Ecoregions Research Articles

Ecological Security Patterns Research Based on Ecosystem Services and Circuit Theory in Southwest China

The rapid economic development in the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle (CCEC) has exerted significant pressure on the ecological environment of the Sichuan–Chongqing Region in China. Balancing ecological protection and economic development has become an imperative challenge that needs to be addressed. In this study, we employed land use/cover data and environmental threat factors to construct Ecological Security Patterns (ESPs) for the CCEC using the InVEST model and Circuit Theory. The research findings revealed the following key outcomes: (1) The total area of suitable habitat in the CCEC was 208,728.3 km2, accounting for 87.14% of the study area. Habitat quality exhibited regional variations, with higher quality habitats predominantly found in the western and northeastern parts, and lower quality habitats in the central region. (2) The CCEC consisted of areas with low, medium, high, and optimal habitat quality, spanning 140,912.18 km2, 15,341.89 km2, 15,578.38 km2, and 36,895.85 km2, respectively. These areas accounted for 58.83%, 6.40%, 6.50%, and 15.40% of the study area, respectively. (3) The ESPs in the CCEC encompassed 22 ecological nodes, 36 clusters of ecological corridors, and 136 ecological sources. Ecological corridors served as radial connections, linking each ecological node and ecological source along mountain ranges, forested areas, river networks, and valleys. (4) The core ecological regions forming the ESPs of the CCEC included the Qionglai–Minshan–Longquan Mountains in the west, Tiefeng–Fangdou–Qiyue–Wushan Mountains in the east and northeast, and Dalou Mountain in the southeast. These regional-scale findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to implement targeted measures for ecological protection and promote green development. They offer objective guidance and constraints for managing urban expansion and anthropogenic activities, ultimately enhancing the ecological security level of the CCEC.

Re-establishment of Aechmea laxiflora (Bromeliaceae, Bromelioideae) based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, with notes on its geographical distribution

Background: Previous phylogenetic analyses suggested that Aechmea bracteata is not a monophyletic species, being each variety an individual lineage within the Aechmea bracteata complex.
 Hypothesis: A phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data and a morphological analysis will provide evidence to support the taxonomic recognition of A. bracteata var. pacifica as a distinct species.
 Studies species: A. bracteata var. bracteata, A. bracteata var. pacifica and related species.
 Study site and dates: Mexico to Northern South America; 17 populations from Southeastern and Western Mexico. Analyses were performed between 2021 and 2023.
 Methods: A linear morphometric analysis was conducted with 85 herbarium specimens testing 28 quantitative and three qualitative variables. Potential diagnostic traits were reviewed in living specimens. A phylogenetic analysis was performed with two nDNA markers (ETS and g3pdh) and one cpDNA marker (trnL-F). A total of 373 records were projected into biogeographical provinces of the Neotropics.
 Results: The morphometric analysis allowed to separate each variety into a group, also, nine of the evaluated traits resulted statistically significant through a univariate analysis. Five additional diagnostic traits from the inflorescence and leaves were recognized. According to nDNA both taxa present reciprocal monophyly, however, cpDNA groups A. bracteata var. pacifica with Central American species, showcasing a potential hybrid origin. Geographically, the Sierra Madre del Sur acts as a barrier between both taxa.
 Conclusions: Due to the gathered evidence is possible to recognize A. bracteata var. pacifica as an endemic species to Mexico, reestablishing the basionym A. laxiflora.

Phylogenomics of Tetraopes longhorn beetles unravels their evolutionary history and biogeographic origins

Tetraopes longhorn beetles are known for their resistance to milkweed plant toxins and their coevolutionary dynamics with milkweed plants (Asclepias). This association is considered a textbook example of coevolution, in which each species of Tetraopes is specialized to feed on one or a few species of Asclepias. A major challenge to investigating coevolutionary hypotheses and conducting molecular ecology studies lies in the limited understanding of the evolutionary history and biogeographical patterns of Tetraopes. By integrating genomic, morphological, paleontological, and geographical data, we present a robust phylogeny of Tetraopes and their relatives, using three inference methods with varying subsets of data, encompassing 2–12 thousand UCE loci. We elucidate the diversification patterns of Tetraopes species across major biogeographical regions and their colonization of the American continent. Our findings suggest that the genus originated in Central America approximately 21 million years ago during the Miocene and diversified from the Mid-Miocene to the Pleistocene. These events coincided with intense geological activity in Central America. Additionally, independent colonization events in North America occurred from the Late Miocene to the early Pleistocene, potentially contributing to the early diversification of the group. Our data suggest that a common ancestor of Tetraopini migrated into North America, likely facilitated by North Atlantic land bridges, while closely related tribes diverged in Asia and Europe during the Paleocene. Establishing a robust and densely sampled phylogeny of Tetraopes beetles provides a foundation for investigating micro- and macroevolutionary phenomena, including clinal variation, coevolution, and detoxification mechanisms in this ecologically important group.

