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Production of fermentable sugars from renewable lignocellulosic biomass could provide a sustainable substrate for biofuel production by microbial fermentation. However, the inherent structure of lignocellulose largely hinders enzymatic saccharification efficiency to obtain sugars, thus the development of efficient pretreatment methods to reduce biomass recalcitrance is an important issue. In this study, the effects of two typical processes including hydrothermal (HTP) and citric acid pretreatments (CAP) on the enzymatic hydrolysis yield of reed biomass were investigated. The results indicate that, when performing HTP at 180 °C for 120 min to deconstruct reed, the pretreated biomass led to a higher glucose yield of 87.1% after 72 h enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulase (10 FPU/g substrate). Furthermore, under the pretreatment conditions with 6% (w/v) citric acid, 150 °C, and 60 min, the glucose yield of pretreated reed was 63.4% after hydrolysis with cellulase (10 FPU/g substrate). In this case, adding Tween 80 (100 mg/g substrate) significantly facilitated the enzymatic saccharification activity resulting in the glucose yield of CA-pretreated reed to 84.2%. Compared with the untreated reed, the glucose yield of pretreated residues after HTP and CAP was largely improved by 4.97–5.18 folds which was mainly due to the enhanced crystallinity (50.0–53.2% vs. 45.9%). The total fermentable sugars of 34.7–34.8 g can be produced from 100 g of raw reed biomass based on the proposed HTP and CAP processes. The mechanism of enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis after pretreatments was elucidated through physicochemical characterization techniques. In summary, the proposed pretreatments show high potential application for biorefinery from renewable, abundant reed biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To adapt to a habitat, halophytes growing at the same saline–alkali levels develop their unique rhizosphere microbial communities, whereas same plant species growing at different saline–alkali levels have different rhizosphere microbial communities. Therefore, understanding the rhizosphere microbial community structure of halophytes in different saline–alkali soils can help explore the microbial diversity and functional potential of important soil microorganisms. In this study, rhizosphere soils of three typical halophytes, namely, Halocnemum strobilaceum, Phragmites communis, and Halostachys caspica, growing at severe, heavy, and moderate saline–alkali soils, respectively, were collected from southern Xinjiang. The community structure and physicochemical properties of fungal species in the total nine rhizosphere soils were investigated. Furthermore, the differences in the fungal community structure, diversity, and ecological functions were analyzed in terms of the extent of saline–alkali level and host plant specificity. Rhizosphere soils in the nine habitats had different physicochemical properties. In terms of host plant type, rhizosphere fungal species diversity and richness were the highest in P. communis, followed by H. caspica and H. strobilaceum. The fungal community diversity and richness followed the pattern of moderate > severe > heavy in different soil salinity and alkali types. Although the three host plants had similar rhizosphere fungal community structures under moderate and heavy saline–alkali conditions, these varied significantly under extremely severe saline–alkali conditions. In total, 315 species were identified across all samples, and they were affiliated with 12 phyla, 37 classes, 69 orders, 138 families, and 244 genera. The number of jointly owned ASVs was 189. In the nine habitats, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant phyla, while Alternaria, Neocamarosporium, Filobasidium, and Acremonium were the common dominant genera. A prediction of fungal community functions revealed pathotroph-saprotroph-symbiotroph and saprotrophs to be dominant. At the same saline–alkali level, the functional clustering distance of fungal communities was closer. Factors such as soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), electronic conductivity (EC), and pH contributed to the distribution of microbial communities. This study revealed both similarities and distinctions in the composition of fungal communities within the rhizosphere soils of the three typical halophytes thriving in various saline–alkali habitats. At moderate and heavy saline–alkali levels, the fungal community structures were markedly influenced by the severity of salinity and alkalinity. In extremely severe saline–alkali soils, the host plant type significantly affected the fungal community structure. Ultimately, these findings lay a theoretical foundation for the improvement of soil and crop yield in saline–alkali land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed-based revegetation is increasingly pursued in wetland restoration, but seed and seedling mortality is high and can be further limited by environmental stressors, like hydrology and salinity. The interactive effects of hydrology and salinity on native plants, especially in the presence of invasive plants, are less clear. In greenhouse and mesocosm experiments, we tested different hydrologic and salinity conditions on the growth of native seed mixes and Phragmites australis, a widespread wetland invader in North America. The greenhouse experiment tested two mixes (forb mix, graminoid mix), while mixes in the mesocosm experiment combined forbs and graminoids chosen for broad and diverging environmental tolerances. In both experiments, reduced water negatively affected native plants and P. australis, while increased salinities reduced native plant growth but had minimal impacts on P. australis. In the greenhouse experiment, forbs greatly reduced P. australis growth only under benign conditions but maintained growth under increasing abiotic stress despite the presence of P. australis. In the mesocosm experiment, native plants reduced P. australis growth across all conditions, indicating that mixes chosen for broad environmental tolerances can sufficiently reduce invasive growth even when negatively affected by abiotic stressors. Our results demonstrate the varying drivers of invasion resistance: sometimes environmental conditions and species’ tolerances limit invasives and other times, the composition and competitive potential of the native community is more important. These results also inform wetland restoration practices, i.e., choosing species for revegetation mixes with broad environmental tolerances and, when possible, manipulating wetland environmental conditions to reduce invader performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new furanone derivatives, byssochlanones A–B (1–2) were purified from the endophytic fungus Byssochlamys sp. isolated from the wetland plant, Phragmites australis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1–2 represented typical furanone analogues which are not common in natural products. The absolute configuration of compounds 1–2 were identified through quantum-chemical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation compared with their experimental CD. In addition, compounds 1–2 were tested for their cytotoxic activities against HCT-8 and Hela cancer cell lines, and compound 2 showed moderate activity against HCT-8 cells with IC50 value of 21.3 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phragmites australis (Reed) is an excellent lignocellulosic crop for bioethanol production, but its recalcitrant structure affects utilization efficiency. Therefore, the effective pretreated method to destroy the complex and tight structure was necessary. In this study, Irradiation (0,400,800 kGy) combined with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (0,1%,2%,4%) pretreatment was used for the deconstruct lignocellulose structure of reed stalk, and the residue after pretreatment were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis and synchronous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to determine the structural changes of reed stalk after different pretreatment. Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to analysis the main lignocellulose-derived inhibitor produced by pretreatment. The results demonstrated that irradiation combined with NaOH pretreatment could destroy the lignocellulose structure, remove the lignin and hemicellulose partially, increase the content of cellulose, and promote fermentable sugar content for ethanol fermentation. The maximum enzymatic hydrolysis conversion rate of cellulose was 85.02% when the reed stalk was treated by 800 kGy irradiation combined with 4% NaOH solution. The maximum ethanol conversion rate was 73.35% when the reed stalk was pretreated by 800 kGy irradiation combined with 2% NaOH solution. Irradiation pretreatment destroyed the tightly packed structure, induced the fracture of hydrogen bond or covalent bond of reed stalk lignocellulose, broken the crystal structure of cellulose. Irradiation combined with NaOH treatment, the characteristic peak intensity of hemicellulose and lignin decreased or even disappeared in FT-IR spectroscopy. Interestingly, the cellulose crystal form transformed from I to II, when the reed stalk was treated by 800 kGy irradiation combined with NaOH solution. Overall, irradiation combined with NaOH pretreatment was effective for improving the utilization efficiency of reed stalk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores a synergistic two-phase system to treat olive mill wastewater (OMW), comprising a multilayer adsorbent filter (pretreatment) and a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW). The pretreatment phase includes layers of commercial granular activated carbon (CGAC) and volcanic tuff (VT), while the VFCW phase consists of planted tank with Phragmites australis reeds and unplanted tanks. Initially, municipal wastewater is introduced into the VFCW to establish the required microbial community. Then, pre-treated OMW is passed through the VFCW. The removal rates of various pollutants were assessed. The planted VFCW showed superior removal efficiencies, averaging 97.82% for total chemical oxygen demand (CODT), 92.78% for dissolved oxygen demand (CODd), 99.61% for total phenolic compounds (TPC), 98.94% for total nitrogen (TN), 96.96% for ammonium, and 95.83% for nitrate. In contrast, the unplanted VFCW displayed lower removal efficiencies, averaging 91.47% for CODT, 77.82% for CODd, 98.53% for TPC, 97.51% for TN, 92.04% for ammonium, and 90.82% for nitrate. These findings highlight the significant potential of VFCWs, which offer an integrated approach to OMW treatment by incorporating physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms within a single treatment system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in aquatic plants is critical in assessing the quality of aquatic environments and the risks associated with anthropogenic activities. This research involved using Phragmites australis as a bioindicator in a comprehensive assessment of the spatial variation in pollution within the Bug River catchment, employing advanced statistical methods to identify pollution sources. The study aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation of PTEs in different parts of the P. australis plant and to evaluate their suitability as bioindicators of contamination. Plant samples were collected from 32 locations in the Bug River catchment, and the concentrations of metals such as Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated that PTE accumulation was highest in the roots, underscoring their crucial role in monitoring metal concentrations. Metal concentrations differed based on land use within the catchment area, with the highest levels observed in urbanized regions, highlighting the significant impact of human activities like wastewater discharge and transport emissions. The highest concentrations were observed for Fe, Mn, and Zn, while Cd concentrations were notably elevated in agricultural areas. The analyses confirmed that P. australis serves as an effective bioindicator of heavy metal contamination and can be employed in long-term biomonitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduced Phragmites australis represents a widespread threat to North American wetlands. Management agencies invest millions of dollars annually to manage the species, mostly by applying herbicides, to mitigate and prevent negative impacts. The often temporary reduction of P. australis rarely increases native diversity, and long‐term legacy effects of P. australis and repeat herbicide treatments are unknown. We used a coordinated management program targeting mostly small P. australis populations in the Adirondack Park in New York State, United States, to assess the potential for such legacy effects. We planted individuals of three native species as sentinels into treated and untreated, uninvaded reference wetlands after unassisted succession had occurred in treatment areas. Sentinel plants survived and grew in treated areas, suggesting legacy of P. australis and its management did not permanently limit establishment of native plants. However, responses were variable among sentinel species, with negative or neutral impacts on survival rates and neutral or positive effects on growth. Species‐specific responses and large variation in survival rates between sites and sentinels indicate that site factors are a dominant influence on survival and growth. Importantly, as treatment frequency increased, survival of one sentinel species decreased significantly, indicating a potential for long‐term negative impacts of repeated herbicide applications. Additional replanting after P. australis treatment and initial unassisted plant succession may enable more diverse plant communities to return, including species not able to recruit from local seed banks or seed sources. However, it remains unclear if active transplanting will enable more long‐term suppression of P. australis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the resilience of salt marshes subject to sea‐level rise impacts, managers can focus on interventions within current marsh footprints or in adjacent uplands to facilitate landward marsh migration. The latter approach may be more appropriate when degradation is severe and in situ intervention options are limited. Strategies for facilitating marsh migration include removing artificial barriers, soil grading to reduce steep topography, and manipulating adjacent upland vegetation that can hinder migration, but experiments testing the effectiveness of these activities are limited. We therefore conducted a field experiment to determine if physically removing three upland vegetation types (forest, shrub, and Phragmites australis) adjacent to a Rhode Island salt marsh facilitates short‐term marsh migration. Upland vegetation removal led to increased ambient light in all habitats, significantly enhanced marsh plant cover, extent, and elevation in shrub habitat, and declines in total bird abundance in forest and shrub habitats. Enhanced migration did not occur in forest or Phragmites habitats, and in shrubs, marsh plants only colonized where Baccharis halimifolia, common in upper marsh borders, had been removed. Five years after removal, all upland habitats and associated vegetation were indistinguishable from initial conditions. Our study suggests that upland plant removal might provide a limited window for facilitating salt marsh migration and that more intensive methods may be needed for sustained, longer‐term benefits. It also demonstrates that there may be ecological trade‐offs to consider when altering upland habitats to enhance landward marsh migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have emerged as effective biotechnological solutions for wastewater treatment in recent decades. While plants are recognized components of these systems, their specific role in nutrient and heavy metal (HM) uptake warrants further investigation. This study assesses the efficacy of a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) unit planted with Phragmites australis in treating HM-laden wastewater. Through standard methods, wastewater samples from inlet and outlet were analyzed for HMs (Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu), alongside plant and sediment samples. Planted CWs demonstrated remarkable removal efficiencies: 89.34% for Cd, 76.27% for Zn, 68.14% for Cu, and 66.42% for Pb, surpassing unplanted systems (18.27% to 33.16% removal). Notably, P. australis exhibited strategic pollutant absorption, with highest HM concentrations below-ground. Though above-ground HM accumulation was relatively minor, it exceeded soil concentrations. Analysis of accumulation factors confirmed roots and rhizomes as primary bio-accumulators, with transfer factor values (Cd > Pb > Zn > Cu) indicating efficient uptake. These findings underscore the pivotal role of P. australis in enhancing HM removal within VFCW systems, emphasizing the importance of plant-based strategies in HM remediation. Recommendations include further exploration of plant-assisted methods to optimize HM treatment in CWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox), and ferric iron reduction coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Feammox) are the nitrogen removal pathways in natural ecosystems. In this study, the differences between these three nitrogen removal pathways in a Phragmites australis covered site (LW), artificial grassland covered site (CD), poplar covered site (YD), and topsoil tillage after harvesting reed site (GD) in the Yinchuan Yellow River wetland were investigated using isotope tracing, metagenome, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) techniques. No 30N2 accumulation was detected in 15NH4 + addition incubations, indicating that Feammox was weak in all sites, which is consistent with a low abundance of the Feammox functional bacteria Acidimiprobiaceae sp. A6. The denitrification rates were 0.36 (LW), 0.5 (CD), 0.76 (YD) and 0.12 (GD) mg N/kg/day. The Anammox rates were 0.18 (LW) and 0.26 (GD) mg N/kg/day; other sites did not detect Anammox rate. Denitrification was the dominant pathway except for the CD site. The YD site had the highest abundance of denitrification genes, which was consistent with the denitrification rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal biological invasions pose a wide-reaching threat to various ecosystems, affecting both vegetation and herbivores in native communities. Although herbivores often exert strong top-down control on vegetation, the impact of invasive species on consumers that strongly regulate native species in invaded ecosystems remains unclear. Therefore, through field surveys and feeding preference experiments, this study examined the effects of the invasive Spartina alterniflora Loisel. (hereafter, Spartina) on the native moth Laelia coenosa Hübner (hereafter, Laelia), a notorious pest that has been documented to cause significant damage to native Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (hereafter, Phragmites) marshes in coastal wetlands of China. Field surveys showed that Laelia larvae were more abundant and had higher grazing rates in Phragmites than in Spartina marshes in summer, but these patterns reversed in autumn. Feeding experiments consistently showed that the dietary preference of Laelia larvae switched from Phragmites in summer to Spartina in autumn, likely because Spartina has a longer growing season and relatively higher nutritional quality than Phragmites in autumn. Thus, by providing shelters (i.e., dietary sources and habitats) during unfavorable seasons, Spartina invasions may facilitate this insect pest Laelia and potentially amplify its damage to native wetland vegetation. Our work reveals a novel, indirect mechanism of coastal invasion impacts and highlights the importance of incorporating seasonal variation in plant-herbivore interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination is a serious global issue that threatens both environmental and human health. This study investigated the levels of 12 heavy metals in sediments, roots, stems, and leaves of Phragmites australis (common reed) from a river in Iran, using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The sediment metal concentration order was: Aluminum (Al) > Iron (Fe) > Manganese (Mn) > Zinc (Zn) > Magnesium (Mg) > Nickel (Ni) > Chromium (Cr) > Lead (Pb) > Copper (Cu) > Arsenic (As) > Vanadium (V) with Cadmium (Cd) below detection limit. Concentrations of As, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the sediments