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The Puntudo Chico Formation is an uppermost Cretaceous continental sequence deposited in the Cañadón Asfalto Basin, cropping out in the Chubut Province, Argentina. Fossils collected from this unit are essentially palaeobotanical remains, and comprise conifers (Agathoxylon, Brachyoxylon, Podocarpoxylon and Cupressinoxylon) and a dicotyledonous angiosperm (Aextoxicoxylon kawasianus). In this contribution, five taxa referred to the genus Palmoxylon (Arecaceae) are reported for the unit: Palmoxylon sp. 1 (Coryphoideae or Nypoideae), Palmoxylon sp. 2 (close to Coryphoideae), Palmoxylon sp. 3 (Arecoideae), Palmoxylon sp. 4 (Coryphoideae or Arecoideae) and Palmoxylon sp. cf. P. phytelephantoides; (close to Phytelephas of the Ceroxyloideae). Based on the recognised taxa, subtropical to tropical climate is postulated for the Puntudo Chico flora, which is in agreement with previous climatic inferences made for the unit. Finally, the presence of a taxon close to the extant genus Phytelephas permits discussing the diversification of the Ceroxyloidea, and the time of arrival of Phytelepheae to South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department 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.)

Chrysanthemum is the most popular ornamental plant, after roses and lilies. The cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter, which remains the most widely used promoter in dicotyledons, is a very strong promoter with sufficient effects in most crops. However, weak expression has often been reported in Chrysanthemum. Therefore, we searched for constitutive promoters available in Chrysanthemum. Based on the transcriptome analysis data of Chrysanthemum, nine constitutively expressed genes were selected, and each promoter region (1.0–3.0 kb) was isolated by genome walking. Only two of the nine promoters expressed GUS in tobacco and chrysanthemums. The major motif of the CmERF promoter (U41, 2060 bp) was related to the regulation of ethylene (ERELEE4) or gibberellin (PYRIMIDINEBOXOSRAMY1 and WRKY71OS). Similarly, the motif of the CmGA2 ox promoter (U47, 1060 bp) also contained gibberellin signaling factors, such as PRIMIDINEBOXHVEPB1 and WRKY71OS. Both promoters showed strong systemic expression in tobacco using GUS staining. Although weaker than in tobacco, significant expression was confirmed in the flowers and stems in chrysanthemum. The results of the GUS activity assay using chrysanthemum transformants showed that the transgenic line (#12) containing the U47 promoter had higher expression in all tissues than that containing the 35S-CaMV promoter. The U41 promoter was found to have a higher expression than the 35S-CaMV promoter in the stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CANTATAdb 3.0 is an updated database of plant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), containing 571,688 lncRNAs identified across 108 species, including 100 Magnoliopsida (flowering plants), a significant expansion from the previous version. A notable feature is the inclusion of 112,980 lncRNAs that are expressed specifically in certain plant organs or embryos, indicating their potential role in development and organ-specific processes. In addition, CANTATAdb 3.0 includes 74,886 pairs of evolutionarily conserved lncRNAs found across 47 species and inferred from genome–genome alignments as well as conserved lncRNAs obtained using a similarity search approach in 5,479 species pairs, which would further aid in the selection of lncRNAs for functional studies. Interestingly, we find that conserved lncRNAs with tissue-specific expression patterns tend to occupy the same plant organ across different species, pointing toward conserved biological roles. The database now offers extended search capabilities and downloadable data in popular formats, further facilitating research on plant lncRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of plant type on n-alkane biomarker has been widely studied, but the influence of plant type on n-alkanoic acids (n-FAs) has received less attention. Understanding the effect of the distribution of n-FAs and their hydrogen isotope composition (δ2HFA) is critical for interpreting sedimentary δ2HFA values as proxies of hydroclimate and/or vegetation changes. In this study, we systematically investigated the distribution of n-FAs and δ2HFA values across seasons on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). Our results showed that there were no significant seasonal differences in n-FAs distribution and δ2HFA values, but there were significant differences in δ2HFA values across plant types. The δ2HFA values ranged from −185‰ to −125‰ in dicots (−161‰±28‰), and from −215‰ to −170‰ in monocots (−196‰±22‰) on the CLP. Isotope fractionation between δ2HFA values and precipitation δ2H (εFA-P) was also 2H-enriched in dicots relative to monocots. At the regional scale of the CLP, δ2HFA values were not correlated with δ2H values of precipitation. However, δ2HFA values from the CLP were similar to expectations from a global comparison, both in terms of their mean values and high variability among plants growing in sites with similar δ2H values of precipitation. As some of this variability in εFA-P is due to the effect of plant type, a careful assessment of the likely sources of waxes in terrestrial sediments is critical when using δ2HFA values for paleohydroclimate reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most acceptable way to prevent and eliminate negative phenomena arising from devastating landscapes is phytomelioration. To assess the suitability of the landfill's surface for phytomelioration measures, it is necessary to determine the species composition, physiological stability, density, and completeness of the tree stand (in case of the tree species development) already developing as a result of natural overgrowth. The present work examines the ecological succession of three large urban landfills within the Western Forest Steppe of Ukraine - Lviv, Ternopil, and Lutsk. It was established that the maximum phytomass is characteristic of the gentle slopes of landfills with relatively stable moisture index, and developed soil, which gives reason to attribute the plant groups to the endoecogenesis stage while there are no garbage dumping processes. Three stages of overgrowth were identified for all landfills - syngenetic succession, initial endoecogenetic succession, and mature endoecogenetic succession. The taxonomic structure of the flora of the urban landfills of the Western Forest Steppe is represented by the divisions Magnoliophyta, Pinophyta, Polypodiophyta, Bryophyta, and the classes Magnoliopsida, Liliopsida, Pinopsida, Equisetopsida, Polytrichopsida. The phytomeliorative efficiency of vegetation at solid waste landfills shows that the surface of landfills in the Western Forest Steppe is dominated by stunted plants and the phytomelioration coefficient is low. Thus, the surface of the landfill is suitable for phytomelioration and reclamation works and landfill decommissioning. The phytomeliorative efficiency of vegetation at solid waste landfills shows that the surface of landfills in the Western Forest Steppe is dominated by stunted plants and the phytomelioration coefficient is low. Thus, the surface of the landfill is suitable for phytomelioration and reclamation works and landfill decommissioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen is becoming an increasingly important subject for molecular researchers in genetic engineering, plant breeding, and environmental monitoring. To broaden the scope of these studies, it is essential to develop accessible