Plant Ecology Research Articles

Shifting the remote sensing paradigm for monitoring the critical zone using drones

Remote sensing data are increasingly used to monitor the critical zone. This study argues that drones are transforming the remote sensing paradigm. While recent satellite constellations (e.g., Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2) have revolutionized Earth observation through improved temporal resolution, most research efforts have focused on refining data processing methods to extract key environmental variables such as soil moisture (Gao et al. 2017), snow cover (Gascoin et al. 2019), and crop classification (Blickensdörfer et al. 2022). In parallel, drone technology has become more prevalent. Their high flexibility and superior spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions enable the acquisition of high-quality remote sensing data over limited areas. To monitor essential critical zone and biodiversity variables effectively, it is crucial to adapt acquisition protocols. These protocols must be defined through interdisciplinary collaboration, considering the processes under study before data collection. They should determine the optimal spectral and temporal resolutions based on the size of the target object (e.g., leaves, trees, landscapes), its characteristics, and the ecological, hydrological, or climatic processes influencing its behavior over time (e.g., hourly, daily, or seasonally). Drones show great potential for applications such as viticulture, forest ecology, and habitat mapping, though their use remains exploratory and experimental. This paper presents three case studies demonstrating the capabilities of drones in critical zone monitoring and their role in shifting the remote sensing paradigm. Case Studies 1. Monitoring Vineyards for Temperature Variability The first example focuses on vineyard exposure to extreme air temperatures. The objective was to detect cold air pooling, which can cause frost damage to grapevines. We hypothesized that thermal imagery could effectively identify these cold air pockets. Drone flights were conducted every 20 minutes before and after sunrise in September 2017 in Saint-Émilion, southwestern France, under low wind conditions (<2 m/s). A fixed-wing eBee+ drone equipped with a Thermomap sensor was used, and temperature sensors were deployed within a 20-hectare vineyard to validate thermal measurements. The results (Fig. 1) indicate that cold air pools were detectable and their distribution was influenced not only by valley topography but also by anthropogenic structures such as walls and buildings, which affected airflows (dark areas in Fig. 1, left). After sunrise, air and surface temperatures diverged due to differences in emissivity. 2. Mapping Semi-Natural Habitats in Marshlands The second example explores habitat mapping in marshlands, where vegetation heterogeneity and composition are critical factors. The study was conducted in the Sougéal marsh (France), where hydrological regimes affect vegetation distribution. We hypothesized that integrating high-resolution Digital Surface Models (DSM) with multispectral and multitemporal datasets could improve classification of mesophilic, meso-hygrophilic, and hygrophilic habitats (Fig. 2). Monthly drone acquisitions were conducted between May 2017 and May 2018 using a fixed-wing eBeeX drone equipped with RGB SODA and Sequoia multispectral sensors under consistent atmospheric conditions. Spectral signatures from drone imagery were used as reference data to train classification models applied to Sentinel-2 imagery. The best classification results were obtained using Sentinel-2 data from April (Fig. 2, right), whereas classifications for other months were less accurate. The study also revealed that grazing activities influenced spectral responses and habitat classification (Alvarez-Vanhard et al. 2020). 3. Detecting and Mapping Ponds in Sand Dune Ecosystems The third case study aimed to detect and map ponds within a vegetated sand dune habitat in the Vauville Natura 2000 reserve (France), an area affected by summer droughts and declining water levels. Expanding the reserve to include nearby ponds could enhance biodiversity conservation. Leveraging the thermal inertia properties of water, we combined nighttime and daytime thermal data to distinguish water bodies from surrounding vegetation. A Trinity F90+ fixed-wing drone equipped with a Micasense ALTUM-PT thermal sensor was deployed in May 2024. One-hour flights covered 150 hectares at 9:30 PM (after sunset, minimizing emissivity effects) and at noon the following day, under cloud-free conditions. The extracted water bodies are highlighted in yellow Fig. 3. Conclusion This paradigm shift in remote sensing emphasizes the need to design data acquisition protocols tailored to specific research objectives, rather than solely improving data processing methods. While enhancing processing techniques remains important for accuracy, drones offer unique flexibility in selecting the timing, frequency, and types of sensors used for data collection. Additionally, drones facilitate the integration of multispectral, thermal, RGB, LiDAR, and other sensor-based data, broadening the scope of environmental monitoring. Ongoing applications include soil moisture characterization (Wu et al. 2019), forest phenology and health assessments (Ecke et al. 2024), plant ecology studies, invasive species detection (Singh et al. 2024), and ecosystem service mapping (Schenone et al. 2021). Furthermore, drone data can be used independently or in synergy with satellite imagery. Alvarez-Vanhard et al. (2021) identified four types of drone-satellite synergies that contribute to characterizing and monitoring the critical zone.

