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Charcoal-based fertilizer could be used extensively and is environmentally friendly. An experiment was designed to investigate the effects of different charcoal-based fertilizer application methods on soil microbiology and grape quality in a vineyard to guide the cultivation of 'Shine-Muscat'. A control treatment without fertilization and six other treatments were set up. Four treatments applied carbon-based fertilizer as a base fertilizer with or without potassium fulvic acid, a complex microbial agent, or Bacillus subtilis, and two treatments were only applied with two applications of carbon-based fertilizer or compound fertilizer during the expansion period. The results showed that the bacterial phyla were mainly Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota dominated the fungal community. At the genus level, the composition of fungi, compared to bacteria, varied significantly, while the dominant flora differed among fertilization practices. Application of charcoal-based fertilizer enriched beneficial microorganisms, while chemical fertilizers enriched pathogenic microorganisms. The addition of microbial fungicides and biostimulants for a period reduced the size of the microbial network, lowered positive correlations, and enhanced resistance to adverse conditions and diseases and there was no significant correlation between agronomic traits and microbial network topology. A combination of soil microbial and grape agronomic traits suggests that a charcoal-based fertilizer base, with microbial fungicides applied, is the optimal fertilization regimen for grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of precision agriculture technology worldwide, plant protection unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been widely applied in the prevention and control of agricultural pests and diseases due to their advantages such as unrestricted terrain, strong maneuverability, hover capability, and high operational efficiency. In view of the fact that most of the current path planning methods for plant protection UAVs are mainly applicable to large fields with relatively flat terrain, and there is a lack of three-dimensional path planning methods applicable to hilly orchards, as well as a lack of intuitive evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of the paths by utilizing the amount of energy consumption, this paper proposes a three-dimensional (3D) path planning method for plant protection UAVs in hilly orchards. The method utilizes the three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of the operational area obtained from a realistic 3D model of the area, and determines the 3D operational path through the use of Boustrophedon Cellular Decomposition and the height variations of the operational area. Based on the induced power used by the plant protection UAV for flight and the power needed to overcome wind resistance, combined with the change of the load of the plant protection UAV and the supply situation, the relative energy consumption model of the plant protection UAV is constructed. Then, by optimizing the operational heading angle (1–180°), the 3D path with the minimum relative energy consumption is obtained. Through a simulation test, it is demonstrated that the path with the minimum relative energy consumption (operational heading angle of 133°) reduces the average relative energy consumption by 62.44% and 47.21% compared to the path with the maximum relative energy consumption (operational heading angle of 51°) and the average relative energy consumption, respectively. This proves the feasibility of the proposed path planning method in hilly orchard environments and provides a reference for the application of plant protection UAVs in such orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins are important secondary metabolites in fruits, and anthocyanin accumulation in the flesh of peach exhibits a spatial pattern, but the relevant mechanism is still unknown. In this study, the yellow-fleshed peach, cv. 'Jinxiu', with anthocyanin accumulation in the mesocarp around the stone was used as the experimental material. Red flesh (RF) and yellow flesh (YF) were sampled separately for flavonoid metabolite (mainly anthocyanins), plant hormone, and transcriptome analyses. The results showed that the red coloration in the mesocarp was due to the accumulation of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, with an up-regulation of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes (F3H, F3′H, DFR, and ANS), transportation gene GST, and regulatory genes (MYB10.1 and bHLH3). Eleven ERFs, nine WRKYs, and eight NACs were also defined as the candidate regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis in peach via RNA-seq. Auxin, cytokinin, abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC, ethylene precursor) were enriched in the peach flesh, with auxin, cytokinin, ACC, and SA being highly accumulated in the RF, but ABA was mainly distributed in the YF. The activators and repressors in the auxin and cytokinin signaling