Table of Content

20 July 2026, Volume 35 Issue 7

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Remote sensing extraction and analysis of the spatial pattern of natural cutting pastures in semi-arid pastoral areas of China

Pu HUANG, Qing HUANG, Xiao-ping XIN

2026, 35(7):  1-14.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025297

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As a vital component of grassland resources in semi-arid pastoral areas， natural cutting pastures play a significant role in maintaining the stability and sustainable development of grassland ecosystems. However， China has long faced a scarcity of spatial distribution data on natural cutting pastures， and existing data inadequately reflect their current status， hindering scientific management and conservation of grassland resources. To address this issue， this study employed a multi-source remote sensing data fusion approach （Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 imagery）， incorporating topographic features， spectral indices， and texture features. Using object-oriented segmentation and a support vector machine （SVM） algorithm， high-accuracy remote sensing extraction to identify natural cutting pastures in semi-arid pastoral areas was conducted. The results revealed that the total area of natural cutting pastures in semi-arid pastoral areas from 2020 to 2022 was 7.9492 million hectares， with the pastoral area in northern Inner Mongolia accounting for the largest proportion （81.19%）， and temperate grasslands being the dominant type （61.87%）. The areas of fixed cutting pastures and mobile cutting pastures were 4.7712 million and 3.1780 million hectares， accounting for 60.02% and 39.98% of the total area， respectively， showing distinct regional disparities in spatial distribution. The overall accuracy of remote sensing extraction reached 84.76%， with a Kappa coefficient of 0.69， indicating high consistency with ground survey data. The pastoral area in northern Inner Mongolia achieved the highest accuracy （87.16%）. This study fills the gap in spatial distribution data of natural cutting pastures over the past decade and provides reliable data support for the scientific management， ecological conservation， and sustainable utilization of grassland resources.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of edible forage and its climatic driving mechanisms in the Three-River Headwaters Region from 1981 to 2020

Shu-chao LIU, Quan-qin SHAO, Jiang-wen FAN, Hai-bo HUANG

2026, 35(7):  15-31.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025234

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The Three-River Headwaters Region （TRHR） is a core area of the ecological security barrier on the Tibetan Plateau. Understanding the dynamics of edible forage in this area is crucial for the sustainable utilization of alpine grasslands. This study integrated multi-source remote sensing data， including the global land surface satellite （GLASS） products， the Net Primary Productivity （NPP） dataset estimated by the remote sensing process coupled model， the global production efficiency model carbon exchange and vegetation structure analysis （GLOPEM CEVSA）， and Landsat satellite imagery， long-term field monitoring data， and meteorological records to construct a grassland yield dataset （1981-2020） and quantify the spatiotemporal differentiation of the proportions of edible forage under varying degradation gradients. The results show that： 1） Over the past 40 years， the average edible forage proportion was 0.69， showing a “decline-fluctuation-recovery” trend， with periodical averages of 0.72 （1981-1990）， 0.69 （1991-2004）， 0.66 （2005-2012）， and 0.70 （2013-2020）. Despite ecological restoration efforts， the proportion of edible forage has not returned to the level in the early 1980s. 2） The edible forage yield exhibited a spatial decline from east to west， with an annual average of 403.48 kg·ha^-1 and a total yield of 13.2261×10⁶ t. Significant increases （P<0.05） occurred in 62.5% of the regions. 3） The annual average temperature dominated climatic drivers （68.3% of areas showed positive correlations） affecting the spatiotemporal dynamics of edible forage， while precipitation exerted stronger effects in arid zones （<400 mm） and severely degraded areas. 4） Within the Three-River Source National Park， edible forage yield showed an overall increasing trend but varied significantly among zones， being markedly higher in the Lancang River Source Park （399.56 kg·ha^-1） than in the Yangtze River Source Park （169.37 kg·ha^-1）. The results of this study elucidate the differential regulatory mechanisms of climate warming and precipitation changes on alpine grassland restoration， providing a scientific foundation for adaptive management strategies in the TRHR.

Characteristics and driving factors of plant community changes under enclosure in the desert grassland ecosystem of Yanchi， Ningxia

Shi-lu HU, Jin-yan FENG, Hao LUO, Ning RAO, Sheng-chao CUI, Ming-jie LI, Tian-shan ZHA, Wei FENG

