Crown Width Research Articles

Groundcover improves nutrition and growth of citrus trees and reduces water runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss on sloping farmland

IntroductionGroundcover management plays a crucial role in improving water retention and soil nutrition in orchard systems, thereby preventing environmental constrains by non-point source pollution. However, effectiveness of groundcover management in citrus orchards developed on sloping farmland with eroded purple soil has not been studied in detail. In particular, information on the soil nutrient losses, e.g., nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), through interflow and its effects on growth and nutrition of citrus plants has not been reported.MethodsThe present study evaluated the effects of different cover crops, i.e., Lolium perenne L. (Lolium), Vicia villosa Roth (Vicia) and Orychophragmus violaceus (Ory), on nutrition and growth of citrus trees as well as water, soil and nutrient retention in an orchard developed in sloping farmland during two consecutive years.Results and discussionThe results show that the groundcover species Lolium and Vicia mediated nursing effects on nutrition and growth of citrus trees. These nursing effects included enhanced foliar levels of carbon(C), N and P as well as increased tree height, stem diameter, and crown width. Groundcover management generally reduced the annual surface runoff, interflow, soil loss, total N loss and total P loss. Among the cover crop species studied, Lolium and Vicia were overall more efficient than Ory in this context. Lolium reduced the average annual total loss of N and P by 42.53% and 49.23%, respectively, compared with clean tillage. The estimated annual reduction potentials of soil, N and P losses in Southwestern China were 16.3, 3.4 and 8.5 million tons yr-1, respectively. Obviously, Lolium and Vicia provide highly beneficial ground coverage on sloping farmland and, thus, can be used for future sustainable development of citrus orchards.

MANEJO DO SORRISO GENGIVAL ATRAVÉS DO USO DA TOXINA BOTULÍNICA TIPO A

An aesthetically pleasing smile results from the combination of several factors, such as the position, size, shape, and color of the teeth, as well as the exposure and characteristics of the gingival tissue. When evaluating the gingival tissue in a smile, several important factors must be considered: excessive vertical growth of the maxilla, reduced length of the upper lip, excessive contraction of the upper lip, and disproportion between the length and width of the clinical crown of the anterior teeth. A minimally invasive approach that can be used as a complement to dental treatment is the application of botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine in the presynaptic vesicles of neuromuscular junctions, inhibiting muscle contraction. The aim of this literature review was to analyze the use of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in the management of gummy smile. The search was conducted in the databases Google Scholar, PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). The descriptors used for the search were "botulinum toxin," "gingiva," "periodontology," and "dental aesthetics," combined using the boolean operators AND and OR. Although the evidence demonstrates favorable results, the use of botulinum toxin to correct gummy smile has limitations. It is a temporary solution, and patients should be informed about the need for periodic reapplications and the potential side effects, such as facial asymmetries. The reviewed studies indicate that this technique is particularly effective in cases of gummy smile resulting from hyperactivity of the upper lip elevator muscle, providing a significant reduction in gingival exposure, with results lasting up to 12 weeks. The combination of different therapeutic approaches, along with a careful evaluation of the causes of gummy smile, allows dental professionals to offer more integrated and personalized solutions for each patient.

Analysis of Influencing Factors of Green View Index Based on Street View Segmentation

Abstract. The calculation of green view index in street view image has become an emerging choice for many researchers. This article proposes a PSAT-Net semantic segmentation model and specifically designs a pyramid pooling attention module. This module cleverly integrates channel and spatial information, implicitly implementing a three-dimensional attention mechanism, and significantly improving performance indicators. By performing detailed semantic segmentation on street view image, this article deeply analyzes the impact of different street view parameter configurations on green view index, and studies in detail how these parameters affect the visual perception of urban greening. The experiment found that: (1) The Green view index(GVI) of most sampling points decreases as the FOV increases. The increase in GVI is mainly affected by the crown width and pitch angle, and the high-value points of GVI are more easily affected. (2) Pitch angle usually causes a slight increase in GVI, which is mainly affected by the distribution of tall trees and low vegetation. Tall trees cause an increase in GVI, while low vegetation causes a decrease in GVI. Similarly, high value points of GVI are more likely to produce larger differences. (3) The Heading parameter has no obvious impact on the overall visual impact of GVI. The difference in independent sampling points comes from the angle between the lens acquisition direction and the road forward direction.These findings not only enrich the theoretical connotation of green view index research, but also provide valuable references for practical applications.

