Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of close-to-nature transformation on the chemical composition and distribution evenness of soil organic carbon in subtropical coniferous plantations in south Asia, providing a reference for revealing the mechanism of soil organic carbon chemical stability under close-to-nature management in coniferous plantations. Method: This study focused on close-to-nature transformed stands of Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata, which were thinned and replanted with native broadleaf species (Quercus griffithii and Erythrophleum fordii), as well as untransformed pure stands as controls. Specifically, four plantation types were included: close-to-nature transformed P. massoniana plantation, P. massoniana control plantation, close-to-nature transformed C. lanceolata plantation and C. lanceolata control plantation. The ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to systematically analyze the chemical composition of organic carbon (alkyl C, O-alkyl C, aromatic C, carbonyl C) in soil, litter, and fine roots. The Pielou evenness index was used to assess the distribution evenness of various organic carbon components in the total organic carbon of soil, litter, and fine roots. Result: 1) The close-to-nature transformation significantly altered the organic carbon chemical composition in the litter, fine roots, and soil of P. massoniana plantation: In litter, the proportions of alkyl C increased while O-alkyl C and aromatic C decreased; in fine roots, alkyl C proportion increased while aromatic C proportion decreased; in soil, alkyl C proportion increased while O-alkyl C proportion decreased. However, the transformation had no significant effect on any organic carbon chemical components in litter, fine roots, or soil of C. lanceolata plantation. 2) In the transformed P. massoniana plantation, the alkyl C proportion/O-alkyl C proportion ratio (A/O-A) and the Pielou evenness index of carbon chemical composition in litter and soil significantly increased. 3) The transformation significantly increased soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), but did not significantly affect soil bacterial Chao1 diversity index and Shannon-Wiener diversity index. 4) Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that fine root alkyl C proportion and O-alkyl C proportion were the two most critical factors influencing SOC chemical composition, indicating that, compared to litter, the chemical composition of fine root organic carbon was the key factor leading to differences in SOC chemical composition between the transformed and pure plantation. Conclusion: The influence of close-to-nature transformation on the chemical stability of SOC displays notable species-specificity. Following transformation, the P. massoniana stand has a more uniform distribution of SOC chemical components, along with a significant increase in alkyl C proportion and the alkyl C proportion/O-alkyl C proportion ratio, effectively enhancing chemical stability of organic carbon. In contrast, no comparable effect has been observed in the transformed C. lanceolata stand.

Objective: Through the combined application of plants and biochar to repair soil cadmium pollution, the growth and physiological status of seedlings of two common northern tree species, Quercus variabilis and Fraxinus chinensis, and the differences in soil cadmium adsorption effects were explored after adding different proportions of biochar to simulated cadmium-contaminated soil. Method: A potted experiment was conducted on Q. variabilis and F. chinensis seedlings grown in simulated cadmium-contaminated soil. Different proportions of biochar (0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%) were added to the soil. The differences in seedling growth and physiological traits such as photosynthesis and antioxidant activities, as well as cadmium migration in the soil and seedlings were observed. The cadmium adsorption effects of Q. variabilis and F. chinensis and the remediation effects of biochar were analyzed. Result: 1) Cadmium contamination at 5 mg·L^?1 significantly decreased soil pH of Q. variabilis and F. chinensis by 10.8% and 11.7%, respectively. The height, ground diameter, and biomass of Q. variabilis seedlings decreased by 18.5%, 15.1%, and 38.9%, respectively. The height and biomass of F. chinensis seedlings increased by 3.9% and 12.6%, respectively, but the ground diameter decreased by 10.1%. The net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance of leaves of both tree species were inhibited. Antioxidant enzyme activities in Q. variabilis leaves decreased, while those in F. chinensis increased. 2) Biochar applications increased soil acidity and significantly reduced soil cadmium content, alleviating seedling stress. However, when the biochar application rate was increased to 10%, the growth and physiological indicators of seedlings decreased. 3) Q. variabilis and F. chinensis seedlings exhibited different cadmium adsorption behaviors in soil, with F. chinensis having a higher enrichment coefficient and Q. variabilis having a higher transport coefficient. Conclusion: When the biochar application ratio is 2.5%, the plants have the best adsorption effect on cadmium in the soil and the cadmium content in the soil is the lowest; when the biochar application ratio is 5%, it can effectively improve the growth of seedlings under cadmium pollution and ensure the stable growth of seedlings. The cadmium tolerance of F. chinensis is higher than that of Q. variabilis, and the seedlings have a stronger ability to adsorb cadmium.

