Search

This study presents the outcomes of an experimental investigation aimed at evaluating the combined impact of irrigating tomatoes with ozonated water and applying organic fertilization. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse equipped with an innovative ozonated water generation system. Tomato seeds were planted in 240 pots of 2-liter volume, arranged in 16 rows with 15 pots each. Alongside the native greenhouse topsoil, three distinct substrate mixtures incorporating compost compositions of 10%, 20%, and 40% were examined. Regular irrigation, twice a week, was implemented using three varying concentrations of dissolved ozone in water (1, 2, and 3 ppm). Results obtained after approximately three months of cultivation unveiled an almost twofold increase in plant productivity with ozonated water irrigation. This effect was notably pronounced when utilizing the native topsoil and a substrate containing 10% compost, coupled with an ozone concentration of 2 ppm. Intriguingly, the use of ozonated water facilitated enhanced development of both aerial and root components of the tomato plants. Moreover, the study suggests that organic fertilization may not be necessary when irrigating with ozonated water, as comparable productivity was observed for both fertilized and non-fertilized soil substrates. Although physicochemical analyses indicated minimal alterations, the noticeable improvement in plant vitality underscores the positive influence of ozone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) experiments have shown that plant community productivity typically increases with species diversity. In these studies, diversity is generally quantified using metrics of taxonomic, phylogenetic, or functional differences among community members. Research has also shown that the relationships between species diversity and functioning depends on the spatial scale considered, primarily because larger areas may contain different ecosystem types and span gradients in environmental conditions, which result in a turnover of the species set present locally. A fact that has received little attention, however, is that ecological systems are hierarchically structured, from genes to individuals to communities to entire landscapes, and that additional biological variation occurs at levels of organization above and below those typically considered in BEF research. Here, we present cases of diversity effects at different hierarchical levels of organization and compare these to the species‐diversity effects traditionally studied. We argue that when this evidence is combined across levels, a general framework emerges that allows the transfer of insights and concepts between traditionally disparate disciplines. Such a framework presents an important step towards a better understanding of the functional importance of diversity in complex, real‐world systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects of mounting environmental challenges, including extreme temperatures, threaten the global food supply due to their impact on plant growth and productivity. Temperature extremes disrupt plant genetics, leading to significant growth issues and eventually damaging phenotypes. Plants have developed complex signaling networks to respond and tolerate temperature stimuli, including genetic, physiological, biochemical, and molecular adaptations. In recent decades, omics tools and other molecular strategies have rapidly advanced, offering crucial insights and a wealth of information about how plants respond and adapt to stress. This review explores the potential of an integrated omics‐driven approach to understanding how plants adapt and tolerate extreme temperatures. By leveraging cutting‐edge omics methods, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, miRNAomics, epigenomics, phenomics, and ionomics, alongside the power of machine learning and speed breeding data, we can revolutionize plant breeding practices. These advanced techniques offer a promising pathway to developing climate‐proof plant varieties that can withstand temperature fluctuations, addressing the increasing global demand for high‐quality food in the face of a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of eco-friendly principles in agriculture requires, from one side, a reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, and on the other, a maintenance of consistent yield and high plant productivity. Such substantial shift in the contemporary agricultural practices can be achieved only if a wide variety of alternative options is available. Furthermore, in order to become part of agricultural practices these options have to be affordable in a broad scale and effective against the loss of biodiversity and reduced soil fertility. The current study presents data about the metabolic activity and microbial community` structure in two soil samples – one treated with chemical fertilizer and another treated with chemical fertilizer reduced by 25% dose and supplemented with commercially available biofertilizer. Metabolic activity and properties of microbial soil communities were assessed by the BIOLOG® EcoPlate technique. The estimated parameters included average well)color development (AWCD) and utilisation of six guilds of substrates. Several functional indexes that are used for evaluation of community diversity and evenness were also estimated. The AWCD, expressed either as total activity or as guilds utilisation during the EcoPlate incubation period of seven days did not reveal significant difference between variants. However, most of the estimated functional indexes consistently indicated higher microbial diversity and more balanced structure of microbial community in the biofertilizer-supplemented variant. The results clearly implied that the biofertilizer based on nitrogen-fixing bacteria can positively influence the structure of soil communities and its application could be beneficial for soil fertility and plant productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial leaf blight, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii, poses a substantial risk to shallot crops. Actinobacteria are promising candidates for biological control because of their ability to generate bioactive compounds. This research aimed to identify the most effective Actinobacteria isolates for managing bacterial leaf blight and boosting the growth and yield of shallot plants. The study was conducted in three phases: 1.) Isolation and characterization of Actinobacteria and X. axonopodis pv. allii, 2.) Selection of Actinobacteria to control X. axonopodis pv. allii and boost shallot plant growth with 21 treatments and three replications, and 3.) Molecular identification and testing of selected Actinobacteria for controlling X. axonopodis pv. allii. This research was carried out in the microbiology laboratory and experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture at Andalas University in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The study identified several indigenous Actinobacteria isolates (AT2aP7Y, AS3aA7Y, AA2aP7Y, AS1aP6Y, and AS1aP7Y) with high phosphate solubilizing indices, strong antagonistic activity, and significant abilities in nitrogen fixation and phytohormone (IAA) production. These isolates were identified as Streptomyces spp. and Micromonospora shersina R-Ac134 through 16sRNA sequencing. They demonstrated potential for effectively controlling bacterial leaf blight and enhancing the growth and yield of shallot plants. In conclusion, the indigenous Actinobacteria isolates from the regions of Solok, Tanah Datar, and Agam in West Sumatra show promise as biological control agents against bacterial leaf blight in shallot plants, while also promoting plant growth and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permafrost, a vast storage reservoir of frozen organic matter, is rapidly thawing due to climate change, releasing previously preserved carbon into the environment. This phenomenon has significant consequences for microbial communities, including fungi, inhabiting permafrost-associated regions. In this review, we delve into the intricate interplay between permafrost thawing and fungal diversity and functionality with an emphasis on thermokarst lakes. We explore how the release of organic carbon from thawing permafrost alters the composition and activities of fungal communities, emphasizing the potential for shifts in taxonomic diversity and functional gene expression. We discuss the formation of thermokarst lakes, as an example of permafrost thaw-induced ecological disruptions and their impact on fungal communities. Furthermore, we analyze the repercussions of these changes, including effects on nutrient cycling, plant productivity, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By elucidating the multifaceted relationship between permafrost thaw and aquatic fungi, this review provides valuable insights into the ecological consequences of ongoing climate change in permafrost-affected regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red radish is a nutritious root vegetable crop that has a short production cycle. Water deficit limits plant productivity, affecting its quantity and quality. Compost amendment offers a potential solution to mitigate water deficit effects. This study assessed the impact of compost manure rates (0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and irrigation treatments (40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of evapotranspiration) on 'Crimson Giant' red radish production. Significant differences in growth and quality were observed among these treatments. Compost rates of 75% and 100% improved leaf gas exchange, plant growth (leaf count, fresh weight, dry weight, and area; stem length), root development, total yield (root fresh weight, dry