Plant Capacity Research Articles

The general ratooning ability of rice yield‐related traits: A meta‐analysis

AbstractNumerous studies have attempted to pinpoint certain traits of rice varieties linked with great ratooning ability that may be used in cultural practice. However, both genetic and environmental variables affect rice's capacity for ratooning. We are able to measure the innovative ratooning ability that affects the decline in ratoon yield using the agronomic features of the main crop and ratoon rice in our global database for a meta‐analysis, drawn from 51 experiments in 14 countries. We discovered that changes in cultivar yield and maturity features, cropping location, and nitrogen fertilizer treatment may all affect a plant's capacity to tiller. On the other hand, the growth duration ratoon ability was less responsive to variations in cultivars and cropping location. We also found that ratooning changes the plant architecture for yield generation from bigger spikelets with fewer panicles to fewer spikelets (dropping 48%) with larger panicles (increasing 19%). We came to the conclusion based on our research that the decreased yield in ratoon crops may be caused by fast ear emergence and aggressive tillering, which negatively influence stem elongation, panicle differentiation, and a lack of nutrition, resulting in fewer spikelets (panicle−1). The present data are thoroughly summarized and analyzed in this research, which also clarifies the lack of knowledge around the characteristics that affect ratoon rice crop production.

Integrated biorefinery for bioethanol and succinic acid co-production from bread waste: Techno-economic feasibility and life cycle assessment

In this study, an advanced decarbonization approach is presented for an integrated biorefinery that co-produces bioethanol and succinic acid (SA) from bread waste (BW). The economic viability and the environmental performance of the proposed BW processing biorefinery is evaluated. Four distinctive scenarios were designed and analysed, focusing on a plant capacity that processes 100 metric tons (MT) of BW daily. These scenarios encompass: (1) the fermentation of BW into bioethanol, paired with heat and electricity co-generation from stillage, (2) an energy-optimized integration of Scenario 1 using pinch technology, (3) the co-production of bioethanol and SA by exclusively utilizing fermentative CO2, and (4) an advanced version of Scenario 3 that incorporates carbon capture (CC) from flue gas, amplifying SA production. Scenarios 3 and 4 were found to be economically more attractive with better environmental performance due to the co-production of SA. Particularly, Scenario 4 emerged as superior, showcasing a payback period of 2.2 years, a robust internal rate of return (33% after tax), a return on investment of 32%, and a remarkable net present value of 163 M$. Sensitivity analysis underscored the decisive influence of fixed capital investment and product pricing on economic outcomes. In terms of environmental impact, Scenario 4 outperformed other scenarios across all impact categories, where global warming potential, abiotic depletion (fossil fuels), and human toxicity potential were the most influential impact categories (−0.344 kg CO2-eq, −16.2 MJ, and −0.3 kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DB)-eq, respectively). Evidently, the integration of CC unit to flue gas in Scenario 4 substantially enhances both economic returns and environmental sustainability of the biorefinery.

Peyzaj koruma ve onarım açısından güneş enerji santralleri: İzmir’de yerel yönetimlerin faaliyetleri

Objective: The aim is to reveal depending on the location choices of solar power plantsthe landscape protection strategies and what needs to be done in terms of landscape restoration after the operations of the power plants are completed.
 Material and Methods: Seven solar power plants owned by local governments in İzmir constituted the main material of this study. In this context, observations were made in the research areas, the characteristics of the installed solar power plants were determined and their environmental effects were evaluated within the scope of landscape protection and repair.
 Results: The installation years, locations, installed capacity, and installation areas of the solar power plants, which are the subject of the research differ from each other. Therefore, their environmental impacts are different from each other. In order to evaluate the environmental impact, the profiles of the power plants within the scope of the research were examined by taking into account the standards of electricity generation from solar energy, and their distances to different uses and transportation axes were measured as bird flights. In addition, the areas covered by the installed power plants were revealed and the usage areas of the produced energy were specified.
 Conclusion: Five of the seven solar power plants examined within the scope of the research are assembled roofs and the other two are land applications. Since more space is required in the area preparation, logistics, and installation of solar power plants, which are land applications, the negative impact on the environment is higher. In order to prevent or reduce these negative effects, appropriate and comprehensive landscape repair plans should be prepared with conservation decisions for the solar power plant areas that are actively working, whose activities have been terminated and will be newly installed.

