Fern Leaf Research Articles

Impact of bio-pesticides and storage containers on lentil seed preservation and pre-sowing fungal treatment

We conducted a study to determine the most effective method of preserving lentil seeds for future sowing. The experiment involved six different types of storage containers: cotton cloth bags, tin containers, earthen pots, plastic containers, polythene bags, and gunny bags. We also used four plant extracts: Piper betel (Betel leaf), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Allium indica (Garlic), and Swietenia mahagoni (Mahagani). We measured the vigor index and germination percentage at 2, 4, and 6 months after storage, and then documented the fungal connection. In a separate experiment, we conducted a pre-sowing seed treatment using botanicals and biological agents such as garlic (5% w/v aqueous solution), datura (5% w/v aqueous solution), mehogoni leaf extract (5% w/v aqueous solution), mehogoni seed extract (5% w/v aqueous solution), and fern leaf extract (5% w/v aqueous solution). We treated the seeds with various substances to suppress seed-borne fungi, including ash coating (10 g kg-1 seed), fresh cow dung coating, a solution of cow urine (5% v/v water), Provax-200 (2 g kg-1 seed), and an untreated control group. In terms of germination, vigor index, and seed infection, the lentil seeds stored in a polythene bag with neem leaf extract significantly outperformed the other treatments. We found that the durability of lentil seeds significantly decreased as the storage time increased. The seed treatment fungicide Provax-200 had a significant impact on lowering the presence of fungus (by 87.41%) and boosting the germination percentage (by 39.49%) of lentil seeds.

Experimental, theoretical and numerical simulation-based investigations on the fabricated Cu2ZnSn thin-film-based Schottky diodes with enhanced electron transport for solar cell

Copper-zinc-tin Cu2ZnSn (CZT) thin films are promising materials for solar cell applications. This thin film was deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) using an electrochemical deposition hierarchy. X-ray diffraction of thin-film studies confirms the variation in the structural orientation of CZT on the FTO surface. As the pH of the solution is increased, the nature of the CZT thin-film aggregate changes from a fern-like leaf CZT dendrite crystal to a disk pattern. The FE-SEM surface micrograph shows the dendrite fern leaf and sharp edge disks. The 2-D diffusion limitation aggregation under slippery conditions for ternary thin films was performed for the first time. The simulation showed that by changing the diffusing species, the sticking probability was responsible for the pH-dependent morphological change. Convincingly, diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) simulations confirm that the initial structure of copper is responsible for the final structure of the CZT thin films. An experimental simulation with pH as a controlled parameter revealed phase transition in CZT thin films. The top and back contact of Ag-CZT thin films based on Schottky behavior give a better electronic mechanism in superstrate and substrate solar cells.

Control of leaf development in the water fern Ceratopteris richardii by the auxin efflux transporter CrPINMa in the CRISPR/Cas9 analysis

BackgroundPIN-FORMED genes (PINs) are crucial in plant development as they determine the directionality of auxin flow. They are present in almost all land plants and even in green algae. However, their role in fern development has not yet been determined. This study aims to investigate the function of CrPINMa in the quasi-model water fern Ceratopteris richardii.ResultsCrPINMa possessed a long central hydrophilic loop and characteristic motifs within it, which indicated that it belonged to the canonical rather than the non-canonical PINs. CrPINMa was positioned in the lineage leading to Arabidopsis PIN6 but not that to its PIN1, and it had undergone numerous gene duplications. CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing had been performed in ferns for the first time, producing diverse mutations including local frameshifts for CrPINMa. Plants possessing disrupted CrPINMa exhibited retarded leaf emergence and reduced leaf size though they could survive and reproduce at the same time. CrPINMa transcripts were distributed in the shoot apical meristem, leaf primordia and their vasculature. Finally, CrPINMa proteins were localized to the plasma membrane rather than other cell parts.ConclusionsCRISPR/Cas9 genome editing is feasible in ferns, and that PINs can play a role in fern leaf development.

