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Since widespread monitoring began in 1976 in the UK, habitat‐specialist butterfly populations have declined dramatically. The main driver is habitat degradation, caused primarily by land‐use change, perhaps interacting with changes in vegetation phenology.Here, we focus on two declining species: Boloria selene (Dennis & Schiffermüller) and Boloria euphrosyne L., Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae. We hypothesise that these species differ in their preferred breeding habitat, and this is driven by differences in their temperature preferences, mediated by vegetation cover.We use mark‐release‐recapture techniques and oviposition observations to characterise and compare adult distribution, habitat use and oviposition site preferences of the two species.Egg‐laying females of both species are shown to occur in areas with relatively high abundance of the larval food plants, Viola spp. (violets), principally V. riviniana, and they oviposit where Viola spp. abundance is locally high. However, in contrast to B. selene, ovipositing B. euphrosyne tends to occur in areas with relatively short and sparse cover of vegetation.B. euphrosyne oviposit in sites with a relatively high plant surface temperature irrespective of ambient temperatures, in contrast with B. selene in which the temperature of oviposition sites increases as ambient temperature increases. These differential temperature strategies likely underlie differences in breeding habitat preference.Microclimatic cooling caused by increased vegetation growth in spring may be one reason B. euphrosyne is declining in the UK, while both B. euphrosyne and B. selene may be affected by declining Viola spp. availability. Our data provide further evidence that drivers of butterfly declines can be multi‐factorial, and paradoxically, that thermophilic species do not necessarily benefit from climate warming if responses of other species result in cooling of their habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mugla Journal of Science & Technology is the property of Mugla Journal of Science & Technology 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.)

Plant epiphytic microorganisms have established a unique symbiotic relationship with plants, which has a significant impact on their growth, immune defense, and environmental adaptation. However, the impact of fertilization methods on the epiphytic microbial community and their correlation with the yield and quality of medicinal plant was still unclear. In current study, we conducted a field fertilization experiment and analyzed the composition of epiphytic bacterial and fungal communities employing high throughput sequencing data in different organs (roots, stems, and leaves) of Salvia miltiorrhiza, as well as their correlation with plant growth. The results showed that fertilization significantly affected the active ingredients and hormone content, soil physicochemical properties, and the composition of epiphytic microbial communities. After fertilization, the plant surface was enriched with a core microbial community mainly composed of bacteria from Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, as well as fungi from Zygomycota and Ascomycota. Additionally, plant growth hormones were the principal factors leading to alterations in the epiphytic microbial community of S. miltiorrhiza. Thus, the most effective method of fertilization involved the application of base fertilizer in combination with foliar fertilizer. This study provides a new perspective for studying the correlation between microbial community function and the quality of S. miltiorrhiza, and also provides a theoretical basis for the cultivation and sustainable development of high-quality medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global expansion of photovoltaic (PV) power plants, especially in ecologically fragile regions like the Gobi Desert, highlights the suitability of such areas for large-scale PV development. The most direct impact of PV development in the Gobi Desert is temperature change that results from the land-use-induced albedo changes; however, the detailed and systemic understanding of the effects of PV expansion on land surface temperature remains limited. This study focuses on the 16 largest PV plants in the Chinese Gobi Desert, utilizing remote sensing data to assess their effects on land surface temperature. Our result showed a cooling effect during the daytime (−0.69 ± 0.10 °C), but a warming effect during the nighttime (0.23 ± 0.05 °C); the overall effect on the daily mean was a cooling effect (−0.22 ± 0.05 °C). Seasonal variations were observed, with the most significant cooling effect in autumn and the weakest in summer. The PV area was the most significant factor which influenced the temperature variation across PV plants. Our findings enrich our understanding of the environmental effects arising from the construction of PV plants and provide vital information for the design and management of increasingly renewable electricity systems globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stomata are pores on plant aerial surfaces, each bordered by a pair of guard cells. They control gas exchange vital for plant survival. Understanding how guard cells respond to environmental signals such as atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels is not only insightful to fundamental biology but also relevant to real-world issues of crop productivity under global climate change. In the past decade, multiple important signaling elements for stomatal closure induced by elevated CO2 have been identified. Yet, there is no comprehensive understanding of high CO2-induced stomatal closure. In this work, we assemble a cellular signaling network underlying high CO2-induced stomatal closure by integrating evidence from a comprehensive literature analysis. We further construct a Boolean dynamic model of the network, which allows in silico simulation of the stomatal closure response to high CO2 in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana plants and in cases of pharmacological or genetic manipulation of network nodes. Our model has a 91% accuracy in capturing known experimental observations. We perform network-based logical analysis and reveal a feedback core of the network, which dictates cellular decisions in closure response to high CO2. Based on these analyses, we predict and experimentally confirm that applying nitric oxide (NO) induces stomatal closure in ambient CO2 and causes hypersensitivity to elevated CO2. Moreover, we predict a negative regulatory relationship between NO and the protein phosphatase ABI2 and find experimentally that NO inhibits ABI2 phosphatase activity. The experimental validation of these model predictions demonstrates the effectiveness of network-based modeling and highlights the decision-making role of the feedback core of the network in signal transduction. We further explore the model's potential in predicting targets of signaling elements not yet connected to the CO2 network. Our combination of network science, in silico model simulation, and experimental assays demonstrates an effective interdisciplinary approach to understanding system-level biology. Stomata are pores on plant surfaces that can be opened or closed by pairs of guard cells in response to environmental signals. This study analyzes CO2-induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis thaliana using network-based modelling and experimental validation, uncovering that feedback loops in a core signal transduction network regulate decision-making in guard cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testing of cholinesterase, the enzyme that hydrolyzed acetylcholine, on the leaf surface of woody plants was done by the histochemical methods with Ellman reagent, Fast Red TR, and azo analogue of Ellman reagent dithio-bis-(p-phenyleneazo)-bis-(1-oxy-8-chloro-3,6) sodium disulfate, shortly DTPDD reagent. Last dye test was seen visually and under microscope. Inhibitors of cholinesterase neostigmine and physostigmine decreased the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine by the cells. Presence of enzyme on plant surface shows its possible participation in allelopatic reactions between organisms containing and releasing acetylcholine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A critical review of biomimetic micro-structured surfaces for antifouling and other applications is provided. • Inspiration from natural organisms and corresponding products/technology are presented. • Applications of microstructures with different antifouling strategies and other properties are summarized. • Technology of fabricating biomimetic microstructures is concluded. • The defects of the biomimetic surface and its future development are proposed. Since the inception of the term "Biomimetics" in 1991, the concept of utilizing natural solutions or deriving inspiration from nature to address contemporary engineering challenges has gained significant attention within the scientific community. Organisms, in order to thrive in harsh environments, have evolved a wide range of micro/nanostructured surfaces, which serve as a rich source of inspiration for the development of artificial micro/nano-structured surfaces. These