2026, 35(7):  32-45.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025285

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Enclosure （fencing） is a key measure to restore degraded grasslands. Investigating the dynamic changes in plant community characteristics under different durations of fencing is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of fencing for optimizing ecological engineering management. In this study， we focused on the desert grassland of Liuyangbu in Yanchi County， Ningxia. We selected a grassland area that was divided into a long-term fully enclosed core plot （completely enclosed since 1991， 31 years continuous）， a short-term fully enclosed edge plot （completely enclosed since 2002， 20 years continuous）， and a short-term incompletely enclosed peripheral plot （incompletely enclosed since 2002， subject to light grazing disturbance）； i.e.， three zones that differed in terms of their fencing duration and disturbance levels. Based on field vegetation surveys conducted in 2010， 2015， 2020， and 2022 （a total of 120 plots） and concurrent meteorological data， we analyzed dynamic changes in species importance values and species diversity （Shannon-Wiener index， Pielou index， species richness， Simpson’s index）， and their relationships with precipitation and temperature during long-term fencing. We also assessed the stability of the plant community （characterized by the inverse of the coefficient of variation in species density， ICV）. The results show that： 1） Long-term complete enclosure weakened the dominant position of original dominant species such as Aster altaicus and Salsola ruthenica， leading to increased fluctuations in the importance values of other species and changes in community structure； 2） Species richness and evenness were significantly higher in the edge plot （20 years of complete enclosure） and the peripheral plot （20 years of incomplete enclosure） than in the core plot （31 years of complete enclosure）； 3） Increased precipitation in the current and previous years significantly promoted species diversity， whereas increases in annual mean temperature had no significant effect on species diversity， indicating that the species composition and diversity of plant communities is jointly regulated by precipitation in the current and previous years； 4） Community stability was manifested as peripheral plot （ICV=2.13）>edge plot （ICV=2.00）>core plot （ICV=1.74）， reflecting the positive effects of moderate disturbance and the potential risks of long-term enclosure. In summary， long-term complete enclosure is detrimental to the maintenance of plant community stability and the enhancement of species diversity. It is recommended to implement an alternating “enclosure-utilization” management cycle for long-term complete enclosed areas （such as the core plot in this study， with enclosure periods exceeding 30 years）. This approach aims to break habitat homogenization through moderate human disturbance， which suppresses the excessive expansion of dominant species and promotes seed dispersal and soil seed bank renewal. Consequently， this approach will enhance species diversity and long-term stability while preserving ecosystem restoration outcomes. Our findings provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of grasslands in arid and semi-arid regions.

Effects of nitrogen addition and mowing on ecological stoichiometry of three dominant plant species in northwestern Liaoning Province

Jia-ming WANG, Fei WU, Yi-jie YANG, Lin-you LYU, Wuyunna, Yan-tao SONG

2026, 35(7):  46-57.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025296

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To investigate the effects of nitrogen addition and mowing on the ecological stoichiometric characteristics of plants in degraded grasslands of northwest Liaoning， this study examined Leymus chinensis，Carex duriuscula， and Cleistogenes squarrosa through a two-factor experiment involving nitrogen application and stubble mowing height. The responses of carbon （C）， nitrogen （N）， and phosphorus （P） contents， as well as the C∶N and N∶P in the three plant species under different treatments were analyzed using three-way and two-way analysis of variance （ANOVA）， redundancy analysis （RDA）， and correlation matrices. The results showed that： 1） N addition significantly increased the nitrogen concentration in C. squarrosa and C. duriuscula， while it significantly decreased the carbon concentration and the C∶N in C. squarrosa. No significant effect was observed on L. chinensis. 2） Mowing at a 6 cm stubble height significantly increased the carbon concentration in C. squarrosa， whereas mowing at a 12 cm stubble height significantly reduced the phosphorus concentration in C. duriuscula. Mowing had no significant effect on L. chinensis. 3） Under the combined treatment of mowing at 6 cm stubble height with N addition， the N∶P of all three species exceeded 16， indicating the emergence of an interaction involving phosphorus limitation. 4） Short-term fencing revealed that the synergy between mowing at 6 cm stubble height and N addition significantly enhanced plant nitrogen concentration， reduced the C∶N， and induced a shift in nutrient limitation from nitrogen to phosphorus， thereby optimizing plant nutrient cycling. However， the long-term effects require further validation. In contrast， mowing at 3 or 12 cm stubble height exacerbated phosphorus limitation in C. duriuscula. 5） The asynchronous changes in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations under the combined mowing （6 cm） and N addition treatment suggest a decoupling of nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics across the different plant species. These findings provide a scientific basis for balancing nitrogen fertilization and mowing management in the restoration of degraded grasslands.

Mutual effects of fresh and semidecomposed litter from abandoned grasslands in the Loess Hilly Region during early mixed decomposition

Xiao-xi ZHANG, Qian-yi LIANG, Ze-qiang ZHANG, Yuan-yuan LUO, Li-ping LI, Ruo-xuan LI, Xin LIU, Bo HU