Dimensions of Posterior Implant Restorations Related to Intra-Coronal Cantilever and Occlusal Forces: An In Vitro Study.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation of the implant position to the implant crown and analyze the location and magnitude of bite force. The dimensions of 49 posterior implant-supported restorations were recorded in terms of: 1. implant diameter, 2. crown length, 3. crown width, 4. crown height, 5. occlusal surface of the restoration. The crown/implant height was measured and the distance between the implant center and the restoration center revealed the size of intra-coronal cantilevers. The occlusal force analysis determined the point and magnitude of loading. Correlation coefficient r was used for the statistical process and statistical control was carried out with the aid of t-test with minimum level of significance p < 0.05. - The mean crown-to-implant ratio was 0.9 and in short implants (< 10mm) the ratio was 1.28. - Intra-coronal cantilever extensions ranged from 2.1 mm to 6.35 mm depending on crown size. - Occlusal loading was identified in cantilever areas of the crown. - Implant center deviates from crown center in 71%-82% of the cases depending on site location. - Implants with non-ideal position may support a functionally occluding crown. Intra-coronal cantilevers are a critical factor to avoid clinical complications and should be taken under consideration both in the planning and fabrication phase of implant restorations.

ALS-Based, Automated, Single-Tree 3D Reconstruction and Parameter Extraction Modeling

The 3D reconstruction of point cloud trees and the acquisition of stand factors are key to supporting forestry regulation and urban planning. However, the two are usually independent modules in existing studies. In this work, we extended the AdTree method for 3D modeling of trees by adding a quantitative analysis capability to acquire stand factors. We used unmanned aircraft LiDAR (ALS) data as the raw data for this study. After denoising the data and segmenting the single trees, we obtained the single-tree samples needed for this study and produced our own single-tree sample dataset. The scanned tree point cloud was reconstructed in three dimensions in terms of geometry and topology, and important stand parameters in forestry were extracted. This improvement in the quantification of model parameters significantly improves the utility of the original point cloud tree reconstruction algorithm and increases its ability for quantitative analysis. The tree parameters obtained by this improved model were validated on 82 camphor pine trees sampled from the Northeast Forestry University forest. In a controlled experiment with the same field-measured parameters, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) and coefficients of determination (R2s) for diameters at breast height (DBHs) and crown widths (CWs) were 4.1 cm and 0.63, and 0.61 m and 0.74, and the RMSEs and coefficients of determination (R2s) for heights at tree height (THs) and crown base heights (CBHs) were 0.55 m and 0.85, and 1.02 m and 0.88, respectively. The overall effect of the canopy volume extracted based on the alpha shape is closest to the original point cloud and best estimated when alpha = 0.3.

Gender wise comparative study of mesiodistal width of crown among patients attending Dhulikhel Hospital

Gender wise comparative study of mesiodistal width of crown among patients attending Dhulikhel Hospital

Crown Width–Tree Height Models for Magnolia grandiflora, Prunus cerasifera, and Acer negundo Growing in Cities in Northeastern Greece

The objective of this study is the development of crown width–tree height (CW-H) models in cities in northeastern Greece, for better urban vegetation management. In the cities of Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini, Alexadroupolis, and Orestiada, in total, 700 trees of Magnolia grandiflora L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., and Acer negundo L. were selected. For each selected tree, the total height as well as the minimum and maximum crown diameter were measured, and the average of the minimum and maximum diameter was considered the crown width. The selected CW-H models exhibit satisfactory R2 values of 0.60 and above. There is not a common pattern in the value order (or rank) of R2 among the M. grandiflora, P. cerasifera, and A. negundo CW-H models in the studied cities. A medium-sized tree such as M. grandiflora, a small-medium sized tree such as A. negundo, and a shrub or small tree such as P. cerasifera did not exhibit substantial differences in estimated and observed crown widths. The results of this study will increase our understanding of CW-H allometries. The main use of these models will be in the selection of the proper above-ground spacing of tree lines and in the spatial planning of a tree’s establishment so that no problems arise from its proximity to infrastructure.