natural adaptations provide valuable insights and novel pathways for fabricating such surfaces. To conclude recent advances in micro/nano-structured surfaces from four aspects: biomimetic micro-structured surfaces of plants and animals, properties and applications of biomimetic surfaces, methods of preparations, and their limitation. Artificial micro/nano-structured surfaces inspired by animals and plants are classified and demonstrated according to their living environment. The performances, principles and preparation techniques of natural superhydrophobic surfaces, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), anisotropic surfaces, etc. are described in detail. Moreover, the pros and cons of each preparation measures are compared and the challenges developing large-scale, cost-effective surface microstructure preparation processes are pointed out. In the end, the development trends of artificial micro/nano-structured surface are forecasted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulch regulates soil hydrothermal regime while suppressing weed growth, effects of which may depend on mulch material and/or similar to that of closed crop canopy. Combined use of organic or inorganic material as surface mulch and appropriate plant spacing may produce synergistic agronomic effects in water-stressed environments. This study evaluated the sensitivity of rainfed okra to mulch-spacing variants in droughty derived-savannah soils. With dry-grass mulch (DGM) and sawdust mulch (SDM) representing organic mulch material and black polythene (BPM) as inorganic/plastic, treatments were factorial combinations of surface-applied DGM, SDM and BPM with close (60 cm × 30 cm), intermediate (60 cm × 45 cm) and wide (60 cm × 60 cm) spacings. Crop growth/performance and fruit yield data were collected. Mulch material affected okra growth (with overall better results in BPM than SDM), but not flowering/fruiting and fruit yield. For plant spacing, sum of weights of pods and fruit yield were higher in close than intermediate and wide spacings, with fruit yields as 2.42, 1.21 and 0.76 t ha-1, respectively. Mulch-spacing interaction effects showed that BPM with close spacing gave the highest values for stem girth 8 weeks after sowing (SDM treatments gave the lowest), sum of weights of pods and fruit yield (2.93 t ha-1). Fruit yield, however, depended not on stem girth but on certain okra yield attributes. The BPM or, where not feasible, either of DGM and SDM, could be effectively combined with close spacing to improve okra productivity in droughty soils of the derived savannah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms known as Plant-associated Pseudomonas can thrive as parasites or saprophytes on plant surfaces and within plant tissues. They are crucial in enhancing plant growth by suppressing pathogenic microorganisms, synthesizing growth-stimulating plant hormones, and boosting plant disease resistance. At the University of Limpopo in South Africa, a molecular study was conducted in 2023 to identify a Pseudomonas bacterium in a spinach field associated with a free-living nematode, Acrobeles complexus, in Limpopo Province. The study utilized the Chelex method to extract DNA and the 16S rDNA marker to identify the bacterium as Pseudomonas fragi. Specific primers were then used to amplify 16S rDNA, which identified the bacterium, and Nblast analysis revealed a 96% similarity to a strain from India. Phylogenetic analysis placed this species with those identified as P. fragi in the same clade with highly supported (100) bootstrap values. This marker (16S rDNA) is recommended to use. But for a better understanding of P. fragi's phylogeny, the other DNA markers are recommended to identify this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of plant electrophysiology offers promising techniques to track plant health and stress in vivo for both agricultural and environmental monitoring applications. Use of superficial electrodes on the plant body to record surface potentials may provide new phenotyping insights. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a flexible, optically translucent, and water-vapor-permeable material with low manufacturing costs, making it an ideal substrate for non-invasive and non-destructive plant electrodes. This work presents BNC electrodes with screen-printed carbon (graphite) ink-based conductive traces and pads. It investigates the potential of these electrodes for plant surface electrophysiology measurements in comparison to commercially available standard wet gel and needle electrodes. The electrochemically active surface area and impedance of the BNC electrodes varied based on the annealing temperature and time over the ranges of 50 °C to 90 °C and 5 to 60 min, respectively. The water vapor transfer rate and optical transmittance of the BNC substrate were measured to estimate the level of occlusion caused by these surface electrodes on the plant tissue. The total reduction in chlorophyll content under the electrodes was measured after the electrodes were placed on maize leaves for up to 300 h, showing that the BNC caused only a 16% reduction. Maize leaf transpiration was reduced by only 20% under the BNC electrodes after 72 h compared to a 60% reduction under wet gel electrodes in 48 h. On three different model plants, BNC–carbon ink surface electrodes and standard invasive needle electrodes were shown to have a comparable signal quality, with a correlation coefficient of >0.9, when measuring surface biopotentials induced by acute environmental stressors. These are strong indications of the superior performance of the BNC substrate with screen-printed graphite ink as an electrode material for plant surface biopotential recordings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus and three new species of eriophyoid mites from China are described and illustrated. They are Abifurcacothrix brassaiopsisgen. nov. & sp. nov. infesting Brassaiopsis glomerulata (Bl.) Regel. (Araliaceae), Neocalepitrimerus pittosporussp. nov. and Diptilomiopus illicioidessp. nov. infesting Pittosporum illicioides Mak. (Pittosporaceae). These new species were found to be vagrant on the lower surface of their associated plant leaves, with no apparent damage observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All over the world, from America to the Mediterranean Sea, the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa represents one of the most difficult challenges with many implications at ecological, agricultural, and economic levels. X. fastidiosa is a rod-shaped Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the family of Xanthomonadaceae. It grows at very low rates and infects a wide range of plants thanks to different vectors. Insects, through their stylets, suck a sap rich in nutrients and inject bacteria into xylem vessels. Since, until now, no antimicrobial treatment has been successfully applied to kill X. fastidiosa and/or prevent its diffusion, in this study, antimicrobial blue light (aBL) was explored as a potential anti-Xylella tool. Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca Salento-1, chosen as a model strain, showed a certain degree of sensitivity to light at 410 nm. The killing effect was light dose dependent and bacterial concentration dependent. These preliminary results support the potential of blue light in decontamination of agricultural equipment and/or plant surface; however, further investigations are needed for in vivo applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safeguarding of plant health is vital for optimizing crop growth practices, especially in the face of the biggest challenges of our generation, namely the environmental crisis and the dramatic changes in the climate. Among the many innovative tools developed to address these issues, wearable sensors have recently been proposed for monitoring plant growth and microclimates in a sustainable manner. These systems are composed of flexible matrices with embedded sensing elements, showing promise in revolutionizing plant monitoring without being intrusive. Despite their potential benefits, concerns arise regarding the effects of the long-term coexistence of these devices with the plant surface. Surprisingly, a systematic analysis of their influence on plant physiology is lacking. This study aims to investigate the effect of the color and geometric features of flexible matrices on two key plant physiological functions: photosynthesis and transpiration. Our findings indicate that the negative effects associated with colored substrates, as identified in recent research, can be minimized by holing the matrix surface with a percentage of voids of 15.7%. This approach mitigates interference with light absorption and reduces water loss to a negligible extent, making our work one of the first pioneering efforts in understanding the intricate relationship between plant wearables' features and plant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) currently represents one of the most significant threats to tomato crop worldwide. Its transmission occurs mainly through contact between plants and infected surfaces, and only one case of mechanical transmission by arthropods has been reported. Here, we aim to assess the role of an invasive tomato