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Ear rot caused by the Fusarium species has led to a decline in maize yield and kernel quality worldwide. The changes in the population structure of pathogens and the widespread planting of susceptible maize varieties have exacerbated the occurrence and harm of ear rot in China. Therefore, it is very important to establish the species composition of Fusarium and evaluate the resistance of the main cultivated hybrids. In this study, 366 single conidial isolates of Fusarium spp. were obtained from three provinces of Northeast China. F. verticillioides, F. subglutinans, F. proliferatum, F. oxysporum, and F. graminearum species complex (FGSC) were identified, with F. verticillioides being the most prevalent with a frequency of 44.0%. Based on the TEF-1α gene sequences analysis, the FGSC populations consisted of two independent species: F. boothii and F. graminearum, which account for 23.8% and 5.7% of the total isolates, respectively. Additionally, the resistance to ear rot by 97 maize hybrids commonly planted in Northeast China was evaluated by inoculation with F. verticillioides during 2021 and 2022. The results showed that the disease parameters of different hybrids varied significantly (p < 0.05). Approximately half of the hybrids had damage rates ranging from 0 to 15%, and 79.4% of the hybrids had a severity rating of less than 5.5. In total, 49 (50.5%) hybrids were rated as moderately resistant, which was the dominant resistance category, and 71 hybrids (73.2%) were identified as moderately to highly resistant to ear rot. Current research confirms that Fusarium ear rot in maize is mainly caused by F. verticillioides in Northeast China, and many hybrids are resistant to the disease. This study will guide growers to scientifically deploy resistant commercial hybrids to control ear rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) caused by Setosphaeria turcica is one of the most devastating foliar diseases in maize ( Zea mays L.), resulting in great economic losses worldwide. The mutation of the pathogen exacerbates the occurrence and harmfulness of NCLB in China. Therefore, there is an urgent need for evaluating and cultivating resistant hybrids. Here, the response of 239 maize hybrids approved in Northeast China to NCLB was evaluated during 2019 and 2020. The results showed that 92 (38.49%) and 75 (31.38%) hybrids were rated as moderately resistant and resistant, respectively, which together constituted the predominant resistant categories. We observed that maize hybrids from different certified sources had different levels of resistance to NCLB, whose disease parameter values varied significantly ( P < 0.05) among 52 main cultivated hybrids. In 2019 and 2020, the average size of the lesions increased from 21.02 to 21.06 cm 2 , the average lesion density decreased from 1.36 to 1.33 lesions/100 cm 2 , and more than 30% of the hybrids registered final disease severity scores between 10 and 30%. The area under the disease progress curve of the main cultivated hybrids ranged from 57.96 to 986.86 cm 2 in 2019 and from 50.75 to 1,028.65 cm 2 in 2020. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship ( P < 0.0001) among four disease parameters. Current research has shown that many maize hybrids in Northeast China are resistant to NCLB, suggesting that the large-scale cultivation of susceptible hybrids has led to the occurrence and prevalence of the disease. This study should assist growers in purposefully selecting resistant commercial hybrids to contribute to the management of NCLB.

Glioma is a type of primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system in humans. At present, standard treatment involves surgical resection, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, the prognosis is poor and the long‑term survival rate remains low. An improved understanding of the molecular basis for glioma tumorigenesis is in urgently required. The pro‑survival effect of the insulin‑like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway has been implicated in progression of the glioma disease state. GSK1838705A is a novel, small molecule kinase inhibitor of IGF‑IR, which inhibits IGF signal transduction and downstream target activation. Its anti-proliferative activity has been demonstrated in various tumor cell lines. The present study investigated the potential use of GSK1838705A for the treatment of glioma. Human U87MG glioma cells were used to examine the inhibitory activity of GSK1838705A in cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis. The antitumor activity of GSK1838705A was assessed in a xenograft mouse model. GSK1838705A inhibited the growth and induced the apoptosis of the U87MG glioma cells in a dose‑dependent manner. The GSK1838705A‑treated cells exhibited reduced migratory activity in response to chemoattractants. The present study further demonstrated the antitumor activity of GSK1838705A in vivo. The administration of GSK1838705A significantly inhibited the growth of glioma tumors by inducing the apoptosis of tumor cells. These results suggested that targeting IGF signaling with GSK1838705A may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with glioma.