Plant Choice Research Articles

Green horizons: Exploring the potential of vertical green walls

The term “Green walls” also known as vertical gardens or living walls has emerged as a promising solution to combat the environmental challenges posed by rapid urbanization. This review explores the concept ornamental, plant choice suitable and benefits associated with green walls in urban settings. Utilising vegetation to cover vertical surfaces, green walls offer several benefits to the environment, society and economy. They contribute to improved air quality, noise reduction, energy conservation and biodiversity enhancement. Vertical greenery allows for the utilization of unused wall surfaces, creating green areas without occupying valuable ground space, which is often scarce in urban environments. Additionally, green walls offer aesthetic appeal, promote urban agriculture and create opportunities for community engagement. However, their implementation requires careful consideration of factors such as structural integrity, irrigation and maintenance. Despite these challenges, green walls offer a sustainable and innovative approach to enhancing the quality of urban life while mitigating the negative impacts of urban development on the environment. The current emphasis highlights the significance of green walls as an effective tool in sustainable urban planning, underscoring the need for further research and their integration into urban planning practices.

Agriculture students’ weed collections: Choices of plants and errors in identification

AbstractRequiring students to create weed collections is a common technique for teaching weed identification. Data compiled over 18 years from students’ weed collections in a college‐level course included over 350 species of plants. Almost half of the specimens belonged to the Asteraceae or Poaceae. The 30 most frequently collected species accounted for almost two‐thirds of the specimens but Chenopodium album L., the most frequently collected species, accounted for only 4.8% of the total. Overall, 73.1% of specimens were correctly identified to species. Five species (Abutilon theophrasti Medik., Vicia cracca L., Portulaca oleracea L., Plantago major L., and Asclepias syriaca L.) were correctly identified at least 97% of the time. Misidentification was highest with Scorzoneroides autumnalis (L.) Moench [synonym (syn.) Leontodon autumnalis L.], Malva neglecta Wallroth, Erysiumum cheiranthoides L., Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv., and Erigeron canadensis L. (syn. Conyza canadensis) and within the genera Sonchus L., Setaria P. Beauv., and Digitaria Haller. Misidentification was the lowest in the Equisetaceae, Apocynaceae, Oxalidaceae, and Plantaginaceae and highest in the Lamiaceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Asteraceae. Variability in individual species’ morphology may have contributed to misidentification.

Horizontal and vertical foreign direct investment linkages, absorptive capacity and domestic investment: evidence from Indonesian plant-level data

PurposeThis study examines the effect of horizontal and vertical foreign direct investment (FDI) linkages on the investment decisions of domestic plants. It explores this link for plants in a developing country, where the dynamics of FDI spillovers on domestic investment choices are distinct from those in developed countries. It also adds to the literature by examining the role the absorptive capacity of plants plays in this nexus, enriching our understanding of the interaction between FDI and the investment choices of domestic plants and providing insights for policymakers and managers seeking to maximize the positive effects of FDI spillovers.Design/methodology/approachThis study specifies the dynamic investment equation using the Euler and Q models. This equation is estimated using the first-difference and system generalized method of moments GMM estimators, which allow us to address persistency, endogeneity and unobserved plant-specific effects. FDI exposure proxy, calculated by weighing the FDI engagement variable by firm size, captures the strength of foreign equity participation in an industry and time. Input–output (IO) tables are used to calculate the proxies for horizontal and vertical (backward and forward) FDI. Total factor productivity is calculated using a method advocated by Olley and Pakes (1996) that allows us to control for selection and simultaneity.FindingsWe find that FDI inflows into both the domestic plants’ own industry and the input-supplying industry significantly boost the capital accumulation of the average domestic plants. Differentiating plants based on their absorptive capacities reveals that the presence of foreign firms significantly increases capital deepening for domestic plants with high absorptive capacity within their own industry (horizontal linkage) and in industries that supply inputs to the FDI-exposed industry (backward linkage). However, it leads to a decrease in capital deepening for high absorptive capacity domestic plants in industries using inputs produced by the industry exposed to FDI (forward linkage).Research limitations/implicationsThese findings have implications for policymakers and managers who aim to design incentives to maximize the positive spillover effect of horizontal and vertical FDI linkages on the capital deepening of domestic plants. Exploring additional mechanisms that could play a role in this nexus, separately for plants in different industries (such as the industries in which the country has a comparative advantage), may be fruitful.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, the relationship between the investment behavior of the domestic plants and FDI linkages has not been examined for a developing country. It is useful to explore this link in developing countries, as the investment choices of plants in these nations may be impacted differently by FDI spillovers than those in advanced nations. This study further contributes to the literature by investigating whether the plants’ absorptive capacity affects the nexus between FDI linkages and investment decisions of the domestic plants. The findings are valuable for policymakers and managers who aim to increase plants’ capital accumulation in developing countries.