Objective: This study aims to explore the genetic variation of growth traits and leaf water-soluble polysaccharides among eleven families of Cyclocarya paliurus, and select superior families with wide adaptability and stable traits, so as to provide high-quality germplasm materials for the oriented cultivation of C. paliurus leaf plantations. Method: Eleven trial plantations of C. paliurus families were established at three experimental sites in Yushan (Jiangxi Province), Shimen (Hunan Province), and Shaxian (Fujian Province). The tree height and ground diameter, leaf water-soluble polysaccharide content, leaf biomass production per plant, and leaf water-soluble polysaccharide accumulation per plant were determined for analyzing the genetic parameters of various traits in C. paliurus families. The GGE biplot analysis and multi-trait stability index (MTSI) were respectively used to comprehensively evaluate the accumulation of water-soluble polysaccharides in individual leaves using single and multiple indicators, and to directionally screen superior families with high polysaccharide accumulation. Result: 1) The results of experiments in multiple sites for many years showed that there existed the significant differences (P<0.01) in the tree height, ground diameter, leaf water-soluble polysaccharide content, and leaf biomass production among the tested families, and there were the significant interactions between plant genotypes and site environments. Especially, the leaf water-soluble polysaccharide content was not only influenced by genetics and site conditions, but also related to the tree age. 2) The results from the genetic parameter estimation revealed that there were noticeable differences in heritability of different traits in C. paliurus. Except for ground diameter with low heritability of 0.32, all other measured traits had high heritability. 3) Targeted on the high accumulation of leaf water-soluble polysaccharide per plant, two families (JZS27 and MC5) with high yield and stable yield were selected based on the GGE biplot analysis and multi-trait stability index. Conclusion: The growth traits, leaf water-soluble polysaccharide content, and accumulation of leaf water-soluble polysaccharide per plant in C. paliurus are influenced by both site environment and genotype, but there are significant variations in the heritability among different traits. Using GGE biplot analysis and MTSI, two superior families with the high accumulation of leaf water-soluble polysaccharide per plant, which are suitable for planting in different regions, have been successfully identified. Our results would provide an important basis for oriented cultivation of high-quality and efficient C. paliurus foliage use plantations.

Objective: Bamboo is an important forest plant resource with highly efficient photosynthetic carbon fixation ability. In photosynthesis, CO₂ fixation is catalyzed by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygen (Rubisco), while Rubisco activase (Rca) acts as a catalytic chaperone of Rubisco and facilitates CO₂ fixation. To clarify the function of Rcas in bamboo photosynthesis, the Rca genes in Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo), Bambusa amplexicaulis, and Olyra latifolia were identified and analyzed systematically across the whole genomes. Furthermore, the function of PeRca1-β and PeRca2-α in moso bamboo was focused on, in order to provide reference for elucidating the molecular mechanism of Rcas in bamboo photosynthesis. Method: The known Rca amino acid sequences in rice (Oryza sativa) were used as bait, BLASTP was performed in the genome databases of P. edulis, B. amplexicaulis, and O. latifolia to obtain homologous sequences of Rca in three different bamboo species, and then systematic analyses were conducted using bioinformatics method. The expression patterns of Rca genes in different tissues and leaves under different light conditions were analyzed by RT-qPCR. The subcellular localization of Rcas from moso bamboo was observed by laser confocal microscopy. The co-expression network of PeRcas was constructed based on transcriptome data. The regulatory relationship between transcription factor and PeRcas was verified by dual luciferase reporter (DLR) assay. The function of PeRcas was investigated by in-planta gene editing in moso bamboo leaves. Result: In this study, three, three, and two members of Rcas gene family were identified in moso bamboo, B. amplexicaulis and O. latifolia, respectively. Among them, PeRca3-α in moso bamboo and OlaRca2-α in O. latifolia had longer introns, and they were clustered into an independent branch in the phylogenetic tree, which might have evolved new functions. The subcellular localization experiment in tobacco epidermal cells confirmed that PeRcas were located in chloroplasts. RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of PeRcas in different tissues of moso bamboo were significantly different and their response to lighting time and intensity were also diverse. Among them, PeRca1-β and PeRca2-α had higher expression levels in leaves and were induced by light, while weak light and darkness inhibited their expression. Co-expression network analysis revealed that both PeRca1-β and PeRca2-α had higher correlation with PeGLK1-1, and DLR assay confirmed that PeGLK1-1 could directly bind to the promoters and activated their expression. After in-planta gene editing, the expression levels of PeRca1-β and PeRca2-α in bamboo leaves were significantly decreased, and both the photosynthetic electron transfer rate and actual photosynthetic quantum yield were significantly reduced. Conclusion: There are three Rca members in both moso bamboo and B. amplexicaulis, and two Rca members in O. latifolia, exhibiting high conservation in evolution. The expression levels of PeRcas are significantly higher in green tissues of moso bamboo, and are induced by light and inhibited by weak light and darkness. The expression of PeRca1-β and PeRca2-α is regulated by PeGLK1-1. In-planta gene editing can reduce the expression levels of PeRca1-β and PeRca2-α in moso bamboo leaves, leading to a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency and light energy utilization. These results provide evidence for revealing the function of Rcas in bamboo and have important reference value for fully elucidating the molecular mechanism of efficient photosynthetic carbon fixation in bamboo.

Objective: This study aims to screen efficient strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains with high efficiency against Hyblaea puera (Cramer), providing excellent biocontrol resources for its green prevention and control. Method: In this study, the bioactivity of 10 Bt strains against 3rd instar larvae of H. puera was determined. The similarities and differences between highly and low virulent strains were investigated in terms of parasporal crystal morphology, cry genotypes, and insecticidal crystal proteins using phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM), PCR-RFLP analysis combined with target gene fragment sequencing, and SDS-PAGE methods. Result: 1) All 10 Bt strains showed insecticidal activity against 3rd instar larvae of H. puera, among which 3 highly virulent strains, FJ-3, YN-1 and YN-2, had highly virulent and caused up to or close to 100% mortality to the insects within 48 hour, with LC₅₀ of the three strains were 1.51×10⁷ cfu·mL^?1、6.20×10⁶ cfu·mL^?1和2.22×10⁶ cfu·mL^?1, respectively, and the LT₅₀ of 22.14 h, 19.87 h and 17.04 h, respectively. 2) Through scanning electron microscopy observation, it was found that highly virulent strains were able to produce a variety of the parasporal crystals (3–4 types), mainly in bipyramidal and mosaic-shaped, while low virulent strains produced 1–2 types of crystals, mostly spherical and irregular. There were also differences in cry genotypes and insecticidal crystal protein molecular weight between the high and low virulent strains. Additionally, the cry genotypes of all the above-mentioned three highly virulent strains were cry1Aa, cry2Ab and cry1Ia. Conclusion: In this study, Bt strains FJ-3, YN-1, and YN-2 with strong pathogenicity against H. puera in mangrove ecosystems have been screened, and the analysis of their parasporal crystal characteristics and cry genotypes provides a reference for the molecular screening, exploration, and utilization of high-quality biocontrol resources in future research.

