Green Plants Research Articles

Improved Office Air Quality: Boost to Employee Productivity

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in office environments is a critical factor influencing employee health, well-being, and productivity. This paper explores the correlation between improved indoor air quality and enhanced employee productivity. We review various IAQ enhancement strategies, including ventilation, air purification, and the use of green plants. Several case studies are analyzed to demonstrate the practical application and benefits of these strategies. The paper concludes with recommendations for businesses seeking to optimize their indoor environments for better health and productivity outcomes. Keywords Indoor Air Quality, Health and Air quality, employee wellness and indoor air quality, employee productivity and air quality, role of Air quality on productivity of professionals, IAQ, HAVC, Air purification, productivity and air quality

Waste heat recovery from a green ammonia production plant by Kalina and vapour absorption refrigeration cycles: A comparative energy, exergy, environmental and economic analysis

The production of green ammonia involves significant energy penalties due to heat losses. Recovering this heat can enhance the sustainability of ammonia production. However, this area remains largely unexplored, making it unclear which approach to waste heat recovery is best suited. Therefore, this paper investigates two methods of waste heat recovery in a green ammonia production plant: the Kalina Cycle (KC) and the Vapour Absorption Refrigeration Cycle (VARC). The underlying processes are simulated, and an analysis is conducted covering energy, exergy, environmental, and economic aspects. The results show that integrating the system with KC yields a marginal energy efficiency improvement of about 1%. However, when the conventional ammonia production system is integrated with VARC, the improvement in energy efficiency reaches 8%, while exergy efficiency improves by 11%. An environmental assessment estimates the greenhouse gas emissions saved by each heat recovery method, revealing that VARC achieves almost four times the emission savings compared to KC. Economically, integrating KC increases the levelized cost of ammonia (LCOA) by over 18%, whereas adding VARC has almost no impact on the LCOA. Overall, the co-production of refrigeration using VARC is identified as a superior heat recovery technique for green ammonia plants.

The accumulation of aluminum in the aboveground parts of green manure plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family

The accumulation of aluminum in the aboveground parts of green manure plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family

Genome-wide identification, phylogenetic, structural and functional evolution of thecore components of ABA signaling in plant species: a focus on rice.

A genome-wide analysis had identified 642 ABA core component genes from 20 plant species, which were further categorized into three distinct subfamilies. The gene structures and evolutionary relationships of these genes had been characterized. PP2C_1, PP2C_2, and SnRK2_1 had emerged as key players in mediating the ABA signaling transduction pathway, specifically in rice, in response to abiotic stresses. The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is essential for growth, development, and stress response, relying on its core components, pyrabactin resistance, pyrabactin resistance-like, and the regulatory component of ABA receptor (PYR/PYL/RCAR), 2C protein phosphatase (PP2C), sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2). However, there's a lack of research on their structural evolution and functional differentiation across plants. Our study analyzed the phylogenetic, gene structure, homology, and duplication evolution of this complex in 20 plant species. We found conserved patterns in copy number and homology across subfamilies. Segmental and tandem duplications drove the evolution of these genes, while whole-genome duplication (WGD) expanded PYR/PYL/RCAR and PP2C subfamilies, enhancing environmental adaptation. In rice and Arabidopsis, the PYR/PYL/RCAR, PP2C, and SnRK2 genes showed distinct tissue-specific expression and responded to various stresses. Notably, PP2C_1 and PP2C_2 interacted with SnRK2_1 and were crucial for ABA signaling in rice. These findings offered new insights into ABA signaling evolution, interactions, and integration in green plants, benefiting future research in agriculture, evolutionary biology, ecology, and environmental science.

Impact of application volume and spray droplet size on soybean harvest aid efficacy

