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Melatonin (MT) is a tryptophan-derived natural product that plays a vital role in plant response to abiotic stresses, including heavy metals (HMs). However, it remains elusive how exogenous MT mediates lead (Pb) accumulation and detoxification at the methylation and transcriptional levels in radish. In this study, decreased Pb accumulation and increased antioxidant enzyme activity were detected under MT treatment in radish. Single-base resolution maps of DNA methylation under Pb stress (Pb200) and Pb plus MT treatment (Pb_50MT) were first generated. The genome-wide methylation level was increased under Pb stress, while an overall loss of DNA methylation was observed under MT treatment. The differentially methylated region (DMR)-associated genes between Pb_50MT and Pb200 were uniquely enriched in ion binding terms, including cation binding, iron ion binding, and transition metal ion binding. Hyper-DMRs between Pb200 and Control exhibited a decreasing trend of methylation under Pb_50MT treatment. A few critical upregulated antioxidant genes (e.g., RsAPX2, RsPOD52 and RsGST) exhibited decreased methylation levels under MT treatment, which enabled the radish plants to scavenge lead-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decrease oxidative stress. Notably, several MT-induced HM transporter genes with low methylation (e.g., RsABCF5, RsYSL7 and RsHMT) and transcription factors (e.g., RsWRKY41 and RsMYB2) were involved in reducing Pb accumulation in radish roots. These findings could facilitate comprehensive elucidation of the molecular mechanism underlying MT-mediated Pb accumulation and detoxification in radish and other root vegetable crops.

This study aimed to measure the satisfaction of Chinese university teachers with internal governance and explore its influencing factors. Building upon the framework of customer satisfaction models and the specific context of internal governance in Chinese universities, we developed a model for internal governance satisfaction in higher education institutions. Employing a quantitative research design, we devised measurement tools and collected data from China using a stratified random sampling method, with a total of 1,050 university teachers participating in an online self-reported questionnaire survey. The collected data were analyzed using mean comparison, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The results indicated that the satisfaction of Chinese university teachers with internal governance was at a moderate level numerically. Among the three sub-dimensions, pluralistic governance is perceived to be better than academic governance, and academic governance is perceived to be better than administrative governance. Furthermore, the study findings revealed that “educational background,”“talent qualifications,”“overseas study experience,” and “welfare benefits” had significant explanatory power for teachers’ governance satisfaction. These findings offer new insights and understanding into the satisfaction of Chinese university teachers with internal governance and its influencing factors. They can contribute to the development of new intervention measures in internal governance for Chinese universities aimed at enhancing teacher satisfaction.

Background Salt stress is a major abiotic factor that affects the distribution and growth of plants. Asparagus officinalis is primarily resistant to salt stress and is suitable for cultivation in saline-alkali soil. Results The study integrated the morphology, physiological indexes, and transcriptome of A. officinalis exposed to different levels of NaCl, with the aim of understanding its biological processes under salt stress. The findings indicated that exposure to salt stress led to decreases in the height and weight of A. officinalis plants. Additionally, the levels of POD and SOD, as well as the amounts of MDA, proline, and soluble sugars, showed an increase, whereas the chlorophyll content decreased. Analysis of the transcriptome revealed that 6,203 genes that showed differential expression at different salt-stress levels. Various TFs, including FAR1, MYB, NAC, and bHLH, exhibited differential expression under salt stress. KEGG analysis showed that the DEGs were primarily associated with the plant hormone signal transduction and lignin biosynthesis pathways. Conclusion These discoveries provide a solid foundation for an in-depth exploration of the pivotal genes, including Aux/IAA , TCH4 , COMT , and POD , among others, as well as the pathways involved in asparagus’s salt stress responses. Consequently, they have significant implications for the future analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying asparagus’s response to salt stress.

Background The Aux/IAA gene family encodes proteins that are central to auxin signaling and plant growth regulation. While Asparagus officinalis is a globally cultivated crop valued for its edible shoots, medicinal uses, and economic significance, the specific regulatory mechanisms and stress-responsive functions of Aux/IAA genes in this species remain largely uncharacterized. Previous studies have demonstrated Aux/IAA involvement in abiotic stress responses, but their roles in A. officinalis have not been systematically investigated. This study fills this gap by identifying candidate Aux/IAA genes in A. officinalis and characterizing their expression dynamics under salt stress, providing insights into their potential contributions to stress resilience. Results A comprehensive genome-wide analysis was conducted, revealing 17 Aux/IAA genes in A. officinalis . The results revealed that the AoIAA proteins featured a conserved Aux/IAA domain while demonstrating variability in their protein motif composition. Employing comparative genomics and evolutionary analyses, we classified the Aux/IAA genes into two major groups. Gene duplication analysis further identified two pairs of WGD/segmental duplication genes. The study of cis -regulatory elements in AoIAA gene promoters identified links to phytohormone signaling and abiotic stress responses. Additionally, the expression patterns of AoIAAs in A. officinalis differed among various tissues. The AoIAAs responded differently to salt treatment, notably with AoIAA1 , AoIAA10 , and AoIAA12 expression increasing alongside higher salt concentrations, highlighting their role in salt stress adaptation. Conclusion This study systematically characterized the Aux/IAA gene family in A. officinalis , highlighting their diversity and revealing structural and regulatory features. The findings provide a foundational resource for elucidating the biological functions and molecular mechanisms underlying Aux/IAA -mediated responses to salt stress and growth regulation in this species.

