Lowland Plants Research Articles

Geochemical fingerprints of Dongpu Depression crude oils in Bohai Bay Basin, northern China: Insights from biomarkers and isotopic compositions of selected alkylnaphthalenes and alkylphenanthrenes

The Dongpu Depression is a rift lake in the Bohai Bay Basin of eastern China, where abundant oil and gas resources were discovered. Previous geochemical investigations of Dongpu Depression oils have revealed a notable lack of data regarding the isotopic compositions of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the discovered Cenozoic crude oils. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), a novel approach combining molecular parameters and stable carbon isotope compositions of individual PAH was applied to study the depositional environment conditions, the different source inputs, the maturation stage and to identify the potential family of five crude oils selected from Dongpu Depression.A decrease of Ga/C30H together with low Pr/Ph ratios and changes in isotopic compositions indicate that the five Dongpu Depression oils were derived from OM deposited in an anoxic saline environment with a stratified water column where mixing of saline water and freshwater occurred. The low isoprenoid, tricyclic and tetracyclic terpane ratios in combination with the δ13C values of 1,6-DMN, 1,2,5-TMN, 1,3,6,7-TeMN, 9-MP and 1-MP attest that their sources have a mixed origin with high aquatic organism (planktonic) input and a lower land plant (C3 plant) contribution. The δ13C values of phenanthrene between −30.0 ‰ and −20.0 ‰ indicate that the studied Dongpu Depression oils belong to a single family generated from the peak to the late oil generation stage (Rc-TNR-2 between 0.85 and 1.15 %). A correlation with various basins indicates that oil samples featured by δ13C values of Phen between −30.0 ‰ and −20.0 ‰ correspond to crude oils derived from mixing of aquatic and high plant contributions with different degrees of mixtures, which have not yet reached their cracking stage (Rc < 2.0 %). Crude oils from the Carboniferous and Mesozoic-Cenozoic Tarim rocks, Australian petroleum systems, Termit Basin, Bongor Basin, Fushan Depression and the studied Dongpu Depression oils belong to that group of oils. Crude oils characterized by lighter phenanthrene isotopic compositions (δ13C values of Phen < −30.0 ‰) are mainly derived from marine/aquatic input and have already entered the cracking window (Rc > 2.0 %). This group of oils is represented in this study by the Cambrian-Ordovician Tarim Basin oil samples. The research shows the importance of the aromatic isotopic compositions in petroleum system characterization and could be used as a reference for a practical exploration campaign of petroleum.

Pollen thermotolerance of a widespread plant, Lotus corniculatus, in response to climate warming: possible local adaptation of populations from different elevations.

One of the most vulnerable phases in the plant life cycle is sexual reproduction, which depends on effective pollen transfer, but also on the thermotolerance of pollen grains. Pollen thermotolerance is temperature-dependent and may be reduced by increasing temperature associated with global warming. A growing body of research has focused on the effect of increased temperature on pollen thermotolerance in crops to understand the possible impact of temperature extremes on yield. Yet, little is known about the effects of temperature on pollen thermotolerance of wild plant species. To fill this gap, we selected Lotus corniculatus s.l. (Fabaceae), a species common to many European habitats and conducted laboratory experiments to test its pollen thermotolerance in response to artificial increase in temperature. To test for possible local adaptation of pollen thermal tolerance, we compared data from six lowland (389-451 m a.s.l.) and six highland (841-1,030 m a.s.l.) populations. We observed pollen germination in vitro at 15 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, and 40 °C. While lowland plants maintained a stable germination percentage across a broad temperature range (15-30 °C) and exhibited reduced germination only at extremely high temperatures (40 °C), highland plants experienced reduced germination even at 30 °C-temperatures commonly exceeded in lowlands during warm summers. This suggests that lowland populations of L. corniculatus may be locally adapted to higher temperature for pollen germination. On the other hand, pollen tube length decreased with increasing temperature in a similar way in lowland and highland plants. The overall average pollen germination percentage significantly differed between lowland and highland populations, with highland populations displaying higher germination percentage. On the other hand, the average pollen tube length was slightly smaller in highland populations. In conclusion, we found that pollen thermotolerance of L. corniculatus is reduced at high temperature and that the germination of pollen from plant populations growing at higher elevations is more sensitive to increased temperature, which suggests possible local adaptation of pollen thermotolerance.

