Plant Level Research Articles

Effects and mechanisms of intelligent electricity system on urban carbon reduction

This paper provides evidence on the effectiveness of China's intelligent electricity system in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the electricity sector at the city and plant levels. The actual application level of intelligence technology in cities was quantified through text analysis of newspaper reports, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing urban carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, this paper explores four potential pathways through which intelligent electricity system measures impact the power industry: the adjustment effect, technological progress effect, and carbon transfer effect of energy supply structure, as well as the electricity substitution effect on the demand side. The findings suggest that combining information technology and intelligent technology in the electricity sector could enhance carbon reduction efforts.

Impact of increasing workforce racial diversity on black-white disparities in cardiovascular disease mortality

BackgroundStructural racism’s influence on workforce policies and practices presents possible upstream targets for assessing and reducing racial health disparities. This study is the first to examine workforce racial diversity in...

Resource selection at fine scale: what drives the decision of a generalist herbivore?

Abstract Spatial patterns in topography and forage distribution significantly influence the movements and choices of large herbivores. However, understanding the foraging strategies of free-grazing herbivores at different temporal and spatial scales remains limited, as different behavioral decisions can apply at different hierarchical levels. This study investigates the fine-scale foraging strategies of the Plains Zebra (Equus quagga) in a South African savanna, with a specific focus on their selection of green vegetation at the plant and feeding patch levels. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index as a proxy for vegetation productivity and quality. Our findings reveal that zebras adapted their foraging strategies according to scale and season. During the late-dry season and early-wet season, selection for greenness was at both the grass tuft and feeding site levels. In contrast, during the mid-dry season, selection was predominantly at the tuft level, focusing solely on greenness. These insights emphasize the importance of conducting multilevel studies when investigating factors influencing foraging decisions. Findings at 1 hierarchical level may not necessarily apply across other levels of investigation, highlighting the need for a nuanced and comprehensive approach to understanding the complex foraging behaviors of animals.

Distribution, sources, and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soils and plants from industrial and agricultural areas, Junggar Basin, Xinjiang

The contamination characteristics of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different environmental functional areas are different. In this study, the contamination of PAHs in soils and common plants in typical mining and farmland areas in Xinjiang, China, was analyzed. The results showed that the contamination levels of PAHs in mining soils were significantly higher than those in farmland soils, and the mining soils were dominated by 4-5-ring PAHs and farmland soils by 3-4-ring PAHs. Analysis of their sources using a positive definite factor matrix model showed that PAHs in mining soils mainly originated from coal and natural gas combustion, and transportation processes; while farmland soils mainly came from biomass and coal combustion, and fossil fuel volatile spills. The cancer risk of PAHs in soils was evaluated using a combination of the Monte Carlo and the lifetime carcinogenic risk models, and the results showed that the overall level of cancer risk for mining soils was higher than that for farmland soils, and can put some people in high risk of cancer. For plant samples, except for individual crop samples, the contamination levels of mining plants and crops were similar, with 4-5-ring PAHs dominating in desert plants in mining areas and the highest proportion of 3-ring PAHs in crops in agricultural fields, and PAHs in both plants were mainly from biomass and coal combustion. The results of correlation analysis showed that 2-ring PAHs in crop roots were significantly positively correlated with it in corresponding soils, and some high-ring PAHs in crop leaves were significantly negatively correlated with it in corresponding soils. Therefore, there were significant differences in the pollution characteristics of PAHs in soils and common plants in mining and agricultural areas. Human health risks and ecological risks are mainly concentrated in mining areas, and appropriate intervention measures should be taken for pollution remediation.

Interorgan, intraorgan and interplant communication mediated by nitric oxide and related species.