Objective: Through a comprehensive analysis of multiple ecological indicators, this study constructed a regional ecological security pattern in Bazhong, Sichuan Province by identifying key ecological sources and optimizing ecological corridors. The findings offer a scientific foundation for facilitating biological movement and sustaining biodiversity and ecological equilibrium in the Daba Mountains. Method: Those indicators, such as theimportance of regional ecosystem services, ecological sensitivity, and landscape connectivity, were chosen for determining the ecological source areas in Bazhong. Based on methods such as Linkage Pathways, Pinchpoint Mapper, and Barrier Mapper, the ecological niche resistance surface was calculated, the regional ecological corridors and nodes were identified, and the ecological security pattern of Bazhong was constructed. Result: The overall level of ecosystem services in Bazhong was relatively high, with higher levels in the north than in the south. The areas of high and extremely important ecosystem services were 2 147.13 and 2 607.24 km², respectively, mainly distributed in Nanjiang county, Tongjiang county, and Pingchang county. A total of 23 ecological source areas were identified in the entire region, with a total area of 2 484 km², accounting for 20% of the total area, mainly concentrated in the northern region. A total of 61 ecological corridors were identified, with a total length of 2 459 km, including 23 critical corridors and 38 general corridors. A total of 7 742 hm² of extremely important ecological protection areas were identified and determined, with 5 029 hm² of first level ecological barrier restoration areas, and 65 ecological fault points in the ecological network, which are key areas that need to be protected and restored in Bazhong ecosystem. Conclusion: The key conservation and restoration areas in Bazhong’s ecological network, which span four ecosystem types “forestland & mountains, cropland, high-density built-up areas, and rivers & lakes” are explicitly delineated. The proposed “One Screen, Two Belts, Three Zones” strategy for constructing the ecological security pattern presents a well-defined framework that clearly highlights these conservation and restoration priorities.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal variation characteristics and driving factors of vegetation coverage in the Horqin and Otindag sandy lands from 2000 to 2022, providing a scientific basis for the annihilation of the sandy lands of Horqin and Otindag. Method: Fraction of vegetation cover (FVC) was calculated using MODIS-EVI satellite data from 2000 to 2022. Trend analysis and geographical detectors were used to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics and driving factors influencing FVC in the Horqin and Otindag sandy lands. The Hurst index was used to predict future FVC trends in the two sandy lands. Result: 1) FVC in the Horqin and Otindag sandy lands exhibited increasing trends from 2000 to 2022, with annual growth rate of 0.0103 a^?1 and 0.0031 a^?1, respectively. 2) The area with a positive trend in FVC accounted for 92.49% of the Horqin sandy land, covering almost the whole region. The area with increasing vegetation coverage in the Otindag sandy land accounted for 70.70%, mainly distributed in its central, eastern, northern and southern parts. 3) The dominant driving factors affecting the change of vegetation coverage were land use type and agricultural productivity potential in the Horqin sandy land, and precipitation and temperature in the Otindag sandy land. Areas with Hurst index less than 0.50 accounted for most areas of the Horqin and Otindag sandy lands. Conclusion: Since 2000, remarkable achievements have been made in combating desertification in the Horqin and Otindag sandy lands, leading to improved vegetation growth. However, the driving factors behind vegetation changes differ between the two regions, and the Hurst index analysis indicates a significant risk of vegetation degradation in the future in the two sandy lands.

Objective: This study investigated the spatiotemporal changes of vegetation coverage and the driving factors in Inner Mongolia using a long-term vegetation dataset, aiming to provide technical support for restoration and improvement of local ecosystems. Method: Based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform MOD13Q1 V6.1 data, a new kernel normalized difference vegetation index (kNDVI) dataset was constructed for analyzing the spatiotemporal changes of vegetation coverage and its climate driving factors in Inner Mongolia from 2004 to 2023. Theil-Sen median trend analysis, Mann-Kendall test, and Hurst index were used to investigate the spatiotemporal variation characteristics and future development trends of vegetation coverage. The partial correlation analysis and complex correlation analysis were used to quantify the response intensity of kNDVI to temperature and precipitation, and combination with pixel scale attribution models was used to differentiate the relative contributions of the climate and non climate factors. Result: 1) The vegetation coverage in Inner Mongolia shows a pattern of high in the northeast and low in the west. From 2004 to 2023, the median vegetation coverage of kNDVI fluctuated between 0.089?0.130, and the mean fluctuated between 0.118?0.144, showing a stable trend. 2) In the past 20 years, 35.36% of the regional vegetation coverage in Inner Mongolia has improved, 49.95% of the regional vegetation coverage remains unchanged, and 14.69% of the vegetation coverage has degraded. In addition, 70.96% of vegetation coverage shows “unpredictable future trends”, and 29.04% of vegetation coverage shows “sustainability”. 3) Vegetation has a strong response to climate factors, with a stronger response to precipitation than temperature. At a confidence level of 0.05, 65.09% of vegetation coverage is driven by non-climatic factors, and 34.91% of vegetation coverage is driven by climate factors. Conclusion: There is obvious spatial heterogeneity in vegetation coverage in Inner Mongolia, and non-climatic factors play a dominant role in the changes of vegetation coverage, mainly distributed in most parts of Hulunbuir, Xing’an League, Ulanqab, Baotou, Hohhot, Bayannur, Wuhai, and Alxa. The change of vegetation coverage driven by climate factors is mainly occurred in the western part of Hulunbuir, the western part of Xing’an League, Xilingol, the central part of Ulanqab, the northern part of Hohhot, and the eastern part of Alxa.