weight, diameter, and length), and root quality (vitamin C and total soluble solid and titratable acidity). The 100% compost and 100% irrigation combination achieved the highest yields. Under water deficit, applying 75% or 100% compost with 80% irrigation conserved 20% of water while maintaining radish output. Overall, compost amendment effectively enhanced red radish growth and production under water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climatic events predicted to increase in intensity and frequency in the near future, including drought, may influence the quality and productivity of several important crops for human nutrition, such as legumes. Herein, two chickpea genotypes (Cicer arietinum) were analysed for their resilience to low water supply: a commercial white chickpea (kabuli) and a traditional black chickpea (desi) with marginal production in occidental countries. Plants were grown under four levels of water supplies (90%, 75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity) and biometric variables (root, shoot, pods and seeds), proxies of plant fitness (water content and oxidative stress) and the seed nutritional profile (protein and mineral concentrations) were analysed at plant maturity. The results show that the water content in shoots and roots decreased with the decrease in water supplies, with kabuli plants generally having higher water content in shoots and desi in roots. The shoot length was significantly higher in kabuli compared to desi, while the root length increased up to 11% in both species with the decrease in water supplies. The root‐to‐shoot ratio was higher in kabuli and increased with the decrease in the water supply, being negatively correlated with the number of pods and seeds per plant. Lipid peroxidation also increased with the decrease in the water supply, having slight positive correlations with plant growth parameters while being negatively correlated with plant productivity. No significant effects of plant genotype and water supply were observed on seed K, Ca and protein, but desi was able to sustain higher P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn and B concentrations than kabuli, including at lower water supplies. The results suggest that water stress negatively impacts plant growth and productivity and that the two chickpea genotypes have distinct biomass and water allocation strategies to cope with low water supply. These findings may be useful in strategies for improving the productivity and nutritional profile of chickpea crops under water‐limited conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate models predict more frequent, prolonged, and extreme droughts in the future. Therefore, drought experiments varying in amount and duration across a range of biogeographical scenarios provide a powerful tool for estimating how drought will affect future ecosystems. Past experimental work has been focused on the manipulation of meteorological drought: Rainout shelters are used to reduce precipitation inputs into the soil. This work has been instrumental in our ability to predict the expected effects of altered rainfall. But what about the nonrainfall components of drought? We review recent literature on the co-occurring and sometimes divergent impacts of atmospheric drying and meteorological drying. We discuss how manipulating meteorological drought or rainfall alone may not predict future changes in plant productivity, composition, or species interactions that result from climate change induced droughts. We make recommendations for how to improve these experiments using manipulations of relative humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme high temperature has become more common as a result of global warming which acts as a key abiotic stress that inhibits plant development and productivity. In this research, drought-exposed Ananas comosus clonal plantlets were triggered to specific physiological responses to overcome the effect of drought stress. The plantlets of A. comosus were placed in a greenhouse with recorded temperatures ranging between 32°C to 36°C and treated with three different watering conditions which are once a week (Treatment 1/control), once every two weeks (Treatment 2), and not watered at all (Treatment 3). The first obvious morphological effect is wilting, drying out of the tips or edge of leaves, and yellowing or browning of leaves. Treatment 1 (control) recorded the lowest plant wilting number and the highest in the mean of leaves length among other samples. In Treatment 2, a higher amount of plant wilting with a lower amount in the mean of leaves length as compared to Treatment 1 was observed. Meanwhile, Treatment 3 recorded the highest wilting record as well as the lowest mean of leaves length. The physiological changes in stomata conductance have greater conductance for Treatment 1 with more open stomata and obvious pores followed by Treatment 2 with stomata opened slightly and Treatment 3 was observed to have sunken stomata and the pores were hardly seen. The physiological changes of stomata have shown the mechanism of adaptation in clonal plantlets to control transpiration and prevent dehydration under thermal and drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early diagnosis of plant diseases is one of the key elements determining plant productivity. The productivity and quality of plants are significantly reduced when plant diseases are not identified and prevented in a timely manner, which results in major financial losses for producers. Olive is a plant with high added value. While the fruit and oil of olive are consumed as food, its oil is used in cosmetics, medicine, etc. It is also used in industries. In addition, active substances such as oleuropein, triterpene, maslinic acid, and flavonoid found in olive leaves are also used in the pharmaceutical industry. Considering all these valuable uses of olive, the importance of productivity is understood. Plant diseases are one of the most significant factors affecting the yield of olives. Among these diseases, fungal disease called peacock eye can spread to the whole tree through the leaves. This disease causes reduced crop production, defoliation, and rot of tree branches. In this study, an efficient method was developed to detect peacock eye disease from olive leaves. In the first stage, an original dataset of healthy and diseased leaves was created. Then, by extracting deep features from this dataset with CNN models, diseased and healthy leaf classification was performed with the transfer learning approach. As a result of the experiments, very satisfactory results were obtained around 98.63%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GIGANTEA (GI) is a conserved nuclear protein crucial for orchestrating the clock-associated feedback loop in the circadian system by integrating light input, modulating gating mechanisms, and regulating circadian clock resetting. It serves as a core component which transmits blue light signals for circadian rhythm resetting and overseeing floral initiation. Beyond circadian functions, GI influences various aspects of plant development (chlorophyll accumulation, hypocotyl elongation, stomatal opening, and anthocyanin metabolism). GI has also been implicated to play a pivotal role in response to stresses such as freezing, thermomorphogenic stresses, salinity, drought, and osmotic stresses. Positioned at the hub of complex genetic networks, GI interacts with hormonal signaling pathways like abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), salicylic acid (SA), and brassinosteroids (BRs) at multiple regulatory levels. This intricate interplay enables GI to balance stress responses, promoting growth and flowering, and optimize plant productivity. This review delves into the multifaceted roles of GI, supported by genetic and molecular evidence, and recent insights into the dynamic interplay between flowering and stress responses, which enhance plants' adaptability to environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)) is a vital cereal crop renowned for its ability to thrive in challenging environmental conditions; however, the molecular mechanisms governing its salt stress tolerance remain poorly understood. To address this gap, next-generation RNA sequencing was conducted to compare gene expression patterns in pearl millet seedlings exposed to salt stress with those grown under normal conditions. Our RNA sequencing analysis focused on shoots from 13-day-old pearl millet plants subjected to either salinity stress (150 mmol of NaCl for 3 days) or thermal stress (50°C for 60 s). Of 36,041 genes examined, 17,271 genes with fold changes ranging from 2.2 to 19.6 were successfully identified. Specifically, 2388 genes were differentially upregulated in response to heat stress, whereas 4327 genes were downregulated. Under salt stress conditions, 2013 genes were upregulated and 4221 genes were downregulated. Transcriptomic analysis revealed four common abiotic KEGG pathways that play crucial roles in the response of pearl millet to salt and heat stress: phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, photosynthesis–antenna proteins, photosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction. These metabolic pathways are necessary for pearl millet to withstand and adapt to abiotic stresses caused by salt and heat. Moreover, the pearl millet shoot heat stress group showed specific transcriptomics related to KEEG metabolic pathways such as cytochrome P450, cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis, zeatin biosynthesis, crocin biosynthesis, ginsenoside biosynthesis, saponin biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites. In contrast, pearl millet shoots exposed to salinity stress exhibited transcriptomic changes associated with KEEG metabolic pathways related to carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, mismatch repair, and nitrogen metabolism. Our findings underscore the remarkable cross-tolerance of pearl millet to simultaneous salt and heat stress, elucidated through the activation of shared abiotic KEGG pathways. