Complex fluid–solid systems generally exist in process engineering. The cognition of complex flow systems depends on numerical and experimental methods. The computational fluid dynamics–discrete phase method simulation based on coarsening technology has potential application prospects in industrial-scale equipment. This review outlines the computational fluid dynamics–discrete phase method and its application in several typical types of process engineering. In the process research, more attention is paid to the dense condition and multiphase flow. Furthermore, the CFD-DPM and its extension method for comprehensive hydrodynamics modeling are introduced. Subsequently, the current challenges and future trends of the computational fluid dynamics–discrete phase method are proposed.

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) are abundant polyphenols found in foods and botanicals that benefit human health, but our understanding of the functions of OPCs in rice plants is limited, particularly under cold stress. Two rice genotypes, named Zhongzao39 (ZZ39) and its recombinant inbred line RIL82, were subjected to cold stress. More damage was caused to RIL82 by cold stress than to ZZ39 plants. Transcriptome analysis suggested that OPCs were involved in regulating cold tolerance in the two genotypes. A greater increase in OPCs content was detected in ZZ39 than in RIL82 plants under cold stress compared to their respective controls. Exogenous OPCs alleviated cold damage of rice plants by increasing antioxidant capacity. ATPase activity was higher and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity was lower under cold stress in ZZ39 than in RIL82 plants. Importantly, improvements in cold tolerance were observed in plants treated with the OPCs and 3-aminobenzamide (PARP inhibitor, 3ab) combination compared to the seedling plants treated with H₂O, OPCs, or 3ab alone. Therefore, OPCs increased ATPase activity and inhibited PARP activity to provide sufficient energy for rice seedling plants to develop antioxidant capacity against cold stress.

Introduction: Heat stress is a vital factor which restricts rice seed quality and yield. However, the response mechanism to heat stress in the mid filling stage of rice seed is unclear.Methods: In the present study we integrated phenotypic analysis with biochemical, hormone, and gene expression analysis in order to explore technologies for improving rice seeds heat tolerance and subsequent seed germination.Results: Spermidine (Spd) application effectively alleviated the damage of heat stress treatment during mid-filling stage (HTM, 12-20 days after pollination) on seed development, promoted subsequent seed germination and seedlings establishment. Spd significantly increased seed dry weight, starch and amylose contents during seed development under heat stress, and improved seed germinate, seedlings establishment and seedling characteristics during germination time. Biochemical analysis indicated that, HTM significantly decreased the activities of several starch synthase enzymes and led to a decrease in starch content. While Spd treatment significantly enhanced the activities of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylas and granule-bound starch synthase, as well as the corresponding-genes expressions in HTM rice seeds, resulting in the increases of amylose and total starch contents. In addition, Spd significantly increased the catalase and glutathione reductase activities together with corresponding-genes expressions, and lowered the overaccumulation of H2O2 and malondialdehyde in HTM seeds. In the subsequent seed germination process, HTM+Spd seeds exhibited dramatically up-regulated levels of soluble sugars, glucose, ATP and energy charges. Consistently, HTM+Spd seeds showed significantly increased of α-amylose and α-glucosidase activities as well as corresponding-genes expressions during early germination. Moreover, HTM evidently increased the abscisic acid (ABA) content, decreased the gibberellin (GA) content, and accordingly significantly declined the GA/ABA ratio during early rice seeds germination. However, Spd treatment did not significantly affect the metabolism of GA and ABA in seed germination stage.Discussion: The present study suggested that Spd treatment could effectively alleviate the negative impact of HTM on seed development and the subsequent seed germination, which might be closely correlated with starch synthesis and antioxidant defense during seed filling period, starch decomposition and energy supply in seed germination period.

