Plant Body Research Articles

Boron Application in Yermosols Improves Grain Yield and Quality of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

BackgroundBoron (B) contents are decreasing in most of crop areas of semi-arid yermosols, hindering yield and quality of chickpea. ObjectiveThis study investigated the growth and quality alterations associated with soil applied B on chickpea in semiarid yermosols. MethodA pot experiment was conducted using Yermosols soil with two chickpea cultivars (cv. Noor-2013 and Bittle-98) and five soil applied B concentration @ 0.00, 0.18, 0.27, 0.36 and 0.45 mg B kg−1, as borax (Na2B4O7·10H2O). Treatments arrangement was according to completely randomized design with factorial arrangements and each treatment was replicated five times. ResultsSoil applied B (0.45 mg B kg−1) significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved plant height, number of pods and seeds per plant, 100-grain weight, grain and biological yield, chlorophyll contents, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, B uptake by roots, seed, leaves and shoot of plant body and grain protein, crud fiber, starch and total sugar in both cultivars of chickpea, but the degree of effects was varied between cultivars. The results indicated that studied traits of both cultivars were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased in B deficient treatments. Between cultivars, Noor-2013 recorded significant improvement (P ≤ 0.05) in all parameters with 0.45 mg B kg−1 application compared than Bittle-98. Further, yield, yield attributing, physiological, B uptake by plants and grain quality parameters were positively correlated with each other except grain crude fiber. ConclusionOur findings conclude that the adequate concentration of B (0.45 mg B kg−1) had pronounced effects on various growth, yield, physiological and grain quality traits.

Biochar Enriched with Buffalo Slurry Improved Soil Nitrogen and Carbon Dynamics, Nutrient Uptake and Growth Attributes of Wheat by Reducing Leaching Losses of Nutrients

The present investigation was conducted to understand the role of enriched biochar on soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics, leaching losses of nutrients, and growth attributes of wheat. Buffalo slurry (BS) was used to enrich the biochar for 24 h and 2% biochar (SB) or enriched biochar (SEB) was used. Enrichment of biochar with BS as SEB improved the C and N contents of biochar by 33–310% and 41–286% respectively. The application of biochar (SB) and enriched biochar (SEB) reduced the net nitrification by 81% and 94%, ammonification by 48% and 74%, and carbon dioxide by 50% and 92% respectively as compared to control. The leaching losses minerals i.e., C (by 30%), N (by 125%), P (by 50%), K (by 82%), Na (by 9%), Ca (by 24%), and Mg (by 12%) was decreased in SEB treatments compared to control. The soil enzyme activities, microbial biomass (MBC and MBN), wheat agronomy, soil bulk density and soil pore density, mineral uptake from the soil, and mineral contents in the plant body were improved in the SEB as compared to SB and control treatments. Our results revealed that the biochar enrichment process could improve the C and N storage in the soil reservoir and lower the environmental risks to soil and water.

The SlHB8 Acts as a Negative Regulator in Stem Development and Lignin Biosynthesis.

The stem is an important organ in supporting plant body, transporting nutrients and communicating signals for plant growing. However, studies on the regulation of stem development in tomato are rather limited. In our study, we demonstrated that SlHB8 negatively regulated tomato stem development. SlHB8 belongs to homeo domain-leucine zipper Class III gene family transcription factors and expressed in all the organs examined including root, stem, leaves, flower, and fruit. Among these tissues, SlHB8 showed stable high expression level during tomato stem development. Overexpression of SlHB8 gene decreased stem diameter with inhibited xylem width and xylem cell layers, while loss of function of SlHB8 gene increased the stem diameter and xylem width. The contents of lignin were decreased both in leaves and stems of SlHB8 overexpression plants. RNA-seq analysis on the stems of wild type and SlHB8 transgenic plants showed that the 116 DEGs (differential expressed genes) with reversible expression profiles in SlHB8-ox and SlHB8-cr plants were significantly enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and plant-pathogen pathway which were related to lignin biosynthesis and disease resistance. Meanwhile, the key genes involved in the lignin biosynthesis pathway such as SlCCR (cinnamoyl-CoA reductase), SlCYP73A14/C4H (cinnamate 4-hydroxylase), SlC3H (coumarate 3-hydroxylase) and SlCAD (cinnamoyl alcohol dehydrogenase) were down-regulated in both stem and leaves of SlHB8 overexpression plants, indicating a negative regulatory role of SlHB8 in the lignin biosynthesis and stem development.

