Publications by authors named "Hejun Ao"

Article Synopsis
  • Low temperatures and soil cadmium (Cd) pollution threaten rice yield and quality, impacting food security.
  • A study showed that low temperatures during the grain-filling stage significantly reduced seed setting, grain weight, and increased cadmium levels in rice grains, especially in contaminated soils.
  • The research indicates that low temperatures enhance Cd absorption and transport in rice plants, calling attention to the need for addressing climate change and its effects on cadmium in food crops.
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During the rice growth cycle, the average available cadmium concentration (C) in the soil determines the Cd content in rice plant. Given defined soil properties and rice varieties, the meteorological factors play a crucial role in soil's available cadmium concentration (C) during the rice growth cycle. Thus, it is significant to investigate the influence of meteorological factors in C during the rice growth cycle and develop a predictive model for C.

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The cadmium (Cd) accumulates in birnessite as it forms on the surface of paddy crusts (PC). The stability of Cd-containing birnessite is influenced by environmental factors, and destabilized birnessite releases dissolved Cd. We report the effects of pH, oxalic acid, and light on the dissolution of Cd-containing birnessite.

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In recent years, the problem of Cd pollution in paddy fields has become more and more serious, which seriously threatens the safe production of food crops and human health. Using microorganisms to reduce cadmium pollution in rice fields is a green, safe and efficient method, the complicated interactions between the microbes in rice roots throughout the process of cadmium absorption by rice roots are poorly understood. In this investigation, a hydroponic pot experiment was used to examine the effects of bacteria R3 ( sp) and T4 () on cadmium uptake and the endophytic bacterial community in rice roots.

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Cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice (Oryza sativa) is particularly problematic due to its high risk to human health. Investigating the hidden roles of seed endophytes of rice in influencing Cd accumulation is essential to comprehensively understand the effects of biotic and abiotic factors to food security. Here, the content of Cd in soils and rice (Huanghuazhan) seeds from 19 sites along the Yangtze River exhibited considerable differences.

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Most previous studies have focused on the diversity and species richness of microbial communities, however, understanding the interactions between species and detecting key functional members of the community can help us better understand how microorganisms perform their functions. In this study, the response of the rice plant microbial community to the inoculation of cadmium-resistant endophytic bacterium R5 (Stenotrophomonas) was investigated for the first time using a microbial phylogenetic molecular ecological network. The results showed that inoculation of R5 changed the topological characteristics of the microbial network in rice plants, with the resulting network displaying stronger complexity and interaction in roots and aboveground parts, indicating that inoculation of R5 provided favorable conditions for microbial interactions.

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Low light is a common environmental factor that adversely affects rice yields. This study was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of hill density and nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate on yield attributes in hybrid rice under low-light conditions. Field experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015.

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As core components of ABA signaling pathway, SnRK2s (Sucrose nonfermenting1⁻Related protein Kinase 2) bind to and phosphorylate AREB/ABF (ABA responsive element binding protein/ABRE-binding factor) transcriptional factors, particularly bZIPs (basic region-leucine zipper), to participate in various biological processes, including flowering. Rice contains 10 SnRK2 members denoted as SAPK1-10 (Stress-Activated Protein Kinase) and dozens of bZIPs. However, which of the SAPKs and bZIPs pair and involve in ABA signaling remains largely unknown.

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abscisic acid (ABA) is a key phytohormone regulating plant development and stress response. The signal transduction of ABA largely relies on protein phosphorylation. However; little is known about the phosphorylation events occurring during ABA signaling in rice thus far.

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