AbstractThroughout the mid‐southern United States, indeterminate maturity group (MG) IV soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) have largely taken the place of determinate MG V and VI soybean in order maximize yield. However, this shift towards earlier maturity groups results in more green plant material at physiological maturity. Consequently, harvest aids are of interest to producers who seek to defoliate and desiccate soybean in a timely and uniform manner. Field experiments were conducted from 2019 to 2020 to evaluate the impact of harvest aid, application volume, and spray droplet volume mean diameter (VMD) on soybean harvest aid efficacy in Mississippi. Applications of paraquat, saflufenacil, and sodium chlorate were made when soybean averaged 65% brown pods, with application volumes of 5 and 20 gal. acre−1, and VMDs of 200, 500, and 800 µm. Defoliation, desiccation, and green stems were evaluated at 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after treatment (DAT). Soybean grain yield was obtained at harvest and adjusted to 13% moisture. Harvest aid efficacy did not vary due to application volume. Spray droplet spectra with a VMD of 200 µm maximized both defoliation and desiccation efficacy. At 14 DAT, applications of paraquat and sodium chlorate resulted in 95% defoliation but were similar to saflufenacil at 89%. Applications of paraquat resulted in desiccation of 16 more percentage points than saflufenacil, and 8 more percentage points than sodium chlorate. These data indicate soybean harvest aid applications should contain paraquat. Although efficacy was maximized with spray droplet spectra with a VMD of 200 µm, the total variance in efficacy due to VMD of spray droplets was minimal.

Bacterial genera associated with nitrogen cycle in microbial communities of chernozems

BACKGROUND: Reactions associated with the geochemical nitrogen cycle occurring in the soil have a decisive effect on the level of nitrogen availability for green plants. Microorganisms that catalyze them are of interest from the point of view of developing mechanisms for managing soil fertility. In this paper, we focused on bacterial genera associated with nitrogen cycle processes in chernozem soils of the Belgorod Region of Russia. AIM: To determine the list and quantitative ratios of bacterial genera whose representatives are able to participate in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, nitrification and denitrification in the chernozems of the forest-steppe zone of the European part of Russia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of arable and non-arable chernozems of three subtypes were collected in June and August 2022. Microbiological profiling based on high-throughput sequencing of amplicons of V3 and V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene with subsequent computational processing of the results was used in the work. RESULTS: 6 genera of nitrogen-fixing bacteria were found, as well as a group undifferentiated by means of the method used, including genus Rhizobium. 8 genera involved in the first and 5 genera involved in the second stage of nitrification were also found. 7 genera have been found whose representatives are capable of denitrification, without taking into account nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which are also capable of carrying out this process. CONCLUSIONS: Among the bacteria capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the chernozems of the Belgorod region, the genus Bradyrhizobium dominates. Among the nitrifiers performing the first stage of nitrification, Ellin6067 and MND1 from the family Nitrosomonadaceae predominate. The second stage of nitrification is carried out mainly by bacteria of the genus Nitrospira. Of the potential denitrifies, along with nitrogen-fixing genera possessing this ability, representatives of the genera Rubrobacter and Pseudomonas are the most numerous. The study does not claim to give a complete list of organisms that carry out key chemical transformations of nitrogen compounds in chernozems, however, it allows us to name their important participants.

The Influence of Green Manure Planting on the Spectroscopic Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter in Freshwater-Leached Saline–Alkali Soil at Different Depths

This study investigated the influence of green manure planting on the spectroscopic properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in saline–alkali soil under freshwater leaching conditions at different soil depths. The UV254, UV253/UV203, α300, α355, SUVA254, SUVA260, and SR ultraviolet parameters indicated reductions in the content of large molecular substances, benzene ring substitution degree, colored dissolved organic matter, aromaticity, and hydrophobic components in the soil leachate DOM with an increasing soil depth. Compared with the non-green manure treatment control, green manure planting mitigated the leaching of dissolved organic matter in soil during saline irrigation, with rape green manure demonstrating superior effectiveness. Utilizing three-dimensional fluorescence combined with parallel factor analysis, this study analyzed three fluorescent components of soil leachate DOM: C1 (visible-light fulvic acid), C2 (humic acid), and C3 (tyrosine-like protein). The combined contribution of the two humic substance components (C1 + C2) was approximately 70%, indicating the dominance of humic substances in leachate DOM. The fluorescence parameters of soil leachate DOM included an average of the fluorescence index (FI) values between 1.4 and 1.9, low humification index (HIX) values consistently below 4, and biological index (BIX) values ranging from 0.8 to 1.0, suggesting a mixed source, low humification degree, poor stability, and moderate self-source characteristics. Compared with the non-green manure treatment control, both the green manure treatments exhibited a relatively higher proportion of biogenic sources and humification degree in soil leachate DOM. This suggests that planting green manure can reduce the relative DOM content under freshwater leaching conditions, increase the proportion of biogenic sources in soil leachate DOM, and enhance soil humification. Planting rapeseed green manure can diminish the leaching of DOM from land sources and augment soil humification.

