Mature Plants Research Articles

Potential Regeneration and Spatial Distribution model of Saurauia pendula Blume in Mount Slamet, Central Java

Saurauia pendula Blume is a species of genus Saurauia and belong to Actinidiaceae family. Saurauia pendula spread over on several highlands or mountains in Java Island. Mount Slamet is the second highest mountain on Java with naturally good vegetations. The existence of several threats such as forest fires, destruction, deforestation and forest degradation has caused the condition of these plant species to begin to require attention. This study aims to determine the population of S. pendula, its potential regeneration and spatial distribution model in Mount Slamet area. The study was conducted on four (north, south, west and east) slopes in 2019-2020. Research on population conditions was carried out by following hiking trails and making new paths around the center of suitable habitat. Coordinate data is taken to make spatial analysis using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt). The results showed that the number of S. pendula was found on the north, west and south slopes at an altitude of 1010-2024 masl. This species has a significant association with Saurauia microphylla de Vriese., Glochidion obscurum (Roxb. ex Willd.) Blume and Castanopsis argentea. The number of mature plants is 106 individuals, which have important role in the distribution of this plant. Analysis of the spatial distribution model shows that S. pendula is estimated to be widely distributed on the western slopes of Mount Slamet.

AraLeTA: An Arabidopsis leaf expression atlas across diurnal and developmental scales.

Mature plant leaves are a composite of distinct cell types, including epidermal, mesophyll, and vascular cells. Notably, the proportion of these cells and the relative transcript concentrations within different cell types may change over time. While gene expression data at a single-cell level can provide cell-type-specific expression values, it is often too expensive to obtain these data for high-resolution time series. Although bulk RNA-seq can be performed in a high-resolution time series, RNA-seq using whole leaves measures average gene expression values across all cell types in each sample. In this study, we combined single-cell RNA-seq data with time-series data from whole leaves to assemble an atlas of cell-type-specific changes in gene expression over time for Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We inferred how the relative transcript concentrations of different cell types vary across diurnal and developmental timescales. Importantly, this analysis revealed 3 subgroups of mesophyll cells with distinct temporal profiles of expression. Finally, we developed tissue-specific gene networks that form a community resource: an Arabidopsis Leaf Time-dependent Atlas (AraLeTa). This allows users to extract gene networks that are confirmed by transcription factor-binding data and specific to certain cell types at certain times of day and at certain developmental stages. AraLeTa is available at https://regulatorynet.shinyapps.io/araleta/.

Divergent proteomic profiles of opium poppy cultivars.

We examined the proteomic profiles of three registered opium poppy cultivars (Papaver somniferum L.) with varying alkaloid contents. The study was conducted on both the stem and capsule organs. A high number of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified between the cultivars and the organs. We analyzed DEPs for their contribution in GO terms and KEGG pathways. The upregulated DEPs were significantly enriched in photosynthesis and translation for morphine-rich and noscapine-rich cultivars, respectively. The data indicated that photosynthesis is crucial for benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) biosynthesis, but different processes are also effective in morphine and noscapine biosynthesis, which occur at different branches in the biosynthetic pathway. The proteomics profiles revealed that energy demand is more effective in morphine biosynthesis, while translational control plays a leading role in noscapine biosynthesis. This study represents the first report demonstrating organ-based and cultivar-based protein expression differences in mature poppy plants.

Understanding the influence of applying plant extracts and microorganism culture filtrates against barley leaf rust disease

Rust fungi are devastating plant pathogens, and several Puccinia species have exerting substantial financial impacts on global barley cultivation. Fungicides are used on a large scale as an effective method for combating phytopathogenic fungi. The negative environmental impacts of fungicides are steadily escalating on a daily basis. Consequently, researchers are currently exploring alternative approaches to mitigate the use of fungicides, such as the utilization of plant extracts. This method has proven effective due to its incorporation of natural antifungal substances. Among the nine natural elicitors that were tested, the application of plant extracts on barley seedlings resulted in an increase in the incubation and latent periods of Puccinia hordei. These periods are integral components of partial and induced resistance, effectively mitigating the incidence of barley leaf rust disease by over 70% on mature plants. Similarly, the biochemical analyses demonstrated a notable augmentation in all the tested treatments’ overall phenolics and oxidative enzyme activities (peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase). Random amplified polymorphic DNA (SCoT) test serves as a viable approach for assessing the impact of plant extracts and microorganisms on barley plants. The results obtained from this study indicate that the detection of DNA polymorphism through SCoT analysis holds a significant potential powerful tool to evaluate genetic changes compared with untreated plants although some of them tested displayed high similarities at the morphological reaction.