Air Pollution Tolerance of Several Species of Trees in the Petrochemical Industry Area Using Air Polution Tollerance Index (APTI) Method

The petrochemical industry is fertilizer industry factories whose production can have an impact on air quality. The industrial area has decreased environmental quality caused by air pollution. Air pollution comes from factory activities as well as motor vehicle fumes and forest burning. The decline in air quality is characterized by the accumulation of pollutant particles in the air. Spesies tree planting in the Petrochemical industry area aims to reduce air pollution. Trees that are able to withstand air pollution stress conditions are categorized as tolerant species. This study aims to determine the tolerance to air pollution by analyzing the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). Determination of the sampling is done by convinience sampling method with several sample criteria. The results showed that the APTI value of Filicium decipiens Wieght & Arn. (Fern Leaf Tree) was 5.08, Swietenia macrophylla King (Baywood) 5.62 and Mimusops elengi L. (Spanish Cherry) 5.93. This study shows that in the Petrochemical industry area, F. decipiens is categorized as a sensitive species, while S. macrophylla and M. elengi are categorized as moderately tolerant to air pollution based on tolerance category in Thakar and Mishra (2010).

Biomimetic laser-induced graphene fern leaf and enzymatic biosensor for pesticide spray collection and monitoring.

Monitoring of pesticide concentration distribution across farm fields is crucial to ensure precise and efficient application while preventing overuse or untreated areas. Inspired by nature's wettability patterns, we developed a biomimetic fern leaf pesticide collection patch using laser-induced graphene (LIG) alongside an external electrochemical LIG biosensor. This "collect-and-sense" system allows for rapid pesticide spray monitoring in the farm field. The LIG is synthesized and patterned on polyimide through a high-throughput gantry-based CO2 laser process, making it amenable to scalable manufacturing. The resulting LIG-based leaf exhibits a remarkable water collection capacity, harvesting spray mist/fog at a rate approximately 11 times greater than a natural ostrich fern leaf when the collection is normalized to surface area. The developed three-electrode LIG pesticide biosensor, featuring a working electrode functionalized with electrodeposited platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and the enzyme glycine oxidase, displayed a linear range of 10-260 μM, a detection limit of 1.15 μM, and a sensitivity of 5.64 nA μM-1 for the widely used herbicide glyphosate. Also, a portable potentiostat with a user-friendly interface was developed for remote operation, achieving an accuracy of up to 97%, when compared to a standard commercial benchtop potentiostat. The LIG "collect-and-sense" system can consistently collect and monitor glyphosate spray after 24-48 hours of spraying, a time that corresponds to the restricted-entry interval required to enter most farm fields after pesticide spraying. Hence, this innovative "collect-and-sense" system not only advances precision agriculture by enabling monitoring and mapping of pesticide distribution but also holds the potential to significantly reduce environmental impact, enhance crop management practices, and contribute to the sustainable and efficient use of agrochemicals in modern agriculture.

Synthesis of iron oxide microparticles with fern leaf morphology: Assessment of the RY-145 azo-dye adsorption

New particulate ceramic materials with outstanding properties are needed for several technological applications. In this work, multibranched hematite (α-Fe2O3) has been synthesized by tuning the experimental conditions for obtaining dendritic microparticles with the morphology of fern leaves. Variations of temperature, precursor (K3[Fe(CN)6]) concentration, and time were performed to synthesize dendritic hematite with the best fractal morphology. These materials were characterized structurally and morphologically by X-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). In addition, the composition was studied by X-ray dispersive energy analysis (EDX). The well-formed multibranched sample was additionally analyzed by infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopies, thermal analysis, and N2 gas adsorption at 77 K. Finally, this multibranched sample was evaluated as an adsorbent for the removal of an azoic dye (Reactive Yellow-145: RY-145) under mild conditions (25 °C, atmospheric pressure) and pH 3.5. The results showed the interesting potentiality of this multibranched α-Fe2O3 for the adsorption of azo dyes and revealed the high stability of the adsorbent particles. However, the adsorption capacity of the solid is moderately low (13 – 32 mg/g), and it is worth improving this parameter. A pseudo-second order kinetic model was well adjusted, revealing an external adsorption of RY-145 on multibranched hematite with possible chemisorption.

