Research Progress

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  Chinese Scientists Reveal Microbiome-host Co-oscillationPatterns in Goat From Birth to Puberty

  A new study led by Prof. Tan Zhiliang from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has unveiled intricate coordination mechanisms between ruminal mucosal microbiota and host epithelial cells across developmental phases. This study, published in SCIENCE CHINA-Life Sciences on February 11, could pave the way for increasing livestock survival and productivity through targeted microbiome stewardship during critical windows. Wu Jian serves as the first author of this paper, while Jiao Jinzhen and Zhou Chuanshe are the corresponding authors.

  Feb 14, 2025
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  Researchers Reveal Microbial Mechanism Behind Low Methane Emissions in Ruminant Hindgut

  A research team led by Prof. Tan Zhiliang from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has uncovered the microbial mechanisms underlying the low methane emission trait in the hindgut of ruminants. Their groundbreaking study, titled “Reductive acetogenesis is a dominant process in the ruminant hindgut” was recently published in the prestigious microbiology journal Microbiome​ on January 28.

  Feb 11, 2025
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  Stable Soil Biota Networks Are Beneficial for Improving Soil Ecosystem Function, Study

  A researcher team led by Prof. WANG Kelin from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a regional scale sampling in a karst region in southern China. Recently, they have revealed how intensive agriculture affects the complexity and stability of soil biota networks, and how these effects are linked to soil functions. Their study was published in Global Change Biology on January 22.

  Jan 26, 2025
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  Muscle-Adipose Tissue Crosstalk Regulate Lipid Deposition in Pig

  A research team led by Prof. Yin Yulong from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, investigated the metabolic difference of longissimus dorsi muscle between Taoyuan black pigs and Duroc pigs at different ages, and revealed the mechanism of muscle-adipose tissue interaction mediated by muscle-derived secretory metabolites.

  Jan 14, 2025
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  Sediment Hardening Effect Obviously on Submerged Plants in Dongting Lake Area

  A research team led by Professor Xie Yonghong from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted field investigations and controlled experiments to analyze the characteristics of sediment hardening and its impacts on the growth of submerged plants. At the time, they explored various sediment remediation measures to promote the growth of submerged vegetation. Their new findings were recently published in Plant and soil and Frontiers in Plant Science.

  Dec 24, 2024
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  Simultaneous Reduction Cadmium and Arsenic accumulation in Rice Grains by EDTA·Na2Fe

  Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As), the two main inorganic pollutants in arable land in China, have strong biological toxicity and soil availability. It is easy to accumulate in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and affect health after entering the human body through the food chain. Iron fertilizer has been widely used to reduce Cd content in rice. Compared with inorganic iron fertilizer, chelated iron fertilizer has a better effect on reducing Cd accumulation in rice.

  Dec 10, 2024
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  New Insights Into the Trade-Off Between Soil Organic Carbon Formation and Stability

  Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems, playing a vital role in climate regulation and ecosystem sustainability. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) refers to the proportion of assimilated carbon retained in microbial biomass. High CUE promotes SOC formation by driving microbial growth and the production of necromass through microbial death. Meanwhile, the stabilization of microbial necromass by soil aggregates and minerals enhances SOC stability. Thus, SOC accumulation involves two fundamental processes: SOC formation and stability.

  Nov 21, 2024
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  Human Disturbance Intensified the Erosion and Sediment Production of Karst Depressions During the Historical Period, New Study

  Recently, the research team led by Prof. Wang Kelin from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences pioneeringly analyze the surface process and the causes of human disturbance in the watershed in the historical period based on the filling process in karst depression and the historical environmental information of sediment. An important progress was made in the impact of human disturbance on soil erosion in the karst region of southwest China during the historical period.

  Sep 27, 2024
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  How the Rock Plant Absorb Rock Moisture to Maintain Transpiration

  In the previous studies, Prof. Chen Hongsong from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of Chinese Academy of Sciences, led the team to found that some plants in the soil-dominated habitat (called soil plants) usually preferred to absorb the shallow layer water, while in the rock-dominated habitat others (called rock plants) could rely on deep layer water to alleviate water stress. “Now, we try to quantified the effects of soil and epikarst water on transpiration based on the physiological characteristics of root and leaf in karst region in southwest China.” Prof. Chen said.

  Sep 26, 2024
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  Precipitation Sensitivity Thresholds Clarified for Vegetation Growth in Karst

  Large-scale ecological projects have significantly “greened” the karst region in Southwest China over the past 20 years. However, the fragile geological setting, the frequent occurrence of extreme droughts in recent years, in the context of global climate change, has increased uncertainty and risk in the recovery and growth of vegetation.

  Sep 12, 2024