The valine glutamine (VQ) proteins are transcription cofactors involved in various aspects of plant biology, including growth, development, and stress resistance, making them an attractive target for genetic engineering aimed at enhancing plant resilience and productivity. However, comprehensive reports or systematic studies on VQ cofactors in Salix suchowensis remain lacking. In this study, we analyzed SsVQ genes using bioinformatics methods based on the Salix suchowensis genome database. Expression profiles were further investigated through qRT-PCR under six treatments: PEG, NaCl, 40 °C, ABA, SA, and MeJA. A total of 39 SsVQ genes were identified, with phylogenetic analysis classifying them into seven groups. Collinearity analysis suggested that SsVQ gene amplification primarily resulted from whole genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication events. Ka/Ks ratios indicated that willow VQ genes have undergone predominantly purifying selection. Gene structure analysis revealed that SsVQ genes are intronless. Multiple sequence alignment showed that SsVQ19 shares similarity with PtVQ27, containing a hydrophilic threonine (T) residue preceding the VQ amino acid residues. Furthermore, genes within each group exhibited conserved structures and VQ motifs. Promoter and expression analyses suggested the potential roles of SsVQ genes in regulating willow responses to environmental stresses and hormonal signals. Most SsVQ genes displayed differential expression at specific time points, with six members (SsVQ2, SsVQ9, SsVQ12, SsVQ23, SsVQ32, and SsVQ34) showing sustained high-amplitude expression profiles across treatments. Notably, SsVQ34 demonstrated pronounced transcriptional induction under PEG stress, with expression levels upregulated by 62.29-fold (1 h), 49.21-fold (6 h), 99.9-fold (12 h), and 201.50-fold (24 h). Certain SsVQ genes showed co-expression under abiotic/hormonal stresses, implying synergistic functions. Paralogous gene pairs exhibited stronger co-expression than non-paralogous pairs. This study provides novel insights into the structural and functional characteristics of the VQ gene family in Salix suchowensis, establishing a foundation for future research on the stress-resistance mechanisms of willow VQ genes.

Beyond nutrition, taste quality is a key quality trait driving the global popularity of Agaricus bisporus. This study systematically investigated non-volatile taste-related metabolite dynamics in caps and stipes during fruiting body development using non-targeted metabolomics. Among 1358 identified metabolites (974 in caps, 997 in stipes), 328 taste-related metabolites were screened. Applying screening criteria of VIP > 1, p < 0.01, and fold change ≥ 2 or ≤ 0.5, 492 and 446 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified in cap and stipe during fruiting body development, respectively. Cross-tissue comparison revealed 975 tissue-specific DAMs between cap and stipe across all developmental stages. Notably, 127 and 116 taste-related DAMs in cap and stipe, respectively, exhibited seven distinct accumulation profiles. Key umami-related compounds, aroma precursors, and antioxidants peaked in cap tissue at stage 3 (closed cup stage), suggesting a preliminary optimal harvest timing for market-quality mushrooms based on metabolic profiling of non-volatile taste-active compounds. Organic acids and nucleotides were more abundant in immature stages, while phosphorylated six-carbon sugars showed stipe-dominant accumulation at middle–late stages. Notably, all taste-related conclusions are inferred from non-volatile metabolite characterization rather than direct sensory measurements. KEGG pathway enrichment highlighted that taste-related metabolites primarily shaped taste via amino acid biosynthesis, cofactor metabolism, lysine biosynthesis, and nucleotide pathways. These insights provide a metabolic foundation for optimizing cultivation strategies and enhancing product quality in Agaricus bisporus.

HD-Zip (homeodomain-leucine zipper) transcription factors play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress response; however, the HD-Zip gene family of Coix lacryma-jobi L. has not been identified. In this study, a total of 40 HD-Zip gene family members were identified in the genome of Coix. According to phylogenetic analysis, the Coix HD-Zip gene was divided into four subfamilies (I–IV), of which the HD-Zip I subfamily can be further divided into five branches. Moreover, HD-Zip members of the same subfamily usually share similar gene structures and conserved motifs. The transcription factor binding site enrichment analysis showed that there are many motifs for binding with transcription factors such as ERF (Ethylene responsive factor), MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog), and ARF (Auxin Response Factor) in the promoter region of the ClHDZ genes. The results of qPCR (Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) and expression profile analysis showed that ClHD-Zip I genes showed different levels of expression under different stress treatments. Among them, ClHDZ4 was located in the nucleus, and its expression pattern was significantly upregulated under salt, drought, and high-temperature stress. In addition, ectopic expression of ClHDZ4 enhanced the growth of yeast strains under drought, salt, or high-temperature treatment. In summary, these results laid a foundation for further research on the resistance function of the Coix HD-Zip gene.