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The article provides ten tips for authors to expedite the peer-review process and increase the chances of swift publication in the journal Economic Botany. The tips include ensuring that the paper aligns with the journal's mission, following the guidelines for authors, justifying the novelty and innovation of the research, formulating clear research questions or hypotheses, providing thorough materials and methods, using sensitive language, going beyond plant lists, critically evaluating the use of ethnobotanical indices, practicing good scientific writing, and writing for a broad audience. The article emphasizes the importance of adhering to these recommendations to avoid delays in the publication process. [Extracted from the article]

Resistance to common scab pathogenStreptomyces turgidiscabiesof seven potato varieties was compared in the field with a newly developed paper pot method. Seedlings raised in soil in paper pots containing inocula at 1 × 103 to 107?cfu/g soil were transplanted into a scab-free field and grown for 3 months. The disease severity of the seven varieties in the field trials differed in iteration and from year to year, even though their resistance levels were approximately similar at the expected levels. With the paper pot method, the seven varieties had different resistance levels, which were almost completely consistent with the results of the field trials, at more than 1 × 105?cfu/g soil. Significant differences in disease severity between resistant and susceptible varieties were observed (P= 0.05) for 2 years, and the resistance level of the varieties was elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global number of papers in different areas has increased over the years. Additionally, changes in academic production scenarios, such as the decrease in the relative number of single-authored (SA) papers, have been observed. Thus, the aims of this study are to assess the trend of SA papers in four subareas of biology and also to estimate the year when 0.1 % of papers in these subareas will be SA (considering two adjusted models). The subareas investigated were Ecology, Genetics, Zoology and Botany. Our hypothesis is that all subareas show a decay in the number of SA papers. However, this pattern is more pronounced in subareas that were originally interdisciplinary (Genetics and Ecology) than in disciplinary areas (Zoology and Botany). In fact, SA papers have declined over the years in all subareas of biology, and according to the best model (Akaike Criteria), the first area that will have 0.1 % SA papers is Genetics, followed by Ecology. A partial regression indicates that the decrease in SA papers can be related to the increase in the number of authors and number of citations, suggesting the greater scientific impact of interdisciplinary research. However, other variables (e.g., political, linguistic and behavioral) can contribute to the decrease in SA papers. We lastly conclude that the number of SA papers in all subareas of biology in the coming years might continue decreasing and becoming rare, perhaps even to the point of extinction (to use a very common term in biology). In addition, all subareas of biology have become more interdisciplinary, combining the knowledge of various authors (and perhaps authors from different areas). The consequence of this approach is increasingly collaborative work, which may facilitate the increased success of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Systematic monographs are an important tool for understanding biodiversity. However, while papers that outline systematic methods for biogeography, phylogenetics and diversification are commonplace, papers that cover methods for monographic and taxonomic research are rare. In this paper, we describe how we conducted a monographic study of Ipomoea, drawing attention to the resources we made use of and the practical steps we took, with a particular focus on how we integrated results from molecular and morphological analyses. The monograph provided a framework for a range of subsequent research, including studies on the origin of the important crop sweet potato. It is hoped that our experience will provide a blueprint for others embarking on the preparation of a systematic monograph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bibliometric analysis is a quantitative evaluation method for scientific research aimed at measuring knowledge expressed as scientific publications in a given field. Based on the Essential Science Indicators database, 1136 top papers on cultivated wheat (Triticum species) were researched from 2010 to 2020, including 1132 highly cited papers and 20 'hot' papers. All papers written in English were from 5563 authors, 1668 organizations and 91 countries/territories, published in 317 journals and book series. The top five journals were Frontiers in Plant Science (50, 4.4%), Journal of Experimental Botany (38, 3.3%), New Phytologist (26, 2.3%), Bioresource Technology (25, 2.2%) and Field Crops Research (24, 2.1%), each publishing more than 24 papers. The five countries publishing the most papers were USA, People's R China, Australia, England and Germany. The top five organizations were Chinese Academy of Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS), USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), CIMMYT, and CSIRO Agriculture and Food which each contributed more than 22 papers. Among authors, the top six were Rizwan, Muhammad; Ali, Shafaqat; Reynolds, Matthew; Gao, Caixia; Wang, Yanpeng; and Uauy, Cristobal, with each publishing more than eight papers. All keywords were separated into seven clusters representing different research topics. Visualizations offer exploratory information on current status in a scientific field or discipline as well as indicate possible future directions. This work will be useful for students in identifying graduate schools and researchers in selecting journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on silicon (Si) biogeochemistry and its beneficial effects for plants has received significant attention over several decades, but the reasons for the emergence of high-Si plants remain unclear. Here, we combine experimentation, field studies and analysis of existing databases to test the role of temperature on the expression and emergence of silicification in terrestrial plants. We first show that Si is beneficial for rice under high temperature (40 °C), but harmful under low temperature (0 °C), whilst a 2 °C increase results in a 37% increase in leaf Si concentrations. We then find that, globally, the average distribution temperature of high-Si plant clades is 1.2 °C higher than that of low-Si clades. Across China, leaf Si concentrations increase with temperature in high-Si plants (wheat and rice), but not in low-Si plants (weeping willow and winter jasmine). From an evolutionary perspective, 77% of high-Si families (>10 mg Si g−1 DW) originate during warming episodes, while 86% of low-Si families (<1 mg Si g−1 DW) originate during cooling episodes. On average, Earth's temperature during the emergence of high-Si families is 3 °C higher than that of low-Si families. Taken together, our evidence suggests that plant Si variation is closely related to global and long-term climate change. The