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The widespread use of ultra-thin mulch films has been considered the root cause of China’s difficulties in recycling waste mulch films and their severe residue and pollution. Therefore, environmental regulation to guide farmers to use and recycle high-standard mulch has become a key measure to prevent and control mulch pollution at the source. In this paper, we review environmental regulation measures for mulch pollution and their implementation characteristics in the northwest dry farming restoration region as a case study, and explore their impact on the use and recycling of high-standard mulch. ​The results show that China’s environmental regulations on mulch use and recycling can be classified into three types: guidance, incentives, and restrictions. However, the measures implemented so far primarily consist of guidance, while the restrictive and incentive regulations are inadequate. The percentage of farmers using and recycling high-standard mulch under environmental regulations is relatively high (88.18% and 79.83%, respectively), but there is still room for improvement. The study also reveals that while environmental regulations promote the use of high-standard plastic film and its recycling, not all measures are equally effective. Specifically, the implementation of measures such as benefits publicity, price subsidies, technical training, behavior supervision, and punishment mechanisms can be effective in improving farmers’ adoption of high-standard plastic mulch; publicizing the hazards of mulch residue, training on recycling techniques, establishing recycling sites, regulating recycling practices, and penalizing violations can effectively help increase the recycling rate of used mulch film. Finally, this study provides a valuable reference for improving regulatory policies for mulch pollution control.

Background The foundation for ensuring walnuts of high yield and quality is excellent rootstock. Numerous studies have shown that the walnut rootstock has a major impact on the grafted varieties’ quality, yield, stress resistance, growth, and development. Elucidating the mechanism of grafting affinity in walnuts is crucial, as it paves the way for selecting premium rootstocks to achieve increased production and efficiency. In this study, a combined analysis of the transcriptome, miRNA, and metabolome was conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying graft compatibility between different walnut rootstocks ( Juglans sigillata cv. ‘Qianhe 7’ and ‘Panzhou’). Results A total of 44, 41, 50, and 28 differential miRNAs were identified between ‘Qianhe 7’ vs ‘Panzhou’ at 1st d, 11th d, 17th d, and 30th d after grafting, respectively. These miRNAs target genes associated with plant hormone signaling pathways, particularly those related to IAA, SA, and ABA, such as ARF, SAUR, and RAS1-like genes. The most dominant metabolites in both J. sigillata rootstocks (cv. ‘Qianhe 7’ and ‘Panzhou’) at 1st d after grafting were salicylic acid (SA) and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The concentration of SA increased with the extension of time in ‘Qianhe 7’, while IAA decreased significantly on the 30th d. The IAA and abscisic acid (ABA) contents of ‘Qianhe 7’ were markedly higher than those observed in ‘Panzhou’ at 11th d and 30th d post-grafting, respectively. But the concentration of jasmonic acid (JA) in the ‘Panzhou’ was significantly higher than that observed in the ‘Qianhe 7’ at 17th d post-grafting. Conclusions These results indicated that SA, ABA, and IAA may play a pivotal role in the adaptability of grafted J. sigillata (‘Qianhe 7’ and ‘Panzhou’), which provides a foundation for understanding walnut graft affinity. A deeper exploration of the synergistic regulatory network between the identified miRNAs and plant hormones is warranted to clarify the underlying mechanisms, thereby informing hormone-based breeding strategies for walnut rootstocks and facilitating the sustainable advancement of the walnut industry.

The postharvest deterioration of mango fruits is a critical issue limiting mango storage and preservation due to its climacteric nature. This study evaluated the storage behavior of two mango cultivars and their response to exogenous melatonin (MT, 1000 μmol L−1) treatment in attenuating fruit decay and enhancing fruits’ physiological and metabolic processes and gene relative expression subjected to cold storage. MT treatment in both mango cultivars significantly delayed weight loss, firmness, respiration rate, and decay incidence. However, MT did not influence the TSS, TA, and TSS:TA ratio regardless of the cultivar. Moreover, MT inhibited the decrease in total phenol and flavonoid content and AsA content while delaying the increase in the MDA content of mango during storage in both cultivars. In addition, MT dramatically inhibited the enzyme activity of PPO. In contrast, an increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and APX) and PAL and their genes’ relative expression was noticed in MT-treated fruits versus control in both cultivars. However, MT treatment was cultivar dependent in most parameters under study. These results demonstrated that MT treatment could be an essential postharvest treatment in minimizing decay, maintaining fruit quality, and extending mango fruits’ postharvest shelf life by enhancing the physiological and metabolic processes during cold storage.

