yield, therefore it is essential to unravel the flowering regulatory mechanism of pitaya. In present work, a HpbHLH43 transcription

Globally speaking, optimizing the use of organic fertilizers plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture and is essential for enhancing crop productivity and improving soil health, while organic fertilizers are also easily available at a low cost. This study specifically aimed to determine the influence of organic fertilizer incorporation (high and medium levels) practices versus chemical fertilization

Golden Camellia refers to a group of species in the genus Camellia that display yellow petals. The secondary metabolites in these petals hold ornamental significance and potential health benefits. However, the biosynthetic mechanisms governing the synthesis of these metabolites in golden petals remain elusive, and the exploitation of their bioactive components is not fully realized. This research involved

Sweet cherry is very appreciated by consumers because of its attractive appearance and taste, which is determined by the balanced sweet-sour flavor. In this work, the genetics of soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), sugars and organic acids was investigated in sweet cherry to facilitate breeding improvement for fruit quality. The fruits of five sweet cherry populations (N = 372), three

Banana breeding is hampered by the very low fertility of domesticated bananas and the lack of knowledge about the genetic determinism of agronomic traits. We analysed a breeding population of 2 723 triploid hybrids resulting from crosses between diploid and tetraploid M. acuminata parents, which was evaluated over three successive crop-cycles for 24 traits relating to yield components and plant, bunch

Grape is an important fruit crop, and its production faces significant threat from diseases, resulting in substantial economic loss. Wild grape relatives are valuable resources for the restoration of disease-resistance loci. However, available resistance loci in wild grape genomes remain largely unexplored. In this study, we assembled two phased genomes, including a high resistant Chinese wild grape

The vector-borne disease Huanglongbing (HLB) causes severe economic losses to citrus production worldwide with no available cure. Herein, we applied virus-induced gene silencing technology to engineer citrus that preferentially attracted and specifically killed Diaphorina citri, the vector associated with HLB. We engineered the infectious citrus tristeza virus (CTV-T36) clone to carry three truncated

Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a globally important fruit crop which shows promise as a candidate for various methods of controlled environment production. However, a better understanding of the mechanisms of the regulation of flowering is needed, as more frequent or consistent flowering would be advantageous in controlled production. It is well understood that flowering in F. x ananassa

Urban landscape perception is essential for understanding the interaction between individuals and the built environment, impacting urban space quality improvement. This study bridges the gap in comprehending the mechanisms, processes, and content of landscape perception that previous studies have not fully addressed. By integrating urban landscape studies with the biological vision process, a new theoretical

Crop management affects the anatomical and physiological characteristics of gladiolus floral stems. Particulary, shading screens are important in gladiolus production. The aim of the study was to evaluate the meteorological conditions, physiological indicators, stomatal characteristics, and quality of gladiolus flower stems grown in different seasons under shading screens and mulching. Field experiments

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) is a prominent floricultural crop valued for its diverse colors, offering significant economic and ornamental value globally. However, the global demand for its flowers makes flower yield an important attribute that relies on the quantity of lateral branches in the crop. Melatonin as a multi-regulatory phytohormone play vital functions in governing plant growth

Pomegranate is sensitive to low temperature and is susceptible to chilling injury (CI), resulting in husk browning. The effects of Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), hot water treatment (HWT), and control treatments on the quality of pomegranate fruit during low temperature storage were investigated. The results showed that MeJA and HWT treatments could effectively inhibit the increase of browning index, color

Anthocyanins, the main phenolic compounds responsible for the color of red grapes and wines, exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and offer various health benefits for humans. Currently, climate change can affect grape quality by causing a decoupling between the technological and phenolic maturities of the grapes. Foliar application of methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and urea (Ur) can be a tool

Neighborhood environmental conditions (NEC) refer to various environmental factors that are associated with individuals’ well-being (WB). Most existing studies, however, did not account for the complex interdependence among various NEC components in their effects on WB. This study aimed to use a network approach to examine the associations between NEC and WB during the COVID-19 pandemic. A population-wide

Glycosyltransferases (GTs) constitute a diverse family of synthetic polysaccharides with important roles in plant growth and development. This study characterized the GT14 family gene BpGT14;6 of birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.). BpGT14;6 was highly expressed in the xylem and stem of birch plants. Subcellular localization analysis suggested that BpGT14;6 was located in the Golgi apparatus. RNA interference

The herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is renowned for its striking flowers, which are highly valued in the cut flower industry. However, in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the elevated summer temperatures negatively affect the plant's flowering capacity in the subsequent year. 3-oxoacyl-ACP reductase (FabG) is a component of the type II fatty acid synthesis (FAS II) system

Jackfruit exhibits a high degree of genetic diversity due to cross-pollination and heterozygosity; nevertheless, little is known about the characterisation of fruit quality in jackfruit genotypes grown in tropical Australia. In this study, patterns of morphological and biochemical variation in the fruit of 12 jackfruit genotypes were investigated. Maximum fruit weight and pulp weight were recorded

Polyamines (PAs) and ethylene are involved in the modulation of plant growth and development. However, their roles in fruit-set, especially in exogenous gibberellin (GA3)-induced grape parthenocarpic berries, and the related competitive action mode are poorly understood. For this, we, here performed their content determination, bioinformatics and expression pattern analysis of genes to identify the

Tea flavor is a comprehensive representation of its aroma and other characteristics. The formation of volatile odor compounds during tea processing depends on a variety of enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities. (Z)-3-hexenol is considered the primary source of the green odor and is also the most important component in tea aroma, significantly affecting the overall aroma. However, the biosynthesis

Drought stress significantly impedes apple growth, development, and yield, leading to substantial economic losses within the global apple industry. Malus prunifolia (Mp), a commonly utilized apple rootstock, has shown promise in augmenting cultivated apple resistance to abiotic stress. Although Alfin-like (ALs) proteins have demonstrated pivotal roles in dicotyledonous plants' response to abiotic stresses