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of transcriptomics analysis in unraveling the molecular responses of pearl millet under abiotic stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing plant productivity and mitigating the impact of environmental stressors require a thorough understanding of phytomonitoring and physiological features indicative of plant health. This study delves into the response of cucumber plants to phosphorus deficiency employing diverse tools to identify key indicators and unravel the underlying mechanisms. Under phosphorus deficiency, a rapid response in older leaves was observed through the analysis of chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Molecular-level changes in photosynthetic performance were found to be age-dependent, as revealed by multidimensional statistical methods, highlighting the interconnectedness of examined features with the experimental setup timing. This can assist in understanding the long-term fluctuations in traits linked to phosphorus deficiency, facilitating early detection of stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants use substrate-borne vibrations to interact with both biotic and abiotic factors in their environment. Substrate-borne vibrations play a key role in the detection of herbivory and the interactions between plants and pollinators. More than 150 000 species of arthropods, including major pests and carnivores, use plant-borne vibrations for communication, prey detection, and mating. Biological pest control involves using living organisms to suppress pest populations. The ecology of fear relates to predator-induced behavior and physiology-mediated costs for prey. There is overwhelming evidence that synthetic pesticides have a negative impact on the environment and human health, emphasizing the need for novel and sustainable methods for plant protection. A growing body of literature reports that plants interact through substrate-borne vibrations with arthropod pests and mutualistic arthropods that provide biological control and pollination services. Here, we propose a new theoretical framework that integrates insights from biological control, the ecology of fear, and plant-borne vibrations, to address plant–insect interactions and explore new, sustainable opportunities to improve plant health and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying controls on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, and where SOC is most vulnerable to loss, are essential to managing soils for both climate change mitigation and global food security. However, we currently lack a comprehensive understanding of the global drivers of SOC storage, especially with regards to particulate (POC) and mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC). To better understand hierarchical controls on POC and MAOC, we applied path analyses to SOC fractions, climate (i.e., mean annual temperature [MAT] and mean annual precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration [MAP‐PET]), carbon (C) input (i.e., net primary production [NPP]), and soil property data synthesized from 72 published studies, along with data we generated from the National Ecological Observatory Network soil pits (n = 901 total observations). To assess the utility of investigating POC and MAOC separately in understanding SOC storage controls, we then compared these results with another path analysis predicting bulk SOC storage. We found that POC storage is negatively related to MAT and soil pH, while MAOC storage is positively related to NPP and MAP‐PET, but negatively related to soil % sand. Our path analysis predicting bulk SOC revealed similar trends but explained less variation in C storage than our POC and MAOC analyses. Given that temperature and pH impose constraints on microbial decomposition, this indicates that POC is primarily controlled by SOC loss processes. In contrast, strong relationships with variables related to plant productivity constraints, moisture, and mineral surface availability for sorption indicate that MAOC is primarily controlled by climate‐driven variations in C inputs to the soil, as well as C stabilization mechanisms. Altogether, these results demonstrate that global POC and MAOC storage are controlled by separate environmental variables, further justifying the need to quantify and model these C fractions separately to assess and forecast the responses of SOC storage to global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is contributing to declines of insects through rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and an increasing frequency of extreme events. The impacts of both gradual and sudden shifts in weather patterns are realized directly on insect physiology and indirectly through impacts on other trophic levels. Here, we investigated direct effects of seasonal weather on butterfly occurrences and indirect effects mediated by plant productivity using a temporally intensive butterfly monitoring dataset, in combination with high‐resolution climate data and a remotely sensed indicator of plant primary productivity. Specifically, we used Bayesian hierarchical path analysis to quantify relationships between weather and weather‐driven plant productivity on the occurrence of 94 butterfly species from three localities distributed across an elevational gradient. We found that snow pack exerted a strong direct positive effect on butterfly occurrence and that low snow pack was the primary driver of reductions during drought. Additionally, we found that plant primary productivity had a consistently negative effect on butterfly occurrence. These results highlight mechanisms of weather‐driven declines in insect populations and the nuances of climate change effects involving snow melt, which have implications for ecological theories linking topographic complexity to ecological resilience in montane systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Improvement of the gene pool of the cultivated form of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) through interspecific hybridisation with Solanum aethiopicum L. and gametic breeding; analysis of the interspecific lines for a set of valuable quantitative traits determining the yield structure. Methods. Studies for the comprehensive evaluation of eggplant lines of interspecific origin were carried out during 2021-2023 in protected soil conditions at the experimental base of the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. Phenological observations and biometric measurements of plants of four lines were carried out. The stability of the manifestation of seven quantitative traits during the research years was determined by the methods of variation statistics [calculation of the mean square deviation (σ), coefficient of variation (V), Pearson's paired linear correlation (rp)]. Results. The analysis identified eggplant lines of interspecific origin that were superior to the standard variety 'Almaz' in terms of the level and stability of quantitative traits. Thus, F6(Pavlotas-20 / 'Almaz')I1 and ВС1[F5 (Pavlotas-20 / 'Almaz')]I1 showed a statistically significant increase in fruit width (by 16.48% and 14.85%, respectively). Meanwhile, line BC2[F5 (Pavlotas-20 / 'Almaz')]I1 exhibited higher productivity (by 18.11%) compared to the standard variety. The correlation analysis shows that the trait "Productivity of one plant" has a strong positive relationship with the trait "Number of fruits per plant" (rp = 0.75) and a strong negative relationship with "Average fruit width" (rp = -0.70) and "Duration of the period from mass germination to technical fruit maturity" (rp = -0.72). The selected line BC2[F5 (Pavlotas-20 / 'Almaz')]I1 exhibited a four-day shorter period from mass germination to technical fruit maturity compared to the standard variety. Conclusions. The line BC2[F5 (Pavlotas-20 / 'Almaz')]I1 was isolated based on the complex of quantitative traits. It underwent an additional stage of gametophytic breeding, resulting in a high adaptive potential to growing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-soil feedback (PSF) processes impact plant productivity and ecosystem function, but they are poorly understood because PSFs vary significantly with plant and soil type, plant growth stage, and environmental conditions. Controlled greenhouse studies are essential to unravel the mechanisms associating PSFs with plant productivity; however, successful implementation of these controlled experiments is constrained by our understanding of the persistence of the soil microbiome during the transition from field to greenhouse. This study evaluates the preservation potential of a field soil microbiome when stored in the laboratory under field temperature and moisture levels. Soil microbial diversity, taxonomic composition, and functional potential were evaluated via amplicon sequencing at the start of storage (W0), week 3 (W3), week 6 (W6), and week 9 (W9) to determine the effect of storage time on soil microbiome integrity. Though microbial richness remained stable, Shannon diversity indices decreased significantly at W6 for bacteria/archaea and W3 for fungi. Bacterial/archaeal community composition also remained stable, whereas the fungal community changed significantly during the first 3 weeks. Functional predictions revealed increased capacity for chemoheterotrophy for bacteria/archaea and decreased relative proportions of arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi. We show that preservation of the field soil microbiome must be a fundamental component