Leaf Morphology Research Articles

Artificial Polyploidization Enhances Morphological, Physiological, and Biological Characteristics in Melothria scabra Naudin

Cucamelon (Meltric scabra Naudin, Cucurbitaceae) is a climbing, herbaceous perennial plant with various culinary and medicinal uses. The current study aimed to develop novel autopolyploid genotypes of M. scabra through in vitro polyploidization and assess their morphological and phytochemical characteristics. For polyploid induction, oryzalin was employed as an antimitotic agent, and it was applied at various concentrations (40, 60, and 80 μM) and durations (24 and 48 h). Flow cytometry analysis confirmed the successful induction of polyploids, with polyploidization efficiency ranging from 2.5% to 15%. From a total of 240 treated plants, a total of 20 autotetraploid plants were obtained. The obtained polyploid and control diploid genotypes were cultivated under greenhouse conditions. Further, the plants were transferred to field conditions, and the leaves, flowers, and fruits were harvested to be evaluated for the morphological, biochemical, and biological activity variations among the obtained genotypes. Morphological comparisons between diploid and autotetraploid plants revealed significant differences in flower characteristics, fruit attributes, and leaf morphology. Nutritional evaluation demonstrated enhancement of key parameters in the induced polyploids compared to the diploid plants, including glucose, fructose, carotenoid, polyphenol, and antioxidant contents, highlighting the potential impact of polyploidization on these traits. The results from this study highlight the potential of artificial chromosome doubling as an effective breeding strategy in M. scabra and related plant species.

Large–leaved Annularia species (Equisetopsida) in Pennsylvanian Variscan Euramerica–a Preliminary Review

Seven fossil–species can be distinguished within the range of late Carboniferous and early Permian equisetopsid (“horsetail”) foliage formerly assigned to Annularia stellata. The shoots bearing this foliage also produced distinctive strobili often known as Calamostachys tuberculata. These foliage species can be differentiated by leaf and whorl morphology, and each species has a distinct geographical and stratigraphical range. The group first appeared in the intramontane basins of the Variscan Mountains in the late Duckmantian, and then expanded into the lowland paralic coal swamps in the Bolsovian–Asturian. The group continued to flourish in coal swamp refugia during the Stephanian but eventually disappeared during the early Permian.

QTL Regions and Candidate Genes Associated with Selected Morphological Traits of Winter Triticale (× Triticosecale) Seedlings

The development and viability of seedlings are crucial in overwintering cereals, as it can affect not only an adult plant physiological condition, but also the size and quality of future grain. Recent studies on the genetic control of morphological and yield-related traits have been focused on adult plants of wheat, barley, maize, and rice. However, there is insufficient research describing the genetic control of cereals in the seedling stage. To fill that gap, the winter triticale ‘Hewo’ × ‘Magnat’-doubled haploid lines population was used to locate quantitative trait loci associated with selected traits measured at the seedling stage: the width and length of the first and second leaves, the leaf blade and leaf sheath lengths as well as the length-to-width ratio. Based on the genetic map for ‘Hewo’ × ‘Magnat’ DH population, main four loci, statistically significant (P < 0.05) and strongly associated with the second leaf length and width as well as their ratio were identified. Those regions were located on rye chromosomes 4R, 5R, and 6R with LOD value up to 20.35. In addition, candidate genes in localized regions were identified. The work also demonstrated correlations between the morphology of the second leaf, especially its length-to-width ratio, and the encoded proteins. As described in this paper, results are, to our knowledge, a first attempt to determine the genetic control of triticale seedlings and can provide a new insight on this field and become a reference for developing novel triticale varieties in breeding programmes.