Uncovering the reciprocal effects of plant polyploidy and the microbiome: implications for understanding of polyploid success.

Polyploidy plays a major role in diversification and speciation of almost all plants. Separately, the microbiome is recognized for its ubiquitous role in plant functioning. Despite the importance of both processes, we lack a synthetic picture of their reciprocal relationship. I forge this missing linkage by presenting the ways in which plant polyploidy can shape the microbiome and how the microbiome in turn can affect polyploid phenotype and fitness. I illustrate these interactions by drawing on the small, but compelling, set of comparisons of the plant-microbial community interaction with taxa representing different stages of the polyploid continuum and thereby shed light on how the advantages of polyploidy may be influenced by microbes. I use findings from a range of studies to build the case for plant-microbiome reciprocal interactions in both key pathways for polyploid persistence: overcoming their minority cytotype disadvantage and increasing competitive ability and/or niche shifts relative to diploids. I put forward how the microbiome likely plays a role in polyploid stress tolerance, abiotic niche breadth, range limits and coexistence. I conclude by identifying the research needed to test these hypotheses and how doing so could transform our understanding of polyploidy as a driver of plant ecology and evolution.

EXPERIMENTATION IN BIOLOGY AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR THE UNDERSTANDING AND CONSTRUCTION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN TEACHER TRAINING

The study analyzed the importance of experimental practices in the teaching of biology to help students understand biological processes, using papaya, beet and pepper seeds in different types of substrates that were the following: coarse sand, leaf litter and commercial substrate, in this way, the research sought to evaluate the germination index of the seeds of these vegetables, in which it was observed in which substrates the vegetable seeds had a higher germination. The methodology included theoretical classes in the disciplines of physiology and plant ecology, in addition, combining it with the practices that included the preparation of sowing and observation of germination, thus bringing practical classes as complements to theoretical classes, thus promoting skills such as hypothesis creation and data analysis, in addition to developing teamwork and problem-solving skills. Therefore, the work is divided into five sections (introduction, literature review, methodology, results and discussion, final considerations), in this way, the study highlights the relevance of experimentation in science education, evidencing its positive impact on teacher training and biology teaching.

Comparative and evolutionary analysis of chloroplast genomes from five rare Styrax species

BackgroundStyrax, a vital raw material for shipbuilding, construction, perfumes, and drugs, represents the largest and most diverse genus in the Styracaceae. However, there is a relative scarcity of research on Styrax, particularly in evolution and genetics. Therefore, this study conducted comparative and evolutionary analyses of the chloroplast genomes of five rare Styrax species (S. argentifolius, S. buchananii, S. chrysocarpus, S. finlaysonianus, and S. rhytidocarpus).ResultsThe results indicated that, despite high levels of conservation in chloroplast genome structure among these species, specific mutation hotspot regions exist, particularly involving the expansion and contraction of the IR region. Additionally, evidence of positive selection was detected in eight genes (atpB, ccsA, ndhD, petA, rbcL, rpoC1, ycf1, and ycf2), which may be associated with adaptive evolution in response to environmental changes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed conflicts between trees constructed based on coding sequences and complete chloroplast genomes for several species, which were similar to previous phylogenetic studies.ConclusionThis study underscores the importance of increasing sample sizes to enhance the accuracy of phylogenetic analyses and provides a new perspective on understanding the adaptive evolution of Styrax species. These findings are not only important for the conservation and sustainable use of Styrax, but also provide valuable insights for research in plant evolution and ecology within the genus.

Seed Endophytic Bacteria from Manilkara zapota L. and Their Influence as RiceSeedPriming Agents.

