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Matcha, a powder processed from tea leaves, has a unique green tea flavor and appealing color, in addition to many other sought after functional properties for a wide range of formulated food applications (e.g., dairy products, bakery products, and beverage). The properties of matcha are influenced by cultivation method and processing post-harvest. The transition from drinking tea infusion to eating whole leaves provides a healthy option for the delivery of functional component and tea phenolics in various food matrix. The aim of this review is to describe the physico-chemical properties of matcha, the specific requirements for tea cultivation and industrial processing. The quality of matcha mainly depends on the quality of fresh tea leaves, which is affected by preharvest factors including tea cultivar, shading treatment, and fertilization. Shading is the key measure to increase greenness, reduce bitterness and astringency, and enhance umami taste of matcha. The potential health benefits of matcha and the gastrointestinal fate of main phenolics in matcha are covered. The chemical compositions and bioactivities of fiber-bound phenolics in matcha and other plant materials are discussed. The fiber-bound phenolics are considered promising components which endow matcha with boosted bioavailability of phenolics and health benefits through modulating gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant propagules are crucial flora memory materials in restoration practice. Awakening flora memory from plant propagules (i.e. seeds, root fragments, rhizomes, corms, and tubers) in the translocated topsoil from a donor site is a rapid method for forest restoration on degraded sites globally. However, it remains unclear to what extent manageable measures, such as light reduction and watering, affect flora memory awakening. We employed a quadratic saturation D‐optimal design in a forest topsoil translocation experiment to quantify the effects of light reduction and watering on flora memory awakening. We used the cumulative number and richness of plantlets emerging from plant propagules to represent the extent of flora memory awakening. Our results show that any combinations of light reduction and watering significantly increased both the cumulative number and richness of plantlets across different life forms. Light reduction had a significantly more positive effect on flora memory awakening than watering. Different life forms exhibited different parabolic or positive linear relationships in responses to light reduction and watering. Light reduction of about 60% of the degraded site and watering of about 80% of the donor site resulted in the highest number and richness of plantlets. We concluded that light reduction and watering combinations were effective in kick‐starting the flora memory awakening in a semiarid subtropical forest after topsoil translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The color of green tea is an important quality indicator. In recent years, shading of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants has been widely adopted for green tea production to enhance its green color and umami taste. In this study, we identified factors that influence green tea color by (i) examining variation in the chlorophyll content of fresh new tea shoots among cultivars, cropping seasons, and the degree of shading, (ii) investigating the rate of conversion of chlorophyll to pheophytin during the tea manufacturing process, specifically with steaming duration, and (iii) analyzing the effects of the new tea shoot properties and the steaming process on colorimetric values of the steamed new tea shoots.Multiple regression analysis revealed that three factors contributed to the rate of conversion of each chlorophyll type to pheophytin in steamed new tea shoots (ranked by importance): steaming duration > each chlorophyll type (chlorophyll‐a and chlorophyll‐b) content of fresh new tea shoots > pH. The colorimetric hue angle (h) value of steamed new tea shoots was influenced by four factors (ranked by importance): steaming duration > total chlorophyll (chlorophyll‐a + chlorophyll‐b) content in fresh new tea shoots > pH > chlorophyll‐a/chlorophyll‐b ratio in fresh new tea shoots.Differences in the color of new tea shoots can be explained by the aforementioned four factors. The findings will be useful for cultivar selection, and determining the appropriate degree of shading and steaming duration, to produce high‐quality green teas with a good appearance. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light availability and habitat complexity are two key drivers of community assembly. Urbanisation has been shown to affect both, with important consequences to ecological communities. On the intertidal, for instance, studies have shown that light intensity is greater on natural rocky shores than on less complex artificial habitats (seawalls), though different habitats can also experience similar light intensities, for example when shaded by urban structures. Understanding therefore how these factors individually, and combined, affect communities is important to understand the mechanisms driving changes in community structure, and consequently provide solutions to tackle the increasing homogenisation of habitats and lightscapes in urbanised spaces through smart infrastructure designs. Here, we assessed how different light levels affect the recruitment of communities in rock pools and on emergent rock on an intertidal rocky shore. We cleared 30 patches of emergent rock and 30 rock pools and manipulated light using shades with different light transmissions (full light, procedural control, 75%, 35%, and 15% light transmission, full shade) and assessed mobile and sessile communities monthly for 6 months. Effects of reducing light levels were generally stronger on rock than in pools. Fully shaded plots supported double the amount of mobile organisms than plots in full sunlight, in both habitats. Algal cover was higher in pools compared to rock, and at intermediate light levels, but effects varied with site. This study highlights the importance of variable light conditions and different habitats for rocky shore communities, which should be considered in future coastal developments to retain natural biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variation in light within the environment triggers morphophysiological changes in plants and can lead to distinct responses in sun-exposed or shaded plants to glyphosate. The response of Urochloa genotypes subjected to desiccation with 2160, 1622.4, 1080, 524.4, 273.6, and 0.0 g ha−1 of glyphosate was evaluated in full sun and shade conditions. Cayana grass, mulato II grass, and sabiá grass – hybrids recently launched on the market, in addition to palisade grass and congo grass were evaluated. Under full sun, we achieved control of congo grass using 1080 g ha−1 of glyphosate, while the other grasses required 2160 g ha−1. In the low-light environment, sabiá grass was effectively controlled with 524.4 g ha−1 of glyphosate, but the other grasses needed 273.6 g ha−1. In shading, compared to full sun, the savings with glyphosate were 75 and 76% for the control of congo grass and sabiá grass, respectively, and 87% for palisade grass, mulato II grass and cayana grass. Increasing glyphosate doses leads to a decline in the quantum efficiency of photosystem II and in the electron transport rate, especially in the shade. Urochloa genotypes are more sensitive to glyphosate in the shade, which must be considered when determining the herbicide dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee, an important global commodity, is threatened by climate change. Agroforestry has been considered as one option to maintain or enhance coffee production. In this study, we use a machine learning ensemble consisting of MaxEnt, Random Forest and Boosted Regression Trees to assess climate change impacts on the suitability to grow Arabica coffee, Robusta coffee and bananas in Uganda by 2050. Based on this, the buffering potential of Cordia africana and Ficus natalensis, the two commonly used shading trees in agroforestry systems is assessed. Our robust models (AUC of 0.7–0.9) indicate temperature-related variables as relevant for Arabica coffee suitability, while precipitation-related variables determine Robusta coffee and banana suitability. Under current climatic conditions, only a quarter of the total land area is suitable for growing Arabica coffee, while over three-quarters are suitable for Robusta coffee and bananas. Our results suggest that climate