Overexpression of NtLHT1 affects the development of leaf morphology and abiotic tolerance in tobacco

LYSINE HISTIDINE TRANSPORTER1 (LHT1) is a crucial broad-specificity and high-affinity amino acid transporter affecting the uptake of nitrogen and probably the tolerance to abiotic stress in plants. However, little is known about the phenotypic functions of LHT1 in plant growth and development and abiotic stress tolerance. In this study, we identified the NtLHT1 gene from the tobacco variety Honghuadajinyuan (HD) and determined its important roles in leaf morphological development and plant resistance to abiotic stress. Comprehensive functional analyses using knockout and overexpression transgenic lines (ntlht1 and OE) revealed overexpression of NtLHT1 accelerated leave senescence and increased plant height, leaf number and plant tolerance under cold, salt and drought stresses. In addition, NtLHT1 overexpression significantly decreased the leaf elongation of HD, causing the leaves to change from a long-elliptical shape to an elliptical shape. However silencing NtLHT1 decreased the seed germination rate under NaCl and PEG stresses. Moreover, NtLHT1 significantly affected the contents of various amino acids, such as the neutral, acidic, non-polar and aromatic amino acids, ethylene precursor (ACC), GA3 and IAA in tobacco. These results suggested that the amino acid and ethylene precursor ACC transport activities of NtLHT1 provide fine regulatory function for plant growth and development and plant tolerance to abiotic stress.

Geranium janakianum (Geraniaceae), a new species from Uttarakhand, India

A new species, Geranium janakianum, is described and illustrated here from Uttarakhand State, India. Photographs and a comparison of the diagnostic features of the new taxon with those of the morphologically similar species, G. himalayense and G. wlassovianum, are provided. These three species are characterised by palmatipartite leaves and relatively less lobed leaf segments. However, G. janakianum is clearly distinguished from its close relatives by having a pentamerous leaf lamina, rounded petal apex, micro-morphological features of the seed, mericarp and pollen in addition to the presence of stomata all over the plant.

Endogenously Produced Jasmonates Affect Leaf Growth and Improve Osmotic Stress Tolerance in Emmer Wheat.

In light of recent climate change, with its rising temperatures and precipitation changes, we are facing the need to increase the valuable crop's tolerance against unfavorable environmental conditions. Emmer wheat is a cereal crop with high nutritional value. We investigated the possibility of improving the stress tolerance of emmer wheat by activating the synthesis of the stress hormone jasmonate by overexpressing two genes of the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway from Arabidopsis thaliana, ALLENE OXIDE SYNTHASE (AtAOS) and OXOPHYTODIENOATE REDUCTASE 3 (AtOPR3). Analyses of jasmonates in intact and mechanically wounded leaves of non-transgenic and transgenic plants showed that the overexpression of each of the two genes resulted in increased wounding-induced levels of jasmonic acid and jasmonate-isoleucine. Against all expectations, the overexpression of AtAOS, encoding a chloroplast-localized enzyme, does not lead to an increased level of the chloroplast-formed 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), suggesting an effective conversion of OPDA to downstream products in wounded emmer wheat leaves. Transgenic plants overexpressing AtAOS or AtOPR3 with increased jasmonate levels show a similar phenotype, manifested by shortening of the first and second leaves and elongation of the fourth leaf, as well as increased tolerance to osmotic stress induced by the presence of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000.

Comprehensive high-performance thin-layer chromatography analysis of Monteverdia ilicifolia leaf and its adulterants

The leaves of Monteverdia ilicifolia (syn. Maytenus ilicifolia) are widely used in traditional South American medicine to treat gastrointestinal problems such as gastritis and ulcers. Several herbal products containing the leaves of M. ilicifolia can be found in the market. However, other species with similar leaf morphology are confounding materials, e.g. Monteverdia aquifolia (Celastraceae), Citronella gongonha (Cardiopteridaceae), Jodina rhombifolia (Santalaceae), Sorocea bonplandii (Moraceae) and Zollernia ilicifolia (Fabaceae). This study aimed to identify M. ilicifolia and distinguish it from its potential adulterants using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique. Comprehensive HPTLC analysis revealed specific fingerprints that can be used to assess the minimum content of epicatechin and the quality of commercial espinheira-santa samples. The results of the study demonstrated that the HPTLC method is capable of detecting adulterations and distinguishing M. ilicifolia from all confounding materials in commercial products available on the market, showing that most of the products are of poor quality due to adulterations.

