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We generalize the notion of a root system by relaxing the conditions that ensure that it is invariant under reflections and study the resulting structures, which we call generalized root systems (GRSs). Since both Kostant root systems and root systems of Lie superalgebras are examples of GRSs, studying GRSs provides a uniform axiomatic approach to studying both of them. GRSs inherit many of the properties of root systems. In particular, every GRS defines a crystallographic hyperplane arrangement. We believe that GRSs provide an intrinsic counterpart to finite Weyl groupoids and crystallographic hyperplane arrangements, extending the relationship between finite Weyl groupoids and crystallographic hyperplane arrangements established by Cuntz. An important difference between GRSs and root systems is that GRSs may lack a (large enough) Weyl group. In order to compensate for this, we introduce the notion of a virtual reflection, building on a construction of Penkov and Serganova in the context of root systems of Lie superalgebras. The most significant new feature of GRSs is that, along with subsystems, one can define quotient GRSs. Both Kostant root systems and root systems of Lie superalgebras are equivalent to quotients of root systems and all root systems are isomorphic to quotients of simply-laced root systems. We classify all rank 2 GRSs and show that they are equivalent to quotients of root systems. Finally, we discuss in detail quotients of root systems. In particular we provide all isomorphisms and equivalences among them. Our results on quotient of root systems provide a different point of view on flag manifolds, reproving results of Alekseevsky and Graev. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basis of orchard production is rootstocks that reduce the vigor of sweet cherry trees. However, not all rootstocks for this species can be easily propagated using traditional methods of stooling or cutting. Some of these must be propagated using the in vitro method. This is expensive and, consequently, increases the price of maiden sweet cherry trees. Our experiment assessed the growth of maiden trees of selected sweet cherry varieties ('Bellise', 'Earlise', 'Lapins', 'Vanda') depending on the method of propagation of a semi-dwarf GiSelA 5 rootstock. Additionally, the intensity of physiological processes taking place in the obtained maiden trees was also examined. The experiment compared one type of GiSelA 5 rootstock, obtained using a cheaper softwood cuttings method, with another rootstock propagated using an in vitro method. During the two years of study, there were no significant differences in the percentage of maiden trees obtained in the case of the propagation methods for both types of rootstocks, ranging from 77.43% to 87.74%. The vigor of maiden tree growth in the first year of this study was stronger than in the second year. In particular, the stem diameter of maiden trees varied from 7% to 39%, depending on the variety considered. With the exception of one variety, maiden trees produced from a rootstock propagated by stem cuttings were characterized by a larger stem diameter for the three varieties, ranging from 23% to 29%, and by a greater number of side shoots, ranging from 73% to 172%, compared to those from in vitro. Additionally, when using the stem cutting method of propagation, the rootstocks had a better developed root system, except for the 'Earlise' variety. However, most often, no significant differences were found between the methods of propagation regarding the fresh weight of the maiden trees and leaves and their leaf blade area. The activity of physiological processes of maiden sweet cherry trees varied, and no constant regularities were found. In the second year of the experiment, maiden trees were more often characterized by lower levels of net photosynthetic intensity and internal CO2 concentration, which was associated with worse growth results. Based on the collected results, it is recommended to propagate the considered rootstock using stem cuttings, which yields maiden trees with similar and sometimes even better growth parameters than those propagated using the in vitro method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase biodiversity in tomato cultivation, two herbal aromatic plants, thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), were introduced as companion plants. Their role was to improve crop plant growth and stress resistance. Moreover, the effect of the soil application of Trichoderma microbial preparations on tomato growth parameters and yield, in combination with companion plants, was studied. Ligno-cellulose multi-layer microcapsules with Trichoderma atroviride TRS14 spores (MIC14) and the commercial preparation Trianum G (TG) were used as microbial preparations. This experiment was carried out in a certified organic field. Tomato plants were intercropped with thyme or basil in the arrangement of two tomato rows alternating with one herbal row. In all intercropping arrangements and in the control (tomato plants grown without herbs), subplots were sectioned. The soil in the subplots was amended with the MIC14 and TG preparations used at a concentration of 104 spores g−1 of the soil and planted with tomato transplants. No control measures were applied during tomato growing, and the plants were naturally infected with late blight. Tomato plant growth parameters and yield were assessed, and late blight severity was monitored. The degree of soil colonization by Trichoderma fungi and the effect of these applications on soil microbial activity and biodiversity (dehydrogenases activity, EcoPlates AWCD, and Shannon index) were evaluated. The results clearly showed a significant influence of thyme and basil on tomato growth and yield in organic production. The cultivation of thyme adjacent to tomatoes had a beneficial effect on the development of the root system and the number of flowers and fruits on the crop plants. Basil, on the other hand, clearly decreased tomato yield and adversely affected the effect of Trichoderma applications by reducing root system development. Moreover, basil as a companion plant increased late blight symptoms. Both Trichoderma strains colonized soil, but they had no significant effect on the microbial activity or metabolic potential measured on the EcoPlates with the use of the BIOLOG system. However, a decrease in dehydrogenases activity was noted. In organic cultivation, the Trichoderma preparations used had no significant effect on tomato yield, opposite to its increase in integrated tomato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the characteristics of plug seedlings affect the effectiveness of automatic transplanting, this study aimed to explore the effect of the addition of biochar into substrates on the growth of plug seedlings before and after transplanting. The physicochemical properties of substrates with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% biochar addition all met the requirements of seedling cultivation. The growth trend, root systems, and mechanical properties of seedlings before transplanting and the leaf gas exchange parameters of seedlings after transplanting were measured in this study. The results indicated that the seedlings cultivated with 10% biochar added to the substrate achieved the best growth trend and physiological indices, and the root systems under this treatment were also stronger than those of other treatments, while the seedlings cultivated with 25% biochar treatment were the worst, with less than 22.23% of the growth seen in the 10% biochar treatment, and even less than 1.5% of the growth of the seedlings cultivated without biochar treatment. Since the strong root systems could enhance the mechanical properties of seedling pots, the seedling pots cultivated with 10% biochar added into the substrate possessed the best compression resistance properties, with the maximum value of 49.52 N, and could maintain maximum completeness after free-fall impacting, wherein the loss of root and substrate was only 8.22%. The analysis results of seedlings cultivated after impacting proposed that the seedlings with better growth trends and root systems before transplanting could obtain better leaf gas exchange parameters during the flower stage after transplanting, so the seedlings cultivated with 5%~10% biochar added into the substrate grew better after impacting and then transplanting. It was noticed that the seedlings cultivated with appropriate biochar added into the substrate were able to achieve the optimal growth parameters and mechanical properties before and after transplanting, which were better able to meet the requirements of automatic transplanting. Thus, this study can promote the development of automatic transplanting technology to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high-efficiency mixed forests or converting low-efficiency pure forests into near-natural mixed forests with optimal structure and function is a crucial aspect of forest management. In the initial stages of afforestation or stand improvement, fertilization and planting distance significantly influence the formation and development of mixed forests. This study investigated how nutrients and planting distance affect root competition between five-year-old Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) and one-year-old Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa) and identified the factors influencing the competitive ability of these two species. Field planting experiments used three fertilization gradients (63 g·m−2, 125 g·m−2, and 250 g·m−2) of Stanley compound fertilizer with an N:P:K ratio of 2:1:1 and two planting distances (25 cm and 50 cm). Each experimental group was planted in circular plots with a radius of 0.5 m, yielding a total of nine plots. The effects of different fertilization concentrations and planting distances on root distribution were analyzed both horizontally and vertically. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between roots and soil nutrients, while Levins' niche overlap formula evaluated the differences in root competition between the species. Furthermore, principal component analysis quantified the relationships between impact factors and the root competitiveness of the two species. Results indicated that both species primarily allocated their fine root biomass to the shallow 0–10 cm layer. Pinus tabuliformis primarily extended to the southwest, while Populus tomentosa predominantly grew to the north. Both species exhibited enhanced root growth at moderate nutrient concentrations of 125 g·m−2. At a planting distance of 50 cm from Pinus tabuliformis, Populus tomentosa seedlings demonstrated superior root growth compared to those planted 25 cm apart. Pinus tabuliformis demonstrated greater competitive ability in the deeper 10–30 cm soil layers compared to Populus tomentosa, which showed the opposite pattern in the shallow 0–10 cm layers. Furthermore, available phosphorus (contribution rate of one impact factor on the competitiveness indexes, CR: −0.998), organic matter (CR: −0.978), total nitrogen (CR: −0.947), and alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen (CR: −0.937) significantly negatively impacted the competitiveness indexes of Pinus tabuliformis. The fine root surface area, volume, and length of Populus tomentosa also significantly negatively affected its competitiveness indexes, with all contribution rates exceeding an absolute value of 0.847. Results indicated that the root distributions of Pinus tabuliformis and Populus tomentosa overlapped spatially, with each species exhibiting advantages in different regions. Therefore, in future plantation reconstruction and forest management, it is essential to thoroughly evaluate root, soil, and fertilizer factors, adjusting planting distances accordingly, to effectively mitigate competition between the two species and successfully establish a mixed forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root system plays a crucial role in water and nutrient absorption, making it a significant factor affected by nitrogen (N) availability in the soil. However, the intricate dynamics and distribution patterns of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) root density and N nutrient under varying N supplies in Southern Xinjiang, China, have not been thoroughly understood. A two-year experiment (2021 and 2022) was conducted to determine the effects of five N rates (0, 150, 225, 300, and 450 kg N ha−1) on the root system, shoot growth, N uptake and distribution, and cotton yield. Compared to the N0 treatment (0 kg N ha−1), the application of N fertilizer at a rate of 300 kg N ha−1 resulted in consistent and higher seed cotton yields of 5875 kg ha−1 and 6815 kg ha−1 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. This N fertilization also led to a significant improvement in dry matter weight and N uptake by 32.4% and 53.7%, respectively. Furthermore, applying N fertilizer at a rate of 225 kg N ha−1 significantly increased root length density (RLD), root surface density (RSD), and root volume density (RVD) by 49.6–113.3%, 29.1–95.1%, and 42.2–64.4%, respectively, compared to the treatment without N fertilization (0 kg N ha−1). Notably, the roots in the 0–20 cm soil layers exhibited a stronger response to N fertilization compared to the roots distributed in the 20–40 cm soil layers. The root morphology parameters (RLD, RSD, and RVD) at specific soil depths (0–10 cm in the seedling stage, 10–25 cm in the bud stage, and 20–40 cm in the peak boll stage) were significantly associated with N uptake and seed cotton yield. Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer supply within the range of 225–300 kg N ha−1 can enhance root foraging, thereby promoting the interaction between roots and shoots and ultimately improving cotton production in arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The active development of production has a negative impact on the environment. Millions of cubic meters of forest are cut down annualy for production needs. These volumes need to be restored. Therefore, research in the field of reforestation is relevant and important. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the technology of rooting coniferous trees during summer grafting. Various terms of green cuttings of coniferous trees of the Pinaceae family were considered, common representatives in the region (Pinus sylvestris L., Picea obovata Ledeb., Picea obovata var. coerulea Malyschev, Pinus sibirica Du Tour) have been considered. The cuttings have been harvested in four terms, starting from the 3rd ten-day-period of June to the end of July. The grafting has been carried out in different conditions: in a green house with a fog plant and a climate chamber with manual watering. Several methods have been used to prepare the cuttings for planting: with and without needle removing on the lower part of the cutting. Before planting, the tested cuttings have been treated with the root formation preparation “Kornevin” (control grop – without treatment). As a result of the study, the optimal time for grafting coniferous trees for the Baikal region has been determined as the 3rd ten-day-period of June and July. The minimum rooting period for the cuttings has been figured out as 155 days. It has been noted that the cuttings whose lower part needles have not been removed, have taken root faster. Their rooting share is 10 % higher. The best rooting rate has been recorded in cuttings obtained from the plants Picea obovata Ledeb. and P. obovata var. coerulea Malyschev – 22–30%. The cuttings from Pinus sylvestris L. and P. sibirica Du Tour have a very low rooting share – less than 1 %. To determine the quality of rooting, biometric indicators of the formed roots have been obtained. The cuttings planted in the 3rd ten-day-period of June in cultivation beds with regulated fogging are characterized by powerful roots.

