Assessing high-yielding cowpea varieties for bacterial blight resistance in Bangladesh: A step towards an environment-friendly and sustainable solution

Cowpea is well-known worldwide for its high protein content, versatile use, and adaptability. However, it is devastatingly affected by bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola (Xav). The present study was designed to assess ten high-yielding cowpea varieties for bacterial blight resistance in two contrasting cropping seasons in Bangladesh. The varieties were evaluated using seed and stem inoculation with Xav bacteria, followed by phenotypic and molecular characterisation. The varieties were morphologically assessed using nine disease-related qualitative and quantitative traits, and genetic variations were investigated through nine SSR markers. Disease development varied significantly (P = 0.05) among the varieties. Substantially higher disease incidence was observed in the Kharif season compared to the Rabi season. Felon local, Dark Green-28, and Dark Green-1028 varieties were resistant in both seasons. On the other hand, BARI Felon-1 was highly susceptible to susceptible in both seasons as infections were over 50%. Moreover, plant height, leaf area, branch number, and leaf number significantly differed among the varieties. Besides, in the molecular study, polymorphism information content and Nei’s gene diversity were detected as 0.3658 and 0.4089, respectively. Kegornatki showed the highest genetic variation vs Dark Green-1028. The UPGMA dendrogram segregated the ten cowpea varieties into two main clusters. This study revealed that three high-yielding varieties, viz., Dark Green-28, Dark green 1028, and Felon local, were resistant to bacterial blight and showed better performance in morpho-molecular characterisation. Therefore, these varieties can be integrated into future cowpea breeding programmes to develop cultivars that can control the high pressures of Xav.     

Dark CO(2) Fixation in Gladiolus Cormels and Its Regulation during the Break of Dormancy

The increase in dark CO₂ fixation during cold storage of Gladiolus x gandavensis van Houtte-type grandiflorus cormels is used to monitor changes in their state of dormancy. Dark fixation is also promoted by benzyladenine, which breaks cormel dormancy, and is inhibited by abscisic acid and gibberellin A₃, which inhibit cormel germination. The rate of dark fixation by nondormant cormels is five times higher than that in dormant ones. Dark fixation is not due to microorganisms. It is temperature-dependent and can be measured stoichiometrically in vivo. The apex and base of the cormels accumulate more label than the central part. Dark fixation of both dormant and nondormant cormels is also promoted by imbibition in water. The fate of the labeled assimilates was followed by ion exchange chromatography.     

Growth-related morphology of “Kunimasu” (Oncorhynchus kawamurae: family Salmonidae) from Lake Saiko,Yamanashi Prefecture,Japan

Biological characteristics of “Kunimasu” (Oncorhynchus kawamurae), poorly known even before the species was prematurely believed extinct, have now become apparent following the examination of 59 specimens from Lake Saiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan and comparison with 58 examples of “Himemasu” (kokanee of Oncorhynchus nerka in Japan), also from Lake Saiko. Significant (p < 0.01) differences between Kunimasu and Himemasu from Lake Saiko occurred in counts of anal-fin rays, pectoral-fin rays, gill rakers (no overlap found) and pyloric caeca. Secondary sexual characters related to maturity level were also found in Kunimasu, the body being more compressed in pre-spawning and spawning males and females than in immature and maturing individuals. Furthermore, maturing male Kunimasu and Himemasu also differed in body shape. Body coloration of Kunimasu also differed according to level of maturity, the nuptial coloration in both sexes being olive-green when alive and black when fresh. Dark dots, found in ca. 40 % of Kunimasu individuals examined, were less distinct than in Himemasu. The spawning season of Kunimasu extended through winter and early spring in Lake Saiko, with spawning males and females remaining near the bottom, compared with non-spawning individuals which occupied the upper and middle profundal zones in the daytime.     

Metabolic Changes in Gladiolus Cormels During the Break of Dormancy: The Role of Dark CO(2) Fixation

Dark CO₂ fixation in Gladiolus X gandavensis Van Houtte cormels increases during the break of dormancy by low-temperature storage or by cytokinins. The in vitro activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in preparations from dormant and nondormant cormels were compared with dark fixation rates in vivo. The distribution of ¹⁴C-label in the carboxylation products in dormant, nondormant, water-imbibed, and benzyladenine- and abscisic acid-treated cormels was compared by pulse-chase experiments. Dormant cormels have more label in malate and less in citrate and amino acids. Malate utilization in dormant cormels is slower than in nondormant ones. Citrate and glutamine accumulate in dormant cormels in inactive pools. Benzyladenine induces in dormant cormels changes similar to cold storage. Dark fixation is among the first reactions which are activated during the break of dormancy by both benzyl adenine and cold storage.     