exceeded background values. According to sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), metal concentrations were between the threshold effect level (TEL) and the probable effect level (PEL), remaining below the severe effect level (SEL), except for Ni. Average metal concentrations in plant tissues were lower than in sediment samples, with roots showing higher levels of Cd, V, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Al, Mg, and Fe than in the shoots, while leaves had higher Ni, Cr, and Mn. The bioaccumulation factor of less than 1 (except for V) indicates limited bioavailibility of these metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary The invasive species S. alterniflora and P. australis are fast growing coastal wetland plants sequestering large amounts of carbon in the soil and protect coastlines against erosion and storm surges. In this global analysis, we found that Spartina and Phragmites increase methane but not nitrous oxide emissions, with Phragmites having a lesser effect. The impact of the invasive species on emissions differed greatly among different types of native plant groups, providing valuable information to managers and policymakers during coastal wetland planning and restoration efforts. Further, our estimated net emissions per wetland plant group facilitate regional and national blue carbon estimates. Globally, Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis are among the most pervasive invasive plants in coastal wetland ecosystems. Both species sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and biogenic carbon in soils but also support production and emission of methane (CH4). In this study, we investigated the magnitude of their net greenhouse gas (GHG) release from invaded and non‐invaded habitats. We conducted a meta‐analysis of GHG fluxes associated with these two species and related soil carbon content and plant biomass in invaded coastal wetlands. Our results show that both invasive species increase CH4 fluxes compared to uninvaded coastal wetlands, but they do not significantly affect CO2 and N2O fluxes. The magnitude of emissions from Spartina and Phragmites differs among native habitats. GHG fluxes, soil carbon and plant biomass of Spartina‐invaded habitats were highest compared to uninvaded mudflats and succulent forb‐dominated wetlands, while being lower compared to uninvaded mangroves (except for CH4). This meta‐analysis highlights the important role of individual plant traits as drivers of change by invasive species on plant‐mediated carbon cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In subtropical monsoon climate regions, traditional plants in constructed wetlands such as farmland ditches underperform in cold months, detracting from both purification capacity and esthetic appeal. To alleviate this weakness, this study introduced Phalaris arundinacea, a species with strong adaptability and cold tolerance, into a plant community dominated by Phragmites australis, constructing an ingenious composite plant community for year‐round water quality restoration and enhancement of attractiveness. First, laboratory simulations revealed significant seasonal differences in the removal rates of ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) by the P. arundinacea community and P. australis community under different pollutant loads. Phragmites australis showed superior NH3‐N and TN removal capabilities from May to October, whereas P. arundinacea excelled in the rest of the months throughout the year. For TP removal, P. australis outperformed P. arundinacea from July to October, while P. arundinacea was more effective from January to May. We then verified this in rear farmland ditches, where P. australis were strategically partial substituted with P. arundinacea (Partial Replacement Treatment [PRT]), and compared it with unchanged farmland ditches (Control Treatment). We found that PRT enhanced decontamination efficiency over the year, especially significantly improving the water quality during colder months. Hence, this study advocates a novel strategy for effective annual decontamination and maintenance of wetlands such as farmland ditches, highlighting the importance of seasonally adaptive plant communities for water restoration. This transformative approach dramatically advances the field of wetland management, insisting on the important role of cold‐resistant species for year‐round ecosystem service optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater macrophytes have attracted interest as an alternative source of natural extracts and minerals for a variety of therapeutic uses. However, few studies have rigorously investigated the phytochemical components, properties, and potential biological benefits of Phragmites australis as an emergent macrophyte. This study investigates the phytochemical profile of aqueous Phragmites australis (PAE) leaves extract using chromatographic-mass spectrometry and free radical scavenging analysis. LC-QToF-MS/MS analysis in both positive and negative ionization revealed the existence of thirty and eleven bioactive compounds, respectively tentatively identified as alkaloids, flavonoids, indoles, glycosides, and quinolines from the extract. The polyphenolic content of the PAE was found to be 39.17 ± 0.65 mg GAE/g total phenol, while the flavonoids content was 19.85 ± 2.64 mg QE/g, and proanthocyanins content was 119.65 ± 1.70 CE/g. The PAE was utilized to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to evaluate its nano-structural formation efficiency, with the PAE displaying a greater ability to scavenge free radicals against ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP when compared with PA-AgNPs. Both PAE and PA-AgNPs were tested for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities and the results indicated that PA-AgNPs (MIC value range of 7.8–62.5 µg/mL) had excellent antimicrobial activity, compared to PAE. Moreover, the antiproliferative effect of PA-AgNPs on human cancer cells showed a higher cell-specific dose response and two-fold apoptotic induction with increased phosphorylation in the DNA ss-strand break post-treatment in MCF-7 than in A549 cells. These findings reveal the potential of the leaf extract of PA as a potent antioxidant source for many biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Previous studies have shown that silicon (Si) can affect plant growth and yield by regulating the availability of other nutrients. However, the mechanisms by which Si affects plant biomass accumulation in coastal wetlands are not well explored. Methods: We conducted a sampling campaign across the whole growing season of Phragmites australis under waterlogging and drought conditions in coastal wetland, and quantified the effects of Si availability on biomass accumulation. Results: Compared with drought condition, the waterlogged condition improved the utilization efficiency of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) of P. australis regulated by higher Si contents. Meanwhile, the increased Si contents promoted the utilization of N and P in leaf, suggesting that the increase in Si contents optimizes the photosynthetic process. Lignin contents in P. australis decreased with the increasing Si contents, which confirmed that Si can replace structural carbon components. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) showed aboveground biomass accumulation of P. australis was synchronized with Si accumulation, indicating that Si was a beneficial element to promote biomass accumulation. Conclusions: Our study implies that increasing Si availability is conducive to biomass accumulation of P. australis in waterlogged wetlands, which will provide important scientific references for the management of coastal wetland ecosystem and the increase of global 'blue carbon' sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species composition and biomass are key indicators of vegetation performance. While Phragmites australis is extensively studied worldwide, data on its communities and biomass in natural habitats are limited in the European part of the Russian Federation. This study examines P. australis-dominated communities and their biomass in wetlands along the Middle Volga River. P. australis was either the dominant or co-dominant species in seven community types. Their seasonal maximum aboveground biomass correlated with plant projective cover, being highest in Schoenoplecteto lacustris-Phragmitetum australis (mean 1.7 kg m−2), with nearly 100% cover, and lowest (0.5 kg m−2) in Spirodelo-Phragmitetum australis, with 50% cover. Compared with communities dominated by Glyceria maxima, Schoenoplectus lacustris, and Typha latifolia, those of P. australis had the highest seasonal maximum aboveground biomass in running waters (mean 1.32 kg m−2) but the lowest in standing waters of the Kuibyshev Reservoir (mean 0.70 kg m−2), likely reflecting nutrient availability. A similar pattern was observed for the dominant species alone. The mean belowground biomass of P. australis was 1.9 kg m−2, with a belowground/aboveground ratio of 1.5. Similar values were found for S. lacustris and T. latifolia. The community types and biomass values align with those found in other European regions with warm temperate climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination with metals poses significant environmental challenges. The occurrence of heavy metals (HMs) prompts modifications in plant structures, emphasizing the necessity of employing focused safeguarding measures. Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) emerge as particularly menacing toxins due to their high accumulation potential. Increasing the availability of organic acids is crucial for optimizing toxic metal removal via phytoremediation. This constructed wetland system (CWs) was used to determine how oxalic acid (OA) treatments of textile wastewater (WW) effluents affected morpho-physiological characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, oxidative stress, and HM concentrations in Phragmites australis. Multiple treatments, comprising the application of OA at a concentration of 10 mM and WW at different dilutions (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%), were employed, with three replications of each treatment. WW stress decreased chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and concurrently enhanced HMs adsorption and antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, the application of WW was found to elevate oxidative stress levels, whereas the presence of OA concurrently mitigated this oxidative stress. Similarly, WW negatively affected soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) and the total soluble proteins (SP) in both roots and shoots. Conversely, these parameters showed improvement with OA treatments. P. australis showed the potential to enhance HM accumulation under 100% WW stress. Specifically, there is an increase in root SP ranging from 9% to 39%, an increase in shoot SP from 6% to 91%, and an elevation in SPAD values from 4% to 64% compared to their respective treatments lacking OA inclusion. The OA addition resulted in decreased EL contents in the root and shoot by 10%–19% and 13%–15%, MDA by 9%–14% and 9%–20%, and H2O2 by 14%–21% and 9%–17%, in comparison to the respective treatments without OA. Interestingly, the findings further revealed that the augmentation of OA also contributed to an increased accumulation of Cr, Cd, and Pb. Specifically, at 100% WW with OA (10 mM), the concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Cd in leaves rose by 164%, 447%, and 350%, in stems by 213%, 247%, and 219%, and in roots by 155%, 238%, and 195%, respectively. The chelating agent oxalic acid effectively alleviated plant toxicity induced by toxins. Overall, our findings demonstrate the remarkable tolerance of P. australis to elevated concentrations of WW stress, positioning it as an eco-friendly candidate for industrial effluent remediation. This plant exhibits efficacy in restoring contaminants present in textile effluents, and notably, oxalic acid emerges as a promising agent for the phytoextraction of HMs. KEY MESSAGE/HIGHLIGHTS: HMs stress decreased the physiology and morphology of Phragmites australis L. OA improved the photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzymes HMs accumulation and bioavailability increased under OA Phragmites australis L. showed higher efficacy for textile effluent treatment under OA NOVELTY: The adoption of ecological or nature-based approaches for treating textile industry wastewater poses significant challenges. Despite laboratory and field demonstrations showcasing the potential of macrophytes for remediating metal-polluted wastewater, this study investigates the Phragmites australis to address heavy metal contamination in wastewater. This research bridges this gap by presenting the outcomes of applying oxalic acid single and in combination with wastewater to Phragmites australis, focusing on the accumulation of cadmium, chromium, and lead from textile wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess nitrogen in agricultural drainage poses a serious threat to the water quality safety of the Yellow River basin. Utilizing aquatic plants to modify the rhizosphere microbial community structure and facilitate nitrogen transformation is a crucial strategy for mitigating regional water eutrophication. We here compare key processes of nitrogen transformation occurring in the rhizosphere of sediments of a ditch artificially planted with a mix of species (Phragmites australis, Typha orientalis, Nymphaea tetragon) with the rhizosphere of a ditch occupied by naturally occurring aquatic vegetation, dominated either by P. australis or T. orientalis. Our results revealed a species effect, with an increased denitrification rate (DR) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium rate (DNRAR) in the cultivated ditch for P. australis, compared to the naturally occurring T. orientalis vegetation. The nitrogen fixation rate (NFR) increased in the artificial setting with T. orientalis in comparison to natural P. australis vegetation. The richness of the bacterial community and the relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Geobacter were significantly greater in the rhizosphere of the artificially cultivated ditch due a greater availability in nitrogen and organic carbon. In the artificially cultivated ditch, the dominant functional genes affecting DRNARs in the rhizosphere sediments of P. australis were nrfC and nrfA, whereas DRs were driven mainly by norB and napA, which were influenced by the nitrogen and carbon levels. The dominant functional genes affecting NFRs in the rhizosphere sediments of T. orientalis were nifD, nifK, and nifH. Our results provide a scientific basis for the use of aquatic plants for mitigating excess nitrogen levels in agricultural drainage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study represents the investigation of major and trace elements in two indigenous plants, Cynodon dactylon (L.) and Phragmites australis, grown in the Ghardaia region of Southern Algeria. Using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique, the research aimed to ascertain the content of essential and toxic elements in the aerial parts of these plants. Twenty eight elements as (Ag, As, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, Hg, K, La, Lu, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Tb, Th, Yb and Zn) were analysis with INAA method. Given the scarcity of data regarding essential and toxic chemical elements in food within Algeria, the study focused on evaluating the content of these elements in two plant species commonly utilized by Bedouins in traditional medicine and as fodder, as well as by professionals for decontamination and water purification purposes. The concentrations of mineral elements observed in these plants were found to be in proximity to the minimum levels recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The data obtained from this investigation are deemed applicable for Algerian food purposes, offering valuable insights into the elemental composition of these plants and their potential roles in traditional and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented here reports the concentration of major, trace, and rare earth elements in soil, sediments, and vegetation samples collected from 13 locations around Anapa City located on the northern coast of the Black Sea in Russia. The neutron activation analysis technique has been used to fulfill this objective. Along with this, the bioconcentration and translocation factors were calculated. Overall, the content of 31 elements was detected in soil and sediments while 20 elements were determined in three types of vegetation: macroalgae (Cystoseira sp. and Ulva sp.), aquatic plants (Phragmites australis), and sea grass (Zostera sp.). The quantified concentration followed the order soil > sediment > vegetation. The phytotoxic levels for Zn, V, Mn, and Fe have been quantified as the highest. Bromine was the most abundant and accumulated in Phragmites australis. Based on the results obtained from this investigation, there is a possibility of contamination in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

De-icing salt used for safe winter driving can have negative impacts on local water quality, vegetation, and soils. This study aimed to evaluate the salt tolerance of reeds (Phragmites australis) against calcium chloride (CaCl2) and the biofiltration effect of combining it with topsoil biofilters for desalination in roadside ditches. Two experiments were conducted in a controlled environmental greenhouse over a period of 150 days. For the first experiment, the salt tolerance of P. australis was examined after treating reeds with five different concentrations of de-icing salt: 0, 1, 2, 5, and 10 g·L−1. In a second experiment, the effect of combining two topsoil filters (expanded clay and activated carbon), each planted with and without reeds, was investigated under a high CaCl2 concentration of 10 g·L−1. As the CaCl2 concentration increased, the electrical conductivity (EC) of soil leachate and the level of salt exchangeable cations (K+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+) significantly increased whereas the acidity (pH) significantly decreased (all p ≤ 0.05). No statistical difference was observed in leaf length or width, while plant height, number of leaves, and both fresh and dry weights were significantly increased with increasing CaCl2 concentrations (p ≤ 0.05). Treatments using topsoil filters, particularly those with activated carbon and reeds, showed the greatest reduction in leachate EC and total exchange cations values. These results suggest that combining P. australis with topsoil filters can assist biofiltration effectively, demonstrating its applicability even in roadside soils subject to extreme levels of de-icing salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study aimed to assess the current water quality status across various regions within the Fayoum depression by examining water canals, drains, and potential contaminants impacting public health and the local ecosystem. Additionally, an adsorption treatability investigation was conducted on various antibiotics identified during the assessment. Fifteen sampling points were selected across the Fayoum depression, covering surface water bodies and agricultural drainage systems during both winter and summer seasons. Physico-chemical, microbiological, and antibiotic analyses were performed on collected water samples. The water quality parameters investigated included pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and concentrations of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. The findings revealed significant variations in water quality parameters among different water sources, categorizing them into three types: irrigation canals, polluted canals, and drains. High contamination levels were observed in certain water canals and drains due to untreated sewage and agricultural drainage discharge. Notably, elevated TDS levels (exceeding 1200 mg/L), microbial indicators count (with total coliforms reaching up to 2.3 × 106 CFU/100 mL), and antibiotics (with concentrations of ciprofloxacin and tetracycline exceeding 4.6 µg/L) were detected. To mitigate antibiotic contamination, a Phyto-adsorption treatability study using magnetite nanoparticles prepared with Phragmites australis plant extract demonstrated promising results, achieving complete removal of high antibiotic concentrations with an adsorption capacity of up to 67 mg/g. This study provides updated insights into water quality in the Fayoum depression and proposes a novel approach for addressing antibiotic contamination, potentially safeguarding human and environmental health.

