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Societal Impact Statement Plants are indispensable to life on Earth. Securing our future requires protecting plant biodiversity and the development of climate‐resilient crops. Activities fostering public appreciation of plant science, and promoting plant‐related professions, are therefore critical. These efforts can be hindered by plant awareness disparity, manifesting as difficulty in recognizing the presence and importance of plants. However, interest in plants as a hobby and as lifestyle elements has rapidly increased in younger demographics over the last decade. We suggest these topics should be exploited urgently by researchers and educators to increase further the reach of science communication, thereby enhancing societal awareness of botany and stimulating interest in plant‐related degrees and career pathways. Summary: Plants are the basis of life on Earth as we know it and the study of plants is essential to protect our future. Yet botany and plant science are in crisis and suffer a low uptake at the level of undergraduate degrees. Increasing science communication about exciting advances in our knowledge of plants and their importance to society may be a strategy to counteract this. Here, we comment on the recent trends in the public perception of plants and explore them using infoveillance tools. Our observations highlight that paradoxically over the last decade public interest in plant‐related topics has increased considerably, with the advent of a new type of social media influencer—'plantfluencers'. Additionally, recent studies demonstrate that the COVID‐19 pandemic has boosted awareness of the therapeutic value of interacting with plants and their positive effect on human well‐being. We suggest that this offers a window of opportunity to develop an appreciation of plant science among the wider public, who are reconnecting with plants in new ways. Plant‐focused communities and online groups on social media platforms can facilitate engagement with new audiences. In particular, trends relating to houseplants, plant‐based diets and the benefits of interacting with plants on mental health and well‐being together provide an attractive springboard for science outreach and botany‐focused conversations. Here, we discuss these trends and make recommendations for researchers and educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Plants exude a wide variety of compounds into the rhizosphere, modulating soil functioning and diversity. The number of studies investigating exudation has exponentially increased over the past decades. Yet, the high inter‐study variability of the results is slowing down our understanding of root–soil interactions. This variability is partly due to the absence of harmonized methodologies to collect and characterize exudation. Here, we discuss how various experimental aspects influence exudation profiles by performing a literature review, and we suggest best practices for different experimental setups. We discuss state‐of‐the‐art of spatially resolved exudate collection, collection in controlled versus field conditions and plant growth setups ranging from hydroponics to soil. We highlight the importance of preparing experimental blanks, in situ versus ex situ exudate collection, various collection media and timing of collection, exudate storage and processing and analytical considerations. We summarize best practices for experimental setup and reporting of parameters in an easily accessible table format to facilitate discussion of best practices in the field. An increased standardization in the field together with the systematic studies suggested will improve our knowledge of how plant exudation shapes interactions with organisms in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are free-existing soil-borne bacteria that can be used as bioinoculants in place of chemical fertilizers to directly or indirectly enhance plant growth. This study aimed to characterize PGPR native to the rhizosphere of alfalfa plants in Kayseri and evaluate their efficacy on the growth parameters of tomato and watermelon. A total of 56 potential PGPR isolates were isolated and 24 were selected based on their ability to produce multiple PGP traits. 