2026, 35(7):  58-67.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025294

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Fresh and semidecomposed litter usually coexist in grassland ecosystems. Because of the differences in chemical traits and colonizing microorganisms， their mixing might lead to significant mixed decomposition effects and therefore the two mutually affect the decomposition of the other， and possibly also nutrient cycling in the entire ecosystem. To verify whether these mutual effects indeed exist and to clarify the underlying enzymatic mechanism of these effects， fresh litter from Poa sphondylodes and from Stipa grandis， which are early withering species， were collected from a 27-year-old abandoned grassland for this study. In addition， semidecomposed litter from the same grassland was also collected and used as the comparison. These two types of litter were mixed to conduct a 150-day indoor simulated decomposition experiment at 20-25 ℃. During each stage of decomposition， different types of litter were separated， the overall decomposition rates of the given litter in mixture were calculated， and the nutrient release rates and lignin-degrading enzyme activities were measured. These parameters were then compared with those observed when the corresponding litter decomposed individually. Via these methods， the possible mutual effects between fresh and semidecomposed litter during mixed decomposition were evaluated， and the underlying mechanism clarified. The results indicated： 1） In general， fresh and semidecomposed litter both significantly accelerated the decomposition of the other， and these effects occurred at least during the late stage of the decomposition experiment （P<0.05）. 2） After 150 d of decomposition， P. sphondylodes litter and semidecomposed litter each significantly accelerated the C release of the other， while semidecomposed litter also significantly accelerated the N and P release of P. sphondylodes litter. S. grandis litter and semidecomposed litter significantly accelerated the C and P release of each other， whereas S. grandis litter also significantly accelerated the N release of semidecomposed litter （P<0.05）. 3） The total lignin-degrading enzyme activity of the litter was significantly positively correlated with its decomposition rate （P<0.05）. Semidecomposed litter significantly increased the total lignin-degrading enzyme activity of P. sphondylodes litter at the 30th day of decomposition， but had the opposite effect at the 150th day； However， it significantly increased the enzymatic activity of S. grandis litter at all mentioned stages （P<0.05）. Generally， mixed decomposition is beneficial for the decomposition of both fresh and semidecomposed litter， which might play crucial positive roles in nutrient cycling in grassland ecosystems.

Effects of ryegrass intercropping density on the productivity， net benefits， and sustainability of a jujube-grass intercropping system

Yong-quan ZHAI, Yao MA, Li-hua SONG, Bing CAO

2026, 35(7):  68-79.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025283

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The aims of this study were to clarify the effects of grass intercropping density in a jujube （Zizyphus jujuba）-grass intercropping system， and to elucidate the mechanisms by which grass intercropping density regulates system productivity， resource competition and complementarity， and sustainability. We aimed to determine the optimal between-row intercropping density of ryegrass （Lolium perenne） in a Lingwu Changzao jujube orchard located in the arid， sandy region of northwestern China. Field experiments were conducted in 2023 and 2024 in a representative Lingwu Changzao orchard. The experiment had five treatments： jujube monoculture （J）， ryegrass monoculture （G）， and intercropping with ryegrass sown at 15.0 kg·ha^-1 （J-G15）， 22.5 kg·ha^-1 （J-G22.5）， and 30.0 kg·ha^-1 （J-G30）. The impact of ryegrass sowing density in the intercropped strip on the land equivalent ratio （LER）， productivity， and competitive interactions and sustainability of the jujube-grass intercropping system was evaluated. The results show that the density of ryegrass intercropping significantly affected jujube and grass yields， as well as LER （P<0.05）. The yields of both jujube and grass were highest in the J-G22.5 treatment， with the 2-year jujube yields increased by 53.69% and 29.62%， while grass yields increased by 12.14% and 12.26%， respectively， compared with those in J and G. There were highly significant interannual differences in the yields of both jujube and grass （P<0.001）， with higher overall values in 2024 than in 2023. All intercropping treatments had a LER of >1， demonstrating a clear intercropping advantage. The maximum values of LER （2.51 and 2.42） were in the J-G22.5 treatment. This treatment also outperformed the others in terms of yield increase rate， competitive index （CI）， net effect， complementarity effect， and selection effect. Principal component and correlation analyses indicated that yield was strongly and positively correlated with net effect， complementarity effect， and CI （P<0.001）. This suggests that interspecific complementarity and coordinated resource use are key mechanisms underlying yield gains in this intercropping system. The sustainability analysis showed that the J-G22.5 and J-G30 treatments were more sustainable than the J-G15 treatment， with CI and the selection effect being the primary weighting factors. Overall， integrating productivity， competition， complementarity， and sustainability， 22.5 kg·ha^-1 is recommended as the optimal between-row sowing density for intercropped ryegrass in Lingwu Changzao jujube orchards in the arid sandy region of northwest China.

Effects of typical herbaceous plant roots on electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface on the Loess Plateau

Jun-yang LIU, Zheng-chao ZHOU, Xue-meng SU

2026, 35(7):  80-91.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025237

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Plant roots have a significant effect on the electrochemical properties of the surface of soil colloids. To quantify the response relationship between plant roots and the electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface， we analyzed and compared soil colloids and roots of typical herbaceous plants from three different sampling areas on the Loess Plateau （Shenmu， Ansai， and Yongshou）. The root morphological parameters and electrochemical properties of soil colloids’ surface were measured and analyzed. The soil surface electric field， surface potential， surface charge quantity， specific surface area， and surface charge density in different sampling sites in study areas ranged from 1.23×10⁸ to 28.46×10⁸ V·m^-1， from -149.91 to -81.33 mV， from 7.26 to 24.34 cmol_c·kg^-1， from 8.32 to 147.38 m2·g^-1， and from 0.09 to 2.02 C·m^-2， respectively. Root morphological parameters （root length density， root surface area density， and root volume density） were significantly correlated with the electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Fine root （0 mm<diameter≤0.5 mm） was the key factor affecting the electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface. The root surface area density had exponential negative relationships with soil surface electric field， surface potential， and surface charge density， and exponential positive correlations with soil specific surface area and surface charge quantity （R2=0.35-0.67， P<0.01）. The influence of plant roots on electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface was mainly indirect， primarily through changes in soil physicochemical properties. Moreover， because of differences in plant root growth and the feedback mechanisms between roots and soil in different sampling areas， the impact of plant roots on electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface was most significant in Shenmu， followed by Ansai and Yongshou. The findings of this study clarify the impact of root systems on the electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface and provide a scientific basis for the restoration of soil functions and degraded ecosystems.