change will reduce the area suitable to grow Arabica coffee, Robusta coffee and bananas by 20%, 9% and 3.5%, respectively, under SSP3-RCP7.0 by 2050. A shift in areas suitable for Arabica coffee to highlands might occur, leading to potential encroachment on protected areas. In our model, implementing agroforestry with up to 50% shading could partially offset suitable area losses for Robusta coffee—but not for Arabica coffee. The potential to produce valuable Arabica coffee thus decreases under climate change and cannot be averted by agroforestry. We conclude that the implementation and design of agroforestry must be based on species, elevation, and regional climate projections to avoid maladaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary disadvantage of solar photovoltaic systems, particularly in partial shadowing conditions (PSC), is their low efficiency. A power–voltage curve with a homogenous distribution of solar irradiation often has a single maximum power point (MPP). Without a doubt, it can be extracted using any conventional tracker—for instance, perturb and observe. On the other hand, under PSC, the situation is entirely different since, depending on the number of distinct solar irradiation levels, the power–voltage curve has numerous MPPs (i.e., multiple local points and one global point). Conventional MPPTs can only extract the first point since they are unable to distinguish between local and global MPP. Thus, to track the global MPP, an optimized MPPT based on optimization algorithms is needed. The majority of global MPPT techniques seen in the literature call for sensors for voltage and current in addition to, occasionally, temperature and/or solar irradiance, which raises the cost of the system. Therefore, a single-sensor global MPPT based on the recent red-tailed hawk (RTH) algorithm for a PV system interconnected with a DC link operating under PSC is presented. Reducing the number of sensors leads to a decrease in the cost of a controller. To prove the superiority of the RTH, the results are compared with several metaheuristic algorithms. Three shading scenarios are considered, with the idea of changing the shading scenario to change the location of the global MPP to measure the consistency of the algorithms. The results verified the effectiveness of the suggested global MPPT based on the RTH in precisely capturing the global MPP compared with other methods. As an example, for the first shading situation, the mean PV power values varied between 6835.63 W and 5925.58 W. The RTH reaches the highest PV power of 6835.63 W flowing through particle swarm optimization (6808.64 W), whereas greylag goose optimizer achieved the smallest PV power production of 5925.58 W. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoculture systems in South East Asia are facing challenges due to climate change-induced extreme weather conditions, leading to significant annual production losses in rice and oil palm. To ensure the stability of these crops, innovative strategies like resilient agroforestry systems need to be explored. Converting oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) monocultures to rice (Oryza sativa)-based intercropping systems shows promise, but achieving optimal yields requires adjusting palm density and identifying rice varieties adapted to changes in light quantity and diurnal fluctuation. This paper proposes a methodology that combines a model of light interception with indoor experiments to assess the feasibility of rice–oil palm agroforestry systems. Using a functional–structural plant model of oil palm, the planting design was optimized to maximize transmitted light for rice. Simulation results estimated the potential impact on oil palm carbon assimilation and transpiration. In growth chambers, simulated light conditions were replicated with adjustments to intensity and daily fluctuation. Three light treatments independently evaluated the effects of light intensity and fluctuation on different rice accessions. The simulation study revealed intercropping designs that significantly increased light transmission for rice cultivation with minimal decrease in oil palm densities compared with conventional designs. The results estimated a loss in oil palm productivity of less than 10%, attributed to improved carbon assimilation and water use efficiency. Changes in rice plant architecture were primarily influenced by light quantity, while variations in yield components were attributed to light fluctuations. Different rice accessions exhibited diverse responses to light fluctuations, indicating the potential for selecting genotypes suitable for agroforestry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address the problem of spatially-varying illumination-aware indoor harmonization. Existing image harmonization works either focus on extracting no more than 2D information (e.g., low-level statistics or image filters) from the background image or rely on the non-linear representations of deep neural networks to adjust the foreground appearance. However, from a physical point of view, realistic image harmonization requires the perception of illumination at the foreground position in the scene (i.e., Spatially-Varying (SV) illumination), especially for indoor scenes. To solve indoor harmonization, we present a novel learning-based framework, which attempts to mimic the physical model of image formation. The proposed framework consists of a new neural harmonization architecture with four compact neural modules, which jointly learn SV illumination, shading, albedo, and rendering. In particular, a multilayer perceptron-based neural illumination field is designed to recover the illumination with finer details. Besides, we construct the first large-scale synthetic indoor harmonization benchmark dataset in which the foreground focuses on humans and is rendered and perturbed by SV illuminations. An object placement formula is also derived to ensure that the foreground object is placed in the background at a reasonable size. Extensive experiments on synthetic and real data demonstrate that our proposed approach achieves better results than prior works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract [Objective] The study aims to investigate the effects of different shading levels on the photosynthetic characteristics and leaf anatomical structure of wild plant Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. and provide a theoretical basis for the in-depth understanding of its shading tolerance and large-scale planting. [Methods] This experiment adopts the method of controlling variables with R. ternatus Thunb. as materials. Five shading treatments full light (CK), 30% shading (T1), 50% shading (T2), 70% shading (T3), and 90% shading (T4), were applied. [Results] (1) With the increase of shading, the leaf area reached the maximum under T3 environment. Plant height and stem diameter were decreased with the decrease of light. (2) With the increase of shading, the leaf apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of R. ternatus was first increased and then decreased, and was lower than other treatments under T4 treatment. Light saturation point (LSP), light compensation point (LCP), dark respiration rate (Rd), and maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pn,max) were decreased gradually. Maximum fluorescence (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv), maximized chemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and PSⅡ potential activity (Fv/Fo) were increased first and then decreased, while the electron ratio of heat dissipation (φDo) and the initial fluorescence (Fo) was decreased first and then increased. (3) With the increase of shading, the stomatal density of R. ternatus was first decreased and then increased, and reached the minimum value at T3 treatment. The thickness of the upper and lower epidermis and the thickness of the sponge gradually were decreased, the tissue structure compactness (CTR) was decreased first and then increased, and the tissue structure porosity (SR) was first increased and then decreased. (4) Leaf palisade tissue, sponge tissue, leaf thickness, and upper, and lower epidermal thickness were positively correlated with Rd. Sponge tissue thickness (ST), CTR, and SR were positively correlated with Pn,max. P/S and SR were positively correlated with AQE. However, sponge tissue thickness (ST) and SR were negatively correlated with Fo. [Conclusion] R. ternatus can improve its shading tolerance by reducing photosynthetic rates and changing leaf structures; it grows well in full light and adapts to 30%-70% shading environment.