Dynamic risk evaluation of supersaturated dissolved gas at a confluence with unsteady flow conditions

The confluence of two rivers gives rise to a distinctive hydrodynamic structure where numerous nutrients can be accumulated, making the confluence area a pivotal biological habitat. The threat of supersaturated dissolved gas in upstream water caused by dam discharging is indispensable for the confluence areas. Therefore, it is imperative to study and assess the risks faced by fish in these areas, particularly when the merging of main and tributary streams leads to varying degrees of supersaturation and non-uniform distribution of dissolved gases. The spatial and temporal distribution of supersaturated dissolved gas at the natural confluence in the Yangtze River utilizing continuous prototype monitoring and unsteady flow numerical simulation was investigated, and a dynamic evaluation method that classifies risk into three levels (high, medium, low) was proposed. The confluence area exhibited evident non-uniform distribution characteristics, wherein the primary factors influencing this distribution were identified as the dissolved gas saturation of inlet flow, and flow ratio. The presence of non-continuous discharge intensity resulted in an increase in medium-risk areas within the river, thereby mitigating the risk to fish from the supersaturation of the discharge. A velocity barrier was formed at the confluence, with the velocity range being 1.8 ∼ 3.4 m/s, exceeding the fish’s burst speed of 1.7 m/s. Because of the barrier, there was no direct access to the low-saturation areas, and potential avoidance routes are primarily located in the medium-risk zones downstream. The paper offers a useful method to assess risk distribution in critical ecological regions characterized by non-constant characteristics. Additionally, it recommends dam discharging strategies to expand the scope of fish risk avoidance.

Geographic differences in body size distributions underlie food web connectance of tropical forest mammals

Understanding variation in food web structure over large spatial scales is an emerging research agenda in food web ecology. The density of predator–prey links in a food web (i.e., connectance) is a key measure of network complexity that describes the mean proportional dietary breadth of species within a food web. Connectance is a critical component of food web robustness to species loss: food webs with lower connectance have been shown to be more susceptible to secondary extinctions. Identifying geographic variation in food web connectance and its drivers may provide insight into community robustness to species loss. We investigated the food web connectance of ground-dwelling tropical forest mammal communities in multiple biogeographic regions to test for differences among regions in food web connectance and to test three potential drivers: primary productivity, contemporary anthropogenic pressure, and variation in mammal body mass distributions reflective of historical extinctions. Mammal communities from fifteen protected forests throughout the Neo-, Afro-, and Asian tropics were identified from systematic camera trap arrays. Predator–prey interaction data were collected from published literature, and we calculated connectance for each community as the number of observed predator–prey links relative to the number of possible predator–prey links. We used generalized linear models to test for differences among regions and to identify the site level characteristics that best predicted connectance. We found that mammal food web connectance varied significantly among continents and that body size range was the only significant predictor. More possible predator–prey links were observed in communities with smaller ranges in body size and therefore sites with smaller body size ranges had higher mean proportional dietary breadth. Specifically, mammal communities in the Neotropics and in Madagascar had significantly higher connectance than mammal communities in Africa. This geographic variation in contemporary mammalian food web structure may be the product of historical extinctions in the Late Quaternary, which led to greater losses of large-bodied species in the Neotropics and Madagascar thus contributing to higher average proportional dietary breadth among the remaining smaller bodied species in these regions.