Botanical corrosion inhibitors in reinforced concrete: material sustainability assessment and analysis - a review

Various methodologies have emerged over the past few decades aimed at controlling and mitigating corrosion. A new field has emerged in controlling corrosion through the use of plant-based corrosion inhibitors. The exploration of botanical extracts’ efficacy marks a significant shift in corrosion science, tapping into the potential and utility offered by green plants. This comprehensive study serves as a review encompassing the spectrum of botanical extracts and their applications in diverse contexts concerning reinforced structures. This research critically assesses the correlation between phytochemical compositions, the methodologies employed in solvent extraction, and the adsorption mechanisms pivotal for enhancing the efficacy of plant extracts in corrosion inhibition. The primary objective lies in uncovering the role of inhibitors in safeguarding embedded steel within concrete structures while aiming to curtail corrosion rates. A focal point of this investigation revolves around the transition from employing toxic inhibitors to environmentally friendly botanical extracts for corrosion mitigation. Furthermore, this study accentuates the range of botanical extracts used as corrosion inhibitors shedding light on the specific phytochemical components responsible for driving the corrosion inhibition process. Notably, it expounds upon the future prospects of corrosion inhibitors, outlining the inherent challenges that must be addressed to facilitate their scalability for widespread commercial utilization.

Millimeter-Wave Radar Detection and Localization of a Human in Indoor Complex Environments

Nowadays, it is still a great challenge to detect and locate indoor humans using a frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar accurately. Due to the interference of the indoor environment and complex objects such as green plants, the radar signal may penetrate, reflect, refract, and scatter, and the echo signals will contain noise, clutter, and multipath of different characteristics. Therefore, a method combined with comprehensive non-target signal removal and human localization is proposed to achieve position estimation of a human target. Time-variant clutter is innovatively mitigated through time accumulation using point clustering. Ghost targets are reduced according to propagation path matching. The experimental results show that the method can locate the real target human within an average error of 0.195 m in multiple complex environments with green plants, curtains, or furniture using a 77 GHz millimeter-wave radar. Meanwhile, the proposed method performs better than conventional methods. The detection probability is 81.250% when the human is behind a potted plant and is 90.286% when beside it.

Reflection–Polarization Characteristics of Greenhouses Studied by Drone-Polarimetry Focusing on Polarized Light Pollution of Glass Surfaces

Drone-based imaging polarimetry is a valuable new tool for the remote sensing of the polarization characteristics of the Earth’s surface. After briefly reviewing two earlier drone-polarimetric studies, we present here the results of our drone-polarimetric campaigns, in which we measured the reflection–polarization patterns of greenhouses. From the measured patterns of the degree and angle of linear polarization of reflected light, we calculated the measure (plp) of polarized light pollution of glass surfaces. The knowledge of polarized light pollution is important for aquatic insect ecology, since polarotactic aquatic insects are the endangered victims of artificial horizontally polarized light sources. We found that the so-called Palm House of a botanical garden has only a low polarized light pollution, 3.6% ≤ plp ≤ 13.7%, while the greenhouses with tilted roofs are strongly polarized-light-polluting, with 24.8% ≤ plp ≤ 40.4%. Similarly, other tilted-roofed greenhouses contain very high polarized light pollution, plp ≤ 76.7%. Under overcast skies, the polarization patterns and plp values of greenhouses practically only depend on the direction of view relative to the glass surfaces, as the rotationally invariant diffuse cloud light is the only light source. However, under cloudless skies, the polarization patterns of glass surfaces significantly depend on the azimuth direction of view and its angle relative to the solar meridian because, in this case, sunlight is the dominant light source, rather than the sky. In the case of a given direction of view, those glass surfaces are the strongest polarized-light-polluting, from which sunlight and/or skylight is reflected at or near Brewster’s angle in a nearly vertical plane, i.e., with directions of polarization close to horizontal. Therefore, the plp value is usually greatest when the sun shines directly or from behind. The plp value of greenhouses is always the smallest in the green spectral range due to the green plants under the glass.

Haplotypes of ATP-Binding Cassette CaABCC6 in Chickpea from Kazakhstan Are Associated with Salinity Tolerance and Leaf Necrosis via Oxidative Stress.

