Contrasting habitat associations and ecophysiological adaptations drive interspecific growth differences among Himalayan high-mountain plants.

Background And Aims: Understanding interspecific differences in plant growth rates and their internal and external drivers is key to predicting species responses to ongoing environmental changes. Annual growth rates vary among plants based on their ecological preferences, growth forms, ecophysiological adaptations, and evolutionary history. However, the relative importance of these factors remains unclear, particularly in high-mountain ecosystems experiencing rapid changes.

Bioinspired Superwettability Surface Strategies for Condensation Heat Transfer.

Along with the development of miniaturization, integration, and high power of electronic chips in the 5G and artificial intelligence era and their urgent need for technologies enabled to solve high heat flux dissipation in limited space, investigating bioinspired extreme superwettability surfaces with high-efficiency condensation heat transfer (CHT) performance has attracted great interest in academic and industrial communities. Compared with filmwise condensation of flat hydrophilic surfaces featured with continuous liquid films, dropwise condensation of flat hydrophobic surfaces is a more efficient type of energy transport way. However, discrete condensate drops can only shed off the hydrophobic flat surfaces under gravity until their sizes reach the capillary length of liquid, e.

Increase in IAA levels by EPSPS copy number variation relates to fitness advantage in Eleusine indica.

Background: Long-term use of chemical weed control has led to some weedy species evolving herbicide resistance traits with fitness advantage. Our previous studies revealed glyphosate resistance in an Eleusine indica population due to copy number variation of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) comes with fitness advantage under non-competitive conditions. Here, transcriptomics and targeted metabolomics were used to investigate physiological basis associated with the fitness advantage.

Phosphorus starvation induces the synthesis of novel lipid class diacylglyceryl glucuronide and diacylglyceryl-N,N,N-trimethylhomoserine in two species of cold-adapted microalgae Raphidonema (Chlorophyta).

Microalgae possess diverse lipid classes as components of structural membranes and have adopted various lipid remodeling strategies involving phospholipids to cope with a phosphorus (P)-limited environment. Here, we report a unique adaptative strategy to P deficient conditions in two cold-adapted microalgae, Raphidonema monicae and Raphidonema nivale, involving the lipid class diacylglyceryl glucuronide (DGGA) and the betaine lipid diacylglyceryl-N,N,N-trimethylhomoserine. Lipidomic analyses showed that these two lipid classes were present only in trace amounts in nutrient replete conditions, whereas they significantly increased under P-starvation concomitant with a reduction in phospholipids, suggesting a physiological significance of these lipid classes to combat P-starvation.

Pathogenicity and phylogeny of Labyrinthula spp. isolated in Washington and Oregon, USA.

The class Labyrinthulomycetes constitutes a multitude of species found ubiquitously in the environment, and includes pathogens of corals, hard clams, turfgrasses, and seagrasses. Labyrinthula zosterae, the causative agent of seagrass wasting disease, has been associated with declines in seagrass coverage since the 1930s. However, pathogenic and nonpathogenic Labyrinthula spp.

Formulation optimization and characterization of biodegradable containers incorporated with orange peel powder and tamarind seed powder.

Unlabelled: A huge amount of fruits and vegetables is being produced and processed in India and therefore the waste is also generated in high quantities. These wastes are good sources of vitamins, enzymes, cellulose, and many other essential compounds. The non-utilization of these bio-wastes leads to economic loss and also environmental problems.

Modification of Non-photochemical Quenching Pathways in the C Model Plant Revealed Shared and Unique Photoprotection Mechanisms as Compared to C Plants.

Light is essential for photosynthesis; however, excess light can increase the accumulation of photoinhibitory reactive oxygen species that reduce photosynthetic efficiency. Plants have evolved photoprotective non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) pathways to dissipate excess light energy. In tobacco and soybean (C plants), overexpression of three NPQ genes, e (VDE), (PsbS), and (ZEP), hereafter VPZ, resulted in faster NPQ induction and relaxation kinetics, and increased crop yields in field conditions.