Effects of reseeding and phosphorus application on productivity and soil in improvement of degraded alfalfa stands

Jiang-ping MA, Li-juan CAO, Wen-wen ZHANG, Meng-yu ZHAO, Teng-fei WANG, Yi-yin ZHANG, Bin WANG, Jia-wang LI, Xiao-bing WANG, Jian LAN

2026, 35(7):  92-104.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025309

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The restoration of degraded grassland is the key to the rejuvenation and renewal of grassland and the realization of ecological sustainable development. Reseeding and phosphorus application are important measures to restore and improve the productivity of degraded grassland. In order to address the problem of moderate degradation of alfalfa （Medicago sativa） stands in the rain-fed area of the Loess Plateau， this study used Festuca arundinacea as the experimental renovation species. The research was carried out from 2018 to 2020， using a two-factor randomized block experimental design， and three reseeding rates （R₁： 20.2 kg·ha^-1； R₂： 40.4 kg·ha^-1； R₃： 60.6 kg·ha^-1） and a gradation of four phosphorus application rates （F₀： 0 kg·ha^-1； F₁： 75 kg·ha^-1； F₂： 150 kg·ha^-1； F₃： 225 kg·ha^-1）. The grassland productivity， yield stability， sustainability and soil nutrients were studied. The results showed that reseeding and phosphorus application significantly promoted the plant height and density of forage. In 2018， the hay yield was highest in the R₃F₃ treatment， at 9.3 t·ha^-1. In 2019-2020， the hay yield and crude protein yield of total hay were highest in the R₂F₂ treatment （11.1、11.4 t·ha^-1和2.4、2.2 t·ha^-1， respectively）， and these values were， respectively， 60.4%， 51.8% and 62.5%， 59.1% higher than those of F₀R₁. The coefficients orizons of variation of this treatment were 50.0% and 40.2% lower than those of F₀R₁， respectively， and the yield sustainability index was increased by 4.7% and 7.7%， respectively. The soil physical and chemical properties of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm horizons were affected by reseeding and phosphorus application. Soil organic matter， total nitrogen content and soil bulk density increased initially and then decreased with increased reseeding and fertilizer application rates. By contrast， the pattern of change in soil porosity with reseeding rate was the opposite， and these properties increased with increased phosphorus application rate. In summary， the reseeding rate of 40.4 kg·ha^-1 and phosphorus application rate of 150 kg·ha^-1 were the best treatments for improving grassland productivity， increasing grassland vegetation cover， sustainability of grassland production and improving the soil environment in degraded alfalfa grassland in the rain-fed area of the Loess Plateau.

Effects of nitrogen-phosphorus and water coupling on soil nutrients and the photosynthetic characteristics and production performance of Bromus inermis

Jing SUN, Yan-liang SUN, Dong-jie XIA, Kong-qin WEI, Kai-xin YANG, Xiao-qing SUI, Qian-bing ZHANG

2026, 35(7):  105-116.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025277

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The aim of this work was to determine the effects of different nitrogen-phosphorus and water couplings on soil nutrient contents and the photosynthetic characteristics and forage production performance of Bromus inermis. To this end， a field experiment was conducted using the B. inermis cultivar‘Wusu No. 1’ with a two-factor randomized block design. Irrigation was applied at three levels： W₁ （3800 m³·ha^-1）， W₂ （5300 m³·ha^-1）， and W₃ （6800 m³·ha^-1）； and there were three fertilization treatments： F₀ （no fertilizer）， F₁ （N 120 kg·ha^-1+P₂O₅ 100 kg·ha^-1）， and F₂ （N 180 kg·ha^-1+P₂O₅ 150 kg·ha^-1）. The results show that， compared with the W₁F₀ treatment， the net photosynthetic rate in the W₃F₁ treatment was increased by 21.22%， the leaf instantaneous water use efficiency was increased by 31.18%， and the light use efficiency was improved by 19.85%. The hay yield of B. inermis in the W₃F₁ treatment was increased by 28.31% compared with that in the W₁F₀ treatment. The crude protein content was increased by 24.32% in W₃F₁ and by 29.50% in W₂F₂ compared with that in W₁F₀ （P<0.05）. Furthermore， the soil available phosphorus and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen contents in the W₃F₁ treatment were increased by 13.79% and 131.27%， respectively， compared with those in W₁F₀. Thus， the regulation of irrigation and fertilization significantly improved the photosynthetic characteristics and forage production performance of B. inermis， and increased the amounts of soil nutrients. The W₃F₁ treatment demonstrated the best overall performance， indicating that an irrigation amount of 6800 m³·ha^-1 combined with fertilization with N at 120 kg·ha^-1 and P₂O₅ at 100 kg·ha^-1 resulted in superior photosynthetic characteristics and production performance of B. inermis.

