In order to mitigate the reduction in soybean yield caused by soil salinization, a soybean gene, GmSNF4, which promotes plant tolerance to salt–alkali stress, was identified in this study. The STRING database was used to predict the interaction between GmSNF4 and GmPKS4. The GmPKS4 gene was experimentally shown to be involved in salt–alkali stress tolerance. Firstly, the yeast two-hybrid technique and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) technique were used to confirm the interaction between GmSNF4 and GmPKS4: the AMPK-CBM-CBS1 conserved domain was thereby determined to be the region of the GmSNF4 protein involved in the interaction. Secondly, the GmSNF4 gene was induced by salt–alkali stress according to qRT-PCR analysis, and the GmSNF4 protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Finally, analysis of GmSNF4’s role in resistance to salt–alkali stress in transgenic soybean plants showed that transgenic lines had better phenotypic, physiological, and stress-related gene expression than non-transgenic soybeans. Thus, GmSNF4 may play a significant role in plant salt–alkali stress tolerance.

Plants exhibit diverse pathways to regulate the timing of flowering. Some plant species require a vegetative phase before being able to perceive cold stimuli for the acceleration of flowering through vernalization. This research confirms the correlation between the vernalization process and seedling age in Welsh onions. Findings from two vernalization experiments conducted at different time intervals demonstrate that seedlings must reach a vegetative phase of at least 8 weeks to consistently respond to vernalization. Notably, 8–week–old seedlings subjected to 6 weeks of vernalization displayed the shortest time to bolting, with an average duration of 138.1 days. Transcriptome analysis led to the identification of genes homologous to those in Arabidopsis thaliana that regulate flowering. Specifically, AfisC7G05578 (CO), AfisC2G05881 (AP1), AfisC1G07745 (FT), AfisC1G06473 (RAP2.7), and AfisC2G01843 (VIM1) were identified and suggested to have potential significance in age–dependent vernalization in Welsh onions. This study not only presents a rapid vernalization method for Welsh onions but also provides a molecular foundation for understanding the interplay between seedling age and vernalization.

Single-factor and orthogonal experiments were conducted to investigate the biological characteristics of Dichomitus squalens strains isolated from wild fruiting bodies collected in Tekes County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Building upon the optimal mycelial culture conditions identified, domestication cultivation studies were performed, including experiments to induce fruiting body formation. Liquid strains were inoculated into substrates to monitor developmental stages from primordia formation to mature fruiting bodies, with macroscopic characteristics recorded throughout the cultivation process. Crude polysaccharides were extracted from the cultivated fruiting bodies using the water extraction and ethanol precipitation method. The scavenging rates of these polysaccharides against hydroxyl radicals (OH⁻) and superoxide anion radicals (O₂⁻) were measured to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant activity. Results demonstrated that the optimal growth conditions for D. squalens were as follows: sucrose as the preferred carbon source, yeast extract powder as the optimal nitrogen source, a pH of 5.0, and a temperature of 30 °C. Among these factors, pH exerted the most significant influence on the mycelial growth rate, followed by nitrogen source, carbon source, and temperature. Mature fruiting bodies developed approximately 57 days after inoculation with liquid strains. The crude polysaccharide extraction yield from the cultivated fruiting bodies reached 7.07%, with a total polysaccharide content of 24.69% in the extract. The crude polysaccharides exhibited potent radical scavenging activity: at a concentration of 5.0 mg/mL, the hydroxyl radical scavenging rate was 56.74%, while the superoxide anion radical scavenging rate reached 78.3%. These findings indicate that D. squalens possesses significant antioxidant potential.

Aluminum (Al) stress is an important factor that inhibits crop growth in acidic soils and poses a threat to pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) production. In this study, we investigated the effect of endophyte (endophyte) strain J01 of blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) on the growth, development, and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of pumpkin under aluminum stress. The results showed that the blueberry endophyte strain J01 significantly increased the root length of pumpkin under aluminum stress, promoted the growth of lateral roots, and increased root vigor; strain J01 reduced the content of MDA and the relative conductivity in the root system; strain J01 enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the root system but inhibited ascorbate peroxidase activity. Transcriptome analysis further revealed that strain J01 significantly regulated the expression of key genes associated with aluminum tolerance, including the upregulation of transporter protein genes (aluminum-activated malate transporter and aquaporin), affecting the gene expression levels of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase) and cell wall modification genes (xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase and pectin methylesterase). This study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for using microbial resources to improve aluminum tolerance in cucurbit crops.

The present study evaluated the effects of Agaricus bisporus spent mushroom substrate (SMS) on growth, yield, and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. ‘Fenguan 888’) in a pot experiment. Ten treatments (Z1–Z10) were applied using gradient substrate replacement (SMS) ratios, relative to a control (CK) without SMS addition. The results demonstrated that SMS exerted stage-dependent growth promotion. No significant effects were observed at the seedling stage, but gradual enhancements were noted thereafter. Z6 achieved the greatest plant height increase (68.0%), while Z8 achieved the largest stem diameter increase (50.0%) at peak fruiting. Biomass accumulation was significantly enhanced, Z9 increased aboveground fresh weight by 580.7% and root length by 63.9%, while Z8 maximized aboveground dry weight (163.9%) and belowground fresh weight (312.8%). Photosynthetic pigments exhibited differential responses, Z5 maximised chlorophyll a, Z4 optimized chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll, and Z10 achieved the highest carotenoid levels. Yield indicators for Z4 showed a 47.94% increase in individual fruit weight and a 247.02% increase in yield per plant. Z5 increased soluble sugars, vitamin C and flavonoids by 111.4%, 68.9% and 82.0% over CK. Z6 attained peak sugar-acid ratio and anthocyanin, with respective increases of 137.3% and 56.32%. Total phenolics rose by merely 5.7% in Z3. Pearson correlation heatmap and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant positive correlations of yield with fruit weight, fruit-set rate and sugar content, whereas the root-to-shoot ratio was significantly negatively correlated with yield traits. The first two principal components, PC1 (growth–yield–quality axis) and PC2 (pigment–metabolism axis), collectively accounted for 64.53% of the total variation. Z4 demonstrated the optimal overall performance, attaining first position in yield per plant and second position on the flavour and quality axis (PC2), and exhibiting a balanced root-to-shoot ratio. Although Z7 achieved the highest score on PC1, this was primarily attributable to excessive vegetative growth and a relatively high root-to-shoot ratio, rather than an increase in reproductive yield.