methods for scientists who are not specialized in palynology. The article presents a simplified technical procedure for preparing pollen grains for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The protocol is convenient for any molecular laboratory due to its small set of reagents, ease of execution, low cost, does not require special equipment, and takes only one hour to complete. The high penetrating ability of formaldehyde and the final delicate dehydration using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) instead of critical point drying allow for sufficient preservation of the architecture of the aperture, which is considered a gateway for the passage of biomolecules. The method was successfully applied to pollen grains of representatives of dicotyledons (beetroot, petunia, radish, tomato and tobacco) and monocotyledons (lily, onion, corn, rye and wheat). Species studied included insect-pollinated (entomophilous) and wind-pollinated (anemophilous) species. A comparative analysis of the sizes of fresh living pollen grains under a light microscope and those prepared for SEM showed some shrinkage. Quantitative analysis of the degree of pollen grain shrinkage showed that this process depends on the initial shape of dry pollen grains, and the number and structure of apertures. The results support the theoretical model of the folding/unfolding pathways of pollen grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work was carried out with the objective of updating the weed flora associated with sugar cane in Cuba. Weed identification surveys corresponding to 2023 were carried out in all sugarcane production units in the country. Identification was carried out by walking the field along its diagonals, with the help of catalogs to the identification of the species. Families' diversity index, the relative frequency of the species at the field and the relation of interference for morfotipo they were determinated. The frequency was determined and classified into the categories of: Accidental; Uncommon; Moderately common and Very common. The surveys showed the existence of seven families, of which two belong to the class Liliatae (Monocotyledons) and five to the Magnoliatae (Dicotyledons). The Poaceae family presented the highest relative diversity index (54.2%), followed by Fabaceae and Mimosaceae with the same value (12.5%). twenty one genera were distinguished, 11 from the class Liliatae and 10 from the Magnoliatae. The most frequent were Brachiaria and Sorghum, both from the Poaceae family, with three and two meanings, respectively. The floristic inventory revealed the existence of 24 species of weeds associated with sugar cane as the most frequent at the national level, with frequency values above 1%, of which 14 belong to the class Liliatae and 10 to the Magnoliatae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PIN‐FORMED (PIN) proteins mediate the auxin flow throughout the plant and have been identified in many species. However, evolution differences in the PIN gene families have not been systematically analyzed, and their functions under abiotic stresses in grape are largely unexplored. In this study, 373 PIN genes were identified from 25 species and divided into 3 subgroups. Physicochemical properties analysis indicated that most of the PIN proteins were unstable alkaline hydrophobic proteins in nature. The synteny analysis showed that the PINs contained strong gene duplication. Motif composition revealed that PIN gene sequence differences between monocotyledons and dicotyledons were due to evolutionary‐induced base loss, and the loss was more common in dicotyledonous. Meanwhile, the codon usage bias showed that the PINs showed stronger codon preference in monocotyledons, monocotyledons biased towards C3s and G3s, and dicotyledons biased towards A3s and T3s. In addition, the VvPIN1 can interact with VvCSN5. Significantly, under freezing treatment, the ion leakage, O2·−$$ \left({O}_2^{\cdotp -}\right) $$, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were obviously increased, while the proline (Pro) content, peroxidase (POD) activity, and glutathione (GSH) content were decreased in VvPIN1‐overexpressing Arabidopsis compared to the wild type (WT). And quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) showed that AtICE1, AtICE2, AtCBF1, AtCBF2, and AtCBF3 were down‐regulated in overexpression lines. These results demonstrated that VvPIN1 negatively regulated the freezing tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Collectively, this study provides a novel insight into the evolution and a basis for further studies on the biological functions of PIN genes in monocotyledons and dicotyledons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vineyards provide space for microhabitats and require a very specific way of management. Vineyard vegetation undergoes succession over time, which affects insect communities. The selected vineyards are located in Moravia in the Czech Republic. The vegetation of the vineyards consisted of 48 species of annual dicotyledons, 63 species of perennial dicotyledons, 9 species of annual grasses, and 10 species of perennial grasses. During the observation, 9 species of carabid beetles were recorded in the monitored vineyards. The composition of the vegetation in the vineyards changes with the age of the vineyard. Over time, representatives of the perennial dicotyledons, perennial grasses groups increase and representatives of the group annual dicotyledons decrease. The age of the vineyards also changed the carabid beetle community - the Anchomenus dorsalis species was more common in older vineyards. The Dolichus halensis, Leistus ferrugineus and Platynus assimilis species were more frequently recorded in summer and fall in older vineyards. The other species preferred younger vineyards. A higher abundance was recorded in summer and fall, which may be due to a higher food supply and sufficient amount of microhabitats for hibernation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe nine angiosperm fossil woods from sediments of the Cardiel Formation (Upper Cretaceous) near the Cardiel Lake, Santa Cruz Province, Argentinian Patagonia. On the basis of the characteristics of the anatomy, the specimens were placed in three fossil species: Weinmannioxylon trichospermoides related to the Cunoniaceae, Burseroxylon panzai sp. nov. possibly related to the Anacardiaceae or Burseraceae, and a new taxon with unknown affinity, Tortorellixylon oligoporosum gen. et sp. nov. Angiosperms are 15% of the assemblage and conifers 85%, which is consistent with previous studies of fossil woods from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Most specimens show poorly distinct growth ring boundaries that suggest a weakly marked annual seasonality during the deposition of the Cardiel Formation. In addition, the specimens' size and the rings' curvature are consistent with large trees. Decay patterns similar to those produced by modern xylophagous fungi are also recognized in most specimens. The identification of three species in an assemblage of nine fossil woods suggests a significant taxonomic richness of angiosperms, and the taxonomic composition suggests a Late Cretaceous age for the Cardiel Formation (probably Campanian–Maastrichtian). These new records allow a better understanding of the composition of the fossil forests of the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia, in which the tree canopy was apparently dominated by conifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa. L.) is a globally significant autotetraploid legume forage crop. However, despite its importance, establishing efficient