The growth peculiarities of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) have been studied by the example of an even-aged pine stand of high density. A long-term research has been conducted on a permanent sample plot. The data has been collected from the stand aged from 37 to 55 years. The characteristics of individual trees and the entire stand during the growth period in the absence of external influences (cutting, windfalls, pest damage, etc.) and after improvement cuttings have been analyzed. The influence of the amount of resource available to a tree on the formation of crowns, root systems and stem wood has been investigated. The size of the available resource has been the square of the dominance area. The root system of the pine trees of the studied stands is compact in size and, despite the high stand density, due to the high content of nutrients in the soil and the absence of moisture deficiency, it sufficiently ensures intensive tree growth corresponding to the conditions of the I quality class. It has been found that under these conditions, the average area of the root system is proportional to the average square of the dominance area. It has been shown that the stem diameter at a height of 1.3 m in the absence of external influences significantly depends on the square of the dominance area. The correlation coefficient of these indicators for the studied stand at the age of 37 is 0.89. The influence of cuttings on annual radial increment has been studied using dendrochronology methods. It has been revealed that in the year following the cutting, it has increased by 1.3–2.0 times, depending on the increase in the square of the dominance area. A method has been proposed for calculating the competition coefficient as a share of the resource required for the free growth of a tree, which is redistributed between its closest neighbours. Long-term observations have shown that with competition coefficients exceeding 0.6–0.7, the stem diameter increment rate decreases significantly, and the trees develop a sparse crown extending less than 40 % of the tree height. This, in turn, leads to growth retardation and a transition to a depressed state. This, in turn, leads to growth retardation and a transition to a depressed state.

Abstract The root system plays a crucial role in water and nutrient absorption, making it a significant factor affected by nitrogen (N) availability in the soil. However, the intricate dynamics and distribution patterns of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) root density and N nutrient under varying N supplies in Southern Xinjiang, China, have not been thoroughly understood. A two-year experiment (2021 and 2022) was conducted to determine the effects of five N rates (0, 150, 225, 300, and 450 kg N ha−1) on the root system, shoot growth, N uptake and distribution, and cotton yield. Compared to the N0 treatment (0 kg N ha−1), the application of N fertilizer at a rate of 300 kg N ha−1 resulted in consistent and higher seed cotton yields of 5875 kg ha−1 and 6815 kg ha−1 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. This N fertilization also led to a significant improvement in dry matter weight and N uptake by 32.4% and 53.7%, respectively. Furthermore, applying N fertilizer at a rate of 225 kg N ha−1 significantly increased root length density (RLD), root surface density (RSD), and root volume density (RVD) by 49.6–113.3%, 29.1–95.1%, and 42.2–64.4%, respectively, compared to the treatment without N fertilization (0 kg N ha−1). Notably, the roots in the 0–20 cm soil layers exhibited a stronger response to N fertilization compared to the roots distributed in the 20–40 cm soil layers. The root morphology parameters (RLD, RSD, and RVD) at specific soil depths (0–10 cm in the seedling stage, 10–25 cm in the bud stage, and 20–40 cm in the peak boll stage) were significantly associated with N uptake and seed cotton yield. Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer supply within the range of 225–300 kg N ha−1 can enhance root foraging, thereby promoting the interaction between roots and shoots and ultimately improving cotton production in arid areas.

Abstract Background The frequency and severity of abiotic stress events, especially drought, are increasing due to climate change. The plant root is the most important organ for water uptake and the first to be affected by water limitation. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to include root traits in studies on drought stress tolerance. However, phenotyping under field conditions remains a challenging task. In this study, plants were grown in a hydroponic system with polyethylene glycol as an osmotic stressor and in sand pots to examine the root system of eleven spring barley genotypes. The root anatomy of two genotypes with different response to drought was investigated microscopically. Results Root diameter increased significantly (p

Global climate change, which has also occurred in the Western ForestSteppe of Ukraine, has led to early sowing starting from the very beginning of the spring season. In this regard, to provide a scientific basis for spring barley cultivation technology, the issue of investigating the processes of plant growth and development before the onset of the tillering phenomenon, i.e., the second and third stages of organogenesis, is of particular relevance. The purpose of this study was to establish the regularities of dependence of spring barley plant growth and development on the influence of vegetation factors at different sowing dates in the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. To summarise the findings, the following methods were employed: general scientific methods based on objectivity, evidence, reproduction, and mathematical and statistical methods for processing experimental data. The study found the dependence of the processes of growth and development of spring barley plants based on plant biomass, crude biomass, and dry matter content of the root system and aerial parts of plants, as well as leaf area according to the analysis at the beginning of the tillering phase, on the influence of sowing time. The study estimated the significance of the studied factor under the influence of supply conditions for the maximum realisation of spring barley productivity potential. As a result, a regularity was revealed, according to which a substantial decrease in the productivity potential of barley plants was established with a delay for each subsequent 10 days starting from the first sowing date on 10 March. The maximum data values were obtained at the first sowing date, where the plant biomass was 723.6 mg, the crude biomass of the root system was 67.5 mg, the dry matter of the root system was 18.0 mg, the crude biomass of the aerial part of the plant was 656.1 mg, the dry matter of the aerial part of the plant was 130.8 mg and the leaf surface area was 18.1 cm2 . As a result of the scientific substantiation, the practical value of the study lies in the favourability of early sowing dates to ensure maximum realisation of plant productivity potential due to vegetation factors

