Plant Seedlings Research Articles

Sensory Attributes and Phytochemical Composition in Microgreens: Implications for Acceptability Among School Students in Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract. Microgreens, the young seedlings of edible plants, have gained attention for their potential health benefits and culinary applications. This newly emerging functional food crop has the potential to sustainably diversify global food systems, facilitate urbanization and climate change responses, and advance human health. However, their reception among school students remains an understudied area, particularly in the Malaysian context. In this study, five microgreens species including ulam raja, red amaranth, red radish, daikon, and corn were evaluated for their sensory perception and acceptability among secondary school students in Selangor, and their phytochemical compositions. Among the evaluated species, corn exhibited the highest intensity of sweetness, ulam raja demonstrated a strong aroma and bitterness, while red radish was notable for its astringency and heat. Red amaranth had the highest intensity of grassy taste, and all five microgreens had a low score for sourness. Corn had the highest rating on acceptability of flavor and overall eating quality, signifying its favorable impression among students. Conversely, red radish and ulam raja received the lowest acceptability scores in both categories. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity was exhibited in ulam raja. These findings suggest the potential to leverage corn’s favorable acceptability to introduce microgreens into student diets. In general, this study highlights the correlation between sensory attributes and phytochemical composition, both influencing the Malaysian students’ perceptions of microgreens. By understanding their preferences, educators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs can formulate effective strategies for healthier eating habits among the youth and develop successful commercialization strategies.
 Keywords: flavor, food systems, healthy diet, microgreens, student acceptance

ОБОСНОВАНИЕ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ ЭЛЕМЕНТА КАПЕЛЬНОГО ПОЛИВА ДЛЯ ОПТИМИЗАЦИИ ГИДРОТРОФИЧЕСКОГО РЕЖИМА ДЫНИ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЗАЩИЩЕННОГО ГРУНТА

The aim of the study is to investigate the possibilities of using drip irrigation to optimize the hydrotrophic regime of melon in protected ground conditions. The object of the study is the melon crop of the F1 Polidor variety. The study was carried out in 2021–2023 at the enterprise of OJSC Vysokovsky Greenhouse Plant (Kostroma Region) under the adopted technology for growing F1 Polidor melon (control – drip irrigation) and using an additional element of the GTK drip irrigation system (experiment). The experiment was carried out on an area of 200 m2 (the size of the survey site is 25 m2) in accordance with the approved methods. Hydrotrophic capsules were installed when planting seedlings in the ground at the rate of 1 hydrocapsule per 2 plants, while 2 capillaries of the automated irrigation system were mounted in the lid. The frequency and level of water and nutrient solutions supply were programmed in accordance with the requirements of the biology of the crop and were carried out centrally. The experiment was repeated 4 times. Optimization of the water and nutrient supply regime for melons contributed to the development of a powerful root system with a positively changed anatomical and morphological (increase in root system weight by 125.7 g/plant, decrease in the number of root hairs and increase in the size of xylem vessels to 0.32 mm) and functional structure (101 % more working adsorbing surface of roots), increasing the physiological activity of above-ground organs in terms of photosynthetic productivity to 0.99 mgC/dm2/h and reducing water losses by 3.4 %/h/plant, which affected the formation of additional melon production of 8.9 t/ha with high accumulation of sugars (16.4 %) and vitamin C (8.9 mg%). Reducing the costs of additional water consumption will have a positive effect on the cost of production and on the economy of the enterprise as a whole. In greenhouse conditions, a favorable climate will be created for the working personnel, the amount of weeding will be reduced, and the risk of allergic reactions to mold spores will be reduced.

