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In this research, we aimed to determine the antioxidant activity of an atomized extract of Cnidoscolus diacanthus (Pax & K. Hoffm.) J.F. Macbr., known in Peru as "huanarpo hembra", and its effect on sex hormone levels. Its phytochemical profile was determined using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), while its total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFs) were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and the aluminum chloride method. Its antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the radical 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazolin-6 sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The biological activity of C. diacanthus and its effect on sexual hormones were determined in Holtzman rats of both sexes. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in its leaves and stems, mainly rutin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and genistein. However, the stem extract contained higher total phenol (464.38 ± 4.40 GAE/g) and flavonoid (369.17 ± 3.16 mg QE/g of extract) contents than the leaf extract (212.38 ± 3.19 mg GAE/g and 121.49 ± 2.69 mg QE/g). For DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, the Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was 597.20 ± 5.40 µmol/g, 452.67 ± 5.76 µmol/g, and 535.91 ± 1.56 µmol/g, respectively, for the stems, while for the leaves, it was 462.39 ± 3.99 µmol/g, 202.32 ± 5.20 µmol/g, and 198.13 ± 1.44 µmol/g, respectively. In terms of the values for hormonal levels, at a dose of 100 mg/kg of the extract, testosterone levels of 1.430 ng/mL (with the leaf extract) and 1.433 ng/mL (with the stem extract), respectively, were found in the male rats. Regarding estradiol levels, in the female rats, these were 10.425 ng/mL (leaf extract) and 8.775 ng/mL (stem extract), while their levels of luteinizing hormone were 0.320 mIU/mL (leaf extract) and 0.273 mIU/mL (stem extract). For the follicle-stimulating hormone, levels of 0.858 mIU/mL (leaf extract) and 0.840 mIU/mL (stem extract) were found in the female rats, and levels of 0.220 mIU/mL (leaf extract) and 0.200 mIU/mL (stem extract) were found in the male rats. It is concluded that the C. diacanthus stem extract had a greater antioxidant capacity than the leaf extract, while both extracts had a superior effect on the sex hormone levels in the female rats compared to the male rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of plant mitochondrial and nuclear genetic systems is exemplified by mitochondria-encoded cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) under the control of nuclear restorer-of-fertility genes. The S type of CMS in maize is characterized by a pollen collapse phenotype and a unique paradigm for fertility restoration in which numerous nuclear restorer-of-fertility lethal mutations rescue pollen function but condition homozygous-lethal seed phenotypes. Two nonallelic restorer mutations recovered from Mutator transposon-active lines were investigated to determine the mechanisms of pollen fertility restoration and seed lethality. Mu Illumina sequencing of transposon-flanking regions identified insertion alleles of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial ribosomal proteins RPL6 and RPL14 as candidate restorer-of-fertility lethal mutations. Both candidates were associated with lowered abundance of mitochondria-encoded proteins in developing maize pollen, and the rpl14 mutant candidate was confirmed by independent insertion alleles. While the restored pollen functioned despite reduced accumulation of mitochondrial respiratory proteins, normal-cytoplasm plants heterozygous for the mutant alleles showed a significant pollen transmission bias in favor of the nonmutant Rpl6 and Rpl14 alleles. CMS-S fertility restoration affords a unique forward genetic approach to investigate the mitochondrial requirements for, and contributions to, pollen and seed development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq., an endangered plant species with significant medicinal, edible, and ecological value, is now a central concern for conservation and sustainable utilization. Investigating the physiological and ecological mechanisms leading to its endangerment and elucidating its genetic background constitutes the foundation for conducting in-depth research on G. littoralis. Results: Our observations have revealed a significant degree of floral sterility in wild populations of G. littoralis. The inflorescences of G. littoralis are classified into three types: completely fertile, completely sterile, and partially fertile compound umbels. Moreover, the flowers of G. littoralis can be categorized into fertile and sterile types. Sterile flowers exhibited abnormalities in the stigma, ovary, and ovules. This study is the first to discover that the presence or absence of a giant cell at the funiculus during the initiation of ovule primordium determines whether the flower can develop normally, providing cytological evidence for female sterility in G. littoralis. Conversely, both fertile and sterile flowers produced normally developed pollen. Field observations have suggested that robust plants bear more fertile umbels, while weaker ones have fewer or even no fertile umbels, indicating a close relationship between flower fertility and plant nutritional status. Our model correctly predicted that the eastern coastal regions of China, as well as prospective areas in Neimenggu and Sichuan, are suitable environments for its cultivation. Additionally, Using flow cytometry and genome survey, we estimated the genome size of G. littoralis to be 3.06 Gb and the heterozygosity to be 4.58%. Conclusion: The observations and findings presented in this study were expected to provide valuable insights for further conserving its genetic resources and sustainable utilization of G. littoralis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, breeding initiatives have been made to reduce the fecundity of invasive plants leading to sterile cultivars. The wildtype form of heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica Thunb. (Berberidaceae) and seven cultivars were evaluated for landscape performance, fruit production and seed viability at three sites in Florida located in southwest, northcentral, and north Florida. For heavenly bamboo cultivars in north Florida, 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray' (Sunray®), 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki' (Flirt™), 'SEIKA' (Obsession™), and 'Twilight' performed well throughout much of the study with average visual quality ratings between 3.54 and 4.60 (scale of 1 to 5). In northcentral Florida heavenly bamboo cultivars are 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki', 'SEIKA', and 'Twilight' performed well throughout much of the study with average quality ratings between 4.49 and 4.94. In southwest Florida, 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki', and 'SEIKA' performed well with average quality ratings between 3.40 and 4.83. At all three sites, 'Emerald Sea' and the wildtype were similar in size, having the greatest growth indices compared to medium-sized cultivars ('Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Twilight' and 'SEIKA') and dwarf-sized cultivars ('Chime' and 'Murasaki'). For three consecutive fall-winter seasons of the study, 'Chime', 'Greray', and 'Lemon-Lime' heavenly bamboo did not fruit at any of the study sites. Among the three sites, 'Murasaki' had 97.7% to 99.9% fruit reduction, 'SEIKA' had 97.7% to 100% fruit reduction, and 'Twilight' had 95.9% to 100% fruit reduction compared to the wildtype at respective sites. Seeds collected from low fruiting cultivars ('Murasaki', 'SEIKA', and 'Twilight') had 33.3% to 66.7% viability, as determined by tetrazolium tests. In comparison, 'Emerald Sea' produced as much, if not more, fruit as the wildtype, especially in northern Florida, with seed viability ranging from 6.7% to 29.0% among sites. Nuclear DNA content of cultivars were comparable to the wildtype, suggesting they are diploids. These findings identified four low to no fruiting heavenly bamboo cultivars recommended for landscape use ('Lemon-Lime', 'SEIKA', 'Murasaki', and 'Greray'). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on medicinal plants is essential for their conservation, propagation, resistance to environmental stress, and domestication. The use of organic nutrition has been demonstrated to improve soil fertility and plant quality. It is also important to study the effects of the Basic Cation Saturation Ratio (BCSR) approach, which is a topic where there is currently controversy and limited scientific information. Evaluating the growth and yields of Agastache mexicana subsp. mexicana (Amm) in different environments is crucial for developing effective propagation and domestication strategies. This includes examining warm and subhumid environments with rain in summer in comparison to mild environments with summer rain. Significant differences were observed in the effects of cold, waterlogging, and heat stresses on the plant's biomass yield and the morphometric-quantitative modeling by means of isolines. The biomass yield was 56% higher in environment one compared to environment two, 19% higher in environment one with organic nutrition, and 48% higher in environment two with organic nutrition compared to using only BCSR nutrition. In the second harvesting cycle, the plants in environment one did not survive, while the plants in environment two managed to survive without needing additional nutrition. Statistical and mathematical analyses provided information about the population or sample. Additionally, further analysis using isolines as a new approach revealed new insights into understanding phenology and growth issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explored the post-wildfire elemental composition of parts (wood, bark, branch, cone, trunk, litter, twig, needle, sward, fallow, sapling, etc.) and by-products (biomass ashes, partly burnt parts, and char) of different woody species in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Czech Republic, and considered their effects on soils. Multi-elemental analysis of the fire by-products of the woody species was determined with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry and compared with control biomass samples unaffected by wildfire. Most fire by-products were slightly alkaline, with acidic ashes obtained from blueberry wood. The by-products of the wildfire were characterized by