Search

Soil moisture resources are highly spatially and temporally heterogeneous. Although temporal heterogeneous water conditions have a more common impact on plants than spatial heterogeneous conditions, very few studies have been conducted to investigate how plants respond to existing temporally heterogeneous water conditions. To address this issue, we adopted three species with different habitat ranges, including a karst-endemic species of Kmeria septentrionalis (growing in karst habitats only), a karst-suitable species of Celtis sinensis (occur in both habitats) and a non-karst species of Lithocarpus glaber (found in normal habitats only), and conducted a greenhouse experimental study at Guizhou University, Guiyang, China. This study explored the response ability and coping strategies of seedlings from various habitats by comparing the differences in growth of biomass, and physiological traits of the three species in response to temporally heterogeneous water (alternating drought and waterlogging) and temporally homogeneous water (constant moist) treatments. Compared with constant moist treatment, the first round of temporally heterogeneous water treatment reduced the growth of leaf, root, and total biomass increased the contents of osmoregulation substances, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzyme activities. However, the third round of temporally heterogeneous water treatment improved their late growth of biomass, and the content of physiological traits was also significantly decreased. K. septentrionalis showed a higher compensation effect in late growth by early heterogeneous experience. Typical karst species may be more able to benefit from early experience with temporally heterogeneous environments, due to long-term adaptation to karst habitats of great heterogeneity and low resource availability. The temporally heterogeneous water conditions can induce plants to produce a higher physiological response, and inhibit the current growth of plants, but can enhance the adaptability of plants to similar stress events in the later period. The ability of species to respond to temporally heterogeneous water treatment may be related to their habitat range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grafting is widely used as an important agronomic approach to deal with environmental stresses. However, the molecular mechanism of grafted tomato scions in response to biotic stress and growth regulation has yet to be fully understood. Results: This study investigated the resistance and growth performance of tomato scions grafted onto various rootstocks. A scion from a gray leaf spot-susceptible tomato cultivar was grafted onto tomato, eggplant, and pepper rootstocks, creating three grafting combinations: one self-grafting of tomato/tomato (TT), and two interspecific graftings, namely tomato/eggplant (TE) and tomato/pepper (TP). The study utilized transcriptome and DNA methylome analyses to explore the regulatory mechanisms behind the resistance and growth traits in the interspecific graftings. Results indicated that interspecific grafting significantly enhanced resistance to gray leaf spot and improved fruit quality, though fruit yield was decreased compared to self-grafting. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that, compared to self-grafting, interspecific graftings triggered stronger wounding response and endogenous immune pathways, while restricting genes related to cell cycle pathways, especially in the TP grafting. Methylome data revealed that the TP grafting had more hypermethylated regions at CHG (H = A, C, or T) and CHH sites than the TT grafting. Furthermore, the TP grafting exhibited increased methylation levels in cell cycle related genes, such as DNA primase and ligase, while several genes related to defense kinases showed decreased methylation levels. Notably, several kinase transcripts were also confirmed among the rootstock-specific mobile transcripts. Conclusions: The study concludes that interspecific grafting alters gene methylation patterns, thereby activating defense responses and inhibiting the cell cycle in tomato scions. This mechanism is crucial in enhancing resistance to gray leaf spot and reducing growth in grafted tomato scions. These findings offer new insights into the genetic and epigenetic contributions to agronomic trait improvements through interspecific grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study evaluated the effects of Isatis Leaf (ISL) on the growth performance, gastrointestinal tissue morphology, rumen and intestinal microbiota, rumen, serum and urine metabolites, and rumen epithelial tissue transcriptome of fattening sheep. Methods: Twelve 3.5-month-old healthy fattening sheep were randomly divided into two groups, each with 6 replicates, and fed with basal diet (CON) and basal diet supplemented with 80 g/kg ISL for 2.5 months. Gastrointestinal tract was collected for histological analysis, rumen fluid and feces were subjected to metagenomic analysis, rumen fluid, serum, and urine for metabolomics analysis, and rumen epithelial tissue for transcriptomics analysis. Results: The results showed that in the ISL group, the average daily gain and average daily feed intake of fattening sheep were significantly lower than those of the CON group (P < 0.05), and the rumen ammonia nitrogen level was significantly higher than that of the CON group (P < 0.01). The thickness of the reticulum and abomasum muscle layer was significantly increased (P < 0.05). At the genus level, the addition of ISL modified the composition of rumen and fecal microorganisms, and the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter and Centipeda was significantly upregulated in rumen microorganisms, The relative abundance of Butyrivibrio, Saccharofermentans, Mogibacterium, and Pirellula was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). In fecal microorganisms, the relative abundance of Papillibacter, Pseudoflavonifractor, Butyricicoccus, Anaerovorax, and Methanocorpusculum was significantly upregulated, while the relative abundance of Roseburia, Coprococcus, Clostridium XVIII, Butyrivibrio, Parasutterella, Macellibacteroides, and Porphyromonas was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). There were 164, 107, and 77 different metabolites in the rumen, serum, and urine between the ISL and CON groups (P < 0.05). The differential metabolic pathways mainly included thiamine metabolism, niacin and nicotinamide metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, taurine and taurine metabolism, beta-Alanine metabolism and riboflavin metabolism. These metabolic pathways were mainly involved in the regulation of energy metabolismand immune function in fattening sheep. Transcriptome sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in cellular physiological processes, development, and immune regulation. Conclusion: In summary, the addition of ISL to the diet had the effect of increasing rumen ammonia nitrogen levels, regulating gastrointestinal microbiota, promoting body fat metabolism, and enhancing immunity in fattening sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To play essential roles of manganese (Mn) in plant growth and development, it needs to be transported to different organs and tissues after uptake. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Mn distribution between different tissues are poorly understood.We functionally characterized a member of rice natural resistance‐associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) family, OsNramp5 in terms of its tissue specificity of gene expression, cell‐specificity of protein localization, phenotypic analysis of leaf growth and response to Mn fluctuations.OsNramp5 is highly expressed in the leaf sheath. Immunostaining revealed that OsNramp5 is polarly localized at the proximal side of xylem parenchyma cells of the leaf sheath. Both the gene expression and protein abundance of OsNramp5 are unaffected by different Mn concentrations. Knockout of OsNramp5 decreased the distribution of Mn to the leaf sheath, but increased the distribution to the leaf blade at both low and high Mn supplies, resulting in reduced growth of leaf sheath. Furthermore, expression of OsNramp5 under the control of root‐specific promoter in osnramp5 mutant complemented Mn uptake, but could not complement Mn distribution to the leaf sheath.These results indicate that OsNramp5 expressed in the leaf sheath plays an important role in unloading Mn from the xylem for the local distribution in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Understanding the underlying mechanisms of plant development is crucial to successfully steer or manipulate plant growth in a targeted manner. Leaves, the primary sites of photosynthesis, are vital organs for many plant species, and leaf growth is controlled by a tight temporal and spatial regulatory network. In this review, we focus on the genetic networks governing leaf cell proliferation, one major contributor to final leaf size. First, we provide an overview of six regulator families of leaf growth in Arabidopsis: DA1, PEAPODs, KLU, GRFs, the SWI/SNF complexes, and DELLAs, together with their surrounding genetic networks. Next, we discuss their evolutionary conservation to highlight similarities and differences among species, because knowledge transfer between species remains a big challenge. Finally, we focus on the increase in knowledge of the interconnectedness between these genetic pathways, the function of the cell cycle machinery as their central convergence point, and other internal and environmental cues. Significance Statement: To understand complex developmental processes such as leaf growth, information on individual gene functions as well as a broader system‐wide view of the process are crucial. Here, we summarize known information on several important leaf cell proliferation‐controlling pathways as well as their interconnections among each other in Arabidopsis thaliana and draw comparisons to other plant species to provide an overview of where current knowledge stands and how this field of study might move forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Message: A novel non-steady-state kinematic analysis shows differences in cell division and expansion determining a better recovery from a 3-day cold spell in emerged compared to non-emerged maize leaves. Zea mays is highly sensitive to chilling which frequently occurs during its seedling stage. Although the direct effect of chilling is well studied, the mechanisms determining the subsequent recovery are still unknown. Our goal is to determine the cellular basis of the leaf growth response to chilling and during recovery of leaves exposed before or after their emergence. We first studied the effect of a 3-day cold spell on leaf growth at the plant level. Then, we performed a kinematic analysis to analyse the dynamics of cell division and elongation during recovery of the 4th leaf after exposure to cold before or after emergence. Our results demonstrated cold more strongly reduced the final length of non-emerged than emerged leaves (− 13 vs. − 18%). This was not related to growth differences during cold, but a faster and more complete recovery of the growth of emerged leaves. This difference was due to a higher cell division rate on the 1st and a higher cell elongation rate on the 2nd day of recovery, respectively. The dynamics of cell division and expansion during recovery determines developmental stage-specific differences in cold tolerance of maize leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The creeping bentgrass small heat shock protein AsHSP26.2 positively regulates plant growth and is a novel candidate for use in crop genetic engineering for enhanced biomass production and grain yield. Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), a family of proteins with high level of diversity, significantly influence plant stress tolerance and plant development. We have cloned a creeping bentgrass chloroplast-localized sHSP gene, AsHSP26.2 responsive to IAA, GA and 6-BA stimulation. Transgenic creeping bentgrass overexpressing AsHSP26.2 exhibited significantly enhanced plant growth with increased stolon number and length as well as enlarged leaf blade width and leaf sheath diameters, but inhibited leaf trichomes initiation and development in the abaxial epidermis. These phenotypes are completely opposite to those displayed in the transgenic plants overexpressing AsHSP26.8, another chloroplast sHSP26 isoform that contains additional seven amino acids (AEGQGDG) between the consensus regions III and IV (Sun et al., Plant Cell Environ 44:1769–1787, 2021). Furthermore, AsHSP26.2 overexpression altered phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling transduction, resulting in elevated auxin and gibberellins (GA) accumulation. The results obtained provide novel insights implicating the sHSPs in plant growth and development regulation, and strongly suggest AsHSP26.2 to be a novel candidate for use in crop genetic engineering for enhanced plant biomass production and grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids have numerous functions in plants, one of which is growth regulation. During the study, callus cultures were obtained from different structural elements—root, hypocotyl, shoot base, and cotyledons—of 5- and 14-day-old Lychnis chalcedony plants (Lychnis chalcedonica L.); the growth rates of the corresponding callus tissues and their accumulation of flavonoids (Fl) were studied. The total Fl content in the leaves of different tiers of vegetative plants was determined spectrophotometrically. The HPLC method was used to analyze the content of three Fls: rutin (R), quercetin (QCT), and dihydroquercetin (DHQ) in the roots, leaves, and inflorescences of flowering plants cultivated on soddy-podzolic soil of the Tomsk oblast (Russia). The growth and total content of phenolic compounds and three Fls in callus and suspension cultures obtained from root explants of young Lychnis plants were studied. The growth characteristics and organ specificity in the accumulation of individual Fl were established. The dependence of the physiological state of leaves and cell cultures on the Fl content is shown. On day 14, the suspension culture (passage ten) obtained from root callus (passage 92) had similar R and DHQ contents to the original line of callus culture and a lower level of QCT. DHQ was predominantly present in the roots of flowering plants, while R was present in the inflorescences and upper leaves. A tendency for R to decrease in a number of organs has been established: inflorescence ≥ leaves > root. The QCT distribution shows an inverse R dependence. The content of DHQ in leaves was 1.9 times less (P < 0.05) than in the inflorescence. The level of this Fl in the roots was many times higher (P < 0.05) than in aboveground organs. Following an increase in the oxidative status of the mature leaf of vegetative Lychnis plants relative to the young leaf, the osmotic and antioxidant systems, including proline and the total level of Fl, were activated. At the same time, callus (passage six), obtained from younger tissues of the hypocotyl of 5-day-old seedlings, had trace amounts of the studied Fl, while callus formed from more mature tissues of the shoot base of 14-day-old seedlings was characterized by a higher level of different Fl. Based on the obtained data, it can be assumed that Fl is involved in the regulation of the growth of leaves and cell cultures due to their antioxidant or regulatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical components in the hexane‐extract mixture from Phalaenopsis leaves were isolated and identified during the spike induction process. Several lipophilic components in the hexane‐extract mixture were isolated and identified as oleic acid, 1,2‐O‐dilinolenoyl‐MGDG, 1‐O‐linolenoyl‐2‐O‐linoleoyl‐MGDG, and α‐tocopherol by HPLC and NMR techniques. It is noteworthy that only one isomer of α‐tocopherol was isolated from Phalaenopsis leaves based on NMR spectra analysis. MGDG have a great potential to be a control factor in the regulation of spike process of Phalaenopsis. It is the first time to identify the chemical MGDG related to temperature‐controlled process of Phalaenopsis. These components have hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties in the same molecule to act as potential amphiphiles. The use of the entire mixed hexane extract to form liposomes containing the dmbpyPtCl2 complex greatly enhanced the reactivity of the complex for inhibiting E. coli growth compared with the use of a single amphiphile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional traits have been proposed to define key dimensions of plant ecological strategies, but we lack consensus on whether traits can accurately predict plant demography. Despite theoretical expectations, it has been challenging to find consistent relationships between functional traits and growth.In this study, we quantified inter‐ and intraspecific trait variation (ITV) and individual growth rates of woody plants across a steep moisture gradient that varies 10‐fold in annual precipitation (350–3700 mm) in southern Chile and used a hierarchical Bayesian model to predict growth as a function of trait values.We show that large‐leaved species with lower stem tissue density exhibited the fastest growth rates, and these two traits exhibited the highest proportion of interspecific variation. Predictions of growth improved considerably (R2 of the best model increased from 0.28 to 0.49) when species‐level multiple traits and their interactions were considered. The inclusion of ITV, however, did not improve models of growth rate.We found that trait–growth rate relationships were not always consistent across levels of biological organization; relationships observed at the interspecific level did not necessarily hold at the intraspecific level. We found that the relationships between wood density or leaf size and growth were consistent in direction across the precipitation gradient, and the relationships between leaf economics traits and growth were weak and site‐specific.Synthesis. Although using more than one functional trait considerably improved growth predictions, wood density and leaf size successfully predicted growth rates across (not within) species, which is consistent with a whole‐plant carbon economy. We assert that these two traits are intimately linked and ultimately describe a continuum of plant architecture and carbon economy that covers multiple trait syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro propagation is a crucial method for the mass production of high-quality plants, but the impact of microbiological interventions during ex vitro storage remains an underexplored aspect. This study aims to assess the effects of three commercial biostimulants in the form of microbiological preparations—BactoFungiStop, AzotoPower, and Guard—applied over six months through foliar sprays on the post-storage quality of Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart', Echinacea purpurea 'Secret Glow', Heuchera × hybrida 'Northern Exposure Red', Persicaria amplecicaulis 'JS Caliente', and Rudbeckia × hybrida 'Sunbeckia Sophia Yellow' plants. The monthly application of microbiological preparations adhered to the concentrations recommended by producers. Post-storage evaluations included shoot and root parameters, leaf morphology, and chlorophyll biosynthesis. All microbiological preparations positively influenced shoot elongation in B. macrophylla 'Silver Heart'. The microbiological treatments stimulated root development in this species, i.e., increased root length, area, volume, and the number of root forks and tips. In E. purpurea 'Secret Glow', all three preparations enhanced shoot length, leaf parameters, and root traits, with Guard demonstrating the highest efficacy. As for P. amplecicaulis 'JS Caliente', BactoFungiStop negatively affected shoot and leaf parameters but promoted root development. Heuchera × hybrida 'Northern Exposure Red' exhibited increased shoot and leaf dimensions with all microbiological treatments, while Rudbeckia × hybrida 'Sunbeckia Sophia Yellow' displayed positive responses in shoot-related traits but no impact on root development. None of the microbiological preparations influenced chlorophyll biosynthesis in any of the studied species. The results of our research can be implemented in the large-scale production of ornamental plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of fruit trees depends on the nitrogen (N) remobilization in mature tissues and N acquisition from the soil. However, in evergreen mature citrus (Citrus reticulata Blanco) leaves, proteins with N storage functions and hub molecules involved in driving N remobilization remain largely unknown. Here, we combined proteome and physiological analyses to characterize the spatiotemporal mechanisms of growth of new leaves and storage protein degradation in mature leaves of citrus trees exposed to low-N and high-N fertilization in the field. Results show that the growth of new leaves is driven by remobilization of stored reserves, rather than N uptake by the roots. In this context, proline and arginine in mature leaves acted as N sources supporting the growth of new leaves in spring. Time-series analyses with gel electrophoresis and proteome analysis indicated that the mature autumn shoot leaves are probably the sites of storage protein synthesis, while the aspartic endopeptidase protein is related to the degradation of storage proteins in mature citrus leaves. Furthermore, bioinformatic analysis based on protein–protein interactions indicated that glutamate synthetase and ATP-citrate synthetase are hub proteins in N remobilization from mature citrus leaves. These results provide strong physiological data for seasonal optimization of N fertilizer application in citrus orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the effects