Ervas medicinais: Promovendo sustentabilidade e renda na agricultura familiar

The research aimed to analyze the costs and feasibility of the cultivation of medicinal herbs Melissa (Melissa officinalis) from Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis) in a rural property in the municipality of Prudentópolis, Paraná. It is based on the premise that crop diversification is essential for the economic self-sufficiency of small properties characterized as family farming. In addition to the economic aspects, the choice of plants for analysis is intrinsically linked to the symbolic and cultural value that medicinal herbs carry, being widely recognized for their therapeutic and healing properties. The cultivation of medicinal plants, therefore, not only contributes to physical health, but also acts as a practice that values the connection with nature and ancestral knowledge, promoting a balance between the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of farmers and the local community. Methodologically, the research is applied, descriptive, documentary, bibliographic and based on case studies. The locus of the research was defined by convenience and accessibility. After data collection and analysis, it was found that both crops are profitable, with a financial return of approximately 30.5% per year. In addition to their economic viability, these plants offer a holistic approach to well-being, contributing to the mental and emotional balance of farmers, who, through cultivation, also rescue traditional practices and strengthen the bond with the land and local culture. The cultivation of medicinal herbs, such as Melissa and Passion Fruit, thus stands out not only as an excellent option for generating income and work, but also as a path to sustainability and the rescue of harmony between human beings and nature, presenting plant alternatives with simple management, good acceptance in the market, ease of sale and attractive prices

Effect of variation in plant-emitted volatiles on the infestation behavior of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in strawberry crops.

The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch, and the Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), are pests commonly found in strawberry crops and pose significant challenges to production. However, the specific dynamics of their interactions with both healthy and infested plants remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the attraction of TSSM and WFT to volatile compounds emitted by healthy plants versus those of plants damaged by either or both species. Plant choice bioassays were conducted under varying conditions, including both healthy and those previously damaged by both TSSM and WFT. Additionally, behavioral tests were carried out using a Y-tube olfactometer, with extracts obtained via dynamic aeration from the plants in different states. The results revealed distinct preferences: TSSM exhibited a strong attraction to both healthy plants and those previously infested by their own specifics, whereas WFT showed a higher preference for healthy plants and those damaged by TSSM. Consistent behaviors were observed in the bioassays conducted with plant extracts. This research sheds light on the intricate interactions between strawberry plants and these pests and offers insights into the probable sequence of attack when both pests are present concurrently. The findings are valuable when implementing management strategies for these two pests in strawberry cultivation, considering the order in which they appear in the crop to help mitigate the damage caused by infestation in a more precise manner and order.

Research on Agricultural Product Price Prediction Based on Improved PSO-GA

The accurate prediction of scallion prices can not only optimize supply chain management and help related practitioners and consumers to make more reasonable purchasing decisions, but also provide guidance for farmers’ planting choices, thus enhancing market efficiency and promoting the sustainable development of the whole industry. This study adopts the idea of decomposition–denoising–aggregation, using three decomposition and denoising techniques combined with three single prediction models to form a base model. Various base models are divided into different combinations based on whether the computational structure is the same or not, and the optimal weights of the combinations are determined by using the improved particle swarm optimization–genetic algorithm (PSO-GA) optimization algorithm in different combinations. The experimental results show that the scallion price in Shandong Province from 2014 to 2023 shows an overall upward trend, and there is a cyclical and seasonal fluctuation pattern of “high in winter and low in summer”; the semi-heterogeneous-PSO-GA model reduces the MAPE by 49.03% and improves the directional accuracy by 41.52%, compared to the optimal single prediction model, ARIMA. In summary, the combined model has the most accurate prediction and strong robustness, which can provide ideas and references for the difficult problem of determining the optimal weights of the combined model in the field of predicting the prices of agricultural products.