Plant survival to a potential plethora of diverse environmental insults is underpinned by coordinated communication amongst organs to help shape effective responses to these environmental challenges at the whole plant level. This interorgan communication is supported by a complex signal network that regulates growth, development and environmental responses. Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a key signalling molecule in plants. However, its potential role in interorgan communication has only recently started to come into view. Direct and indirect evidence has emerged supporting that NO and related species (S-nitrosoglutathione, nitro-linolenic acid) are mobile interorgan signals transmitting responses to stresses such as hypoxia and heat. Beyond their role as mobile signals, NO and related species are involved in mediating xylem development, thus contributing to efficient root-shoot communication. Moreover, NO and related species are regulators in intraorgan systemic defence responses aiming an effective, coordinated defence against pathogens. Beyond its in planta signalling role, NO and related species may act as ex planta signals coordinating external leaf-to-leaf, root-to-leaf but also plant-to-plant communication. Here, we discuss these exciting developments and emphasise how their manipulation may provide novel strategies for crop improvement.

Mitigation of soil salinity by addition of different rice straw biochar doses in salt-affected acid soil

The current study was carried out to evaluate the effect of rice straw biochar amendment and to identify the appropriate dose of biochar application to reduce soil acidity, salinity, toxicity, and sodicity in salt-affected acid soils. The rice straw biochar at 4 different rates of 0%, (control) 1%, 3%, and 5% (w/w) was mixed with 6 salt-affected acid soils: S1 (non-saline), S2 and S3 (low saline), and S4, S5, and S6 (moderate saline). The mixture was continuously shaken in distilled water for 7 days. The biochar application significantly increased soil pH and saturated electrical conductivity (ECe) with an increasing biochar application rate compared with the control. Significant decreases in sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values below the critical level of sodicity were observed above the biochar application rate of 1%. Soluble chloride (Cl–) and soluble and exchangeable sodium (Na+) were significantly reduced above the biochar application rate of 1%. The biochar application (≥ 1%) led to a significant increase in soluble and exchangeable potassium (K+) and declines in soluble and exchangeable calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+). This study concluded that the biochar application rate of 1% was suitable for reducing soil acidity to a safe level for rice plants. The rice straw biochar application improved soil toxicity and sodicity by reducing soluble Cl– and soluble and exchangeable Na+, decreasing SAR and ESP. The biochar application also increased available K+, essential for rice plant growth and development in salt-affected soils.

Impact of planting density and shoot thinning on alstroemeria flowering, soil attributes and cost economics

A field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of various planting densities and levels of shoot thinning on cut flower yield, quality, soil chemical properties and cost economics in the commercially cultivated alstroemeria cultivar 'Capri'. The experiment involved three planting densities (4, 6 and 8 plants/m2) along with three shoot thinning levels (10 %, 20 % and 30 %). It was observed that higher planting density (4 plants/m2) promoted the length of cut stem, early bud formation, and flowering, optimal quality parameters, including maximum stem thickness, cut stem weight, floret quantity/stem, floret size, number of flowering stems/plant (yield) and vase life. Exclusive use of higher vegetative mass removal (30 % shoot thinning) was found to improve quality parameters such as the length of cut stem, number of flowering stems, stem thickness, weight of cut stem, floret quantity/stem, floret size, vase life, and early flowering. Soil samples were collected from each treatment and the consequent lab analysis revealed that the lower planting density and shoot thinning level resulted in maximum soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content. In conclusion, planting density of 4 plants/m2 and 30 % shoot thinning emerged as the optimal combination for enhancing quantitative parameters in commercial alstroemeria cultivation. The study underscores the importance of strategic planting practices and vegetative mass management for maximizing yield and quality in alstroemeria production, along with ensuring higher economic returns.

Does compensating firms for indirect carbon costs work? Evidence from Finnish manufacturing

The EU ETS indirect cost compensation subsidy was given out in the 2010s to compensate firms for increased electricity costs caused by the EU Emission Trading System, with the aim to support the competitiveness of producers in the EU. This paper studies the effects of the compensation subsidy on firm performance empirically with production plant level data from Finland. There is no clear evidence that the electricity costs have in fact been higher during the subsidy period, and the way that the subsidy was designed was not efficient. Perhaps for these reasons, the results find no indication of improved firm performance for the subsidy recipients.

Mitigating the Accumulation of Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) through Humic Acid Application under Aquaponic Conditions Using Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) as a Model Plant.