Salinity tolerance was studied in chickpea accessions from a germplasm collection and in cultivars from Kazakhstan. After NaCl treatment, significant differences were found between genotypes, which could be arranged into three groups. Those that performed poorest were found in group 1, comprising five ICC accessions with the lowest chlorophyll content, the highest leaf necrosis (LN), Na+ accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and a low glutathione ratio GSH/GSSG. Two cultivars, Privo-1 and Tassay, representing group 2, were moderate in these traits, while the best performance was for group 3, containing two other cultivars, Krasnokutsky-123 and Looch, which were found to have mostly green plants and an exact opposite pattern of traits. Marker-trait association (MTA) between 6K DArT markers and four traits (LN, Na+, MDA, and GSH/GSSG) revealed the presence of four possible candidate genes in the chickpea genome that may be associated with the three groups. One gene, ATP-binding cassette, CaABCC6, was selected, and three haplotypes, A, D1, and D2, were identified in plants from the three groups. Two of the most salt-tolerant cultivars from group 3 were found to have haplotype D2 with a novel identified SNP. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed that this gene was strongly expressed after NaCl treatment in the parental- and breeding-line plants of haplotype D2. Mass spectrometry of seed proteins showed a higher accumulation of glutathione reductase and S-transferase, but not peroxidase, in the D2 haplotype. In conclusion, the CaABCC6 gene was hypothesized to be associated with a better response to oxidative stress via glutathione metabolism, while other candidate genes are likely involved in the control of chlorophyll content and Na+ accumulation.

Effect of Green Light Replacing Some Red and Blue Light on Cucumis melo under Drought Stress.

Light quality not only directly affects the photosynthesis of green plants but also plays an important role in regulating the development and movement of leaf stomata, which is one of the key links for plants to be able to carry out normal growth and photosynthesis. By sensing changes in the light environment, plants actively regulate the expansion pressure of defense cells to change stomatal morphology and regulate the rate of CO2 and water vapor exchange inside and outside the leaf. In this study, Cucumis melo was used as a test material to investigate the mitigation effect of different red, blue, and green light treatments on short-term drought and to analyze its drought-resistant mechanism through transcriptome and metabolome analysis, so as to provide theoretical references for the regulation of stomata in the light environment to improve the water use efficiency. The results of the experiment showed that after 9 days of drought treatment, increasing the percentage of green light in the light quality significantly increased the plant height and fresh weight of the treatment compared to the control (no green light added). The addition of green light resulted in a decrease in leaf stomatal conductance and a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, malondialdehyde MDA content, and electrolyte osmolality in the leaves of melon seedlings. It indicated that the addition of green light promoted drought tolerance in melon seedlings. Transcriptome and metabolome measurements of the control group (CK) and the addition of green light treatment (T3) showed that the addition of green light treatment not only effectively regulated the synthesis of abscisic acid (ABA) but also significantly regulated the hormonal pathway in the hormones such as jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). This study provides a new idea to improve plant drought resistance through light quality regulation.

Evolutionary and immune-activating character analyses of NLR genes in algae suggest the ancient origin of plant intracellular immune receptors.

Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins are crucial intracellular immune receptors in plants, responsible for detecting invading pathogens and initiating defense responses. While previous studies on the evolution and function of NLR genes were mainly limited to land plants, the evolutionary trajectory and immune-activating character of NLR genes in algae remain less explored. In this study, genome-wide NLR gene analysis was conducted on 44 chlorophyte species across seven classes and seven charophyte species across five classes. A few but variable number of NLR genes, ranging from one to 20, were identified in five chlorophytes and three charophytes, whereas no NLR gene was identified from the remaining algal genomes. Compared with land plants, algal genomes possess fewer or usually no NLR genes, implying that the expansion of NLR genes in land plants can be attributed to their adaptation to the more complex terrestrial pathogen environments. Through phylogenetic analysis, domain composition analysis, and conserved motifs profiling of the NBS domain, we detected shared and lineage-specific features between NLR genes in algae and land plants, supporting the common origin and continuous evolution of green plant NLR genes. Immune-activation assays revealed that both TNL and RNL proteins from green algae can elicit hypersensitive responses in Nicotiana benthamiana, indicating the molecular basis for immune activation has emerged in the early evolutionary stage of different types of NLR proteins. In summary, the results from this study suggest that NLR proteins may have taken a role as intracellular immune receptors in the common ancestor of green plants.

