Giant reed (Arundo donax) is widely distributed across the globe and is considered an important energy crop. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the chloroplast genome of giant reed, revealing detailed characteristics of this species’ chloroplast genome. The chloroplast genome has a total length of 137,153 bp, containing 84 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes, with a GC content of 39%. Functional analysis indicates that a total of 45 photosynthesis-related genes and 78 self-replication-related genes were identified, which may be closely associated with its adaptability and growth characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that Arundo donax cv. Lvzhou No.1 belongs to the Arundionideae clade and occupies a distinct evolutionary position compared to other Arundo species. The findings of this study not only enhance our understanding of the giant reed genome but also provide valuable genetic resources for its application in biotechnology, bioenergy crop development, and ecological restoration.

This study investigated the mechanism by which combined vacuum packaging and 0.5% (w/v) ascorbic acid treatment (VP-AsA) preserves fresh-cut potatoes at 4 °C, integrating physiological and transcriptomic analyses. Transcriptome sequencing revealed 2246 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the VP-AsA group. Notably, key genes involved in glutathione metabolism and NADPH regeneration—encoding glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)—were significantly up-regulated. This transcriptional reprogramming, which was associated with increased glutathione (GSH) content, provides a molecular basis for the enhanced antioxidant capacity observed in the treated samples, including elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, DPPH/ABTS radical scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Concurrently, VP-AsA treatment reduced water migration, inhibited polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities, and maintained key textural properties (hardness, fracturability, springiness, chewiness) during the first 9 days of storage. These results suggest that VP-AsA treatment preserves quality at least in part by transcriptionally activating glutathione-mediated antioxidant pathways, providing insights for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables quality control.

Pearl millet is a major cereal crop that feeds more than 90 million people worldwide in arid and semi-arid regions. The stalk phenotypes of Poaceous grasses are critical for their productivity and stress tolerance; however, the molecular mechanisms governing stalk development in pearl millet remain to be deciphered. In this study, we spatiotemporally measured 19 transcriptomes for stalk internodes of four different early developmental stages. Data analysis of the transcriptomes defined four developmental zones on the stalks and identified 12 specific gene sets with specific expression patterns across the zones. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we found that two co-expression modules together with candidate genes were involved in stalk elongation and the thickening of pearl millet. Among the elongation-related candidate genes, we established by SELEX that a MYB-family transcription factor PMF7G02448 can bind to the promoters of three cell wall synthases genes (CesAs). In summary, these findings provide insights into stalk development and offer potential targets for future genetic improvement in pearl millet.