In aquaponic farming, there is a potential risk that heavy metals will contaminate the water, which can lead to heavy metal accumulation in the plants. Our research investigated the accumulation of mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) under aquaponic conditions and the effect of their increased presence on the uptake of other macro- and micronutrients using watercress (Nasturtium officinale) as a model plant. The potential modifying effect of humic acid on heavy metal accumulation was also investigated. Adding Hg and Pb increased the mercury and lead levels of the watercress plants to over 300 µg kg-1, while the addition of humic acid significantly reduced the concentration of both mercury and lead in the plants compared to plants treated with heavy metals alone, from 310.647 µg kg-1 to 196.320 µg kg-1 for Hg and from 313.962 µg kg-1 to 203.508 µg kg-1 for Pb. For Fe and Mn, higher values were obtained for the Hg + humic acid treatments (188.13 mg kg-1 and 6423.92 µg kg-1, respectively) and for the Pb + humic acid treatments (198.26 mg kg-1 and 6454.31 µg kg-1, respectively). Conversely, the Na, K, Cu levels were lower compared to those in plants treated with heavy metals alone. Our results demonstrated that watercress can accumulate mercury, leading to high levels, even above food safety standards, highlighting the importance of water quality control in aquaponic systems. Furthermore, these results suggest that watercress could be used as a natural filter in recirculation systems. The addition of humic acid significantly reduced the accumulation of heavy metals and altered the element content in the plant.

PmLBD3 links auxin and brassinosteroid signalling pathways on dwarfism in Prunus mume

BackgroundGrafting with dwarf rootstock is an efficient method to control plant height in fruit production. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Our previous study showed that plants with Prunus mume (mume) rootstock exhibited a considerable reduction in plant height, internode length, and number of nodes compared with Prunus persica (peach) rootstock. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism behind the regulation of plant height by mume rootstocks through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses with two grafting combinations, ‘Longyan/Mume’ and ‘Longyan/Peach’.ResultsThere was a significant decrease in brassinolide levels in plants that were grafted onto mume rootstocks. Plant hormone signal transduction and brassinolide production metabolism gene expression also changed significantly. Flavonoid levels, amino acid and fatty acid metabolites, and energy metabolism in dwarf plants decreased. There was a notable upregulation of PmLBD3 gene expression in plant specimens that were subjected to grafting onto mume rootstocks. Auxin signalling cues promoted PmARF3 transcription, which directly controlled this upregulation. Through its binding to PmBAS1 and PmSAUR36a gene promoters, PmLBD3 promoted endogenous brassinolide inactivation and inhibited cell proliferation.ConclusionsAuxin signalling and brassinolide levels are linked by PmLBD3. Our findings showed that PmLBD3 is a key transcription factor that regulates the balance of hormones through the auxin and brassinolide signalling pathways and causes dwarf plants in stone fruits.

Spraying Wheat Plants with a Drone Moved at Low Altitudes

On a mounted laboratory stand, comparative tests were carried out on the effectiveness of spraying wheat plants with liquid using a multi-rotor drone. The study was undertaken with and without propeller rotations. The lack of rotations simulated spraying by a ground sprayer. The height of the drone’s displacement above the plants was similar to that of the nozzles above the plants used when spraying with field sprayers, 0.5 m and 1.0 m. The speed of the drone movement was 0.57 and 1.0 m·s−1. The effects of the height and speed of the drone’s movement and the impact of the airflow on the volume and uniformity of the liquid application on the plants were assessed. In addition, changes in the transverse distribution of liquid volume in the droplet stream and the transverse distribution of the air velocity in its stream were evaluated. The liquid was sprayed at a constant pressure of 0.2 MPa. The study’s results show that the low height of the drone displacement not only had a strong effect on increasing the liquid volume applied to the plants but also improved the uniformity of application at plant levels. It was also noticed that, at a height of 0.5 m, there was a significant irregularity in the air stream under the drone.

