Root System Development Research Articles

Eco-friendly superabsorbent polymer synthesis using diatomaceous earth: development, characterization and its application

The toxic hydrated micro-elements present in various superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) during manufacturing on large scale. Thecontamination negatively impacts seed germination rates, crop growth, production yields, and the development of root and shoot systems. Due to these adverse effects the use of SAPs started decreasing in the agriculture industry. So in this research we have generated a modified superabsorbent polymer named (AD-SAP). It was synthesized by acrylic acid modified by ammonia solution and grafted with sodium modified diatomaceous earth. Here instead of sodium hydroxide strong alkali solution we have taken an ammonia solution to enhance the grafting efficiency. The synthesized samples were characterized by (FTIR) fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, (XRD) X-ray diffraction, (TGA) thermo-gravimetric analysis, and (SEM) scanning electron microscopy. The investigation of residual hydrated toxic components in AD-SAPs was performed. During preparation the effect of the amount of non-residual acrylic acid and the amount of ammonia solution was also investigated. When 5% of diatomaceous earth, 28% ammonia solution, and 32% acrylic acid were used for manufacturing, the concentration of sodium ions and residual acrylic acid was reduced to 0.12 g/kg, and 0.03% respectively. The water absorption capacity and salt resistance was improved. The water absorption was increased to 58.9%, and the salt resistance ratio is about 58 g/g. We have performed a pot experiment and observed that AD-SAP eliminated the adverse effect of commercial SAPs on crop production. This research provided technical support for the modification of high water absorbing SAPs and to overcome the adverse effect of SAPs on crops.

Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Enhance Sweet Cherry Root System Development Through the Production of Volatile Organic Compounds.

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), as a high-economic-value fruit with both nutritional and health functions, faces severely constrained plant growth due to underdeveloped root systems and suboptimal orchard site conditions. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) demonstrate application potential in regulating plant development and improving soil structure through the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study systematically evaluated the effects of VOCs from three PGPR strains-Pantoea ananatis D1-28, Burkholderia sp. D4-24, and Burkholderia territorii D4-36-on cherry root development and rhizosphere microbial communities. The results indicate that when D1-28 and D4-24 strains were at 103 cfu·mL-1 and D4-36 was at 105 CFU·mL-1, their VOCs exhibited optimal growth-promoting effects. Compared with the control group, significant improvements were observed in cherry seedling parameters, including plant height, total biomass, root length, root surface area, and root volume. The VOCs from these strains synergistically promoted plant growth by regulating auxin synthesis pathways in cherry roots while enhancing the relative abundance of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms. This study establishes the strain-concentration-effect relationship, providing a theoretical foundation to optimize soil microbial environments and promote cherry root development using PGPR.

From soil to canopy: the diversity of adaptation strategies to drought in grapevine

One of the main consequences of climate change is the increase in frequency and severity of abiotic stresses, which mostly occur in combination. Grapevine, which grows under a wide variety of pedo-climatic conditions, has acquired different adaptive mechanisms during its evolution. Harnessing the genetic diversity of these mechanisms is key to the future adaptation of viticulture to climate change in many traditional wine growing areas. The interactions between scion and rootstock through grafting represent an additional level of diversity and adaptive potential to be explored. At the physiological level, these mechanisms are related to processes such as root system development and function (water and nutrient uptake, transport and storage), gas exchange regulation, hydraulic properties along the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, reserve storage, short- and long-distance signalling mechanisms and plasticity. At the molecular level, hormonal, osmotic and oxidative metabolisms are involved. Interactions with microorganisms also contribute to the adaptive potential of the plant. As a whole, adaptation to any constraint appears to be the result of the complex interactions of these processes. Based on a literature review of studies on grapevine and other plants, and on investigations performed in our own laboratory, the present overview explores the diversity of adaptive responses to drought, how these responses characterise different adaptation strategies, and how these strategies can be leveraged for the selection of new genotypes for the future growing conditions.