transduction pathways were mostly up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively. Our results provide new insights into the regulation of spatial accumulation pattern of anthocyanins in peach flesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aroma is an important indicator of fruit flavor, but mechanisms of aroma formation in strawberries (Fragaria spp.) during natural ripening are still not clear. In this study, aroma compounds in strawberry cultivars were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Richly creamy strawberry cultivars in particular expressed high levels of vanillin acetate and coumarin (up-regulated by 12.6- and 9.8-fold, respectively), while the aroma-free cultivars were dominated by differential changes in terpenes and alcohols. Further research using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and RNA-Seq indicated that the activation of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and alpha-linolenic acid metabolic pathways constituted the key to formation of aroma compounds in creamy strawberry cultivars. The results of this study not only provide a well-defined database to detect aroma compounds in different strawberry cultivars but also explore the underlying mechanisms of creamy aroma formation in strawberries. [Display omitted] • Terpenes were the major volatiles in aroma-free strawberry cultivars. • Vanillin acetate increased by 12.6-fold in creamy strawberry cultivars. • Amino acid precursors increased sharply during aroma formation. • Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was activated during aroma formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finger citron (Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle), a type of citrus with high ornamental and medicinal values, were used as raw material for beverage and wine making. Depends on the origin, the key aroma compounds of the fruit may vary. The aim of this study is to identify interspecific differences in finger citron and to provide a reference for the evaluation of finger citron fruit flavor, variety improvement and selection of new varieties. In the present study headspace solid phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used to analyze and identify the volatiles of 4 different varieties of finger citron from four different locations (Zhejiang, Guangzhou, Yunnan and Sichuan). Their similarities and differences were further analyzed by Venn diagram. The relative odor activity value (ROAV), heat map, radar map and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were used to determine the key volatiles of finger citron. The results showed that 68 volatiles were detected in different varieties of finger citron, among which 16 key volatiles had ROAV ≥1. Geraniol and d‐limonene had a greater influence on the aroma of finger citron. The main aroma of finger citron in the four regions was the citrus aroma. ZFC had the most abundant flavor, with obvious woody and herbal flavors, which was suitable for the breeding of finger citron with partial herbal flavor. GFC was suitable for breeding finger citron which was on the sweet side. Compared with SFC, YFC was more suitable for breeding finger citron with floral flavor. This study mainly investigates the flavor differences of different varieties of finger citron to provide theoretical support for the subsequent product development. Novelty Impact Statement: This study found that finger citron from Zhejiang, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Yunnan provinces in China had different aroma characteristics. The odor of finger citron from Guangdong was sweet, the odor of finger citron from Zhejiang was more herbal, and the odor of finger citron from Yunnan and Sichuan was more floral. This provided a theoretical basis for the subsequent application and breeding of finger citron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for water splitting is crucial for the sustainable production of clean hydrogen fuel, while the high cost of Pt catalysts impedes its commercialization. Herein, we have performed a systematic theoretical study on the electrocatalytic HER over single-atom catalysts (SACs) based on low-cost TiN. Specifically, the TiN(100) surface with a Ti or N vacancy has been considered as the support. 20 transition-metal (TM) atoms and 3 nonmetallic atoms are embedded into the Ti or N vacancy, accordingly denoted as M@Tiv or M@Nv. All the single atoms can be stabilized by the surface vacancies, controlled by the adjustable chemical potential. Interestingly, for TM-embedded TiN(100), the hydrogen binding is much stronger over M@Nv than M@Tiv, which can be attributed to the more localized d states of the TM atoms anchored by the N vacancies, indicating a strong coordination effect. Among 43 catalysts, 10 (Ni, Zn, Nb, Mo, Rh@Tiv, and Au, Pd, W, Mo, B@Nv) were predicted to have high HER catalytic activity with near-zero hydrogen adsorption free energy. For the further gaseous hydrogen evolution, Zn@Tiv can adopt both Tafel (with an energy barrier of 0.68 eV) and Heyrovsky mechanisms, while the others may prefer the Heyrovsky