Identification， bioinformatics analysis of AP2 subfamily genes and MsBBM gene cloning in alfalfa

Fen-qi CHEN, Jin-qing ZHANG, Yi-jian YU, Zhen-yu LI

2026, 35(7):  117-134.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025302

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The AP2 subfamily transcription factors belong to the AP2/ERF superfamily and are involved in regulating various biological processes related to plant growth and development. However， there have been no reports to our knowledge on the AP2 subfamily or BBM genes in alfalfa （Medicago sativa）. In this study， based on whole-genome data of M. sativa， ten AP2 genes were identified using HMMER， among which only one was a BBM gene. Bioinformatics and expression analyses were conducted on the ten AP2 members. The results showed that all AP2 members were unstable， hydrophilic， non-secretory proteins with diverse physicochemical properties and specific secondary and tertiary structures. Motif analysis revealed that AP2 genes were conserved and contain characteristic domains； For instance， only the BBM gene possesses the bbm-1 domain. Additionally， the promoter regions of these genes contained various cis-acting elements related to growth and development， plant hormone responses， and both biotic and abiotic stress responses， indicating that MsAP2 members may play roles in regulating plant development and stress adaptation. Expression pattern analysis by qRT-PCR further demonstrated that MsAP2 genes exhibit tissue-specific and diverse expression profiles， suggesting their potential functions in the growth and development of alfalfa. Further cloning of the MsBBM gene confirmed that its encoded protein is localized in the nucleus. These findings provide a reference for future investigations into the roles of AP2 subfamily genes in the growth and development of alfalfa， and lay a foundation for elucidating the function of the MsBBM gene.

Genome-wide identification of BBR-BPC genes in Medicago sativa and their transcript profiles in response to seed aging

Hao-zhen LIU, Jia-lu CHAO, Shi-qin ZHAO, Cheng WANG, Jing-hong ZHANG, Shou-jiang SUN

2026, 35(7):  135-150.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025280

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The production of seeds is a vital part of agricultural development. High-quality seeds are the key to growing crops that are both high yielding and able to tolerate stress. Even under optimal storage conditions， the process of seed aging remains an unavoidable occurrence. Seed viability is affected by the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species （ROS） and antioxidant capacity， and this balance is affected by oxidative stress. It is therefore crucial to regulate ROS levels if optimal seed vigor is to be maintained. The Barley B Recombinant-Basic Pentacysteine （BBR-BPC） transcription factor family is a conserved group of transcription factors playing crucial roles in plant morphogenesis， organ development， and responses to abiotic stresses. Members of the BBR-BPC family are known to be involved in regulating the ROS balance in plants， suggesting that they may play a role in controlling seed viability. Nevertheless， it is uncertain which genes in this family are responsible for controlling the vitality of alfalfa （Medicago sativa） seeds. In this study， we focused on the BBR-BPC gene family in the alfalfa cultivar ‘Xinjiang Daye’. Their transcript profiles during the processes of swelling and germination of seeds with varying viability were determined by transcriptome and RT-qPCR analyses. These analyses highlighted the BBR-BPC family members potentially involved in the regulation of seed aging. In addition， proteins that potentially interact with members of the BBR-BPC family were predicted. Sixteen MsBBR-BPC genes were identified in the alfalfa genome and a phylogenetic analysis grouped them into eight subfamilies. The 16 MsBBR-BPC genes were distributed unevenly across 13 chromosomes. A collinearity analysis indicated that expansion within this gene family during evolution has been driven by segmental duplication. Analyses of gene transcript profiles revealed high transcript levels of MsBBR-BPC10， MsBBR-BPC13， and MsBBR-BPC16 at 24 days of seed aging， 8 days of seed aging， and 12-24 hours after imbibition， suggesting that these family members participate in the control of seed viability. A protein-protein interaction network analysis via the STRING database revealed a strong interaction between MsBBR-BPC16 and MsBBR-BPC11. In addition， MsBBR-BPC16 was predicted to interact with AGL11， PAT21， ZHD3， and GPL3 proteins. This study pinpointed three MsBBR-BPCs （MsBBR-BPC10， MsBBR-BPC13， and MsBBR-BPC16） that are involved in seed aging stress and may play a role in controlling seed viability. More research is required to clarify their roles in the control of seed viability， and to verify the protein interactions predicted here. The results of this research provide new insights into the molecular regulatory system governing alfalfa seed aging via BBR-BPC transcription factors， and provide further evidence that the ROS balance plays a role in maintaining seed viability. These findings have established a research foundation for the functional validation of candidate proteins， and for the use of their encoding genes in the genetic improvement of alfalfa seed viability.