This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that free-floating plants may facilitate the growth of submerged plants under hypertrophic conditions and intermediate plant density. The effects of Lemna presence on the growth of two submerged plants (Elodea nuttallii and Ceratophyllum demersum) over a nitrogen gradient were experimentally investigated. This was complemented with analysing the presence of C. demersum and E. nuttallii in Hungary and in Germany in relation to the density of free-floating plants. Results showed a negative exponential pattern between underwater light intensity and Lemna cover. Ceratophyllum and Elodea relative growth rate decreased with increasing nitrogen concentrations and additional low Lemna density stimulated Ceratophyllum and suppressed Elodea. Elodea decreased linearly with Lemna density while Ceratophyllum showed a unimodal response. Total algal biomass (epiphytic and planktonic) was higher in Ceratophyllum than in Elodea treatments and decreased rapidly with increasing Lemna density. The field studies showed a positive relationship between Ceratophyllum and a negative one between Elodea and free-floating plant cover. This study clearly showed that free-floating plants can have either facilitating or inhibiting impact on the growth of submerged plants depending on cover density and macrophyte species. The facilitating effect on Ceratophyllum is most likely due to suppressing epiphytic algal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the effect of shading on the growth and physiological respond of Menyanthes trifoliata L.and to provide suitable habitat in Beijing area for its protection and utilization. Growth and physiological index of M.trifoliata during different periods were studied under four shading treatments, including full sunlight, 50% shading, 75% shading and 90% shading. The microclimatic factors were also monitored under same conditions. The results showed that height growth, rhizome growh and leaf area growth of M.trifoliata under 50%-90% shading treatment for 60 days during summer were significantly higher than those in full sunlight; SPAD and Fv/Fm of M.trifoliata were effectively increased under 50% shading, compared with CK; moderate shading could effectively reduce light intensity, daily maximum temperatures and increase air humidity. In conclusion, 50% shading of M.trifoliata for 60-90 days in summer is the most favorable cultivation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3-in-1 vegetable-fish cultivation is an innovative cultivation system that integrates floating and climbing vegetable cultivation with fish culture. This cultivation is a solution to the problem of narrow land in urban areas for vegetable-fish cultivation to create: a) Fish farming in a concrete pool at the bottom position, b) Shadetolerant vegetables cultivated using a floating culture system, and c) Climbing vegetables on a dedicated nettedframes as high as 2 meters above the pool. The dimensions of the pool correspond to the available land. The floating raft was constructed using 69 units of 1.5 L plastic bottles as floaters, assembled into a raft with a surface area of 2 m². The buoyancy capacity of the raft is 120 kg. The raft has been patented with Granted patent No. IDP 000065141. The community service activities are a) Open demonstrations for 3-in-1 vegetable-fish farming installations; b) Socialization and assistance to communities interested in implementing it; and c) Collection of data and information for evaluation and publication materials. Static demonstration activities during one cycle of cultivation and socialization to three potential community groups, namely: a) Urban communities as the primary target; b) Journalists for more enlarging coverage of the dissemination; and c) Agricultural students for the learning process. Urban communities can adopt the dissemination of land optimization through 3-in-1 vegetable-fish cultivation on urban land. Community interest in this cultivation system innovation is outstanding, as represented by the community's enthusiasm for this program. [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.)

PV panels are vastly used for sustainable electricity generation, while they can also help the environment by improving buildings' energy consumption. The best placement for PV panels installation in buildings with flat roofs is the roof. When placed on a building's roof, PV panels affect the building's energy loads by shading the roof surface. However, the shading effect of PV panels could be different depending on the roof's thermal properties and surface materials. The combined effect of shading caused by PV panels and cool materials could significantly change the roof surface temperature, and the building energy demand. In light of the lack of studies considering this combined effect, the present study aims to evaluate the energy-saving effects of different roof materials covered with solar PV panels for a typical residential building in four cities with different climate conditions in Iran. Applying a simulation tool, Ladybug Tools have been utilized for determining the building energy loads and PV panels' power generation. The obtained results indicate that PV panels significantly affect the cooling load of the building, especially during peak times. The hottest city, Bandar-Abbas, benefits the most, with a maximum saved energy ratio (SER) of 3.4%, while the coldest city, Ardabil, has the least SER, 0.5%. Additionally, in cold and moderate climates, the highest SER occurs for the lowest R-value and solar absorption roof, while for hot climates, the highest SER occurs for the roofs with the highest R-value and the lowest solar absorption. Overall, the shading effect of PV panels becomes more significant when solar absorption is high, and the roof R-value is low. Despite the decrease in cooling energy load, PV panels might increase the heating load. Depending on the climate, this contradictory effect of the roof's thermal properties and PV panels shading should be considered in the design process of buildings. Highlights: Cities with hot-humid and cold climates have the highest and the lowest SER, respectively. PV shading is more significant on roofs with high solar absorption and low R-value. The effect of PV panels on heating load varies based on climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With Liriope spicata, L. graminifolia, L. muscari var.variegata and L. spicata var.prolifera as experimental material, the effects of different shading degrees on the photosynthetic properties of 4 kinds of Ophiopogon japonicus have been studied after 90 d of treatment with dif- ferent shading levels, in order to provide theoretical basis for selecting suitable Ophiopogon japonicus for different lighting environments in gar- dens. The results showed that proper shading could promote the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments. The chlorophyll content of L. spicata and L. graminifolia were the maximum under 25% shading, and the contents were 2.38 and 2.10 mg/g respectively. The chlorophyll content of L. muscari var. variegata and L.spicata var. prolifera were the maximum under 50% shading, and the contents were 1.22 and 1.81 mg/g, respec- tively. The maximum net photosynthetic rate of L. spicata was 11.13 µmol/(m²·s) under 25% shading. The maximum net photosynthetic rate of L. graminifolia, L. muscari var. Variegata and L.spicata var. prolifera were 6.15, 6.82 and 8.01 µmol/(m²·s) under 50% shading respective- ly. All factors considered, the optimal shading degree of Liriope spicata was 25% shading. The optimal shading degree of L.graminifolia was be- tween 25%-50% shading. The optimal shading degree of L. muscari var.variegata and L.spicata var.prolifera were 50% shading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of shading has been a prominent subject of discourse within the realm of photovoltaic (PV) energy harvesting and is recognized as a significant detriment to the system's overall efficiency. Nevertheless, prevailing investigations, which predominantly focus on the hard shading originating from building structures and vegetation, singularly address the umbra shadow phenomenon while overlooking the complexity of shadow properties and their varying intensities. In this context, this present research aims to analyze the impact of shading caused by thin objects, wherein shadow formation deviates from a singular-intensity umbra to a blend of umbra and penumbra, exhibiting diverse intensities. In the initial experimental approach, outdoor trials produced statistically significant findings, identifying both the distance and thickness of shading objects as primary determinants influencing the impact of thin object shading on the power output of PV systems. Furthermore, the analysis of the results revealed that under the specified parameters and assumptions, when considering a thin object with a thickness-to-distance ratio of 2.3 mm/225 cm, the resulting power loss of 1.65% is statistically insignificant. Remarkably, laboratory investigations unveiled a notable correlation between penumbra and power loss, contrasting with outdoor experimentation results. The findings highlight the distinction between indoor and outdoor methodologies, stemming from discrepancies in shadow formation characteristics, thereby emphasizing the necessity of acknowledging and comprehending these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) is a medicinal plant known for its anthocyanin pigment content, which imparts a blue color to its flowers. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of shading on butterfly pea flower growth and production. The research design utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) for shading treatments. We replicated each treatment level four times, resulting in 20 experimental units, each containing four plants, for a total population of 80 plants. We conducted the experiment at the Experimental Garden of Gunadarma University Campus F7, implementing shade nets at different intensity levels (55%, 65%, 75%, and 85%), along with a control treatment without shading. We made observations on various plant growth parameters such as leaf count, plant length, days to first flower appearance, flower count, fresh weight, and dry weight. The results indicated that shading significantly influenced butterfly pea plants' growth. Plants without shading tended to exhibit better growth in several parameters, such as increased leaf count, higher plant length, and earlier days to first flower appearance. These findings underscore the importance of sunlight in supporting the growth and production of butterfly pea plants. Therefore, careful consideration of shade management is essential in agricultural practices to ensure optimal growth and maximum yield from butterfly pea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi 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.)