Deciphering the role of SlWRKY36 and SlWRKY51 in salt stress tolerance via modulating ion homeostasis and proline biosynthesis

Soil salinity caused by NaCl is a major challenge to agricultural crops worldwide. For this, two WRKY transcription factors were evaluated for their role in salt stress tolerance in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum; Sl). SlWRKY36 and SlWRKY51 provided novel insight into the regulatory mechanism in tomato against salt stress via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). Salt stress significantly reduced chlorophyll-a, an abundant form of chlorophyll content to 6.0 and 5.1 mg/g and proline content to 0.06 mg/g and 0.09 mg/g respectively in SlWRKY36 and SlWRKY51 silenced tomato plants. This shows that salt stress affected proline content that act as osmo-protectant and damaged photosynthetic pigments in silenced SlWRKY36 and SlWRKY51 tomato plants. Similarly, the concentrations of Na+/ K+ ratio also showed a significantly higher trend 14 days after salt stress with 5.5 mg/g and 8.9 mg/g concentration at 200 mM for SlWRKY36 and SlWRKY51 showing silencing promotes Na+/K+ ion ratio under salt stress. Also, salt stress responsive genes such as salt overly sensitive SOS1 and Na+/H+ exchanger NHX1 displayed lower transcript level in silenced plants at 200 mM salt stress showing their negative regulation by SlWRKY36 and SlWRKY51 gene silencing. Collectively, these findings suggest for the first time the role of SlWRKY36 and SlWRKY51 as positive regulators of salt stress tolerance by managing ion homeostasis, proline content and photosynthetic machinery via transcriptional reprogramming. Overall, SlWRKY36 and SlWRKY51 were explored as potential candidates for engineering salt tolerance in tomato crop plants.

Integration of biological and information technologies to enhance plant autoluminescence.

Autoluminescent plants have been genetically modified to express the fungal bioluminescence pathway (FBP). However, a bottleneck in precursor production has limited the brightness of these luminescent plants. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing a computational model to guide a multiplex five-gene-silencing strategy by an artificial microRNA array to enhance caffeic acid and hispidin levels in plants. By combining loss-of-function-directed metabolic flux with a tyrosine-derived caffeic acid pathway, we achieved substantially enhanced bioluminescence levels. We successfully generated eFBP2 plants that emit considerably brighter bioluminescence for naked-eye reading by integrating all validated DNA modules. Our analysis revealed that the luminous energy conversion efficiency of the eFBP2 plants is currently very low, suggesting that luminescence intensity can be improved in future iterations. These findings highlight the potential to enhance plant luminescence through the integration of biological and information technologies.

Dicranopteris dichotoma rhizosphere-derived Bacillus sp. MQB12 acts as an enhancer of plant growth via increasing phosphorus utilization, hormone synthesis, and rhizosphere microbial abundance

In recent years, microbial inoculants have showed a great potential to replace chemical fertilizers as a new generation of soil amendment agents, however, the understanding of their effects on nutrient cycling within plants and rhizosphere microbial diversity are still limited. In this study, the rhizosphere growth-promoting bacteria MQB12 was used to inoculate Vigna radiata to evaluate the effects of external inoculants on plant transcriptomics and rhizosphere soil microbial diversity. Enrichment analysis using GO and KEGG revealed significant enrichment in DNA-binding transcription factor activity, transcriptional regulatory factor activity, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis among the differentially expressed genes. MQB12 inoculation positively responded to phosphorus starvation response, increased the expression of phosphorus starvation response genes (PHT/PAP), enhanced the synthesis of ethylene and salicylic acid to cope with external stress, and improved the expression of plant disease resistance genes to strengthen the disease resistance of plants to pathogens. At the same time, microbial diversity analysis further revealed the positive effect of MQB12 inoculum. MQB12 inoculum enriched beneficial flora, improved flora abundance, changed the structure and diversity of V. radiata rhizosphere microbial community, enhanced the interconnections between the flora, and positively promoted growth. MQB12 was found to adjust the microflora of the rhizosphere, which subsequently changed the environment for plant colonization. This change led to the enrichment of beneficial bacteria and removal of pathogenic bacteria, which positively affected the internal pathways of plants. Additionally, changes in gene expression levels of plants resulted in the formation of different phenotypes and various metabolites, further influencing the formation of rhizosphere microbial communities through close contact between roots and soil. This study provides new insights into the effects of microbial agents on plant growth and root environment construction and is conducive to the further development and application of microbial agents.Graphical