varied total contents of macro (P, Ca, K, Mg, and S), micro (Na, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn), and other elements (B, Co, Mo, and V) vital to soil fertility and plant growth. The mean content of macro elements in the biomass ashes was up to 4.16 P, 23.5 Ca, 2.48 Mg, 63 K, and 5.57 S g kg−1. These values were comparatively lower than published data for ashes obtained under optimized conditions, e.g., those combusted in power generation facilities. Conversely, partly burnt parts—an indication of incomplete combustion—had higher 9.22 P, 79 Ca, and 5.99 Mg g kg−1 contents in spruce needles than in biomass ashes and the control. Variations in woody species and anthropogenic activities in areas of wildfires produced varied As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb contents above EU fertilizer regulation. Caution in applying biomass ashes from wildfires on fields is required due to risk/toxic elements input from anthropogenic activities. Wildfire effects on the elemental composition of woody species can provide information on plant parts most suitable for biomass ashes for soil and ecosystem safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L) serves as a primary food source for over a billion people worldwide and is encountering challenges in yield due to the increasing global population and climate changes. Understanding the genetic variations that underlie complex traits is crucial for its enhancement and this can be accomplished through generation mean analysis. In this study, investigation was made to study the genetic mechanisms governing important quantitative traits, specifically yield and salinity tolerance in rice. The study involved six generations (P1 , P2 , F1 , F2 , B1 and B2 ) resulting from two crosses between three parents. The investigation specifically focused on generation mean analysis, assessing twelve traits includes days to flowering, plant height, total number of tillers, number of productive tillers, panicle length, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, number of filled grains per panicle, total number of grains per panicle, spikelet fertility, thousand-grain weight and single plant yield in the two crosses. In Cross I (ADT 45 × APD 19002), traits such as plant height, days to fifty percent flowering, total number of tillers and total number of grains per panicle exhibited opposing signs for dominance × dominance (l) and dominance (h), indicating a prevalence of duplicate epistasis. At the same time, additive and additive × additive gene effects influenced total number of tillers, plant height, total number of grains per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle and spikelet fertility. In Cross II (CO 54 × APD 19002), total number of tillers, plant height, flag leaf length, total number of grains per panicle, spikelet fertility and single plant yield suggested a predominance of duplicate epistasis. Further, the total number of grains per panicle, total number of tillers per plant, spikelet fertility and thousand-grain weight were primarily governed by additive and additive × additive gene effects. These observations show the feasibility of enhancement through selection in subsequent generations, emphasizing the necessity of integrating selection with salinity tolerance screening for the development of high-yield, salinity-tolerant rice varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping of ornamental flowering plants like Lycoris radiata Herb. and Cuphea hookeriana Walp. with tea trees can enhance the visibility and esthetic appeal of tea gardens. However, there has been limited research of the impact of intercropping ornamental flowering plants with tea trees on the soil in tea gardens. During this study, our objective was to analyze the effects of intercropping systems on tea garden soil by examining the physicochemical properties of rhizosphere soil samples from tea gardens intercropped with L. radiata and C. hookeriana. We also performed rhizosphere microbial metagenomic sequencing to assess the microbial community structure. The results revealed significant improvements in soil physicochemical indicators, particularly pH. Although intercropping systems had minor impacts on bacterial diversity and abundance, they had more pronounced effects on the community structure of microorganisms at the phylum and genus levels. Furthermore, an analysis of microbial functions using Functional Annotation of Prokaryotic Taxa (FAPROTAX) revealed enrichment of carbon and nitrogen cycling pathways in the tea garden soil. Our findings indicated that intercropping practices have the potential to enhance the visual appeal of tea gardens while improving soil fertility and modulating the microbial community structure. These results contribute to our understanding of intercropping strategies and the implications of intercropping for tea tree growth and ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supra-optimal temperature adversely affects plant growth and development. Among different growth phases, the reproductive stage of plants is highly sensitive to high temperature stress. The heat tolerance of plants is reliant on a complex interplay of various factors, including the activation of heat stress responses, downstream signaling pathways, and biosynthesis of plant hormones. This intricate network of mechanisms results in the production of several secondary metabolites, which play a crucial role in enhancing the plant's ability to cope with high temperature stress. Many of these secondary metabolites are crucial for the reproductive performance of plants, as they are involved in the attraction of pollinators, pollen germination, pollen tube growth, pollen viability, pollen fertility, and fertilization. Reproductive tissues of plants are highly vulnerable to heat stress, but increased biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (flavonoids, polyamines, glutathione, etc.) induces reproductive thermotolerance through reactive oxygen species homeostasis, protecting the cellular membranes, improving pollen fertility, reducing anther abortion, regulating cellular signaling and activation of genes/transcription factors associated with metabolic pathway network. The identification and engineering of some genes controlling the secondary metabolic pathways network have proved effective in inducing terminal heat stress tolerance in transgenic plants. This review highlights the effect of heat stress on plant secondary metabolism and the role of different plant secondary metabolites in contributing to heat stress tolerance in reproductive tissues. The engineering of genes involved in plant secondary metabolic pathway and their effect on heat stress tolerance has also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Host plants can strongly influence the population performance of insects. Here, we investigated the development, survival, and oviposition of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood on 6 host plants— Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (Ericales: Theaceae), Rosa chinensis Jacq. (Rosales: Rosaceae), Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae), Eustoma grandiflorum (Hook.) G.Don (Gentianales: Gentianaceae), Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fabales: Fabaceae), and Cucumis sativus L. (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae), and constructed life tables for S. dorsalis on each plant. Significant differences in S. dorsalis development on the host species were observed. The mean developmental period from egg to adult was 11.45 ± 0.12 days, 11.24 ± 0.13 days, 12.08 ± 0.15 days, 12.28 ± 0.12 days, 12.67 ± 0.10 days, and 13.03 ± 0.11 days on C. sinensis , R. chinensis , C. annuum , E. grandiflorum , G. max , and C. sativus , respectively. Significant differences in survival of S. dorsalis were observed, namely, C. sinensis  ≈  R. chinensis  >  E. grandiflorum  ≈  C. annuum  >  G. max  >  C. sativus. The highest and lowest fecundities of S. dorsalis were recorded on R. chinensis (60.44 ± 1.53) and C. sativus (28.64 ± 1.02), respectively. Both of the net reproductive rate (R 0) and intrinsic rate of increase (r m) of S. dorsalis were the highest on R. chinensis , with the values of 27.63 ± 0.58 and 0.142 ± 0.002, respectively; while the lowest on C. sativus , with the values of 8.81 ± 0.12 and 0.092 ± 0.003, respectively. Thus, R. chinensis was found to be the most suitable host, but C. sativus was the least suitable, for population development of S. dorsalis. Our results provide important information for the key control of S. dorsalis among different host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agronomic use of compost and biochar as soil amendments may exhibit contrasting results in terms of soil fertility and plant nutrition. The effects of the biennial application of biochar, compost and a blend of compost:biochar (90:10; % dw:dw) on the agronomical performance of an organically managed and well established 25-year-old olive orchard was assessed 5 years after the initial application. The agronomical evaluation was based on the assessment of the soil physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, and the assessment of the soil fertility by both crop production and nutritional status of the orchard, and the bioassay with olive plantlets. Biochar mainly benefited the physical properties (bulk density, total porosity, aeration, water retention capacity) of soil, especially in the top 0–5 cm. Compost and its blend with biochar improved microbial activity, soil nutritional status (increasing the content of soluble organic C, N, and P) and favoured the formation of aggregates in soil. The bioassay conducted with young plantlets confirmed the enhanced soil fertility status in the three amended treatments, particularly in the case of biochar and its blend with compost. However, this effect was not significantly observed in the adult plants after 5 years of application, reflecting the slow response of adult olive trees to changes in fertilization. Based on these results, alongside the desirable long-residence time of biochar in soil and the ready availability of compost, the blend of biochar with compost assayed in this study is defined as a valid strategy for preparing high quality soil organic amendments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a very important factor to produce hybrid seeds, and the restoration of fertility involves the expression of many fertility‐related genes. Our previous study showed that the expression of CaPIPLC5 was significantly