Group 1 - The 2024 Shanghai Science and Technology Awards announced a total of 206 awarded projects, with an increase of 10 natural science awards compared to the previous year [1] - Among the 18 first-class natural science award projects, the only one applied in agricultural production is the "Symbiotic Mechanism of Plants and Microbes" [1] - The research led by Wang Ertao has been published in major international journals, enabling scientists to cultivate high-symbiotic-efficiency rice varieties and develop "fertilizer-reducing and efficiency-increasing" microbial agents for crops like soybeans [1] Group 2 - Wang Ertao's team clarified the molecular basis and evolutionary mechanism of nodule organ formation and regulation in leguminous plants, addressing the century-old question of why only leguminous plants can form nodules for nitrogen fixation [2] - The discovery involves key stem cell genes SHR and SCR, which provide leguminous plants with the ability to divide their cortex cells, differentiating them from non-leguminous plants [2] - This finding lays the groundwork for modifying the fate of cortex cells in non-leguminous plants and offers new ideas for reducing crop dependence on nitrogen fertilizers, contributing to sustainable agricultural development [2] Group 3 - Based on scientific discoveries, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences bred a high-symbiotic-efficiency rice variety "Gan Jun Rice No. 1," which can reduce fertilizer use by 25% to 50% while maintaining quality and yield [3] - The team also found that applying beneficial microorganisms can increase soybean yields, especially in low-nitrogen conditions, which supports reducing agricultural chemical use and pollution [3] - In 2024, the team plans to expand soybean field trials from 10,000 acres to 560,000 acres in Northeast China, aiming to further promote sustainable agricultural practices [3]

Core Insights - The development of the high-yield corn variety 'Dongke 1188' aims to address issues such as low yield and insufficient machine-harvestable varieties in China, with an expected yield increase of approximately 10% compared to conventional varieties if no major natural disasters occur [1][2] - The establishment of innovation hubs in Suining, Jiangsu, and Changchun, Jilin, is intended to enhance the effective transformation of agricultural research results into practical productivity, focusing on integrating technology into major grain production areas [1][2] Group 1 - The 'Dongke 1188' corn variety integrates technologies for mechanical planting, integrated pest management, and grain harvesting, contributing to increased single yield [1] - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs highlights the need to improve the transformation rate of agricultural scientific research achievements, addressing the fragmentation of research results [1] - The Changchun Agricultural High-tech Zone has gathered 27 professional teams from 15 research institutions, showcasing 119 new varieties of corn and soybeans, along with various new agricultural technologies [2] Group 2 - The Suining innovation hub relies on enterprise operations and explores models such as "technology packages" and "order promotion," showcasing 89 new varieties and 28 new technologies in rice, corn, and soybeans [2] - Experts at a recent seminar emphasized the importance of top-level design and policy coordination to strengthen the construction of innovation hubs, making them tangible and accessible for farmers [2]

Core Viewpoint - The selection process for the 2025 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering has concluded, with a total of 639 valid candidates for the Chinese Academy of Sciences and 660 valid candidates for the Chinese Academy of Engineering [1][2]. Summary by Categories Chinese Academy of Engineering - The Chinese Academy of Engineering confirmed 660 valid candidates for the 2025 academician selection, categorized by various engineering departments [2][4]. - The distribution of candidates across different departments includes: - Mechanical and Transportation Engineering: 68 candidates - Information and Electronic Engineering: 68 candidates - Chemical, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering: 71 candidates - Energy and Mining Engineering: 72 candidates - Civil, Hydraulic, and Architectural Engineering: 91 candidates - Environmental and Light Textile Engineering: 73 candidates - Agricultural Engineering: 83 candidates - Medical and Health Engineering: 91 candidates - Special Channel: 43 candidates [2][4]. Selection Process - The selection process for the academicians began on April 25, 2025, and the number of new academicians for both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering is limited to no more than 100 each [2][4].