Objective: The entire northeast region, including the Daxing’an Mountains, Xiaoxing’an Mountains, and Changbai Mountains, was taken as the research area, and the region is divided into five parts: the Daxing’an Mountains, Xiaoxing’an Mountains, Zhangguangcai Mountains, Changbai Mountains, and the Liaodong Mountainous area. The “region” was used as a dummy variable to evaluate the site quality of natural secondary forests in northeast China. The differences in the distribution patterns of site quality across different areas were compared and analyzed, in order to provide a scientific basis for forest management and planning. Method: In this study, 456 research plots with an area of 0.1 hm² in northeast China were selected as the data source. Dominant trees were screened using Assmann’s criteria, and the height of dominant trees weighted by the cross-sectional area of all tree species in the plot was used as the basic modeling data. The optimal guide curve was selected from seven commonly used theoretical growth equations. The generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) was used to derive the site form model, and the “region” was used as a dummy variable to construct a final dummy variable model. The coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) were used to assess the goodness of fit of the model. Finally, the site form values of each region were obtained according to the model and analyzed and compared to explore the distribution pattern of forest site productivity in northeast China. Result: The research results showed that R² of the site form model derived by the GADA was 0.307. However, after using “region” as a dummy variable, the R² values of each region increased significantly, and both the RMSE and MAE of the model decreased. The spatial distribution of forest site quality in northeast China showed significant heterogeneity, which is characterized as follows: highest site quality level (A) and high-intermediate site quality level (B) were mainly concentrated in the main areas of the Daxing’an Mountains and the Changbai Mountains. The proportion of the highest quality level (A) sites in the Daxing’an Mountains exceeded 90%, and the proportion of site quality levels increased from D to A. The proportion of C and D level sites in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains was over 80%, and the site quality in the south was significantly better than that in the north. A and B level sites in Zhangguangcai Mountains accounted for only 35.6%, and the site quality in the areas closer to the Changbai Mountains was better. In the Changbai Mountains, the proportion of A and B level sites exceeded 60%, and the overall site quality showed an upward trend. In the Liaodong Mountainous area, C and D level sites were dominant, and the spatial distribution showed the characteristic of improved quality in the areas adjacent to the Changbai Mountains. It can be seen that there are also significant differences in the distribution of site quality in different regions. Conclusion: This study has established a dummy variable site form model based on the GADA. The introduction of dummy variables enhances the model’s performance. Based on this, an assessment of the site quality of natural secondary forests in northeast China is conducted. The results of the site quality assessment indicate significant differences in site quality across different regions. This study provides theoretical support for achieving sustainable development of forest resources and ecological protection. In addition, this study also emphasizes that future research should comprehensively consider environmental factors in order to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic changes in forest ecosystems and provide guidance for forest management and conservation strategies.

Objective: The amount of Juglans regia (walnut) branches and leaves waste is large every year, and its arbitrary stacking is not conducive to the daily management of the orchard. This study aims to explore the suitability and feasibility of walnut branches and leaves composting, and screen suitable composting processes, so as to provide scientific basis for the resource utilization of organic waste and green ecological management of orchards. Method: Walnut branch and leaf waste and chicken manure were used as composting materials. Different composting material ratios (walnut branch and leaf waste: chicken manure ratio of 3∶7, 4∶6, and 5∶5, respectively) were set up, and effective microorganisms (EM), San'an microorganisms (SM), or no external microorganisms were added to each composting material ratio. During the composting process, the physico-chemical properties, bacterial community diversity and composition of samples from each treatment were measured, and the maturity of each composting treatment also was evaluated to ultimately determine the appropriate composting process. Result: 1) The treatment with addition of microbial agent entered the high-temperature stage earlier than the treatment without microbial agent added, and the decrease in moisture content, the EC value, total nutrient, total phosphorus, and total potassium content, as well as the total nutrient mass fraction of the heap were also higher. At the end of composting, the total nutrient content of BEM treatment reached 61.93±2.36 g·kg^–1,with an increase of 57.68% compared to the initial stage of composting, and was significantly higher than that of other treatments. 2) During the entire composting process, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes in each treatment was relatively higher. The diversity of bacterial communities showed an increasing trend at the early and late stages of composting. At the end of composting, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria treated with EM was higher; 3) There were significant differences in the bacterial genera composition among different treatments at different stages. At the early stage, the relative abundance of Luteimonas, Pusilimonas, B-42, and Georgenia was higher. In the later stage, the relative abundance of Streptomyces, Actinomadura, and Parapedobacter increased. By the end of composting, the relative abundance of Actinomadura in BEM treatment reached as high as 40.00%. 4) According to the multiple indicators of physical, chemical, and biological parameters and the national organic fertilizer standard, the composting of all treatment groups was able to mature within 45 days. The BEM treatment achieved the best composting performance. Without external microbial agents added, the nutrient content and maturity were higher when the material ratio was 3∶7. Conclusion: Walnut branch and leaf waste can be used as composting raw materials, which can be decomposed in about 45 days. The optimal composting process is a material ratio of 4∶6 and inoculation with 0.2% EM.

