Frontiers in Plant Science最新文献

{"title":"Identification and evolutionary analysis of NAC transcription factors in <i>Eriobotrya japonica</i>: implications for sugar-acid regulatory networks during fruit development.","authors":"Huiling Zhang, Meng Yang, Chengyang Ye, Minghui Chen, Hailing Gu, Xiurun Fan, Chencong Yang, Junwei Chen, Kai Xu, Boping Wu","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1671017","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1671017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Loquat (<i>Eriobotrya japonica</i>) is an important subtropical evergreen fruit tree of the Rosaceae family that possesses significant edible and economic value. The NAC transcription factor family, as plant-specific regulatory factors, not only participated in plant growth and development but also played crucial roles in fruit quality formation. Through genome-wide analysis, this study identified 117 <i>NAC</i> family members in loquat, which were phylogenetically classified into 14 distinct subfamilies. Chromosomal localization revealed that 114 genes were unevenly distributed across 17 chromosomes, while the remaining 3 were located in genomic scaffold regions. Collinearity analysis indicated that loquat <i>NAC</i> genes primarily underwent purifying selection and showed high homology with <i>NAC</i> genes from other Rosaceae species. Cis-acting element prediction analysis suggested these genes were extensively involved in various biological processes, including abiotic stress responses, hormone signal transduction, and growth regulation. Expression pattern analysis based on transcriptome data further uncovered differential expression characteristics of <i>NAC</i> genes across different loquat cultivars and fruit developmental stages. Notably, correlation analysis identified several <i>NAC</i> candidate genes that were significantly associated with fruit sugar-acid content. This study provided the first comprehensive and systematic characterization of the <i>NAC</i> gene family in loquat, establishing an important foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which NAC transcription factors regulate loquat fruit flavor quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1671017"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12511720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early sowing enhances genotypic performance in mitigating the risk of wheat blast-induced yield loss: evidence from a 23-year simulation study in Bangladesh.","authors":"Timothy J Krupnik, José M C Fernandes, Willingthon Pavan, Thiago Berton Ferreira, Diego N L Pequeno, Gerrit Hoogenboom, Virginia L Covert, Khaled Hossain, Md Harun-Or-Rashid, Rabiul Islam, Alexandre Zanatta, Sabine Stuerz, Akbar Hossain","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1568461","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1568461","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wheat is a crucial staple crop in South Asia and faces increasing risks due to interconnected agronomic and climate-related pressures. Wheat blast, caused by <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i> pathotype <i>Triticum</i> (MoT), presents a persistent threat to wheat production in the region. This study evaluates its impact by analyzing the effects of sowing dates and wheat varieties on irrigated wheat grain yield in Bangladesh, where MoT was first identified in South Asia. A generic disease model (GDM), parameterized to reflect the disease's characteristics, was used to simulate wheat blast inoculum build-up. The GDM incorporates temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation data to model the fungal life cycle and disease progression. The wheat crop simulation model, DSSAT-Nwheat, was integrated with the GDM to simulate MoT's life cycle. This coupled model has been embedded into the Geospatial Crop Modeling and Decision Support Tool (GSSAT) to enhance agricultural decision-making. Using a primary dataset for validation and NASA Power reanalysis weather data, the simulated effects of wheat blast on wheat grain yield were analyzed across five sowing dates and four varieties in Bangladesh over a 23-year period from 2001 to 2023. The results indicate that late sowing leads to lower yields and higher disease incidence due to increased atmospheric moisture and temperature. Both model simulations and primary data demonstrated that varietal resistance to wheat blast can significantly mitigate yield losses of wheat. However, in southern Bangladesh, where weather conditions favor the disease, even the most resistant variety, BARI Gom 33, showed yield reductions resulting from wheat blast. These findings highlight the need for long-term breeding programs to develop cultivars suited to hot, humid conditions with high disease pressure, alongside short-term agronomic practices that minimize disease risk through sowing in optimum dates and less susceptible cultivars in Bangladesh.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1568461"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510923/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing compatibility biomass model based on UAV LiDAR data of Chinese fir (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i>) in Southern China.","authors":"Zheyuan Wu, Dongbo Xie, Ziyang Liu, Qiao Chen, Qiaolin Ye, Jinsheng Ye, Qiulai Wang, Xingyong Liao, Yongjun Wang, Ram P Sharma, Liyong Fu","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1520666","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1520666","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chinese fir (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i>) is a key native tree species in southern China. Accurate estimation of above-ground biomass and its distribution is essential for the sustainable use of Chinese fir forests. UAV-based high-density point clouds and high-resolution spectral data provide critical remote sensing for detailed 3D tree