Background: The frequency and severity of abiotic stress events, especially drought, are increasing due to climate change. The plant root is the most important organ for water uptake and the first to be affected by water limitation. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to include root traits in studies on drought stress tolerance. However, phenotyping under field conditions remains a challenging task. In this study, plants were grown in a hydroponic system with polyethylene glycol as an osmotic stressor and in sand pots to examine the root system of eleven spring barley genotypes. The root anatomy of two genotypes with different response to drought was investigated microscopically. Results: Root diameter increased significantly (p < 0.05) under polyethylene glycol treatment by 54% but decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by 12% under drought stress in sand pots. Polyethylene glycol treatment increased root tip diameter (51%) and reduced diameter of the elongation zone (14%) compared to the control. Under drought stress, shoot mass of plants grown in sand pots showed a higher correlation (r = 0.30) with the shoot mass under field condition than polyethylene glycol treated plants (r = -0.22). Conclusion: These results indicate that barley roots take up polyethylene glycol by the root tip and polyethylene glycol prevents further water uptake. Polyethylene glycol-triggered osmotic stress is therefore unsuitable for investigating root morphology traits in barley. Root architecture of roots grown in sand pots is more comparable to roots grown under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health and quality of the root system are imperative to ensure the successful establishment of a citrus tree after transplant from the nursery into the field. Containerized citrus production in enclosed nurseries restricts root growth and can result in root circling and intertwining. This may hinder root expansion and result in root girdling after transplant, negatively affecting tree establishment and growth. The root structure of a transplanted citrus tree can also be affected by the container type used in the nursery. Containers with root-pruning properties like chemical pruning or air pruning reduce root circling and may produce superior root systems compared with regular, nonpruning containers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different nursery containers on root physiological and morphological traits and plant performance over 15 months of growth in the nursery. Three container types, chemical pruning containers, air-pruning containers, and standard nursery containers, were compared. The chemical pruning containers were standard citrus nursery containers with a mixture of copy hydroxide [Cu(OH)2] and copper carbonate (CuCO3) [10% copper (Cu)] applied to the inner wall. Pruning occurs upon contact of the roots with the Cu on the wall of the containers. The air-pruning containers were customsized Air-Pots in which pruning occurs on holes in the wall of the containers upon contact of the roots with the air. Two rootstocks, US-812 and US-942 (Citrus reticulata × Poncirus trifoliata), were included for comparison in the nongrafted stage and 12 months after grafting with 'Valencia' orange (Citrus sinensis). Chemical root pruning positively influenced tree height, shoot mass, leaf area, rootstock trunk diameter, and the nonfibrous root biomass. No differences among container types were observed for the fibrous root biomass, but chemical pruning produced more roots that were finer with a higher specific root length and a higher respiration rate. In contrast, air pruning produced more roots that were thicker compared with the other containers. Most of the leaf nutrients were lower in trees grown in the chemical pruning containers compared with the standard containers, except for Cu and zinc (Zn), which were highest in the former. Trees growing in air-pruning containers were not significantly different in growth from trees growing in standard containers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Two organic carbon resources (wood ash and sawdust) were applied in the study site to assess their profound effects on soil properties and growth and biomass properties of lupin (Lupinus albus L.). Because of their contribution to improving soil structure, enhanced water-holding capacity, and increased carbon sequestration. The experiments were conducted in mid-November 2022 at Grdarasha Research Station, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq. The experiment includes two organic amendments (wood ash and sawdust) as a treatment and Control. Results showed that the application of wood ash and sawdust improved and raised the number of essential elements and heavy metals in the soil, which in turn boosted the ability of the roots to absorb nutrients. The highest germination percentage, plant height, and leaf number were observed in the ash treatment (95.00 %, 22.00 cm, and 21.22) respectively. The great values of fresh and dry shoot weight were found in sawdust treatment 63.78 and 14 g/plant) respectively. The effects of treatments were not significant on root length and fresh and dry root weights. The final findings showed that adding various forms of organic carbon could alter the chemical characteristics of the soil. This, in turn, might have a good impact on microbes, which can subsequently help plants grow by converting, solubilizing, and mobilizing soil nutrients. Furthermore, lupin plants appeared to be a form of phytoremediation, or absorption, for certain heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change, which has also occurred in the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, has led to early sowing starting from the very beginning of the spring season. In this regard, to provide a scientific basis for spring barley cultivation technology, the issue of investigating the processes of plant growth and development before the onset of the tillering phenomenon, i.e., the second and third stages of organogenesis, is of particular relevance. The purpose of this study was to establish the regularities of dependence of spring barley plant growth and development on the influence of vegetation factors at different sowing dates in the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. To summarise the findings, the following methods were employed: general scientific methods based on objectivity, evidence, reproduction, and mathematical and statistical methods for processing experimental data. The study found the dependence of the processes of growth and development of spring barley plants based on plant biomass, crude biomass, and dry matter content of the root system and aerial parts of plants, as well as leaf area according to the analysis at the beginning of the tillering phase, on the influence of sowing time. The study estimated the significance of the studied factor under the influence of supply conditions for the maximum realisation of spring barley productivity potential. As a result, a regularity was revealed, according to which a substantial decrease in the productivity potential of barley plants was established with a delay for each subsequent 10 days starting from the first sowing date on 10 March. The maximum data values were obtained at the first sowing date, where the plant biomass was 723.6 mg, the crude biomass of the root system was 67.5 mg, the dry matter of the root system was 18.0 mg, the crude biomass of the aerial part of the plant was 656.1 mg, the dry matter of the aerial part of the plant was 130.8 mg and the leaf surface area was 18.1 cm2. As a result of the scientific substantiation, the practical value of the study lies in the favourability of early sowing dates to ensure maximum realisation of plant productivity potential due to vegetation factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silvopastoral systems are an important strategy for sustainable livestock production. However, to expand their implementation, it is crucial to identify and develop forage materials that maintain good production and quality while being tolerant to shade conditions as well as other biotic and abiotic stresses. A field trial was conducted to evaluate the morpho-anatomical and agronomic responses of two Urochloa hybrids (Camello and Talisman) under two light conditions: shade (28 % light intensity) and full exposure. The trial followed a randomised complete block design with split-plot arrangement, where each treatment corresponded to a plot with three replications. Morphological and anatomical parameters were recorded in three technical replicates of each replication. Histological leaf sections were analysed for the percentage of adaxial epidermis, abaxial epidermis, vascular tissue, colourless parenchyma, Kranz sheath, bulliform cells, sclerenchyma, and chlorenchyma. Measurements in leaf included relative chlorophyll concentration, leaf area, leaf length, and leaf width. Evaluations in plant included height and number of tillers. Agronomic parameters such as plant cover and dry biomass were recorded for each plot. Additionally, six leaf imprints were made on the leaf undersides to observe stomatal morphology, and their length was recorded. Furthermore, plants from each treatment were grown in soil-filled tubes within the same plots. Root system photographs were taken, and in three replications per treatment, root length, root diameter, root volume, root surface area, and the depth at which 95 % of roots were concentrated (D95) were determined. These data can be utilised by the scientific community and breeders to conduct analyses and meta-analyses to identify shade tolerance mechanisms and develop genetic materials tolerant to changing climatic conditions while being optimal for use in silvopastoral systems.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate whether the use of on-farm inoculants based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) interferes with the agronomic performance of wheat cultivars. The following treatments were applied to cultivars TBIO Calibre and TBIO Sossego: eight on-farm inoculants, i.e., Acaulospora morrowiae, Cetraspora pellucida, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Glomus intraradices, Rhizophagus clarus, Scutellospora heterogama, and two mycorrhizal communities from native forest (NF) obtained in the Bom Princípio (BP) and in the Flores da Cunha (FC) Brazilian municipalities; and no inoculant (control). A randomized complete block experimental design was used. Mycorrhizal colonization, root morphology, and thousand grain weight were evaluated. The association between 'TBIO Sossego' and S. heterogama provided the greatest root volume, while that between 'TBIO Calibre' and C. etunicatum and between 'TBIO Sossego' and the BP NF community resulted in the best thousand-grain weight. The use of AMF, especially C. etunicatum and S. heterogama, enhances the development of the root system of wheat. 'TBIO Calibre' showed the greatest total length and quantity of very fine roots, while 'TBIO Sossego' developed a root system with the greatest surface area and quantity of thick roots. The use of on-farm inoculants affects the agronomic performance of wheat cultivars.