A Review on Plant Tissue Culture

Plant tissue and cell culture involve the aseptic cultivation and propagation of plant cells, tissues, and organs in a meticulously controlled laboratory setting. This innovative method harnesses the potential of nutrient-rich media to efficiently replicate plant cells on a large scale, resulting in the rapid production of mature and disease-free plants. The cornerstone of commercial technology in this field is micropropagation, a process that achieves swift proliferation from minute plant cuttings, axillary buds, and, to a limited extent, from somatic embryos and cell clumps in suspension cultures and bioreactors. Micropropagation, a pivotal aspect of plant tissue and cell culture, holds immense value in generating high-quality and consistent planting materials. These materials find applications across diverse fields, including molecular genetic engineering, plant breeding, horticulture production, and environmental preservation. The process of micropopagation unfolds through several distinct stages, including propagation, subculture of explants for proliferation, shooting and rooting, and hardening. These stages collectively form a universal framework for large-scale multiplication of plants. This technique plays a critical role in overcoming the limitations of traditional plant propagation methods. By allowing for controlled and accelerated growth in a laboratory environment, plant tissue and cell culture contribute to the efficient production of disease-resistant and genetically uniform plant materials. This not only supports advancements in various scientific disciplines but also addresses practical needs in agriculture, horticulture, and environmental conservation. The continuous refinement and application of plant tissue and cell culture methods underscore their significance in meeting the growing demands for sustainable and high-quality plant materials across diverse sectors.

Basic and additional ecological niches of soil phytopatogenes on spring wheat varieties in West Siberia

The elucidation of hydrothermal and temporal parameters of the realization of the main and additional ecological niches of jointly parasitizing widespread soil phytopathogenic micromycetes has theoretical and applied significance. The aim of the study was to identify the parameters of the implementation of the main and additional ecological niches by the dominant species of soil micromycetes on spring wheat (Bipolaris sorokiniana Sacc. Shoem., Fusarium poae (Peck.) Wollenw., F. oxysporum Schltdl.) in the system of underground and generative organs of spring wheat varieties. The objectives of the study included determining the level of realization of the main ecological niches by three dominant species of soil pathogenic micromycetes in the system of underground organs of spring wheat varieties in different phases of vegetation, as well as identifying the degree of realization by micromycetes of additional ecological niches in generative organs of spring wheat varieties and assessing the strength of the influence of varieties and conditions of the year on the size of ecological niches in underground and generative organs of plants. The study was conducted on 20 varieties of spring wheat in 2020–2022, in the northern forest-steppe of the Ob region according to generally accepted and author’s methods. It is shown that the soil micromycetes B. sorokiniana, Fusarium poae and F. oxysporum, parasitizing together on the underground and generative organs of spring wheat, have different hydrothermal and temporal parameters of the realization of the main and additional ecological niches. B. sorokiniana is a relatively thermophilic species, its parasitic activity is most successful in underground, especially straw organs, is realized in conditions of unstable humidification, F. poae is a moisture-loving micromycete that prefers underground, especially young organs of spring wheat plants, F. oxysporum is a drought-resistant species that tends to more mature plant organs. As for the generative organs of wheat, B. sorokiniana colonizes them by airborne droplets in humid conditions, keeping them confined to straw-like tissues, the correlation coefficient of B. sorokiniana infection of the ear rods and the SCC of August was equal to r = 0.812 ± 0.412. F. poae could reach ears by vessels, the degree of their colonization by this micromycete was small and practically did not depend on the weather conditions of the year and its representation in underground plant organs. F. oxysporum colonized ears of spring wheat by vessels, and the degree of its representation in pathocomplexes of generative organs closely correlated with its share in pathocomplexes of primary and secondary roots: r = 0.923 ± 0.146.

Above and belowground phenotypic response to exogenous auxin across Arabidopsis thaliana mutants and natural accessions varies from seedling to reproductive maturity.

