Drought as an emergent driver of ecological transformation in the twenty-first century.

Under climate change, ecosystems are experiencing novel drought regimes, often in combination with stressors that reduce resilience and amplify drought's impacts. Consequently, drought appears increasingly likely to push systems beyond important physiological and ecological thresholds, resulting in substantial changes in ecosystem characteristics persisting long after drought ends (i.e.

Cotton leaf curl Multan virus activates autophagy in the whitefly AsiaII7, weakening its vectorial capacity for transmission.

Background: Autophagy plays an important role against pathogen infections in both insects and plants. Insect vectors employ autophagy as an intrinsic antiviral defense mechanism against viral infections, whereas viruses can exploit autophagy to enhance their transmission via insect vectors. The Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV) is transmitted by the AsiaII7 cryptic species of Bemisia tabaci, however, the role of autophagy is involved in regulating the transmission of this virus remains unclear.

Effects of Conservation Agriculture on Soil NO Emissions and Crop Yield in Global Cereal Cropping Systems.

Conservation agriculture, which involves minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation, has been widely adopted as a sustainable agricultural practice globally. However, the effects of conservation agriculture practices on soil NO emissions and crop yield vary based on geography, management methods, and the duration of implementation, which has hindered its widespread scientific application. In this study, we assessed the impacts of no-tillage (NT), both individually and in combination with other conservation agriculture principles, on soil NO emissions and crop yields worldwide, based on 1270 observations from 86 peer-reviewed articles.

Uptake, Subcellular Distribution, and Metabolism of Decabromodiphenyl Ethane in Vegetables under Different Exposure Scenarios.

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), a key alternative to deca-BDE (BDE-209), has been ubiquitous in the receiving ecosystem. However, little is known about its uptake process and fate in plants. Here, the plant absorption, distribution, and metabolism of C-DBDPE under two distinct exposure pathways (i.

Flower colour contrast, 'spectral purity' and a red herring.

Nature offers a bewildering diversity of flower colours. Understanding the ecology and evolution of this fantastic floral diversity requires knowledge about the visual systems of their natural observers, such as insect pollinators. The key question is how flower colour and pattern can be measured and represented to characterise the signals that are relevant to pollinators.

Graph-based pangenome provides insights into the structural variation and genetic basis of metabolic traits in potato.

Potato is the world's most important nongrain crop. Here, we report that 29 genomes from Petota and Etuberosum sections were de novo assembled, and that 248 accessions of wild potatoes, landraces and modern cultivars were re-sequenced at > 25× depth to assess genetic diversity within the Petota section. Subsequently, a graph-based pangenome was constructed by using DM8.

High-Efficiency CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing Unveils Biofilm Insights and Enhances Antimicrobial Activity in Bacillus velezensis FZB42.

Bacillus velezensis FZB42 is a prominent plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium and biocontrol agent known for producing a wide array of antimicrobial compounds. The capability to genetically manipulate this strain would facilitate understanding its metabolism and enhancing its sustainable agriculture applications. In this study, we report the first successful implementation of high-efficiency CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in B.

Differential responses of root and leaf-associated microbiota to continuous monocultures.

Continuous monocultures alter the composition and function of root-associated microbiota, and thus compromise crop health and productivity. In comparison, little is known about how leaf-associated microbiota respond to continuous monocultures. Here, we profiled root and leaf-associated microbiota of peanut plants under monocropping and rotation conditions.

S100A13-driven interaction between pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes tumor progression through calcium signaling.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) tumor microenvironment (TME), where they promote tumor progression and metastasis through immunosuppressive functions. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the crosstalk between cancer cells and CAFs, many underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of calcium signaling in enhancing interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding stroma, with the S100 family of proteins serving as important regulators.

New job, new habits? A multilevel interrupted time series analysis of changes in diet, physical activity and sleep among young adults starting work for the first time.

Background: The workplace is an important determinant of health that people are exposed to for the first-time during adolescence or early adulthood. This study investigates how diet, physical activity, and sleep change as people aged 16-30 years transition into work and whether this varies for different individuals and job types.

Methods: Multilevel linear regression models assessed changes in fruit and vegetable intake, sleep duration, and physical activity among 3,302 UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) participants aged 16-30 years, who started work for the first time between 2015 and 2023.

Essential oils from Amorpha fruticosa against hepatocellular carcinoma based on network pharmacology.

Background: Amorpha fruticosa was used for treating burn, ambustion, carbuncle, and eczema in the traditional Chinese medicine. Although more and more attention has been paid to its biological activity recently, the antitumor activities of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from its leaves (AFLEO) and flowers (AFFEO), and their molecular mechanisms have never been reported up to now. The objective of present study was to examine the chemical compositions of AFLEO and AFFEO, then investigate the effects and pharmacological mechanism of EOs against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Assessing the role of genotype by environment interaction as determinants of maize grain yield and lodging resistance.

Background: The development of superior summer maize hybrids with high-yield potential and essential agronomic traits, such as resistance to lodging, is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of maize cultivation. However, the task of identifying and breeding genotypes that exhibit exceptional performance and stability across multiple environment conditions, while considering a wide range of traits, is challenging. Given the backdrop of global climate change, understanding which climate variables and soil properties most significantly impact environmental similarity is essential for selecting hybrids with improved adaptability to regions with diverse climatic and soil conditions.

Selenium nanoparticles enhance metabolic and nutritional profile in Phaseolus vulgaris: comparative metabolomic and pathway analysis with selenium selenate.

Selenium is a beneficial element in agriculture, particularly for its potential to improve plant growth and stress tolerance at suitable concentrations. In this study, Phaseolus vulgaris was foliar-sprayed with selenium selenate (Se) or selenium nanoparticles (SeNP) at different concentrations during the vegetative stage; afterward, the seed yield was analyzed for metabolomics using H, J-resolved and HSQC NMR data, and NMR databases. A total of 47 metabolites were identified with sugars being the major chemical class.

