MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one class of endogenous non-coding RNAs modulating the expression of target genes involved in plant development and stress tolerance, by degrading mRNA or repressing translation. In this study, small RNA and mRNA degradome sequencing were used to identify low- and high-temperature stress-responsive miRNAs and their targets in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Cotton seedlings were treated under different temperature conditions (4, 12, 25, 35, and 42 °C) and then the effects were investigated. In total, 319 known miRNAs and 800 novel miRNAs were identified, and 168 miRNAs were differentially expressed between different treatments. The targets of these miRNAs were further analysed by degradome sequencing. Based on studies from Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, the majority of the miRNAs are from genes that are likely involved in response to hormone stimulus, oxidation-reduction reaction, photosynthesis, plant–pathogen interaction and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. This study provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms of plant response to extreme temperature stresses, and especially the roles of miRNAs under extreme temperatures.

The effects of both combined and single pollution of antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) in different concentrations on culturable soil microbial populations and enzyme activities were studied under laboratory conditions. Joint effects of both Sb and As were different from that of Sb or As alone. The inhibition rate of culturable soil microbial populations under Sb and As pollution followed the order: bacterial > fungi > actinomycetes. There existed antagonistic inhibiting effect on urease and acid phophatase and synergistic inhibiting effect on protease under the combined pollution of Sb (III) and As (III). Only urease appeared to be the most sensitive indicator under Sb (V) and As (V) pollution, and there existed antagonistic inhibiting effect on acid phophatase and synergistic inhibiting effect on urease and protease under Sb (V) and As (V) combined pollution at most time. In this study, we also confirmed that the trivalent states of Sb and As were more toxic to all the microbes tested and more inhibitory on microbial enzyme activities then their pentavalent counterparts. The results also suggest that not only the application rate of the two metalloids but also the chemical form of metalloids should be considered while assessing the effect of metalloid on culturable microbial populations and enzyme activities. Urease and acid phosphatase can be used as potential biomarkers to evaluate the intensity of Sb (III) and As (III) stress.

Cold stress is a key environmental factor that affects plant development and productivity. In this study, RNA-seq in cotton following cold-stress treatment resulted in the identification of 5239 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two cultivars with differing sensitivity to low temperatures, among which GhKCS13 was found to be involved in the response. Transgenic plants overexpressing GhKCS13 showed increased sensitivity to cold stress. KEGG analysis of 418 DEGs in both GhKCS13-overexpressing and RNAi lines after treatment at 4 °C indicated that lipid biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism were related to cold stress. ESI-MS/MS analysis showed that overexpression of GhKCS13 led to modifications in the composition of sphingolipids and glycerolipids in the leaves, which might alter the fluidity of the cell membrane under cold conditions. In particular, differences in levels of jasmonic acid (JA) in GhKCS13 transgenic lines suggested that, together with lysophospholipids, it might mediate the cold-stress response. Our results suggest that overexpression of GhKCS13 probably causes remodeling of lipids in the endoplasmic reticulum and biosynthesis of lipid-derived JA in chloroplasts, which might account for the increased sensitivity to cold stress in the transgenic plants. Complex interactions between lipid components, lipid signaling molecules, and JA appear to determine the response to cold stress in cotton.

Straw return is a beneficial agricultural practice but mechanisms and information on microbial community alterations initiated by decomposed straw and promotion of soil nutritive content and conservation is still not adequately understood. Therefore, the study applied molecular, bioinformatics, chemical and plant yield analysis to determine the effect of wheat straw return and decomposing agent on soil, fungi and crop yield characteristics under wheat biomass return with and without the inclusion of the decomposition agent at varying times. We hypothesized no difference in fungal community diversity and composition, no changes in soil characteristics as well as no changes in cotton growth characteristics between three different conditions (i) no straw return, (ii) straw return under decomposition agent and (iii) straw return under no decomposition agent. It involved analysis of changes in fungal community diversity and composition, changes in soil characteristics as well as changes in cotton growth characteristics under the different treatments. The phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were in relatively in highest abundance within the straw return under decomposition agent treatment than in both the straw return treatment and straw return under no decomposition agent treatment. The pathogenic genus Aspergillus as the most dominant under no straw return treatment, while genus Trechispora, Lulwaona and Dioszegia were most dominant under straw return under no decomposition agent treatment. Indeed, there was high fungal community dissimilarity between the three treatments. Additionally, there was increased rise in fungal diversity, soil nutrients and crop yield under the straw return within the shortest possible time, and the addition of decomposing agent further enhanced the high fungal species diversity. Graphical Abstract