pest, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in ToBRFV transmission. Laboratory tests demonstrated the presence of the ToBRFV in adult moths obtained from larvae developed on ToBRFV-infected plants. Infected adults of T. absoluta were able to infect healthy tomato plants. In order to evaluate whether the occurrence of ToBRFV on T. absoluta adults was internal or external to the pupae, as results of larvae feeding on infected plants, pupae obtained from larvae fed on infected plants were externally disinfected and then analyzed for the presence of ToBRFV by RT-qPCR. Adults obtained from disinfected and not-disinfected pupae were also analyzed. Both adults and pupae were positive for the virus, suggesting its presence in the inner surface of the pupal exuvia. Electron microscopy, western blot analyses and hemolymph bioassay showed the absence of ToBRFV virions and viral coat protein in the hemolymph collected from disinfected pupae, demonstrating that the ToBRFV is not circulative in the progeny of T. absoluta adults obtained from larvae fed in infected plants, but probably adults got contaminated during their emergence, due to virus presence in the inner surface of pupal exuvia. This study demonstrates for the first time that T. absoluta can carry an infectious primary inoculum of ToBRFV, highlighting a potential epidemiological role of T. absoluta in spreading ToBRFV in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants and herbivorous insects as well as their natural enemies, such as predatory and parasitoid insects, are united by intricate relationships. During the long period of co-evolution with insects, plants developed a wide diversity of features to defence against herbivores and to attract pollinators and herbivores' natural enemies. The chemical basis of insect-plant interactions is established and many examples are studied, where feeding and oviposition site selection of phytophagous insects are dependent on the plant's secondary chemistry. However, often overlooked mechanical interactions between insects and plants can be rather crucial. In the context of mechanoecology, the evolution of plant surfaces and insect adhesive pads is an interesting example of competition between insect attachment systems and plant anti-attachment surfaces. The present review is focused on mechanical insect-plant interactions of some important pest species, such as the polyphagous Southern Green Stinkbug Nezara viridula and two frugivorous pest species, the polyphagous Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata and the monophagous olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae. Their ability to attach to plant surfaces characterised by different features such as waxes and trichomes is discussed. Some attention is paid also to Coccinellidae, whose interaction with plant leaf surfaces is substantial across all developmental stages in both phytophagous and predatory species that feed on herbivorous insects. Finally, the role of different kinds of anti-adhesive nanomaterials is discussed. They can reduce the attachment ability of insect pests to natural and artificial surfaces, potentially representing environmental friendly alternative methods to reduce insect pest impact in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting the ever-increasing food demands of a growing global population while ensuring resource and environmental sustainability presents significant challenges for agriculture worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) has emerged as a potential solution by increasing the surface area of a plant's root system and enhancing the absorption of phosphorus, nitrogen nutrients, and water. Consequently, there is a longstanding hypothesis that rice varieties exhibiting more efficient AMS could yield higher outputs at reduced input costs, paving the way for the development of Green Super Rice (GSR). Our prior research study identified a variant, OsCERK1DY, derived from Dongxiang wild-type rice, which notably enhanced AMS efficiency in the rice cultivar "ZZ35." This variant represents a promising gene for enhancing yield and nutrient use efficiency in rice breeding. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of biomass, crop growth characteristics, yield attributes, and nutrient absorption at varying soil nitrogen levels in the rice cultivar "ZZ35" and its chromosome single-segment substitution line, "GJDN1." In the field, GJDN1 exhibited a higher AM colonization level in its roots compared with ZZ35. Notably, GJDN1 displayed significantly higher effective panicle numbers and seed-setting rates than ZZ35. Moreover, the yield of GJDN1 with 75% nitrogen was 14.27% greater than the maximum yield achieved using ZZ35. At equivalent nitrogen levels, GJDN1 consistently outperformed ZZ35 in chlorophyll (Chl) content, dry matter accumulation, major nutrient element accumulation, N agronomic efficiency (NAE), N recovery efficiency (NRE), and N partial factor productivity (NPFP). The performance of OsCERK1DY overexpression lines corroborated these findings. These results support a model wherein the heightened level of AMS mediated by OsCERK1DY contributes to increased nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium accumulation. This enhancement in nutrient utilization promotes higher fertilizer efficiency, dry matter accumulation, and ultimately, rice yield. Consequently, the OsCERK1DY gene emerges as a robust candidate for improving yield, reducing fertilizer usage, and facilitating a transition towards greener, lower-carbon agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pantoea dispersa, a natural inhabitant of plant surfaces, is a rare pathogen in clinical setting. The genus includes 20 different species. It has been reported to cause a variety of infections like cholangitis, respiratory infections, neonatal sepsis and blood stream infections, particularly in immunocompromised persons. We describe the clinical course of an elderly patient with carcinoma gall bladder presenting with cholangitis and having Pantoea dispersa bacteremia. The sensitivity profile was consistent with existing reports. He underwent endoscopic biliary drainage and antibiotic treatment with a favorable outcome. We have also summarized the existing literature on this rare organism, which in our case was isolated from a common situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By planting LEDs on the surfaces of orifice baffles, a novel batch oscillatory baffled photoreactor (OBPR) together with polymer-supported Rose Bengal (Ps-RB) beads are here used to investigate the reaction kinetics of a photo-oxidation reaction between α-terpinene and singlet oxygen (1O2). In the mode of NMR data analysis that is widely used for this reaction, α-terpinene and ascaridole are treated as a reaction pair, assuming kinetically singlet oxygen is in excess or constant. We have, for the first time, here examined the validity of the method, discovered that increasing α-terpinene initially leads to an increase in ascaridole, indicating that the supply of singlet oxygen is in excess. Applying a kinetic analysis, a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics is confirmed, supporting this assumption. We have subsequently initiated a methodology of estimating the 1O2 concentrations based on the proportionality of ascaridole concentrations with respect to its maximum under these conditions. With the help of the estimated singlet oxygen data, the efficiency of 1O2 utilization and the photo efficiency of converting molecular oxygen to 1O2 are further proposed and evaluated. We have also identified conditions under which a further increase in α-terpinene has caused decreases in ascaridole, implying kinetically that 1O2 has now become a limiting reagent, and the method of treating α-terpinene and ascaridole as a reaction pair in the data analysis would no longer be valid under those conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Fitopatologi Indonesia is the property of IPB University 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 genus Erythrobasidium is kind of species-scarce and undersampling basidiomycetes. Currently, only six species have been accepted into the genus and the diversity still remains incompletely understood. In this study, five Erythrobasidium strains were isolated in the surface of plant leaves collected from the Baotianman Nature Reserve, Henan Province, central China. Phylogenetic analyses of the small ribosomal subunit (SSU) rRNA gene, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, and the translation elongation factor 1-a (TEF1-a) gene coupled with morphological studies were employed to characterize and identify these isolates. As a result of these, two new species, namely E. turpiniae sp. nov. and E. nanyangense sp. nov., were delimited and proposed based on morphological and molecular evidence. A detailed description and illustration of both new species, as well as their differences with the close relatives in the genus are provided. An identification key for Erythrobasidium species is also provided. This study provides further insights into our understanding of Erythrobasidium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time in situ monitoring of plant physiology is essential for establishing a phenotyping platform for precision