Forecasting fish prices with an artificial neural network model during the tuna fraud

Agricultural price forecasting plays an important role in stabilising markets and ensuring food security. It provides insights for various stakeholders to optimise planting choices, allocate resources efficiently and mitigate potential risks. However, price forecasting during food safety incidents poses unique challenges. This study focused on a case of tuna fraud in Spain in 2017, which caused 105 people to fall ill and influenced consumer behaviour in fish purchases. To forecast fish prices during an incident of fraud, we used an artificial neural network model (ANN) based on the price of tuna and its substitutes, salmon and hake, as well as a communication index based on the number of posts regarding the tuna fraud from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). ANN was compared with a threshold vector autoregressive model (TVAR), a classical time series econometric model that offers valuable insights into price dynamics. The results showed that, in the short term, TVAR offers a better price forecast for tuna and salmon, considering the impacts of the X platform. In the medium term, ANN outperformed TVAR. This study contributes to the ANN literature regarding agrifood price forecasting during food safety incidents.

Greening the Gray: Determining Plant Preferences for Indoor Fitness Gyms in the Philippines

Abstract Biophilia is known as the innate connection people have with nature and how green spaces can positively affect basic cognition, mood and health. Mostly applied in urban areas where outdoor green spaces are scarce, designed facilities that incorporate this concept have been observed to be more beneficial to users. Interestingly, one indoor space visited by urban dwellers that have yet to be studied in terms of biophilic design application is fitness gyms. To determine gym members’ preference of planting materials if these were placed in gyms, surveys were distributed online over two weeks. 239 participants composed of actual and potential gym members selected appropriate plants as detailed in the surveys. Site planting considerations or constraints were also identified if these were used indoors. Additionally, their familiarity with biophilia and its advantages were investigated. After the responses were analysed, participants selected Dracaena fragrans, Spathiphyllum wallisii and Epipremnum aureum as top choices of plants for a gym with major considerations on plants’ aesthetic qualities, ecological and psychological benefits, and maintenance. Moreover, more than 50 percent respondents were at least slightly familiar with biophilia. They believed that having plants can improve indoor air quality, make the interiors more aesthetically pleasing and can enhance mood. As per results, it can be said that the respondents supported the idea of designing indoor fitness gyms as biophilic environments although its level of familiarity needs to be increased. This is where professionals come in, by designing facilities such as fitness gyms with plants to optimize biophilia’s benefits.

Evolutionary patterns and functional effects of 3D chromatin structures in butterflies with extensive genome rearrangements

Chromosome rearrangements may distort 3D chromatin architectures and thus change gene regulation, yet how 3D chromatin structures evolve in insects is largely unknown. Here, we obtain chromosome-level genomes for four butterfly species, Graphium cloanthus, Graphium sarpedon, Graphium eurypylus with 2n = 30, 40, and 60, respectively, and Papilio bianor with 2n = 60. Together with large-scale Hi-C data, we find that inter-chromosome rearrangements very rarely disrupted the pre-existing 3D chromatin structure of ancestral chromosomes. However, some intra-chromosome rearrangements changed 3D chromatin structures compared to the ancestral configuration. We find that new TADs and subTADs have emerged across the rearrangement sites where their adjacent compartments exhibit uniform types. Two intra-chromosome rearrangements altered Rel and lft regulation, potentially contributing to wing patterning differentiation and host plant choice. Notably, butterflies exhibited chromatin loops between Hox gene cluster ANT-C and BX-C, unlike Drosophila. Our CRISPR-Cas9 experiments in butterflies confirm that knocking out the CTCF binding site of the loops in BX-C affected the phenotypes regulated by Antp in ANT-C, resulting in legless larva. Our results reveal evolutionary patterns of insect 3D chromatin structures and provide evidence that 3D chromatin structure changes can play important roles in the evolution of traits.