Planting in Paradise

The One Billion Trees project is an initiative led by the Ministry of Primary Industries where they aim to plant 1 billion trees by the year 2030 to transform New Zealand forests in a way that improves the productivity of the land, as well as helping the natural environment. Notably, a large proportion of the trees that have already been planted and established are Pinus radiata (exotic pine trees) which have a detrimental effect on the natural environment due to outcompeting native flora and compromising soil stability due to their shallow root systems. P. radiata are a fast establishing and cost effective option for landowners and farmers that are participating in the One Billion Trees project. Our project's aim was to understand what is required to support the establishment of native beech trees, using both on-campus and field trials, with a primary focus on assessing methods of delivering mycorrhizal inoculation to native beech seedlings. This would allow us to educate the Ministry of Primary Industries and to provide these landowners and farmers with information on how to regenerate their land using native trees instead of exotic. The field trial, located within the Motutapu Covenant at Mahu Whenua, incorporated various treatment options, such as planting beech with or without bracken rhizomes, Manuka seeds, Manuka duffpods, and beech duffpods. The on-campus trial was established in a controlled environment where beech and Manuka seeds were planted with or without their respective duffpods. Currently the results of these experiments are inconclusive, requiring additional time to observe the effects of different treatments on the planted seedlings and seeds which will in future contribute to sustainable and effective reforestation practices using native trees. Project Funded by: The Ministry for Primary Industries and The University of Otago

Bet-hedging and variability in plant development: seed germination and beyond.

When future conditions are unpredictable, bet-hedging strategies can be advantageous. This can involve isogenic individuals producing different phenotypes, under the same environmental conditions. Ecological studies provide evidence that variability in seed germination time has been selected for as a bet-hedging strategy. We demonstrate how variability in germination time found in Arabidopsis could function as a bet-hedging strategy in the face of unpredictable lethal stresses. Despite a body of knowledge on how the degree of seed dormancy versus germination is controlled, relatively little is known about how differences between isogenic seeds in a batch are generated. We review proposed mechanisms for generating variability in germination time and the current limitations and new possibilities for testing the model predictions. We then look beyond germination to the role of variability in seedling and adult plant growth and review new technologies for quantification of noisy gene expression dynamics. We discuss evidence for phenotypic variability in plant traits beyond germination being under genetic control and propose that variability in stress response gene expression could function as a bet-hedging strategy. We discuss open questions about how noisy gene expression could lead to between-plant heterogeneity in gene expression and phenotypes. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Causes and consequences of stochastic processes in development and disease'.

Quality Stock Production of Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk. Using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculation: Restoration of Agarwood Source

Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk. is a critically endangered and economically important forest tree species of North-east India. In the current study, a biotization experiment was performed to show the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae on obtaining high-quality agarwood-producing plants. One-month-old seedlings were inoculated in a designed experiment with single and combined endomycorrhizal treatments. All inoculated seedlings showed significant biomass production than control seedlings. The Biovolume index (Bi) was higher in all inoculated plant seedlings than in non-inoculated control seedlings but Acaulospora spp. (EM2) treatment had a higher Bi (78.17±0.024) than the rest of the inoculation treatments. The Quality index (Qi) value was also high (1.22±0.024) in EM2 treatment followed by the Glomus spp. + Acaulospora spp. (EM1+EM2) treatment (1.10±0.031) and Glomus spp. (EM1) (0.83±0.014) treatment. Control seedlings had a lower value (0.14±0.021) of Qi than the rest of the treatments. The plastochrone interval index (Pi) of A. malaccensis after 60 days of inoculation was low in EM1+EM2 treatment as the time interval for initiation of 2nd leaf was 1 day than rest of the treatments in which the time interval was 4 days for initiation of the 2nd leaf primordia. Substantially, the leaf primordia appearance in the EM1+EM2 treatment was impetuous than rest of the treatments. In the control treatment, the 8th leaf primordia appeared on the 36th day and after that, there was no appearance of leaf primordia. Therefore, the EM2 treatment was the best single/alone treatment of mycorrhizal inoculation followed by EM1+EM2 synergistic treatment for quality stock production of A. malaccensis seedlings.

Experimental warming and nitrogen deposition in clear‐cuts and forest edges: Assessing impacts on plant communities and tree seedling performance

AbstractQuestionsDo nitrogen deposition and climate warming affect tree seedlings and plant communities in different habitats? In these habitats, how do microenvironments, including soil properties and, when applicable, edge effects relate to plant performance?LocationThe University of British Columbia Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada.MethodsWe assessed performance of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don and Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. planted tree seedlings and associated vascular plant communities. Performance of tree seedlings (height) and under vascular plant communities (percent cover) were examined in an experiment with warming (open‐top chambers) and nitrogen deposition (ammonium nitrate applied at 10 kg N ha−1 year−1) treatments applied to subplots in six forest edges and six clear‐cuts (N = 298 total subplots).ResultsIn clear‐cuts, tree seedling height increased with experimental warming and differed among species, and vascular plant cover increased with warming. In clear‐cuts, species identity, not soil variables, was a strong predictor of height, and plant cover was negatively related to pH. In forest edges, edge position and some soil variables were related to height, but not plant cover. There were no interaction effects found between experimental nitrogen deposition and warming.ConclusionsOur results suggest that moderate warming can enhance tree seedling height and understorey vascular plant cover in clear‐cuts in Pacific Northwest coastal ecosystems, but low nitrogen deposition may not have an effect alone or synergistically with warming.

