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ABSTRACT Root circumnutation, the helical movement of growing root tips, is a widely observed behaviour of plants. However, our mechanistic understanding of the impacts of root circumnutation on root growth and soil exploration is limited. Here, we deployed a unique combination of penetrometer measurements, X‐ray computed tomography and time‐lapse imaging, and cavity expansion modelling to unveil the effects of root circumnutation on the mechanical resistance to soil penetration. To simulate differences in circumnutation amplitude and frequency occurring among plant species, genotypes and environmental conditions, we inserted cone penetrometers with varying bending stiffness into soil samples that were subjected to orbital movement at different velocities. We show that greater circumnutation intensity, determined by a greater circumnutation frequency in conjunction with a larger circumnutation amplitude, decreased the mechanical resistance to soil penetration. Cavity expansion theory and X‐ray computed tomography provided evidence that increased circumnutation intensity reduces friction at the cone‐soil interface, indicating a link between root circumnutation and the ability of plants to overcome mechanical constraints to root growth. We conclude that circumnutation is a key component of root foraging behaviour and propose that genotypic differences in circumnutation intensity can be leveraged to adapt crops to soils with greater mechanical resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juniperus L. is the second largest conifer genus, having the widest distribution of all conifer genera. However, its evolution in East Asia is unclear due to the scarce fossil records. We described a set of Juniperus fossils from the Early Miocene of Tiejianggou, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. Although only two seed cones and five branch segments were preserved, the fossils were assigned to Juniperus chifengensis Liang Xiao et Liyan Guo sp. nov. (Cupressaceae). The diagnostic characteristics include leaves in a decussate or ternate arrangement, both scalelike and needle-like leaves on mature branchlets, scalelike leaves on juvenile branchlets, leaves with two stomatal bands adaxially and abaxially, terminal seed cones, and two or four seeds, which is the most similar extant species J. chinensis morphologically. However, the cuticle of the abaxial epidermis shows longer and more disordered cells. With a close affinity to the extant Juniperus chinensis, J. chifengensis, the macrofossil record of sect. Sabina (Juniperus) in East Asia, had existed in East Asia in the early Early Miocene. The longer abaxial epidermal cells confirm its adaptation to the dry and cold climate that occurred from the Early Miocene to the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold has been one of the most valued metals throughout human history. Traditionally, gravity plants primarily utilized equipment designed to recover only coarse-grained free gold, including jigs, spiral separators, cone concentrators, shaking tables, sluices, and hydrocyclones. The introduction of centrifugal concentrators in the 1980s initiated a trend toward more compact, simplified, and low-maintenance circuits. The use of centrifugal concentrators such as Knelson, Falcon, Multi-gravity separator (MGS), Kelsey, and Itomak has significantly enhanced the recovery of fine gold particles. A review of studies comparing centrifugal equipment, highlighting their main technological advantages, and disadvantages is presented. Depending on their mineral composition, the concentrates obtained can be processed by various methods. Due to increasingly stringent environmental regulations, there is a growing trend to abandon pyrometallurgical methods in favor of developing hydrometallurgical methods for processing gravity concentrates. Particular attention is given to the intensive cyanidation of concentrates. The main technological advantages and disadvantages of intensive cyanidation reactors, specifically Consep Acacia, ILR Gekko, and August Irgiredmet are discussed. Additionally, examples of intensifying chemical reagents used as additives in the intensive cyanidation of concentrates, along with their main characteristics are provided [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physiological seed drop is a recognized phenomenon in economic forest, caused by the abscission of developing seeds due to intergroup competition for resources. However, little is known about the resource allocation dynamics in species exhibiting a biennial fruiting cycle, where interactions occur not only among seeds of the same year but also between reproductive structures from consecutive years. In this study, we explored the dynamics of resource allocation in Torreya grandis, a nut crop with a prototypical two‐year seed development pattern. We implemented thinning treatments of 0%, 30%, and 60% on female cones and/or immature seeds during the spring, targeting various stages of development both pre‐ and post‐pollination. Our findings reveal a pronounced resource competition in Torreya, evidenced by a natural seed‐setting rate of merely 9.4%. Contrary to expectations, seed thinning did not lead to an obvious increase in nut‐setting rates, whereas a substantial increase to 20.5% was observed when female cones were thinned by 60% at 20 days before pollination. The cone thinning treatment appears to have influenced seed development through positive cytokinin and negative abscisic acid effects. This indicates that intergroup competition between female cones and nuts is a more significant factor in seed drop than inner nut competition, and there seems to be an interaction between the two groups. We demonstrate that, in Torreya with biennial seed development, it is the competition between female cones and immature seeds that is important. This insight expands our comprehension of the physiological mechanisms governing seed drop in biennial fruiting species and managing the reproductive organ load to optimize nutrient allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy storage of seed (serotiny) is an important persistence strategy in fire‐prone environments. Serotinous populations can be threatened when fire intervals are shorter than the time needed to accumulate seed, or when longer than plant lifespans.Understanding how fire regimes influence canopy seedbanks requires study of the timing of plant maturity, seed output and germination traits. Research that spans plant functional types, such as resprouters or obligate seeders, helps to understand the mechanisms through which fire has influence.Using field data collected at 57 sites in a Mediterranean shrubland of southeastern Australia, we modelled how time since fire and mean fire interval influenced infructescence (hereby