Publications

Efforts to improve the yield and quality of cultivated chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) are constrained by a low level of intraspecific genetic diversity. Increased genetic diversity can be achieved via the hybridisation of the cultivated species with the unimproved 'wild' relatives from within the 43 species of the Cicer genus. To date, the 8 species sharing an annual growth habit and chromosome number with C. arietinum have been the primary focus of screening and introgression efforts. Screening of these species has uncovered morphological characteristics and resistance to a number of abiotic and biotic stresses that are of potential value to chickpea improvement programs. Detailed analysis of protein and DNA, karyotyping, and crossability studies have begun to elucidate the relationships between the annual Cicer species. In comparison, perennial species have received little attention due to difficulties in collection, propagation, and evaluation. This review discusses the progress towards an understanding of genetic relationships between the Cicer species, and the introgression of genes from the wild Cicer species into the cultivated species.

Plastic film mulching (PM) combined with irrigation is widely adopted to improve crop yields, water and nitrogen efficiency, especially in arid farming areas. Despite its benefits, the effects of this method on soil quality and its subsequent impact on crop productivity and resource efficiency have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we formulated a soil quality indicator (SQI) from five years of field experiments in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID) of Northwestern China. The treatments included border irrigation as the control treatment (CK), CK combined with PM (BI_PM), and three water level drip irrigation treatments combined with PM. Three threshold values of soil matric potential for drip irrigation were −10 kPa (HDI_PM), −30 kPa (MDI_PM), and −50 kPa (LDI_PM). We then examined the SQI changes based on measured multiple soil properties and assessed their implications for maize yield, irrigation water productivity (IWP), and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN). We found: (1) from 2016 to 2020, HDI_PM achieved the highest average yield (15.77 t ha –1 ), IWP (3.73 kg m –3 ), and PFPN (63.18 kg kg –1 ), showing increases of 54.77 %, 84.90 %, and 96.93 % over the control treatment, respectively; (2) no significant variations in the SQI were observed for HDI_PM in 2020 in the topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–60 cm) compared to the initial condition. However, CK, BI_PM, MDI_PM, and LDI_PM showed reductions in SQI in both soil layers, primarily due to decreased soil organic carbon (SOC) and structural stability, along with increased sand content and soil salinity; (3) according to the linear mixed-effects model, a low SQI (< 0.43), elevated temperatures, and drought indices negatively impact yield. Hence, we advocate for HDI_PM to maximize yield and PFPN. To enhance soil quality, identifying agronomic practices that increase SOC and reduce soil salinity in the HID is crucial. • Plastic mulching (PM) with optimal drip irrigation (HDI_PM) had highest yield. • During 2016–2020, HDI_PM showed stable SQI levels, indicating no soil degradation. • The benefit of PM in increasing yield diminishes with the reduction of topsoil SQI. • Both low SQI values and unfavorable drought indexes adversely impact maize yield.

Peanut (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i> L.) is a globally important oil crop, which often experiences poor growth and seedling necrosis under low nocturnal temperatures (LNT). This study assessed the effects of supplementary calcium (Ca²⁺) and a calmodulin inhibitor on peanut growth and photosynthetic characteristics of plants exposed to LNT, followed by recovery at a higher temperature. We monitored key growth and photosynthetic parameters in a climate-controlled chamber in pots containing soil. LNT reduced peanut growth and dry matter accumulation, enhanced leaf nonstructural carbohydrates concentrations and non-photochemical quenching, decreased the electron transport rate, increased the transmembrane proton gradient, and decreased gas exchange rates. In peanuts subjected to LNT, foliar application of Ca²⁺ restored growth, dry matter production and leaf photosynthetic capacity. In particular, the foliar Ca²⁺ application restored temperature-dependent photosynthesis feedback inhibition due to improved growth/sink demand. Foliar sprays of a calmodulin inhibitor further deteriorated the effects of LNT which validated the protective role of Ca²⁺ in facilitating LNT tolerance of peanuts.

The increasing challenges of high-temperature (heat stress) significantly impact plant growth and crop yield, including mung bean [(Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]. Simultaneously, seed quality, encompassing various seed nutrition components, is adversely affected by heat stress. To examine the impact of heat stress, we investigated the seed nutritional profiling of ten selected diverse mung bean genotypes for seed compounds (all expressed in concentration), protein, carbon (C), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and micronutrients, with main focused on seed iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and sulfur (S), under both control and heat stress conditions. All seed nutrient components, except seed protein, decreased under heat stress relative to the control. Furthermore, to gain insights into the genotype (G) × temperature (T) effect, the combined analysis of variance revealed a significant G × T effect for all assessed traits, except for seed P, Fe and Cu concentrations. Association analysis of seed components revealed a significant and positive correlation between seed P and protein concentrations under heat stress. Likewise, high and significant associations were observed between seed Ca with S and S with P concentrations under heat stress. However, under the control, seed C and protein, Fe and C, and seed yield per plant (SYP) and Zn all exhibited high and significant negative correlations. Under heat stress, positive and significant associations were observed, including seed protein and P, P and Mg, P and Fe, and S and Mg concentrations. Conversely, significant negative associations were observed between seed Cu and Ca, Cu and Mg, and SYP with seed C and P concentrations. Heat stress adversely affected seed nutritional and yield traits in mung bean.