gene editing systems for cultivated alfalfa remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we pioneered the development of a highly effective ultrasonic-assisted leaf disc transformation system for Gongnong 1 alfalfa, a variety widely cultivated in Northeast China. Subsequently, we created a single transcript CRISPR/Cas9 (CRISPR_2.0) toolkit, incorporating multiplex gRNAs, designed for gene editing in Gongnong 1. Both Cas9 and gRNA scaffolds were under the control of the Arabidopsis ubiquitin-10 promoter, a widely employed polymerase II constitutive promoter known for strong transgene expression in dicots. To assess the toolkit’s efficiency, we targeted PALM1, a gene associated with a recognizable multifoliate phenotype. Utilizing the CRISPR_2.0 toolkit, we directed PALM1 editing at two sites in the wild-type Gongnong 1. Results indicated a 35.1% occurrence of editing events all in target 2 alleles, while no mutations were detected at target 1 in the transgenic-positive lines. To explore more efficient sgRNAs, we developed a rapid, reliable screening system based on Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation, incorporating the visible reporter MtLAP1. This screening system demonstrated that most purple visible hairy roots underwent gene editing. Notably, sgRNA3, with an 83.0% editing efficiency, was selected using the visible hairy root system. As anticipated, tetra-allelic homozygous palm1 mutations exhibited a clear multifoliate phenotype. These palm1 lines demonstrated an average crude protein yield increase of 21.5% compared to trifoliolate alfalfa. Our findings highlight the modified CRISPR_2.0 system as a highly efficient and robust gene editing tool for autotetraploid alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista del Museo de Antropología is the property of Museo de Antropologia - IDACOR 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.)

Seedling emergence is a crucial stage in plant production as it greatly impacts or even determines the final yield. For dicotyledonous plants, the growth of the hypocotyl and the development of the apical hook play a significant role in seedling emergence. Hypocotyl growth and apical hook development are a continuously dynamic process and are important guarantees for seedling emergence. The elongation of the hypocotyls provides the necessary force for seedlings to penetrate the soil, while the apical hook protects the delicate apical meristems and cotyledons from the damages during the soil topping process. Focusing on the development of the hypocotyl and apical hook, this paper summarized the molecular mechanisms regulating hypocotyl elongation and thickening by arranging themselves through the cytoskeleton in dicotyledonous plants, as well as the growth mechanisms of cellular differentiation involved in apical hook formation, maintenance, and unfolding. This paper examined the synergistic effects and mechanisms of major environmental factors such as light and temperature, as well as plant endogenous hormones, on hypocotyl and apical hook development. Furthermore, the paper explored agricultural practices, including optimizing environmental factors through sowing methods and seedling thinning to enhance hypocotyl growth and apical hook development, which in turn improves seedling emergence rate and stand establishment rate. Lastly, the paper provided suggestions for further research on the molecular mechanisms regulating hypocotyl and apical hook development, along with insights into the adaptation mechanism of apical hook and hypocotyl development to adversity, as well as for achieving effective control of seedling emergence and stand establishment in dicotyledonous plants. This paper serves as a valuable reference for a deeper understanding of the seedling emergence mechanism in dicotyledonous plants and innovative plant seeding and seedling preservation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contemporary study examined several wild species of dicotyledons developing in the Samawa Desert in Southern Iraq. The various characteristics of these species' assessment used a light microscope to isolate the species from each other and better utilize their qualities. Based on the collected field samples, four species belonging to the family Asteraceae reached identification, i.e., Aaronsohnia factorovskyi, Anvillea gracinii, Anthemis maritima, and Calendula arvensis. The botanical characteristics, such as shape, size, apertures, pole type, apocolpium, mesocolpium, wall thickness, and exine sculpturing, also gained evaluation in the study. The examined profiles of different species varied greatly, according to the results. The nature of the polarity of the pollen grains determines the pollen grains' polarity, which, in turn, determines the shape of apertures and isopolar to take apertures zono-colporate. The overall shape of the pollen grains, determined by the ratio between the polar axis to the equatorial axis P/E, included prolate spheroidal and oblate spheroidal. By measuring the axis length, the study showed that the species' pollen grains were within a medium range. As for exine sculpturing, the study revealed one type of sculpturing, i.e., echinate in the genera Aaronsohnia factorovskyi, Anvillea gracinii, and Anthemis maritima, while the genus Calendula arvensis was devoid of decorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), also known as 3‐caffeioylquinic acid or coffee tannin, is a water‐soluble polyphenol phenylacrylate compound produced through the shikimate pathway by plants during aerobic respiration. CGA widely exists in higher dicotyledons, ferns and many Chinese medicinal materials, and enjoys the reputation of 'plant gold'. Here, we summarized the source, chemical structure, biological activity functions of CGA and its research progress in pigs, aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding and theoretical basis for the prospect of CGA replacing antibiotics as a pig feed additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the ethnobotanical uses of Afzelia africana Sm. ex Pers., a threatened tree species in Nigeria to determine the impact of uses of this species on the risk of its extinction. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted by means of semi-structured questionnaires with the local community called Ijebu Igbo in Ogun state of Nigeria and a total of 60 respondents were interviewed from this community. Herbalists, artisans, Islamic scholars, traders, and retirees were interviewed to document their knowledge of the uses of A. africana. This study revealed that there are different uses of A. africana, among which its spiritual and medicinal uses were the most dominant. An unsustainable harvest of A. africana for these uses will aggravate the decline of its population, thereby increasing the risk of extinction. This study recommends local awareness of the indigenous people of possible ways this species can be utilized in a sustainable manner to prevent its extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antigonon leptopus is an elegant weedy species that thrives well during wet season in habitats disturbed by humans; it shows vegetative and reproductive events in this season. Its flowers bloom twice with pollen and nectar presentation on day 1 and nectar presentation on day 2 for use by insects that act as pollinators. The flowers are unspecialized with exposed sex organs and presenting pollen and nectar which are easily accessible by the probing insects while collecting the floral rewards and effect pollination. The field study indicates that it acts as a key forage source for insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In