Reproductive strategies of two forms of flightless males in a non‐pollinating fig wasp under partial local mate competition

1. The underlying basis of alternative male reproductive strategies is either genetic or environmental. Several non‐pollinating fig wasp lineages have dimorphic males, typically with winged males that disperse from natal figs to mate and flightless males that seek mating opportunities in natal figs. 2. Walkerella sp. from Ficus benjamina has dark and pale wingless males. Observations and experiments in Xishuangbanna, Southern China found that (i) the sex ratio of Walkerella sp. did not vary with foundress number or brood size. (ii) The frequency of dark males increased with brood size and foundress number and they were absent from figs with a single foundress. This produced a higher proportion of dark males at higher densities. (iii) Males of both morphs fought, but injuries to dark males were more frequent. (iv) Dark males were more likely to disperse away from their natal figs and (v) they were more resistant to dehydration. 3. Responses to selection are constrained by the genetic options available. Consequently, selection pressures acting on different lineages can produce similar outcomes that are achieved in different ways. Walkerella species lack winged males, but dark males display some of their features, dispersing from natal figs and displaying appropriate physiological and behavioural adaptations. However, dark males also displayed increased levels of damage from fighting – a feature unlikely to be shared with the winged males of other species.     

Mark-release-recapture of males of Bactrocera cucurbitae and B. dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in two residential areas of Honolulu

This paper describes a mark-release-recapture study involving males of two economically important tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae), Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) and B. dorsalis (Hendel), conducted over a 2-year period in Honolulu, Hawaii. In each of two residential neighborhoods, we placed two traps, one baited with cue lure and the other with methyl eugenol (male attractants for B. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis, respectively), in a single tree. Dyed, mature males from recently established laboratory colonies were released 100 or 500 m from the traps along the four compass directions in both winter and summer seasons. In each neighborhood, a total of 5,600 flight-able males of each species were released 100 m from the traps (14 dates × 4 directions × 100 males/release) and 56,000 flight-able males of each species were released 500 m from the traps (14 dates × 4 directions × 1,000 males/release). Within each study area, the number of males trapped did not vary significantly with direction or season for either species for either the 100- or 500-m releases. Significantly higher numbers of B. dorsalis males were captured than B. cucurbitae males for both the 100-m (16 versus 8 males/release) and 500-m (7 versus 2 males/release) releases (average values computed over both study areas). Also, following their release, B. dorsalis males were, in general, trapped more quickly than B. cucurbitae males. Given the strong attractancy of methyl eugenol, trap captures for B. dorsalis were lower than expected, and possible explanations are discussed.     

Factors affecting the induction of secondary dormancy in lettuce

The relationship between the temperature at which germination of 50% of the seeds is inhibited in the light (GT₅₀ Light) and secondary dormancy was investigated in three cultivars of Lactuca sativa L. Seeds were incubated for varying periods under non-germinating conditions and subsequent germination in response to red light (R) was determined over a wide range of temperatures. Dark incubation at 32 C reduced the GT₅₀ Light of cv. New York but did not affect germination at temperatures below 24 C. Dark, 32 C incubation had no effect on the GT₅₀ Light of cv. Great Lakes. In cv. Grand Rapids, dark incubation at 15, 24, 32, or 35 C initially reduced the GT₅₀ Light. However, longer incubations induced a secondary dormancy, i.e., the seeds became unable to germinate at all temperatures in response to R given after the high temperature incubation. A single exposure to R at the beginning of a 32 C incubation slowed the induction of secondary dormancy. Repeated exposures to R prevented the induction of secondary dormancy, but did not prevent a decline in the GT₅₀ Light. GA₃ mimicked the effect of repeated R.     