Elevation modulates the impacts of climate change on the Brazilian Cerrado flora

AbstractAimClimate change is causing species distribution to shift across the globe. Lowland taxa are moving upslope with warming, while montane species face extinction. We tested the hypothesis that elevation controls the future distribution of plant species in the Brazilian Cerrado, home of 3.5% of the Earth's flowering plants (c. 5000 endemic species) in just 0.4% of the planet's land surface.LocationCerrado region in Brazil.MethodsWe estimated geographical range shifts of 7398 angiosperm species by 2040 using species distribution models (SDMs). We stacked the SDMs to derive the temporal variations of species richness and composition over the Cerrado.ResultsOur results show that between 50 and 52% of the Cerrado flora will experience net range loss due to climate change. While montane species were more likely to lose range, range gain was more common among lowland taxa. We estimate that 68–73% of the Cerrado extent will face net species losses by 2040. Net species loss was more likely to occur below 743–798 metres above sea level. Virtually the entire Cerrado will experience some level of species replacement due to climate change and species turnover will intensify as elevation increases.Main ConclusionsOur findings suggest that upslope migration allows lowland plants to track climate change (‘winners’), whereas montane taxa do not (‘losers’). As species move upslope, lowlands become local extinction hotspots and mountains harbour novel plant assemblages. Therefore, elevation exerts a central role in shaping Cerrado flora responses to climate change and potentially the long‐term efficacy of conservation and restoration efforts.

The Application of NPK Pearl Professional 9-25-25 on the Growth and Production of Red Bean Plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Lowlands

This study aims to determine the application of NPK Pearl 9-25-25 on the growth and production of red bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in lowlands. The research was conducted from February to May 2023 in Airmadidi, North Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi at an altitude of 100 meters above sea level. They were using a Randomized Complete Block Design with the application of NPK Pearl 9-25-25 at 4 levels (0 g/liter of water, 2 g/liter of water, 4 g/liter of water, and 6 g/liter of water). The observed variables were plant height, number of branches, flowering age, number of pods, and net dry weight. The application of NPK Pearl 9-25-25 at a dose of 4 g/liter of water on the 45th day after planting (DAP) resulted in the tallest plant height of 47.80 cm, the highest number of branches with 18 branches, while the fastest flowering age was 30 DAP with doses of 4 g/liter of water and 6 g/liter of water, the highest number of pods was 33.60 pods, and the heaviest net dry seed weight per plant was 66 grams at a dose of 4 g/liter of water. The application of NPK Pearl 9-25-25 had a non-significant effect on plant height and the number of branches but had a highly significant effect on the variables of flowering age, number of pods, and net dry weight. The application of NPK Pearl professional 9-25-25 doses on red bean plants can be applied in lowlands, and the best dose from this study is 4 g/liter of water

Leaf thermal safety margins decline at hotter temperatures in a natural warming 'experiment' in the Amazon.

The threat of rising global temperatures may be especially pronounced for low-latitude, lowland plant species that have evolved under stable climatic conditions. However, little is known about how these species may acclimate to elevated temperatures. Here, we leveraged a strong, steep thermal gradient along a natural geothermal river to assess the ability of woody plants in the Amazon to acclimate to elevated air temperatures. We measured leaf traits in six common tropical woody species along the thermal gradient to investigate whether individuals of these species: acclimate their thermoregulatory traits to maintain stable leaf temperatures despite higher ambient temperatures; acclimate their photosynthetic thermal tolerances to withstand hotter leaf temperatures; and whether acclimation is sufficient to maintain stable leaf thermal safety margins (TSMs) across different growth temperatures. Individuals of three species acclimated their thermoregulatory traits, and three species increased their thermal tolerances with growth temperature. However, acclimation was generally insufficient to maintain constant TSMs. Notwithstanding, leaf health was generally consistent across growth temperatures. Acclimation in woody Amazonian plants is generally too weak to maintain TSMs at high growth temperatures, supporting previous findings that Amazonian plants will be increasingly vulnerable to thermal stress as temperatures rise.

Current Status and Complexity of Three Begomovirus Species in Pepper Plants in Lowlands and Highlands in Java Island, Indonesia.

