Search

Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Botany is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) 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 Egyptian Journal of Botany is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) 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 term 'succession' was first proposed to describe the gradual development of plants from an initial stage such as a bare ground to a well‐developed plant community, which at its peak, may reach a climax (primary succession). Accordingly, the earlier and fast growing stage (such as an annual plant community) may grant stability, organic matter and nutrients to the latter, high‐biomass and slow‐growing stages, such as trees. Commonly, reference to the different successional stages is also made once intact and disturbed communities (such as due to mechanical disturbance, tillage, fire, etc.) are compared (secondary succession). The concept was borrowed by many ecologists to describe variable biocrust types. Cyanobacterial or algal biocrust is regarded as an initial stage before turning to a later, more mature biocrust, whether composed of lichens or mosses. The underlain assumptions are that (a) the cyanobacteria provide essential stability and (b) nutrients that are required for the development of the later stages; (c) the initial biocrusts improve the water regime for the later successional stages; (d) cyanobacteria promote the lichen symbiosis; (e) due to substantial differences in the recovery time, a linear succession is inevitable, commonly from cyanobacterial/alga to lichen and lastly to moss; and (f) the cyanobacterial/algal biocrust is a temporary stage, just before being outcompeted by a later stage. It is argued hereafter that the above‐mentioned assumptions are not necessarily correct. As with higher plants, unless a direct comparison between disturbed and intact crusts justifies a reference to successional stages, different types of biocrusts commonly reflect the abiotic conditions at their site, and as such, unless the abiotic conditions change, they reflect stable communities of variable crust types. This paradigm shift may have important implications regarding inoculation efforts and directions and may explain the low success thus far obtained following inoculation experiments once performed with the more developed biocrusts, lichens and mosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trapa L. (Lythraceae J. ST.-HIL) is a genus of annual free-floating plant, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. The Qaidam Basin is regarded as an ideal region to understand the Cenozoic palaeoclimatic and palaeobiological evolution of the northern Tibetan Plateau. A few records of Trapa have been previously mentioned from the Cenozoic deposits of the Qaidam Basin, northern Tibetan Plateau. Here, we describe some fossil fruits of Trapa from the late Miocene Shangyoushashan Formation of southeastern Qaidam Basin (Tuosu Lake area), which were identified as Trapa qaidamensis sp. nov. based on their morphology. Extant species of Trapa usually live in the environments with mean temperature of warmest quarter (MTWQ) ranging from 14.9°C to 30.9°C, as well as mean temperature of warmest month (MTWM) ranging from 19.6°C to 37.3°C in the living areas of Trapa. Compared with MTWQ 16.5°C and MTWM 17.5°C in current fossil locality, the present fossil site was warmer during the Miocene than in the present day [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bet hedging consists of life history strategies that buffer against environmental variability by trading off immediate and long-term fitness. Delayed germination in annual plants is a classic example of bet hedging and is often invoked to explain low germination fractions. We examined whether bet hedging explains low and variable germination fractions among 20 populations of the winter annual plant Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana that experience substantial variation in reproductive success among years. Leveraging 15 years of demographic monitoring and 3 years of field germination experiments, we assessed the fitness consequences of seed banks and compared optimal germination fractions from a density-independent bet-hedging model to observed germination fractions. We did not find consistent evidence of bet hedging or the expected trade-off between arithmetic and geometric mean fitness, although delayed germination increased long-term fitness in 7 of 20 populations. Optimal germination fractions were two to five times higher than observed germination fractions, and among-population variation in germination fractions was not correlated with risks across the life cycle. Our comprehensive test suggests that bet hedging is not sufficient to explain the observed germination patterns. Understanding variation in germination strategies will likely require integrating bet hedging with complementary forces shaping the evolution of delayed germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An updated inventory of the invasive flora of Bosnia and Herzegovina is presented. The checklist includes 66 taxa (63 species, one subspecies and two hybrids), distributed between 46 genera and 28 families. The most common family is Compositae (20 taxa; 30.30%) and the most diverse genera are Amaranthus (five taxa) and Erigeron, with four taxa. The predominant life forms are therophytes (54.54%) and hemicryptophytes (22.73%). Most invasive alien plant species are native in the Americas (46) and Asia (14). Most taxa in the invasive alien flora of Bosnia and Herzegovina (43 taxa, 65.15%) have been introduced accidentally, 19 taxa (28.79%) have been introduced deliberately, whereas the remaining four taxa (6.06%) have been introduced in both ways: deliberately and accidentally. Five invasive alien taxa of concern to the European Union have been recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study documents the Angiosperm species biodiversity of Shoolpaneshwar wildlife sanctuary (SWLS), Gujarat, India in terms of taxonomic categories and looks into the threat by exotic plant invasions towards conservation. There are 983 taxa pertaining to 522 genera from 105 families documented in the sanctuary out of 1,265 field numbers assigned. There are ten threatened taxa and nine endemic taxa. The flora of the sanctuary is more evolved with the phylogenetically advanced clades such as Super Rosids (38.96%) and Super Asterids (35.20%). The Monocots almost constitute one fourth (24.31%) whereas the primitive Basal Angiosperms, Magnoliids and Monocots combined are less than 2%. The Fabaceae are the most dominant family, followed by Poaceae, Asteraceae, Acanthaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Cyperaceae. The top five dominant genera in the sanctuary are Ipomoea, Indigofera, Crotalaria, Cyperus and Alysicarpus. The rich taxonomic diversity of the sanctuary emphasizes the need for conservation efforts to safeguard this unique landscape with its endemics. Efforts are needed to selectively remove or control the dominant invasive weeds which are largely therophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of hot foam as a non-toxic method to control the invasive annual plant Bromus tectorum, also known as cheatgrass. Cheatgrass is a threat to native plant diversity and habitats for sensitive species such as the greater sage-grouse. The article presents the results of a study that compared the efficacy of hot foam with glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide. The study found that hot foam was effective in reducing cheatgrass cover and density, similar to glyphosate. However, repeated applications of hot foam may be necessary to successfully control cheatgrass and promote the establishment of native species. Hot foam has advantages over herbicides in terms of environmental safety and cultural sensitivity, but it requires a longer application time. The study was conducted on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation's Wanaket Wildlife Area in Oregon. [Extracted from the article]

