Biomass Concentration Research Articles

Continuous Monitoring of Forests in Wetland Ecosystems with Remote Sensing and Probability Sampling

With the drastic reduction in wetland areas, it is essential to conduct an annual monitoring of the biomass or carbon content of wetland ecosystems to support international initiatives and agreements focused on sustainable development, climate change, and carbon equity. Forests in wetland ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon sequestration; however, the monitoring of small, fragmented forest components in wetlands remains insufficient, leading to an underestimation of their ecological and carbon sequestration functions. This study utilizes a model-assisted (MA) estimator, a monitoring procedure that is asymptotically design-unbiased and incorporates remote sensing, to assess the status and trends in the above-ground biomass (AGB) of forest components in wetlands, while also proposing a method of optimizing the sample size to enable continuous monitoring. Based on the population of the forest component of Baiyangdian wetland, major findings indicate that: (1) neglecting the forest component of Baiyangdian wetland will lead to an underestimation of the total aboveground biomass by 224.34 t/ha and 243.64 t/ha in the years 2022 and 2023, respectively; (2) in either year-specific monitoring or interannual change monitoring, the MA estimator is more cost-effective than the expansion estimator, a comparable procedure that relies solely on field observations; (3) the method used to optimize sample size can effectively tackle the cost-related concerns of subsequent continuous monitoring. Overall, the neglect of forest components is inevitably bound to give rise to an underestimation of wetlands, and use of an MA estimator and optimizing the sample size could effectively address the cost issue in continuous monitoring. This holds significant importance when developing management strategies to prevent the further degradation of wetland ecological functions and carbon sink capabilities.

Beyond the surface: microbiological and biochemical attributes as indicators of soil quality in Atlantic Forest ecosystem

The objective of this study was to determine the biochemical and microbiological attributes in areas with different vegetation covers (mature forest, secondary forest, and sugar cane monoculture) and seasonal changes, and to compare the sensitivity of these attributes types (mycorrhizal, enzymatic, and carbon attributes) in response to changes in vegetation cover and season. Soil samplings were conducted over two years (one per semester, during the dry and wet periods of 2007 and 2008) in three types of areas: (I) mature forest; (II) secondary forest; and (III) sugar cane crop. The enzymatic activity of fluorescein diacetate, dehydrogenase, saccharase, basal carbon respiration, the carbon content of microbial biomass, the microbial coefficient, total and easily extracted glomalin soil-related proteins, mycorrhizal colonization, the number of glomerospores, total organic carbon, fulvic and humic acid content, and the fulvic/humic acid ratio were analyzed. In general, mycorrhizal parameters were more sensitive in distinguishing areas with different types of vegetation cover. Additionally, carbon stocks in areas of mature and secondary forest were higher compared to areas cultivated with sugar cane. The study reveals that mycorrhizal properties, such as root colonization and GRSP fractions, are more sensitive indicators of soil health than soil C attributes, providing a cost-effective alternative for evaluating soil health in the Atlantic Forest. The confirmed hypothesis supports the effectiveness of microbiological activity and C dynamics in discerning significant changes between sugar cane cultivation and forested areas. The study underscores the vital role of conserving forested areas, serving as crucial carbon reservoirs, and emphasizes the potential for enhanced sustainability through conservation practices and rapid soil function recovery in secondary forests within the Atlantic Forest.

Latitudinal trends in an invasive plant: genetic differentiation, phenotypic plasticity, and the effects of heavy metals and herbivores on growth, defence, and reproductive characteristics

Abstract Background and Aims Invasive species usually demonstrate remarkable adaptability across diverse environments, successfully inhabiting a wide variety of regions. This adaptability often links to genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity, leading to latitudinal trends in phenotypic traits. In this study, we collected seeds of invasive plant Phytolacca americana from different latitudes and planted them in homogeneous gardens to investigate the latitudinal variation of P. americana phenotypic traits and to evaluate the effects of herbivory and heavy metals on plant growth, defence, and reproductive characteristics. Methods P. americana seeds from different latitudes were planted in a homogeneous garden. For the experimental treatment, the seeds were divided into four groups: a heavy metal treatment group and its corresponding control group, and a cover treatment group with its corresponding control group. After the fruits matured, their growth, reproduction, and defence indicators were measured. Key Results Significant latitudinal trends were observed in P. americana’s growth and defence characteristics, including changes in branch number, underground biomass, total biomass, and leaf tannin content. Compared to previous field surveys on P. americana, our study found that the latitude trends in growth structure and defence traits were consistent. But the latitudinal trend of reproductive structure is different. Moreover, heavy metals and herbivory substantially influenced the plant’s growth, reproduction, and defence mechanisms, further shaping its latitudinal patterns. Conclusions The observed phenotypic variations in P. americana across latitudes can be largely attributed to the synergistic effects of phenotypic plasticity and genetic variation. At a broader geographical scale, adaptations to heavy metal stress and herbivory pressure among different P. americana populations involve distinct trade-offs related to growth, reproduction, and defence strategies.