structure analysis. This study aimed to explore the aboveground biomass allocation characteristics across the different growth stages of Chinese fir and to develop accurate biomass models. Measurements of 20,836 Chinese fir trees were used for the purpose. Through the comparative analysis of four basic models, the Power Function model was identified as the optimal one, particularly excelling in fitting the accuracy for stem and bark biomass. To further enhance the model's fitting performance, age groups were introduced into the dummy model, categorizing the Chinese fir forests into the five distinct growth stages. Results showed age groups used as dummy variables led to an average increase in <i>R²</i> by 2.6%. The fitting accuracy for bark and branch biomass saw the most significant improvements, with increases in <i>R²</i> by 4.2% and 3.1%. To address the inconsistency between the sum of individual biomass components and total biomass, we employed a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model. Even though fitting accuracy for individual tree components decreased by an average of 2.5%, from a practical perspective SUR model would be more suitable for understanding the interrelationships between different components. These findings offer robust support for accurately estimating the aboveground biomass in Chinese fir forests across different growth stages.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1520666"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12519843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surviving water scarcity: seasonal contrasts in drought and desiccation tolerance of co-occurring <i>Barbacenia gentianoides</i> and <i>Vellozia caruncularis</i>.","authors":"Evandro Alves Vieira, Giselly Mota da Silva, Marilia Gaspar, Marcia Regina Braga, Cecilio Frois Caldeira","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1642013","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1642013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Campos rupestres</i> are tropical highland ecosystems characterized by herbaceous vegetation, high biodiversity, and elevated levels of endemism. Recognized as global biodiversity hotspots, they are increasingly threatened by intense anthropogenic pressures. Plants inhabiting these ecosystems face harsh environmental conditions, including dry winters, intense solar radiation, and shallow, quartzite-derived soils with low water retention capacity. This study examines the differential drought responses of two co-occurring Velloziaceae species, <i>Barbacenia gentianoides</i> and <i>Vellozia caruncularis</i>, throughout the seasonal cycle under natural field conditions. Ecophysiological and metabolic analyses reveal that <i>B</i>. <i>gentianoides</i> copes with the dry season by reallocating carbon to the leaf base during senescence, supporting leaf resprouting at the onset of the rainy season. In contrast, <i>V</i>. <i>caruncularis</i> exhibits desiccation tolerance by preventing senescence in younger leaves during the dry season and maintaining their structural integrity upon rehydration. Distinct metabolic shifts in sugars, amino acids, and secondary metabolites underscore the contrasting strategies of the two species: <i>V</i>. <i>caruncularis</i> emphasizes osmoprotection and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, whereas <i>B</i>. <i>gentianoides</i> focuses on starch and polyol storage for the production of new leaves. Differences in hormone signaling and flavonoid accumulation further underscore species-specific responses, contributing to the regulation of extreme dehydration tolerance in <i>V</i>. <i>caruncularis</i> and facilitating ethylene-mediated senescence as a survival strategy in <i>B</i>. <i>gentianoides</i>. Given the limited understanding of drought and desiccation tolerance mechanisms in native rock outcrop species under natural conditions, our findings offer valuable insights into the metabolic adaptations that enable survival in these unique and challenging ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1642013"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12511767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unravelling induced resistance in strawberry: distinct metabolomic signatures define cultivar-specific resistance to <i>Botrytis cinerea</i>.","authors":"Chiara Murena, Victoria Pastor, Tânia R Fernandes, Susana M P Carvalho, Estrella Luna","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1675649","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1675649","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong><i>Botrytis cinerea</i> is a major pathogen in strawberry, and sustainable alternatives to fungicides are needed to manage this disease. Induced resistance (IR) through chemical elicitors represents a promising strategy, but the effectiveness of such compounds remains poorly understood in commercial strawberry (<i>Fragaria × ananassa</i>) cultivars.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of repeated applications of five elicitors (<i>i.e</i>., β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), (R)-β-homoserine (RBH), indole-3-carboxylic acid (I3CA), jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA)) in three strawberry cultivars (Rowena, Soraya, and Durban).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>BABA and RBH significantly reduced <i>B. cinerea</i> lesion sizes in Rowena and Soraya, while Durban showed no induced resistance to the elicitors. Untargeted metabolomic profiling of Rowena and Soraya revealed cultivar-specific responses to elicitor treatment and infection, with distinct patterns of metabolite accumulation under both mock- and <i>B. cinerea</i>-inoculated conditions. RBH in Rowena and BABA in Soraya induced the most extensive priming-associated metabolic reprogramming, including enrichment of amino acid, nucleotide, and secondary metabolite pathways such as flavonoids and phenylpropanoids. Significantly, none of the elicitors negatively affected plant growth, flowering, or fruit set.