Plant hormones influence phenology, development, and function of above and belowground plant structures. In seedlings, auxin influences the initiation and development of lateral roots and root systems. How auxin-related genes influence root initiation at early life stages has been investigated from numerous perspectives. There is a gap in our understanding of how these genes influence root size through the life cycle and in mature plants. Across development, the influence of a particular gene on plant phenotypes is partly regulated by the addition of a poly-A tail to mRNA transcripts via alternative polyadenylation (APA). Auxin related genes have documented variation in APA, with auxin itself contributing to APA site switches. Studies of the influence of exogenous auxin on natural plant accessions and mutants of auxin pathway gene families exhibiting variation in APA are required for a more complete understanding of genotype by development by hormone interactions in whole plant and fitness traits. We studied Arabidopsis thaliana homozygous mutant lines with inserts in auxin-related genes previously identified to exhibit variation in number of APA sites. Our growth chamber experiment included wildtype Col-0 controls, mutant lines, and natural accession phytometers. We applied exogenous auxin through the life cycle. We quantified belowground and aboveground phenotypes in 14 day old, 21 day old seedlings and plants at reproductive maturity. We contrasted root, rosette and flowering phenotypes across wildtype, auxin mutant, and natural accession lines, APA groups, hormone treatments, and life stages using general linear models. The root systems and rosettes of mutant lines in auxin related genes varied in response to auxin applications across life stages and varied between genotypes within life stages. In seedlings, exposure to auxin decreased size, but increased lateral root density, whereas at reproductive maturity, plants displayed greater aboveground mass and total root length. These differences may in part be due to a shift which delayed the reproductive stage when plants were treated with auxin. Root traits of auxin related mutants depended on the number of APA sites of mutant genes and the plant's developmental stage. Mutants with inserts in genes with many APA sites exhibited lower early seedling belowground biomass than those with few APA sites but only when exposed to exogenous auxin. As we observed different responses to exogenous auxin across the life cycle, we advocate for further studies of belowground traits and hormones at reproductive maturity. Studying phenotypic variation of genotypes across life stages and hormone environments will uncover additional shared patterns across traits, assisting efforts to potentially reach breeding targets and enhance our understanding of variation of genotypes in natural systems.

GC-MS profiling of anticancer and antimicrobial phytochemicals in the vegetative leaf, root, and stem of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Withania somnifera has been used for a long time in traditional medicine. Its crude extract, dried powder, and purified metabolites from mature plants have shown promising therapeutic potential. To further investigate its potential, the detection of phytochemicals with anticancer and antimicrobial properties in the vegetative stage is essential. Hence, this study was done to identify phytochemical constituents using GC-MS analysis for anticancer and antimicrobial activities in the vegetative stage from methanolic extracts of stem, leaf, and root in W. somnifera. The air-dried plant parts were extracted with methanol at low pressure to concentrate using a rotary evaporator at 40°C. To identify phytochemicals, Shimadzu GCMSQP2010, Japan, was used with the NIST107.LIB database. The GC-MS identified 35 unique phytochemical peaks at the vegetative stage in W. somnifera. In leaves, the antibacterial phytochemicals included cyclotrisiloxane, hexamethyl, with a high abundance, and cyclohexasiloxane, dodecamethyl, with the least abundance. In roots, the phytochemicals 2,2-dimethoxybutane, with high abundance, and cathinone, with least abundance, were found to have antibacterial properties, whereas trans-2,3-epoxyoctane, with high abundance, and 2,2-dimethoxybutane, with least abundance, were found to have anticancer properties. In stem, the antibacterial phytoconstituents octasiloxane, 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11,13,13,15,15-hexadecamethyl, and benzenemethanol, alpha.-(1-aminoethyl), were found to be the most abundant and least abundant, respectively, while arabinitol and pentaacetate had both anticancer and antibacterial activities. At the vegetative stage, GC-MS studies of stem, leaf, and root parts revealed the occurrence of potential phytochemicals for antibacterial and anticancer activities in W. somnifera.

An analysis of sex ratio value, fruit set and fruit to bunch of palm oil Socfindo MT Gano variety on mature plants (MP1, MP2, MP3)

Several studies in managing fruit sets and fruit to bunch are needed to get an ideal concept of treatment for varieties, one of which is the technical culture to explore the production potential of cultivated varieties. Therefore, this research aims to determine the sex ratio, fruit set, and fruit to bunch of palm oil bunch of Socfindo MT Gano variety on mature plants. This research was conducted using the survey method, object of research namely the 2019 planting year (3 years old), the 2018 planting year (4 years old), and the 2017 planting year (5 years old). The data collected were the number of male flowers, female flowers, stalk weight, stalk diameter, fruit, and parthenocarpy fruit, then calculated the sex ratio, fruit set, and fruit to bunch, analyzed by Analysis of Variance at a 5% level. The results indicated that the sex ratio and fruit to bunch were significantly different between MP1, MP2, and MP3, but the fruit set presented no significant difference between MP1, MP2, and MP3. The sex ratio is negatively correlated with fruit set and fruit to bunch, while the fruit set is positively correlated with fruit to bunch with an exceptional relationship.