Background Auxin response factor (ARF), a transcription factors that controls the expression of genes responsive to auxin, plays a key role in the regulation of plant growth and development. Analyses aimed at identifying ARF family genes and characterizing their functions in Juglans sigillata Dode are lacking. Methods and results We used bioinformatic approaches to identify members of the J. sigillata ARF gene family and analyze their evolutionary relationships, collinearity, cis -acting elements, and tissue-specific expression patterns. The expression patterns of ARF gene family members under natural drought conditions were also analyzed. The J. sigillata ARF gene family contained 31 members, which were unevenly distributed across 16 chromosomes. We constructed a phylogenetic tree of JsARF genes and other plant ARF genes. Cis -acting elements in the promoters of JsARF were predicted. JsARF28 showed higher expressions in both the roots and leaves. A heat map of the transcriptome data of the cluster analysis under drought stress indicated that JsARF3/9/11/17/20/26 are responsive to drought. The expression of the 11 ARF genes varied under PEG treatment and JsARF18 and JsARF20 were significantly up-regulated. Conclusions The interactions between abiotic stresses and plant hormones are supported by our cumulative data, which also offers a theoretical groundwork for comprehending the ARF mechanism and drought resistance in J. sigillata .

An efficient genetic transformation system is of great significance for verifying gene function and improving plant breeding efficiency by gene engineering. In this study, a stable Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation system of Juglans sigillata Dode ‘Qianhe-7’ was investigated using callus and negative pressure-assisted and ultrasonic-assisted transformation selection. The results showed that the axillary shoot leaves were suitable to induce callus and the callus proliferation rate could reach 516.27% when induction calli were cultured on DKW medium containing 0.5 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid, 1.2 mg L−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.5 mg L−1 kinetin for 18 d. In addition, negative pressure infection was the optimal infection method with the lowest browning rate (0.00%), high GFP conversion rate (16.67%), and better growth status. To further prove the feasibility of this genetic transformation system, the flavonol synthetase (JsFLS5) gene was successfully transformed into the into leaf-derived callus of ‘Qianhe-7’. JsFLS5 expression and the content of total flavonoids in transformed callus were improved significantly compared with the untransformed callus, which proved that we had an efficient and reliable genetic transformation system using leaf-derived callus of Juglans sigillata.

Vitis heyneana is widely distributed in Guizhou Province and has high drought resistance. The role of aquaporin proteins (AQPs) has been studied extensively in plants, and the expression of tonoplast membrane intrinsic protein ( TIP ) genes is vital for drought tolerance. Nonetheless, information on TIPs in V . heyneana is inadequate. In the present study, nine VhTIP genes from V . heyneana cv. ‘Huaxi-9’ were cloned and characterized. The open reading frames of nine genes contained 750–780 bases and encoded 249–259 amino acids. The amino acid sequence has a typical MIP family domain containing a unique SGGHINPAVT sequence. Moreover, VhTIPs expressed four patterns in the leaf of ‘Huaxi-9’, and the expression of VhTIP2;1 under drought conditions was the most upregulated gene. In addition, Arabidopsis transgenic plants that overexpressed VhTIP2;1 had a higher leaf water potential, leaf relative water content, and proline content, as well as a lower relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content than wild-type (WT) plants under drought stress, indicating that transgenic A . thaliana has greater tolerance to drought stress than non-transgenic plants. This study provides valuable information to better explain the characterization and function of VhTIP2;1 in regulating drought resistance in Chinese wild grape plants and establishing molecular drought-resistant4 breeding systems in grapes.

Juglans sigillata Dode is a unique walnut species in China that is widely distributed in southwestern China. This study investigated the effects of different girdling degrees on tree growth, flower bud differentiation, fruit quality, and leaf physiology using high-grafting 5-year-old 'Qianhe 7' walnuts as test material. Results showed that girdling 3/4 turn increased the proportion of medium and short branches, female flower bud differentiation (1.62 times higher than ungirdling), and fruit set rate (by 11.18%). It also improved fruit weight, diameter, and nutritional content (protein and fat). Girdling increased N content in branches but reduced Ca, Mg, and Fe. Leaf N, Ca, Mg, and Mn contents decreased, while organic carbon and C/N ratio increased. Chlorophyll content and net photosynthesis rate declined. Concurrently, there was an elevation of promoting flower hormones (ZR, ABA) in leaves and female flower buds, while inhibiting flower hormone (GA3). Therefore, it can be inferred that girdling jointly regulates walnut flower bud differentiation and fruit set through modulation of nutrient supply, photosynthesis, and hormone signaling pathways. New shoots stop growing for a week, making 3/4 turn girdling can effectively promote the flower bud differentiation and fruit set of J. sigillata.