cone) production. Additionally, seed output, viability and germination speed were assessed in the laboratory.Reproductively mature resprouters were first observed 2 to 4 years post‐fire in the field, and reproductively mature obligate seeders 6 years post‐fire, depending on the species. Reproductively mature plants were not observed at short mean fire intervals: until 3 and 9 years for resprouters and nine and 18 years for obligate seeders, again, varying by species. When resprouter species reached maturity, we observed a decline in cone production as time since fire increased. This decline was not observed for obligate seeder species.Fire influenced the number of viable seeds produced within cones for one resprouter species, Allocasuarina paludosa, but we did not detect a relationship for other species.Germination speed was faster for species that produce few seeds per cone, and slower for species that produce many seeds, indicating a trade‐off between fire‐related seed traits. For example, Hakea rostrata, which holds two seeds per cone, germinated mostly within the first few weeks, while Callitris rhomboidea, which holds many seeds per cone, germinated asynchronously over 9 months.Short intervals between fires reduce canopy seed production for the serotinous species studied. Obligate seeders were more sensitive to frequent fire than resprouters. In the context of expected increases in wildfire frequency and droughts in Mediterranean ecosystems, our findings suggest that serotinous species' reproduction and recruitment will be differentially impacted depending on a suite of functional traits. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cone crushers have a central role in the processing of quarry rocks, besides coarser ore preparation in several mineral processing plants. This is particularly true in the case of Itabirite iron ore preparation plants in Brazil, so optimizing their performance is of central importance for reaching maximum productivity of the circuit. The work presents results of modeling the HP500 cone crusher in operation in an industrial plant in Brazil (Minas Rio), from surveys carried out over a few years with different feeds and crushing conditions. A version of the Andersen–Whiten cone crusher model was implemented in the Integrated Extraction Simulator featuring a non-normalizable breakage response and a fit-for-purpose throughput model. The results demonstrate the good ability of the model to predict crusher performance when dealing with different closed-side settings and feed size distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study documents the first report of halo blight of hop (Humulus lupulus L.), caused by the fungal pathogen Diaporthe humulicola, in Prince Edward Island (PE), Canada. This pathogen has been previously reported in Michigan, New York, Connecticut and Quebec. Disease symptoms were reported in hopyards in Harrington and Mount Albion, PE. Symptoms reported include both foliar lesions and severe necrosis of hop cones. Through a metagenomic approach using Nanopore sequencing of the full Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region products, multiple fungal species were identified in infected hop cones. Many plant pathogens were present in the hop cones including species of Botrytis, Alternaria, Colletotrichum and Fusarium. Additionally, metagenomic sequencing identified reads that most closely matched D. humulicola. Symptomatic leaf tissue sections were cultured on amended PDA to isolate the pathogen, then colony PCR was conducted and ITS regions were sequenced, confirming the identity of D. humulicola. Pathogenicity was validated using Koch’s postulates on hop leaf disks, with lesion development occurring 7 days post-inoculation. Considering the humid conditions characteristic of eastern North American hop-growing zones, halo blight’s emergence in PE emphasizes the need for comprehensive monitoring and improved best management strategies to protect the PE hop industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cone enlargement is a crucial process for seed production and reproduction in gymnosperms. Most of our knowledge of cone development is derived from observing anatomical structure during gametophyte development. Therefore, the exact molecular mechanism underlying cone enlargement after fertilization is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that sucrose promotes cone enlargement in Torreya grandis, a gymnosperm species with relatively low rates of cone enlargement, via the TgNGA1‐TgWRKY47‐TgEXPA2 pathway.Cell expansion plays a significant role in cone enlargement in T. grandis. 13C labeling and sucrose feeding experiments indicated that sucrose‐induced changes in cell size and number contribute to cone enlargement in this species. RNA‐sequencing analysis, transient overexpression in T. grandis cones, and stable overexpression in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) suggested that the expansin gene TgEXPA2 positively regulates cell expansion in T. grandis cones.The WRKY transcription factor TgWRKY47 directly enhances TgEXPA2 expression by binding to its promoter. Additionally, the NGATHA transcription factor TgNGA1 directly interacts with TgWRKY47. This interaction suppresses the DNA‐binding ability of TgWRKY47, thereby reducing its transcriptional activation on TgEXPA2 without affecting the transactivation ability of TgWRKY47.Our findings establish a link between sucrose and cone enlargement in T. grandis and elucidate the potential underlying molecular mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective/Background: Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich., a plant of the Cupressaceae family, is known for its leaves and cones rich in essential oils, which are traditionally used in folk medicine. This study employed hydrodistillation to extract essential oils from three parts of T. distichum, namely its leaves, twigs, and cones, and evaluated the yield and composition of these oils as well as their anti-mildew property on paper. Methods: The chemical compositions of the essential oils from the three parts were analyzed using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The anti-mildew properties were assessed on paper against seven mold fungi, namely Aspergillus clavatus, A. niger, Chaetomium globosum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Myrothecium verrucaria, Penicillium citrinum, and Trichoderma viride, following standards such as TAPPI T487 cm-93 and CNS 2690. Furthermore, the essential oil demonstrating the strongest anti-mildew properties was selected from the oils extracted from three different parts, underwent column chromatography for isolation, and the main active compounds were identified. Results: Among the three parts, cones had the highest essential oil yield (0.53 ± 0.03 mL/100 g), followed by leaves (0.46 ± 0.02 mL/100 g) and twigs (0.06 ± 0.01 mL/100 g). The main components were limonene (39.8%) and α-pinene (37.1%) in leaves; limonene (16.8%), α-pinene (15.8%), and ferruginol (11.0%) in twigs; and ferruginol (43.