Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important source of oil and food around the world, and the testa color affects its appearance and commercial value. However, few studies focused on the mechanism of pigment formation in peanut testa. In this study, cultivars Shanhua 15 with pink testa and Zhonghua 12 with red testa were used as materials to perform the combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolome. A total of 198 flavonoid metabolites were detected, among which petunidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin O-acetylhexoside in Zhonghua12 were 15.23 and 14.72 times higher than those of Shanhua 15 at the R7 stage, revealing the anthocyanins underlying the red testa. Transcriptome analysis showed that there were 6059 and 3153 differentially expressed genes between Shanhua 15 and Zhonghua 12 in different growth periods, respectively. These differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in the flavonoid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and metabolic pathways. Integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome indicated CHS gene (arahy.CM90T6), F3H genes (arahy. 8F7PE4 and arahy. K8H9R8), and DFR genes (arahy. LDV9QN and arahy. X8EVF3) may be the key functional genes controlling the formation of pink and red testa in peanut. Transcription factors MYB (arahy.A2IWKV, arahy.US2SKM, arahy.SJGE27, arahy.H8DJRL, and arahy.PR7AYB), bHLH (arahy.26781N, arahy.HM1IVV, and arahy.MP3D3D), and WD40 (arahy.L6JJW9) in the biosynthetic pathway of anthocyanin were significantly upregulated in Zhonghua 12 which may be the key regulatory genes in testa pigment formation. This is a comprehensive analysis on flavonoid metabolites and related genes expression in peanut testa, providing reference for revealing the regulatory mechanism of pigment accumulation in peanut testa.

Increased aboveground biomass is contingent on enhanced photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the canopy (IPAR), improved radiation use efficiency (RUE), or both. We investigated whether and how optimized agronomic management practices promote IPAR and RUE. Four integrated agronomic management treatments, i.e., local traditional practice (LP), improved local traditional practice (ILP), high-yield agronomic management (HY), and improved high-yield agronomic management (IHY), were compared over two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growing seasons. The average grain yield obtained with IHY was 96% relative to that of HY and was 7% and 23% higher than that with ILP and LP, respectively. Both HY and IHY consistently supported large values of the leaf area index and IPAR fraction, thereby increasing total IPAR. Treatment HY showed increased pre-anthesis RUE, manifested as a higher specific leaf nitrogen content and whole-plant N nutrition index at anthesis. The highest pre-anthesis aboveground biomass was obtained with HY due to the highest pre-anthesis IPAR and RUE. Along with a higher canopy apparent photosynthetic rate, IHY produced higher post-anthesis aboveground biomass due to its higher post-anthesis IPAR and RUE. Treatment IHY had a slightly lower total IPAR but a similar total RUE and harvest index, thus producing a slightly lower grain yield relative to HY. These results demonstrate that the optimized agronomic management practice used under IHY effectively enhances radiation capture and improves radiation utilization. Additionally, the net profit for IHY was higher than that for HY, ILP, and LP by 8%, 11%, and 88%, respectively. Considering the high grain yield, high RUE and high economic benefits, we recommend IHY as the agronomic management practice in the target region, although further study of improvements in pre-anthesis RUE is required.

Integrated agronomic optimization can synergistically enhance crop yields and resource use efficiency. This strategy incorporates suitable sowing date, planting density, and fertilization and irrigation management adapted to the local environment. However, there is a dearth of research on how integrated agronomic optimization practices enhance wheat productivity and water use efficiency (WUE) by improving population root distribution and canopy production capacity. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted in the North China Plain. The experiment involved three integrated agronomic practice treatments with four replications: local farmer’s agronomic practice (FP); high-input agronomic practice (HP), which aimed to explore wheat yield potential regardless of resource input costs; and optimized high-input agronomic practice (OP), which was adapted to local conditions to revamp the wheat production system. Compared to FP and HP, OP involved a later sowing date, higher planting density, and lower N fertilizer or irrigation inputs. Results showed that OP significantly improved grain yield, WUE, N fertilizer productivity (NFP), and net profit compared to FP (p < 0.05). Although OP’s yield was 4.25% lower than that of HP, it achieved a 22.99% increase over FP. Compared to HP, OP increased average WUE, NFP, and net profit by 3.08%, 25.68%, and 9.12%, respectively. Over the 2 years, OP promoted deeper roots and higher root length density, which enhanced the uptake of soil water and N. Furthermore, the high transpiration under OP, required for canopy productivity, was sustained by efficient water extraction from deep soil. Additionally, the reduction in unproductive evaporation loss was attributed to increased population density and reduced irrigation. Moreover, OP sustained a higher canopy photosynthetic rate for a longer duration, facilitated by greater post-anthesis N uptake. These improvements in resource acquisition, combined with sustained photosynthetic capacity, ultimately led to more efficient water and N utilization and high grain yield. These indicate that integrated optimization of agronomic practices used under OP can synergistically enhance wheat yield, WUE, and NFP. This was achieved by enlarging and deepening population root distribution while supporting high canopy photosynthesis. Our findings may provide actionable insights into establishing high-yielding, efficient, and profitable wheat production systems in the region.

Summer heat stress constrains ginger production. Although calcium (Ca) enhances stress tolerance in various crops, its effects on heat tolerance, yield, and quality in ginger remain unclear. A pot experiment was conducted using Zingiber officinale cv. ‘Laiwu Big Ginger’ to evaluate Ca effects on plant growth and quality under natural summer high-temperature conditions. Six Ca rates (0, 15.2, 30.5, 45.7, 60.9, and 76.2 mmol Ca ²⁺ plant ^-1 ) were established using calcium nitrate tetrahydrate [Ca(NO ₃ ) ₂ ·4H ₂ O]. Seedling-stage physiological and biochemical parameters were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models; harvest-stage growth, biomass, and quality parameters were analyzed with ANOVA or non-parametric tests. PCA, correlation analysis, and membership function analysis were used for multivariate evaluation. At Day 16, the 60.9 mmol Ca ²⁺ plant ^-1 treatment significantly improved photosynthetic capacity (chlorophyll +23.3%, Pn +13.0%), antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT), and proline content, while reducing oxidative damage (MDA, REC) and ROS (O ₂ ^·- , H ₂ O ₂ ). These adjustments promoted biomass and rhizome quality, with the highest rhizome fresh weight (727.7 vs. 447.3 g plant ^-1 ), dry matter (+3.6%), soluble sugars (+28.1%), soluble protein (+36.5%), free amino acids (+19.1%), and vitamin C (+17.5%). Multivariate analyses confirmed positive correlations among photosynthetic traits, antioxidant activity, biomass, and quality parameters, with the 60.9 mmolCa ²⁺ plant ^-1 treatment ranking highest in comprehensive evaluation by membership function analysis. Calcium application at this optimal rate, as determined under our experimental conditions, was associated with enhanced heat tolerance and subsequent growth and quality formation. These findings provide practical insights for sustaining ginger productivity under heat stress within the scope of our experimental conditions.

The 100-kernel weight (HKW) and 100-pod weight (HPW) are pivotal yield components with complex genetic regulation in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.