Dynamics of Actin Filaments Play an Important Role in Root Hair Growth under Low Potassium Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient for the growth and development of plants. Root hairs are the main parts of plants that absorb K+. The regulation of plant root hair growth in response to a wide range of environmental stresses is crucially associated with the dynamics of actin filaments, and the thick actin bundles at the apical and sub-apical regions are essential for terminating the rapid elongation of root hair cells. However, the dynamics and roles of actin filaments in root hair growth in plants' response to low K+ stress are not fully understood. Here, we revealed that root hairs grow faster and longer under low K+ stress than the control conditions. Compared to control conditions, the actin filaments in the sub-apex of fast-growing wild-type root hairs were longer and more parallel under low K+ stress, which correlates with an increased root hair growth rate under low K+ stress; the finer actin filaments in the sub-apex of the early fully grown Col-0 root hairs under low K+ stress, which is associated with low K+ stress-induced root hair growth time. Further, Arabidopsis thaliana actin bundling protein Villin1 (VLN1) and Villin4 (VLN4) was inhibited and induced under low K+ stress, respectively. Low K+ stress-inhibited VLN1 led to decreased bundling rate and thick bundle formation in the early fully grown phase. Low K+ stress-induced VLN4 functioned in keeping long filaments in the fast-growing phase. Furthermore, the analysis of genetics pointed out the involvement of VLN1 and VLN4 in the growth of root hairs under the stress of low potassium levels in plants. Our results provide a basis for the dynamics of actin filaments and their molecular regulation mechanisms in root hair growth in response to low K+ stress.

Effect of Zinc and Manganese Chlorides on Schoenoplectus litoralis and Elodea Canadensis Physiological Status

This study was determine effect different concentrations of heavy element salts on physiological status of aquatic plants Schoenoplectus litoralis and Elodea Canadensis. It was used three different concentrations of zink chloride and manganese chloride (10, 20, 30 ppm) for a month in order to measure the amount of total chlorophyll and its protein content. The results of the investigation showed that, in contrast to the control sample, the concentrations of the components in the water plants used in the analysis rose near the end of the investigation. The effects of heavy metal exposure on the protein and chlorophyll levels of water plants were studied.

SOS! Hydrogen Sulfide Enhances the Flavonoid Early Warning System in Rice Plants to Cope with Thiocyanate Pollution.

