This dataset illustrates the genetic diversity and evolutionary linkages of five underutilized Nigerian native legume species: Parkia biglobosa, Albizia lebbeck, Cassia fistula, Leucaena leucocephala, and Senna alata. These species are vital sources of sustenance, nutrition, revenue, and natural fertilizer, significantly contributing to sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, limited knowledge exists regarding their genomes and their genetic diversity. We examined 22 high-quality chloroplast matK (Maturase K) gene sequences to assess the genetic divergence among the species and their phylogenetic relationships. The analysis of sequence alignment and diversity recorded 888 nucleotide positions, identified 10 segregating sites, 11 mutations, and 3 distinct haplotypes. Gene diversity was 0.654, whereas nucleotide diversity was negligible at 0.028. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 88.04% (p < 0.001) of genetic variation was shared among populations, whereas 11.96% was detected within populations. Employing the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) algorithm for phylogenetic analysis, the species examined were classified into unique evolutionary lineages along species lines with a minimal exception. This information serves as a valuable genetic resource for enhancing conservation, breeding initiatives, and the sustainable utilization of underutilized native legumes in tropical settings. It impacts food security, agroforestry, and environmental restoration.

The present study, conducted from March, 2024 to May, 2025, at the laboratory of the Institutional Biotech Hub, Lilong Haoreibi College, Lilong, Manipur, India, aimed to evaluate the antioxidant constituents of selected wild medicinal and edible plants collected from various localities of Senapati District, Manipur, Northeast India. Quantitative estimations of total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and ascorbic acid were performed using standard spectrophotometric methods. The findings revealed substantial variation in antioxidant compound levels among the 32 plant species analysed.Total phenolic content (TPC) ranged from 6.33–95.24 mg g-1, with the highest values observed in Wendlandia grandis flower (95.24 mg g-1) and Clerodendrum serratum flower (90.24 mg g-1). Total flavonoid content (TFC) varied from 0.88–12.76 mg g-1, peaking in Leucaena leucocephala seed (12.76 mg g-1) and pulp (11.36 mg g-1). Total tannin content (TTC) ranged between 0.18–13.98 mg g-1, with C. serratum flower (13.98 mg g-1) and Brachycorythis obcordata leaves (10.34 mg g-1) being the richest sources. Ascorbic acid levels were relatively low, ranging from 1.21 to 2.80 mg g-1, with the highest concentration recorded in Maranta arundinaceae (2.80 mg g-1). Overall, flowers, leaves, and seeds exhibited superior antioxidant profiles, particularly in W. grandis, C. serratum, L. leucocephala, and B. obcordata. These findings highlighted the phytochemical diversity of the wild flora of Senapati District and supported their traditional medicinal use. The results also emphasized the potential of several species as promising candidates for natural antioxidant formulations, nutraceuticals, and phytopharmaceutical development.

Changes in rainfall patterns, induced by climate change, significantly affect the physiology and morphology of invasive plants in tropical ecosystems with broader ecological dynamics. In order to manage tropical ecosystems effectively and sustainably, it is crucial to evaluate how changes in rainfall impact the physiological and functional characteristics of invasive plants. In our investigation, we looked into eco-physiological and growth attribute responses of Leucaena leucocephala, an invasive plant, to varying rainfall conditions (OC, open control; LR, low rainfall; NR, normal rainfall; HR, high rainfall) under rainout sheltered and unsheltered plots over a two-year period. Following the randomised block design, three (2 m × 2 m) replication subplots were created for each sheltered and unsheltered plot. In each subplot, twenty Leucaena leucocephala seedlings were planted with 0.5 m spacing each plant. Plant sampling and analysis were performed at the peak of each season in 2021–2022, assessing various traits such as total biomass (B), height of plant (SH), relative growth rate (RGR), chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate (Aarea), stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate (E). These metrics responded to changes in precipitation and increased by 65, 17, 19, 20, 19, 31, and 25% respectively, on rising the rainfall in HR, while decreased by 55, 29, 20, 16, 31, 31%, and 45% respectively, on lowering the rainfall in LR against the OC. However, root-shoot ratio (RSR), root Length (RL) and water use efficiency (WUE) showed an adverse response with rainfall. Our results indicate that rainfall variability has a substantial effect on the ecophysiology and functional aspects of Leucaena leucocephala. The species becomes a potential invader because of its significant morphological flexibility, which improves overall functioning under variations in rainfall. However, the adaptability and plasticity of L. leucocephala appear to maximum in the face of normal and high rainfall conditions, thus making the tropical ecosystem (extreme rain events) a favourable place for growth.