Plant microbial fuel cells represent an innovative type of microbial fuel cell technology, utilizing plant rhizodeposition to fuel electrochemically active bacteria on the anode surface, thereby generating bioelectricity. This study delves into some botanical aspects of plant species employed in PMFCs and Constructed Wetland PMFCs, aiming to investigate whether their bioelectrical performance is influenced by Raunkiær life forms and root architecture. Our study involved 40 plant species described in 38 documents. In some cases, nomenclature issues prevented the interpretation of actual species used in the experiments. The bioelectrical performance of PMFCs appeared to be significantly affected by both life forms and root architecture. Therophytes and Hemicriptophytes exhibited higher median values than the other life forms, while the Geophyte group showed very high power density values despite a lower median value. In contrast, CW-PMFCs do not appeared to be significantly affected by the botanical traits considered, likely due to the limited data collected on this experimental configuration. The plant species that performed the best in PMFCs include Carex hirta, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Glyceria maxima and Canna indica, all of which have an adventitious root system. C. hirta, G. maxima and C. indica are geophytes, while A. plantago-aquatica is a hydrophyte. Consequently, epiphytes, chamaephytes and nanophanerophytes, as well as plants with fibrous root systems, appeared to be not recommended for PMFCs. Nevertheless, the results of our study may have certain limitation due to nomenclature issues that prevented the accurate identification of species used in the PMFCs, the absence of a standardized benchmark for electrical measurement, and the lack of clear match between each species and its bioelectrical performance, reducing the data pool.

[Objective] This study was aimed to explore the characteristics of soil organic carbon and moisture content under different vegetation restoration types and their relationships, and to provide a scientific basis for the selection of vegetation restoration models in the Mu Us sandy land. [Methods] Different vegetation restoration types, including natural restoration of grassland and various plants such as Artemisia desertorum, Salix psammophila, A. desertorum S. psammophila mixed (shrub-shrub mixed), Pinus sylvestris, S. psammophila P. sylvestris mixed (tree-shrub mixed), in the Mu Us sandy land, were studied. Bare sand was used as the control. The effects and correlations of different vegetation restoration types on carbon and water in the 0-5.0 m soil profile were analyzed. [Results] (1) Vegetation restoration increased, with S. psammophila P. sylvestris mixed, P. sylvestris, Grassland, A. desertorum S. psammophila mixed, A. desertorum S. psammophila mixed, and A. desertorum showing decreasing trends, with significant accumulation effects observed within the 0—0.2 m soil depth. As soil depth increased, the organic carbon content of all vegetation types gradually decreased. Within the depth range of 0.8—2.2 cm, A. desertorum, S. psammophila, and A. desertorum S. psammophila mixed exhibited carbon loss. (2) Different vegetation restoration types showed varying degrees of soil moisture deficit in deep soil layers, primarily concentrated at 1—3.0 m soil layer, with S. psammophila P. sylvestris mixed showing the most severe deficit, followed by P. sylvestris, A. desertorum S. psammophila, S. psammophila, Grassland, A. desertorum. (3) Roots were identified as the main factors influencing soil organic carbon content and moisture consumption. Soil organic carbon content exhibited a negative correlation with soil moisture within the 0—5.0 m soil depth range. [Conclusion] Vegetation carbon storage was achieved at the expense of utilizing deep soil moisture, with S. psammophila P. sylvestris mixed exhibiting the lowest water consumption per unit of fixed carbon. The study suggests that S. psammophila P. sylvestris mixed exhibits favorable effects in vegetation restoration from the perspective of soil carbon retention and water retention in the Mu Us sandy land.

[ Objective ] The study aims to analyze the metabolomic difference in potato roots under NaHCO 3 stress , in order to understand the metabolic mechanism of different potato varieties in response to NaHCO 3 stress , and to provide theoretical basis for optimizing potato breeding , cultivation techniques , and production applications. [ Methods ] The root systems of potato ‘ V 7 ’ and ‘ KANG Nibeike ’ seedlings were selected as materials , and NaHCO 3 solution was used to simulate alkali stress with different concen- trations ( CK , 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 mmol / L ) . The root metabolites of these two potato varieties were analyzed by LC-MS and multidimensional statistics combined with non-targeted metabolomics detection. [ Results ] ( 1 ) Under NaHCO 3 stress , 160 metabolites were up-regulated and 91 metabolites were down- regulated in ‘ V 7 ’ roots , and 125 metabolites were up-regulated and 52 metabolites were down-regulated in ‘ KANG Nibeike ’ roots. ( 2 ) 10 differential metabolic pathways were selected for each of the two varieties , among which 4 differential metabolic pathways , namely biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites , bio- synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids , synthesis of histidine and purine-derived alkaloids , and pyrimidine metabolism , were the key metabolic pathways in response to alkali stress in potato roots. ( 3 ) Differential metabolites , such as carbohydrates , amides , amines , oxy-containing organic compounds , alkaloids , phe- nolic acids , and somatogenin , etc. , were involved in the complex regulatory network in potato in response to NaHCO 3 stress. [ Conclusion ] The key metabolites and metabolic pathways of potato roots in response to NaHCO 3 stress are screened. There are differences in the metabolome of the alkaline tolerant cultivar ‘ V 7 ’ and alkali sensitive cultivar ‘ KANG Nibeike ’ . Also , there are differences between the metabolism of the same variety and CK under different levels of stress. The accumulation of amino acids and their deriva- tives , organic acids , and allantoin is an important feature of the ‘ V 7 ’ root metabolism , which is more ac- tive and alkaline resistant than ‘ KANG Nibeike ’ .

Abstract Background Soil microorganisms play an extensive role in the biogeochemical cycles providing the nutrients necessary for plant growth. Root-associated bacteria and fungi, originated from soil, are also known to influence host health. In response to environmental stresses, the plant roots exude specific molecules influencing the composition and functioning of the rhizospheric and root microbiomes. This response is host genotype-dependent and is affected by the soil microbiological and chemical properties. It is essential to unravel the influence of grapevine rootstock and scion genotypes on the composition of this microbiome, and to investigate this relationship with plant growth and adaptation to its environment. Here, the composition and the predicted functions of the microbiome of the root system were studied using metabarcoding on ten grapevine scion-rootstock combinations, in addition to plant growth and nutrition measurements. Results The rootstock genotype significantly influenced the diversity and the structure of the bacterial and fungal microbiome, as well as its predicted functioning in rhizosphere and root compartments when grafted with the same scion cultivar. Based on β-diversity analyses, 1103P rootstock showed distinct bacterial and fungal communities compared to the five others (RGM, SO4, 41B, 3309 C and Nemadex). The influence of the scion genotype was more variable depending on the community and the investigated compartment. Its contribution was primarily observed on the β-diversity measured for bacteria and fungi in both root system compartments, as well as for the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere. Significant correlations were established between microbial variables and the plant phenotype, as well as with the plant mineral status measured in the petioles and the roots. Conclusion These results shed light on the capacity of grapevine rootstock and scion genotypes to recruit different functional communities of microorganisms, which affect host growth and adaptation to the environment. Selecting rootstocks capable of associating with positive symbiotic microorganisms is an adaptation tool that can facilitate the move towards sustainable viticulture and help cope with environmental constraints.

