To accurately evaluate the role of storage temperature in improving the quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, the effects of two storage temperatures (5 °C and 15 °C) on the phenylpropanoid pathway and sucrose metabolism in fresh-cut melon (cv. Yugu) cubes were determined. A higher temperature (15 °C) expedited sucrose decomposition in the melon cubes at the early stage of storage, resulting in higher levels of glucose and fructose. This effect was corroborated by increased activities of acid invertase (AI), neutral invertase (NI), and sucrose synthase cleavage (SS-c), along with higher expressions of CmAI1/2, CmNI1/2, and CmSS1/2 in the melon cubes at 15 °C. Additionally, the higher activity and gene expression of hexokinase in melon cubes at 15 °C led to an increase in the utilization rate of sugars toward downstream metabolic pathways. Moreover, the melon cube storage at 15 °C elevated the activities and gene expressions of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumaric acid: CoA ligase (4CL), thereby increasing the synthesis of phenolics. Sucrose showed a significant negative correlation with PAL, C4H, and 4CL, as well as with CmPAL5/7 and CmC4H1/3. However, hexokinase displayed a significant positive correlation with PAL, C4H, and 4CL, as well as with CmPAL1, CmPAL3-9, CmC4Hs, and Cm4CLs. These findings demonstrate that a higher-temperature storage of melon cubes can accelerate the phenylpropanoid pathway and sucrose metabolism by regulating the activity and gene expression of related enzymes, thereby inducing phenolic accumulation. These results also indicate that lower-temperature storage is not conducive to the conversion of sugars into phenolics in fresh-cut melon. Therefore, the temperature can be appropriately and briefly raised in the production and preservation process of fresh-cut melon to obtain higher levels of phenolics.

The effect of cutting on the molecular changes underlying sucrose metabolism and the phenylpropanoid pathway in melon fruit (cv. Yugu) during storage at 15 °C was investigated. Furthermore, the key metabolites, enzymes, and genes involved in sucrose and phenylpropanoid metabolism were determined. Results showed that the cutting of melon increased the activities of acid invertase (AI), neutral invertase (NI), and sucrose synthase-cleavage (SS-c) and the expressions of CmAI1/2, CmNI1/2, and CmSS1, while sucrose synthase-synthesis (SS-s) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activities and the CmSS2/3 and CmSPS1/2/4 gene expressions were suppressed. These led to sucrose decomposition and fructose and glucose accumulation in fresh-cut melon at the early stage of storage. Moreover, cutting increased the activity and gene expression of hexokinase, which accelerated the transformation of hexose in fresh-cut melon. In addition, cutting enhanced the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) and up-regulated the expressions of CmPAL1-9, CmC4H1-4, and Cm4CL1/2/3, which activated phenylpropanoid metabolism and resulted in phenolic accumulation in fresh-cut melon. These findings demonstrate that cutting of melon can enhance sucrose metabolism and phenylpropanoid pathway by regulating the activities and gene expressions of related enzymes. Therefore, cut-wounding promoted the conversion of sugars to supply the necessary substrates for phenolic accumulation in fresh-cut melon.

This study evaluated six agrobyproducts (oak, jujube, apple, pear, peach, black locust) as alternative substrates for Lentinula edodes cultivation to mitigate oak dependency. Twelve substrate formulations were tested, including individual and mixed sawdust combinations. Results demonstrated successful mycelial colonization across all treatments, with treatment PAS (78% pear sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) exhibiting the fastest mycelial growth (4.70 mm/day) and full colonization in 105 days. Treatment BLS (78% black locust sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) achieved the highest biological efficiency (97.26%) and productivity (0.85 kg/bag). Nutrient analysis revealed substrate-specific enhancements: PAS maximized vitamin C (4.88 mg/100 g) and iron, while PAS + OS (39% peach sawdust, 39% oak sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) elevated protein (3.88%), phosphorus, and zinc. PCA highlighted distinct nutritional profiles for BLS- and jujube-based mushrooms. Correlation analyses identified the third (r = 0.838) and fourth flushes (r = 0.922) as critical for total yield, with selenium and zinc significantly linked to growth rates. Black locust and peach substrates outperformed or complemented oak, offering sustainable alternatives. These findings underscore the potential of agrowaste utilization to reduce ecological strain while maintaining high yields and nutritional quality, aligning with global agricultural sustainability goals.

Vappolotes Zhao & Li, 2019 is one of the troglophilous genera, with five known species. The previous description of V. tianjiayu from China was based solely on female specimens collected from caves in the Wuling Mountains in southern China without any males. The present study, deals with the first record of the male of V. tianjiayu from its type locality: Guluo Cave. The validation of species is based on the morphological characteristics of both male and female.

Grain protein content (GPC) is extremely important for common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) end-use quality. Identifying genetic loci for GPC is helpful in creating new varieties with good processing quality. Linmai2 and Zhong892 are two elite wheat varieties with differences in GPC. In the present study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from Linmai2 and Zhong892 was used to identify GPC loci. Linkage mapping was conducted by combining the wheat 90K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) chip data and GPC from four environments. Five QTLs on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 4A, 4B and 6B were identified, and designated as QGPC.lfnu-1BL, QGPC.lfnu-2BS, QGPC.lfnu-4AS, QGPC.lfnu-4B and QGPC.lfnu-6BS, respectively, explaining 5.21–11.38% of the phenotypic variances. The favorable alleles of QGPC.lfnu-1BL, QGPC.lfnu-4AS, QGPC.lfnu-4B and QGPC.lfnu-6BS originated from Zhong892, while the favorable allele of QGPC.lfnu-2BS came from Linmai2. Among these, QGPC.lfnu-1BL, QGPC.lfnu-2BS, QGPC.lfnu-4AS, and QGPC.lfnu-4B are potentially novel loci, whereas QGPC.lfnu-6BS likely represents the re-detection of Gpc-B1. Additionally, competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers suitable for breeding were developed, and genetic effects were validated in a natural population. Four KASP markers, KASP-GPC-1BL, KASP-GPC-2BS, KASP-GPC-4B and KASP-GPC-6BS, were significantly associated with GPC in a diverse panel of 140 wheat varieties. A total of twelve potential genes involved in nitrogen assimilation, amino acid biosynthesis and transport, and NPF transporter and protein turnover were proposed as candidate genes within the intervals of five QTLs. These findings identified stable QTLs, available KASP markers and promising candidate genes for marker assisted selection to accelerate wheat GPC improvement.