Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a globally important oil crop, which often experiences poor growth and seedling necrosis under low nocturnal temperatures (LNT). This study assessed the effects of supplementary calcium (Ca 2+ ) and a calmodulin inhibitor on peanut growth and photosynthetic characteristics of plants exposed to LNT, followed by recovery at a higher temperature. We monitored key growth and photosynthetic parameters in a climate-controlled chamber in pots containing soil. LNT reduced peanut growth and dry matter accumulation, enhanced leaf nonstructural carbohydrates concentrations and non-photochemical quenching, decreased the electron transport rate, increased the transmembrane proton gradient, and decreased gas exchange rates. In peanuts subjected to LNT, foliar application of Ca 2+ restored growth, dry matter production and leaf photosynthetic capacity. In particular, the foliar Ca 2+ application restored temperature-dependent photosynthesis feedback inhibition due to improved growth/ sink demand. Foliar sprays of a calmodulin inhibitor further deteriorated the effects of LNT which validated the protective role of Ca 2+ in facilitating LNT tolerance of peanuts.

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Soil and fertilizer are the essential natural resources and fundamental means in agriculture production. Soil and fertilizer science is a basic professional course for several majors such as agronomy, horticulture, plant protection and forestry. For purpose of integration of research and teaching, experiment courses shall be under relevant reform and adjustment in the colleges and universities, the natural juncture between scientific research and teaching. Soil and fertilizer science is a basic and professional course, whose self-contained experiment courses are considered as the key component in the relevant professional learning and teaching. An overall reform shall be carried out for the experiment courses of soil and fertilizer science, by way of taking such measurements as cutting back confirmatory experiments and adding exploratory experiments to stimulate the college students' interest in their majors and practical operation. Therefore, their change from passive absorption to active study shall boost their enthusiasm in science and technology innovation.

Harnessing cold-resilient and calcium-enriched peanut production technology are crucial for high-yielding peanut cultivation in high-latitude areas. However, there is limited field data about how exogenous calcium (Ca2+) application would improve peanut growth resilience during exposure to chilling stress at early sowing (ES). To help address this problem, a two-year field study was conducted to assess the effects of exogenous foliar Ca2+ application on photosynthetic carbon fixation and pod yield in peanuts under different sowing scenarios. We measured plant growth indexes, leaf photosynthetic gas exchange, photosystems activities, and yield in peanuts. It was indicated that ES chilling stress at the peanut seedling stage led to the reduction of Pn, gs, Tr, Ls, WUE, respectively, and the excessive accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates in leaves, which eventually induced a chilling-dependent feedback inhibition of photosynthesis due mainly to weaken growth/sink demand. While exogenous Ca2+ foliar application improved the export of nonstructural carbohydrates, and photosynthetic capacity, meanwhile activated cyclic electron flow, thereby enhancing growth and biomass accumulation in peanut seedlings undergoing ES chilling stress. Furthermore, ES combined with exogenous Ca2+ application can significantly enhance plant chilling resistance and peanut yield ultimately in the field. In summary, the above results demonstrated that exogenous foliar Ca2+ application restored the ES-linked feedback inhibition of photosynthesis, enhancing the growth/sink demand and the yield of peanuts.

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Teaching contents, teaching methods and means, teaching characteristics, among others are discussed hereby for soil fertilizer science courses of horticulture in Shenyang Agriculture University. Summary and experience are available for soil fertilizer science course in terms of developing students' interest and enthusiasm in their study, integrated teaching between traditional board-writing and multimedia as well as improving students' practices by means of experimental course teaching. All will serve enhancing teaching quality effectively and provide teaching practical experience for better cultivation of scientific and technical talents in agriculture, who are expected to be innovative in soil fertilizer science field.