In recent years, seed endophytes have gained significant attention due to their impact on the ecology, health, and productivity of host plants. Extensive research is being conducted to explore novel endophytic bacteria for sustainable crop improvement. Manilkara zapota L. P. Royen (Sapotaceae) is a highly stress-tolerant tree widely cultivated in tropical countries, yet its associated endophytes remain unexplored. In this study, nine bacterial isolates were obtained from M. zapota seeds, of which three (LA2, LA4, and NS1) were selected based on their IAA production capability which ranged from 2.3, 6.34, and 16.1µgmL-1, respectively. Identification through 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed LA2 as Pseudomonas rhodesiae, LA4 as Bacillus cereus, and NS1 as Enterobacter cloacae. All isolates exhibited nitrogen-fixing ability, while NS1 uniquely solubilized potassium and phosphorus with KSI and PSI value as 2.9 and 2.3, respectively. Further, the efficacy of the bacterial isolates in promoting rice seedling growth was evaluated, and novel bioformulation was prepared from the consortia of LA2 + LA4, LA2 + NS1, LA4 + NS1, and LA2 + LA4 + NS1. All the isolates and bioformulations were tested as biopriming agents. Rice seedling growth experiments revealed a significant increase in germination percentage, root length, and shoot length following biopriming with individual isolates and consortia. Among treatments, the LA2 + LA4 combination exhibited the highest growth promotion, with a root length increase of 2.1-fold and shoot length increase of 2.3-fold as compared to control. Thus, our results highlighted that bioprospecting microbes from M. zapota seeds can help in nutrient management and seedling establishment.

Re-Expression of the Lorenz Asymmetry Coefficient on the Rotated and Right-Shifted Lorenz Curve of Leaf Area Distributions.

The Gini coefficient, while widely used to quantify inequality in biological size distributions, lacks the capacity to resolve directional asymmetry inherent in Lorenz curves, a critical limitation for understanding skewed resource allocation strategies. To address this, we extend our prior geometric framework of the rotated and right-shifted Lorenz curve (RRLC) by introducing two original asymmetry metrics: the positional shift ratio (PL, defined as xc/2, where xc is the x-coordinate of the RRLC's maximum value point) and the area ratio (PA, defined as AL/(AL + AR), where AL and AR denote the areas under the left and right segments of the RRLC). These indices uniquely dissect contributions of dominant versus small individuals to overall inequality, with PL reflecting the peak position of the RRLC and PA quantifying the area dominance of its left segment. Theoretically, PL directly links to the classical Lorenz asymmetry coefficient S (defined as S=xc'+yc', where xc',yc' is the tangent point on the original Lorenz curve with a 45° slope) through S = 2 - 2PL, bridging geometric transformation and parametric asymmetry analysis. Applied to 480 Shibataea chinensis Nakai shoots, our analysis revealed that over 99% exhibited pronounced left-skewed distributions, where abundant large leaves drove the majority of leaf area inequality, challenging assumptions of symmetry in plant canopy resource allocation. The framework's robustness was further validated by the strong correlation between PA and PL. By transforming abstract Lorenz curves into interpretable bell-shaped performance curves, this work provides a novel toolkit for analyzing asymmetric size distributions in ecology. The proposed metrics can be applied to refine light-use models, monitor phenotypic plasticity under environmental stress, and scale trait variations across biological hierarchies, thereby advancing both theoretical and applied research in plant ecology.

Changing environmental conditions impact the phenotypic plasticity of Carex acuta and Glyceria maxima, two common wet grassland species.

Maintenance of species coexistence is an important and on-going subject of plant ecology. Here, we aimed to determine how Carex acuta and Glyceria maxima, two common, co-occurring plant species in European wet grasslands, respond to changing environmental conditions and what these changes portend for coexistence of these two species. Such studies are important for predicting and modelling the effects of management and climate change on wet grassland plant species composition and for maintaining the ability of wet grasslands to provide their important ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and water purification. Based on past studies, we hypothesized that both species would be affected by hydrologic changes but that these effects would be modified by nutrient conditions with fertilization having a more positive impact on G. maxima. We established a mesocosm to distinguish the effect of hydrology and nutrients on the biomass allocation patterns of these two species to determine how environmental conditions may impact the life history traits of these two species, which would influence their ability to co-exist. Plants were grown in pots from late May to early September 2019 and subjected to two nutrient and three water level treatments. Half of the plants were harvested in July while the other half were harvested in early September and their biomass allocation patterns calculated. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to determine the effects of the environmental treatments on the measured parameters. In addition, we determined the phenotypic plasticity of the two species and whether these showed allometric relationships to plant size. C. acuta was affected more by hydrologic changes, growing better in dry and saturated conditions, while fertilization had a more positive effect on G. maxima. Both species were stressed when flooded, but C. acuta more so than G. maxima. Contrary to our predictions, C. acuta produced more ramets and was taller than G. maxima. Both species showed plastic responses to changing nutrient and water conditions, but only some were related to plant size. Our results indicate that C. acuta and G. maxima are more likely to co-exist in oligo- to mesotrophic wet grasslands with fluctuating water levels.