up‐regulated in pepper restorer accessions and minimally expressed in sterile accessions, speculating that CaPIPLC5 is related to the restoration of fertility. In this study, we further validated the function of CaPIPLC5 in the restoration of fertility. The results showed that CaPIPLC5 was specifically expressed in the anthers of the restorer accessions with the subcellular localization in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, the expression of CaPIPLC5 was significantly higher in restorer lines and restorer combinations than that in CMS lines and their maintainer lines. Silencing CaPIPLC5 led to the number of pollen decreased, pollen grains wrinkled, and the ratio of pollen germination reduced. In addition, the joint analysis of Yeast One‐Hybrid (Y1H) and Dual‐Luciferase (dual‐LUC) assays suggested that transcription factors such as CaARF5, CabZIP24 and CaMYB‐like1, interacted with the promoter regions of CaPIPLC5, which regulated the expression of CaPIPLC5. The present results provide new insights into the study of CaPIPLC5 involved in the restoration of fertility in pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wealth of sorghum genetic resources in Africa has not been fully exploited for cultivar development in the continent. Hybrid cultivars developed from locally evolved germplasm are more likely to possess a well-integrated assembly of genes for local adaptation, productivity, quality, as well as for defensive traits and broader stability. A subset of 560 sorghum accessions of known fertility reaction representing the major botanical races and agro-ecologies of Ethiopia were characterized for genetic, agronomic and utilization parameters to lay a foundation for cultivar improvement and parental selection for hybrid breeding. Accessions were genotyped using a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) generating 73,643 SNPs for genetic analysis. Significant genetic variability was observed among accessions with Admixture and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components where 67% of the accessions fell into K=10 clusters with membership coefficient set to > 0.6. The pattern of aggregation of the accessions partially overlapped with racial category and agro-ecological adaptation. Majority of the non-restorer (B-line) accessions primarily of the bicolor race from the wet highland ecology clustered together away from two clusters of fertility restorer (R-line) accessions. Small members of the B accessions were grouped with the R clusters and in vice-versa while significant numbers of both B and R accessions were spread between the major clusters. Such pattern of diversity along with the complementary agronomic data based information indicate the potential for heterosis providing the foundation for initiating hybrid breeding program based on locally adapted germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytoplasm of Aegilops kotschyi is known for the induction of male sterility and haploidy in wheat. Both systems originally appeared rather simple, but manipulation of the standard chromosome constitution of the nuclear genome revealed additional interactions. This study shows that while there is little or no allelic variation at the main fertility restorer locus Rfmulti on chromosome arm 1BS, additional genes may also be involved in the nuclear–mitochondrial genome interactions, affecting not only male fertility but also the growth rate, from pollen competition for fertilization and early endosperm divisions all the way to seed size and plant maturity. Some of these effects appear to be of a sporophytic nature; others are gametophytic. Induction of parthenogenesis by a rye inducer in conjunction with the Ae. kotschyi cytoplasm is well known. However, here we show that the cytoplasmic-nuclear interactions affect all aspects of double fertilization: producing maternal haploids from unfertilized eggs, diploids from fertilized eggs or synergids, embryo-less kernels, and fertilized eggs without fertilization of the double nucleus in the embryo sack. It is unclear how frequent the inducers of parthenogenesis are, as variation, if any, is obscured by suppressors present in the wheat genome. Genetic dissection of a single wheat accession revealed five distinct loci affecting the rate of maternal haploid production: four acting as suppressors and one as an enhancer. Only when the suppressing haplotypes are confirmed may it be possible to the identify genetic variation of haploidy inducers, map their position(s), and determine their nature and the mode of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out in the farmer's fields of the Bhagalpur District of Bihar during the rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 to ascertain the impact of high fertility levels and plant geometry on the productivity and profitability of rabi maize. There were total five treatments consisting of different plant geometry and fertilizer rate. The five treatments viz.,T1- 60 × 20 cm spacing with 120:75:50 kg/ha (Farmers practice), T2- 50 × 20 cm spacing with 150:93.75:62.5 kg/ha, T3- 40 × 20 cm spacing with 150:93.75:62.5 kg/ha, T4- 50 × 20 cm spacing with 180:112.5:75 kg/ha and T5- 40 × 20 cm spacing with 180:112.5:75 kg/ha N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively were arranged in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with five replications. Polled data of two consecutive years revealed that all the higher fertility levels with reduced plant geometry produced higher yield attributes and yield of rabi maize and also sustained soil fertility as compare to the farmer's practice. Significantly, highest cob length (19.49 cm), cob girth (12.83 cm), 1000-grain wt (305.5 g), grain yield (115.94 q/ha) and net returns of INR 101434/ha were recorded with 180 : 112.5 : 75 kg/ha N, P2O5 and K2O with the plant spacing of 50×20 cm (T4). Application of 150:93.75:62.5 kg/ha N, P2O5 and K2O at plant spacing 50 × 20 cm (T2) being at par with 180:112.5:75 kg/ha N, P2O5 and K2O with the plant spacing of 50 × 20 cm (T4) and 180:112.5:75 kg/ha N, P2O5 and K2O at plant spacing 40 × 20 cm (T5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-natural transformation can convert artificial monoculture forests into mixed forests with diverse ages, multi-layered structures, and enhanced ecological functions. This transformation optimizes stand structure, improves soil physical and chemical properties, and enhances stand productivity and species diversity. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the underground roots and aboveground growth of Pinus tabuliformis and Populus tomentosa under conditions of nutrient heterogeneity, with the goal of advancing plantation transformation. This research focused on 1-year-old Populus tomentosa and 5-year-old Pinus tabuliformis, employing two planting densities (25 cm and 50 cm) and three fertilization levels, low (50 g·m−2), medium (100 g·m−2), and high (200 g·m−2), using Stanley Potassium sulfate complex fertilizer (N:P:K = 15:15:15). Each treatment had three replicates, resulting in a total of nine experimental groups, all planted in circular plots with a radius of 1 m. Standard major axis (SMA) regression was used to analyze the allometric relationship between underground fine root biomass and aboveground organ biomass. This study further explored correlations between fine root length, root surface area, volume, biomass, and aboveground biomass, culminating in a mixed-effects model. The mixed-effects model quantified the relationships between underground roots and aboveground growth in varying soil nutrient environments. The results indicated optimal root growth in Populus tomentosa and Pinus tabuliformis, characterized by maximum root length, surface area, and volume, under conditions of 200 g·m−2 soil nutrient concentration and 50 cm planting distance; Populus tomentosa fine roots had a vertical center at a depth of 8.5 cm, whereas Pinus tabuliformis roots were centered at depths of 5–7.5 cm, indicating differing competitive strategies. Pinus tabuliformis exhibited competitive superiority in the soil's surface layer, in contrast to Populus tomentosa, which thrived in deeper layers. The study of the allometric growth model revealed that under conditions where the nutrient gradient was 200 g·m−2 and the planting distance was 25 cm, Populus tomentosa demonstrated its highest allometric growth index (2.801), indicative of positive allometric growth. Furthermore, there was a notable inclination of resource allocation towards the aboveground, which enhances the accumulation of aboveground biomass. The mixed-effects model equation showed a clear linear relationship between underground roots and aboveground biomass. The final fitting coefficient of the model was high, providing a robust theoretical basis for future management practices. The mixed-effects model revealed the following hierarchy of fixed-effect coefficients for root system characteristics affecting aboveground biomass: fine root volume (132.11) > fine root biomass (6.462) > root surface area (−4.053) > fine root length (0.201). In subsequent plantation reconstruction and forest management, increasing soil fertility and planting distance can promote the growth of underground roots and biomass accumulation. Appropriately increasing soil fertility and reducing planting distance can effectively promote aboveground biomass accumulation, achieving sustainable forest development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Chronic Unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) increased serum Corticosterone level. • UCMS increased oxidative stress status and neuro-inflammation and decreasing BDNF and Ki67 in the brain. • Oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation followed by learning and memory impairment in adolescent male rats. • Ascorbic acid (AA) improved learning and memory impairment. • Vit C decreased serum corticosterone level, brain oxidative stress damage and increased BDNF and neurogenesis. The present research study aimed to investigate the role of Ascorbic acid (AA) on synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory impairment induced by unpredicted chronic mild stress (CUMS) in adolescent male rats. Adolescent male rats were divided into: 1) vehicle, 2) CUMS, 3–5) CUMS plus various doses of AA by oral gavage (CUMS-10/100/400 mg/kg), and 6) AA400 mg/kg by oral gavage. In Morris Water Maze, the time latency decreased, while the time spent in the target quadrant increased in CUMS group treated with AA at the dose of 400 mg/kg. In passive avoidance, the