Innovative Method of Stimulating Vegetative Propagation of Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) Using New Organic Initiators

Large-fruited cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) is a species known for its highly valued fruit and is typically propagated vegetatively through the rooting of stem cuttings. Studies on the rooting of stem cuttings of large-fruited cranberry have shown that the morphological traits of the root system are a key indicator of the effectiveness of this process. To support rooting, gel coatings based on polysaccharides and containing auxins, especially the indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) W4 variant, were developed and applied. These significantly influenced root length (increase of 44.6% compared to control W0), surface area (increase of 32.4% compared to W0), volume (increase of 26.7% compared to W0), and average thickness, which translated into better nutrient uptake and a higher degree of plant nourishment. The W4 coating, combining mineral components, polysaccharides, and IBA, reduced transpiration and maintained moisture, promoting effective rooting. The associated metabolic changes were confirmed by analyses of oxidative stress markers and chlorophyll fluorescence. The study demonstrated that enhanced root system development was closely linked with the increased accumulation of macro- and micronutrients in the aerial parts of the plants, directly contributing to improved growth and potential yield. These findings highlight that effective rooting—achieved through the targeted metabolic stabilisation of the rooting environment—is essential for the successful vegetative propagation of large-fruited cranberry.

GREEN MUSTARD PRODUCTION WITH COMBINATION OF TRICHODERMA AND NPK ON ULTISOL SOIL

Development of green cabbage production on suboptimal land, one of which is ultisol soil. Efforts to increase production with inorganic fertilizer, namely NPK, have a negative impact on agricultural land or reduce soil fertility quality through continuous use. Efforts to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizer, one of the technologies is the use of biofertilizer microorganisms. Trichoderma sp as a biological fertilizer, its role as a biological control agent against pathogens, has a positive impact on the plant root system, growth and development and plant production. The aim of the research is to analyze the response of green cabbage plants to the application of NPK fertilizer and Trichoderma sp. Carrying out research on the Payakumbuh State Agricultural Polytechnic Campus, from February to April 2025. Field experimental research method with Randomized Block Design. Treatments consist of 100% application of inorganic NPK fertilizer, (P1); Trichoderma sp 10ml/liter water + 50% NPK fertilizer, (P2); Trichoderma sp 13 ml/liter water + 50% NPK fertilizer, (P3); Trichoderma sp 15 ml/liter water + 50% NPK fertilizer. Each treatment is grouped into six groups, resulting in a total of 24 experimental units. The application of 10 ml Trichoderma sp + 50% NPK is capable of enhancing plant growth and fresh weight production to a value similar to that obtained with the application of 100% NPK. Increasing the dose of Trichoderma sp applied can enhance the development of the plant's root system. The application of Trichoderma sp can reduce the use of inorganic fertilizer by 50%.

Adaptation of in vitro turanga-poplar plants to greenhouse conditions

The reproduction of turangа-poplar is better carried out by the method of micropropagation, which allows you to obtain high-quality material that is advisable to use in reforestation and landscaping of cities, especially with arid climates. Adaptation of in vitro plants was carried out in greenhouse conditions in containers with a volume of 450 ml. Different in terms of composition substrates were used. The substrate of option 3 turned out to be the most effective: peat and perlite in layers, peat in the lower part, perlite in the upper part; and option 4 - a mixture of peat and black soil in a ratio of 6/4 with a recess filled with perlite. The experiments were carried out in natural daylight in a frame heated greenhouse with a film coating at a temperature of +20...+27 °C. Plants were used in three stages of root system development. After transplantation, they were watered with an antifungal drug solution and water. To prevent evaporation of moisture from in vitro plants and from the surface of the substrate, a transparent cap with a screw-off lid was covered from above. Containers with turangа plants fully adapted to non-sterile conditions were transferred to open areas outside the greenhouse for hardening.

