Shaoyan Wu^1,2, Jie Tian^1,2, Yiyan Wang^1,2, Muhammad Arif^1,2, Shuyao Wang^1,2, Jing Wang^1,2, Zhuoyao Yang^1,2, Ruhong Xu^1,2,*, Luhua Li^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3913-3924, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072229 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Wheat grain morphology, particularly grain length (GL) and width (GW), is a key determinant of yield. To improve the suboptimal grain dimensions of the local anthocyanin-rich variety Guizi 1 (GZ1), we crossed it with Zhongyan 96-3 (ZY96-3), an elite germplasm known for faster grain filling and superior grain size. A genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach was applied to an F₂ population of 110 individuals derived from GZ1 × ZY96-3, resulting in the identification of 23,134 high-quality SNPs. Most of the SNPs associated with GL and GW were clustered on chromosomes 2B, 3A, and 3B. QTL mapping for GL… More >

Sandra Pérez-Álvarez^1,*, Eduardo Fidel Héctor-Ardisana², Eduardo Sandoval Castro³, Erick H. Ochoa-Chaparro⁴, Luisa Patricia Uranga-Valencia¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3749-3803, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072135 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivation has progressed from early domestication and clonal propagation to modern, data-driven breeding that is reshaping viticulture and wine quality. Yet climatic and biotic constraints still impose heavy losses—downy mildew can reduce yields by ≈75% in humid regions and gray mold by 20–50%—sustaining the need for resistant cultivars. Producer selection, interspecific crossing, and formal improvement programs have generated ~10,000 varieties, although only a few dozen dominate global acreage. Conventional breeding has delivered fungus-resistant “PIWI” cultivars that retain ≥85% of the V. vinifera genome; in Austria, national PIWI varieties are gaining acceptance for combined… More >

Mustansar Mubeen¹, Yasir Iftikhar^1,*, Ganesan Vadamalai^2,3, Muhammad Aasim⁴, Muhammad Faiq⁵, Uthman Balgith Algopishi⁶, Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed^6,7

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3827-3843, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071555 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Citrus viroids are small non-coding RNA pathogens that pose a significant threat to global citrus production by reducing fruit yield, quality, and tree longevity. Several viroids, including Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd), and newly identified members such as Citrus Viroid VI (CVd-VI) and Citrus Viroid VII (CVd-VII) have been reported from diverse citrus-growing regions. These pathogens are transmitted mainly through vegetative propagation, contaminated tools, and occasionally via seed or pollen, making their management complex. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biology, structural diversity, transmission, symptomatology, detection,… More >

Nadezhda Golubkina^1,*, Pavel Poluboyarinov², Lyubov Skrypnik³, Agnieszka Sękara⁴, Otilia Cristina Murariu⁵, Gianluca Caruso⁶

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3861-3877, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070988 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Circadian biorhythms are fundamental in plant adaptability and development. To reveal the effect of organic and inorganic forms of Se, foliar treatments of dandelion with 0.26 mM Se solutions were practiced in two contrasting day times: in the morning with the highest levels of leaf Se and polyphenol (TP) and the lowest dry matter, and in the evening with the opposite characteristics. Compared to the control, the morning Se supply demonstrated a higher increase of root biomass (1.27–1.37 times), Se (1.82–2.85 times), TP content (1.42–1.44 times), and antioxidant activity (AOA) (1.47–1.48 times) than the evening… More > Graphic Abstract

Md. Injamum-Ul-Hoque^1,2, Md. Mahfuzur Rahman², Nayan Chandra Howlader³, Soosan Tavakoli⁴, Md. Mezanur Rahman⁵, Shahin Imran⁶, Mallesham Bulle⁷, S. M. Ahsan^2,4,*, Hyong Woo Choi^4,8,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3805-3826, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069827 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Cannabis sativa is highly valued for its use in fiber production, medicine, and recreational products. Its secondary metabolites (SM) are renowned for their wide range of health benefits and psychoactive properties. While much of the existing research has focused on cannabinoid production in the plant’s aerial parts, particularly the leaves and flowers, the root system remains understudied in terms of its SM profile. One promising in vitro approach for metabolite production involves the use of ‘hairy roots (HRs)’. These roots mimic the phytochemical profile of native roots but grow more efficiently and yield higher quantities of metabolites.… More >

