Growth Formation Research Articles

Potential importance of vegetative spread and fragment regeneration for invasiveness of Clematis vitalba

AbstractIdentifying characteristics of invasive species or growth forms that facilitate their range expansion is critical for management. Clematis vitalba L. (old man's beard) is an invasive temperate liana in many areas of its introduction, yet its seedlings do not thrive in circumstances where resources are limited. Although some lianas in both tropical and temperate climates have been shown to spread by clonal stems along the ground, the bulk of previous research on C. vitalba reproduction has focused largely on aspects of seed ecology. The vegetative growth of the species is poorly understood. The first objective of our study was to evaluate the use of vegetative spread by C. vitalba as a means of local dispersal and population growth. We excavated ten 1‐m2 plots in infested riparian zones and found an extensive, branching network of creeping stems, both above and below ground. Our second objective was to test the ability of C. vitalba stem fragments to act as vegetative propagules. After 4 months, ~50% of two‐node fragments had regenerated, from both creeping and climbing stems. These studies help explain how a temperate liana forms populations and dominate ecological communities. The findings provide good evidence that C. vitalba may rely quite heavily on asexual reproduction. In addition, the results document liana stem phenotypic plasticity; fragmented climbing stems are just as likely as fragmented creeping stems to reprogram shoot tissue systems, generate roots and regrow as independent plants.

Colonial erasures in gender and climate change solutions

AbstractDespite deliberate moves to integrate gender with climate change solutions, efforts do not go far enough to account for coloniality, thus falling short of achieving feminist, just and transformative ends. Coloniality is a political blind spot and a systematic amnesia in climate policies and actions, despite being a key driver of climate change manifested through various forms of extractivism, economic growth, and hegemonic Eurocentric knowledge production. As a corrective and a pathway toward realizing a post/decolonial feminist climate praxis, I will disclose the colonial underpinnings in (i) a persistent gender binary and women‐centered approaches; (ii) white feminist epistemic privileging; and (iii) acquiescing to masculine Enlightenment‐inspired techno‐managerialism. Furthermore, disclosures of colonial erasures entail a foundational re‐evaluation of the climate change narrative from an isolated form of natural crisis to a phenomenon embedded in complex histories of colonialism, extractivism, and capitalist exploitation that threatens the intrinsic interdependence of nature and society and planetary survival. As a result, a post/decolonial feminist climate praxis then asks that we foster and restore this interdependence by institutionalizing an ethics of socioecological care, acknowledging epistemic diversity through embodied knowledge, and carrying out intersectional justice.This article is categorized under: Climate, Nature, and Ethics > Climate Change and Global Justice Climate and Development > Sustainability and Human Well‐Being Climate and Development > Social Justice and the Politics of Development

Molecular characterization uncovering a novel genus of tapering-filamentous cyanobacteria from Thailand: Phayaothrix lacustris gen. & sp. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanophyta)

In this study, novel Calothrix-like strains NUACC09 and NUACC10 were isolated from the surfaces of rocks in Phayao Lake, Thailand. Morphological, molecular and ecological comparisons were investigated to characterize the taxonomic status of these novel strains. Under the light microscope, morphological studies indicated that these two strains were morphologically similar to Calothrix but could be differentiated by production of a non-hyaline hair at the terminal end, a low degree of tapering, twisted or loop-forming filaments, a knotted growth form, intertwined trichomes and presenting more than one trichome within the single sheath. In the 16S rRNA and rbcLX gene phylogenetic tree analyses, our strains formed a monophyletic clade with former freshwater/terrestrial Calothrix-like taxa separating distantly from other Calothrix-like genera. Furthermore, low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (<94.9%) to the closely related genera and species delimitation analyses (PTP/bPTP, GMYC, ABGD and ASAP methods) indicated that this clade should be considered as a different cyanobacterial lineage. The phylogenetic tree and secondary structures (D1–D1′, V2, Box-B and V3 helix) based on 16S–23S rRNA ITS regions suggested that multiple species might be contained in this clade. Therefore, here, Phayaothrix was proposed as a novel cyanobacterial genus with Phayaothrix lacustris sp. nov. as the type species following the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants.