evolutionary reasons for the variation in silicon concentrations across plant families remain unclear. This paper provides new evidence that silicon variation is closely linked to global and long-term climate change, suggesting temperature could have driven the evolution of plant silicification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes isolated from seaweeds emerge as promising biocontrol agents against broad spectrum of plant diseases. The endophytic bacteria were isolated from the seaweed (Sargassum wightii) to manage the chilli fruit rot pathogen Fusarium incarnatum. The antifungal activity of the isolated bacteria was tested by dual culture assay and plant growth-promoting activity was also tested by the standard paper towel method. The biocontrol strain AUPP displayed strong antifungal against Fusarium incarnatum (80.23%) and plant growth-promoting activity including seed germination (97.60%) and vigour index (1287.34) under in-vitro conditions. The identity of the endophytic bacteria was established through whole genome sequence analysis which showed promising biocontrol and plant growth-promoting activity. Whole genome sequence analysis of the biocontrol Bacillus halotolerans strain AUPP revealed the genomic information including 4,166,288 bp genome size, 18 contigs and 43.6% GC content. Genome analysis revealed the 15 secondary metabolite regions associated with the production of secondary metabolites and genes responsible for the antifungal activity. Furthermore, we identified multiple antibiotics, multidrug-resistant genes and a CRISPR sequence. This study presents the first whole genome sequence of B. halotolerans isolated from seaweed in India. These findings highlight its potential for broad-spectrum plant disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadaba fruticosa (L.) Druce (Capparaceae) is a pharmaceutically valuable woody shrub. Reproductive constraints (poor seed-setting, low seed germination, viability, and seedling survival) coupled with habitat disruption have caused decline in populations of this now endangered species. This paper reports an improved de novo shoot organogenesis using mature leaf–derived callus for the first time. Influence of plant growth regulators (PGRs), incorporation of additives, amending salts, and re-culturing of differentiated callus on shoot multiplication in C. fruticosa were studied. About 77% of leaf explants produced yellow-green, proliferative, and organized callus from the cut-ends on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1.0 mg L−1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Leaf-derived regenerative callus optimally differentiated in multiple shoots on MS medium containing varied combinations of PGRs (0.25 mg L−1 kinetin [Kin], 0.5 mg L−1 6‑benzylaminopurine [BAP], and 0.1 mg L−1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid [NAA]). Anatomical analysis visualized meristematic centres (MCs) and emergence of meristemoids protuberances (MPs) from inoculated leaf explants. The incorporation of additives significantly enhanced shoot multiplication and promoted synchronous growth of shoot cultures. The leaf-derived callus showed 100% shoot differentiation and the highest number of shoots (48.61 ± 2.79) measuring shoot length (6.33 ± 0.43 cm) on POMAS (PGRs optimized medium with additives and salts) when differentiated callus was re-cultured for three passages. Hence, using the strategy of re-culturing the differentiated callus after harvesting shoots for six repeated passages, more than 200 shoots were obtained from 400 mg of callus. More than 83% of shoots exhibited ex vitro rooting after being pulse-treated (for 4 min) with 500.0 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and subsequently transferred to microbe-free Soilrite®, moistened with aqueous ¼ MS salts. The rooted plantlets were hardened under the greenhouse conditions with more than 82% survival. Thus, the method developed here can be an alternative approach for propagation and conservation of C. fruticosa germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decolonization created new opportunities for international scientific research collaboration. In Indonesia this began in the late 1940s, as Indonesian scientists and officials sought to remake the formerly colonial botanical gardens in the city of Bogor into an international research center. Indonesia sponsored the Flora Malesiana project, a flora of all of island Southeast Asia. This project was formally centered in Bogor, Indonesia, with participation from tropical botanists from around the world. The international orientation of Indonesian science led to the establishment of one of UNESCO's Field Science Co-operation Offices in Jakarta, and to a period of close collaboration between Indonesian botanists and UNESCO. This paper examines the importance of UNESCO's Humid Tropics research program, which initially provided further opportunities for Indonesian botanists to participate in international scientific networks. The paper concludes by showing that the Humid Tropics program led to the slow erosion of Indonesian agency and authority over tropical botany, and the assertion of Western control and management over tropical botany research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light with decreased red:far-red (R:FR) ratios may signal neighbor presence and trigger plant developmental responses. There is some evidence that plant canopies forage towards increased R:FR ratios, but it is unclear to what extent R:FR versus the total amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) influences canopy foraging responses among forest trees. The objective of this study was to examine the relative importance of PAR and R:FR as photosensory cues leading to tree canopy foraging responses. Seedlings of Betula papyrifera Marshall (paper birch) were grown in an experimental garden. Each seedling was germinated and grown in its own shading structure and exposed to two spatially separated light environments, in a factorial design of PAR and R:FR. Plant canopy foraging was evaluated at the end of one growing season in terms of canopy displacement, canopy area, leaf number, direction of stem lean, petiole aspect, and lamina aspect with respect to experimental light treatments. Leaf number and canopy area were greater on the high PAR sides of plants, irrespective of the R:FR treatment. Seedling canopies were displaced towards the direction of high PAR, but this relationship was not significant across all treatments. Petiole aspect was random and showed no significant directedness towards any of the light treatments. Lamina aspect and the direction of stem lean were distributed towards the direction of high PAR, irrespective of the R:FR treatment. Overall, first-year B. papyrifera seedlings used PAR, rather than R:FR ratio, as a photosensory cue for canopy light foraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. is a small, sacred ornamental tree used in prayer. It is renowned throughout India for its aromatic white blossoms. The entire plant was widely used for several health applications particularly root and bark were used to treat fever and cough, respectively. Also, the leaf was used for managing fever and diabetes, and its cholagogue, diaphoretic, and anthelmintic properties. Main text: The current review aimed to comprehensively analyze the botanical characteristics, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of N. arbor-tristis essential oil (NAEO) and extracts. Additionally, it wants to emphasize the latest advancements in phytochemistry and pharmacology related to this aromatic plant. Depending on the variety, origin, and plant parts used, the NAEO yield ranged from 0.002 to 0.10% on a dry basis. The NAEO has been investigated in only a few research studies and resulted, in the predominant levels of phytol and methyl palmitate chemical compounds. Furthermore, the NAEO was found to have significant volatile chemical constituents, including geranylgeraniol, phytoene, nonadecane, linalool, and various other miscellaneous chemical components. The plant extracts and NAEO have numerous biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, larvicidal, and other miscellaneous activities. Conclusion: This paper analyzes and summarizes the diverse research potential associated with N. arbor-tristis. The results of the present study suggested that most of the biological and pharmacological investigations were carried out without including dosage, positive controls, and negative controls. Furthermore, several pharmacological investigations were exclusively carried out using cell lines and animal models. Hence, the following research endeavors aimed at assessing the medicinal properties of NAEO and extracts in human subjects would broaden the scope of its utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to document relationships between knowledge of plant use and indicators of modernization in Mexico. The model we are testing envisions increasing loss of plant use knowledge with increasing modernization indicated by loss of indigenous language and acquisition of nontraditional community services such as literacy and quality of housing. As predicted, we demonstrate that empirical knowledge about plant use is both more diverse and more evenly shared by people speaking an indigenous language-the Huastec-than by mestizoand Spanish-speaking indigenous populations in the Sierra de Manantlan. Our analyses also indicate that the adoption of modern community services by eight rural communities in the Sierra de Manantlan of western Mexico has had notable effects eroding traditional knowledge about use of plants in some but not all communities. From this we suggest that even though traditional knowledge about plants probably suffered a decline that accompanied loss of the indigenous language in Manantlan, traditional knowledge may be able to survive the modernizationprocess today where such knowledge has an important role in subsistence." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylus (Siebold ex Hoola van Nooten) Swingle is not only a delicious fruit with rich nutrients, but also a traditional Chinese medicine with clinical values. The botanical characteristics of C. medica var. sarcodactylus (Siebold ex Hoola van Nooten) Swingle are systematically summarized and descripted in this paper. C. medica var. sarcodactylus (Siebold ex Hoola van Nooten) Swingle is used to treat many diseases in Chinese folk as a traditional medicine. Compounds (1–180) were identified from C. medica var. sarcodactylus (Siebold ex Hoola van Nooten) Swingle, including flavonoids (1–45), lignans (46–69), coumarins (70–93), volatile oils (94–163), carbohydrates (164–168), and others (169–180), and their structural characteristics are summarized and analyzed. The extracts or compounds of this plant have been reported to exert various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, hypolidemic, anti-microbial, immunosuppressive, anti-depressant, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective activities, and their effective doses and experimental models are summarized and discussed in this paper. Future studies should focus on extraction technology, component analysis, molecular mechanism of C. medica var. sarcodactylus (Siebold ex Hoola van Nooten) Swingle to fill the study gap, as well as to provide an important theoretical basis and valuable references for in-depth researches and exploitations of C. medica var. sarcodactylus (Siebold ex Hoola van Nooten) Swingle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A subject and authors index for the 2011 issue of the journal "Economic Botany" is presented.

Background and Aims: The accessibility and relatively low cost of nitrogen (N) fertilizers have been a gift to humankind and made it possible to feed the exponentially growing world population. The excessive use of N, in combination with a poor N use efficiency (NUE) in crop production, is associated with severe environmental impacts, and the scientific community has repeatedly warned that the safe operating space for N within the planetary boundaries has been exceeded. In the light of these considerations, a global player and India's largest fertilizer manufacturer, the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO), has recently developed and patented a nanotechnology-based fertilizer marketed as Nano Urea (liquid). Strikingly, the producers state that it is now possible to replace a 45 kg bag of conventional urea, containing 21 kg N, by foliar application of just 20 g N in the form of nano urea (NU). If so, N from this novel high-tech fertilizer product should be able to increase the NUE of crops more than 1000 times compared to conventional urea. This year, the Indian government and IFFCO announced plans to massively boost production by building 10 new factories, with an annual production capacity of 440 million bottles NU by 2025 and to expand export of the product to another 25 countries, mainly situated in Asia, Africa and South-America. In the marketing of NU, IFFCO states that there is scientific evidence for distinct beneficial properties in terms of higher crop yields and reduced negative environmental impacts. Similar ambitions have recently been presented for Nano Zinc, Nano Copper, and Nano Di-Ammonium-Phosphate, a product that entered the market in March 2023. Methods: In this Opinion Paper, we compare the claims made by IFFCO scientists to the existing scientific evidence in the field of foliar nanofertilizers. Results: We observe that NU is a poorly described product with no scientifically proven effects. The product is marketed with misleading and wrong statements about its fertilizer efficiency, the underlying plant uptake pathways, and the environmental friendliness. Conclusion: The expectations raised by IFFCO are far from reality and may lead to large-scale yield losses with serious consequences for food security and the livelihood of farmers. At the same time, the confidence in innovative sustainable products as well as the science behind them may be threatened. Based on the IFFCO case, and considering the booming emergence of novel nano based fertilizers appearing all over the world these years, it is clear that much more priority should be given to scientifically prove their efficacy and mode of action, before they are launched on the markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The chemical composition of the bioactive substances of various parts and organs of Agastache rugosa introduced in Western Siberia was studied. Samples of Agastache rugosa were collected by the