Objective: This study aims to obtain a set of co-cultured wood rot fungi that can efficiently inhibit the growth of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the research and development of a new environmentally friendly treatment way of wood stumps infected by B. xylophilus. Method: Seventeen co-cultured wood rot fungi were used as the object, and the inhibition rates during co-cultivation of white rot fungi (W) and brown rot fungi (B) were measured as preliminary screening criteria, and 15 groups of co-cultured fungi were obtained. The mortality of B. xylophilus in co-cultured fungal cultures was observed and calculated to identify B. xylophilus-inhibiting fungi. Pinus koraiensis and P. massoniana blocks were inoculated into jars with co-cultured fungi, and degradation rates were evaluated after specific periods. The selected optimal co-cultured fungi W5473 (Lenzites betulinus):B80995 (Fomitopsis pinicola) were analyzed via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to clarify the wood degradation status of P. koraiensis and P. massoniana. The co-cultured wood rot fungi were used as a microbial agent and applied in woodland trials, and the changes in B. xylophilus populations and stump degradation rates were counted and statistically analyzed to obtain the application effect of the microbial agent in the forest. Result: 1) Among 17 groups of co-cultured wood rot fungi, 2 groups exhibited sustained mutual inhibition throughout the cultivation process. The remaining 15 groups of co-cultured wood rot fungi without mutual inhibition were selected for further testing. 2) Among the 15 groups of co-cultured wood rot fungi obtained from the preliminary screening experiment, 9 groups achieved 100% inhibitory effect on B. xylophilus, and 14 groups caused the mortality rates of B. xylophilus more than 88%. At 30, 60, and 90 days of degradation of P. koraiensis and P. massoniana by co-cultured wood rot fungi, the degradation rate of W5473:B80995 was significantly higher than that of other co-cultured wood rot fungi. Based on the experimental results of the mortality of B. xylophilus and the degradation performance of wood blocks, the fungi W5473:B80995 were selected for the further experiment. 3) The fungi W5473:B80995 degraded P. massoniana more efficiently than P. koraiensis. Lignin degradation was slower than cellulose and hemicellulose. By day 90, hemicellulose degradation was complete, P. massoniana cellulose degradation slowed and stabilized, while P. koraiensis cellulose maintained higher degradation rates. Conclusion: The optimal co-cultured fungi W5473:B80995 have been screened from 17 candidates, and their suppression rate against B. xylophilus reaches 96.7%. At 90 days, the degradation rate of P. koraiensis reaches 37.58%, and of P. massoniana reaches 49.88%, showing strong application potential. The fungi W5473:B80995 have higher degradation efficiency for P. massoniana than for P. koraiensis. The decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose degradation is concentrated in early-mid phases, while lignin remains recalcitrant. Degradation tends to stabilize in later phases for P. massoniana. After treatment with co-cultured wood rot fungi, B. xylophilus populations and stump mass are significantly reduced in the woodland applications. And B. xylophilus reduction is positively correlated to stump degradation rates.

Objective: This study aims to describe a new species, Chinolyda cupressi Wei, sp. nov., that feeds on cypress, clarify its biological characteristics, and distinguish it from a similar species, Chinolyda flagellicornis Smith, 1860. Additionally, it seeks to resolve previous misidentifications and explore its differences in morphology and ecological adaptation from C. flagellicornis, as well as its speciation mechanisms. Method: A detailed morphological analysis was conducted on C. cupressi, focusing on its antennae, wings, and genitalia. Furthermore, genetic distance calculations, gene order analysis, and phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial protein-coding genes were performed to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships and genetic differences between the two species. Result: This study found that C. cupressi exhibits distinct morphological traits, including antenna 33–34 segmented, flagellum of male antenna almost entirely black; inner margin of the large apical maculae in the fore wing just reaching vein 2r, cell 1M in male without black macula and only the outer third of the hind wing in male black; vein Sc1and Sc2 far away from the base of vein Rs+M, 1R1 much shorter than cell 1M, its length is about equal to its height; petiole of the anal cell in hind wing distinctly shorter than vein cu-a; sheath in lateral view long and narrow; apex of the subgenital plate in male obtusely rounded, penis valve with narrow and flat apical process; frontal basin in both sexes large and deep. Biological observations indicated that the host plant for this species is cypress (Cupressus funebris). C. cupressi sp. nov. exhibits aunivoltine life cycle in Chongqing and Hubei Provinces, with adult emergence peaking in early April and egg hatching occurring from late April to early May. Larvae are predominantly present from mid to late May. Assembling the mitochondrial genome revealed that the trnI(+)-trnQ(?)-trnM(+) cluster of C. cupressi and C. flagellicornis was rearranged to trnM(+)-trnI(+)-trnQ(?) cluster, and phylogenetic analysis showed that they form a monophyletic group with a close relationship. Genetic distance analysis indicated that the genetic differences between C. cupressi and C. flagellicornis were significantly greater than those within each species, with C. cupressi exhibiting a notably higher AT content than C. flagellicornis, supporting their classification as sister species. Conclusion: The new species reported, C. cupressi, shows morphological differences from its closely related species, C. flagellicornis. There are also significant differences in mitochondrial genomes between the two species. The specimen of this new species is preserved in the Asian Sawfly Museum, Nanchang, China (ASMN).