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These results demonstrate that the effectiveness and mechanism of IR in strawberry depend on both the elicitor and the cultivar, providing new insights into the metabolomic basis of priming with implications for sustainable disease management in strawberry cultivation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1675649"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510941/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding phenotypic signatures of <i>Cylas formicarius</i> Fab. resistance in a global sweetpotato (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i> [L.] Lam.) germplasm collection.","authors":"Alfredo Morales, Peiyong Ma, ZhaoDong Jia, Dania Rodríguez, Iván Javier Pastrana Vargas, Rosa Elena González, Osmany Molina, Alay Jiménez, Yuniel Rodríguez, Lilian Morales, Yoel Beovides, Orelvis Portal, Xiaofeng Bian","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1625810","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1625810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Sweetpotato (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i> [L.] Lam.) is a critical global food crop that suffers devastating yield losses from the sweetpotato weevil (<i>Cylas formicarius</i>), especially in tropical regions where chemical control is often impractical. Breeding for stable resistance has been hindered by an insufficient characterization of reliable phenotypic markers across diverse genetic backgrounds.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We evaluated 731 accessions from Cuba's national sweetpotato collection, enriched with global varieties, to identify morphological traits associated with natural resistance to <i>C. formicarius</i>. Resistance and susceptibility were assessed through combined field and laboratory bioassays.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only 6.5% of the accessions demonstrated resistance (<10% infestation), while 80% were highly susceptible. Weak to moderate correlations linked resistance to smoother root surfaces (r = 0.31) and lighter flesh pigmentation (r = -0.38). The strongest correlation was observed with deeper tuberization (r = -0.72). Six Cuban genotypes combined agronomic viability (yield >10 t ha⁻¹) with resistance. Five of these employed deep tuberization as a physical escape mechanism, while one genotype, INIVIT B-25, exhibited shallow tuberization (mean depth 4.53 cm) yet maintained resistance, suggesting a biochemical defense strategy. Under controlled infestation, INIVIT B-2022 demonstrated the strongest antibiosis effect, suppressing adult emergence to just two individuals.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Our study decodes key phenotypic signatures of weevil resistance, providing immediately actionable morphological traits for use in Caribbean breeding programs. The discovery of a resistant genotype with shallow roots indicates the presence of a non-escape, potentially biochemical resistance mechanism. This highlights the critical need for subsequent molecular studies to uncover the complementary genetic and biochemical bases of these defenses.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1625810"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12511093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Marigold breeding in India: a comprehensive review of genetic advances, techniques and future prospects.","authors":"Venkatesan D, Ramesh Kumar S","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1619375","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1619375","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Marigold (<i>Tagetes</i> spp.) is economically important flower crop widely cultivated for its vibrant flowers, use in religious ceremonies, landscaping, and extraction of carotenoids for industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Breeding advancements in marigold have primarily focused on enhancing yield, flower quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This review presents a comprehensive overview of progress in marigold breeding, covering traditional approaches such as selection, hybridization, and mutation breeding, as well as modern biotechnological tools, including marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection, and CRISPR-based genome editing. Conventional breeding has led to the development of several high-yielding hybrids, including 'Arka Abhi' and 'Arka Shubha,' which are widely cultivated across India. Modern molecular approaches have facilitated the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with essential traits, improving the efficiency of breeding programs. In recent years, tissue culture techniques have played a pivotal role in the rapid propagation of elite varieties and the generation of somaclonal variants with desirable traits. Major challenges like a limited genetic base, climate change, pests and diseases still make sustainable production difficult. The integration of wild germplasm and advanced genomic tools offers promising avenues for addressing these limitations. Participatory breeding and interdisciplinary research play a crucial role in addressing location-specific demands and improving the economic viability of marigold cultivation. This analysis indicates the importance for sustainable breeding practices that match with growing market requirements and environmental issues. Hence, by integrating traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technologies, marigold breeding programs can unlock the crop's full potential, contributing to the growth of India's ornamental and agricultural sectors.