Competitive habitat utilization in the damselfly,Mnais nawai (Zygoptera: Calopterygidae) coexisting with a related species,Mnais pruinosa

Reproductive behaviors related to habitat utilization were studied in males of the damsefly,Mnais nawai, which has two male forms, territorial orange-winged males (nawai) and non-territorial pale-orange-winged males (sahoi), at the upper part of a mountain stream where they partiallycoexist with a related species,Mnais pruinosa, which also has two male forms, territorial orange-winged males (esakii) and non-territorial hyaline-winged males (strigata). These two species showed parapatric distribution; the lower part of the stream was occupied byM. nawai, and the upper part byM. pruinosa. In the present study, cross-matings occurred between bothMnais species, although normal intraspecific matings occurred more frequently than cross-matings. Territorial males of both species copulated with conspecific females that entered their territory and guarded the ovipositing females, probably to avoid sperm displacement resulting from subsequent copulations. Severe competition for oviposition sites by territorial males even occurred between the two species. On the other hand, non-territorial males of both species have alternative mating strategies (including several tactics such as sneaking, takeover and interception). The possible benefits from conflict among territorial males of both species is discussed.     

Study of antimicrobial activity and root symbionts of Hemionitis arifolia

Antibacterial and antifungal activity of crude extract, alcoholic extract and extracted phenol from various parts of tropical pteridophyta, Hemionitis arifolia were tested by agar diffusion and tube dilution assay. Both the crude and alcoholic extracts of vegetative and reproductive leaves of H. arifolia showed considerable antibacterial activity against Gram negative test strain of Escherichia coli (MTCC-739). Extract from reproductive leaves also showed moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis (MTCC-441) (Gram positive test strain) but didn’t show any antifungal activity against Candida albicans (MTCC-7353). Mycorrhizal and other symbiotic association with the root system of H. arifolia was studied and it is revealed that a number of mycorrhizal strains were present in both vegetative and reproductive form. Presence of Dark Septate Endophytic Fungi (DSF) was also detected.     

Copulation in C. elegans males requires a nuclear hormone receptor

In Caenorhabditis elegans, uncoordinated (unc)-55 encodes a nuclear hormone receptor that is necessary for coordinated movement and male mating. An unc-55 reporter gene revealed a sexually dimorphic pattern: early in post-embryonic motor neurons in both sexes; and later in a subset of male-specific cells that included an interneuron and eight muscle cells. A behavioral analysis coupled with RNA interference (RNAi) revealed that males require UNC-55 to execute copulatory motor programs. Two mRNA isoforms (unc-55a and unc-55b) were detected throughout post-embryonic development in males, whereas only one, unc-55a, was detected in hermaphrodites. In unc-55 mutant males isoform a rescued the locomotion and mating defect, whereas isoform b rescued the mating defect only. Isoform b represents the first report of male-specific splicing in C. elegans. In addition, isoform b extended the number of days that transgenic unc-55 mutant males mated when compared to males rescued with isoform a, suggesting an anabolic role for the nuclear hormone receptor. The male-specific expression and splicing is part of a regulatory hierarchy that includes two key genes, male abnormal (mab)-5 and mab-9, required for the generation and differentiation of male-specific cells. We suggest that UNC-55 acts as an interface between genes involved in male tail pattern formation and those responsible for function.     

Wolbachia-Based Population Control Strategy Targeting Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes Proves Efficient under Semi-Field Conditions

In mosquitoes, the maternally inherited bacterial Wolbachia induce a form of embryonic lethality called cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). This property can be used to reduce the density of mosquito field populations through inundative releases of incompatible males in order to sterilize females (Incompatible Insect Technique, or IIT, strategy). We have previously constructed the LR[wPip(Is)] line representing a good candidate for controlling field populations of the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito in the islands of the south-western Indian Ocean. The main purpose of the present study was to fill the gap between laboratory experiments and field implementation, i.e. assessing mating competitiveness of these incompatible males under semi-field conditions. In a first set of experiments, we analyzed crossing relationships between LR[wPip(Is)] males and La Réunion field females collected as larvae in 19 distinct localities throughout the island. This investigation revealed total embryonic mortality, confirming the strong sterilizing capacity of LR[wPip(Is)] males. Subsequently, mating competitiveness of LR[wPip(Is)] males was assessed under semi-field conditions in the presence of field males and females from La Réunion. Confrontations were carried out in April and December using different ratios of LR[wPip(Is)] to field males. The results indicated that the LR[wPip(Is)] males successfully compete with field males in mating with field females, displaying even higher competitiveness than field males in April. Our results support the implementation of small-scale field tests in order to assess the feasibility of IIT against Cx. quinquefasciatus in the islands of southwestern Indian Ocean where this mosquito species is a proven competent vector for human pathogens.     