The Influence of Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) and Turmeric (Curcuma domestica Val.) essential oils on the growth of Rhizoctonia sp. in vitro

Rhizoctonia sp. is a soil-borne pathogen that causes damping-off in various forestry plant seedlings. Using plant-based pesticides is a disease control solution that is more environmentally friendly than chemical pesticides. Essential oil is a component that can be used as a biopesticide because it contains antifungal properties, such as the compounds in patchouli and turmeric essential oils. This study examines the inhibition of patchouli and turmeric essential oils and their combinations with various concentrations on the growth of the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia sp. in vitro. Observations were made using patchouli, turmeric, and a combination of patchouli and turmeric essential oil with concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10% on PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) and PDB (Potato Dextrose Broth). The in vitro pathogen inhibition test results showed that the type and concentration of oil in PDA significantly inhibited the growth of Rhizoctonia sp.. In contrast with PDB, only oil concentration significantly inhibited the growth of Rhizoctonia sp.. The combination of patchouli and turmeric essential oils with a concentration of 10% on PDA and turmeric essential oil with a concentration of 10% on PDB showed the highest inhibitory response.

Plant seedlings of peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers exude compounds that are needed for growth and chemoattraction of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 and Azospirillum brasilense Sp7.

This study characterizes seedling exudates of peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers at the level of chemical composition and functionality. A plant experiment confirmed that Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 enhanced growth of pea shoots, while Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 supported growth of pea, tomato, and cucumber roots. Chemical analysis of exudates after 1 day of seedling incubation in water yielded differences between the exudates of the three plants. Most remarkably, cucumber seedling exudate did not contain detectable sugars. All exudates contained amino acids, nucleobases/nucleosides, and organic acids, among other compounds. Cucumber seedling exudate contained reduced glutathione. Migration on semi solid agar plates containing individual exudate compounds as putative chemoattractants revealed that R. leguminosarum bv. viciae was more selective than A. brasilense, which migrated towards any of the compounds tested. Migration on semi solid agar plates containing 1:1 dilutions of seedling exudate was observed for each of the combinations of bacteria and exudates tested. Likewise, R. leguminosarum bv. viciae and A. brasilense grew on each of the three seedling exudates, though at varying growth rates. We conclude that the seedling exudates of peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers contain everything that is needed for their symbiotic bacteria to migrate and grow on.

Seedling survival and plantation success in the drylands of Northern Ethiopia

We studied tree seedling survival rates and plantation success of the Growth and Transformation Plan I—GTP I (2011–2015) in the drylands of Northern Ethiopia. The study was carried out in six randomly selected districts of Tigrai region that represent three agro-ecological zones: the highland, midland and lowland. A biophysical survey was conducted to assess the survival rates of tree seedlings and the success rate of the plantation interventions. The study employed both primary and secondary data sources. Results revealed that there were variations (P < 0.05) in the survival of planted tree seedlings among plantation sites of the same village, between the villages of the same district and among the districts. The regional mean survival rate of planted tree seedlings was 53%. The planting interventions were not encouraging due to lack of pre- and post-planting management, moisture stress, poor soil and site conditions, planting an unmanageable number of seedlings, weak law enforcement and lack of proper monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. In the study areas, four types of ownership were identified: private, communal, state and youth groups. Among the ownership types, private ownership had the highest rate of success, whereas community ownership had the lowest rate. For sustaining successful plantation development, watering, pre- and post-planting management of planted tree seedlings and permanent employment of guards are important.

First Report of Leaf Spot on Cucumis melo L. Caused by Arcopilus aureus in China.