Three primary species from the Begomovirus genus, Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Kanchanaburi virus (TYLCKaV), and Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), are suspected of spreading throughout pepper production centers, and plants are infected by a single species or a combination of two or three species. This study was conducted to provide complete information about the symptoms, incidence and severity, whitefly biotypes, as well as the dominance status of the three Begomovirus species in pepper-producing areas in Java. A DNA analysis was carried out on leaf samples to identify Begomovirus species and biotypes of B. tabaci collected from 18 areas (16 districts) in lowlands (<400 m asl) and highlands (>700 m asl). The DNA analysis showed that B. tabaci biotype B was the most commonly detected in all locations compared to the A, AN, and Q biotypes. The incidence of begomovirus infection was at a high level, 93% and 88.78% in the lowlands and highlands, respectively. However, the severity of begomovirus infection was significantly higher in the lowlands (54.50%) than in the highlands (38.11%). A single infection of PepYLCIV was most dominant in all locations sampled and caused severe infection, followed by a mixed infection with TYLCKaV. Therefore, the current status of begomovirus infection, especially PepYLCIV, can provide advice to farmers using more tolerant and resistant varieties as well as a breeding strategy for resistant pepper varieties.

Identifikasi Jenis Kupu-kupu (Lepidoptera) di Taman Wisata Alam Baning Kabupaten Sintang

Baning Nature Park is located on the Ana River, Sintang District, Sintang District, West Kalimantan Province, is an ex-situ conservation area of ​​dry lowland plants with various collections of plant habitus, both from trees, shrubs, herbs, lianas, and others. other. The existence of butterflies in a habitat has a role as pollinating insects which have a very important position in maintaining the balance of nature. Butterflies aside from being natural pollinating agents, can be used as an indicator in testing environmental quality, by observing the state of their habitat. This study aims to find out what types of butterflies are found in the Baning Nature Park and their ecological roles. This research is a type of exploratory research. Data collection was carried out using a belt transect, by circling the Baning Nature Park. Catching butterflies is done using sweeping technique. Observations made at the Baning Nature Park found 15 species in 4 different families. These species namely; Arhopala centaurus, Leptosia nina, Appias olferna, Eurema blanda, Catopsilia pomona, Eurema hecabe, Junonia hedonia, Junonia atlites, Junonia iphita, Hypolimnas bolina, Phaedyma columella, Elymnias hypermnestra, Tanaecia trigerta, Papilio memnon, and Papilio polytes. The ecological role of the butterfly is as a pollinating organism. Nectar-producing plants in Baning Nature Park which are frequently visited by butterflies, namely, the species Psydrax dicoccos and Ixora sp.

Vegetation changes and climate shift during the latest Ladinian to the early Carnian: Palynological evidence from the Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China

The Middle–Late Triassic climates have attracted the attention of paleontological and geological scientists for the Carnian pluvial event in the early Late Triassic. The event is well-documented in the pelagic and epi-continental marine deposits of the Tethys, Gondwana, and Laurasia. However, inland terrestrial deposits are less frequently depicted, with high-resolution palynological biostratigraphy constraints. In this study, we report the palynological records from the YC8-1 and YC7-3 sub-members of the Yunmeng profile in the Ordos Basin, China, where the YC7-3 was dated at 236.0–234.1 Ma. Two palynological assemblages were recognized and named the Lundbladispora watangensis–Taeniaesporites combinatus assemblage and Lundbladispora communis–Discisporites granulus assemblage for the YC8-1 and YC7-3 sub-members, respectively. Their ages were determined to be the latest Ladinian and early Carnian, respectively, for their stratigraphic correlations with the global boundary stratotype section and point (GSSP) of the base of Carnian in Europe and additional co-occurring floras with condonts in the Upper Triassic of South China. The coexistence of Cyathidites minor (Couper, 1953), Dictyophyllidites harrisii (Couper, 1958), Apiculatisporis bulliensis (Helby ex De Jersey, 1972), Aratrisporites xiangxiensis (Li and Shang, 2011), Piceaepollenites omoriciformis (Bolkh.) (Xu and Zhang, 1984), Podocarpidites ornatus (Pocock, 1962), Discisporites granulus (Zhang, 1984), and Classopollis (Pflug, 1953) is equivalent to the Carnian palynostratigraphic criterion reported in the North China palynofloristic realm. Vegetational changes, especially those occurring at the boundary between Ladinian and Carnian, account for approximately 70% of ferns and over 30% of gymnosperms lost. These were discovered and attributed to the strong seasonal arid climate, indicated by the emergence of Cheirolepidiaceae and Pinuspollenites. We thus know that the climate during the latest Ladinian and early Carnian was “hot house” with seasonal aridity. In addition, three strong monsoonal pluvial pulses were signaled by the humidity index of lowland plants. The present study will enable a better understanding the Carnian pluvial event in the Late Triassic inland basin.