Novel lignin as natural‐biodegradable binder for various sectors—A review

AbstractLignin functions as an essential polymer in plants that forms the plant body's structural framework. The natural glue holds the cellulosic fibers together in the plant body, thereby providing rigidity and strength. Despite this, lignin shows promising relevance for biomaterial production due to its abundance, nontoxic nature and biodegradability. Considerably, adhesive components were derived from petroleum, which is increasingly more expensive. Hence, lignin, the natural glue in plant materials, gained much popularity because of its phenolic nature, making it an attractive substitute for adhesives. Lignin‐based binders are produced through phenols substitution in phenol‐formaldehyde resins with lignin due to their similar structural framework. Many researchers have confirmed the multifunctional applications of lignin, such as wood adhesive in fiber board, plywood and particleboard, a binder in printed wiring boards, abrasive tools, epoxy asphalts, epoxy wood composites, 3D printing, adhesive hydrogels, soil suppressants, lignocellulosic paper and coatings. This review presents a comprehensive description of the utilization of lignin‐based binders for different applications. The present work highlights the discussion on the various methods by which lignin can be used to replace synthetic binders. This review focuses on global research work introducing lignin in different chemical adhesives for a more cost‐effective and less harmful alternative.

Role of Auxin and Nitrate Signaling in the Development of Root System Architecture

The plant root is an important storage organ that stores indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) from the apical meristem, as well as nitrogen, which is obtained from the external environment. IAA and nitrogen act as signaling molecules that promote root growth to obtain further resources. Fluctuations in the distribution of nitrogen in the soil environment induce plants to develop a set of strategies that effectively improve nitrogen use efficiency. Auxin integrates the information regarding the nitrate status inside and outside the plant body to reasonably distribute resources and sustainably construct the plant root system. In this review, we focus on the main factors involved in the process of nitrate- and auxin-mediated regulation of root structure to better understand how the root system integrates the internal and external information and how this information is utilized to modify the root system architecture.

Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Various Plant Latex against Selected Fungal Strains

Abstract: Latex is a natural plant polymer and milky white fluid distributed throughout the plant body like leaves, stems, roots and fruits of all flowering plants and consists of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins and gums that coagulate on-air exposure. It is secreted by specialized plant cells called Laticifers. Plants exude latex in response to physical damage. The present study was carried out to assess the potential antifungal activity of latex of five different plants namely Plumeria rubra, Plumeria alba, Aloe vera, Calotropis procera and Calotropis gigantea against three different pathogenic strains of fungi. All five latexes were found to show good to moderated activity against all the three fungal strains, namely Trichoderma viride, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. The latex of each plant was tested in two volumes (i.e. 10µl & 20µl), and it was found that the antifungal activity was volume-dependent, and a significant difference was also observed in the case of different fungal strains. The antifungal activity of plant latexes was evaluated by Agar well diffusion method; results revealed that among all the five latexes, the fresh latex of Plumeria rubra (Vol: 10µl &20µl) showed excellent antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, whereas fresh latex of Aloe vera (Vol: 10µl & 20µl) showed excellent antifungal activity against Trichoderma viride. The results of the current research imply that the antifungal activity of latex varies with the species of plants and the fungal strains used. The results therefore demonstrated that, the used five latexes effectively inhibited the growth of three tested fungi. Hence, these plant latexes are natural, ecofriendly and can be used as good candidates for the treatment of various fungal diseases. In further words, they can be used for therapy of antifungal-resistant fungi. Keywords: Antifungal activity, Proteins, Alkaloids, Tannins, Resins, Laticifers, Plumeria rubra, Plumeria alba, Aloe vera, Calotropis procera, Calotropis gigantea, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, Latex, Agar well diffusion.