latency of entering into the dark chamber decreased in CUMS group treated with AA (400 mg/kg). In biochemical test results, nitrite and MDA significantly decreased, while thiol content, SOD, and catalase activity in CUMS group that received AA400mg/kg was increased. IL-10, BDNF and Ki67 increased, while TNF-a and AChE activity were decreased in CUMS group treated with AA simultaneously. The results of our study showed that chronic stress during adolescence could cause learning and memory disorders as well as synaptic plasticity. In addition, we showed that AA can prevent this problem by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, increasing the amount of BDNF, and neurogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst regions are characterized by unique geological formations that pose challenges to soil fertility and plant nutrition. In this study, we investigated the distribution and interactions of selenium (Se) in soils of Zheng'an County, a representative karst region in subtropical China. The results showed that the Se enrichment in the soils of Zheng'an County was high, with total contents ranging from 0.49 to 3.87 mg/kg and an average of 1.22 mg/kg, making the area Se-rich. Despite the abundance of Se, the effective percentage of Se uptake by plants was relatively low due to the generally moderately acidic nature of the soils in the region (pH: 5.98–6.60), which encourages the conversion of the available Se into forms that are not readily accessible. In addition, the high organic matter (OM) content (21.92–127.66 g/kg) promoted Se retention by interacting with Ca2+ in carbonate rocks. In addition, the clay content (50.73% to 76.19%) enhanced Se adsorption and limited Se availability. In conclusion, this study provides a basis for soil management and ecological restoration strategies in karst landscapes, highlights new insights into the dynamics of Se, and calls for further research to elucidate the Se availability mechanism and improve the efficiency of Se uptake by plants. Meanwhile, this study provides the first systematic study of Se transport and transformation, as well as Se-enriched Gastrodia elata in karst regions, and provides a preliminary understanding of the geochemical behavior of Se in karst regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexaploid tritordeum [×Tritordeum martinii A. Pujadas (Poaceae) nothosp. nov.; HchHchAABB] resulted from crosses between wild barley (Hordeum chilense Roem et. Schultz) and durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.]. Tritordeum (HT) presents interesting agronomic traits that can be transferred to cultivated wheat. Through the years, several HT lines were developed and characterised. Genomic stability and fertility are expected for advanced HT lines with multiple self‐fertilisation generations. In this work, we analysed the meiotic chromosomal pairing in pollen mother cells (PMCs) of three advanced lines of hexaploid tritordeum (HT9, HT31 and HT67) after fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) performed with genomic DNA from H. chilense and the bread wheat cloned rDNA sequence, pTa71, as probes, and characterised nine morphological and yield‐related traits for three consecutive years in adult plants. As expected, all HT lines showed regular meiotic chromosomal pairing, ensuring plant fertility as previously confirmed by the characterisation of morphological and yield‐related traits in adult plants of preceding generations. Globally, tritordeum is interesting for wheat breeding and has potential as an alternative crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

Summary: A fast evolution within mitochondria genome(s) often generates discords between nuclear and mitochondria, which is manifested as cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and fertility restoration (Rf) system. The maize CMS‐C trait is regulated by the chimeric mitochondrial gene, atp6c, and can be recovered by the restorer gene ZmRf5. Through positional cloning in this study, we identified the nuclear restorer gene, ZmRf5, which encodes a P‐type pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) family protein. The over‐expression of ZmRf5 brought back the fertility to CMS‐C plants, whereas its genomic editing by CRISPR/Cas9 induced abortive pollens in the restorer line. ZmRF5 is sorted to mitochondria, and recruited RS31A, a splicing factor, through MORF8 to form a cleaving/restoring complex, which promoted the cleaving of the CMS‐associated transcripts atp6c by shifting the major cleavage site from 480th nt to 344 th nt for fast degradation, and preserved just right amount of atp6c RNA for protein translation, providing adequate ATP6C to assembly complex V, thus restoring male fertility. Interestingly, ATP6C in the sterile line CMo17A, with similar cytology and physiology changes to YU87‐1A, was accumulated much less than it in NMo17B, exhibiting a contrary trend in the YU87‐1 nuclear genome previously reported, and was restored to normal level in the presence of ZmRF5. Collectively these findings unveil a new molecular mechanism underlying fertility restoration by which ZmRF5 cooperates with MORF8 and RS31A to restore CMS‐C fertility in maize, complemented and perfected the sterility mechanism, and enrich the perspectives on communications between nucleus and mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural soil is one of the foundations of agriculture. Cultivation, fertilization, irrigation and other agrotechnical measures of crop production affect it. Therefore, the study of the aggregate state of the soil provides information about the causes of changes in its composition, pore space, water, air and nutrient regimes, cultivation conditions and, in general, about the state of soil fertility and the conditions of plant growth and development. Chemical, physical and biological factors of an anthropogenic nature change the structural state of the soil. The structure of the soil is dynamic. Human economic activity leads to a decrease in the level of soil structure, which is especially clearly manifested in the case of low agricultural culture. Studies of the structural condition of the soil were carried out within the limits of field crop rotation. The soil is a typical chernozem on loamy loam. The structural condition of typical chernozem under arable land does not deteriorate and is evaluated from good to very good and excellent level with a high culture of agriculture, which is based on modern scientific developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress is a major threat to global crop production, and understanding its impact on plant fertility is crucial for developing climate-resilient crops. Despite the known negative effects of heat stress on plant reproduction, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the impact of elevated temperature on centromere structure and chromosome segregation during meiosis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Consistent with previous studies, heat stress leads to a decline in fertility and micronuclei formation in pollen mother cells. Our results reveal that elevated temperature causes a decrease in the amount of centromeric histone and the kinetochore protein BMF1 at meiotic centromeres with increasing temperature. Furthermore, we show that heat stress increases the duration of meiotic divisions and prolongs the activity of the spindle assembly checkpoint during meiosis I, indicating an impaired efficiency of the kinetochore attachments to spindle microtubules. Our analysis of mutants with reduced levels of centromeric histone suggests that weakened centromeres sensitize plants to elevated temperature, resulting in meiotic defects and reduced fertility even at moderate temperatures. These results indicate that the structure and functionality of meiotic centromeres in Arabidopsis are highly sensitive to heat stress, and suggest that centromeres and kinetochores may represent a critical bottleneck in plant adaptation to increasing temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of markers associated with fertility restoration (Rf) genes is essential because they can streamline the breeding of new CMS lines and production of commercial hybrid seeds. Therefore, in the present study, F2 populations (M31‐2A × DSMR 8) was utilized to identify markers linked to Rf loci on maldandi (A4) cytoplasm through bulk segregant analysis (BSA). The F2 population was analysed for seed set percentage. Chi‐square (χ2) analysis showed that the fertility restoration trait followed expected digenic ratio. By BSA, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers, namely, Xtxp 34 and Xtxp 69 located on chromosome 3 and SB 3956 and Xtxp 312 located on chromosome 7, showed clear polymorphism between two groups of fertile and sterile bulks. The genomic region harbouring Rf locus on chromosome 3 (2.61 Mbp) predicted to encode five pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) genes whereas, on chromosome 7, the gene SORBI_3007G047400 predicted to encode MYB (myeloblastosis) domain containing proteins. These predicted genes could be the candidate for restoring fertility on A4 cytoplasm. This finding will be fundamental in the production and rapid selection of novel restorer lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Re-vegetation of mining-impacted landscapes reduces transport of toxic elements while improving soil fertility. This study evaluated whether the planting of a native perennial grass with a consortium of diazotrophic microbial endophytes and municipal waste compost—alone and in combination—enhanced plant growth while stabilizing metal(loids) in dolomite-amended tailings from a historically mined polymetallic mineral deposit. Methods: We grew Bouteloua curtipendula seedlings in tailings with hazardous concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn. We evaluated how plant growth, organic matter accumulation, and major, minor, and trace element mobilization and phytostabilization responded to microbial endophyte and/or compost amendments after the 45-day growth experiment. Results: Although most of the added endophytes were not uniquely identified, the best plant growth and fertility outcomes were achieved with a combination of amendments: dolomite to reduce acidity, compost to increase nitrogen, and a mixed consortium endophyte seed coating to synergistically increase organic carbon and grass biomass yields. Compost reduced shoot and root concentrations—but not yields—of contaminant metals. Endophytes increased foliar Cd, Co, Mn, and Pb yields but