Resilience and Adaptation: Plant Ecology in Indonesia’s Geothermal Environments

Geothermal ecosystems are defined by extreme environmental conditions, such as elevated temperatures, high concentrations of toxic chemicals, and fluctuations in abiotic stressors, which shape plant survival and adaptation. These unique ecosystems, found across various geothermal regions globally, support specialized plant communities that have developed distinctive morphological, physiological, and ecological adaptations. Indonesia, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the world’s richest geothermal nations, offering an important yet underexplored context for studying vegetation in geothermal zones. This review examines the environmental conditions of geothermal ecosystems, the adaptive strategies of vegetation, and patterns of plant diversity within Indonesian geothermal fields. It also explores ecological succession, community dynamics, and the potential use of geothermal vegetation as environmental indicators for biomonitoring. Despite growing interest, significant research gaps remain, particularly in long-term monitoring and the integration of molecular-level studies. Addressing these gaps is essential for enhancing scientific understanding and informing conservation and sustainable geothermal energy development in tropical regions. This review highlights the ecological significance of geothermal vegetation and underscores the need for interdisciplinary research to support both biodiversity preservation and responsible energy exploitation.

Pollen-microbe interactions in nectar weakly influence bee foraging behavior.

Plant-pollinator interactions are frequently affected by microbes that grow on flowers. Bacteria and yeast commonly grow within floral nectar, which is a sugar-rich floral reward often sought out by pollinators. Nectar is also commonly contaminated with protein-rich pollen. Microbes can induce this pollen to germinate or burst within the nectar, which potentially results in pollen nutrients being made available to nectar foraging pollinators. Yet whether pollen-microbe interactions in nectar impact pollinator behavior remains unknown. We therefore investigated how a common nectar yeast (Metschnikowia reukaufii) and bacteria (Acinetobacter nectaris) affected pollen germination and bursting within artificial nectar and effects on bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) foraging behavior. We found that both bacteria and yeast reduced the proportion of intact pollen in nectar, with bacteria inducing the most germination and bursting. Although microbes may thus potentially increase the quality of the nectar reward via increased access to pollen nutrients, we did not observe effects on bee flower preference. Similarly, bees did not show increased constancy (i.e., fidelity to one flower type across flower visits) to nectar contaminated with pollen and microbes. In contrast, bees were much more likely to reject flowers with nectar contaminated with pollen and yeast alone or together, relative to flowers that offered uncontaminated nectar. Altogether, our work suggests pollen-microbe interactions within nectar may have relatively minor influences on pollinator foraging behavior. We discuss possible explanations and implications of these results for plant and pollinator ecology.

Spatial exploration of plant functional types: insights from bibliometric meta-analysis

The realm of ecology and environmental studies places immense significance on the concepts of plant functional traits (FTs) and plant functional types (PFTs), especially through spatial lens. The present study presents a bibliometric analysis of research on FTs and PFTs over the past decades (1993 to 2023). By analyzing 277 relevant publications, key trends, influential authors, and major contributors to this field, notable figures including Swenson NG, Reich PB, and Pottier J were identified. The analysis highlights the growing global interest in FTs and PFTs, particularly in the USA, Germany, and China, and the role of leading institutions such as the University of Oxford, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A significant finding in this study is the increasing use of spatial technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, which have enhanced the understanding and categorization of PFTs. This work not only underscores the global scope and collaborative nature of this research but also identifies emerging areas for further exploration, particularly in the application of spatial techniques to ecological and environmental studies. In essence, this bibliometric analysis accentuates the synergy between spatial techniques and PFT research, emphasizing the potential of these innovations to drive future advancements in plant ecology.

