Background: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a food crop for humans worldwide. However, temperature has an effect during the vegetative and reproductive stages. In high-latitude regions where rice is cultivated, cold stress is a major cause of yield loss and plant death. Research has identified a group of plant-specific transcription factors, DNA binding with one zinc fingers (DOFs), with a diverse range of functions, including stress signaling and stress response during plant growth. The aim of this study was to identify Dof genes in two rice subspecies, indica and japonica, and screen for Dof genes that may be involved in cold tolerance during plant growth. Results: A total of 30 rice Dofs (OsDofs) were identified using bioinformatics and genome-wide analyses and phylogenetically analyzed. The 30 OsDOFs were classified into six subfamilies, and 24 motifs were identified based on protein sequence alignment. The chromosome locations of OsDofs were determined and nine gene duplication events were identified. A joint phylogenetic analysis was performed on DOF protein sequences obtained from four monocotyledon species to examine the evolutionary relationship of DOF proteins. Expression profiling of OsDofs from two japonica cultivars (Longdao5, which is cold-tolerant, and Longjing11, which is cold-sensitive) revealed that OsDof1 and OsDof19 are cold-inducible genes. We examined the seed setting rates in OsDof1- and OsDof19-overexpression and RNAi lines and found that OsDof1 showed a response to cold stress. Conclusions: Our investigation identified OsDof1 as a potential target for genetic breeding of rice with enhanced cold tolerance.

Background/aims: Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum , is one of the most destructive fungal diseases affecting soybeans, and its effective management remains a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of SSR and to evaluate the efficacy of chemical fungicides, biocontrol agents (particularly low-risk, eco-friendly products), cultural practices, as well as to propose integrated strategies for SSR control in soybeans. Methods: Both small-scale and large-scale field trials were conducted in in Northeast China, the country’s largest soybean-producing region. The soybean varieties included Heinong 48, Kenfeng 16, Hefeng 50, Nongqingdou, Kendou 25, and Kendou 39. Results: The epidemiological study characterized the sclerotial germination dynamics and identified key factors influencing the disease severity index (DSI) and soybean yield. Assessment of low-risk, eco-friendly disease control products in small-scale field trials revealed that 6% oligosaccharins achieved the highest control efficacy of 70.0%. These findings informed the development of integrated control measures, which were then evaluated in scale-up field trials. Notably, these control measures significantly reduced disease incidence compared to control fields, demonstrating a disease control efficacy of 64.3–75.3%, alongside a yield increase of 5.7–14.7%. Subsequent implementation of the integrated measures achieved effective disease management, with a control efficacy of 56.41% and consistent yield improvements of 5.76–15.56%. Conclusions: Integrating disease-resistant variety selection, low-risk/eco-friendly chemical and biological agents, and cultural practices effectively manages SSR in soybean crops, significantly reducing DSI and increasing soybean yield in Northeast China. While these strategies may be applicable in other regions, optimal approaches may vary owing to regional differences and annual variations.