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The growing media is one of the significant elements affecting microgreens’ yield and quality. This experiment investigated the possibility of waste utilization instead of employing peat moss to produce sunflower and water-spinach microgreens. The treatments consisted of peat moss (Control), coconut coir dust (CD), leaf compost (LC), food waste compost (FC), CD:LC = 1:1 v/v, CD:FC = 1:1 v/v, LC:FC = 1:1 v/v, and CD:LC:FC = 1:1:1 v/v. The results proved that the highest yield of sunflower microgreens was observed when cultivated in 1:1 v/v of CD:LC media (10,114.81 g m−2), whereas the highest yield of water spinach microgreens was recorded under the treatments of CD, Control, 1:1 v/v of CD:LC, and 1:1:1 v/v of CD:LC:FC media (10,966.67–9800.00 g m−2). The biochemical composition of the microgreens varied within the types. Our findings demonstrated that a tendency of an increase in chlorophyll and carotenoid contents depended on the growth of both microgreens under different growing media. All growing media did not cause excess nitrate residue or pathogenic contamination in both microgreens, namely Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, almost all the growing media resulted in a higher population of Bacillus cereus contamination in both microgreens than the standard set limit, except for sunflower microgreens grown in the control and CD growing media. These findings could suggest that the 1:1 v/v of CD:LC and CD media were the most effective growing media for sunflower and water spinach microgreens, respectively, but further cleaning before consumption is recommended to avoid or reduce the foodborne incidences caused by B. cereus in microgreens.

Summary Heading date 1 (Hd1) is an important gene for the regulation of flowering in rice, but its variation in major cultivated rice varieties, and the effect of this variation on yield and quality, remains unknown. In this study, we selected 123 major rice varieties cultivated in China from 1936 to 2009 to analyse the relationship between the Hd1 alleles and yield‐related traits. Among these varieties, 19 haplotypes were detected in Hd1, including two major haplotypes (H8 and H13) in the japonica group and three major haplotypes (H14, H15 and H16) in the indica group. Analysis of allele frequencies showed that the secondary branch number was the major aimed for Chinese indica breeding. In the five major haplotypes, SNP316(C‐T) was the only difference between the two major japonica haplotypes, and SNP495(C‐G) and SNP614(G‐A) are the major SNPs in the three indica haplotypes. Association analysis showed that H16 is the most preponderant allele in modern cultivated Chinese indica varieties. Backcrossing this allele into the japonica variety Chunjiang06 improved yield without decreasing grain quality. Therefore, our analysis offers a new strategy for utilizing these preponderant alleles to improve yield and quality of japonica varieties for cultivation in the southern areas of China.

【Objective】Soil salinization and waterlogging are critical challenges to crop productivity and sustainable agriculture. This study examines the effects of subsurface drainage and biochar application on soil properties and crop growth in coastal saline-alkali soils in the Yellow River Delta.【Method】The field experiment was conducted using sunflower as the model plant. The spacing of the subsurface drain varied from 10 m to 30 m, each having two biochar applications: 0 and 30 t/hm2. During the experiment, we measured soil moisture content and pH, and evaluated how biochar application and drain spacing combined to influence growth, yield components and seed quality of the sunflower.【Result】① Biochar application significantly reduced soil moisture content and increased soil pH. At the flowering stage, the treatment with drain spacing of 30 m reduced soil moisture by 6.82% with biochar application and 16.57% without biochar, compared to the control without drainage and biochar application. ② During the budding and flowering stages, plant height in the treatment with drain spacing of 30 m was significantly higher than that in the control, regardless of biochar applications. At the flowering and maturity stages, biochar addition further increased plant height and stem diameter. Compared to the treatment without biochar application, biochar addition increased single-head grain weight and yield by 10.46%-19.36% and 11.45%-19.35%, respectively. Our results show that 30 m drain spacing combined with biochar application significantly enhanced kernel fat and linoleic acid contents, compared to the control and without biochar.【Conclusion】Subsurface drainage combined with biochar application significantly improves the physicochemical properties of coastal saline-alkali soils, promotes sunflower growth, and enhances yield and quality. This combination can be used as an improved agronomic practice for amelioration of saline-alkali soils and improving crop productivity in coastal regions.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important legume for human consumption worldwide and an important source of vegetable protein, minerals, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. The N2-fixation capacity of this crop reduces its demand for synthetic N fertilizer application to increase yield and quality. Fertilization, yield, and quality of common bean may be optimised by several other agronomic practices such as irrigation, rhizobia application, sowing density, etc. Taking this into consideration, a systematic review integrated with a bibliometric analysis of several agronomic practices that increase common bean yield and quality was conducted, based on the literature published during 1971–2021. A total of 250 publications were found dealing with breeding (n = 61), sowing density and season (n = 14), irrigation (n = 36), fertilization (n = 27), intercropping (n = 12), soilless culture (n = 5), tillage (n = 7), rhizobia application (n = 36), biostimulant/biofertilizer application (n = 21), disease management (n = 15), pest management (n = 2) and weed management (n = 14). The leading research production sites were Asia and South America, whereas from the Australian continent, only four papers were identified as relevant. The keyword co-occurrence network analyses revealed that the main topics addressed in relation to common bean yield in the scientific literature related to that of “pod”, “grain”, “growth”, “cultivar” and “genotype”, followed by “soil”, “nitrogen”, “inoculation”, “rhizobia”, “environment”, and “irrigation”. Limited international collaboration among scientists was found, and most reported research was from Brazil. Moreover, there is a complete lack in interdisciplinary interactions. Breeding for increased yield and selection of genotypes adapted to semi-arid environmental conditions combined with the suitable sowing densities are important agronomic practices affecting productivity of common bean. Application of fertilizers and irrigation practices adjusted to the needs of the plants according to the developmental stage and selection of the appropriate tillage system are also of high importance to increase common bean yield and yield qualities. Reducing N-fertilization via improved N-fixation through rhizobia inoculation and/or biostimulants application appeared as a main consideration to optimise crop performance and sustainable management of this crop. Disease and weed management practices appear neglected areas of research attention, including integrated pest management.