Cucumis melo L. is an important fruit with widespread consumption and commercial value. However, an undescribed disease affecting Hami melon (Cucumis melo L. var. Luhoutian) plants has consistently emerged in the Qihe region of Dezhou, Shandong Province of China since 2021. The disease can occur in both seedling and mature stages of Hami melon plants, and in severely diseased areas, the incidence rate was seen as 40 to 80%. During the seedling stage, the initial symptom is the appearance of water-soaked spots on the leaves. As the disease progresses, the leaves develop necrotic spots, and severely affected plants may exhibit stem rot and decay. In the mature stage, the disease primarily affects the leaves, causing necrotic spots and chlorosis. Under conditions of high humidity, black mold can be observed in the affected areas. Small pieces of symptomatic leaves from six different infected plants were collected and surface-sterilized with 5% NaClO for 3 min and 75% alcohol for 30 s for pathogen isolation (Wang et al., 2020). After rinsing with sterile water and blotted on sterile filter paper, the tissues were established on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media and incubated at 28℃ for 3-4 days. Pure isolates showed up at PDA were obtained through single-spore isolation. Colonies of all 16 isolates obtained by single-spore isolation had similar morphological characteristics on the PDA medium, the mycelium of the isolate appears dense and yellowish-brown on the PDA medium, and also secretes a brownish-red pigment on PDA. Under the opticalmicroscope, the perithecia from PDA media are subglobose spherical in shape, 80-100 μm in diameter, brownish by reflected light, wholly and densely hairy. Terminal hairs are very dense, greyish by reflected light, olive brown to reddish brown by transmitted light, thick-walled, arcuate, circinate, or spirally coiled at the apex. The ascospores within the perithecia are elliptical or droplet-shaped, initially colorless hyaline but later becoming subhyaline slightly gray, with dimensions of 7-9 μm × 4-5 μm. The morphological characteristics of the isolates were consistent with the description of Arcopilus aureus (Wang et.al. 2016). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and β-tubulin genes of three randomly selected isolates were PCR amplified and sequenced using primers ITS4/ITS5 and Bt2a/Bt2b. The sequences of ITS and β-tubulin genes were submitted to NCBI with GenBank Accession No. OR539527 and OR640972, respectively. Based on morphological features and phylogenetic analysis, we concluded that the isolates belonged to A. aureus. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by placing agar plugs-containing fungal mycelia and agar blocks (control) on leaves of Hami melon seedlings (n=12) grown at 28°C with 60% humidity in a greenhouse, the assay was repeated three times. Symptoms appeared on the pathogen-inoculated leaves seven days after inoculation, whereas the control treatment remained symptomless. The pathogens were reisolated from diseased leaves and identified as A. aureus based on morphological, and molecular phylogenetic analysis, while Koch'sostulate was used to confirm its life mode. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot caused by A. aureus on Cucumis melo L. in China.

Evaluation of the Functional Parameters for a Single-Row Seedling Transplanter Prototype

The development of an automatic seedling planting system for micro-farms requires testing under laboratory conditions to verify the theoretical relationships between essential functional parameters, working speed and planting time. The constructive dimensional values of the prototype, the results measured in stationary mode directly on the transplanter and the auxiliary equipment and the direct determinations of the working parameters on the soil bin are used. Depending on the characteristics of the soil bin trolley, a range of speeds is chosen at which the machine is tested. The data obtained validate the correct operation of the prototype at speeds close to those determined theoretically for the following indicators: distance between plants per row, planter wheel slippage, misplanted seedlings rate and seedling frequency, with results comparable to existing agronomic standards. Once the appropriate operating speeds of the machine have been obtained, between 0.304 and 0.412 m/s, with planting frequencies between 0.899 and 1.157 s−1 (respectively, 53.94 and 69.42 seedlings per minute), optimizations and adjustments of some machine components can be made, for subsequent testing in real field conditions.