CrWRKY57 and CrABF3 cooperatively activate CrCYCD6;1 to modulate drought tolerance and root development

Abstract Drought is a major abiotic stress. WRKYs are one of the largest family of transcription factors in plant. The effects of most WRKYs on developmental regulation and drought adaptation in Citrus remain largely unclear. C. reticulata cv. Sanhu hongju (Sanhu) is a drought-tolerant variety from Jiangxi Province, China. Here, we report a differentially expressed CrWRKY57 gene in drought-treated Sanhu leaves through transcriptome analysis. Its transcriptional expression could be induced by ABA treatment and water deficit. Overexpression of CrWRKY57 in lemon (C. limon) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) confers enhanced drought tolerance, while RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing in Sanhu increases dehydration susceptibility and reduces root volume. Moreover, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS)-mediated knockdown of CrWRKY57 in Sanhu reduces primary root length and lateral root number by nearly 50% compared to the control. The results of yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation assays, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation demonstrate that CrWRKY57 interacts with CrABF3, a key transcription factor in ABA signaling. Silencing ClABF3, its homolog in lemon, also increases drought sensitivity and disrupts root system development. Together, CrWRKY57 and CrABF3 directly activate the promoter of the cell cycle gene CrCYCD6;1 by binding to W-box and ABRE elements, respectively. Furthermore, silencing CrCYCD6;1 in Sanhu also severely reduces primary root length and lateral root number. Collectively, our findings provide a new perspective of CrWRKY57 as a positive player in drought response and highlight the role of the CrWRKY57-CrABF-CrCYCD6;1 module in enhancing drought tolerance by modulating root development.

Genome-wide analysis of AHP genes in soybean and the role of GmAHP10 in improving salt stress tolerance.

The histidine phosphotransfer proteins (AHP) plays a pivotal role in the cytokinin signal transduction pathway, which is vital for plant growth, development, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite its importance, the AHP genes in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) have not been characterized until now. In this study, we utilized bioinformatics analysis, transcriptome sequencing, and qRT-PCR to explore the AHP gene family in soybean. We identified 17 AHP gene members unevenly distributed across nine chromosomes, with all AHP proteins classified into four types based on their motifs and gene structures. Phylogenetic analysis and conserved protein motifs revealed strong homology and conservation between soybean and Arabidopsis AHP family members. Collinearity analysis suggested that segmental duplication events were the primary mechanism for the expansion of the soybean AHP family. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated that most AHP family genes were highly expressed in soybean roots. Transcript profiles and qRT-PCR data demonstrated that many GmAHP genes were significantly up-regulated in response to salt stress, particularly GmAHP10. Overexpression of GmAHP10 in soybean hairy roots significantly promoted root system development and enhanced salt tolerance. Further physiological analyses revealed that overexpression of GmAHP10 significantly reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), as well as elevating proline concentration compared to controls. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the biological roles of GmAHP genes in soybean growth, development, and response to salt stress.

Isolation of highly efficient potassium solubilizing bacteria and their effects on nutrient acquisition and growth promotion in tobacco seedlings

BackgroundTobacco plants are typically high potassium (K)-demanding during growth and development, but the bioavailability of the nutrient in tobacco-growing soils is often limited.Aim and methodologyThe present study aimed at screening highly efficient potassium-solubilizing bacteria (KSB) through in vitro experiments, and to grasp their potential role in mineral dissolution for nutrients release. The effects of these bacterial inoculants on soil nutrient bioavailability, macronutrient acquisition, soil bacterial community characteristics, and tobacco seedling biomass were investigated through a greenhouse pot experiment.ResultsThe in vitro experiments showed that the SKL51 (Paenibacillus sp.), SKT41 (Klebsiella oxytoca), and PTG11 (Enterobacter hormaechei) strains were more efficient at solubilizing K than the reference strain RT (Bacillus mucilaginosus). During the 7-day incubation with K-feldspar, the average solubilized potassium by SKL51, SKT41 and PTG11 was 28.8 ± 6.8, 30.1 ± 6.7 and 29.1 ± 1.0 μg mL−1, respectively. The highest potential K solubility enhanced by the three KSB was 55.1%, 39.0% and 41.1%, respectively. Additionally, these bacteria exhibited differences in their potential to solubilize other nutrients, with SKT41 enhancing the dissolution of feldspar the most for Si4+ (13.2 ± 2.9 μg mL−1), PTG11 for Ca2+ (174.1 ± 29.4 μg mL−1) and SKL51 for Mg2+ (52.7 ± 3.0 μg mL−1). The three KSB secreted various low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) that were variably correlated with solubilized mineral nutrients. The results of the greenhouse pot experiment showed that soil inoculation with PTG11 was the most effective at increasing seedling height by 45% and dry biomass by 83%. The relative abundances of Acinetobacter, Asaia, Bacillus, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Pseudoclavibacter and Sphingomonas, which are associated with the development of both root systems and plant aboveground parts increased significantly (p < 0.05), thereby contributing to shifts in soil bacterial community structure and correlating with improved soil properties.ConclusionPTG11 and SKL51 had significant effects on soil bacterial community structure, and nutrient mobilization, thereby promoting plant growth in support of ecological benefits and environmental friendliness.