Dataset of stable isotopes of precipitation in the Eurasian continent

Abstract. Stable isotopes in precipitation can effectively reveal the process of atmospheric water circulation, serving as an effective tool for hydrological and water resource research, climate change, and ecosystem studies. The scarcity of stable isotope data in precipitation has hindered comprehension of the regional hydrology, climate, and ecology due to discontinuities on a temporal scale and unevenness on a spatial scale. To this end, we collated stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope data in precipitation from 842 stations in Eurasia from 1961 to 2022, totalling 51 752 data records. Stable isotopes in precipitation across various regions of Eurasia, as a whole, decrease with increasing latitude and distance from the coast. In the summer, stable isotopes in precipitation are relatively enriched, while in the winter, they are relatively depleted. In recent decades, the stable isotope values of Eurasian precipitation show an overall trend of increasing variation with the advancement of years, which is associated with global warming. Geographical location, underlying surface conditions, seasons, and atmospheric circulation are all factors that determine the characteristics of stable isotopes in precipitation. The dataset of stable isotopes in Eurasian precipitation provides a powerful tool for understanding changes in regional atmospheric water circulation and assists in conducting hydrological, meteorological, and ecological studies in related regions. The datasets are available at https://doi.org/10.17632/rbn35yrbd2.2 (Zhu, 2024).

Balkan Neanderthals: The Late Pleistocene palaeoecological sequence of Pešturina Cave (Niš, Serbia)

The Central Balkans are a key biogeographical region in Southern Europe, influenced by a central European-Mediterranean climate, which acted as a refugium for flora and fauna, and favored the dispersion of Neanderthals and migration of modern human populations during Late Glacial Period. This study presents pollen analyses of sediment and hyaena coprolites from Pešturina Cave in Serbia to reconstruct the vegetation landscapes faced by Balkan Neanderthals and early Anatomically Modern Humans between MIS 5e-3. Between MIS 5e-5c (archaeological layers 4c and 4b) and MIS 5b-5a (layer 4a), semi-forested environments prevailed, characterized by Pinus, deciduous Quercus, Tilia and other angiosperm woody taxa, accompanied by heliophytes such as Artemisia and Poaceae. During MIS 4-3 (layers 3-2), the vegetation was dominated by Artemisia-Poaceae steppes with Quercus patches, conifers and legumes. Overall across the sequence, pollen assemblages are highly diverse and include a number of deciduous trees and sclerophylls. In addition, the occurrence of several herbaceous taxa reinforces the view that the Balkans were outstanding for endemicity. Neanderthals and early Upper Palaeolithic hominins lived in a highly diverse refugium, offering multiple opportunities for survival during the warm interstadials and, more critically, the cold stadials of the Pleistocene.

Use of remittance and Coronavirus pandemic in Nepal

Remittance based economy of Nepal has been badly affected by the Corona virus pandemic. In this study, we analyze the household and social level use of remittance by the remittance recipient households before and after the pandemic. We adopted cross-sectional study design to collect data from 777 randomly selected respondents residing in Chautara Sngachwokgadhi (Mountain region), Galkot(Hill) and Mithila (Tarai) municipalities in Nepal. We used a reliable questionnaire tool having 0.8 cronbachalpha, and we visited the respondents from 6th June- 18th October 2022. The study found that the remittance recipient households have good access to households, educational, financial and health facilities. A significant amount of remittance also has been used to donate to the youth club, medical treatment seeker, school/college and community level (public moral hazard) after the Coronavirus pandemic. Remittance and agriculture were the major source of family income in each ecological region. However, remittance has failed to increase agriculture production and distributions (domestic household hazard) and also failed to increase entrepreneurship development in the local levels. This study can be a reference for developing evidence-based policies for minimizing public moral hazard and domestic household hazards caused by remittance in developing countries like Nepal.

Climate change policy instruments in agriculture sector: From policy to adaptation practice at local level in Nepal

The current study explores synergies between climate change policy instruments and agriculture sector, reviews identified gaps and understands the translation of policy instruments at local level in five sample municipalities of three ecological regions. Understanding the adaptation actions and knowledge on implementation practices at household level is as the objective of this study. It adopted qualitative research approach using both primary (KII, FGD and household survey) and secondary data (review of existing policy documents) based on qualitative document analysis, (QDA). The study found that, policy and programs formulation at national and sub-national level in different period, are designed within the same setting from national to local level but there is divergence in programs formulation and implementation methods. Capacity and understanding of policy instruments has resulted different policy output which implicate farmers’ response to implementation practices. It is found that municipal authorities are implementing climate friendly agriculture programs without explicitly declaring climate action. The farmers are practicing autonomous adaption in agriculture with limited understanding and technical knowledge of long term climate change effect on farming. This has resulted maladaptive practices, which has contested planned climate change adaptation plan and programs. It devaluates the effort and resources spent by national and international institutions on CC policy instrument formulation and implementation. The need of field based demonstrative understanding and awareness campaigns for smallholder farmers is anticipated. It concludes that, flexibility of policy instruments through regular improvements and modification aids context-specific localization provide custom solutions. The custom solution match the traditional and existing adaptation practices assuring ownership at ground level.