Core Insights - The research conducted by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences reveals the hybrid origin of the potato group, tracing back to an ancient hybridization event between the tomato group and the Solanum tuberosum group approximately 9 million years ago, leading to the formation of tubers [1][6][9] Group 1: Research Findings - The potato is a staple food for 1.3 billion people globally and is a significant asexual reproduction crop, characterized by a highly heterozygous genome and self-incompatibility, complicating breeding efforts [2][3] - The research team analyzed high-quality genomic data from 101 potato group samples, 15 tomato group samples, and 9 Solanum-like samples, utilizing existing genomic data for their study [3][9] - The hybridization event that gave rise to the potato group involved the tomato as the maternal parent and the Solanum-like group as the paternal parent, resulting in the unique organ known as the tuber [6][7] Group 2: Genetic Insights - Key genes responsible for tuber formation were identified, with the identity gene IT1 originating from the Solanum-like group and the signaling factor SP6A from the tomato group, leading to a new regulatory network for tuber development [7][8] - The current potato group exhibits approximately 24% of genetic components randomly fixed from different parental alleles, creating a mosaic genetic pattern that enhances genetic diversity and adaptability to various environments [7][8] Group 3: Future Implications - The research aims to transform potatoes from a tuber-based asexual reproduction crop to a seed-based crop, significantly reducing planting costs and disease transmission risks, with only 2 grams of seeds needed per acre [9] - The study proposes using tomatoes as a synthetic biology platform to introduce key genes for tuber formation, potentially leading to a new "seed-type potato" that retains the reproductive advantages of tomatoes while preserving the nutritional value of potatoes [9][16]

Core Viewpoint - The research highlights the role of the nitrate receptor NRT1.1B as a dual receptor for abscisic acid (ABA) and nitrate, revealing a new mechanism for plants to integrate environmental signals and nutrient utilization [3][4][6]. Group 1: Key Findings - Abscisic acid (ABA) response is strictly regulated by nitrogen nutrition [9]. - NRT1.1B acts as a dual receptor, competitively binding both ABA and nitrate [9]. - The NRT1.1B-SPX4-NLP4 cascade mediates ABA signal transduction from the plasma membrane to the nucleus [9]. - NRT1.1B integrates complex environmental signals across different plant species [9]. Group 2: Mechanism Insights - Under high nitrate conditions, ABA transcriptional response is suppressed, while it is significantly enhanced under low nitrate conditions, indicating a close relationship between ABA signaling and nutritional status [6]. - The formation of the NRT1.1B-ABA complex promotes the release of the transcription factor NLP4, initiating ABA transcriptional responses [6]. - The competitive binding of nitrate and ABA to NRT1.1B allows for flexible responses to fluctuating nutrient conditions, showcasing a sophisticated strategy for balancing nutrient use and stress adaptation in plants [6][9].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is the establishment of the "1+5" Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance in Anhui Province, aimed at enhancing agricultural innovation and collaboration among top agricultural universities and research institutions in China [1] - The "1" in the alliance represents the Anhui Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, with Anhui Agricultural University as the main implementing unit, alongside various local agricultural research institutions [1] - The "5" refers to five leading agricultural research universities: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China Agricultural University, Northwest A&F University, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Huazhong Agricultural University, which will collaborate with Anhui's research teams [1] Group 2 - The alliance aims to leverage the strengths of the "national team" to create a high ground for modern agricultural technology innovation, achievement transformation, and talent cultivation [1] - It is expected to provide high-level technological and talent support for ensuring food supply responsibilities and accelerating the upgrade of the green food industry [1]

Core Insights - The research team at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has developed a high-quality image database and model library for rapeseed, enabling real-time online measurement of rapeseed quality using computer vision and artificial intelligence [1] Group 1: Research and Development - Traditional methods for rapeseed quality detection rely on precision instruments and laboratory analysis, which are time-consuming and not suitable for large-scale, real-time testing [1] - The innovative "photo measurement" solution allows users to take a picture and upload it, with results available in 10 seconds, achieving an accuracy rate exceeding 88% and an average error within 5% [1] - The SeedVision software developed is compatible with both computer and mobile platforms, providing technical support for real-time online quality detection of rapeseed and other oilseed crops [1] Group 2: Funding and Intellectual Property - The research has received funding from several projects, including the "14th Five-Year" National Key Research and Development Program, the National Natural Science Foundation, and the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences [1] - The team has applied for three invention patents and one software copyright related to their findings [1]