Transport properties of bean vesicles in the presence of fungal components

Sealed membrane vesicles were isolated from hypocotyls of two varieties of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The preparations were shown to contain vesicles in which H⁺ transport and ATPase were sensitive to nitrate but insensitive to vanadate. These sensitivities suggest the vesicles were enriched for tonoplast. Fractions prepared from the α and β races of the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum inhibited H⁺ transport in the vesicles isolated from cvs. Dark Red Kidney and Great Northern bean tissue. These data are discussed in terms of the biochemical mechanisms operating in plant/pathogen interactions.     

Sexual Selection, Epistasis and Species Boundaries in Sympatric Hawaiian Picture-winged Drosophila

The Hawaiian picture-winged flies in the genus Drosophila are a spectacular example of rapid evolutionary diversification in which sexual selection is considered an important mechanism for reproductive isolation and speciation. We investigated the behavioral reproductive isolation of two closely related and sympatric Hawaiian picture-winged Drosophila species, D. silvestris and D. heteroneura, which are known to hybridize in nature and produce viable and fertile hybrids. We compared the mating success of parental, F1 and backcross males in pairings with D. heteroneura females. The F1 males were produced by mating D. heteroneura males with D. silvestris females, and the backcross males were produced by mating F1 females with D. heteroneura males. The mating success of backcross males paired with D. heteroneura females were significantly reduced relative to that of parental and F1 males. This reduced mating success occurred primarily at a late stage of courtship where female choice of mate may be important. Two- and three-gene models demonstrate that epistasis involving a few genes could account for the observed variation in male mating success. These results are consistent with negative epistasis in the backcross generation and support the importance of sexual selection and negative epistasis in the evolution and maintenance of these species.     

Asymmetric Mating Interference between Two Related Mosquito Species: Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus and Aedes (Stegomyia) cretinus

Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) and Aedes (Stegomyia) cretinus Edwards are closely related mosquito species with common morphological features and bio-ecological similarities. Recent mosquito surveillance in Athens, Greece, showed that they are sympatric mosquito species, with Ae. Albopictus developing quite higher population densities than Ae. Cretinus. The potential of mating interference between these species was investigated by reciprocal and homologous mating experiments in cages under laboratory conditions. In non-choice interspecific crosses (groups of males and females) females of both species produced sterile eggs. Insemination rate was 58% for Ae. Cretinus females and only 1% for Ae. Albopictus females. Aedes albopictus males were sexually aggressive and inseminated Ae. Cretinus females (31%) in choice experiments, where males of one species had access to mate with females of both species. Whereas, interspecific mating of Ae. Albopictus females with Ae. Cretinus males in the co-occurrence of Ae. Cretinus females was weaker (4%). Aedes cretinus females from non-choice crossing with Ae. Albopictus or Ae. Cretinus males were paired individually with conspecific males. The percentage of fertile Ae. Cretinus females was 17.5% when had encaged before with Ae. Albopictus males, compared to 100% when Ae. Cretinus females were encaged with conspecific males only. Probable ecological consequences of asymmetric mating between these ecologically homologous species in nature are discussed.     

How cross-modality effects during intraspecific interactions of jumping spiders differ depending on whether a female-choice or mutual-choice mating system is adopted

An important prediction from game theory is that the value of a resource influences the level to which conflict escalates. Here we use jumping spiders (Salticidae) to consider this prediction in the context of species adopting different mating systems (‘female mate-choice’ and ‘mutual mate-choice’). Our experiments are designed for determining whether the odour of conspecific females, more than the odour of heterospecific females, primes males to escalate conflict with a potential same-sex rival and also whether the odour of conspecific males, more than the odour of heterospecific males, primes females to escalate conflict with a potential same-sex rival. Four species were studied: Evarcha culicivora, a species in which mutual mate-choice is pronounced, and Portia fimbriata, Portia africana, and Jacksonoides queenslandicus, more conventional salticids in which female mate-choice and male–male competition appear to be dominant. Our hypothesis is that, for all four species, there is strong competition between males for access to females and that, for E. culicivora, but not for the other three species, there is also strong competition between females for access to males. Our findings are consistent with this hypothesis, as we show that, although the odour of conspecific females primes escalation of vision-based male–male conflict for all four species, E. culicivora is the only species for which there is evidence of odour from conspecific males priming the escalation of female–female conflict.     

