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The Calocybe species possess notable economic and medicinal value, demonstrating substantial potential for resource utilization. The taxonomic studies of Calocybe are lacking in quality and depth. Based on the specimens collected from northeast China, this study provides a detailed description of two newly discovered species, namely Calocybe betulicola and Calocybe cystidiosa, as well as two commonly found species, Calocybe decolorata and Calocybe ionides. Additionally, a previously unrecorded species, C. decolorata, has recently been discovered in Jilin Province, China. The two newly discovered species can be accurately distinguished from other species within the genus Calocybe based on their distinct morphological characteristics. The primary distinguishing features of C. betulicola include its grayish-purple pileus, grayish-brown to dark purple stipe, smaller basidiomata, absence of cellular pileipellis, and its habitat on leaf litter within birch forests. Calocybe cystidiosa is distinguished by its growth on the leaf litter of coniferous forests, a flesh-pink pileus, a fibrous stipe with a white tomentose covering at the base, non-cellular pileipellis, larger basidiospores, and the presence of cheilocystidia. The reconstruction of phylogenetic trees using combined ITS , nLSU , and tef1-α sequences, employing maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses, showed that C. betulicola formed a cluster with C. decurrens, while C. cystidiosa clustered with C. vinacea. However, these two clusters formed separate branches themselves, which also supported the results obtained from our morphological studies. A key to the Calocybe species reported from northeast China is provided to facilitate future studies of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Calocybe species possess notable economic and medicinal value, demonstrating substantial potential for resource utilization. The taxonomic studies of Calocybe are lacking in quality and depth. Based on the specimens collected from northeast China, this study provides a detailed description of two newly discovered species, namely Calocybe betulicola and Calocybe cystidiosa, as well as two commonly found species, Calocybe decolorata and Calocybe ionides. Additionally, a previously unrecorded species, C. decolorata, has recently been discovered in Jilin Province, China. The two newly discovered species can be accurately distinguished from other species within the genus Calocybe based on their distinct morphological characteristics. The primary distinguishing features of C. betulicola include its grayish-purple pileus, grayish-brown to dark purple stipe, smaller basidiomata, absence of cellular pileipellis, and its habitat on leaf litter within birch forests. Calocybe cystidiosa is distinguished by its growth on the leaf litter of coniferous forests, a flesh-pink pileus, a fibrous stipe with a white tomentose covering at the base, non-cellular pileipellis, larger basidiospores, and the presence of cheilocystidia. The reconstruction of phylogenetic trees using combined ITS , nLSU , and tef1-α sequences, employing maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses, showed that C. betulicola formed a cluster with C. decurrens, while C. cystidiosa clustered with C. vinacea. However, these two clusters formed separate branches themselves, which also supported the results obtained from our morphological studies. A key to the Calocybe species reported from northeast China is provided to facilitate future studies of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the differences in stem and leaf growth characteristics of Medicago sativa and Bromus inermis in the Jiaozhou region of China during 2019–2020 under three different planting modes of the two forages: monoculture, mixed species sowing in the same rows, and mixed species sowing in alternating rows. No special management of the experimental plots was carried out in this study to simulate as much as possible the growth of forages in their natural state. The stem and leaf characteristics influencing the dry matter weight were calculated using grey correlation. These characteristics included leaf length, leaf width, leaf thickness, leaf area, leaf fresh weight, stem length, stem diameter, stem fresh weight, stem–leaf ratio, fresh matter yield, dry matter yield, and protein yield of M. sativa and B. inermis under different sowing methods in different years. The results showed that the weight pattern of the characteristics affecting the yield of M. sativa and B. inermis production was leaf area > stem diameter > leaf length > stem length > leaf width > leaf thickness, leaf area > leaf length > stem length > leaf width > leaf thickness > stem diameter. Considering all the growth factors, the production capacity was ranked as mixed sowing in alternating rows > mixed sowing in same rows > monoculture. Thus, the suitable mode for M. sativa–B. inermis sowing was mixed sowing in alternating rows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quercus gilva is a precious timber tree species in middle subtropical China. In order to investigate the