Core Insights - The research conducted by the team led by Academician Huang Sanwen reveals the hybrid origin of the potato group, the formation of tubers, and their radiation differentiation, providing a new theoretical perspective for potato genetic breeding [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The potato group originated from an ancient hybridization event between the tomato group and the solanum group approximately 9 million years ago, resulting in the formation of tubers [1] - The study analyzed high-quality genomic data from 101 potato group samples, 15 tomato group samples, 9 solanum group samples, and 19 other nightshade species, with most genomic data being reused [2] - The genetic contribution from tomatoes and solanum to all potato individuals was found to be in a stable balance, with a ratio of approximately 4:6 [2] Group 2: Evolutionary Insights - The divergence between solanum and tomatoes began around 14 million years ago, with hybridization occurring approximately 5 million years later, leading to the earliest potato plants with tubers around 9 million years ago [2] - The study concludes that potatoes are a hybrid species resulting from the crossbreeding of solanum and tomatoes, with tomatoes serving as the maternal parent and solanum as the paternal parent [2]

Core Viewpoint - The recent research published in Cell reveals that the potato is a hybrid product of ancient crossbreeding between tomatoes and a wild relative, which has significantly contributed to its unique tuber formation and ecological success [2][3][4]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study, led by Academician Huang Sanwen from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, indicates that the potato lineage originated from an unexpected combination of tomato and a close relative about 8-9 million years ago [3][4]. - The research systematically uncovers the hybrid origin of the potato species, its tuber formation, and subsequent diversification, providing new theoretical insights into species formation mechanisms and genetic breeding [5][8]. - The analysis of 128 genomes revealed that the potato lineage is a "hybrid offspring," with the hybridization event coinciding with the dramatic uplift of the Andes mountains, paving the way for its evolution [8][10]. Group 2: Genetic Mechanisms - The formation of potato tubers is attributed to the complementary inheritance of genes from both parent species: the "light signal gene" SP6A from tomatoes triggers the swelling of underground stolons, while the "regulatory gene" IT1 from the close relative ensures tubers form in the correct location [10][11]. - The research demonstrates that the combination of these genes is unique to hybrids, suggesting a natural selection process that tailored the potato's genetic toolkit for survival [13][14]. Group 3: Evolutionary Advantages - The hybrid potato gained three significant advantages: 1. Asexual reproduction insurance through tubers allows survival in harsh Andean conditions [15]. 2. An explosion of genetic diversity due to hybridization led to the emergence of 107 wild potato species, with about 40% of genes showing parent-specific differentiation [15]. 3. Ecological niche expansion enabled potatoes to thrive in diverse environments, with cold tolerance genes closely resembling those of the close relative [15]. Group 4: Implications for Breeding and Evolution - The study challenges traditional views by demonstrating that hybridization is a key driver of innovation, directly creating new traits like tubers and facilitating evolutionary radiation [16]. - Insights into the genetic origins of tubers can inform the design of cold-resistant, high-yield potato varieties, potentially leading to the cultivation of "super potatoes" through simulated ancient hybridization [17]. - The research serves as a living textbook for evolution, illustrating that hybridization is not random but a strategic response to geological upheavals, acting as a shortcut for survival [18].

Core Insights - Researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem successfully "revived" two strains of plant pathogenic fungi collected approximately 80 years ago, providing important clues for understanding the long-term impact of modern agriculture on soil microbial ecology and supporting the development of more sustainable agricultural systems [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The study focused on Botrytis cinerea, a globally prevalent plant pathogenic fungus that causes gray mold disease in over 200 crops, posing significant challenges to agricultural productivity, global food security, international trade, and environmental health [1] - The research team selected two strains of gray mold fungus from the 1940s, which naturally grew in agricultural systems before the widespread use of synthetic fertilizers and fungicides, considered as samples from the "pre-chemical intervention era" [1] - The revival involved advanced techniques such as whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome analysis, and metabolome analysis, revealing significant differences between the old strains and modern strains, including weaker resistance to fungicides and lower pathogenicity [1][2] Group 2: Implications for Agriculture - The evolution of gray mold over approximately 80 years reflects the long-term impact of human agricultural activities on micro-ecosystems, allowing researchers to quantify the biological costs of human intervention [2] - The findings are expected to aid in improving plant disease management, biodiversity conservation, and advancing sustainable agricultural practices [2]