Herbivores disrupt clinal variation in plant responses to water limitation

Abstract Plasticity in plant traits, including secondary metabolites, is critical to plant survival and competitiveness under stressful conditions. The ability of a plant to respond effectively to combined stressors can be impacted by crosstalk in biochemical pathways, resource availability and evolutionary history, but such responses remain underexplored. In particular, we know little about intraspecific variation in response to combined stressors or whether such variation is associated with the stress history of a given population. Here, we investigated the consequences of combined water and herbivory stress for plant traits, including relative growth rate, leaf morphology and various measures of phytochemistry, using a common garden of Asclepias fascicularis milkweeds. To examine how plant trait means and plasticities depend on the history of environmental stress, seeds for the experiment were collected from across a gradient of aridity in the Great Basin, United States. We then conducted a factorial experiment crossing water limitation with herbivory. Plants responded to water limitation alone by increasing the evenness of UV‐absorbent secondary metabolites and to herbivory alone by increasing the richness of metabolites. However, plants that experienced combined water and herbivory stress exhibited similar phytochemical diversity to well‐watered control plants. This lack of plasticity in phytochemical diversity in plants experiencing combined stressors was associated with a reduction in relative growth rates. Leaf chemistry means and plasticities exhibited clinal variation corresponding to seed source water deficits. The total concentration of UV‐absorbent metabolites decreased with increasing water availability among seed sources, driven by higher concentrations of flavonol glycosides, which are hypothesized to act as antioxidants, among plants from drier sites. Plants sourced from drier sites exhibited higher plasticity in flavonol glycoside concentrations in response to water limitation, which increased phytochemical evenness, but simultaneous herbivory dampened plant responses to water limitation irrespective of seed source. Synthesis. These results suggest that climatic history can affect intraspecific phytochemical plasticity, which may confer tolerance to water limitation, but that co‐occurring herbivory disrupts such patterns. Global change is increasing the frequency and intensity of stress combinations, such that understanding intraspecific responses to combined stressors is critical for predicting the persistence of plant populations.

Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) Identifies Key Candidate Genes Associated with Leaf Size in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Leaf size significantly impacts photosynthetic capacity and forage yield in alfalfa, a major legume forage crop. Therefore, elucidating the genetic factors governing leaf development is critical for breeding improved alfalfa varieties. In this study, a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed to dissect the genetic architecture of leaf length (LL) and leaf width (LW) using 220 alfalfa accessions phenotyped over three years. Substantial variation for both traits was observed across environments, with coefficients of variation ranging from 10.09–16.53%. GWAS identified 26 significant SNPs associated with leaf morphology spread across seven chromosomes. Each SNP accounts for 9.7–15.6% of the phenotypic variance. Haplotype analyses confirmed positive correlations between the number of superior alleles and both LL and LW. BLAST searches revealed six candidate genes involved in leaf development within 20 kb flanking regions of significant SNPs. Our results provide novel marker-trait associations and candidate loci to facilitate molecular breeding efforts to optimize leaf size and improve productivity in alfalfa. This study establishes a foundation for integrating favorable alleles into future alfalfa varieties.