Impact of electric power facilities on natural phytocenotic diversity

The relevance of studying the impact of electric power facilities on natural phytocenotic diversity lies in the necessity to preserve ecosystems due to the increasing number and size of electrical facilities, which potentially can affect the functioning of natural environments. The research aims to investigate the impact of electric power facilities on species diversity. The research is carried out at 46 monitoring sites in the immediate vicinity of the source of electromagnetic and noise pollution within the influence of the Burshtyn thermal power plant, the Bohorodchany solar power plant, the Shevchenkove wind power plant, the Tereble-Rytska hydroelectric power plant, under regional and cross-border power transmission lines. The representation of plant species at the monitoring sites is analysed. In general, 196 plant species are identified. Herbaceous plants dominate (from 74 to 100% of all plant life forms) at all monitoring sites, except for one site. Shrubs are present in 11 monitoring sites (from 5 to 25% of all plant life forms). The trees are represented in 20 monitoring sites (from 4 to 75% of all plant life forms). 179 species belong to the first class of constancy, 12 species belong to the second class and 5 species belong to the third class of constancy (91, 6,5 and 2.5%, respectively). The last plants have been identified as indicators of the influence of power plants. The most common plant families that exist under the influence of electrical installations are established. The largest number of species is represented by the Asteraceae, Rosaceae and Poaceae families — 37, 19 and 15 species, respectively. The species of the third constancy class have the highest representativeness. Daucus carota L., Achillea millefiolium, and Trifolium pratense L. are the dominant plant species in the areas impacted by electric power facilities. 180 species belong to the first constancy class. They cannot be suitable as phytoindicators of the ecological state in the areas affected by power plants. The results can be used to develop environmental protection strategies and measures to reduce the negative impact of power generation facilities on flora

A preliminary study of the morphological variation of rhizomes in Zingiber Mill. and its role in taxonomy

The rhizomes of Zingiber are highly diverse and have potential in taxonomy, but their fundamental structure has never been properly understood in connection with an understanding of the sympodial growth form of the whole plant. This study is based on a literature review and on observations of fresh materials of 32 Zingiber species mainly from China, representing all four sections of the genus. An analysis of the sympodial modular growth habit of these plants has recognised that both isomodular and heteromodular growth exist within the genus. The study shows that rhizomes of Zingiber are highly-organised, compound, sympodial structures. By introducing the term rhizome unit, Zingiber rhizomes can be meaningfully described by depicting the morphology of the rhizome units and the relative arrangement of these units to one another. Six morphological attributes of rhizome units (shape, size, direction of growth, colour and number of nodes per rhizome, and length of internodes) and two attributes of their relative arrangement to one another (dorsiventral vs lateral position of rhizome units and the ramification position along the length of rhizome unit) are discussed. A preliminary assessment of variation patterns and the taxonomic value of these characters are presented. Together, these attributes contribute to the overall morphology of rhizomes. The relationship between rhizome structure and the above-ground clumping habit is discussed. The term pseudo-neck is coined to refer to the narrowed basal part that occurs in the rhizome units of some Zingiber species while the thick apical part of rhizome units where the internodes are often shorter than those on the pseudo-neck is called head. Problems with existing terminology for rhizome and plant habit descriptions in Zingiber are highlighted. This study suggests that whether the plane of distichy of leaves is parallel or perpendicular to the rhizome unit, a key character that many previous studies used for subdivision of Zingiberaceae, needs re-assessment, because in Zingiber both states of the character exist. Characters of rhizome morphology of the four sections in Zingiber are discussed, but studies of a larger number of species are needed to better-assess the relevance of these characters to the infrageneric classification of the genus. Schematic illustrations and colour plates of rhizomes from representative species are provided to assist the descriptions and discussions. It is hoped that this preliminary study will facilitate and encourage more comprehensive studies of rhizomes of Zingiber and of other genera within Zingiberaceae. Such work will lead to a better understanding of these structures and help establish a more comprehensive and accurate terminology for them, which in turn will facilitate the taxonomy and identification of the family.

Study of medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary medical system in riverine areas of Punjab, Pakistan