leaves of C4 plants, the reactions of photosynthesis become restricted between two compartments. Typically, this allows accumulation of C4 acids in mesophyll (M) cells and subsequent decarboxylation in the bundle sheath (BS). In C4 grasses, proliferation of plasmodesmata between these cell types is thought to increase cell‐to‐cell connectivity to allow efficient metabolite movement. However, it is not known whether C4 dicotyledons also show this enhanced plasmodesmal connectivity and so whether this is a general requirement for C4 photosynthesis is not clear. How M and BS cells in C4 leaves become highly connected is also not known.We investigated these questions using 3D‐ and 2D‐electron microscopy on the C4 dicotyledon Gynandropsis gynandra as well as phylogenetically close C3 relatives.The M–BS interface of C4G. gynandra showed higher plasmodesmal frequency compared with closely related C3 species. Formation of these plasmodesmata was induced by light. Pharmacological agents that perturbed photosynthesis reduced the number of plasmodesmata, but this inhibitory effect could be reversed by the provision of exogenous sucrose.We conclude that enhanced formation of plasmodesmata between M and BS cells is wired to the induction of photosynthesis in C4G. gynandra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Plant growth and morphogenesis are determined by the mechanical properties of its cell walls. Using atomic force microscopy, we have characterized the dynamics of cell wall elasticity in different tissues in developing roots of several plant species. The elongation growth zone of roots of all species studied was distinguished by a reduced modulus of elasticity of most cell walls compared to the meristem or late elongation zone. Within the individual developmental zones of roots, there were also significant differences in the elasticity of the cell walls of the different tissues, thus identifying the tissues that limit root growth in the different species. In cereals, this is mainly the inner cortex, whereas in dicotyledons this function is performed by the outer tissues—rhizodermis and cortex. These differences result in a different behaviour of the roots of these species during longitudinal dissection. Modelling of longitudinal root dissection using measured properties confirmed the difference shown. Thus, the morphogenesis of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous roots relies on different tissues as growth limiting, which should be taken into account when analyzing the localization of associated molecular events. At the same time, no matrix polysaccharide was found whose immunolabelling in type I or type II cell walls would predict their mechanical properties. However, assessment of the degree of anisotropy of cortical microtubules showed a striking correlation with the elasticity of the corresponding cell walls in all species studied. Significance Statement: Juxtaposing the nanomechanical properties of cell walls in growing roots with their composition and the organization of the cytoskeleton revealed key similarities and differences in root morphogenesis in monocots and dicots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen is becoming an increasingly important subject for molecular researchers in genetic engineering, plant breeding, and environmental monitoring. To broaden the scope of these studies, it is essential to develop accessible methods for scientists who are not specialized in palynology. The article presents a simplified technical procedure for preparing pollen grains for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The protocol is convenient for any molecular laboratory due to its small set of reagents, ease of execution, low cost, does not require special equipment, and takes only one hour to complete. The high penetrating ability of formaldehyde and the final delicate dehydration using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) instead of critical point drying allow for sufficient preservation of the architecture of the aperture, which is considered a gateway for the passage of biomolecules. The method was successfully applied to pollen grains of representatives of dicotyledons (beetroot, petunia, radish, tomato and tobacco) and monocotyledons (lily, onion, corn, rye and wheat). Species studied included insect-pollinated (entomophilous) and wind-pollinated (anemophilous) species. A comparative analysis of the sizes of fresh living pollen grains under a light microscope and those prepared for SEM showed some shrinkage. Quantitative analysis of the degree of pollen grain shrinkage showed that this process depends on the initial shape of dry pollen grains, and the number and structure of apertures. The results support the theoretical model of the folding/unfolding pathways of pollen grains.

The quantification of stomatal pore size has long been a fundamental approach to understand the physiological response of plants in the context of environmental adaptation. Automation of such methodologies not only alleviates human labor and bias but also realizes new experimental research methods through massive analysis. Here, we present an image analysis pipeline that automatically quantifies stomatal aperture of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves from bright-field microscopy images containing mesophyll tissue as noisy backgrounds. By combining a You Only Look Once X–based stomatal detection submodule and a U-Net-based pore segmentation submodule, we achieved a mean average precision with an intersection of union (IoU) threshold of 50% value of 0.875 (stomata detection performance) and an IoU of 0.745 (pore segmentation performance) against images of leaf discs taken with a bright-field microscope. Moreover, we designed a portable imaging device that allows easy acquisition of stomatal images from detached/undetached intact leaves on-site. We demonstrated that this device in combination with fine-tuned models of the pipeline we generated here provides robust measurements that can substitute for manual measurement of stomatal responses against pathogen inoculation. Utilization of our hardware and pipeline for automated stomatal aperture measurements is expected to accelerate research on stomatal biology of model dicots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana bunchy top virus is a multicomponent circular ssDNA virus (family Nanoviridae) that causes one of the most devastating diseases of cultivated bananas and plantains (family Musaceae). It is transmitted by the aphids Pentalonia nigronervosa and P. caladii among host plants of Musaceae and some other families of monocots. Our Illumina sequencing reconstruction of virome components of BBTV-infected banana plants and their neighbor non-banana plants sampled in Vietnam and Laos revealed the monocot Commelina sp. (Commelinaceae) and the dicots Bidens pilosa and Chromolaena odorata (both Asteraceae) as hosts of BBTV and circular ssDNA alphasatellites (family Alphasatellitidae). Counting the proportions and relative abundances of Illumina reads representing BBTV genome components and alphasatellites suggested that Chromolaena and Commelina are poor hosts for BBTV and one to three alphasatellite species, whereas Bidens is a permissive host for BBTV and four alphasatellite species representing two genera of Alphasatellitidae. Our findings provide evidence for the dicot plants of family Asteraceae as alternative hosts of BBTV and its alphasatellites, which warrants further investigation of these and other dicots as a potential refuge and source of BBTV and multiple alphasatellites that become associated with this virus and