phenotypic diversity, phenotypic variation pattern and the major geographic and climatic factors influencing phenotypic variation of Q. gilva populations, 15 growth and leaf traits of 115 individuals from 14 natural populations were measured, and then the phenotypic diversity, variation pattern and the correlation between phenotypic variation and geographic and climatic factors were studied using nested analysis of variance, phenotypic differentiation coefficient, diversity index, correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results were as follows:(1)The average variation coefficient and the average Shannon-Wiener index of 15 phenotypic traits were 35.070% and 1.998, respectively. Variation coefficient and Shannon-Wiener index of 14 populations ranged from 14.94%(Dongkou)to 35.56%(Longshan)and from 1.127(Songyang)to 1.980(Changning), respectively. These results indicated that Q. gilva showed a relatively high level of phenotypic diversity.(2)Significant differences in 15 phenotypic traits were found among and within populations(P<0.01), with an average phenotypic differentiation coefficient of 41.491%. This result elucidated that the phenotypic variation within populations was greater than that among populations.(3)Correlation analysis showed that there were significant or entremely significant correlations among parts of the traits, whereas no correlation was found between phenotypic traits and geographic factors. Precipitation was the major factor that influenced the phenotypic traits of Q. gilva.(4)Principle component analysis indicated that the first four principal components explained 82.961% of total phenotypic contribution rate of Q. gilva.(5)Cluster analysis revealed that 14 Q. gilva populations were divided into three groups according to their different leaf and petiole size, such as small-leaved micropetiole, large-leaved macropetiole and medium-leaved micropetiole, which was not related to the geographic distribution of populations. This study provides scientific basis for the protection and utilization of Q. gilva germplasm resources, and lays an important foundation for its improved variety breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutrient filter function is an important ecosystem service of seagrass meadows that mitigates the consequences of coastal eutrophication. In northeast Hainan in China, large seagrass areas were lost due to chronic eutrophication induced by untreated pond aquaculture effluents. However, in adjacent areas, seagrasses could survive due to seasonal exposure (i.e., not chronic) to eutrophication only. In a way, the conditions in these areas represent a transitional environment which allows investigating the effect of eutrophication on seagrass performance and their nitrogen uptake capacity. We tested how a 4‐week in situ nutrient enrichment affected inorganic nitrogen uptake rates of a multispecies seagrass meadow in eutrophic and non‐eutrophic seasons, in light and in darkness. All species maintained nitrogen uptake in the dark and preferred ammonium over nitrate. In the eutrophic season, the seagrass leaf biomass and growth were lower resulting in a lower nitrogen filter capacity. Among the species present, Cymodocea rotundata and Cymodocea serrulata covered 48% and 45%, respectively, of their daily nitrogen demand for leaf growth through leaf uptake from the water column, while it was only 30% for Thalassia hemprichii, the last remaining species in meadows degraded by eutrophication, as deduced from previous studies. It indicates that a multispecies seagrass meadow has a higher nitrogen filter capacity than a monospecific T. hemprichii meadow. By reducing seagrass diversity and, hence, the nitrogen filter function, eutrophication triggers a self‐reinforcing process. Once the nitrogen filtering capacity of a seagrass meadow is exhausted, further eutrophication and seagrass loss are expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photinia × fraseri is a common color-leaved tree species native to South China and widely used in landscaping and gardening in the south. Its ornamental value in landscaping is commonly acknowledged. In this study, two year old cutting seedlings of two varieties of Photinia × fraseri, i.e. Photinia × fraseri Red Robin and Photinia × fraseri Robusta, were taken as the test materials, the introduction of the two varieties were conducted in the Jinzhong region to measure the growth performance and leaf phtsiological indexes in attempt to evaluate their performance in growth and physiological acclimation to local environmental conditions. The results showed that the relative lateral growth of Photinia × fraseri Red Robin in the year was significantly higher than that of Photinia × fraseri Robusta. However, the leaf conductivity of Photinia × fraseri Robusta was significantly higher than that of Photinia × fraseri Red Robin. Meanwhile, the relative lateral growth of two varieties of Photinia fraseryi was significantly positively correlated with leaf starch content, while the relative leaf conductivity of Red Robin was highly variable among individuals and significantly negatively correlated with the relative lateral growth. Above