In the present study, four large-scale field trials using two doubled haploid wheat populations were conducted in different environments for two years. Grain protein content (GPC) and 21 other yield-related traits were investigated. A total of 227 QTL were mapped on 18 chromosomes, which formed 35 QTL clusters. The potential candidate genes underlying the QTL clusters were suggested. Furthermore, adding to the significant correlations between yield and its related traits, correlation variations were clearly shown within the QTL clusters. The QTL clusters with consistently positive correlations were suggested to be directly utilized in wheat breeding, including 1B.2, 2A.2, 2B (4.9–16.5 Mb), 2B.3, 3B (68.9–214.5 Mb), 4A.2, 4B.2, 4D, 5A.1, 5A.2, 5B.1, and 5D. The QTL clusters with negative alignments between traits may also have potential value for yield or GPC improvement in specific environments, including 1A.1, 2B.1, 1B.3, 5A.3, 5B.2 (612.1–613.6 Mb), 7A.1, 7A.2, 7B.1, and 7B.2. One GPC QTL (5B.2: 671.3–672.9 Mb) contributed by cultivar Spitfire was positively associated with nitrogen use efficiency or grain protein yield and is highly recommended for breeding use. Another GPC QTL without negatively pleiotropic effects on 2A (50.0–56.3 Mb), 2D, 4D, and 6B is suggested for quality wheat breeding.

As a major agricultural country, China is also one of the world’s most abundant sources of crop straw, with production expected to reach 900 million tons by 2025. As an agricultural by-product, straw has been widely regarded as a potential renewable resource. It is rich in organic matter and essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), playing a critical role in global carbon and nitrogen cycles, agricultural productivity, and green environmental development. The efficient and rational utilization of straw can not only meet the resource demands supporting economic growth but also contribute to environmental protection and sustainable social development in China. By closely integrating comprehensive straw utilization with the annual key tasks of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, the focus remains on prioritizing agricultural applications while adopting diversified measures. The efforts aim to improve straw utilization methods, strengthen technological support, explore replicable and sustainable industrial development models, and establish efficient utilization mechanisms to enhance the quality of agricultural straw use. To fully leverage the agricultural potential of straw, numerous technologies and equipment for straw utilization in agriculture have been developed in recent years, including straw harvesting and collecting equipment, straw crushing and returning-to-field equipment, full-straw seeding anti-clogging technology, combined straw and green manure returning-to-field equipment, and specialized straw seedling-raising equipment. Nevertheless, many challenges remain to be addressed, including bridging the equipment gap in mechanized processing, overcoming technical bottlenecks in resource conversion, and filling the lack of agronomy-adapted technologies. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of present straw utilization technology and equipment in agriculture, discussing their potential benefits, limitations, and challenges, as well as future prospects and directions. This study provides insights from the perspective of key technologies and equipment to strengthen technological research, enhance straw’s agricultural potential, and explore green circular economy models in agriculture. By leveraging innovation in science and technology, it aims to ensure food security and improve grain production capacity.

Rice is one of China’s primary staple crops, serving as the main food source for over 60% of the population. With the resolution of basic food security issues in China in recent years, the demand for high-quality rice has been steadily increasing. The taste quality of rice, a crucial indicator for evaluating rice quality, has attracted more attention from consumers. Although factors like variety, growing environment, and cultivation methods affect rice taste quality, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown, and no reliable control methods exist. This study selected 10 major rice cultivars, including 6 indica and 4 japonica varieties, and compared their differences in taste quality, focusing on yield and its components, taste quality, and dry matter accumulation. Among the tested varieties, Songxiangjing 1018 had the best taste quality, but not the highest yield. Zhongzheyou 8, Huazheyou 261, and Quanyousimiao showed both excellent taste quality and high yield. There was no significant correlation between taste quality and yield, suggesting the feasibility of breeding rice varieties with both superior taste and high productivity. Correlation analysis indicated that dry matter mass and net photosynthetic rate were significantly positively correlated with yield, but not with taste quality, highlighting the complexity of taste quality formation. Using a membership function comprehensive evaluation method (combines the outputs of multiple membership functions into a single composite value using specific rules (e.g., weighted average, extremum, logical operations) to produce a new membership degree.), a rice variety selection system balancing yield and quality was constructed, and three varieties (Zhongzheyou 8, Huazheyou 261, and Quanyousimiao) were identified as having both high yield and excellent quality. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for research on cultivation techniques and variety breeding aimed at synergistically improving rice yield and quality.