Context: Cannabis is a herbaceous annual plant that belongs to the Cannabaceae family, which is used in the production of fibre, paper, oil and pharmaceutical products. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify drought-tolerant ecotypes and medicinal and industrial populations. Methods: Due to the medicinal and industrial importance of cannabis, 12 cannabis ecotypes were collected from different regions of Iran. Then, their agronomic and phytochemical characteristics were evaluated under different soil moisture conditions. Key results: The soil moisture levels had significant effects (P < 0.01) on the studied traits except for the 1000 seed weight. Based on duration of the growth period, the Tabas and Dasht-e-Moghan ecotypes were identified as early and late maturing ecotypes, respectively. Also, the highest stem dry weight and stem height/diameter ratio and the lowest seed yield were related to the Dasht-e-Moghan ecotype, which is valuable for fibre production. Based on seed yield (relative reduction) and some tolerance indexes, the Tabas and Tabrize ecotypes were shown to be the most tolerant and sensitive ecotypes, respectively. As soil moisture decreased, tetrahydrocannabinol levels increased and cannabidiol levels decreased. The highest amount of tetrahydrocannabinol was related to the Qom ecotype at 50% soil moisture and the highest amount of cannabidiol was related to the Rasht ecotype at 100% soil moisture. Conclusions: Generally, these ecotypes had different responses to soil moisture. Some ecotypes were valuable in terms of the production of pharmaceutical metabolites and some in terms of fibre production. Implications: Tolerant and sensitive ecotypes might be considered in production and also breeding programs. Cannabis is a herbaceous annual plant that belongs to the Cannabaceae family, and is used in the production of fibre, paper and oil. This plant has been used for the treatment of rheumatism, epilepsy, asthma, skin burns, gastrointestinal activity, osteoporosis, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disorders, cancer and metabolic syndrome-related disorders. Generally, our findings showed that these ecotypes had different responses to soil moisture, and some ecotypes were valuable in terms of the production of pharmaceutical metabolites and some in terms of fibre production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a preliminary checklist of the invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in eastern Kosovo. This list was compiled based on a literature review and field surveys in the period between 2020-2022. The list includes 20 plant taxa with information on taxonomic affiliation (Family), life form, native range and type of habitat(s) they invaded. Most species belong to Asteraceae family, followed by Fabaceae and Balsaminaceae. Therophytes are the predominant life form. There are two genera, each with two species: Erigeron L. (Erigeron annuus (L.) Desf., Erigeron canadensis L.) and Impatiens Riv. ex L. (Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. and Impatiens glandulifera Royle), while others are represented by only one species. The majority of IAPS in the eastern region of Kosovo are from North, Central and South America (65%), followed by Asia (30%) and with only one species from Africa (5%). The habitats most heavily colonized by IAPS are the areas along roads, waste places, riverbanks and cultivated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In temperate and boreal regions, perennial plants adapt their annual growth cycle to the change of seasons. In natural forests, juvenile seedlings usually display longer growth seasons compared to adult trees to ensure their establishment and survival under canopy shade. However, how trees adjust their annual growth according to their age is not known. In this study, we show that age-dependent seasonal growth cessation is genetically controlled and found that the miR156-SPL3/5 module, a key regulon of vegetative phase change (VPC), also triggers age-dependent growth cessation in Populus trees. We show that miR156 promotes shoot elongation during vegetative growth, and its targets SPL3/5s function in the same pathway but as repressors. We find that the miR156-SPL3/5s regulon controls growth cessation in both leaves and shoot apices and through multiple pathways, but with a different mechanism compared to how the miR156-SPL regulon controls VPC in annual plants. Taken together, our results reveal an age-dependent genetic network in mediating seasonal growth cessation, a key phenological process in the climate adaptation of perennial trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter annual plants play an important role in arid and semiarid ecosystems because of their rapid response to resource pulses, which drive primary production that provides resources for herbivores and pollinators. Understanding the factors that control annual plant growth is key to predicting how arid and semiarid ecosystems will respond to changes in climate and resource availability from anthropogenic activities. We used a long-term nutrient enrichment experiment that spanned precipitation and urbanization gradients in central Arizona, USA, to examine the effects of climate, surface soil properties, soil nutrient availability and shrub cover on winter annual plant growth. At a landscape scale, aboveground net primary production (ANPP) of winter annual plants had a positive, nonlinear relationship to the amount of precipitation received from October through March of the current growing season. We found evidence for sequential resource limitation of ANPP initially from water then nitrogen and phosphorus. The resource limitation cascade was modified by surface soil properties and location relative to shrubs (under or between shrubs), highlighting the effect of small-scale factors on large-scale processes. Specifically, gravel cover had a negative effect on ANPP, and the effect of shrub cover on ANPP depended on nitrogen and current season rainfall. Our study emphasizes how small-scale factors, such as gravel cover, nutrient availability and presence of shrubs, can interact with large-scale drivers, such as seasonal precipitation, to affect interannual variation in winter annual plant production in the northern Sonoran Desert. Sonoran Desert landscape showing production of winter annuals 363 x 241mm (300 x 300 DPI) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fenugreek is an annual medicinal plant with several biologically active compounds. • The bacteria improved the plant's physiological metabolism and nutrient uptake. • Seed bio-priming+PGPB fertigation+nutrients foliar application) improved the fenugreek dry matter production. • Biofertilizers can reduce the application of chemical fertilizers to reach sustainable agriculture. Legumes have a significant role in increasing soil sustainable fertility. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) could be a significant part of agricultural sustainability. To investigate the PGPB-induced alterations in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) morpho-physiological traits, nutrient absorption, and dry matter production, an experiment was carried out with two levels of seed priming (unprimed and PGPB bio-priming) and four fertilization methods (control, PGPB fertigation [B], nutrients foliar application [F], and B+F. The results indicated that the highest leaf nitrogen (5.22 %) was observed in PGPB bio-priming and nutrients foliar application treatments by 1.7 times greater than the control. The highest leaf potassium and phosphorus were observed in the B+F-treated plants, which were 1.19 and 2.14 times higher compared with the control, respectively. The B+F-treated plants showed the highest leaf K+/Na+ ratio which was ∼3 times higher compared with the control. The seed-primed plant's leaf, stem, and total plant dry matter were 34, 13, and 24 % greater than the unprimed treatment, respectively. B+F also increased the leaf, stem, root, and total dry matter of plants by ∼50, 45, 37, and 47 %, respectively, compared with the control. Generally, the combined treatment (seed bio-priming + PGPB fertigation + nutrients foliar application) more efficiently improved the fenugreek morpho-physiological traits and dry matter production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perilla frutescens, also known as perilla, is an annual herbaceous plant that is primarily found in East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. It has been introduced for cultivation in Europe and North America. Perilla has multiple uses as oilseeds, herbal medicine, vegetables, and flowers, and it is rich in nutritional value and medicinal properties. Recent research has focused on the genomic analysis, ploidy evolution, metabolic regulation, and genetic diversity of perilla, as well as its potential for breeding and cultivation. The study of perilla's genetic heredity and quality breeding has led to the development of varieties with higher oil content and specific traits. However, the changing environment and regional variations pose challenges to perilla's growth and development. Facility cultivation and the use of chitosan oligosaccharide lactate have been explored as methods to improve perilla yield and quality. Overall, perilla frutescens shows great potential as a valuable medicinal and food plant. [Extracted from the article]