Bioethanol separation by a new pass-through distillation process

Distillation is the most used separation technology at industrial-scale, but using distillation in bio-based processes (e.g. fermentation processes to produce bioethanol) is quite challenging when mild temperatures are needed to keep the microbes alive. Vacuum distillation can be used to perform evaporation at low temperatures, but setting a low distillation pressure fixes also the condensation temperature to very low values that may require expensive refrigeration.Pass-through distillation (PTD) is an emerging hybrid separation technology that effectively combines distillation with absorption in a sorption-assisted distillation process that decouples the evaporation and condensation steps. This is achieved by inserting between the evaporation and condensation steps an absorption-desorption loop that passes through the component to be separated and allows the use of different pressures and types of heating and cooling utilities.This paper is the first to present the process design and rigorous simulation (implemented in Aspen Plus) of a new pass-through distillation process for bioethanol (∼100 ktonne/y plant capacity), proving its effectiveness in concurrent alcohol recovery and fermentation (CARAF). Combining PTD with heat pumps leads to low recovery costs of 0.122 $/kgEtOH and energy requirements of only 1.723 kWthh/kgEtOH. Alternatively, combining PTD with multi-effect distillation resulted in 0.131 $/kgEtOH recovery costs and 1.834 kWthh/kgEtOH energy intensity.

Global potential distribution of mangroves: Taking into account salt marsh interactions along latitudinal gradients

Mangrove is one of the most productive and sensitive ecosystems in the world. Due to the complexity and specificity of mangrove habitat, the development of mangrove is regulated by several factors. Species distribution models (SDMs) are effective tools to identify the potential habitats for establishing and regenerating the ecosystem. Such models usually include exclusively environmental factors. Nevertheless, recent studies have challenged this notion and highlight the importance of including biotic interactions. Both factors are necessary for a mechanistic understanding of the mangrove distribution in order to promote the protection and restoration of mangroves. Thus, we present a novel approach of combining environmental factors and interactions with salt marsh for projecting mangrove distributions at the global level and within latitudinal zones. To test the salt marsh interaction, we fit the MaxEnt model with two predicting sets: (1) environments only and (2) environments + salt marsh interaction index (SII). We found that both sets of models had good predictive ability, although the SII improved model performance slightly. Potential distribution areas of mangrove decrease with latitudes, and are controlled by biotic and abiotic factors. Temperature, precipitation and wind speed are generally critical at both global scale and ecotones along latitudes. SII is important on global scale, with a contribution of 5.9%, ranking 6th, and is particularly critical in the 10–30°S and 20–30°N zone. Interactions with salt marsh, including facilitation and competition, are shown to affect the distribution of mangroves at the zone of coastal ecotone, especially in the latitudinal range from 10° - 30°. The contribution of SII to mangrove distribution increases with latitudes due to the difference in the adaptive capacity of salt marsh plants and mangroves to environments. Totally, this study identified and quantified the effects of salt marsh on mangrove distribution by establishing the SII. The results not only facilitate to establish a more accurate mangrove distribution map, but also improve the efficiency of mangrove restoration by considering the salt marsh interaction in the mangrove management projects. In addition, the method of incorporating biotic interaction into SDMs through establish the biotic interaction index has contributed to the development of SDMs.