results suggested that Red Robin was not only outperformed Robusta on growth performance in the introdunction place in the growing season, but also highly varied in relative leaf conductivity among individuals. Further selection of individuals with low leaf cell membrane permeability and high growth should be conducted to obtain new Photinia fraseri varieties more suitable for cultivation in the semi arid area of the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged drought can negatively impact a variety of plant physiological processes. We conducted a drought experiment on one-year-old plants of Glycyrrhiza uralensis to characterize how gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and growth responded to droughts of varying magnitudes. Plants grown under control (no drought stress) and three droughted conditions, differing in their duration (7, 14 and 21 days). Net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (gs) were significantly lower with increasing water stress. The moderate (14 days) and severe (21 days) water stress treatments resulted in lower Pn, as well as stomatal limitation of photosynthesis during the morning but nonstomatal limitation during the afternoon. Meanwhile, the increase in F0 and decrease in Fm, ΦPSII, and Fv/Fm further suggested that photosynthetic capacity of G. uralensis leaves was reduced and PSII partially inactivated during the day under drought. These patterns indicated that drought damaged PSII of G. uralensis leaves. However, part of the damage to PSII might be alleviated under mild or moderate drought, but it was not reparable under severe drought. Water stress decreased the Pn-PAR curves of G. uralensis and led to higher LCP and RD and lower Pmax and LSP. Together, these results suggest that drought stress weakened the light adaptability of leaves and reduced the efficiency of light transformation. In addition, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)) were elevated in G. uralensis under moderate (14 days) and severe (21 days) water stress during first 14 days but were significantly reduced after that time. These results suggest that protective enzymes were activated early to resist the damage caused by drought stress but that prolonged stress caused accumulation of reactive oxygen species that exceeded the capacity of the antioxidant system, resulting in cellular damage. Water stress also reduced plant growth (lower plant height, basal diameter and crown area) and yield (smaller roots, stems, leaves, and total biomass). Moreover, water stress led to yellowing, wilting, and senescence of leaves and suppressed growth of main roots. We found that the drought treatment lasting 21 days is the moisture threshold of G. uralensis, and that longer droughts in the Hexi Corridor can cause G. uralensis to wither and die. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the effects of high-strength plastic mulch film application on cotton production and residual film recovery，field tests were conducted using four different types of high-strength mulch films，and one type of traditional PE mulch film in the cotton fields of Alar City，Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region，China in 2020. The planting and production characteristics of cotton treated with different plastic films mulching were analyzed during the growing period of the crop，and the residual plastic film was recycled thereafter. The results revealed that high-strength mulch film significantly increased the soil temperature in 0~5 cm soil layer of cotton field. Moreover，their water vapor transmission rate was around 20.7~35.7 g·m-2 ·d-1 ，which was significantly lower than that of the traditional PE mulch film（P< 0.05），and it reduced the soil moisture loss and exhibited a better function through increasing the soil temperature and preserving the soil moisture. Compared with the traditional PE film mulching，the high-strength mulch films significantly increased the rate of seedling emergence and leaf growth（P<0.05），and were more beneficial for the growth and yield of cotton，thereby，leading to an increase in the yield rate by 3.1%~4.7%. In addition，high-strength mulch film exhibited higher recovery rate and economic benefit than the traditional PE mulch film，as their mechanical and artificial recovery rate were higher than 83%. High-strength mulch film with higher mechanical properties and recovery efficiency is more conducive to the growth and development of cotton than the traditional PE mulch film，as it exerts a higher comprehensive benefit. However，it is still necessary to evaluate and validate the application of high-strength mulch films to a wide range of areas and crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cool season grasses often form reciprocal symbiotic relationships with endophytic fungal species in genus Epichloë. In this study, we characterized three fungal endophytes isolated from the grass Hordeum bogdanii native to northwest China. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of tefA, tubB, and actG sequences, we identified them as Epichloë sp. HboTG-2 (H. bogdanii Taxonomic Group 2: E. bromicola × E. typhina). Alkaloid synthesis related genes analysis showed that Epichloë sp. HboTG-2 may have the ability only to produce peramine which is toxic to insects but not to animals. In the process of this study, we did not observe sexual structures or epiphyllous growth on leaves of infected plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant functional traits can reflect response strategies of plants to environmental changes. In this study, we used a one-way ANOVA and redundancy(RDA)to compare the differences in leaf functional characters of Dicranopteris pedata in three micro-topographies(ridge, slope and valley of the ephemeral gully)and to analyze the response and adaptation strategy of D. pedata to shallow trench micro-topography. The results were as follows:(1)The overall variation degree of leaf functional characters of D. pedata was between 0.05 and 0.47. Both leaf thickness and leaf area were showed as the order of valley > slope > ridge(P<0.05). The leaf N content at the slope was significantly higher than that at the ridge and valley. The leaf P content was significantly lower at the ridge than those at the slope and valley. There was no significant differences in specific leaf area and leaf C content among three micro-topographies.(2)D. pedata at the ridge reduced water loss to protecte itself by reducing leaf area. D. pedata at the slope increased the photosynthetic rate of leaves to promote growth by increasing the N content of leaves. D. pedata at the valley improved light capture ability to promote growth by increasing the leaf area. The above results indicate that due to the differences of soil nutrients, temperature and humidity conditions, D. pedata can achieve better adaption to the environment by adjusting nutrient content and changing leaf morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melia azedarach is widely distributed in China and has a wide range of genetic variation. In order to study the growth characters of one-year-old seedlings of M. azedarach from different seed sources, the growth characters of seedling height, ground diameter, compound leaf growth and biomass accumulation of M. azedarach seedlings from 15 seed sources were observed, and the growth rhythm was fitted by logistic equation. The results were as follows: (1) There were significant differences between seedling height and ground diameter (P<0.05), and significant differences between root biomass, stem biomass and compound leaf (P<0.01). (2) The growth of seedling height and ground diameter showed a slow-fast-slow growth pattern with type S. Compared with the emergence time of seedling height growth peak, the emergence time of ground diameter growth peak was later. (3) The R² of logistic fitting equation was 0.976-0.994, which reached the extremely significant correlation level, indicating that the growth rhythm of M. azedarach can be fitted by logistic equation. (4) According to theoretical calculation and practical observation, the duration of fast-growing stage of ground diameter was generally 20-30 d longer than that of high-speed growth stage of seedling. The time of seedling height and ground diameter entering fast-growing stage and ending fast-growing stage in northern locality was earlier than that in southern locality. (5) All though traits were negatively correlated with latitude, seedling height, biomass and leaf area were positively correlated with longitude, while other traits were negatively correlated with longitude. In general M. azadarach begongs to full-time growth type with significant differences in growth traits among seed sources. The growth was regulated by both latitude and longitude, mainly by latitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study and model changes in the development of pak choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensisMakino), three pak choi cultivars--Xinxiaqing No. 5 (Xinxiaqing 5), Haiqing, and Huawang--were grown in a modern greenhouse. Four structural parameters, including leaf length, leaf width, and plant height and width, were measured regularly every 3 days. The results showed that the changes in plant height and width, and leaf length and width of the three cultivars followed sigmoidal trends. Logistical regression models {Y = K/[1 + (K - L0)/L0 × exp(-r × t)]; Y = K/[1 + (K - L0)/L0 × exp(2r × rad)]} of the leaf length and width accumulated with growth days and with accumulated radiation fit the actual data very well, with the correlation coefficient R² all greater than 0.98. The R² values of the plant width accumulation models were all greater than 0.93, whereas the R2 values of the plant height regression models were not robust. In this study, the regression models of changes in plant height and width, and leaf length and width of pak choi were used to study the changes of morphological characteristics and analyze the change rules of pak choi growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trait‐based approaches have been extensively used in community ecology to provide a mechanistic understanding of the drivers of community assembly. However, a foundational assumption of the trait framework, traits relate to performance, has been mainly examined through