Volatiles are essential substances that determine distinct fruit flavors and user preferences. However, the metabolic dynamic and molecular modulation models that regulate the overall flavor generation during fruit growth and ripening are still largely unclear for most fruit species. To comprehensively analyze the molecular mechanism and regulation mechanism of aroma accumulation and aroma component formation in Pyrus spp. ‘Panguxiang’ (‘Panguxiang’pear), this study compared pear phenotype, sugars, organic acid content, and the expression of related genes and metabolites amid pear growth and development in Pyrus spp. ‘Panguxiang’. A total of 417 VOCs (4 amines, 19 aromatics, 29 aldehydes, 31 alcohols, 38 ketones, 64 heterocyclic compounds, 89 terpenoids, 94 esters, and 49 others) were found. The potential gene expression patterns were explored by combining transcriptomics and metabolomics, and VOC-associated metabolism and transcriptome data from all samples were integrated during the growth and development period. On this basis, we constructed a colorful model depicting changes in the VOCs and genes throughout pear growth and development. Our findings reveal that terpenoid biosynthesis pathways are the main aroma production pathways during pear growth and development. In addition to providing novel insights into the metabolic control of fruit flavor during growth and development, this study also provides a new theoretical basis for studying aroma metabolites in pears.

Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug. ex Fr.) Ces. & De Not. is a major pathogenic fungus causing stem canker in Idesia polycarpa, posing a significant threat to the growth and survival of its plantations. To elucidate the physiological and biochemical responses of the host under pathogenic stress, this study used two-year-old potted seedlings of I. polycarpa (provenance: ‘Emeishan No. 1’) and conducted artificial inoculation. Dynamic changes in physiological and biochemical indices at different disease stages were systematically monitored. The results revealed a distinct stage-specific response pattern: in the early infection stage, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (POD and SOD) increased rapidly, accompanied by significant elevations in osmotic regulators such as proline and soluble protein. In the mid-stage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased, while the levels of photosynthetic pigments—especially chlorophyll b and carotenoids—declined, indicating intensified oxidative damage. In the late stage, antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment weakened, and the photosynthetic system was continuously impaired. Correlation analysis further demonstrated significant synergistic relationships among antioxidant defense, membrane stability, osmotic regulation, and photosynthetic function. These findings enhance our understanding of the disease resistance mechanisms in I. polycarpa and provide a theoretical and practical reference for resistance evaluation and precise management of canker disease in woody species.

There is an urgent need to develop new and improved oil-water separation materials with high stability and reusability for the cleanup of oily environmental pollutants. Here, fluorinated poly(ionic liquid)s were synthesized and their structure and property were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. These fluorinated poly(ionic liquid)s were proposed as superhydrophobic coating on different metallic substrates through the combination of tethering fluorine groups in the PIL’s cation and anion exchange, and the superhydrophobic coating showed compactly stacked morphology under scanning electron microscope. The results of surface wettability experiments indicated that nearly all the fabricated materials showed a water contact angle larger than 150°, which is devoted to superhydrophobic nature. Moreover, for longer alkyl chain ILs and materials with smaller pore sizes, the water contact angle can be increased. At the same time, the fabricated superhydrophobic material exhibits a relatively high oil phase permeate flux, benefiting from the loose fibrous structure. Take the PIL@SSM300 for instance, the permeate fluxes were reached as high as 374,370 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹, 337,200 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ and 302,013 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ for petroleum ether, hexane and cyclohexane, respectively. Instead, water is effectively repelled from the superhydrophobic surface. These virtues make the fabricated superhydrophobic material an effective membrane for oil/water separation under gravity. The separation efficiency and water contact angle are nearly unaffected after at least 20 cycles, confirming the excellent robustness of the coatings. These efficient poly(ionic liquid)s-based superhydrophobic materials possessed the potential to be used for oil/water separation.

Understory intercropping may improve soils, but its effects on bacterial communities in Idesia polycarpa plantations remain unclear. Five patterns were established in the Yellow River floodplain: pure I. polycarpa and I. polycarpa intercropped with Astragalus membranaceus, Ipomoea batatas, Salvia rosmarinus, or Arachis hypogaea. Soil properties and bacterial communities were assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, LEfSe, FAPROTAX, and redundancy analysis. Intercropping significantly affected soil electrical conductivity, water content, organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium, but not pH or bulk density. Salvia rosmarinus intercropping had 14.3 g kg⁻¹ organic matter and 123 mg kg⁻¹ available potassium; Arachis hypogaea had 14.5 g kg⁻¹ organic matter and 81.3 mg kg⁻¹ alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen; and Ipomoea batatas had 11.9% water content and 13.6 mg kg⁻¹ available phosphorus. Alpha diversity did not differ significantly. PCoA suggested differentiation, but PERMANOVA based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarity was nonsignificant (r² = 0.329, p = 0.083); LEfSe identified treatment-associated biomarkers. Chemoheterotrophy and aerobic chemoheterotrophy accounted for 42.6–45.7% and 20.4–26.2%, respectively. Alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen was associated with genus-level variation (r² = 0.440, p = 0.031). Understory intercropping improved soil conditions and may influence bacterial composition and predicted functional potential.