High-throughput phenotyping of wheat root angle and coleoptile length at different temperatures using 3D-printed equipment.

Background: Innovation in crop establishment is crucial for wheat productivity in drought-prone climates. Seedling establishment, the first stage of crop productivity, relies heavily on root and coleoptile system architecture for effective soil water and nutrient acquisition, particularly in regions practicing deep planting. Root phenotyping methods that quickly determine coleoptile lengths are vital for breeding studies.

The genus Nocardia as a source of new antimicrobials.

The genus Nocardia comprises over 130 species of soil-dwelling actinomycetes, many of which are opportunistic pathogens. Beyond their pathogenicity, Nocardia exhibits significant biosynthetic potential, producing an array of diverse antimicrobial secondary metabolites. This review highlights notable examples of these compounds and explores modern approaches to unlocking their untapped biosynthetic potential.

Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination from Large-scale Swine-Farming Wastewater in Sichuan Province, China: Removal Efficiency, Spatial Distribution and Risk Assessment.

The widespread application of swine-farming wastewater to soil and water is increasingly contributing to heavy metal contamination, posing significant environmental risks. This study investigated the concentrations of eight heavy metals in swine-farming wastewater following different treatment processes, and assessed their ecological risks in Sichuan Province, China. The findings revealed that zinc, copper and nickel exhibited the highest concentrations, potentially causing heavy or strong contamination levels and leading to heavy or slight ecological risks.

Foliar application of nano biochar solution elevates tomato productivity by counteracting the effect of salt stress insights into morphological physiological and biochemical indices.

Nano-biochar considers a versatile and valuable sorbent to enhance plant productivity by improving soil environment and emerged as a novel solution for environmental remediation and sustainable agriculture in modern era. In this study, roles of foliar applied nanobiochar colloidal solution (NBS) on salt stressed tomato plants were investigated. For this purpose, NBS was applied (0%, 1% 3% and 5%) on two groups of plants (control 0 mM and salt stress 60 mM).

Investigation into the PSD characteristics of internally unstable soils susceptible to suffosion.

Internal instability of embankment soils under seepage can occur in two distinct ways: suffusion and suffosion. Suffusion involves the removal of fine particles from the matrix without causing significant disturbance to the soil skeleton, while suffosion is characterized by the movement of fine particles accompanied by skeleton collapse or deformation. In terms of dam safety, suffosion poses a greater threat than suffusion.

Plant root carbon inputs drive methane production in tropical peatlands.

Tropical peatlands are carbon-dense ecosystems that are significant sources of atmospheric methane (CH). Recent work has demonstrated the importance of trees as an emission pathway for CH from the peat to the atmosphere. However, there remain questions over the processes of CH production in these systems and how they relate to substrate supply.

Non-native PGPB consortium consisting of Pseudomonas sp. G31 and Azotobacter sp. PBC2 promoted winter wheat growth and slightly altered the native bacterial community.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are considered an effective eco-friendly biostimulator. However, relatively few studies have examined how PGPB affect the native bacterial community of major crops. Thus, this study investigates the impact of a PGPB consortium, comprising Pseudomonas sp.

Rubber intercropping with arboreal and herbaceous species alleviated the global warming potential through the reduction of soil greenhouse gas emissions.

Agroforestry systems are known to enhance soil health and climate resilience, but their impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in rubber-based agroforestry systems across diverse configurations is not fully understood. Here, six representative rubber-based agroforestry systems (encompassing rubber trees intercropped with arboreal, shrub, and herbaceous species) were selected based on a preliminary investigation, including Hevea brasiliensis intercropping with Alpinia oxyphylla (AOM), Alpinia katsumadai (AKH), Coffea arabica (CAA), Theobroma cacao (TCA), Cinnamomum cassia (CCA), and Pandanus amaryllifolius (PAR), and a rubber monoculture as control (RM). Soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and GHG emission characteristics were determined at 0-20 cm soil depth.

Effects of different water and fertilizer treatments on the matrix properties and plant growth of tailings waste.

Vegetation ecological restoration technology is widely regarded as an environmentally sustainable and green technology for the remediation of mineral waste. The appropriate ratio of amendments can improve the substrate environment for plant growth and increase the efficiency of ecological restoration. Herbs and shrubs are preferred for vegetation restoration in abandoned mines because of their rapid establishment and easy management.

Diversity and composition of vegetation and soil seed banks after sand dune restoration by oil mulching and plantations.