Influence of different fertilization and chemical recruitment systems on the phosphorus regime of gray forest soil

Phosphorus is extremely important in agriculture. This is due to the fact that without its participation in the plant body does not undergo any biochemical reaction, because it is part of the ATP molecule, which provides energy. It is an essential element of nucleic acids, phospholipids and the others is actively involved in the regulation of enzymatic reactions. It is part of human, animal, plant and bacterial cells. The research was conducted on the basis of a stationary experiment conducted in 1992 on gray forest coarsegrained light loam soil, studied the effect of long-term chemical reclamation and various fertilization systems (mineral, organic, organic-mineral) on the transformation of Optimal phosphorus nutrition promotes the development of the root system, which improves the supply of plants with moisture and nutrients, increases the share of marketable products in the organic crop, increases the starch content in potatoes, sugar in roots, vegetables and fruits, oilseeds, oilseeds the output of a long fiber, its strength increases. That is why the management of phosphorus nutrition of plants is one of the key issues. Changes in various forms of phosphorus (gross, mobile, water-soluble) under the influence of the above factors are analyzed. For a more objective assessment of these factors on the phosphate regime of the soil on the variant results of the analysis were compared not only with absolute control, but also tied to baseline (age of fallow 28 years), located next to the experimental field. It was found that the content of gross phosphorus, which characterizes the genetic characteristics of the soil, depends almost entirely on the total humus reserves and clearly repeats the parameters of the profile accumulation of carbon, taking into account the depth and thickness of humus horizons. The particle size distribution is of great importance in the processes of gross phosphorus accumulation, as defects are quite easily adsorbed on the surface of soil structures. Evaluation of the results of the analysis shows a large gap in the gross forms of phosphorus and low concentration of its mobile forms, the content of which is 4.7% of the total. According to our data, water-soluble salts of phosphoric acid in gray forest soil are generally found in very small quantities (0.62 mg / kg in the horizon NOT with a gradual decline down the profile), which often becomes a limiting factor in phosphorus nutrition of crops. Lime, by reducing the activity of one and a half oxides, weakens the adsorption bonds of phosphorus and increases the relative amounts of calcium phosphates. The application of mineral fertilizers replenished the pool of gross phosphorus (by 0.08% of the control dock), but mobile forms of phosphorus (according to Kirsanov) increased by only 23 mg/kg, which was second only to liming. In general, the effect of liming significantly increases the use of soil phosphates and fertilizers.

Misregulation of MYB16 expression causes stomatal cluster formation by disrupting polarity during asymmetric cell divisions.

Stomatal pores and the leaf cuticle regulate evaporation from the plant body and balance the tradeoff between photosynthesis and water loss. MYB16, encoding a transcription factor involved in cutin biosynthesis, is expressed in stomatal lineage ground cells, suggesting a link between cutin biosynthesis and stomatal development. Here, we show that the downregulation of MYB16 in meristemoids is directly mediated by the stomatal master transcription factor SPEECHLESS (SPCH) in Arabidopsis thaliana. The suppression of MYB16 before an asymmetric division is crucial for stomatal patterning, as its overexpression or ectopic expression in meristemoids increased stomatal density and resulted in the formation of stomatal clusters, as well as affecting the outer cell wall structure. Expressing a cutinase gene in plants ectopically expressing MYB16 reduced stomatal clustering, suggesting that cutin affects stomatal signaling or the polarity setup in asymmetrically dividing cells. The clustered stomatal phenotype was rescued by overexpressing EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR2, suggesting that stomatal signaling was still functional in these plants. Growing seedlings ectopically expressing MYB16 on high-percentage agar plates to modulate tensile strength rescued the polarity and stomatal cluster defects of these seedlings. Therefore, the inhibition of MYB16 expression by SPCH in the early stomatal lineage is required to correctly place the polarity protein needed for stomatal patterning during leaf morphogenesis.