Introduction: Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) plays a crucial role in nitrogen utilization in agroecosystems. Functional characteristics of plants (grasses vs. legumes) affect BNF. However, little is still known about how ecological zones and cropping patterns affect legume nitrogen fixation. This study's objective was to assess the effects of different cropping systems on aboveground dry matter, interspecific relationships, nodulation characteristics, root conformation, soil physicochemistry, BNF, and nitrogen transfer in three ecological zones and determine the main factors affecting nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) and nitrogen transferred (Ntransfer). Methods: The 15N labelingmethod was applied. Oats (Avena sativa L.), forage peas (Pisum sativum L.), common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), and fava beans (Vicia faba L.) were grown in monocultures and mixtures (YS: oats and forage peas; YJ: oats and common vetch; YC: oats and fava beans) in three ecological regions (HZ: Huangshui Valley; GN: Sanjiangyuan District; MY: Qilian Mountains Basin) in a split-plot design. Results: The results showed that mixing significantly promoted legume nodulation, optimized the configuration of the root system, increased aboveground dry matter, and enhanced nitrogen fixation in different ecological regions. The percentage of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) and percentage of nitrogen transferred (%Ntransfer) of legumes grown with different legume types and in different ecological zones were significantly different, but mixed cropping significantly increased the %Ndfa of the legumes. Factors affecting Ndfa included the cropping pattern, the ecological zone (R), the root nodule number, pH, ammonium-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, microbial nitrogen mass (MBN), plant nitrogen content (N%), and aboveground dry biomass. Factors affecting Ntransfer included R, temperature, altitude, root surface area, nitrogenfixing enzyme activity, organic matter, total soil nitrogen, MBN, and N%. Discussion: We concluded that mixed cropping is beneficial for BNF and that mixed cropping of legumes is a sustainable and effective forage management practice on the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Plants' root properties are closely related to their ecological adaptability. This study aimed to clarify the differences in root properties of Stipa krylovii under different grazing disturbances. The morphological characteristics of root length, root surface area, root volume, root tip number, specific root length, and specific surface area of S. krylovii were compared under no grazing, light grazing, moderate grazing and heavy grazing conditions. The ecological adaptability to grazing pressure was also examined. Results showed that the underground biomass density decreased with the increase in grazing intensity. Grazing disturbance can lead to changes in plant community characteristics, and roots adapt to changes in these environmental factors by adjusting their distribution. Among the six root configuration parameters, those under light grazing were significantly higher than those under the other grazing types. The root length and root surface area were concentrated in the range of 0–2 mm. Mild grazing and moderate grazing were conducive to fine root penetration and contact with soil. Moderate grazing disturbance was beneficial to grassland vegetation productivity and played an important role in the stability and sustainable utilization of grassland ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the growth and development of the corn root system at various norms of mineral fertilizers and biostimulants in the gray soils of Uzbekistan. The introduction of mineral fertilizers and biostimulants "VL-77" and "Avangard Start" have a positive effect on the formation of the root system and the distribution of the root system in the arable and subsurface layers of the soil. It was revealed that when applying fertilizers in the norms N180P120K90 and N250P175K125 kg/ha and the use of biostimulants, it stimulates the weight of the root system and above-ground organs. It has been established that when applying fertilizers in the norm N250P175K125 kg/ha and the biostimulator "VL-77", the corn root system is located more in the arable soil layer. This contributes to a more efficient use of nutrients, and thus creates favorable conditions for the formation of a high yield of corn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, and its production is challenged by global climate change and a shortage of resources. The root system plays a vital role in uptaking water and nutrients and sensing soil environmental signals, and it has great potential to improve the final yield and stress tolerance of wheat. In order to further explore the genes regulating root development, this study focused on qRS-6D, located on chromosome 6D and spanning from 462,701,391 to 465,068,943, which was significantly associated with the total root length, root volume, root surface, and root fresh weight in our previous GWAS analysis. Firstly, its genetic effects were validated using an F6 segregating population by comparing the root-related traits of homologous lines harboring the alternative haplotypes of this QTL. Then, the number of causal genes of this QTL was narrowed down to four with a transcriptome-wide association study. Additionally, qRS-6D has been demonstrated to have genetic effects on several yield- (kernel length, kernel width, and thousand-kernel weight) and plant structure-related traits (plant height, peduncle length, total tiller number, productive tiller number, flag leaf length, and flag leaf angle). Relatively, the frequency of the favorable haplotype increased with the wheat breeding practice. This study provides a reliable genetic locus to improve root development and structure and evaluate its application potential in wheat breeding improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soil microorganisms play an extensive role in the biogeochemical cycles providing the nutrients necessary for plant growth. Root-associated bacteria and fungi, originated from soil, are also known to influence host health. In response to environmental stresses, the plant roots exude specific molecules influencing the composition and functioning of the rhizospheric and root microbiomes. This response is host genotype-dependent and is affected by the soil microbiological and chemical properties. It is essential to unravel the influence of grapevine rootstock and scion genotypes on the composition of this microbiome, and to investigate this relationship with plant growth and adaptation to its environment. Here, the composition and the predicted functions of the microbiome of the root system were studied using metabarcoding on ten grapevine scion-rootstock combinations, in addition to plant growth and nutrition measurements. Results: The rootstock genotype significantly influenced the diversity and the structure of the bacterial and fungal microbiome, as well as its predicted functioning in rhizosphere and root compartments when grafted with the same scion cultivar. Based on β-diversity analyses, 1103P rootstock showed distinct bacterial and fungal communities compared to the five others (RGM, SO4, 41B, 3309 C and Nemadex). The influence of the scion genotype was more variable depending on the community and the investigated compartment. Its contribution was primarily observed on the β-diversity measured for bacteria and fungi in both root system compartments, as well as for the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere. Significant correlations were established between microbial variables and the plant phenotype, as well as with the plant mineral status measured in the petioles and the roots. Conclusion: These results shed light on the capacity of grapevine rootstock and scion genotypes to recruit different functional communities of microorganisms, which affect host growth and adaptation to the environment. Selecting rootstocks capable of associating with positive symbiotic microorganisms is an adaptation tool that can facilitate the move towards sustainable viticulture and help cope with environmental constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is the most important factor limiting winter wheat yield in the North China Plain (NCP). Choosing high-yielding cultivars is an important measure to minimize the negative effects of drought stress. Field studies were conducted with 10 cultivars in the 2020–2022 seasons under three irrigation treatments (I0, without irrigation; I1, irrigated at jointing stage; I2, irrigated at jointing and anthesis stages) in the NCP to examine the water use strategies and root and shoot traits of high-yielding cultivars under different water supply conditions. The results showed that yield variation among cultivars was 21.2–24.6%, 23.7–25.9% and 11.6–15.3% for the I0, I1 and I2 treatments, respectively. Under water deficit conditions (I0 and I1), high-yielding cultivars reduced water use during vegetative stages and increased soil water use during reproductive stages, especially water use from deeper soil layers. Those cultivars with higher root length density (RLD) in deep soil layers exhibited higher water uptake. Each additional millimeter of water used after anthesis from the 100–200 cm soil layers increased grain yield by 23.6–29.6 kg/ha and 16.4–28.5 kg/ha under I0 and I1, respectively. This water use strategy enhanced dry matter accumulation after anthesis, decreased canopy temperature (CT) and increased relative leaf water contents (RLWC), which ultimately improved grain yield. For winter wheat grown under I2, cultivars that decreased water use after anthesis had higher water productivity (WP). Root length (RL), root weight (RW) and root:shoot ratio were each negatively correlated with grain yield, while above-ground biomass was positively correlated with grain yield. Therefore, higher dry matter accumulation and smaller root systems are two important traits of high-yielding cultivars under sufficient water supply conditions (I2) in the NCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of preferential flow to the soil − root − rock fragment systems is essential for understanding the eco-hydrological processes in karst rocky desertification (KRD) areas. In this study, we investigated the soil properties, root, and rock fragment distribution characteristics and preferential flow in this system. Results show that there are differences in the development of preferential flow under five grades of rocky desertification: light rocky desertification (LRD) > potential rocky desertification (PRD) > non-rocky desertification (NRD) > moderate rocky desertification (MRD) > severe rocky desertification (SRD). Different degrees of rocky desertification have facilitating or inhibiting effects on preferential flow. LRD and PRD promote preferential flow with ratio of 6.6 %–9.6 %, while MRD and SRD inhibit preferential flow with ratio of 4.2 %–6.7 %. The preferential flow is simultaneously influenced by the components of soil − root − rock fragment systems. Root system indicators (i.e., root biomass, root bulk density, and root length density) generally decrease as grades of rocky desertification increase. The surface outcrops density, rock fragment density, and volume fraction tend to increase with grades of rocky desertification. A principal components analysis found that preferential flow of MRD and SRD is highly influenced by rock fragments, while LRD is more driven by root systems and soil properties. PRD is averagely influenced by the combination. These findings suggest that appropriate plant and rock fragment ratios can effectively avoid water loss in the form of preferential flow and more attention should be paid to the ecological problems of LRD and PRD areas.