Predicting the outcome of interactions between species is central to our current understanding of diversity maintenance. However, we have limited information about the robustness of many model‐based predictions of species coexistence. This limitation is partly because several sources of uncertainty are often ignored when making predictions. Here, we introduce a framework to simultaneously explore how different mathematical models, different environmental contexts, and parameter uncertainty impact the probability of predicting species coexistence. Using a set of pairwise competition experiments on annual plants, we provide direct evidence that subtle differences between models lead to contrasting predictions of both coexistence and competitive exclusion. We also show that the effects of environmental context dependency and parameter uncertainty on predictions of species coexistence are not independent of the model used to describe population dynamics. Our work suggests that predictions of species coexistence and extrapolations thereof may be particularly vulnerable to these underappreciated founts of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal storage effect—that species coexist by partitioning abiotic niches that vary in time—is thought to be an important explanation for how species coexist. However, empirical studies that measure multiple mechanisms often find the storage effect is weak. We believe this mismatch is because of a shortcoming of theoretical models used to study the storage effect: that while the storage effect is described as having just three requirements (partitioning of temporal variation, buffered population growth, and a covariance between environment and density‐dependence), models used to study the storage effect make four assumptions, which are mathematically subtle but biologically important. In this paper, we examine those assumptions. First, models assume that environmental variation leads to a rapid impact on density‐dependence. We find that delays in density‐dependence (including delays caused by competition between cohorts) weaken the storage effect. Second, models assume that intraspecific competition is almost identical to interspecific competition. We find that unless resource or predator partitioning are virtually absent, then variation‐independent mechanisms will overshadow the benefits of the storage effect. Third, models assume even though there is vast variation in the environment, species are equally adapted on average (i.e., zero fitness‐differences). We show that fitness differences are particularly problematic in the storage effect because specializing on temporally rare niches is far less effective than specializing on other types of rare niches. Finally, models assume that stochastic extinctions can be ignored, and invader growth can determine coexistence. We show that storage effects tend to reduce mean persistence times, even if invader growth rates are positive. These results suggest that the assumptions needed for the storage effect are strict: if the first or second assumption is relaxed, it will greatly weaken the stabilizing mechanism; if the third or fourth assumption is relaxed, it will create a diversity‐destroying effect that may undermine coexistence. We examine three real‐world communities—annual plants, tropical forests, and iguanid lizards—and find that empirical studies suggest that all three communities violate multiple assumptions. This suggests that the temporal storage effect is probably not an important explanation for species diversity in most systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gentiana zollingeri is an annual photosynthetic plant that employs a mycoheterotrophic growth strategy during its underground seedling stage (initial mycoheterotrophy). Notably, the morphological characteristics of its flowering shoots, such as shoot size, leaf size, and leaf color, are highly variable, and it was hypothesized that these variations may be linked to nutritional mode. The morphological characteristics of G. zollingeri individuals were thus investigated alongside environmental factors, 13 C abundance, and diversity of colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The majority of G. zollingeri flowering individuals were found to exhibit a high affinity for the specific AM fungi that exclusively colonize roots of the mycoheterotrophic seedlings, while other phylogenetically diverse AM fungi could also be detected. The leaves to shoot dry weight ratio (leaf ratio) was negatively correlated with the canopy openness in the habitat, suggesting that leaf development is impeded in sunny conditions. Furthermore, the shoot weight of G. zollingeri was positively correlated with leaf 13 C abundance. Given that 13 C enrichment can provide indirect evidence of mycoheterotrophy in AM plants, the results suggest that the utilization of carbon obtained through mycoheterotrophy, at least during the underground seedling stage, is crucial for G. zollingeri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa), a member of the Amaranthaceae family, is an allotetraploid annual plant, endemic to South America. The plant of C. quinoa presents significant ecological plasticity with exceptional adaptability to several environmental stresses, including salinity. The resilience of quinoa to several abiotic stresses, as well as its nutritional attributes, have led to significant shifts in quinoa cultivation worldwide over the past century. This work first defines germination sensu stricto in quinoa where the breakage of the pericarp and the testa is followed by endosperm rupture (ER). Transcriptomic changes in early seed germination stages lead to unstable expression levels in commonly used reference genes that are typically stable in vegetative tissues. Noteworthy, no suitable reference genes have been previously identified specifically for quinoa seed germination under salt stress conditions. This work aims to identify these genes as a prerequisite step for normalizing qPCR data. To this end, germinating seeds from UDEC2 and UDEC4 accessions, with different tolerance to salt, have been analyzed under conditions of absence (0 mM NaCl) and in the presence (250 mM NaCl) of sodium chloride. Based on the relevant literature, six candidate reference genes, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Monensin sensitivity1 (MON1), Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), Actin-7 (ACT7), Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UBC), and 18S ribosomal RNA (18S), were selected and assessed for stability using the RefFinder Tool encompassing the statistical algorithms geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt in the evaluation. The data presented support the suitability of CqACT7 and CqUBC as reference genes for normalizing gene expression during seed germination under salinity stress. These recommended reference genes can be valuable tools for consistent qPCR studies on quinoa seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Plant communities are undergoing compositional changes that affect ecosystem function. These changes are not always uniform across the landscape due to heterogenous topographic and edaphic conditions. To predict areas most at risk of change, it is necessary to identify the landscape drivers affecting plant abundance. Objectives: Annual plants are increasing across the western USA, largely driven by non-native annual invasions. Here, we quantified change in annual plant abundance and identified landscape factors contributing to that change over the past 35 years. Methods: We focused on Willamette Valley (Oregon) grasslands because they represent a new example in this phenomenon. To understand the spatiotemporal patterns of annual plant abundances between 1986 and 2020, we combined a remote-sensing vegetation cover dataset from the rangeland analysis platform with gridded soils data and topographic variables. We determined the rate of change in percent cover for each 30 × 30 m pixel and regressed cover against heat load, soil depth and sand content for > 5975 hectares to determine areas most sensitive to rising annual cover. Results: We found a tendency toward increasing annual cover, with a median gain of + 15% cover among significantly increasing pixels. However, change was uneven across the landscape, with annual cover increasing markedly in areas with high heat load and shallower soils. Conclusions: We identified steep, south-facing slopes as being particularly sensitive to rising annual cover. Annual plant invasions may be lagging in this region compared to elsewhere in the western USA, but trends here suggest it may just be a matter of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buckwheat is an annual plant in the Polygonaceae family that is classified as a pseudocereal. It is mainly used as a source of antioxidants and gluten-free foods. Buckwheat yield and quality depend on genetic properties, environmental conditions, and cultural practices. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of organomineral fertiliser on buckwheat yield and antioxidant activity in the environmental conditions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The treatments used in this research consisted of a combination of fertilisers (fertilised and nonfertilised) and two buckwheat species (common and tartary buckwheat). During 2019, two field experiments were conducted in Butmir and Kakanj (B&H). The tested properties were plant height, a mass of 1000 kernels, yield, total phenolic, and antioxidant activity of leaves, flowers, and kernels. Yield depended on the treatment, ranging from 946.9 kg ha-1 to 1438.6 kg ha-1. The total phenol contents were affected by fertiliser treatment, buckwheat species, and plant organs. The kernel had the lowest total phenol content (30.55 mg GAE g-1), whereas the flowers had the highest content (158.03 mg GAE g-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is a perennial tree species that are commercially exploited for its leaves. Rapid regrowth after foliage harvest is important in the sericulture industry and re-growth is dependent on uniform bud break. While previous research has characterized bud break stages and tried to induce uniform bud break, the underlying mechanisms behind this process are largely unknown. The present study aims to investigate the potential involvement of the genes responsible for mulberry bud break using an in-silico expression analysis. This research is motivated by the observed similarities between the process of bud break in tree systems and the germination process in annual plants, including the overlap of pathways and mechanisms. The study used existing transcriptome data generated on the bud break process in mulberry and the genes belonging to different regulatory pathways were selected. The Arabidopsis homologues of the select genes were then analyzed for their expression patterns during the seed germination process using the e-Northern expression browser from the Botany Array Resource. The results indicate that the selected genes, particularly those involved in hormonal pathways, symplastic connectivity, antioxidant and redox processes and the cell cycle, are represented in seed germination datasets and play a role in growth induction. These findings provided insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying bud break in mulberry plants and indicated that some of the mechanisms might be similar to those involved in seed germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to devise effective safety management systems for enclosed living modified organism (LMO) fields regulated by the Ministry of Environment (MOE), achieved through an assessment of the impact of LM crops on the surrounding flora. A combination of conventional survey methods and cutting-edge drone-based monitoring systems was employed, with a keen focus on their efficacy. Our investigation spans three distinct zones (forest, non-forest, and enclosed field), involving vegetation surveys, biodiversity index analyses, and drone-powered aerial observations to study topographical shifts. Over time, wild plants adjacent to the enclosed LMO field exhibited stability in terms of species composition. Nevertheless, disparities in growth patterns emerged across various areas. Predominantly, herbs thrived in enclosed and non-forest areas, while trees and shrubs flourished in forested regions. Annual plants predominantly populated the non-forest regions, whereas perennials dominated the forested areas. To this end, drones captured aerial photographs of a 31.65-hectare expanse with 40% coverage overlap, furnishing a real-time vegetation map that transcends the capacities of conventional methods. By combining vegetation surveys, drone-generated vegetation mapping, and dynamic monitoring of topographical changes, our research endeavors to facilitate the formulation of a robust safety management framework for LMO confined fields overseen by the MOE. This holistic approach aspires to prevent ecosystem contamination and establish a resilient, enduring system that averts LMO leakage, thereby safeguarding the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through developmental plasticity, an individual organism integrates influences from its immediate environment with those due to the environment of its parents. While both effects on phenotypes are well documented, their relative impact has been little studied in natural systems, especially at the level of gene expression. We examined this issue in four genotypes of the annual plant Persicaria maculosa by varying two key resources—light and soil moisture—in both generations. Transcriptomic analyses showed that the relative effects of parent and offspring environment on gene expression (i.e. the number of differentially expressed transcripts, DETs) varied both for the two types of resource stress and among genotypes. For light, immediate environment induced more DETs than parental environment for all genotypes, although the precise proportion of parental versus immediate DETs varied among genotypes. By contrast, the relative effect of soil moisture varied dramatically among genotypes, from 8-fold more DETs due to parental than immediate conditions to 10-fold fewer. These findings provide evidence at the transcriptomic level that the relative impacts of parental and immediate environment on the developing organism may depend on the environmental factor and vary strongly among genotypes, providing potential for the interplay of these developmental influences to evolve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Cosexual plants reproduce as females by maturing seeds from fertilized ovules and as males by fertilizing their own ovules or those of other plants. Condition-dependent sex allocation occurs when the environment elicits quantitative differences in the rate at which fitness increases as resources are invested in male versus female function. Here, we examine whether resource availability and the pollination environment generate plastic responses in floral sex allocation and correlated traits. Methodology. We exposed the cosexual mustard species Brassica rapa to variation in resource availability (altered pot size) and in the pollination environment (unpollinated or fully pollinated). We assessed investment in anther and ovary length, which are known to correlate with pollen and ovule number; in flower buds produced at the onset of reproduction; and in buds produced approximately 15 d later. We also measured plant size and flower size, which are often correlated with increased allocation to female and male function, respectively. Pivotal results. In contrast to our predictions, anther-to-ovary length ratios at the onset of reproduction did not vary across plants of different sizes and were unaffected by the pot size treatment, despite an increase in anther lengths in the small pot treatment. Similarly, neither the pot size nor the pollination treatments elicited plasticity in anther-to-ovary length ratios over the course of reproduction. However, independent of plant size and as predicted, plants produced larger flowers over the course of reproduction in the pollination-absent treatment. Conclusions. We discuss the contexts in which resource availability and the pollination environment can influence sex allocation and provide cautionary advice on effective methods for