agriculture. A key enabler for this monitoring is a device that can be noninvasively attached to plants and transduce their physiological status into digital data. Here, we report an all-organic transparent plant e-skin by micropatterning poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. This plant e-skin is optically and mechanically invisible to plants with no observable adverse effects to plant health. We demonstrate the capabilities of our plant e-skins as strain and temperature sensors, with the application to Brassica rapa leaves for collecting corresponding parameters under normal and abiotic stress conditions. Strains imposed on the leaf surface during growth as well as diurnal fluctuation of surface temperature were captured. We further present a digital-twin interface to visualize real-time plant surface environment, providing an intuitive and vivid platform for plant phenotyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root system is important for the growth and development of spinach. To reveal the temporal variability of the spinach root system, root traits of 40 spinach accessions were measured at three imaging times (20, 30, and 43 days after transplanting) in this study using a non-destructive and non-invasive root analysis system. Results showed that five root traits were reliably measured by this system (RootViz FS), and two of which were highly correlated with manually measured traits. Root traits had higher variations than shoot traits among spinach accessions, and the trait of mean growth rate of total root length had the largest coefficients of variation across the three imaging times. During the early stage, only tap root length was weakly correlated with shoot traits (plant height, leaf width, and object area (equivalent to plant surface area)), whereas in the third imaging, root fresh weight, total root length, and root area were strongly correlated with shoot biomass-related traits. Five root traits (total root length, tap root length, total root area, root tissue density, and maximal root width) showed high variations with coefficients of variation values (CV ≥ 0.3, except maximal root width) and high heritability (H2 > 0.6) among the three stages. The 40 spinach accessions were classified into five subgroups with different growth dynamics of the primary and lateral roots by cluster analysis. Our results demonstrated the potential of in-situ phenotyping to assess dynamic root growth in spinach and provide new perspectives for biomass breeding based on root system ideotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our limited knowledge about the ecological drivers of global arthropod decline highlights the urgent need for more effective biodiversity monitoring approaches. Monitoring of arthropods is commonly performed using passive trapping devices, which reliably recover diverse communities, but provide little ecological information on the sampled taxa. Especially the manifold interactions of arthropods with plants are barely understood. A promising strategy to overcome this shortfall is environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding from plant material on which arthropods leave DNA traces through direct or indirect interactions. However, the accuracy of this approach has not been sufficiently tested. In four experiments, we exhaustively test the comparative performance of plant‐derived eDNA from surface washes of plants and homogenized plant material against traditional monitoring approaches. We show that the recovered communities of plant‐derived eDNA and traditional approaches only partly overlap, with eDNA recovering various additional taxa. This suggests eDNA as a useful complementary tool to traditional monitoring. Despite the differences in recovered taxa, estimates of community α‐ and β‐diversity between both approaches are well correlated, highlighting the utility of eDNA as a broad scale tool for community monitoring. Last, eDNA outperforms traditional approaches in the recovery of plant‐specific arthropod communities. Unlike traditional monitoring, eDNA revealed fine‐scale community differentiation between individual plants and even within plant compartments. Especially specialized herbivores are better recovered with eDNA. Our results highlight the value of plant‐derived eDNA analysis for large‐scale biodiversity assessments that include information about community‐level interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting dynamic changes in small molecule concentrations in situ is one of the most novel strategies to obtain information on plant health in real time. A wearable electrochemical sensor is a novel tool for the dynamic detection of small molecules in plants. Small molecules exist on plant surfaces or within plants in vivo. The surface humidity can reflect plant transpiration intensity, and surface volatile organic compounds are closely related to plant diseases. In plants, small molecules such as glucose, salicylic acid, H 2 O 2 , and nitrate play important roles in respiration, drought stress, radiation stress, and assimilation, respectively. Among wearable electrochemical sensors, needle-type sensors have attracted a lot of attention due to their characteristics of causing less damage to plants, high monitoring sensitivity, and easy integration. Small molecules in plants – such as metabolites, phytohormones, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inorganic ions – participate in the processes of plant growth and development, physiological metabolism, and stress response. Wearable electrochemical sensors, known for their fast response, high sensitivity, and minimal plant damage, serve as ideal tools for dynamically tracking these small molecules. Such sensors provide producers or agricultural researchers with noninvasive or minimally invasive means of obtaining plant signals. In this review we explore the applications of wearable electrochemical sensors in detecting plant small molecules, enabling scientific assessment of plant conditions, quantification of environmental stresses, and facilitation of plant health monitoring and disease prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prophages integrated into bacterial genomes can become cryptic or defective prophages, which may evolve to provide various traits to bacterial cells. Previous research on Marinomonas mediterranea MMB-1 demonstrated the production of defective particles. In this study, an analysis of the genomes of three different strains (MMB-1, MMB-2, and MMB-3) revealed the presence of a region named MEDPRO1, spanning approximately 52 kb, coding for a defective prophage in strains MMB-1 and MMB-2. This prophage seems to have been lost in strain MMB-3, possibly due to the presence of spacers recognizing this region in an I-F CRISPR array in this strain. However, all three strains produce remarkably similar defective particles. Using strain MMB-1 as a model, mass spectrometry analyses indicated that the structural proteins of the defective particles are encoded by a second defective prophage situated within the MEDPRO2 region, spanning approximately 13 kb. This finding was further validated through the deletion of this second defective prophage. Genomic region analyses and the detection of antimicrobial activity of the defective prophage against other Marinomonas species suggest that it is an R-type bacteriocin. Marinomonas mediterranea synthesizes antimicrobial proteins with lysine oxidase activity, and the synthesis of an R-type bacteriocin constitutes an additional mechanism in microbial competition for the colonization of habitats such as the surface of marine plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two factors are directly involved in obtaining superior wood in quantitative and qualitative aspects, respectively an optimal consumption of nutrients (macro and micro-elements) and the optimal plants density at the surface unit. In this context, the present research have been made in order to establish the influence degree of the planting and the fertilization scheme on the physical and mechanical properties that restore the value from the point of view of wood quality to Pauownia ssp. Experimental results showed that best of all the fibers harvested from the experimental variants where the planting schemes of 5x5 m or 6x6 m were used and were administered 40 kg/ha Polyfeed 14-14-28+2MgO+ME by fertirigation during the vegetation period of the plants, the balanced ratio between the nutrients giving to the plants increased resistance to the mechanical factors action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to accurately estimate the water consumption of a Minqin desert Haloxylon ammodendron sand fixation forest, we used thermal equilibrium stem flow measurement to monitor the stem flow dynamics of Minqin desert H. ammodendron (5, 10, 15, and 20 years old, respectively, denoted as H5, H10, H15, and H20). In this study, we chose the growth index of assimilated branches (expressed as Ab in the following text) as the scalar quantity for expansion, and then estimated the water consumption of the H. ammodendron sand fixation forest by fitting the correlation between the water consumption of single H. ammodendron plants and the surface area and dry weight of single Ab. The results showed that the