Eutrophication resulting from anthropogenic activities has been recognized as a significant driver of changes in ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, it may exacerbate the top-down effect and thus exert an important impact on plant growth. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a 3-year manipulative field experiment to investigate the impacts of nitrogen addition and crab herbivory on the growth of Phragmites australis in the salt marsh of the Yellow River Delta. The results demonstrated that a 3-year nitrogen addition can significantly increase the total nitrogen and carbon content of P. australis leaves, thereby enhancing their nutritional value and palatability, as well as increasing the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs. Therefore, nitrogen addition together with crab herbivory had a significant negative effect on P. australis height, leaf length, and leaf breadth in the ambient crab and procedural crab cage treatment compared to the crab exclusion treatment. The structural equation modeling further substantiated these findings. Themodel revealed a direct and positive correlation between nitrogen addition and leaf nutrient content (path coefficient = 0.34). Additionally, it demonstrated a direct and positive relationship between leaf nutrient content and the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs (path coefficient = 0.22). Simultaneously, there was an observed negative correlation (path coefficient = - 0.37) between the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs and plant functional traits, represented by leaf length in the model, during 2018. Moreover, the crab exclusion treatment significantly reduced the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs and thus enhanced the P. australis individuals, leaf number, and biomass. Overall, crab herbivory had a significant detrimental top-down effect on the growth of P. australis, and nitrogen enrichmentmay exacerbate this top-down effect. The findings of our study highlight the combined adverse effects of nutrient enrichment and top-down on plant functional traits and plant growth. The findings of this study will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors influencing vegetation degradation in coastal wetland, thereby establishing a solid theoretical framework for the conservation and management of wetland ecosystems within the context of global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraspecific trait variation, essential to Darwin's mechanism of natural selection, has been widely examined for single characters. However, intraspecific variation of adaptive strategies which represent trade‐offs among multiple functional traits has received less attention, particularly for species that are globally distributed or invasive. Grime's competitor, stress tolerator and ruderal (CSR) scheme, well validated in the context of alien species invasions, provides both the theory and quantitative methodology to investigate adaptive strategies.Here, we quantified the intraspecific CSR strategy scores of a worldwide collection of 89 Phragmites australis genotypes which were cultivated in a common garden. We assessed the relationships between intraspecific variation in CSR strategy scores, genome size and climate of origin and tested whether the invasive and native lineages differ in CSR strategies.Substantial variation in intraspecific adaptive strategy, characterized mainly in C‐ and S‐selection, was observed. As expected, C‐, S‐ and R‐scores showed clear latitudinal clines and were strongly related to either genome size or climate of origin. Furthermore, invasive lineages were more stress adapted than native lineages.We conclude that the adaptive strategy of this perennial wetland grass varies globally, and its genotypes are surprisingly more stress tolerant in the invaded range where it was first detected ~150 years ago. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal‐wetlands play a crucial role as carbon (C) reservoirs on Earth due to their C pool composition and functional sink, making them significant for mitigating global climate change. However, due to the development and utilization of wetland resources, many wetlands have been transformed into other land‐use types. The current study focuses on the alterations in soil organic‐C (SOC) in coastal‐wetlands following reclamation into aquaculture ponds. We conducted sampling at 11 different coastal‐wetlands along the tropical to temperate regions of the China coast. Each site included two community types, one with solely native species (Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis and Mangroves) and the other with an adjacent reclaimed aquaculture pond. Across these 11 locations we compared SOC stock, active OC fractions, and soil physicochemical properties between coastal wetlands and aquaculture ponds. We observed that different soil uses, sampling sites, and their interaction had significant effects on SOC and its stock (p <.05). Reclamation significantly declined SOC concentration at depths of 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm by 35.5% and 30.3%, respectively, and also decreased SOC stock at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depths by 29.1% and 37.9%, respectively. Similar trends were evident for SOC stock, labile organic‐C, dissolved organic‐C and microbial biomass organic‐C concentrations (p <.05), indicating soil C‐destabilization and losses from soil following conversion. Soils in aquaculture ponds exhibited higher bulk density (BD; 11.3%) and lower levels of salinity (61.0%), soil water content (SWC; 11.7%), total nitrogen (TN) concentration (23.8%) and available‐nitrogen concentration (37.7%; p <.05) than coastal‐wetlands. Redundancy‐analysis revealed that pH, BD and TN concentration were the key variables most linked with temporal variations in SOC fractions and stock between two land use types. This study provides a theoretical basis for the rational utilization and management of wetland resources, the achievement of an environment‐friendly society, and the preservation of multiple service functions within wetland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Estuarine vegetation routinely experiences natural tidal fluctuations and is highly vulnerable to extreme events such as heavy rainfall, leading to changes in plant population structure and adaptability. Genetic and epigenetic modifications are widely considered to be mechanisms of phenotypic variation, triggered in plants responding to extreme changing environments. However, understanding on correlations among genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic variation of wild plant populations is still limited. Location: China. Methods: In this study, populations of the typical wetland clonal species Phragmites australis were selected from four estuaries along various latitudes in China. Genetic and epigenetic diversity and phenotypic variation of these populations were analysed. Results: Phenotypic variation of P. australis populations was the highest at Yellow River Estuary and the lowest at Min River Estuary. Across all estuaries, Genetic and epigenetic diversity was strongly linear‐correlated. Genetic diversity had significant correlations with variation in reproductive traits, whereas epigenetic diversity had significant correlations with variation in growth traits. Climatic factors of mean annual temperature and precipitation, as well as soil nitrogen and phosphorus, were negatively correlated with variation in genetic diversity, epigenetic diversity, and variation in reproductive traits of P. australis populations along latitudes. Variation in growth traits was negatively correlated with soil salinity, reflecting the limiting effect of salinity on plant growth. Main Conclusion: Our findings found that genetic and epigenetic variations may play different roles in phenotypic variation of P. australis populations along latitudes, the variation becomes greater when the climatic and edaphic conditions deteriorate. The findings shed new light on the adaptation and evolution of wetland plant populations along a large latitudinal scale, and may contribute to the revegetation of estuary wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coypu (Myocastor coypus) was recognized as ecological engineer for its ability to alter wet habitats and build structures throughout its life cycle. Platforms still represent poorly studied structures built by this rodent for various purposes, including reproduction, resting and thermoregulation. In order to obtain data on plant composition, size and density on the territory of coypu's platforms, we carried out a study in a Mediterranean wetland reed bed, stratifying data on two sub-habitat types (back dune and canal banks). Platforms were composed exclusively of common reed (Phragmites australis) stems, leaves, and inflorescences; they were elliptical in shape, and significantly higher in the back dune than on the canal banks. Density of platforms was higher in the back dune than on the canal banks. Platforms have been used as resting and feeding sites, as showed by drone images and remnants of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). More than 40% of coypu's platforms along the canal banks showed traces of birds, suggesting an opportunistic use by waterfowls and waders. In this regard, platforms may be considered "key structures", locally increasing habitat heterogeneity. In a limited number of back dune platforms, remnants of plastic litter have been detected. The use of drone flights over wetlands may be useful to check the spatial pattern of coypu's platforms, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Ecological and management implications of our data have been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emissions and environmental concerns have led to the aspiration to reduce peat extraction and its use as a growing medium (GM). In Nordic Forest tree seedling production, Sphagnum peat has been almost exclusively used as a GM in seedling containers due to its good properties and availability. This study examined the feasibility of several peat-reduced and peat-free GM in container tree seedling