Publications by authors named "Jiecai Zhao"
Article Synopsis
- Raspberry plants (Rubus corchorifolius) are economically and medicinally significant in China, but farmers in Gansu Province face issues with root rot disease affecting about 30% of crops.
- A thorough field survey conducted in June 2022 led to the collection of both diseased and healthy plants for pathogen identification, resulting in the isolation of 22 distinct Fusarium strains.
- One specific strain, RB10, was linked to observed symptoms and showed distinct morphological traits of Fusarium avenaceum, confirmed through genetic sequencing techniques.
Article Synopsis
- Desertification and microplastic pollution are significant environmental challenges that affect ecosystems and human health in dry areas, particularly in Central Asia's Amu Darya-Aral Sea basin.
- A study found microplastics in soil samples across a 1000 km area, with quantities ranging from 182 to 17,841 items per kg, and certain polymers like polyurethane and silicone resin being most prevalent.
- Microplastics were more abundant in deeper soils (20-50 cm) compared to surface layers, suggesting that desertification and human activities such as grazing are key contributors to the increase and distribution of microplastics in these drylands.
Article Synopsis
- Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) is a plant found in arid regions of Asia, making it a great subject to study how plants adapt to desert environments due to its significant variety among individuals.
- This study examined the size of seeds from 68 different populations and found that both seed size and weight are influenced largely by long-term climate factors, particularly varying levels of precipitation across regions.
- Additionally, certain groups of larger seeds demonstrated greater competitiveness and adaptability in drier areas, suggesting they may be beneficial for future domestication efforts.
Healthy values and domestication of sand rice (), a comparative view against .
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr
July 2023
Article Synopsis
- Sand rice is a highly nutritious crop with potential climate resilience, offering rich proteins, essential amino acids, and beneficial compounds like phenolics.
- Its historical consumption spans over 1300 years, but recent breeding efforts have increased yields significantly, with some genotypes producing up to 1295.5 kg/ha.
- Despite its potential, research on sand rice is limited compared to other crops like quinoa, highlighting the need for further scientific exploration to unlock its nutritional and commercial benefits.
Article Synopsis
- - The study focuses on the essential role of cyanobacteria in biological soil crusts (BSCs) for stabilizing soil in water and nutrient-poor ecosystems, exploring the potential for artificial inoculation to aid habitat restoration.
- - Researchers compared cyanobacterial communities in two deserts (Tengger and Kyzyl Kum) with different rainfall patterns, finding that certain genera, particularly Microcoleus vaginatus, were dominant in both deserts, despite 16 genera varying significantly between them.
- - Factors influencing the differences in cyanobacterial communities include both biotic (like microbial biomass) and abiotic (such as soil pH and water content) factors, leading to variations in community structure without affecting overall species richness.
Article Synopsis
- Current changes in rainfall patterns significantly influence the growth and reproduction of the winter annual plant Turcz. in desert ecosystems, affecting its role in dune stabilization during critical periods of wind erosion.
- A field study simulated various rainfall amounts and frequencies to monitor how these factors impacted seedling survival and development in a near-natural habitat.
- Results indicated that increased rainfall enhances growth and reproductive traits, especially with lower frequency, larger rainfall events, suggesting the species may thrive under changing climate conditions.
Article Synopsis
- Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) is being studied as a potential crop due to climate change and food security concerns, and modifying its weedy traits is essential for domestication.
- Researchers isolated a trichomeless mutant of sand rice using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and found that its traits are controlled by a single recessive gene.
- Genetic analysis showed that the mutation affects only a small number of genes, particularly those related to lipid transport and metabolism, suggesting that the Astcl1 protein plays a key role in trichome development and cuticle synthesis in sand rice.
Article Synopsis
- * This mutant gene is located on chromosome 3HL, specifically in a 1.3-cM region between the genes MLOC_10972 and MLOC_69561.
- * The wild type version of this gene likely plays a role in the synthesis pathway of β-diketone compounds, which contribute to the plants' waxy appearance.
Article Synopsis
- Climate change has significantly influenced ecosystem shifts in the Asian interior, leading to frequent changes between grasslands and deserts over time.
- The study investigated the population dynamics of Agriophyllum squarrosum, a pioneer plant in mobile sand dunes, revealing its long history of colonization related to climatic changes and glaciations.
- Findings indicate that the monsoonal climate aided the plant's expansion and that desertification in areas like the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is more ancient and may worsen with global warming, highlighting the need for exploring genetic resources for future crop development in dry lands.
Article Synopsis
- Habitat fragmentation negatively impacts reproduction in rare species, but this study on Circaeaster agristis showed population size didn't affect seed numbers or fruit set.
- Population density indirectly influenced reproduction through plant size in one year, but not the next; individual fruit number and set varied based on nearest neighbor distance and local neighbor size.
- Overall, the findings suggest that reproduction can improve in fragmented environments, challenging the common belief that habitat fragmentation always harms plant reproduction.