Soil seed bank (SSB) is valuable reserves of seeds hidden in the soil and are especially important for the preservation and establishment of vegetation under adverse environmental conditions. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effects of restoration measures on SSB, especially in arid ecosystems. Here, we assess the impacts of oil mulching (1 and 3 years after mulching) and plantations (15-year-old) on the diversity and composition of SSB and aboveground vegetation (AGV) in comparison with those in non-restored areas (i.

Constructed wetland - microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) mediated bio-electrodegradation of azo dyes from textile wastewater.

Azo dyes constitute 60-70% of commercially used dyes and are complex, carcinogenic, and mutagenic pollutants that negatively impact soil composition, water bodies, flora, and fauna. Conventional azo dye degradation techniques have drawbacks such as high production and maintenance costs, use of hazardous chemicals, membrane clogging, and sludge generation. Constructed Wetland-Microbial Fuel Cells (CW-MFCs) offer a promising sustainable approach for the bio-electrodegradation of azo dyes from textile wastewater.

First evidence of human infection by the kinetoplastid flagellate Dimastigella trypaniformis in a patient with urinary tract infection.

We present a case of an 88-year-old man with symptoms consistent with a urinary tract infection, whose diagnostic workup uncovered a previously unrecognized motile flagellated protozoan. Molecular identification confirmed the organism as Dimastigella trypaniformis, a free-living kinetoplastid from the Rhynchomonadidae family. Known only from soil samples in Scotland and termite gut contents in Australia and Germany, Dimastigella trypaniformis has not been previously reported to infect vertebrate hosts.

Lead/cadmium impacts on zeolite-tobermorite: Nutrient release and sediment stability.

To realize the comprehensive utilization of large amounts of high-ash coal slime and comprehensively understand the excellent performance of nutrient release and lead and cadmium adsorption of high-ash coal slime silicon composite materials, green and safe mild hydrothermal conditions (200 °C) were used to prepare the rich-rich coal slime. Zeolite/tobermorite composites (Z-TOBs) were used in this study. Batch adsorption tests and repeated extraction tests were used to determine whether silicon, potassium, and calcium nutrients of Z-TOBs have sustained release properties and are affected by pH.

Green solutions for treating groundwater polluted with nitrates, pesticides, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes for drinking water production.

The present study evaluates for the first time the seasonal performance of an innovative green groundwater treatment. The pilot plant combines microalgae-bacteria treatment and a cork-wood biofilter to reduce nitrates, pesticides, antibiotics (ABs), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from groundwater. Groundwater had nitrate concentrations ranging from 220 to 410 mg/L, while ABs (sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones) and pesticides (triazines) were detected at concentrations ranging from a few ng/L to 150 ng/L.

Boron-dependent autoinducer-2-mediated quorum sensing stimulates the Cr(VI) reduction of Leucobacter chromiireducens CD49.

Traditionally, abiotic factors such as pH, temperature, and initial Cr(VI) concentration have been undoubtedly recognized as the external driving forces that dramatically affect the microbial-mediated remediation of Cr(VI) pollutants. However, concentrating on whether and how the biological behaviors and metabolic activities drive the microbial-mediated Cr(VI) detoxification is a study-worthy but little-known issue. In this study, Leucobacter chromiireducens CD49 isolated from heavy-metal-contaminated soil was identified to tolerate 8000.

Improving the understanding of rainfall-runoff processes: Temporal dynamic of event runoff response in Loess Plateau, China.

Enhancing the understanding of the rainfall-runoff temporal dynamics in semi-arid and semi-humid regions is crucial for flood disaster mitigation. Loess Plateau is a unique environment within semi-arid and semi-humid regions, characterized by its deep loess soil, prevalent short-duration intense rainfall, and changes in underlying surface conditions. In this research, 25 catchments from the Loess Plateau were chosen to examine the temporal variations in event runoff responses across different time scales.

Mitigation of microfibers in laundry effluent: Investigation of luffa fibers as an eco-friendly filtration system.

Domestic laundry wastewater is a major contributor to microfiber emissions in the aquatic environment. Among several mitigation measures, the use of external filters to capture microfibers from wastewater is one of the most efficient and commercially viable methods. This study attempted to develop an eco-friendly filtration medium to filter microfibers in laundry wastewater using luffa cylindrica fibers.

Analytical study for two-dimensional transport of organic contaminant in a polymer material-enhanced composite cutoff wall system.