of experimental design. Either greenhouse experiments should be initiated within 3 weeks of field soil collection, or a preliminary incubation study should be conducted to determine the time and storage conditions required to sustain the integrity of the specific field soil microbiome being studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study estimated the effect of biostimulant Protifert LN 6.5, with either foliar or soil treatment at three different doses - 1%, 2%, and 3% on the epiphytic and rhizosphere microflora of pepper seedlings of two varieties - Kurtovska kapia 1619 (KK) and Bulgarski rotund (BR). Irrespectively of the type of treatment, the higher number of epiphytic and rhizosphere bacteria was observed when the biostimulant was applied at dose of 2% but the effect was dependent on the pepper variety. Analysis showed that the type of treatment significantly affected only the microflora in the area of application. The doses of 1% and 3% did not affect the number of bacteria and in general, the estimated values was lower than those for control plants. The beneficial effect of biostimulants based on amino acids is related to improvement of nutrients absorption and the mineralization of organic matter which can increase soil microorganisms abundance. Further research can focus on mechanism of action of biostimulants and their specific effects on plant growth and productivity and on microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated productivity elements in tomato plants in relation to foliar fertilization. 'Beldine F1', 'Sandoline F1', 'Ciciu F1' and 'Izmir F1' tomato hybrids were grown. Foliar fertilization was done with the Bionat product. In relation to the specifics of each hybrid and the applied fertilization, the variation of some physiological and productivity parameters was recorded: plants height, Ph=179.80-203.60 ± 2.73 cm; inflorescence number, In=7.50-8.50 ± 0.12; flower number, Fn = 5.20-6.70 ± 0.17; fecundated flower, Ff = 4.60-6.20 ± 0.20; fruit number in bunches, Fnb = 4.60-6.20 ± 0.20; average bunch weight, Abw = 0.53-0.90 ± 0.05 kg; fruits number on plant, Fnp = 35.50-50.80 ± 2.12; average fruit weight, Afw = 0.12-0.16 ± 0.01 kg; average plant production, App = 4.17-7.33 ± 0.42 kg. Based on the coefficient of variation, high variability was recorded in the case of the App parameter (CV = 20.79140) and low variability in the case of the Ph parameter (CV = 3.95331). According to PCA, the distribution diagrams of variants were generated in relation to flowering parameters (PC1 explained 80.696% of variance, and PC2 explained 18.566% of variance) and in relation to fruiting parameters (PC1 explained 83.685% of variance, and PC2 explained 15.523% of variance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato is a major annual crop that is grown all over the world for the nourishment of consumers. Since it is predicted that by 2050, over 50% of arable land will be saline, researchers have recently concentrated on understanding how tomato plants respond to different saline environments. The tomato is regarded as "moderately tolerant" of salinity because of its capacity to maintain ionic and water balance in the root zone at moderate salinity levels and because it is more vulnerable to salt stress than its wild equivalents. Some papers include information on how different cultivars behave under different salinity concentrations, analyse various parameters, and discuss the mechanisms regarding tomato salt tolerance. When the salt concentration increased, tomato seed germination was reduced, the time required for full germination was prolonged, plant growth and productivity were limited, and sometimes it led to plant death. Therefore, this review provides a synthesised understanding of the latest scientific findings about the impact of salinity on tomato fruit morphology (germination and seedling growth), physiological (transpiration), biochemical characteristics, as well as yield and fruit quality indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of the most valuable genotypes and the establishment of an optimal density per surface unit at the establishment of the crop are two of the technological links with a decisive role in the yield components in the two-row barley crop intended for the manufacture of beer. The results of this research highlighted the fact that, in the pedoclimatic conditions specific to the N-W area of the Romanian Plain, the Salamander variety behaved best in terms of productive capacity, achieving productions of over 7.500 kg of grains/ha under the conditions of using a density of over 250 g.g./m² while, from the point of view of grain quality, the highest values of the mass of 1.000 grains were obtained in the Salamandre and Tepee varieties, regardless of the sowing density established at the establishment of the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the recently hyped No Till, Strip Till, Min Till, etc. systems tillage remains the most widely used system for agricultural production. The soil has the specific feature of providing the conditions for the growth, development and productivity of plants. The economic importance of soil is determined by its general characteristic fertility, which is its ability to supply plants with the necessary nutrients, water and air. The fertility of the soil depends on its condition, which is quantitatively expressed through its properties of porosity, density and humidity. Investigate a new body of active machine for surface soil treatment during a different values of soil humidity and velocity. The Results are arranged using statistical program for dates. From the results of the statistical operations are received regression equations. The received regression equations are introduced into GIS and presented in varied information layers. By these layers can be prepared a digital system to manage the soil aggregate composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of sustainable and productive agriculture demands the exploration of innovative approaches to improve plant productivity and soil health. The utilization of natural agricultural biostimulants, such as extracts from seaweed, fish, and humus, has gained prominence as an ecological strategy to achieve this goal. In this study we investigated the effectiveness of a fortified biostimulant extract (FBE), composed of extracts from seaweed, fish, and humus, on tomato plant physiology, productivity, and growing media properties, and estimated carbon emissions associated with tomato production. The FBE was applied to the growing media of tomato plants produced in a greenhouse, in experiments over two growing seasons. The productivity assessments demonstrated that the application of FBE significantly increased tomato fruit yield by 20% and relative marketable fruit yield by 27%, and reduced estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with production by 29%. FBE treatment improved plant shoot and root biomass, accelerated flower and fruit set initiation, and increased chlorophyll content in leaves, resulting in enhanced plant physiology and advanced development. FBE treatment positively influenced the availability of crucial nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron in the growing media. FBE promoted the growth of total active microbes in the growing media, particularly the fungal population, which plays an important role in nutrient cycling and health. These findings highlight the beneficial effects of the FBE due to enhanced plant productivity and growth, improved fertility, the promotion of beneficial plant and growing media interactions, and the reduction in estimated GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To determine the efficiency of the cyclic flow technology at the development of non-ore deposits depending on the location of haulage level, mobile crushing and sorting plants with variable productivity of the enterprise. Methodology. The research implemented the following methods: analytical method – to establish the dependence of the required number of dump trucks at the enterprise on the depth of non-ore quarry development at a given annual productivity; simulation modelling – to determine the influence of the mining depth of a non-ore quarry on the haulage distance of mining mass to the surface of the quarry. Findings. The performance indicators of the haulage system for the development of a non-ore quarry using dump trucks and conveyor transport in combination with a mobile crushing complex, as well as a mobile crushing and sorting plant on the haulage level, were determined. It was established that the use of cyclic flow technology with a mobile crushing complex on the haulage level allows reducing the haulage distance by 1.9 times at a quarry depth of 150 m. Originality. The dependence of the dump trucks productivity and their required number on the depth and production capacity of a non-ore quarry when using the haulage mining system was established. It was determined that an increase in the quarry depth from 50 to 150 m will lead to an increase in the number of dump trucks by 2.6 to 3.6 times, depending on the quarry productivity. At the same time, the use of cyclic flow technology with a mobile crushing complex in the quarry allows increasing the productiv)ity of dump trucks by 2.1 times from 94.1 to 197.6 thousand tons/year due to the reduction of the haulage distance of dump trucks from 2525 to 575 m. Practical value. A methodology for determining the impact of the quarry depth on the parameters of the mining haulage com)plex has been developed when using the technique of cyclic and current action on non-ore raw material quarries, which takes into account the location of the mobile crushing and sorting plant, changes in the depth and annual productivity of the quarry, its area