Objectives: An experiment was conducted under plastic shades set up for this purpose in the Mashroo Almussaib area (45 km north of Babil Province) to improve vegetative growth indicators for chrysanthemum plants Minngopher cultivar with red flowers. Methods: Use 3 factors in the experiment include the first factor different percentages of visible light blocking (50 and 75) %, The second factor treating plants with three Irrigation Intervals (daily, every 24 hours, and every 48 hours) as for the third factor spraying plants with several concentrations of free amino acids (0,1, 1.50 and 2.00) mg L-1. The experiment design in a (2x3x4) factorial design using a R.C.B.D. with three replicates per treatment. Each replicate contained three pots, each with one plant. The results: Showed the study factors have significant impact of the studied parameters, the interaction (75% shading, daily irrigation, and 150 mg L-1) give significant impact in the number of leaves (129.0 leave) and the length of the vegetative branch (15.33 cm) while achieved the triple treatment (75% shading, daily irrigation, and 200 mg L-1) significant impact in number of vegetative branches (7.67 vegetative branches) and the main stem diameter (6.76 mm), as for the height of the plant, the interactions treatment was impact (75% shading, daily irrigation, and 100 mg L-1). Conclusions: From here we conclude that shading ratios play an important role in reducing the impact of stress intensity humidity and thermal associated with treating plants with free amino acids spraying on vegetative plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the summer of 2022, an intense heatwave swept through Northern Europe, with London bearing a significant impact. While nature-based solutions are often considered to be ideal responses to such heatwaves, experiences from the 2022 heatwave and others revealed potential drawbacks, particularly for urban green spaces. Prolonged dry spells, frequently accompanying heatwaves, result in excessively dry soil and the subsequent decline of vegetation in large parks. In the present study, microclimate simulations were conducted for Hyde Park in London, a location that experienced such drought during the 2022 heatwave, to examine its microclimatic performance in terms of thermal comfort and tree health. In alignment with the observations, ENVI-met could replicate the lack of noticeable cooling effects during the daytime and only marginal cooling during the nighttime. To address these challenges, mitigation scenarios were explored, incorporating heat mitigation measures such as part-time irrigation, temporary sun sails, and façade greenery. The findings demonstrated that implementing these measures could reduce heat stress by up to 13 K PET (physiologically equivalent temperature). These practical solutions emerged as effective remedies for mitigating the impact of heatwaves on urban green spaces and, hence, improving future urban development overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health of coral reefs is declining from the effects of human activity and climate change. Mass coral bleaching is often triggered by elevated water temperature and excessive solar irradiance. Shading can reduce coral bleaching risk. Shading-based management interventions, such as whole-ofreef marine fogging, have been proposed as a conservation tool for periods when coral undergoes excessive thermal stress. This study examined the effect of intermittent shade (30% for 0, 4, or 24 h) on two coral species, Duncanopsammia axifuga and Turbinaria reniformis, held at either 26.4°C or 32.4°C for 18 days. Coral fragments were assessed for bleaching (relative mean intensity of grey, chlorophyll a, and symbiont density), photochemistry (PAM fluorometry), and antioxidant biomarkers (SOD and CAT). Shading responses were species-specific, with T. reniformis more responsive to shading than D. axifuga. Thirty per cent shading delayed bleaching up to three-degree heat weeks (DHW), and 24 h shade was more protective than 4 h shade. Shading suppressed catalase activity in T. reniformis. Overall, our results suggest that intermittently shading corals for 4 h can moderate light stress and slow bleaching in some corals and could improve the efficiency of active solar radiation management in marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building integrated photovoltaic applications (BIPV) are mostly affected by partial shading, which results in a significant decrease in energy efficiency and leads to the apparition of multiple power peaks on the I-V characteristic curve of photovoltaic generators. In mitigating this problem, sophisticated maximum power point tracking techniques (MPPT) are used to track the global peak among the other locals. These techniques do not take into account the overheating of the shaded cells given that, under some critical situations, shaded cell performances may degrade, thus affecting the lifespan of the photovoltaic modules. In this regard, the present work aims to investigate in which peak on the I-V characteristic curve the PV module should operate appropriately with less overheating risk. For that, the shaded cells' temperatures and currents at different operating points were monitored. The results show that the worst-case scenario occurs for small shadow ratios (in the studied case, the shadow ratio 'sr' = 25%) where the temperature of the shaded cell reached approximately three times (300%) the temperature of non-shaded cells. This temperature decreases as the operating point is moved from the short circuit current towards the open-circuit voltage; as a result, the PV module works safely with minimum thermal stress for the maximum power peak near the open-circuit voltage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Using artificial shading in reforested seedlings is recommended for different species, irrigation levels and soil treatments in semiarid ecosystems, but the application of pork sludge and horse guano are ineffective. Application of irrigation, artificial shade and soil amendments can increase the survival of seedlings in plant restoration processes of semiarid ecosystems, however, the effects of shade and soil amendment could occur only without or with low levels of irrigation. In this study, we tested these hypotheses in four woody species (Quillaja saponaria, Lithrea caustica, Schinus polygamus, and Colliguaja odorifera) from the Mediterranean-type climate region of Chile. By mean a factorial experiment, we evaluated different irrigation frequencies (1 L/week and 1 L/2 weeks during the five driest months, no irrigation), artificial shade types (polypropylene shelter, black mesh, deep hole, and no shade) and soil amendment types (natural soil, pork sludge, and horse guano). In 2014, a total of 720 plants per species were planted at each of two sites located in a pre-Andean and a coastal area, and monitored until September 2016. The effect of the type of artificial shade did not depend on the level of irrigation. All shade treatments produced positive effects on the survival of all the species, but the mesh and polypropylene shelter had a greater positive impact than planting in a deep hole. Irrigation treatments increased the survival of all species, although the effect of the highest frequency depended on the site and species. The soil amendment treatments did not have significant positive effects under any condition. In conclusion, the use of artificial shading may be recommended for different species, sites, irrigation and soil treatments in semiarid ecosystems, although the type of shade may depend on the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uneven spatial and temporal distribution of light resources and water scarcity during the grain-filling stage pose significant challenges for sustainable crop production, particularly in the arid areas of the Loess Plateau in Northwest China. This study aims to investigate the combined effects of drought and shading stress on winter wheat growth and its physio-biochemical and antioxidative responses. Wheat plants were subjected to different drought levels— full irrigation (I100), 75% of full irrigation (I75), 50% of full irrigation (I50), and 25% of full irrigation (I25), and shading treatments — 12, 9, 6, 3 and 0 days (SD12, SD9, SD6, SD3, and CK, respectively) during the grain-filling stage. The effects of drought and shading treatments reduced yield in descending order, with the most significant reductions observed in the SD12 and I25 treatments. These treatments decreased grain yield, spikes per plant, 1000-grain weight, and spikelets per spike by 160.67%, 248.13%, 28.22%, and 179.55%, respectively, compared to the CK. Furthermore, MDA content and antioxidant enzyme activities exhibited an ascending trend with reduced irrigation and longer shading durations. The highest values were recorded in the I75 and SD12 treatments, which increased MDA, SOD, POD, and CAT activities by 65.22, 66.79, 65.07 and 58.38%, respectively, compared to the CK. The Pn, E, Gs, and iCO2 exhibited a decreasing trend (318.14, 521.09, 908.77, and 90.85%) with increasing shading duration and decreasing irrigation amount. Drought and shading treatments damage leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, decreasing yield and related physiological and biochemical attributes.