Assessing PROSPECT performance on aquatic plant leaves

PROSPECT is the most widely used optical leaf model for a wide range of remote sensing applications on vegetation and has been developed and parameterised based on empirical data measured almost exclusively on terrestrial plant leaves. As aquatic plants differ substantially from terrestrial plants in leaf morphology and physiology, the validity of the relationships underlying PROSPECT in aquatic plants needs to be verified empirically. To this end, we compiled a comprehensive dataset of leaf spectra and biochemical-structural parameters sampled along a water affinity gradient, including floating and emergent hydrophytes, helophytes and riparian species, and terrestrial plants. In parallel, we designed a multidimensional experiment to explore the performance of PROSPECT across different groups and to characterise sources of modelling error, focusing on aquatic plants. Our results showed that estimates of most leaf parameters from PROSPECT inversions diverged increasingly from measured traits when moving from terrestrial to aquatic species. The suboptimal performance of PROSPECT on aquatic plants appears to be driven by three main factors: difficulties in disentangling leaf dry matter components (particularly proteins), unresolved issues related to the overlap of primary and secondary pigment mixtures and absorption, and the peculiarities of internal leaf structure (i.e. the presence of ‘aerenchyma’). These findings highlight the need for careful preliminary evaluation of the applicability and limitations of PROSPECT when applied to vegetation types that differ significantly from the typical terrestrial trees and grasses used for model calibration, including aquatic plants. Such evaluation should be preferably based on empirical data covering natural heterogeneity, so that future applications of remote sensing for mapping aquatic and wetland vegetation characteristics can be improved in terms of robustness and transferability.

Metabolomics reveals the phytotoxicity mechanisms of foliar spinach exposed to bulk and nano sizes of PbCO3

PbCO3 is an ancient raw material for Pb minerals and continues to pose potential risks to the environment and human health through mining and industrial processes. However, the specific effects of unintentional PbCO3 discharge on edible plants remain poorly understood. This study unravels how foliar application of PbCO3 induces phytotoxicity by potentially influencing leaf morphology, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress, and metabolic pathways related to energy regulation, cell damage, and antioxidant defense in Spinacia oleracea L. Additionally, it quantifies the resultant human health risks. Plants were foliarly exposed to PbCO3 nanoparticles (NPs) and bulk products (BPs), as well as Pb2+ at 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg·L-1 concentrations once a day for three weeks. The presence and localization of PbCO3 NPs inside the plant cells were confirmed by TEM-EDS analysis. The maximum accumulation of total Pb was recorded in the root (2947.77 mg·kg-1 DW for ion exposure), followed by the shoot (942.50 mg·kg-1 DW for NPs exposure). The results revealed that PbCO3 and Pb2+ exposure had size- and dose-dependent inhibitory effects on spinach length, biomass, and photosynthesis attributes, inducing impacts on the antioxidase activity of CAT, membrane permeability, and nutrient elements absorption and translocation. Pb2+ exhibited pronounced toxicity in morphology and chlorophyll; PbCO3 BP exposure accumulated the most lipid peroxidation products of MDA and H2O2; and PbCO3 NPs triggered the largest cell membrane damage. Furthermore, PbCO3 NPs at 10 and 100 mg·L-1 induced dose-dependent metabolic reprogramming in spinach leaves, disturbing the metabolic mechanisms related to amino acids, antioxidant defense, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid cycle, and the respiratory chain. The spinach showed a non-carcinogenic health risk hierarchy: Pb2+ > PbCO3 NPs > PbCO3 BPs, with children more vulnerable than adults. These findings enhance our understanding of PbCO3 particle effects on food security, emphasizing the need for further research to minimize their impact on human dietary health.

Taxonomic implications of leaf morphology and epidermal anatomy for 14 species of Gagea (Liliaceae) from Xinjiang, China