Proline-mediated redox regulation in wheat for mitigating nickel-induced stress and soil decontamination

Nickel (Ni) is known as a plant micronutrient and serves as a component of many significant enzymes, however, it can be extremely toxic to plants when present in excess concentration. Scientists are looking for natural compounds that can influence the development processes of plants. Therefore, it was decided to use proline as a protective agent against Ni toxicity. Proline (Pro) is a popularly known osmoprotectant to regulate the biomass and developmental processes of plants under a variety of environmental stresses, but its role in the modulation of Ni-induced toxicity in wheat is very little explored. This investigation indicated the role of exogenously applied proline (10 mM) on two wheat varieties (V1 = Punjab-11, V2 = Ghazi-11) exposed to Ni (100 mg/kg) stress. Proline mediated a positive rejoinder on morphological, photosynthetic indices, antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress markers, ion uptake were analyzed with and without Ni stress. Proline alone and in combination with Ni improved the growth, photosynthetic performance, and antioxidant capacity of wheat plants. However, Ni application alone exhibited strong oxidative damage through increased H2O2 (V1 = 28.96, V2 = 55.20) accumulation, lipid peroxidation (V1 = 26.09, V2 = 38.26%), and reduced translocation of macronutrients from root to shoot. Application of Pro to Ni-stressed wheat plants enhanced actions of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total soluble protein (TSP) contents by 45.70, 44.06, 43.40, and 25.11% in V1, and 39.32, 46.46, 42.22, 55.29% in V2, compared to control plants. The upregulation of antioxidant enzymes, proline accumulation, and uptake of essential mineral ions has maintained the equilibrium of Ni in both wheat cultivars, indicating Ni detoxification. This trial insight into an awareness that foliar application of proline can be utilized as a potent biochemical method in mitigating Ni-induced stress and might serve as a strong remedial technique for the decontamination of polluted soil particularly with metals.

Foliar application of plant growth regulators for enhancing heavy metal phytoextraction efficiency by Sedum alfredii Hance in contaminated soils: Lab to field experiments

The phytoremediation efficiency of plants in removing the heavy metals (HMs) might be influenced by their growth status and accumulation capacity of plants. Herein, we conducted a lab-scale experiment and a field try out to assess the optimal plant growth regulators (PGRs) including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)/brassinolide (BR)/abscisic acid (ABA) in improving the phytoextraction potential of Sedum alfredii Hance (S. alfredii). The results of pot experiment revealed that application of IAA at 0.2 mg/L, BR at 0.4 mg/L, and ABA at 0.2 mg/L demonstrated notable potential as optimal dosage for Cd/Pb/Zn phytoextraction in S. alfredii. The findings of subcellular level of Cd/Pb/Zn in leaves showed that IAA (0.2 mg/L), BR (0.4 mg/L) or ABA (0.2 mg/L) promoted the HMs storage in the soluble and cell wall fraction, therefore contributing HMs subcellular compartmentation. In addition, application of PGRs notably enhanced the antioxidant system (SOD, CAT, POD, APX activities) while reducing lipid peroxidation (MDA content) in S. alfredii, consequently improving HMs tolerance and growth of S. alfredii. Moreover, the results of field trial showed that application of BR, IAA, or ABA+BR substantially improved the growth of S. alfredii by inducing plants biomass and augmenting the levels of photosynthetic pigment contents. Notably, ABA+BR noticed the highest theoretical biomass by 42.9 %, followed by IAA (41.6 %), and BR (36.4 %), as compared with CK. Additionally, ABA+BR treatment showed effectiveness in removing the Cd by 103.4 %, while BR and IAA led to a significant increase of Pb and Zn removal by 239 % and 116 %, respectively, when compared with CK. Overall, the results of this study highlights that the foliar application of IAA, BR, or ABA+BR can serve as viable strategy to boosting phytoremediation efficiency of S. alfredii in contaminated soil by improving the biomass and metal accumulation in harvestable parts.

Geoecological analysis of the state of forest park plantations in the Dnipro city using Landsat satellite images


 
 