Terpene synthase TgHPTPS2 from Torreya grandis modulates terpenoid profiles to balance ROS and confer drought tolerance in plants.

Terpene synthase TgHPTPS2 from Torreya grandis modulates terpenoid profiles to balance ROS and confer drought tolerance in plants.

Optimizing Cork Oak (Quercus suber) Acorn Growth and Survival: Influence of Harvest Timing and Nursery Conditions in Morocco

Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests are vital for maintaining ecological balance and supporting socio-economic stability in Morocco. However, these forests face significant degradation driven by climate change, human activities, and inadequate regeneration practices. A critical factor influencing successful cork oak regeneration is the timing of acorn harvesting, which directly impacts germination rates and seedling quality. This study aimed to determine the optimal acorn harvesting periods to maximize germination and produce robust seedlings suitable for nursery and field planting. Conducted at the Center for Innovation, Research and Training under the National Agency for Water and Forests, the research involved collecting acorns from the Maâmora forest across six harvesting periods: August, September, early-October, mid-October, November, and December. The methodology included acorn sorting, phytosanitary treatments, and standardized nursery substrate preparation. Key parameters such as germination rate, seedling height, collar diameter, survival rate, and root system development were systematically monitored. Results indicated that acorns harvested in mid-October and November yielded the highest germination rates (86% and 85%, respectively), superior seedling growth (average heights of 21.40 cm and 10.09 cm), and better survival rates (95% and 75%). In contrast, acorns harvested in August showed the lowest germination (50%) and reduced seedling vigor, reflecting the detrimental effect of immature acorns. Early harvests in August and September corresponded with slower growth and lower survival. The findings underscore the critical influence of harvest timing on cork oak regeneration success. Acorns collected during mid-October and November demonstrated faster germination, enhanced seedling vigor, and robust root development. The study recommends focusing on these optimal harvesting windows, combined with proper storage and nursery management, to improve reforestation efforts and support the sustainable restoration of Morocco’s cork oak ecosystems.

Integrative multi-omics analysis reveals the potential mechanism by which Streptomyces pactum Act12 enhances wheat root drought tolerance by coordinating phytohormones and metabolic pathways

BackgroundDrought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that limit wheat growth and yield. Streptomyces, a class of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with multifarious metabolic potential and remarkable stress resistance properties in soil, have significant potential in enhancing the drought tolerance of crops. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Streptomyces improve the drought tolerance function of the wheat root are poorly understood.ResultsIn this study, we investigated the role and molecular mechanisms of Streptomyces pactum Act12 in regulating the drought tolerance of wheat root by combining pot experiments and multi-omics techniques. The pot experiment results demonstrated that under drought stress, Act12 treatment significantly promoted the development of the wheat root system, including the total root length, surface area, number of root tips, and diameter. Furthermore, Act12 treatment increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD activity increased by 23.7%), the content of osmotic regulators proline (265.8%) and soluble protein (116.8%), and significantly decreased the content of malondialdehyde (39.0%). The integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome demonstrated that Act12 might promote root development through the synergistic regulation of phytohormone signaling. Concurrently, it might optimize energy supply and enhance the stability of cell membranes via the regulation of metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and glycerophospholipid metabolism.ConclusionConsequently, Act12 enhanced the drought adaptability of the wheat root system from multiple perspectives. This study reveals the central role of Act12 in the regulation of drought resistance in plants and provides a theoretical basis for the development of drought-resistant biologics based on Streptomyces.