and parameters of the trenches. The indicators of the cyclical-flow mining technology, necessary for the further technical and economic assessment of the proposed solutions, have been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile and clothing industry is a key sector of the Moldovan economy, built on its strong industrial past and longstanding manufacturing traditions. Having maintained steady growth, the Textile Industry is one of the country's most resilient sectors to economic changes and has demonstrated growth over decades. Moldova textile and clothing manufacturing industry's path forward involves balancing automation and digitalization with sustainable practices, ensuring access to the EU market, and strengthening its position in the regional fashion industry. This article explores the Moldovan fashion manufacturing industry's resilience, growth, and adaptation to global challenges and trends. It focuses on the implementation of the SMART program, aimed at improving efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in the Moldovan clothing factories. The paper presents findings from the application of consultancy services in this sector, emphasizing the importance of digitalization, automation, and adherence to international quality and sustainability standards. The research underscores the critical role of external expertise and financial incentives in modernizing production processes and advancing sustainable practices in the industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the promotion of biodiversity has been recognized as an important conservation goal, salt marsh restoration typically focuses on reestablishing dominant foundation species. Salt marsh restoration projects that add or remove sediment to optimize marsh elevation often result in a bare landscape following construction. Restoration managers must decide whether to plant and, if so, which species. This decision can be difficult because few studies have examined the ecological functions of individual species, especially those that are less abundant. Within a major salt marsh restoration project in Elkhorn Slough, California, where 17,000 plants of five high marsh species were planted, we investigated how rarer species and the naturally recruiting dominant (Salicornia pacifica) differ in ecosystem function. We evaluated 31 different metrics related to blue carbon, plant productivity, environmental effects, and community interactions. No single species had the greatest ecological function across this suite of metrics, and measured effects were mainly independent, with only 16 of 435 pairwise comparisons revealing a strong correlation. We found significant differences among species for 18 metrics, revealing key contrasts in ecosystem function, with significant effects of marsh elevation and interaction between effects of species and elevation on some of these functions. S. pacifica scored highest for metrics such as recruitment and canopy height but other species outperformed Salicornia in other metrics. Frankenia salina had the greatest ecological function in the highest number of metrics, including cover and belowground biomass carbon content, but other species had higher rates of photosynthesis and harbored fewer individuals of invasive arthropods. We recommend planting a suite of less common species at restoration sites to provide more diverse functions across the landscape. F. salina in particular is recommended for its tolerance of hypersalinity and low moisture conditions. Our demonstration of the value of complementing restoration of the dominant foundation species with restoration of less common species is applicable to restoration of other ecosystems beyond salt marshes. The approach we implemented, evaluating a large suite of functions for multiple species across a restored landscape, can serve as a model for investigations of the importance of biodiversity for enhancing multifunctionality in other restored ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this era of global climate change, land degradation and biodiversity loss have had significant impact on photosynthesis and productivity of the plant kingdom. The forestry and agricultural sectors also emit greenhouse gases such as CH4, N2O etc. which contribute to global warming. On the other hand, forestry and agricultural sectors are most vulnerable and sensitive to climate change, since the growth and productivity of these sectors depend on local climate parameters such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, solar radiation, soil health etc. The impact of climate change events varies regionally. This paper provides an overview of the potential impact of climate change on crop productivity. It also explains in detail the threats and possible opportunities in dealing with the changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral fertilisers are one of the most important nutrients that plants need in large quantities, which help to greatly increase crop yields, and yeast is considered a bio-stimulator of plants. However incorrect implementation of both can make them more susceptible to pest infestations. The mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is an economically important polyphagous pest that destroys okra plants in Egypt. This work focused on the evaluation of mealybug infestations and okra plant productivity responses to mineral fertilisers (nitrogen and phosphorus), yeast (without and with) and their interactions. This study was executed in a private okra field ('Balady' cultivar) in Luxor Governorate, Egypt, during 2021 and 2022 seasons. A split plot design was applied, where two levels (with and without yeast) were used in the main plots, where seven levels of nitrogen and phosphorus were applied in the split plots. The results indicated that the addition of 286 kg N·ha-1, 143 kg P·ha-1 and yeast to okra plants led to a maximum increase in the population densities of pest, and this caused a decrease in the vegetative stage of okra that would affect the final yield as compared to the other treatments throughout the two seasons. However, the application of 190 kg N·ha-1, 107 kg P·ha-1, and yeast to okra plants gave the highest values for vegetative growth characteristics and resulting yield during the two studied seasons. This work aids farmers in improving okra production by comprehending good farming practices and avoiding the spread of mealybugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the importance of using new biotechnologies in crop cultivation, in particular the introduction of microbial inoculants and products obtained by nanotechnology, is increasing. However, the peculiarities of the interaction of microorganisms with plants when using such products have not been studied enough. The work aimed to study the effects of seed inoculation with a complex of rhizospheric diazotrophs (CRD) and treatment with a trace elements solution (TES) obtained by nanotechnology on CO2 net assimilation (An) and yield of winter wheat. Plants were grown in a pot experiment with the following treatments: 1 - control; 2 - seeds inoculation with diazotrophs (CRD); 3 - seeds treatment with trace element solution (TES); 4 - seeds treatment with CRD + TES seeds treatment; 5 - TES plants treatment at the heading stage; 6 - CRD seeds inoculation + TES plants treatment at the heading stage. The obtained results showed that the nitrogenase activity in the wheat plants' rhizosphere under CRD inoculation was significantly higher by 25% on average compared to the control and treatments with only TES. For all treatments, An at ripening stage exceeded the control level by 18-34%, and the plant grain productivity - by 17-27%. Significant correlations (r = 0.86-0.90) were found between the An at the ripening stage and the grain weight from the whole plant. It was concluded that the optimal combination was CRD seeds inoculation + TES seeds treatment, where the highest main shoot and the whole plant grain productivity were observed. The seed treatment with the trace element solution was more effective in increasing the main shoot productivity, while the treatment at the heading stage was more effective for the whole plant's productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What determines the distribution of establishments in terms of size and life-cycle growth? How are those determinants related to aggregate productivity? We provide novel answers by developing a framework that uses price and quantity information on establishments' outputs and inputs to jointly estimate the demand and production parameters, and subsequently, establishments' quality-adjusted productivity, deriving both micro-level and aggregate implications. We find that the dominant source of variation in establishment size is variation in quality/product appeal but that variation in technical efficiency plays an important supporting role. Multiple factors dampen dispersion in establishment size including dispersion in input (quality-adjusted) prices, markups, and residual wedges. Relatively moderate dampening factors induce large aggregate allocative efficiency losses relative to their absence. We show that joint estimation of the parameters of the demand and production function crucially affects inferences on the determinants of the size distribution of firms and their implications for aggregate productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interannual variability of vegetation activity (i.e., photosynthesis) is strongly correlated with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Globally, a reduction in carbon uptake by terrestrial ecosystems has been observed during the ENSO warm phase (El Niño) and the opposite during the cold phase (La Niña). However, this global perspective obscures the heterogeneous impacts of ENSO at regional