 The importance of the number and viability of green areas for creating a com- fortable and safe life for residents of urbanized areas is increasing with the growth of cities, which has not stopped since the first half of the 20th century. Dnipro is a city with progressive air pollution, therefore the effective use of its green areas in this aspect – the selection of tree species, regular assessment of their condition and timely response to changes in vegetative activity – becomes especially relevant. To solve the research task, a combination of on-site and remote methods of assessing the vital state of green areas of the city was chosen. First, spatial and statistical information about the city’s green areas was defined and summarized, and a cartographic and statistical base of raw data was created, potential anthropogenic factors of influence were determined, and reference areas were selected. At the second stage, a systematic survey and assessment of the vital state of the trees of selected areas was carried out for seven years: morphometric indicators of trees of certain species and assessment of the state of their morphological elements (roots, trunk, crown, leaves). According to the degree of damage, trees were classified as: healthy, weakened (damaged), severely weakened; dying and dead. At the third stage of the study, the correlation of the vital state indicator (Ln) and the normalized vegetation index (NDVI) was determined, based on images from Landsat sensors 8 and 9 of the L1 processing level, pre-processing of the images was performed using the SCP (Semi-automatic Classification Plugin) module integrated in QGIS. According to the results of on-site research, it was found that for the period 2015-2021, most parks and squares of the control group belong to the second category (weakened), three to the first (healthy) and one to the third (severely weakened). The main types of damage have been identified as well as species of trees that are most susceptible to damage. The dynamics of vegetation activity indicators reflect the general tendency to increase the vegetation cover of the city for six years. According to the results of the correlation analysis of NDVI and Ln values, a stable dependence between the index of vital state and the normalized vegetation index was revealed. The correlation between the specified indicators for each particular year is direct and varies from 0.5 to 0.9. The vital state of forest park plantations in Dnipro city is at a satisfactory level. The average Ln for the entire city is 65.6%. It was concluded that the exploitation of the gas-absorbing capacity of plants must be carried out in combination with technical measures in order to activate the processes of improving the environment.
 
 

РАСЧЕТ ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКОГО БАЛАНСА МНОГОАГРЕГАТНОЙ ВЕТРОЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКОЙ УСТАНОВКИ В УСЛОВИЯХ НИЗКИХ СРЕДНЕПЕРИОДИЧЕСКИХ СКОРОСТЕЙ ВЕТРА

Energy supply of small facilities of the agro-industrial complex of Russia in remote rural areas using wind energy is an urgent task. Classical wind power plants operate efficiently at a wind speed of more than 7 meters per second, but in most of Russia such a wind speed is rare. Therefore, the utilization rate of the installed capacity of a wind farm is only 0.2. (Research Purpose) The research purpose is developing a method of increasing the utilization rate of the installed capacity of a wind farm and calculating its energy balance at average periodic wind speeds from 4 to 6 meters per second. (Materials and methods) To implement the proposed method, a multi-unit wind power plant consisting of wind receiving devices of various types driven by hydraulic pumps was used. As a result, the working fluid is feed into the hydraulic accumulating unit, from where the working fluid is fed to the hydraulic motor, which provides rotation of the generator shaft. (Results and discussion) At a wind speed of 4-11 meters per second, the total supply of the working fluid of all hydraulic pumps is greater than the required flow rate of the hydraulic pump. It was found out that in a typical period with an average periodic wind speed of 4-6 meters per second, the total volume of fluid supply by hydraulic pumps is 605.2; 758.0; 844.6 liters per hour, respectively. At the end of the period, 5.2 and 158.0 to 254.6 liters of liquid remain in the storage unit, which can compensate for calm periods up to 15-20 minutes. (Conclusions) The proposed method for increasing the utilization rate of the installed capacity of a wind power plant provides the required supply of hydraulic fluid at an average periodic wind speed of 4-6 meters per second, the annual utilization rate of the installed capacity of a wind power plant is 40-50 percent.

Diagnosing grid’s service quality issues: the virtual microgrid and the digitization and innovations in the power distribution grid.