production of the key tree species in Nordic forestry (Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) as well as Russian larch (Larix archangelica P. Lawson & C. Lawson ex Trautv.) and common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.). Pure or mixed GM, consisting of low-humified Sphagnum peat (pure as a control), harvested Sphagnum moss, wood fiber, cow manure digestate from a biogas plant, and a common reed compost were tested. Seedlings were grown in controlled conditions in greenhouse experiments and also in larger-scale commercial tree nurseries. Peat-reduced media containing peat of at least 50 vol% provided growth that is similar to pure Sphagnum peat for the tested species and container types. All the studied alternative media can yield marketable seedlings, although commonly of reduced size and requiring special adjustments in growing management. The studied media have a potential to reduce or replace peat in seedling production, but adjustments of their physical and chemical properties, as well as of seedling fertigation and management procedures, are required. The economic feasibility and environmental sustainability of these GM, as well as the outplanting success of seedlings grown in these media, remain to be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the uncontrolled proliferation of invasive plants, several challenges for the environment arise. Invasive wetland grasses biomass can be collected for biofuel production, thus offering a sustainable solution for invasive plants' management and contributing to the renewable energy sector. The straw-like shoot biomass of common reed (Phragmites australis), widespread across temperate and tropical zones, has been examined to assess its potential use for energy purposes. We seek to determine the fuel-energy characteristics of common reed biomass, which are necessary for converting it into energy through combustion. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to determine the physical and chemical properties of biomass according to the ISO standards for solid biofuels. These properties included calorific values, moisture, ash and volatile matter contents, and contents of C, H, N, and major and minor elements, as well as ash melting behaviour. The measured values were also compared to standard limits for different classes of densified biofuels. Based on the results, the net calorific value (15.33 MJ/kg ar) and other parameters met the requirements for the class A quality of non-woody briquettes and pellets. The only parameters which exceeded the class A limits were ash content (7.1% d.b.) and Cl content (0.16% d.b.). The findings of this study are important for the potential utilisation of common reed biomass for bioenergy as a step towards contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been widely recognised for efficiently removing many pollutants from wastewater, making them vital for environmental bioremediation. The substrates used in constructed wetlands are crucial in determining their overall performance, notably their ability to improve nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater. This study aims to investigate the possibility of removing pollutants from wastewater using a pilot scale vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) planted with Phragmites australis applied to various substrates, such as gravel and sand in an arid climate in Southeast Algeria. The study involved using four basins, filled with sand and gravel. Two were planted with Phragmites australis and the others were left as a control without vegetation. The efficiency of the filtration systems was evaluated based on various physicochemical and organic parameters. Results showed that the highest hydraulic retention time is in the 7 days. The removal efficiency values are 84.38% for biological oxygen demand (DBO5), 77.45% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), and 83.30% for total solid matter (TSS) in the planted gravel filter. The planted sand filter had even higher removal efficiency values, with 89.59%, 85.80%, and 86.63% for DBO5, COD, and TSS, respectively. Nitrate concentration increased in all filters due to the complete transformation of ammonium into nitrate. NO2 -, NH4 +, and PO4 3-removal efficiencies were also higher in the planted sand filter 74.45%, 95.43%, and 77.64%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions pose a significant threat to ecosystems, disrupting local biodiversity and ecosystem functions. The genomic underpinnings of invasiveness, however, are still largely unknown, making it difficult to predict and manage invasive species effectively. The common reed (Phragmites australis) is a dominant grass species in wetland ecosystems and has become particularly invasive when transferred from Europe to North America. Here, we present a high-quality gap-free, telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of Phragmites australis consisting of 24 pseudochromosomes and a B chromosome. Fully phased subgenomes demonstrated considerable subgenome dominance and revealed the divergence of diploid progenitors approximately 30.9 million years ago. Comparative genomics using chromosome-level scaffolds for three other lineages and a previously published draft genome assembly of an invasive lineage revealed that gene family expansions in the form of tandem duplications may have contributed to the invasiveness of the lineage. This study sheds light on the genome evolution of Arundinoideae grasses and suggests that genetic drivers, such as gene family expansions and tandem duplications, may underly the processes of biological invasion in plants. These findings provide a crucial step toward understanding and managing the genetic basis of invasiveness in plant species. We provide a complete, telomere to telomere gap-free genome assembly for common reed that includes its B chromosome. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that tandem duplications may have contributed to the invasiveness potential of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the current water quality status across various regions within the Fayoum depression by examining water canals, drains, and potential contaminants impacting public health and the local ecosystem. Additionally, an adsorption treatability investigation was conducted on various antibiotics identified during the assessment. Fifteen sampling points were selected across the Fayoum depression, covering surface water bodies and agricultural drainage systems during both winter and summer seasons. Physico-chemical, microbiological, and antibiotic analyses were performed on collected water samples. The water quality parameters investigated included pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and concentrations of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. The findings revealed significant variations in water quality parameters among different water sources, categorizing them into three types: irrigation canals, polluted canals, and drains. High contamination levels were observed in certain water canals and drains due to untreated sewage and agricultural drainage discharge. Notably, elevated TDS levels (exceeding 1200 mg/L), microbial indicators count (with total coliforms reaching up to 2.3 × 106 CFU/100 mL), and antibiotics (with concentrations of ciprofloxacin and tetracycline exceeding 4.6 µg/L) were detected. To mitigate antibiotic contamination, a Phyto-adsorption treatability study using magnetite nanoparticles prepared with Phragmites australis plant extract demonstrated promising results, achieving complete removal of high antibiotic concentrations with an adsorption capacity of up to 67 mg/g. This study provides updated insights into water quality in the Fayoum depression and proposes a novel approach for addressing antibiotic contamination, potentially safeguarding human and environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable management of pig slurry (PS) in intensive farms is essential to reduce adverse environmental impacts and reduce the ecological footprint. If not managed properly, PS can release GHG/NH3 gases into the atmosphere and contaminate waters. This study evaluates the impact of an integral management system with physical and biological stages to mitigate the impact of PS. The system resulted in effective PS traceability, studying its physicochemical properties. The synergism in the whole system allowed a decrease in the most analyzed parameters during the autumn, spring, and summer. The pretreatment contributed significantly to obtaining an appreciable percentage of reduction in the constructed wetlands of SS (99–100%), COD (56–87%), TN (50–57%), and PO43− (88–100%). The emission values (g/m2/day) were 0–2.14 (CH4), 0–473.76 (CO2), 0–179.77 (H2O), 0–0.265 (N2O), and 0–0.195 (NH3), highlighting the raw, separated and manure fractions with the highest values. It is concluded that the system proves to be a practical, low-cost, and efficient technique for the treatment of PS. It significantly reduces the concentration of nutrients, and the intercepted byproducts can be valuable for application to the soil. In addition, the system effectively reduces GHG/NH3 emissions in decanted, purified, and wetland PS fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sludge treatment reed bed planted (STRB) with Phragmites australis (P.australis) and Arundo donax (A.donax) was assessed in the presence of Eisenia fetida under control condition during the dry season. Worm-planted units were fed with mixed sewage sludge (dry and volatile solids of 29.44 g DS.L−1 and 24.23 g VS.L−1). Sludge loading rates (SLR) of 50, 60, and 70 kg DS m−2 year−1 were examined to assess dewatering efficiency. Surface layers in units with P.australis and A.donax achieved DS of 80 and 81% at a loading rate of 50 kg DS m−2 year−1, while their subsurface DS were 41 and 25%, respectively. Units with A.donax experienced plant loss when subjected to SLR exceeding 60 kg DS m−2 year−1. More than 10 cm of residual sludge accumulated on the top of units after a 2-month final rest. Evapotranspiration was greater in the unit with P.australis (5.23 mm day−1) compared to the unit with A.donax (4.24 mm day−1) while both were fed with 70 kg DS m−2 year−1. Water loss contributions from residual sludge layer, drained water, and evapotranspiration were 3, 46, and 51%, respectively. Units with P.australis indicated 20% higher water loss compared to units with A.donax. Although the drained water quality improved over time, it did not meet standard limits. The residual sludge layer contained macro and micronutrients, and heavy metals with a significant elemental order of N > Ca > P > S > mg > K (N:P:K = 31:8:1), Fe > Na > B > Mn > Mo and Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. Overall, STRB could be a sustainable alternative technology to conventional sewage sludge management techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By analyzing the differences in growth period, the vertical distribution of the ground plants and underground roots between P. arundinacea and P. australis, the distribution characteristics of spatial-temporal niche of two species in the P. arundinacea-P. australis community were studied, and the complementary utilization characteristics of two species on the two-dimensional resource axis of light and soil nutrient were probed on basis of above niche distribution characteristics. The results showed that the degree of temporal niche segregation of two species was 70. 