Engineering ethanologenicity into the extremely thermophilic bacterium Anaerocellum (f. Caldicellulosiriuptor) bescii

The anaerobic bacterium Anaerocellum (f. Caldicellulosiruptor) bescii natively ferments the carbohydrate content of plant biomass (including microcrystalline cellulose) into predominantly acetate, H2, and CO2, and smaller amounts of lactate, alanine and valine. While this extreme thermophile (growth Topt 78 °C) is not natively ethanologenic, it has been previously metabolically engineered with this property, albeit initially yielding low solvent titers (∼15 mM). Herein we report significant progress on improving ethanologenicity in A. bescii, such that titers above 130 mM have now been achieved, while concomitantly improving selectivity by minimizing acetate formation. Metabolic engineering progress has benefited from improved molecular genetic tools and better understanding of A. bescii growth physiology. Heterologous expression of a mutated thermophilic alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhE) modified for co-factor requirement, coupled with bioreactor operation strategies related to pH control, have been key to enhanced ethanol generation and fermentation product specificity. Insights gained from metabolic modeling of A. bescii set the stage for its further improvement as a metabolic engineering platform.

Evaluating a vertical greening system mesocosm for kitchen greywater treatment: Comparison among vegetation species in water consumption, biomass growth and pollutants uptake and removal

The escalating climate imbalance, coupled with rising water demands in rapidly expanding urban areas, is forcing scientists and policymakers to seek alternative strategies for efficient water resource management. Nature Based Solutions (NBS) are gaining prominence due to their ability to provide multiple ecosystem services. However, the quantification of benefits and drawbacks mediated by different vegetation species remains inadequate. In this study, we investigated the performance of a pot-based vertical greening system (VGS) designed to integrate the functions of green facades with those of treatment wetlands. The VGS was vegetated with Mentha aquatica L. (hereafter Mentha), Oenanthe javanica (Blume) DC. (hereafter Oenanthe) and Lysimachia nummularia L. (hereafter Lysimachia), and their respective effects on water balance and mass removal of common greywater pollutants were compared. Results indicated that VGS lines vegetated with Oenanthe and Mentha exhibited comparable pollutant removals. Oenanthe showed a preference for greywater that had already undergone partial treatment, while Mentha was not affected by any pollutant load in water removal −48.1 % of total inflow– and in nutrients uptake in aboveground biomass −14.3 % N and 7 % P– due to sustained and robust growth, outperforming Oenanthe and Lysimachia. This has suggested the potential use of Oenathe in combination with Mentha for enhanced performances, particularly given Oenanthe's rapid growth in the early season and high biomass and nitrogen content following initial greywater treatment.

Sodium alginate improves phytase stability and enhances soil phosphorous utilization

A plant growth-promoting endophytic strain Bacillus sp. WR11 produces high-level phytase. Phytase degrades phytate, which is the major form of organic phosphate in soils that cannot be readily utilized by plants. To strengthen the strain or its phytase for cost-efficient biodegradation of phytate, we compared the impacts of different chemical additives on phytase production and preservation. Phytate degradation ability in soils and growth promotion effect in wheat were evaluated. To ensure safe application, potential pathogenicity of the strain was also predicted. Phytase activity assay suggests that sodium alginate (SA) significantly improves phytase production to as higher as 2.21-fold, but has little influence on the growth of WR11 during liquid fermentation. During liquid storage of cell-free supernatant (CFS) at room temperature, SA maintains 68% phytase activity indicating significantly improved stability within four weeks. Determination of water-soluble P and phytate-P indicates Bacillus sp. WR11 and CFS effectively degrade 20.17–38.55% phytate in soils. Quantification of biomass, phosphorus and iron contents shows positive effect of WR11 and its CFS on wheat growth. Particularly, the degradation ability (63.2%) and growth promoting effect of CFS is much stronger in the presence of 0.8% SA. Genomic prediction demonstrates strain WR11 has a large number of genes in the databases of Pathogen-Host Interactions, Virulence Factors of pathogenic bacteria, Antibiotic Resistance Genes, and the Comprehensive Antibiotic Research Database, respectively. In conclusion, SA significantly improves phytase production and phytate degradation. Phytase accompanied with SA may be an alternative strategy for phytate degradation and plant growth promotion, when microorganisms have safety issues.