Objective: This study aims to explore the population changes and migration patterns of Emberiza rustica (rustic bunting), so as to provide a scientific basis for assessing population dynamics and developing conservation management strategies for this species. Method: The data from the Qinhuangdao Bird Banding Station from 1999 to 2020 were used to analyze the population dynamics and migration timing of rustic buntings. The Berger-Parker dominance index was employed to reflect the number of rustic buntings captured per unit net catch effort, thereby measuring the annual population size index. Result: A total of 5257 rustic buntings were netted over the 22 consecutive years. The results indicated that the population of rustic buntings migrating through Qinhuangdao exhibited a notable growth trajectory though with fluctuations. The migration process of rustic buntings in spring was significantly faster than that in autumn, and the autumn migration phenology exhibited a delayed trend. The adults migrated earlier than sub-adults in spring, and there was no significant difference in the migration timing between male and female birds in the two seasons. Conclusion: Over the 22 years, the number of rustic buntings captured via mist-netting in Qinhuangdao has significantly increased, which contrasts with the overall population trend along the migration route. The reason for this regional increasing trend may be that climate change has led to the northward expansion of more individuals to Qinhuangdao for wintering. Male and female rustic buntings exhibit differential migration patterns in spring, while their autumn migration is delayed due to the influence of climate change.

Objective: This study aims to explore the influence mechanism of different raw material sources and pyrolysis temperatures on the physicochemical properties of forest residue biochar, providing a theoretical basis for the directional preparation of forest residue-based biochar. Method: In this study, branches of Populus spp. (poplar), Eucalyptus robusta (eucalyptus), Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese fir), and Pinus massoniana (masson pine) were selected as raw materials, and biochar was prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures of 300, 400, 500, and 600 ℃. The biochar was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and other methods to analyze its physicochemical properties such as pore structure and surface functional groups. Result: The results showed that the pyrolysis temperature significantly affected the physicochemical properties of the biochar derived from forest residues. As the pyrolysis temperature increased from 300 ℃ to 600 ℃, the yield of biochar from the branches of poplar, eucalyptus, Chinese fir, and masson pine all showed a decreasing trend. The biochar from Chinese fir branches had the highest specific surface area of 449.65 m²·g^–1 at 600 ℃, with the largest micropore volume and micropore-specific surface area. Biochar produced from Chinese fir and masson pine had higher specific surface areas and porosity, while biochar from poplar and eucalyptus had lower specific surface area and porosity. The thermal loss behavior of biochar from masson pine and Chinese fir was similar, showing that the biochar prepared at 300 ℃ had the poorest thermal stability, while that prepared at 600 ℃ had the best stability. In addition, the XRD spectra of biochar from Chinese fir and masson pine showed weak diffraction peaks of CaCO₃, indicating that their calcite content and crystallinity were relatively low. Conclusion: This study elucidates the response mechanisms of four typical biochars from different forest residues to different pyrolysis temperatures. It also reveals that both pyrolysis temperature and raw material type are key factors affecting the biochar yield and physicochemical properties. By effectively controlling the pyrolysis temperature and raw materials, biochar with different functions can be tailored to meet the specific needs of various fields, providing a new pathway for the resource utilization of forest residues.

Objective: To address the low efficiency and strong subjectivity of manual visual grading for structural sawn timber, this study selected Pinus densiflora structural sawn timber and developed a deep-learning-based online knot detection method, providing technical support for improving the automation and accuracy of structural sawn timber grading. Method: Based on the YOLO network, a knot-detection model was built that incorporates the efficient layer aggregation network (ELAN) and an image stitching, segmentation, and fusion scheme guided by SIFT features, strengthening the adaptability of the machine-vision defect-detection system to sawn-timber grading and other complex on-line vision tasks. Multi-scale prediction and loss-function minimization suppress background clutter and noise, enabling accurate classification and localization losses and thus raising knot-detection accuracy while optimizing task-specific performance. Result: In the industrial production application site, the test results showed that the identification and defect detection accuracy of knots on the surface of lumber is 90.97%, with a missed detection rate of 9.03%. The average detection accuracy of knot defect location X and Y was 86.29%, the average detection accuracy of knot defect size L and W was 85.95%, and the detection speed could reach 20–30 m·min^?1, which meets the practical application of wooden product processing line. Conclusion: In this study, the deep learning method is suitable for lumber detection in practical application, reducing the subjectivity of manual inspection and improving the accuracy and efficiency of inspection. Machine vision detection technique promotes the innovation and development of wood grading technology, improves the quality of wood processing industry, and improves the technical level of wood structure construction industry.