Lipid remodelling and the conversion of lipids into sugars associated with tolerance to cadmium toxicity during white clover seed germination.

Cadmium (Cd) is a leading environmental issue worldwide. The current study was conducted to investigate Cd tolerance of 10 commercial white clover (Trifolium repens) cultivars during seed germination and to further explore differences in lipid remodelling, glycometabolism, and the conversion of lipids into sugars contributing to Cd tolerance in the early phase of seedling establishment as well as the accumulation of Cd in seedlings and mature plants. The results show that Cd stress significantly reduced seed germination of 10 cultivars. Compared to Cd-sensitive Sulky, Cd-tolerant Pixie accelerated amylolysis to produce more glucose, fructose, and sucrose by maintaining higher amylase and sucrase activities under Cd stress. Pixie maintained higher contents of various lipids, higher DGDG/MGDG ratio, and lower unsaturation levels of lipids, which could be beneficial to membrane stability and integrity as well as signal transduction in cells after being subjected to Cd stress. In addition, Pixie upregulated expression levels of key genes (TrACX1, TrACX4, TrSDP6, and TrPCK1) involved in the conversion of lipids into sugars for early seedling establishment under Cd stress. These findings indicate that lipid remodelling, enhanced glycometabolism, and accelerated conversion of lipids into sugars are important adaptive strategies for white clover seed germination and subsequent seedling establishment under Cd stress. In addition, Pixie not only accumulated more Cd in seedlings and mature plants than Sulky but also had significantly better growth and phytoremediation efficiency under Cd stress. Pixie could be used as a suitable and critical germplasm for the rehabilitation and re-establishment of Cd-contaminated areas.

Oomycetes as damping‐off pathogens and functional plant traits associated with the susceptibility of west Australian native plant species

AbstractDamping‐off oomycete and fungal plant pathogens reduce the germination, emergence, and survival of seedlings. In agricultural systems, this poses a significant problem as it may reduce productivity; in contrast, the impact is more subtle in natural ecosystems and may be essential for maintaining the structure and diversity of plant communities. The oomycete genus Phytophthora is frequently detected in natural plant communities causing disease in mature plants, but it is rarely assessed as a damping‐off pathogen. A pathogenicity experiment was established with five oomycete treatments, three putatively native Phytophthora species, the invasive P. cinnamomi, and Pythium irregulare, to determine the damping‐off host range in selected plant species from a hyper‐diverse Mediterranean‐type ecosystem. Additionally, plant and seed traits were analysed to determine if they were correlated with susceptibility to pre‐emergent damping‐off. Phytophthora arenaria was the only putatively native generalist damping‐off pathogen, causing 12 of 19 plant species to experience significantly reduced seedling emergence or survival relative to the control treatment. Pythium irregulare and the introduced P. cinnamomi caused significant damping‐off for 12 and 13 plant species, respectively. Plant species that were slowest to germinate and emerge were the most susceptible to pre‐emergence damping‐off caused by P. arenaria. These results suggest native and invasive Phytophthora may substantially influence the structure and diversity of natural plant communities through damping‐off. While mature plant species are the most common focus in Phytophthora research, our study indicates damping‐off should be considered to determine the full impact of these soil‐borne plant pathogens.

Analisis Penerapan PSAK 69 Agrikultur atas Aset Biologis untuk Tata Kelola Keuangan Pada PT. Indah Bumi Plantasi

This study aims to find out the description of the application of PSAK 69 related to biological assets in PT. Indah Bumi Plantasi for financial governance. This research uses descriptive qualitative method. Sources of data obtained by means of observation, interviews, and documentation. To analyze biological assets based on PSAK 69, 3 valuation methods are used, namely recognition of biological assets, measurement of biological assets, and disclosure of biological assets. The results of this study indicate that PT. Indah Bumi Plantasi disclosed and acknowledged its biological assets in the form of teak trees which had shrunk to 3 (three) types of trees according to the type and age of the tree, namely New Plants (TB), Immature Plants (TBM), and Mature Plants (TTM). Biological assets at PT. Indah Bumi Plantation is measured using fair value/market price to make it easier to get profits. This shows that PT. Indah Bumi Plantasi has not fully implemented PSAK 69, because there are still aspects that are not in accordance with PSAK 69 and employees who are still mistaken about PSAK 69.