scales. Particularly, ENSO has contrasting impacts on climate in northern South America (NSA) depending on the ENSO phase and geographical location, which in turn affect the activity of vegetation. Furthermore, changes of vegetation activity during multiple ENSO events are not well understood yet. In this study, we investigated the spatial and temporal differences in vegetation activity associated with ENSO variability and its three phases (El Niño, La Niña, Neutral) to identify hotspots of ENSO impacts in NSA, a region dominated by rainforest and savannas. To achieve this, we investigated time series of vegetation variables from 2001 to 2014 at moderate spatial resolution (0.0083°). Data were aggregated through dimensionality reduction analysis (i.e., Global Principal Component Analysis). The leading principal component served as a proxy of vegetation activity (VAC). We calculated the cross‐correlation between VAC and the multivariate ENSO index separately for each ENSO phase. Our results show that El Niño phase has a stronger impact on vegetation activity both in intensity and duration than La Niña phase. Moreover, seasonally dry ecoregions were more susceptible to El Niño impacts on vegetation activity. Understanding these differences is key for regional adaptation and differentiated management of ecosystems. Plain Language Summary: Precipitation and temperature are important climatic drivers of vegetation processes. In particular, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events are related to changes in precipitation and temperature over large regions, which in turn affects the activity of the vegetation. In northern South America (NSA), these changes on climate are opposite during the same ENSO event depending on the geographical location. Moreover, local conditions and vegetation type can moderate or amplified changes in vegetation activity. Currently, the contrasting vegetation changes during the ENSO warm (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) phase are not well understood in NSA. Furthermore, it is unknown where the largest vegetation variability is occurring during ENSO phases. We combined different vegetation variables related to vegetation greenness and plant productivity over 14 years to estimate changes in vegetation activity related to photosynthesis. In this way, we assessed the variability of vegetation activity during El Niño and La Niña. We found that variability of vegetation activity is stronger and longer during El Niño than La Niña. In addition, vegetation in semi‐arid ecoregions was more susceptible to El Niño. A better understating of how vegetation activity varies during different ENSO phases will improve regional conservation strategies under the increasing ENSO frequencies. Key Points: Interannual variability of vegetation activity in northern South America is related to changes in climate due to El Niño and La Niña eventsEl Niño events have a stronger impact on vegetation activity both in intensity and duration than La Niña eventsSemi‐arid ecoregions are the most vulnerable to El Niño, but further investigation is required to understand underlying processes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity stress is a serious problem in plant cultivation. The effect of this stress is to disrupt the photosynthetic process, which can cause growth restrictions and a decrease in plant productivity. The use of biostimulants can be one of the stress mitigation strategies in plant cultivation. Biostimulants increase the tolerance of plants to abiotic stresses, thus mitigating their adverse effects. In the present study, based on a pot experiment, the effect of foliar application of biostimulants differentiated in terms of chemical composition (Bombardino (B1), Quantis® (B2), Biofol Plex (B3) and Megafol (B4)) on the physiological properties of Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis (Anderss.)) plants growing under salt stress conditions was determined. Salt stress was induced by soil application of NaCl at concentrations of 200 and 400 mM. The application of salt solutions was followed by spraying Miscanthus plants with biostimulants using a hand-held sprayer. Physiological investigations (chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange) have been carried out twice: on the 1st (Term I) and 7th (Term II) day after spraying with biostimulants. It was shown that salt stress causes a decrease in the values of most of the physiological indicators tested (except Ci). On both measurement dates, the application of biostimulants, especially B2, caused an improvement in the values of the physiological indices studied, both for plants growing under optimal conditions and under salt stress. Term II showed an upward trend in most of the analyzed parameters compared to Term I, indicating plant acclimatization to stress conditions. Conducted studies have shown that using biostimulants contributes to the alleviation of the effects of soil salinity stress. The implementation of these practices can contribute to the advancement of sustainable farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversified plant species in homestead areas play an important role to ensure the food and nutritional security of rural communities. An exploratory survey and field observation was carried out at Sadar upazila of Rangamati district in Bangladesh to identify the existing plant biodiversity in the homestead areas of six unions along with municipal area of Rangamati Sadar upazila. A total of 120 households were randomly selected for collecting data using face-to-face interviews from July to September 2020. A total of 163 plant species were identified at different homesteads of the study area. Among different categories of plant species, 13 (7.98%) timber, 32 (19.63%) fruits, 19 (11.66%) medicinal species, 31 (19.02%) different vegetable species, 56 (34.36%) different flowering and ornamental species, 08 (4.91%) spices and condiments and 04 (2.45%) other plant species were recorded. The front yard was dominated by most of the plant species whereas the kitchen side was dominated by vegetables. The highest diversity was found in vegetables (H'= 0.96) followed by medicinal plant and fruit species (H'= 0.83), timber, and flower and ornamental species (H'= 0.82). A moderate diversity was found at the back side (H'=0.69) followed by the boundary side (H'=0.68), front yard (H'=0.65) and, approach road (H'=0.60). The study concludes that homestead agroforestry is a unique area for maintaining both plant diversity and productivity which could be a good option to meet up the demand of food and nutrition of the people in hilly areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds of the Bulat variety (traditional morphotype) and of BL 12-11-02-2-4-1ep (epigonal morphotype) were irradiated with the equipment GUR-12 0(60Со) to develop mutant lines of yellow lupine. The irradiation dose/energy was the following: 200 Gy (60 Gy/h); 300 Gy (60 Gy/h); 400 Gy (60 Gy/h); 200 Gy (100 Gy/h); 300 Gy (100 Gy/h); 400 Gy (100 Gy/h); 300 Gy (150 Gy/h); and 400 Gy (150 Gy/h). Statistically significant differences for the length of the main root and hypocotyl for each variant compared to the standard one were revealed in the laboratory tests. Significant differences were also revealed between variants with different energies at the irradiant dose of 200 Gy; at the doses of 300 and 400 Gy, the differences are smoothed out. The LD50 for yellow lupine was 400 Gy at the energy of 60 and 100 Gy/h. In a field experiment, the effect of pre-sowing irradiation of seeds on seed viability, on elements of plant productivity in generations M1 and M2, and on the biochemical characteristics of their seeds is revealed. The specificity of varieties in response to irradiation of seeds was revealed too. It means an increase in adaptability of the ultra-mature breeding line 12-11-02-2-4-1ep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vegetation phenology can characterize ecosystem functions and plays a key role in the dynamics of plant productivity. Here we investigated the changes in growing season metrics (start of growing season, SOS; end of growing season, EOS; length of growing season, LOS) and their relationships with net primary productivity (NPP) in forestland and grassland in China during 1981–2016. Results: SOS advanced, EOS delayed, LOS prolonged and NPP increased significantly in 23.7%, 21.0%, 40.5% and 19.9% of the study areas, with an average rate of 3.9 days decade−1, 3.3 days·decade−1, 6.7 days·decade−1 and 10.7 gC m−2·decade−1, respectively. The changes in growing season metrics were obvious in Northwest China (NWC) and North China (NC), but the least in Northeast China (NEC). NPP was negatively correlated with SOS and positively correlated with EOS and LOS in 22.0%, 16.3% and 22.8% of the study areas, respectively, and the correlation between NPP and growing season metrics was strong in NWC, NC and Southwest China (SWC), but weak in NEC and South China (SC). Conclusion: The advanced SOS, delayed EOS and prolonged LOS all contribute to the increased NPP in forestland and grassland in China, especially in NWC, NC and SWC. This study also highlights the need to further study the response of NPP to growing season changes in different regions and under the influence of multiple factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productivity benefits from diversity can arise when compatible pathogen hosts are buffered by unrelated neighbors, diluting pathogen impacts. However, the generality of pathogen dilution has been controversial and rarely tested within biodiversity manipulations. Here, we test whether soil pathogen dilution generates diversity- productivity relationships using a field biodiversity-manipulation experiment, greenhouse assays, and feedback modeling. We find that