Health and quality of the root system are imperative to ensure the successful establishment of a citrus tree after transplant from the nursery into the field. Containerized citrus production in enclosed nurseries restricts root growth and can result in root circling and intertwining. This may hinder root expansion and result in root girdling after transplant, negatively affecting tree establishment and growth. The root structure of a transplanted citrus tree can also be affected by the container type used in the nursery. Containers with root-pruning properties like chemical pruning or air pruning reduce root circling and may produce superior root systems compared with regular, nonpruning containers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different nursery containers on root physiological and morphological traits and plant performance over 15 months of growth in the nursery. Three container types, chemical pruning containers, air-pruning containers, and standard nursery containers, were compared. The chemical pruning containers were standard citrus nursery containers with a mixture of copy hydroxide [Cu(OH)2] and copper carbonate (CuCO3) [10% copper (Cu)] applied to the inner wall. Pruning occurs upon contact of the roots with the Cu on the wall of the containers. The air-pruning containers were custom-sized Air-Pots in which pruning occurs on holes in the wall of the containers upon contact of the roots with the air. Two rootstocks, US-812 and US-942 (Citrus reticulata × Poncirus trifoliata), were included for comparison in the nongrafted stage and 12 months after grafting with ‘Valencia’ orange (Citrus sinensis). Chemical root pruning positively influenced tree height, shoot mass, leaf area, rootstock trunk diameter, and the nonfibrous root biomass. No differences among container types were observed for the fibrous root biomass, but chemical pruning produced more roots that were finer with a higher specific root length and a higher respiration rate. In contrast, air pruning produced more roots that were thicker compared with the other containers. Most of the leaf nutrients were lower in trees grown in the chemical pruning containers compared with the standard containers, except for Cu and zinc (Zn), which were highest in the former. Trees growing in air-pruning containers were not significantly different in growth from trees growing in standard containers.

Since the characteristics of plug seedlings affect the effectiveness of automatic transplanting, this study aimed to explore the effect of the addition of biochar into substrates on the growth of plug seedlings before and after transplanting. The physicochemical properties of substrates with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% biochar addition all met the requirements of seedling cultivation. The growth trend, root systems, and mechanical properties of seedlings before transplanting and the leaf gas exchange parameters of seedlings after transplanting were measured in this study. The results indicated that the seedlings cultivated with 10% biochar added to the substrate achieved the best growth trend and physiological indices, and the root systems under this treatment were also stronger than those of other treatments, while the seedlings cultivated with 25% biochar treatment were the worst, with less than 22.23% of the growth seen in the 10% biochar treatment, and even less than 1.5% of the growth of the seedlings cultivated without biochar treatment. Since the strong root systems could enhance the mechanical properties of seedling pots, the seedling pots cultivated with 10% biochar added into the substrate possessed the best compression resistance properties, with the maximum value of 49.52 N, and could maintain maximum completeness after free-fall impacting, wherein the loss of root and substrate was only 8.22%. The analysis results of seedlings cultivated after impacting proposed that the seedlings with better growth trends and root systems before transplanting could obtain better leaf gas exchange parameters during the flower stage after transplanting, so the seedlings cultivated with 5%~10% biochar added into the substrate grew better after impacting and then transplanting. It was noticed that the seedlings cultivated with appropriate biochar added into the substrate were able to achieve the optimal growth parameters and mechanical properties before and after transplanting, which were better able to meet the requirements of automatic transplanting. Thus, this study can promote the development of automatic transplanting technology to some extent.

To increase biodiversity in tomato cultivation, two herbal aromatic plants, thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), were introduced as companion plants. Their role was to improve crop plant growth and stress resistance. Moreover, the effect of the soil application of Trichoderma microbial preparations on tomato growth parameters and yield, in combination with companion plants, was studied. Ligno-cellulose multi-layer microcapsules with Trichoderma atroviride TRS14 spores (MIC14) and the commercial preparation Trianum G (TG) were used as microbial preparations. This experiment was carried out in a certified organic field. Tomato plants were intercropped with thyme or basil in the arrangement of two tomato rows alternating with one herbal row. In all intercropping arrangements and in the control (tomato plants grown without herbs), subplots were sectioned. The soil in the subplots was amended with the MIC14 and TG preparations used at a concentration of 104 spores g−1 of the soil and planted with tomato transplants. No control measures were applied during tomato growing, and the plants were naturally infected with late blight. Tomato plant growth parameters and yield were assessed, and late blight severity was monitored. The degree of soil colonization by Trichoderma fungi and the effect of these applications on soil microbial activity and biodiversity (dehydrogenases activity, EcoPlates AWCD, and Shannon index) were evaluated. The results clearly showed a significant influence of thyme and basil on tomato growth and yield in organic production. The cultivation of thyme adjacent to tomatoes had a beneficial effect on the development of the root system and the number of flowers and fruits on the crop plants. Basil, on the other hand, clearly decreased tomato yield and adversely affected the effect of Trichoderma applications by reducing root system development. Moreover, basil as a companion plant increased late blight symptoms. Both Trichoderma strains colonized soil, but they had no significant effect on the microbial activity or metabolic potential measured on the EcoPlates with the use of the BIOLOG system. However, a decrease in dehydrogenases activity was noted. In organic cultivation, the Trichoderma preparations used had no significant effect on tomato yield, opposite to its increase in integrated tomato production.