Enhanced Estimation of Crown-Level Leaf Dry Biomass of Ginkgo Saplings Based on Multi-Height UAV Imagery and Digital Aerial Photogrammetry Point Cloud Data

Ginkgo is a multi-purpose economic tree species that plays a significant role in human production and daily life. The dry biomass of leaves serves as an accurate key indicator of the growth status of Ginkgo saplings and represents a direct source of economic yield. Given the characteristics of flexibility and high operational efficiency, affordable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been utilized for estimating aboveground biomass in plantations, but not specifically for estimating leaf biomass at the individual sapling level. Furthermore, previous studies have primarily focused on image metrics while neglecting the potential of digital aerial photogrammetry (DAP) point cloud metrics. This study aims to investigate the estimation of crown-level leaf biomass in 3-year-old Ginkgo saplings subjected to different nitrogen treatments, using a synergistic approach that combines both image metrics and DAP metrics derived from UAV RGB images captured at varying flight heights (30 m, 60 m, and 90 m). In this study, image metrics (including the color and texture feature parameters) and DAP point cloud metrics (encompassing crown-level structural parameters, height-related and density-related metrics) were extracted and evaluated for modeling leaf biomass. The results indicated that models that utilized both image metrics and point cloud metrics generally outperformed those relying solely on image metrics. Notably, the combination of image metrics obtained from the 60 m flight height with DAP metrics derived from the 30 m height significantly enhanced the overall modeling performance, especially when optimal metrics were selected through a backward elimination approach. Among the regression methods employed, Gaussian process regression (GPR) models exhibited superior performance (CV-R2 = 0.79, rRMSE = 25.22% for the best model), compared to Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) models. The common critical image metrics for both GPR and PLSR models were found to be related to chlorophyll (including G, B, and their normalized indices such as NGI and NBI), while key common structural parameters from the DAP metrics included height-related and crown-related features (specifically, tree height and crown width). This approach of integrating optimal image metrics with DAP metrics derived from multi-height UAV imagery shows great promise for estimating crown-level leaf biomass in Ginkgo saplings and potentially other tree crops.

Effects of Xerophytic Vegetation-Salix on Soil Water Redistribution in Semiarid Region

Xerophytic vegetation re-regulates and allocates water resources through canopy interception, root water uptake and transpiration, and changes the water budget among precipitation, runoff, interception and infiltration, thus having a significant impact on the processes of the hydrological cycle. In this study, we investigated the effect of xerophytic shrub-Salix on soil water redistribution and water budget through an in situ monitoring experiment combined with two-dimensional vegetation water consumption modeling. The results showed that, due to the interception effect of root water uptake, it was difficult for precipitation infiltration to recharge deep soil water and groundwater. The measured data of soil moisture content, hydraulic head and precipitation were used to verify and calibrate the performance of the soil water flow model in the vadose zone by HYDRUS-2D. The effect of roots system on soil water was simulated, and the appropriate spacing of Salix replanting was estimated. Combined with the relationship between the transverse roots system and the crown width obtained by the investigation, it was determined that the spacing between the Salix should be greater than five times the crown width, so that the balance between the water consumption of Salix and the water supply of deep soil by precipitation could be considered. The results of this study are important for estimating groundwater recharge in arid areas and provide practical vegetation replanting options for similar regions.