Ghana's water and soil resources face severe challenges due to heavy metal contamination from gold mining operations. Although Leucaena leucocephala exhibits potential for phytoremediation, little is known about the contribution of its rhizosphere microbiomes to metal uptake and tolerance in multiple-metal contaminated tailings in field conditions. We investigated the rhizosphere bacterial community dynamics in L. leucocephala across three soil treatments (garden soil, 1:1 soil-tailings mixture, and pure tailings) using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Briefly, transplanted seedlings of L. leucocephala were harvested at three-month intervals for three consecutive harvests to assess metal accumulation and changes in the microbiome. Leucaena leucocephala demonstrated notable tolerance to elevated metal concentrations (>10,000 mg/kg Fe and Mn) under acidic conditions (pH 4.57-5.97). Maximum metal uptake occurred at final harvest, with Fe reaching 14,605 ± 1.40 mg/kg in shoots and Mn reaching 12,279 ± 1.13 mg/kg in roots. The elevated concentrations of metals reduced overall bacterial diversity, except for selected metal-tolerant Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria, which dominated bacterial communities across all treatments. The initial proliferation of Nocardioides and Streptomyces corroborated nutrient and metal-induced stress, while key genera such as Arthrobacter, Gaiella, Skermanella, and Chelatococcus showed strong positive associations with metal accumulation and maintained essential ecological functions. Rhizosphere bacterial communities undergo stress-specific assembly processes, with specific taxa facilitating L. leucocephala's exceptional phytoremediation capacity. These findings provide insights into microbiome-enhanced strategies for mine site rehabilitation.

L-mimosine is a non-protein amino acid primarily found in the Mimosoideae subfamily, with high concentrations in Leucaena leucocephala and Mimosa pudica. These plants are widely used in both human and animal nutrition, as well as in phytotherapeutic applications. While the toxic effects of L-mimosine have been extensively studied in ruminants, its impact on monogastric species remains unexplored. Given the widespread use of these plants and the limited knowledge regarding L-mimosine toxicity in monogastric animals, this study aimed to investigate its toxicological effects in non-rodent monogastric species by assessing its subacute toxicity. To achieve this, L-mimosine was extracted from L. leucocephala seeds and administered orally, incorporated into the feed, at doses of 25, 40, and 60 mg/kg for 28 days in male rabbits. Although no clinical, biochemical, hormonal, or macroscopic alterations were observed, histopathological analyses revealed dose-dependent lesions in the liver, kidneys, thyroid, and spleen. These findings suggest that rabbits may be particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of L-mimosine.

Mixed crop–livestock systems dominate the Ethiopian highlands, yet their productivity remains constrained by chronic feed shortages and declining feed quality, particularly during the dry season. Integrating multipurpose fodder trees into these systems offers a sustainable strategy to improve livestock nutrition, enhance resource use efficiency, and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farming systems. This study examined farmers’ perceptions, adoption, and management of multipurpose fodder trees and grasses (MPFTs) in Aleta Wondo district, Sidama, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 144 households selected through stratified random sampling across two kebeles. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model were employed for data analysis. The results revealed the presence of 26 fodder tree and grass species widely known and utilized by farmers. Respondents demonstrated strong knowledge of both indigenous and improved species, with high preference for grasses such as Hyparrhenia rufa, Pennisetum purpureum, and Desho grass, alongside protein-rich legumes including Medicago sativa and Sesbania sesban. Multipurpose trees such as Leucaena leucocephala and Grewia bicolor were highly valued for their palatability, adaptability, and year-round availability. Farmers selected species based on feed value, durability, ease of propagation, and resilience, while sustainable management practices particularly partial canopy harvesting and organic soil enrichment were commonly applied. The logistic regression results indicated that access to seedlings, institutional support, education level, household income, and land size significantly influenced adoption. Overall, the findings underscore that effective adoption of multipurpose fodder trees depends not only on farmers’ knowledge but also on enabling institutional and resource conditions. Strengthening extension services, improving access to quality planting materials, and promoting locally adapted fodder species are therefore critical for enhancing livestock productivity, livelihood resilience, and sustainable farming systems.