【Objective】 Efficient irrigation and fertilization are critical to sustaining greenhouse vegetable production. They not only improve fruit yield and quality, but also reduce resource waste and environmental risks. This paper experimentally determines the optimal water and fertilizer application for greenhouse tomatoes under drip fertigation.【Method】The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with seven treatments: no fertilizer application (CK0); conventional flood irrigation and fertilization (CF); sufficient drip irrigation and fertilization (T1); reducing water and nitrogen applications in T1 by 20% and 10% (T2), 20% and 20% (T3), 30% and 10% (T4), 30% and 20% (T5), respectively, with all treatments including a reduction in phosphorus application (P2O5) by 40%. In each treatment, we measured growth, yield, quality, and water and fertilizer use efficiency of tomatoes. 【Result】Compared with CF, T1 increased economic yield and dry matter weight of tomatoes by 25.65% and 16.98%, respectively, while reducing fruit nitrate content by 7.94% and increasing lycopene content by 63.76%; it also increased irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and partial factor productivity (PFP) of fertilizer by 14.05% and 14.01%, respectively. There was no significant difference in water and fertilizer use efficiency between T4 and T5, and a moderate increase in irrigation and fertilization improved fruit yield and water and fertilizer use efficiency. The yield of T1 and T2 was 91.6 t/hm2 and 90.1 t/hm2, respectively, the highest among all treatments. The IWUE and PFP of T2 were 45.1 kg/m3 and 121 kg/kg, respectively, the highest among all treatments. Continuously supplying water and fertilizer via drip irrigation improved fruit quality both before and after harvest. Compared with CF, T3 increased average contents of vitamin C and soluble solids in the fruits by 21.59% and 11.29%, respectively, while reducing fruit nitrate content by 9.13%. 【Conclusion】Considering yield, quality, and water and fertilizer use efficiency, drip-fertigating 2 016 m3/hm2 of water, 243 kg/hm2 of nitrogen, 135 kg/hm2 of P2O5 and 375 kg/hm2 of K2O is optimal for greenhouse tomato production in the study region and regions with similar conditions.

The use of light-emitting diode (LED) technology for plant cultivation under controlled environmental conditions can result in significant reductions in energy consumption. However, there is still a lack of detailed information on the lighting conditions required for optimal growth of different plant species and the effects of light intensity and spectral composition on plant metabolism and nutritional quality. In the present study, wheat plants were grown under six regimens designed to compare the effects of LED and conventional fluorescent lights on growth and development, leaf photosynthesis, thiol and amino acid metabolism as well as grain yield and flour quality of wheat. Benefits of LED light sources over fluorescent lighting were manifested in both yield and quality of wheat. Elevated light intensities made possible with LEDs increased photosynthetic activity, the number of tillers, biomass and yield. At lower light intensities, blue, green and far-red light operated antagonistically during the stem elongation period. High photosynthetic activity was achieved when at least 50% of red light was applied during cultivation. A high proportion of blue light prolonged the juvenile phase, while the shortest flowering time was achieved when the blue to red ratio was around one. Blue and far-red light affected the glutathione- and proline-dependent redox environment in leaves. LEDs, especially in Blue, Pink and Red Low Light (RedLL) regimens improved flour quality by modifying starch and protein content, dough strength and extensibility as demonstrated by the ratios of high to low molecular weight glutenins, ratios of glutenins to gliadins and gluten spread values. These results clearly show that LEDs are efficient for experimental wheat cultivation, and make it possible to optimize the growth conditions and to manipulate metabolism, yield and quality through modification of light quality and quantity.

