Integrative analysis of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L) transcriptome reveals regulatory network for Chardonnay quality formation

Anthocyanins, total phenols, soluble sugar and fruit shape plays a significant role in determining the distinct fruit quality and customer preference. However, for the majority of fruit species, little is known about the transcriptomics and underlying regulatory networks that control the generation of overall quality during fruit growth and ripening. This study incorporated the quality-related transcriptome data from 6 ecological zones across 3 fruit development and maturity phases of Chardonnay cultivars. With the help of this dataset, we were able to build a complex regulatory network that may be used to identify important structural genes and transcription factors that control the anthocyanins, total phenols, soluble sugars and fruit shape in grapes. Overall, our findings set the groundwork to improve grape quality in addition to offering novel views on quality control during grape development and ripening

Effects of Continuous Manure Application on the Microbial Community and Labile Organic Carbon Fractions

The application of organic materials contributes to the sustainable development of agriculture. Increased manure inputs have a fundamental effect on the composition and dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC). In this study, we conducted a 10-year field experiment in Changchun, Jilin, Northeast China, to investigate the effects of manure addition on soil organic carbon components and soil microorganisms. Specifically, we established four treatments: (i) chemical fertilizer or no addition of manure (CK), (ii) pig manure with chemical fertilizer (ZF), (iii) cow manure with chemical fertilizer (NF), and (iv) chicken manure with chemical fertilizer (JF). The results showed that the JF treatment significantly increased the soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and readily oxidized organic carbon (ROC) content by 20.36%, 105.9%, and 61.32%, respectively, relative to CK. The microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content in JF, ZF, and NF treatments were significantly higher than that of CK, which increased by 107.24%, 116.45%, and 96.71%, respectively. The particulate organic carbon (POC) content in NF and JF treatments differed significantly, increasing by 25.61% and 19.01%, respectively, relative to CK. Redundancy analysis showed that continuous manure application had a positive effect on soil microbial community diversity and abundance, which was favorable for the accumulation of soil carbon. We also found that soil fungi were more sensitive than bacteria to changes in soil carbon composition following manure application. In conclusion, adding different organic materials can better support biodiversity conservation and realize ecosystem services of surface carbon storage and soil conservation. Our results reveal the importance of microbial fixation in soil carbon dynamics according to the different distribution of active organic carbon pools, which will help enhance our understanding of the carbon cycle

Effects of Organic Material Types on Temporal Changes in Characteristics of Humic Acids Extracted from a Chernozem

Returning organic materials to fields is an effective management practice for improving soil quality in agroecosystems. In the case of scarce organic material resources, choosing the optimal material type for improving the quality of a soil type is an urgent problem to be solved. The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal variations in the spectroscopic characterization of humic acids (HAs) over a period of 90 days after applying biotechnologically extracted fulvic acid (BFA), well-decomposed sheep manure (M), corn stover pellets (Ps) and corn stover powder (Pr) at equal C amount to a chernozem under laboratory conditions, measured by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis). The results indicated that the BFA and Pr with higher C contents (68.9 and 59.8 g kg−1, respectively) were more beneficial to the C mineralization of HAs. M, applied in the largest amount, together with the highest available N, P, and K contents (575.4, 160.1, 478.9 mg kg−1, respectively), and its more easily consumed carbohydrates as well as well-decomposed status, was more likely to promote the condensation of HAs. BFA carried more hydrophilic groups into the HAs, while Ps did not introduce high levels of adsorbed H2O molecules and aromatic C=C (or C=O) groups. Ps did not affect the molecular structure of HAs after incorporation into the chernozem. At the equal C input amount, M had the greatest benefit, whereas the beneficial effect of Ps was the least, in improving the chernozem quality

Returning Different Organic Materials to the Field: Effects on Labile Soil Nitrogen Pool under Drip Irrigation with Film Mulching in a Semi-Arid Soil

The purpose of this study was to observe the changes in soil nitrogen pools (active organic and inorganic nitrogen fractions) after applying organic materials under drip irrigation with film mulching in a semi-arid soil. The two-year field experiment included four fertilization treatments: maize straw, fodder grass, sheep manure, and a control treatment with no organic material applied (CK). The results showed that the application of maize straw and sheep manure significantly increased the soil total nitrogen content by 9.02~13.33% and 11.02~17.27%, respectively, while no significant improvement was found with the use of fodder grass. Compared with CK, returning organic materials to the field increased the soil active nitrogen pools, except for ammonium nitrogen content. Meanwhile, the content of particulate organic nitrogen was significantly increased by 42.11~78.85% under the application of organic materials, which took the highest proportion of active nitrogen pools and was sensitive to fertilization treatments. Among the three organic materials, maize straw and sheep manure increased the soil active nitrogen content the most. In conclusion, both maize straw and sheep manure are the optimum organic materials, which could be applied for improving soil nitrogen storage under drip irrigation with film mulching within semi-arid areas

Short-Term Effects of Different Straw Returning Methods on the Soil Physicochemical Properties and Quality Index in Dryland Farming in NE China

A field experiment was designed to assess the impacts of various maize straw (stover) returning methods on the basic soil physicochemical properties and soil quality index in Jilin (NE China). The five treatments were no return of straw residues (CK), straw incorporated evenly into the soil using the crashing-ridging technique (EIS), straw mulching (SM), straw plowed into the soil (SP), and straw returned in granulated form (SG). Relative to the no straw return, EIS effectively reduced soil bulk density and penetration resistance, increased soil total organic carbon (TOC), macroaggregate-associated carbon content, and the accumulation of soil humus. Furthermore, EIS improved soil structure and soil aggregate stability and significantly increased the soil quality index. Among the various straw returning treatments, SM and SG significantly promoted soil macroaggregation and increased macroaggregate-associated carbon content by 23.69% and 21.70% at the soil surface, respectively (as compared with the control). Compared to SM, SP, and SG, EIS significantly enhanced the aliphaticity and hydrophobicity of soil organic carbon. These results suggested that EIS was the most efficient straw return mode to increase TOC and improve soil structure and fertility