The presence of thiocyanate (SCN-) in irrigation water has adverse effects on both plant growth and crop output. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important gaseous signaling molecule that can alleviate SCN- stress. Flavonoids are secondary compounds produced by plants and are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom. They play important roles in several physiological and biochemical processes. To investigate the effect of exogenous H2S on the growth of early rice plants under SCN- stress, we carried out a hydroponic experiment focusing on the interaction of exogenous H2S with flavonoids. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was performed to investigate the behavior of SCN- when subjected to varying effective doses (EC20: 24.0 mg/L; EC50: 96.0 mg/L; and EC75: 300.0 mg/L). The findings indicated that the relative growth rate (RGR) of the plants treated with H2S + SCN- was greater than that of the plants treated with SCN- alone. Higher amounts of flavonoids were detected in the shoots than in the roots, with more variability in the shoots. The early warning level results showed that most of the flavonoids were present at levels I and II, while quercetin was present at level IV. Genetic expression variation factor (GEVF) analyses revealed an increase in the quantity of "promoter genes" with increasing SCN- concentration in both rice tissues. Furthermore, administering external H2S while exposing rice tissues to SCN- resulted in a considerable decrease in the levels of reactive oxygen species. This study provides novel insights into the regulation of flavonoid levels in rice plants by exogenous H2S, facilitating enhanced resistance to SCN- stress and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Overexpression of the ribosome-inactivating protein OsRIP1 modulates the jasmonate signaling pathway in rice.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are plant enzymes that target the rRNA. The cytoplasmic RIP, called OsRIP1, plays a crucial role in regulating jasmonate, a key plant hormone. Understanding the role of OsRIP1 can provide insights into enhancing stress tolerance and optimizing growth of rice. Transcription profiling by mRNA sequencing was employed to measure the changes in gene expression in rice plants in response to MeJA treatment. Compared to wild type (WT) plants, OsRIP1 overexpressing rice plants showed a lower increase in mRNA transcripts for genes related to jasmonate responses when exposed to MeJA treatment for 3 h. After 24 h of MeJA exposure, the mRNA transcripts associated with the gibberellin pathway occurred in lower levels in OsRIP1 overexpressing plants compared to WT plants. We hypothesize that the mechanism underlying OsRIP1 antagonization of MeJA-induced shoot growth inhibition involves cytokinin-mediated leaf senescence and positive regulation of cell cycle processes, probably via OsRIP1 interaction with 40S ribosomal protein S5 and α-tubulin. Moreover, the photosystem II 10kDa polypeptide was identified to favorably bind to OsRIP1, and its involvement may be attributed to the reduction of photosynthesis in OsRIP1-overexpressing plants subjected to MeJA at the early timepoint (3 h).

Identification of CKX gene family in Morusindica cv K2 and functional characterization of MiCKX4 during abiotic stress

Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) is the key enzyme that has been observed to catalyze irreversible inactivation of cytokinins and thus modulate cytokinin levels in plants. CKX gene family is known to have few members which are, expanded in the genome mainly due to duplication events. A total of nine MiCKXs were identified in Morus indica cv K2 with almost similar gene structures and conserved motifs and domains. The cis-elements along with expression analysis of these MiCKXs revealed their contrasting and specific role in plant development across different developmental stages. The localization of these enzymes in ER and Golgi bodies signifies their functional specification and property of getting modified post-translationally to carry out their activities. The overexpression of MiCKX4, an ortholog of AtCKX4, displayed longer primary root and higher number of lateral roots. Under ABA stress also the transgenic lines showed higher number of lateral roots and tolerance against drought stress as compared to wild-type plants. In this study, the CKX gene family members were analyzed bioinformatically for their roles under abiotic stresses.

Identification of QTLs and candidate genes for water-soluble protein content in soybean seeds

Soybean represents a vital source of premium plant-based proteins for human nutrition. Importantly, the level of water-soluble protein (WSP) is crucial for determining the overall quality and nutritional value of such crops. Enhancing WSP levels in soybean plants is a high-priority goal in crop improvement. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of WSP content in soybean seeds by identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and set the foundation for subsequent gene cloning and functional analysis. Using 180 F10 recombinant inbred lines generated by crossing the high-protein soybean cultivar JiDou 12 with the wild variety Ye 9, our researcher team mapped the QTLs influencing protein levels, integrating Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and gene expression profiling to identify candidate genes. During the 2020 and 2022 growing seasons, a standard bell-shaped distribution of protein content trait data was observed in these soybean lines. Eight QTLs affecting protein content were found across eight chromosomes, with LOD scores ranging from 2.59 to 7.30, explaining 4.15–11.74% of the phenotypic variance. Notably, two QTLs were newly discovered, one with a elite allele at qWSPC-15 from Ye 9. The major QTL, qWSPC-19, on chromosome 19 was stable across conditions and contained genes involved in nitrogen metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and signaling. Two genes from this QTL, Glyma.19G185700 and Glyma.19G186000, exhibited distinct expression patterns at maturity, highlighting the influence of these genes on protein content. This research revealed eight QTLs for WSP content in soybean seeds and proposed a gene for the key QTL qWSPC-19, laying groundwork for gene isolation and enhanced soybean breeding through the use of molecular markers. These insights are instrumental for developing protein-rich soybean cultivars.