【Objective】The growth of winter potatoes in Yunnan Province requires both irrigation and fertilization. This study examines the effects of irrigation amount and base-to-topdressing fertilization ratio on the growth, yield, and tuber quality of potatoes grown under full mulch conditions in the Erhai Lake basin. 【Method】A field experiment was conducted with two irrigation treatments, by maintaining the soil water content in the root zone at 80%-100% of field capacity (W1) and 64%-80% of field capacity (W2). Each irrigation treatment had two fertilizations with the fertilizers divided between base fertilization and topdressing at ratios of 1∶1 (T1) and 2∶1 (T2). The control treatment did not receive irrigation and fertilization. During the experiment, plant growth traits, yield, and tuber quality were measured.【Result】During the tuber expansion stage, irrigation significantly influenced root length, leaf area index (LAI), and dry matter accumulation (p＜0.05). The base-to-topdressing fertilization ratio also had a significant effect on root length and LAI (p＜0.05). The T1W1 combination resulted in the highest seedling emergence rate, LAI, yield, large tuber mass per ridge, and dry matter accumulation, producing a tuber yield of 46 657.70 kg/hm2, 7.59% to 22.15% higher than other treatments. The T2W1 combination yielded 43 367.20 kg/hm², ranking second. Both irrigation and the base-to-topdressing fertilization ratio significantly affected tuber yield (p＜0.05). The T1W1 combination also resulted in the highest starch content (149.87 mg/g fresh mass) and the lowest reducing sugar content (425.39 μg/g fresh mass). Tuber yield was positively correlated with both quality and the proportion of large tubers in the planting rows.【Conclusion】Considering growth, yield, and tuber quality, the T1W1 combination is optimal for winter potato production in the study area and similar regions with comparable soil and environmental conditions.

Rice quality and yield traits response to fertilizers under varying field conditions were obtained in our previous study. A better understanding of the intrinsic mechanism of fertilization in regulating rice quality and yield supports field operations and recommendations. This study investigated the potential role of humic acid and bean cake fertilizers as opposed to traditional nitrogen fertilizer (urea) in regulating rice quality and yield traits under water-saving conditions by identifying the quality and yield indicators. Results demonstrated that the application of humic acid and bean cake fertilizers affected the quality and yield compared with the traditional nitrogen fertilizer (urea), which alleviated the deterioration of rice quality and yield caused by excessive fertilizer amounts. The conclusions are that the addition of humic acid and bean cake fertilizers can improve grain quality.

Potassium (K) is crucial for rice yield and quality, but continuous yield increase reduces protein content, challenging the balance between high yield and quality. This study analysed 3 178 case studies (1994–2024) on K management impacts on rice yield, grain protein, and amylose content, evaluating effects of K fertiliser rates, base-topdressing ratios, planting regions, and soil properties. The results showed that K application significantly increased rice yield, protein content and amylose content by 11.6, 2.0 and 1.0%, respectively. Importantly, we identified targeted K fertilisation strategies tailored to different quality goals: optimising for eating quality, nutritional quality, or synergistic improvement of yield and comprehensive quality. This study provides a scientific basis for precision K management to help growers balance rice yield with specific quality needs.

Heat shock poses a major threat to strawberry production, impairing both yield and fruit quality. This study investigated the potential of salicylic acid (SA) spraying (1 mM) to mitigate heat-induced damage (42 °C) in ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Paros’ cultivars. Results showed heat shock was the primary factor driving a severe decline in fruit yield by 61%. Although SA failed to mitigate yield loss, it induced divergent, cultivar-specific strategies in biomass partitioning and defense metabolism. ‘Camarosa’ deployed an inducible, high-cost acclimation strategy, upregulating PAL activity by 56.3% and reconfiguring biomass towards roots, whereas ‘Paros’ exhibited constitutive tolerance but greater fruit weight sensitivity (34.3% vs. 15.6% reduction). PCA quantified a fundamental physiological trade-off, with PC1 (45.5% of variance) clearly separating a yield and quality cluster from a cluster defined by phenylpropanoid metabolism. This was statistically underpinned by significant negative correlations between PAL activity and both fruit yield (r = −0.63) and vitamin C (r = −0.83), confirming the metabolic cost of phenylpropanoid defense activation. It is concluded that 1 mM SA does not rescue yield but serves as a genotype-specific physiological modulator, indicating that management strategies should prioritize cultivars that balance defense expenditure with reproductive sink strength.