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (12.5%) in cones. The cone oils exhibited the most effective anti-mildew properties on paper. Furthermore, the cone oils were fractionated into six fractions (CO1–CO6), with the CO4 fraction exhibiting the best activity. CO4's main components were ferruginol, caryophyllene oxide, and β-caryophyllene. Ferruginol showed the best anti-mildew performance, with 100% inhibition at 200 μg/cm² for all strains. Conclusion: The study results indicated that essential oils from the cones of T. distichum and ferruginol exhibit promising anti-mildew effects on paper. Therefore, further research and development are highly warranted for their application in inhibiting fungal growth on paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy consumption and operational cost are two decision‐making factors which evaluate the feasibility of any energy system. Whether a thermal unit is efficiently working or not depends on the state properties of the thermodynamic system. Therefore, operational research on a geothermal site was performed. Most research pivots around the basic energy conservation equation to determine the parameters. However, finding the parameters does not serve the purpose of an investor. Investment of capital in any project depends on the return and feasibility of the task performed under the project. In the same direction, this article focuses on the optimisation of the performance of a shallow geothermal site in terms of energy and plant economics using the concept of a second‐order cone program (SOCP). The site was used to operate the hybrid heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (HVAC) installed in an academic building. The second‐order cone programming was considered to minimize the energy requirement and cost of energy generation during the winter season. It is to be noted that the solver‐based approach was considered to examine the unit. The optimized energy consumption of GSHP was 24.29 kW⋅h. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE/kW⋅h) derived from SOCP would vary from $ 0.38 to $ 0.58 for the shallow geothermal plant. The rate of return for air conditioning in the building through the geothermal plant would be 1.74%. The optimized upfront cost per m2 was estimated to be $ 1440.87. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fire Ecology is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Comminution, particularly post-crushing, is a critical phase in mineral processing that reduces run-of-mine ore to an acceptable particle size before undergoing a downstream beneficiation process. Despite its importance, this stage has been under-investigated probably due to challenges of sampling and data collection and inadequate technical and financial support. This research presents a multi-method machine learning framework designed to simulate the power dynamics within an industrial-scale iron ore cone crusher circuit. The framework integrates advanced artificial intelligence techniques to evaluate energy consumption and estimate cone crushers output K80 accurately. The developed framework spans from different algorithms by data preprocessing techniques such as normalization and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to standardize and reduce the dataset’s dimensionality, coupled with multiple machine learning algorithms, including Gradient Boosting Machines (CatBoost, LightGBM, XGBoost), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. The study utilized real-time data collected over six months by considering the key operational parameters such as total tonnage, hopper filling levels, power draw, cone position, and crusher discharge settings. The modeling approach was assessed using Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Asymmetric Loss (AL), and the coefficient of determination (R2) as performance metrics. Results indicated that the LSTM model outperformed other methods by achieving the lowest MAE and RMSE and the highest R2 score of 0.92, thereby demonstrating superior precision in estimation. However, XGBoost showed optimal performance in managing asymmetric loss, highlighting its efficiency in error management across different scenarios. Model residual analysis, performance metrics box plots, and scatter plots comparing measured and estimated data across the models are also provided for further analysis. This study demonstrates the transformative potential of machine learning models in refining industrial process simulations, ultimately driving enhanced productivity and sustainability in the mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gymnosperms originated in the Middle Devonian and have experienced a long evolutionary history with pulses of speciation and extinction, which resulted in the four morphologically distinct extant groups, i.e., cycads, Ginkgo, conifers and gnetophytes. For over a century, the systematic relationships within the extant gymnosperms have been debated because different authors emphasized different characters. Recent phylogenomic studies of gymnosperms have given a consistent topology, which aligns well with extant gymnosperms classified into three classes, five subclasses, eight orders, and 13 families. Here, we review the historical opinions of systematics of gymnosperms with special reference to several problematic taxa and reconsider the evolution of some key morphological characters previously emphasized by taxonomists within a phylogenomic context. We conclude that (1) cycads contain two families, i.e., the Cycadaceae and the Zamiaceae; (2) Ginkgo is sister to cycads but not to conifers, with the similarities between Ginkgo and conifers being the result of parallel evolution including a monopodial growth pattern, pycnoxylic wood in long shoots, and the compound female cones, and the reproductive similarities between Ginkgo and cycads are either synapomorphic or plesiomorphic, e.g., the boat-shaped pollen, the branched pollen tube, and the flagellate sperms; (3) conifers are paraphyletic with gnetophytes nested within them, thus gnetophytes are derived conifers, and our newly delimited coniferophytes are equivalent to the Pinopsida and include three subclasses, i.e., Pinidae, Gnetidae, and Cupressidae; (4) fleshy cones of conifers originated multiple times, the Podocarpaceae are sister to the Araucariaceae, the Cephalotaxaceae and the Taxaceae comprise a small clade, which is sister to the Cupressaceae; (5) the Cephalotaxaceae are distinct from the Taxaceae, because the former family possesses typical female cones and the fleshy part of the seed is derived from the fleshiness of integument, while