Endophytic consortium exhibits varying effects in mitigating cadmium toxicity in rice cultivars with distinct cadmium accumulation capacities

Cadmium (Cd)-contaminated rice is the main source of Cd exposure that threatens food safety and human health. While plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been reported to reduce Cd toxicity in rice, the effect of endophytic consortium is less understood compared to the single strain. Here, we reported that the PGPB consortium consisting of Cd-tolerant endophytic bacteria Pseudomonas sp. 4N2 and Bacillus sp. TB1 increased extracellular polymeric substance secretion and demonstrated a higher Cd removal rate compared to individual 4N2 and TB1. Further, two rice cultivar, namely the low-Cd-accumulating (LA) cultivar 728B and the high-Cd-accumulating (HA) cultivar BB, were inoculated with the 4N2-TB1 consortium. As expected, the consortium had a more pronounced effect on 728B, from which the endophytic bacteria were screened. The 4N2-TB1 consortium was found to facilitate the growth of rice seedlings and enhance their antioxidation activity. Moreover, the consortium significantly reduced Cd transfer coefficient from root to shoot through Cd immobilization in rice roots, resulting in a reduction from 30 % to 6 % in 728B and from 31 % to 13 % in BB. Furthermore, alpha-diversity analysis indicated an increased diversity and richness of the root bacterial community after 4N2-TB1 inoculation. Also, redundancy analysis confirmed a positive correlation between rice biomass and Cd content with a specific assemblage of bacteria including Bacillus and Leifsonia. These results demonstrated that the 4N2-TB1 consortium may alleviate Cd stress in rice cultivars through recruiting PGPB and Cd-binding bacteria on the root surface, thus strengthening the immobilization of Cd in rice roots.

Natural forest colonisation as a management strategy to restore soil functioning of abandoned agricultural lands

Abstract Land abandonment promotes forest expansion into abandoned agricultural lands in Europe. This process leads to changes that affect several ecosystem services, but it is considered a low‐cost strategy to restore soil functions in past agricultural lands. Soil microbial communities play a key role in restoring functions. However, the relationship among forest expansion, microbial communities, and soil functioning is unclear. In this study, we used a Juniperus thurifera expansion gradient on abandoned agricultural lands in Alto Tajo National Park (Spain) to discover the changes elicited by the soil microbial communities and their functions along this gradient considering two microhabitats, under the canopy and open areas. Specifically, our objectives were (i) to analyse how soil properties (organic matter and pH), microbial communities (using PLFAs‐NFLAs) and enzymatic activities (related to C, N and P cycling) varied along the forest expansion gradient and between microhabitats and (ii) to decipher the pathways by which soil properties control the carbon and nutrient cycling in soils. The forest expansion gradient had a direct negative effect on phosphatase activity. The microhabitat showed a positive direct effect on organic matter content, pH, actinomycetes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biomass and on soil C and P cycling. Moreover, the biomass of gram‐positive bacteria determined the biomass of other microbial groups. Synthesis and Applications: Though its effectiveness is variable, passive restoration can be more effective than active restoration. Our research indicates that passive tree colonisation of past agricultural land is enough to achieve soil functionality similar to a mature forest for most variables studied. However, some variables would need more time to reach mature forest levels, such as total microbial biomass and organic matter content. Therefore, to support ecosystem recovery, the management of this applied forest ecology strategy requires continuous monitoring of newly established trees and soil to elucidate the time needed to achieve mature soil properties.