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death among women worldwide, primarily due to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection that activates oncogenic proteins E6 and E7. The use of synthetic chemotherapy often causes severe side effects, creating an urgent need for safer and more effective natural alternatives. This review aims to compare several herbal plants with reported anticancer activity against cervical cancer, including basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), soursop seeds (Annona muricata L.), Chinese petai leaves (Leucaena leucocephala), jengkol bark (Archidendron jiringa), parijoto fruit (Medinilla speciosa), kuhung-kuhung leaves (Crotalaria striata), and lawang bark (Cinnamomum cullilawan). The study also analyzes the extraction solvents used and their influence on cytotoxic effectiveness. Literature searches were conducted using Publish or Perish and Google Scholar with keywords “HeLa cells,” “cervical cancer,” “anticancer,” “apoptosis,” and “plants,” covering publications from 2015–2025. From 100 screened papers, 5 articles met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that the combination of Chinese petai leaf and jengkol bark extracts showed the strongest cytotoxic activity through synergistic interactions of alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins. Soursop leaves also act by inhibiting complex I in mitochondria and reduce the ATP production in cytoplasm, while basil exhibited moderate activity through oxidative stress induction. In contrast, kuhung-kuhung leaves and lawang bark displayed weak effects. Overall, the findings suggest that anticancer activity is strongly influenced by secondary metabolite content and extraction methods, supporting the potential of Indonesian herbal plants as promising candidates for cervical cancer therapy.

Introduction. Forage legumes complement the forage offer and the protein content in grass-based cattle feed; however, there is little availability of these species adapted to the conditions of the dry colombian Caribbean. Objective. To evaluate the production and quality of forage from shrub legume genotypes during the rainy and dry seasons of the year in the colombian dry Caribbean. Materials and Methods. Dry forage production (PFS; kg ha-1) was measured and nutritional value was estimated by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in two genotypes of Leucaena diversifolia (LD15551, LD21242), one of Cratylia argentea (CA2238) and in Leucaena leucocephala cv Cunningham (control) during the rainy and dry seasons of 2018 and 2019. Analysis of variance was performed to determine the effect of species, season and its interaction under a randomized completed block design with a factorial structure. Results. The control presented the highest DFY with 1288.9 kg (p &lt; 0.05; average seasons), the highest crude protein contents (CP; 24.7 %, p &lt; 0.05) and dry matter digestibility (DMD; 73.7 %, p &lt; 0,05) in the rainy season compared to the other materials. In CA2238 the highest neutral detergent fiber content (NDF) was observed with 45.9 % (p &lt; 0.05; average seasons) and the lowest gross energy contents (GE; p &lt; 0.05) in the rainy season and in the dry season (4.15 and 4.09 Mcal kg-1 DM). Conclusion. Differences were observed in forage production associated with the species and in most of the quality components evaluated associated with the species and time of year in which L. leucocephala showed the highest yield and similar quality to other genotypes.

• Context Fire is increasing in intensity and frequency, leading to novel fire regimes in many regions. For oceanic islands of volcanic origin, endemic plants have evolved in the context of lava-ignited fires. • Aims Responses to fire were investigated in 4 endemic (Nototrichium humile, Hibiscus brackenridgei subsp. mokuleianus, Gossypium tomentosum, Erythrina sandwicensis) and 1 invasive (Leucaena leucocephala) plant species in Hawai‘i. Because conservation efforts commonly rely on juvenile stages, which are predicted to be particularly vulnerable to fire, we tested fire resprouting in saplings. • Methods Sapling resprouting was tested using experimental methods. Saplings were burned using a fire torch, and resprouting was monitored for 30 days. Proportion of plants resprouting and the timing of resprouting were the metrics of fire tolerance. • Key results Resprouting rates were high in 4 of the species (65-95%). The endemic E. sandwicensis was the only species that failed to resprout. The timing of resprouting varied among species, with the invasive species resprouting faster than the endemics. • Conclusions Saplings demonstrated surprisingly high tolerance to the fire treatments, indicating potential for these early stages to withstand fire. The invasive species resprouted faster than the endemics, which could contribute to competitive displacement in burned sites. At least one native Hawaiian plant species potentially lacks fire tolerance completely at the sapling stage. • Implications Sapling fire tolerance informs restoration actions that rely on out-plantings into fire-prone sites. Scaling up these results requires additional species testing and fire treatments to mimic contemporary fires.