growth of assimilated H. ammodendron branches and the plant's monthly water consumption were synchronized, and that the growth of Ab and water consumption were significantly higher during the fast-growth period of H. ammodendron (July) compared to during the leaf-expanding (May) and leaf-falling periods (October). After correlation analysis, it was determined that there was a linear function between the surface area and dry weight of Ab and water consumption in H. ammodendron. The simulated water consumption values (kg) of H. ammodendron sand fixation forests were greatly affected by stand density and branching configuration, and the simulated values of H. ammodendron assimilated branch growth (cm) were slightly smaller than the measured values for forests of different ages, while the simulated values of assimilated branch surface area (cm2) had a much smaller relative error (8.92%) on average. Therefore, it is feasible to use the surface area and dry weight of Ab to calculate the water consumption of H. ammodendron sand fixation forests. This can enable the reliable estimation of the water consumption of H. ammodendron forests and provide a reference for desert vegetation sand fixation afforestation and its ecological water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidation of different vegetation energy partitioning and environmental control factors at the agro-ecosystem levels is critical for better understanding and scientific management of farmland. Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merril) is a tropical plant widely cultivated in the southern subtropical region of China; however, the energy partitioning of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants like pineapple and their interactions with the environment remain not well understood. In this study, we investigated the energy partitioning patterns of pineapple fields and latent heat flux (LET) response to environmental factors using the Bowen ratio energy balance system and meteorological observation field data. The results showed that the CAM plant pineapple energy partitioning was significantly different from the common C3 and C4 crops during the study period, which was mainly attributed to the complex interactions between CAM plant transpiration and the environment. Specifically, sensible heat flux was the main component of net radiation (Rn), followed by the LET, accounting for 65.0% and 30.8% of the Rn, respectively. Soil heat flux accounts for a very small fraction (4.2%). The mean values of the Bowen ratio were 2.09 and 1.41 for sunny and cloudy days during the daytime and 0.74 and 0.46 at night, respectively. LET is a key factor in responding to crop growth status and agricultural water management, and the path analysis indicates that its variation is mainly influenced directly by Rn with a direct path coefficient of 0.94 on sunny days, followed by vapor pressure deficit, air temperature and relative humidity, which indirectly affect LET through the Rn pathway, whereas soil moisture and wind speed have a low effect on LET. On cloudy days, the effect of Rn on LET was overwhelmingly dominant, with a direct path coefficient of 0.91. The direct path coefficients of the remaining factors on LET were very small and negative. Overall, this study is an important reference for enhancing the impact of pineapple as well as CAM plants on the surface energy balance and regional climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to preemergence (PRE) soil-applied herbicides, such as inhibitors of very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) elongases, was documented in two waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D. Sauer] populations (SIR and CHR) from Illinois, USA. To limit the spread of resistant weed populations, rapid detection measures are necessary. Soil-based resistance assays are limited by edaphic factors, application timing, variable seeding depth and rainfall amount. Therefore, cost-effective techniques mitigating effects of edaphic factors that are appropriate for small- to large-scale assays are needed. Our research goal was to identify and quantify resistance to the VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides, S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone, using a soilless greenhouse assay. Dose-response experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions with pre-germinated waterhemp seeds planted on the vermiculite surface, which had been saturated with S-metolachlor (0.015–15 μM), pyroxasulfone (0.0005–1.5 μM), or S-metolachlor plus the cytochrome P450 (P450) inhibitor, malathion. Lethal dose estimates of 50% (LD50) and growth reduction of 50% (GR50) were calculated for S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone PRE and used to determine resistance indices (RI) for resistant populations (CHR and SIR) relative to sensitive populations, SEN and ACR. RI values for S-metolachlor using LD50 values calculated relative to SEN and ACR were 17.2 and 15.2 (CHR) or 11.5 and 10.1 (SIR), while RI values for pyroxasulfone using LD50 values calculated relative to SEN and ACR were 3.8 and 3.1 (CHR) or 4.8 and 3.8 (SIR). Malathion decreased the GR50 of S-metolachlor to a greater degree in CHR compared to ACR, consistent with P450 involvement in S-metolachlor resistance in CHR. Results from these soilless assays are in accord with previous findings in soil-based systems that demonstrate CHR and SIR are resistant to S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone. This method provides an effective, reproducible alternative to soil-based systems for studying suspected PRE herbicide-resistant populations and will potentially assist in identifying non-target-site resistance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants possess an arsenal of immune receptors to allow for numerous tiers of defense against pathogen attack. These immune receptors can be located either in the nucleocytoplasm or on the plant cell surface. NLR gene clusters have recently gained momentum owing to their robustness and malleability in adapting to recognize pathogens. The modular domain architecture of an NLR provides valuable clues about its arms race with pathogens. Additionally, plant NLRs have undergone functional specialization to have either one of the following roles: to sense pathogen effectors (sensor NLRs) or co-ordinate immune signaling (helper or executer NLRs). Sensor NLRs directly recognize effectors whilst helper NLRs act as signaling hubs for more than one sensor NLR to transduce the effector recognition into a successful plant immune response. Furthermore, sensor NLRs can use guard, decoy, or integrated decoy models to recognize effectors directly or indirectly. Thus, by studying a plant host's NLR repertoire, inferences can be made about a host's evolutionary history and defense potential which allows scientists to understand and exploit the molecular basis of resistance in a plant host. This review provides a snapshot of the structural and biochemical properties of the different classes of NLRs which allow them to perceive pathogen effectors and contextualize these findings by discussing the activation mechanisms of these NLR resistosomes during plant defense. We also summarize future directives on applications of this NLR structural biology. To our knowledge, this review is the first to collate all vast defense properties of NLRs which make them valuable candidates for study in applied plant biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lablab purpureus subsp. bengalensis (Jacq.) Verdc. is an important legume of India and Africa. Both aphids, Aphis craccivora Koch and A. gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), are important herbivorous pests of this legume crop. These viviparous females lay nymphs on the leaf surface of this legume plant. Therefore, it is of considerable interest to study whether leaf surface wax chemicals (long-chain alkanes and free fatty acids) of this legume plant served as short-range attractants and oviposition stimulants in both females to lay nymphs. Twenty-one n -alkanes from n -C12 to n -C35 and 11 free fatty acids from C12:0 to C22:0 were identified in leaf surface waxes. Nonacosane and nonadecanoic acid were the most abundant among n -alkanes and free fatty acids, respectively. Both females were attracted towards one leaf equivalent surface wax against the control solvent (petroleum ether) in short Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. A synthetic blend of tetradecane, pentadecane, tetracosane, tridecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, and heneicosanoic acid comparable to one leaf equivalent surface wax served as short-range attractants and oviposition stimulants in A. craccivora ; whereas a synthetic blend of tetradecane, hexadecane, docosane, nonadecanoic acid, and arachidic acid comparable to one leaf equivalent surface wax acted as short-range attractants and oviposition stimulants in A. gossypii. These results can provide the basis for efficient pest management strategies of A. craccivora and A. gossypii against L. purpureus subsp. bengalensis using host plant leaf surface wax compounds. Further, SEM studies of antennae and forelegs of both aphids were conducted to observe sensilla structures, which help in chemoreception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study synthesised and characterised zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using spinach tree, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and investigated its potential use as nanofertilizer. The synthesised nanoparticles showed UV-Vis absorption peak at 378nm which is a feature of ZnO NPs. FT-IR analysis further revealed the presence of O-H stretching, C=C bending, O-H bending and C-N stretching functional groups of the stabilising action of the plant extract on the surface of the nanoparticles. SEM images displayed the shape of NPs to be spherical whereas TEM images showed their distribution sizes to be 100 nm. Synthesised ZnO NPs were used as a nano fertilizer on Sorghum bicolour plant. An increase in the shoot leaf length with an average length of 16.13 ± 0.19 cm as compared to the control group of 15.13 ± 0.07 cm was observed. The rate of photosynthesis also showed a significant increase with total chlorophyll content of 0.2806 ± 0.006mg/mL as compared with control of 0.2476 ± 0.002 mg/mL. The activity of antioxidative enzymes was measured with an increase in the specific activity of SOD in the plant when ZnO NPs were used over NPK whereas, the specific activities of CAT were similar in all cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