Genetic diversity analysis and multi-trait evaluation of oat germplasm under different ecological conditions

Bo-hong ZHANG, Xiang MA, Ze-liang JU, Lian-xue DUAN, Xiao-jun WANG, Zhi-feng JIA

2026, 35(7):  151-164.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025326

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The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is characterized by harsh climatic conditions and low primary productivity of natural pastures. Establishing artificial grasslands has become a key strategy to alleviate the conflict between forage availability and livestock demand. However， current artificial pastures face challenges such as limited varietal adaptability and narrow genetic diversity， which hinder the sustainable development of animal husbandry. There is an urgent need to identify high-yielding， high-quality oat （Avena sativa） germplasm adapted to alpine environments. In this study， 48 oat germplasm lines were evaluated under different ecological conditions for agronomic traits， forage yield， nutritional quality， and photosynthetic physiological parameters. Genetic diversity and multi-trait performance were assessed using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making model. Results showed a high level of genetic diversity among the germplasm lines， with Shannon-Wiener indices ranging from 1.77 to 2.08. Structural equation modeling further revealed that genotype and plant height were the key determinants of relative feed value （RFV）， with standardized total effects of 0.506 and -0.617， respectively. In terms of regional adaptability， the germplasm lines Qingyongjiu 178， 257， and 226 exhibited superior performance in Huangzhong District， while Qingyongjiu 486， 051， and 465 performed better in Guinan County. Notably， Qingyongjiu 160， 458， and 085 ranked highly in both locations， demonstrating broad adaptability. These elite germplasm resources identified in this study can be recommended as providing valuable genetic materials for the development of oat cultivars suitable for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and other alpine pastoral regions.

Ecological adaptation strategies of seed germination in Primula alpicola， an endemic alpine species in the southeastern Xizang Plateau

Na CHEN, Ying-bo QIN, De-li PENG

2026, 35(7):  165-174.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025373

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This study investigated the seed dormancy and germination ecology of Primula alpicola， an endemic alpine species from southeastern Xizang， to understand its adaptive strategies in alpine environments. The scientific problem addressed was the germination constraints faced by seeds in cold climates with short growing seasons. We aimed to determine the type of seed dormancy and evaluate how environmental factors such as temperature， light， gibberellin （GA₃）， dry after-ripening， and cold stratification affect dormancy release and germination. Experiments tested the effects of exogenous GA₃， dry after-ripening， and cold stratification on breaking dormancy， along with germination responses under various temperature regimes （constant： 1， 5， 10， 15， 20， 25， and 30 ℃； alternating： 5 ℃/1 ℃， 15 ℃/5 ℃， 25 ℃/15 ℃） and light conditions （12 hours light/12 hours dark vs. continuous darkness）. Results showed that fresh seeds exhibited non-deep physiological dormancy （type 2）， requiring temperatures above 20 ℃ for germination， which was strongly light-dependent， especially at low temperatures. GA₃ significantly promoted germination， both dry after-ripening and cold stratification alleviated dormancy， with cold stratification being more effective. As dormancy was released， the germination temperature range widened （5-30 ℃）， the base germination temperature （T_b） decreased from -2.092 ℃ （after 3 months cold stratification） to -4.035 ℃ （after 6 months）， while the optimal （T_o） and ceiling （T_c） temperatures remained unchanged， and light dependence diminished. These findings indicate that P. alpicola seeds initially rely on high temperatures for germination， with unfavorable conditions inducing conditional dormancy. Overwintering dormancy loss enables germination at lower temperatures， facilitating rapid seedling establishment after snowmelt. This strategy prolongs the growth period and enhances survival， representing a key adaptation to short alpine growing seasons.

Effects of nitrogen application and sowing rates on the seed yield and quality of Elymus nutans ‘Baqing’

Zhi-gang SU, You-jian HAN, Jian-hang ZHANG, Jun-xi WU, Ya-mei XU, Baosaihenna, Yan-jun MIAO, Zhong-hua CAO

2026, 35(7):  175-187.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025281

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In this study， we explored the effects of the nitrogen application rate and sowing rate on the seed yield and quality of Elymus nutans ‘Baqing’ in the alpine region of Xizang. An experiment was conducted with a two-factor split-plot design； the main area was nitrogen fertilizer addition and the sub-area was sowing rate. The nitrogen fertilization rates were N₁ 0 kg·ha^-1， N₂ 60 kg·ha^-1， N₃ 120 kg·ha^-1， N₄ 180 kg·ha^-1， N₅ 240 kg·ha^-1， and N₆ 300 kg·ha^-1； and the sowing rates were D₁ 15.0 kg·ha^-1， D₂ 22.5 kg·ha^-1， and D₃ 45.0 kg·ha^-1. The seed yield and quality of E. nutans ‘Baqing’ were comprehensively evaluated based on grey correlation degree and the key factors affecting seed yield were identified， with an overall aim to determine the optimal planting configuration for E. nutans ‘Baqing’ for seed production. The results show that the nitrogen application rate and sowing rate had significant effects on the seed yield and quality of E. nutans ‘Baqing’. The main factors closely related to the yield of E. nutans ‘Baqing’ were the number of reproductive branches， number of spikelets/reproductive branches， and 1000-seed weight， and the most important factor contributing to yield was 1000-seed weight. At the sowing rate of 15.0 kg·ha^-1， nitrogen application at 180 kg·ha^-1 was required to achieve the maximum seed yield （1182.55 kg·ha^-1）. At the sowing rate of 22.5 kg·ha^-1， nitrogen application at 240 kg·ha^-1 was required to achieve the maximum seed yield （1283.29 kg·ha^-1）. At the sowing rate of 45.0 kg·ha^-1， nitrogen application at 300 kg·ha^-1 was required to achieve the maximum seed yield （1023.34 kg·ha^-1）. These results show that at a constant sowing rate， there is a theoretical maximum value for the nitrogen demand of E. nutans ‘Baqing’. The grey correlation analysis revealed that the nitrogen application rate of 240 kg·ha^-1 and the sowing rate of 22.5 kg·ha^-1 represented the optimal planting configuration for E. nutans ‘Baqing’. This combination of nitrogen application rate and sowing rate resulted in the best seed yield and quality， and therefore， should be used widely when cultivating E. nutans ‘Baqing’ in the alpine region of Xizang.