Effects of multiple microplastic types on growth of winter wheat and soil properties vary in different agricultural soils

Societal Impact StatementWinter wheat is one of the most important crops in the world. Microplastics, as an emerging pollutant, are widespread in agricultural soils due to various modern agricultural practices and can have adverse impacts on agricultural soils and plant growth. Herein, we investigated the effects of 10 types of microplastics on the properties of three agricultural soil types and the growth of winter wheat. This study contributes insights toward the conservation of agricultural soils and potential wheat yield responses to microplastic. Understanding the mechanisms that underpin the differences in responses to this pollutant class is of great importance for management recommendations.Summary Microplastics (MPs) (size < 5 mm) are increasingly recognized as anthropogenic contaminants that severely affect terrestrial ecosystems. These particles are always detected as a mixture of various polymer types and shapes. However, we have limited knowledge of the effect of combined MPs on plant–soil systems. To address this, we selected 10 types of MP, applied to three soil types singly and in combination along an increasing gradient of 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10 MP types at a content of 0.4% (w/v). After 8 weeks of pre‐incubation, winter wheat (TOBAK) was grown in each pot for another 8 weeks. Shoot and root biomass, soil aggregation, and carbon and nitrogen content were measured. The effects of the same MP on both soil and plant properties were drastically different (in size and effect direction) in the different soil types. However, no clear patterns were observed along an increasing number of microplastic types, suggesting that knowing the number of microplastic types in a sample, at equity of overall concentration, does not help predict effects. In contrast, our findings reveal the complex effects of multiple MPs on the soil–plant system and highlight that soil properties need to be taken into consideration when studying MP effects on terrestrial systems.

Lipid content and wastewater treatment potential of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus isolated from Uzuncayır Dam Lake

Production of microalgae for biodiesel, one of the alternative renewable energy sources, is costly due to nutrient media. Industrial and domestic wastewater contains nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients that are the primary food source for algae. Releasing this environmentally harmful effluent into receiving bodies of water, such as the sea or a freshwater reservoir, without prior treatment causes serious problems. Combining microalgae cultivation with wastewater treatment is a promising strategy for improving wastewater and reducing the cost of nutrient media required for algae production. In this study, wastewater obtained from a wastewater treatment facility was diluted with clean water to 0.25%, 50%, and 75% concentrations, and Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus were cultured in these nutrient media for 20 days. As a result, microalgae increased their biomass and lipid content, while consuming nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and ammonium from the wastewater as nutrients.

Synergistic effect of compost and moringa leaf extract biostimulants on the remediation of gold mine tailings using chrysopogon zizanioides

Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for restoring degraded land. However, optimizing phytoremediation conditions and using locally sourced materials can further improve the sustainability of this approach. A 3×2×2 factorial design was used in determining the optimal parameters in the remediation of gold mine tailings using vetiver grass. The treatments consisted of three compost concentrations (0 %, 30 % and 60 %), two biostimulant types (laboratory-extracted and commercial biostimulants) and two application regimens (once and twice a week) in a randomized complete block design. The biomass and metal concentrations in the vetiver grass were measured after 16 weeks. All the vetiver that was planted in 0 % compost amendment died within four weeks regardless the MLE treatment. There was no significant difference in vetiver biomass between vetiver grown in 30 % and that grown in 60 % compost amendment. Biostimulant application frequency led to no significant differences. A difference on vetiver biomass due to the type of moringa leaf extract was eminent, with laboratory moringa leaf extract resulting in significantly higher biomass in vetiver grown on 60 % compost yet the commercial moringa leaf extract producing significantly higher vetiver biomass on vetiver grown on 30 % compost amendment. These findings suggest that the optimal combination for field study would be 30 % compost amendment with commercial biostimulant for a more cost-effective option.

Combined application of biochar and peatmoss for mitigation of drought stress in tobacco

Drought poses a significant ecological threat that limits the production of crops worldwide. The objective of this study to examine the impact of soil applied biochar (BC) and peatmoss (PM) on the morpho-biochemical and quality traits of tobacco plants under drought conditions. In the present experiment work, a pot trial was conducted with two levels of drought severity (~ well-watered 75 ± 5% field capacity) and severe drought stress (~ 35 ± 5% field capacity), two levels of peatmoss (PM) @ 5% [PM+ (with peatmoss) and PM- (without peatmoss)] and three levels of rice straw biochar (BC0 = no biochar; BC1 = 150 mg kg− 1; and BC2 = 300 mg kg− 1 of soil) in tobacco plants. The results indicate that drought conditions significantly impacted the performance of tobacco plants. However, the combined approach of BC and PM significantly improved the growth, biomass, and total chlorophyll content (27.94%) and carotenoids (32.00%) of tobacco. This study further revealed that the drought conditions decreased the production of lipid peroxidation and proline accumulation. But the synergistic approach of BC and PM application increased soluble sugars (17.63 and 12.20%), soluble protein (31.16 and 15.88%), decreased the proline accumulation (13.92 and 9.03%), and MDA content (16.40 and 8.62%) under control and drought stressed conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the combined approach of BC and PM also improved the leaf potassium content (19.02%) by limiting the chloride ions (33.33%) under drought stressed conditions. Altogether, the balanced application of PM and BC has significant potential as an effective approach and sustainable method to increase the tolerance of tobacco plants subjected to drought conditions. This research uniquely highlights the combined potential of PM and BC as an eco-friendly strategy to enhance plant resilience under drought conditions, offering new insights into sustainable agricultural practices.