of organic fertilizer and foliar application of mallow leaf extract on the growth and yield of eggplant was the aim of this latest study held in spring 2021 in the Al-Najaf Province, Iraq. The treatments comprising adding decomposed palm waste to the soil at three levels (0, 16, and 32 mg ha-1), foliar application of mallow leaf extract at three concentrations (0, 0.2, and 0.4 gm.l-1), and their interactions incurred probing in eggplants. The experiment began in a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement and three replications. The results obtained through the analysis of variance continued to further evaluation through the least significant difference test to compare and separate the various means. The results showed that organic fertilization with decomposing palm residues at 32 mg ha-1 significantly outperformed the other treatments for plant height, total leaves, dry weight of vegetative growth, fruits per plant, yield per plant, total yield, nitrogen (%), and total chlorophyll content in the leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are limited studies on the cytology of bamboo leaf development from primordium to maturity. This study delves into the leaf morphological characteristics and growth patterns of Sasaella kogasensis 'Aureostriatus' and provides a three-dimensional anatomical analysis of cell division, expansion, and degradation. Leaves on the same branch develop bottom-up, while individual leaves develop the other way around. Like bamboo shoots and culms, the leaves follow a "slow–fast–slow" growth pattern, with longitudinal growth being predominant during their development. The growth zones of individual leaves included division, elongation, and maturation zones based on the distribution of growth space. By measuring 13,303 epidermal long cells and 3293 mesophyll cells in longitudinal sections of rapidly elongating leaves, we observed that in the rapid elongation phase (S4–S5), the division zone was located in the 1–2 cm segment at the bottom of the leaf blade and maintained a constant size, continuously providing new cells for leaf elongation, whereas in the late rapid elongation phase (S6), when the length of the leaf blade was approaching that of a mature leaf, its cells at the bottom of the blade no longer divided and were replaced by the ability to elongate. Furthermore, to gain an insight into the dynamic changes in the growth of the S. kogasensis 'Aureostriatus' leaves in the lateral and periclinal directions, the width and thickness of 1459 epidermal and 2719 mesophyll cells were counted in the mid-cross section of leaves at different developmental stages. The results showed that during the early stages of development (S1–S3), young leaves maintained vigorous division in the lateral direction, while periplasmic division gradually expanded from the bottom to the top of the leaf blade and the number of cell layers stabilized at S4. The meristematic tissues on both sides of the leaf were still able to divide at S4 but the frequency of the division gradually decreased, while cell division and expansion occurred simultaneously between the veins. At S6, the cells at the leaf margins and between the veins were completely differentiated and the width of the leaf blade no longer expanded. These findings revealed changes in cell growth anisotropically during the leaf development of S. kogasensis 'Aureostriatus' and demonstrated that leaf elongation was closely related to the longitudinal expansion of epidermal cells and proliferative growth of mesophyll cells, whereas the cell division of meristematic tissues and expansion of post-divisional cells contributed to the increases in blade width and thickness. The presented framework will facilitate a further exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of leaf development in S. kogasensis 'Aureostriatus' and provide relevant information for developmental and taxonomic studies of bamboo plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizobium plays an important role in cultivation of legumes throughout the nitrogen fixation process. In the present study, the growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was studied after treatment with Rhizobium spp. isolated from two different sites in Jordan. The effect of the two isolates (RS1 and RS2) and co-inoculation of the two isolates (RS1+RS2) was tested on alfalfa. Chlorophyll contents, relative water content, leaf area, shoot length, stem diameter and plant biomass (leaf, root and shoot dry weight) were studied under growth chamber conditions (day/night temperatures of 25°C; 16:8 h photoperiod) using different inoculum doses (10 ml, 20 ml and 40 ml). The effect of Rhizobium isolates on alfalfa was compared with rhizosphere plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) collected from the same soil samples. The results indicated that RS1 at high dose (40 ml) and RS2 at any dose significantly enhanced alfalfa growth in all measured parameters compared with control plants (without bacterial inoculation). RS2 was better than RS1 in most measured parameters even at low inoculum dose (10 ml), whereas no significant differences between the two strains were found at high inoculum doses. Co-inoculation of the two isolates was less effective than each isolate alone. On the other hand, the PGPR showed a significant enhancement of alfalfa growth as they enhanced significantly all measured parameters compared to the control plants at all doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the dietary inclusion of neem leaves on the productive and biochemical performance of fattening lambs. Design/methodology: Forty male lambs were assigned according to a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of dietary inclusion of neem at 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 g kg-1 DM for 35 days. Results: The inclusion of neem leaf in the diet did not affect the productive performance (P>0.05), while protein and energy metabolites were modified (P≥0.05). Limitations on study/implications: The bioactive compounds present in neem modified the metabolites related to protein and energy metabolism, although these changes did not reflect improvements in the productive performance. Conclusions: The inclusion of dietary neem (2.5-7.5 g kg-1) has no effect on the productive performance, although it does modify some energy and protein metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature sensitivity (TS) of the green‐up date (GUD) of plants is crucial for the prediction of grassland phenology that is important for animal husbandry and pasture management. Spatial variations in the TS are known to reflect interannual temperature variability and/or accumulated precipitation preceding the GUD (pre‐GUD). However, whether spatial TS variations are related to the interaction between pre‐GUD temperature variability and precipitation, which is a potential indicator of frost risk, remains unclear. Furthermore, because the interaction between interannual temperature variability and accumulated precipitation following the GUD (post‐GUD) can exert selection pressure on the plant life cycle, it may also be involved in shaping the spatial TS pattern. Using long‐term ground observations of GUD on the Tibetan Plateau, we show that TS is more negative (greater GUD advance per unit temperature increase) in areas with more pre‐GUD precipitation and low pre‐GUD interannual temperature variability, but less negative in areas with more pre‐GUD precipitation and high pre‐GUD interannual temperature variability. This result is likely because more pre‐GUD precipitation facilitates sprout and leaf development under stable temperature conditions, whereas it increases frost risk when the temperature variability is high. In contrast, TS magnitude decreases with increases in post‐GUD precipitation in areas where post‐GUD interannual temperature variability is low, but increases with post‐GUD precipitation in areas where post‐GUD interannual temperature variability is high. We speculate that because hydrothermal demands for leaf growth from the onset of green‐up to maturity are more easily fulfilled when interannual temperature variability is lower and precipitation is higher, green‐up need not be sensitive to pre‐GUD temperature. In contrast, high post‐GUD precipitation likely aggravates low‐temperature constraints on leaf growth when temperature variability is high, resulting in greater TS to maximize growing season length. These results suggest that spatial TS variations on the Tibetan Plateau are likely associated with adaptations of leaf‐out phenology to background pre‐GUD climatic conditions together with selection pressure from post‐GUD conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) can be used as greenhouse glazing materials in agrivoltaic systems because they are translucent, have different colors, and can produce electricity. However, the light quality of DSSCs differs from that of sunlight, and the visible light transmittance is low. Therefore, we compared the plant shape, growth, and leaf color of coleus, a highly photosensitive plant, under transparent glass and red-colored DSSCs. Coleus 'Highway Rose' was grown in transparent (T, the control), shaded (S), and DSSC (D) chambers maintained at 23 ± 2 °C. The DSSC chambers were additionally illuminated with blue (B), green (G), white (W), B+G, and R+B+W light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (D+L) at 60 μmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density for 15 h from 05:00 to 20:00. The coleus generally exhibited good growth under the T treatment. However, the light quality of DSSCs differed from that of sunlight, and the visible light transmittance decreased. Coleus exhibited increased growth and leaf color characteristics under the supplemental B lighting treatments (D+L(RBW), D+L(B), D+L(BG), and D+L(W)). Supplemental lighting with B LEDs using DSSCs improved plant morphology growth and leaf color. On the other hand, supplemental G lighting reinforced the shade avoidance syndrome. Moreover, DSSCs could aid in reducing the energy required to control the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental prejudices progressively lead to the ban of dwarfing molecules in agriculture, and alternatives are urgently required. Mechanical stimulation (MS) is a promising, eco-friendly, and economical technique, but some responses to mechanical stimulation vary from one plant species to another. Additionally, as more frequent and violent wind episodes are forecasted under global climate change, knowledge of plant responses to stimuli mimicking wind sways is decisive for agriculture. However, little is known about plant mechanosensitive responses after long-term, recurrent MS. Here, the effects of 3-week, recurrent, symmetrical bendings (1 or 12 per day) in Hydrangea macrophylla stems are examined. Bendings repressed internode elongation and leaf area development, whereas the diametrical growth of the basal internode