Background Age-related physical decline demands effective community-based interventions. Theory-driven programs, especially those led by general practitioners (GPs) and integrating behavior change techniques (BCTs), remain underexplored. Objectives This cluster randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a GP-delivered, group-based exercise intervention-designed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and operationalized with BCTs-on improving moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and physical performance among community-dwelling older adults. Methods A total of 429 older adults from 36 communities were randomized to either the intervention or control group. The randomization was performed at the community level. The primary outcome was MVPA, the secondary outcomes were timed up-and-go test time (TUG), Berg Balance Scale score (BBS), light intensity physical activity (LPA), falls efficacy, and loneliness. The intervention group participated in four weekly 60-minute group sessions that incorporated BCTs mapped to the TPB constructs, such as “modelling or demonstrating the behavior”, “social comparison”, “goal setting”, “behavioral contract”, etc. The control group received two monthly 60-minute group lectures designed to provide general health education on the knowledge of physical activity. Data were collected at baseline, 4 weeks (post-intervention) and 12 weeks. Adjusted difference was relied on linear mixed models. Results After 4 and 12 weeks, the intervention group demonstrated significant increases in MVPA compared to the control group, with a mean difference of 1.77 h/week (95% CI: 1.45, 2.10) and 1.96 h/week (95% CI: 1.64, 2.28), respectively. Significant improvements were also observed in BBS, TUG, and fall efficacy at 12 weeks. No significant between-group differences were found for LPA and loneliness. Conclusions The program could be suggested as an efficient intervention for improving physical performance and fall efficacy in community older adults due to the increase in PA. Trial registration International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (ITMCTR2025002002). Retrospectively registered, with the registration dated 22/10/2025.

With the applications of quantum dots (QDs) expanding, many studies have described the potential adverse effects of QDs, yet little attention has been paid to potential toxicity of QDs in the liver. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cadmium telluride (CdTe) QDs in mice and murine hepatoma cells alpha mouse liver 12 (AML 12). CdTe QDs administration significantly increased the level of lipid peroxides marker malondialdehyde (MDA) in the livers of treated mice. Furthermore, CdTe QDs caused cytotoxicity in AML 12 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which was likely mediated through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the induction of apoptosis. An increase in ROS generation with a concomitant increase in the gene expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53, the pro-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 and a decrease in the anti-apoptosis gene Bax, suggested that a mitochondria mediated pathway was involved in CdTe QDs’ induced apoptosis. Finally, we showed that NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) deficiency blocked induced oxidative stress to protect cells from injury induced by CdTe QDs. These findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms involved in the activation of Nrf2 signaling that confers protection against CdTe QDs-induced apoptosis in hepatocytes.

Aquaporins (AQPs) constitute a highly diverse family of channel proteins that transport water and neutral solutes. AQPs play crucial roles in plant development and stress responses. However, the characterization and biological functions of RsAQPs in radish ( Raphanus sativus L.) remain elusive. In this study, 61 non-redundant members of AQP-encoding genes were identified from the radish genome database and located on nine chromosomes. Radish AQPs (RsAQPs) were divided into four subfamilies, including 21 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), 19 tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), 16 NOD-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs), and 5 small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs), through phylogenetic analysis. All RsAQPs contained highly conserved motifs (motifs 1 and 4) and transmembrane regions, indicating the potential transmembrane transport function of RsAQPs. Tissue- and stage-specific expression patterns of AQP gene analysis based on RNA-seq data revealed that the expression levels of PIPs were generally higher than TIPs , NIPs , and SIPs in radish. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that seven selected RsPIPs , according to our previous transcriptome data (e.g., RsPIP1-3 , 1-6 , 2-1 , 2-6 , 2-10 , 2-13 , and 2-14 ), exhibited significant upregulation in roots of salt-tolerant radish genotype. In particular, the transcriptional levels of RsPIP2-6 dramatically increased after 6 h of 150 mM NaCl treatment during the taproot thickening stage. Additionally, overexpression of RsPIP2-6 could enhance salt tolerance by Agrobacterium rhizogenes -mediated transgenic radish hairy roots, which exhibited the mitigatory effects of plant growth reduction, leaf relative water content (RWC) reduction and alleviation of O 2– in cells, as shown by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) staining, under salt stress. These findings are helpful for deeply dissecting the biological function of RsAQPs on the salt stress response, facilitating practical application and genetic improvement of abiotic stress resistance in radish.