Hyperspectral and Weather Resistant Biomimetic Leaf Enabled by Interlayer Confinement

AbstractMimicking the characteristics and achieving specific functions of biological systems is stirring but challenging. Generally, pigments in the commercial coating can only achieve a similarity in chromaticity, while cannot obtain a similarity in the solar reflective spectrum whose difficulty resides in simulating spectral characteristics simultaneously. Unfortunately, traditional organic pigments show poor weather and heat resistance. Herein, with the little difference in the color difference (ΔEab*), the high spectral similarity, as well as adjustable green peak and similar red edge slope compared with the common plants (pagoda tree leaf, etc.) in 400–2500 nm, is also attained. It is achieved by the interlayer confined organic pigment in Mg/Al‐layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al‐LDH) layers. The corresponding biomimetic leaf displays high hyperspectral performance with a spectral angle cosine of 0.9922 and heat resistance at 120 °C. The longer weather resistance than that of mechanical mixing is also demonstrated. The intercalated chromophores of sodium copper chlorophyllin in the Mg/Al‐LDH and the interlayer confinement of Mg/Al‐LDH contribute to the excellent performance. This work provides a green pigment and a biomimetic leaf requiring the same chromaticity and spectrum as green plants, filling the long‐term use demand gap for heat and weather‐resistant biomimetic vegetation.

Novel lanthanum and waste lye modified fly ash zeolite for nitrogen and phosphorus removal: mechanisms and application in the constructed wetland

Excess inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) can lead to imbalance in water ecosystems and thus trigger eutrophication. In this study, a novel Lanthanum and waste lye modified zeolite synthesized from fly ash (LZFA) was prepared and used as a modified substrate for constructed wetland (CW) to enhance N and P removal. Single-factor and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to optimize the preparation process. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacities of N and P were 17.26 mg/g and 21.48 mg/g, respectively. Compared to solely zeolite synthesized from fly ash (ZFA), the decreased N sorption capacity in LZFA was attributed to a reduction in the surface negative charge and cation exchange capacity. The mechanism of P adsorption was attributed to the formation of La-O-P monodentate, bidentate mononuclear or bidentate binuclear inner-sphere complexation. Meanwhile, the introduction of Ca from waste lye was also involved in the P reaction. The N and P removal rates of LZFA modified subsurface flow constructed wetland (SFCW) were 2.67 % and 7.33 % higher than SFCW modified with gravel. In practical production, if a circular chain from coal ash production to use for green plant fertilizer can be established, the cost of treating P can be significantly reduced.

Impact of visual and textural characteristics of street walls on stress recovery

Rapid urbanization increases psychological stress among pedestrians, potentially heightening mental health disorders. This study examines the role of street walls' visual and textural characteristics in stress recovery, using Qingdao as a case study. Virtual reality is employed to simulate five distinct street walls: yellow mortar, brown stone, red brick, green plant, and white mortar. The stress recovery effectiveness of these walls was evaluated through psychological and physiological indicators from 48 young college students. Results indicated that street walls with warm tones, particularly brown stone, significantly aid stress recovery. Psychologically, Restorative Components Scale was highest for brown stone at 1.13. Physiologically, it was linked with notable reductions in diastolic and pulse pressure (decreases of 2.95 mmHg and 2.27 mmHg, respectively), and enhanced parasympathetic activity, as evidenced by the fastest decrease in low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF), and increases in pNN50 and RR (0.14–2.01% and 1.57–11.81 ms, respectively). For urban design, the incorporation of warm-toned materials and natural elements like stone is recommended for their superior restorative benefits.

Full analysis and deep learning optimization of a sustainable and eco-friendly power plant to generate green hydrogen and electricity; A zero-carbon approach

Among alternative energy sources for fossil fuels, hydrogen has emerged as a promising candidate; however, its production methods, reliant on fossil fuels, constrain its widespread adoption as a sustainable energy source. To transcend this limitation, researchers have proposed the concept of green hydrogen production, leveraging renewable energy sources, as a viable solution. This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis that seeks to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a multi-generation green power plant in Iran. Extensive climate data from diverse locations across Iran were collected to determine the most influential design parameters. A mathematical model was developed to simulate the entire system, and an innovative neural network algorithm was employed to optimize the objective functions, given the substantial computational time required for the optimization process. The results of the optimization revealed Qeshm island as the optimal location for the green power plant, considering its favorable annual average temperature, wind speed, and solar radiation intensity. Remarkably, the proposed green power plant boasts a robust power generation capacity of 10.1 MW, enabling the production of 250 tons of hydrogen per year, exhibiting a 10 % improvement in exergy efficiency, and a 6 % reduction in LCOE, in comparison to similar studies. Furthermore, it exhibits an impressive total exergy efficiency of 41.6 %, resulting in a substantial annual income of $3.9 million and achieving a commendable payback period of 1.8 years.