17–4 PH Stainless Steel Foam (SSF) is widely used in biomedical implants due to its low cost, high mechanical properties, good corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. In order to expand its applicability in the near future, it is necessary to improve the surface properties of the porous structure. This study primarily focuses on the surface modification of SSF with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) synthesized from various plant extracts and their superficial characterization. The Ag NPs were synthesized with extracts from some plants such as locust bean gum, matcha tea, and maca root by a sonochemical method, and their morphology, crystal structure, and chemical functional groups were characterized. The different matrix-based Ag NPs were then coated on 17–4 PH SSF, which has irregularly shaped pores and a porosity of approximately 70%, using the drop-casting method. To understand the effects of different matrix-based Ag NPs coatings on the surface characteristics of the porous structure, versatile investigations were carried out using traditional and digital image-based methods. While the structural and surface properties of the SSFs changed after nanocoating, they showed similar properties when the different matrix-based Ag NPs were used. The RGB analysis results and opacity values showed differences depending on the coating solution obtained from different plant extracts. Overall, the results illustrate the importance of surface nanomodification of the different matrix-based Ag NPs-coated 17–4 PH SSF to achieve favorable surface performance to obtain promising multifunctional nanoplatforms for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The above-ground plant surface is a well-adapted tissue layer that acts as an interface between the plant and its surrounding environment. As such, its primary role is to protect against desiccation and maintain the gaseous exchange required for photosynthesis. Further, this surface layer provides a barrier against pathogens and herbivory, while attracting pollinators and agents of seed dispersal. In the context of agriculture, the plant surface is strongly linked to post-harvest crop quality and yield. The epidermal layer contains several unique cell types adapted for these functions, while the non-lignified above-ground plant organs are covered by a hydrophobic cuticular membrane. This review aims to provide an overview of the latest understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying crop cuticle and epidermal cell formation, with focus placed on genetic elements contributing towards quality, yield, drought tolerance, herbivory defence, pathogen resistance, pollinator attraction, and sterility, while highlighting the inter-relatedness of plant surface development and traits. Potential crop improvement strategies utilizing this knowledge are outlined in the context of the recent development of new breeding techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant external surfaces are often covered by barriers that control the exchange of molecules, protect from pathogens and offer mechanical integrity. A key question is when and how such surface barriers are generated. Post-embryonic surfaces have well-studied barriers, including the cuticle, and it has been previously shown that the late Arabidopsis thaliana embryo is protected by an endosperm-derived sheath deposited onto a primordial cuticle. Here, we show that both cuticle and sheath are preceded by another structure during the earliest stages of embryogenesis. This structure, which we named the embryonic envelope, is tightly wrapped around the embryonic surface but can be physically detached by cell wall digestion. We show that this structure is composed primarily of extensin and arabinogalactan O-glycoproteins and lipids, which appear to form a dense and elastic crosslinked embryonic envelope. The envelope forms in cuticle-deficient mutants and in a mutant that lacks endosperm. This embryo-derived envelope is therefore distinct from previously described cuticle and sheath structures. We propose that it acts as an expandable diffusion barrier, as well as a means to mechanically confine the embryo to maintain its tensegrity during early embryogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants and animals that thrive in arid regions utilize the diurnal changes in environmental temperature and humidity to optimize their water budget by combining water-harvesting mechanisms and morphophysiological traits. The Athel tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla) is a halophytic desert shrub that survives in arid, hypersaline conditions by excreting concentrated solutions of ions as droplets on its surface that crystallize into salt crystals and fall off the branches. Here, we describe the crystallization on the surface of the plant and explore the effects of external conditions such as diurnal changes in humidity and temperature. The salt mixtures contain at least ten common minerals, with NaCl and CaSO4·2H2O being the major products, SiO2 and CaCO3 main sand contaminants, and Li2SO4, CaSO4, KCl, K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O, CaMg(CO3)2 and AlNaSi3O8 present in smaller amounts. In natural conditions, the hanging or sitting droplets remain firmly attached to the surface, with an average adhesion force of 275 ± 3.5 µN measured for pure water. Rather than using morphological features of the surface, the droplets adhere by chemical interactions, predominantly by hydrogen bonding. Increasing ion concentration slightly increases the contact angle on the hydrophobic cuticle, thereby lowering surface wettability. Small amounts of lithium sulfate and possibly other hygroscopic salts result in strong hygroscopicity and propensity for deliquescence of the salt mixture overnight. Within a broader context, this natural mechanism for humidity harvesting that uses environmentally benign salts as moisture adsorbents could provide a bioinspired approach that complements the currently available water collection or cloud-seeding technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As an ephemeral and oligotrophic environment, the phyllosphere harbors many highly diverse microorganisms. Importantly, it is known that their colonization of plant leaf surfaces is considerably influenced by a few abiotic factors related to climatic conditions. Yet how the dynamics of phyllosphere bacterial community assembly are shaped by detailed climatological elements, such as various bioclimatic variables, remains poorly understood. Methods: Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technology, we analyzed the bacterial communities inhabiting the leaf surfaces of an oilseed tree, yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium), grown at four sites (Yinchuan, Otogqianqi, Tongliao, and Zhangwu) whose climatic status differs in northern China. Results and Discussion: We found that the yellowhorn phyllosphere's bacterial community was generally dominated by four phyla: Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Nevertheless, bacterial community composition differed significantly among the four sampled site regions, indicating the possible impact of climatological factors upon the phyllosphere microbiome. Interestingly, we also noted that the α-diversities of phyllosphere microbiota showed strong positive or negative correlation with 13 bioclimatic factors (including 7 precipitation factors and 6 temperature factors). Furthermore, the relative abundances of 55 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), including three ASVs representing two keystone taxa (the genera Curtobacterium and Streptomyces), exhibited significant yet contrary responses to the precipitation and temperature climatic variables. That pattern was consistent with all ASVs' trends of possessing opposite correlations to those two parameter classes. In addition, the total number of links and nodes, which conveys