is increased. Responses were dose-dependent, and no desensitization was observed during the 3 weeks of treatment. MS was almost as efficient as daminozide for plant dwarfing, and it improved stem robustness. Histological and molecular responses to MS were spatially monitored and were concordant with ongoing primary or secondary growth in the internodes. Our molecular data provide the first knowledge on the molecular paths controlled by mechanical loads in Hydrangea and revealed for the first time the involvement of XYP1 in thigmomorphogenetic responses. MS still had a transcriptional impact 48 h after the last bending session, promoting the expression of XYP1, FLA11, and CAD1 while repressing the expression of EXP3 and XTH33 homologs in accordance with xylogenesis, cell wall thickening, and lignin deposition in the xylem of basal internodes. In upper elongating internodes, repression of XYP1, CAD1, SAMS1, and CDC23 homologs is correlated with ongoing primary, even though stunted, growth. For producers, our findings highlight the potential of MS as a sustainable and economical option for controlling plant compactness in Hydrangea and show valuable reinforcement of stem strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is a class of transcription factors consisting of NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC subunits, which are widely distributed in eukaryotes. The NF-YC subunit regulates plant growth and development and plays an important role in the response to stresses. However, there are few reports on this gene subfamily in tea plants. In this study, nine CsNF-YC genes were identified in the genome of 'Longjing 43'. Their phylogeny, gene structure, promoter cis-acting elements, motifs and chromosomal localization of these gene were analyzed. Tissue expression characterization revealed that most of the CsNF-YCs were expressed at low levels in the terminal buds and at relatively high levels in the flowers and roots. CsNF-YC genes responded significantly to gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. We further focused on CsNF-YC6 because it may be involved in the growth and development of tea plants and the regulation of response to abiotic stresses. The CsNF-YC6 protein is localized in the nucleus. Arabidopsis that overexpressed CsNF-YC6 (CsNF-YC6-OE) showed increased seed germination and increased root length under ABA and GA treatments. In addition, the number of cauline leaves, stem lengths and silique numbers were significantly higher in overexpressing Arabidopsis lines than wild type under long-day growth conditions, and CsNF-YC6 promoted primary root growth and increased flowering in Arabidopsis. qPCR analysis showed that in CsNF-YC6-OE lines, flowering pathway-related genes were transcribed at higher levels than wild type. The investigation of the CsNF-YC gene has unveiled that CsNF-YC6 plays a pivotal role in plant growth, root and flower development, as well as responses to abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Plants grown under low magnesium (Mg) soils are highly susceptible to encountering light intensities that exceed the capacity of photosynthesis (A), leading to a depression of photosynthetic efficiency and eventually to photooxidation (i.e., leaf chlorosis). Yet, it remains unclear which processes play a key role in limiting the photosynthetic energy utilization of Mg‐deficient leaves, and whether the plasticity of A in acclimation to irradiance could have cross‐talk with Mg, hence accelerating or mitigating the photodamage. We investigated the light acclimation responses of rapeseed (Brassica napus) grown under low‐ and adequate‐Mg conditions. Magnesium deficiency considerably decreased rapeseed growth and leaf A, to a greater extent under high than under low light, which is associated with higher level of superoxide anion radical and more severe leaf chlorosis. This difference was mainly attributable to a greater depression in dark reaction under high light, with a higher Rubisco fallover and a more limited mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm). Plants grown under high irradiance enhanced the content and activity of Rubisco and gm to optimally utilize more light energy absorbed. However, Mg deficiency could not fulfill the need to activate the higher level of Rubisco and Rubisco activase in leaves of high‐light‐grown plants, leading to lower Rubisco activation and carboxylation rate. Additionally, Mg‐deficient leaves under high light invested more carbon per leaf area to construct a compact leaf structure with smaller intercellular airspaces, lower surface area of chloroplast exposed to intercellular airspaces, and CO2 diffusion conductance through cytosol. These caused a more severe decrease in within‐leaf CO2 diffusion rate and substrate availability. Taken together, plant plasticity helps to improve photosynthetic energy utilization under high light but aggravates the photooxidative damage once the Mg nutrition becomes insufficient. Significance Statement: Plants grown under low Mg soils are highly susceptible to excessive light intensity, resulting in photooxidation and subsequent leaf chlorosis. The results indicated that plant plasticity, such as increasing Rubisco content and gm, helps to improve photosynthetic energy utilization under high light but aggravates the photooxidative damage once the Mg nutrition becomes insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence, distribution, and morphology of calcium oxalate (CaC2O4, CaOx) crystals were observed in the stunted bodies of Actinidia arguta (A. arguta) vines, and their ability of microorganisms to degrade CaOx crystals was analyzed. Leaves, branches, and roots of stunted A. arguta vines were collected. In the roots, CaOx crystal bundles were distributed in the form of dotted lines. In the branches, CaOx crystal bundles were observed blocking and accumulating in the vessels. In the leaves, CaOx crystal bundles were observed in a net-like entanglement. Therefore, CaOx crystals present in the roots, branches, and leaves hinder the growth. A hydroponic cultivation with different calcium (Ca) concentrations showed that the growth of A. arguta was best at a Ca concentration of 1 cmol+/kg; at a Ca concentration of 2 cmol+/kg, the edges of the leaves began to dry out after 7 days; and at a Ca concentration of 4 cmol+/kg, the entire leaves died within 14 days. From this study, it was concluded that CaOx crystals hindered the growth of A. arguta, and the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (A. calcoaceticus) strain was effective in degrading CaOx crystals. Therefore, the Ca concentration in the soil of the cultivation site should be managed at less than 2 cmol+/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of corn stalk leaves and pith on the growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, and serum biochemical indexes of mutton sheep. Thirty healthy ewes weighing (30.0 ± 3.0) kg were randomly divided into two groups according to the principle of similar body weight, with three replicates in each group and five ewes in each replicate. The sheep in the control group were fed a corn straw as the roughage, the sheep in the experimental group were fed corn stalk leaves and pith as the roughage, and the sheep in the experimental group and the control group were fed the same concentrate. The pre-trial period was 10 days and the formal trial period was 90 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the average daily gain of the experimental group increased by 10.58%, the average daily dry matter intake increased by 1.01%, and the feed to gain ratio decreased by 8.66%. The apparent digestibility rates of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, calcium, and phosphorus in the experimental group were 6.52%, 8.69%, 9.43%, 8.17%, 8.43%, 5.87%, and 6.51% higher than those in the control group, respectively. Compared with the control group, the total protein content, globulin content, and alkaline phosphatase activity in the serum of sheep in the experimental group increased by 3.41%, 10.70%, and 12.42%, respectively, and the urea nitrogen content decreased by 5.00%. The concentrations of serum immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, complement C3, and complement C4 in the experimental group were 5.89%, 7.90%, 7.58%, 6.95%, and 2.66% higher than those in the control group, respectively. The experiment o indicates that compared with the whole corn stalk, corn stalk leaves and pith are a kind or high quality roughage herbivorous livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late leaf spot of groundnuts is caused by the fungal pathogen Cercosporidium personatum. Efforts to prevent this disease generally use synthetic fungicides that can pollute the environment. This study aims to identify the fungal pathogen of groundnut late leaf spot and determine the antifungal effect of leaf extract from several plants on leaf spot disease suppression. Late leaf spot pathogen was identified based on hyphae and conidia morphological characteristics. Growth inhibition of leaf extracts from butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea), Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), basil (Ocimum gratissimum), and sugar apple (Annona squamosa) at aconcentration of 25%were tested against C. personatum in vitro. The growth and intensity of groundnut disease attackswere assessed for seven weeks by inoculating C. personatum and applied with several leaf extracts. Results showed that the pathogen was identified as C. personatum with conidia characteristics of cylindrical to obclavate, short and slightly curved with four septa, and 35.75 × 7.11 µm in size. The inhibition percentage of C. personatum in vitro reached 94.03% by leaf extract of C. ternatea, 88.56% by T. diversifolia, 87.20% by O. gratissimum, and 84.10% by A. squamosa. Treatment of C. ternatea increased plant height by up to 12.85% and showed the highest reduction of infected leaves by up to 61.53%. C. ternatea leaf extract was found to be the most effective leaf extract to suppress C. personatum infection by 77.94%, while T. diversifolia, O. gratissimum, and A. squamosa reduced disease severity by 70.15%, 65.43%, and 57.76%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In recent years, with the expansion of animal husbandry, the competition for grain between its use as feedstuffs for animals and as foodstuffs for humans has become increasingly prominent. Traditional feeds such as corn, soybean, and alfalfa are no longer sufficient to meet the growing needs of the livestock industry. Consequently, it is imperative to develop novel, unconventional feedstuffs. Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) emerges as a promising substitute, being a woody feedstuff with wide environmental adaptability, high yield, and high protein content. The purpose of this experiment was to study the apparent digestibility and the effects of Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) branch/leaf powder supplementation on growth performance and serum indicators in donkeys. The results showed that the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acidic detergent fiber (ADF), and digestible energy content (DE) of BP branch/leaf powder were 51.88%, 67.27%, 64.86%, 49.59%, 54.73%, 40.87%, and 6.37 MJ/kg, respectively. The average daily gain (ADG) in the 20% group was significantly higher than in the 0% and 30% groups. The serum albumin (ALB) levels in the 0% and 10% groups were significantly higher than those in the 20% and 30% groups, while the serum globulin (GLB) content in the 10% group was significantly lower than in the other groups. The 20% group showed decreased serum triglyceride (TG) levels compared to the other groups. Both the 20% and 30% groups exhibited lower total cholesterol (TC) levels and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared to the 0% and 10% groups and higher serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels than the 10% group. The 30% group had higher serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels than the other groups, while all three BP branch/leaf powder groups had lower serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) levels than the 0% group. There was a gradual increase in serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) with the increasing amount of BP branch/leaf powder added. In conclusion, the optimal supplemental proportion of BP branch/leaf powder in the diet is 20%. Furthermore, BP branch/leaf powder can improve growth performance, serum immune indices, and antioxidant capacity in Dezhou donkeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalase (CAT) is one of the key enzymes involved in antioxidant defense systems and mainly scavenges H2O2 and plays a vital role in plant growth, development, and various adverse stresses. To date, a systematic study of the CAT gene family in rubber tree has not been reported. In this study, five HbCAT gene family members were identified from the rubber tree genome, and these were mainly clustered into two subfamilies. Gene structure and motif analysis showed that exon-intron and motif patterns were conserved across different plant species. Sequence analysis revealed that HbCAT proteins contain one active catalytic site, one heme-ligand signature sequence, three conserved amino acid residues (His, Tyr, and Asn), and one peroxisome-targeting signal 1 (PTS1) sequence. Fragment duplication is a selection pressure for the evolution of the HbCAT family based on Ka/Ks values. Analysis of cis-acting elements in the promoters indicated that HbCAT gene expression might be regulated by abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and MYB transcription factors; furthermore, these genes might be involved in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. A tissue-specific expression analysis showed that HbCATs gradually increased with leaf development and were highly expressed in mature leaves. Gene expression profiling exhibited the differential expression of the HbCATs under cold, heat, drought, and NaCl stresses. Our results provide comprehensive information about the HbCAT gene family, laying the foundation for further research on its function in rubber tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichome plays an important role in heat dissipation, cold resistance, water absorption, protection of leaves from mechanical damage, and direct exposure to ultraviolet rays. It also plays an important role in the photosynthesis, transpiration, and respiration of plants. However, the genetic basis of trichome traits is not fully understood in wheat. In this study, wheat DH population (Hanxuan 10 × Lumai 14) was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for trichome traits in different parts of flag leaf at 10 days after anther with growing in Zhao County, Hebei Province, and Taigu County, Shanxi Province, respectively. The results showed that trichome density (TD) was leaf center > leaf tip > leaf base and near vein > middle > edge, respectively, in both environments. The trichome length (TL) was leaf tip > leaf center > leaf base and edge > middle > near vein. Significant phenotypic positive correlations were observed between the trichome-related traits of different parts. A total of 83 QTLs for trichome-related traits were mapped onto 18 chromosomes, and each one accounted for 2.41 to 27.99% of the phenotypic variations. Two QTL hotspots were detected in two marker intervals: AX-95232910~AX-95658735 on 3A and AX-94850949~AX-109507404 on 7D. Six possible candidate genes (TraesCS3A02G406000, TraesCS3A02G414900, TraesCS3A02G440900, TraesCS7D02G145200, TraesCS7D02G149200, and TraesCS7D02G152400) for trichome-related traits of wheat leaves were screened out according to their predicted expression levels in wheat leaves. The expression of these genes may be induced by a variety of abiotic stresses. The results provide the basis for further validation and functional characterization of the candidate genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the bioherbicidal effect of aqueous fresh extracts of leaves and roots of the Aloe vera plant on the broad leaf weed growth of Sonchus oleraceus associated faba bean plants. During the winters of 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, two pot experiments were carried out in the greenhouse of the National Research Center. Leaf and root aqueous extracts of Aloe vera were applied as soil and/or spray treatments at different concentrations. The results showed that there was significant inhibition in the fresh and dry biomass of S. oleraceus and was maximum with application of soil treatment (10%) of the leaf extract sequenced by spraying leaf extract at 20%. Furthermore, the inhibition of the weed growth was accompanied by an increase in the growth and yield of faba bean. The results indicated that phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins were present in the leaf extract, and there were smaller amounts of tannins and saponins in the root extract than in the leaf extract. Total phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids in the leaf extract was more than three times that of the root extract. The results also revealed that the presence of higher concentrations of natural substances in the leaf extract than in the root extracts gave it its efficiency in inhibiting the growth of S. oleraceus weeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peanut is an important worldwide cash‐crop for edible oil and protein. However, the kinetic mechanisms that determine gene expression and chromatin accessibility during leaf development in peanut represented allotetraploid leguminous crops are poorly understood at single‐cell resolution. Here, a single‐nucleus atlas of peanut leaves is developed by simultaneously profiling the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility in the same individual‐cell using fluorescence‐activated sorted single‐nuclei. In total, 5930 cells with 50 890 expressed genes are classified into 18 cell‐clusters, and 5315 chromatin fragments are enriched with 26 083 target genes in the chromatin accessible landscape. The developmental trajectory analysis reveals the involvement of the ethylene‐AP2 module in leaf cell differentiation, and cell‐cycle analysis demonstrated that genome replication featured in distinct cell‐types with circadian rhythms transcription factors (TFs). Furthermore, dual‐omics illustrates that the fatty acid pathway modulates epidermal‐guard cells differentiation and providescritical TFs interaction networks for understanding mesophyll development, and the cytokinin module (LHY/LOG) that regulates vascular growth. Additionally, an AT‐hook protein AhAHL11 is identified that promotes leaf area expansion by modulating the auxin content increase. In summary, the simultaneous profiling of transcription and chromatin accessibility landscapes using snRNA/ATAC‐seq provides novel biological insights into the dynamic processes of peanut leaf cell development at the cellular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] This study investigated the effects of different fertilizer ratios on growth, leaf nutrients and chlorophyll content of young teak trees to provide references for determining appropriate fertilization program. [Method] Five fertilizer treatments of 0.25 kg/plant NPK compound fertilizer+0.25 kg/plant calcium-magnesium phosphate (Tl), 0.25 kg/plant calcium-magnesium phosphate+2.50 kg/plant rganic fertilizer (T2), 0.25 kg/plant NPK compound fertilizer + 0.25 kg/plant magnesium oxide+10.00 g/plant boron fertilizer (T3), 0.25 kg/plant NPK compound fertilizer (T4) and 0.25 kg/plant NPK compound fertilizer + 1.50 kg/plant calcium-magnesium-phosphorus fertilizer (T5) were configured with no fertilizer treatment as control (CK). The changes of growth, leaf nutrients and chlorophyll content of young teak trees in different treatments were analyzed, and the effects of different fertilization treatments were comprehensively evaluated by the affiliation function method. [Result] ➀ Compared with CK, different fertilization treatments increased the average increment of teak height, diameter at breast height and wood volume, among which T5 treatment was the best and increased average increment of teak height, diameter at breast height and wood volume by 44.81 %, 82.02% and 108.72%, respectively. ➁ Compared with CK, there was no significant change in total N, total K and exchangeable Ca content of teak leaves in different treatments, while total P and exchangeable Mg contents in leaves were significantly increased and leaf N/P was significantly decreased. ➂ Compared with CK, different treatments increased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents of teak leaves while decreased chlorophyll a/b value, among which chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll contents of T5 were significant different from CK. ➃ The subordinate function method showed that the fertilizer effects of the five fertilizer ratios were in the descending order of T5> T3 >T2> T1 > T4. [Conclusion] All the test fertilization combinations could promote the growth and leaf nutrients of teak trees and the best was 0.25 kg/plant NPK compound fertilizer + 1.5 kg/plant calcium-magnesium-phosphorus fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to investigate the mechanism by which summer pruning enhances the growth of pepper plants, as indicated by growth and fruit appearance indicators, photosynthetic rate and gas exchange parameters, rapid light response and induction kinetics curves and the related chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The results indicated that the leaf growth rate, the individual pepper fruit weight, and the fruit longitudinal and cross diameters of the pruned group were significantly higher than those of the control. The stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and transpiration rate (Tr) of the pruned group were significantly higher than those of the control. The initial slope of the rapid light response curve, which represents light energy utilisation efficiency (a), the maximum electron transfer rate (Jmax) and saturated light intensity (PARsat) were all higher in the summer pruning group than in the control group. The F0 of the pruned group decreased by 16.83%, Fv/F0 increased by 23.69%, PIabs increased by 58.33%, and DIo/RC decreased by 22.09% compared to the control group. In summary, summer pruning significantly improves the leaf growth rate and fruit appearance quality of pepper, effectively promotes the photosynthesis of functional leaves, and reduces the degree of stress under adverse environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) is an essential trace element for plants, which is involved in photosynthesis and affected many important life activities of Vaccinium spp.. In order to explore the influence of Fe on the important life activities of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), the blueberry 'Legacy' was used as the material, and 3 Fe environments were set: normal iron (Na-Fe-EDTA), insoluble iron only (Fe2O3) and iron deficiency (without any iron element). The relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of blueberry were analyzed. The results showed that in 2 stress environments of insoluble iron and iron deficiency, the growth indicators, photosynthetic pigment content and SPAD were significantly lower than those under normal iron environment (P< 0.05), while the number, growth amount, ground diameter, leaf area and leaf photosynthetic pigment content of basal branches of blueberry under insoluble iron environment were significantly lower than those in iron-deficient environment (P<0.05). The actual photosynthetic efficiency of leaf PS II under normal iron stress were higher than those under insoluble iron and iron deficiency, while the degree of photoinhibition were significantly lower than those under iron stress and iron deficiency. Leaves of seedlings were damaged and photosynthetic capacity of leaves was weakened in iron-insoluble and iron-deficient environments. The photosystem center conversion efficiency was more unstable in ironinsoluble environments than in iron-deficient environments, and blueberry leaves were the most photoinhibited. Leaf area, biomass per plant and growth of basal shoots were significantly correlated with chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (P<0.01), and photosynthetic pigment content of leaves was significantly positively correlated with SPAD value (P<0.01), but there was no significant correlation between photosynthetic pigment and SPAD and fluorescence parameters (P>0.01). In conclusion, insoluble iron, iron deficiency environment made blueberry growth inhibition and resulted in a decreased leaf chlorophyll content, leaf PS II stress environment reaction center absorption and conversion of light energy was abated, electron transfer and photosynthetic efficiency was lower, which provided reference for deep mining for blueberries in iron nutrient reasonable use way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB) causes sparse (thinner) canopies due to reduced leaf and shoot biomass. Herein, we present results demonstrating the possible mechanisms behind compromised leaf growth of HLB-affected ‘Valencia’ sweet orange trees by comparing morphological, transcriptome, and phytohormone profiles at different leaf development phases (1. buds at the start of the experiment; 2. buds on day 5; . 3. leaf emergence; 4. leaf expansion; and 5. leaf maturation) to healthy trees. Over a period of 3 months (in greenhouse conditions), HLB-affected trees had ≈40% reduction in growth traits such as tree height, number of shoots per tree, shoot length, internode length, and leaf size compared to healthy trees. In addition, buds from HLB-affected trees lagged by ≈1 week in sprouting as well as leaf growth. Throughout the leaf development, high accumulation of defense hormones, salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA), and low levels of growth-promoting hormone (auxin) were found in HLB-affected trees compared to healthy trees. Concomitantly, HLB-affected trees had upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding SA, ABA, and ethylene-related proteins in comparison to healthy trees. The total number of cells per leaf was lower in HLB-affected trees compared to healthy trees, which suggests that reduced cell division may coincide with low levels of growth-promoting hormones leading to small leaf size. Both bud dieback and leaf drop were higher in HLB-affected trees than in healthy trees, with concomitant upregulated DEGs encoding senescence-related proteins in HLB-affected trees that possibly resulted in accelerated aging and cell death. Taken together, it can be concluded that HLB-affected trees had a higher tradeoff of resources on defense over growth, leading to sparse canopies and a high tree mortality rate with HLB progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to investigate the effect of different proportions of Moringa oleifera leaves polysaccharides on the growth performance, serum biochemical indexes and immune function of Sanhuang chickens. A total of 600 oneday- old Sanhuang chickens were randomly divided into five groups with eight replicates in each group and 15 chickens in each replicate. The chickens in the control group (CON group) were fed a basal diet, and the basal diet of group T1, group T2, group T3 and group T4 was supplemented with 0.08%, 0.12%, 0.16% and 0.20% Moringa oleifera leaves polysaccharides, respectively. The trial period was 42 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the feed to gain ratio of Sanhuang chickens in the group T1, group T2 and group T3 from 1 to 21 days of age decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the body weight of Sanhuang chickens in group T3 at 42 days of age increased significantly (P<0.05). From 1 to 42 days of age, the feed to gain ratio of Sanhuang chickens in the experimental groups decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the content of serum albumin in the group T2 increased significantly (P<0.05), while the content of serum urea nitrogen in the group T3 decreased significantly (P<0.05). The glucose content in serum of the group T1, group T2 and group T3 increased significantly (P<0.05). The thymus index of the group T3 increased significantly ( P<0.05), the serum IL-4 content of the group T1, group T3 and group T4 increased significantly (P<0.05), the serum IL-6 content of the group T2 and group T3 decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the serum IL-1β content of the experimental groups increased significantly ( P<0.05). The experiment indicates that adding Moringa oleifera leaves polysaccharides can improve the growth performance, promote the development of immune organs, improve immune function and improve protein metabolism of Sanhuang chickens, and adding 0.16% has the better effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, leaf nutrient contents, resorption efficiency (RE) and resorption proficiency (RP) values were examined in three sympatric woody species—P. tremula, Q. maranthera subsp. syspirensis and L. caucasica subsp. orientalis during two years in Northern Black Sea Region (Turkiye). According to the data obtained the highest N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe and Cu concentrations in green leaves were found in L. caucasica in both two years. However, the highest Zn concentrations in green leaves were found in P. tremula whereas the highest Mn concentrations were found in Q. macranthera. PRE was found to be higher than NRE and for all other elements in the study area. On the other hand, all studied species demonstrated similar RE values for macronutrients in general. Negative RE values were found with respect to Cu, Fe, Ca and MnRE in P. tremula, and with respect to CaRE in L. caucasica. However, all elements were resorbed in Q. macranthera. Our data indicate that species specificity plays an important role in resorption of microelements in the studied species. P. tremula and Q. macranthera were N and P-proficient only in first year whereas L. caucasica was not N and P-proficient in the present study. Nitrogen and phosphorus limitations varied due to plant species and leaf growth stages with respect to N/P ratios in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of recent climate change, with its rising temperatures and precipitation changes, we are facing the need to increase the valuable crop's tolerance against unfavorable environmental conditions. Emmer wheat is a cereal crop with high nutritional value. We investigated the possibility of improving the stress tolerance of emmer wheat by activating the synthesis of the stress hormone jasmonate by overexpressing two genes of the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway from Arabidopsis thaliana, ALLENE OXIDE SYNTHASE (AtAOS) and OXOPHYTODIENOATE REDUCTASE 3 (AtOPR3). Analyses of jasmonates in intact and mechanically wounded leaves of non-transgenic and transgenic plants showed that the overexpression of each of the two genes resulted in increased wounding-induced levels of jasmonic acid and jasmonate-isoleucine. Against all expectations, the overexpression of AtAOS, encoding a chloroplast-localized enzyme, does not lead to an increased level of the chloroplast-formed 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), suggesting an effective conversion of OPDA to downstream products in wounded emmer wheat leaves. Transgenic plants overexpressing AtAOS or AtOPR3 with increased jasmonate levels show a similar phenotype, manifested by shortening of the first and second leaves and elongation of the fourth leaf, as well as increased tolerance to osmotic stress induced by the presence of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, light use efficiency (LUE) models driven by remote sensing data have been widely employed to estimate the gross primary productivity (GPP) of different terrestrial ecosystems at global or regional scales. Furthermore, the two-leaf light use efficiency (TL-LUE) model has been reported to improve the accuracy of GPP estimation, relative to the big-leaf MOD17 model, by separating the entire canopy into sunlit and shaded leaves through the use of constant clumping index estimation (Ω). However, ignoring obvious seasonal changes in the vegetation clumping index (CI) most likely results in GPP estimation errors since the CI tends to present seasonal changes, especially with respect to the obvious presence or absence of leaves within the canopy of deciduous vegetation. Here, we propose a TL-CLUE model that considers the seasonal difference in the CI based on the TL-LUE model to characterize general changes in canopy seasonality. This method composites monthly CI values into two or three Ω values to capture the general seasonal changes in CI while