The flow cytometry method was used to estimate the genome sizes of nine agriculturally important insects, including two coleopterans, five hemipterans and two hymenopterans. Among which, the coleopteran Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus had the largest genome of 981 Mb. The average genome size was 504 Mb, suggesting that insects have a moderate-size genome. Compared with the insects in other orders, hymenopterans had small genomes, which were averagely about ~200 Mb. We found that the genome sizes of four insect species were different between male and female, showing the organismal complexity of insects. The largest difference occurred in the coconut leaf beetle Brontispa longissima. The male coconut leaf beetle had a 111 Mb larger genome than females, which might be due to the chromosome number difference between the sexes. The results indicated that insect invasiveness was not related to genome size. We also determined the genome sizes of the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus and the parasitic wasp Macrocentrus cingulum using k-mer analysis with Illunima Solexa sequencing data. There were slight differences in the results from the two methods. K-mer analysis indicated that the genome size of L. striatellus was 500-700 Mb and that of M. cingulum was ~150 Mb. In all, the genome sizes information presented here should be helpful for designing the genome sequencing strategy when necessary.

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region ranks first among the five major pastoral areas in terms of lamb breeding of China. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has a vast territory, with many famous grasslands and thousands of forage plants and multiple local high-quality lamb breeds. After hundreds of years of artificial breeding and improvement, Mongolian sheep have developed many varieties. Different diets, feeding and treatment methods have effects on the production performance, lipid deposition and flavor composition of mutton sheep. Therefore, understanding the relationship among Inner Mongolian lamb, meat quality, and flavor will improve the production of high-quality mutton. The regulation of meat quality and flavor will have a profound impact on the deep processing and income-generating capabilities of mutton. Non-genetic factors affect the quality and flavor of mutton, which are more intuitive than genetic factors. In this review, we cover the contributions made by scientists to explore and improve the quality and flavor of Inner Mongolia lambs through non-genetic means, compare the differences between grazing and drylot-feeding in detail, and summarize some feed additives. We hope that based on our review, we can provide some inspiration to improve the meat quality of Mongolian sheep.

Alfalfa Fusarium Root Rot (AFRR) is a serious soil-borne disease with a complex pathogenicity. Diseased samples suspected of AFRR were collected from Hohhot, Ordos, Hulunbeier, Chifeng, and Bayannur in Inner Mongolia, China, leading to 317 isolates. The isolates were identified as Fusarium acuminatum, F. solani, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. oxysporum, F. avenaceum, F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. falciforme, F. tricinctum, F. virguliforme, and F. redolens, and the results of pathogenicity testing showed that 12 Fusarium species could cause alfalfa root rot. Among these, F. verticillioides, F. falciforme, and F. virguliforme have not previously been reported to cause AFRR in China. Although the population structure of the pathogens differed in different regions, the dominant pathogenic species was F. acuminatum. Fungicide toxicity tests showed that seven fungicides inhibited F. acuminatum, of which fludioxonil, kresoxim-methyl, and triadimefon were found to be strongly toxic towards F. acuminatum with EC₅₀ values of 0.09, 2.28, and 16.37 μg/mL, respectively, suggesting that these could be used as alternative fungicides for the control of AFRR. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for exploring the occurrence and epidemiology of alfalfa root rot and strategies for its control.

Plants communicate with insects and other organisms through the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Using Boolean operators, we retrieved 1093 articles from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, selecting 406 for detailed analysis, with approximately 50% focusing on herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). This review examines the roles of VOCs in direct and indirect plant defense mechanisms and their influence on complex communication networks within ecosystems. Our research reveals significant functions of VOCs in four principal areas: activating insect antennae, attracting adult insects, attracting female insects, and attracting natural enemies. Terpenoids like α-pinene and β-myrcene significantly alter pest behavior by attracting natural enemies. β-ocimene and β-caryophyllene are crucial in regulating aboveground and belowground interactions. We emphasize the potential applications of VOCs in agriculture for developing novel pest control strategies and enhancing crop resilience. Additionally, we identify research gaps and propose new directions, stressing the importance of comparative studies across ecosystems and long-term observational research to better understand VOCs dynamics. In conclusion, we provide insights into the multifunctionality of VOCs in natural ecosystems, their potential for future research and applications, and their role in advancing sustainable agricultural and ecological practices, contributing to a deeper understanding of their mechanisms and ecological functions.