Carbon Sequestration of Common Garden Tree Species under the Carbon Neutrality Target in East China

The global warming phenomenon caused by greenhouse gas emission leads to the deterioration of the ecological environment. In urban spaces, the selection of garden tree species with high carbon sequestration rates can effectively contribute to carbon neutrality. In this study, we measured the height, diameter at breast height, and crown width of 643 ancient trees around the West Lake Scenic Spot, Hangzhou, China, and recorded their species and ages. By the biomass expansion factor method, the long-term carbon sequestration of the trees was calculated, and the corresponding statistical analysis indicated the following findings: (1) The maximum carbon sequestration of ancient trees varies with the species; the simple rational function has the best fit for the relationship between mean annual carbon sequestration and age. (2) For the five most common species in the Hangzhou area, the total individual amount of carbon sequestration per tree species can be ranked from high to low as follows: Celtis julianae, Cinnamomum camphora, Castanopsis sclerophylla, Liquidambar formosana, and Ginkgo biloba (tree age &lt; 260 years). The ranking for trees aged above 260 years is as follows: Celtis julianae, Cinnamomum camphora, Liquidambar formosana, Castanopsis sclerophylla, and Ginkgo biloba. (3) The transient and mean annual carbon sequestration rate decreases as tree age increases; for most of the ancient trees in this research, the main growing period is 0–300 years. (4) Castanopsis sclerophylla, Liquidambar Formosana, and Osmanthus fragrans are recommended for urban landscape greening as they provide continuous long-term carbon sequestration and special landscape features.

Can deep learning-designed anterior tooth-borne crown fulfill morphologic, aesthetic, and functional criteria in clinical practice?

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the design outcomes of anterior crowns generated using deep learning (DL)-based software with those fabricated by a technician using conventional dental computer-assisted design (CAD) software without DL support, with a focus on the evaluation of crown morphology, function, and aesthetics. MethodsTwenty-five in vivo datasets comprising maxillary and mandibular arch scans of prepared maxillary central incisors were utilized to design anterior crowns by using three methods: 1) a DL-based method resulting in as-generated outcome (DB), 2) a DL-based method further optimized by a technician (DM), and 3) a conventional CAD-based method (NC, control). Evaluations were conducted for crown morphology (total discrepancy volume (TDV), root mean square (RMS), positive average (PA) and negative average (NA) deviations), functional aspects (incisal path: deviations, length, and mean inclination), and aesthetics (crown width, height, width-to-height ratio, angular radius of mesioincisal line angle, proximal contact length, and tooth axis angle). ResultsSignificant differences in TDV ratio were noted between the DB–NC (32.3 ± 8.5 %) and DM–NC (26.5 ± 5.4 %) pairs (P = 0.006). No significant differences were observed in TDV between the DB–NC (65.3 ± 24.4 mm3) and DM–NC (54.3 ± 21.0 mm3) pairs (P = 0.095). For the entire palatal surface, significant differences in RMS and PA values were observed between the DB–NC and DM–NC pairs (P < 0.037). Significant differences in RMS values for the incisal half (P = 0.021) and in PA values for the cervical half (P = 0.047) of the palatal surface were also noted between these pairs. Significant differences in the deviation of the incisal path were observed between the DB–NC (290.4 ± 212.4 μm) and DM–NC (132.0 ± 122.3 μm) pairs (P < 0.001). However, no significant differences were found among the groups (DB, DM, and NC) in terms of the length and mean inclination of incisal paths or in aesthetic outcomes. ConclusionsA DL-based method can result in promising outcomes with clinically acceptable morphology and aesthetics for anterior crowns. Minor deviations in incisal path of the crowns may lead to anterior guidance discrepancies, which can be corrected by the dental technician at the design stage. Clinical significanceWith the potential of DL-based design methods in dental applications, integrating AI technology into dental CAD workflow can enhance the clinical efficiency and consistency of anterior crown design, although human intervention may be required to refine functional aspect.

