Genome-wide identification of cuticle protein superfamily in Frankliniella occidentalis provide insight into the control of both insect vectors and plant virus.

The structural cuticle proteins (CPs) play important roles in the development and fitness of insects. However, knowledge about CP gene superfamily is limited in virus-transmitting insect vectors, although its importance on transmission of plant virus has been gradually emphasized. In this study, the genome-wide identification of CP superfamily was conducted in western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis that is the globally invasive pest and plant virus vector pest. The pest transmits notorious tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) around the world, causing large damage to a wide array of plants. One hundred and twenty-eight F. occidentalis CP genes (FoCPs) were annotated in this study and they were classified into 10 distinct families, including 68 CPRs, 16 CPAP1s, 6 CPAP3s, 2 CPCFCs, 10 Tweedles, 4 CPFs, 16 CPLCPs, and 6 CPGs. The comprehensive analysis was performed including phylogenetic relationship, gene location and gene expression profiles during different development stages of F. occidentalis. Transcriptome analysis revealed more than 30% FoCPs were upregulated at least 1.5-fold when F. occidentalis was infected by TSWV, indicating their potential involvement in TSWV interactions. Our study provided an overview of F. occidentalis CP superfamily. The study gave a better understand of CP's role in development and virus transmission, which provided clues for reducing viral damages through silencing CP genes in insect vectors.

Nitrogen Footprint of a Recycling System Integrated with Cropland and Livestock in the North China Plain.

Nitrogen-based pollution from agriculture has global environmental consequences. Excessive use of chemical nitrogen fertilizer, incorrect manure management and rural waste treatment are key contributors. Circular agriculture combining cropland and livestock is an efficient channel to reduce the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers, promote the recycling of livestock manure, and reduce the global N surplus. The internal circulation of organic nitrogen resources in the cropland-livestock system can not only reduce the dependence on external synthetic nitrogen, but also reduce the environmental impacts of organic waste disposal. Therefore, this study tried to clarify the reactive nitrogen emissions of the crop-swine integrated system compared to the separated system from a life cycle perspective, and analyze the reasons for the differences in nitrogen footprints of the two systems. The results showed that the integrated crop production and swine production increased the grain yield by 14.38% than that of the separated system. The nitrogen footprints of crop production and swine production from the integrated system were 12.02% (per unit area) and 19.78% lower than that from the separated system, respectively. The total nitrogen footprint of the integrated system showed a reduction of 17.06%. The reduction was from simpler waste manure management and less agricultural inputs for both chemical fertilizer and raw material for forage processing. In conclusion, as a link between crop planting and pig breeding, the integrated system not only reduces the input of chemical fertilizers, but also promotes the utilization of manure, increases crop yield, and decreases environmental pollution. Integrated cropland and livestock is a promising model for agriculture green and sustainable development in China.

Effects of different agricultural organic wastes on soil GHG emissions: During a 4-year field measurement in the North China Plain.

Large quantities and many varieties of agricultural organic wastes are produced in China annually. Applying agricultural organic wastes to soil plays an essential role in coping with the environmental pollution from agricultural wastes, solving the energy crisis and responding global climate change. But there is little information available on the effects of different agricultural organic wastes on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objectives of this study were to investigate and compare the impacts of different organic wastes on soil GHG emissions during a 4-year field experiments in the North China Plain, as well as analyze the influential factors that may be related to GHG emissions. The treatments were: crop straw (CS), biogas residue (BR), mushroom residue (MR), wine residue (WR) and pig manure (PM) returning to soil, as well as a control with no organic waste applied to soil but chemical fertilizer addition only (CF). The results showed that compared with CF treatment, organic material applied to soil significantly increased GHG emissions and emissions followed the order of WR(27,961.51 kg CO2-eq/ha/yr) > PM(26,376.50 kg CO2-eq/ha/yr) > MR(23,366.60 kg CO2-eq/ha/yr) > CS(22,434.44 kg CO2-eq/ha/yr) > BR (22,029.04 kg CO2-eq/ha/yr) > CF(17,402.77 kg CO2-eq/ha/yr), averagely. And considering the affecting factors, GHG emissions were significantly related to soil temperature and soil water content. Different organic wastes also affected soil total organic carbon (TOC), microbial carbon (MBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents, which related to GHG emissions. Further analysis showed that characteristics of organic wastes affected GHG emissions, which included C-N ratio, lignin, polyphenol, cellulose and hemicellulose. Our study demonstrates that biogas residue returning to soil emitted minimum GHG emissions among these different types of organic wastes, which provided a better solution for applying organic wastes to mitigate soil GHG emissions.