As the third most edible fungus in the world, Auricularia auricular needs a lot of sawdust for cultivation; thus, it is a win–win method to develop waste wood sawdust suitable for black agaric cultivation. This study evaluated the growth, agronomic characters and nutritional quality of A. auricula cultured on different ratios of miscellaneous sawdust and walnut waste wood sawdust, and comprehensively analyzed the feasibility of cultivating black agaric with walnut sawdust using principal component method (PCA). The results showed that the macro mineral elements and phenolic substances in walnut sawdust were significantly higher than those of miscellaneous sawdust by 18.32–89.00%. The overall activity of extracellular enzymes reached the highest when the ratio of the substrate was 0:4 (miscellaneous sawdust: walnut sawdust). The mycelia of 1:3 substrates grew well and fast. In addition, the growth cycle for A. auricula was significantly lower for 0:4 (116 d) than for 4:0 (126 d). Then, the single bag yield and biological efficiency (BE) were highest at 1:3. Moreover, the nutrients and mineral elements of A. auricula cultivated in walnut sawdust were significantly higher than that of miscellaneous sawdust, expect for total sugar and protein, and the highest overall value was found at 1:3. Finally, the results of comprehensive evaluation by PCA showed that the D value was the highest when the substrate was 1:3 and the lowest when the substrate was 4:0. Therefore, the substrate ratio of 1:3 was the most suitable for the growth of A. auricula. In this study, the high yield and quality of A. auricula were cultivated by waste walnut sawdust, which provided a new way to utilize walnut sawdust.

The boron (B) deficiency tolerance capacity of two grape materials, ‘Xishui-4’ (Vitis flexuosa) and ‘Crystal’ (V. vinifera × V. labrusca), were evaluated using a potted experiment in order to identify the B-use efficiency of grape and screen B-efficient grape resources. The sterile lines of two genotypes of grape were used as test materials, and a large number of test-tube seedlings were obtained through rapid propagation. The test-tube seedlings were acclimatization and transplanted, and the tested seedlings were treated with B stress after survival. In this experiment, the materials were cultured in nutrient solution, which contained 0.00 (B0), 0.25 (B1), and 0.50 (control) mg·L−1 B concentrations, and the two genotypes of grape seedlings were cultured in vitro. The results were counted after 60 days of culture. The results showed that the B deficiency significantly reduced the growth parameters such as plant height, leaf area, total root length, and dry biomass of the two genotypes, and the inhibition of ‘Crystal’ growth parameters was greater than that of ‘Xishui-4’. Moreover, the B deficiency also affected photosynthesis of the two genotypes, such as decreased leaf photosynthetic pigments, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, and stomatal density. Interestingly, the decrease ranges of ‘Crystal’ were greater than those of ‘Xishui-4’, indicating that ‘Crystal’ photosynthesis was more susceptible to B deficiency. Under the control condition, the concentration and accumulation of B in ‘Crystal’ were significantly higher than those in ‘Xishui-4’. However, under the condition of B deficiency, the B concentration, accumulation amount, accumulation rate, utilization index, and tolerance index of ‘Xishui-4’ were higher than those of ‘Crystal’, and the B transport capacity of ‘Xishui-4’ was more stable, indicating that ‘Xishui-4’ had a better tolerance against B-deficient stress than ‘Crystal’ did. Therefore, ‘Xishui-4’ is a plant with strong adaptability to B deficiency stress, which can be used as B efficient grape resources and a genetic improvement of B efficient grape.

As the third most edible fungus in the world, Auricularia auricular needs a lot of sawdust for cultivation; thus, it is a win–win method to develop waste wood sawdust suitable for black agaric cultivation. This study evaluated the growth, agronomic characters and nutritional quality of A. auricula cultured on different ratios of miscellaneous sawdust and walnut waste wood sawdust, and comprehensively analyzed the feasibility of cultivating black agaric with walnut sawdust using principal component method (PCA). The results showed that the macro mineral elements and phenolic substances in walnut sawdust were significantly higher than those of miscellaneous sawdust by 18.32–89.00%. The overall activity of extracellular enzymes reached the highest when the ratio of the substrate was 0:4 (miscellaneous sawdust: walnut sawdust). The mycelia of 1:3 substrates grew well and fast. In addition, the growth cycle for A. auricula was significantly lower for 0:4 (116 d) than for 4:0 (126 d). Then, the single bag yield and biological efficiency (BE) were highest at 1:3. Moreover, the nutrients and mineral elements of A. auricula cultivated in walnut sawdust were significantly higher than that of miscellaneous sawdust, expect for total sugar and protein, and the highest overall value was found at 1:3. Finally, the results of comprehensive evaluation by PCA showed that the D value was the highest when the substrate was 1:3 and the lowest when the substrate was 4:0. Therefore, the substrate ratio of 1:3 was the most suitable for the growth of A. auricula. In this study, the high yield and quality of A. auricula were cultivated by waste walnut sawdust, which provided a new way to utilize walnut sawdust.