Grassland-based livestock systems across Mexico’s arid and semi-arid belt are increasingly exposed to drought, degrading forage reliability, and soil function. This review synthesizes evidence on native C4 grasses and forage shrubs as complementary building blocks of drought-resilient swards. We searched Web of Science, Scopus, CAB Abstracts and key grey sources (USDA/NRCS Plant Guides, USFS FEIS, Tropical Forages, SNICS) for 1990–2025 studies in English/Spanish. Dominant native grasses (Bouteloua spp., Hilaria belangeri, Digitaria californica, Trichloris crinita, Sporobolus airoides, Panicum hallii) provide high warm-season digestibility and structural cover via C4 physiology, basal/intercalary meristems, and deep/fibrous roots. Forage shrubs (Atriplex canescens, Desmanthus bicornutus, Leucaena leucocephala, Flourensia cernua, Prosopis spp.) bridge the dry-season protein/energy gap and create “resource islands” that enhance infiltration, provided anti-nutritional risks (mimosine/DHP, tannins, salts/oxalates, terpenoids) are managed by dose and diet mixing. We integrate these findings into a Resistance–Recovery–Persistence framework and translate them into operations: (i) site-matching rules for species/layouts, (ii) PLS (pure live seed)-based seed specifications and establishment protocols, (iii) grazing TIDD (timing–intensity–distribution–duration) with a practical monitoring dashboard (CP targets, stubble/cover thresholds, NDVI/SPEI triggers). Remaining bottlenecks are seed quality/availability and uneven extension; policy alignment on PLS procurement and regional seed increase can accelerate adoption. Mixed native grass–shrub systems are a viable, scalable pathway to strengthening drought resilience in Mexican rangelands.

Dynamics of seasonal variations and growth stages on forage quality and mimosine content management in Himalayan Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala)

Effect of allelopathic plant extracts on Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit seeds: a multivariate and machine learning approach to a global problem

The use of inorganic fertilisers poses significant environmental and public health risks. This study evaluated the effects of liquid organic fertilisers (LOFs) produced from waste materials, including fish waste, molasses, wood ash, cow dung, goat manure, cow urine, poultry manure, rice bran, and nitrogen-rich plants, on the growth and yield of tomato plants. Four LOF formulations were prepared by combining fish waste with various plant materials (Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania grandiflora, Leucaena leucocephala, Tithonia diversifolia) and agricultural byproducts (goat manure, cow urine, poultry manure, rice bran). The experiment was conducted in a protected house using a completely randomised design (CRD) with five treatments evaluated: a control (Albert’s solution; T0) and four organic formulations (T1–T4) comprising fish waste, wood ash, molasses, and cow dung, each supplemented with different plant residues and organic amendments—Gliricidia sepium with goat manure (T1), Sesbania grandiflora with cow urine (T2), Leucaena leucocephala with poultry manure (T3), and Tithonia diversifolia with rice bran (T4) with each treatment having six replicates. Growth parameters recorded included plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of flowers, flowering time, dry weight, number of fruits, and total yield. Results showed that T0 (Albert’s solution) achieved the highest growth and yield. Among the LOFs, T1 (fish waste, wood ash, molasses, cow dung, Gliricidia sepium, and goat manure) demonstrated growth performance comparable to T0. However, fruit number and yield in T1 were significantly lower than T0. The highest average yield per plant was recorded in T0 (1796.8 g), followed by T1 (1246.3 g), representing approximately a 30% reduction compared to the control. These findings indicate the potential for developing LOFs that perform similarly to Albert’s solution using the raw materials in T1. Future research should focus on optimising the composition of T1-based LOFs to achieve yields closer to those of conventional fertilisers, thereby supporting sustainable tomato cultivation.

Forests are able to absorb large amounts of carbon. There are various kinds of forests in Indonesia, one of which is protected forest. Protected forest is a forest area that has a main function as a protection of life support systems and must be protected and has been determined by the government or community groups. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of carbon stocks in agroforestry stands in Protected Forests in Paya Tungel Village, Central Aceh Regency. The results showed that the most dominant vegetation species composition at the seedling, sapling and pole level was coffee (Coffea arabica) while the tree level was Lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala). The amount of carbon stock in the agroforestry forest is 612.08 tons Ha-1