Mussad Mohammed Al-Zahrani^*, Taher Maatallah

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 1883-1905, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.074656 - 31 December 2025

Abstract Conventional concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) face a persistent trade-off between high efficiency and high cost, driven by expensive multi-junction solar cells and complex active cooling systems. This study presents a computational investigation of a novel Multi-Focal Pyramidal Array (MFPA)-based CPV system designed to overcome this limitation. The MFPA architecture employs a geometrically optimized pyramidal concentrator to distribute concentrated sunlight onto strategically placed, low-cost monocrystalline silicon cells, enabling high efficiency energy capture while passively managing thermal loads. Coupled optical thermal electrical simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics demonstrate a geometric concentration ratio of 120×, with system temperatures maintained below More >

Guofeng Han, Chenxi Luo, Xin Liu, Yuanyuan Li, Yuling Cheng, Shuai Huang, Dan Huang^*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 1981-1999, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.074593 - 31 December 2025

Abstract Bananas are highly perishable after harvest, and processing them into dried products is a crucial approach to reducing losses and adding their economic values. To address the inefficiency and prolonged duration of traditional hot air drying (HAD) and the quality inconsistency associated with single infrared drying (IRD), this study proposed a novel hot air-infrared combined drying (HAD-IRD) strategy. The effects of HAD, IRD, and HAD-IRD on the drying kinetics, color, rehydration capacity, moisture diffusion mechanism, and sensory quality of banana slices were systematically investigated. The parameters of the combined drying process were optimized using an L₉(3³)… More >

Xiaoyan Zhuo¹, Yukun Ji¹, Yatao Ren^1,*, Xuehui Wang², Hong Qi¹

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 1701-1720, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.074045 - 31 December 2025

Abstract Flow and heat transfer characteristics during droplet impact on hot walls are pivotal for elucidating the mechanisms of spray cooling and exploring pathways for heat transfer enhancement. When the wall temperature exceeds the Leidenfrost point, a vapor film forms between the droplet and the wall, rendering the heat transfer process highly complex. Furthermore, for droplet impact on curved walls, the presence of curvature introduces additional factors that modify the spreading behavior of the droplet and necessitate in-depth analysis. Therefore, this work investigates the flow and heat transfer dynamics of droplet impact on hot planes and… More >

Dong Hu^1,2, Lingxing Hu³, Facheng Qiu^3,*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 1865-1882, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.073409 - 31 December 2025

Abstract With the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, ammonia nitrogen pollution in water bodies has become increasingly severe, making the development of efficient and low-consumption wastewater treatment technologies highly significant. This study employs three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the cavitation mechanisms and flow field characteristics in a novel jet impingement-negative pressure ammonia removal reactor. The simulation, validated by experimental pressure data with a high degree of consistency, utilizes the Mixture model, the Realizable k-ε turbulence model, and the Schnerr-Sauer cavitation model. The results demonstrate that the flow velocity undergoes a substantial acceleration within the… More > Graphic Abstract

Shuo Wang^1,2,*, Huiming Wang^1,2, Ying Zhang^1,2, Zhiqiang Zhang^1,3, Li Jia^1,2

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 1721-1740, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.073226 - 31 December 2025

Abstract This experimental investigation was conducted on the flow boiling performance of refrigerant R134a in two types of parallel microchannels: sintered porous microchannels (PP-MCs) and smooth parallel microchannels (SP-MCs). The tests were performed under controlled conditions including an inlet subcooling of 5 ± 0.2°C, saturation temperature of 33°C, mass fluxes of 346 and 485 kg/m²·s, and a range of heat fluxes. Key findings reveal that the sintered porous microstructure significantly enhances bubble nucleation, reducing the wall superheat required for the onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) to only 0.13°C compared to 2.2°C in smooth channels. The porous structure… More >