Riparian restoration in sandy zones with alfalfa as pioneer plant in initial stage of soil and water bioengineering

As Nature-Based and Bio-based Solutions, soil and water bioengineering (SWB) provides several benefits to humans and nature. It has been widely used for erosion control, vegetation recovery and ecosystem restoration in riparian zones. Nevertheless, studies on riparian restoration in sandy zones with alfalfa as pioneer plant in initial stage of SWB are still rare, which are important for understanding the role of pioneer plants during the initial stage of SWB and also for choice of the appropriate measures. Here, three commonly applied SWB measures (vegetation geobag / VGB, grass-planting concrete block / GCB, and untreated flat area / NTF) are established in sandy riparian zones to explore the growth characteristics structural mechanics and reinforcement of pioneer plant (alfalfa) root, and also the factors influencing biomechanical properties in initial stage of SBE. Our results show that: (1)NTF demonstrated superior overall growth compared to GCB and VGB, underscoring the limitations that geobags and steep slopes impose on initial SWB vegetation establishment. In all treatments, alfalfa roots were able to penetrate soil layers below 60 cm, with NTF exhibiting the highest root biomass and diameter (NTF > GCB > VGB). GCB's higher root-to-shoot ratio may reflect a drought-resistant strategy. In contrast, VGB showed greater root length, maximum rooting depth, and a smaller crown width, indicating a focus on root growth to overcome geobag constraints (2) Differences in root growth distribution among the three treatments resulted in varying biomechanical impacts. Specifically, NTF exhibited significantly lower soil-root bond strength than GCB, while both NTF and GCB had higher maximum pull-out forces compared to VGB. Root diameter showed a significant negative correlation with Young's modulus and root tensile strength, but a positive correlation with root tensile force (p < 0.05). Although no significant correlations were found between root water content and root tensile strength, root tensile strength was positively correlated with Young's modulus. (3) In the comprehensive evaluation of root reinforcement performance, the scores ranked as VGB > GCB > NTF. Result of this study could provide valuable insights into the practical applications of SWB in sandy riparian restoration. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of pioneer plants in the fragile and critical initial stages of SWB, and also benefit both researchers and practitioners in effectively transitioning from the scientific research to practical solutions for riparian restoration.

Distribution and prediction of biocrusts under the canopy of typical vascular plants on the Loess Plateau, Northwest China.

Vascular plants exert significant effects on micro-environment, thereby affecting the distribution of biological soil crusts (biocrusts). The relationship between vascular plants and the spatial distribution characteristics of biocrusts is largely unknown. We investigated the distribution characteristics of biocrusts under the canopy of vascular plants in the water-wind erosion crisscross area of the Loess Plateau, where larger areas of biocrusts had been formed since the implantation of "Grain for Green" project. We analyzed the relationship between the canopy characteristics of different vascular plants and the spatial distribution of biocrusts using correlation analysis and random forest importance ranking methods, and further constructed a predictive model for the area of biocrusts under the canopy of vascular plants. The results showed that: 1) Cyanobacteria crust was the predominant biocrusts, followed by moss crust. 2) The canopy of vascular plants affected the spatial distribution of biocrusts, with notable differences in distribution pattern across different directions under the canopy of vascular plants. Biocrusts were primarily distributed in the 270°-315° and 315°-360° directions, while was less frequent in the 90°-135° and 135°-180° directions. 3) Radially, the coverage of biocrusts gradually increased from the root-base to the edge of the canopy of vascular plants. 4) The coverage of biocrusts under canopy was significantly related to the characteristics of vascular plants, including canopy area, long crown width, short crown width, litter area and plant height. 5) The relative importance of canopy area, long crown width, and short crown width to the biocrusts under the canopy was 13.7%, 12.1%, and 11.9%, respectively, while the relative importance of plant height and species type was relatively low, being 6.7% and 4.4%, respectively. 6) Results of the random forest model demonstrated strong predictive performance for biocrusts distribution based on canopy characteristics of vascular plants, with a prediction accuracy of 0.59 (R2) and a root mean square error of 1.2 m2. This model could be applied to predict and estimate the area of biocrusts under the canopy of vascular plants. This study provided a theoretical basis for in-depth understanding of the relationship between vascular plants and biocrusts in semi-arid climate regions, as well as for predicting the spatial distribution of biocrusts.