Investigating the impacts of a recirculation sedimentation application on microalgae biomass cultivation in wastewater treatment

Commercial microalgae production is often interrupted by contamination, leading to short production cycles, reinoculation needs, and culture collapses, significantly increasing costs. This study focuses on investigating Recirculated Sedimentation Application (RSA) to control contamination in microalgae culture systems used for wastewater treatment. Chlorella vulgaris culture was grown in an unsterilized mixture of tertiary treatment effluent and centrate of anaerobic digestion wastewater sludge over a 90-day experimental period. 60 L raceway reactor was operated under a light intensity of 275 μM m−2.s−1 with a 16:8 h light-dark photoperiod. To evaluate the effect of RSA on biological-based problems, the experiment was conducted in three phases. The benefits of utilizing RSA were established through the following observations: effective removal of contaminants at an acceptable level without releasing the culture; extension of the biofilm formation time on the inner walls; inhibition of heterotrophic bacteria and nitrification; enhancement of the suspended solids retention capacity of the raceway tank (up to 770 mg.L−1); and improvement in ammonium removal rate to approximately 30 mg.L−1d−1. The ideal salinity level for both ammonium removal and biomass concentration in RSA should be below 0.02%. These findings demonstrate the potential of phycoremediation for sustainable wastewater treatment and contribute to environmental bioremediation strategies.

Multi-metal tolerant Porostereum umbrinoalutaceum isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus fruit body showing root colonization, growth promotion of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) plant and antagonism against fungal pathogens.

Mushroom associated microbes could be utilized to improve crop productivity providing nutrients, plant growth promoting substances, production of hydrolytic enzymes and protecting plant from biotic and abiotic stress. An endophyte designated as KUFC101 was isolated from fruit body of Pleurotus ostreatus and identified as Porostereum umbrinoalutaceum based on nuclear-rRNA gene sequence analysis. Growth in different culture media, metal tolerance, biochemical characterization and effect on chilli plant growth promotion were studied. The isolate showed best growth in Malt extract medium and least growth in synthetic media. It could tolerate toxic metals (Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and Cd each at 100ppm concentration). It produced amylase, cellulase, chitinase, pectinase, catecholate type of siderophore and indole acetic acid, and inhibited growth of Alternaria solani and Penicillium citrinum. It could colonize in the rhizosphere of chilli plant and influence growth of chilli plant by improving biomass and metabolite content. Porostereum umbrinoalutaceum KUFC101 could be utilized in formulation of biofertiliser under sustainable agricultural system.

Effect of NH4Cl supplementation on growth, photosynthesis, and triacylglycerol content in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under mixotrophic cultivation.

Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) is one of the nitrogen sources for microalgal cultivation. An excessive amounts of NH4Cl are toxic for microalgae. However, combining mixotrophic conditions and excessive quantities of NH4Cl positively affects microalgal biomass and lipid production. In this study, we investigated the impact of NH4Cl on the growth, biomass, and triglyceride (TAG) content of the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii especially under mixotrophic conditions. Under photoautotrophic conditions (without organic carbon supplementation), adding 25 mM NH4Cl had no significant effect on microalgal growth or TAG content. However, under mixotrophic condition (with acetate supplementation), NH4Cl interfered with microalgal growth while inducing TAG content. To explore these effects further, we conducted a two-step cultivation process and found that NH4Cl reduced microalgal growth, but induced total lipid and TAG content, especially after 4-day cultivation. The photosynthesis performances showed that NH4Cl completely inhibited oxygen evolution on day 4. However, NH4Cl slightly reduced the Fv/Fm ratio indicating that the NH4Cl supplementation directly affects microalgal photosynthesis. To investigate the TAG induction effect by NH4Cl, we compared the protein expression profiles of microalgae grown mixotrophically with and without 25 mM NH4Cl using a proteomics approach. This analysis identified 1782 proteins, with putative acetate uptake transporter GFY5 and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase being overexpressed in the NH4Cl-treated group. These findings suggested that NH4Cl supplementation may stimulate acetate utilization and fatty acid synthesis pathways in microalgae cells. Our study indicated that NH4Cl supplementation can induce microalgal biomass and lipid production, particularly when combined with mixotrophic conditions.