the latter family has reduced female cones and preserves no traces of the seed scale complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Plants interact with various animals during reproduction, which influences their success and evolution. Predispersal seed predators reduce fruit crop, potentially decreasing seed dispersal success through a reduction in the quantity and quality of fruits available for dispersers. We explored this phenomenon in a gymnosperm producing fleshy cones, Spanish juniper (Juniperus thurifera). Spanish juniper cones are damaged by three predispersal arthropod taxa and dispersed by birds. We assessed how these interactions change over time and across different locations. Cone production was the main factor affecting predispersal seed predation. High crops reduced relative seed predation rates due to a satiation effect, although seed dispersal did not increase significantly. Cone crop size had a strong effect on the relative abundance of each arthropod species, with higher competition among arthropods in years with low cone production. Crop size and cone traits at individual trees influenced which seed predators were attracted and the foraging activity of birds. Competition among arthropods increased during years with fewer cones, and seed predators sometimes deterred birds from eating the cones. Overall, large year to year fluctuations in cone production appear to favor Spanish juniper by reducing the impact of seed predators. Plants interact with both antagonistic and mutualistic animals during reproduction, with the outcomes of these interactions significantly influencing plant reproductive success, population dynamics, and the evolution of plant traits. Here, we investigated the spatial and temporal variations in the interactions between Juniperus thurifera, its seed-dispersing birds, and three specific arthropod species that attack the fleshy cones during the predispersal period. We assessed how plant traits affect levels of cone damage by arthropods and seed dispersal by birds, the occurrence of competition among arthropod species, and the impact of seed predators on the activity of frugivores. Plant traits, cone damage by arthropods, and seed dispersal by birds showed spatiotemporal variability. Fluctuation in cone abundance was the leading factor determining damage by arthropods and bird dispersal with a secondary role of cone traits. Large crops satiated predispersal seed predators, although the amount of frugivory did not increase significantly, suggesting a potential satiation of bird dispersers. Crop size and cone traits at individual trees determined preferences by seed predator species and the foraging activity of bird dispersers. Competition among arthropods increased during years of low cone production, and seed predators sometimes negatively affected bird frugivory. High supra-annual variations in cone production appear to be a key evolutionary mechanism enhancing J. thurifera reproductive success. This strategy reduces the impact of specialized seed predators during years of high seed production, despite the potential drawback of satiating seed dispersers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercialization of pine nuts generates major economic benefits for the Mediterranean basin. This has been reduced due to an increase in cone and seed damage associated with the spread of the western conifer seed bug (WCSB) throughout the Mediterranean region and the Dry Cone Syndrome appearing on pine cones. Studies on several conifer species have associated cone and seed damage with WCSB feeding.To relate cone and seed damage of stone pine to WCSB feeding, one exposure and exclusion trial of cones to the feeding of the natural WCSB population was carried out. To determine the seasonality of cone and seed damage caused by this pest, another trial consisting of bagging cones with insects was performed with first‐, second‐ and third‐year cones at different stages of cone development.The natural WCSB population was associated with cone abortion in second‐year cones (unprotected: 43.6% vs. protected: 2.7%), a decreased number of seeds per cone (82.0 vs. 105.3), kernel yield (1.8% vs. 3.8%) and proportion of sound kernels (35.6% vs. 73.6%), and numerous types of kernel damage.Cone mortality in first‐ and third‐year cones bagged with insects decreased as the bagging date advanced. A temporal sequence of kernel damage in third‐year cones (aborted, dry embryo without endosperm, and totally or partially damaged endosperm) was reported for seed development and the timing of WCSB feeding.Our findings may be useful in the management of WCSB populations to prevent significant damage to the stone pine nut crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous new records of Ferganiella, Podozamites, and Schidolepium, including a new species, Ferganiella ivantsovii sp. nov., are described from the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) Middle Subformation of the Prisayan Formation from the Euro‐Sinian paleofloristic region in the Irkutsk Basin, Eastern Siberia, Russia. An analysis of the paleogeographic distribution of Ferganiella and Podozamites shows that both genera were the most diverse and numerous in the East Asian province of the Euro‐Sinian region and in the Northern Chinese province of the Siberian region during the Early and Middle Jurassic. These phytochoria were located in the subtropical and temperate subtropical climate zones, which allows us to consider Ferganiella and Podozamites as thermophilic plants, which are important indicators of the Early Toarcian climatic optimum. Their abundance in the Irkutsk Basin thus may indicate Early Toarcian warming; further abundant Schidolepium cones, which produced Araucariacites pollen, typical for Euro‐Sinian flora complement the scenario. Thus, the new finds are the first macrofloristic indicators of the Toarcian climatic optimum in the Irkutsk Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hygroscopic seed-scale movement is responsible for the weather-adaptive opening and closing of pine cones and for facilitating seed dispersal under favorable environmental conditions. Although this phenomenon has long been investigated, many involved processes are still not fully understood. To gain a deeper mechanical and structural understanding of the cone and its functional units, namely the individual seed scales, we have investigated their desiccation- and wetting-induced movement processes in a series of analyses and manipulative experiments. We found, for example, that the abaxial scale surface is responsible for the evaporation of water from the closed cone and subsequent cone opening. Furthermore, we tested the capability of dry and deformed scales to restore their original shape and biomechanical properties by wetting. These results shed new light on the