authors in July–August, 2021–2022, in the territory of Tomsk oblast. Aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic extracts were obtained from the raw materials. Methods: The studies were conducted using PC, TLC, UV-spectroscopy, and titrimetry. The component composition of the essential oils was analyzed by GLC-MS on an Agilent 6890 gas chromatograph with quadrupole mass spectrometer (HP MSD 5973N). Results and Discussion: About 50 individual components were found, 30 of them for the first time. Vitamins (ascorbic acid, carotenoids), polysaccharides, phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, tannins), and essential oil were found in all organs of the plant. Saponins were present in the flowers and the herb, but not in the fruits. The presence of acacetin, apigenin, quercetin, tilianin, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid was detected. Conclusions: Differences in the contents of bioactive substances in different organs were revealed. The dominant groups in different parts and organs of the plant were essential oil, phenolcarboxylic acids, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid. Flavonoids and chlorophyll in all organs of Agastache rugosa species belong to the group of minor bioactive substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecclinusa guianensis (Sapotaceae, Chrysophylloideae) is a morpho-ecologically variable species and the second most widespread species of Ecclinusa in the Amazon basin. In Central Amazonia, two distinct leaf morphotypes can be field-recognized based on diagnostic morphology: elliptic-obovate and narrow-oblanceolate shapes. In this paper, we have explored the phenotypic differentiation between these two morphotypes of E. guianensis from Central Amazonia using morphometrics and near-infrared spectroscopy data. The results indicate the existence of two distinct groups that are sympatric. However, the narrow-oblanceolate leaf shape (subcanopy treelets or medium-sized trees) has never been collected with reproductive material, reinforcing the idea that it is a young phase of the elliptic-obovate leaf shape (large canopy trees). Therefore, we presume that Ecclinusa guianensis morphotypes probably correspond to a single species exhibiting phenotypic plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A paper by M.G. Moiseeva et al. on the Ayanka flora from the nonmarine Cretaceous of Northeast Asia is critically reviewed. It is shown that this paleofloristic object cannot be considered as a paleoflora since taphofloras composing it are significantly different in their systematic composition, and the stratigraphic relations of their host deposits are uncertain. The authors of the paper under review believe that all three paleofloristic assemblages of the "Ayanka flora" are Santonian–Campanian in age which seems to be not quite justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an In Memoriam for Professor Philip J. White, written by Martin R. Broadley. It provides a brief overview of Philip's life and career in the field of plant and soil sciences. Philip was born in 1960 in Preston, Lancashire, and excelled academically and athletically throughout his education. He pursued a PhD in plant physiology, studying the effects of temperature on ion transport in rye roots. Philip made significant contributions to the field through his research on ion transport processes and electrophysiology. He held various positions at research institutes and universities, including the Scottish Crop Research Institute, where he led the Environment-Plant Interactions Programme. Philip was a highly cited researcher and a dedicated collaborator and mentor. He passed away in April 2023, leaving behind a substantial scientific legacy. [Extracted from the article]

This review provides a synopsis of the main findings of individual papers in the special issue Terrestrial Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing Arctic. The special issue was developed to inform the State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Report developed by the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Arctic Council working group. Salient points about the status and trends of Arctic biodiversity and biodiversity monitoring are organized by taxonomic groups: (1) vegetation, (2) invertebrates, (3) mammals, and (4) birds. This is followed by a discussion about commonalities across the collection of papers, for example, that heterogeneity was a predominant pattern of change particularly when assessing global trends for Arctic terrestrial biodiversity. Finally, the need for a comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based monitoring program, coupled with targeted research projects deciphering causal patterns, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungi did not affect Si uptake, but increased soil Si led to greater plant growth and phosphorus (P) uptake. Silicon and carbon Possibly the most controversial area of plant Si research at the moment is that concerning various aspects of the way Si interacts with C in plants and soils. Silicon fertilisers As scientists have realised how significant Si is in plant nutrition the deployment of Si fertilisers has been increasing in many parts of the world and for a wide range of crops. 'A greater awareness of the importance of Si in plants, especially on the part of experimental plant biologists, is bound to have beneficial synergistic effects beyond plant biology I per se i '. [Extracted from the article]

As a kind of well-known moxibustion material across the world, Artemisia argyi Folium (AAF) has a definite curative effect. From 1996 to now, various studies on AAF have been increasing year by year. That is why this paper is conducted because of no comprehensive summary except for an essential oil review recently published in 2023. Using "AAF" and "mugwort" as keywords, the related literature was summarized in four internationally recognized databases: PubMed, Web of Science, ACS, and ScienceDirect, mainly include four aspects such as botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical application. Four traditional identification methods and two new ones were reported. A total of 136 compounds were identified, among which 23 new terpenoids and two new flavonoids were discovered. The pharmacological effects of AAF mainly focus on anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, and other aspects. Clinically, it is mainly used in respiratory, immune, digestive, and nervous systems in addition to gynecology. The current research mainly focuses on the composition and pharmacology of AAF. Future studies should thoroughly establish the quality criteria and pharmacokinetics of AAF. According to the different application fields, the corresponding quality standards should be formulated to ensure the efficacy of drugs in the actual treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal microbiota plays an important role in promoting digestion, metabolism, and immunity. Intestinal microbiota and fatty acids are important indicators to evaluate the health and nutritional composition of Procambarus clarkii. They have been shown to be strongly influence by environmental and genetic factors. However, it is not clear whether environmental factors have a greater impact on the intestinal microbiota