Copulation Activity,Sperm Production and Conidia Transfer in Aedes aegypti Males Contaminated by Metarhizium anisopliae: A Biological Control Prospect

Background

Dengue is the most prevalent arboviral disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti worldwide, whose chemical control is difficult, expensive, and of inconsistent efficacy. Releases of Metarhizium anisopliae—exposed Ae. aegypti males to disseminate conidia among female mosquitoes by mating represents a promising biological control approach against this important vector. A better understanding of fungus virulence and impact on reproductive parameters of Ae. aegypti, is need before testing auto-dissemination strategies.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Mortality, mating competitiveness, sperm production, and the capacity to auto-disseminate the fungus to females up to the 5^thcopulation, were compared between Aedes aegypti males exposed to 5.96 x 10⁷ conidia per cm² of M. anisopliae and uninfected males. Half (50%) of fungus-exposed males (FEMs) died within the first 4 days post-exposure (PE). FEMs required 34% more time to successively copulate with 5 females (165 ± 3 minutes) than uninfected males (109 ± 3 minutes). Additionally, fungus infection reduced the sperm production by 87% at 5 days PE. Some beneficial impacts were observed, FEMs were able to successfully compete with uninfected males in cages, inseminating an equivalent number of females (about 25%). Under semi-field conditions, the ability of FEMs to search for and inseminate females was also equivalent to uninfected males (both inseminating about 40% females); but for the remaining females that were not inseminated, evidence of tarsal contact (transfer of fluorescent dust) was significantly greater in FEMs compared to controls. The estimated conidia load of a female exposed on the 5^th copulation was 5,200 mL^-1 which was sufficient to cause mortality.

Conclusion/Significance

Our study is the first to demonstrate auto-dissemination of M. anisopliae through transfer of fungus from males to female Ae. aegypti during mating under semi-field conditions. Our results suggest that auto-dissemination studies using releases of FEMs inside households could successfully infect wild Ae. aegypti females, providing another viable biological control tool for this important the dengue vector.     

The “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” Test: Complete Absence of Typical Sex Difference in ~400 Men and Women with Autism

The “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test (Eyes test) is an advanced test of theory of mind. Typical sex difference has been reported (i.e., female advantage). Individuals with autism show more difficulty than do typically developing individuals, yet it remains unclear how this is modulated by sex, as females with autism have been under-represented. Here in a large, non-male-biased sample we test for the effects of sex, diagnosis, and their interaction. The Eyes test (revised version) was administered online to 395 adults with autism (178 males, 217 females) and 320 control adults (152 males, 168 females). Two-way ANOVA showed a significant sex-by-diagnosis interaction in total correct score (F(1,711) = 5.090, p = 0.024, η_p ² = 0.007) arising from a significant sex difference between control males and females (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.47), and an absence of a sex difference between males and females with autism (p = 0.907, d = 0.01); significant case-control differences were observed across sexes, with effect sizes of d = 0.35 in males and d = 0.69 in females. Group-difference patterns fit with the extreme-male-brain (EMB) theory predictions. Eyes test-Empathy Quotient and Eyes test-Autism Spectrum Quotient correlations were significant only in females with autism (r = 0.35, r = -0.32, respectively), but not in the other 3 groups. Support vector machine (SVM) classification based on response pattern across all 36 items classified autism diagnosis with a relatively higher accuracy for females (72.2%) than males (65.8%). Nevertheless, an SVM model trained within one sex generalized equally well when applied to the other sex. Performance on the Eyes test is a sex-independent phenotypic characteristic of adults with autism, reflecting sex-common social difficulties, and provides support for the EMB theory predictions for both males and females. Performance of females with autism differed from same-sex controls more than did that of males with autism. Females with autism also showed stronger coherence between self-reported dispositional traits and Eyes test performance than all other groups.     