BackgroundThe use of medicinal plants to treat various veterinary illnesses has been practiced for millennia in many civilizations. Punjab is home to a diverse ethnic community, the majority of whom work in dairy farming, agriculture, and allied professions and have indigenous practices of treating animal illnesses using native flora. This study was designed to (1) document and preserve information about the applications of medicinal plant species in ethnoveterinary remedies among inhabitants of Punjab, Pakistan, and (2) identify popular plants for disease treatment by quantitative analysis of the obtained data and to assess the pharmacological relevance of these species.MethodsTo collect data from informants (N = 279), questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used. The ethnoveterinary data were analyzed using principal component analysis, relative frequency citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority.ResultsA total of 114 plant species utilized in the ethnoveterinary medicinal system were found, which were divided into 56 families and used to treat 16 different illnesses. The Poaceae family, with 16 species, was the most common in the region. The most commonly employed growth form in herbal preparation was herb (49%). The most used part in ethnoveterinary remedies was leaves (35%), while powder was the most commonly used way for preparing ethnoveterinary remedies (51 applications). According to principal component analysis, the most typically used species in the research region were grasses. Five grasses (Arundo donax, Desmostachya bipinnata, Eleusine indica, Hordeum vulgare, and Pennisetum glaucum) showed a 100% FL value when used to treat diuretics, helminthiasis, digestive problems, fever, cough, worm infestation, indigestion, galactagogue, oral infections, and genital prolapse. The maximum value of disease cured level (DCL%) was recorded at 87.6% for endo- and ecto-parasitic ailments in the study area.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that medicinal plants play an important part in satisfying farmers’ animal healthcare demands, making it a feasible practice. The study also provides a wealth of knowledge regarding ethnoveterinary methods for further planning and application, providing an option for farmers who cannot afford allopathic therapy.

Stem anatomy: development of included and intraxylary phloem in Barleria species (Acanthaceae) occurring in India

Abstract Barleria is known for its different growth forms such as herbs, shrubs, climbers, and rarely trees that show a wide range of variation in wood structure. We investigated the Indian species of Barleria and observed that all are characterized by the presence of included and intraxylary phloem. Included phloem is the strand of sieve elements embedded within the secondary xylem and is believed to perform the same general function as regular phloem (i.e. photosynthate transport). Internal/intraxylary phloem comprises sieve elements that are formed on the periphery of the pith. In the present investigation, a complete study of the stem anatomy of 36 taxa (29 species, one subspecies, two varieties, and four forms) of Indian Barleria species along with two outgroups (Crossandra infundibuliformis and Petalidium barlerioides) was carried out. This is the first comprehensive study on Indian Barleria and could be used for identification of species in the genus. Differences in the outline of stem and pith, the composition of the secondary xylem, variation in the number of the sieve elements within the included phloem islands, septation in fibres, fibre cell wall thickening, and ray types can be used for species delimitation. The present study revealed that depending on species, vessel elements were angular or oval, having a short tail at one end and a long tail on the other end, a short tail on both ends, a long tail on both ends, or without a tail. Among the species investigated, no consistency was observed in the secondary xylem rays. They were mostly uni- to biseriate in some species while in the remaining species they were uni- to multiseriate.

Morphological insights into the three-dimensional complexity of rhodolith beds

The ecological importance of rhodolith beds stems from their role as structurally complex three-dimensional habitat formed by free-living red calcareous algae. Their structural singularity is due to the great variety of complex and branching morphologies exhibited by rhodoliths that create interstitial spaces and increase their surface area. This increases the ecological niches for cryptofauna and provide refuge for a high number of organisms, which is why rhodolith beds are considered biodiversity hotspots. In this work, we studied a rhodolith bed located in the Menorca Channel, formed by several species of red calcareous algae that exhibit a great variety of morphologies and form an extensive and heterogeneous habitat. This study explored the morphological diversity of the rhodolith bed, comparing the ‘Core Habitat’ (within the center of the bed with the highest densities of rhodoliths) with the boundaries or ‘Adjacent Habitat’ where rhodolith density was lower. Our results show that all rhodolith growth forms (branched, pralines and boxwork) in the Core Habitat had higher interstitial space and were larger than the ones from adjacent zones. Moreover, we explored the three-dimensional techniques to study the morphological characteristics that have historically been studied in two dimensions. This study contributes to the knowledge of morphological diversity in well-preserved rhodolith beds from continental shelves in the western Mediterranean Sea and reinforces the use of three-dimensional measurements, specifically the interstitial space of branched rhodoliths, to provide more accurate data on habitat complexity.