experimentally generating and measuring sex allocation plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dittrichia graveolens (L.) Greuter, or stinkwort, is a weedy annual plant within the family Asteraceae. The species is recognized for the rapid expansion of both its native and introduced ranges: in Europe, it has expanded its native distribution northward from the Mediterranean basin by nearly 7 °C latitude since the mid-20th century, while in California and Australia the plant is an invasive weed of concern. Here, we present the first de novo D. graveolens genome assembly (1N = 9 chromosomes), including complete chloroplast (151,013 bp) and partial mitochondrial genomes (22,084 bp), created using Pacific Biosciences HiFi reads and Dovetail Omni-C data. The final primary assembly is 835 Mbp in length, of which 98.1% are represented by 9 scaffolds ranging from 66 to 119 Mbp. The contig N50 is 74.9 Mbp and the scaffold N50 is 96.9 Mbp, which, together with a 98.8% completeness based on the BUSCO embryophyta10 database containing 1,614 orthologs, underscores the high quality of this assembly. This pseudo-molecule-scale genome assembly is a valuable resource for our fundamental understanding of the genomic consequences of range expansion under global change, as well as comparative genomic studies in the Asteraceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents the morphology, anatomy and mathematical modelling in Benguet lily (Lilium philippinense Baker), a threatened species from the Cordillera Central Range and was often misidentified with the weedy L. formosanum. The plant is an annual herb with linear, spiral leaves; pure white, perfect, funnel-shaped, showy flowers; septicidal elongated capsule; and, brown, light, winged seeds. New findings in the study include the description of the capsule and seeds, biometric measurements of the different plant organs, the significant correlation and regression model of plant height and stem diameter for certain floral measurement, and its diagnostic characteristics vis-à-vis L. formosanum. Interesting findings on the taxon's anatomy show a cross between a typical monocot and a typical dicot anatomy. It has a bifacial leaf structure (a common dicot character) but its spongy layer is not as widely spaced like in dicot leaf. The stem has a distinct cortex and pith (a dicot character) but has a scattered vascular bundles (a monocot character). Lastly, some roots have a narrow pith at the centre of the stele (a monocot character) while some roots have metaxylem elements at the centermost structure (a dicot character). Further studies need to be conducted to determine the ecological significance of these features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three principal fates of axillary meristem in flowering plants are growth (G), reproduction (R), and inactivity (I). The allocation relationships between each meristem and plant size in annual herbaceous plants tend to change with altered precipitation (P) patterns in arid and semiarid grasslands. Here, we examined the allometry and plasticity of meristem allocation in three dominant annual herbaceous plants: Setaria viridis, Corispermum macrocarpum, and Bassia dasyphylla in a semiarid sandy grassland in northern China. We determined the range of plant sizes for each of the three species in the following treatments: ambient environment (Amb), P increased by 30% (P[+]) and by 60% (P[++]), P decreased by 30% (P[−]) and by 60% (P[− −]), drought for 46 days from May 1st to June 15th (D1) and from July 1st to August 15th (D2). We found that meristem allocation to branching intensity increased while allocation to apical dominance decreased with increasing plant size under decreased precipitation and seasonal drought. Decreased precipitation and seasonal drought caused the slope of allometry of meristem allocation in the three species to be significantly different from 1. Plasticity of meristem allocation to G, R, and I in S. viridis tended to be significantly greater in August under P(+) and P(++) while in C. macrocarpum tended to be greater in July under P(−), P(− −), D1, and D2. Our findings are important components of an adaptive strategy in annual herbaceous plants throughout the development stage, which will contribute to predict their developmental dynamics in the semiarid sandy grassland under future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was motivated by the high reliance on hydropower plants (HPPs) developed and planned along the river Nile and the fact that drought events are the most imminent and drastic threats to Uganda's power production. The study aimed to assess HPPs' resilience and the effectiveness of selected adaptation measures. The climate, land, energy, and water system (CLEWs) framework was employed to assess resilience amidst competing water demands and stringent environmental flow requirements. Under extreme dry conditions, power generation could plummet by 91% over the next 40 years, which translates into an annual per capita consumption of 19 kWh, barely sufficient to sustain a decent socioeconomic livelihood. During arid conditions, climate models predicted an increase in streamflow with increasing radiative forcing. Restricting the ecological flow to 150 m3/s could improve generation by 207%. In addition, if planned power plants were to be built 5 years ahead of schedule, the normalized mean annual plant production could increase by 23%. In contrast, increasing reservoir volumes for planned power plants will have no significant impact on generation. The path to HPP resilience could entail a combination of diversifying the generation mix, installing generators with varying capacities, and incorporating adjustable orifices on reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual plant growth patterns and seasonal conditions have both been shown to influence asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) root development over time. Root biomass and distribution changes in mature asparagus cultivars are herein illustrated and described. Asparagus root length density and biomass were estimated from soil cores using a systematic field sampling approach each spring. Soil cores (0.9 m deep) were divided into 0.15 m lengths and fleshy roots collected from the soil. Root length density and dry weights were determined and root distribution maps generated from collected data. As asparagus plantings matured, the sampling year had a significant influence on root development. Fleshy roots grew deeper into the soil each year but the majority of roots of Atlas, Guelph Millennium, and Jersey Giant were found in the upper 60 cm of the soil profile. For the three cultivars evaluated, minor differences in root length and root weight occurred. By Year 6, Atlas showed a decrease in root length and weight when compared to Guelph Millennium and Jersey Giant. While spear yield differences between the varieties were not significant, Atlas tended to produce more very large and large spears compared to Guelph Millennium and Jersey Giant. These results increase our understanding of asparagus root development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rawdhat Abalworood in Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia is one of the most important rawdhats of this area. The present study provides insight of vegetation types, life forms, as well as floristic categories and species distribution, highlighting the ecological factors that influence species distribution. A total of 44 species representing 19 families of vascular plants were recorded. The dominating groups were Asteraceae and Brassicaceae, and the dominant life forms were therophytes and chamaephytes, displaying a typical desert life-form range. Two of the eighteen studied sites had the maximum species richness value of 15 species per plot. Five of the 18 sites studied had the lowest species richness assessing of 10 species per plot. The most frequent life form classes observed in Rawdhat Abalworood, Al-Asyah, Al-Qassim region were Therophytes (Th) and Chamaephytes (Ch), with 65.91% and 15.91%, respectively. Chorological analysis exhibited Saharo-Sindian (SA-SI) and Irano-Turanian-Saharo-Sindian (IR-TR+SASI) represented by 20.45% and 18.18, respectively. Chronologically, surveyed plant species were recognized into three categories; mono regional, bi regional, and pluri regional. The three chorological categories were represented by 31.81%, 50.0%, and 18.18%; respectively. Species