Chickpea, a vital legume crop, is highly susceptible to cold stress, especially during its reproductive phase, resulting in significant flower and pod abortions and reduced seed yield. Our previous study demonstrated that cold acclimation is effective in enhancing cold tolerance but benefits only cold-tolerant (CT) genotypes, while cold-sensitive (CS) genotypes remain unaffected. In this extended study aimed at probing the detailed mechanisms of this differential response, we further examined the expression profiles of enzymes involved in the synthesis and breakdown of osmolytes (pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase, proline dehydrogenase (PDH), betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase) and sugars (sucrose synthase, acid invertase, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase, and trehalase activity), along with the expression of various antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) in both CT and CS genotypes. Seeds of two contrasting chickpea genotypes, cold-tolerant ICC 17258 and cold-sensitive ICC 15567, were planted in pots during the first week of November in an outdoor field environment. After 40 days, the plants were transferred to walk-in growth chambers for cold acclimation at specific temperatures. Initially, the plants were exposed the plants to 25/18℃ (pre-acclimation stage; PAS) for 2 days, followed by a 21-day cold acclimation period with progressively decreasing temperatures over seven days for each cold acclimation stage (CAS): CAS1 (21/13℃), CAS2 (18/10℃), and CAS3 (15/8℃). Subsequently, the plants were subjected to cold stress at 13/7℃ for 15 days and then exposed to 30/23℃ (12 h day/night) until maturity. Our findings demonstrated that the expression of various enzymes involved in the synthesis of osmolytes and sugars in leaves, anthers, and ovules was significantly upregulated during the cold acclimation process in the CT chickpea genotypes but not in the CS genotypes. This enhanced metabolic activity, coupled with elevated levels of enzymatic antioxidants during the acclimation process, contributed to improved leaf water status, photosynthetic efficiency, and ultimately, superior reproductive performance (pollen germination, pollen viability, stigma receptivity, and ovule viability) under cold stress conditions compared to CS genotypes. The enhanced cold tolerance observed in the CT genotypes is likely attributable to their genetic predisposition and efficient stress defense mechanisms facilitated by the upregulated expression of cold-responsive enzymes.

The Grain for Green Project has profoundly altered land use and Land cover (LULC), climate, and soil loss rates on the Loess Plateau over the past few decades. Evaluation and projection of soil erosion with the impacts of climate and LULC are essential for soil erosion control. This study focuses on the Jiuyuangou watershed (JYG), a typical representative of the climate and geographical characteristics of the Loess Plateau. Utilizing the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) and environmental data, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) coupled with the Future land use simulation (FLUS) model was used to assess soil loss rates for historical periods and various future scenarios. Furthermore, the qualitative and quantitative analysis methods were explored to evaluate the impacts of LULC and climate change on soil erosion. The forest and grass in the JYG increased from 33.4 % in 1995 to 74.1 % in 2020. The soil loss rate significantly decreased, from 64.95 t ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹ in 1995–4.52 t ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹ in 2020. The trend of converting cropland to forest and grass is predicted to continue under different future scenarios. The soil erosion will increase from 2030 to 2050 for different scenarios compared to 2020. The LULC development scenario aiming at ecological protection will effectively curb the increase in soil erosion compared with other scenarios. LULC exerted its influence in various forms across different historical phases. Attribution analysis indicated that the construction of check dams effectively reduced soil erosion from 1995 to 2005, while afforestation from 2005 to 2020 accounted for 64.6 % of the overall contribution. The increase in soil erosion is primarily attributed to more erosive rainfall events and unreasonable allocation of LULC. The correlation between LULC and soil erosion will decrease compared to climate. These findings elucidate the long-term mechanisms of soil erosion changes, emphasizing the urgency of sustainable practices to mitigate soil erosion in the face of environmental challenges.

'QTL-hotspot' is a genomic region on linkage group 04 (CaLG04) in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) that harbours major-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for multiple drought-adaptive traits, and it therefore represents a promising target for improving drought adaptation. To investigate the mechanisms underpinning the positive effects of 'QTL-hotspot' on seed yield under drought, we introgressed this region from the ICC 4958 genotype into five elite chickpea cultivars. The resulting introgression lines (ILs) and their parents were evaluated in multi-location field trials and semi-controlled conditions. The results showed that the 'QTL-hotspot' region improved seed yield under rainfed conditions by increasing seed weight, reducing the time to flowering, regulating traits related to canopy growth and early vigour, and enhancing transpiration efficiency. Whole-genome sequencing data analysis of the ILs and parents revealed four genes underlying the 'QTL-hotspot' region associated with drought adaptation. We validated diagnostic KASP markers closely linked to these genes using the ILs and their parents for future deployment in chickpea breeding programs. The CaTIFY4b-H2 haplotype of a potential candidate gene CaTIFY4b was identified as the superior haplotype for 100-seed weight. The candidate genes and superior haplotypes identified in this study have the potential to serve as direct targets for genetic manipulation and selection for chickpea improvement.