Specific vaginal and gut microbiome and the anti-tumor effect of butyrate in cervical cancer women

ObjectiveTo investigate the vaginal and gut microbes changes during the carcinogenesis of cervical and the auxiliary diagnostic value. To investigate the effect of microbiome-specific metabolites butyric on cervical cancer cells. MethodsWe studied 416 vaginal 16S rRNA sequencing data and 116 gut sequencing data. Reads were processed using VSEARCH. We used Shannon index, Chao1 index, Simpson diversity index, β diversity index, Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe), co-abundance network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis to explore microbiome differences between groups. We constructed random forest models based on genus and verified its discriminant effect. Finally, we used the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method to detect cell proliferation capacity and flow cytometry to detect apoptosis and induction of cell cycle progression. ResultsCompared to the non-cancerous population, patients with cervical cancer had unique microbial community characteristics in both vaginal and gut ecological niches. Our predictive model based on genus in two ecological regions achieved high accuracy in the diagnosis of cervical cancer (vaginal model AUC=91.58 %; gut model AUC=99.95 %). Butyric inhibited cervical cancer cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and promoted apoptosis of cancer cells. ConclusionSignificant differences were found in vaginal and gut microbes in patients with cervical cancer compared to the non-cancerous population. The prediction models constructed at the genus level in both ecological sites have good diagnostic value. Microorganisms may be involved in cervical cancer progression in a metabolite-dependent way, and targeting butyric may provide therapeutic options for cervical cancer.

Yield Gap Analysis of Super High-Yielding Rice (>15 t ha−1) in Two Ecological Regions

Super high-yielding rice (SHYR) (>15 t ha−1) plays a crucial role in global food production and security. We hypothesized that the external environment of different ecological regions could improve biomass accumulation in different periods and thus increase the rice yield. Two SHYR varieties, i.e., Xiangliangyou900 (XLY900) and Yliangyou900 (YLY900), were cultivated in the YONGSHENG and LONGHUI ecoregions, China. The results indicated that the average yield of the two SHYRs in the LONGHUI ecological region was 15.27–15.45 t ha−1 and 18.81–20.10 t ha−1 in YONGSHENG. The high grain yield in the YONGSHENG ecoregion was mainly due to the increased number of spikelets per panicle, crop growth rate, and total biomass during the transplanting–heading stage (TP-HS) and heading–maturity stage (HS-MS), and harvest index. The yield of SHYR was significantly correlated with external environment conditions, i.e., average minimum temperature, average daytime, and night-time temperature, and average daily temperature at the TP-HS, HS-MS, and transplanting–maturity (TP-MS) stages. The rice yield was significantly and positively correlated with the cumulative daily radiation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the final yield of super high-yield rice is closely related to the utilization of temperature and radiation resources during the growth process in the ecological environment.

Evolutionary causes of global patterns of species richness in regional fern floras across the world

AbstractAimGlobally, biodiversity is unevenly distributed, as a result of varying environmental conditions and regionally different historical processes. The influence of the latter on current diversity patterns is poorly understood. We explore geographic patterns of matches and mismatches between phylogenetic relatedness metrics measuring different depths of evolutionary history and investigate the effects of evolutionary legacy at different evolutionary depths on species density of ferns.MethodsWe divided the globe into 392 geographic regions on land, and collated species lists of ferns for each geographic region. We related species richness to phylogenetic metrics reflecting different depths of evolutionary history (standardized effect sizes of mean nearest taxon distance and mean pairwise distance, MNTDses and MPDses, respectively) for ferns in regional floras across the world.LocationGlobal.Time PeriodCurrent.TaxonFerns.ResultsWe show that different centers of fern diversity have strikingly different phylogenetic composition. We find that overall fern species diversity is negatively correlated with both MNTDses and MPDses, so that regions with high species diversity tend to have clustered species assemblages, whereas species‐poor regions tend to have overdispersed species assemblages. At the global extent, MNTDses and MPDses together explained 62.2%, 19.3%, and 65.7% of the variation in species diversity for all ferns as a whole, non‐polypod ferns, and polypods, respectively.Main ConclusionsOur study suggests that current geographic patterns of fern species richness are driven, at least in part, by evolutionary history of ferns, which varies among biogeographic regions.