univariate relationships that simplify the complex phenotypic integration of organisms. We evaluate a conceptual framework in which traits are organized hierarchically combining trait information at the individual‐ and species‐level from biomass allocation and organ‐level traits. We focus on photosynthetic traits and predict that the positive effects of increasing plant leaf mass on growth depend on species‐level leaf traits. We modeled growth data on more than 1,500 seedlings from 97 seedling species from a tropical forest in China. We found that seedling growth increases with allocation to leaves (high leaf area ratio and leaf mass fraction) and this effect is accentuated for species with high specific leaf area and leaf area. Also, we found that light has a significant effect on growth, and this effect is additive with leaf allocation traits. Our work offers an approach to gain further understanding of the effects of traits on the whole plant‐level growth via a hierarchical framework including organ‐level and biomass allocation traits at species and individual levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem is widely used as a medicinal plant and functional food in China. In this study, A. elata plants were exposed to full sunlight (CK), 40% shading (LS), 60% shading (MS), and >80% shading (ES) condition to investigate the effects of shading treatments on growth, stress levels, antioxidant enzymes activity, araloside content and related gene expression. The greatest growth and leaf biomass were achieved in 40% shading, and leaf biomass per plant increased by 16.09% compared to the non-shading treatment. Furthermore, the lowest reactive oxide species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation resulting from increasing antioxidant enzyme activity were also observed in LS treatment. Overall, shading percentage negatively regulated the expression of key enzymes (squalene synthase, SS; squalene epoxidase, SE and β-amyrin synthase, bAS) involved in the saponin biosynthesis, resulting in the greatest yields of total and four selected aralosides in A. elata leaves were achieved in sunlight group. However, the greatest yield of total saponin in the leaves was observed in the 40% shading group due to higher leaf biomass. The results suggest that optimizing the field growing conditions would be important for obtaining the greatest yield of bioactive components. Total saponin and selected aralosides also have a significant correlation with ROS production and antioxidant enzyme activity, these indicated the increased yield of these saponins may be part of a defense response. The study concludes that the production of saponin was the interaction of oxidative stress and photosynthesis. • Aralia. elata was a typical shade plant suitable to grow under lower light shading (40% shading). • Higher light irradiation stimulated triterpene saponin accumulation and related genes expression. • The production of triterpene saponin was the interaction of oxidative stress and photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Significant altitudinal change of the needle, shoot, and stem growth traits was found. • Air temperature was the key factor driving the altitudinal change of organ growth. • The aboveground vegetative growth exhibits different temperature sensitivities. • Stem growth was more sensitive to temperature variation than needle and shoot growth. Although phenology and growth traits of leaves or woods have been the focus of research on growth-climate relationships, more is needed regarding whether there is a consistent growth response of different organs to environmental change. However, such work is crucial to accurately assess the impact of climate change on tree growth. Here, the growth timing, duration, rate, and increment of Picea meyeri needles, shoots, and stems were examined, and the corresponding environmental effects were revealed along an altitudinal gradient (2040–2740 m a.s.l.) in North-Central China during 2016 and 2017. The three organs showed a consistent altitudinal variation in growth onset timing, but a different variation in other traits; the growth duration, rate, and increment of needles changed slightly while those of shoots and stems dropped markedly with altitude. The air temperature was the key environmental factor driving the altitudinal variation. For each 1 °C increase in air temperature, the onset timing of needle and shoot elongation and xylem cell production was synchronously advanced by 3.3–3.7 ± 0.2 days; the peak timing was advanced by 3.4 ± 0.2 days, 2.2 ± 0.1 days, and 0 days; and the cessation timing was delayed by −3.8 ± 0.0 days, 2.1 ± 0.3 days, and 2.4 ± 0.1 days. Meanwhile, the duration was lengthened by 0 days, 5.6 ± 0.3 days, and 6.4 ± 0.2 days, respectively; the average rate was improved by 0%, 7.0 ± 1.2%, and 6.5 ± 0.5%, respectively; the increment was increased by 1.3 ± 0.1%, 8.2 ± 0.4%, and 11.0 ± 0.4%, respectively. These findings suggested that the aboveground vegetative growth of P. meyeri exhibits different temperature sensitivities; stem growth will benefit more from future warming than shoot and needle growth. It adds a new clue to conducting