Power quality issues from small and medium-sized grid-integrated solar photovoltaic systems (PMGD), whose plant capacity is less than or equal to 9 MW, challenge electric power distribution companies like ENEL Distribución S.A. in Chile. To tackle these challenges, leveraging rapidly configurable, scalable, and easily deployable distributed energy resources (DER) through a virtual power plant (VPP) is crucial. This paper introduces a "virtual microgrid," a specific VPP design and functional specification that swiftly diagnoses and resolves power quality issues. Virtual power plants use renewable energy sources, energy storage, and smart energy management to provide ancillary services to the grid. With the expanding PMGD market in Chile and globally, there is an urgent need for deployable DER to energize feeder sub-sections during reliability events and create grid pathways between DER and loads. Thus, DER are essential for enhancing grid flexibility, reliability, and maintaining the stability and integrity of electric supply quality standards. VPPs can reduce high costs associated with utility grid power capacity deficiencies in areas with unstable power supply, enhancing resilience and flexibility without compromising system stability. This study presents a novel approach—currently at the conceptual development stage—for diagnosing service quality issues related to grid supply through the rapid deployment of a configurable and fully scalable virtual microgrid. This solution is particularly relevant for zones in Santiago, Chile, where ENEL Chile faces challenges due to the increasing presence of PMGD—independent solar farms injecting all their production into the grid for profit, as permitted by current Chilean electric law (N°88/2019 of Ministry of Energy). Such practices negatively impact grid service quality standards, which can be mitigated through the deployment of virtual microgrids. The concept of a "virtual microgrid" emphasizes rapid configurability, scalability, and ease of deployment, tailored to address specific grid quality issues. Unlike previous efforts, this approach focuses on seamlessly integrating DER with existing grid infrastructure to quickly address and mitigate power quality issues caused by PMGD.

A Guide to Quantify Arabidopsis Seedling Thermomorphogenesis at Single Timepoints and by Interval Monitoring.

Temperature-induced elongation of hypocotyls, petioles, and roots, together with hyponastic leaf responses, constitute key model phenotypes that can be used to assess a plant's capacity for thermomorphogenesis. Phenotypic responses are often quantified at a single time point during seedling development at different temperatures. However, to capture growth dynamics, several time points need to be assessed, and ideally continuous measurements are taken. Here we describe a general experimental setup and technical solutions for recording and measuring seedling phenotypes at single and multiple time points. Furthermore, we present an R-package called "rootdetectR," which allows easy processing of hypocotyl, root or petiole length, and growth rate data and provides different options of data presentation.

Modeling of Capacity Factor in Rembang Coal-Fired Steam Power Plant Using Regression Modelin

Coal-Fired Steam Power Plant (PLTU) Rembang is an important power plant in the Central Java electricity system. Like other coal-fired steam power plants, fuel cost is the most significant expense when operating the PLTU Rembang. During the 2019-2021 period, the average fuel cost was 73.88% of total costs. One of the ways to reduce fuel costs is by improving the accuracy of fuel demand planning. Fuel procurement planning is very dependent on the projected amount of electricity sales from power plant, which is largely determined by the power plant's Capacity Factor (CF). However, PLTU Rembang does not have any CF prediction modeling. This research developed and compared four prediction models: random forest regression, support vector regression, multiple polynomial regression, and multiple linear regression. Based on the comparison of validation from the four prediction model with MAPE and R-squared parameters, the multiple linear regression models is the best model, with the lowest MAPE of 7.83% and the highest R-squared of 0.8814. This multiple linear regression model can be used to predict the CF of PLTU Rembang in the future so that fuel demand planning is more accurate.

Solar parallel feed multi effect distillation plant: An experimental study

This paper discusses about the parametric studies carried out on 10 m3/day capacity multi effect distillation desalination plant. In the present work studies were performed to determine the effect of process parameters on the production capacity of the MED plant. GOR of plant is around 3.6. Effect of solar irradiation on the evaporation rate in each effect is determined and presented with respect to time. Influence of the operating pressure and temperature on the performance of each effect is measured during the experiment and presented in the current work. Influence of steam input on the system performance is discussed. It was observed that increase in solar irradiation influences the steam production. Increase in the steam production rate influences GOR. Increase in the solar irradiation by 24% maximum on a typical day resulted in increase of evaporation rate by 20.6%, 17.3%, 15.7% and 12.3% corresponding to the effect 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. It was also observed that the production rate is found to be higher after the mid noon compared to the forenoon even though the solar irradiation is measured to be comparatively higher in forenoon than after mid noon.

Combating browning: mechanisms and management strategies in in vitro culture of economic woody plants.