and fatty acid composition of crayfish. The link between the intestinal microbial communities and fatty acid (FA) compositions of red swamp crayfish from different geographical has not yet been studied. Thus, the current paper focuses on the influence of different environments on the fatty acids in muscles of crayfish and the possible existence between gut microbiota and fatty acids. Therefore, in this study, we compared the fatty acid compositions and intestinal microbiota of five crayfish populations from different geographical locations. The results were further analyzed to determine whether there is a relationship between geographical location, fatty acid compositions and intestinal microbiota. The gut microbial communities of the crayfish populations were characterized using 16S rRNA high-throughput gene sequencing. The results showed that there were significant differences in FA compositions of crayfish populations from different geographical locations. A similar trend was observed in the gut microbiome, which also varied significantly according to geographic location. Interestingly, the analysis revealed that there was a relationship between fatty acid compositions and intestinal microbes, revealed by alpha diversity analysis and cluster analysis. However, further studies of the interactions between the P. clarkii gut microbiota and biochemical composition are needed, which will ultimately reveal the complexity of microbial ecosystems with potential applications in aquaculture and species conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranunculus lingua is an Euro-Siberian vascular plant species of freshwater habitats. Distribution and vegetation preferences of this rare species, which is native to the Slovak flora, have not yet been critically revised. The present paper aimed i) to provide the first complex distribution pattern of this species in Slovakia and ii) to analyse all available vegetation plots with species occurrence in order to elucidate the variability of plant communities. The distribution data were retrieved from herbarium specimens, literature records and field surveys. Our revision suggests that R. lingua was found particularly in the lowland areas of the western, south-western and south-eastern parts of the country. It was very rare in other regions of Slovakia, and several populations have become extinct due to drainage or habitat destruction. New localities of secondary origin were additionally documented in some human-made habitats. The temporal trend showed a strong decrease in the number of localities in natural habitats, mainly in the hilly and mountainous regions of the Western Carpathians from the 1980s to the end of the twentieth century. R. lingua was recorded in both forest and treeless swamp communities. Vegetation analysis revealed numerous records mainly in eutrophic marshes (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea class), willow and alder carrs (Franguletea and Alnetea glutinosae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genebanking, the process of preserving genetic resources, is a central practice in the modern management of crop genetics, especially for the species used for food and agriculture. Closely interrelated networks of local, national and global actors are responsible for ex situ conservation. They all seek to make plant genetic resources accessible for all and now face new challenges arising from digitisation. Plant sciences are entering the postgenomic era, moving fast from initially providing a single reference genome for each species (genomics), to harnessing the extent of diversity within crop species (pangenomics) and among their relatives (referred to as postgenomics). This paper describes the extent to which ex situ collections have already undergone a digital shift, or are planning to do so, and the potential impact of this postgenomic-induced dematerialisation on the global governance of plant genetic resources. In turn, digitising material (seed) collection changes the relationship between genebanks and genomic databases. Comprehensive genomic characterisation of genebank accessions is ongoing, and I argue here that these efforts may provide a unique opportunity for genebanks to further embrace the moral, ethical and ultimately political principles on which they were built. Repurposing genebanks as decentralised digital biocentres could help relocate capabilities and stewardship over genetic resources. Empowering local farmers by providing access, promoting the use and unlocking benefits from state-of-the-art tools of modern plant breeding may allow bridging the breeding divide. However, to accomplish such a paradigm shift, genebanks require a strong political mandate that must primarily originate from the access and benefit-sharing framework. Only so may the global challenges associated with the loss of biodiversity and food insecurity be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxin was one of the first plant hormones to be identified, but we are still discovering the roles of this "master" hormone. Here we discuss new evidence that links auxin with the synthesis and accumulation of one of humanity's staple food ingredients, starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term human space exploration missions require environmental control and closed Life Support Systems (LSS) capable of producing and recycling resources, thus fulfilling all the essential metabolic needs for human survival in harsh space environments, both during travel and on orbital/planetary stations. This will become increasingly necessary as missions reach farther away from Earth, thereby limiting the technical and economic feasibility of resupplying resources from Earth. Further incorporation of biological elements into state-of-the-art (mostly abiotic) LSS, leading to bioregenerative LSS (BLSS), is needed for additional resource recovery, food production, and waste treatment solutions, and to enable more self-sustainable missions to the Moon and Mars. There is a whole suite of functions crucial to sustain human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and successful settlement on Moon or Mars such as environmental control, air regeneration, waste management, water supply, food production, cabin/habitat pressurization, radiation protection, energy supply, and means for transportation, communication, and recreation. In this paper, we focus on air, water and food production, and waste management, and address some aspects of radiation protection and recreation. We briefly discuss existing knowledge, highlight open gaps, and propose possible future experiments in the short-, medium-, and long-term to achieve the targets of crewed space exploration also leading to possible benefits on Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main critical remarks to the paper by M.G. Moiseeva, A.B. Herman, and A.B. Sokolova entitled "On the Stratigraphic Setting and Composition of the Ayanka Flora from the Upper Cretaceous of Okhotsk–Chukotka Volcanogenic Belt, Northeastern Russia" (Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation, 2022, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 250–272), stated by S.V. Shczepetov in his article "On the Ayanka Flora from the Upper Cretaceous of Northeastern Russia" (Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation, 2022, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 578–585), are considered. Additional arguments are given to confirm the conclusions we have previously made: (1) all three taphofloras from the Obryvistaya River basin came from the same stratigraphic unit, which, however, is called differently in separate sheets of the 1 : 200 000 State Geological Map of the Russian Federation: Auney Member on the northern sheet and Makkoveem Formation on the southern one; (2) according to the composition of the plants of these taphofloras, all of them are approximately coeval and can be considered as a unified Ayanka flora; (3) the most probable age of the Ayanka Flora is Santonian–Campanian, since it is undoubtedly the most similar to the Santonian–Campanian floras of Northeastern Russia and Northern Alaska. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific exchange correspondence of the Dundo Museum Biology Laboratory (Angola), included in the archive of António de Barros Machado (1912–2002) and Dora Lustig (1907–1986), constitutes a valuable repository of information for the history of contemporary science, particularly in the field of natural sciences—botany, entomology, mammals, ornithology, primates, reptiles, termites, zoogeography, zoology—and of biology. This paper describes the application of the Records in Contexts model to the correspondence collection, with the aim of representing two realities: its production context and the relationships between scientists. The exploration of the model sought to understand its fundamentals and, simultaneously, model the information, starting by identifying the entities, attributes and relations needed for the collection representation scheme. This study resulted in a modelling exercise of the relations between 11 correspondents and the director of the Dundo Museum Biology Laboratory, Barros Machado, regarding the work on the museum collections which culminated in the publication of scientific articles in Publicações Culturais da Companhia de Diamantes de Angola [Cultural Publications of the Diamond Company of Angola]. In the future, it is proposed to apply the same scheme to the description of the remaining scientists in the epistolary collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present a brief introduction to sixteen full-text research articles of the Special Issue "Progress in Slovak Botany: a successful path to modern research on flora and vegetation" which are more-less a reflection of the current state of the study of botany in Slovakia. The papers bring results of classification and syntaxonomical revision of shrubs and forest vegetation, followed by research into vegetation diversity, ecology, and taxonomy. Special attention is paid to molecular methods in the research of plant taxa; one of the contributions evaluates the use of these methods in the study of population genetics of forest trees in Slovakia in the past 40 years. The other three papers use the knowledge of flow cytometry for a taxonomic study of selected representatives of the genera Tanacetum, Cotoneaster, Solanum and Nicotiana. A special issue also includes a new version of the checklist and a red list of hornworts and liverworts which updates data published 20 years ago. The checklist is followed by a paper on new localities and phylogenetic relationships of Leucoglossum leucosporum, a geoglossoid fungus whose occurrence is poorly known. The last two contributions are devoted to the impact of the environmental burdens on biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we restore moisture changes since the Younger Dryas based on the study of diatom flora in sediments of the Zelenyi coastal paleolake, the Lesser Kuril Ridge. The section includes numerous interlayers of tephra, the sources of which were located on the islands of Kunashir and Hokkaido, and interlayers of tsunamigenic sands, which made it possible to determine the impact of catastrophic events on changes in the ecological situation. The stages of the development of the lake are identified and its evolution is analyzed during short-period climatic rhythms. The reservoir had its maximal depth at the beginning of the Holocene, and planktonic forms predominated among diatoms. Three phases when the lake turned into a lagoon were established, and the erosion of the barrier form most likely caused this during large tsunamis associated with earthquakes. Except for these cases, the main factor leading to the change in lacustrine–marsh environments was climate change. We identified relatively dry periods and wet periods associated with an increase in the intensity of cyclogenesis in the South Kurils region. We correlated with high-resolution paleoclimatic records from archives for the Southern Kuriles; the most striking events were compared with data for Sakhalin and the continent. Changes in moisture on the islands and the margin of the mainland in the Middle–Late Holocene were established to be in antiphase in most cases, except for the cooling of 2800–2500 BP and the Little Ice Age. The connection of regional climatic changes with anomalies in the ocean and atmosphere of the Asia-Pacific region is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mentorship and collaboration necessarily shaped opportunities for women in science, especially in the late nineteenth century at rapidly expanding public co-educational universities. A few male faculty made space for women to establish their own research programs and professional identities. At the University of Minnesota, botanist Conway MacMillan, an ambitious young department chair, provided a qualified mentorship to Josephine Tilden. He encouraged her research on algae and relied on her to do departmental support tasks even as he persuaded the administration to move her from instructor to assistant professor in 1903. Resulting publications on Minnesota algae led her to look further west, first at Yellowstone National Park and then along the Pacific Northwest coast. After visiting a particularly productive littoral site on Vancouver Island, she suggested that they establish a Minnesota Seaside Station there. Over its seven years in operation under the Midwestern leaders, that location proved remarkably productive. At the remote site, the two operated within their typical but not inevitable gendered roles and deliberately defined their seaside station as unconventional. They expected participants to study productively and, at the same time, find imaginative ways to enjoy nature at a place far from urban amenities. Gendered expectations remained casual as participants moved both within and against them. This study investigates how, in the early twentieth century, the role and expectations of mentorship shifted as Tilden established her own independent research agenda. The Minnesota Seaside Station, in particular, proved significant in developing the leadership skills essential for her to pursue research in the Pacific region at a time when American expansionism and indigenous cooperation made sites accessible to academic researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents updates on the "Journal of Plant Research" (JPR) as of November 2004. List of the JPR Best Paper Awards for 2003; Electronic edition of the JPR; New head of the editorial board.