Relationship between genetic diversity and morpho-functional characteristics of flight-related traits in Triatoma garciabesi (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

BackgroundTriatoma garciabesi, a potential vector of the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which is the causative agent of Chagas disease, is common in peridomestic and wild environments and found throughout northwestern and central Argentina, western Paraguay and the Bolivian Chaco. Genetic differentiation of a species across its range can help to understand dispersal patterns and connectivity between habitats. Dispersal by flight is considered to be the main active dispersal strategy used by triatomines. In particular, the morphological structure of the hemelytra is associated with their function. The aim of this study was to understand how genetic diversity is structured, how morphological variation of dispersal-related traits varies with genetic diversity and how the morphological characteristics of dispersal-related traits may explain the current distribution of genetic lineages in this species.MethodsMales from 24 populations of T. garciabesi across its distribution range were examined. The cytochrome c oxidase I gene (coI) was used for genetic diversity analyses. A geometric morphometric method based on landmarks was used for morpho-functional analysis of the hemelytra. Centroid size (CS) and shape of the forewing, and contour of both parts of the forewing, the head and the pronotum were characterised. Length and area of the forewing were measured to estimate the aspect ratio.ResultsThe morphometric and phylogenetic analysis identified two distinct lineages, namely the Eastern and Western lineages, which coincide with different ecological regions. The Eastern lineage is found exclusively in the eastern region of Argentina (Chaco and Formosa provinces), whereas the Western lineage is prevalent in the rest of the geographical range of the species. CS, shape and aspect ratio of the hemelytra differed between lineages. The stiff portion of the forewing was more developed in the Eastern lineage. The shape of both portions of the hemelytra were significantly different between lineages, and the shape of the head and pronotum differed between lineages.ConclusionsThe results provide preliminary insights into the evolution and diversification of T. garciabesi. Variation in the forewing, pronotum and head is congruent with genetic divergence. Consistent with genetic divergence, morphometry variation was clustered according to lineages, with congruent variation in the size and shape of the forewing, pronotum and head.Graphical

Proteomic characterization of Pseudogymnoascus spp. isolates from polar and temperate regions

ABSTRACT Proteomics has been used extensively in the field of mycology, mainly in trying to understand the complex network of protein-protein interactions that has been implicated in the molecular functions of fungi. It is also a useful tool to compare metabolic differences within a genus. Species of Pseudogymnoascus, a genus under the phyla Ascomycota, have been shown to play an important role in the soil environment. They have been found in both polar and temperate regions and are a known producer of many extracellular hydrolases that contribute to soil decomposition. Despite the apparent importance of Pseudogymnoascus spp. in the soil ecosystem, investigations into their molecular functions are still very limited. In the present study, proteomic characterization of six Pseudogymnoascus spp. isolated from three biogeographic regions (the Arctic, Antarctic, and temperate regions) was carried out using tandem mass spectrometry. Prior to proteomic analysis, the optimization for protein extraction was carried out. Trichloroacetic acid‑acetone‑phenol was found to be the best extraction method to be used for proteomic profiling of Pseudogymnoascus spp. The proteomic analysis identified 2003 proteins that were successfully mapped to the UniProtKB database. The identified proteins were clustered according to their biological processes and molecular functions. The shared proteins found in all Pseudogymnoascus spp. (1201 proteins) showed a significantly close relationship in their basic cellular functions, despite differences in morphological structures. Analysis of Pseudogymnoascus spp. proteome also identified proteins that were unique to each region. However, a high number of these proteins belonged to protein families of similar molecular functions, namely, transferases and hydrolases. Our proteomic data can be used as a reference for Pseudogymnoascus spp. across different global regions and a foundation for future soil ecosystem function research.