orchestration of scale movement in cones and the involved forces and provide information about the functional robustness and resilience of cones, leading to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind hygroscopic pine cone opening, the respective ecological framework, and, possibly, to the development of smart biomimetic actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen cones of Araucaria araucana and Wollemia nobilis were investigated. They consist of hundreds of hyposporangiate microsporangiophores with numerous microsporangia, arranged in up to three abaxial rows. Convincing evidence was found that excludes the widely accepted sporophyll concept of coniferous microsporangiophores. It is shown that the units treated generally as sporophylls in fact represent a complex fusion product of numerous microsporangiophores (= synangia). The vasculature in the microsporangiophore may indicate that the hyposporangiate shape is derived from an ancestral perisporangiate condition. In particular, the bundle strands ending blindly in the tissue in distal parts of the scutellum can only be understood as belonging to aborted microsporangia. Transferring this concept to other conifers with hyposporangiate microsporangiophores a perisporangiate origin seems also highly likely for them. This is well supported by the fact that in usually hyposporangiate taxa occasionally perisporangiate microsporangiophores are developed. Thus, the gained results clearly indicate that each microsporangiophore corresponds to a lateral cone (= flower equivalent structure), and the entire pollen cone to a compound structure (= inflorescence equivalent structure). Thus, the evolutionary pathway of araucariaceous pollen cones fits well to the pseudanthial origin suggested previously for the male reproductive structures in other coniferous groups, e.g., Pinaceae or Taxaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Pinene is the bicyclic, unsaturated terpene hydrocarbon present in many plants. Due to its beneficial chemical properties, this compound is of great interest and has found numerous applications as a raw material in many chemical industries as well as in medicine and cosmetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts obtained from plants containing α-pinene and to test the properties of cosmetic emulsions prepared with these extracts. The raw plant materials consisted of fresh parts of Pinus sylvestris L., such as cones, needles, and branches, as well as dried unground and ground pinecones; dried and fresh Rosmarinus officinalis leaves; dried Levisticum officinale leaves; and dried Salvia officinalis L. leaves. The plant materials were individually extracted with 40% (v/v), 70% (v/v), and 96% (v/v) ethanol using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for 15, 30, or 60 min. This method is a green extraction technique, frequently applied to isolate active substances from plants. For the selected plant materials, Soxhlet extraction with 96% (v/v) ethanol was also performed. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the components in the selected extracts were performed with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated with the DPPH and ABTS methods. The extracts of three plant materials with the highest antioxidant activities—dried Rosmarinus officinalis leaves, dried Salvia officinalis L. leaves, and dried and ground Pinus sylvestris L. cones—were selected to be incorporated in cosmetic emulsions containing glyceryl monostearate and Olivem 1000 as emulsifiers. The stabilities and antioxidant activities of the emulsions were evaluated. Moreover, the antimicrobial properties of the emulsions using microbiological tests were also determined. The findings suggest that the prepared emulsions are stable cosmetic products with a high antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of supplemental CO2, gibberellic acid (GA3), and light on the quality and yield of Humulus lupulus L. strobili (cones). When applied separately, CO2 and light increased the yield by 22% and 43%, respectively, and had a significant effect on the components of cone mass and quality. Exogenous GA3 increased flower set; however, the yield decreased by approximately 33%. Combining CO2, GA3, and light, and any combination thereof, resulted in significant increases in flower set and cone yield enhancement compared to separate applications. A synergistic effect occurred when some factors were combined. For example, the combination of CO2 and light resulted in a yield increase of approximately 122%. The combination of all three resources, CO2, GA3, and light, resulted in an approximate 185% yield increase per plant. Thus, in comparison to the addition of one supplementary resource, a greater increase in yield resulted from the combination of two or more supplemental resources. Flower set stimulation due to GA3 decreased cone alpha- and beta-acid quality attributes, unless combined with CO2 and light as additional carbohydrate-generating resources. Additional research is needed to close the hop yield gap between current hop yields and the achievement of the plant's genetic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollen cone structure and vasculature of Taxus baccata and T. wallichiana were investigated in the context of comparative studies in other conifers. The results indicate that the simple, flower‐like pollen cone of Taxus could be derived from an ancestral compound inflorescence as in Cephalotaxus and Pseudotaxus. In Cephalotaxus, each lateral flower‐like structure represents an entire pollen cone, compared with a single perisporangiate microsporangiophore in Pseudotaxus. The microsporangiophores are exclusively perisporangiate in both Pseudotaxus and Taxus, but in Pseudotaxus they are inserted in the axil of a pherophyll. By a simple reduction of these pherophylls, the Taxus pollen cone is formed—a strongly reduced inflorescence with flowers reduced to perisporangiate microsporangiophores, which are inserted directly at the cone axis, without pherophylls. Thus, the perisporangiate Taxus microsporangiophores correspond to the axillary flowers in Cephalotaxus and Pseudotaxus. The Taxus flower results from a strong reduction of an ancestral Cephalotaxus‐like flower type (lateral pollen cones), where all remaining hyposporangiate microsporangiophores have fused to a radial structure during evolution. Thus, perisporangiate Taxus microsporangiophores represent radial synangia and not peltate microsporophylls, suggesting that hyposporangiate microsporangiophores are the ancestral condition in Taxaceae s.l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Agriscientia is the property of Revista AgriScientia 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.)