The basis of orchard production is rootstocks that reduce the vigor of sweet cherry trees. However, not all rootstocks for this species can be easily propagated using traditional methods of stooling or cutting. Some of these must be propagated using the in vitro method. This is expensive and, consequently, increases the price of maiden sweet cherry trees. Our experiment assessed the growth of maiden trees of selected sweet cherry varieties (‘Bellise’, ‘Earlise’, ‘Lapins’, ‘Vanda’) depending on the method of propagation of a semi-dwarf GiSelA 5 rootstock. Additionally, the intensity of physiological processes taking place in the obtained maiden trees was also examined. The experiment compared one type of GiSelA 5 rootstock, obtained using a cheaper softwood cuttings method, with another rootstock propagated using an in vitro method. During the two years of study, there were no significant differences in the percentage of maiden trees obtained in the case of the propagation methods for both types of rootstocks, ranging from 77.43% to 87.74%. The vigor of maiden tree growth in the first year of this study was stronger than in the second year. In particular, the stem diameter of maiden trees varied from 7% to 39%, depending on the variety considered. With the exception of one variety, maiden trees produced from a rootstock propagated by stem cuttings were characterized by a larger stem diameter for the three varieties, ranging from 23% to 29%, and by a greater number of side shoots, ranging from 73% to 172%, compared to those from in vitro. Additionally, when using the stem cutting method of propagation, the rootstocks had a better developed root system, except for the ‘Earlise’ variety. However, most often, no significant differences were found between the methods of propagation regarding the fresh weight of the maiden trees and leaves and their leaf blade area. The activity of physiological processes of maiden sweet cherry trees varied, and no constant regularities were found. In the second year of the experiment, maiden trees were more often characterized by lower levels of net photosynthetic intensity and internal CO2 concentration, which was associated with worse growth results. Based on the collected results, it is recommended to propagate the considered rootstock using stem cuttings, which yields maiden trees with similar and sometimes even better growth parameters than those propagated using the in vitro method.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a widely cultivated crop known for its high oil yield. It is cultivated extensively across tropical regions, notably in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It plays a vital role in global vegetable oil supply, meeting approximately 35% of the world's demand. However, the expansion of oil palm plantations often involves the utilization of degraded soils where nutrient availability, particularly nitrogen, is limited, posing challenges to plant growth and productivity. Roots are crucial in responding to nitrogen deficiency by adjusting their growth and distribution; however, research on root system distribution patterns in oil palm still needs to be completed. This study analyzes the root system architecture using RhizoVision Explorer, a 2D root image processing software while assessing its relationship with nitrogen availability across two commercial cultivars: Deli × La Mé of African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and the interspecific hybrid O×G Coari × La Mé. Our findings reveal significant associations between eight root traits in oil palm seedlings and treatments with and without nitrogen availability. Notably, total root morphology (length, surface area, and volume), rotation angle, solidity, and hole characteristics decreased under nitrogen deprivation, whereas surface angle frequency increased. We highlight the variability of these traits across cultivars, suggesting genetic dependence and potential utility in breeding programs. Moreover, interactions observed in primary root morphology and hole size indicate greater differences between control and nitrogen-treated groups in C × LM than in D × LM cultivars. On the other hand, cultivar differences, regardless of nitrogen availability, influenced lateral root morphology, while nitrogen availability, irrespective of cultivar, affected inclined angle frequency. Significant differences were observed in growth and development parameters such as root and shoot biomass, root-to-shoot ratio, and leaf emission numbers between nitrogen-optimal and nitrogen-starved conditions. Nitrogen significantly affects root architecture and plant growth in oil palm, particularly in the C × LM cultivar during the nursery stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the bio-tools that contribute to making the strawberry production system more sustainable are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which can be used as biofertilizers. Thus, five doses of phosphorus (P) applied to plants with AMF and a control (100% P, no AMF) were analyzed in order to differentiate the horticultural potential of the 'Camarosa' cultivar. We used an on-farm inoculant made up of six fungal species. The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the addition of AMF to the growing substrate made it possible to reduce the P supply in the nutrient solution by 75% without compromising the fruit yield. In addition, this combination improved the phytochemical quality of strawberries, the plant's root system morphology, and the accumulation of nutrients in plant organs (roots, crowns, aerial part and fruits). We conclude that the use of a multi-species on-farm inoculant based on AMF associated with a reduction in the P supply in the nutrient solution modifies the horticultural potential of the 'Camarosa' cultivar. We confirmed the action of a native AMF community as a biofertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation promotes soil C sequestration is largely unknown. Here, meta-analysis and logistic regression were applied to study the ecological effects of AMF inoculation on soil organic C (SOC) turnover and plant growth under different inoculation manipulations, plant traits, and soil conditions. Results showed that AMF inoculation generally increased SOC stock and plant biomass accumulation. Soil sterilization, unsterilized inoculum wash (a filtrate of mycorrhizal inoculum excluding AMF) addition in non-mycorrhizal treatments, experimental type, and inoculated AMF species influenced soil microbial biomass C (MBC) but had no impact on SOC turnover. Plant root system, initial SOC content, and soil pH were the key factors that influenced the AMF-mediated SOC turnover. AMF inoculation in fertile or acidic soils might deplete SOC. The symbiosis between tap-rooted plants and AMF was more likely to sequestrate C into the soil compared to fibrous-rooted plants. Moreover, plant total dry biomass largely relied on its own photosynthetic pathway although AMF was introduced. Collectively, our results suggest that AMF inoculation is a promising approach for soil C sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth balance is very important for plants, which is the coordination of resource acquisition between the aboveground and belowground parts. Extensive research has focused on the aboveground portion, and less attention has been given to the root system. Furthermore, the specific regulatory mechanisms responsible for maintaining the growth balance between aboveground and belowground in crops are still unclear. We examined the root/shoot ratio and leaf area/root length ratio in 19 pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense) and 19 upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) accessions, and the effects of root traits on the growth balance were explored. The results indicated that growth balance could affect the biomass accumulation of cotton, and the root system was the core part of controlling growth balance. The difference was that the specific root length played a major role in pima cotton, while the root mass fraction was more important in upland cotton. Despite these differences, both types of cotton achieved similar resource acquisition capability through the synergistic effect of mass fraction and morphological characteristics of leaves and roots. Our study is the first to demonstrate that the root system dominates the growth balance in pima and upland cotton. Selecting accessions with similar phenotypes may represent a promising new direction for increasing the success probability of interspecific hybridization and introgression breeding. These findings expand our understanding of the resource acquisition and utilization of crops and provide a valuable perspective for ecological research and crop breeding.

One of the ways to grow high-quality grafted grape seedlings is to use modern, environmentally friendly biologically active preparations. Today, such preparations include live chlorella suspension. Its use in grape nursery is a new and relevant technological method of growing planting material. The aim of the study was to show the effect of live chlorella suspension on the realization of the biological potential of grapevines, with the subsequent production of high-quality grafted grape seedlings. Field (recording of plant growth and development), laboratory (determination of quantitative and qualitative parameters of plants) and statistical (confirmation of the reliability of the results) research methods were used. The obtained results showed that for soaking rootstock and scion components it is advisable to use the strain Chlorella vulgaris Beijer, dilution 1:5, soaking should be carried out for 72 hours – rootstock components, 18 hours – scion components; for irrigation of grape garden plot it is advisable to use the strain Chlorella vulgaris Beijer. + Ge, dilution 1:5, it was carried out immediately after planting scions and three times during the growing season – in June, July, and August. The use of these strains of live chlorella suspension allowed obtaining a higher yield of standard seedlings from the garden plot, the plants had a well-developed root system and annual growth. Compared to the control, which was water, the total number of roots increased. Plants in these variants were also characterized by increased growth of the aboveground part. Indicators of total and mature growth, which characterize the overall development of grafted grape seedlings, were in the range of 687.1-773.2 cm3 (total growth volume), 337.9-386.6 cm3 (mature growth volume), while 730.1 and 362.6 cm3 , respectively, in the control. The records of the output of standard seedlings from the garden plot also showed the advantage of using a suspension of live chlorella (an increase of 19.0-21.0%) compared to water. The above technological methods allow obtaining high-quality grape seedling products and can be a promising alternative for more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural methods

Myrothamnus flabellifolia is the only woody resurrection plant discovered so far and could recover from extreme desiccation condition. However, few genes related to its strong drought tolerance have been characterized, and the underlying molecular mechanisms remains mysterious. Members of WRKY transcription factor family are effective in regulating abiotic stress responses or tolerance in various plants. An early dehydration-induced gene encoding a WRKY transcription factor namely MfWRKY41 was isolated from M. flabellifolia, which is homologous to AtWRKY41 of Arabidopsis. It contains a typical WRKY domain and zinc finger motif, and is located in the nucleus. Comparing to wild type, the four transgenic lines overexpressing MfWRKY41 showed better growth performance under drought and salt treatments, and exhibited higher chlorophyll content, lower water loss rate and stomatal aperture and better osmotic adjustment capacity. These results indicated that MfWRKY41 of M. flabellifolia positively regulates drought as well as salinity responses. Interestingly, the root system architecture, including lateral root number and primary root length, of the transgenic lines was enhanced by MfWRKY41 under both normal and stressful conditions, and the antioxidation ability was also significantly improved. Therefore, MfWRKY41 may have potential application values in genetic improvement of plant tolerance to drought and salinity stresses. The molecular mechanism involving in the regulatory roles of MfWRKY41 is worthy being explored in the future.

Background and aimsStomatal closure allows plants to promptly respond to water shortage. Although the coordination between stomatal regulation, leaf and xylem hydraulics has been extensively investigated, the impact of below-ground hydraulics on stomatal regulation remains unknown.MethodsWe used a novel root pressure chamber to measure, during soil drying, the relation between transpiration rate (E) and leaf xylem water pressure (ψleaf-x) in tomato shoots grafted onto two contrasting rootstocks, a long and a short one. In parallel, we also measured the E(ψleaf-x) relation without pressurization. A soil-plant hydraulic model was used to reproduce the measurements. We hypothesize that (1) stomata close when the E(ψleaf-x) relation becomes non-linear and (2) non-linearity occurs at higher soil water contents and lower transpiration rates in short-rooted plants.Key resultsThe E(ψleaf-x) relation was linear in wet conditions and became non-linear as the soil dried. Changing below-ground traits (i.e. root system) significantly affected the E(ψleaf-x) relation during soil drying. Plants with shorter root systems required larger gradients in soil water pressure to sustain the same transpiration rate and exhibited an earlier non-linearity and stomatal closure.ConclusionsWe conclude that, during soil drying, stomatal regulation is controlled by below-ground hydraulics in a predictable way. The model suggests that the loss of hydraulic conductivity occurred in soil. These results prove that stomatal regulation is intimately tied to root and soil hydraulic conductances.