diversity in terms of Margalef's diversity index (Figure 6A) ranged between 1.6 to 2.6 with an average of 2.1 to 0.3, Shannon-Weiner diversity index (Figure 6D) showed close diversity levels as Margalef's and ranged between 1.6 to 2.4 with an average of 2.1. Using CCA multivariate analysis effect of 6 environmental factors is distinguished upon vegetation. The CCA ordination revealed that the separation of Vegetation group III along the axis was influenced by Silt, WHC, OM, OC, and Clay, whereas VG II was substantially related to sand%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water storage reservoirs alternately inundate and expose the drawdown zones, limiting riparian vegetation that provides wildlife habitats and contributes to the aquatic food-web. To characterize plant distributions and hydrogeomorphic associations, we inventoried quadrats in transects extending from the full-pool (FP) margin, downwards 12 m through the drawdown zones at sites around the Duncan Reservoir in British Columbia, Canada. Among the 69 plant species, black cottonwoods (Populus trichocarpa), willows (primarily Salix sitchensis) and other trees and shrubs occurred sparsely, rarely extending below 2 m below FP. Perennial herbaceous plants, especially horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and sedges (primarily Carex utriculata), were most common, extending down ~5 m below FP, and ruderal annual plants occurred sparsely at greater depths. Vegetation Cover and Species Richness were correlated with environmental factors, with (1) Elevation being highly influential, reflecting inundation duration and depth. (2) Position, longitudinal location, reflected greater vegetation diversity downstream of the reservoir. (3) Finer Substrate texture was favorable to retain moisture, but coarse sediments would resist erosion. (4) Shallow Slope was favorable to reduce drainage and included finer sediments. (5) Distance from the FP shoreline could reflect seed source proximity. Stepwise linear modeling with combined environmental factors accounted for ~30% of the variation in Vegetation Cover and Richness, and Canonical Correspondence Analysis revealed plant groupings relative to the environmental influences. At this and other storage reservoirs, regimes that reduce the frequency and duration of inundation could promote vegetation in locations with suitable environmental conditions in the upper drawdown zones, thus providing ecosystem enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulses have been part of human nutrition for centuries. They are also used in folk medicine as products with multidirectional medicinal effects. They are annual plants representing the Fabaceae family. Their edible part is the fruit, i.e. the so‐called pods. Whole pods or their parts can be eaten, depending on the species and fruit ripeness. Beans, peas, peanuts, chickpeas, lentils, broad beans and soybeans are edible legume species. Legume seeds are characterized by high nutritional value. Compared to seeds from other plants, they have high protein content ranging, on average, from 20% to 35%, depending on the type, growing conditions and maturity of the fruit. This review focuses on various health‐promoting properties of legumes and presents their nutritional value and compounds exerting health‐promoting effects. Many pulses have a low glycemic index, which is important for prevention and treatment of diabetes. In addition to their low glycemic index and high fiber content, pulses have α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibitors, which reduce the absorption of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract. These compounds have antidiabetic and anti‐inflammatory effects. Pulses have been shown to contain bioactive peptides with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitory properties; hence, they are useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Pulses used in the nutrition of obese individuals provide compounds with pancreatic lipase inhibitory properties, thus promoting weight reduction and control. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed management is not yet environmentally, agronomically, economically and socially sustainable in olive orchards. It is necessary to study appropriate integrated weed management systems (IWMSs) based on the knowledge of weed population and effects of weeding practices over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different weed managements on seasonal floristic composition of a super high-density olive orchard, also exploiting the essential principles of an IWMS. Five weeding techniques were compared: chemical control (CHI), mowing (MEC), plastic (nonwoven tissue, TNT and polyethylene, PEN) and organic (with de-oiled olive pomace, DOP) mulching. Weed monitoring was carried out on six dates in a three-year period. The infestation of each of the main 18 weed species recorded (%) and the total infestation (%) on each monitoring date were determined. Results underlined that all weeding practices investigated in this multi-year study affected the floristic composition, weed characteristics (hemicryptophytes, cryptophytes and therophytes) and seed bank. TNT and PEN were the most effective methods for weed management. Particularly, total infestation coefficient was significantly lowest when plots were managed with TNT (13.91%) and PEN (14.38%) and highest for MEC (141.29%). However, DOP also significantly reduced infestation compared to CHI and MEC. Therefore, DOP could constitute an excellent strategy for weed management in super high-density olive groves, since it also has the possibility of distributing mulching materials in a mechanized way in field and can result in improvement of soil fertility and the possibility of valorizing waste. Further studies should be carried out to investigate the mechanism of action (physical and allelochemical) of de-oiled pomace or other organic agro-industrial materials and the recovery time of these mulching materials in super high-density olive orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All flowering plants adjust their reproductive period for successful reproduction. Flower initiation is controlled by a myriad of intensively studied factors, so it can occur in the most favorable conditions. However, the end of flowering is also a controlled process, required to optimize the size of the offspring and to maximize resource allocation. Reproductive arrest was described and mainly studied in the last century by physiological approaches, but it is much less understood at the genetic or molecular level. In this review, we present an overview of recent progress in this topic, fueled by highly complementary studies that are beginning to provide an integrated view of how the end of flowering is regulated. In this emerging picture, we also highlight key missing aspects that will guide future research and may provide new biotechnological avenues to improve crop yield in annual plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is considerable evidence for local adaptation in nature, yet important questions remain regarding its genetic basis. How many loci are involved? What are their effect sizes? What is the relative importance of conditional neutrality versus genetic trade‐offs? Here we address these questions in the self‐pollinating, annual plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We used 400 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from two locally adapted populations in Italy and Sweden, grew the RILs and parents at the parental locations, and mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) for mean fitness (fruits/seedling planted). We previously published results from the first 3 years of the study, and here add five additional years, providing a unique opportunity to assess how temporal variation in selection might affect QTL detection and classification. We found 10 adaptive and one maladaptive QTL in Italy, and six adaptive and four maladaptive QTL in Sweden. The discovery of maladaptive QTL at both sites suggests that even locally adapted populations are not always at their genotypic optimum. Mean effect sizes for adaptive QTL, 0.97 and 0.55 fruits in Italy and Sweden, respectively, were large relative to the mean fitness of the RILs (approximately 8 fruits/seedling planted at both sites). Both genetic trade‐offs (four cases) and conditional neutrality (seven cases) contribute to local adaptation in this system. The 