attempting to reduce the potential uncertainty caused during CI inversion. In theory, CI seasonality plays an essential role in the distribution of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by the canopy (APAR). Specifically, the seasonal difference in CI values mainly considers the state of leaf growth, which is determined by the MODIS land surface phenology (LSP) product (MCD12Q2). Therefore, the one-year cycle (OYC) of leaf life is divided into two (leaf-off and leaf-on) or three seasons (leaf-off, leaf-scattering, and leaf-gathering) according to this MODIS LSP product, and the mean CI of each corresponding season for each vegetation class is computed to smoothen the uncertainties within each seasonal section. With these two or three seasonal Ω values as inputs, the TL-CLUE model by which the seasonal differences in CI are incorporated into the TL-LUE model is run and evaluated based on observations from 84 eddy covariance (EC) tower sites across North America. The results of the analysis reveal that the TL-LUE model widely overestimates GPP for most vegetation types during the leaf-on season, particularly during the growth peak. Although the TL-LUE model shows that the temporal characteristics of GPP agree with the EC observations in terms of general trends, the TL-CLUE model further improves the accuracy of GPP estimation by considering the seasonal changes in the CI. The result of GPP estimation from the TL-CLUE model shows a lower error (RMSE = 2.46 g C m−2 d−1) than the TL-LUE model (RMSE = 2.75 g C m−2 d−1) and somewhat decreases the eight-day GPP overestimation in the TL-LUE model with a constant Ω by approximately 9.76 and 8.970% when adapting three and two Ωs from different seasons, respectively. The study demonstrates that the uncertainty of seasonal disturbance in the CI, quantified by a standard deviation of approximately 0.071 relative to the mean CI of 0.746, is diminished through simple averaging. The seasonal difference in CI should be considered in GPP estimation of terrestrial ecosystems, particularly for vegetation with obvious canopy changes, where leaves go through the complete physiological processes of germination, stretching, maturity, and falling within a year. This study demonstrates the potential of the MODIS CI application in developing ecosystem and hydrological models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring the technical and technological possibility of regularly obtaining fresh, high-quality plant production in Antarctic stations is an urgent task of our time. This work is devoted to studying the growth and development of leaf vegetable crops and the main quality indicators of their edible parts when grown in the phytotechnical complex greenhouses at the "Vostok" Antarctic station and at the agrobiopolygon of the Agrophysical Research Institute (AFI). The plants, belonging to 13 varieties of 9 types of leaf vegetable crops (arugula, garden cress, cabbage, mustard, leaf radish, leaf lettuce, amaranth, dill, parsley leaf), were studied during five growing seasons at the "Vostok" station and at the AFI agrobiopolygon under controlled conditions (control). The experimental data obtained demonstrate the high productivity of the phytotechnical complex for most of the investigated crops per unit of useful area, with lower costs of electricity and water consumption per unit of production compared with a number of greenhouses at foreign Antarctic stations and greenhouse complexes with controlled conditions located on other continents. Lettuce crops were the most adapted to the growing conditions at the Antarctic station "Vostok". They did not differ in their evaluated characteristics from the control. All other investigated crops, while not differing in their development rate and quality, had statistically significant (16–61%) decreases in their yield per 1 m2 per year. This may demonstrate the difference in the "genotype–environment" interaction in plants grown at the Antarctic station and AFI agrobiopolygon, probably due to the different barometric pressure and partial pressure of oxygen at the two locations. The positive psychological effects of the greenhouses were identified along with nutritional and other qualities of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste cooking oil poses a serious threat to human health and the environment, both in households and in larger communities. One of the applications of waste cooking oil is composite materials called vegeblocks, which can be used for construction purposes. These composites are formed by the process of polymerisation, esterification and polyesterification. The resulting materials exhibit mechanical strength in line with the requirements for paving blocks. Composite materials that have been annealed for a minimum of 20 h at 200 °C or higher have the highest tensile strength (above 5 MPa). In contrast, composites with the highest flexural strength were obtained after processing at 210 °C for 16 h. The Saxa 2 variety showed the greatest inhibition of storage root growth (almost 43% compared to the control sample), as well as stimulation of root and leaf blade growth (by a maximum of 61.5% and 53.5%, respectively, compared to the control sample). The composite obtained from the maximum process parameters resulted in significant growth of both the root and the green part of both radish varieties by up to 35%. The study showed that the presence of vegeblocks in the plants causes stress conditions, resulting in increased peroxidase content compared to the control sample. The presence of the oil composite in the soil did not increase the amount of catalase in the radish, and even a reduction was observed compared to the control sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a highly valued plant grown in tropical and subtropical countries. Moringa has a high amount of crude protein, a well-balanced amino acid profile, vitamins and minerals and fewer quantities of antinutritive factors. Methods: Eighteen growing Deccani lambs of uniform body weight (14.22±1.5 kg) and age were randomly allotted to three treatment groups viz., 100 per cent groundnut cake (T1), 75% groundnut cake+ 25% Moringa oliefera leaf meal (T2) and 50% groundnut cake+ 50% M. oliefera leaf meal (T3) as a protein source in the concentrate mixture. The experiment was conducted for 90 days. Result: No significant difference was found in the fortnightly body weights of the lambs from 1st to 6th fortnights among three dietary groups. Total weight gain and Average Daily gain (ADG) were significant (P<0.01) among the treatment groups whereas DMI (kg/day), per 100 kg and FCR was non-significant. The digestibility coefficients (%) of all nutrients were non-significant (P>0.05) except the NFE. Pre-slaughter weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weights and dressing percent on pre-slaughter weight and empty body weight were comparable among the three groups. Results of the present study indicated that inclusion of 25% Moringa oleifera leaf meal in concentrate mixture proved to be superior and improved the growth performance, digestibility of nutrients and carcass traits without any adverse effects on experimental lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary Laurus nobilis leaf meal supplementation at different levels (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) on growth performance, carcass traits, and some blood parameters of growing Dandarawi chicks. A total of two hundred 7-day-old, unsexed Dandarawi chicks were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments (50 chicks/treatment). Each treatment was subdivided into five replicates containing 10 chicks each. In the first group birds were fed a basal diet without addition and served as control (C). The 2nd group (T1), 3rd group (T2) and 4th group (T3) birds were fed a basal diet supplemented with Laurus nobilis leaf meal (LNLM) at levels 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%, respectively. The experiment lasted at 8 weeks of age. Growth performance, some carcass traits and some blood parameters were determined in this study. The results revealed that Dandarawi chicks fed diet supplemented with LNLM at level 1.5% (T3) had the highest values of final body weight, body weight gain, highest percentages of dressed carcass, breast, and leg muscles, and the best feed conversion ratio, followed by those fed diets supplemented with LNLM at levels 0.5% (T1) and 1.0% (T2) compared with control. Adding LNLM to Dandrawi chicks’ diet at all levels tested reduced the blood cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels compared with control. The liver percentage in control was higher than in the other treatments. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the addition of LNLM to Dandrawi chick diets improves growth performance and carcass traits, as well as reducing serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels. The high addition level of LNLM (1.5%) showed superiority in most of the parameters measured over the other addition levels (0.5 and 1.0%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-five years ago, a seminal paper demonstrated that warm temperatures increase auxin levels to promote hypocotyl growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we highlight recent advances in auxin-mediated thermomorphogenesis and identify unanswered questions. In the warmth, PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) and PIF7 bind the YUCCA8 gene promoter and, in concert with histone modifications, enhance its expression to increase auxin synthesis in the cotyledons. Once transported to the hypocotyl, auxin promotes cell elongation. The meta-analysis of expression of auxin-related genes in seedlings exposed to temperatures ranging from cold to hot shows complex patterns of response. Changes in auxin only partially account for these responses. The expression of many SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR) genes reaches a maximum in the warmth, decreasing towards both temperature extremes in correlation with the rate of hypocotyl growth. Warm temperatures enhance primary root growth, the response requires auxin, and the hormone levels increase in the root tip but the impacts on cell division and cell expansion are not clear. A deeper understanding of auxin-mediated temperature control of plant architecture is necessary to face the challenge of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butternut squash, also known as Cucurbita moschata, is a variety of pumpkin with promising commercial potential. However, most of the soils in the tropics are acidic and lack organic matter. The addition of organic material such as bokashi is essential in improving the low soil pH and soil quality. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the effects of different rates of bokashi application on the growth performance and yield of butternut squash cultivated on tropical acid soil. A planting experiment was carried out from July until October 2022. A total of 36 planting beds were prepared, and each bed was constructed in 100 cm x 400 cm, consisting of 8 plants bed-1. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block design. A total of three different rates of bokashi were applied to the soil prior to planting, namely 0 (control), 4,000, and 8,000 kg ha-1. A 12,000 kg ha-1 of commercial peat moss (Holland Free Peat) was also applied to compare bokashi and peat moss (the common planting medium used in most planting activities). The maximum plant height growth and leaf production for butternut squash was around 7-8th week. Application rate of 8,000 kg ha-1 bokashi contributed to significantly highest plant height (352.1 cm), number of leaves (86 leaves), and yield of Waltham butter squash per plant (1.5 kg plant-1). Multiple planting cycles should be carried out further to elucidate the bokashi's residual effect on nutrient supply to butternut squash cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caulerpa racemosa, or sea grape, has a high nutritional content and offers many health benefits to humans. The problem faced in cultivating sea grapes is growth, which affects production. This study aimed to determine the effect of different times of soaking C. racemosa in (Cocos nucifera) water, and aqueous extract of Mung bean (Vigna radiata) sprouts and Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf on its morphology and growth performance. Fifty grams of C. racemosa was soaked in coconut water and an aqueous extract of moringa leaves and mung bean sprouts at different times and was cultivated for 30 days. This study used a complete randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and three replicates: A (without soaking), B (extracts of Mung bean sprouts and Moringa leaves soaked for 2 hours), C (crude extracts of Mung bean sprouts and Moringa leaves soaked for 4 hours), D (coconut water soaked for 40 minutes), and E (coconut water soaked for 50 minutes). The results showed that the soaking process of C. racemosa in coconut water and aqueous extract of moringa and mung bean sprouts significantly affected the growth and nutrition of C. racemosa. Caulerpa racemosa soaked in coconut water for 40 minutes showed the highest absolute growth (206.66±7.96 g), specific growth (5.45±0.10 %/day), protein (9.11±0.29%), and fiber (1.02±0.20). The morphology of C. racemosa showed that the ramulli, rhizoid, fronds, and stolon were fresh, healthy, and clean. Soaking sea grape seeds in natural PGRs can increase the growth, production, and nutritional content. Further research can be conducted, such as identifying the bioactive substance and its amount in coconut water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leafy sweet potato is a new type of sweet potato, whose leaves and stems are used as green vegetables. However, sweet potato tips can be affected by pre-harvest factors, especially the intensity of light. At present, intercropping, greenhouse planting, and photovoltaic agriculture have become common planting modes for sweet potato. Likewise, they can also cause insufficient light conditions or even low light stress. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of four different shading levels (no shading, 30%, 50%, and 70% shading degree) on the growth profile of sweet potato leaves. The net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll pigments, carbohydrates, and polyphenol components were determined. Our findings displayed that shading reduced the content of the soluble sugar, starch, and sucrose of leaves, as well as the yield and Pn. The concentrations of Chl a, Chl b, and total Chl were increased and the Chl a/b ratio was decreased for the more efficient interception and absorption of light under shading conditions. In addition, 30% and 50% shading increased the total phenolic, total flavonoids, and chlorogenic acid. Transcriptome analysis indicated that genes related to the antioxidant, secondary metabolism of phenols and flavonoids, photosynthesis, and MAPK signaling pathway were altered in response to shading stresses. We concluded that 30% shading induced a high expression of antioxidant genes, while genes related to the secondary metabolism of phenols and flavonoids were upregulated by 50% shading. And the MAPK signaling pathway was modulated under 70% shading, and most stress-related genes were downregulated. Moreover, the genes involved in photosynthesis, such as chloroplast development, introns splicing, and Chlorophyll synthesis, were upregulated as shading levels increased. This research provides a new theoretical basis for understanding the tolerance and adaptation mechanism of leafy sweet potato in low light environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is described as high nutritional value crop due to the quality and quantity of their beneficial compounds and antioxidant potential. We assess the influence of salt stress on the functional value of quinoa 'Titicaca' leaves and the best growth conditions to obtain both a high leaf production and optimal levels of bioactive metabolites. Thus, quinoa 'Titicaca' plants were grown under hydroponic greenhouse conditions with 0, 50, 100 and 200 mM NaCl. The results indicated that salinity levels of 200 mM NaCl decreased shoot biomass in a 45.1% and leaf area in a 69.1%, together with a depletion of the concentration of starch and total soluble sugars of 62.3% and 17.7%, respectively. Proline levels increased in conditions over 100 mM NaCl and total proteins decreased in all salt treatments. Furthermore, the greatest values of glutathione (368.57 mmol mg-1 dw) and ascorbic acid (0.86 mg 100 g-1 dw) were shown in plants subjected to 100 mM NaCl, and total phenolics and antioxidant enzymes activity rose in unison with the salinity severity. Results revel that quinoa 'Titicaca' leaves are of high nutritional value especially when cultured under moderate salinity conditions of 100 mM NaCl. Not only grains, also greens of this edible halophyte could be of interest to maximize food production in arid and saline zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we are identifying differences in the UV/VIS/NIR (ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared) spectral signatures of maize leaves according to a range of fertilization rates from 0 to 240 kg/ha. By utilizing a FieldSpec spectrometer, it was determined that the spectral response displayed significant differences (p-value = 0.05) under the influence of nitrogen fertilization within the following ranges: near ultraviolet: 355 nm (±5 nm), visible light (green): 550 nm (±15 nm, wide band); 555 nm (±5 nm, narrow band), red edge: 720 nm (±20 nm), infrared: 1075 nm (±50 nm); 1380 nm (±20 nm). Based on the estimated differences, two remote sensing indicators for maize during the 5–6 leaf growth stage and nitrogen fertilization were developed: (NIR-RED_EDGE)/(NIR+RED_EDGE) and (NIR-GREEN)/(NIR+GREEN) where NIR is 1075 nm band, RED_EDGE is 720 nm band and GREEN is 550 nm band. These indicators determined the level of fertilization with a coefficient of determination R2 value greater than 0.85. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences (SJAS) is the property of Beni Suef 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.)

BACKGROUND: The effective deposition of pesticide droplets on a target leaf surface is critical for decreasing pesticide application rates. The wettability between the target leaf surface and the pesticide spray liquid should be investigated in depth, with the aim of enhancing the adhesion of pesticide solutions. The wetting and deposition behavior of pesticides on target leaves depends on the properties of the liquid and the physical and chemical properties of the leaves. The physical and chemical properties of leaves vary with growth stage. This study aims to investigate the wetting behavior of banana leaf surfaces at different stages. RESULTS: The microstructures and chemical compositions of banana leaf surfaces at different stages were studied using modern methods. The surface structure of banana leaves exhibited a wide variety of characteristics at different growth stages, and the chemical composition changed marginally. The surface free energy (SFE) and polar and non‐polar components of banana leaves at different growth stages were measured by examining the contact angles (CA) of different test solutions on the surface of banana leaves. Previous research has suggested that changes in the CA and SFE correlate with changes in leaf surface wettability. In general, the new upper leaves of banana trees are composed of polar components and exhibit hydrophobicity. Non‐polar components become dominant as the leaf grows. The back surface of banana leaves was non‐polar at all growth stages, with a trend that was opposite to that of the front surface. The critical surface tension of the banana leaf surface at different growth stages ranged from 7.83 to 24.22 mN m−1, thus falling into the category of a low‐energy surface. CONCLUSION: The surface roughness and chemical characteristics of banana leaves affected the wettability of the leaf surface. Differences in the free energy and the polar and non‐polar components of the leaf surface at were seen at different growth stages. This study provides a favorable reference for the rational control of pesticide spraying parameters and the enhancement of wetting and adhesion of the solution on banana leaf surfaces. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal mining is generally carried out through open pit mining methods which have an impact and become an obstacle to changes in the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil. Revegetation of reclaimed land is a priority in restoring ecosystems disrupted by mining activities. This study aims to assess the success of the direct planting method in accelerating the growth of Pterocarpus indicus plants in coal mining reclamation areas. Field data and observations are used to evaluate the growth of plants directly planted in reclaimed post-mining land. The growth parameters observed include plant height, stem diameter, and leaf count using both seedling and stemcutting planting materials. The research results indicate that the direct planting method has a significant impact on accelerating the growth of Pterocarpus indicus plants. The plant height, diameter, and leaf count growth from the ANOVA test results showed a significant effect or significance at p<0.05 for the interaction between planting material, fertilizer, and dosage. The Duncan test results for the average plant height, stem diameter, and leaf count indicate the optimal use of bokashi fertilizer. The effective bokashi fertilizer dosage for each variable is 3 kg/planting hole, resulting in a plant height of 102.31 cm; 3 kg/planting hole, resulting in a stem diameter of 24.26 cm; and 5 kg/planting hole, resulting in a leaf count of 41.32. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]