community network complexity, increased with rising values of most temperature variables. Besides that, remarkably positive relevance was found between average clustering coefficient and most precipitation variables. Altogether, these results suggest the yellowhorn phyllosphere bacterial community is capable of responding to variation in rainfall and temperature regimes in distinctive ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colonization of marine microorganisms, animals and plants on underwater surface forms marine biofouling. It has profound effects on marine industries. To solve the problem, we proposed a strategy of Dynamic Surface Antifouling (DSAF), i.e., continuously changing surfaces can effectively inhibit biofouling organisms landing and adhering, and developed degradable polymer based marine antifouling material. The degradation of polymer chain enables the surface dynamic or self-renewing even on static conditions. The final degradation products of these polymers are low molecular weight molecules, and do not produce marine microplastics. Meanwhile, the degradable polymers act as carriers and controlled release systems for antifoulants, further improving the antifouling efficiency. This article reviews the development of dynamic surface antifouling materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the rapid development of the economy and great progress in science and technology, people have become increasingly concerned about their quality of life and physical health. In order to pursue a higher life, various functional and biomimetic textiles have emerged one after another and have been sought after by people. There are many animal and plant surfaces with special wettability in nature, and their unique "micro-nano structures" and low surface energy have attracted extensive attention from researchers. Researchers have prepared various textiles with superhydrophobic features by mimicking these unique structures. This review introduces the typical organisms with superhydrophobicity in nature, using lotus, water strider, and cicada as examples, and describes their morphological features and excellent superhydrophobicity. The theoretical model, commonly used raw materials, and modification technology of superhydrophobic surfaces are analyzed. In addition, the application areas and the current study status of superhydrophobic surfaces for textiles are also summarized. Finally, the development prospects for superhydrophobic textiles based on bionic technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedera helix L. is an evergreen vine native to Europe. Nowadays, it is commonly recognized as an expansive species, posing danger to biodiversity of natural ecosystems. Obtaining the relationships between morphological variability, productive parameters of vegetative individuals, and variations in environmental factors (on the example of the Kórnik Arboretum) is important for understanding the successful adaptation and dispersion of H. helix. Thus, the issue of our studies was to discover the link between environmental factors and morphometric measurements of H. helix. We collected data on leaf length, leaf width, leaf petiole length, plant stem length, and the number of leaves per stem. We assessed values of ecological plasticity and correlation between the studied parameters. The results indicated the tolerance of ivy to wide variation in edaphic conditions. The limiting environmental factors for growth of the studied subpopulations were soil moisture and light intensity. We found large variability of leaf morphometric parameters and shoot length. Close correlation links were detected between leaf length/leaf width, leaf length/leaf petiole length, and leaf width/leaf petiole length. The length of the average leaf and the length of leaf petiole were the most variable parameters under different values of light intensity. Weak relationships were found between light intensity at the soil surface and plant stem length/the number of leaves per shoot. A high level of index of morphological integration of H. helix individuals and a close relationship between the quality index/subpopulation compositions were established in this study. A direct relationship between light intensity and specific leaf area values was established. The value of specific leaf area decreased linearly with increasing light intensity at the soil surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deployment of bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules for utility‐scale PV plants has quickly proliferated in recent years. As they can harness the irradiance received at the rear side of bifacial generators—which depends on the albedo of the reflector ground—bifacial modules provide higher productivity than monofacial modules, in exchange for a low increase in manufacturing costs. However, the reduction of PV performance estimations uncertainty still represents a main concern for both PV and financial actors, which seek to reduce financial risks of bifacial PV systems. The aim of this work is to provide a better understanding of the impact that albedo measurements have on PV yield estimations uncertainty. We analysed the albedo sensitivity coefficient relating albedo measurement and subsequent energy yield estimations' uncertainties through a representative yield simulation exercise performed for three different sites (Chile, Spain and Sweden) and two types of PV plants: static and single‐axis tracker. A formula considering the impact of Ground Coverage Ratio and Inverter Loading Ratio is proposed for this coefficient. We performed an experimental campaign to evaluate the uncertainty associated to different albedo measurement conditions. Surface reflectance of five different ground surfaces has been measured using four sensors, which allowed to obtain three useful types of albedos that we defined and described. A series of recommendations for short‐term ground‐based albedo measurements that entail a maximum of 1.5% yield uncertainty contribution in the frame of commercial PV plants are then derived. A representative case of actual albedo measurement practices at the current PV market scene is also presented in the form of a commercial albedo measurement project for a future 50 MW bifacial PV plant. Despite being a local characteristic, the most relevant uncertainty source found is associated to the non‐homogeneity of the future PV plant's surface. An important consideration is that changes in the use of land caused by the construction of a PV plant lead to an albedo uncertainty that predominates over all the uncertainty sources associated to the albedo measurement conditions. This can also be the case for long‐term seasonal variations, which can become the dominant uncertainty source for high latitude locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide variety of abundant plant leaves exist in nature, and the wettability of their surfaces is formed to adapt to diverse external environments. In this paper we will focus on the factors influencing the wettability of various plant leaves prevalent in nature. And we hope to investigate the interfacial problems of plants from a mechanical point of view. It is found that there are many factors affecting the surface wettability of leaves, such as chemical composition, surface microstructures, hierarchical structures, and growth age. Different influencing factors have different contributions to the change of surface wettability. The surface wax composition influences the surface wettability from a chemical point of view while the hierarchical structure consisting of nanostructures and micron structures also influences the wettability from a structural point of view. Also as the growth age of the plant increases, there is a combined effect on the chemical composition and microstructure of the leaves. Then we discuss the surface/interface mechanics of droplets on various plant leaves and analyze the wetting properties of droplets on different substrates. Finally, we hope that the surface/interface mechanics of plant leaves may be systematically utilized in the future for the preparation of multifunctional biomimetic materials, realizing the crossover of chemistry, biology, mechanics, and other materials science fields.