Reduction in biomass of freshwater arctic vegetation by foraging and nesting hyperabundant herbivores shows recovery

AbstractArctic‐nesting geese are specialist herbivores of grasses and sedges (collectively, graminoids). Under moderate grazing pressure, these migratory herbivores can create and maintain arctic grazing lawns with high nutritional content and low aboveground biomass. Nutrient and energy subsidies from southern agricultural landscapes during winter have improved survival among populations of Ross's (Anser rossii) and lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens), leading to marked population growth. Resulting goose hyperabundance has raised conservation concern for resilience of arctic ecosystems to withstand cumulative and intense pressures of herbivory and nest construction. We used both design‐based (experimental herbivore exclosures) and model‐based methods to investigate changes to plant community structure in direct response to foraging and nesting by these species within the Queen Maud Gulf (Ahiak) Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Nunavut, Canada. Annual nest construction and foraging by up to ~1.3 million geese at a large colony at Karrak Lake markedly reduced aboveground biomass of forage (graminoids) and non‐forage (foliose and fruticose lichens) vegetation, with spatial variation in reduction associated with intensity of use by geese. Within vast brood‐rearing regions, foraging reduced above‐ and belowground plant biomass of lowland plant communities by 61% and 29%, respectively, between 1994 (when herbivore exclosures were established) and 2017. In addition to landscape diversity associated with abiotic properties created by geomorphic processes, long‐term herbivory by geese further increased spatial heterogeneity in vegetation at the landscape scale. Although foraging geese nearly completely depleted aboveground plant biomass in some parts of their brood‐rearing areas, belowground biomass was largely conserved, and thus, plant communities had strong potential for aboveground regeneration. We propose that the effects of high‐density nesting and foraging by Ross's and lesser snow geese in the central Canadian Arctic, while extensive, are ephemeral and prone to reversion following cessation of grazing and nesting pressure, such as that afforded by shifts in herbivore distribution or local population decline.

Development of Android-Based Tourism Information System Prototype at Purwodadi Botanical Garden

Purwodadi Botanical Gardens is one of the dry lowland plant conservation. The number of tourist attractions and a large area of the botanical gardens raise two main problems among visitors regarding information about the Purwodadi Botanical Garden, especially the system information. This research and development aim to solve this Purwodadi Botanical Garden information system by making a tourism information system prototype that can be access by using the tourist gadget everywhere and anywhere. The system development contains information about the facilities map in Purwodadi Botanical Garden. There are two types of data used in this research development namely primary (the coordinates point of sites and facilities) and secondary data (about the site function). The primary data collect by using the application named GPS essential, and the secondary data obtained from related agencies named LIPI. Figma used for the prototype system development by the researcher. The next existing application prototype can be developed further by adding features and menus according to the needs and changes that occur every time. Researcher hopes that with the development of this prototype, the management can follow up in terms of developing a tourism information system at Purwodadi Botanical Gardens.

Lowland plant arrival in alpine ecosystems facilitates a decrease in soil carbon content under experimental climate warming.

Climate warming is releasing carbon from soils around the world, constituting a positive climate feedback. Warming is also causing species to expand their ranges into new ecosystems. Yet, in most ecosystems, whether range expanding species will amplify or buffer expected soil carbon loss is unknown. Here, we used two whole-community transplant experiments and a follow-up glasshouse experiment to determine whether the establishment of herbaceous lowland plants in alpine ecosystems influences soil carbon content under warming. We found that warming (transplantation to low elevation) led to a negligible decrease in alpine soil carbon content, but its effects became significant and 52% ± 31% (mean ± 95% confidence intervals) larger after lowland plants were introduced at low density into the ecosystem. We present evidence that decreases in soil carbon content likely occurred via lowland plants increasing rates of root exudation, soil microbial respiration, and CO2 release under warming. Our findings suggest that warming-induced range expansions of herbaceous plants have the potential to alter climate feedbacks from this system, and that plant range expansions among herbaceous communities may be an overlooked mediator of warming effects on carbon dynamics.