The uORF-HsfA1a-WOX11 module controls crown root development in rice.

OsWOX11 is a key essential determinant of crown root development in rice. However, either overexpression or downregulation of OsWOX11 results in pleiotropic developmental defects, including dwarfism and reduced yield. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure an optimal level of OsWOX11 expression for balancing the subterranean root system and aerial organ development. OsHsfA1a activates OsWOX11 expression by directly binding to heat stress element-like elements within its promoter. Genetic evidence demonstrated that OsHsfA1a overexpressing or knockout transgenic plants phenocopied the crown root growth in OsWOX11 transgenic plants. Additionally, increased expression of OsWOX11 in OsHsfA1a RNAi background could partially complement the defective crown root phenotypes. A uORF (uORFHsfA1a) was identified within the 5'-untranslated region of OsHsfA1a. Transient expression assays coupled with ribosome profiling revealed that uORFHsfA1a attenuated the translation efficiency of OsHsfA1a mRNA. Furthermore, HsfA1aP:uORFHsfA1a-HsfA1a-GFP plants exhibited wild-type crown root phenotypes, whereas uORFHsfA1a knockout transgenic plants displayed similar crown root phenotypes to OsWOX11 overexpressing plants. These findings suggest that uORFHsfA1a fine-tunes the crown root development by repressing OsHsfA1a translation, thereby indirectly modulating OsWOX11 transcript levels. Our study demonstrated a novel uORFHsfA1a-HsfA1a-WOX11 regulatory module that coordinated transcriptional and translational control to maintain optimal OsWOX11 expression. This mechanism ensures the trade-off between root and shoot development. Importantly, targeting uORFHsfA1a regulatory elements provided a new strategy for engineering robust root system architecture without compromising agronomic traits, thereby addressing a critical challenge in cereal crop improvement.

Impact of Soil Preparation Method and Stock Type on Root Architecture of Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Silver Birch and Black Alder

This study examines the spatial root development patterns of bareroot, containerized, and plug plus (plug+) saplings in hemiboreal forests of Latvia, focusing on the effects of two common soil preparation methods: mounding and disc trenching. In northern Europe, forest regeneration after clearcutting often involves planting, with soil preparation aimed at enhancing sapling survival and productivity. This study included four tree species: Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula pendula, and Alnus glutinosa. The results reveal that saplings planted in mounded sites developed more radially symmetrical root systems, while roots in trenched sites predominantly grew parallel to the furrow. This spatial root distribution was consistent across all forest types and did not show significant variation between stock types (containerized, bareroot, or plug+) or treatments (control or fertilized). Additionally, the number of main roots did not differ significantly between the soil preparation methods. These findings align with previous research and raise important questions regarding the impact of early root architecture on stand resilience at a mature stage, particularly in relation to windthrow, heavy snowfall, drought, and flooding resistance. The study underscores the need to consider root system development as a key factor in forest management practices aimed at ensuring long-term forest stability.

Physiological and transcriptomic analysis of Spartina alterniflora in response to imazapyr acid stress