The Added Value of Urban Trees (Tilia tomentosa Moench, Fraxinus excelsior L. and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold) in Terms of Air Pollutant Removal

The serious densification of human settlements necessitates an increase in the role and importance of green infrastructures in the overall functioning of urban ecosystems. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to (1) assess the efficiency of air pollutant removal (potentially toxic elements) of three common ornamental trees (Tilia tomentosa Moench, Fraxinus excelsior L. and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold) and (2) model the air quality regulatory services (removal of PM10, PM2.5 and NO2). Three different approaches were applied—enrichment factor (EF) and metal accumulation factor (MAI) per tree species, as well as simulation modeling for the whole urban forest. The MAI values of the three studied species were found to be very similar, in the range of 22.35 to 23.08, which suggests that these species could be a good choice for planting in urban areas with worsened air quality. The highest EF values were observed for U (3–18), followed by As (1.6–2.56) and Sr (0.87–2.46). The potential of urban forests in countering air pollution was highlighted by three simulated scenarios for PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 removal. The highest removal efficiency was calculated for evergreen species, followed by the mixed composition of deciduous (90%) and evergreen trees (10%), and the scenario with wholly deciduous trees had the lowest one. The contribution of nature-based solutions in meeting air quality standards and enhancing resilience in urban areas was clearly demonstrated. The functional complementarity of the different functional tree groups (coniferous, evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved species) was proven to be crucial for the support of both functional stabilities of the phytocenosis under diverse climatic conditions and during the change of seasonal cycles in the vegetation.

A story of becoming a horticultural threat, cypress jewel beetle Lamprodila festiva (Coleoptera, Buprestidae): analytical approach of its European escalation based on bibliographical sources

The cypress jewel beetle, Lamprodila festiva, as one of the most destructive local invasive pests in Europe is currently an extreme threat to the coniferous Cupressaceae trees. The beetle spread at an unprecedented pace and intensity and poses a threat to many countries. Our study aimed to map the Palearctic distribution of L. festiva and measure the dispersal's pace and directions. Besides, one of our goals was visualising the adult’s seasonal activity and their host plant choice preference. A meta-analytical assessment was carried out to answer these questions based on the related bibliographical sources available in scientific databases. Our results confirmed that L. festiva has spread with extraordinary speed and success across the western Palaearctic areas, where the consequences of global warming have provided optimal conditions. The first population successful reproduction was started at five well-differentiated natural reserve areas across Europe in a latent manner. The flight season of L. festiva typically occurs from May to July, with the peaks varying depending on the area of distribution. Our studies have shown that L. festiva is a typical oligophagous pest, favouring certain species within its range of host plants. Thus, the genera Thuja, Platycladus and Juniperus species are most affected by its damage. Starting from its exceptional distribution characteristics, realising biological explanatory and applied protection research related to this species can become an urgent expectation in the future.

Drought response and urban-pollinator attractiveness of ornamental plant species

Faced with pollinator declines, cities could serve as refuges for biodiversity conservation by managing floral resources in public green spaces. Ornamental plants could play an important role in attracting pollinators because they form part of urban floral management. However, knowledge of how their floral traits respond to drought is lacking, and it is unknown whether they will be suitable for pollinators under future climates. The main objective of this study was to determine the covariation of floral traits of ornamental plant species and effects of drought on them. To this end, in a city greenhouse we measured floral traits of eight ornamental species commonly used in urban green spaces in France. We subjected the plants to a control treatment or a drought treatment, reducing the volume and frequency of watering. We observed interspecific variability in floral traits among these species and a change in covariation between the traits pollen quantity and nectar quantity in the drought treatment. Drought influenced morphological traits related to floral display more than other floral traits, with mean decreases of 28 % in floral height, 35 % in floral area and 58 % in the number of floral units. Ornamental plants seemed attractive to different morphotypes of pollinators depending on their floral unit number, nectar sugar concentration or nectar tube depth, with most visits made by Hymenoptera. These results are expected to encourage green-space managers to select urban plants according to their functional characteristics and adapt their choice of plants to climate change.

Argon non-thermal plasma treatment promotes the development of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in saline alkali environments.

Soil salinization leads to a reduction in arable land area, which seriously endangers food security. Developing saline-alkali land has become a key measure to address the contradiction between population growth and limited arable land. Rice is the most important global food crop, feeding half of the world's population and making it a suitable choice for planting on saline-alkali lands. The traditional salt-alkali improvement method has several drawbacks. Currently, non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology is being increasingly applied in agriculture. However, there are few reports on the cultivation of salt/alkali-tolerant rice. Under alkaline stress, argon NTP treatment significantly increased the germination rate of Longdao 5 (LD5) rice seeds. In addition, at 15kV and 120s, NTP treatment significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and SOD. NTP treatment induced changes in genes related to salt-alkali stress in rice seedlings, such as chitinase and xylanase inhibitor proteins, which increased the tolerance of the seeds to salt-alkali stress. This experiment has expanded the application scope of NTP in agriculture, providing a more cost-effective, less harmful, and faster method for developing salt-alkali-tolerant rice and laying a theoretical foundation for cultivating NTP-enhanced salt-alkali-tolerant rice.