Browning presents a significant challenge in the in vitro culture of economically important woody plants, primarily due to high levels of lignification and the accumulation of secondary metabolites. This phenomenon hampers the development of efficient regeneration and genetic transformation systems across diverse species. This review examines the internal and external factors contributing to browning, including genetic attributes, tree genotypes, physiological state of explants, explant surface sterilization, medium composition, and overall culture conditions. It explores the underlying mechanisms of browning, particularly enzymatic browning caused by the oxidation of phenolic compounds, and highlights the crucial role of redox pathways and phenolic metabolism. Conventional methods for assessing browning, such as sensory evaluation by researchers and the examination of paraffin sections stained with toluidine blue, are commonly used but introduce significant delays and potential biases. The review emphasizes the importance of accurate and timely browning assessment methods, notably the use of Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) staining, as a reliable and quantitative measure of cell viability to better evaluate browning intensity and progression. Additionally, this review explores the potential manipulation of key genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway to lower phenolic biosynthesis. Advanced strategies, such as regenerative gene manipulation and natural product encapsulation, are also discussed for their potential to improve regeneration outcomes. By integrating recent advancements in molecular biology and tissue culture techniques, this review offers novel insights and potential solutions for mitigating browning, thereby enhancing the regeneration capacities of woody plants. This comprehensive approach addresses the mechanistic bases of browning and underscores the importance of optimizing cultural practices and genetic strategies to overcome this challenge.

Capacity of Gliricidia sepium and Indigofera zollingeriana plants which were given Rhizobium inoculants as a source of feed for Bali caws on post-mining lands

Capacity of Gliricidia sepium and Indigofera zollingeriana plants which were given Rhizobium inoculants as a source of feed for Bali caws on post-mining lands

РЕАЛИЗАЦИЯ ИНТЕЛЛЕКТУАЛЬНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ НЕПРЯМОГО ПРОГНОЗИРОВАНИЯ ВЫРАБАТЫВАЕМОЙ ЭЛЕКТРОЭНЕРГИИ СОЛНЕЧНОЙ ЭЛЕКТРОСТАНЦИИ КАК ПРОГРАММЫ ДЛЯ ЭВМ

The forecasting of electric power generated by a solar power plant enables effective and safe control over electric networks which integrate a cluster of solar power plants. Penalty rates for the purchase of solar power at the day-ahead market, which deviates by more than 5 % of the maximum capacity of solar power plants from the provided hourly model of the day-ahead market of solar power generation, update the accuracy of the day-ahead market model through effective intelligent systems for forecasting solar power generation. It has been found that there is no accessible software for successful forecasting of solar power generation; the advisability and relevance of designing such software with an intelligent system have been shown based on the fi ndings of the examined existing software. The study developed, tested and implemented an intelligent system of indirect forecasting of solar power generation in the form of computer software designed based on a modifi ed fuzzy neural network with an attention mechanism. A class diagram and a block-modular architecture for computer software that implements an intelligent system of indirect forecasting of solar power generation were developed in UML notes using the Microsoft Visio CASE tool. A block-modular architecture provides the fl exibility of computer software. The computer software implementing an intelligent system of indirect forecasting for solar power generation was tested for effectiveness, robust results, and the advisability of its application for building a day-ahead market model. The SCADA database of a solar power plant can be easily integrated with an intelligent system of indirect forecasting of solar power generation.

Promising Directions of Increasing Energy Efficiency and Development of Green Energy in the Household Sector of Ukraine

The article aims to highlight energy efficiency improvements in Ukraine's household sector through green energy adoption. Utilizing graphical, analytical, and predictive methods, including polynomial regression, the study analyzed data from 2014 to 2022 on generation, consumption of renewable energy sources (RES), and renewable energy tariffs. The research spanned 8 quarters and identified solar power as the favored RES choice among households due to attractive tariffs and easy installation. Projections suggest a biennial doubling of plant numbers and capacity, leading to increased household income from solar energy sales. These findings encourage further exploration of payback periods and economic viability for diverse RES options across Ukrainian regions.