Unveiling the roots of botanical literacy: A systematic literature review on its concepts and domains

Botanical literacy is a solution to overcome plant blindness and increase plant awareness. It plays a role in improving the ability to understand plants from cognitive, attitudinal, and skill aspects. In the context of botany learning in higher education, botanical literacy focuses on cognitive aspects and involves attitudes and skills to build a holistic understanding. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses diagram was used in this systematic literature review to illustrate the inclusion and exclusion process of studies considered for inclusion in the systematic review with a total of 27 articles that provided a comprehensive explanation of the concept of botanical literacy and identified the dimensions of botanical literacy. In the cognitive domain, botanical literacy includes plant biological knowledge, plant diversity and classification, and plant ecology and its relations with the environment. In the attitude domain, the dimensions include appreciation for plants and nature, environmental concern, and plant conservation, and motivation to engage in sustainable practices. Meanwhile, the skills domain includes plant identification skills and gardening and cultivation skills. This study emphasizes the importance of botanical literacy in holistically supporting botanical learning in higher education. The implications of this study indicate the need for a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of botanical literacy, particularly in the context of education and ecological awareness in society.

Flipping indirect defense: chemical cues from natural enemies mediate multitrophic interactions.

Flipping indirect defense: chemical cues from natural enemies mediate multitrophic interactions.

Below- and above-ground mutualisms impact two alien brooms in South Africa differently

Mutualisms are important determinants of the invasion success of alien plants. If alien plants are specialized in their mutualistic requirements, or need different types of mutualistic partners (e.g., pollinators and seed dispersers), invasion success may be hampered. Many studies only consider one type of mutualistic relationship when examining the interaction ecology of alien plants, but most plants interact with multiple types of mutualists. In this study, we explored the interactions between two alien legumes, the brooms Genista monspessulana and Spartium junceum, and their associated below-ground (nitrogen-fixing rhizobia) and above-ground (pollinators) mutualists in South Africa. We conducted pollinator observations, breeding system experiments and collected root nodules to identify rhizobia via 16S rDNA sequencing. Both plants species were entirely dependent on pollinators for seed production. Genista monspessulana was pollinated largely by Apis mellifera capensis and was not pollen limited, while the larger flowers of S. junceum were only pollinated by the larger Xylocopa bees and was pollen limited. Genista monspessulana was nodulated by four distinct Bradyrhizobium (Alpha-proteobacteria) strains, while S. junceum was nodulated by one Paraburkholderia (Beta-proteobacteria) and two Bradyrhizobium strains. Low pollination rates in S. junceum suggest that its reproduction and natural spread in South Africa may be slow. The wider distribution of S. junceum, compared to G. monspessulana, thus likely reflects differences in historic propagule pressure between the two species. The role of rhizobia in limiting plant performance is less clear and the connection between nodulation rate and plant fitness requires further study.

Analysis of 18O/16O Isotope Ratios in Organic Matter by Laser Ablation IRMS.

In recent years, the application of laser ablation isotope ratio mass spectrometry has revolutionized the field of carbon isotope analysis, enabling routine analyses at high spatial resolution (30-40 μm). Until now, an equivalent analytical method for oxygen isotope ratio (18O/16O) measurements has been lacking. In this article, we describe a preparatory system for analysis of the oxygen isotope composition of carbon monoxide produced from organic samples. The system couples a UV laser platform and automated cryofocusing unit with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The method is tested on cellulose and wood (tree rings) and is shown to produce data with analytical precision typically better than 0.4‰ with a sampling resolution of 100 μm (laser beam diameter). Coupled with spatially accurate and minimally invasive laser sampling, the ability to measure stable oxygen isotopes in this way represents a significant advance as it opens up new research opportunities in plant sciences, ecology, paleoclimatology, and science-based archeology.

Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia

The impractical limits of the management plan make the biosphere reserve controversial despite its essential role in biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to assess the plant species composition, diversity, and utilization pattern of Shato forest of the Sheka Biosphere Reserve. A systematic sampling technique was used to collect tree vegetation data from 45 quadrats with 400 m2 each, with sub-quadrats for saplings and seedlings. A purposive sampling technique was used to select sites and collect representative samples to evaluate anthropogenic impacts on the Shato Forest. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was used to calculate species richness and evenness A total of 57 species of vascular plants belonging to 35 genera and 30 families were identified. Asparagaceae was found dominant in the study area with 281(31.9%) individual plants, followed by Rutaceae 131(14.9%) and Sapotaceae 71(8.07%). Three plant communities were identified in the study area. The overall Shannon–Wiener diversity (H’) and evenness (E) of tree species in the study area were 2.72 and 0.76 respectively. The total density of seedling, sapling, and mature trees was 441.7, 90.6, and 488.9 individuals per ha, respectively. Anthropogenic disturbances have recently had an impact on the ecology and status of plant (tree) biodiversity and conservation interventions needed to mitigate the tragedy of declining forest biodiversity the Shato forest.

CaecilianTraits, an individual level trait database of Caecilians worldwide

Functional traits differ among species, which determine the ecological niche a species occupies and its ability to adapt to environment. However, differences in traits also exist at intraspecific level. Such variations shape differences in individual survival capabilities. Investigating intraspecific differences of functional traits is important for ecology, evolutionary biology and biodiversity conservation. Individual trait-based approaches have been applied in plant ecology. But for animals, most databases only provide data at the species level. In this study, we presented a global database of morphological traits for caecilians (Amphibia, Gymnophiona) at both species and individual level. Caecilians are a unique group of amphibians characterized by their secretive habits, which have limited our understanding of this taxon. We compiled the most comprehensive database covering 218 out of 222 known species, with 215 of them have individual level data. This database will facilitate research in the ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, and taxonomy of caecilians. Furthermore, this dataset can be utilized to test ecological and evolutionary hypotheses at the individual level.

Editorial Comment

This issue presents a cocktail of fascinating themes covering a broad spectrum of disciplines such as supply chain, marketing, statistics, plant ecology, riparian ecology, culinary heritage tourism, digital tax, organisational strategy and sustainable food heritage tourism. Without much ado, let me give you a bird's eye view of the intellectual conundrums explored in this issue.

Planning of the "Yinxiang Jiuguan" Ecological Garden

With people's pursuit of a healthy lifestyle and growing concern for the natural environment, agro-ecological parks, as a kind of modernized agricultural demonstration area integrating ecological planting, leisure and sightseeing, and science education, are gradually becoming a new highlight of the development of urban and rural areas. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the planning and implementation of an agro-ecological park project, which takes the town of Yinxiangshui as the core, and is committed to creating a comprehensive tourism area integrating ecological agriculture, leisure and vacation, sports and fitness, sightseeing and entertainment. Through scientific planning and rational layout, this project aims to promote the process of agricultural modernization, promote rural economic development, and enhance public awareness of environmental protection and scientific literacy.

Problem solving in plant ecology: Enhancing cognitive learning outcomes

Cognitive learning outcomes (CLO) are the most important part of learning. CLO the basis of students' understanding for further learning. CLO play an important role in students' readiness to face the real world. Therefore, CLO needs to be facilitated in learning. CLO is related to the problem-solving process. This study aims to produce a problem-solving-based textbook to improve conceptual understanding in the Plant Ecology course. This research and development follow the 4D model consisting of define, design, develop, and disseminate. The instruments used in this study were questionnaires, validation sheets, and problem-solving-based test instruments in the form of essay questions. Data collection techniques used were observation, questionnaires, and tests. To determine the feasibility of problem-solving-based test instruments, the data analyzed were the results of validation by material experts and media experts. To determine the practicality of problem-solving-based tests, the data analyzed were the results of lecturer validation and student responses. The result of problem-solving-based textbook that has been compiled has met the validity criteria and practicality. In addition, problem-solving-based textbooks have an effect on CLO. Therefore, problem-solving-based textbooks are highly recommended in improving students' CLO. This means that there is an influence of problem-solving-based textbooks on CLO in the Plant Ecology course. Therefore, problem-solving based textbooks are highly recommended in improving students' CLO.

Annual Review of Phytopathology, Volume 62

There are 18 articles in the current issue. The Annual Review of Phytopathology, in publication since 1963, covers significant developments in the field of plant pathology, including plant disease diagnosis, pathogens, host-pathogen interactions, epidemiology and ecology, breeding for resistance and plant disease management, and includes a special section on the development of concepts