As a key aspect of managing of invasive alien species in China, the prevention and control of Spartina alterniflora have become an important part of the work in coastal provinces, and imazapyr acid has been gradually applied in the control work due to its advantages of high efficiency and low toxicity. In this study, we applied 6.0 L/acre of 25% imazapyr acid aqueous stress treatment, and determined and analyzed the physiological activities and transcriptome profiles of S. alterniflora under sustained stress. Chlorophyll fluorescence was used as a technical tool to analyze the mechanism of photosynthesis and the photosynthetic physiological status of S. alterniflora. We analyzed the root system structure of S. alterniflora using a root system imaging system, and characterized the transcriptome of S. alterniflora by high-throughput sequencing technology. Specifically, after imazapyr acid exposure, the fluorescence imaging area of leaves were all decreased, and the fluorescence indexes such as Fv/Fm, Y(II) and PIabs were significantly decreased, while Y(NO) was significantly increased, and Y(NPQ) showed an increase followed by a decrease. Meanwhile, total root length, root surface area and biomass of S. alterniflora were suppressed after imazapyr acid exposure. In transcriptomic analysis, imazapyr acid inhibited the expression of genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, nucleotide sugar-related metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, and DNA replication in S. alterniflora. These results indicate that the effects of imazapyr acid stress on the leaves of S. alterniflora are heterogeneous, with the leaves initiating photoprotective mechanisms to ensure the normal functioning of the photosystem in the early stage of stress, and the PSII reaction centers being damaged in the late stage of stress, ultimately destroying the photosynthetic system. Meanwhile, imazapyr acid stress alters basic physiological processes such as metabolism and growth and development of S. alterniflora, thus affecting the growth and development of the plant root system, and ultimately leading to the death of S. alterniflora.

The Effects of Potassium on Plant Nutrient Concentration, Plant Development, and Rhizoctonia Rot (Rhizoctonia solani) in Pepper

Potassium has been identified as a vital nutrient for plant growth and functions. Studies have demonstrated its capacity to mitigate the severity of diseases by accelerating seed maturation and promoting robust root system development. In this study, we aimed to determine how increasing potassium doses affect the nutrient content, dry weight, root weight, and resistance to Rhizoctonia rot of the pepper plant. Pepper seedlings were used as plant material, and potassium sulfate was employed as the potassium fertilizer in this study. The experiment involved applying four different potassium doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1) to pepper seedlings, along with RS0 (control) and RS1 (diseased plant) in four replicates. At the end of the study, analyses of the plants’ nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) content, dry weights, and root weights were performed, in addition to disease assessments. An increase in N, P, K, Fe, and B content was observed with applied potassium doses, while a decrease in Mg content was noted. No significant change was detected in Cu content in pepper leaves, and the change in Mn content was not found to be statistically significant. An increase in plant dry weights was determined based on the applied treatments. The results indicated that plants subjected to potassium exhibited resistance to disease, an increase in root weights, and overall better conditions compared to samples without potassium. The best results in the experiments were achieved with the application of 150 kg ha−1 K2SO4. It was observed that certain rates of potassium had positive effects on disease factors by suppressing Rhizoctonia rot and can be used for biological control.

Assessing the effect of cork oak fertigation on crown and root structure using electro-magnetic tracking system

Abstract Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) mortality events have spurred scientific research into new afforestation techniques, particularly the use of fertigation to accelerate tree growth and hasten the onset of the productive phase when cork stripping becomes feasible. This study examines the effects of fertigation on the development of root and aerial systems, with the objective of determining if fertigation can eventually be discontinued without compromising tree vitality. Six seven-year-old trees growing under natural conditions were selected for analysis, grouped into three pairs, each with similar crown sizes but subjected to different watering regimes – fertigation and rainfed. These trees were analyzed using the Fastrak Polhemus method, focusing on seven parameters: volume, area, length, root diameter, root-to-shoot ratio, shape area, and circularity. Analyses were conducted both graphically and using partial correlation statistics. The findings indicate that tree size accounted for the most significant differences in these parameters. Conversely, fertigation was associated with an increase in trunk volume, while rainfed conditions led to larger root diameters, likely as an adaptation to drought. The most pronounced differences were observed in smaller trees, where both groups exhibited unbalanced but opposing root-to-shoot ratios: rainfed trees invested more in root development, while fertigation trees prioritized aerial growth. The impact of irrigation on the development of below-ground and above-ground biomass in arid regions is crucial in the context of ongoing climate change, which will further intensify drought during the growing seasons.