Morphological responses of root hairs to changes in soil and climate depend on plant life form

IntroductionRoot hairs increase the surface area of a plant’s root system that is in contact with the soil, thus facilitating plant water and nutrient uptake. However, little is known about the characteristics of the root hairs of herbaceous and woody plants and their specific response patterns to biotic and abiotic variables from the perspective of resource acquisition strategies in the context of global change.MethodsHere, we analyzed 74 published case studies with 1074 observations of root hair traits to identify patterns of root hair length, density and diameter in relation to soil (e.g., soil pH, nutrient levels), growing environments (e.g., greenhouse, field) and climatic factors (e.g., air temperature), as well as genome size and plant age.ResultsRoot hairs were longer, denser and thicker in woody plants compared with herbaceous plants, and the length and diameter of root hairs in herbaceous plants increased with genome size. With increasing plant age, woody plants had significantly longer and thicker root hairs, while root hair density and diameter declined significantly for herbaceous plants. Soil-cultured plants had longer root hairs than solution-cultured plants. The length and density of root hairs were greater in greenhouse-cultured plants than in field-grown plants, and the latter had thicker root hairs than the former. As soil pH increased, root hair length increased but diameter decreased in woody plants, while root hair density increased in herbaceous plants. Increased soil total nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) significantly increased root hair length, density and diameter in herbaceous plants, while soil total N significantly decreased root hair density in woody plants. Root hair length increased significantly, while root hair density decreased significantly, with higher mean annual temperature and greater precipitation seasonality, while the opposite pattern was true for a wider annual temperature range.DiscussionOur findings emphasize the life-form-specific responses of root hairs to soil and climatic variables. These findings will help deepen our understanding of resource acquisition strategies and their mechanisms in different plant forms under global climate change.

High diversity of macrophytes in the »green river« Krka (Slovenia)

AbstractThe presence, abundance, and distribution of aquatic macrophytes and their growth forms in the river Krka in Slovenia were studied. The studied slow‐flowing lowland River Krka is also called a »green river« since it is overgrown with macrophytes from its source to its outflow to the river Sava. The environmental parameters of the river ecosystem were also assessed using the modified version of the RCE (Riparian, Channel, and Environmental Inventory) method. Within 24 sections reaching from 100 to 250 m, 23 taxa of macrophytes were found. Sections were distributed noncontinuously from the source to the outflow more or less equally along the river course. The invasive alien species Elodea canadensis reached the highest relative abundance, followed by Ranunculus trichophyllus, Potamogeton crispus, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Potamogeton nodosus. Potamogeton crispus was present in most of the studied sections followed by Nasturtium officinale and M. spicatum. The river offers suitable conditions for the high diversity of macrophytes regarding the type of substrate, low flow velocity, heterogeneity of habitats, and relatively high concentrations of nutrients. In comparison to the survey performed in 2003, when the river Krka was surveyed continuously from the source to the outflow, we found that seven of the submerged and natant macrophytes were not detected in 2020. Macrophytes, growing in the river Krka, indicated meso‐ to eutrophic conditions. Five species recorded in the river Krka are listed on the Red list of endangered species in Slovenia, indicating the need to conserve the river ecosystem.

A hybrid beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria × A. breviligulata) is more productive and outcompetes its non-native parent species.

The ability of non-native species to successfully invade new ecosystems sometimes involves evolutionary processes such as hybridization. Hybridization can produce individuals with superior traits that give them a competitive advantage over their parent species, allowing for rapid spread. Here we assess growth, functional morphology, and species interactions between two non-native beachgrass species (Ammophila arenaria and A. breviligulata) and their recently discovered hybrid (A. arenaria × A. breviligulata) on the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast. We asked whether the hybrid beachgrass differs from its parent species in morphology and growth, whether it competes with its parent species, and, if so, what are the potential mechanisms of competition. Plant taxa were grown in low- and high-density monocultures and in two-way interactions in a common garden environment. We show that the hybrid grew taller and more densely, with greater total biomass, than either parent species. The hybrid was also the better competitor, resulting in the model prediction of competitive exclusion against A. breviligulata and, depending on its relative abundance, A. arenaria. The hybrid displays a mixed 'guerilla-phalanx' growth form that allows it to spread laterally and achieve high shoot densities, giving it a competitive advantage. Given the current dominance of A. breviligulata compared to A. arenaria in most of the region where these taxa co-occur, we suggest that the hybrid will grow, compete, and spread quickly with potentially widespread consequences for the two non-native Ammophila congeners and the dunes they build.

Allometric relationships and trade-offs in 11 common Mediterranean-climate grasses.