Objective: To clarify the significance of digital new quality productivity in advancing the construction of a modern industrial system with Chinese characteristics, to elucidate the mechanisms by which digital new quality productivity promotes the high-quality development of the forestry industry in mountainous areas, to enrich and advance the theoretical and policy research connotations of forestry new productivity. This provides support for improving the policy framework for high-quality development of the forestry industry. Method: Based on panel data from 26 counties in the mountainous areas of Zhejiang Province from 2011 to 2022, this study employs mediation effect models and panel threshold effect models to explore the impact and mechanisms of digital new quality productivity development on the high-quality development of the forestry industry. Result: 1) The baseline regression analysis shows that digital new quality productivity significantly enhances the high-quality development level of the forestry industry in mountainous areas. 2) The mechanism analysis shows that digital new quality productivity promotes the high-quality development level of the forestry industry through pathways such as production factor optimization, forestry human capital accumulation, and technological innovation. 3) The heterogeneity analysis shows that among the three dimensions of digital new quality productivity, only digital labors and digital labor objects significantly enhance the high-quality development lever of forestry industry, while digital labor materials have no significant effect; the development level of digital new quality productivity significantly improves the optimization of forestry industry structure and upgrading of forestry industry structure; digital new quality productivity enhances the high-quality development of forestry industry in both spanning development counties and ecological development counties, with better effects observed in spanning development counties. 4) The threshold effect analysis shows that the positive effect of digital new quality productivity on the high-quality development of forestry industry is only activated when government support levels surpass the threshold value; as informatization levels exceed the threshold, the positive impact of digital new quality productivity on forestry industry high-quality development gradually weakens. Conclusion: The digital new quality productivity significantly enhances the high-quality development of forestry industry in the 26 mountainous counties of Zhejiang Province. Production factor optimization, forestry human capital accumulation, and technological innovation play significant mediating roles. To fully leverage the role of digital new quality productivity in promoting high-quality development of the forestry industry, it is essential to prioritize investments in digital infrastructure and specialized talent, implement differentiated policies based on regional variations, enhance the efficiency of digital resource utilization in ecological development counties, and ensure that informatization aligns with industrial needs. Efforts should focus on improving government support levels to further unlock the potential of digital new quality productivity, driving forestry industry structure optimization and upgrading, and fostering exemplary models of digital new quality productivity empowering high-quality development of forestry industry.

Objective: Against the backdrop of accelerating integration between the new wave of digital intelligence revolution and forestry development, this study investigates the impact mechanisms of forestry digitalization and intellectualization on forestry new quality productive forces, aiming to offer a scientific basis for advancing forestry development through digital intelligence. Method: Based on the panel data of 29 provinces in China from 2011 to 2022, the evaluation indicator system of forestry digitalization and intellectualization and forestry new quality productive forces were constructed and their development levels were measured by the dynamically improved TOPSIS method based on relative entropy distance. Two-way fixed-effects model, mediated-effects model, threshold-effects model and spatial Durbin model were used to analyze the impact mechanisms of forestry digitalization and intellectualization on forestry new quality productive forces. Result: 1) Forestry new quality productive forces and digital intelligence levels in China’s 29 provinces demonstrated fluctuating upward trend with pronounced regional disparities. 2) Forestry digitalization and intellectualization can significantly contribute to the development of forestry new quality productive forces; there is a threshold effect based on the upgrading of forestry industry structure for the promotion of forestry new quality productive forces by forestry digitalization and intellectualization. 3) Forestry digitalization and intellectualization can indirectly promote the development of forestry new quality productive forces by promoting the upgrading of forestry industry structure, the innovation of production factor allocation and the enhancement of forestry ecological efficiency. 4) The positive impact of forestry digitalization and intellectualization on new quality productive forces is more pronounced in eastern region, high-level region of forestry digitalization and intellectualization, and forestry processing-manufacturing region. 5) Forestry new quality productivity has significant spatial agglomeration characteristics, and forestry digitalization and intellectualization demonstrates positive spatial spillover effects on forestry new quality productivity. Conclusion: Forestry digitalization and intellectualization in China’s 29 provinces has significantly contributed to the development of forestry new quality productive forces. It is necessary to strengthen technological R&D and innovation, increase forestry digitalization and intellectualization investment and professional personnel training, promote the upgrading of forestry production factors and optimization of industrial structure, and enhance ecological efficiency; strengthen the forestry industry cooperation and exchange in neighboring regions, and promote regional synergistic development. Concurrently, policy formulation must account for regional characteristics, the level of digital intelligence and industrial structure disparities to implement tailored interventions, leveraging forestry digitalization and intellectualization to empower the development of new quality productive forces.

Objective: This study examines the influence mechanism of rural digitization on the forestry new quality productivity. It aims to provide theoretical foundation for promoting effective digital technology applications in forestry and achieving forestry high-quality development. Method: Based on panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2012 to 2022, evaluation index systems for rural digitalization and forestry new quality productivity are constructed. A two-way fixed effect model is employed to analyze the influence mechanism and spatial heterogeneity of rural digitalization on forestry new quality productivity. Result: 1) From 2012 to 2022, China’s rural digitalization level shows a sustained upward trend, while forestry new quality productivity level exhibits fluctuating growth but remains significant room for improvement. 2) China’s rural digitalization significantly influences forestry new quality productivity, with distinct regional disparities. The intensity of this effect follows a gradient pattern of western > central > eastern regions, where the western region benefits from a notable latecomer advantage. 3) The influence mechanism of rural digitalization on forestry new quality productivity exhibits a“digital + technological”dual-wheel drive. However, due to asynchronous development between digitalization and green transformation, its impact on forestry green productivity is currently insignificant. Conclusion: Enhancing rural digitalization can promote forestry new quality productivity to varying degrees. Green productivity represents a critical breakthrough and focus for enhancing forestry new quality productivity in the future. The government should adhere to green ecological development principles, increase investments in rural digital infrastructure, and drive significant improvements in green productivity through the combined forces of digital technology and data elements. Simultaneously, dynamic and differentiated regional forestry development strategies should be implemented, such as exploring gradient compensation mechanisms for forestry digitalization policies based on spatial heterogeneity and establishing a digital“forest ranger system”governance framework, to drive high-quality forestry development.