During the preparation of the treatment of the genus Celtis for the Neotropical region, some names from Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay were found in need of typification. In this context lectotypes are designated for six names (Celtis tala fo. obtusata, Celtis tala fo. subtomentosa, Celtis tala fo. subpilosa, Celtis tala fo. velutina, Celtis williamsii, and Momisia flexuosa) and second-step lectotypes for two names (Momisia chichape and Momisia crenata). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) specializes in feeding on conifer cone seeds but will feed opportunistically on a wide variety of other food items, including fungi, eggs, small vertebrates, and invertebrates. In much of their range, Red Squirrels experience fluctuations in the availability of their primary diet (conifer seeds) seasonally and annually because of variation in seed production. We document a seemingly uncommon or unreported feeding behaviour by a Red Squirrel in a year of an exceedingly low conifer cone production in Yukon, Canada: a squirrel foraging for and feeding on aphids hidden within galls formed on Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera). We searched for community-reported observations of Red Squirrels through iNaturalist and found additional evidence of apparently similar gall feeding behaviour elsewhere in Canada. We estimate that aphids can be a substantial source of caloric energy for Red Squirrels. Our observation represents another example of the diet breadth of Red Squirrels during periods of low conifer seed availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the variations of cone production and general combining ability (representing growth characteristics) in a clonal seed orchard of Pinus koraiensis in South Korea. It estimated the impact of annual production variability on genetic gain and gene diversity, and proposed comprehensive strategies for enhancing stable cone production and sustainable forest productivity. Utilizing cone and seed yield data over three years (2020–2022) from the clonal seed orchard, we estimated the effective population size and the gene diversity of seed crops. Results indicated significant annual and clonal variation in cone production, with a notable impact on the effective population size and the gene diversity. The study also categorized clones into four groups based on the coefficient of variation (CV) and clonal mean for cone production, examining the implications for genetic diversity and gains. By harvesting cones from the group with high yields and low CVs (variance), it is possible to minimize the reduction in genetic diversity caused by selection, as well as improve yield and growth potential of crops. In other words, regulating the CV may effectively reduce the loss of gene diversity and facilitate the re-selection of genotypes that consistently yield elite seeds with potentially superior growth traits. Our findings will contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of seed production, offering insights into the selection and management of clones for improved seed yield and maintain genetic diversity in seed orchards. • Estimating cone coancestry, considering diverse and limited pollen sources, assesses the genetic diversity of seed crops. • Significant level of genetic variation in cone production suggests selection potential in favor of increase cone production. • Selective seed collection from high yield clones with low varianceresults in minimizing a loss of gene diversity. • Strategies to enhance cone production and forest productivity are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high level of consumer awareness regarding healthy, nature-based and sustainable products, place kernels from Pinus pinea L. (stone pine) at the top of the list of non-wood forest products to be explored from an economic perspective in the Mediterranean basin. To meet this growing demand, efforts are being made to domesticate the species and increase its production potential. This study presents the results of a fertirrigation experiment carried out in a stone pine stand planted in 2010 and grafted at the age of 3. The experimental design comprises 2 blocks of 3 plots each established in a surface drip irrigation system with 3 treatments: a Control (C), a first level of fertirrigation (FR) and a second level of fertirrigation (2FR) which corresponds to the double of water and fertilization added to the first level. The fertirrigation treatment (FR) comprised a supplement of 41 mm (8 %) of water to the natural hydrological year precipitation, on average, from 2014 to 2021, combined with an annual input of 100 kg ha-1 of an NPK fertiliser (20 N:15P 2 O 5 :15K 2 O) added during the dry season (late spring to early autumn) in the irrigation system. The 2FR treatment received the double. Radial growth, shoot and needle elongation, needle nitrogen content, female strobili production and mortality and cone production (number and weight) were evaluated over 6 years. The number of female strobili per unit crown area did not vary between treatments in any year. However, growth variables indicated an improved physiological condition of the 2FR trees, especially during spring and summer, resulting in an overall 60 % increase of female strobili that completed the ripening cycle compared to C trees. A 65 % increase in the number of cones produced in the 2FR compared to the C was found, but this effect was only significant during one mast year and after a continuous five-year fertirrigation application. We observed that internal resources accumulation played a significant role in the masting habit of the species, ensuring the survival of female strobili even during a severe drought. Although the fertirrigation applied during the period of water scarcity did not allow a year-to-year regulation of cone production, the results highlight an opportunity to increase production potential by intensifying the use of water and fertilizers. Such investments should be carefully analysed from an economic standpoint, especially in Mediterranean countries where climate change is forcing a more responsible and sustainable use of water in the future. • Pinus pinea produces one of the most valuable and nutritious kernel in the world. • Its domestication is currently underway using fertirrigation (FR). • FR increased 1st year conelets survival but not its production per crown area. • Annual cone production regulation failed but cone yield increased in a mast year. • Internal resource reserves are strongly involved in masting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alibertia latifolia (Rubiaceae) is registered for the first time in Argentina. This species has a broad distribution in South America and grows mainly in humid forests. It is described and illustrated, we provide a detailed description of its pollen grains, distribution map, and a key to distinguish it from Alibertia edulis, a species also