Synergistic effects of GmLFYa and GmLFYb on Compound Leaf Development in Soybean.

Legume leaves exhibit diverse compound forms, with various regulatory mechanisms underlying the development. The transcription factor-encoding KNOXI genes are required to promote leaflet initiation in most compound-leafed angiosperms. In non-IRLC (inverted repeat-lacking clade) legumes, KNOXI are expressed in compound leaf primordia but not in others (IRLC).

MoCloro: an extension of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii modular cloning toolkit for microalgal chloroplast engineering.

Photosynthetic microalgae are promising green cell factories for the sustainable production of high-value chemicals and biopharmaceuticals. The chloroplast organelle is being developed as a chassis for synthetic biology as it contains its own genome (the plastome) and some interesting advantages, such as high recombinant protein titers and a diverse and dynamic metabolism. However, chloroplast engineering is currently hampered by the lack of standardized cloning tools and Design-Build-Test-Learn workflows to ease genomic and metabolic engineering.

The legacy of endophytes for the formation of bioactive agents, pigments, biofertilizers, nanoparticles and bioremediation of environment.

Endophytes have significant prospects for applications beyond their existing utilization in agriculture and the natural sciences. They form an endosymbiotic relationship with plants by colonizing the root tissues without detrimental effects. These endophytes comprise several microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi.

Phyto-Fingerprinting of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. Leaf Extract and its In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

Putranjiva roxburghii is an important medicinal plant utilized for remedy of female reproductive ailments. Its seed extract is being used as a uterine health booster due to the presence of several pharmaceutically important phytochemicals. However, the presence of phytochemicals in its leaf is still unexplored.

Green companions: Affordances of human-tree relationships.

Trees offer multiple benefits, including impacts on physical and mental health. In this interdisciplinary study, we explored the relationships humans develop with specific favourite trees based on our survey data (n = 158) collected in the Netherlands. Here, we examined action possibilities (affordances) provided by trees, including immaterial actions, such as memorisation or the enjoyment of beauty.

Typical tetra-mediated signaling and plant architectural changes regulate salt-stress tolerance in indica rice genotypes.

Upon exposure to salt stress, calcium signaling in plants activates various stress-responsive genes and proteins along with enhancement in antioxidant defense to eventually regulate the cellular homeostasis for reducing cytosolic sodium levels. The coordination among the calcium signaling molecules and transporters plays a crucial role in salinity tolerance. In the present study, twenty-one diverse indigenous rice genotypes were evaluated for salt tolerance during the early seedling stage, and out of that nine genotypes were further selected for physio-biochemical study.

The Role of Pathogens in Plant Invasion: Accumulation of Local Pathogens Hypothesis.

In the past decades, dozens of invasion hypotheses have been proposed to elucidate the invasion mechanisms of exotic species. Among them, the accumulation of local pathogens hypothesis (ALPH) posits that invasive plants can accumulate local generalist pathogens that have more negative effect on native species than on themselves; as a result, invasive plants might gain competitive advantages that eventually lead to their invasion success. However, research on this topic is still quite insufficient.

Allometric equations for estimating above and belowground biomass of Colophospermum mopane in Mozambique.

Seasonally dry tropical woodlands are vital for climate change mitigation, yet their full potential in carbon storage remains poorly understood. This is largely due to the lack of species-specific allometric models tailored to these ecosystems. To address this knowledge gap, this study aimed to develop species-specific biomass allometric equations (BAEs) for accurately estimating both above- and below-ground biomass of Colophospermum mopane (J.

Exogenous LEA proteins expression enhances cold tolerance in mammalian cells by reducing oxidative stress.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms that confer cold resistance in mammalian cells might be relevant for advancing medical applications. This study aimed to exploit the protective function of Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins, known to provide resistance to low temperatures in extremophiles and plants, by their exogenous expression in mammalian cells, and compare their effects with the well characterized antioxidant, vitamin E.Remarkably, the expression of LEA proteins in mammalian cells exerted cold-protective effect similar to Vitamin E.

Unraveling the interactive effect of opaque2 and waxy1 genes on kernel nutritional qualities and physical properties in maize (Zea mays L.).

The mutant waxy allele (wx1) is responsible for increased amylopectin in maize starch, with a wide range of food and industrial applications. The amino acid profile of waxy maize resembles normal maize, making it particularly deficient in lysine and tryptophan. Therefore, the present study explored the combined effects of genes governing carbohydrate and protein composition on nutritional profile and kernel physical properties by crossing Quality Protein Maize (QPM) (o2o2/wx1wx1) and waxy (o2o2/wx1wx1) parents.

Exogenous selenium enhances cadmium stress tolerance by improving physiological characteristics of Artemisia argyi seedlings.

The contamination of Chinese medicinal materials with cadmium (Cd) is a pressing global issue that poses significant risks to human health. The beneficial effects of selenium (Se) have been established in improving plant growth and reducing Cd accumulation in plant under Cd stress. This study employed soil cultivation experiments to investigate the remediation effects of exogenous Se (0, 0.

Comparative transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveals the differential response to salinity stress of two genotypes brewing sorghum.

Salinity tolerance in brewing sorghum is a very important trait, especially in areas that are affected by soil salinity. In order to elucidate the mechanism underlying salt tolerance, we conducted a comparative analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome in two distinct sweet sorghum genotypes, namely the salt-tolerant line NY1298 and the salt-sensitive line MY1176, following exposure to salt treatment. Our initial findings indicate the presence of genotype-specific responses in brewing sorghum under salt stress conditions.