Fertile island variation depends on species differences in the deserts of Northwest China

Desert ecosystems are extremely arid and nutrient poor. “Fertile islands” formed by mobile sand dunes and perennial desert plants are crucial for maintaining the structure and function of these ecosystems. However, the impacts of fertile islands created by different plant species at various spatial locations on soil physicochemical properties such as soil nutrients remain unclear. This study focused on the legumes (Astragalus flexus Fisch.), and non-legume (Eremurus inderiensis (M. Bieb.) Regel) plants widely distributed in the Gurbantunggut Desert in northwestern China. We analyzed the soil physicochemical properties of fertile islands formed by these two desert plants at different horizontal distances (0–140 cm) and vertical depths (0–15 cm). In addition, we investigated the relationship between plant functional shape and soil physicochemical properties. This study yielded the following results. (1) The fertile island was observed within the 0–140 cm soil layer of Astragalus flexus and Eremurus inderiensis and gradually weakened with increasing horizontal distance and soil depth. (2) The two plants had different nutrient enrichment rates. Eremurus inderiensis had higher TP and AK enrichment rates than Astragalus flexus. In contrast, Astragalus flexus demonstrated significantly higher enrichment rates for TN, NH4+-N, and NO3−-N, especially NH4+-N, highlighting the ability of legumes to fix and uptake N. (3) The correlation between plant height, crown width, and soil nutrient enrichment rate was more significant for Eremurus inderiensis than for Astragalus flexus. In general, both plants formed the fertile islands that gradually decreased with the increasing distance (both horizontal and vertical). Different plants exhibited varying abilities to enrich soil nutrients and form fertile islands, which presented a clear species effect. Therefore, protecting the diversity of desert plants to form stable fertile islands could be crucial for maintaining the soil fertility in desert ecosystems.

Effects of brackish water irrigation with different exogenous salt concentrations on the growth and rhizosphere salinity of Lycium barbarum

To investigate the effects of different typical exogenous salt concentrations on total soil salinity and the growth of Lycium barbarum under brackish water irrigation, and to determine the salinity threshold of irrigated brackish water that is conducive to the normal growth of Lycium barbarum while mitigating soil salinity accumulation. Four typical exogenous salts (NaCl, CaCl2, NaHCO3, Na2SO4) were selected and set at four concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 2.0, 4.0 g L−1) to conduct a field crossover experiments in the downstream region of the Hetao Irrigation District. The results showed that in the same fertility period, the growth rates of new branches, ground diameter, and crown width first increased and then decreased with rising concentrations of NaCl, CaCl2, and Na2SO4, but showed an inverse relationship with NaHCO3 concentrations. Furthermore, increasing salt concentrations linearly reduced the yield of dry fruits from Lycium barbarum and led to a notable accumulation of total soil salts. Utilizing an experimental research approach, a comprehensive analysis of involving multiple growth indices, stable yield, and soil salinity control of Lycium barbarum revealed that optimal growth occurs at salt concentrations of 0.1–0.5 g L−1 for different water quality areas within the irrigation area; using the method of path analysis identified the total soil salt and crown width as the primary direct and indirect factors influencing the yield of Lycium barbarum. The results of this study provide scientific basis and significant theoretical support for the safe and rational utilization of brackish water and cultivation of Lycium barbarum in typical regions with varying saline water qualities of Hetao irrigation area.

Prolonged Post-Harvest Preservation in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by Reducing Water Loss Rate and Chlorophyll Degradation Regulated through Lighting Direction-Induced Morphophysiological Improvements.