16S rDNA and phylogenetic analysis characterized these isolates to be novel strains of Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Staphylococcus, Lycinibacillus, and Bacillus. Sequence analysis revealed nucleotide variations and insertion/deletion mutations in their 16S rRNA genes (nucleotides 913–1408). All selected isolates demonstrated nitrogen fixation ability, whereas 54%, 83%, 71%, 54%, and 38% of isolates possessed genes for phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis, phytase, ACC deaminase, and siderophore, respectively. Fifty-eight day old tomato and watermelon plants grown from PGPR-treated seeds showed significantly higher improvements in plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, shoot dry weight, and root fresh weight compared to non-inoculated control plants. Furthermore, treatment of watermelon seeds with these isolates significantly increased the fresh weight of shoots and the root dry weights in watermelon plants. Thus, these indigenous PGPR isolates can be used as effective seed inoculants and chemical fertilizer alternatives to enhance tomato and watermelon growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant galls are unique outgrowths caused by various organisms, including insects, serving as nourishment for the inducer's larvae. Despite the taxonomists and ecologists attempts to elucidate the mechanisms behind plant gall formation, its understanding is still incomplete. Modern genetic techniques allow in‐depth analysis of the molecular processes, but variations across species entangle the analysis. Establishing laboratory‐friendly plant–gall inducer communities is crucial, yet past attempts have faced challenges.Our study partly aimed to create a laboratory community involving wild roses (Rosa sp.) and rose gall wasps belonging to the genus Diplolepis as gall‐inducing insects. Controlled indoor conditions were optimized for plant growth. Wild roses were transplanted, then exposed to gall inducers, and monitored.Successfully initialized gall growth was measured and analysed, revealing insights into the impact of plant vigour on gall size as a secondary aim.Our study successfully established a novel laboratory community for further research on gall formation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Grafting is a commonly used technique in horticulture and agriculture. The rhizosphere microbiome is critical for plant growth and performance, however, knowledge of the effect of grafting on rhizosphere microbial assemblages is still limited. Here, we use grafting systems of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) to study the effects of scion cultivar and grafting on rhizomicrobiome and root exudates. Methods: Grafting systems were constructed by using two cultivars of common bean. The rhizomicrobiome of intercultivar grafts (wherein different cultivars used as the scion and the rootstock) and intracultivar grafts (wherein same cultivar used as the scion and the rootstock) were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal internal transcribed spacer region. Root exudates of intercultivar and intracultivar grafts were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. Results: The rhizomicrobiome and root exudate profiles of common bean were significantly different between two cultivars. Scion cultivar significantly influenced the composition of rhizomicrobiome and root exudate profiles. Intercultivar grafts narrowed the differences of rhizomicrobiome between two cultivars. Pseudomonas and Talaromyces were highly accumulated in intercultivar grafts relative to those in intracultivar grafts. m-Coumaric acid, methyl jasmonate, and sebacic acid were increased in intercultivar grafts compared with intracultivar grafts, and showed positive relationships with Pseudomonas and Talaromyces. Conclusion: Scion cultivars modulated the assembly of rhizomicrobiome and the root exudation. Intercultivar grafting narrowed the differences between the rhizomicrobiomes of different cultivars, with a profound increase of Pseudomonas and Talaromyces, and root exudates, m-coumaric acid, methyl jasmonate, and sebacic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Evolutionary emergence of specialised vascular tissues has enabled plants to coordinate their growth and adjust to unfavourable external conditions. Whilst holding a pivotal role in long‐distance transport, both xylem and phloem can be encroached on by various biotic factors for systemic invasion and hijacking of nutrients. Therefore, a complete understanding of the strategies deployed by plants against such pathogens to restrict their entry and establishment within plant tissues, is of key importance for the future development of disease‐tolerant crops. In this review, we aim to describe how microorganisms exploit the plant vascular system as a route for gaining access and control of different host tissues and metabolic pathways. Highlighting several biological examples, we detail the wide range of host responses triggered to prevent or hinder vascular colonisation and effectively minimise damage upon biotic invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest microclimate shapes many aspects of forest functioning, including plant regeneration and wildfire occurrence. In complex landscapes with varying terrain, the forest microclimate varies at fine spatial scales (10–100 m2). However, accurately mapping this variation remains challenging. Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is an important microclimatic variable for plant growth and fire activity, yet few studies have specifically focused on downscaling VPD. The aim of this study was to examine the drivers of in-forest VPD in temperate eucalypt forests and develop a model to predict in-forest VPD. We use microclimate data from 37 in-forest weather stations, installed across an aridity gradient in southeastern Australia. We used linear mixed models within an information theoretic approach to develop a predictive model for daily maximum in-forest VPD using open VPD and topographic variables. The highest-ranked model included fundamental topographic drivers of vegetation structure and microclimate in forested landscapes: aspect, elevation, and slope, in addition to open VPD. The model had high accuracy when tested against independent data. We used this model to map fine-scale (30 m2, daily) maximum in-forest VPD across a topographically complex case study landscape. Predicted in-forest VPD showed considerable spatial and temporal variations not captured by coarse-scale open VPD. This represents a significant advancement in our ability to model microclimatic conditions in temperate eucalypt forests and has the potential to advance our understanding of how ecosystem processes vary at fine spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root hairs have become an important model system for studying plant growth, and in particular how plants modulate their growth in response to cell-intrinsic and environmental stimuli. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the growth of Arabidopsis root hairs in the interface between responses to environmental cues (e.g. nutrients such as nitrates and phosphate, and microorganisms) and hormonal stimuli (e.g. auxin). Growth of root hairs is under the control of several transcription factors that are also under strong regulation at different levels. We highlight recent new discoveries along these transcriptional pathways that might have the potential to increase our capacity to enhance nutrient uptake by the roots in the context of abiotic stresses. We use the text-mining capacities of the PlantConnectome database to generate an up-to-date view of root hairs growth within these complex biological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Mutualistic mycorrhiza fungi that live in symbiosis with plants facilitates nutrient and water acquisition, improving tree growth and performance. In this study, we evaluated the potential of mutualistic fungal inoculation to improve the growth and disease resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) against the forest pathogen Heterobasidion annosum. Results In co-inoculation experiment, Scots pine seedlings were pre-inoculated with mutualistic beneficial fungus (Suillus luteus) prior to H. annosum infection. The result revealed that inoculation with beneficial fungus promoted plant root growth. Transcriptome analyses revealed that co-inoculated plants and plants inoculated with beneficial fungus shared some similarities in defense gene responses. However, pathogen infection alone had unique sets of genes encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, phenylpropanoid pathway/lignin biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, chalcone/stilbene biosynthesis, ethylene signaling pathway, JA signaling pathway, cell remodeling and growth, transporters, and fungal recognition. On the other hand, beneficial fungus inoculation repressed the expression of PR proteins, and other defense-related genes such as laccases, chalcone/stilbene synthases, terpene synthases, cytochrome P450s. The co-inoculated plants did not equally enhance the induction of PR genes, chalcone/stilbene biosynthesis, however genes related to cell wall growth, water and nutrient transporters, phenylpropanoid/lignin biosynthesis/flavonoid biosynthesis, and hormone signaling were induced. Conclusion S. luteus promoted mutualistic interaction by suppressing plant defense responses. Pre-inoculation of Scots pine seedlings with beneficial fungus S. luteus prior to pathogen challenge promoted primary root growth, as well as had a balancing buffering role in plant defense responses and cell growth at transcriptome level.

Societal Impact Statement Management practices, for example, in an agricultural context, are often tested in isolation or in pairwise interaction, but rarely using a higher number of jointly applied practices. In a proof‐of‐concept study, we test the effects of combining up to five management practices. Effects seen on soil and plant performance suggest that it may be worth to systematically and broadly examine the effects of higher order management combinations.