mobilized Pb and Zn from the tailings. Root stabilization of Cd, Co, Mn did not require amendments. Conclusion: The most effective means of revegetating these acidic, polymetallic tailings with the native B. curtipendula is with a simultaneous dolomite, compost, and endophyte seed treatment. Due to potential phosphate solubilization and siderophore production by this consortium of endophytes, strategies to capture solubilized metal(loids) may be needed for sulfidic tailings with metal(loids) associated with mobile mineral phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the military-technogenic burden on the natural environment as a result of international conflicts is relevant since military operations cause catastrophic consequences for the environment and natural resources, which can lead to irreversible disturbances in ecosystems. The study is devoted to the examination of the impact of military-technogenic loads on the soils of military training grounds. The paper considers methods of soil sampling and their analysis for the content of heavy metals and other chemical compounds and determines the impact of this load on the ecosystem and possible consequences for human health. The influence of military activity on the soil quality of military training grounds, in particular in the Cherkasy region, is analysed. The study includes the determination by X-ray fluorescence and atomic emission method of the content of various elements in the soil. The results showed a substantial iron content, which may be due to the use of explosives in military exercises. It is noted that despite the fact that exceeding the norms of maximum permissible content concentration, no heavy metals were recorded in the examined soils, and the maximum lead content approached the maximum permissible concentration, which requires further monitoring and control of this parameter. Ph determination showed a slightly acidic soil condition in combat exercise sites, which can affect plant fertility and growth. The content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and boron was assessed, and the results showed a lack of these nutrients for normal plant development. It is established that soil damage as a result of military operations can have a long-term negative impact and pose a threat to residents and territories. The results of the tests indicate a slight technogenic load at the sites of military exercises. The detected contamination of the examined samples is insubstantial, which indicates that the impact of military activities on the soil condition is limited. The results of the study will help to understand the possible health risks for people living near military training grounds and respond appropriately to protect their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive relationships have been documented between the amount of biochar added to soils and various aspects of plant growth and fertility such as root, shoot, and fruit production. However, these effects depend on biochar source materials, soil characteristics and species of plant examined. This makes it impossible to systematically compare and generalize findings across previous studies that have used different soils and biochar. We conducted a novel investigation to assess the effects of a single source of biochar (hazelnut wood), in a constructed organic soil, on the different plant tissues in three functionally distinct species: tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon), green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), and willow (Salix sp.). Five levels of biochar soil amendment were assessed: 0% (control), 3, 9, and 26% by dry weight. We found a highly significant positive relationship between biochar concentration and total plant biomass (roots + shoots + fruits) in all species, with no significant difference in total biomass response among species. Fruit production increased with increased biochar in both beans and tomatoes. However, tomatoes exhibited significant differences in response among plant tissues; fruit production and shoot biomass increased significantly with biochar, but root tissue did not. Bean germination success increased significantly with biochar concentration. Date of first flowering was earlier with increasing soil biochar in beans but not in tomatoes. Control over both sources of biochar and soil composition in this experiment enables us to conclude that biochar addition can have different impacts on different plants and, in some cases, species-specific impacts on different plant tissues and other measures of fertility. Our results are contrary to prior research that found inhibiting effects of biochar at levels comparable to our 26% treatment. Biochar impacts on soil properties such as CEC and percent base cation saturation do not explain our findings, leading us to conclude that microbial interaction with biochar is an important factor that may explain the positive impacts of soil biochar on plant fertility observed. Further research that repeats this experiment in other soil types, with other biochar sources, and with other plant species is necessary to determine the generalizability of these important findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy modulates the degradation and recycling of intracellular materials and contributes to male gametophyte development and male fertility in plants. However, whether autophagy participates in seed development remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that autophagy is crucial for timely programmed cell death (PCD) in the integumentary tapetum, the counterpart of anther tapetum, influencing embryo pattern formation and seed viability. Inhibition of autophagy resulted in delayed PCD of the integumentary tapetum and defects in embryo patterning. Cell-type-specific restoration of autophagic activities revealed that the integumentary tapetum plays a non-autonomous role in embryo patterning. Furthermore, high-throughput, comprehensive lipidomic analyzes uncovered an unexpected seed-developmental-stage-dependent role of autophagy in seed lipid metabolism: it contributes to triacylglycerol degradation before fertilization and to triacylglycerol biosynthesis after fertilization. This study highlights the critical role of autophagy in regulating timely integumentary tapetum PCD and reveals its significance in seed lipid metabolism and viability. A seed consists of an embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. Here the authors show that autophagy plays a crucial role in regulating timely programmed cell death in the innermost seed coat, thereby influencing embryo pattern formation and seed viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) are the most common cause of uterine infertility, and conventional treatments have not consistently achieved satisfactory pregnancy rates. Stem cell therapy shows promising potential for the clinical treatment of IUA. Although various advanced biomaterials have been designed for delivering stem cells to the uterine cavity, there remain significant challenges, particularly in devising therapeutic strategies for clinical application that minimize surgical incisions and conform to the intricate structure of uterine cavity. Herein, an injectable hydrogel loaded with human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) was synthesized via the Diels-Alder click reaction for endometrial regeneration and fertility restoration, exhibiting suitable mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and desirable degradation properties. Notably, this hydrogel permitted minimally invasive administration and integrated seamlessly with surrounding tissue. Our study revealed that the UCMSCs-laden injectable hydrogel enhanced cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and exhibited anti-fibrotic effects in vitro. The implantation of this hydrogel significantly facilitated endometrium regeneration and restored fertility in a rat endometrial damage model. Mechanistically, in vivo results indicated that the UCMSCs-laden injectable hydrogel effectively promoted macrophage recruitment and facilitated M2 phenotype polarization. Collectively, this hydrogel demonstrated efficacy in regenerating damaged endometrium, leading to the restoration of fertility. Consequently, it holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for endometrial damage and fertility decline arising from intrauterine adhesions. Severe endometrial traumas frequently lead to intrauterine adhesions and subsequent infertility. Stem cell therapy shows promising potential for the clinical treatment of IUA; however, challenges remain, including low delivery efficiency and compromised stem cell activity during the delivery process. In this study, we fabricated an injectable hydrogel loaded with UCMSCs via the Diels-Alder click reaction, which exhibited unique bioorthogonality. The in situ-gelling hydrogels could be introduced through a minimally invasive procedure and adapt to the intricate anatomy of the uterus. The UCMSCs-laden injectable hydrogel promoted endometrial regeneration and fertility restoration in a rat endometrial damage model, efficaciously augmenting macrophage recruitment and promoting their polarization to the M2 phenotype. The administration of UCMSCs-laden injectable hydrogel presents a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with severe intrauterine adhesion. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biochar application has become one of the most potential tools to improve soil fertility and plant growth for sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture. However, both positive and negative effects of biochar application have been recorded on plant growth and soil fertility. Methods: This study investigated the impact of different application rates (0, 600, 900, 1200, and 1800 kg/ha) of biochar on the soil nutrient contents, accumulation of nutrients and dry matter in different plant parts, and growth of flue-cured tobacco plants under field conditions. Results: Results demonstrated that soil organic carbon pool and carbon/nitrogen ratio were increased proportionally with the increasing dosage of biochar, 25.54 g/kg and 14.07 g/kg compared with control 17 g/kg and 10.13 g/kg, respectively. The contents of soil total nitrogen were also significantly increased after biochar application in the middle (1.77 g/kg) and late-growth (1.54 g/kg) stages of fluecured tobacco than in control (1.60 g/kg and 1.41 g/kg, respectively). The contents of soil nitrate nitrogen were also higher under low (600 and 900 kg/ha) application rates of biochar and reduced when higher (1200 and 1800 kg/ha) dosages of biochar were applied. However, it was observed that varying application rates of biochar had no impact on soil ammonium nitrogen content during the growth period of flue-cured tobacco plants. The nutrient accumulation (N, P, K) in different parts of flue-cured tobacco plants was significantly increased under a low application rate of biochar, which enhanced the soil and plant analyzer development values, effective leaves number, growth, dry matter accumulation, and leaf yield of flue-cured tobacco. In contrast, the high biochar application rate (1200 and 1800 kg/ha) negatively impacted nutrient accumulation and growth of flue-cured tobacco. Conclusion: Conclusively, the optimum application of biochar (600 and 900 kg/ha) is beneficial for plant growth, soil fertility, accumulation of nutrients, and dry matter in different plant parts. However, excessive biochar application (> 900 kg/ha) could inhibit flue-cured tobacco plant growth. This study provides a theoretical foundation for biochar application in tobacco and other crop production to obtain agricultural sustainability and economic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OVATE family proteins (OFPs) play important roles in plant growth and development, hormone signaling, and stress response pathways. However, the functions of OsOFPs in rice are largely unknown. In this study, a novel gain-of-function rice mutant, Osofp6-D, was identified. This mutant exhibited decreased plant height, erect leaves, reduced panicle size, short and wide seeds, delayed seed germination time, and reduced fertility. These phenotypic changes were attributed to the increased expression of OsOFP6, which was caused by a T-DNA insertion. Complementation of the Osofp6-D phenotype by knockout of OsOFP6 using the CRISPR/Cas9 system confirmed that the Osofp6-D phenotype was caused by OsOFP6 overexpression. In addition, transgenic plants overexpressing OsOFP6 with the 35S promoter mimicked the Osofp6-D phenotype. Cytological observations of the glumes showed that OsOFP6 overexpression altered the grain shape, mainly by altering the cell shape. Hormone response experiments showed that OsOFP6 was involved in the gibberellin (GA) and brassinolide (BR) signaling responses. Further studies revealed that OsOFP6 interacts with E3BB, which is orthologous to the Arabidopsis central organ size-control protein BIG BROTHER (BB). This study further elucidates the regulation mechanism of the rice OFP family on plant architecture and grain shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histones are the core components of the eukaryote chromosome, and have been implicated in transcriptional gene regulation. There are three major isoforms of histone H3 in Arabidopsis. Studies have shown that the H3.3 variant is pivotal in modulating nucleosome structure and gene transcription. However, the function of H3.3 during development remains to be further investigated in plants. In this study, we disrupted all three H3.3 genes in Arabidopsis. Two triple mutants, h3.3cr-4 and h3.3cr-5, were created by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The mutant plants displayed smaller rosettes and decreased fertility. The stunted growth of h3.3cr-4 may result from reduced expression of cell cycle regulators. The shorter stamen filaments, but not the fertile ability of the gametophytes, resulted in reduced fertility of h3.3cr-4. The transcriptome analysis suggested that the reduced filament elongation of h3.3cr-4 was probably caused by the ectopic expression of several JASMONATE-ZIM DOMAIN (JAZ) genes, which are the key repressors of the signaling pathway of the phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA). These observations suggest that the histone variant H3.3 promotes plant growth, including rosette growth and filament elongation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Receptor‐like kinases (RLKs) are evolved for plant cell–cell communications. The typical RLK protein contains an extracellular and hypervariable N‐terminus to perceive various signals, a transmembrane domain to anchor into plasma membrane, and a cytoplasmic, highly conserved kinase domain to phosphorylate target proteins. To date, RLKs have manifested their significance in a myriad of biological processes during plant reproductive growth, especially in male fertility. This review first summarizes a recent update on RLKs and their interacting protein partners controlling anther and pollen development, pollen release from dehisced anther, and pollen function during pollination and fertilization. Then, regulatory networks of RLK signaling pathways are proposed. In addition, we predict RLKs in maize and rice genome, obtain homologs of well‐studied RLKs from phylogeny of three subfamilies and then analyze their expression patterns in developing anthers of maize and rice to excavate potential RLKs regulating male fertility in crops. Finally, current challenges and future prospects regarding RLKs are discussed. This review will contribute to a better understanding of plant male fertility control by RLKs, creating potential male sterile lines, and inspiring innovative crop breeding methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroponics is a type of soil-free farming that uses less water and other resources than conventional soil-based farming methods. Hydroponic cultivation system has high yield per acre of land with minimal consumption of water and can be a possible to meet the growing food demand of the world. The hydroponic plants fertility must be preserved, proper nutrition, a environmental temperature, and nutrient stability are crucial. It will be simpler for a farmer to keep track of all hydroponic plants by automatically monitoring nutrient flow and ambient temperature stability. By implementing artificial intelligence-based regulating algorithms in the agriculture industry, recent technology advancements are highly helpful in resolving these issues. This paper presents, automated hydroponic nutrient control system (AHNCS) for smart agriculture. System architecture is consisting of sensors network, Raspberry pi 4 microcontroller and actuators. Raspberry pi 4 microcomputer read sensor values from sensors process and activates particular actuator. The automation of the hydroponic system helps to avoid human intervention. The utilization of sensors and actuators, promptly act for the needs of the plant without any delay. The AHNCS having high accuracy, high efficiency and less delay. Hence, automation of the existing hydroponic system can reduce human dependency, provide accurate results, constant monitoring of plant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HEI10 is a conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in crossover formation during meiosis, and is thus essential for both male and female gamete development. Here, we have discovered a novel allele of HEI10 in rice that produces a truncated HEI10 protein missing its N-terminal RING domain, namely sh1 (shorter hei10 1). Unlike previously reported hei10 null alleles that are completely sterile, sh1 exhibits complete male sterility but retains partial female fertility. The causative sh1 mutation is a 76 kb inversion between OsFYVE4 and HEI10, which breaks the integrity of both genes. Allelic tests and complementation assays revealed that the gamete developmental defects of sh1 were caused by disruption of HEI10. Further studies demonstrated that short HEI10 can correctly localise to the nucleus, where it could interact with other proteins that direct meiosis; expressing short HEI10 in hei10 null lines partially restores female fertility. Our data reveal an intriguing mutant allele of HEI10 with differential effects on male and female fertility, providing a new tool to explore similarities and differences between male and female meiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a vital type of noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in plant growth and development and stress response. However, little is known about the biological roles of circRNAs in regulating the stability of male fertility restoration for cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) conditioned by Gossypium harknessii cytoplasm (CMS-D2) cotton under high-temperature (HT) stress. Results: In this study, RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed on pollen grains of isonuclear alloplasmic near-isogenic restorer lines NH [N(Rf1rf1)] and SH [S(Rf1rf1)] with obvious differences in fertility stability under HT stress at two environments. A total of 967 circRNAs were identified, with 250 differentially expressed under HT stress. We confirmed the back-splicing sites of eight selected circRNAs using divergent primers and Sanger sequencing. Tissue-specific expression patterns of five differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) were also verified by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. Functional enrichment and metabolic pathway analysis revealed that the parental genes of DECs were significantly enriched in fertility-related biological processes such as pollen tube guidance and cell wall organization, as well as the Pentose and glucuronate interconversions, Steroid biosynthesis, and N-Glycan biosynthesis pathways. Moreover, we also constructed a putative circRNA-mediated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network consisting of 21 DECs, eight predicted circRNA-binding miRNAs, and their corresponding 22 mRNA targets, especially the two ceRNA modules circRNA346-miR159a-MYB33 and circRNA484-miR319e-MYB33, which might play important biological roles in regulating pollen fertility stability of cotton CMS-D2 restorer line under HT stress. Conclusions: Through systematic analysis of the abundance, characteristics and expression patterns of circRNAs, as well as the potential functions of their parent genes, our findings suggested that circRNAs and their mediated ceRNA networks acted vital biological roles in cotton pollen development, and might be also essential regulators for fertility stability of CMS-D2 restorer line under heat stress. This study will open a new door for further unlocking complex regulatory mechanisms underpinning the fertility restoration stability for CMS-D2 in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undifferentiated germ cells, including the spermatogonial stem cell subpopulation required for fertility restoration using human immature testicular tissue (ITT), are difficult to recover as they do not easily adhere to