likely affect its replication, transmission, and host range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolaris gigantea (= Drechslera gigantea) causes Bipolaris leaf spot (BLS), a devastating and widespread disease on industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa). An investigation of relationships of isolates from hemp and other plants indicated variation in ploidy that has not previously been reported for Bipolaris. Isolates were obtained from BLS lesions on hemp and nearby weeds in 11 Kentucky counties and were similar to each other in morphology and growth characteristics. In total, 23 isolates were analyzed by multilocus phylogenetics, of which seven were also chosen for whole genome shotgun sequencing. Genes for RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2), translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), and mating type (MAT1) indicated that 13 of the isolates were haploid with only a single allele each of RPB2 and TEF1 and either the MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 idiomorph, whereas 10 were apparently "heteroploid" with two alleles each of RPB2 and TEF1 and both MAT1 idiomorphs. Haploids all had identical RPB2 alleles except for a 1-bp difference in two isolates, identical TEF1 alleles, and (if present) identical MAT1-2 alleles. Those alleles were also present in each heteroploid along with either of two related but distinct alleles for each gene. In contrast, haploids and heteroploids shared allelic variation of MAT1-1. In total, four haploid and two heteroploid genotypes were identified. Genome sequence data assembled to 30–32 Mb for each of four haploid isolates, but 10–31 Mb larger sizes for each of three heteroploids depending on sequencing platform and assembly program. The haploids and heteroploids caused similar disease on hemp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in Bayburt Merkez, Aydıntepe and Demirözü districts in 2020 in order to determine the weeds, their densities and their incidence in the bean cultivation areas of Bayburt Province. Considering the product pattern around the area to be studied, studies were carried out in areas with different product patterns, using 1 m² frames in the inner parts of the area. Counts were made for each weed in the frame. As a result of the examinations, 26 weed species belonging to 26 genera belonging to 16 families, 1 from Monocotyledoneae and 15 from the Dicotyledoneae, were determined. It has been determined that the densities of these weeds vary between 0.02 and 5.29 plant m-2 and the average density is 18.98 plant m-2. As a result of the survey studies conducted on the basis of Bayburt province, the highest species in terms of average density and frequency of occurrence were Elymus repens (L.) Gould (5.29 plant m-2; 68.46%), Amaranthus retroflexus L. (4.50 plant m-2; 66.65%), Convolvulus arvensis L. (3.16 plant m-2; 62.92%), Chenopodium album L. (0.87 plant m-2; 31.86%) and Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (0.82 plant m-2; 31.79%) and the least species were Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv. (0.07 plant m-2; 5.67%), Ranunculus arvensis L. (0.07 plant m-2; 4.76%), Chondrilla juncea L. (0.07 plant m-2; 3.89%), Vicia cracca L. (0.06 plant m-2; 5.56%), Boreava orientalis Jaub. and Spach (0.04 plant m-2; 3.43%) and Isatis glauca Aucher ex Boiss. (0.02 plant m-2; 1.54%). In the bean fields of Bayburt province, it is necessary to control weeds such as Elymus repens (L.) Gould, Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Convolvulus arvensis L. in order to increase the yield to be obtained from the unit area. For this, attention should be paid to bean varieties adapted to the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Hunteria zeylanica (Retz.) Gardner ex Thwaites (Magnoliopsida: Gentianales: Apocyanaceae)-new addition and first genus record to the flora of Karnataka" discusses the discovery of Hunteria zeylanica, a tree species, in the wet evergreen forests of Karnataka, India. Previously, this species was only recorded in the evergreen forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The article provides a systematic description of the plant and its habitat, highlighting the need for further studies on its distribution and conservation measures due to its small population and potential threats from habitat loss. [Extracted from the article]

Ilex embelioides Hook.f. is a threatened tree species endemic to northeastern India. The species propagates naturally through seeds but shows a brief dormancy period. The present study was carried out to assess the germination behaviour, and identify the suitable storage conditions of I. embelioides seeds. Results revealed that warm stratification for 30 days could effectively break dormancy. Seeds pre-treated with gibberellic acid (GA3, 2,000 mg L-1) showed highest germination (63.89 ± 0.91%) as compared to other concentrations of GA3 as well as potassium nitrate (KNO3). Highest in vitro seed germination percentage (65.56 ± 2.92%) was recorded on (Murashige and Skoog) MS medium containing 10 mg L-1 GA3. The viability of the seeds declined with storage period irrespective of its storage condition. After 30 days, highest viability (54.72 %) was observed in seeds stored in moist sand at 25°C. Therefore, application of GA3 and warm stratification (25 ± 1°C) along with a substrate (moist sand) for 30 days may be considered as ideal conditions for effective germination and storage of I. embelioides seeds. This study can also be used for mass propagation of the species for reintroduction in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ultraviolet Resistance Locus 8 (UVR8) in plants recognizes ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) light and plays a crucial role in regulating plant growth through a series of signal transduction events. However, the UVR8 in monocotyledon crops has not yet been systematically analysed.We identified BdUVR8 (BRADI_3g45740) from the genome of Brachypodium distachyon, a relative of wheat, by analysing the phylogenetic tree, the gene expression pattern, detecting accumulation of UV‐B response metabolites, and checking for phenotype recovery.The BdUVR8 protein sequence is similar to the known UVR8 of other species. The phylogenetic tree of UVR8 shows clear divergence between dicotyledons and monocotyledons. Expression analysis revealed that UV‐B downregulates BdUVR8 by 70% and upregulates the chalcone synthase (BdCHS) gene 3.4‐fold in B. distachyon. The pCAMBIA1300::BdUVR8‐mCherry construct introduced into Arabidopsis uvr8 mutants showed that the BdUVR8 protein is localized in the cytoplasm and translocates into the nucleus in response to UV‐B irradiation. The introduction of BdUVR8 into uvr8 rescued hypocotyl elongation caused by UV‐B and restored expression of HY5, Chalcone synthase, and Flavanone 3‐hydroxylase, as well as accumulation of total flavonoids.Together, our results show that BdUVR8 is a photoreceptor that perceives UV‐B in B. distachyon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trihelix transcription factor (TTF) gene family is an important class of transcription factors that play key roles in regulating developmental processes and responding to various stresses. To date, no comprehensive analysis of the TTF gene family in large‐scale species has been performed. A cross‐genome exploration of its origin, copy number variation, and expression pattern in plants is also unavailable. Here, we identified and characterized the TTF gene family in 110 species representing typical plant phylogenetic taxa. Interestingly, we found that the number of TTF genes was significantly expanded