Fractal fuzzy logic using Kelly plots

Strictly defined, the concept of self-similarity or selfsimilarity applies only to mathematical fractals - which arise from the iteration of simple formulae but lead to very complex structures, Cantor Dust, Peano Curve, Koch Snowflake, whereas in natural or physical fractals - those found in nature, such as a fern leaf, an arborisation, capillaries - the concept of self-similarity applies, since their fractality is only statistical and they possess, consequently, an anisotropic scaling,(not having the same properties in all dimensions of analysis), which does not allow an amplified part of a figure to maintain exactly the characteristics of the figure as a whole, is where we find Kelly plots.

"Diminishing returns" and leaf area-biomass scaling of ferns in subtropical ecosystems.

Foliage leaves are the primary photosynthetic organ of the majority of vascular plants, and their area vs. biomass scaling relationships provide valuable insights into the capacity and investment in light interception, which is critical to plant growth and performance. The "diminishing returns" hypothesis (DRH), which is based primarily on data from gymnosperms and angiosperms, posits that leaf (lamina) area scales with leaf dry mass. on average with a scaling exponent less than 1.0. However, it remains uncertain whether DRH applies to ferns or whether ecological factors affect the scaling exponents governing fern leaf morphometrics. To address this issue, 182 individuals of 28 subtropical ferns species were studied at low, medium, and high elevations (i.e., 600m, 900m, and 1200m, respectively) in Mount Wuyi National Park, Jiangxi Province, China. The scaling relationships between leaf area and leaf biomass for individual and total leaf of ferns at different elevations were examined by using standardized major axis regression protocols. Analyses of the 28 fern species (using Blomberg K-value protocols) indicated no phylogenetic biases among the species compositions of the three different elevations. In addition, at the individual plant level, individual leaf area (ILA) did not differ significantly among the three different elevations (P > 0.05). However, individual leaf mass (ILM) was significantly higher at 900m than at 1200m (P < 0.05), resulting in a significantly higher leaf mass per area (LMA) at the 900m elevation than at the 600m and 1200m elevations (P < 0.05). The ILA and ILM at the 900m elevation were significantly higher than at the 600m elevation (P < 0.05). At the species level, ILA and ILM did not differ significantly among the three elevations (P > 0.05). The total leaf area per individual (TLA) did not differ significantly across the different elevations (P > 0.05). However, total leaf mass per individual (TLM) did differ significantly (P < 0.05). At the individual plant level, the scaling exponents for ILA vs. ILM and TLA vs. TLM at the three different elevations were all significantly less than 1.0 (P < 0.05), which was consistent with the DRH. At the species level, the scaling exponents for the ILA vs. ILM were significantly less than 1.0 at the middle and high elevations, but not at the low elevation. The scaling exponents of the TLA and TLM were numerically highest in the middle elevation, and all were less than 1.0 for the three elevations. These results indicate that the scaling relationships of leaf area versus mass of subtropical ferns at different elevations support the DRH hypothesis. The study further informs our understanding of the resource allocation strategies of an ancient and diverse plant lineage.

Fractal fuzzy logic using Kelly plots

Strictly defined, the concept of self-similarity or self-similarity applies only to mathematical fractals - which arise from the iteration of simple formulae but lead to very complex structures, Cantor Dust, Peano Curve, Koch Snowflake, whereas in natural or physical fractals - those found in nature, such as a fern leaf, an arborisation, capillaries - the concept of self-similarity applies, since their fractality is only statistical and they possess, consequently, an anisotropic scaling,(not having the same properties in all dimensions of analysis), which does not allow an amplified part of a figure to maintain exactly the characteristics of the figure as a whole, is where we find Kelly plots.