Lymantriinae moths are highly destructive pests with a broad global distribution and strong reproductive capacity, often causing huge losses to agricultural and forestry production. Insect sex pheromones are characterized by high specificity, sensitivity, safety to natural enemies, and environmental friendliness, making them highly valuable for pest management. Worldwide, sex gland extracts from 42 Lymantriinae species have been measured and analyzed, and a total of 55 sex pheromone components have been identified. These components are primarily classified as TypeⅡ and Type Ⅲ, with only the sex pheromones of the genus Euproctis, being Type I. The chemical constituents of sex pheromones in Lymantriinae insects exhibit intricate structural features, including unsaturated double bonds, epoxy groups, methyl side chains, and multiple isomers, posing considerable challenges for identification. The specificity of their sex pheromones in Lymantriinae insects maintains reproductive isolation between species, and minor variations in pheromone component ratios or isomeric forms can significantly alter biological activity. By comparing and analyzing the identified sex pheromone components of Lymantriinae insects, it was found that there is a high degree of overlap among species within the same genus, and even some different species share identical pheromone components with only different proportions. Additionally, some components even occur in the insects of multiple genera. Although significant progress has been made in the study of Lymantriinae sex pheromones in China, a gap remains compared with international research. This paper conducts a systematic comparison and analysis of the sex pheromones in Lymantriinae, which would provide reference for future efforts in pheromone identification, chemical synthesis, and practical pest control, and promote the development of eco-friendly management strategies for Lymantriinae pests in China.

In recent years, China’s fruit and forestry industry is booming, fruit and tree planting scale continues to expand, the forestry industry structure is increasingly perfect. However, the level of mechanization of tree pruning operations is still insufficient, and the lack of tree pruning equipment and related supporting equipment is prominent, which restricts the high-quality development of the forest and fruit industry. This paper analyses the development history and current situation of tree pruning mechanization at home and abroad, and discusses the basic structure and technical characteristics of domestic tree pruning machine. Firstly, it describes the main technology and equipment of human hand-held forest fruit tree pruning, and discusses the applicability and operational efficiency under different operating conditions. Secondly, the application of lifting platform-assisted forest fruit tree pruning technology and equipment is introduced, and its advantages in improving pruning operation efficiency and safety are analysed. Once again, intelligent pruning technology is introduced, and the pruning robot integrates the application of image recognition technology and three-dimensional reconstruction technology to discriminate the spatial position of branches, intelligently plan the pruning path, and control the end-effector to realise the automated pruning operation. Finally, it points out the problems in the development of domestic pruning mechanization, puts forward the development of applicable models and equipment for the integration of agro-mechanics and agronomy, promotes the application of a new generation of artificial intelligence pruning technology, improves the support policies for the forest and fruit industry, and attaches importance to the training of professional talents and other development suggestions.

Objective: The genetic diversity and genetic structure of Robinia pseudoacacia populations were studied by fluorescent SSR molecular marker technique, and the core germplasm resources were preliminarily screened, in order to provide some theoretical references for scientific management and conservation of R. pseudoacacia germplasm resources, accurate construction of the core germplasm resource bank and effective improvement of breeding efficiency. Method: The genetic diversity and genetic structure of 323 R. pseudoacacia germplasm populations from 6 provenance regions of Appalachia in USA, Beijing, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi and Liaoning were analyzed using 17 pairs of fluorescent SSR primers. The software Gene Marker 2.2.0 and POPGENE32 were used to calculate and observed allele number (N_a), effective allele number (N_e), observed heterozygosity (H_o), expected heterozygosity (H_e), Shannon information index (I), Nei’s gene diversity index (H) and inter-population F value. The polymorphism information content (PIC) value was obtained by PowerMaker software. The software Structure was used to analyze the population structure of R. pseudoacacia, and the Evanno2005 method in Python 3 algorithm was used to infer and divide the best genetic groups. The least distance step-up sampling method (LDSS) was used to construct the core germplasm and optimize it. The representativeness of the optimized core germplasm bank was verified by t test. Result: A total of 135 alleles were amplified from 323 R. pseudoacacia germplasm resources. Through calculation and analysis, the results showed that the average value of allele number (N_a) amplified by each primer pair was 7.941, the average value of effective allele number (N_e) was 2.808, the average value of Shannon information index (I) was 1.200, the average value of observed heterozygosity (H_o) was 0.191, the average value of expected heterozygosity (H_e) was 0.588, the average value of Nei’s diversity index (H) was 0.589, and the average value of polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.544, indicating that the genetic diversity of R. pseudoacacia population was high. According to the analysis of 6 geographical source populations of R. pseudoacacia, the highest genetic diversity was in Liaoning and the lowest was in Beijing. There were 6 geographical sources of 323 R. pseudoacacia germplasm resources, which could be divided into 2 subgroups, and the gene variation mainly existed among germplasm resources individuals. The LDSS was used to determine the optimal proportion of the initial core germplasm collection of 20% and the optimized core germplasm collection of 23.220%. After optimizing the core germplasm resource collection, 248 retained germplasm, 63 initial core germplasm and 12 supplementary germplasm were identified. A total of 75 core germplasm were screened, including 6 in Beijing, 8 in Henan, 17 in Appalachia of USA, 8 in Shanxi, 29 in Shandong and 7 in Liaoning. The retention rate of N_a was 100.00%, and N_e, I, H_o, H_e and H increased by 0.423, 0.245, 0.267, 0.192 and 0.197, respectively. The t test showed that the core germplasm collection could fully represent the genetic diversity of the original germplasm resource populations. Conclusion: The genetic diversity of 323 R. pseudoacacia germplasm resources is at a high level, and there is no significant correlation between genetic structure and geographical origin. The preliminarily constructed core germplasm collection can provide a reference for further resource conservation and efficient utilization.