Comparative transcriptomic insights into key genes for biomass production and lipid synthesis in Chlorella sorokiniana mutated by argon and air atmospheric and room temperature plasma at different culture stages: Common mechanisms and unique differences

Metabolic mechanisms driving rapid lipid production in atmospheric and room temperature plasma-mutagenized Chlorella sorokiniana remain unclear, hindering improvement in lipid productivity through genetic modification. This study investigated two dominant strains, ArX13 and AirX12, mutated by argon and air ARTP, for growth, lipid production, and transcriptomic changes across various culture stages. Results showed that biomass and lipid contents peaked in the late stage, with ArX13 and AirX12 achieving final biomass of 0.71 g/L and 0.70 g/L, and lipid content of 58.57 % glipid gbiomass−1 and 46.90 % glipid gbiomass−1, 2.20 and 1.77 times higher than the control, respectively. The maximum biomass and lipid productivity occurred at the mid-stage, with ArX13 and AirX12 showing biomass productivity of 0.025 gbiomass L−1 day−1 and 0.024 gbiomass L−1 day−1, and lipid productivity of 17.79 mglipid L−1 day−1 and 11.40 mglipid L−1 day−1, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed minimal changes of gene expression during early and late stages, but significant biomass and lipid synthesis during the middle stage. Key genes like PDHB, ATP6A, LSC1 and OGDH were identified in the PPI network throughout the culture cycle, with PDHB remarkably promoting lipid precursor production, up-regulated 8.37 and 4.99-fold in M_ArX13-M_X0 and M_AirX12-M_X0, respectively. In addition, high expression of photosynthesis-related genes (psaL, psaO, psaD, psaK, psbP) contributed the superior lipid production for the argon-based ARTP case, highlighting common and intrinsic mechanisms regulating microalgal lipid accumulation under different ARTP mutations. This study shows that the selection of appropriate ARTP gases can maximize the lipid production of microalgal, and the discovery of some key genes can provide a theoretical basis for the selection of target genes for microalgal research, which is of great significance for promoting the research and development of microalgal lipid engineering.

The Small Auxin-Up RNA 50 (SAUR50) Gene from Ammopiptanthus nanus Negatively Regulates Drought Tolerance.

Drought stress is a primary abiotic stress that causes significant losses to forestry and agricultural production. Therefore, exploring drought-responsive genes and their regulatory mechanism is crucial for plant molecular breeding for forestry and agriculture production safety. Small auxin-up RNA (SAUR) proteins are essential in plant growth and development but show functional diversity in stress response. In this study, the transcriptome sequencing data of Ammopiptanthus nanus seedlings revealed that the expression of AnSAUR50 was continuously downregulated under drought stress. Hence, the AnSAUR50 gene was cloned and functionally analyzed in drought response. The results showed that the coding sequence of AnSAUR50 was 315 bp in length and encoded 104 amino acids. The AnSAUR50 protein showed high conservation, possessed a SAUR-specific domain, and localized in the nucleus and cell membrane. The heterologous expression of the AnSAUR50 gene enhanced the drought sensitivity of the transgenic Arabidopsis with a lower survival rate, biomass, and higher malondialdehyde content and relative electrolyte leakage. Moreover, transgenic plants showed shorter root lengths and bigger stomatal apertures, resulting in facilitating water loss under drought stress. The study indicates that AnSAUR50 negatively regulates drought tolerance by inhibiting root growth and stomatal closure, which provides insights into the underlying function and regulatory mechanism of SAURs in plant stress response.