BackgroundLeaf morphology and epidermal characters are important for phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of many plants, but there is currently insufficient data to use them to help distinguish species of Gagea, which is a taxonomically difficult genus mainly due to polyploidy and hybridization. Therefore, leaf morphology and epidermal characters of Gagea were studied to assess the characters that can be used to elucidate the taxonomy and systematics of 14 species of Gagea collected in Xinjiang, China. Using light microscopy (LM), six qualitative and three quantitative leaf epidermal anatomical characters were examined for both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was employed to reveal the similarities based on leaf morphology and epidermal characters of the investigated species.ResultsBasal leaf of these species can be terete or flat, and it is triangle, flat, or circular in transverse section. Anticlinal wall patterns of the leaf epidermal cells were straight and sinuous, and only three species had epidermal hairs. Shape of long cells varies, ranging from quadrangular to irregular. HCA revealed that the 14 species could be divided into two groups. Group A was arranged into three subgroups (A1, A2 and A3), based on the Euclidean distance of 6.96. Subgroup A1 consisted of three species with indumentum; subgroup A2 had four species with sinuous type anticlinal walls; and subgroup A3 comprised of two species with a fistulose basal leaf. Group B included five species with short cells.ConclusionsLeaf morphology and epidermal characters did not differ significantly among populations of the same species in Gagea, whereas they differ significantly among species. Thus, leaf morphology and epidermal characters provide diagnostic information for differentiating G. nigra and G. filiformis; G. altaica, G. jensii and G. alberti, which are morphologically similar species.

Hydrogel Based on Cashew Gum and Polyacrylamide as a Potential Water Supplier in Mombaça Grass Pastures: A Sustainable Alternative for Agriculture

Hydrogels are water-absorbing polymers that can hydrate forage plants in the soil. The objective was to evaluate the replacement of synthetic hydrogels derived from petroleum with biodegradable hydrogels in Mombaça grass pastures (Megathyrsus maximum). The experimental treatments consisted of no hydrogel (NH); synthetic commercial hydrogel (CH), made from a synthetic polyacrylamide product; and biodegradable test hydrogel (TH), obtained from cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with five replications and three treatments. The morphogenesis, production, chemical, and mineral composition of the Mombaça grass pasture were assessed. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparison using the Scott–Knott test at 5% probability. The leaf elongation rate showed 42.3 mm day−1 in the treatment TH, which was higher (p &lt; 0.05) than NH (35.0 mm day−1). The green leaf mass yield was higher in TH than in NH and CH. On the other hand, hydration had no effect on the chemical composition. The mineral composition of Mombaça grass showed more Zn when TH was used. It can be concluded that biodegradable hydrogels can replace synthetic commercial hydrogels in pastures.

The transcription factor MdBPC2 alters apple growth and promotes dwarfing by regulating auxin biosynthesis.

Auxin plays important roles throughout plant growth and development. However, the mechanisms of auxin regulation of plant structure are poorly understood. In this study, we identified a transcription factor (TF) of the BARLEY B RECOMBINANT/BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BBR/BPC) family in apple (Malus × domestica), MdBPC2. It was highly expressed in dwarfing rootstocks, and it negatively regulated auxin biosynthesis. Overexpression of MdBPC2 in apple decreased plant height, altered leaf morphology, and inhibited root system development. These phenotypes were due to reduced auxin levels and were restored reversed after exogenous indole acetic acid (IAA) treatment. Silencing of MdBPC2 alone had no obvious phenotypic effect, while silencing both Class I and Class II BPCs in apple significantly increased auxin content in plants. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that MdBPC2 directly bound to the GAGA-rich element in the promoters of the auxin synthesis genes MdYUC2a and MdYUC6b, inhibiting their transcription and reducing auxin accumulation in MdBPC2 overexpression lines. Further studies established that MdBPC2 interacted with the polycomb group (PcG) protein LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN 1 (LHP1) to inhibit MdYUC2a and MdYUC6b expression via methylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3). Silencing MdLHP1 reversed the negative effect of MdBPC2 on auxin accumulation. Our results reveal a dwarfing mechanism in perennial woody plants involving control of auxin biosynthesis by a BPC transcription factor, suggesting its use for genetic improvement of apple rootstock.