Overexpressing PpBURP2 in Rice Increases Plant Defense to Abiotic Stress and Bacterial Leaf Blight.

Mosses are one of the earliest diverging land plants that adapted to living on land. The BURP domain-containing proteins (BURP proteins) are plant-specific proteins that appeared when plants shifted from aquatic environments to land. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the BURP domain of higher plants is originated from lower land plants and divergent because of motif conversion. To discover the function of BURP protein in moss, rice transgenics with ectopic expression of PpBURP2 were subjected to different abiotic stresses treatments. The results revealed that the ectopic expression of PpBURP2 enhanced the tolerance to osmotic and saline stresses at the seedling stage and drought stress at the adult stage. Further ectopic expression of PpBURP2 improved the cadmium (2+) (Cd2+) tolerance and reduced Cd2+ accumulation in rice leaves. Transcriptomic analysis of the transgenic PpBURP2 plants showed that the differentially expressed genes were involved in the metabolism of secondary metabolites, energy, oxidation-reduction process, and defense-related genes. Further experiments showed that the photosynthetic efficiency and resistance against bacterial leaf blight were obviously improved in transgenic plants. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays revealed the physical interaction of BURP domain protein from rice and moss with mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) from rice. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that overexpressing PpBURP2 in rice confers resistance to abiotic stresses and bacterial leaf blight. They also suggested that the regulatory role of BURP-like proteins across lower and higher plants was evolutionary conservation of responses of different classes of plants to different environmental challenges.

Lost bioscapes: Floristic and arthropod diversity coincident with 12th century Polynesian settlement, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands.

Knowledge of biodiversity in the past, and the timing, nature, and drivers of human-induced ecological change, is important for gaining deep time perspectives and for modern conservation efforts. The Marquesas Islands (Polynesia) are one of the world’s most remote archipelagos and illustrate the vulnerability of indigenous bioscapes to anthropogenic activities. Characterised by high levels of endemism across many biotic groups, the full spectrum of the group’s flora and fauna is nonetheless incompletely known. Several centuries of Polynesian settlement reshaped biotic communities in ways that are not yet fully understood, and historically-introduced mammalian herbivores have devastated the indigenous lowland flora. We report here on archaeological recovery of a diverse assemblage of plant and arthropod subfossils from a waterlogged deposit on the largest Marquesan island: Nuku Hiva. These materials offer new perspectives on the composition of lowland plant and arthropod communities pene-contemporaneous with human arrival. Bayesian analysis of multiple 14C results from short-lived materials date the assemblages to the mid-12th century AD (1129–1212 cal. AD, 95.4% HPD). Evidence for human activities in the catchment coincident with deposit formation includes Polynesian associated arthropods, microcharcoal, and an adzed timber. Plant macrofossils (seeds, fruits, vegetative structures) and microfossils (pollen, phytoliths) reveal coastal and lowland wet-moist forest communities unlike those observed today. Several apparently extinct taxa are identified, along with extant taxa currently constrained to high altitude and/or interior areas. A diverse inventory of subfossil arthropods—the first pre-18th century records for the islands—includes more than 100 distinct taxa, with several new archipelago records and one previously unreported for eastern Polynesia. The assemblages provide new insights into lowland Marquesan forest communities coincident with human arrival, and portend the considerable anthropogenic transformations that followed. These records also have implications for human colonisation of the Marquesas Islands and East Polynesia at large.

Inoculation with Ericoid Mycorrhizal Associations Alleviates Drought Stress in Lowland and Upland Velvetleaf Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) Seedlings.