Overcoming ecological feedbacks in seagrass restoration

Overcoming ecological feedbacks is a major limiting factor reducing the success of many seagrass restoration projects. Negative feedbacks occur when biotic or abiotic conditions of a site are changed sufficiently after the loss of seagrass to prevent its recovery, even after the original stressors are remediated. While negative feedbacks in seagrass restoration are common, there remain limited studies of ways to reduce them and kick‐start the necessary positive feedbacks to promote recovery. We used field and laboratory experiments to investigate key ecological feedbacks in seagrass (Zostera marina) restoration by testing the role of hessian bags and seed burial in reducing seed predation and promoting plant development. We used a double‐hurdle model approach to predict “seagrass emergence success” and “seagrass growth success” across planted field plots. We found that planting seeds in hessian bags and burying them in the sediment improved the likelihood of seeds developing into mature plants. We recorded an average 13‐fold increase in shoot density for seeds planted in buried bags relative to raked furrows. This could be the combined result of reduced predation as well as bags mimicking emergent traits of mature seagrass to withstand physical impacts. We supplement these findings with laboratory evidence that hessian bags provide protection from predation by green shore crabs. Overall, we found a low and variable success rate for seed‐based restoration and indicate other feedbacks in the system beyond those we controlled. However, we show that small methodological changes can help overcome some key feedbacks and improve restoration success.

Registration of ‘KS Big Bow’ hard white winter wheat

Abstract‘KS Big Bow’ (Reg. no. CV‐1206, PI 701521), a hard white winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, was developed by the wheat breeding program at the Agricultural Research Center–Hays, Kansas State University, and released by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station in 2022. KS Big Bow was selected from a single cross of KS050223M‐2/KS11HW15 using a modified bulk breeding method. The main objective of this cross is to release a competitive hard white winter wheat cultivar with adaptation to the dryland production in western Kansas. KS Big Bow is an F5‐derived line and was tested in yield trials from 2017 to 2022 in Kansas before its release. It has performed well in dryland yield trials in western Kansas. KS Big Bow has a medium to medium‐early maturity and medium plant height. Its test weight and straw strength are good. KS Big Bow has a good disease‐resistant package including resistance to Wheat streak mosaic virus, moderate resistances to stripe rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Erikss.) and stem rust (caused by P. graminis Pers f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn.), and intermediate resistance to Barley yellow dwarf virus. Its milling and baking qualities are about average.

The diversity of epixylic bryophytes in relation to dead wood properties and forest management in New Brunswick, Canada

Rotting wood is widely recognized as an important feature for bryophyte diversity in forest ecosystems but forest management practices, focused on high yields, have led to widespread reductions in the quantity and quality of coarse woody debris (CWD). As a result, many epixylic specialists are now uncommon or threatened throughout much of their former ranges. How much CWD is required to maintain desirable biodiversity, and which qualities of CWD do this most effectively is still to be answered. To address this, we analyzed two datasets from mid-rotation and mature plantations from the same landscape to better understand how the epixylic community varies with stand age, wetness, silvicultural treatment, and the abundance and type of CWD. Mature stands were either partially cut with a strip-cut treatment or were untreated. Mid-rotation plantations had a higher richness of non-Sphagnum mosses and liverworts than mature plantations. Both plantation types had a similar Simpson’s diversity indices, but these were lower than those of treated and untreated mature white cedar stands and untreated mature softwood stands. While composition of both plantation types was similar, only mature plantations differed significantly from other stand types. We speculate that this discrepancy between mid-rotation plantations and mature plantations was due to better soil drainage and a longer duration of intensive management in mature plantations, leading to reduced CWD abundance, and therefore to reduced bryophyte diversity. Our results revealed a clear positive relationship between total CWD surface area and liverwort richness and diversity in xeric sites while no relation was detected in mesic sites. More CWD is better in the case of xeric sites, where apparent asymptote of diversity is near the maximum total CWD detected in these stands. Because canopy composition and humidity also had a significant influence on bryophyte diversity and composition, further studies are needed to clearly identify thresholds of CWD surface area that take into account different stand types, soil moisture, fertility regimes, or with regards to the ecosystem in which the managed stands occurs.

