Two new species of the genus Rhopalopsole (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) are described from China: Rhopalopsole liui Chen, Wang & Li, sp. nov. from from Municipality of Chongqing (former Sichuan Province) and Rhopalopsole yadonga Chen, Wang & Li, sp. nov. from from the Tibet Autonomous Region. The new species are compared to similar congeners in the R. shaanxiensis and R. magnicerca groups, respectively.

We examined Chinese stonefly specimens of the Rhopalopsole vietnamica ‘western assemblage’ group. A new species from Hainan Province, R. bawanglinga Li, Li & Yang, sp. nov. is described and illustrated from male and female adults, and it is compared to closely related taxa. The hitherto unknown female of R. hainana Li & Yang, 2010 is described. Morphological evidence is presented for the identity of R. dentiloba Wu, 1973, on the basis of topotypes from Yunnan Province, southwestern China.

A new species of the genus Suwallia Ricker, 1943, S. kuandian sp. nov., from Liaoning Province of northeastern China is described, illustrated, and compared with similar species. Suwallia asiatica Zhiltzova & Levanidova, 1978 is reported for the first time from China. Additionally, Sweltsa illiesi Zhiltzova & Levanidova, 1978 and the chloroperlid genus Alaskaperla Stewart & DeWalt, 1991 are reported for the first time from China. The habitus and diagnostic features of these species are illustrated with color images.

Cucumber is an important economic crop widely cultivated globally. Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum , seriously affects its yield and quality and is difficult to control. Here, we isolated a novel Bacillus velezensisstrain (LJ-19) from cucumber rhizosphere. Through assays for antibacterial activity, enzymatic activity, detection of disease resistance genes, and plant growth-promoting activity, this strain exhibited pronounced antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum and possessed plant growth-promoting traits. Notably, the inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum mycelial growth and spore germination by LJ-19 was primarily contact-dependent, rather than mediated by diffusible antibiotics. Meanwhile, LJ-19 enhanced the activities of key defense enzymes—superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), thereby contributing to plant protection, and the transcript levels of defense-related genes, including Nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1), Pathogenesis -related gene 3 (PR3), Lipoxygenase 1 (LOX1), Constitutive triple response 1 (CTR1), and Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 1 (PAL1), were up-regulated. Pot experiments demonstrated that LJ-19 treatment significant increased the stem thickness, fresh weight, leaf area, and overall biomass in cucumber. LJ-19 was also been confirmed could thrive in nitrogen-free environment and solubilize inorganic phosphorus, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophores. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that Bacillus velezensis LJ-19 suppresses cucumber Fusarium wilt via direct antagonism and induction of systemic resistance. They also provide insights into the molecular mechanisms by which LJ-19 controls Fusarium Wilt and promotes cucumber growth, highlighting its potential as an effective biocontrol agent for sustainable cucumber.

Physcion can induce plant resistance to disease, and is registered to control powdery mildew by spraying in China. Seed coating is a widely applied precision method for pest prevention and control. To explore its potential in disease control and yield increase by seed coating, mixtures containing physcion and commonly used fungicides were designed and applied in a field trial. Greenhouse experiments screened the optimal concentration of physcion for seed coating an found it to be 1:50, with excellent promotion of plant growth and powdery mildew control. In field trials, seeds coated with a combinations of physcion with validamycin and pyrimidine nucleotide (2#) at 1:50 exhibited the highest emergence rate, tillering number, control effect of wheat powdery mildew, enzyme activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and peroxidase (POD), photosynthetic pigment content, and yield. These results provide an effective approach to wheat disease control and yield increase in wheat fields, and can lay the basis for reasonable application of physcion in Huang-huai-hai plain in China.

Sitophilus zeamais is one of the most destructive pests of stored grains. Both adults and larvae penetrate and consume the grains, thereby diminishing the grain quality and nutritional value. We determined the chemical composition of Angelica archangelica essential oil, its fumigation toxicity against S. zeamais, and its effects on the activities of detoxification enzymes in the insects. RNA-seq was performed to analyze the impact of the essential oil on the transcriptional level of S. zeamais, and qRT-PCR was conducted to validate the differentially expressed genes. Chemical analysis identified 35 components in essential oil, including δ-3-Carene (24.26%), Limonene (19.81%), and α-Pinene (14.96%). A significant positive correlation was observed between the fumigation activity of the essential oil and the applied dose. The median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) values were 164.38, 132.62, and 90.35 mg/L air at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Fumigation significantly inhibited the activities of the three detoxification enzymes. RNA-seq revealed a total of 3718 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression patterns of the DEGs were consistent with the RNA-seq data. This study comprehensively evaluates the control efficacy of A. archangelica essential oil against S. zeamais and provides data support for developing novel, eco-friendly, plant-based pesticides.