Provides strategies and topics of study designed to enhance student interest in botany using both familiar and exotic plant material to illustrate genetics, plant propagation, disease, germination, hybrid vigor, anatomy, natural insecticides, and tropisms. The relationship between plants and society is also used to develop several topics. (JM)

Lonicera insularis Nakai is endemic plant predominantly distributed along the coastlines of Ulleung-do and Dok-do in South Korea, and is significant for medicinal and ornamental uses. However, previous studies reported that L. insularis seeds exhibit morphological dormancy (MD), causing them to germinate only at specific temperatures. Therefore, this study aimed to classify the dormancy type of L. insularis seeds, expand the germination temperature range, and confirm the industrial applicability through dormancy-release (DR) priming. The seeds of L. insularis exhibited no inhibition of water absorption by the seed coat, with 85.0% germination observed at 15°C, similar to the viability (84.0%). Initially, the initial seeds of L. insularis exhibited an embryo-to-seed (E:S) ratio of 0.24 during dispersal, which increased to 0.81 by day 18 at 15°C, indicating that the seeds exhibit MD with underdeveloped embryos. Treatments with GA3 and GA4 + 7 to overcome MD and expand the germination temperature range did not significantly enhance germination. However, seeds that grew embryos through stratification for 2 weeks at 15°C effectively expanded the germination temperature range. Additionally, DR-primed seeds maintained the expanded germination temperature range even after redrying, confirming the commercial potential of DR-primed seeds. Therefore, this study represents the first application of a novel approach to alleviate dormancy in L. insularis seeds through the integration of stratification and priming techniques, termed dormancy-release priming. This approach resulted in a significant increase in germination and expanded the effective temperature range for seed germination. These findings suggest that dormancy-release priming could be a valuable method for producing non-dormant seeds, enhancing the potential for L. insularis distribution and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse volatile organic compounds (VOCs) perform functions crucial for plant growth and health. However, studies on the nature and mechanisms of action of bioactive VOCs, except those mediating plant-insect interactions, lag considerably behind those on waterborne compounds. We built the Plant-Associated VOC Database (PVD) to facilitate research on VOCs released by plants and plant-associated microbes. This platform presents the physicochemical characteristics, biosynthetic pathways, and known or hypothesized functions of VOCs. We present the design, utility, and planned expansion of PVD. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Callus induction is an important step in indirect somatic embryogenesis. The aim of this study was to obtain an optimal medium for the callus formation of plantain bananas (cv. Kepok). The research was conducted from May to August 2022 at the Tissue Culture Laboratory of PT. ITCI Kartika Utama, Penajam Paser Utara District, East Kalimantan. The explant used an immature male flower of plantain banana (cv. Kepok). The experiment used a completely randomized design with two factors concentration of 2,4-D (1,2 and 4 ppm) and BAP (5, 10, and 15 ppm). The appearance of callus was monitored daily until it developed explants. On the final observation day, the percentage of explants with callus, as well as the color and texture of the callus, were assessed. The research findings suggest that the optimal medium for inducing callus in male banana flower explants was MS medium supplemented with 2 ppm 2,4-D and 5 ppm BAP. This medium resulted in calluses that exhibited a yellowish-white color and a compact texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluates the use of rock dust (RD)-based potting media in enhancing the agronomic performance and nutritional quality of amaranth, kale, and lettuce under controlled environmental conditions. A total of ten growth media formulations, including: 1) 100 % RD (RD), 2) 50 % RD+50 % Topsoil (RDT), 3) 50 % RD + 25 % Biochar + 25 % Promix (RBP) 4) 100 % Topsoil (TS), 5) 25 % RD + 75 % Topsoil (RT), 6) Huplaso (negative control), 7) 50 % RD + 25 % compost + 25 % promix (RCP), 8) 50 % RD + 50 % Promix (RP), 9) Promix (P) (Control), and 10) 50 % RD + 50 % Biochar (RB) were evaluated. The addition of RD to media resulted in a significantly higher root-shoot ratio in amaranth and lettuce. The RCP, RBP, and control showed a significant increase (pRCP>RD over the control P. Lettuce crops grown in RB had the highest consumer preference based on size and overall appearance. Overall, this study demonstrated an increase in total microminerals, fresh weight, total biomass, MUFA (monosaturated fatty acid), protein content, and antioxidants in plant tissue produced using RD-based media amendments. This is supported by the strong association observed between the media quality and the agronomic performance as well as the nutritional composition. The results suggest RD-based amendments (RCP, RBP, RB, and RP) could be used as suitable, sustainable, and cost-effective media amendments for improving the growth and nutritional composition of vegetable crops, limiting the environmental disposal of RD following precious metal mining. Further optimization of the above media would enhance its utility for vegetable production in different crop management systems.