Non-destructive real-time analysis of plant metabolite accumulation in radish microgreens under different LED light recipes.

The future of human space missions relies on the ability to provide adequate food resources for astronauts and also to reduce stress due to the environment (microgravity and cosmic radiation). In this context, microgreens have been proposed for the astronaut diet because of their fast-growing time and their high levels of bioactive compounds and nutrients (vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, etc.), which are even higher than mature plants, and are usually consumed as ready-to-eat vegetables. Our study aimed to identify the best light recipe for the soilless cultivation of two cultivars of radish microgreens (Raphanus sativus, green daikon, and rioja improved) harvested eight days after sowing that could be used for space farming. The effects on plant metabolism of three different light emitting diodes (LED) light recipes (L1-20% red, 20% green, 60% blue; L2-40% red, 20% green, 40% blue; L3-60% red, 20% green, 20% blue) were tested on radish microgreens hydroponically grown. A fluorimetric-based technique was used for a real-time non-destructive screening to characterize plant methabolism. The adopted sensors allowed us to quantitatively estimate the fluorescence of flavonols, anthocyanins, and chlorophyll via specific indices verified by standardized spectrophotometric methods. To assess plant growth, morphometric parameters (fresh and dry weight, cotyledon area and weight, hypocotyl length) were analyzed. We observed a statistically significant positive effect on biomass accumulation and productivity for both cultivars grown under the same light recipe (40% blue, 20% green, 40% red). We further investigated how the addition of UV and/or far-red LED lights could have a positive effect on plant metabolite accumulation (anthocyanins and flavonols). These results can help design plant-based bioregenerative life-support systems for long-duration human space exploration, by integrating fluorescence-based non-destructive techniques to monitor the accumulation of metabolites with nutraceutical properties in soilless cultivated microgreens.

Study of Soil Biological Properties in Producing Plants and Immature Plants of Oil Palm in Aek Nabara Utara Plantation PTPN III

The maintenance of soil fertility stability and soil health heavily relies on the biological properties of the soil. This study aims to investigate the biological properties of soil in immature plantations (TBM III) and mature plantations (TM 18) located in Aek Nabara Utara Plantation PTPN III, Bilah Hulu District, Labuhanbatu Regency. The research methodology employed survey and descriptive methods to analyze various parameters. The parameters measured in this study include C-Organic (%), Soil Respiration (mg/CO2), Total Microbes (CFU/ml), and Total Fungi (CFU/ml). The research findings indicate increased microbes, fungi, and respiration from immature plants (TBM III) to mature plants (TM 18). This increase can be attributed to environmental factors. Numerous ground cover plants at the research site facilitate the growth and reproduction of microbes and fungi. As the number of microbes and fungi increases, so does the respiration rate.

GmABCG5, an ATP-binding cassette G transporter gene, is involved in the iron deficiency response in soybean.

Iron deficiency is a major nutritional problem causing iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and yield reduction in soybean, one of the most important crops. The ATP-binding cassette G subfamily plays a crucial role in substance transportation in plants. In this study, we cloned the GmABCG5 gene from soybean and verified its role in Fe homeostasis. Analysis showed that GmABCG5 belongs to the ABCG subfamily and is subcellularly localized at the cell membrane. From high to low, GmABCG5 expression was found in the stem, root, and leaf of young soybean seedlings, and the order of expression was flower, pod, seed stem, root, and leaf in mature soybean plants. The GUS assay and qRT-PCR results showed that the GmABCG5 expression was significantly induced by iron deficiency in the leaf. We obtained the GmABCG5 overexpressed and inhibitory expressed soybean hairyroot complexes. Overexpression of GmABCG5 promoted, and inhibition of GmABCG5 retarded the growth of soybean hairy roots, independent of nutrient iron conditions, confirming the growth-promotion function of GmABCG5. Iron deficiency has a negative effect on the growth of soybean complexes, which was more obvious in the GmABCG5 inhibition complexes. The chlorophyll content was increased in the GmABCG5 overexpression complexes and decreased in the GmABCG5 inhibition complexes. Iron deficiency treatment widened the gap in the chlorophyll contents. FCR activity was induced by iron deficiency and showed an extraordinary increase in the GmABCG5 overexpression complexes, accompanied by the greatest Fe accumulation. Antioxidant capacity was enhanced when GmABCG5 was overexpressed and reduced when GmABCG5 was inhibited under iron deficiency. These results showed that the response mechanism to iron deficiency is more actively mobilized in GmABCG5 overexpression seedlings. Our results indicated that GmABCG5 could improve the plant's tolerance to iron deficiency, suggesting that GmABCG5 might have the function of Fe mobilization, redistribution, and/or secretion of Fe substances in plants. The findings provide new insights into the ABCG subfamily genes in the regulation of iron homeostasis in plants.

Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Different Plant Parts of <em>Parthenium hysterophorus</em> L.

This study was aimed to determine the lignocellulosic biomass in different parts of Parthenium hysterophorus and evaluate its antimicrobial activity against selected microbial plant pathogens. Compositional analyses were conducted on live whole plants and their leaves, stems, flowers, and roots. The lignocellulosic biomass components were estimated gravimetrically as a percentage of dry weight, using the standard equation, while reducing sugar was quantified using a glucose standard curve. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in cellulose content were observed among different plant parts, with the highest dry weight percentage in the whole mature plant (48±0.33), followed by the stem (45±0.21), whole young plant (41±0.10), root (21±0.00), leaf (28±0.01), and inflorescence (21±0.14). Additionally, reducing sugar content in mg/mL was significantly higher in the stem (1.94±0.01) and root (1.17±0.00), followed by the mature whole plant (0.95±0.20), leaf-stem mixture (0.93±0.11), inflorescence (0.67±0.02), young whole plant (0.23±0.19), and leaf (0.17±0.01). The stem and root extracts from mature plants inhibited soil-borne plant pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas sp. and Ralstonia sp. respectively. The leaf and inflorescence extracts of P. hysterophorus showed inhibitory effects only against Pseudomonas sp., not Ralstonia sp. Furthermore, the mature Parthenium plant extract inhibited all tested soil-borne fungi, with significantly higher inhibition percentages observed for Scelerotium sp. (81.93%) and Colletotrichum sp. (45.45%) compared to Fusarium sp. and Pythium sp. Significantly higher cellulose and lignin contents in the whole mature P. hysterophorus plant, along with its antimicrobial activity against major soil-borne plant pathogenic microbes was prominent than the individual plant parts and the young immature plant.

Influencing mechanism of stand age to the accumulation of microbial residue carbon in the Pinus masso-niana plantations

Clarifying the accumulation pattern of soil microbial residue carbon and its contribution to soil organic carbon (SOC) across stand age is helpful to understand the mechanism underlying soil carbon cycling. In this study, we analyzed the differences of amino sugar content, physicochemical properties and microbial composition in surface soil (0-10 cm) in young (6 a), middle-aged (13 a), near-mature (29 a), mature (38 a) and over-mature (57 a) Pinus massoniana plantations of subtropical China, quantified the microbial residue carbon content and its contribution to SOC, and discussed the mechanism. The results showed that SOC, total nitrogen, amorphous iron oxide and leucine aminopeptidase contents in the middle-aged plantation were significantly lower than those in the mature plantation. Soil pH and fungal/bacteria in young plantation were significantly higher than those in other age groups. Across the stand age gradient, the ranges of microbial, fungal and bacterial residue carbon were 7.52-14.63, 4.03-8.00 and 3.48-6.63 g·kg-1, respectively. The contents of all the residue carbon were significantly higher in the mature plantation than that of the middle-aged plantation, which were positively affected by soil total nitrogen content. The contribution of microbial, fungal, and bacterial residue carbon to SOC was 59.7%-72.3%, 33.4%-45.6%, and 24.3%-30.8%, respectively. The contribution of fungal residue carbon to SOC in young plantation was significantly higher than that in other age groups, and the contribution of bacterial residue carbon to SOC in middle-aged plantation was significantly higher than that in young and near-mature plantations, both of which were affected by soil inorganic nitrogen. Fungal residue carbon content was 1.2-1.7 times as that of bacterial residue carbon content, and dominated for the accumulation of microbial residue carbon. Results of the partial least squares model showed that stand age, soil environmental factors (such as leucine aminopeptidase, amorphous iron oxide, pH, and total nitrogen), bacterial residue carbon, fungal residue carbon and the contribution of bacterial residue carbon to SOC had total effects on the contribution of fungal residue carbon to SOC (-0.37, -1.16, 0.90, 1.09, and 0.83, respectively). In conclusion, stand age promoted the accumulation of microbial residue carbon but did not increase its contribution to SOC.