in Chara braunii compared to other species. Based on the available plant genomic datasets, our comparative analysis suggested that the TTF gene family likely originated from the GT‐1‐1 group and then expanded to form other groups through duplication or deletion of some domains. We found evidence that whole‐genome duplication/triplication contributed most to the expansion of the TTF gene family in dicots, monocots and basal angiosperms. In contrast, dispersed and proximal duplications contributed to the expansion of the TTF gene family in algae and bryophyta. The expression patterns of TTF genes and their upstream and downstream genes in different treatments showed a functional divergence of TTF‐related genes. Furthermore, we constructed the interaction network between TTF genes and the corresponding upstream and downstream genes, providing a blueprint for their regulatory pathways. This study provided a cross‐genome comparative analysis of TTF genes in 110 species, which contributed to understanding their copy number expansion and evolutionary footprint in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The 14–3–3 family is more highly conserved among monocotyledons, and overexpression of MdGRF13 improved drought and salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. The 14–3–3 are highly conserved regulatory proteins found in eukaryotes and play an essential role in plant growth, development and stress response. However, the 14–3–3 gene family evolution in monocotyledons and dicotyledons and the biological functions of the MdGRF13 under abiotic stress remain unknown. In our study, 195 members of the 14–3–3 family were identified from 12 species and divided into ε group and the Non-ε group. Synteny analysis within the 14–3–3 family indicated that segmental duplication events contributed to the expansion of the family. Selective pressure analysis indicated that purifying selection was a vital force in the 14–3–3 genes evolution, and monocotyledons had a lower million years ago (Mya) mean values than dicotyledons. Meanwhile, the codon adaptation index (CAI) and frequency of optical codons (FOP) are higher and the effective number of codons (Nc) is lower in monocotyledons 14–3–3 genes compared to dicotyledons. Moreover, the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) demonstrated that MdGRF13 interacts with MdRD22, MdLHP1a and MdMORF1. Significantly, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and relative conductivity were decreased, while the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities were increased in transgenic Arabidopsis compared to the wild type (WT) under drought and salt stress. These results suggest that overexpression of MdGRF13 significantly improved the tolerance to drought and salt stress in transgenic Arabidopsis. Thus, our results provide a theoretical basis for exploring the evolution and function of the 14–3–3 gene family in monocotyledons and dicotyledons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf anatomical and epidermal characteristics of three species of Cleome were studied in a bid to group them into the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways and contribute data to better understand possible range of quantitative anatomical characters of C4 plants that may be peculiar to dicotyledons. The characters investigated are intercellular air spaces, inter-stomatal distance, inter-veinal distance, Kranz tissue, leaf thickness, maximum lateral cell count criterion, mesophyll thickness, one cell distant count criterion, stomatal density, stomata index, stomata size and vein density. The presence of Kranz tissue, inter-veinal distance of less than 150 µm, maximum lateral count of two to five and mesophyll thickness were major features of the C4 Cleome species. This showed that C. gynandra is a C4 species while C. rutidosperma and C. viscosa are C3 species. Among the epidermal characters studied, only the stomatal density was useful in the delimitation of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency adds a burden on patients and their families in Egypt and Middle East due to lifelong diet restriction. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the challenge with non-fava beans (dicotyledons) diet on the development of hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients as well as making a genotype-phenotype correlation from two centers. Patients and methods A 1-year interventional study was registered in the Clinical Trials Government (NCT02498340), including 108 patients subjected to quantitative analyses for enzymatic activity and molecular typing of G6PD enzyme using a PCR-amplification refractory mutation system technique. Dietetic challenge included ingestion of non-fava beans diet taken in small amount (10-20 g/day for 3 successive days/week) weekly for 1 year with clinical and laboratory follow-up of essential markers of hemolysis. Results Mediterranean mutation was the commonest type (53.7%) and with significantly more patients with severe enzyme deficiency in this mutation, followed by African mutation (16.7%), while Cairo mutation was expressed in 13.9%. All studied genotypes were comparable regarding their clinical presentations. After diet challenge, none of the patients with identified genotypes showed significant changes in their G6PD, mean hemoglobin, indirect bilirubin levels, and reticulocytic count (%) compared with baseline. Conclusion G6PD Mediterranean mutation is the commonest mutations causing G6PD deficiency in Egypt. G6PD-deficient children might tolerate diet that contains a small amount of non-fava beans for 1 year without inducing hemolysis, so its restriction in G6PD-deficient patients should be reconsidered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystoliths are phytoliths of silica and calcium carbonate and are produced in a few groups of dicotyledonous angiosperms. Anatomical and, more recently, phytolith studies have recorded them in different families. In the present review, we analyse and integrate both types of research to compile information about their formation and composition, their distribution in vascular plants, their relation with anatomy and systematics and their potential roles in plant tissues. We also include analyses of specimens belonging to families having poorly-known cystolith information. According to our review, cystoliths can be considered to be Si-Ca phytoliths. They are well described in eight families, and in 14 other families the information is inconclusive. The production of cystoliths is limited to dicotyledons, but there is no clear phylogenetic relation between the families that produce them. Cystolith accumulation is predominantly in the epidermis of leaves and/or in parenchymatic rays of woods. Diverse roles related to photosynthesis enhancement and as Ca reservoirs have been assigned to cystoliths. Knowledge of cystolith production among vascular plants is relevant for anatomical, systematic and ecological research, and also for biogeochemical studies due to their importance as a source of Ca and Si. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Unlike monocots and dicots, many conifers, particularly Pinaceae, form three or more cotyledons. These are arranged in a whorl, or ring, at a particular distance from the embryo tip, with cotyledons evenly spaced within the ring. The number of cotyledons, nc, varies substantially within species, both in clonal cultures and in seed embryos. nc variability reflects embryo size variability, with larger diameter embryos having higher nc. Correcting for growth during embryo development, we extract values for the whorl radius at each nc. This radius, corresponding to the spatial pattern of cotyledon differentiation factors, varies over three-fold for the naturally observed range of nc. The current work focuses on factors in the patterning mechanism that could produce such a broad variability in whorl radius. Molecularly, work in Arabidopsis has shown that the initiation zone for leaf primordia occurs at a minimum between inhibitor zones of HD-ZIP III at the shoot apical meristem (SAM) tip and KANADI (KAN) encircling this farther from the tip. PIN1-auxin dynamics within this uninhibited ring form auxin maxima, specifying primordia initiation sites. A similar mechanism is indicated in conifer embryos by effects on cotyledon formation with overexpression of HD-ZIP III inhibitors and by interference with PIN1-auxin patterning. Methods: We develop a mathematical model for HD-ZIP III/KAN spatial localization and use this to characterize the molecular regulation that could generate (a) the three-fold whorl radius variation (and associated nc variability) observed in conifer cotyledon development, and (b) the HD-ZIP III and KAN shifts induced experimentally in conifer embryos and in Arabidopsis. Results: This quantitative framework indicates the sensitivity of mechanism components for positioning lateral organs closer to or farther from the tip. Positional shifting is most readily driven by changes to the extent of upstream (meristematic) patterning and changes in HD-ZIP III/KAN mutual inhibition, and less efficiently driven by changes in upstream dosage or the activation of HD-ZIP III. Sharper expression boundaries can also be more resistant to shifting than shallower expression boundaries. Discussion: The strong variability seen in conifer nc (commonly from 2 to 10) may reflect a freer variation in regulatory interactions, whereas monocot (nc = 1) and dicot (nc = 2) development may require tighter control of such variation. These results provide direction for future quantitative experiments on the positional control of lateral organ initiation, and consequently on plant phyllotaxy and architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) are essential for diverse processes in plants, but their availability is often limiting or excessive. Cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) proteins have been implicated in the allocation of those metals in plants, whereby most of our mechanistic understanding has been obtained in Arabidopsis. It is unclear to what extent this can be generalized to other dicots. We characterized all CDFs/metal tolerance proteins of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris spp. vulgaris), which is phylogenetically distant from Arabidopsis. Analysis of subcellular localization, substrate selectivities, and transcriptional regulation upon exposure to metal deficiencies and toxicities revealed unexpected deviations from their Arabidopsis counterparts. Localization and selectivity of some members were modulated by alternative splicing. Notably, unlike in Arabidopsis, Mn‐ and Zn‐sequestrating members were not induced in Fe‐deficient roots, pointing to differences in the Fe acquisition machinery. This was supported by low Zn and Mn accumulation under Fe deficiency and a strikingly increased Fe accumulation under Mn and Zn excess, coinciding with an induction of BvIRT1. High Zn load caused a massive upregulation of Zn‐BvMTPs. The results suggest that the employment of the CDF toolbox is highly diverse amongst dicots, which questions the general applicability of metal homeostasis models derived from Arabidopsis. Summary statement: Cation diffusion facilitators, called metal tolerance proteins (MTPs) in plants, mediate the transport of metals out of the cytosol. Roles of these transporters in metal homeostasis have been inferred mainly from work on model species. It is unclear to what extent these findings can be generalized. Here we show that sugar beet MTPs often deviate from their Arabidopsis counterparts in terms of substrate spectrum, subcellular localization, as well as transcriptional regulation upon exposure to Fe, Mn, and Zn deficiency and Mn and Zn toxicity. The results indicate a diverse employment of these proteins in phylogenetically distant dicots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study focuses on enlisting the floral component of North Orissa University Campus, Baripada. The plant specimens were collected and identified by experts and various literatures. A total of 109 plant species of 58 different families listing 90 species of Dicotyledons, 18 Monocotyledons and only 1 species of Gymnosperm were recorded from the study area. The study resulted in a total of 20 species of higher plants having high medicinal values and 5 lower plant species belonging to 5 families. The results found that Fabaceae, Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lentibulariaceae, and Asteraceae were the dominant families constituting the higher plant composition of the study area. A total of 70 species of woody and 39 species of non-woody plants were recorded during the study. All the plants were listed as per their native and exotic status which resulted 45 exotic species and 64 native species. The study also aimed on herbarium preparation which were submitted to the laboratory of Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation, North Orissa University later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work concerns the study of a vegetal group at Pin d'Alep for the forest of el Ouarsenis located in the northwest of the Wilaya of Tissemsilt in Algeria. It is an original study carried out by a phytoecological approach, it is limited to 5 stations belonging to the 5 cantons whose plant cover is well diversified and the species of Aleppo pine is well represented. Results were obtained in taxonomic, morphological, biological and biogeographical aspects. These results made it possible to identify 104 plant species divided into 83 genera and 34 families. Angiosperms represent 95% of which 83% are dicotyledons. The most important families are the Asteraceae with 25% and the Fabaceae with 10%. From a morphological point of view, annual herbaceous plants are the most dominant with 46%/For the biological type the Therophytes represent 51%, and for the biogeography of the species 41% are of the Mediterranean type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the threats faced by Humboldtia bourdillonii Prain, an endangered tree endemic to the southern Western Ghats in India. The Western Ghats is a biodiversity hotspot with high floristic diversity and endemism. The population of H. bourdillonii is small, with less than 200 mature trees, and its habitat is facing ecological and man-made threats. These threats include irregularities in flowering and fruiting due to climate change, insect infestation, weevil damage, flooding, and habitat conversion for tea and cardamom plantations. The conservation of this species is crucial to prevent its extinction. [Extracted from the article]