Mating strategies in two species of dart-poison frogs: a comparative study

Comparative field studies of species of dart-poison frogs in the genus Dendrobates were carried out to test predictions from two hypotheses that attempt to explain female-female competition for mates in species of Dendrobates with male parental care. The sex role reversal hypothesis proposes that males invest so much time and energy in parental care that receptive males are rare relative to receptive females, and females compete to find and mate with receptive males. The parental quality hypothesis proposes that females compete to monopolize the parental effort of particular males, because they potentially suffer a cost when their mates care for the offspring of other females. Comparisons between species with male parental care (Dendrobates leucomelas) and female parental care (Dendrobates histrionicus) contradicted prediction of the sex role reversal hypothesis, but were consistent with predictions of the parental quality hypothesis. Male D. histrionicus did not compete for mates more aggressively than male D. leucomelas, and male D. leucomelas were not more selective about mating than male D. histrionicus. Female D. leucomelas and D. histrionicus were both selective about mating; female D. leucomelas associated with and competed for particular males, whereas female D. histrionicus did not.     

Grooming as a secondary behavior in the shrimp Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Crustacea,Decapoda, Caridea)

The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is a large shrimp extensively used in aquaculture whose grooming behaviors were analyzed in this study. Macrobrachium rosenbergii exhibits three unique male morphotypes that differ in their behavior, morphology and physiology: small-clawed males (SM), orange-clawed males (OC) and blue-clawed males (BC). The largest and most dominant males, BC males, are predicted to have significantly different grooming behaviors compared to females and the other two male morphotypes. These BC males may be too large and bulky to efficiently groom and may dedicate more time to mating and agonistic interactions than grooming behaviors. Observations were conducted to look at the prevalence of grooming behaviors in the absence and presence of conspecifics and to determine if any differences in grooming behavior exist among the sexes and male morphotypes. Significant differences in the grooming behaviors of all individuals (females and male morphotypes) were found. BC males tended to have the highest grooming time budget (percent of time spent grooming) while SM males had a relatively low grooming time budget. The grooming behaviors of the male morphotypes differed, indicating while these males play distinct, separate roles in the social hierarchy, they also have different grooming priorities. The conditions in which Macrobrachium rosenbergii are cultured may result in increased body fouling, which may vary, depending on the grooming efficiencies and priorities of these male morphotypes. Overall, grooming behaviors were found to be a secondary behavior which only occurred when primary behaviors such as mating, feeding or fighting were not present.     

Cigarette Smoking Is Associated with a Lower Prevalence of Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Screened by OGTT than Non-Smoking in Chinese Men with Normal Weight

Different studies have produced conflicting results regarding the association between smoking and diabetes mellitus, and detailed analysis of this issue in Chinese males based on nationwide samples is lacking. We explored the association between cigarette smoking and newly-diagnosed diabetes mellitus (NDM) in Chinese males using a population-based case-control analysis; 16,286 male participants without previously diagnosed diabetes were included. Prediabetes and NDM were diagnosed using the oral glucose tolerance test. The cohort included 6,913 non-smokers (42.4%), 1,479 ex-smokers (9.1%) and 7,894 current smokers (48.5%). Age-adjusted glucose concentrations (mmol/L) were significantly lower at fasting and 120 min in current smokers than non-smokers (5.25 vs. 5.30, 6.46 vs. 6.55, respectively, both P < 0.01). After adjustment for demographic and behavioral variables (age, region, alcohol consumption status, physical activity, education, and family history of diabetes), logistic regression revealed significant negative associations between smoking and NDM in males of a normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m²: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.75, P = 0.007; waist circumference < 90 cm: AOR = 0.71, P = 0.001) and males living in southern China (AOR = 0.75, P = 0.009), but not in males who were overweight/obese, males with central obesity, or males living in northern China. Compared to non-smokers, current smokers were less likely to be centrally obese or have elevated BP (AOR: 0.82 and 0.74, both P < 0.05), and heavy smokers (≥ 20 pack-years) were less likely to have elevated TG (AOR = 0.84, P = 0.012) among males of a normal weight. There were no significant associations between quitting smoking and metabolic disorders either among males of a normal weight or males who were overweight/obese. In conclusion, smokers have a lower likelihood of NDM than non-smokers among Chinese males with a lower BMI/smaller waist.