Effectiveness of Resam Fern Leaves Extract (Gleichenia linearis) as Bioinsecticide on Mortality of Black Ant (Dolichoderus thoracicus)

Insecticides are type of pesticide used to eradicate or control pests. Generally, there are two types of insecticides, namely natural and synthetic insecticides. Natural insecticides are scarce due to their inability to eradicate pests such as black ants. Meanwhile, the use of synthetic insecticides is very practical and fast but can cause pollution that is harmful to humans, animals and other living things. Thus, natural insecticides are needed that can eradicate black ants effectively and efficiently and do not pollute the environment or poison other organisms. The research method used is combination of experimental methods, observation, and literature studies. In determining the best insecticide variation for mortality, a black ant mortality rate was measured using timer for 50 black ants. After the data was obtained, it was analyzed descriptively to determine the value of the mortality rate for each experimental sample. Based on the data obtained, the best variation of natural insecticides was the control variation of fern leaf extract with 3.646 seconds per ant. This is because fern leaf extract in insecticides contains tannin compounds which have several benefits as active pesticide ingredients. Thus, fern insecticides are effective in exterminating black ants.

The Albian vegetation of central Alberta as a food source for the nodosaurid Borealopelta markmitchelli

During the Cretaceous, large herbivorous dinosaurs (megaherbivores) acted as keystone species—just as large mammals do today (e.g., elephants)—yet despite their significance in Cretaceous ecosystems, what plant taxa these dinosaurs ate is unclear. The Albian armoured dinosaur Borealopelta markmitchelli (Ornithischia; Nodosauridae) was discovered in northern Alberta, Canada and has well-preserved stomach contents dominated by fern leaf tissues, with low amounts of gymnosperm material, implying selective feeding. The lower Albian Gates Formation (Grande Cache Member) macroflora of central Alberta is contemporaneous and spatially proximal with B. markmitchelli and therefore provides information on local vegetation available to this nodosaurid and other megaherbivores in this area. In this study we provide census-sampled abundance data for the Gates Formation macroflora. These data also provide the means to further investigate the feeding ecology of Borealopelta by summarizing the vegetation and local food options available. Census collections at five sites within the Grande Cache Member exposed in the Grande Cache Coal Mine reveal that the local vegetation there was dominated by conifers (44–70%) across all sites. Athrotaxites, Elatides, and Pityocladus were the most common conifers. Other gymnosperms present were ginkgophytes (e.g., Ginkgoites; 11%) and Taeniopteris (9%). Caytoniales (Sagenopteris) were found at one study site but uncommon (2%). Ferns (e.g., Cladophlebis, Coniopteris, Gleichenites) accounted for 14% of the total site counts while cycadophytes (Bennettitales; 4%) and Equisetites (1%) were less common. When comparing the Gates Formation macroflora to the stomach contents of Borealopelta, these data suggest that B. markmitchelli was selectively feeding on ferns, or in a recently disturbed fern-dense area within the local landscape.

Large-Scale Effects of Aridity on Leaf Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations of Terrestrial Plants

The leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations of terrestrial plants make large contributions to ecosystem function and dynamics. The relationship between aridity and leaf N and P has been established through experimental studies. However, few studies have focused on the large-scale effects of aridity on the leaf N and P of terrestrial plants. In this paper, we used linear regression models to test the effects of aridity on terrestrial plant leaf N and P and the N:P ratio based on global datasets. We found that aridity had significant effects on the leaf N and P and the N:P ratio of terrestrial plants. The strongest relationships were between fern leaf P, the fern N:P ratio, tree leaf P, the tree N:P ratio, vine leaf N, and the tree N:P ratio. Aridity could be used to predict the P and N:P ratio of terrestrial plants, particularly those of ferns and trees, on large scales in arid environments. Our study contributes to maintaining ecosystem functioning and services in arid environments under climate change.

The fern economics spectrum is unaffected by the environment.

