Publications

ABSTRACT Partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives can reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers, yet its comprehensive effects on soil quality, productivity, and environmental sustainability remain unclear. A winter wheat–summer maize rotation experiment was conducted to investigate variations in soil properties, crop productivity, N uptake, N 2 O emission, and N cycle functional genes under sufficient N (NF), N reduction (RN), N reduction combined with low (RNM1) and high (RNM2) amounts of organic fertilizer treatment. Compared with RN, NF, RNM1, and RNM2 markedly improved soil quality index (SQI) (59.29%–243.19%), productivity (5.06%–79.42%), crop N uptake (5.05%–32.04%), and N 2 O emissions (2.29%–109.45%). These benefits were primarily driven by increases in soil organic carbon, available phosphorus and N, dissolved organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon and N, which enhanced SQI and promoted crop performance. RNM1 and RNM2 markedly reduced annual N 2 O emissions by 17.98%–51.16% and 13.69%–23.93%, respectively, compared with NF. This mitigation was associated with lower soil available N, reduced abundances of nitrification and denitrification genes ( amoA , amoB , amoC , narG , narH , norB ), and higher nosZ abundance, which promotes N 2 O reduction to N 2 . Synthesizing current and prior results suggests that reducing synthetic N by less than 45% while applying organic fertilizer can maintain productivity without increasing emissions. Among all treatments, RNM1 emerged as the most balanced strategy, simultaneously enhancing N uptake, soil quality, and yield while mitigating N 2 O emissions. Although yield gains under organic fertilizer treatment were comparable to NF, the additional environmental benefits highlight the need for further research to optimize organic–inorganic fertilizer ratios and application rates to maximize agronomic and ecological outcomes.

Climate change is shifting agricultural production, which could impact the economic and cultural contexts of the oilseed industry, including sesame. Environmental threats (biotic and abiotic stresses) affect sesame production and thus yield (especially oil content). However, few studies have investigated the genetic enhancement, quality improvement, or the underlying mechanisms of stress tolerance in sesame. This study reveals the challenges faced by farmers/researchers growing sesame crops and the potential genetic and genomic resources for addressing the threats, including: (1) developing sesame varieties that tolerate phyllody, root rot disease, and waterlogging; (2) investigating beneficial agro-morphological traits, such as determinate growth, prostrate habit, and delayed response to seed shattering; (3) using wild relatives of sesame for wide hybridization; and (4) advancing existing strategies to maintain sesame production under changing climatic conditions. Future research programs need to add technologies and develop the best research strategies for economic and sustainable development.

Additional file 6: Supplementary Table 6. Marker-trait association identified with GLM analysis in diverse panel II phenotypic data measured under water stress.

Grain number is a major trait for wheat yield under dryland farming. An International Triticeae Mapping Initiative (ITMI) mapping population comprising 105 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) developed from a cross between a Synthetic hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) 'W7984' and a spring wheat variety 'Opata M85' was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with grain number per spike under two treatment conditions, normal watering and water stress during meiosis. Two major QTL for grain number per spike on the main stem Q.Gnu.uwa-5A-1 and Q.Gnu.uwa-5A-2 with phenotypic variations of 25.71% and 24.93%, respectively, were detected on the long arm of chromosome 5A when plants were exposed to water stress during meiosis. One QTL (Q.Gnu.uwa-2A) with a LOD score of 2.8 was detected on the long arm of chromosome 2A under normal watering condition. The alleles associated with higher grain number per spike under different treatment conditions came from the Synthetic W7984 parent. Two populations developed from crosses Synthetic W7984 × Lang and Synthetic W7984 × Westonia were used to validate the identified QTL under water stress during meiosis. SSR markers Xbarc230 and Xbarc319 linked with the identified QTL on chromosome 5AL were validated in the two F2:4 segregating populations. These closely linked SSR markers could potentially be utilized in marker-assisted selection to reduce yield loss in regions where water stress during meiosis occurs frequently. The identified QTL can be incorporated into elite lines / cultivars to improve wheat grain yield.

Additional file 3: Supplementary Table 3. Correlation of phenological, physiological traits with yield under water stress in trial 2.

Seed discoloration due to environmental staining in faba bean leads to poor quality and reduced market price. Environmental staining in faba bean is characterised by a dark brown, grey, or black discoloration of the seed coat at harvest. Its cause is unknown, but it does not appear to be caused by a pathogen. Environmental conditions during pod and seed formation and at maturity are thought to have a large effect on the degree of environmental staining. To test the hypothesis that seeds formed under stressful conditions will have a higher degree of staining, faba bean seeds were harvested at 2 different stages of maturity from trials located in a range of environmental conditions under a Mediterranean-type climate of south-western Australia over 2 seasons. Four faba bean varieties were studied (Fiord, Fiesta, Ascot, and Cairo). The majority of seeds had good colour but across the trials, 3–25% were stained up to an unacceptable level and this varied with location and variety. Seeds formed later in plant development (located on the upper nodes of the plant) had more staining than seeds formed earlier (located on the lower nodes). Seeds formed on small and weak plants had more staining than seeds formed on normal sized healthy plants. Fiord showed a greater amount of staining than Ascot, Fiesta, and Cairo when grown in the mild, southern environments. Early harvesting (at physiological maturity) did not reduce environmental seed staining compared with harvesting at full maturity. Chemical analysis of seed testa and cotyledons revealed that total phenolic contents of the testa and cotyledons increased with staining. An increase in Zn and Na and a decrease in K concentration in the testa were also associated with increased staining levels.