Biofortification in garden peas through multi-micronutrient formulations

Soil micronutrient deficiencies lead to crops with low essential element concentrations, affecting human health through micronutrient malnutrition. Effective practices, like foliar nutrient application, improve crop quality and reduce malnutrition. The garden pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense) is cultivated worldwide for its nutritional value and such nutrient-rich crops, through agronomic biofortification, offer a sustainable solution to global health issues by addressing micronutrient deficiencies. Four liquid micronutrient formulations [Treatment 1 (T1), Treatment 2 (T2), Treatment 3 (T3), and Treatment 4 (T4)] were prepared using either water or vermiwash as a carrier, with variations that included the presence or absence of plant growth regulators (GA3 + NAA)] and evaluated along with commercially available formulations [Arka Vegetable Special (T5) and ProKissan (T6)]. Micronutrient formulations, particularly T3, demonstrated notable effects on various parameters, including plant height, biomass, root characteristics, pod weight, and micronutrient contents in seeds of garden pea var. Kashi Nandini. T3 significantly outperformed other formulations in promoting plant growth, resulting in higher values for plant height, biomass, branches per plant, nodule mass, root biomass, surface area, volume, and density. Yield parameters such as pod length, weight, number of pods, and seeds per pod were also positively influenced by micronutrient treatments, with T3 leading to the highest overall yield, with a 24.09 % increase per plant and a 13.39 % increase per hectare compared to the control. Additionally, foliar application of micronutrients increased the concentration of copper, zinc, iron, and manganese in seeds, positively impacting seed quality. Quality parameters, including total soluble solids, protein, total phenol, and total flavonoid contents, were significantly improved by micronutrient treatments, with T3 showing the most favorable outcomes. Texture analysis indicated that peas treated with T3 had lower firmness values, suggesting maintained tenderness and sweetness. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between various growth parameters, yield traits, and micronutrient contents. Overall, foliar micronutrient application proved to be a valuable biofortification strategy for enhancing the performance and quality of garden peas.

Perspectives on optimizing microalgae cultivation: Harnessing dissolved CO2 and lactose for sustainable and cost-efficient protein production

Microalgae, known for their land-sparing cultivation and remarkable photosynthetic efficiency, play a crucial role in advancing sustainable development goals. This study explored the use of cost-effective inorganic carbon (the ionic form of CO2) and organic carbon sources (lactose, a primary sugar in whey wastewater) to support the growth of Chlorellasorokiniana UTEX 1230, and improved protein content through nitrogen supply optimization. NaHCO3 proved to be more effective than Na2CO3, resulting in a 3.4-fold increase in biomass concentration, with an initial 5 mM HCO3‾ concentration compared to the basal medium. Further addition of 0.75 % lactose led to a 4.05-fold increase in biomass concentration, with the maximum specific growth rate at 1.28/d, maximum biomass concentration at 695.88 mg/L, and maximum biomass productivity at 250.91 mg/L/d. Nitrogen supplementation greatly increased protein concentration from 16.41 % (250 mg/L NaNO3) to 52.95 % (1000 mg/L NaNO3). These results support the potential for utilizing whey wastewater bioremediation to produce high-value protein via microalgal cultivation.

Two-Step Macromolecule Separation Process with Acid Pretreatment and High-Shear-Assisted Extraction for Microalgae-Based Biorefinery

A simple two-stage extraction and recovery method for macromolecules from microalgae biomass, termed CASS (concentrating the microalgae solution, acid pretreatment, high-shear-assisted lipid extraction, and separation), was developed. This method effectively processed the wet biomass of Chlorella sp. ABC-001 at a moderately low biomass concentration (50 g/L). The optimal conditions were acid pretreatment with 5 wt.% H2SO4 at 100 °C for 1 h, followed by high-shear extraction using hexane at 3000 rpm for 30 min. The acid pretreatment hydrolyzed carbohydrates and phospholipids, disrupting the cell wall and membrane, while high-shear mixing enhanced mass transfer rates between solvents and lipids, overcoming the hydraulic barrier at the cell surface. Within 10 min after completing the process, the extraction mixture achieved natural phase separation into water, solvent, and biomass residue layers, each enriched with carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, respectively. The CASS process demonstrated high esterifiable lipid yields (91%), along with substantial recovery of glucose (90%) and proteins (100%). The stable phase separation prevented emulsion formation, simplifying downstream processing. This study presents the results on cell disruption, optimal acid treatment concentration, and high-shear mixing to achieve macromolecule separation, expanding the lipid-centric microalgal process to a comprehensive biorefinery concept.