Radish ( Raphanus sativus L.) taproot contains high concentrations of flavonoids, including anthocyanins (ATCs), in red-skinned genotypes. However, little information on the genetic regulation of ATC biosynthesis in radish is available. A genome-wide association study of radish red skin color was conducted using whole-genome sequencing data derived from 179 radish genotypes. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor production of anthocyanin pigment 2 ( PAP2 ) gene was found in the region associated with a leading SNP located on chromosome 2. The amino acid sequence encoded by the RsPAP2 gene was different from those of the other published RsMYB genes responsible for the red skin color of radish. The overexpression of the RsPAP2 gene resulted in ATC accumulation in Arabidopsis and radish, which was accompanied by the upregulation of several ATC-related structural genes. RsPAP2 was found to bind the RsUFGT and RsTT8 promoters, as shown by a dual-luciferase reporter system and a yeast one-hybrid assay. The promoter activities of the RsANS , RsCHI , RsPAL , and RsUFGT genes could be strongly activated by coinfiltration with RsPAP2 and RsTT8 . These findings showed the effectiveness of GWAS in identifying candidate genes in radish and demonstrated that RsPAP2 could (either directly or together with its cofactor RsTT8) regulate the transcript levels of ATC-related genes to promote ATC biosynthesis, facilitating the genetic enhancement of ATC contents and other related traits in radish.

Background Taproot is the main edible organ and ultimately determines radish yield and quality. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying taproot thickening awaits further investigation in radish. Here, RNA-seq was performed to identify critical genes involved in radish taproot thickening from three advanced inbred lines with different root size. Results A total of 2606 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were shared between ‘NAU-DY’ (large acicular) and ‘NAU-YB’ (medium obovate), which were significantly enriched in ‘phenylpropanoid biosynthesis’, ‘glucosinolate biosynthesis’, and ‘starch and sucrose metabolism’ pathway. Meanwhile, a total of 16 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were shared between ‘NAU-DY’ and ‘NAU-YH’ (small circular), whereas 12 miRNAs exhibited specific differential expression in ‘NAU-DY’. Association analysis indicated that miR393a- bHLH77 , miR167c- ARF8 , and miR5658- APL might be key factors to biological phenomenon of taproot type variation, and a putative regulatory model of taproot thickening and development was proposed. Furthermore, several critical genes including SUS1 , EXPB3 , and CDC5 were characterized and profiled by RT-qPCR analysis. Conclusion This integrated study on the transcriptional and post-transcriptional profiles could provide new insights into comprehensive understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying taproot thickening in root vegetable crops.

Heterosis, a crucial biological phenomenon, plays a vital role in determining the yield and quality of plants. Radish, an important root vegetable crop, exhibits notable heterosis in terms of root yield and quality. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism underlying the formation of heterosis in radish remains unclear. Herein, both the transcriptome and DNA methylome analyses were performed on the F1 hybrids and parental lines. Expression level dominance (ELD) genes and allele-specific expression (ASE) genes together significantly contribute to heterosis, primarily through energy metabolism and plant hormone signal transduction pathway. An increase in average methylation level in the F1 hybrids was observed compared to the parental lines. Interestingly, a negative correlation was found between the methylation level of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in gene body regions and their expression levels in NAU-LB and the F1 hybrids. Moreover, the hybrids were more sensitive to the 5-azacytidine than their parents, and the root weight and total sugar content in the F1 hybrids were dramatically decreased compared to the control. Immunolocalization results indicated that the auxin content of the F1 hybrids were reduced under 5-azacytidine treatment. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunolocalization revealed significant inhibition of vascular cambium activity in both the hybrids and parental lines. Notably, the expression profiles of a few differentially methylated DEGs including RsSUS1, RsSUC2a, RsIAA7, and RsIAA18, were significantly increased in the root of hybrids compared to their parents, suggesting a potential role of DNA methylation in yield heterosis. Collectively, these findings would provide valuable insight into the molecular mechanism underlying taproot yield heterosis and facilitate the genetic improvement of taproot yield and quality in radish breeding programs.