found in the Southern Cone of America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bisporangiate microsporangiophores of Pinus are not staminate leaves. • Pinus microsporangiophores are dorsiventral synangia. • Each synangium consists at least of two fused microsporangiophores. • Each microsporangiophore corresponds to a markedly reduced cone (= flower equivalent structure). • Pinaceae pollen cones are most likely of pseudanthial origin. Even today, the evolutionary origin of coniferous pollen-cones is still controversial and conflicting theories about the identity of their microsporangiophores exist. Previous studies strongly suggest that the simple pollen-cone structure of some Taxaceae s.l. is most likely derived from a compound structure and each microsporangiophore represents a lateral, however markedly reduced flower. To test if a similar evolutionary pathway remembering the pseudathium concept sensu Wettstein applies also for Pinaceae, normal shaped and abnormal pollen-cones of Pinus bungeana (Pinaceae) are investigated with SEM and paraffin microtome technique. Pinus sylvestris , which is the type species of the genus, is used as another example. The early development of bisporangiate microsporangiophores starts with two distinct primordia. They fuse in basal parts and form a common stalk. The distal parts remain free and each develops a stalk, a distinct phyllom-like scutellum and one abaxial microsporangium. In some bisporangiate microsporangiophores two monosporangiate microsporangiophores are inserted laterally at the common stalk, which forms a distinct terminal apex. Other microsporangiophores bear a subunit in form of a second, however, aborted microsporangiophore in a lateral position at the base of the common stalk. It is suggested that the bisporangiate microsporangiophore is not a staminate leaf in the sense of a microsporophyll, but a dorsiventral synangium consisting at least of two fused microsporangiophores. In this case each microsporangiophore corresponds to a markedly reduced cone (= flower) which however has lost its pherophyll (= subtending leaf). Similar as shown for Torreya the simple pollen-cone structure in Pinaceae is thus derived from a pseudanthial (= compound) origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Teratological pollen cones of nageia fleuryi support the hypothesis that the typically simple, "flower"-like pollen cones of podocarpaceae have a composite pseudanthial origin. Wild-type pollen cones in Podocarpaceae are simple and "flower"-like, consisting of numerous non-axillary, hyposporangiate microsporangiophores. Teratological pollen cones of Nageia fleuryi are investigated here. One of the most striking and frequent forms is a compound "inflorescence"-like structure, consisting of numerous lateral pollen cones, here analogised with flowers. Each lateral pollen cone is inserted in the axil of a subtending leaf (pherophyll) and consists of several hyposporangiate microsporangiophores. Thus, the branching pattern in the teratological pollen cones corresponds strictly to the general branching pattern of seed plants. In the context of abnormal microsporangiophores that were previously documented for other coniferous groups, and the evolutionary transition series previously suggested for male reproductive structures in Taxaceae s.l., it seems highly likely that the simple, "flower"-like pollen cones of today´s podocarps are derived from a compound "inflorescence"-like ancestral condition by a simple reduction of lateral pollen cones (flowers) to just a single hyposporangiate microsporangiophore and the loss of all pherophylls within the pollen cone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third author's name is spelled incorrectly. The correct name is: Koji Matsunaga. The correct citation is: Kitajima R, Matsuda O, Matsunaga K, Hara R, Watanabe A, Kume A (2022) Evaluation of thermoregulation of different pine organs in early spring and estimation of heat reward for the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) on male cones. PLoS ONE 17(8): e0272565. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272565.By Ryotaro Kitajima; Osamu Matsuda; Koji Matsunaga; Ryotaro Hara; Atsushi Watanabe and Atsushi KumeReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

Nothotsuga is a monotypic genus of Pinaceae endemic to southern China today. Molecular data indicate that Nothotsuga split from Tsuga during the Palaeogene with the earliest fossils from the upper Eocene of North Europe. However, Nothotsuga fossil has not been reported from China. Here, we describe several well-preserved seed cones from the upper Miocene of Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, China. The fossil cones are characterised by ovate to elliptic shapes, rhombic to suborbicular and auriculate scales, and exserted subspathulate bracts with dentate margin and acute or acuminate apical cusp. These cones are ascribed to a new species Nothotsuga sinogaia sp. nov. based on detailed comparisons with all extant genera of Pinaceae. The present discovery indicate that Nothotsuga had a more northern distribution during the late Miocene and the increased annual range of monthly-mean temperature might have restricted its modern distribution to several scattered and fragmental areas in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees' growth responses to climate may depend on tree age and site conditions. In dioecious species, sex adds an extra level of complexity due to differential reproductive effort between the sexes and potentially sex-related dimorphic growth. Araucaria araucana is a long-lived dioecious conifer with outstanding morphological and functional adaptations considered an excellent model to explore interactions between radial growth, climate variability and reproductive effort. We assessed the potential dimorphism of growth rates of the sexes, the effects of site, tree age and sex on the individual climatic responses, and the growth-climate-cone production relationships of A. araucana in two environmentally contrasted sites at the Andes of south-central Chile. We quantified tree-ring growth, its dependence on weather variability, and the relationships of cone production with growth and climate. We found site-dependent sexually-dimorphic growth rates, with females growing more in the warmer site while males growing more in the colder site. Resource allocation to growth was dependent on weather conditions prior to the growing season. Clear effects of site conditions, tree sex and age on the responses of individual tree growth to climate were identified. A more resilient response to drought stress occurred in the colder site and female trees' growth showed tighter limitations by winter snow cover. Warm conditions in spring and summer exerted an age-dependent detrimental effect on growth, which is coherent