growth-climate relationship studies, and the response difference of organ growth to temperature should be considered in revealing future climate warming on tree growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) is one of the most important aquaculture fish in China. This study tried to explore the effects of dietary alcoholic extract of lotus leaf (AELL) addition on the growth performance and health status of grass carp by feeding juvenile fish (average weight: 34 ± 1 g) with four different experimental diets: control, AELL7, AELL14 and AELL21 for 8 weeks. At the end of the growth trial, the highest values of final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed intake (FI) all occurred in group AELL14 (P < 0.05). Compared to control, the crude lipid content of whole-body and the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) in the three experimental groups decreased, while the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) values almost all increased in the three experimental groups. The highest serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentration occurred in AELL14 group (P < 0.05). In AELL14 and AELL21 groups, both the serum complement 3 (C3) concentration and lysozyme (LYS) activity were significantly higher, whereas the final cumulative mortality in challenge test was significantly lower, when compared to those in control group (P < 0.05). The AELL exerted dose-dependent beneficial effects on grass carp health through up-regulating related gene expressions and enzyme activity. In conclusion, the optimal dietary AELL level is 0.14% for juvenile grass carp. • Lotus leaf extract can improve growth performance and health status of grass carp. • Lotus leaf extract exhibited dose-dependent beneficial effects on grass carp. • Optimal lotus leaf extract inclusion level in the grass carp diet is 0.14%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NaCl stimulates the growth of salt-secreting Reaumuria soongorica. • NaCl assists R. soongorica to maintain leaf morphology structure under drought stress. • Salt secretion helps R. soongorica to keep the better growth under arid-salinity habitat. Reaumuria soongorica, a salt-secreting xerophytic shrub, is a dominant species in arid desert regions of northwest China. To investigate whether NaCl could stimulate the growth and alleviate drought stress in R. soongorica , the seedlings were treated with a range of different concentrations of 0–1.17 g kg−1 NaCl, and also were withheld water for drought stress under without or supplementary 0.59 g kg-1 NaCl. The results showed that 0.59 g kg-1 NaCl (moderate NaCl) significantly stimulated the growth of R. soongorica , and also effectively alleviated deleterious impacts of drought stress on its growth and leaf morphological structure. Further analysis showed that moderate NaCl significantly improved photosynthetic capacity and mitigated light suppression of drought stress on photosystem II in R. soongorica , concomitantly, decreased osmotic potential, enlarged turgor pressure as well as increased the relative water content in leaves under drought stress. Furthermore, moderate NaCl induced an obvious increase of Na+ accumulation in tissues of R. soongorica , which resulted in a significant increase of the contribution of Na+ to leaf osmotic potential from13 to 22% under drought stress. Additionally, moderate NaCl also promoted Na+ secretion via salt glands of leaf. These results suggest that the positive roles of NaCl on the growth and drought resistance of R. soongorica is due to the increase of Na+ accumulating in leaf tissues, facilitating plant to maintain higher photosynthetic activity and better water status in arid environment, simultaneously, salt secretion of salt glands protects plant from excess Na+ toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern maize cultivars have high nitrogen responsiveness of grain yield. However, the underlying physiological mechanism is unclear. In the present study, from 17 cultivars released from 1950 s to 2010 s in China, three maize cultivars released in 1950 s (BMY), 1970 s (ZD2), and 1990 s (ZD958) were selected according to their growth responses to nitrogen supply. Nitrogen responsiveness of shoot biomass was highest in the new cultivar ZD958, and the lowest in the old cultivar BMY, with the medium cultivar ZD2 in between. Shoot biomass was closely related to leaf elongation rate. Leaf elongation was further analyzed using kinematic analysis method. Cell division rate and cell production rate were greater and more responsive to nitrogen supply in ZD958 than in the other cultivars. In agreement, there were more cells in the elongation zone of ZD958 and they were more responsive to increasing supply, resulting a longer leaf elongation zone. The interaction effect between cultivar and nitrogen supply on leaf elongation was in consistence with the change in gibberellin (GA 1 and GA 3) concentration in leaf growth zone. Accordingly, the genes encoding gibberellin biosynthesis or signal transduction was more up-regulated in ZD958, which was positively correlated to the up-regulation of genes related to cell cycle and DNA replication. On