Background: Goji berry, known as a “superfood”, is widely distributed in northwest China and possesses significant medicinal and health value. The CER gene family serves as a key regulator of cuticular wax synthesis, which plays important roles in enhancing plant drought resistance and disease tolerance. However, genome-wide identification of the goji CER gene family and its expression analysis across different varieties and organs have not been reported. Methods: Based on SEM observations and wax load measurements, this study identified CER gene family members using whole genome data of the goji berry. Representative genes were selected and their expression patterns in different varieties and organs were validated by qRT–PCR. Results: The stem wax load was significantly higher than that in other organs, while the leaf wax load of ‘Ningqi I’ goji was significantly higher than that in other varieties, consistent with SEM observations. A total of 113 CER gene family members were identified in goji berry, which were unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes. The goji CER proteins mainly localized in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, chloroplast, and nucleus and clustered into five subfamilies. Ten conserved motifs were identified in CER proteins, with Motif5 and Motif7 being the most widely distributed. The LbaCER10-1 gene contained the highest number of exons (39). Cis-acting elements related to light-responsiveness, MeJA-responsiveness, and ABA-responsiveness showed high frequencies. Goji berry shared more homologous CER genes with tomato, potato, and tobacco than with Arabidopsis, with chr3 and chr9 being most conserved while chr7 showed greater variation. Conclusions: Integrating SEM, wax load, and qRT–PCR results, LbaCER1-1 was identified as a candidate gene responsible for the higher wax load on goji stems, while LbaCER2-5 and LbaCER3-12 were candidate genes for greater wax load on ‘Ningqi I’ leaves.

The nutritional quality and amino acid profiles of 165 tomato samples (66 regular and 99 cherry varieties) from Beijing and Shandong in Northern China were assessed. The results showed that the regional origin was associated with differences in Dry Matter (8.88% vs. 6.73%), Soluble Solids (8.04% vs. 5.80%), total titratable acidity (5.57 vs. 4.08 g/kg), and Lycopene levels (67.32 vs. 38.22 mg/kg). Shandong tomatoes generally showed higher values than those from Beijing. Vitamin C levels were comparable between the two regions (17.79 vs. 13.98 mg/100 g), suggesting no linkage between Vitamin C variation and Dry Matter differences in this dataset. These regional differences likely reflect integrated effects of cultivation systems, varietal composition, and environmental conditions. They may not be explained by geographic origin alone. Principal component analysis revealed regional clustering driven by the accumulation of sugars, organic acids, and amino acids, with glutamate and aspartate contributing strongly to flavor-related variation. These findings provide insights into regional tomato quality and may support precision cultivation and breeding strategies.

The identification of dyes in ancient textiles is crucial for provenance research and scientific conservation. However, the extremely significant value of these cultural relics necessitates the use of non-destructive analytical techniques. To establish a non-destructive, in-situ, accurate, and rapid method for identifying natural dyes in ancient silk fabric samples, we employed desorption electrospray ionization high-resolution mass-spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI). By optimizing key instrumental parameters—including sample pretreatment method, DESI spray solvent composition, and DESI heated transfer line (HTL) temperature—we determined the optimal mass-spectrometry imaging conditions. The optimal conditions for achieving the highest mass-spectrometry ion peak signal intensity and the best imaging quality were as follows: employing sample pretreatment using double-sided adhesive tape; a spray solvent composed of methanol (100%, v/v) with 0.1% formic acid and 0.1 μg/mL of leucine enkephalin; and an HTL temperature of 400 °C. The characteristic compound in the G42 silk fabric sample was successfully separated. Based on the characteristic mass-to-charge ratio of the major component, the compound was preliminarily identified as berberine. This result was further verified by tandem mass-spectrometry imaging and tandem mass spectra and finally confirmed by comparison with the mass spectrum of a reference standard. Consequently, the source of the dye in the sample was determined to be amur cork tree. The experiments confirmed the applicability and accuracy of the DESI-MSI method for the non-destructive analysis of precious textiles. This work underscores the urgent need to use such non-destructive techniques to provide technical support for the identification of high-value, inaccessible, or fragile silk artifacts and guide the historical tracing and preservation of these cultural relics.