Biomass allocation in plants is the foundation for understanding dynamics in ecosystem carbon balance, species competition, and plant-environment interactions. However, existing work on plant allometry has mainly focused on trees, with fewer studies having developed allometric equations for grasses. Grasses with different life histories can vary in their carbon investment by prioritizing the growth of specific organs to survive, outcompete co-occurring plants, and ensure population persistence. Further, because grasses are important fuels for wildfire, the lack of grass allocation data adds uncertainty to process-based models that relate plant physiology to wildfire dynamics. To fill this gap, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with 11 common California grasses varying in photosynthetic pathway and growth form. We measured plant sizes and harvested above- and belowground biomass throughout the life cycle of annual species, while for the establishment stage of perennial grasses to quantify allometric relationships for leaf, stem, and root biomass, as well as plant height and canopy area. We used basal diameter as a reference measure of plant size. Overall, basal diameter is the best predictor for leaf and stem biomass, height, and canopy area. Including height as another predictor can improve model accuracy in predicting leaf and stem biomass and canopy area. Fine root biomass is a function of leaf biomass alone. Species vary in their allometric relationships, with most variation occurring for plant height, canopy area, and stem biomass. We further explored potential trade-offs in biomass allocation across species between leaf and fine root, leaf and stem, and allocation to reproduction. Consistent with our expectation, we found that fast-growing plants allocated a greater fraction to reproduction. Additionally, plant height and specific leaf area negatively influenced the leaf-to-stem ratio. However, contrary to our hypothesis, there were no differences in root-to-leaf ratio between perennial and annual or C4 and C3 plants. Our study provides species-specific and functional-type-specific allometry equations for both above- and belowground organs of 11 common California grass species, enabling nondestructive biomass assessment in California grasslands. These allometric relationships and trade-offs in carbon allocation across species can improve ecosystem model predictions of grassland species interactions and environmental responses through differences in morphology.

Rediscover of the Iranian endemic alpine Arenaria bulica after 139 years and note of the related species (Caryophyllaceae)

The Zagros Mountain range is one of the biodiversity centers with the highest percent of endemic species in Iran. There are several peaks with more than 4000 m high in Zagros hosting many rare alpine species. Arenaria is one of the morphological complicated genera with a large number of species and endemism in SW-Asia with an high species concentration in Turkey and Iran. By recollecting the rare and endemic species of Arenaria bulica from locus classicus after 139 years and examining the herbarium specimens, it was found that the two species, A. minutissima and A. semiromica can be considered as its synonyms. A detailed description, original photos, habitat, distribution map, phytogeography, conservation status, seed micromorphology and growth form have been provided and discussed.

Measurement of Posture in Children Aged 4-6 Years at Aisyah Makam Haji 1 Kartasura Kindergarten

Health screening is a form of monitoring children's growth and development, which involves evaluating growth and development status based on weight gain and addressing problems that may arise at each stage of a child's development. Physical health is measured by age, weight and height. The importance of conducting health checks on children early on is a crucial effort in detecting and preventing various health problems that may arise, including the problem of poor posture better known as bad posture. Bad posture is a condition in which the body's position deviates from the normal state which can cause various health problems. The possible negative consequences of bad posture include problems such as kyphosis, lordosis and scoliosis. Regular health checks on children, especially at early developmental stages such as in kindergarten, are important to identify early any potential health problems, including posture problems. By detecting such problems early, preventive measures can be taken immediately to avoid potentially more serious long-term impacts on children's health. Therefore, regular health check-ups in children are a necessity that cannot be ignored to maintain the health and well-being of future generations. In realizing the research results with quantitative methods, measurable and numerical-based data collection is involved to gain a deeper understanding of the posture characteristics of children in that age range. This provides a solid foundation for implementing appropriate preventive and posture corrective measures. The conducted research revealed intriguing findings regarding the posture of children at Aisyah Makam Haji 1 Kartasura Kindergarten. Among the observations: 56% of children were underweight, 10 children exhibited low arches on both feet, and 22% showed signs of scoliosis with a vertebral curve of 0°. While most children displayed normal limb length differences, some exhibited abnormalities in this aspect. These findings underscore the significance of posture screening for children aged 4-6 years, even if they seem physically healthy. Preventive measures, such as education for parents, are needed to prevent postural disorders that could potentially arise in the future.