The evolutionary analysis of investment in CCS-EOR under dual carbon target—From the perspective of multi-agent involvement

Carbon capture and storage with enhanced oil recovery (CCS-EOR) technology plays a crucial role in achieving dual carbon targets in China. And the rapid diffusion of technology requires collaboration among various stakeholders involved in industrial chain of CCS-EOR project and then it will cause conflict of interest among the participants. In order to solve the problem existing in CCS-EOR promotion and propel the rapid deployment of low-carbon technology in China, the paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model by incorporating the strategic choices of coal-fired power plants, oilfield enterprises and governments into the framework, explores the respective dynamic evolutionary path of three parties and analyzes the impact of each parameter change on the system evolution results Through the numerical simulation, the paper identifies the optimal evolutionary path to spur the application of CCS-EOR and determine their strategy choices of three involved subjects in the game framework. Based on the sensitivity analysis, results are given as follows: (1) The government's clean electricity subsidy and carbon utilization subsidy have pushed the timing of CCS retrofitting significantly forward, but the initial investment subsidy has little impact on it; (2) Under the cooperation mode of coal-fired power plants and oilfield enterprises, the optimal cost-sharing ratio of the initial investment for coal-fired power plants is about 0.4 to promote both sides to reach cooperation faster. Once it exceeds 0.4, the probability of cooperation between them will be significantly reduced; (3) The carbon tax policy effectively propels the development of CCS-EOR technology. When the carbon tax rises from 30 CNY/t to 120CNY/t, power plants will conduct CCS retrofitting investment two years in advance.

Nutrients or resin? - The relationship between resin and food foraging in stingless bees.

Stingless bees are important pollinators in tropical forests. Yet, we know little about their foraging behavior (e.g., their nutritional requirements or their floral sources visited for resource collection). Many stingless bees not only depend vitally on pollen and nectar for food but also on resin for nest building and/or defense. However, it is unclear whether the large effort devoted to collecting resin as a non-food resource by certain stingless bees affects their foraging behavior. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed differences in foraging patterns (i.e., foraging activity, proportion of collected resources, and specialization in plants visited) and resource nutritional composition (i.e., sucrose amount in nectar and amino acids in pollen) of seven different stingless bee species (eleven wild colonies) in north-western Ecuador with a particular focus on the role of resin collection. We found that species with a high resin intake tended to be more active than species with a low resin intake. The foragers per minute invested for pollen collection were similar across all species. Sucrose intake per minute differed between some species but was not affected by increased resin intake. Interestingly, high and low resin collectors partly differed in the plants visited for pollen collection. Pollen amino acid profiles largely, but not completely, overlapped between the two resin collection groups. Our findings show that the foraging patterns and plant choices of stingless bees may vary depending on their resin intake, highlighting the need for more research focusing on resin collection and use by stingless bees.

Plant choice between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species results in increased plant P acquisition.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant root symbionts that provide phosphorus (P) to plants in exchange for photosynthetically fixed carbon (C). Previous research has shown that plants-given a choice among AMF species-may preferentially allocate C to AMF species that provide more P. However, these investigations rested on a limited set of plant and AMF species, and it therefore remains unclear how general this phenomenon is. Here, we combined 4 plant and 6 AMF species in 24 distinct plant-AMF species compositions in split-root microcosms, manipulating the species identity of AMF in either side of the root system. Using 14C and 32P/33P radioisotope tracers, we tracked the transfer of C and P between plants and AMF, respectively. We found that when plants had a choice of AMF species, AMF species which transferred more P acquired more C. Evidence for preferential C allocation to more beneficial AMF species within individual plant roots was equivocal. However, AMF species which transferred more P to plants did so at lower C-to-P ratios, highlighting the importance both of absolute and relative costs of P acquisition from AMF. When plants had a choice of AMF species, their shoots contained a larger total amount of P at higher concentrations. Our results thus highlight the benefits of plant C choice among AMF for plant P acquisition.