Characterization of the microRNA408-LACCASE5 module as a regulatory axis for photosynthetic efficiency in Medicago ruthenica: implications for forage yield enhancement

Medicago ruthenica is closely related to Medicago sativa, a commonly cultivated forage. Characterized by its high tolerance to environmental stress, M. ruthenica is a valuable genetic resource. However, low yield limits its large-scale utilization. Leaf morphology, an important agronomic trait, is closely related to forage yield and photosynthetic efficiency. In the presented study, “Correlation of Leaf Morphology and Photosynthetic Performance with Forage Yield in Medicago ruthenica: The Underlying Molecular Mechanisms,” comprehensive data analysis revealed a significant positive association between leaf width and leaf area with forage yield in Medicago ruthenica (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The specific cultivar “Mengnong No.1 (MN No.1) had a large leaf area, and its physiological parameters related to photosynthetic characteristics were superior. Anatomical examination revealed that the leaves of MN No.1 had strong palisade tissue and compact cell structure. Subsequent investigations, utilizing small RNA and transcriptome sequencing, discerned critical miRNA-target gene networks that underpin the high photosynthetic efficiency in M. ruthenica. A total of 63 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified, inclusive of several well-characterized miRNAs such as miR408, miR171, and miR398. These miRNAs were predicted to target 55 genes (mRNAs), of which 6 miRNA-target gene pairs, particularly those involving miR408and miR171, exhibited inverse expression patterns. Among the six postulated miRNA-target gene pairs, the targeted cleavage of LACCASE5 (LAC5) by miR408 was conclusively validated through degradome sequencing, with the cleavage site pinpointed between the 9th and 10th nucleotides from the 5′end of miR408 via the 5′-RLM-RACE assay. Therefore, it is posited that the miR408-MrLAC5 module constitutes a central mechanism in fostering high photosynthetic efficiency in M. ruthenica. Moreover, these findings also provide valuable information for further study of the regulatory genes and miRNA functions of forage yield in legume forage.

Morphological Characteristics and Similarity Analysis of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Wonosobo, Temanggung, and Magelang Regencies

The diversity of cassava in Wonosobo, Temanggung and Magelang districts must be investigated. The objective of the study was to analyze the diversity of cassava based on morphological characteristics. The cassava of each accession was planted in Bandongan, Magelang Regency. Morphological characters observed after six months of planting included apical leaf color, apical leaf hair, leaf lobe shape, petiole color, leaf color, number of leaf lobes, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, vein color, petiole orientation, color epidermis of stem, color of outer appearance of stem, distance between nodes, stem growth, color of mature branch tip, branching type, tuber, tuber shape, outer tuber skin color, tuber flesh color, and tuber inner skin color. Analysis of the morphological characteristics of cassava is presented in the form of a dendrogram using the MVSP (Multi Variate Statistical Package) version 3.22. The results of the study obtained 39 accessions of cassava which showed different morphological characteristics. The lowest morphological similarity (0.735) was found in Group I only consisted of 2 acquisitions that did not have tubers, namely Red Vegetables and Green Vegetables and Group II ( Groups III and IV) have a similarity of 0.92. The highest similarity was in groups IIIa and IIIb and Groups IVa and IVb have a similarity coefficient value of 0.95. The morphological diversity of 39 accessions is a source of cassava germplasm: 37 accessions are harvested for tubers and 2 accessions areharvested explicitly for leaves as vegetables. This research was useful for the development of cassava-based food industry bioproducts.

Comparative anatomical and morphological studies on leaves of some Citrus species and their systematic implications

In this study, leaf micromorphological features of 42 accessions of 12 species of the genus Citrus were assessed through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, to evaluate phylogenetically significant characters that delineate species. Morphometrical analyses were carried out using the leaf anatomical and micromorphological characters of at least five samples collected from different localities. Some leaflet anatomical traits (cuticle ornamentation, cyclocytic and tetracytic stomata, isobilateral mesophyll arrangement, number of palisade layers, shape of the midrib, sheath around vascular tissue) clearly support various clades defined by previous DNA-based phylogenetic work. Anatomical features of C. limetta and C. aurantifolia were identical, thus supporting the synonimisation of these two species. Leaf anatomy and morphology in the studied taxa reveal many characters high value for infrageneric classification of Citrus. This work provides useful background for further molecular and anatomical studies of Citrus.

