Quan-Hong Yao

Global warming-induced temperature increases adversely affect plant growth, exacerbating agricultural risks and threatening global food security. These challenges are particularly acute for important crops like non-heading Chinese cabbage (NHCC; Brassica campestris L. syn. B. rapa), a nutritionally and economically significant leafy vegetable cultivated worldwide. While breeding for thermotolerance has been explored to stabilize summer supplies, these efforts remain insufficient under complex field conditions, necessitating cost-effective and practical alternatives. Here, we demonstrate that biochar derived from enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) spent mushroom substrate (SMS-BC) significantly alleviates heat-induced growth suppression in greenhouse-cultivated NHCC. SMS-BC alters the soil nutrient profile and enhances available phosphorus and potassium through its unique feedstock properties, including its filamentous architecture and surface functional groups. Furthermore, SMS-BC may reshape microbial community composition of NHCC under heat stress. Our findings establish SMS-derived biochar as an effective soil amendment for alleviating heat stress-induced growth suppression in NHCC.

Floral organs typically function as heterotrophic tissues, heavily reliant on imported photoassimilates for respiration and development. However, under specific genetic or environmental conditions, they can reacquire photosynthetic capabilities. Here, we identified a rare green-flower (GF) mutant in Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis that exhibits stable green coloration and leaf-like characteristics. Physiological assays demonstrated that this mutant undergoes a fundamental metabolic transition from a heterotrophic state to a photoautotrophic state, characterized by functional Photosystem II activity and positive net photosynthetic rates. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses identified the ectopic accumulation of Cytokinins (specifically Zeatin) as the primary key promoter of this transition. High Cytokinin levels correlated strongly with the activation of GOLDEN2-LIKE ( NcGLK ) transcription factors, which coordinated chloroplast biogenesis, stomatal development, and cell cycle re-entry. We propose a “Cytokinin-GLK” regulatory module governing floral greening, providing new insights into floral organ plasticity and potential strategies for breeding long-lasting ornamental varieties.

Crocins, the main active ingredients in Crocus sativus , have anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and antitumor properties. Due to the harsh growing conditions and the limited yield of C . sativus , sustainable alternative methods for crocin production need to be explored. In this study, a new rice germplasm resource, “crocin rice”, was developed by expressing eight genes of the crocin synthesis pathway in rice endosperm. The content of crocins in rice seeds was up to 9.25 μg/g dry weight, and it was also rich in a variety of carotenoids, including α‐carotene, lutein, and violaxanthin. The expression of exogenous genes did not affect normal growth or the major nutritional structure of rice. Feeding experiments on mice showed that crocin rice could effectively reduce lipopolysaccharide‐induced liver injury. With the adjuvant therapeutic benefits, crocin rice could be used to improve human nutrition and health. In addition, rice callus also showed the ability to synthesize crocins, which could serve as a potential substitute for C . sativus to alleviate resource shortage.

Ni Yang, Jing-Wen Li, Yuan-Jie Deng, Rui-Min Teng, Wei Luo, Gui-Nan Li, Zhi-Hang Hu, Hui Liu, Ai-Sheng Xiong, Jian Zhang, Quan-Hong Yao, Jing Zhuang; Ectop

Pervasive environmental contamination due to the uncontrolled dispersal of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (2,4‐DNT) represents a substantial global health risk, demanding urgent intervention for the removal of this detrimental compound from affected sites and the promotion of ecological restoration. Conventional methodologies, however, are energy‐intensive, susceptible to secondary pollution, and may inadvertently increase carbon emissions. In this study, a 2,4‐DNT degradation module is designed, assembled, and validated in rice plants. Consequently, the modified rice plants acquire the ability to counteract the phytotoxicity of 2,4‐DNT. The most significant finding of this study is that these modified rice plants can completely degrade 2,4‐DNT into innocuous substances and subsequently introduce them into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Further, research reveals that the modified rice plants enable the rapid phytoremediation of 2,4‐DNT‐contaminated soil. This innovative, eco‐friendly phytoremediation approach for dinitrotoluene‐contaminated soil and water demonstrates significant potential across diverse regions, substantially contributing to carbon neutrality and sustainable development objectives by repurposing carbon and energy from organic contaminants.