Plant DUR3 homologous protein is a high affinity urea transporter which belongs to the family of sodium/solute symporter family, and plays an important role in the active absorption of exogenous urea and redistribution of endogenous urea by plants. The purpose of this study was to clarifystructure and evolution situation of cotton DUR3 gene. Based on bioinformatics methods, DUR3 genes were identified from Gossypium hirsutum and G. raimondii genomic sequences, and then the gene structure, transmembrane domain, motif location, as well as phylogenetic relationship, were systematically analyzed. The results were as follows: (1) Three DUR3 genes were identified from the A and D subgroup chromosomes of upland cotton and G. raimondii genomic sequences. These three cotton DUR3 homologous proteins, like other plant DUR3 homologous proteins, had 15 transmembrane domains and three highly conserved motifs with consistent positions. (2) The gene structure analysis showed that the number of exons of DUR3 genes in dicotyledons was significantly higher than that in monocotyledons, and so were the cotton DUR3 genes. (3) Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the amino acid sequences of different species were classified according to species kinship, and cotton clustered in one branch with dicotyledons. (4) The Ka/Ks values of orthologous and paralogous DUR3 genes were generally more than one, indicating that those genes mainly experienced positive selection among evolution. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for further research on cotton DUR3 homologous protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is an important model crop for photoperiodic response studies in plants and contributes significantly to the study of plant development and physiology in the past century. Because soybean plant is much bigger in size and longer in life cycle than Arabidopsis, it needs much more space for growth and time for investigation, which significantly hamper the efficiency of research. In the current study, we tested the photoperiodic response of a distinctive artificially-made cotyledon-only plant (COP) using a photoperiod-sensitive soybean variety Zigongdongdou (ZGDD) and other varieties with diverse sensitivity to photoperiod. ZGDD COPs flowered 39.4 ± 2.5 d after emergence under short-day conditions but maintained vegetative growth under long-day and night break conditions, which is similar to the case in the intact ZGDD plants. The COPs of early-maturing and medium-maturing soybean varieties also grew and flowered normally under natural day-length conditions. At the molecular level, the key genes in the photoperiodic pathway such as E1, GmFT1a, GmFT2a, and GmFT5a in the COPs also showed the same photoperiod sensitivity as in the intact plants. In addition, a simpler material of COP with only one cotyledon and root was generated and found to be sensitive to photoperiod as well. Notably, the COPs are only one-fifth the height of intact plants and one-third the maximum diameter of the intact plants grown in chambers 30 d after emergence. Based on COPs, we established a novel experimental system characterized by an entire photoperiodic response and longer longevity of cotyledons in addition to small plant size, ensuring the consistency, reliability, and stability of plant materials. COPs have the potential to be a novel model material for studies of the developmental biology of soybean and other dicots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of intra site activity areas and the recovery of organic remains in forests usually present limitations in relation to visibility and conservation. However, the study of microremains has allowed to overcome these limitations and to expand knowledge around the relationship between human groups and plants. The result of micro remains from plants studied from a sample of ashes extracted from the hearth at the Pozo de la Chola site are presented. Multiple microfossil analysis protocol was followed to preserve fragile microfossil assemblages. Silicophytoliths and starches, together with other materials, allowed us to glimpse practices related to the processing, cooking and disposal of food from plants related to corn (Zea mays), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), chili (Capsicum sp.), and the use of wild monocots of the Cannaceae, Arecaceae and Bromeliaceae families. As well as woody dicots, possibly as fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant root traits are diverse and variable, and the way in which they interact has consequences for fundamental functions such as anchorage, or services such as soil fixation. Here, we characterize mechanical traits related to anchorage (tensile strength, strain, stiffness and toughness) at both intra‐ and inter‐specific levels and examine how they covary with other traits related to the root economics space. We grew twelve herbaceous species from contrasting taxonomical families in a common garden experiment. For each species, we excavated root systems and measured mechanical, morphological and chemical traits at two locations (proximal versus distal) for two root types (absorptive versus transport roots). At the intraspecific level, transport roots tended to be stronger and tougher than absorptive roots and could extend further before failure, but were as stiff as absorptiveroots. Where the root was sampled (proximalversus distal) had a limited effect on any root mechanical trait. The five monocots (Poaceae) had stronger and tougher root material than the seven dicots (Fabaceae, Plantaginaceae and Rosaceae), but there were no differences in stiffness. At the interspecific level, mechanical traits covaried positively and were strongly and positively correlated with specific root length (a trait related to the 'do‐it‐yourself' soil exploration strategy), and negatively with root diameter (a trait related to the 'outsourcing' soil exploration strategy) and root tissue density (a trait related to root lifespan). We demonstrate the important role of species' taxonomical subgroup (monocot versus dicot) and root type in governing mechanical trait variation at both intra‐ and inter‐specific levels. Our results can be regarded as the first evidence of a link between root mechanical robustness and the root economics space, through a strong association with the 'do‐it‐yourself' soil exploration strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escape from cultivation of Ficus microcarpa (Moraceae, Magnoliopsida) in Algeria is here reported. Several localities where the species reproduces from seeds have been discovered recently in northeastern Algeria. A map of its current distribution in the study area is provided. The species colonizes mainly urban habitats (walls, balconies and sidewalks) but its propagation in the natural environment is being facilitated by birds that disseminate the seeds over long distances. Ficus microcarpa can be considered as in the process of naturalization in Algeria. An updated key to species of the genus Ficus in Algeria is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar parks are currently considered a new source of energy generation and one of the methods for reducing the usage of fossil fuels. The studies related to the influence of solar parks on vegetation structure are not yet sufficient. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the structure of vegetation biodiversity within a solar park. The vegetation assessment took place in the solar park, located in the cadastral territory of Tišnov (Czech Republic). A total of 85 taxa of vascular plants were found. The vegetation of the solar park is species-rich and significantly fragmented. Perennial grasses and perennial dicots dominate between the panels, whereas annual grasses and annual dicots have more coverage under the photovoltaic (PV) panels. The influence of the solar park microclimate is seen in a higher representation of species with the indication of characteristics mid-continental, and species with the indication of characteristics mid-ocean are more represented among within the PV panels. The vegetation of the solar park is noteworthy from the perspective of biological importance in the agricultural landscape and has a substantial potential to perform ecosystem functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]