Analysis of key genes in Hu wavy pattern lambskin based on transcriptome sequencing

Jing XIE, Xu-ming MENG, Zhen CANG, Yun-tao HUA, Xian-yi ZHOU, Da-gan MAO

2026, 35(7):  188-200.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025290

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The aim of this study was to conduct transcriptome sequencing on Hu lambskins with 4/4 straight hairs and 4/4 wavy pattern， and to identify the key genes affecting lambskin traits. Skin tissues （n=4） were collected from the side of the body of 4/4 straight hair and 4/4 wavy pattern Hu lambs. Total RNA was extracted for transcriptome sequencing， and differentially expressed genes （DEGs） were screened and subjected to gene ontology （GO） and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses. Gene set enrichment analysis （GSEA） of the KEGG pathways was also conducted， and the DEGs encoding transcription factors （TFs） were identified. Seven DEGs were selected for verification of their transcript profiles by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （qRT-PCR）， and the transcript profiles of DEGs in the site of straight hair and wavy pattern in individual lambskin with different wavy areas were compared. Results showed that a total of 315 DEGs （threshold |log₂FC|≥1 and FDR<0.05） were screened out by comparing the transcriptomes of 4/4 straight hair and 4/4 wavy pattern lambskins. Of the 315 DEGs， 274 were down-regulated and 41 were up-regulated in wavy pattern lambskin compared with straight hair lambskin. The GO analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched in 3771 items including extracellular structural tissues， extracellular matrix， and integrin binding. The KEGG analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in 209 pathways including the cell adhesion molecules， PI3K-AKT signaling， and RAS signaling pathways. The GSEA results indicated that DEGs were mainly related to pathways such as histidine metabolism， renin secretion， and protein digestion and absorption. The enriched signaling pathways related to hair follicles， including the RAS， PI3K-AKT， and RAP1 signaling pathways， showed a down-regulated trend in the 4/4 wavy pattern lambskin compared with the 4/4 straight hair lambskin. Among the DEGs， 12 encoded TFs， of which two were up-regulated and 10 were down-regulated in wavy pattern lambskin compared with straight hair lambskin. The down-regulated TF DEGs included those encoding SRY-related high-mobility group box （SOX）， forkhead box （FOX）， and T-box （T-box） TFs. The transcript levels of the seven candidate genes determined by qRT-PCR were consistent with those determined from the transcriptome analysis， and confirmed significantly lower transcript levels of IGF1 and MFAP5 in wavy pattern skin regions than in straight hair skin regions in individuals with different pattern coverage areas. In conclusion， AEBP1， IGF1， MMP27， MFAP5， RPTN， SPI1， and THY1 were identified as important candidate genes affecting lambskin traits. These results lay a foundation for further understanding the molecular mechanism of the formation of wavy lambskin in Hu sheep.

Optimization of fermentation and ultrasound-assisted extraction parameters for alfalfa saponins

Wu LI, Jia-jing LI, Jie-bing LI, Zhen-zhou LI, Ming GUO, Yan NIU, Hao SUN, De-feng LI, Ying-hua SHI, Zhen-tian LI, Bo-shuai LIU, Ya-lei CUI, Zhi-chang WANG, Yong-tao LI, Xiao-yan ZHU

2026, 35(7):  201-216.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025291

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This study aimed to optimize the fermentation and ultrasound-assisted extraction processes for alfalfa （Medicago sativa） saponins. Saccharomyces cerevisiae， Bacillus subtilis， and Lactobacillus casei were selected as fermentation strains for testing. Single-factor experiments were conducted to compare three single strains and their 1∶1∶1 mixed culture fermentation， and to systematically evaluate the influence of fermentation time （24， 48， 72， and 96 hours）， glucose addition （0.05， 0.10， 0.15， and 0.20 g per g of alfalfa powder）， fermentation solid-to-liquid ratio ［1∶0.8， 1∶1.2， 1∶1.6， and 1∶2.0 （g∶mL）］， and strain inoculum volume （0.04， 0.06， 0.08， and 0.10 mL） on the saponin yield. The interactions between strain type and fermentation parameters were also assessed， with three independent replicates for each treatment. Based on the results， the optimal strain type combination and key fermentation parameters were determined， and a Box-Behnken design （BBD） was applied to further optimize the fermentation conditions. Model fit and reproducibility were evaluated through three independent validation experiments. Furthermore， using the optimal fermented product as the raw material， the effects of ultrasonication time （45， 60， 75， and 90 min）， ultrasonication solid-to-liquid ratio （1∶10， 1∶20， 1∶30， and 1∶40）， and ultrasonication temperature （25， 37， 49， and 61 ℃） on saponin yield were investigated. The interactions between ultrasonication parameters and strain type were analyzed， and BBD was employed to optimize the extraction process. The results showed that the 1∶1∶1 mixed-culture fermentation achieved a significantly higher saponin yield than single-strain fermentation （P<0.05）. The optimal fermentation conditions were a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1∶1.27， a fermentation time of 50.3 hours， and a strain inoculation volume of 0.062 mL. Under this regime the saponin yield was 11.68%. Under the combined fermentation and ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions （solid-to-liquid ratio 1∶23.1， ultrasonication time 72.7 min， and temperature 47.3 ℃）， the saponin yield increased to 13.87%， which was 98.4% higher than that of the control （P<0.05）. This study developed an efficient and eco-friendly fermentation-ultrasound synergistic extraction process， providing technical support for the efficient extraction and subsequent high-value utilization of alfalfa saponins.