Vegetation changes through stadial and interstadial stages of MIS 4 and MIS 3 based on a palynological analysis of the Girraween Lagoon sediments of Darwin, Australia

A palynological record from Girraween Lagoon sediments (Darwin region of the Northern Territory, Australia) provides detailed long-term insight into tropical savanna vegetation community patterns, climatic and fire relationships, through Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS 4: 71–57 thousand years ago, ka) and Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3: 57–29 ka). Owing to a lack of data in reconstructing northern Australian environments, this paper looks to define and describe to a greater degree the nature and scope of these stadial and interstadial stages for the region. Girraween Lagoon simultaneously provides proximal palaeoecological data for the time and region of Aboriginal people's first arrival into Australia, also encompassing the late Pleistocene continental decline of megafauna. This study provides a dataset enabling full exploration of long-term people-landscape and faunal-floral interactions. Sea levels and associated variations imposed on the transportation of moisture and heat, held implications for MIS 4 and MIS 3 monsoon strength, which was particularly consequential for Girraween regional ecology. Results reveal a prolonged transition from wooded- to grassy-savanna, into a cool drier semi-arid savanna. Increasingly episodic delivery of moisture influenced the permanency of freshwater in the landscape.

Soil microbial community are more sensitive to ecological regions than cropping systems in alpine annual grassland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Modern agriculture emphasizes the design of cropping systems using ecological function and production services to achieve sustainability. The functional characteristics of plants (grasses vs. legumes) affect changes in soil microbial communities that drive agroecosystem services. Information on the relationship between legume-grass mixtures and soil microorganisms in different ecological zones guides decision-making toward eco-friendly and sustainable forage production. However, it is still poorly understood how cropping patterns affect soil microbial diversity in alpine grasslands and whether this effect varies with altitude. To fill this gap in knowledge, we conducted a field study to investigate the effects of growing oats (Avena sativa L.), forage peas (Pisum sativum L.), common cornflower (Vicia sativa L.), and fava beans (Vicia faba L.) in monocultures and mixtures on the soil microbial communities in three ecological zones of the high alpine zone. We found that the fungal and bacterial community structure differed among the cropping patterns, particularly the community structure of the legume mixed cropping pattern was very different from that of monocropped oats. In all ecological zones, mixed cropping significantly (p < 0.05) increased the α-diversity of the soil bacteria and fungi compared to oat monoculture. The α-diversity of the soil bacteria tended to increase with increasing elevation (MY [2,513 m] < HZ [2,661 m] < GN [3,203 m]), while the opposite was true for fungi (except for the Chao1 index in HZ, which was the lowest). Mixed cropping increased the abundance of soil fungi and bacteria across ecological zones, particularly the relative abundances of Nitrospira, Nitrososphaera, Phytophthora, and Acari. Factors affecting the bacterial community structure included the cropping pattern, the ecological zone, water content, nitrate-nitrogen, nitrate reductase, and soil capacity, whereas factors affecting fungal community structure included the cropping pattern, the ecological zone, water content, pH, microbial biomass nitrogen, and catalase. Our study highlights the variation in soil microbial communities among different in alpine ecological regions and their resilience to cropping systems. Our results also underscore that mixed legume planting is a sustainable and effective forage management practice for the Tibetan Plateau.

Vietnamese cassava varieties progression across 50 years

Vietnamese cassava varieties constitute the fundamental and pivotal element in the sustainable development programme for cassava. This article aims to encapsulate the advancements made over nearly five decades in breeding and enhancing Vietnamese cassava varieties. It delineates the suitable cassava variety structures for each period and ecological region. The selection of cassava varieties exhibiting high starch yield and disease resistance, coupled with the establishment of a suitable and efficient cassava cultivation model, exemplified by 10T for Vietnamese cassava varieties KM568, KM539, KM537, KM569, and KM94, stands as a cornerstone for sustaining cassava development over the years. Presently, we advocate for farmers to cultivate promising cassava varieties such as KM568 or KM539 (an enhanced version of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) cassava variety C39, refined through multiple breeding cycles from 2004 onwards), KM537, KM569, or HN1 (originally known as TMEB419), alongside popular cassava varieties: KM440, KM419, KM94, KM7, STB1, KM414, KM98-7, KM140, KM98-5, KM98-1. We have conducted Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) and Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) tests, showcasing outstanding cassava varieties in large-scale farming, thereby providing compelling evidence for the prudent conservation and sustainable development of cassava. Vietnamese cassava progression (1975 to date) has traversed six stages, with five waves of restructuring cassava varieties, aligning with target orientations, farming conditions, and market demands, culminating in 16 popular cassava varieties and four promising cassava varieties KM568, KM539, KM537, and KM569.