Abstract Roadside green spaces (RGS) are an essential part of urban environments. These provide a variety of ecosystem services, including biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, and microclimate regulation. This study aims to assess RGS for tree diversity, carbon stock, and thermal comfort along four major roads of the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, New Delhi. An extensive belt transect survey was employed with a total of 59 plots (10 m × 5 m each) covering a 5.5 km stretch of road. RGS supported 27 tree species from 27 genera and 15 families, comprising 19 native, 6 introduced and 2 invasive species. The diversity indices indicated low dominance (D = 0.16), moderate diversity (H′ = 2.47), and moderately high evenness (J′ = 0.75). The Fabaceae family was the most dominant, with Cassia fistula having the highest IVI. However, invasive species ( Leucaena leucocephala and Prosopis juliflora ) accounted for 47.17% of the individuals. Despite the abundance, these invasive species contributed minimally to carbon stock (0.59 and 0.23 tC/m 2 , respectively), underscoring that these are neither ecologically nor sustainably beneficial. Overall, the RGS stored 0.312 tC/m 2 of carbon. These also contributed to thermal comfort regulation, with on-field measurements showing reductions in air temperature by 0.80 to 2.24 °C and land surface temperature by 3.80 to 8.37 °C during April and May 2025. This research highlights the multifunctional role of RGS while emphasizing the urgent need to manage invasive species to secure their ecological and sustainability benefits. These findings confirm the role of RGS as an effective natural cooling system for megacities such as Delhi, which experiences intensifying heat waves and rising heat stress. For urban policy and planning, this underscores the need to integrate invasive species control and proactive RGS management into city-scale heat adaptation strategies.

Agroforestry systems have garnered significant attention for their potential in enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, particularly in coffee plantations. The different shading conditions not only diversifies production but also plays a crucial role in soil health and carbon sequestration. The study aimed to investigate the SOC stocks under various coffee-based agroforestry systems. Four different shading conditions have been examined, namely: A (unshaded), B (Leucaena leucocephala shade), C (Pinus sp. shade), and D (complex agroforestry). The results were analyzed descriptively by comparing the influence of varying shading conditions in enhancing SOC stocks. The results indicated that complex agroforestry had the highest SOC (1.33%), followed by L. leucocephala shade (1.20%), unshaded (1.02%), and Pinus sp. shade (0.96%). In the complexagroforestry system, the diversification of plant species increases soil organic matter (SOM) and root biomass, thus improve SOC. Meanwhile, the Pinus sp. shade exhibited the lowest SOC due to the lower quality of its resistant litter. The complex agroforestry also recorded the highest SOC stocks (42.7 t C ha -1), followed by unshaded (39.9 t C ha -1), L. leucocephala shade (38.3 t C ha -1), and Pinus sp. shade (30.5 t C ha-1). The SOC stocks in the unshaded system exceeded those under L. leucocephala shade due to higher bulk density resulting from the absence of complex root systems. Moreover, the complex agroforestry exhibited elevated levels of soil N, P, K, and CEC. These findings implied that complex agroforestry system represents a multifaceted approach to enhance SOC stocks and soil health in coffee plantation.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management using poultry manure and legume tree prunings on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under field conditions in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Study Design: A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications was used. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out from January to August 2022 at the Research Farm of Adanwomase Senior High School in the Kwabre East District and at the AAMUSTED Research Field, Asante Mampong Campus. Methodology: Seven treatments comprising sole and combined applications of poultry manure, Gliricidia sepium, and Leucaena leucocephala prunings, as well as a control, were evaluated. The treatments included: (i) 10 t/ha Gliricidia sepium, (ii) 10 t/ha Leucaena leucocephala, (iii) 10 t/ha poultry manure, (iv) 5 t/ha Gliricidia sepium + 5 t/ha poultry manure, (v) 5 t/ha Leucaena leucocephala + 5 t/ha poultry manure, (vi) 5 t/ha Gliricidia sepium + 5 t/ha Leucaena leucocephala, and (vii) a control (no amendment). Soil samples were collected before planting and after harvest to assess changes in soil chemical properties. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, and treatment means were separated using Tukey’s HSD test at 5% level of probability. Results: Application of poultry manure and legume tree prunings, either alone or in combination, significantly improved soil chemical properties, vegetative growth, and yield of cucumber at both locations. Cucumber growth was greatest under 10 t/ha poultry manure, which produced the longest vines and the highest number of leaves. Fruit size was enhanced by the combined application of 5 t/ha Leucaena leucocephala and 5 t/ha poultry manure, while the highest total fruit weight and overall yield were obtained with 10 t/ha poultry manure. The sole application of 10 t/ha Gliricidia sepium and the control treatment recorded the poorest performance for most growth and yield parameters. Conclusion: The combination of 5 t/ha Leucaena leucocephala + 5 t/ha poultry manure is ideal for enhancing fruit size and length, while 10 t/ha poultry manure is best for maximizing yield. Continued use of organic amendments should be encouraged as a sustainable alternative to inorganic fertilizers, promoting long-term soil productivity.