the contrary, the genes related to the inactivation of gibberellin was more down-regulated in ZD958. Exogenous application of bioactive gibberellin or its biosynthesis inhibitor eliminated the interaction effect between cultivar and nitrogen supply on leaf elongation rate. In conclusion, modern maize breeding may have increased nitrogen responsiveness in maize by enhancing the gibberellins-dependent leaf elongation response to high nitrogen supply. • Nitrogen responsiveness is partly explained by leaf elongation rate. • Nitrogen responsiveness of leaf elongation is driven by gain in cell division. • Nitrogen-dependent gibberellin biosynthesis and signal transduction promote cell division in leaf growth zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has evolved to tolerate almost all known β-lactam antibiotics, and been exhibiting resistance to vancomycin. Developing new drugs against the MRSA infection are urgently needed. Natural resource is enriched with antimicrobial molecules. Here, we report an extract from leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus (ECPL), a species of tree native to China and being traditionally cultivated as medicinal plant, which shows a broad spectrum of bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects at MIC 50 15.99 ± 0.55 μg/ml against methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus. The ECPL suppresses bacterial expression of FtsZ at both transcriptional and protein levels, inhibits its GTPase activity, blocks the assembly dynamics of FtsZ, and disrupts the formation of Z-ring. The bacteria cells fail to divide, enlarge initially, and lyse eventually. In mouse model, the ECPL facilitates skin wound healing with MRSA infection as effective as vancomycin. Our study unveils the potential of identifying novel molecule in ECPL for development of new class of antibiotic against both methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus , and support domestication of the C. paliurus growing from wild to cultivated, and further scale up the cultivation into industrialized farm for sustainable harvest for pharmaceutic interest. [Display omitted] • An extract from Cyclocarya paliurus (ECPL) leaves shows anti-MRSA activity. • The ECPL suppresses bacterial FtsZ at transcriptional and protein levels and eliminates the GTPase enzyme activity. • Bacteria abort Z-ring formation , fail to divide, and die. • This effect bypasses known resistance machineries and shows a potential for new antibiotic development. • Domesticating and scaling up the cultivation will guaranty sustainable harvest for the pharmaceutic interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genotypic difference in nitrogen responsiveness of maize grain yield has gained considerable attention, however, the underlying physiological mechanism is less understood. Leaf area and plant type are important factors determining biomass production, and both of them are regulated by nitrogen supply. The current research aims to assess whether high nitrogen responsiveness is related to leaf growth and plant type. A 2-year field experiment was conducted with three maize cultivars (BMY, ZD2 and ZD958) differing in nitrogen responsiveness under a wide range of nitrogen supply (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1). The links between grain yield, leaf area dynamics, leaf angle and orientation value, and radiation use efficiency were investigated. Nitrogen responsiveness, defined as yield increment per unit of increased nitrogen supply, was 8.3–29.1% higher in ZD958 compared with the other cultivars. The maximum grain yield of ZD958 was 21.4–74.6% higher than that of the other cultivars. With increasing nitrogen supply, the increments in maximum leaf area and linear growth rate of leaf area were greater in ZD958, which was positively correlated with grain yield. The interaction effect between cultivar and nitrogen supply was significant on leaf length, but not on leaf width. Across the combinations between cultivar and nitrogen supply, the variation in grain yield was explained by leaf length rather than leaf width. High nitrogen supply increased leaf angle and reduced leaf orientation value, so as to make the leaf more horizontally distributed. However, this change was less significant in ZD958, indicating that the plant type was more compact under high nitrogen supply in maize cultivars with high nitrogen responsiveness. Radiation use efficiency, defined as the slope of the linear relationship between above-ground biomass produced and cumulated intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was 5.2–13.2% higher in ZD958 than that of BMY. In conclusion, with increasing nitrogen supply, the cultivars with fast leaf growth and compact plant type have higher conversion efficiency of intercepted PAR into the above-ground biomass and get higher grain yield. • Nitrogen increased leaf area to a larger extent in the maize cultivar with high N responsiveness. • A compact plant type contributed to high N responsiveness under high N supply. • Grain yield increased via gains in radiation use efficiency under high N supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing of rice traits has advanced significantly with regard to the capacity to retrieve useful plant biochemical, physiological and structural quantities across spatial scales. The rice leaf NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) has been developed and applied in monitoring rice growth, yield prediction and disease status to guide agricultural management practices. This study combined rice canopy NDVI and environmental data to estimate rice leaf NDVI. The test site was a japonica rice experiment located in the eastern city of Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. This paper describes (1) the use of multiple linear regression to establish four periods of rice leaf NDVI models with good accuracy (R2=0.782-0.903), and (2) how the key point of the rice growth period based on these models was determined. The techniques for modeling leaf NDVI at the point of remote canopy sensing were also presented. The results indicate that the rice leaf NDVI has a high correlation with the canopy NDVI and multisource environmental data. This research can provide an efficient method to detect rice leaf growth at the canopy scale in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrasses are considered one of the most rapidly declining ecosystems in the world. One of the main reasons for this decline is eutrophication during which anthropogenic impacts, including light deprivation and nutrient enrichment often result in cumulative stress for seagrasses. This study aims to investigate the physiological and morphological responses of seagrasses to nutrient enrichment and eutrophication in Hainan, China, to understand the processes leading to seagrass losses from eutrophication. Therefore, we tested how a four-week in situ fertilisation affected traits of a multi-species seagrass community in two seasons with different trophic conditions. The species investigated in this study are Cymodocea serrulata, Cymodocea rotundata, Halodule uninervis and Thalassia Hemprichii. The dry season was characterised by high light availability and low nutrient availability. Enhanced seagrass leaf growth rates and leaf area of all species as a response to fertilisation indicate that seagrass growth is nutrient-limited in the dry season. In contrast, under eutrophic conditions in the wet season, growth and leaf area of all species were lower than in the dry season and fertilisation had no effect. Thalassia hemprichii showed signs of morphological adaption under eutrophic conditions, suggesting a higher species-level phenotypic plasticity and resilience to the stressors involved. As expressed in the fast response under eutrophic conditions, our experiment indicates synergetic adverse effects of light reduction and nutrient enrichment on seagrasses. An improved understanding of species-specific physiological and morphological response mechanisms of seagrasses to eutrophication may help to identify thresholds of exposure to stressors early on, and hence to be able to predict and possibly avoid an upcoming large-scale loss. It also has implications for aquaculture and coastal zone management. [Display omitted] • Effects of in situ nutrient enrichment on seagrass varied among species and seasons. • If nutrient limited, fertilisation enhances seagrass growth and leaf area. • T. hemprichii showed a higher morphological plasticity than the other species. • Its morphological plasticity may be related to its higher resistance to eutrophication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme climatic events can trigger gradual or abrupt shifts in forest ecosystems via the reduction or elimination of foundation species. However, the impacts of these events on foundation species' demography and forest dynamics remain poorly understood. Here we quantified dynamics for both evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved species groups, utilizing a monitoring permanent plot in a subtropical montane mixed forest in central China from 2001 to 2010 with particular relevance to the anomalous 2008 ice storm episode. We found that both species groups showed limited floristic alterations over the study period. For each species group, size distribution of dead individuals approximated a roughly irregular and flat shape prior to the ice storm and resembled an inverse J-shaped distribution after the ice storm. Furthermore, patterns of mortality and recruitment displayed disequilibrium behaviors with mortality exceeding recruitment for both species groups following the ice storm. Deciduous broad-leaved species group accelerated overall diameter growth, but the ice storm reduced evergreen small-sized diameter growth. We concluded that evergreen broad-leaved species were more susceptible to ice storms than deciduous broad-leaved species, and ice storm events, which may become more frequent with climate change, might potentially threaten the perpetuity of evergreen-dominated broad-leaved forests in this subtropical region in the long term. These results underscore the importance of long-term monitoring that is indispensible to elucidate causal links between forest dynamics and climatic perturbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]