Dialog between Kingdoms: Enemies, Allies and Peptide Phytohormones.

Various plant hormones can integrate developmental and environmental responses, acting in a complex network, which allows plants to adjust their developmental processes to changing environments. In particular, plant peptide hormones regulate various aspects of plant growth and development as well as the response to environmental stress and the interaction of plants with their pathogens and symbionts. Various plant-interacting organisms, e.g., bacterial and fungal pathogens, plant-parasitic nematodes, as well as symbiotic and plant-beneficial bacteria and fungi, are able to manipulate phytohormonal level and/or signaling in the host plant in order to overcome plant immunity and to create the habitat and food source inside the plant body. The most striking example of such phytohormonal mimicry is the ability of certain plant pathogens and symbionts to produce peptide phytohormones of different classes. To date, in the genomes of plant-interacting bacteria, fungi, and nematodes, the genes encoding effectors which mimic seven classes of peptide phytohormones have been found. For some of these effectors, the interaction with plant receptors for peptide hormones and the effect on plant development and defense have been demonstrated. In this review, we focus on the currently described classes of peptide phytohormones found among the representatives of other kingdoms, as well as mechanisms of their action and possible evolutional origin.

Plasma membrane-localized protein BcHIPP16 promotes the uptake of copper and cadmium in planta

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the toxic heavy metals in soil, which not only suppresses crop production but also threatens human health. In this study, we aim to clarify the biological function of Cd-related gene BcHIPP16, so as to provide potential genetic solutions to decrease the Cd levels of pak choi. Tissue expression analysis showed that BcHIPP16 expressed in almost all the plant bodies. The transcriptional level of BcHIPP16 in roots was higher than that in shoots, which was significantly induced by copper (Cu) deficiency and Cd exposure conditions. Subcellular localization revealed that BcHIPP16 localized in plasma membrane. Expressing BcHIPP16 in yeast cells improved the sensitivity to Cu and Cd and improved their accumulation in yeast. Furthermore, the Cu and Cd content of Arabidopsis seedlings were increased and complemented, respectively when expressing BcHIPP16 in wild type (WT) and hip16 mutants. Non-invasive Micro-test Technology (NMT) was used to measure the real-time Cd2+ influx from the root surface of BcHIPP16 transgenic Arabidopsis lines, and the result demonstrated that BcHIPP16 promoted Cd2+ influx into Arabidopsis root cells. Taken together, our study showed that BcHIPP16 contributed to absorbing nutrient metal Cu and heavy metal Cd in planta.

Laying it on thick: a study in secondary growth.

The development of secondary vascular tissue enhances the transport capacity and mechanical strength of plant bodies, while contributing a huge proportion of the world’s biomass in the form of wood. Cell divisions in the cambium, which constitutes the vascular meristem, provide progenitors from which conductive xylem and phloem are derived. The cambium is a somewhat unusual stem cell population in two respects, making it an interesting subject for developmental research. Firstly, it arises post-germination, and thus represents a model for understanding stem cell initiation beyond embryogenesis. Secondly, xylem and phloem differentiate on opposing sides of cambial stem cells, making them bifacial in nature. Recent discoveries in Arabidopsis thaliana have provided insight into the molecular mechanisms that regulate the initiation, patterning, and maintenance of the cambium. In this review, the roles of intercellular signalling via mobile transcription factors, peptide–receptor modules, and phytohormones are described. Crosstalk between these regulatory pathways is becoming increasingly apparent, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Future study of the interaction between multiple independently identified regulators, as well as the functions of their orthologues in trees, will deepen our understanding of radial growth in plants.