The possible co-variation of human occupation and vegetation from the Middle Neolithic to the beginning of the Iron Age (7.5–2.8 ka BP) in Central Sicily in the context of the central Mediterranean between Middle and Late Holocene are analysed in this paper to provide new insights on Sicilian prehistoric demography. The demographic and economic trends during these millennia were reconstructed using archaeological, Accelerator Mass Spectrometry 14C dates, palynological, archaeobotanical, and zooarchaeological data from the northern, central, and southern sectors of Central Sicily through a diachronic comparison with variation in Arboreal Pollen, Anthropogenic Pollen Indicators, Olea-Juglans-Castanea pollen, microcharcoals, and Sporormiella from four pollen cores from sites in different ecosystems. A very significant spread of farming activities was found at the end of the Neolithic, together with an apparent demographic gap during the Middle Copper Age, and the emergence of agricultural landscapes at the end of the Copper Age associated with a striking increase in population. A combination of cultural and climatic changes during the late phase of the Bronze Age resulted in a subsequent overall decrease in population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specified class II nationally rare species of wild fauna/flora designations were first made in Japan for three species, the Tokyo salamander (Hynobius tokyoensis), golden venus chub (Hemigrammocypris rasborella), and giant water bug (Kirkaldyia deyrolli). These species depend on the shallow water in agroecosystems, secondary forests, and parks. The objective of this paper was to provide an overview of the factors relating to their conservation, which were as follows: (1) the landscape affects significantly on distributions of three species. H. tokyoensis and K. deyrolli both require landscapes in which wetlands and forests connect. While H. rasborella inhabits isolated ponds also, the original habitat is a flood plain where fishes seasonally move temporary pools for spawning. Therefore, channel networks are needed to protect fishes including H. rasborella. (2) Agricultural land infrastructure affects the three species, as dry paddy fields and concrete-lined ditches are unsuitable for them, as well as other aquatic animals. Several construction methods, however, have been trialed to allow fish to live in modernized ditches. (3) K. deyrolli is highly sensitive to pesticides. (4) Mid-summer drainage of paddy fields will threaten populations of H. tokyoensis and K. deyrolli as these paddy fields lose water before these species have completed their metamorphosis. Wet-paddy fields that are not completely dried, postponement of mid-summer drainage, and the installation of diversion ditches, however, could all help to mitigate this issue. (5) The impacts of abandoned cultivation and pond management are significant for these species. (6) Invasive alien species have a significant impact on H. tokyoensis and H. rasborella. (7) Habitat creation and translocation of these species has often been successful. However, the sustainability of the translocated populations is a challenge. When these species are introduced outside their natural habitats, it is thus necessary to consider the ecosystem of the destination area and the genetic background of the target species. I conclude that the combination of biotopes with wildlife-friendly farming and continuity of paddy fields with forests throughout the landscape secure the population sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we use a combination of bibliometric, social network and econometric approaches to increase our knowledge of how research institutions interact with the private sector in Latin America (LA). We first study recent trends in scientific output and specialization. On average, LA countries have been reducing the gap with the world leading regions. They have also tended to specialize in fields related to economic activities based on natural resources, such as Agricultural and Plant and Animal Sciences. However, collaborations with the private sector remain scarce. In this paper, we have built scientific networks composed by what we define as Research Departments (RD). These RDs belong to universities, research institutes and government agencies. We model the intensity of collaboration of a RD with industry as a function of its size, previous performance, and its position in the LA and national scientific networks. Our results show that the RDs which higher diversity of research partners in their national scientific network work more intensively with industry. Additionally, collaborations with industry are influenced by previous interactions with the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The macroalgal flora of Cantabria (north of Spain) has attracted the interest of many researchers on past occasions. Currently published information only reflects occasional collections from sporadic field visits to this region of the Spanish Atlantic coast. To overcome this, a historical overview of research and publications, encompassing collections and presence data recording, has been undertaken. This work lists the resultant taxonomic records and provides information about macroalgal flora of Cantabria. A total of 425 species (25 Cyanobacteria, 55 Chlorophyta, 81 Ochrophyta, and 264 Rhodophyta) were identified. The number of specific, infraspecific taxa, and stages is 437: 25 Cyanobacteria, 57 Chlorophyta, 89 Ochrophyta, and 266 Rhodophyta. The floristic character of flora from the Cantabrian coast is compared over time and with nearby regions applying Cheney's ratio [(Rhodophyta+Chlorophyta)/ Ochrophyta, or (R+C)/O]. The present paper aims to provide an overview of the research that has been conducted in the Cantabrian coast, not only found in international publications but also in local publications as well as unpublished theses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree mortality is an important component of forest tree and stand growth models, which provide decision support for forest managers. Mortality patterns, however, are highly variable and difficult to describe. Despite numerous investigations aimed at developing tree survival models, there are still important gaps that need to be filled. This paper used a large-scale repeated measure dataset collected from permanent sample plots established in 1980/81 across the natural range of loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) in the Piedmont, Atlantic Coastal Plain and Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic regions of the US. The primary objective of this study was to explain the survival of loblolly pine trees using time-varying covariates such as diameter at breast height, total tree height, crown ratio, stand age, stand basal area, and dominant height. In this paper, individual-tree mortality was described using a semiparametric proportional hazards regression model. Shared frailty models were used to account for unobserved heterogeneity not explained by the observed covariates. Our investigation involved developing a modeling comparison procedure, predicting mortality based on a frailty model, and quantifying the predictive ability for tree mortality. The survival model developed using a large scale database provides further understanding of mortality trends in planted stands of loblolly pine. The survival model will enable forest managers to more accurately specify initial planting density, thinning schedules, and other management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants have elemental importance for all life forms. The research areas in the field of plant sciences for botanists and agriculturists include the identification of plant species, classification of weeds from crops, detection of various diseases that hamper the growth of plant, and monitoring the growth and its semantic interpretation. Trained botanists can easily identify plant species based on the leaf shape, texture, structure