mechanism. This work provides a promising strategy to realize cost-efficient electrocatalysts for the HER, and highlights the important role of the local coordination environment for SACs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we used virus‐mediated gene silencing technology and found that the HSP17.4 gene‐silenced cultivar Sweet Charlie plants were more susceptible to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides than the wild‐type Sweet Charlie, and the level of infection was even higher than that of the susceptible cultivar Benihopp. The results of differential quantitative proteomics showed that after infection with the pathogen, the expression of the downstream response genes NPR1, TGA, and PR‐1 of the salicylic acid (SA) signalling pathway was fully up‐regulated in the wild‐type Sweet Charlie, and the expression of the core transcription factor MYC2 of the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway was significantly down‐regulated. The expression of the proteins encoded by these genes did not change significantly in the HSP17.4‐silenced Sweet Charlie, indicating that the expression of HSP17.4 activated the up‐regulation of downstream signals of SA and inhibited the JA signal pathway. The experiments that used SA, methyl jasmonate, and their inhibitors to treat plants provide additional evidence that the antagonism between SA and JA regulates the resistance of strawberry plants to C. gloeosporioides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of desulfurization gypsum and steel/furnace slag composite cementitious material (DGSC) to solidify soft soil can fully utilize industrial wastes, reduce cement use and protect natural resources. By studying the unconfined compressive strengths of DGSC-solidified soil with different mix ratios, water-binder ratios and curing periods, the influence of those factors on the unconfined compressive strength of the soil can be analyzed. Furthermore, the quasi-water-cement ratio is introduced to predict the strength of the DGSC-solidified soil. The results show that the higher the DGSC content is, the better its effect on the soft soil. The variation in the unconfined compressive strength of DGSC-solidified soil overtime can be described by the same trend as that of cement-solidified soil but its early strength is lower than that of cement-solidified soil. When the water-binder ratio of the DGSC-solidified soil is the same as that of the cement-solidified soil, after a28-day curing period, the content of DGSC is higher than that of the 5% cement content, so the DGSC solidification effect is comparable to that of cement. Therefore, using DGSC instead of cement as a soft soil solidifying agent can meet the strength requirements of solidified soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accurately obtain the performance of concrete structures in coastal regions, it is necessary to correctly understand the damage evolution law of reinforced concrete (RC) members under real working conditions. In this paper, four RC beams, subjected to different levels of corrosion and sustained load, are first tested. Reinforcement corrosion coupled with sustained load increases the number and width of cracks at the soffit of beams but decreases their loading capacities. Crack width of the corroded beam under 50% of designed load is two times of that under 30% of designed load. Residual loading capacities of the corroded beams subjected to 30% and 50% of designed load are 87.5% and 81.8% of the control beam. A finite element model is developed for the corroded RC beams. Due to less confinement, concrete below and at the sides of reinforcements is subjected to a higher stress, compared to concrete above the reinforcements. Corrosion expansion of reinforcements is successfully modelled by a temperature-filed method, as it properly simulates the damage evolution of the corroded RC beams. As a result, concrete cracking, caused by the reinforcement corrosion, is well captured. Coupling reinforcement corrosion with sustained load significantly increases the damage level in RC beams, particularly for those subjected to a high sustained load. The whole damage evolution process of concrete cracking due to corrosion expansion under the coupling effect of sustained loading and environment can be simulated, thus providing a reference for the durability evaluation, life prediction, and numerical simulation of concrete structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllosphere microorganisms are closely linked to plant health. This study investigated the effect of ozonated water, mancozeb, and thiophanate-methyl on phyllosphere microorganisms in strawberry plants of the "Hongyan" variety. Sequencing analysis of the phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities was performed using 16S rRNA gene fragment and ITS1 region high-throughput sequencing after spraying ozonated water, mancozeb, thiophanate-methyl, and clear water. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the dominant bacterial phyla in strawberry. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria (82.71%) was higher in the ozonated water treatment group than in the other treatment groups, while the relative abundance of Actinobacteria (9.38%) was lower than in the other treatment groups. The strawberry phyllosphere fungal communities were mainly found in the phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. The relative abundance of Basidiomycota was highest in the ozonated water treatment group (81.13%), followed by the mancozeb treatment group (76.01%), while the CK group only had an abundance of 43.38%. The relative abundance of Ascomycota was lowest in the ozonated water treatment group (17.98%), 23.12% in the mancozeb treatment group, 43.39% in the thiophanate-methyl treatment group, and 55.47% in the CK group. Pseudomonas , Halomonas , and Nesterenkonia were the dominant bacterial genera on strawberry surfaces, while Moesziomyces , Aspergillus , and Dirkmeia were the dominant fungal genera. Ozonated water was able to significantly increase the richness of bacteria and fungi and decrease fungal diversity. However, bacterial diversity was not significantly altered. Ozonated water effectively reduced the relative abundance of harmful fungi, such as Aspergillus , and Penicillium , and enriched beneficial bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Actinomycetospora , more effectively than mancozeb and thiophanate-methyl. The results of the study show that ozonated water has potential as a biocide and may be able to replace traditional agents in the future to reduce environmental pollution., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sun, Wu, Lin, Wang, Zhu, Chen, Wang, Jia and Shen.)

The aim of this study is to acquire information for future breeding efforts aimed at improving fruit quality via effects on aroma by comparing the diversity of Chinese local peach cultivars across 10 samples of three varieties (honey peach, yellow peach, and flat peach). The volatile components of peach fruits were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the main flavor components of peach fruit were determined by relative odor activity value (ROAV) and principal component analysis (PCA). A total number of 57 volatile components were detected by GC-IMS, including eight aldehydes, nine alcohols, eight ketones, 22 esters, two acids, two phenols, two pyrazines, one thiophene, one benzene, and two furans. The proportion of esters was up to 38.6%. A total of 88 volatile components were detected by GC-MS, among which 40 were key aroma compounds, with an ROAV ≥ 1. The analysis results showed that alcohols, ketones, esters, and aldehydes contributed the most to the aroma of peach fruit. PCA demonstrated that (E,E)-2, 6-non-adienal, γ-decalactone, β-ionone, and hexyl hexanoate were the key contributors to the fruit aroma. A reference for future directional cultivation and breeding could be provided by this study through evaluating the aroma quality of the peach at the cultivar level. The possible reasonable application of these peach fruits pulp will be guided through these research., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sun, Xu, Wang, Lin, Chen, Zhu, Jia, Wang, Shen and Feng.)

In recent years, plant metabolomics and microbiome studies have suggested that the synthesis and secretion of plant secondary metabolites are affected by microbial-host symbiotic interactions. In this study, six varieties of fingered citron ( Citrus medica 'Fingered') are sampled to study their phyllosphere bacterial communities and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). High-throughput sequencing is used to sequence the V5-V7 region of the 16S rRNA of the fingered citron phyllosphere bacteria, and the results showed that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacterial phylum in the phyllosphere of fingered citron. There were significant differences in the phyllosphere bacteria community between XiuZhen and the remaining five varieties. The relative abundance of Actinomycetospora was highest in XiuZhen, and Halomonas , Methylobacterium , Nocardioides , and Pseudokineococcus were also dominant. Among the remaining varieties, Halomonas was the genus with the highest relative abundance, while the relative abundances of all the other genera were low. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze and identify the aroma compounds of six different fingered citron, and a total of 76 aroma compounds were detected in six varieties. Pinene, geraniol, and linalool were found to be the primary VOCs that affect the aroma of fingered citron based on relative odor activity value. The correlation analysis showed 55 positive and 60 negative correlations between the phyllosphere bacterial flora and aroma compounds of fingered citron. The top 10 genera in the relative abundance were all significantly associated with aroma compounds. This study provides deep insight into the relation between bacteria and VOCs of fingered citron, and this may better explain the complexity of the analysis of bacterial and metabolic interactions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wang, Wu, Sun, Chen and Shen.)