The Aconitum carmichaelii F3′5′H Gene Overexpression Increases Flavonoid Accumulation in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. is a herbal species that contains many precious bioactive substances, which are alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and glycosides. Flavonoids, which are major secondary compounds, play an important role in maintaining redox balance in the cells of the plant body. Many flavonoids have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, studies have mainly focused on aconitine, which is a highly toxic group A poison belonging to the alkaloid group, but with little mention of flavonoids. The flavonoids in A. carmichaelii are a group of substances with high content, concentrated in leaves and flowers, including quercetin and kaempferol. F3′5′H (Flavonoid 3′5′-hydroxylase) has been identified as the key enzyme involved in the final steps of flavonoid biosynthesis in plants in general and in A. carmichaelii specifically. This study offers the first report, and demonstrates that the overexpression of the F3′5′H gene from a herbal plant, A. carmichaelii, increases flavonoid content in genetically modified tobacco plants. The A. carmichaelii gene was transformed into tobacco leaf tissue to create transgenic tobacco plants. The AcF3′5′H gene was incorporated into the tobacco genome and was expressed in four transgenic tobacco lines (T01, T03, T05, and T014). The F3′5′H content increased from 20.33% to 32.00% compared with that in non-transformed plants (P < 0.001). Therefore, the flavonoid content of four transgenic tobacco lines increased compared to the WT, from 69.23% to 122.23% (P < 0.001). The results of the successful expression of the AcF3′5′H gene in model tobacco plants are the basis for using the AcF3′5′H gene for improving flavonoid content in other medicinal plants. Thus, the AcF3′5′H gene considered in this work could be a candidate for gene technology to enhance flavonoid accumulation in plants.

Approaching the “secrets” of the resin ducts in the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus L. cv. chia)

An extensive investigation on the resin duct network of the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus L. cv. chia) was undertaken in order to elucidate the origin, distribution and integration of the numerous resin-producing ducts within the plant and define some details missing from the investigations so far.The ducts in P. lentiscus cv. chia extend from the root tip, through the root and stem, to the leaves and the buds. They appear in the root apex long before the first xylem elements form. They are embedded in the clusters of the phloem cells which handle the sugar rich sap and the necessary for the duct development hormones. They hold-on to their connection with the phloem throughout their distribution within the plant body. The particular “rush” of the plant concerning the resin duct construction in the root – within the hostile soil environment – and the urgent energy support to the newly formed ducts, all over the plant body, indicate that there must be not just an important but a vital reason for the existence of these secreting structures. The resin ducts do not form a horizontal network; they do not split or merge unless they are in the leaves or in the pericarp. Idioblasts with crystals do not seem to appear in any of the primary plant organs. Further investigation on the interactions between the resin ducts and the rhizosphere and the benefit of this interrelation for the plant, is required in order to elucidate the “secret” of the secretion of a unique plant resin in a strictly confined area of the globe.

Diversity and indigenous uses of medicinal plants in the Buakhal area of the Garhwal Himalayan range, India

ABSTRACT The Indian Himalayan belt is renowned for its diverse topographic and climatic conditions, acts as home to many rare, endemic, and endangered ethnomedicinal plants. The present study aimed to document the medicinal plants and their indigenous uses in the Buakhal area of Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand, India) through personal interactions with local villagers. This study resulted in the documentation of 100 plant species of medicinal importance belonging to 87 genera and 45 families. Among these, seven species were trees, 17 shrubs, 71 herbs, and five climbers. Using the whole plant body (30% spp.) for the herbal preparations in the studied area, followed by the use of the leaves (28% spp.) and roots (21% spp.). Among the recorded plant species, Begonia picta, Berberis aristata, Bergenia ciliata, Centella asiatica, Dicliptera bupleuroides, and Malaxis acuminata were the medicinal plant species frequently extracted (from wild) by the villagers. The local floral diversity is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, skin diseases, respiratory disorders, liver disorders, etc. However, important traditional knowledge and cultural practices are decreasing in the younger generation across the ethnic groups of the country due to modernization. The traditional knowledge and wisdom must be maintained and passed on to future generations.