The Odorant Receptor Recognizing Camphor in a Camphor Tree Specialist Orthaga achatina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Camphor has been used as an effective repellent and pesticide to stored products for a long history, but Orthaga achatina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) has evolved to specifically feed on the camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora. However, the behavioral response of O. achatina to camphor and the molecular basis of camphor perception are totally unknown. Here, we demonstrated that both male and female adults were behaviorally attracted to camphor, suggesting the adaptation of O. achatina to and utilization of camphor as a signal of C. camphora. Second, in 40 O. achatina OR genes obtained by analyzing antenna transcriptomes, only OachOR16/Orco significantly responded to camphor in the Xenopus oocyte system. Finally, by molecular docking analysis and site-directed mutagenesis, the Ser209 residue is confirmed to be essential for binding of the oachOR16 with camphor. This study not only reveals the camphor-based host plant choice and olfactory mechanisms of O. achatina but also provides a molecular target for screening more potential insect repellents.

The importance of early human choices of wild plants in determining crop physiology.

The importance of early human choices of wild plants in determining crop physiology.

Climate Change Affects Choice and Management of Training Systems in the Grapevine

Although vertical shoot positioned (VSP) training systems, either cane- or spur-pruned, are adopted in the great majority of the vineyards worldwide, the lianas nature of the grapevine and the presence of long and flexible canes confer high plasticity and render structural and pruning changes quite easy. The focus of this review is if, in light of the most consistent features triggered by global warming (e.g., longer growing season, earlier phenology, faster ripening, higher incidence of overheating stress and sunburn, higher frequency of extreme weather events), the type and management of training systems should also be reconsidered. We surveyed the main methods to assess training system efficiency and the current attempts and outlook toward exploiting the training system as an adaptation tool to climate change. For the latter, we considered 12 main trellis types and scored them based on climate-related features and general traits such as vigor, yield control, susceptibility to fungal diseases, and suitability according to wine types (still or sparkling). The resulting balance of positive and negative recommendations leads to a re-evaluation of either old, nonmechanizable trellis types (e.g., Raggi-Bellussi and pergola types), divided canopy systems (e.g., GDC and Scott Henry) or, among the single canopy types, of the single high wire (SHW) trellis. However, historical systems traditionally used by best regions and producers (e.g., goblet and VSP either cane- or spur-pruned) overall show less adherence to the chosen evaluation criteria. To direct future evolution of training systems, regardless of the broadly shared need for suitability to partial or full mechanization, the scenario looks different depending on cool and temperate (warm) areas. The former experiences an outburst of interest as warming is broadening growing areas and affordable genotypes. Under such circumstances, training systems should help accelerate or favor the ripening process through vigor control and lower yield, better cluster exposure, and nonlimiting leaf area-to-fruit ratio. Whereas, in warm areas that are now becoming sub-tropical areas in the worst cases, the SHW gains credit as compared to goblet and traditional VSP. The latter requires an increasing number of canopy manipulations and a rethinking of some planting choices to accommodate the needs of slower and more delayed ripening, more cluster shading, and higher cordons, the latter reducing the probability of incurring significant frost damage.

Gaussian process regression models for the properties of micro-tearing modes in spherical tokamaks

Spherical tokamaks have many desirable features that make them an attractive choice for a future fusion power plant. Power-plant viability is intrinsically related to plasma heat and particle confinement, and this is often determined by the level of micro-instability-driven turbulence. Accurate calculation of the properties of turbulent microinstabilities is therefore critical for tokamak design; however, the evaluation of these properties is computationally expensive. The considerable number of geometric and thermodynamic parameters and the high resolutions required to accurately resolve these instabilities make repeated use of direct numerical simulations in integrated modeling workflows extremely computationally challenging and create the need for fast, accurate, reduced-order models. This paper outlines the development of a data-driven reduced-order model, often termed a surrogate model for the properties of micro-tearing modes (MTMs) across a spherical tokamak reactor-relevant parameter space utilizing Gaussian process regression and classification, techniques from machine learning. These two components are used in an active learning loop to maximize the efficiency of data acquisition, thus minimizing computational cost. The high-fidelity gyrokinetic code GS2 is used to calculate the linear properties of the MTMs: the mode growth rate, frequency, and normalized electron heat flux, and core components of a quasi-linear transport model. Data cross-validation and direct validation on unseen data are used to ascertain the performance of the resulting surrogate models.