Various factors can exert detrimental effects on crop growth and development, among which the influence of the machinery's running gear within the machine-tractor unit stands out, particularly within the soil vicinity encompassing the plant's root system. As a result, the area of soil compaction arising from tractor wheel pressure increasingly covers the plant's protective zone. This poses challenges for both root system growth and development, as well as the optimal uptake of soil nutrients, often leads to plant damage or even trampling. Presently, there is no universally accepted metric for assessing the compatibility between tractor track width and the specific inter-row spacing under cultivation. (Research purpose) Development of an indicator to assess the compatibility of the tractor track width with the cultivated inter-row spacing. (Materials and methods) The analysis demonstrates that the level of compatibility of the tractor track to the crop inter-row spacing is determined based on the dimensions of the crop spacing, the tractor track width, the protective zone outlined by agrotechnical standards, the deviation of the wheel trajectory from the axis of row symmetry, and tire size. (Results and discussion) An analytical correlation has been derived to determine the level of compatibility between tractor track width and crop inter-row spacing, using the context of cotton cultivation as an illustrative example. It has been revealed that among the serial tractors utilized within cotton farms across the region, full-fledged operational performance is exclusively achieved when row spacings measure 60 and 90 centimeters. In contrast, the utilization of this machinery on row spacings of 70 and 76 centimeters leads to detrimental outcomes such as row trampling and plant damage. (Conclusions) The viability of the developed indicator has been determined and validated. The improvement of the tractor propulsion system should be aimed at devising a technical solution that facilitates seamless adjustment of track width over a broad spectrum, thus allowing for adaptability to diverse row spacing requirements.

Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell (PMFC) is an emerging technology that converts plant waste into electrical energy through rhizodeposition, offering a renewable and sustainable source of energy. Deviating from the traditional PMFC configurations, additive manufacturing was utilized to create intricate and efficient designs using polymer-carbon composites. Concerning the agricultural sector, the effect of 3D-printed PMFCs on the growth and biomass distribution of Phaseolus lunatus and Ipomoea aquatica was determined. The experiment showed that electrostimulation promoted the average daily leaf number and plant height of both polarized plants, which were statistically proven to be greater than the control (α = 0.05), by energizing the flow of ions in the soil, boosting nutrient uptake and metabolism. It also stimulated the growth of roots, increasing the root dry mass of polarized plants by 155.44% and 66.30% for I. aquatica and P. Lunatus against their non-polarized counterpart. Due to the biofilm formation on the anode surface, the number of root nodules of the polarized P. lunatus was 51.30% higher than the control, while the protein content in the PMFC setup was 42.22% and 8.26% higher than the control for I. aquatica and P. lunatus, respectively. The voltage readings resemble the plants' average growth rate, and the polarization studies showed that the optimum external resistances in the I. aquatica- and P. lunatus-powered PMFC were 4.7 kΩ and 10 kΩ, respectively. Due to other prevailing pathways of organic carbon consumption, such as methanogenesis, the effect of polarization on the organic carbon content in soil is currently inconclusive and requires further study.

Koyama spruce (Picea koraiensis Nakai) is one of the main tree species in Primorsky Krai. Due to its rapid growth, light loving characteristics and good renewal on wood cutting and burned areas in combination with high technical qualities and decorative properties that distinguish it from other Far Eastern spruces, as well as positive experience of plants in various regions of Russia, this tree species is one of the promising coniferous species of the Russian Far East for forest restoration. Koyama spruce is valuable for landscaping cities and towns. However, its introduction is constrained by a number of factors, including a lack of quantity and a high cost of seed material. Use of growth stimulants accelerates production of high-quality planting material of spruce. The purpose of the research was to study the prolonged effect of pre-planting treatment of the root system of three-year-old saplings of Koyama spruce with growth stimulants Krezatsin (triethanolammonium salt of orthocresoxyacetic acid 475 g/l), Tsirkon (hydroxycinnamon acids) and Epin-Extra (epibrassinolide solution in alcohol 0.025 g/l) on morphometric parameters of one- and four-year-old seedlings. Three-year-old seedlings of Koyama spruce grown in the seedling section of the nursery were transplanted to nursery-garden on the area of 0.2 hectares. The seedlings were planted at a distance of 0.61 m. Before transplanting, their root system was placed for 0.5 hours in solutions of growth stimulants Krezatsin, Tsirkon and Epin-Extra (solution concentrations of 1 ml / 5 l and 1 ml / 10 l of water). Control saplings were not treated. At the end of the growing season at the end of the 1st and 4th years of growth, the saplings were measured in terms of stem height, height increase, and diameter of root collar. It was revealed that Krezatsin and Epin-Extra growth stimulants had a significant effect on both the growth of one- and four-year-old seedlings So, in the first year of growth, the height of seedlings exceeded the control by 6.316.2 %, the increase in height - by 27.555.5 %, the diameter of root collar - by 4080 %; in the fourth year, the excess of seedlings to control was 29.945.4, respectively; 7.651.5 and 33.355.6 %. It was found that the concentration of solutions of 1 ml / 10 l was more effective.

The application of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) for seed coating of agricultural crops is an innovative and promising method to effectively reduce plant stress during dry periods and thereby contribute to sustainable agriculture. However, due to the lack of experiments using SAP in field conditions in Central Europe, we focused on determining the effect of synthetic SAP, which was used for coating maize seeds, on the germination and emergence of these plants as well as on determining its impact on the genetic diversity of microbial communities in the maize rhizosphere for two consecutive years. The results showed that the growth parameters of coleoptiles and root systems of germinating maize plants at the very early development stage were biased in favour of SAP-coated seeds, and some values were statistically higher in the second year of evaluation. Similar observations were recorded in the assessment of maize emergence parameters. Also, these values were better when using SAP-coated seeds compared to the untreated controls. Plant height, dry weight, leaf tip number, and the Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD ) value were statistically higher in the second year of evaluation. The rhizosphere bacterial and fungal genetic diversity results did not confirm statistically significant differences between the SAP-coated and control maize seeds. They concern both alpha diversity indices and the results from multivariate statistical methods. Principal coordinate analysis results with cluster analysis show that the main factor influencing the microbial diversity in the maize rhizosphere was the collection date, especially the year of sampling than t he use of SAP-coated seeds.

This study aimed to investigate whether and how nighttime warming (NW) influences the copper (Cu) bioaccumulation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Cu pollution. We examined plant growth, Cu concentration, and antioxidant enzymes of wheat after 6 months of Cu exposure (0, 100, 400, and 800 mg/kg) under NW. The results indicated that, NW of 1.54°C significantly promoted Cu translocation from root to shoot through an increasing root system under increased Cu treatments (p < 0.05). The Cu contents of grains were significantly increased by NW under 800 mg/kg Cu treatment (p < 0.05). NW decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity under increased Cu treatments (p < 0.05). There were significantly negative correlations between biomass and Cu concentrations of the same part under NW (p < 0.05). The root biomass significantly increased by 51% in NW compared with nonnighttime warming (CK) (p < 0.05). These results provided evidence that wheat might respond to NW by altering their roots so that they were larger, thinner, and longer, suggesting that soil Cu translocation from root to shoot would be accelerated resulting from the expanded roots under elevated temperatures, and thus forewarned the food safety risks of climate change in agricultural ecosystem.

Late spring cold is a disastrous weather condition that often affects early rice seedlings in southern China, limiting the promotion of direct seeding cultivation. However, there are few reports on the effect of these events and on the growth recovery mechanism of rice root systems after rice seedlings are exposed to this stress. This study selected the strong-growth-recovery variety B116 (R310/R974, F17) and the slow-recovery variety B811 (Zhonghui 286) for direct seeding cultivation and exposed them to low temperature and low-light stress to simulate a late spring cold event in an artificial climate chamber. The treatment consisted of 4 days of exposure to a day/night temperature of 14/10 °C and a light intensity of 266 µmol m−2s−1 while the control group was kept at a day/night temperature of 27/25 °C and light intensity of 533 µmol m−2s−1. The results showed that 6 days after stress, the total length, surface area, and volume of B116 roots increased by 335.5%, 290.1%, and 298.5%, respectively, while those of B811 increased by 228.8%, 262.0%, and 289.1%, respectively. In B116, the increase in root fresh weight was 223.1%, and that in B811 was 165.6%, demonstrating rapid root recovery after stress and significant differences among genotypes. The content of H2O2 and MDA in the B116 roots decreased faster than that in the B811 roots after normal light intensity and temperature conditions were restored, and the activity of ROS metabolism enzymes was stronger in B116 roots than in B811 roots. The correlation analysis between the transcriptome and metabolome showed that endogenous signal transduction and starch and sucrose metabolism were the main metabolic pathways affecting the rapid growth of rice seedling roots after exposure to combined stress from low temperature and low light intensities. The levels of auxin and sucrose in the roots of the strong-recovery variety B116 were higher, and this variety's metabolism was downregulated significantly faster than that of B811. The auxin response factor and sucrose synthesis-related genes SPS1 and SUS4 were significantly upregulated. This study contributes to an understanding of the rapid growth recovery mechanism in rice after exposure to combined stress from low-temperature and low-light conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]