Effect of Water Deficit Stress on the Growth and Photosynthetic Characteristics of Okra Plant

Water deficit stress significantly impacts the yield and quality of okra, an important edible and medicinal vegetable. Understanding the physiological adaptation mechanisms of okra under drought conditions and identifying effective adaptation strategies are critical to its sustainable development. This study examined the phenotypic traits, photosynthetic characteristics, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of okra seedlings subjected to continuous natural drought for 0, 5, 7, 15, and 20 days. The results revealed that drought dramatically inhibited the growth and photosynthetic processes of okra seedlings, as evidenced by reductions in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, gas exchange parameters, apparent quantum efficiency, light compensation point, light saturation point, and several chlorophyll fluorescence metrics. Conversely, water deficit stress significantly enhances root development, as evidenced by increases in total root length, surface area, root tips, and root biomass. Notably, drought stress also elevates the chlorophyll a/b ratio, intercellular CO2 concentration, dark respiration rate, and maximum net photosynthetic rate. These findings illustrated the complex physiological responses of okra to water deficit stress and highlighted a tradeoff between aboveground growth inhibition and enhanced root system development, thereby facilitating the plant’s adaptation to water deficit.

Trinocular Vision-Driven Robotic Fertilization: Enhanced YOLOv8n for Precision Mulberry Growth Synchronization.

This study focused on addressing the issue of delayed root system development in mulberry trees during aerosol cultivation, which is attributed to the asynchronous growth of branches and buds. To tackle this challenge, we propose an intelligent foliar fertilizer spraying system based on deep learning. The system incorporates a parallel robotic arm spraying device and employs trinocular vision to capture image datasets of mulberry tree branches. After comparing YOLOv8n with other YOLO versions, we made several enhancements to the YOLOv8n model. These improvements included the introduction of the Asymptotic Feature Pyramid Network (AFPN), the optimization of feature extraction using the MSBlock module, the adoption of a dynamic ATSS label assignment strategy, and the replacement of the CIoU loss function with the Focal_XIoU loss function. Furthermore, an artificial neural network was utilized to calculate the coordinates of the robotic arm. The experimental results demonstrate that the enhanced YOLOv8n model achieved an average precision of 94.48%, representing a 6.05% improvement over the original model. Additionally, the prediction error for the robotic arm coordinates was maintained at ≤1.3%. This system effectively enables the precise location and directional fertilization of mulberry branches exhibiting lagging growth, thereby significantly promoting the synchronous development of mulberry seedlings.

ABA Enhances Drought Resistance During Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Seed Germination Through the Gene Regulatory Network Mediated by ABA Insensitive 5.

ABA Insensitive 5 (ABI5) is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) that plays a critical role in seed dormancy and germination, particularly under stress conditions. This study identified ABI5 as an important candidate gene regulating seed germination under drought stress during early germination in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) seeds through Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). Using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/CAS9) technology, ABI5 mutant plants were generated, showing higher germination rates and more developed root systems at 72 h. Transcriptomic analysis of wild-type (WT) and mutant seeds under water, 2μM of abscisic acid (ABA), and 10% PEG treatments after 0, 24, 48, and 72 h revealed complex changes in gene regulatory networks due to ABI5 mutation. Differential expression analysis showed that the number of downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the mutant was significantly higher than upregulated DEGs at multiple time points and treatments, indicating a negative regulatory role for ABI5 in gene expression. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) revealed that genes related to ABA content, such as those in the glutathione metabolism pathway, were similarly downregulated in the ABI5 mutants. Key genes, including BnA03g0120550.1 (GST), BnA09g0366300.1 (GST), BnA10g0413960.1 (gshA), and BnC02g0518750.1 (GST), were identified as potential candidates in ABI5-regulated drought responses. Additionally, TFs involved in regulating the glutathione metabolism pathway were identified, providing insights into the collaboration of ABI5 with other TF. This comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of ABI5 mutant plants highlights how ABI5 affects gene expression in multiple pathways, impacting seed germination and drought resistance, offering a foundation for improving drought tolerance in rapeseed.