Exploring the role of grafting in abiotic stress management: Contemporary insights and automation trends.

Grafting is a technique that involves attaching a rootstock to the aerial part of another genotype or species (scion), leading to improved crop performance and sustainable growth. The ability to tolerate abiotic stresses depends on cell membrane stability, a reduction in electrolyte leakage, and the species of scion and rootstock chosen. This external mechanism, grafting, serves as a beneficial tool in influencing crop performance by combining nutrient uptake and translocation to shoots, promoting sustainable plant growth, and enhancing the potential yield of both fruit and vegetable crops.

Different Behavior of Density Perturbations Between Dayside and Nightside in the Martian Thermosphere and the Ionosphere Associated With Atmospheric Gravity Waves.

To investigate the excitation mechanism of ionospheric perturbations on Mars by the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) onboard Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN), we categorize ionospheric perturbations into three cases: (a) the ion-neutral coupling cases where ion and neutral perturbations are well coupled, (b) the ion-specific cases where ion perturbations move independently from neutrals, and (c) the coronal mass ejection cases associated with solar wind extreme events. A representative number of cases from total profiles are compared with a numerical model to determine the fraction that can be explained by an atmospheric gravity waves (GW). The neutral perturbations on the dayside at 170-190 km altitudes are in excellent agreement with the GW.

Exploring the Solar Wind-Planetary Interaction at Mars: Implication for Magnetic Reconnection.

The Martian crustal magnetic anomalies present a varied, asymmetric obstacle to the imposing draped interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and solar wind plasma. Magnetic reconnection, a ubiquitous plasma phenomenon responsible for transferring energy and changing magnetic field topology, has been observed throughout the Martian magnetosphere. More specifically, reconnection can occur as a result of the interaction between crustal fields and the IMF, however, the global implications and changes to the overall magnetospheric structure of Mars have yet to be fully understood.

Whole-genome resequencing reveals recent divergence of geographic populations of the dung beetle with color variation.

Knowledge of population divergence history is key to understanding organism diversification mechanisms. The geotrupid dung beetle , which inhabits montane forests and exhibits three color forms (red, green, and indigo), diverged into five local populations (west/red, south/green, south/indigo, south/red, and east/red) in the Kinki District of Honshu, Japan, based on the combined interpretation of genetic cluster and color-form data. Here, we estimated the demographic histories of these local populations using the newly assembled draft genome sequence of and whole-genome resequencing data obtained from each local population.

A Statistical Investigation of Factors Influencing the Magnetotail Twist at Mars.

The Martian magnetotail exhibits a highly twisted configuration, shifting in response to changes in polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field's (IMF) dawn-dusk ( ) component. Here, we analyze ∼6000 MAVEN orbits to quantify the degree of magnetotail twisting ( ) and assess variations as a function of (a) strong planetary crustal field location, (b) Mars season, and (c) downtail distance. The results demonstrate that is larger for a duskward (+ ) IMF orientation a majority of the time.

A comprehensive phylogeography of the widespread pond snail genus revealed restricted colonization due to niche conservatism.

To clarify the effect of niche conservatism on evolutionary history, we focused on freshwater snails, which have different ecological and phylogenetic properties from previously tested taxa. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis using 750 lymnaeid individuals from 357 sites of eleven species. Then, we estimated the ancestral distribution using the geographic coordinates and colonization routes.

Gudgeon fish with and without genetically determined countershading coexist in heterogeneous littoral environments of an ancient lake.

Countershading, characterized by a darker dorsal surface and lighter ventral surface, is common among many animals. This dorsoventral pigment polarity is often thought to be adaptive coloration for camouflage. By contrast, noncountershaded (melanistic) morphs often occur within a species due to genetic color polymorphism in terrestrial animals.

Sika deer presence affects the host-parasite interface of a Japanese land leech.

Since the 1990s, increasing populations of a blood feeding land leech () have become a serious issue in several Japanese prefectures, and it may be caused by the increases in sika deer () populations seen over the last quarter of the century. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the host animal species of . using iDNA (vertebrate DNA isolated from invertebrates) and to test the hypothesis that the increasingly widespread distribution of sika deer results in increased .

The presence of a cryptic barrier in the West Pacific Ocean suggests the effect of glacial climate changes on a widespread sea-dispersed plant, (Fabaceae).

Ocean currents are an important driver of evolution for sea-dispersed plants, enabling them to maintain reciprocal gene flow via sea-dispersed diaspores and obtain wide distribution ranges. Although geographic barriers are known to be the primary factors shaping present genetic structure of sea-dispersed plants, cryptic barriers which form clear genetic structure within oceanic regions are poorly understood. To test the presence of a cryptic barrier, we conducted a phylogeographic study together with past demographic inference for a widespread sea-dispersed plant, , using 308 individuals collected from the entire Indo-West Pacific (IWP) region.

Contrasting effects of habitat discontinuity on three closely related fungivorous beetle species with diverging host-use patterns and dispersal ability.

Understanding how landscape structure influences biodiversity patterns and ecological processes are essential in ecological research and conservation practices. Forest discontinuity is a primary driver affecting the population persistence and genetic structure of forest-dwelling species. However, the actual impacts on populations are highly species-specific.

Effect of water temperature and fish biomass on environmental DNA shedding, degradation, and size distribution.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has successfully detected organisms in various aquatic environments. However, there is little basic information on eDNA, including the eDNA shedding and degradation processes. This study focused on water temperature and fish biomass and showed that eDNA shedding, degradation, and size distribution varied depending on water temperature and fish biomass.

Evolution of nuchal glands, unusual defensive organs of Asian natricine snakes (Serpentes: Colubridae), inferred from a molecular phylogeny.

A large body of evidence indicates that evolutionary innovations of novel organs have facilitated the subsequent diversification of species. Investigation of the evolutionary history of such organs should provide important clues for understanding the basis for species diversification. An Asian natricine snake, , possesses a series of unusual organs, called nuchal glands, which contain cardiotonic steroid toxins known as bufadienolides.

Functional joint regeneration is achieved using reintegration mechanism in Xenopus laevis.

A functional joint requires integration of multiple tissues: the apposing skeletal elements should form an interlocking structure, and muscles should insert into skeletal tissues via tendons across the joint. Whereas newts can regenerate functional joints after amputation, Xenopus laevis regenerates a cartilaginous rod without joints, a "spike." Previously we reported that the reintegration mechanism between the remaining and regenerated tissues has a significant effect on regenerating joint morphogenesis during elbow joint regeneration in newt.

Reintegration of the regenerated and the remaining tissues during joint regeneration in the newt Cynops pyrrhogaster.

Urodele amphibians, such as newts, can regenerate a functional limb, including joints, after amputation at any level along the proximal-distal axis of the limb. The blastema can regenerate the limb morphology largely independently of the stump after proximal-distal identity has been established, but the remaining and regenerated tissues must be structurally reintegrated (matched in size and shape). Here we used newt joint regeneration as a model to investigate reintegration, because a functionally interlocking joint requires structural integration between its opposing skeletal elements.