8‐year dataset provided greater power to detect QTL and to estimate their locations compared to our previous 3‐year study, identifying one new genetic trade‐off and resolving one genetic trade‐off into two conditionally adaptive QTL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasion by nonnative annual plants that form prolific seed banks, including Bromus tectorum L. (cheat- grass), throughout western North America is a major natural resource concern. Even with known economic and ecological implications, soil seed banks and their potential to impact ecological restoration in arid and semiarid ecosystems are poorly understood. Quantifying the regenerative potential of the soil seed bank--the living seeds in the soil profile and on the soil surface--can help natural resource managers make decisions to increase the likelihood of restoration success. We analyzed the germinable soil seed bank composition and distribution of a rangeland site in western Colorado that experienced a wildfire in 1994 and is dominated by cheatgrass. We collected soil seed bank samples from 118 points in a 100 x 110 m grid to a depth of 5 cm. Each sample was split by depth from 0 to 2 cm and from 2 to 5 cm. and the seed bank was quantified using greenhouse emergence methods. We found that seeds of native species were more dense and evenly distributed (3391 seeds • m-2) than seeds of nonnative species were (1880 seeds • m-2) in the 0-5 cm seed bank across the site. We also found that seeds of both native and nonnative species were concentrated in the 0-2 cm layer of the seed bank but that native and nonnative seeds were present in substantive densities in the 2-5 cm layer. These findings suggest that the soil seed bank of the site is resilient, and a targeted approach to specifically deplete the seed bank of nonnative annuals could facilitate restoration by the in situ native seed bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Annual plants often exhibit drought‐escape and avoidance strategies to cope with limited water availability. Determining the extent of variation and factors underlying the evolution of divergent strategies is necessary for determining population responses to more frequent and severe droughts. Methods: We leveraged five Mimulus guttatus populations collected across an aridity gradient within manipulative drought and quantitative genetics experiments to examine constitutive and terminal‐drought induced responses in drought resistance traits. Results: Populations varied considerably in drought‐escape‐ and drought‐avoidance‐associated traits. The most mesic population demonstrated a unique resource conservative strategy. Xeric populations exhibited extreme plasticity when exposed to terminal drought that included flowering earlier at shorter heights, increasing water‐use efficiency, and shifting C:N ratios. However, plasticity responses also differed between populations, with two populations slowing growth rates and flowering at earlier nodes and another population increasing growth rate. While nearly all traits were heritable, phenotypic correlations differed substantially between treatments and often, populations. Conclusions: Our results suggest drought resistance strategies of populations may be finely adapted to local patterns of water availability. Substantial plastic responses suggest that xeric populations can already acclimate to drought through plasticity, but populations not frequently exposed to drought may be more vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-plant interactions are integral to the establishment and persistence of diversity in plant communities. For annual plant species that depend on seeds to regenerate, seed characteristics that confer fitness advantages may mediate processes such as plant-plant interactions. Seed mass is known to vary widely and has been shown to associate with species' differences in stress tolerance and competitive effects. However, understanding of how seed mass influences species' responses to competition is less well understood. Using natural assemblages of six closely related annual plant species in Western Australia, we implemented a thinning study to assess how seed mass influences the outcomes of plant-plant interactions. We found relatively weak evidence for competition or facilitation among species. Our strongest results indicated that heavy-seeded species had lower survivorship than light-seeded species when interacting with heterospecifics. Seed mass was also negatively related to overall survival, counter to expectations. These findings indicate some evidence for trade-offs mediated by seed mass in this system. However, we acknowledge that other factors may have influenced our results, such as the use of natural assemblages (rather than using sowing experiments) and the presence of important small-scale environmental variation not captured with our choice of abiotic variables. Further research is required to clarify the role of seed mass in this diverse annual system, ideally including many focal species, and using sowing experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is an annual plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. The total accumulated incident photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) in a plant is a function of the site, year, sowing date, and phenology, whereas the amount of PAR intercepted by the plant is dependent on its leaf area index (LAI) and light extinction coefficient (KPAR). This study investigated changes in KPAR and radiation use efficiency (RUE) levels in quinoa before and after inflorescence (fruit set) color change under various temperature and light conditions through the sowing date. This study was conducted in the Jihad Keshavarzi allocated field of Khalilabad city in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran, using a randomized complete block design with three replications over two seasons, 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. Treatments included eight and seven sowing dates in the first and second season years, respectively. The results showed that the mean of KPAR was 0.66 and 0.31 in the first and second years, respectively. Also RUE in vegetative stages of development was higher than during the grain‐filling period. The mean of RUE was 2.60 ± 0.06 and 0.78 ± 0.17g/MJ in the first year before and after changing the color of the inflorescence (fruit set), respectively; these values were 2.12 ± 0.04 and 1.01 ± 0.61 g/MJ in the second year. The results indicated the base (TBRUE), lower optimum (TP1RUE), upper optimum, and ceiling temperatures of quinoa for RUE were determined to be 3, 18.8, 25.5, and 35°C, respectively. Core Ideas: Radiation use efficiency (RUE) and K were calculated in quinoa.Reaction RUE to temperature in quinoa was calculated.RUE in vegetative stages of development in quinoa was higher than the grain filling period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted for the floral richness and seasonality evaluation of the plant communities of the Tessala Mountains in Western Algeria. The floristic inventory of the 30 surveys carried out on 10 selected stations has resulted in 152 species under 125 genera and 48 families. Seasonal floral richness is concentrated in both spring and summer seasons, while the monthly richness is significant between March to August. Vegetations formations are represented physiognomically by four strata, taken into consideration in descending order of importance: Herbaceous (68%), shrubby (12%), arbustive (11%), and arborescent (10%). The overall and seasonal distributions of biological types almost follow the diagrams: Therophytes (The) > Hemicryptophytes (Hem) > Phanerophytes (Pha) > Chamephytes (Cha) > Geophytes (Geo). During the two season: the winter and the spring, the annual herbaceous dominate the bio-morphological spectrum with perennial herbs. During the summer and autumn, perennial herbaceous plants dominate the bio-morphological spectrum. The families that are most existing overall and during the four seasons are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae and Fabaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Salvia species (Lamiaceae) are found in almost the countries from the tropical and temperate regions. Methods:About nine species and one variety of Salvia L were recorded in Egypt, of which S. lanigera and S.aegyptiaca are recorded on the western coast of Mediterranean sea. In floristic analysis, thirty stands