The plant economics spectrum describes the trade-off between plant resource acquisition and storage, and sheds light on plant responses to environmental changes. However, the data used to construct the plant economics spectrum comes mainly from seed plants, thereby neglecting vascular non-seed plant lineages such as the ferns. To address this omission, we evaluated whether a fern economics spectrum exists using leaf and root traits of 23 fern species living under three subtropical forest conditions differing in light intensity and nutrient gradients. The fern leaf and root traits were found to be highly correlated and formed a plant economics spectrum. Specific leaf mass and root tissue density were found to be on one side of the spectrum (conservative strategy), whereas photosynthesis rate, specific root area, and specific root length were on the other side of the spectrum (acquisitive strategy). Ferns had higher photosynthesis and respiration rates, and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency under high light conditions and higher specific root area and lower root tissue density in high nutrient environments. However, environmental changes did not significantly affect their resource acquisition strategies. Thus, the plant economics spectrum can be broadened to include ferns, which expands its phylogenetic and ecological implications and utility.

Spectral interference contrast based non-contact photoacoustic microscopy realized by SDOCT.

We introduce a method to extract the photoacoustic (PA) signal from a contrast reduction of the interference spectrum acquired by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT). This all-optical detection is achieved in a noncontact manner directly on the water surface covered on the sample by using its specular reflection. During SDOCT exposure, the phase of the interference spectrum keeps shaking according to the water surface vibration induced by PA excitation. This results in an interference contrast reduction which is quantified by a fast Fourier transform (FFT) for PA imaging. A tungsten filament, asparagus fern leaf, and mouse auricle are imaged to demonstrate the method.

Laju Pertumbuhan Dan Kecepatan Molting Kepiting Bakau (Scylla serrata) Dengan Pemberian Ekstrak Daun Pakis Hutan (Diplazium caudatum)

The cultivation of mud crabs is growing to get crabs in the soft shell condition. But most of the soft shell crab's farmers do not experience sustainable business. The main obstacle is the length of the maintenance period and moulting time does not unison thereby causing the feed and operating costs to be high. The research aimed to examine the effect of injection with forest fern leaf extract on growth rate and moulting speed of mangrove crabs (Scylla serrata) and determine the best dose in the process of injecting forest Fern Leaf extract for mangrove crab (Scylla serrata). Treatment of mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) weight ± 100 g with dose: P1 (NaCL 0.9%) P2 (50 mg.L-1) P3 (75 mg.L-1) P4 (100 mg.L-1) P5 (125 mg.L-1) 5 crabs each are cared for 30 days, The research was conducted using a single complete random draft (RAL), the results of various analyses showed the significant forest fern leaf extract against the growth of absolute weights, the rate of Specific growth, and relative growth, but no noticeable effect for molting speed and absolute length growth. The results of this research showed that a dose of 125 mg.L-1produces the highest value with result for moulting speed of 0.50 ± 0.57, length absolute growth of 0.37 ± 0.1 weighted absolute growth of 20 ± 5,74, specific growth rate of 0.54 ± 0.13, and relative growth of 0.64 ± 0.18.

European ferns as rich sources of antioxidants in the human diet

Wild edible plants have become an attractive variation of the human diet, especially in East Asia, North America, and Oceania. However, their potential in nutrition is only rarely considered in Europe. This study aims to reveal the nutritional and antioxidant potential of mature fern leaves from 13 families grown in Europe. We found that most of the examined fern species displayed a high antioxidant capacity, exceeding 0.5 g Trolox equivalent per gram of extract dry weight in ORAC assay and reaching IC50 values lower than 30 µg·mL−1 in DPPH assay (with the value for Trolox 7 µg·mL−1). Most of the species also appeared to be a good source of carotenoids, especially of lutein (205 µg·g−1 DW on average) and β-carotene (161 µg·g−1 DW on average) when compared to the reference leafy vegetables spinach and rocket. A cytotoxicity test using ovine hepatocytes showed a non-toxicity effect of fern leaf extracts.