The objective of this study was to compare the response of Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk pastures in monoculture and silvopastoral systems (SPS), and to determine the most suitable pre-defoliation canopy height for managing this species in SPS. Four pre-defoliation canopy heights (20, 30, 40, and 50 cm) were tested for signal grass in SPS, alongside a control treatment involving defoliation at 20 cm in full sun. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four replicates. The forage accumulation rate was higher in monoculture (36.5 kg ha-1 day-1 of DM) compared to the silvopastoral system (22.0 kg ha-1 day-1 of DM), and there was no significant effect of pre-defoliation canopy height within the SPS. The density of tillers in monoculture was comparable to that observed in canopies managed at a height of 50 cm within the SPS. Leaf mass and leaf percentage were maximized at heights of 40 cm and 50 cm, respectively. Neither the cultivation system nor the pre-defoliation canopy heights in the SPS influenced the fiber and protein content. Leaf accumulation and mass were higher in monoculture, but the cultivation system did not affect the chemical composition of the forage. Heights between 40 cm and 50 cm in the SPS should be used to maximize tillering, mass, and leaf percentage of signal grass ‘Basilisk’. The chemical composition of the produced forage did not undergo significant changes, neither between systems nor across pre-defoliation heights.

This study determined the content and composition of dill seed (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oil under varying light conditions: non-shaded plants in open fields and plants covered with pearl shade nets (40% shade index). Essential oil was extracted using Clevenger hydrodistillation. The essential oil content was 4.63% for non-shaded plants and 4.81% for shaded plants. GC/MS analysis revealed twenty-one and twenty-two components in dill seed from non-shaded and shaded plants, respectively. The terpenic fraction of essential oil from non-shaded plants consisted mainly of oxygen-containing monoterpene derivatives (53.6%), with carvone (46.1%) as the primary component, followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (46.4%), predominantly limonene (43.8%). Essential oil from shaded plants contained a higher content of carvone (49.8%) and a lower content of limonene (37.8%) compared to essential oil from non-shaded plants. Non-shaded plant essential oil exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (EC50 value: 26.04 mg mL−1) than shaded plant essential oil (54.23 mg mL−1). Dill seed essential oil showed the most potent antimicrobial activity (disc diffusion method) against Escherichia coli (inhibition zone: 15–18 mm). Shaded plants demonstrated a positive influence of essential oil against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Carvone and its derivatives, as the main components, hold significant potential in the food industry and alternative medicines. A practical implication of this study could be higher plant densities or intercropping of dill, as it thrives with minimal light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of semi-transparent photovoltaics into the roof of greenhouses is an emerging technique used in recent years, due to the simultaneous energy and food production from the same piece of land. Although shading in many cases is a solution to maintain the desired microclimate, in the case of photovoltaic installations, the permanent shading of the crop is a challenge, due to the importance of light to the growth, morphogenesis, and other critical physiological processes. In this study, the effect of shade from semi-transparent photovoltaics on a strawberry crop (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) was examined, in terms of growth and quality (phenolic and flavonoid concentration of fruits). According to the results, in non-shaded plants, there was a trend of larger plants, but without a significant change in leaf number, while the total number of flowers was slightly higher at the end of the cultivation period. Moreover, it was found that the percentage change between the number of ripe fruits was smaller than that of the corresponding change in fruit weight, implying the increased size of the fruits in non-shaded plants. Finally, regarding the antioxidant capacity, it was clearly demonstrated that shading increased the total phenolic content, as well as the free-radical-scavenging activity of the harvested fruits. Although the shading from the semi-transparent photovoltaics did not assist the production of large fruits, it did not affect their number and increased some of their quality characteristics. In addition, the advantageous impact of the semi-transparent photovoltaics in the energy part must not be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Silicon in plants is a structuring element that promotes water and saline stress tolerance and decreases transpiration. The silica accumulated in the cuticle establishes a physical barrier and helps fight against pests and diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the development of ipê-roxo (Handroanthus impetiginosus) seedlings in different environments, and the application of potassium silicate and its efficiency in mitigating the attack of pests and diseases. Methods: The experiment was carried out in an agricultural greenhouse and under full sun with silicic doses of 0 and 7.15 mg per plant in a completely randomized design arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with 6 replications of 4 seedlings per plot. Plant height, chlorophyll, stem diameter, number of leaves, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, total dry matter, height-diameter ratio, root-shoot ratio, root-plant ratio, Dickson quality index, disease severity, and pest intensity were evaluated. Results: Silicon application did not confer biometric qualities to the seedlings. The application of silicon conferred 24.6% higher protection against disease severity at a 90% probability level. The protected environment promoted 48.8% more protection against the attack of pests on the seedlings. The silicon application decreases the intensity of pests in the protected environment by 36.3%. Seedlings in a protected environment increase the production of chlorophyll but are 29.6% more susceptible to the severity of diseases. The full sun promoted greater diameters, phytomass, and Dickson quality index by 18%, 73%, and 195%, respectively. Conclusions: The best Handroanthus impetiginosus seedlings were obtained under full sun. Silicon mitigated the attack of pests and diseases on Handroanthus impetiginosus seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Coatings & Protection / Tuceng yu Fanghu is the property of Coating & Protection Editorial Office 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.)

Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) is a common building material and landscaping tree species in northern China, with significant economic and ecological value. Its seedling growth is inhibited by high light intensity, but the mechanism by which light stress affects the growth and development of its seedlings remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the phenotypes, physiological processes, and molecular responses of 3-year-old Mongolian oak seedlings under different light treatments: full light (Sck), light shading (S1; 40% light), moderate shading (S2; 20% light), and severe shading (S3; 3% light). Compared to Sck, the S1 and S2 treatments resulted in higher leaf area, photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthesis rates, soluble sugar contents, and soluble protein contents in Mongolian oak seedlings. The S1 and S2 treatments also promoted seedling height and diameter growth and resulted in lower degrees of membrane lipid peroxidation, cell membrane permeability, and antioxidant enzyme activity. In contrast, severe shading (S3) significantly inhibited seedling height and diameter growth due to the lower net photosynthetic rate, and exhibiting higher degrees of membrane lipid peroxidation and cell membrane permeability. Shading treatments (S1 and S2) alleviated the negative effects of strong light on the growth and development of Mongolian oak seedlings, with the S2 treatment having the greatest effect. However, severe shading (S3) inhibited growth and development. A total of 3726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in leaves under different shading treatments in RNA sequencing analysis. Among these, 1691, 3150, and 824 DEGs were detected in the Sck-S1, Sck-S2, and S1-S2 comparison groups, respectively. The different shading treatments determined common expression regulation pathways, including carotenoid biosynthesis, photosynthetic antenna proteins, and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction. Shading induced increases in gene expression levels in light harvesting complexes, which are related to changes in gene expression in the photosynthetic system, leading to changes in photosynthetic physiology. The expression levels of genes related to reactive oxygen species signal perception and activation enzymes were upregulated in Sck. Together, these findings revealed the response mechanisms of Mongolian oak seedlings to different shading levels at the physiological and molecular levels, providing a scientific basis and technical support for the cultivation and large-scale production of Mongolian oak seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a growing abiotic stress, light deficient conditions seriously affect the yield and quality of rice. However, few studies focus on the effects of shading on grain quality at the booting stage and the responses of different hybrid rice cultivars to shading. Field experiments involving four representative rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars across no shading (CK) and 40% shading at the booting (S) and grain filling stages (SS) were conducted in 2021 and 2022. Compared with CK, S reduced grain yield by 53.0% but increased the head rice rate by 11.4% averaged across varieties and years. The chalkiness degree (CD) and chalky grain percentage (CR) were reduced by 73.0% and 61.6% in S due to its 45.3% lower total spikelets m–2, 44.0% lower grain–leaf ratio and 23.5% lower dry weight spikelet production efficiency, compared with CK. The CD and CR in SS were 49.5% and 41.0% higher and HR was 7.1% lower than that in CK. Shading significantly reduced amylose content, peak viscosity and breakdown value, but increased protein content and setback value, and the effects of SS were greater than S. Y-liangyou900 and Liangyoupeijiu showed better milling quality, while Y-liangyou900 and Chuanyou6203 obtained a better appearance and eating quality than the other varieties under both S and SS. In conclusion, shading at the booting stage significantly improved the milling, appearance and nutritional quality, and did not reduce the cooking and eating quality, but led to a significant decline in the grain yield of hybrid rice. Moreover, Y-liangyou900 exhibited better rice quality but lower yield under shading treatments. Therefore, more attention needs to be focused on screening shade-tolerant varieties using both yield and quality to cope with climate change in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado is an important tree crop grown in the tropics, including Ghana. Avocados are primarily propagated by seed into trees, which grow to provide shade for young cocoa trees and, subsequently, food and income. Cultivation of this crop as a monocrop is limited in Ghana; hence, there is a considerable risk of losing desirable genetic materials. There has been an effort by scientists at the University of Ghana to collect and curate available avocado germplasm to preserve, multiply, and disseminate to growers. Nurserymen have been tasked with germplasm multiplication through grafting. Unfortunately, the outcome of this grafting practice has been inefficient due to the high incidence of grafting failure. This study assessed the effects of the grafting experiences of four nurserymen under no shade, traditional, and adjusted shade conditions on the graft success of two avocado scions (Fuerte and Hass). The results of this study indicated that the absence of shade led to complete graft failure. Nevertheless, modifying the conventional shade to 70% using shade net resulted in a 10-20% enhancement in graft success. The success of grafting was found to be more associated with the skill of the grafters rather than their age or years of grafting experience. In general, the low graft success rate in avocados was most probably attributed to variations in the skills of individual grafters. Grafter A achieved a graft success rate of 23-29% higher than the other grafters, suggesting variations in the skill levels employed. Significantly (p = 0.05), graft success was higher in the Fuerte cultivar than in the Hass cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age controls a tree's responses to environmental cues and shading influences tree growth and physiology. These are basic principles of "Afforestation under canopy", an approach that is widely used in the regeneration of Korean pine forests. Studying the underlying mechanism helps us to understand tree adaptation and utilize it in forest management. In this study, we investigated the transcriptomic changes in the uppermost main stems of the Korean pine tree (Pinus koraiensis, Sieb. et Zucc.) at different ages (5, 7, 10, 14, and 17 years) and in different growth conditions (open-grown and shade-grown trees) using RNA-Seq. In total, 434,005,837 reads were produced and assembled into 111,786 unigenes. After pairwise comparisons, 568 differentially expressed unigenes (DEUs) were identified. The greatest number of DEUs was identified in the comparison between 5-year-old open-grown trees and 17-year-old shade-grown trees, while no DEUs were identified in 15 pairwise comparisons. Among these 568 DEUs, 45 were assigned to gene ontology (GO) terms associated with response to environmental changes, including "response to stress" (26) and "response to light and temperature" (19); 12 were assigned to GO terms associated with sexual reproduction, such as "sexual reproduction", "specification of floral organ identity", "pollen tube guidance", and "fruit ripening"; 15 were heat shock protein genes and showed decreased expression patterns with age; and one, annotated as Pinus tabuliformis DEFICIENS-AGAMOUS-LIKE 1, showed an increased expression pattern with age, independent of the reproductive state or growth conditions of Korean pine trees. Altogether, these findings not only demonstrate the molecular aspects of the developmental and physiological effects of age and shading on Korean pine trees, but also improve our understanding of the basic principles of "Afforestation under canopy". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important energy-saving method to optimize building envelope design is the integration of local climate characteristics. This study attempts to find sloped facade configurations to balance air conditioning energy demand and daylight utilization for four directions in an area with a hot climate. Tilt angle dependence of the air conditioning energy demand, useful daylight illuminance (UDI) and daylight glare index (DGI) are selected to investigate the acceptance thresholds of the tilt angle. The final facade's configuration is achieved by employing the graphical optimization method. An acceptable solution that balances better daylight performance and less energy consumption by air conditioning is developed. Due to the considered city being located in a low-latitude area with great daylight availability as well as a fully dimmable light control strategy, unbearable glare reduction can be achieved by benefiting from the sloped facades, without necessarily sacrificing much usable daylight. Meanwhile, there is no obvious increase in the demand for lighting energy consumption, and a good outward view is preserved. The sloped rather than vertical facade provides natural solar shading to the east-, south- and west-oriented windows while allowing low-angle winter solar heat to warm the building space. Tilt angles between 35°and 40° are preferred for the east facade, and smaller tilt angles of between 30°and 35° are recommended for the south facade. Larger tilt angles of between 40°and 45° are preferred for the west facade. However, the north-facing facade's outward tilt would cause an undesirable increase in air conditioning energy demand. The annual air conditioning energy demand of the east-, south- and west-facing space is found to separately decrease by 7.1%, 7.3% and 9.9%, respectively, benefiting from the sloped facades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shading and drought are considered crucial abiotic stress factors that limit the normal growth of plants. Under natural conditions, the quality of Bletilla striata pseudobulbs (BP), a Chinese traditional medicinal crop, is often affected by the dual stresses of shading and drought. However, the relationship and mechanism of the interaction between the two stress factors in B. striata remain unclear. In this study, we examined the changes in photosynthetic properties and active ingredients of B. striata under shading (L), drought (W), and shading-drought dual stresses (LW). We aimed to explore the metabolite mechanism that led to these changes using GC-MS-based non-targeted metabolomics techniques. The results indicated a significant reduction in the polysaccharide content of BP under W and LW treatments compared to the control (CK). The total phenol content was significantly reduced under L treatment, while the total flavonoid content did not change significantly under the three stresses. The significant increase in militarine content under all three stresses implies that B. striata may modulate its biosynthesis in response to different environmental stresses. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were reduced, amino acid expression was up-regulated, and carbohydrate expression was down-regulated in B. striata under L treatment. The net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate exhibited significant reductions, and the tuber metabolic disorder marker Homocysteine increased and organic acid content as well under W treatment. The net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency of B. striata were further reduced under LW compared with single stress, which is in agreement with the "trade-off theory". Pseudobulb metabolite changes, in combination with the results of the two single stresses, showed an up-regulation of amino acids and disaccharide compounds and a down-regulation of monosaccharide compounds. A support vector machine model (SVM) was used to screen 10 marker metabolites and accurately predict the changes in active ingredient content through an artificial neural network model (ANN). The results suggest that an appropriate stress environment can enhance the content of the target active ingredients based on cultivation goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shading is an effective agronomic technique to protect tea plants from intense sunlight. However, there are currently very few studies on more effective shading methods to improve the quality of summer tea. In this study, 'Longjing43' plants were grown under four different shading treatments for 14 days, with no shading as the control. Among the four shading treatments, double-layer-net shadings had the most positive impact on the tea quality, resulting in higher levels of amino acids but lower levels of tea polyphenols. Additionally, double-layer-net shadings provided more suitable microenvironments for tea plants. The tea leaves in T4 (double nets 50 cm above the plant canopy) contained 16.13 mg∙g−1 of umami and sweet amino acids, which was significantly higher than in other treatments. T4 had the lowest air temperature and the most suitable and stable soil water content. Interestingly, the ratio of red light to far-red light in T4 was only 1.65, much lower than other treatments, which warrants further study. In conclusion, the microenvironment induced by shading can greatly affect the tea quality, and double-layer-net shading is better for improving the quality of summer tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FHY3 and FAR1 serve as positive regulators of the phyA-mediated far-red light signal pathway, influencing plant growth and development by regulating the expression of downstream genes. However, little is known about the FAR1/FHY3 family in Brassica species. A total of 21 members of the BnFAR1/FHY3 gene family were identified in the Brassica napus genome, exhibiting an uneven distribution across ten B. napus chromosomes. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the BnFAR1/FHY3 family could be divided into four subfamilies. Putative cis-elements in the BnFAR1/FHY3 promoter regions were also identified, which were potentially involved in phytohormone, light and abiotic stress responses (shading, low-temperature, etc.). Additionally, qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression levels of BnFAR1-10, BnFAR1-11, BnFAR1-21 and BnFAR1-4 decreased under shading stress. The expression of BnFAR1-10, BnFAR1-11 and BnFAR1-21 increased under low-temperature stress, whereas the expression of BnFAR1-4 did not change. In addition, the results of the tissue expression analysis showed that most of the genes exhibited the lowest expression in pollen and the highest expression in the 54-day silique. This study screened a batch of BnFHY3/BnFAR1 gene resources, which will contribute to further research on the functional characteristics of BnFHY3/BnFAR1 family members in growth, development and the stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowers and pod abscission significantly reduces soybean yield. This study aims to identify the main signaling pathways and key candidate genes in soybean leaves that affect flower and pod abscission under shade conditions. This information will be useful for the localization and cloning of genes related to abscission. Two soybean cultivars with different abscission rates (Liaodou 32 and Shennongdou 28) were used in this experiment. The soybean leaves were subjected to 50% shading treatment and the transcriptome and metabolome was sequenced during the light-sensitive period. The effects of weak light at different growth stages on the metabolic pathways of soybean leaves and organ abscission were investigated by analyzing plant phenotype and physiological changes. The results showed that both two cultivars triggered the same molecular mechanism and similar metabolite accumulation mode by shading, but the regulations of the two cultivars were different. The key candidate genes identified for soybean flower and pod abscission caused by shading were DIV, MYB06, MYB44, MY1R1, MYBS3, WRKY6, WRK53, WRK70, WRK40, DOF14, CDF3, CDF2, GATA5, DREB3 and ERF3; the differentially expressed genes that caused the variation between the cultivars were SRM1, MYB16, WRK24, COL16, MYB61 and TRB1. The main metabolic pathways involved in soybean flower and pod abscission caused by shading were secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathway, metabolic pathway, cofactor biosynthesis pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis pathway and amino acid biosynthesis pathway; the DEMs that caused the differences among the cultivars were carbon metabolism, glutathione metabolism, biotin metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, purine metabolism, plant hormone signaling, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, lysine degradation, arginine and proline metabolism, amino sugars and nucleotide sugars metabolism, etc. In conclusion, shading treatment in the light-sensitive period of soybean changed the physiological response and gene expression level of leaves, inhibited carbohydrate metabolism and transport and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and thereby leading to increased competition and hormonal disruption, which promoted the abscission of soybean flowers/pods and reduced grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) is a highly valuable fruit species in Southeast Asia. To regulate the fruiting season, shading is commonly used to induce flowering in wax apple. However, the effects of shading on the growth of wax apple is not well understood. To address this, we conducted a study analyzing the photosynthetic characteristics of wax apple leaves under 40% and 90% shading rates. Our findings revealed that shading had a significant impact on the photosynthesis and branching tip development of wax apple. During shading treatments, the chlorophyll contents of the leaves increased to enhance light absorption efficiency. In the 40% shading treatment, the primary factor causing the decrease in net photosynthetic rate was stomatal limitation, while in the 90% shading treatment, both stomatal and non-stomatal limitations contributed to the decrease in net photosynthetic rate. These results are indications that sheading plays a key role in chlorophyll and photosynthesis in wax apple. These