the accumulation of specialist pathogens in monocultures decreases host plant yields and that pathogen dilution predicts plant productivity gains derived from diversity. Pathogen specialization predicts the strength of the negative feedback between plant species in greenhouse assays. These feedbacks significantly predict the overyielding measured in the field the following year. This relationship strengthens when accounting for the expected dilution of pathogens in mixtures. Using a feedback model, we corroborate that pathogen dilution drives overyielding. Combined empirical and theoretical evidence indicate that specialist pathogen dilution generates overyielding and suggests that the risk of losing productivity benefits from diversity may be highest where environmental change decouples plant-microbe interactions. Soil pathogen dilution can improve plant production. Here, the authors combine an empirical and theoretical approaches finding that specialist pathogens suppress yield in monocultures while pathogen dilution drives yield benefits in diverse plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing worldwide, but its effects on the soil system have not yet been investigated. We tested the influence of experimental manipulation of ALAN on two taxa of soil communities (microorganisms and soil nematodes) and three aspects of soil functioning (soil basal respiration, soil microbial biomass and carbon use efficiency) over four and a half months in a highly controlled Ecotron facility. We show that during peak plant biomass, increasing ALAN reduced plant biomass and was also associated with decreased soil water content. This further reduced soil respiration under high ALAN at peak plant biomass, but microbial communities maintained stable biomass across different levels of ALAN and times, demonstrating higher microbial carbon use efficiency under high ALAN. While ALAN did not affect microbial community structure, the abundance of plant-feeding nematodes increased and there was homogenization of nematode communities under higher levels of ALAN, indicating that soil communities may be more vulnerable to additional disturbances at high ALAN. In summary, the effects of ALAN reach into the soil system by altering soil communities and ecosystem functions, and these effects are mediated by changes in plant productivity and soil water content at peak plant biomass. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of plants is considerably affected by various environmental stresses. Exploring the specific pattern of the near-infrared spectral data acquired non-destructively from plants subjected to stress can contribute to a better understanding of biophysical and biochemical processes in plants. Experiments for investigating NIR spectra of maize plants subjected to water stress were conducted. Two maize lines were used: US corn-belt inbred line B37 and mutant inbred XM 87-136, characterized by very high drought tolerance. After reaching the 4-leaf stage, 10 plants from each line were subjected to water stress, and 10 plants were used as control, kept under a regular water regime. The drought lasted until day 17 and then the plants were recovered by watering for 4 days. A MicroNIR OnSite-W Spectrometer (VIAVI Solutions Inc., Chandler, AZ, USA) was used for in vivo measurement of each maize leaf spectra. PLS models for determining drought days were created and aquagrams were calculated separately for the plants' second, third, and fourth leaves. Differences in absorption spectra were observed between control, stressed, and recovered maize plants, as well as between different measurement days of stressed plants. Aquagrams were used to visualize the water spectral pattern in maize leaves and how it changes along the drought process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental circumstances shaping soil microbial communities have been studied extensively. However, due to disparate study designs, it has been difficult to resolve whether a globally consistent set of predictors exists, or context‐dependency prevails. Here, we used a network of 18 grassland sites (11 of those containing regional plant productivity gradients) to examine (i) if similar abiotic or biotic factors predict both large‐scale (across sites) and regional‐scale (within sites) patterns in bacterial and fungal community composition, and (ii) if microbial community composition differs consistently at two levels of regional plant productivity (low vs. high). Our results revealed that bacteria were associated with particular soil properties (such as base saturation) and both bacteria and fungi were associated with plant community composition across sites and within the majority of sites. Moreover, a discernible microbial community signal emerged, clearly distinguishing high and low‐productivity soils across different grasslands independent of their location in the world. Hence, regional productivity differences may be typified by characteristic soil microbial communities across the grassland biome. These results could encourage future research aiming to predict the general effects of global changes on soil microbial community composition in grasslands and to discriminate fertile from infertile systems using generally applicable microbial indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drastic climate changes over the years have triggered environmental challenges for wild plants and crops due to fluctuating weather patterns worldwide. This has caused different types of stressors, responsible for a decrease in plant life and biological productivity, with consequent food shortages, especially in areas under threat of desertification. Nanotechnology-based approaches have great potential in mitigating environmental stressors, thus fostering a sustainable agriculture. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have demonstrated to be biostimulants as well as remedies to both environmental and biotic stresses. Their administration in the early sowing stages, i.e., seed priming, proved to be effective in improving germination rate, seedling and plant growth and in ameliorating the indicators of plants' well-being. Seed nano-priming acts through several mechanisms such as enhanced nutrients uptake, improved antioxidant properties, ROS accumulation and lipid peroxidation. The target for seed priming by ZnO NPs is mostly crops of large consumption or staple food, in order to meet the increased needs of a growing population and the net drop of global crop frequency, due to climate changes and soil contaminations. The current review focuses on the most recent low-cost, low-sized ZnO NPs employed for seed nano-priming, to alleviate abiotic and biotic stresses, mitigate the negative effects of improper storage and biostimulate plants' growth and well-being. Taking into account that there is large variability among ZnO NPs and that their chemico-physical properties may play a role in determining the efficacy of nano-priming, for all examined cases, it is reported whether the ZnO NPs are commercial or lab prepared. In the latter cases, the preparation conditions are described, along with structural and morphological characterizations. Under these premises, future perspectives and challenges are discussed in relation to structural properties and the possibility of ZnO NPs engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the influence of stress modulators on the adaptive physiological responses and biomass traits of oregano under water stress conditions, a two-year (2018 and 2019) randomized complete block-designed factorial research was performed. In this study, oregano plants were treated with five stress modulators levels (CHN: chitosan, AMA: amino acids, SEW: seaweed, ASA: ascorbic acid, SAA: salicylic acid, and CON: control) at three levels of irrigation regimes (Irr40 (40), Irr60 (60) and Irr75 (75) % field capacity). The effects of water shortage and biostimulant application were evaluated on total dry weight (TDW), relative water content (RWC), essential oil production, chlorophyll, nutrient (N, K, and P), proline, total soluble sugar, polyphenol and flavonoid content, and activity of antioxidant enzymes. The result showed that under optimal irrigation conditions, oregano plants sprayed with CHN exhibited the highest dry weight (141.23 g m−2) as a morphological trait, the highest relative water content (79.34%), the most consistent concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (3.14, 0.39, and 1.69%, respectively), chlorophylls a and b (3.02 and 1.95 mg g−1 FW, respectively), and total phenols and total flavonoids (30.72 and 3.17 mg g−1 DW, respectively). The water deficit increased the proline content, with the greatest amount (4.17 μg g−1 FW) observed in control plants. Moreover, under moisture shortage stress conditions, the application of CHN and SEW increased the soluble sugar (27.26 μmol g−1 FW) and essential oil yield (1.80%) production, the catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities (3.17, 1.18, and 63.89 μmol min−1 g−1 FW, respectively) compared to control plants. In summary, the study demonstrated that oregano plants respond positively to stress modulator treatments when subjected to moisture shortage stress, especially when treated with chitosan. The results offer promising insights for developing sustainable adaptative strategies aimed at enhancing the oregano's tolerance to water shortage, ultimately improving its productivity and biochemical traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Reasoned fertilization practices promote fertilizers formula adjusted to the crop's needs and increase production and income. In this study, two agronomic tests were carried out on two sites named Tabligbo (site 1) and Djikame (site 2) on degraded sandy loam soils situated in the south of Togo