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.

Development and phenotypic screening of gamma rays and ethyl methanesulphonate mutant populations in tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tartaricum (L.) Gaertn)

Tartary buckwheat (F. tartaricum) is an annual self-pollinated pseudo-cereal crop of the Polygonaceae family which is grown worldwide for its nutritive and medicinal value. In order to increase genetic variability and develop genetic resources for crop improvement, gamma rays and EMS were used to develop mutagenized populations in F. tartaricum. In the present study, the biological effect of different doses and concentration of gamma rays and EMS on F. tartaricum to assess the sensitivity of mutagens to create genetic variability was determined. The results revealed that 219.15 Gy of gamma rays and 0.49 % of EMS were optimum for conducting mutagenesis in buckwheat. Both mutagens showed significant effects on the growth parameters in M1 generation. The mutagenic treatments were efficient in creating numerous types of chlorophyll mutations in M2 generation. The frequency of chlorophyll mutation was 1.67 % and 2.70 % for gamma rays and EMS, respectively. These findings shows that EMS is more efficient and effective at inducing variation than gamma rays. A diverse range of morphological mutants affecting every growth stage were screened with the highest frequency in 150 Gy gamma rays and 0.3 % of EMS treatment. . Six morphological mutant types influencing plant height, leaf morphology, growth habit, days to flowering, maturity period, seed yield and seed morphology emerged from induced phenotypic changes in individual plants of the M2 population were identified and selected. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of gamma rays and EMS in increasing genetic diversity and the successful execution of induced mutagenesis in the buckwheat. These mutants may be a valuable source of many beneficial genes in hybridization programs. It is anticipated that both these populations will be a valuable resource for functional genomics research in buckwheat.

Physiological response and drought resistance evaluation of Gleditsia sinensis seedlings under drought-rehydration state

G. sinensis is a crucial tree species in China, possessing important economic and ecological value, and having a wide geographical distribution. G. sinensis seedlings is highly vulnerable to the drought-rehydration-drought cycle during their growth, and there is a lack of quantitative and systematic research on the physiological mechanisms of drought resistance and rehydration in G. sinensis. There is also a lack of good drought-resistant families and reliable methods for evaluating drought resistance, which severely hinders the selection and promotion of drought-resistant G. sinensis families and the industry's development. Therefore, this study selection 58 families seedlings of G. sinensis to drought stress and rehydration using an artificial simulated water control method in potted seedlings. The aim was to compare the effects of different levels of drought and rehydration on the growth and physiological indices of seedlings from different families. Identification of drought-resistant families and dependable drought related indices and techniques, the explanation of divergence in drought stress effects on various drought-resistant seedlings and the mechanisms underpinning growth and physiological responses, and the provision of theoretical reference for G. sinensis drought-resistant variety selection and cultivation. The Drought Resistance Index (DRI) served as the primary indicator, supplemented by growth, leaf morphology, and photosynthetic physiological indicators, to thoroughly assess and identify five distinct drought tolerant taxa while also selecting five representative families. Soluble protein (SP), proline (Pro), and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, as well as the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in seedlings from the five families, increased as the degree of drought intensified. The highest values were appeared during periods of severe drought, and gradually decreased after subsequent rehydration. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed MDA and soluble sugars (SS) as the primary predictors of drought and rehydration response in G. sinensis seedlings respectively. Changes in osmoregulatory substance content and increased antioxidant enzyme activity may be crucial for responding to drought tolerance mechanisms. Leaf morphological indicators, seedling height, soil plant analysis development (SPAD) value, photosynthetic indicators, and MDA are dependable parameters for assessing the drought tolerance of G. sinensis seedlings. When assessing the drought-resistance of seedlings using physiological indicators such as photosynthesis, a comprehensive analysis should incorporate multiple indicators and methods. This evaluation approach could serve as a reference for screening exceptional drought-resistant families of G. sinensis.