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Solar-thermal evaporation is a promising technology for energy-efficient desalination, but salt accumulation on solar absorbers and system longevity are the major challenges that hinder its widespread application. In this study, we present a sustainable Janus wood evaporator that overcomes these challenges and achieves a record-high evaporation efficiencies in hypersaline water, one of the most difficult water sources to treat via desalination. The Janus wood evaporator has asymmetric surface wettability, where the top layer acts as a hydrophobic solar absorber with water blockage and salt resistance, while the bottom hydrophilic wood layer allows for rapid water replenishment and superior thermal insulation. An evaporation efficiency of 82.0% is achieved for 20% NaCl solution under 1 sun, and persistent salt-resistance is observed during a 10-cycle long-term test. To ensure the environmental impact of the Janus wood evaporator, for the first time, a life cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted to compare this Janus wood evaporator with the emerging Janus evaporators, indicating a functional and more sustainable opportunity for off-grid desalination and humanitarian efforts. 

Wood materials are being reinvented to carry superior properties for a variety of new applications. Cutting‐edge nanomanufacturing transforms traditional bulky and low‐value woods into advanced materials that have desired structures, durability, and functions to replace nonrenewable plastics, polymers, and metals. Here, a first prospect report on how novel nanowood materials have been developed and applied in water and associated industries is provided, wherein their unique features and promises are discussed. First, the unique hierarchical structure and associated properties of the material are introduced, and then how such features can be harnessed and modified by either bottom‐up or top‐down manufacturing to enable different functions for water filtration, chemical adsorption and catalysis, energy and resource recovery, as well as energy‐efficient desalination and environmental cleanup are discussed. The study recognizes that this is a nascent but very promising field; therefore, insights are offered to encourage more research and development. Trees harness solar energy and CO2 and provide abundant carbon‐negative materials. Once harvested and utilized, it is believed that advanced wood materials will play a vital role in enabling a circular water economy. 

bsr‐d1, an allele encoding a transcription factor identified from the rice cultivar Digu, confers durable, broad‐spectrum resistance to infections by strains ofMagnaporthe oryzae.bsr‐d1was predicted to inhibitM. oryzae‐induced expression ofBsr‐d1RNA and degradation of hydrogen peroxide to achieve resistance toM. oryzae. However, the global effect of biological process and molecular function on blast resistance mediated byBsr‐d1remains unknown. In this study, we compared transcriptomic profiling betweenBsr‐d1knockout (Bsr‐d1KO) lines and the wild type, TP309. Our study revealed thatbsr‐d1mainly regulates the redox state of plant cells, but also affects amino acid and unsaturated fatty acid metabolism. We further found that BSR‐D1 indirectly regulates salicylic acid biosynthesis, metabolism, and signal transduction downstream of the activation of H₂O₂signalling in thebsr‐d1‐mediated immune response. Furthermore, we identified a novel peroxidase‐encoding gene,Perox3, as a new BSR‐D1 target gene that reduces resistance toM. oryzaewhen overexpressed in TP309. These results provide new insights into thebsr‐d1‐mediated blast resistance.

 

Broad‐spectrum resistance is highly preferred in crop breeding programmes. Previously, we have reported the identification of thebroad‐spectrum resistance‐Digu 1(bsr‐d1) allele from rice Digu. Thebsr‐d1allele prevents activation ofBsr‐d1expression byMagnaporthe oryzaeinfection and degradation of H₂O₂by peroxidases, leading to resistance toM. oryzae. However, it remains unknown whether defence pathways other than H₂O₂burst and peroxidases contribute to thebsr‐d1‐mediated immunity.

Blast resistance was determined in rice leaves by spray and punch inoculations. Target genes of OsMYB30 were identified by one‐hybrid assays in yeast and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Lignin content was measured by phloroglucinol–HCl staining, and acetyl bromide and thioacidolysis methods.

Here, we report the involvement of theOsMYB30gene inbsr‐d1‐mediated blast resistance. Expression ofOsMYB30was induced duringM. oryzaeinfection or whenBsr‐d1was knocked out or downregulated, as occurs inbsr‐d1plants upon infection. We further found that OsMYB30 bound to and activated the promoters of4‐coumarate:coenzyme A ligasegenes (Os4CL3andOs4CL5) resulting in accumulation of lignin subunits G and S. This action led to obvious thickening of sclerenchyma cells near the epidermis, inhibitingM. oryzaepenetration at the early stage of infection.

Our study revealed novel components required forbsr‐d1‐mediated resistance and penetration‐dependent immunity, and advanced our understanding of broad‐spectrum disease resistance.