This study aimed to compare the effects of three different roughage sources—Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), Pakchong 1 Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum), and Pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha) in combination with concentrate supplementation on production performance, carcass quality, and fatty acid composition in meat goat. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) involving nine male goats (50% Thai Native × Boer crossbred), approximately four months old, with an average initial body weight of 17.94 ± 1.5 kg. The animals were randomly allocated into three treatment groups (n = 3 per group), each receiving one type of freshly cut roughage ad libitum (Leucaena, Pakchong 1 Napier grass or Pangola grass) and supplemented with a 14% crude protein concentrate at 1.5% of body weight. The results indicated that goats fed Leucaena leucocephala combined with concentrate exhibited the highest dry matter digestibility, body weight gain, and omega-3 fatty acid accumulation, indicating that Leucaena is the most effective roughage source under the present experimental conditions. Nevertheless, both Pakchong 1 Napier grass and Pangola grass proved to be suitable and sufficient alternatives for goat feeding, particularly in areas where these grasses are readily available. Additionally, these forages contributed to the accumulation of omega-6 (C18:2) fatty acids, which are known to help maintain normal cell function, support immune responses, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease when consumed in balanced proportions.

Oily wastewater represents a major environmental challenge due to its complex composition and resistance to conventional treatment methods. In this study, biochar was synthesized using sustainable Leucaena leucocephala seed pods (LLSP) as a biomass source. Then, the LLSP/ZnO nanocomposite was fabricated through a co-precipitation followed by a pyrolysis approach to evaluate its effectiveness in eliminating oily wastewater via photocatalytic degradation. Characterization techniques, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), UV –Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), were used to examine the integration of ZnO into the biochar matrix. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to optimize the operating parameters represented by LLSP/ZnO dose, pH of OWW, and the initial concentration of OWW for maximizing oil and COD removal efficiencies. The results revealed that LLSP/ZnO demonstrated outstanding degradation efficiency under both UV and solar irradiation within 90 min, leading to a substantial reduction in oil content and COD in the wastewater samples. Based on RSM results, the maximum removal efficiency of oil was 98% at optimal operating conditions of pH: 2, catalyst dose: 0.09 g, and initial oil concentration: 50 mg/L. In addition, the maximum removal efficiency of COD was 97.45% at optimal operating conditions of pH: 2, catalyst dose: 0.13 g, and initial COD concentration: 1765 mg/L, under UV irradiation. A slight increase in efficiencies (97.5% for oil and 99.66% for COD) was observed under sunlight irradiation. The degradation of oil and COD followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics, with rate constants of 0.0252 min−1 and 0.022 min−1, respectively. The photocatalyst can be reused for up to five cycles while retaining an efficiency above 60%. The findings highlight the potential of employing a low-cost, biomass-derived photocatalyst for the treatment of oily wastewater via photocatalytic degradation.

ABSTRACT Two seed predators, Araecerus levipennis Jordan and Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Schaeffer), exist in the invasive tree Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. This study aimed to understand interactions among Ar. levipennis , A. macrophthalmus and L. leucocephala in the invaded ecosystem. Bagging treatments were used to differentiate niches between the two seed predators. Results indicated niche partitioning between these seed predators as a guild; Ar. levipennis preferred early‐stage pods while A. macrophthalmus preferred late maturity stage pods. Logistic regression analysis of 401 pod samples with 64.3% single‐species occupation showed negative effects between species occurrence and heterospecific abundance ( Ar. levipennis from 67% to 35% and A. macrophthalmus from 50% to 0%), suggesting interspecific competition. Ar. levipennis demonstrated priority effects, preempting resources at early maturity stages and competitively excluding A. macrophthalmus . Furthermore, early‐stage pods attacked by Ar. levipennis inhibited seed dispersal, triggering L. leucocephala to produce resin as a defence response. To understand the germination of predator‐attacked seeds, damaged seeds were collected to test germination and seedling survival. Seeds damaged by Ar. levipennis and A. macrophthalmus effectively reduced germination and seedling survival in the laboratory, but field observations revealed that L. leucocephala compensates through prolific seed production. This is the first comprehensive study documenting Ar. levipennis as a seed predator in the L. leucocephala system, highlighting the complex interactions between invasive plants and their seed predators. These findings demonstrate that single‐agent biocontrol is insufficient for effective management and highlight the necessity of biological control strategies that combine multiple control agents.