To investigate the relationship between the lighting direction-induced morphophysiological traits and post-harvest storage of lettuce, the effects of different lighting directions (top, T; top + side, TS; top + bottom, TB; side + bottom, SB; and top + side + bottom, TSB; the light from different directions for a sum of light intensity of 600 μmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD)) on the growth morphology, root development, leaf thickness, stomatal density, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as the content of nutrition such as carbohydrates and soluble proteins in lettuce were analyzed. Subsequently, the changes in water loss rate, membrane permeability (measured as relative conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content), brittleness (assessed by both brittleness index and β-galactosidase (β-GAL) activity), and yellowing degree (evaluated based on chlorophyll content, and activities of chlorophyllase (CLH) and pheophytinase (PPH)) were investigated during the storage after harvest. The findings indicate that the TS treatment can effectively reduce shoot height, increase crown width, enhance leaves' length, width, number, and thickness, and improve chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, photosynthetic capacity, and nutrient content in lettuce before harvest. Specifically, lettuce's leaf thickness and stomatal density showed a significant increase. Reasonable regulation of water loss in post-harvested lettuce is essential for delaying chlorophyll degradation. It was utilized to mitigate the increase in conductivity and hinder the accumulation of MDA in lettuce. The softening speed of leafy vegetables was delayed by effectively regulating the activity of the β-GAL. Chlorophyll degradation was alleviated by affecting CLH and PPH activities. This provides a theoretical basis for investigating the relationship between creating a favorable light environment and enhancing the post-harvest preservation of leafy vegetables, thus prolonging their post-harvest storage period through optimization of their morphophysiological phenotypes.

Effects of cadmium stress on the growth, physiology, mineral uptake, cadmium accumulation and fruit quality of 'Sharpblue' blueberry

Cadmium (Cd) contamination is becoming a widespread environmental problem, and Cd toxicity risk is increasing in blueberries, typical acidophilous plants. However, studies on the physiological mechanisms of Cd toxicity affecting the growth of blueberry plants and fruits remain limited. Herein, a pot experiment involving four treatments, CK (0 mg·kg−1), Cd1 (2.5 mg·kg−1), Cd2 (15 mg·kg−1) and Cd3 (50 mg·kg−1), was conducted to investigate the effects of Cd stress on the growth, fruit quality, physiological characteristics, mineral composition and Cd uptake of 'Sharpblue' blueberry cuttings, and relationships between physicochemical indices and phenotypic data under Cd stress were analyzed via principal component analysis and Mantel's test. Compared with CK, Cd treatment led to chlorosis (decrease in SPAD and N content) in 'Sharpblue' leaves and inhibited increases in plant height, basal stem, crown width and biomass (dry weight), with the most significant changes in the 50 mg·kg−1 Cd treatment. The size and thickness of the upper epidermal cells, as well as the thickness of the palisade mesophyll and spongy tissues of 'Sharpblue' were significantly reduced at Cd > 15 mg·kg−1, while the density of stomata was significantly increased. Moreover, Cd stress reduced the yield (decrease in size and single-fruit weight) and quality (decrease in anthocyanin, flavonoid and total phenol content and increase in titratable acid content) of 'Sharpblue' fruits, and Cd content in fruit exceeded the Chinese food safety threshold of 0.05 mg·kg−1 when Cd > 15 mg·kg−1. The Cd enrichment capacity of different organs of 'Sharpblue' plants was in the following order: root > shoot > leaf > fruit, and the 50 mg·kg−1 Cd treatment significantly inhibited the uptake of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn. Additionally, 'Sharpblue' plants responded to H2O2 and malondialdehyde accumulation in different organs under Cd stress by regulating levels of osmoregulatory substances (soluble protein (SP), soluble sugar, and proline) and altering the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid, and glutathione in the antioxidant system. Finally, correlation analysis revealed that Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, H2O2, SP, SPAD, N, anthocyanin, titratable acid, flavonoids, and total phenols were strongly correlated with 'Sharpblue' growth, leaf and fruit phenotype under Cd stress. These findings provide theoretical information for soil safety management and the breeding of Cd-tolerant cultivars during blueberry cultivation, as well as for the study of Cd stress response mechanisms in acidophilous plants.