Environmental impacts of restructuring the EU's natural gas supply and consumption: Learnings from the 2022 energy crisis.

In 2022, the European Union put forward the REPowerEU plan in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, aiming at enhancing short-term energy security by diversifying imports and reducing natural gas demand while accelerating the deployment of renewable alternatives in the long term. Here, we quantify the life cycle environmental impacts of both REPowerEU's short-term measures, including the controversial extended coal-fired power plant operations, and how the first year of the crisis was managed in practice. We find that the policy measures' impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would be negligible, although they could have detrimental effects on other environmental categories.

Microbial biopesticides: A one health perspective on benefits and risks.

Controlling insect pests that destroy crop and spread diseases will become increasingly crucial for addressing the food demands of a growing global population and the expansion of vector-borne diseases. A key challenge is the development of a balanced approach for sustainable food production and disease control in 2050 and beyond. Microbial biopesticides, derived from bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or nematodes, offer potentially significant benefits for promoting One Health and contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Quaternary Radiation of Spring Ephemerals.

The emergence of East Asian spring ephemerals and the unique ecosystem can be attributed primarily to vicariance, brought about by the Quaternary rifting of the Okinawa Trough, the formation of the East China Sea, and the isolation of the island chains of Ryukyu, Japan, and Taiwan from the Asian continent. The northern forests of Japan, dominated by and the associated , present a captivating display of spring-flowering ephemerals, including , , , and . Among these, is also considered part of the spring ephemerals.

Chromosome Numbers and Reproductive Life Cycles in Green Plants: A Phylotranscriptomic Perspective.

The strong correlation between reproductive life cycle type and chromosome numbers in green plants has been a long-standing mystery in evolutionary biology. Within green plants, the derived condition of heterosporous reproduction has emerged from the ancestral condition of homospory in disparate locations on the phylogenetic tree at least 11 times, of which three lineages are extant. In all green plant lineages where heterospory has emerged, there has been a significant downsizing in chromosome numbers.

Spatial-Temporal Variation of Grain Magnesium, Calcium and Their Response to Phosphorus Nutrition in Sweet Corn.

Sweet corn ( L. ) is gaining global popularity as a staple crop and a vegetable due to its high nutritional value. However, information on grain magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) status and their response to phosphorus (P) fertilization in sweet corn is still insufficient.

Development of a High-Throughput qPCR Assay for Detecting Waterborne Protozoa and Helminths Across Different Environmental Media in China.

Introduction: The establishment of a high-throughput quantification approach for waterborne pathogenic protozoa and helminths is crucial for rapid screening and health risk assessment.

Methods: We developed a high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR) assay targeting 19 waterborne protozoa and 3 waterborne helminths and validated its sensitivity, specificity, and repeatability. The assay was then applied to test various environmental media samples.

Exploring the potential of fruit in RTS beverage: a comprehensive study on preparation and stability.

Unlabelled: The potential of (), an underutilized plant rich in medicinal and nutritional value, for producing ready-to-serve (RTS) beverages was explored. The research investigated commercial processing techniques for extracting fruit juice and the impact of stabilizers such as pectin (low and high), xanthan gum, and sodium alginate on beverage quality. Sodium alginate, chosen for its sedimentation rate and sensory acceptability, was further optimized in RTS formulations.

The biological function of and its application in animal husbandry: a review.

, is a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family which is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It is often used for dehumidification, antiemetics, spleen strengthening and antipyretic effects. is rich in various bio-active substances and has many biological functions, for instance anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral effects.

Novel multipotent conjugate bearing tacrine and donepezil motifs with dual cholinergic inhibition and neuroprotective properties targeting Alzheimer's disease.