Performance evaluation of pilot phyto-vortex integrated system in the reduction of wastewater pollutants

Abstract Wastewater pollution remediation connects to goal 6 of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Conventional and advanced wastewater treatment are quite expensive to operate to fully comply with regulatory standards in the country. Phyto-vortex integrated system is an alternative tertiary wastewater treatment system that interfaces with an oil and grease skimmer and vortex technology, relying on green plants and a variety of soil substrates to remediate wastewater. The research evaluated the potential of the Phyto-vortex system and its performance in the reduction of domestic wastewater pollutants. Plants and soil substrates were selected via Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) using one-way sensitivity analysis. Common reed, Vetiver grass, and Canna Lily were planted in constructed reed beds with various soil matrices using substrates laid at different levels. The beds operate continuously as a horizontal subsurface flow treating 5 m3 of a sewage treatment effluent per day with 1-3 days hydraulic retention time (HRT). The vortex unit aerates the water for further removal of gaseous pollutants. Samples were taken at designated points for 18 weeks. Analysis of the results shows a maximum reduction of 92% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 60 % for chemical oxygen demand(COD), and 70 % for total suspended solids (TSS). Concentration of identified heavy metals in the influent are within the regulatory standards except for a rise in zinc concentration which was 97% reduced in the system. The percentage reduction of pollutants varies each week with nitrates decreasing in the range of 50% to 99%, phosphates from 8% to 39.5%, and ammonia from 45.65% to 99%. Varying environmental conditions such as monsoon rains and extreme heat caused algal blooms and plant disease affecting the results. Lower temperatures and lower humidity favor a decrease in the levels of the pollutants while higher temperature, higher humidity favor an increase in the levels of Nitrates, Phosphates, and Ammonia. The overall results show an effective integrated system of phytoremediation coupled with a vortex unit in the reduction of wastewater pollutants.

Photosynthate transfer from an autotrophic orchid to conspecific heterotrophic protocorms through a common mycorrhizal network.

The minute 'dust seeds' of some terrestrial orchids preferentially germinate and develop as mycoheterotrophic protocorms near conspecific adult plants. Here we test the hypothesis that mycorrhizal mycelial connections provide a direct pathway for transfer of recent photosynthate from conspecific green orchids to achlorophyllous protocorms. Mycelial networks of Ceratobasidium cornigerum connecting green Dactylorhiza fuchsii plants with developing achlorophyllous protocorms of the same species were established on oatmeal or water agar before the shoots of green plants were exposed to 14CO2. After incubation for 48 h, the pattern of distribution of fixed carbon was visualised in intact entire autotrophic/protocorm systems using digital autoradiography and quantified in protocorms by liquid scintillation counting. Both methods of analysis revealed accumulation of 14C above background levels in protocorms, confirming that autotrophic plants supply carbon to juveniles via common mycorrhizal networks. Despite some accumulation of plant-fixed carbon in the fungal mycelium grown on oatmeal agar, a greater amount of carbon was transferred to protocorms growing on water agar, indicating that the polarity of transfer may be influenced by sink strength. We suggest this transfer pathway may contribute significantly to the pattern and processes determining localised orchid establishment in nature, and that 'parental nurture' via common mycelial networks may be involved in these processes.

Biomass, carbon stock and carbon dioxide sequestration by trees outside forests: A case study from Puducherry, India

Trees outside forests (ToF) play a vital role in reducing carbon from industrial activities and vehicles by sequestering and storing atmospheric Co2 generated as biomass. However, there is a scarcity of studies quantifying the biomass and carbon stock in the ToFs. To bridge this gap, we conducted a study on the potential of biomass and carbon dioxide sequestration in trees planted in Puducherry. Our findings show that the total above-ground biomass of adult trees in the city was 1926.03 Megagram (Mg), while belowground biomass was 244.47 Mg. The total carbon stored in adult trees was 966.53 Mg, while the volume of sequestered CO2 was 3547.17 Mg in the study area. To increase carbon dioxide sequestration in Puducherry town, we recommend increasing urban green cover and planting more fast-growing native species.