Abstract Background and aims Soybean plants frequently encounter challenges such as phosphorus (P) deficiency and water stress in many regions. However, the mechanisms governing low P and water stress tolerance in soybeans at different growth stages remain unclear. This study investigates the effect of P availability and water stress on soybean growth, morpho-physiological traits, and seed yield. Methods We conducted experiments using the soybean genotype (PI 561271) grown under two P levels (10 or 60 mg P kg −1 dry soil) with three watering conditions: well-watered (WW), early water stress (EWS) and terminal water stress (TWS). Plant assessments occurred at the vegetative, flowering, seed formation, and maturity stages. Results Water stress decreased leaf area, shoot and root dry weights, root length, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, total carboxylates, water use, water use efficiency, shoot, root and seed P contents, seed nitrogen contents, and seed yield compared to WW at the corresponding P level and growth stage. P60 significantly increased all parameters except P use efficiency (PUE) under all water treatments. EWS plants supplemented with P60 exhibited the highest root dry weight, root length and total carboxylates. Notably, flowering and seed formation stages had the highest carboxylate proportions (oxalic, malic, malonic and citric acids) under WW and EWS at P60. P10 had significantly higher PUE than P60, irrespective of water treatments during flowering and seed formation, while the opposite trend occurred at the maturity stage. Seed protein content significantly varied between P treatments regardless of the water stress. Conclusions Our findings underscore the adverse impacts of combined low P and water stress on soybean growth, morpho-physiological traits, seed yield and protein content. Moreover, increased P availability alleviated the adverse effects of water stress, highlighting the importance of adequate P fertilisation for soybean resilience to water stress.

Water shortage and excessive chemical fertilizers application result in low soil water and nutrient availability and limit crop production in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China. Ammoniated straw incorporation with N fertilization may be an efficient strategy to maintain agricultural sustainability. However, the interactive effects of straw incorporation and N fertilizer on the biomass water use efficiency (WUE) in the winter wheat–summer maize rotation system remain unclear. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of combining ammoniated straw incorporation and N fertilizer on soil water, biomass yield and biomass water use efficiency (WUE) in an annual summer maize (Zea mays L.)—Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation system. There were three treatments: (i) long straw (5 cm) mulching with N fertilizer (CK), (ii) long straw with N fertilizer plowed into the soil (LP), and (iii) ammoniated long straw with N fertilizer plowed into the soil (ALP). Compared with the CK treatment, LP and ALP led to a similar soil water storage capacity. ALP improved summer maize biomass yield and winter wheat biomass yield at the jointing-maturity stage. ALP improved summer maize WUE at the ten-leaf collar-tasseling stage and winter wheat WUE from the tillering stage to the maturity stage. Also, the ALP treatment increased the total water use efficiency (TWUE) of winter wheat by 4.1–22.0%. Overall, ammoniated straw incorporation produced the most favorable biomass yield and WUE in the summer maize—Winter wheat rotation system in the Loess Plateau of China.

The dataset is to document the effect of grazing intensity on plant community attributes (vegetation coverage, aboveground biomass, root biomass, plant diversity) and soil physiochemical properties (SOC, soil N and P, soil moisture, C:N ratio, and soil pH) in northern China grasslands grasslands

Fiber length of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) decreases under drought stress, potassium (K) could diminish the decreased caused by drought, but the mechanism associated with this alleviation effect is not clear. We evaluated the effect of K on fiber elongation using two cotton cultivars, Simian 3 and Siza 3, grown in well-watered and drought-stressed conditions. Potassium fertilizer (K2O) was applied 0, 150, or 300 kg ha−1 in each growing condition. Drought stress reduced the final fiber length due to a decline in the maximum rate of rapid elongation (Vmax, mm day−1). The application of K alleviated the drought-induced fiber length reduction by increasing Vmax. At 10 and 15 days post-anthesis (DPA), drought significantly reduced osmotic potential (OP) and increased K+ and malate contents at all K rates, relative to well-watered conditions, which was associated with increased activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), V-ATPase, PPase, and PM H+-ATPase in cotton fiber. However, the relative contribution of K+ and malate to OP declined under drought in comparison with well-watered condition. Compared with control without K, K application decreased OP and increased the accumulation of osmolytes (K+, malate and soluble sugar) as well as the activities of related enzymes in fiber irrespective of water treatments. Moreover, K application increased osmotic adjustment during drought, and improved the contribution of K+ and malate to OP, especially under drought stress. This study showed that drought decreased fiber length by reducing Vmax, and K application ameliorates the decline in fiber elongation due to drought by enhancing osmolytes accumulation and their contribution to OP in fiber cells.