In this work, we developed potential multifunctional agents to combat Alzheimer's disease. According to our strategy, fragments of tacrine and donepezil were merged in a unique hybrid structure. After successfully synthesizing the compounds, they were evaluated for their dual AChE/BuChE inhibitor potential and neuroprotector response using a glutamate-induced excitotoxicity model.

Plant growth promotion via priming with volatile organic compounds emitted from strain EXTN-1.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role in plant interactions. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are not well understood. Our findings show that the influence of VOCs from the PGPR strain (EXTN-1) on tobacco plant growth is dependent on the culture media used.

Structural characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the chloroplast genome of var. balansae (gagnep.) N. Jacobsen 1991.

is a popular ornamental aquatic plant for aquarists, although only six species are found in China. Destruction of the natural habitats of for human activities has led to a decline in its numbers. In this report, we sequenced and annotated the chloroplast genome for the first time.

A vacuolar invertase gene modulates sugar metabolism and postharvest fruit quality and stress resistance in tomato.

Sugars act as signaling molecules to modulate various growth processes and enhance plant tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Moreover, sugars contribute to the postharvest flavor in fleshy fruit crops. To date, the regulation of sugar metabolism and its effect in plant growth, fruit ripening, postharvest quality, and stress resistance remains not fully understood.

Rapid introgression of the clubroot resistance gene into cabbage skeleton inbred lines through marker assisted selection.

Unlabelled: Clubroot, caused by , is a globally pervasive soil-borne disease that poses a significant challenge primarily in cruciferous crops. However, the scarcity of resistant materials and the intricate genetic mechanisms within cabbage present major obstacles to clubroot resistance (CR) breeding. In our previous research, we developed an Ogura CMS cabbage variety, "17CR3", which harbors the gene, crucial for CR.

An Investigation into the Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Tetrazole Derivatives for Application as Mild Steel Corrosion Inhibitors in a Solution of Hydrochloric Acid.

The objective of the study was to synthesize tetrazole molecules featuring nitro groups positioned at the para and meta locations. We aimed to assess their effectiveness in inhibiting corrosion of mild steel in a 1 M HCl solution at 298 K. Tetrazoles with 2,5-disubstitution were created using [3 + 2] cycloaddition and N-alkylation techniques, with a particular emphasis on synthesizing molecules that contain nitro groups.

Novel D-Ribofuranosyl Tetrazoles: Synthesis, Characterization, In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity, and Computational Studies.

The goal of this study was to synthesize and evaluate new antimicrobial compounds. We specifically focused on the development of 2,5-disubstituted tetrazole derivatives containing the O-methyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-(D)-ribofuranoside groups through N-alkylation reactions. The synthesized compounds were characterized using H and C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Can Spp. Contribute to the Bioremediation and Biostimulation of Plants in Soil Contaminated with Herbicides?

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of spp. in the bioremediation of herbicides and biostimulation of plants in herbicide-contaminated soils. In the first phase, the experiment followed a completely randomized design in a 4 × 3 × 4 factorial scheme with five replications, four strains of spp.

UPLC-MS metabolite profiling and antioxidant activity of extract.

Background: The objective of the present study is to examine the total phenolic and flavonoid content of an ethanol extract of and to evaluate its phytochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and capacity to protect DNA from damage. This pharmaceutical/food resource mushroom may serve as a novel substitute functional food for health-conscious consumers, given its promising source of phenolics and flavonoids.

Methods: ethanol extract (SEE) was evaluated for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, while UPLC-MS analysis was used for terpenoids, phenylpropanoid, flavonoids, steroidal, phenols identification, and function prediction.

elevated concentrations of soil-bound heavy metals and magnetic particles in a typical urban plateau lake wetland, China.

Vegetation change significantly altered the hydrological processes and soil erosion within riparian ecosystems. It is unclear how change in managed vegetation types affect the geochemical behavior of heavy metals (HMs) and magnetic particles in karst riparian areas. Two soil depths of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm were taken in alien species (), native species and in a typical urban plateau Lake wetland, Caohai lake, China.