The use of molecular methods in plant systematics and taxonomy has increased during the last decades; however, the accessibility of curated genetic samples and their metadata is a bottleneck for DNA-based genetic studies in botany. Plant biodiversity DNA banks and DNA-friendly collections could be critical suppliers of curated genetic material for researchers in the current context of plant biodiversity loss. Here, we aimed to understand the potential of plant DNA banks and DNA-friendly collections to enhance the growth and openness of scientific knowledge. The preservation of genetic material should become part of a natural collection's process for the generation of extended specimens enabling the preservation of both the phenotype and genotype and contributing to the generation of data networks which cross-fertilize other fields. These curated collections are advantageous in endangered species research, detecting processes related to extinction, giving a genetic dimension to IUCN assessments or completing the Leipzig Catalogue of Vascular Plants. Therefore, DNA collections are fundamental in producing FAIR data, responsible research and innovation (RRI) and meeting the goals of international conservation programmes. The completion of natural collections is important for current research efforts and furthermore vital to support future research in an era of ongoing plant biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants have been used historically for various treatments and in human nutrition. Due to their natural occurrence and biodegradability, medicinal plants can be an eco-friendly alternative to toxic chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. An in vitro experiment was conducted to test the impact of six medicinal plant extracts on tomato growth and callus induction. Two concentrations of each extract (50 and 100 mg L-1) were added to the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium culture. Results showed that Juniperus sabina extract (50 mg L-1) accelerated tomato seed germination by 100% in vitro, compared to the control group in MS basal medium. Callus growth index (CGI) and callus weight (CW) increased by 50% and by more than 200% when using Taraxacum officinale (100 mg L-1) and Conocarpus erectus (50 mg L-1) extracts, respectively. Biochemical analysis revealed that the extracts were rich in phenolic compounds (348 mg g-1 of total phenol), flavonoids (162 mg g-1), antioxidants (61%), and auxin. A rise in antioxidant activity, plant growth regulators (PGR), and plant defense elicitation probably contributed to these outcomes. Plant extracts also affected the biochemical content of calluses, except for their total phenol. We recommend using these plant extracts to increase growth, accelerate seed germination, and promote callus induction. Optimizing concentrations and combinations of medicinal plant extracts require further research to maximize their benefits to different plant species and their growth-related values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azospirillum argentinense Az19 is an osmotolerant plant growth-promoting bacterium that protects maize plants from drought. In this work, we explored the role of trehalose in the superior performance of Az19 under stress. The trehalase-coding gene treF was constitutively expressed in Az19 through a miniTn7 system. The resulting recombinant strain, Az19F, did not accumulate trehalose, was affected in its capacity to cope with salt-, osmotic-, and UV-stress, and showed higher reactive oxygen species levels. Physiological alterations were also observed under normal conditions, such as increased growth in biofilms, higher motility, and decreased auxin secretion. Even so, the capacity of Az19F to colonize maize roots was not affected, either under normal or drought conditions. When inoculated in maize, both Az19 and Az19F strains promoted plant growth similarly under normal irrigation. However, unlike Az19, the trehalose-deficient strain Az19F could not improve the height, aerial fresh weight, or relative water content of maize plants under drought. Notably, Az19F triggered an exacerbated oxidative response in the plants, resulting in higher levels of antioxidant and phenolic compounds. We conclude that the role of trehalose metabolism in A. argentinense Az19 transcends stress tolerance, being also important for normal bacterial physiology and its plant growth-promoting activity under drought. Key points: • Trehalose is required by Az19 for full tolerance to salt-, osmotic-, and UV-stress. • A restriction in trehalose accumulation alters Az19 normal cell physiology. • Trehalose contributes to Az19-induced maize growth promotion under drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the impact of differential warming on primary and secondary growth in walnut trees, highlighting the lack of coordination mechanisms between primary and secondary growth at the crown scale. The study reveals that elevated temperature affects the resumption and growth rate of primary and secondary meristems differently, leading to asymmetry in canopy growth. Additionally, the response of xylem and phloem to temperature variations may differ, emphasizing the need for further research on the coordination mechanisms between primary and secondary growth in trees. [Extracted from the article]