STUDI MORFOMETRIK DAN SKRINING FITOKIMIA IKAN GULAMAH (JOHNIUS TRACHYCEPHALUS) DI PERAIRAN SELAT MALAKA KECAMATAN TANJUNGTIRAM KABUPATEN BATUBARA

Batu Bara Regency is located on the East Coast of North Sumatra, which borders the Malacca Strait. Gulamah fish (Johnius trachycephalus) so far is only used as salted fish with low economic value. However, recently gulamah fish have high economic value and are hunted for their swimming bubbles to be processed into food ingredients such as soup. In addition to the information obtained from collectors and fishermen, these fish bubbles are also used as material for making operating threads. Morphometric data can provide clear information about the taxonomic status of gulamah fish comprehensively. Bioactive compounds are compounds contained in the bodies of animals and plants. This study aims to obtain the relationship between morphometric results with the swimming bubbles of gulamah fish and to obtain the content of bioactive substances in the swimming bubbles of gulamah fish. The results of the regression analysis and the graph of the relationship between length and weight with the coefficient of determination are R² = 0.8736, meaning that 87.36% of fish weight gain occurs due to the increase in fish length or this shows that the correlation coefficient between the length and weight variables has a strong relationship. The results of phytochemical screening of gulamah fish swimming bubble samples have alkaloids with Bouchardart, Maeyer, Dragendroff and Wagner reagents.

Comparative evaluation of the efficiency of enhancing phytoextraction with heavy metals in Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum, Sinapis alba using a disubstituted potassium salt of oxyethylene diphysphonic acid

It is possible to increase the efficiency of phytoextraction by introducing additives that convert less bioavailable compounds of heavy metals into bioavailable fractions in the soil, as well as to increase the rate of transfer of metals into the plant body. The article presents the results of a study of various chemical additives that affect the development and growth of plants when the soil is contaminated with heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Cd). It can be concluded that the disubstituted potassium salt of hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid is a growth stimulant for some plant species, and an increase in growth directly depends on an increase in the concentration of the additive introduced. The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for basic research (RFBR) under the project 18-29-25071.

Meristematic Connectome: A Cellular Coordinator of Plant Responses to Environmental Signals?

Mechanical stress in tree roots induces the production of reaction wood (RW) and the formation of new branch roots, both functioning to avoid anchorage failure and limb damage. The vascular cambium (VC) is the factor responsible for the onset of these responses as shown by their occurrence when all primary tissues and the root tips are removed. The data presented confirm that the VC is able to evaluate both the direction and magnitude of the mechanical forces experienced before coordinating the most fitting responses along the root axis whenever and wherever these are necessary. The coordination of these responses requires intense crosstalk between meristematic cells of the VC which may be very distant from the place where the mechanical stress is first detected. Signaling could be facilitated through plasmodesmata between meristematic cells. The mechanism of RW production also seems to be well conserved in the stem and this fact suggests that the VC could behave as a single structure spread along the plant body axis as a means to control the relationship between the plant and its environment. The observation that there are numerous morphological and functional similarities between different meristems and that some important regulatory mechanisms of meristem activity, such as homeostasis, are common to several meristems, supports the hypothesis that not only the VC but all apical, primary and secondary meristems present in the plant body behave as a single interconnected structure. We propose to name this structure “meristematic connectome” given the possibility that the sequence of meristems from root apex to shoot apex could represent a pluricellular network that facilitates long-distance signaling in the plant body. The possibility that the “meristematic connectome” could act as a single structure active in adjusting the plant body to its surrounding environment throughout the life of a plant is now proposed.

