Changchun Normal University

Hydrological disturbance and soil salinization are the major abiotic stress factors limiting near-natural restoration of degraded wetlands in semi-arid regions. The soil seed bank (SSB) is crucial for plant diversity and wetland restoration. Although the responses of aboveground plant communities (APC) to hydrological-salinization interactions are well-documented, the mechanisms through which hydrological conditions and salinization affect the SSB remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different hydrological conditions (drought, moist, flooded) and soil salinization degrees (no, mild, severe) on SSB characteristics and their relationship with APC through field survey. Results showed that salinization significantly reduced SSB species richness and seed density, with perennial seeds particularly affected by hydrological-salinization interactions. At the functional group level, while salinization reduced the seed density of both annual and perennial plants, perennials were uniquely affected by the hydrological-salinization interactions, with favorable moisture conditions mitigating the inhibitory effect of salinity. Similarity between SSB and APC compositions declined with increasing salinization, especially under drought conditions. Correlation and redundancy analyses indicated that SSB characteristics were positively correlated with nutrient indicators such as particulate organic carbon and total phosphorus, but negatively correlated with salinization indicators like pH and bulk density. Structural equation modeling revealed that salinization indirectly impaired the SSB mainly by elevating soil pH, reducing nutrient availability, and suppressing the APC. In contrast, hydrological conditions indirectly benefited the SSB by improving soil structure and enhancing the APC, which acted as a key mediator. This study elucidates the pathways of hydrological-salinization interactions on the SSB, providing a mechanistic understanding of SSB dynamics and a practical restoration blueprint (e.g., seasonal leaching and ecological water pulses). This study provides support for the near-natural restoration of degraded wetlands in the global in semi-arid regions.

Soil salinization adversely threatens plant survival and food production globally. The mobilization of storage reserves in cotyledons and establishment of the hypocotyl/root axis (HRA) structure and function are crucial to the growth of dicotyledonous plants during the post-germination growth period. Here we report the adaptive mechanisms of wild and cultivated soybeans in response to alkali stress in soil during the post-germination growth period.

Differences in physiological parameters, microstructure, and the types, amounts and metabolic pathways of small-molecule metabolites and gene expression were compared and multi-omics integration analysis was performed between wild and cultivated soybean under sufficient and artificially simulated alkali stress during the post-germination growth period in this study.

Structural analysis showed that the cell wall thickness of wild soybean under alkali stress increased, whereas cultivated soybeans were severely damaged. A comprehensive analysis of small-molecule metabolites and gene expression revealed that protein breakdown in wild soybean cotyledons under alkali stress was enhanced, and transport of amino acids and sucrose increased. Additionally, lignin and cellulose syntheses in wild soybean HRA under alkali stress were enhanced.

Overall, protein decomposition and transport of amino acids and sucrose increased in wild soybean cotyledons under alkali stress, which in turn promoted HRA growth. Similarly, alkali stress enhanced lignin and cellulose synthesis in the wild soybean HRA, which subsequently enhanced cell wall synthesis, thereby maintaining the stability and functionality of the HRA under alkali stress. This study presents important practical implications for the utilization of wild plant resources and sustainable development of agriculture.

Fried centipede, a popular food in southern China and Vietnam, is well known for its notable health benefits owing to its unique chem. compositionThis study focused on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor screening, bioactivity evaluation, and the extraction of bioactive compounds derived from fried centipedes.To determine the accuracy of in vitro AChE inhibitor screening, receptor-ligand affinity ultrafiltration and enzymic reaction kinetics technologies were employed for the rapid screening and structural identification of bioactive compounds and to verify the enzyme inhibition activity and mechanism of the compoundsMoreover, mol. docking and dynamic simulations were utilized to assess the effectiveness of the target, and the integration of exptl. and computational approaches facilitated a comprehensive anal. of the active compounds and their activities at four levels.To address the issues of low content and low extraction and separation efficiencies of bioactive compounds derived from centipedes, an activity-oriented complex preparation method (consecutive ultrasonic-assisted centrifugal extraction coupled online with UNIFAC countercurrent chromatog. and semi-high-performance liquid chromatog. (HPLC)) was developed for efficient extraction, online concentration, and complex separation of the identified AChE ligands.As a result, six active compounds, including cytidine, guanine, uracil, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and β-thymidine demonstrated significant binding affinity to the AChE active sites within 3 h.This study provided valuable insights into the active compounds of fried centipedes and their potential anti-Alzheimer's disease properties.These findings contribute to the advancement of animal food preparation methodologies by combining cutting-edge extraction techniques, biol. activity screening, and the development of AChE inhibitors from fried centipedes.Our method serves as a valuable reference for exploring and developing functional animal materials from diverse medicinal resources.