POTENSI SPESIES DI SEKITAR MATA AIR BENA SEBAGAI INDIKATOR KETERSEDIAAN AIR DI DESA NIBAAF KABUPATEN TIMOR TENGAH UTARA

Nibaaf Village is one of the areas in Noemuti District, North Central Timor Regency. This village has a spring called Bena spring. Bena Spring is one of the natural springs located in the production forest area of ​​Nibaaf Village, North Central Timor Regency. This research aims to determine the type of vegetation, species that have potential as indicators of water availability, and the influence of vegetation on water availability, as well as to determine the efforts made by the Nibaaf Village community to protect and preserve Bena springs as a production forest area. This research was carried out from December 2023 to February 2024 at the Bena springs in Nibaaf Village, Noemuti District, North Central Timor Regency. The method used in this research is the quadratic plot method which is carried out by making 7 plots measuring 20 m x 20 m. The research results showed that there were 19 types of species distributed in tree growth forms, poles, saplings and seedlings. Consisting of 97 individuals for growth from trees, 70 individuals for growth from poles, 144 individuals for growth from saplings, and 430 individuals for growth from seedlings. The results of the highest INP data analysis for growth from trees were Eucaliptus alba with an INP of 181.27%. The highest INP for growth from poles is Swietenia mahagoni with an INP of 158.51%. The highest INP for growth from saplings is Syzgium aqueum with an INP of 242.08%. The highest INP for growth from seedlings was Sweitenia mahagoni with an INP of 64.17%. The Shannon Winner Diversity Index is in the medium category, the Evennes/Evenness Index is in the high category, and the Dominance Index is in the medium category. Types of plants that have potential as indicators of water availability around the Bena spring are Swietenia mahagoni, Syzygium aqueum, and Ficus benjamina. The existence of vegetation around the Bena spring has a big influence on water availability because it can conserve water. Therefore, this vegetation needs to be maintained and preserved or reforested in order to maintain the stability of water discharge during the dry season. Efforts made by the Nibaaf Village community to protect and preserve the Bena spring as a production forest area include: not cutting down trees carelessly, not throwing away rubbish, and carrying out reforestation to maintain soil fertility so that the spring does not dry out.

Consistent pattern in scaling relationships of leaf dry mass versus area of woody species co-occurring in dry-hot and wet-hot habitats

The scaling relationships between leaf dry mass (LDM) and surface area (LA) can reflect the efficiency of light harvesting and photosynthesis, as well as the ability of plants to withstand biotic and abiotic stress. However, it remains little unknown whether plants alter the scaling relationships of LDM and LA, as along with leaf mass investment per unit area in common species growing in different habitats with high temperature and contrasting water availability. This study involved measuring LA, LDM, and leaf morphological traits (e.g., leaf thickness, dry mass per unit area, and density) in 14 woody species (10 tree species, 2 shrub species, and 2 liana species) that co-occur in wet-hot (WH) and dry-hot (DH) habitats in southwest China. Our results showed that the scaling exponents (α) of LDM vs. LA were consistently greater than 1.0 (indicating the increase in LA fails to keep pace with increasing LDM) for all 14 common species at both sites, irrespective of their growth forms. Furthermore, species exhibited a higher leaf mass investment per unit area and leaf density at the DH site compared to the WH site. These results suggest that the law of “diminishing returns” applies to the scaling relationships of LDM and LA in common species inhabiting both types of habitats. Additionally, plants at the DH site increased leaf mass and density investments, potentially reflecting an essential adaptation to strong selective pressure experienced by plant species in that habitat. This study provides new insights into the scaling relationships of LDM and LA in contrasting habitats, enriching our understanding of the plant life-history strategies and adaptations in response to climate change.

Negative allometry of leaf xylem conduit diameter and double-wall thickness: implications for implosion safety.

Xylem conduits have lignified walls to resist crushing pressures. The thicker the double-wall (T) relative to its diameter (D), the greater the implosion safety. Having safer conduits may incur higher costs and reduced flow, while having less resistant xylem may lead to catastrophic collapse under drought. Although recent studies have shown that conduit implosion commonly occurs in leaves, little is known about how leaf xylem scales T vs D to trade off safety, flow efficiency, mechanical support, and cost. We measured T and D in > 7000 conduits of 122 species to investigate how T vs D scaling varies across clades, habitats, growth forms, leaf, and vein sizes. As conduits become wider, their double-cell walls become proportionally thinner, resulting in a negative allometry between T and D. That is, narrower conduits, which are usually subjected to more negative pressures, are proportionally safer than wider ones. Higher implosion safety (i.e. higher T/D ratios) was found in asterids, arid habitats, shrubs, small leaves, and minor veins. Despite the strong allometry, implosion safety does not clearly trade off with other measured leaf functions, suggesting that implosion safety at whole-leaf level cannot be easily predicted solely by individual conduits' anatomy.