Simple Summary: Water measurers (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) can be found mainly on marginal vegetation or on plants on the surface of freshwater bodies. Recently, two monotypic genera restricted to subterranean habitats were described from Brazil, namely Cephalometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 and Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018. Here, a second species of Spelaeometra is described based on material collected in a hotspot of subterranean animals in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, Brazil. Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) is a monotypic and troglobitic genus, recently described based on material collected in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From specimens collected in the Gruna do Enfurnado Cave in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, municipality of Coribe, state of Bahia, Brazil, we describe Spelaeometra hypogea Cordeiro & Moreira, sp. nov. and compare it with Spelaeometra gruta Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018. The new species is diagnosed by the general body color being pale-yellow to light-brown; antennal segments I and II being subequal in length; the reduced gular lobe, not covering any labial segment; the male proctiger without apical projections; and the male paramere with convex dorsal margin after the curvature, with a narrow hook-like apex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro(nano)plastics (MNP) are pervasive in various environmental media and pose a global environmental pollution issue, particularly in terrestrial ecosystems, where they exert a significant impact on plant growth and development. This paper builds upon prior research to analyze and consolidate the effects of MNP on soil properties, seed germination, plant growth, and litter decomposition. The objective is to elucidate the environmental behavior of MNP and their mechanisms of influence on the plant life cycle. The unique physicochemical and electrical properties of MNP enable them to modify soil structure, water retention capacity, and pH. They can potentially act as "electron shuttles" or disrupt natural "electron shuttles" in litter decomposition, thereby interfering with nutrient transport and availability in the soil. Furthermore, MNP can physically obstruct nutrient and water channels within plants, impacting nutrient and water absorption. Once infiltrating plant tissues, MNP can form eco-coronas with plant proteins. Together with MNP adsorbed on the plant's surface and within its tissues, they disrupt normal physiological processes, leading to changes in photosynthesis, biomass, cellular toxicity, genetics, nutrient uptake, and gene expression. These changes, in turn, influence seed germination and plant growth and development. As a burgeoning research field, future studies should delve deeper into various aspects of these changes, such as elucidating the pathways and mechanisms through which MNP enter plant tissues, assessing their intensity and mechanisms of toxicity on different plant species, and exploring the relationship between micro(nano)plastics and "electron shuttles". These endeavors will contribute to establishing a more comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding the environmental behavior of MNP and their impact on plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant immune system is constituted of two functionally interdependent branches that provide the plant with an effective defense against microbial pathogens. They can be considered separate since one detects extracellular pathogen-associated molecular patterns by means of receptors on the plant surface, while the other detects pathogen-secreted virulence effectors via intracellular receptors. Plant defense depending on both branches can be effectively suppressed by host-adapted microbial pathogens. In this review we focus on bacterially driven suppression of the latter, known as effector-triggered immunity (ETI) and dependent on diverse NOD-like receptors (NLRs). We examine how some effectors secreted by pathogenic bacteria carrying type III secretion systems can be subject to specific NLR-mediated detection, which can be evaded by the action of additional co-secreted effectors (suppressors), implying that virulence depends on the coordinated action of the whole repertoire of effectors of any given bacterium and their complex epistatic interactions within the plant. We consider how ETI activation can be avoided by using suppressors to directly alter compromised co-secreted effectors, modify plant defense-associated proteins, or occasionally both. We also comment on the potential assembly within the plant cell of multi-protein complexes comprising both bacterial effectors and defense protein targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spodoptera litura is a highly polyphagous pest which causes significant yield losses to wide range of economically important agricultural and horticultural crops. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effects of age, diurnal cycle, and plant and non-plant surfaces on the ovipositional responses of tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura. Females laid eggs beginning from the first day of emergence, and the number of eggs laid was highest on day 4. Thereafter, egg laying decreased successively, and was stopped on day 13. A profound effect of the day-night cycle on oviposition was observed: oviposition was lowest and highest in the beginning of light and dark phase respectively of the 24-hour cycle. However, the egg laying increased slowly as day progressed and decreased gradually as the night progressed, but on the whole, egg laying was significantly high in dark phase as compared to light phase. Further, both plant and non-plant surfaces affect egg delivery response. Females preferred the plant surface for egg laying, compared to non-plant surfaces. The eggs laid on castor, radish and cotton leaves were similar in the no-choice test. In two-choice test, however, the number of eggs laid on castor leaves was significantly higher than those laid on radish and cotton leaves, but were not significantly different from those on pigeon pea. Among the non-plant surfaces, females laid higher number of eggs on rough surface like glass nylon, filter paper, muslin cloth, as compared those on a smooth glass plate surface. The implications of findings in integrated management of this pest has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe the nesting behavior of a previously unstudied solitary groundnesting wasp, Ammophila boharti Menke, 1964. Species in the genus Ammophila are of particular interest because they exhibit a variety of parental care strategies. Ammophila boharti wasps were observed at two California field sites, one in the Mojave Desert and the other at the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. Ammophila boharti begins its nesting cycle by hunting for a single, large caterpillar; all prey observed at Antioch Dunes were Neoterpes ephelidaria (Hulst, 1886) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), which were feeding on California poppies, Eschscholzia californica Cham. (Papaveraceae). Female A. boharti wasps sting the caterpillar, inducing permanent paralysis, and then cache the prey off the soil surface on a plant while they excavate a shallow, unicellular nest. The caterpillar is then placed in the nest, a single egg laid on the caterpillar, and a permanent closure placed on the nest. No nest parasites were seen at any stage of the nesting process, and offspring within all excavated nests developed successfully through the larval stages to spin cocoons. Thus, this species exhibits a 'prey-nest' sequence of nesting behavior with almost no contact between the mother and her offspring, a minority condition within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous extracts derived from flowers stimulate germination, secondary conidiation, and appressorial formation of various latent fruit rotting fungi. Even raindrops passing over flowers accumulate sufficient activity to influence the infectivity of fruit rotting fungi. Using a spore germination bioassay, high levels of bioactivity were found in chloroform extracts from plant tissues, implicating the nonpolar components of the cuticle. The fatty acid (FA) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) composition (C9-C20) of blueberry and cranberry tissues as well as aqueous flower extracts were characterized using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The FAs and FAMEs found in the plant extracts were then tested for bioactivity using a spore germination bioassay. The Cl6:0 and C18:2 FAs and FAMEs, as well as the C18:0 FAME and the C20:0 FA, all stimulated appressorial formation while the C10:0 FA stimulated secondary conidiation. The C10:0 and C16:0 FAs were the only two bioactive components also identified from the aqueous floral extracts of both blueberry and cranberry and are therefore considered as contributors to the bioactivity observed in these extracts. The aqueous extracts from surfaces other than flowers showed little or no activity, and it is speculated that the movement of FAs may be related to the level of polymerization and cutin polyester development in flowers versus other plant organs. This study highlights the importance of the bloom period for infection and that the apparent effects on host susceptibility may therefore depend on the availability of specific FAs or combinations thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phyllosphere refers to the aboveground surface of plants colonized by diverse microorganisms. Microbes inhabiting this environment play an important role in enhancing the host's genomic and metabolic capabilities, including defense against pathogens. Compared to the large volume of studies on rhizosphere microbiome for plant health and defense, our understanding of phyllosphere microbiome remains in its infancy. In this review, we aim to explore the mechanisms that govern the phyllosphere assembly and their function in host defence, as well as highlight the knowledge gaps. These efforts will help develop strategies to harness the phyllosphere microbiome toward sustainable crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]