4%, while the degree of temporal niche overlap of two species was 29. 6%. With the extension of overlap growth period of two species, their degrees of vertical spatial niche segregation on the ground from 72. 5% decreased to 0 and then increased to 57. 1%, while their degrees of vertical spatial niche overlap from 27. 5% increased to 100% and then decreased to 57. 1%. Both the degree of vertical niche segregation and the degree of vertical niche overlap under the ground were 50. 0%. The spatial-temporal niche segregation characteristic was particularly obvious. Among them, a greater degree of temporal niche segregation was conducive to the alternate utilization of multiple resources by the two species; the vertical niche segregation on the ground and underground were conducive to the alternate utilization of light on the different canopies in the P. arundinacea-P. australis community and soil nutrient in the different soil layers, respectively. Therefore, this study revealed that maintenance mechanism for competitive coexistence of two species of P. arundinacea and P. australis on basis of relationship between niche distribution and resources utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Constructed wetlands (CWs) are nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment where the root system microbiome plays a key role in terms of nutrient and pollutant removal. Nonetheless, little is known on plant-microbe interactions and bacterial population selection in CWs, which are mostly characterized in terms of engineering aspects. Methods: Here, cultivation-independent and cultivation-based analyses were applied to study the bacterial communities associated to the root systems of Phragmites australis and Typha domingensis co-occurring in the same cell of a CW receiving primary treated wastewaters. Results and discussion: Two endophytic bacteria collections (n = 156) were established aiming to find novel strains for microbial-assisted phytodepuration, however basing on their taxonomy the possible use of these strains was limited by their low degrading potential and/or for risks related to the One-Health concept. A sharp differentiation arose between the P. australis and T. domingensis collections, mainly represented by lactic acid bacteria (98%) and Enterobacteriaceae (69%), respectively. Hence, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to disentangle the microbiome composition in the root system fractions collected at increasing distance from the root surface. Both the fraction type and the plant species were recognized as drivers of the bacterial community structure. Moreover, differential abundance analysis revealed that, in all fractions, several bacteria families were significantly and differentially enriched in P. australis or in T. domingensis. CWs have been also reported as interesting options for the removal of emerging contaminants (e.g, antibiotic resistance genes, ARGs). In this study, ARGs were mostly present in the rhizosphere of both plant species, compared to the other analyzed fractions. Notably, qPCR data showed that ARGs (i.e., ermB, blaTEM, tetA) and intl1 gene (integrase gene of the class 1 integrons) were significantly higher in Phragmites than Typha rhizospheres, suggesting that macrophyte species growing in CWs can display a different ability to remove ARGs from wastewater. Overall, the results suggest the importance to consider the plant-microbiome interactions, besides engineering aspects, to select the most suitable species when designing phytodepuration systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study examined the relationships between riparian plant communities and their soil properties along the midstream of the Heihe River in northwestern China's arid region. Significant variations in species composition were observed across the upper, middle, and lower reaches of this midstream (adonis2 and anosim, p < 0.001). The lower reaches exhibited higher species diversity (Shannon index up to 2.12) compared to the other reaches. Gramineous plants, particularly Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. and Equisetum ramosissimum Desf., dominated all reaches, with relative abundances exceeding 50% in the upper reach sites. The soil ionic concentration showed distinct spatial heterogeneity, peaking at site 9 (upper reaches) and lowest at site 3 (lower reaches). Species diversity indices negatively correlated with SO42−, Mg2+, and Ca2+ concentrations, while salt-tolerant species like Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. and Phragmites australis Trin. positively correlated with Na+ and Cl− levels. Soil nutrients had weaker but notable effects on the distribution of Onopordum acanthium L. and Artemisia argyi H. Lév. and Vaniot. These findings suggest that riparian plant community distribution along the Heihe River is influenced by complex interactions between hydrological processes, salt dynamics, and soil physicochemical properties, such as anion and cation concentrations and electrical conductivity (EC). Our research provides valuable insights for understanding and managing riparian ecosystems in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From tannery effluent (TE) severely polluted with heavy metals (HMs viz., Cr, Cu, Cd, and Pb), hydrophytic phytoextraction remains a challenge as transplanted plants succumb to death on facing acclimatization shock. Current study was aimed at diluting TE with harvested rainwater (HR) for improving HM phytoextraction potential of Phragmites australis (a hydrophyte) assisted with phycoremediation of coupled algae (viz., Oedogonium sp. and Pithophora sp.). The TE:HR dilutions (TEDs) 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% (v/v) included three sets: set-1 included algae only, set-2 included P. australis only and set-3 included P. australis coupled with combined algal inoculum. Results showed that P. australis assisted with HR dilution and combined algal inoculum showed significantly greater uptake of HMs from each of the TEDs than respective control treatments. Combined algal application in the TEDs proved phycoremediation assistants based on their bioaccumulation factor (BF). The dry biomass of P. australis in TEDs applied with phycoremediation assistants remained greater than uninoculated ones. Overall, HM translocation factor (TF) of P. australis for Cr, Cu, Cd, and Pb remained ≥ 1. The study concludes that HM phytoextraction is substantially increased when concentrated TE is diluted with HR and assisted with phycoremediation of HM tolerant algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial ornamental grasses are often recommended for rain gardens, but few data support their use. We conducted two experiments to evaluate the ability of ornamental grass cultivars to grow while subjected to cyclical flooding, submergence, and drought typical of rain gardens. Our objectives were to determine the effects of cyclical flood and drought (Expt. 1) and submergence depth and duration (Expt. 2) on grass growth and survival. Seven cultivars were evaluated during greenhouse trials, including Pixie Fountain tufted hairgrass [Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.], Northwind switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), Red October big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), Purpurascens Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis Andersson), Blue HeavenVR little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash], Blonde Ambition blue grama grass [Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths], and Karl Foerster feather reed grass [Calamagrostis ×acutiflora (Schrad.) DC]. During Expt. 1, grasses underwent four cycles of flooding duration (2 days or 7 days) followed by drought (drying to volumetric soil water contents of 0.14 or 0.07 cm³·cm-3). During Expt. 2, grasses were cyclically submerged at 15 or 30 cm above the soil surface for 2, 4, or 7 days, followed by floodwater removal and drainage for 2 days before being resubmerged. Cyclical submergence continued until the 7-day submergence treatments completed four cycles. Both experiments were replicated in a full factorial randomized complete block design. Controls were included in both experiments. Plants were measured to determine plant height, shoot count, visual damage rating, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight. Floodwater chemistry and soil reducing conditions were measured during Expt. 2. Chinese silvergrass and switchgrass survived cyclical soil flooding/drought and submergence for 7 days at a depth of 30 cm while maintaining acceptable foliar damage. All grasses survived cyclical flood and drought when the soil volumetric water content was maintained at 14%, suggesting they can withstand periodic soil flooding as long as the water is not too deep. As water depth and duration increased from 4 days to 7 days, little bluestem, blue grama grass, and feather reed grass experienced significant foliar damage. Tufted hair grass and big bluestem experienced significant foliar damage when submerged for 2 days. Our results showed that perennial ornamental grasses can tolerate cyclical flood and drought and periodic