plastics. Due to the scarcity of human ITT for research, we used neonatal porcine ITT. Strategies for maximizing germ cell recovery, including a comparison of two enzymatic digestion protocols (P1 and P2) of ITT fragment sizes (4 mm3 and 8 mm3) and multi-step differential plating were explored. Cellular viability and yield, as well as numbers and proportions of DDX4+ germ cells, were assessed before incubating the cell suspensions overnight on uncoated plastics. Adherent cells were processed for immunocytochemistry (ICC) and floating cells were further incubated for three days on Poly-D-Lysine-coated plastics. Germ cell yield and cell types using ICC for SOX9, DDX4, ACTA2 and CYP19A1 were assessed at each step of the multi-step differential plating. Directly after digestion, cell suspensions contained >92% viable cells and 4.51% DDX4+ germ cells. Pooled results for fragment sizes revealed that the majority of DDX4+ cells adhere to uncoated plastics (P1; 82.36% vs. P2; 58.24%). Further incubation on Poly-D-Lysine-coated plastics increased germ cell recovery (4.80 ± 11.32 vs. 1.90 ± 2.07 DDX4+ germ cells/mm2, respectively for P1 and P2). The total proportion of DDX4+ germ cells after the complete multi-step differential plating was 3.12%. These results highlight a reduced proportion and number of germ cells lost when compared to data reported with other methods, suggesting that multi-step differential plating should be considered for optimization of immature germ cell recovery. While Poly-D-Lysine-coating increased the proportions of recovered germ cells by 16.18% (P1) and 28.98% (P2), future studies should now focus on less cell stress-inducing enzymatic digestion protocols to maximize the chances of fertility restoration with low amounts of cryo-banked human ITT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of beating willows on Hoshanah Rabbah is a very unusual one, with no explanations offered in the Talmud or Midrash. In the ancient world, the willow represented both fertility and infertility, life and death, and the beating of willows can be connected both to beating with plants as a fertility ritual and as a form of scapegoat ritual. Echoes of both of these ideas are found in Sephardic folk practices associated with beating people with willows as well as the earliest Gaonic explanation for this practice, in addition to the later explanations found in the Zohar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted in our study area Challakere taluk, Karnataka; rural pockets are covered in different sessions and tribal information on medicinal plants and their use. The tribal health healers of Challakere taluk, Chitradurga, Karnataka, are poor in education. A total of 23 medicinal plant species belonging to 15 families were recorded; Fabaceae has the highest number of species followed by Malvaceae, Euphorbiacae, Moraceae, and Lamiaceae, Capparidaceae. The Capparis zeylanica is the most effective plant used in Challakere taluk. The information by tribal health healers is very scientific, so many research articles and journals publish the same plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental management, reclamation, and post-mining should be supervised with good mining principles to create a sustainable ecological life. The purpose of this research is to apply appropriate and effective biotechnological methods to increasing the carrying capacity of the environment based on the parameters of soil fertility and plant growth on mining lands. This type of research was experimental research which 30 stems of the Indigofera sp (tarum plant) were examined with Complete Random Design (CRD). The independent variable in this research was the concentration of liquid cow rumen solution, and the dependent variable in this research was the growth of the tarum plant (Indigofera sp). The parameters to indicate plant growth including root length, number of root nodules, stem length, number of leave and plant biomass. Based on the data analysis, it was found that the mixture of bovine rumen microbes led to: 1) increased height of tarum compared to control without adding the rumen to the growth medium. 2) Increased tarum leaves compared to the control group and 3) the root nodules were more developed and more numerous than the control group without the addition of the cow rumen. The results showed that the mixture of bovine rumen microbes can increase nutrients in the soil and is able to grow plants on mining land previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Significant morphological diversity exists amongst the species- C. annuum, C. frutescens, C. chinense for all the characters studied. • Interspecific hybridization in Capsicum species is possible despite hindered by pre- and post-fertilization barriers. • Amongst the successful crosses made in the present study, Mem x King chilli-A5 had the highest fruit set (60 %), while C. annuum (Capsicum) x C. chinense (King chilli-A18) and King chilli-A18 x Krishna had the lowest fruit set (20 %). • It was found Capsicum x King chilli-A18(19.10 %) had the lowest pollen sterility and was the most desirable hybrid in terms of pollen fertility. • Estimation of the Usual Euclidean distance amongst the parents and their F 1 s revealed that Mem and F 1 of C. chinense (King chilli-A5) x C. frutescens (Mem) had the minimum distinction (94.39) amongst them, supporting that King chilli is the natural hybrid of C. chinense and C. frutescens. The present study explores the potentiality of interspecific crosses using three different Capsicum species, comprising of two C. annuum (Krishna and Capsicum) , five C. chinense (King chilli A1, A5, A18, A19, A20) and one C. frutescens (Mem) genotypes, with the objective to identify the incompatibility barriers, accomplish the morpho-molecular characterization of parents and hybrids and assess the genetic relatedness between the genotypes. Amongst the three species used for the crossing programme, 'Krishna' (C. annuum) and 'Mem' (C. frutescens) are local cultivars of Assam (India) and possess excellent adaptability. Guinness World Records certified King chilli, or 'Bhut Jolokia' (C. chinense), as the world's hottest chilli (10,001,304 SHU) in September 2007. King chilli has tremendous export potential but is prone to viral diseases, thereby necessitating the transfer of desirable disease resistance from local cultivars. It was observed from the study that the reciprocal crosses involving C. chinense and C. frutescens were compatible, but C. frutescens (Mem) was crossable with only accession A5, suggesting genotype specificity in the interspecific crosses. The usual Euclidean distance between Mem and A5 was 716.605 Similarly reciprocal crosses involving C. annuum and C. chinense were partially incompatible. Both the C. annuum (Krishna, Capsicum) genotypes successfully crossed with King chilli accession A18 thereby exhibiting genotype specificity. It was observed that in the cross A18 x Krishna the F 1 seeds failed to germinate and in the cross A18 x Capsicum the F 1 plants exhibited dwarfism. Hence, unilateral incompatibility was observed when King chilli accession A18 was used as the female parent. In the reciprocal crosses, germination and plant development was normal. The pollen viability ranged from 72.64 to 94.92 % for parents and 23.55 to 81.02 % for the hybrids. Thus, hybrids exhibited lower pollen viability compared to their parents. Significant morphological differences were visible between the parents and their combinations; some features were similar to the male or female parent, and others were either intermediate or novel. Parental polymorphism was detected using thirty random SSR primers, and the markers showing polymorphic bands were used to confirm the hybridity of F 1 s. Therefore, an attempt was made in this study to assess the possibility of interspecific crosses to transfer disease resistance from the related species to enhance the quality of King chilli, thus improving its commercial valve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has led to an increasing trend in the intensity of global extreme weather events, including chilling. Breeding cultivars with high cold tolerance could be an important pathway to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. For rice, few studies have been focusing on the responses of different cold‐tolerance cultivars on chilling stress. In this study, we selected four japonica rice cultivars and conducted a chilling treatment experiment (with three chilling temperatures and three chilling durations) at the booting and flowering stages in 2020 and 2021 in Northeast China. The results showed that chilling treatment at the booting stage affected the biomass allocation and yield traits more than the chilling treatment at the flowering stage did. Overall, the chilling treatment affected the cold‐sensitive cultivars more than the cold‐tolerant cultivars. Among all the study yield traits, chilling treatment affected spikelet fertility the most, followed by the number of grains per panicle. For every 10°C day increase in CDD at the booting (flowering) stage, the grain yield per plant and spikelet fertility decreased by 4.8–12.8% and 3.6–10.8% (2.1–5.3% and 2.2–4.9%), respectively. Even with the intense chilling treatment, the cold‐tolerant cultivars had relatively high number of effective spikes per plant, grain weight, and stable spikelet fertility, hence they maintained relatively high grain yield. Therefore, it is important to factor in the cold tolerance of the cultivars when assessing the chilling effects on biomass allocation and yield traits for rice. In order to combat the negative effects of extremely low temperature at the reproductive stage on rice grain yield, the future breeding technology could focus on improving the spikelet fertility, grain filling size, and number of spikes per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbance changes the availability of resources over time. Ceratozamiafuscoviridis W. Bull, an endangered endemic Mexican cycad, has intrinsic characteristics that increase its susceptibility to environmental changes. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of human disturbance on C.fuscoviridis populations. Four sites were monitored over three years using analysis of spatial structure, matrix projection, life table response experiments and a metric disturbance indicator index, that consider a mixture of factors as logging, cattle grazing, erosion, etc. The disturbance increased spatial aggregation and seedling mortality, reducing both density and population growth rates, and eliminated transition between size classes and adult fecundity. Even when populations of C.fuscoviridis can persist over short periods, disturbance is affecting their demographic variables and long-term survival. For effective conservation strategies, the relocation of some plants with high fecundity potential is necessary, the implementation of backyard nurseries is important to guarantee the recuperation of seedlings in depauperated populations aimed at sustainability. Our results are remarkable in the conservation of long-lived plants that depend on the persistence of adults, because the elimination of vegetation cover to establish crops or pasture, without the adult's translocation, eliminates any possibility of regeneration, so the diffusion of this type of works helps the design of environmental education programs and management of natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: CMS hybrid seed production systems are employed effectively for onion. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) has long been used to economically produce hybrids that harness growth vigor through heterosis. Three types of onion CMS (CMS-S, CMS-R, and CMS-T) have been used in hybrid onion breeding. Findings: The sources of onion CMS, their maintainer plants and fertility restorer lines can be distinguished by markers, saving times spent on crop establishment and avoiding the complex of phenotypic screening. Numerous molecular markers especially PCR markers associated with male-sterile (CMS-S and CMS-T) cytoplasms, male-fertile normal (N) cytoplasm and nuclear-male-fertility restorers (Ms locus) were developed. These simple PCR markers are valuable tools for the marker-assisted selection of segregating individuals in onion F1 hybrid breeding programs. The present review reveals practical utility and functional effectiveness in the MAS of male-sterile cytoplasm types with nuclear-fertility-restorer locus. Limitations: the environment effect especially temperature may cause malesterility instability and deviations in segregation ratios for male sterility. Also, maximum exploitation of molecular markers linked to Ms/ms and CMS-S, -T genes aid in the recovery of male-sterile traits requires to a perfect linkage disequilibrium that must be investigated further. Directions for future research: Furthermore, this information could highly have paved the way for hybrid onion development by applicating of the molecular findings to identify onion male sterility, maintainer and male fertility restorer lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anther development and pollen fertility of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) conditioned by Gossypium harknessii cytoplasm (CMS-D2) restorer lines are susceptible to continuous high-temperature (HT) stress in summer, which seriously hinders the large-scale application of "three-line" hybrids in production. Here, integrated small RNA, transcriptome, degradome, and hormone profiling was performed to explore the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating fertility stability in mature pollens of isonuclear alloplasmic near-isogenic restorer lines NH and SH under HT stress at two environments. A total of 211 known and 248 novel miRNAs were identified, of which 159 were differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). Additionally, 45 DEMs in 39 miRNA clusters (PmCs) were also identified, and most highly expressed miRNAs were significantly induced in SH under extreme HT, especially four MIR482 and six MIR6300 family miRNAs. PmC28 was located in the fine-mapped interval of the Rf1 gene and contained two DEMs, gra-miR482_L-2R + 2 and gma-miR2118a-3p_R + 1_1ss18TG. Transcriptome sequencing identified 6281 differentially expressed genes, of which heat shock protein (HSP)-related genes, such as HSP70, HSP22, HSP18.5-C, HSP18.2 and HSP17.3-B, presented significantly reduced expression levels in SH under HT stress. Through integrating multi-omics data, we constructed a comprehensive molecular network of miRNA–mRNA–gene-KEGG containing 35 pairs of miRNA/target genes involved in regulating the pollen development in response to HT, among which the mtr-miR167a_R + 1, tcc-miR167c and ghr-miR390a, tcc-miR396c_L-1 and ghr-MIR169b-p3_1ss6AG regulated the pollen fertility by influencing ARF8 responsible for the auxin signal transduction, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, and the sugar and lipid metabolism and transport pathways, respectively. Further combination with hormone analysis revealed that HT-induced jasmonic acid signaling could activate the expression of downstream auxin synthesis-related genes and cause excessive auxin accumulation, followed by a cascade of auxin signal transduction, ultimately resulting in pollen abortion. The results provide a new understanding of how heat-responsive miRNAs regulate the stability of fertility restoration for CMS-D2 cotton under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Dose effects of Rf1 gene regulated retrieval mechanism of pollen fertility for CMS-D2 cotton. Cytoplasmic male sterility conditioned by Gossypium harknessii cytoplasm (CMS-D2) is an economical pollination control system for producing hybrid cotton seeds compared to artificial and chemical emasculation methods. However, the unstable restoring ability of restorer lines is a main barrier in the large-scale application of "three-line" hybrid cotton in China. Our phenotypic investigation determined that the homozygous Rf1Rf1 allelic genotype had a stronger ability to generate fertile pollen than the heterozygous Rf1rf1 allelic genotype. To decipher the genetic mechanisms that control the differential levels of pollen fertility, an integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis was performed at two environments using pollen grains of four cotton genotypes differing in Rf1 alleles or cytoplasm. Totally 5,391 differential metabolite features were detected, and 369 specific differential metabolites (DMs) were identified between homozygous and heterozygous Rf1 allelic genotypes with CMS-D2 cytoplasm. In addition, transcriptome analysis identified 2,490 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 96 unique hub DEGs with dynamic regulation in this comparative combination. Further integrated analyses revealed that several key DEGs and DMs involved in indole biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and sugar metabolism had strong network linkage with fertility restoration. In vitro application of auxin analogue NAA and inhibitor Auxinole confirmed that over-activated auxin signaling might inhibit pollen development, whereas suppressing auxin signaling partially promoted pollen development in CMS-D2 cotton. Our results provide new insight into how the dosage effects of the Rf1 gene regulate pollen fertility of CMS-D2 cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popular Joha rice cultivar Kon Joha, cultivated throughout the state, was used to induce mutations. Kon Joha is short-grain aromatic rice with excellent cooking quality. The cultivar is tall and late maturing with an average yield of less than 2 tons ha−1 and is susceptible to lodging The investigation through M1 to M3 generation aimed at improving the morpho-agronomic traits of the popular Joha rice cultivar Kon Joha. The experiments were carried out during the Sali season (winter rice) from 2017 to 2019 at Instruction-cum-Research (ICR) Farm of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat (Assam). Dry uniform seeds of Kon Joha were subject to irradiation with 100–400 Gy of gamma rays from a 60Co source. The M1 generation used a randomized complete block design with four replications during Sali 2017. A total of 5998 M1 plant progenies were subject to screening in the M2 during Sali 2018. The M3 included 662 morpho-agronomic variants raised in the plant rows during Sali 2019, and 66 mutants were confirmed. The M1 of Kon Joha registered a reduction in germination, seedling height, pollen/spikelet fertility and plant survival at 400 Gy. All the traits showed highly significant differences among the doses in the M2 generation. The shift in trait means was in both directions as influenced by the genotype and mutagen dose. The 66 mutants exhibited significant differences for all traits in the M3 generation. Fifty mutants were shorter than the parent Kon Joha. The GCV and PCV estimates were high (>20%) for grain yield, biological yield, productive tillers, filled grains, and average panicle weight. All the traits except panicle length exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, suggesting the predominance of additive gene action and the effectiveness of simple selection. Grain yield showed a significant positive correlation with plant height, panicle length, filled grains, spikelet fertility, the average panicle weight and harvest index in the mutant population. Thus, mutation induction in Kon Joha proved useful in inducing desirable changes in plant architectural traits. The study further emphasized the short stature high yielding mutants with strong aroma for wide-scale testing in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Restorer‐of‐fertility (Rf) genes encode pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins that are targeted to mitochondria where they specifically bind to transcripts that induce cytoplasmic male sterility and repress their expression. In searching for a molecular signature unique to this class of proteins, we found that a majority of known Rf proteins have a distinct domain, which we called RfCTD (Restorer‐of‐fertility C‐terminal domain), and its presence correlates with the ability to induce cleavage of the mitochondrial RNA target.A screen of 219 angiosperm genomes from 123 genera using a sequence profile that can quickly and accurately identify RfCTD sequences revealed considerable variation in RFL/RfCTD gene numbers across flowering plants. We observed that plant genera with bisexual flowers have significantly higher numbers of RFL genes compared to those with unisexual flowers, consistent with a role of these proteins in restoration of male fertility.We show that removing the RfCTD from the RFL protein RNA PROCESSING FACTOR 2‐nad6 prevented cleavage of its RNA target, the nad6 transcript, in Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondria.We provide a simple way of identifying putative Rf candidates in genome sequences, new insights into the molecular mode of action of Rf proteins and the evolution of fertility restoration in flowering plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]