using inorganic and organic fertilizer quantities obtained from reasoned fertilization. An indigenous variety of Abelmoschus esculentus was used and five treatments were applied: T2: mineral fertilizer (667 kg/ha), T3: waste compost (6126 kg/ha at Tabligbo and 7260 kg/ha at Dzikame), T4: mineral (333.50 kg/ha) + compost fertilizers (3063 kg/ha for site 1 and 3630 kg/ha for site 2), control (T0) and smallholder farmers' old fertilization practices (T1). At Tabligbo, treatments T2 and T4 stimulated quick growth (74,5 ± 03.50 cm) and the highest number of fruit was obtained on T4 treatment (102 ± 09). At Djikame, treatments T2 and T3 presented the highest growth (65.82 ± 2.51 cm) and the T4 treatment gave the best number of fruits (72 ± 4.00). Economic Efficiency and Cost-Value Ratio were high on the T4 formula on Tabligbo soil (53.48% and 1.85). At Djikame, treatment T2 presents the highest value of economic parameters (24.52% and 01.35). Among treatments tested, T4 (compost + mineral fertilizer) is the effective treatment on Tabligbo sandy loam soil for okra production while the T2 (mineral fertilizer) option is the best for okra production on site 2 due to the low content in nitrogen increasing C/N ratio. The effective fertilizer formulas discovered in this study will be shared with farmers in the study areas in order to improve market garden crop production in South Togo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Nitrogen (N) enrichment usually weakens the stabilizing effect of biodiversity on productivity. However, previous studies focused on plant species richness and thus largely ignored the potential contributions of plant functional traits to stability, even though evidence is increasing that functional traits are stronger predictors than species richness of ecosystem functions. Methods: We conducted a common garden experiment manipulating plant species richness and N addition levels to quantify effects of N addition on relations between species richness and functional trait identity and diversity underpinning the 'fast--slow' economics spectrum and community stability. Results: Nitrogen addition had a minor effect on community stability but increased the positive effects of species richness on community stability. Increasing community stability was found in the species-rich communities dominated by fast species due to substantially increasing temporal mean productivity relative to its standard deviation. Furthermore, enhancement in 'fast--slow' functional diversity in species-rich communities dominated by fast species under N addition increased species asynchrony, resulting in a robust biodiversity--stability relationship under N addition the artificial grassland communities. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate mechanistic links between plant species richness, 'fast--slow' functional traits, and community stability under N addition, suggesting that dynamics of biodiversity--stability relations under global changes are the results of species-specific responses of 'fast--slow' traits on the plant economics spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large herbivores can exert pronounced top-down effects on plant communities in grassland ecosystems. Previous studies highlighted the importance of the composition and traits of living plants in regulating the impact of herbivores on plant community. However, there has been little consideration of whether and how plant litter, a ubiquitous "after-life" plant component, affects the outcome of herbivore grazing on grasslands. Here, we conducted a large-scale field experiment in temperate grasslands of northeastern China to investigate how standing plant litter influenced top-down effects of large herbivores (sheep; Ovis aries) on plant species richness, evenness, community composition, and productivity. We found that, in the presence of standing litter, sheep grazing significantly reduced living biomass of forbs by 56%, but have no effects on biomass of the dominant grass, Leymus chinensis. However, in the absence of standing litter, sheep shifted their diet preference from forbs to the grass L. chinensis, leading to a 36% decrease in the biomass of L. chinensis and a 21% decrease in total biomass. Such changes in foraging pressure on plant species led to competitive release that in turn significantly altered plant community composition and increased species evenness. Synthesis and applications. Our results demonstrate that standing litter can alter foraging behaviors of large herbivores and modifying the outcome of their top-down effects on plant community properties in grasslands. These cryptic but perhaps ubiquitous interactions between litter and herbivores may help us better understand the organization and dynamics of plant communities in the grazed grasslands, with important implications for developing effective management and conservation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Agriculture is a major source of nutrient pollution, posing a threat to the earth system functioning. Factors determining the nutrient use efficiency of plant–soil systems need to be identified to develop strategies to reduce nutrient losses while ensuring crop productivity. The potential of soil biota to tighten nutrient cycles by improving plant nutrition and reducing soil nutrient losses is still poorly understood.We manipulated soil biota communities in outdoor lysimeters, planted maize, continuously collected leachates, and measured N2O‐ and N2‐gas emissions after a fertilization pulse to test whether differences in soil biota communities affected nutrient recycling and N losses.Lysimeters with strongly simplified soil biota communities showed reduced crop N (−20%) and P (−58%) uptake, strongly increased N leaching losses (+65%), and gaseous emissions (+97%) of N2O and N2. Soil metagenomic analyses revealed differences in the abundance of genes responsible for nutrient uptake, nitrate reduction, and denitrification that helped explain the observed nutrient losses.Soil biota are major drivers of nutrient cycling and reductions in the diversity or abundance of certain groups (e.g. through land‐use intensification) can disrupt nutrient cycling, reduce agricultural productivity and nutrient use efficiency, and exacerbate environmental pollution and global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Allelopathy is a common and important stressor that shapes plant communities and can alter soil microbiomes, yet little is known about the direct effects of allelochemical addition on bacterial and fungal communities or the potential for allelochemical‐selected microbiomes to mediate plant performance responses, especially in habitats naturally structured by allelopathy.Here, we present the first community‐wide investigation of microbial mediation of allelochemical effects on plant performance by testing how allelopathy affects soil microbiome structure and how these microbial changes impact germination and productivity across 13 plant species.The soil microbiome exhibited significant changes to 'core' bacterial and fungal taxa, bacterial composition, abundance of functionally important bacterial and fungal taxa, and predicted bacterial functional genes after the addition of the dominant allelochemical native to this habitat. Furthermore, plant performance was mediated by the allelochemical‐selected microbiome, with allelopathic inhibition of plant productivity moderately mitigated by the microbiome.Through our findings, we present a potential framework to understand the strength of plant–microbial interactions in the presence of environmental stressors, in which frequency of the ecological stress may be a key predictor of microbiome‐mediation strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has become one of the most significant risk factors in agricultural production. Plant productivity declines caused by climate change pose a serious threat to food supply and security. Crop simulation models have been widely used in recent years for the assessment of the impacts of climate change on agricultural production. In Konya, there have been limited studies on the potential effects of climate change on sunflower production. Sunflower, the main crop of the most imported agricultural product group, in which the production amount is currently insufficient to cover domestic consumption demand, is strategically important for the Turkish economy. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of climate change on sunflower yield in Türkiye by using the Aquacrop model. The data of the field experiment carried out on the Ekllor sunflower cultivar for two years in Konya conditions were used as material. The daily projection dataset of three Global Climate Models (HadGEM2- ES, MPI-ESM-MR, GFDL-ESM2M) and two scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) were used to analyze climate change impacts. The 1971-2000 period was considered as the reference period and the 2022-2098 period was selected as the future period. The results confirmed that the Aquacrop model was able to satisfactorily simulate yield with NRMSE 2.10 % for the rainfed condition and 10.55 % for the irrigated condition, a d-index of 0.97, and a modeling efficiency of 0.91. Aqaucrop climate change impacts simulation which was based on 3 global climate models covering with 2022 -2098 period simulations projected that sunflower yield would be decreased in a range of 21% to 44% for RCP4.5 and 18% to 50% for RCP8.5 scenarios under rainfed conditions. In contrast, the yield would be increased in a range of 11% to 23% for RCP4.5 and 10% to 33% for RCP8.5 scenarios under irrigated conditions. The findings point to the use of appropriate water management measures for future sunflower production as a means of adapting to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]