Difficulties in the treatment of acute sepsis

SUMMARY. The problem of acute sepsis as a polyetiological acyclic disease with peculiar clinical symptoms and diagnostic difficulties, which requires special treatment, is considered. Acute sepsis is the main and most common clinical form of this disease. The predictors of acute sepsis and the variety of clinical manifestations of its two classical stages – septicemia and septicopyemia – are characterized in detail. A typical case of acute sepsis, which was diagnosed only later, is given. In this regard, etiotropic therapy was delayed. Therefore, despite powerful etiotropic therapy, the disease was not limited to acute sepsis, but continued in the form of infectious (septic) endocarditis. The septic nature of infectious endocarditis is due to the presence and persistence of a septic focus in the endocardium, as well as the course of the disease in the form of continuous growth of local inflammatory and destructive changes in primary septic foci and general infectious-metastatic, thromboembolic and immune complex manifestations, which in the absence of special treatment lead to an inevitable fatal outcome, that is, the development of a disease such as sepsis acyclicity. The diagnosis of infective endocarditis is based on the detection of initially reasonably suspicious clinical and then evident paraclinical signs of the disease. Classical clinical and morphological signs of infectious endocarditis, as well as general principles of therapy of such patients, are given.

Adaptation of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis transcriptome to biofilm growth.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is a leading global cause of death from infectious disease. Biofilms are increasingly recognized as a relevant growth form during M. tb infection and may impede treatment by enabling bacterial drug and immune tolerance. M. tb has a complicated regulatory network that has been well-characterized for many relevant disease states, including dormancy and hypoxia. However, despite its importance, our knowledge of the genes and pathways involved in biofilm formation is limited. Here we characterize the biofilm transcriptomes of fully virulent clinical isolates and find that the regulatory systems underlying biofilm growth vary widely between strains and are also distinct from regulatory programs associated with other environmental cues. We used experimental evolution to investigate changes to the transcriptome during adaptation to biofilm growth and found that the application of a uniform selection pressure resulted in loss of strain-to-strain variation in gene expression, resulting in a more uniform biofilm transcriptome. The adaptive trajectories of transcriptomes were shaped by the genetic background of the M. tb population leading to convergence on a sub-lineage specific transcriptome. We identified widespread upregulation of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) as a common feature of the biofilm transcriptome and hypothesize that ncRNA function in genome-wide modulation of gene expression, thereby facilitating rapid regulatory responses to new environments. These results reveal a new facet of the M. tb regulatory system and provide valuable insight into how M. tb adapts to new environments.

MelastomaTRAITs 1.0: A database of functional traits in Melastomataceae, a large pantropical angiosperm family.

The recent availability of open-access repositories of functional traits has revolutionized trait-based approaches in ecology and evolution. Nevertheless, the underrepresentation of tropical regions and lineages remains a pervasive bias in plant functional trait databases, which constrains large-scale assessments of plant ecology, evolution, and biogeography. Here, we present MelastomaTRAITs 1.0, a comprehensive and updatable database of functional traits for the pantropical Melastomataceae, the ninth-largest angiosperm family with 177 genera and more than 5800 species. Melastomataceae encompass species with a wide diversity of growth forms (herbs, shrubs, trees, epiphytes, and woody climbers), habitats (including tropical forests, savannas, grasslands, and wetlands from sea level to montane areas above the treeline), ecological strategies (from pioneer, edge-adapted and invasive species to shade-tolerant understory species), geographic distribution (from microendemic to continental-wide distribution), reproductive, pollination, and seed dispersal systems. MelastomaTRAITs builds on 581 references, such as taxonomic monographs, ecological research, and unpublished data, and includes four whole-plant traits, six leaf traits, 11 flower traits, 18 fruit traits, and 27 seed traits for 2520 species distributed in 144 genera across all 21 tribes. Most data come from the Neotropics where the family is most species-rich. Miconieae (the largest tribe) contains the highest number of trait records (49.6%) and species (41.1%) records. The trait types with the most information in the database were whole-plant traits, flowers, and leaf traits. With the breadth of functional traits recorded, our database helps to fill a gap in information for tropical plants and will significantly improve our capacity for large-scale trait-based syntheses across levels of organization, plant-animal interactions, regeneration ecology, and thereby support conservation and restoration programs. There are no copyright restrictions on the dataset; please cite this data paper when reusing the data.