Accelerated design of Power-to-X process chains for transient operation using Recurrent Neural Networks

Climate change requires a reorientation towards renewable energy generation and storage technologies, especially from solar and wind-based sources. Power-to-X technologies offer a promising way to convert renewable energy into chemical energy carriers based on green hydrogen. A major obstacle to the implementation of such systems is the need to operate the plants dynamically to account for fluctuations. The conventional design of these process chains is usually done through complex dynamic flowsheet simulations, which require specialized engineers and are therefore time-consuming and costly.This study presents an innovative approach to build surrogate models of process chains by using Recurrent Neural Networks and in detail Long Short-Term Memory. To establish a basis for the training data of these models, process simulations were performed with respect to critical parameters for plant dynamics and capacity adjustment. The developed models can represent the dynamics of the process and allow the estimation of annual production volumes for different geographical locations, based on local wind speeds. In addition, plant-specific variables, such as the number of cells in hydrogen-producing electrolysis, can be modified and optimized. These models open the possibility of making informed decisions at an early project stage and reduce the risk of implementing dynamic Power-to-X plants.

Tolerance of Hymenaea stigonocarpa mart. Ex Hayne. To glyphosate.

Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne has leaves with adaxial and abaxial epidermis covered by a very thick cuticle, in addition to anatomical structures involved in reducing the amount of herbicide absorbed by plants. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that H. stigonocarpa is potentially resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, exposing the plants to different doses (0, 96, 240, 480, and 960 g a.e ha-1). We carried out assessments of the symptoms, anatomy, growth and physiology of the plants and found that exposure to glyphosate negatively affected the height and number of leaves of the plants. Leaf fall resulted in a reduction in the photosynthetic capacity of plants, which responded by investing in stem diameter. Despite this, no visual symptoms of glyphosate toxicity were observed at the concentrations evaluated and histochemical tests did not detect signs of oxidative stress in the leaves, nor starch accumulation, indicating that carbohydrate translocation was not impaired. These results confirm our hypothesis of tolerance of H. stigonocarpa to glyphosate. Furthermore, plants exposed to the lowest doses of glyphosate (96 and 240 g ha-1) showed good growth, photosynthesis, transpiration and photochemical potential responses, indicating a hormetic effect in this application range.

Uptake and physiological impacts of nanoplastics in trees with divergent water use strategies.

Anthropogenic contaminants can place significant stress on vegetation, especially when they are taken up into plants. Plastic pollution, including nanoplastics (NPs), could be detrimental to tree functioning, by causing, for example, oxidative stress or reducing photosynthesis. While a number of studies have explored the capacity of plants to take up NPs, few have simultaneously assessed the functional damage due to particulate matter uptake. To quantify NPs uptake by tree roots and to determine whether this resulted in subsequent physiological damage, we exposed the roots of two tree species with different water use strategies in hydroponic cultures to two concentrations (10 mg L-1 and 30 mg L-1) of model metal-doped polystyrene NPs. This approach allowed us to accurately quantify low concentrations of NPs in tissues using standard approaches for metal analysis. The two contrasting tree species included Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst), a water conservative tree, and wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis [L.] Crantz), an early successional tree with a rather water spending strategy. At both exposure concentrations and at each of the experimental time points (two and four weeks), NPs were highly associated and/or concentrated inside the tree roots. In both species, maximum concentrations were observed after 2 weeks in the roots of the high concentration (HC) treatment (spruce: 2512 ± 304 μg NPs per g DW (dry weight), wild service tree: 1190 ± 823 μg NPs per g DW). In the aboveground organs (stems and leaves or needles), concentrations were one to two orders of magnitude lower than in the roots. Despite relatively similar NPs concentrations in the tree aboveground organs across treatments, there were different temporal impacts on tree physiology of the given species. Photosynthetic efficiency was reduced faster (after 2 weeks of NPs exposure) and more intensively (by 28% in the HC treatment) in wild service trees compared to Norway spruce (ca. 10% reduction only after 4 weeks). Our study shows that both, evergreen coniferous as well as deciduous broadleaf tree species are negatively affected in their photosynthesis by NPs uptake and transport to aboveground organs. Given the likelihood of trees facing multiple, concurrent stressors from anthropogenic pollution and climate change, including the impact of NPs, it is crucial to consider the cumulative effects on vegetation in future.