Although velvetleaf blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) is usually associated with sandy (upland) areas of the North American boreal forest, lowland populations can be also found in bogs, suggesting possible adaptations to different site conditions. In this study, we examined the role of ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi in conferring drought resistance to the upland and lowland velvetleaf blueberry seedlings. The seedlings were inoculated with four ERM fungi (Pezicula ericae, Pezoloma ericae, Meliniomyces variabilis, and Oidiodendron maius) isolated from the roots of ericaceous plants and grown under controlled environmental conditions in sterilized soil. The inoculated and non-inoculated (inoculation control) plants were subsequently subjected to three cycles of drought stress by withdrawing watering. Lowland plants appeared to benefit relatively more from mycorrhizal colonization, compared with the upland plants, in terms of plant growth and drought survival. After three weeks of treatments, the dry weights of non-inoculated well-watered upland plants were higher compared to the non-inoculated lowland plants. However, these differences were offset by the inoculation of plants with ERM fungi, some of which also significantly improved drought resistance characteristics of the upland and lowland plants. There were no major differences in the effects of different ERM fungal species on drought responses of upland and lowland plants. Of the examined ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, inoculation with Pezicula ericae was the most effective in conferring drought resistance characteristics to both upland and lowland seedlings and helped maintain higher shoot water potentials, net photosynthetic, and transpiration rates in plants subjected to drought stress.

Short-term cell death in tissues of Pulsatilla vernalis seeds from natural and ex situ conserved populations

Pulsatilla vernalis is a IUCN listed species that occurs in mountain and lowland habitats. The seeds collected from different populations are remarkably diverse in their viability depending on locality or year of collection. We aim to analyse seed viability, among others, by investigation of the percentage of alive, dying, and dead cells in embryos and endosperm when comparing the seeds from a wild lowland population and ex situ cultivation of plants of lowland and Alpine origin. The cell death was detected by staining with two fluorescence probes, one penetrating only the changed nuclear membranes, the other penetrating also the unchanged cells. 54.5% of Alpine origin seeds were presumably capable of germination if they were sown after collection, however, four months later only 36.4% had healthy embryos. In the case of lowland wild plants it was 31.8% and 18.2%, and from ex situ, 27.3% and 13.6%, respectively. 27.3% of Alpine origin seeds had embryo in torpedo stage (9.1% in the case of lowland seeds). Mean weight of the former was 2.9 mg (2.0 mg in lowland ones). Our results confirm the significance of seed origin and seed weight on viability, and that Pulsatilla seeds have a short ‘germination time window’.

Land Suitability Evaluation for New Paddy Rice Field in Mukomuko District

This study aims to identify the physical, chemical characteristics of the soil and determine the suitability of rice fields for new openings in Mukomuko. This research was conducted from September to October 2019, which consisted of fieldwork and laboratory analysis. This research uses a survey method, soil sampling is carried out by a composite method consisting of 5 soil samples. Composite soil sampling technique based on land unit work maps produced from the map of soil types Mukomuko district scale of 1: 100.000. The results showed that all samples had the same dominant limiting factors namely P2O5, K2O, and Base Saturation. Land suitability for lowland rice plants in Mukomuko District Af.1.2.1 (S3nr) land area with an area of 42.68 ha, Af.1.2.2 (S3nr) land area with an area of 56.65 ha, land unit Tf.2.1 (S3nr) with an area of 60.15 ha, and land unit Tf.3.1 (S3nr) with an area of 89.30 ha.

IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR LOWLAND FURROW-IRRIGATED SOYBEAN IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Different water management strategies should be investigated to ensure adequate water supply to furrow-irrigated soybean plants in lowlands. This study examined the performance and efficiency of furrow irrigation techniques and related them to the soybean yield potential in lowland fields of Southern Brazil in the 2017/18 growing season. An experiment was conducted on raised seedbeds to evaluate furrow irrigation techniques: full irrigation with cutback, irrigation during the advance phase with low inflow, irrigation during the advance phase (cutoff), surge irrigation, and no irrigation. The design parameters, efficiency of the techniques, agronomic characteristics, and the grain yield of the soybean crop, were evaluated. The overall performance of the cutback technique in furrow irrigation was superior, followed by the surge irrigation, cutoff, and low inflow techniques. Furrow irrigation increased soybean yield in lowlands, and the cutback technique was the best to guarantee the soybean yield potential in lowlands, resulting in a 29% yield increase compared to non-irrigated.