Partial Characterisation of Two Isolates of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)

Field observation revealed that the most common symptoms on naturally infected plants in Alexandria, Dakahliya, Kafr El-sheikh and El- Beheira governorates in Egypt were severe mosaic, mild mosaic, chlorosis, mottling, vein banding, blisters, malformation, fern leaf, shoe-string and/or stunting. These symptoms were suspected of being caused by Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and confirmed by indirect ELISA. Two samples obtained from wild tobacco and cucumber plants reacted positively with the CMV specific antiserum. Based on symptomology and disease severity on Nicotiana glutinosa and Chenopodium amaranticolor, two isolates of CMV were named CMV-wild tobacco (from Alexandria) and CMV-cucumber (from Kafr El-sheikh) and subjected to this study. Reaction of some diagnostic hosts of 11 plant species belonging to five families upon inoculation with the two isolates included different symptoms characteristic to CMV-infection, albeit those induced by CMV-wild tobacco being invariably more severe than those elicited by CMV-cucumber. Identification of virus isolates was confirmed using real time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The test isolates demonstrated a single qRT-PCR amplification product of 500bp. The two isolates could be transmitted mechanically and easily transmitted by four aphid species in non-persistent manner. The most efficient vector was Myzus persicae followed by Aphis gossypii, Rhopalosiphum maidis and A. nerii with transmission rates of 90%, 70%, 60% and 50%, respectively, for CMV-wild tobacco and being 80%, 80%, 40% and 30%, respectively for CMV-cucumber. The two isolates could not be transmitted via Cucurbita pepo seeds derived from infected plants. However, virus infection had a great effect on seed germination.

Simple and Divided Leaves in Ferns: Exploring the Genetic Basis for Leaf Morphology Differences in the Genus Elaphoglossum (Dryopteridaceae).

Despite the implications leaves have for life, their origin and development remain debated. Analyses across ferns and seed plants are fundamental to address the conservation or independent origins of megaphyllous leaf developmental mechanisms. Class I KNOX expression studies have been used to understand leaf development and, in ferns, have only been conducted in species with divided leaves. We performed expression analyses of the Class I KNOX and Histone H4 genes throughout the development of leaf primordia in two simple-leaved and one divided-leaved fern taxa. We found Class I KNOX are expressed (1) throughout young and early developing leaves of simple and divided-leaved ferns, (2) later into leaf development of divided-leaved species compared to simple-leaved species, and (3) at the leaf primordium apex and margins. H4 expression is similar in young leaf primordia of simple and divided leaves. Persistent Class I KNOX expression at the margins of divided leaf primordia compared with simple leaf primordia indicates that temporal and spatial patterns of Class I KNOX expression correlate with different fern leaf morphologies. However, our results also indicate that Class I KNOX expression alone is not sufficient to promote divided leaf development in ferns. Class I KNOX patterns of expression in fern leaves support the conservation of an independently recruited developmental mechanism for leaf dissection in megaphylls, the shoot-like nature of fern leaves compared with seed plant leaves, and the critical role marginal meristems play in fern leaf development.

Kalanchoe ×hummeliae Gideon F.Sm.: the hybrid between K. beharensis Drake and K. millotii Raym.-Hamet &amp; H.Perrier (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae)

The name Kalanchoe ×hummeliae Gideon F.Sm. is published for the hybrid between K. beharensis Drake and K. millotii Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae). A selection of this hybrid was previously described as a cultivar, K. ‘Fern Leaf’ H.Johnson.

Actinic Lichen Nitidus with Dermoscopic Features, and Response to Hydroxychloroquine

Lichen nitidus (LN) is an entity of unknown etiology, with typical morphology and histology. Actinic lichen nitidus (ALN) is rare. It presents as typical lesions of LN in photodistribution, with classical histology. Dermoscopic findings in LN has been documented in very few cases in literature. We present a case of ALN with koebnerization, characteristic histology and dermoscopic features. Dermoscopy revealed round, bluish white streaks in “fern leaf ” pattern in the background of brownish reticular network. Our patient responded well to hydroxychloroquine and photoprotection.