results will have led to a new research direction for genetic crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key factor, it is vital to mathematically model the electrical efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. This paper investigates the efficient modeling of a 2.5 kW grid-connected PV system, located in Mahan, Kerman, Iran, with respect to different factors like solar radiation, humidity, dust deposition, temperature, and shading. For this aim, different nonlinear models are considered and a curvefitting approach is used to optimally determine the unknown parameters. Over the case study, simulation results show that when the dust deposition is not included in the modeling (solar radiation, ambient temperature, cell temperature, humidity, and shading as inputs), the third-degree polynomial model leads to more accurate result than the other models. By use of the third-degree polynomial model, the value of root mean square error (RMSE) for train and test data sets is obtained 0.0123 and 0.0109, respectively. In this case, the average RMSE value is 0.0116. On the other hand, when dust impact is included in the modeling (solar radiation, ambient temperature, humidity, and number of dusty days as inputs), the accuracy of the exponential model is more than the other ones. In this case, the value of RMSE for both train and test data sets is obtained 0.0018. Sensitivity analysis shows that the system efficiency depends mainly on the radiation, cell temperature, and dust and less on the humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In coding observational and performance data, researchers have favored a focus on interrater reliability (agreement of coders with each other) over scoring accuracy (agreement of coders with expert ratings). Often, an implicit assumption is that establishing interrater reliability implies acceptable scoring accuracy, but this is not necessarily the case. This study reports scoring accuracy of four experienced Rorschachers in coding 155 responses for Form Dominance in Shading and Achromatic Color (FDSHAC) determinants using Viglione’s (2010) guidelines augmenting those from the Comprehensive System (CS; Exner et al., 2001). These determinants were of interest since these (a) are low-base rate and difficult for new learners, and previous findings have been mixed regarding their interrater reliability, (b) have been eliminated by the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS; Meyer et al., 2011), yet (c) are still considered valuable for inferences related to ego involvement in affect regulation. In this study we compared findings of scoring accuracy to those previously reported on interrater reliability in the same data set (Bram et al., 2023) and found similar patterns. Coders exhibited strongest accuracy in rating the levels of Form Dominance of Texture and Form Dominance of Achromatic Color. Accuracies for Form Dominance of Diffuse Shading and Form Dominance of Aggregate FDHAC were comparatively modest but more than acceptable. The most challenging variable to code accurately was Form Dominance of Vista; and among the levels of the Aggregate and individual FDSHAC’s, Form Secondary was the most difficult to code and had greatest variability. We discuss the need for further refinement of training for coding FDSHAC, and we make a case for increasing attention to scoring accuracy in research and clinical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate growth characteristics of Mombaça grass in silvopastoral and monoculture systems under different canopy heights. Monoculture and silvopastoral systems were evaluated under different height management strategies which were: 70, 80, 90 and 100 cm, in two seasons of the year: rainy and rainy / dry transition seasons. The variables evaluated were LAR (Leaf area ratio), SLA (Specific Leaf Area), LWR (Leaf Weight Ratio), RGR (Relative Growth Rate), CGR (Crop Growth Rate), NAR (Net Assimilation Rate) and LAI (Leaf Area Index). The experimental design adopted was randomized blocks with five replications. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and F test, and the Duncan test was used to compare the systems. The effect of the cutting height was assessed through linear and quadratic regression equations (p> 0.05). The shade cast by the trees affects most of the growth characteristics of Mombaça grass, such as SLA and LWR, which increased to compensate for the lower light intensity reaching the understory. Growth characteristics linked to the efficiency of light assimilation tend to be greater in the silvopastoral system. Characteristics related to production such as CGR and LAI were superior in the monoculture system. The strategy of cutting the forage at a height of 70 cm with residue of 40 cm showed the best growth rates in comparison to the other cutting strategies in the silvopastoral system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shading is one of the management practices for preventing the damage or injury of plant seedlings during extreme weather and climate events, such as very high temperatures and heat stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of different shading conditions on the photosynthetic characteristics of the endangered plant Horsfieldia hainanensis in Guangxi, China. The H. hainanensis seedlings in this study underwent five shading treatments, including 20% (L1), 40% (L2), 60% (L3), 80% (L4), and 100% (control) of full sunlight. The net growth of their diameter and height, and photosynthetic gas exchange parameters including their photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and water use efficiency (WUE) were measured for the examined seedlings. The OJIP curve and 820 nm light absorption curve, and the osmotic substances and products of membrane lipid peroxidation were employed to assess photosynthetic capacity, identify the factors constraining photosynthetic carbon assimilation, and investigate the mechanisms influencing photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) in the seedlings under shade stress. The results showed that the seedlings in the L2 treatments had the highest net growth and Pn, the best photosynthetic performance, and the best coordination between PSII and PSI. The net photosynthesis (Pn) levels exhibited a declining trend in the following order: L2 > L3 > L4 > L1. In the L1 treatment, non-stomatal factors emerged as the primary determinant affecting the Pn of the seedlings. The performance index (potential) of PSII, representing the conservation of absorbed photon energy to intersystem electron acceptor reduction (PIABS and ΔI/I0) of the seedlings, decreased in the order of L2 > L3 > L4 > L1. The photosystem performance and the coordination between PSII and PSI (Φ(PSI/PSII)) of the seedlings decreased in the order of L2 > L1 > L3 > L4. Under the low and moderate shading stresses (L1–L3), more serious damages occurred in PSII than in PSI, including on the donor side of PSII and in the electron transfer from QB to the acceptor side of PSI. In contrast, more considerable injury occurred in PSI than in PSII under the stress of the heavy shading treatment (L4). Considering the alterations in their leaf osmotic regulatory substances and membrane lipid peroxidation products, our findings indicate that the L2 treatment was the most conducive to the growth of the H. hainanensis seedlings. In contrast, the L1 treatment subjected H. hainanensis seedlings to the most significant stress, resulting in substantial damage to their growth and photosynthetic mechanisms. Our research provides a scientific insight into and a practical guide for the selection of an appropriate light intensity for the conservation and cultivation of endangered plant species, such as H. hainanensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system produces power using photovoltaic (PV) modules as building exterior materials, whose architectural performance serves the same functions as those of existing building materials. Most relevant studies targeted general PV modules used in the building-mounted and -attached types. This study aims to integrate the building elevation-type BIPV system and exterior materials to secure both exterior material performance and PV electrical performance by embedding a power optimization device in an integrated system of BIPV modules and exterior materials. Thus, the advantages of economy, safety, aesthetics, and ease of maintenance can be achieved. In this study, experiments were conducted on elevation-type BIPV modules with and without a power optimizer, that is, a DC/DC converter, under various shade conditions, and the power loss rate of the BIPV system was analyzed. The power optimizer-equipped BIPV system was experimentally observed to have a PV power-loss rate approximately 2–3 times lower than that of the BIPV system without a power optimizer when the shade ratio of one module was approximately 10–75%. This exterior material-integrated BIPV-specific power optimization device reduces dependence on fossil fuels for power production and improves energy sustainability, contributing to the spread of zero-energy buildings and carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]