A study of sources of powdery mildew on kushen

Feng GAO

2026, 35(7):  217-227.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025293

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Kushen （Sophora flavescens） is an important traditional Chinese medicinal herb and a source of botanical pesticides in China. Due to the increasing depletion of wild kushen caused by human harvesting， cultivation of this plant has become imperative. However， powdery mildew， the most severe disease affecting cultivated kushen in Lanzhou， causes leaf fall and has become a major limiting factor in its cultivation. The origin of the powdery mildew pathogen affecting kushen-whether it originates from surrounding plants or has been introduced from outside the region-remains unclear， hindering the development of effective control strategies. To address this issue， this study investigated the occurrence of powdery mildew on all cultivated plants in the kushen growing environment. The symptoms， pathogens， and mycoparasites of the various powdery mildews were compared. The results revealed that the pathogen causing powdery mildew on kushen differs from those affecting eight other surrounding plants， confirming that the source of the kushen powdery mildew is not local but introduced from outside the region. Although the anamorphic stage of the kushen powdery mildew pathogen， like those of white clover （Trifolium repens）， standing milk-vetch （Astragalus adsurgens）， cowpea （Vigna unguiculata）， and dandelion （Taraxacum mongolicum）， belongs to the genus Oidium， differences were observed in the size and shape of the conidia. The kushen powdery mildew pathogen did not produce a teleomorph， whereas the pathogens of the other four plants did. The teleomorph of the white clover andstanding milk-vetch powdery mildew pathogens was identified as Erysiphe pisi， that of cowpea as Erysiphe polygoni， and that of dandelion as Sphaerotheca fusca. In contrast， the anamorphic stage of the kushen powdery mildew pathogen was distinctly different from those of pepper， tomato， tree-of-heaven （Ailanthus altissima）， and field bindweed （Convolvulus arvensis）. The anamorph of the pepper （Capsicum annuum） and tomato （Lycopersicon esculentum） powdery mildew pathogens was Oidiopsis taurica， with Leveillula taurica as the teleomorph. The anamorph of the tree-of-heaven powdery mildew pathogen was an Ovulariopsis sp.， with Phyllactinia corylea as the teleomorph. The anamorph of the field bindweed powdery mildew pathogen produced a teleomorph identified as Erysiphe convolvuli var. dichotoma. All nine powdery mildews were found to be parasitized by mycoparasites， with no differences in the species identified-all were Ampelomyces quisqualis. This study is the first to report kushen powdery mildew as a new host for A. quisqualis.

Progress in research on the use of laccase to produce feed from cotton by-products

De-zhi LONG, Zeng-zhao LIU, Fei-ran ZHOU

2026, 35(7):  228-239.  DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025257

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China is a large producer and consumer of cotton and produces vast amounts of cotton by-products every year. However， anti-nutritional factors such as free gossypol seriously limit the use of cotton by-products as high-value feed. The problems with traditional physico-chemical detoxification methods include high cost， low efficiency， and potential pollution. Laccase， a polycopper oxidase with broad substrate specificity and strong oxidation activity， catalyzes the intramolecular cyclization of gossypol to convert toxic aldehyde groups into stable furan structures， thus achieving green degradation of gossypol. In this paper， the chemical properties of gossypol and its effects on liver toxicity， reproductive toxicity， and oxidative stress in animals are systematically reviewed. The three-dimensional structure of laccase， its copper cluster catalytic mechanism， and its mediator-assisted oxidation pathway are described. The regulatory effects of key factors such as pH， temperature， and enzyme concentration on degradation efficiency are summarized. Recent research has shown that laccase treatment can significantly alleviate liver injury and reproductive dysfunction induced by gossypol， and restore antioxidant enzyme activity. In addition， through natural strain screening， genetic engineering modification， and extreme environment microorganism development， the production efficiency and stability of laccase have been continuously improved， and its application in cottonseed meal detoxification has verified its industrialization potential. In the future， laccase technology is expected to promote the utilization of cotton by-products， reduce feed costs， and produce high value-added products， providing key technical support for the sustainable development of the cotton industry.