or arrangement of leaves, however, the recent trend in smart agriculture demands the use of intelligent systems for the same task. Last decade has seen an enormous rise in the use of deep learning in the field of automatic plant species recognition based on the leaf images. In this work, we have surveyed various state-of-the-art deep learning techniques (Convolutional Neural Networks, Mask RCNN, Recurrent Neural Networks, Generative Adversarial Networks) that have been applied in the field of leaf image segmentation (separation of leaf from the whole image) and classification of leaves into various species. This contribution will help the new researchers in the field to get a foundation on the trends being employed in deep learning for generation of synthetic leaf images, segmentation and classification of leaves into various species. Various difficulties and future scope have also been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic plants fulfil a wide range of ecological roles, and make a substantial contribution to the structure, function and service provision of aquatic ecosystems. Given their well-documented importance in aquatic ecosystems, research into aquatic plants continues to blossom. The 14th International Symposium on Aquatic Plants, held in Edinburgh in September 2015, brought together 120 delegates from 28 countries and six continents. This special issue of Hydrobiologia includes a select number of papers on aspects of aquatic plants, covering a wide range of species, systems and issues. In this paper, we present an overview of current trends and future directions in aquatic plant research in the early twenty first century. Our understanding of aquatic plant biology, the range of scientific issues being addressed and the range of techniques available to researchers have all arguably never been greater; however, substantial challenges exist to the conservation and management of both aquatic plants and the ecosystems in which they are found. The range of countries and continents represented by conference delegates and authors of papers in the special issue illustrates the global relevance of aquatic plant research in the early twenty first century but also the many challenges that this burgeoning scientific discipline must address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present the analysis of archaeobotanical material retrieved by means of flotation from well-secured features during recent excavation work carried out in 2019 and 2020 by the German-Israeli Tell Iẓṭabba Excavation Project in the Seleucid-founded town of Nysa-Scythopolis. Founded under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 bce) and destroyed by the Hasmonaeans in the later years of John Hyrcanus (in 108/07 bce), the site offers a unique opportunity for observing the dietary habits of its settlers. The large sample size, namely the largest well-secured Seleucid assemblage ever analyzed in the southern Levant, together with its versatile provenance exhibit previously unknown information for the Hellenistic southern Levant vis-à-vis a unique case-study of high resolution systematic archaeobotanical analysis. The botanical assemblage from Tell Iẓṭabba gives a clearer picture of botanical dietary practices in Hellenistic Palestine. By presenting the archaeobotanical data of the published Hellenistic assemblages from the southern Levant, we offer a comprehensive overview of the agrarian resources cultivated and consumed as food at the time and period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces awards given to botanists including the "Journal of Plant Research" (JPR) Best Paper Award 2007 to Masahiro Hasegawa and colleagues at the Kyushu University, and Akitoshi Iwamoto and colleagues at Tokyo University, and the JPR Most-Cited Paper Award 2007 to Kouki Hikosaka.

Trees are acknowledged as most valued gift of nature and saviour of earth, enhancing and protecting landscapes, ecosystems and production systems. An authentic database of tree flora missing from local to global scale has immense value. Formulation of conservation and management policies are difficult owing to huge variation in number of species, lack of tree cover and quantification of tree diversity. To endow with a pragmatic groundwork for quantification of tree diversity of IHR, we had published an inventory of 1466 tree species (Angiosperms and Gymnosperms) along with their taxonomically vetted scientific name, distributional range, phenological attributes (leaf persistence and flower colour), use value, congruence, endemism and threatened species. One more database on tree diversity of Western Himalaya was also published with an annotated list of tree flora compiled from unrestricted literature and e-floras related to the regions. The present paper is an attempt to bring out the overall representation of tree flora of IHR, its distributional pattern, congruence, and endemism criterion in Western and Eastern Himalaya along with correlation between the regions as well as states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent days, swarm intelligent (SI) optimization algorithms have been proved to be a powerful framework for finding tradeoff solutions of multi-objective optimization problems (MOPs). Many researchers have proposed various SI optimization algorithms. Multi-objective artificial flora (MOAF) optimization algorithm is a recently proposed algorithm for solving MOPs. However, problems of decreased population diversity and uniformity of solutions distribution in the late evolutionary period is existed in the algorithm. Hence, this paper proposes a knee point-driven MOAF (kpMOAF) optimization algorithm to address the vulnerability of MOAF optimization algorithm. Knee points of the non-dominant solutions are taken by the proposed algorithm as criterion to guide the population evolution. Researchers have proved that select knee points equals to select a large hypervolume. Therefore, using it as criterion is an effective way to enhance the population convergence rate and maintain the diversity of solutions. In addition, adaptive neighborhood control method is introduced in the evolution process to improve the algorithm development capability. Simulation results on 10 benchmark functions demonstrate the competitiveness of kpMOAF optimization algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is the one of the hot area of research in which energy stability and network lifetime are considered to be the twin challenges during its application. Clustering is the optimum energy efficiency strategy that organizes the sensor nodes into potential groups for the objective of attaining energy stability and network lifetime. In this energy potent clustering process, cluster head selection is determined to be highly significant in order to balance energy among the nodes sensor nodes. Moreover, two-tier cluster head selection that includes temporary and final cluster head is identified to be challenging in WSNs. In this paper, Hybrid Fuzzy Logic and Artificial Flora Optimization Algorithm (FL-AFA)-based Two Tier Cluster Head Selection is proposed for improving energy efficiency and prolog network lifetime. This FL-AFA scheme achieved the cluster head selection in two stages, such as, i) Temporary Cluster Head (TCH) selection using FL and, ii) Final Cluster Head (FCH) selection using AFA. In the first stage, the concept of fuzzy logic applied over the input parameters of residual energy (RE), distance to BS (DTBS), and node degree (NDE). In the second stage, the benefits of AFA is employed for computing the fitness function through distance to nearby nodes (DNN), cluster compactness estimation factor (CCEF), and position estimation (PE). Simulation experiments of the proposed FL-AFA scheme and the benchmarked schemes are conducted based on the evaluation metrics of energy efficiency, network lifetime, average delay, and packet delivery ratio (PDR) under the impact of different sensor nodes.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]