Polymer material (PM) is a novel vertical barrier material, demonstrated to be effective in impeding pollutants. However, the associated transport research is limited. This study aims to develop an analytical solution for two-dimensional transport of organic contaminant in the PM-enhanced composite cutoff wall (CCW) system, where the variable substitution and Fourier transform methods are used.

Synergistic effects of allantoin and Achyranthes japonica-biochar profoundly alleviate lead toxicity during barley growth.

Lead (Pb), a toxic metal, causes severe health hazards to both humans and plants due to environmental pollution. Biochar addition has been efficiently utilized to enhance growth of plants as well as yield in the presence of Pb-induced stress. The present research introduces a novel use of biochar obtained from the weed Achyranthes japonica to enhance the growth of plants in Pb-contaminated soil.

In situ remediation of oil-contaminated soils by ozonation: Experimental study and numerical modeling.

The goal of the present work is to quantify the performance of ozonation as a method for the in situ remediation of soils polluted at varying degree with different types of hydrocarbons, and assess its applicability, in terms of remediation efficiency, cost factors, and environmental impacts. Ozonation tests are conducted on dry soil beds, for three specific cases: sandy soil contaminated with low, moderate and high concentration of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) consisting of equal concentrations of n-decane, n-dodecane, and n-hexadecane; sandy soil polluted with diesel fuel; oil-drilling cuttings (ODC). The transient changes of the concentration of the total organic carbon (TOC), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) in soil and carbon dioxide (CO), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ozone (O) in exhaust gases are recorded.

A systematic study on composition and antioxidant of 6 varieties of highbush blueberries by 3 soil matrixes in China.

Blueberries are the most popular small berries, in order to solve the problem of unbalanced blueberry resources in different regions of China. In this study, 18 blueberries were analyzed by chromatography and mass spectrometry for 9 soil elements, 6 anthocyanins, 7 phenolic acids, 9 organic acids, and 12 flavonoids. The result showed that blueberry physico-chemical indicators were significantly variable across production regions by Wenn and volcano maps, chlorogenic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, catechin were the main antioxidant active components, soil pH was significantly correlated with low content of anthocyanins and organic acids, soil elements were not significantly correlated with fruits antioxidant activity by the network correlation analysis.

Bacterial and fungal diversity and species interactions inversely affect ecosystem functions under drought in a semi-arid grassland.

Extreme climatic events, such as drought, can significantly alter belowground microbial diversity and species interactions, leading to unknown consequences for ecosystem functioning. Here, we simulated a drought gradient by removing 30 %, 50 %, and 70 % of precipitation in a semi-arid grassland over five years. We assessed the effects of drought on bacterial and fungal diversity, as well as on their species interactions.

Impact and evaluation of potential implications of coastal plains on soil greenhouse gas emissions: Insights from the Sibari Coastal Plain (Calabria, Southern Italy).

The work aims to estimate natural greenhouse gas emissions from soils in the Sibari Coastal Plain (Southern Italy), to understand (i) the contribution in terms of the total amount of CO and CH emitted in non-volcanic areas, (ii) the relationship among emitted gas, land use, organic matter and tectonic structures, and (iii) their potential environmental implications. Data were elaborated with statistical and geostatistical methods to separate the different populations and obtain prediction and probability maps. Methane fluxes had values consistently below the detection limit (0.

The combination of hyperspectral imaging, untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics highlights a coordinated stress-related biochemical reprogramming triggered by polyethylene nanoparticles in lettuce.

Polyethylene nanoplastics (NPs) are widely diffused in terrestrial environments, including soil ecosystems, but the stress mechanisms in plants are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two increasing concentrations of NPs (20 and 200 mg kg of soil) in lettuce. To this aim, high-throughput hyperspectral imaging was combined with metabolomics, covering both primary (using NMR) and secondary metabolism (using LC-HRMS), along with lipidomics profiling (using ion-mobility-LC-HRMS) and plant performance.

Decoupled responses of soil microbial diversity and ecosystem functions to successive degeneration processes in alpine pioneer community.

Many alpine ecosystems are undergoing vegetation degradation because of global changes, which are affecting ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. The ecological consequences of alpine pioneer community degradation have been less studied than glacial retreat or meadow degradation in alpine ecosystems. We document the comprehensive responses of microbial community characteristics to degradation processes using field-based sampling, conduct soil microcosm experiments to simulate the effects of global change on microorganisms, and explore their relationships to ecosystem functioning across stages of alpine pioneer community degradation.