submergence, but that plant conditions and survival vary, which can inform strategic plant placement within rain gardens, bioretention basins, and other stormwater management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, the second most abundant natural polymer, is a by-product of the biorefinery and pulp and paper industries. This study was undertaken to evaluate the properties and estimate the prospects of using lignin as a by-product of the pretreatment of common reed straw (Phragmites australis) with deep eutectic solvents (DESs) of various compositions: choline chloride/oxalic acid (ChCl/OA), choline chloride/lactic acid (ChCl/LA), and choline chloride/monoethanol amine (ChCl/EA). The lignin samples, hereinafter referred to as Lig-OA, Lig-LA, and Lig-EA, were obtained as by-products after optimizing the conditions of reed straw pretreatment with DESs in order to improve the efficiency of subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. The lignin was studied using gel penetration chromatography, UV-vis, ATR-FTIR, and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy; its antioxidant activity was assessed, and the UV-shielding properties of lignin/polyvinyl alcohol composite films were estimated. The DES composition had a significant impact on the structure and properties of the extracted lignin. The lignin's ability to scavenge ABTS+• and DPPH• radicals, as well as the efficiency of UV radiation shielding, decreased as follows: Lig-OA > Lig-LA > Lig-EA. The PVA/Lig-OA and PVA/Lig-LA films with a lignin content of 4% of the weight of PVA block UV radiation in the UVA range by 96% and 87%, respectively, and completely block UV radiation in the UVB range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, plastic waste is one of the most pressing issues, especially in developing countries. Plastic waste comes from everyday products such as plastic food boxes, plastic bottles, disposable products, or plastc straws causing negative effects on the environment. On the other hand, grass straws are eco-friendly and safe and can be easily found in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. However, the process of grass straw production is implemented manually, resulting in low productivity and unsafe labor conditions. Among the stages of producing grass straws, cleaning the core of the straw is the most important because it determines its quality. Aiming to automate the grass straw production process, this paper introduces the first grass straw core cleaning machine in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escape from native range enemies can give invasive species a competitive edge according to the enemy‐release hypothesis. While more commonly associated with predators and herbivores, release from belowground microbial antagonists has been recently demonstrated to benefit invasive plants. Biogeographic variation in dominance and comparisons of soil communities suggest that invasive European Phragmites australis may have also benefitted from belowground enemy release in North America (NA). Here we examine the effects of native range (Europe) versus introduced range (NA) soil communities on European and North American P. australis using a reciprocal inoculation seedling growth experiment. Contrary to the enemy‐release hypothesis, we found that North American P. australis was sensitive to soil community origin in that the seedlings grown in European soil communities had higher total biomass than seedlings grown in North American soil communities. This pattern was not observed in the European P. australis seedlings which had similar biomass when grown with North American or European soil communities. Notably, North American P. australis had higher biomass than European P. australis regardless of which soil community it was grown in, suggesting a growth–defense tradeoff. Though the relative abundance of mutualists and pathogens composition did not differ between the two ranges, an indicator analysis revealed that mutualistic fungi and bacteria were key components of European soil communities but not in North American communities. Interestingly, North American soil communities had lower β diversity than European communities suggesting higher levels of community conservation among North American populations. This research represents the first evidence of growth–defense trade‐offs in North American P. australis and offers a novel mechanism in understanding the invasion of P. australis in NA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial effluents pose a serious environmental problem, because they contain toxic contaminants mainly heavy metals that are the most dangerous to humans, animals, plants, and the environment in general. Phytoremediation using macrophytes is an adopted technique for the environment decontamination due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The present study aims to highlight the capabilities of macrophytes to remove heavy metals from wastewater of Biskra region (Algeria). The methodology consists of filling out the filters planted with Arundo donax and Phragmites australis with raw industrial wastewater, then recovering decontaminated water after 15 days to assess removal of lead, copper, zinc, and iron. Both plants had shown a good efficiency for the removal of metals loaded in wastewater eliminating about 94 to 98% of initial concentration. In addition, calculated bioaccumulation factor (BAF) had confirmed the accumulation of heavy metals in different parts of experimental plants; recorded values of BAF > 1 allowed the consideration of Arundo donax and Phragmites australis as good hyper-accumulator plants. Obtained results confirm the efficiency of phytoremediation technology using macrophytes for the wastewater treatment in particular and the environment decontamination in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phragmites australis is one of the most invasive wetland plants on the planet with both native and invasive haplotypes occurring in the United States. Three Phragmites haplotypes (Delta-, EU- and Gulf-types) co-occur in marshes of the Mississippi River Delta (MRD), where a recent dieback of Phragmites has prompted investigations about the potential for recolonization by seed. In other areas of the US, the invasive EU-type has been shown to spread by seed, yet little is known about reproduction modes of the Delta- and Gulf-types. We conducted a survey at 35 sites along the Mississippi River Delta region in southeast Louisiana to examine the potential for sexual reproduction across haplotypes as well as the potential for hybridization. Seed and pollen samples were collected from Phragmites populations to examine flowering phenology and determine pollen viability of the three lineages. We also conducted a seedbank assay in stands of three haplotypes to test the potential for recruitment by seed. Despite the observed potential for sexual reproduction in Delta- and EU- types, no Phragmites seedlings germinated from the seedbank. EU was the only haplotype to exhibit germination from seeds collected from seed heads. Both spatial separation and temporal isolation in flowering times indicate that hybridization between Phragmites haplotypes in the lower MRD is unlikely. High pollen production, increased pollen production following dieback, and viable seeds in the EU-type suggest that this invasive haplotype has a greater potential to invade new areas and adapt to stressors through sexual reproduction compared to than Delta-or Gulf haplotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of climate warming on the decomposition of wetland plant litter has received widespread attention. We used the litter bag method to compare and study the decomposition processes of three species of litter in the Nansi Lake wetland of China, Phragmites australis (Ph), Nelumbo nucifera (Ne) and Typha domingensis (Ty), and simulate the changes in the decomposition characteristics of litter and the structure of the fungal community under atmospheric warming (2.0 ± 0.5 °C ~ 4.0 ± 0.5 °C) using open-top chambers (OTCs). The results showed that increasing temperature significantly accelerated the decomposition process of the three species of litter and increased the beta and alpha diversities of the fungal communities at the class level. The fungal community co-occurrence network showed that the fungal community network associated with litter decomposition under warming conditions consisted mainly of symbiotic relationships, and the order of the average clustering coefficients of the three networks was 2.0 ± 0.5 °C (0.81) > 4.0 ± 0.5 °C (0.77) > control (0.57). Moderate warming increased the degree of positive correlation and clustering between fungi, thus accelerating the decomposition process of plant litter and affecting the carbon balance of wetland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the potential of Phragmites australis (common reed) for phytoremediation of fertilizer manufacturing effluent contaminated with nitrogen and phosphorus. Our primary objective was to assess the efficiency of P. australis in removing these nutrients under varying concentrations. Methods: We conducted a 16-week experiment using wastewater samples from a local fertilizer plant, with treatments including control, low load (50 mg/L N, 10 mg/L P), and high load (100 mg/L N, 20 mg/L P). Results: Results demonstrated remarkable removal efficiencies, reaching 96.8% for nitrogen and 98.3% for phosphorus at moderate loads. Even at higher concentrations, P. australis showed substantial removal capabilities. Temporal analysis revealed that the majority of nutrient removal occurred within the first 8 weeks. The reed exhibited enhanced growth and biomass production under nutrient-rich conditions, with total biomass increases of up to 119.3% compared to the control. Conclusion: We conclude that P. australis is a highly effective phytoremediation agent for fertilizer-contaminated industrial wastewater. The study recommends implementing periodic harvesting to maintain optimal performance and exploring the potential for biomass valorization. These findings have significant implications for sustainable industrial wastewater management, offering a nature-based solution that combines effective pollutant removal with potential resource recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]