A plant-specific DYRK kinase DYRKP coordinates cell morphology in Marchantia polymorpha

Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinases (DYRKs) are activated via the auto-phosphorylation of conserved tyrosine residues in their activation loop during protein translation, and they then phosphorylate serine/threonine residues on substrates. The DYRK family is widely conserved in eukaryotes and is composed of six subgroups. In plant lineages, DYRK homologs are classified into four subgroups, DYRK2s, yet another kinase1s, pre-mRNA processing factor 4 kinases, and DYRKPs. Only the DYRKP subgroup is plant-specific and has been identified in a wide array of plant lineages, including land plants and green algae. It has been suggested that in Arabidopsis thaliana DYRKPs are involved in the regulation of centripetal nuclear positioning induced by dark light conditions. However, the molecular functions, such as kinase activity and the developmental and physiological roles of DYRKPs are poorly understood. Here, we focused on a sole DYRKP ortholog in the model bryophyte, Marchantia polymorpha, MpDYRKP. MpDYRKP has a highly conserved kinase domain located in the C-terminal region and shares common sequence motifs in the N-terminal region with other DYRKP members. To identify the roles of MpDYRKP in M. polymorpha, we generated loss-of-function Mpdyrkp mutants via genome editing. Mpdyrkp mutants exhibited abnormal, shrunken morphologies with less flattening in their vegetative plant bodies, thalli, and male reproductive organs, antheridial receptacles. The surfaces of the thalli in the Mpdyrkp mutants appeared uneven and disordered. Moreover, their epidermal cells were drastically altered to a narrower shape when compared to the wild type. These results suggest that MpDYRKP acts as a morphological regulator, which contributes to orderly tissue morphogenesis via the regulation of cell shape.

Facile synthesis of various Co3O4/bio-activated carbon electrodes for hybrid capacitor device application

Constructing functionalized carbons decorated with transition metal oxide is an efficient way to combine the cycling stability and high specific capacitance of electrodes for electric double layer capacitors and pseudocapacitors, and the morphology is undoubtedly a key factor for the electrochemical performance. Here, three activated carbons derived from biomass with different morphologies are obtained by carbonizing rosewood (R), corncob (C) and lotus seedpod (L) waste plant body, and then the bio-activated carbons decorated with Co3O4 are prepared by simple oxidation-precipitation and crystallization method. Among the R, C, L carbons, Co3O4, R-Co3O4, C-Co3O4 and L-Co3O4 composites, the L-Co3O4 composite shows best electrochemical performance. At a scan rate of 5 mV s−1, its specific capacitance reaches 1405.3 F g−1 (975 C g−1 at 1 A g−1). Furthermore, a hybrid capacitor is fabricated using L-Co3O4 as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode, resulting in energy density of 23.1 W h kg−1, tremendous power density of 3990.6 W kg−1 and high cycling stability (80.2% retention and coulombic efficiency of 98.8% after 5000 cycles). The equipped hybrid supercapacitor device can work for more than 10 min by lighting a red bulb. Thus, this unique L-Co3O4 composite with simple fabrication method can be considered to be a promising candidate for the electrochemical energy conversion and storage.

Morphophylogenetic assessment of a new moss species Bryum bharatiense sp. nov. (Bryaceae) from Larsemann Hills, Eastern Antarctica

Bryum is recognized as a cosmopolitan genus of mosses in the family Bryaceae that contains the largest diversity of mosses. Although there are around 100 species of moss species reported from Antarctica to date, the actual species diversity remains elusive, as the continent remains one of the least explored habitats globally. Here, we describe a new species of Bryum from the Larsemann Hills, Eastern Antarctica, with several synapomorphic characters, including unbranched plant body, ovate-lanceolate leaves, reflexed leaf margins with slightly serrulate apex, and percurrent coasta. In nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 phylogram, our isolate did not cluster with any known species of this genus. The closest BLASTn hit was found to be Bryum pseudotriquetrum , but our isolate had several distinct synapomorphic traits. Based on morphological and molecular data, a new moss species, Bryum bharatiense sp. nov. is formally proposed herein. Besides, two new taxonomic records are also presented in this study, viz. Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum from Larsemann Hills and Coscinodon lawianus from Schirmacher Oasis.