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1619375"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12511081/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the rhizospheric bacterial community of selected millets for plant growth promotion activity in tomato.","authors":"Anitha Sakthivel, Balasubramanian Santhanalakshmi, Jesudass Joseph Sahayarayan, Ganeshan Sivanandhan, Ravishankar Ram Mani, Soon Woong Chang, Balasubramani Ravindran, Santosh Chokkakula, Gnanajothi Kapildev","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1629184","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1629184","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Millets are highly nutritious crops mostly cultivated in xeric regions of Asia and Africa. The specific agro-climatic characteristics of millets enable the rhizosphere to host diverse microorganisms that assist in the crop's progression under harsh weather conditions. This research work intends to evaluate the plant growth-promoting (PGP) potential of the rhizospheric microbes isolated from the soil of <i>Panicum sumatrense</i> and <i>Eleusine coracana</i> from Kunnanchala and Varagampadi, residing areas of Irulas Tribal Community located in the Attapadi Hills of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, respectively. A total of 53 bacterial isolates with unique colony morphology were initially subjected to the nitrogen fixation test. Twenty-six isolates that demonstrated positive results for nitrogen fixation were characterized for phosphate solubilization, ammonia, indole acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and hydrolytic enzyme production, molecular characterization, and antagonistic activity against the common plant pathogens <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> and <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i>. The principal component analysis revealed that SA1 (<i>Staphylococcus gallinarum</i>) and MS6 (<i>Kosakonia sacchari</i>) exhibited the highest values for IAA production (0.37 ± 0.015 mg/mL) and PSI (3.36 ± 0.03), respectively. MS3 (<i>Bacillus velezensis</i>) demonstrated the most promising results in antagonism (91.32 ± 0.57) and ammonia production (0.11 ± 0.020 mg/mL). All the bacterial isolates exhibited a notable improvement in germination, shoot length, root length, and vigor index of <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>. The most prominent results in germination studies were noted in K. sacchari (MS6), with the most pronounced effects, including a 100% germination rate, 2.58 ± 0.01 cm of shoot length, 7.61 ± 0.03 cm of root length, and a vigor index of 1019. The results of the <i>invitro</i> PGP traits are sufficient to support future tests on the promotion of growth <i>invivo</i> for these seven strains in a single or consortium.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1629184"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12511048/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: Aeroponics enables consistent cutting propagation of kratom (<i>Mitragyna speciosa</i>): impacts of photoperiod, cultivar, and rooting hormone.","authors":"Mengzi Zhang, Cynthia Montanez, Brian J Pearson, Yuncong Li, Jianjun Chen","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1697035","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1697035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1650327.].</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1697035"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12513267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimal row configuration in jujube-cotton intercropping systems increases cotton yield by enhancing growth characteristics and photosynthetically active radiation in arid region.","authors":"Jinbin Wang, Peijuan Wang, Xiaofei Li, Zhengjun Cui, Ling Li, Qiang Hu, Hang Qiao, Wei Zhang, Sumei Wan, Guodong Chen","doi":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1663361","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpls.2025.1663361","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In southern Xinjiang, intercropping cotton with jujube trees improves resource use efficiency and boosts farmers' economic benefits compared to monoculture jujube systems. However, the optimal row configuration for cotton in jujube-cotton intercropping systems remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study investigated the effects of cotton row configurations [2 rows (IC2), 4 rows (IC4), and 6 rows (IC6)] on cotton growth characteristics, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), yield, and land equivalent ratio (LER) in jujube-cotton intercropping systems.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The leaf area index (LAI) and leaf area duration (LAD) followed the order of IC6 > IC4 > IC2. The intercepted PAR was improved with the increasing rows of cotton, while the transmitted PAR showed a decreasing trend. Dry matter accumulation (DMA) under IC2 and IC4 decreased by approximately 71% and 36% respectively, compared to IC6. While DMA under IC2 was 54.9% lower than that under IC4. Cotton yield under IC6 increased by approximately 98% and 31% compared to IC2 and IC4, respectively, which demonstrated a 51% significant improvement under IC4 compared to IC2. IC4 and IC6 exhibited a higher LER than IC2. However, the jujube yield under IC6 was lower compared to IC2 and IC4. The total yield under IC4 was higher than that under IC2 and IC6. As the number of cotton rows increased, the rate of improvement in cotton growth characteristics demonstrated a diminishing trend. Cotton yield was significantly correlated with LAI, PAR, and DMA. PAR showed significant relationships with LAI and DMA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Taken together, four rows' cotton planted between jujube trees is recommended for achieve high crop production in the jujube-cotton intercropping system of South Xinjiang region.</p>","PeriodicalId":12632,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Plant Science","volume":"16 ","pages":"1663361"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510856/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}