Performance Depending on Zonal and Genotypic Factors in Apsheron and Jalilabad Districts of Azerbaijan

In modern literature there are opinions that the genetic diversity of the lentil plant has decreased by up to 40%. Taking this point of view into account, to increase the efficiency of breeding work, it is necessary to use the gene pool of the Lens culinaris Medik. species based on an in-depth study of economically important traits and obtain it as primary material, traditional and newly developed selection methods. The main role in this work should be assessed based on the study of the morphological, biochemical, agrobiological and other characteristics of the primary material. The exchange of hybrid samples between countries, their research in different ecological regions, different climatic and soil conditions, the discovery and creation of productive, high-quality, complexly resistant varieties and at the same time the use of these materials as starting material in future breeding work and hybridization programs are quite common in the world practice and gave effective, efficient results.

Karyological analyses in several Algerian populations of six species of the genus Vicia L. (Fabaceae)

As part of the evaluation and valorization of plant genetic resources of fodder and pastoral interest in Algeria, seventeen (17) natural populations belonging to six (06) species of the genus Vicia (Vicia sativa, Vicia disperma, Vicia monardii, Vicia ohchroleuca, Vicia onobrychioides and Vicia lutea), originated from different ecological regions in the North-Eastern of the country, were considered. The populations have been the subject of mitotic and meiotic studies. Haploid and diploid numbers and chromosome measurements were determined. Original results were observed for the first time in some species. In fact, chromosome counts have revealed some new chromosome numbers. The first number (2n=14, n=7) was observed in the endemic subspecies of Algeria, V. ochroleuca subsp. atlantica and in the species Vicia onobrychioides. The second number (n=6) was observed in the species Vicia disperma. Within Vicia monardii, the three new chromosome numbers, previously observed only in mitosis by our research team, were confirmed for the first time through the present meiosis study (n=6, 7 and 8), indicating that they are A type chromosomes. The base number x=7 is the most frequently observed number in the six Vicia species. The observed chromosome numbers would be related to some ecological factors (altitude, rainfall) of the origin environment of the populations. Chromosome measurements and established karyotypes were determined for the first time in V. monardii, V. onobrychioides and V. ochroleuca subsp. atlantica. Chromosome size and karyotype formula are variable among the studied species and subspecies. Karyotypes vary from symmetrical to asymmetrical and the intrachromosomal asymmetry is higher than interchromosomal one. The new cytogenetic data would contribute to a better understanding of the evolution mechanism of the species in the genus Vicia L.

Study on the Inhibition Characteristics of Coal Spontaneous Combustion by Silica Gel Foam.

The spontaneous combustion of residual coal in abandoned mining areas severely affects the safe and efficient extraction of coal, employee occupational health, and regional environmental ecology. A technical measure for preventing and controlling the spontaneous combustion of residual coal involves injecting antispontaneous combustion materials into abandoned areas. In this study, the composition, preparation, and mechanism of action of silica gel foam, a material used to suppress spontaneous combustion during coal mining, were investigated to improve the performance of materials designed to prevent spontaneous combustion in abandoned areas. The inhibitory efficiency improved, and the mechanical strength and stability of the foam liquid film increased upon adding modified antioxidants and nanosilica particles to the gel foam. Macro performance tests, microstructural characterization, and chemical inhibition mechanism analyses verified the efficacy of silica gel foam for suppressing spontaneous combustion. The air leakage resistance of the silica gel foam effectively increased the air leakage resistance of the coal samples at different pressures. New radicals formed during the spontaneous combustion of coal comprising different inhibitors, as indicated by the g-factor results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy analysis; the formation of radicals initially decreased and then increased when the inhibitor material changed. The concentration of free radicals decreased markedly during the spontaneous combustion process of both raw and inhibited coal samples at low oxidation temperatures (∼60-100 °C), indicating a marked inhibitory effect.