were studied, in which 55 species associated with Salvia sp., were highlighted and presented here with their families, distribution, and life forms. Also, the allelopathic effect of the studied Salvia sp. on barley seeds was indicated at different concentrations.Results:Family Asteraceae recorded the highest associated species in number (14 species). Therophytes were the dominant life form. From an environmental point, segetalshad the largest number of associated species (43.64% from the total of species). Allelopathic effect of S. lanigera and S.aegyptiaca was examed on the germination with seedling growth for barley (Hordeum vulgare)grains.There were strong inhibitory effects of Salvia sp. water extracts on the germination percentage of barley. The highest reduction percentage (35%) in germination was achieved byS. aegyptiaca water extract (2.5%). The germination rate was significantly sensitive to 10% and 100% of S. lanigeravar. lanigera(type 1) extractswith the highest inhibition percentage (4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perilla frutescens var. crispa has a unique aroma, purple leaves, and is similar in appearance to perilla. It is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, in addition it is known to have various pharmacological effects. In 1995, 200 Gy of gamma rays were irradiated to ‘Chookyoupjaso’ landrace seeds, and 6 candidate mutant lines with optimal agronomic traits were selected in the first round. Of them, one of mutant lines which had an increased isoegomaketone content and an anti-inflammatory component, were selected and cultivated. Subsequently, the variety protection right was registered in 2022 under the varietal name 'Antisperilll'. The main characteristics of 'Antisperilll' were that the leaf color changed from purple to green, the seed color from brown to gray, and the 1,000 seed weight was 3.29 g, which was approximately 1.7 times heavier than the original wild type (1.94 g). The isoegomaketone content, which exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, was increased and is expected to be used as a new health food and raw material to improve inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is one of the most important crops due to its multiple uses. Maize, an annual plant, is a remarkable cereal, thanks to its high production capacity, about 50% higher than other cereals, short life cycle, resistance to diseases and pests, drought resistance, monoculture support, great possibility of capitalizing production, can be grown in various ecological conditions. The paper presents the synthesis of the results from the 2021-2022 experimental cycle. The general objective of the research concerns the behavior of an assortment of corn hybrids created by the companies DEKALB, KWS, RAGT and LIMAGRAIN, in terms of the level of required harvests and quality.The area under study is part of the Arad Plain and is characterized by very good vegetation conditions for corn cultivation, being included in the very favorable area for cultivation in our country. In 2022, aflatoxin analysis was performed. Following the analyses carried out, the maize samples ranged from 54.96 ppb (Kashmir) to 173.51 ppb (HI CORN 450) (figure 3.6.), above the maximum permissible limit of 10 ppb, for total aflatoxins, according to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19.12.2022 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Aspergillus flavus is a common and widespread fungus in nature and is found especially when cereals are grown in extreme climatic conditions such as drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the vascular flora of Jabel Nafousa (Nafousa Mountain) was conducted during the summer of 2022. A total number of 94 different taxa representing 35 families, 83 genera, and 94 species of which 33 families, 81 genera, and 92 species belong to Angiosperms, and 2 families, 2 genera, and 2 species belong to Gymnosperms. This study has revealed that the family Poaceae represents the most sizable family in the region with 14 species followed by the family Asteraceae with 12 species, whereas, the families Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae, and Zygophyllaceae with 6 species each. The families Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae, and Liliaceae are represented with 5, 4, and 4 species respectively. Other families are represented with 1-3 species. The results of this survey showed that 3 species are worth consideration because they exist in dominant and their distribution in the area of study is very common, including Hammada scoparia, Retama raetam, and Ziziphus lotus. The dominancy of such species indicates that the climate of the region varies between aridsemiarid due to scarcity of rainfall, and very hot conditions, especially in summertime. With the exaptation of the 3 dominant species, other species are found to be capable of competing with the extremely hot conditions of the region. The life forms of the collected species of Jabel Nafousa showed the dominance of Therophytes with 24 species followed by Chamaephytes with 22 species, Hemicryptophytes with 17 species, Nanophanerophytes with 12 species, geophytes with 10 species, and Phanerophytes with 9 species. The present study of the summer flora of Jabel Nafousa represents the first attempt of its nature. An annotated checklist of 94 species collected and identified with relevant synonyms, distribution, and life form spectrum is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild vegetation of the Eastern Desert is characterized by openness and comprises perennials and ephemerals. The current study investigated the relationship between the edaphic factors of the natural vegetation along El Sheikh Fadl–Ras Gharib Road, Southwest Suez Gulf, in the northern sector of the Eastern Desert. The vegetation structure of the study area is relatively simple. The surveyed plants included 93 species from 22 families (51 perennials and 42 annuals). Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Fabaceae were the richest families, constituting the majority of plant species (53.76%). Therophytes were the most frequent life forms. About 83.87% of the total flora were pluriregional elements of different affinities. Most of the recorded taxa occupied the Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Sindian/Sudano-Zambezian chorotypes. The application of TWINSPAN classification resulted in grouping the vegetation into three main vegetation groups (A, B, and C), representing distinct microhabitats. The CCA ordination indicates diversity in vegetation group A. Group B was highly associated with Na, Mg, CaCO3, silt, clay, and C/N. Group C showed a high correlation with sand, K, and N. The differences in wild plant life forms, richness, and diversity along the studied desert roadsides, in association with the soil differences, provide a good indication of plant biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Pollen movement is a crucial component of dispersal in seed plants. Although pollen dispersal is well studied, methodological constraints have made it challenging to directly track pollen flow within multiple populations across landscapes. We labeled pollen with quantum dots, a new technique that overcomes past limitations, to evaluate the spatial scale of pollen dispersal and its relationship with conspecific density within 11 populations of Clarkia xantiana subsp. xantiana, a bee‐pollinated annual plant. Methods: We used experimental arrays in two years to track pollen movement across distances of 5–35 m within nine populations and across distances of 10–70 m within two additional populations. We tested for distance decay of pollen dispersal, whether conspecific density modulated dispersal distance, and whether dispersal kernels varied among populations across an environmentally complex landscape. Results: Labeled pollen receipt did not decline with distance over 35 m within eight of nine populations or over 70 m within either of two populations. Pollen receipt increased with conspecific density. Overall, dispersal kernels were consistent across populations. Conclusions: The surprising uniformity in dispersal distance within different populations was likely influenced by low precipitation and plant density in our study years. This suggests that spatiotemporal variation in the abiotic environment substantially influences the extent of gene flow within and among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]