with earlier xylogenesis resumption in younger trees. Cone production was strongly dependent on antecedent weather conditions up to seven years prior to seed dispersal that induced female cone primordia formation and favoured fertilization of female cones and soil nutrient uptake. The revealed lagged connections between vegetative growth, weather cues and cone production point towards a long-term life strategy for A. araucana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Longleaf pine was different from masting species and there was no general trend of increasing coefficient of variation (CV) in cone production through time. • On a decade scale, there was a significantly positive correlation between the CV of cone production and CV of average annual air temperature, but the CV of annual precipitation was negatively correlated with the CV of cone production at the Escambia (AL) and Blackwater (FL) sites. • Phase coupling of cone production with a strength of approximately 0.4 existed only between the Escambia and Blackwater sites and no significant phase coupling was found between other sites. Abstract Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests are historically and ecologically important and also endangered ecosystems in the southeastern United States. In addition to extensive exploitation and land use conversion, one characteristic which contributed to their dramatic decline and presents a continuing challenge to their future recovery is the sporadic timing of their seed production. In this study, about 60 years of cone production data for longleaf pine forests at four different sites were quantitatively characterized from different perspectives. Results indicated that longleaf pine was different from masting species and there was no general trend of increasing coefficient of variation (CV) in cone production through time. On a decade scale, there was a significantly positive correlation between the CV of cone production and CV of average annual air temperature, but the CV of annual precipitation was negatively correlated with the CV of cone production at the Escambia (AL) and Blackwater (FL) sites. Phase coupling of cone production with a strength of approximately 0.4 existed only between the Escambia and Blackwater sites and no significant phase coupling was found between other sites. The implications of these results for forest management are discussed from a perspective of spatial and temporal complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of low-cost Cu-Mn-mixed oxides supported on biochar (CuMn/HBC) synthesized by an impregnation method were applied to study the simultaneous removal of formaldehyde (HCHO) and elemental mercury (Hg0) at 100–300° C from simulated flue gas. The metal loading value, Cu/Mn molar ratio, flue gas components, reaction mechanism, and interrelationship between HCHO removal and Hg0 removal were also investigated. Results suggested that 12%CuMn/HBC showed the highest removal efficiency of HCHO and Hg0 at 175° C corresponding to 89%and 83%, respectively. The addition of NO and SO2 exhibited inhibitive influence on HCHO removal. For the removal of Hg0, NO showed slightly positive influence and SO2 had an inhibitive effect. Meanwhile, O2 had positive impact on the removal of HCHO and Hg0. The samples were characterized by SEM, XRD, BET, XPS, ICP-AES, FTIR, and H2-TPR. The sample characterization illustrated that CuMn/HBC possessed the high pore volume and specific surface area. The chemisorbed oxygen (Oβ) and the lattice oxygen (Oα) which took part in the removal reaction largely existed in CuMn/HBC. What is more, MnO2 and CuO (or Cu2O) were highly dispersed on the CuMn/HBC surface. The strong synergistic effect between Cu-Mn mixed oxides was critical to the removal reaction of HCHO and Hg0 via the redox equilibrium of Mn4+ + Cu+ ↔ Mn3+ + Cu2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus wallichiana (Blue pine) does not have a good seed every year and hence it becomes necessary to collect abundant quantity of seed during good seed year. It becomes necessary to know the exact time of seed maturity. To overcome this problem, the present investigation was conducted in Kashmir valley at four different altitudes and locations i.e. (1,600-2,000 masl–KFD), (2,000-2,400 masl -LFD), (2,400-2,800-PFD) and (2,800-3200 masl– SFD). The results revealed that seed collection clearly showed wide variation in the maturity of cones. Cone colour served as an indicator of maturity and it changed from light green to green and green with brown patches at maturity. Seed colour changed from whitish to light brown and dark brown at maturity. The mean cone weight (118.67- 88.17gm) and specific gravity (1.13-0.90) decreased as the cones proceeded towards maturity. The mean seed weight of 21.79 to 57.13gm increased at all altitudes as the cones advanced towards maturity. Cone length, cone diameter and germination percent differed (P≤0.05) significantly between altitudes and increased when the cones advanced towards maturity. The germination per cent was recorded more at altitudinal range of 1,600-2,400 masl (67.25-70.26%) at maturity, while as it was recorded lower at higher altitudes (42.12-47.25%). It is concluded that the altitudinal range of 1,600-2,400 masl is best sites for collection of phenotypically superior seeds in terms of maximum cone length (18.18cm), diameter (5.23mm) and weight (108.94gm), number of seeds per cone (117.72), seed weight (79.99) and germinability (68.75). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the seed cones of Araucaria mirabilis in Patagonia and how the study of fossil cones can show the evolutionary relationship and geologic and biologic history of the Earth. Topics include wood mineralization, the fossil wood and cones in the area, and fossil flora and reproductive adaptations of plants.

Research into variability of morphological markers of the reproductive organs in nine natural populations of the Scots pine of Ukrainian Polissya (Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv regions) was carried out during which the colour of cones, seeds, winged seeds, and the apophysis of the cones of the trees of native populations of the Scots pine were examined. The quantity and percentage of different morphological forms of the cone and seeds of the trees of investigated populations were defined. Trees with hooked (f. reflexa) apophysis of the cone (turning upwards) were discovered. As shown in the results of investigations, natural populations of the Scots pine of Ukrainian Polissya are characterized by a large variability of morphological forms. Altogether, 17 new forms of apophysis were described. Cluster analysis of a complex of morphological markers was conducted. It showed differentiation of some populations from the Rivne region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]