Diversity, conservation, potential uses, and alien species of lowland plants of Batang Toru, Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Putra HF, Mustaqim WA. 2021. Diversity, conservation, potential uses, and alien species of lowland plants of Batang Toru, Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 1580-1591. A recent field inventory of lowland Sumatran plant diversity was carried out in two close sites of forest patches in the Batang Toru area. These are Muara Upu Swamp Forest and Simulak Anjing Hill Forest. This study aimed to investigate the species composition of two isolated lowland Sumatran forest patches on the west coast of the northern part of the island. The total number of species recorded was 181 species with 131 species known from Simulak Anjing Hill Forest, 54 from Muara Upu Swamp Forest, and only three species recorded from both sites. There are three species endemic to Sumatra, seven species listed as threatened according to the IUCN Red List, one species protected by the Indonesian government, and two are important records for Sumatra. Compared to the published literature, 88 species have been reported to have one or more uses, with 63 species have been used as the source of medicines, 19 as sources of fibers, 18 as the source of vegetables, and several other uses. Sixteen alien species were recorded including four species categorized as 100 world’s worst invasive species. It can be concluded that both areas are a home for important lowland plants of Sumatra as indicated by the presence of threatened, endemic, or poorly documented species. Besides that, there is also a need for concern about the presence of potential invasive alien species.

Geographic differentiation of adaptive phenological traits of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) populations

AbstractIn central Europe, barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.], has commonly been found in humid lowland areas. As a result of the introduction of new crops and farming practices, in the northwest Carpathians, E. crus-galli has spread from lowland (&lt;200 m altitude) to highland (&gt;400 m altitude) areas. We collected seed samples from local populations lying at a distance of approximately 5 km from each other and lined up along transects following the flows of two rivers. The rivers first flow through the valleys separated by mountain ridges and eventually flow into a common lowland. After ripening, the seeds of all populations were germinated at 25 C under long-day conditions. Only the seeds of some lowland populations germinated up to 75%. The frequency of germinated seeds decreased as the altitude where the population was collected increased, and above 200 m above sea level, germination was mostly zero. We then studied the phenological and morphological differentiation of plants from the original (lowland) and recently occupied (highland) areas. Seeds of the lowest and the highest localities lying on the transect of each river were sown in a common garden experiment. In plants from the highland localities, heading and seed dispersal were earlier, while tiller height and tiller mass were lower than in plants from the lowland localities. Seed mass produced per tiller in the lowland and highland plants was similar, and as a result, highland plants allocated a larger proportion of body mass to seed production than did lowland plants. Echinochloa crus-galli populations from highland localities thus produce their progeny earlier and at a lower energy cost than populations from lowland localities. The plasticity of phenological characters likely facilitated adaptation during E. crus-galli spread from lowlands to highlands. Similar adaptations in plant phenology may contribute to the spread of E. crus-galli in other geographic areas.

Genome-wide comparative analysis of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (LACSs) gene family: A focus on identification, evolution and expression profiling related to lipid synthesis

In plants, Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (LACSs) play key roles in activating fatty acids to fatty acyl-CoA thioesters, which are then further involved in lipid synthesis and fatty acid catabolism. LACSs have been intensively studied in Arabidopsis, but its evolutionary relationship in green plants is unexplored. In this study, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the LACS gene family across green plants followed by phylogenetic clustering analysis, gene structure determination, detection of conserved motifs, gene expression in tissues and subcellular localization. Our results identified LACS genes in 122 plant species including algae, low land plants (i.e., mosses and lycophytes), monocots, and eudicots. In total, 697 sequences were identified, and 629 sequences were selected because of alignment and some duplication errors. The retrieved amino acid sequences ranged from 271 to 1056 residues and diversified in intron/exon patterns in different LACSs. Phylogenetic clustering grouped LACS gene family into six major clades with distinct potential functions. This classification is well supported by examining gene structure and conserved motifs. Also, gene expression analysis and subcellular localization substantiate with clade division in the phylogeny, indicating that the evolutionary pattern is visible in their functionality. Additionally, experimental analysis of lacs2 mutant validated that LACS2 plays key roles in suberin synthesis. Thus, our study not only provides an evolutionary mechanism underlying functional diversification but also lays the foundation for further elucidation of the LACS gene family.