Examining spatial and social characteristics of customary trees owned by villagers on public forestlands in Jharkhand, India

Tree ownership is typically tied to land ownership in many societies worldwide. Still, in India, tribal communities have customary ownership over trees in public forestlands, raising questions about what those trees are, where they are located, their characteristics, and whether socioeconomic factors influence their distribution and density. To address these questions, we conducted household interviews and a Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping in Sahritola, a village in the State of Jharkhand, India. We employed Kruskal Wallis, Spearman correlation, and Moran's Index to analyze the collected data. The villagers have been protecting and managing over 18,000 trees in public forestlands, including species such as asan (Terminalia tomentosa), sal (Shorea robusta), and mahua (Madhuca longifolia). Over 80 % of those trees are under individual ownership, while around 20 % are under shared ownership. Additionally, over 60 % of households owned between 100 and 500 trees. Customarily-owned tree species sharing similar characteristics (e.g., height, crown width, and diameter-at-breast-height) tend to cluster together. The number of customarily owned trees is influenced by their economic value and socioeconomic factors (e.g., religion, forestland, etc.). Additionally, the type of customary ownership (individual or shared) influences the characteristics of trees. This study could guide policymakers in potentially developing forest policies that consider the concept of customary tree ownership to promote sustainable management of forest resources in India and beyond.

Effects of growth space limitation on allometry of Ficus spp. In urban habitats

Tree morphological traits are related to the structural stability and their ability to provide ecological benefits such as carbon sequestration and water conservation. The allometric relationship can be used to construct the corresponding prediction equations in forests. However, the urban environment differs from the natural environment for trees. This study aims to enhance the urban tree growth model by classifying urban habitats. We achieved this by collecting morphological traits (DBH, height, crown depth, and width) commonly used in growth model researches of six Ficus spp. in Guangzhou, China, including Ficus virens, Ficus religiosa, Ficus elastica, Ficus benjamina, Ficus altissima, Ficus celebensis. We specifically examine how these trees grow in different urban settings. Urban habitats are classified based on growth space limitations, considering above-ground and underground. Results showed that certain morphologies in urban habitats did not conform to allometry (R2 < 0.4), and the model fitted with height as independent variable is better than that fitted with DBH. The model parameter following allometric relationship with tree height as the independent variable showed no significant difference, but the fit was worse in different urban habitats. On the contrary, models with DBH as the independent variable showed differences, for example, the allometric exponent of maximum crown width relative to DBH were 0.915 and 0.557 in two different habitats. Crown depth and tree height showed significant and stable allometry in the three habitats. The response of tree morphology to different habitats varied, and the allometric relationships among morphological traits showed differences in habitats where the growth space was limited. This underscores the considerable effect of the urban environment on urban tree growth models. Consequently, we recommend developing a series urban tree growth models tailored to different urban habitats to accurately quantify urban ecosystem services for assessing their sustainability in urban development and planning.

Adaptation Test and Genetic Parameters Estimation of Chili (Capsicum spp.) by Automation Drip Irrigation System in UG Technopark, Cianjur

Bean stew efficiency in 2019-2021 is vacillated because of the utilization of improper assortments and ecological variable. This study plans to decide assortments that have ideal development and creation at UG Technopark and to decide the hereditary variety between bean stew assortments. This study used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three blocks and one factor made up of eight chili varieties. The information examination utilized in this review was investigation of varians (ANOVA) at 5 and 1% level and the post hoc test utilized Duncan's Various Reach Test at 5%. Noticed information additionally were broke down utilizing coefficient of hereditary difference, coefficient of phenotypic change and heritability examination. The results showed that the Bonita variety has the highest plant height, dichotomous height, and the largest stem diameter. Bishop's crown variation had the biggest character of crown width, length and width of leaves meanwhile Ayesha variety had the fastest flowering time. On the fruit characters, Bishop’s crown variety had the highest fruit weight per plant and fruit diameter. Reisa varieties had the highest fruit weight. Each character had a wide range of genetic coefficients of variation with values ranging from 16.50 to 77.96%, high phenotypic coefficents of variation with values ranging from 13.93 to 86.38% and high broad meaning heritability values ranging from 0.43 to 1.00.