Molecular insights into a non-lethal yellow bud mutant in Ilex × ‘Nellie R. Stevens’

While the mechanisms behind the yellow phenotype have been widely investigated in model plant seedlings, research on leaf mutations in woody species has been restricted. The purpose of this research is to characterize a holly bud mutant of Ilex × ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ with a non-lethal yellow phenotype. Through cytological, physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses, we identified remarkable differences between the mutant and its wild-type. The mutant exhibited abnormal chloroplasts, reduced chlorophyll levels, and elevated carotenoid/chlorophyll ratios. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with chlorophyll and heme biosynthesis disruption, contributing to the chlorophyll-deficient phenotype. Moreover, genes associated with carotenoid metabolism were significantly down-regulated, linking to decreased carotenoid content and impacting photoprotection. Down-regulated DEGs in photosynthesis-related underscored the mutant's diminished photosynthetic activity. Additionally, the study identified 382 DEGs encoding putative transcription factors such as bHLHs, NACs, and GLKs. The study suggests an intricate interplay between chlorophyll, heme and carotenoid metabolism as major regulators of leaf mutation in I. × ‘Nellie R. Stevens.’ These insights contribute to the understanding of leaf color variation, enabling targeted strategies for developing desirable ornamental cultivars.

Ceratobasidium sp isolates from native orchid species of Western Ghats, India support enhanced growth of Phalaenopsis hybrid seedlings

Mycorrhiza-assisted cultivation of orchid seedlings has immense potential for enhanced growth and adaptability of orchids to facilitate conservation and cultivation with minimum application of nutrients and plant protection chemicals. Phalaenopsis hybrids are highly attractive and cultivated mostly as potted orchid plants and are prone to several fungal pathogens. The present study evaluates the effect of 4 orchid symbionts in combination with NPK fertilizer on the seedling growth of symbiotic seedlings of Phalaenopsis white and day-star hybrids under ex-vitro conditions. Four fungal isolates viz., Ceratobasidium_Wyd2 (MW595786; MTCC13384), Ceratobasidium_Idk (MW595787: MTCC13383), Ceratobasidium_Vs1 (OL374050; MTCC13377) and Ceratobasidium _Vs2 (OL374052: MTCC13378) grown on sterilized coir pith medium for 10 days and were transferred onto earthen pots for planting of seedlings. One-year-old seedlings used for the study possessed an average 2.70 g fresh weight. On conclusion of the experiment, after 6 months, the seedlings of day-star hybrid grown in the presence of both fungus and NPK fertilizer exhibited enhanced growth compared to either of them applied individually. The highest weight gain was supported by VS1 (12.4±1.8 g) followed by VS2 (10.7± 4.6 g) and Wyd2 (9.8±1.7 g). Those fungi also supported appreciable growth individually, giving 6.5±3.1, 6.9±2.2, and 6.5±0.8 g weight gain respectively. If the nutrient alone was applied, the weight gain was very low (2.8±0.9 g) nearly equal to control (1.8±1.8 g) without having fungi or nutrients. The mycorrhizae re-isolated from the roots of seedlings exhibiting enhanced growth were confirmed as Vs1 and Vs2 through sequencing of the ITS region. Formulation of a potting medium including Ceratobasidium species isolates VS1 and VS2 is thus possible to grow Phalaenopsis seedlings to get enhanced growth.

Hydrodictyon algae Extract on Germination and Effect of Growth of Seedlings of Wheat and Barley Plants under Salinity Stress and Chemical Study for it

This study to specialize about effect of salinity on growth wheat and barley plant era won variety during germination stage and seedling growth and study of role algae extract Hydrodictyon algae in the effect on that plants under salinity stress. to choose category as category from categories wheat plant for study. to assessed of concentrations 0, 50, 100 m mol from solution NaCl. to assessed of concentrations 0, 0.05, 0.1 g/100 ml from algae extract Hydrodictyon algae for process experimental plants. to used measurements of growth as indicator for plants response for salinity process and algal extract is germination percentage, elongation of plumules and rootlet, percentage of water content and determination proline acid. The results indicated that salinity have negatively influent on most of used measurements. process barley and wheat plants with Hydrodictyon algae extract and interactive its effect with salinity to lead to over incorporeal high in most of used measurements as indicator for over resistance this plant for salinity with process algae extract. according to results of study and compare from other studies in this connection, that we to lead to process barley plants with Hydrodictyon algae extract for help of plant in resistance salinity stress.

Genome-wide association mapping for seedling and adult resistance to powdery mildew in barley

Key messageTwo new major QTL were identified for powdery mildew resistance. We confirmed that the QTL on 7HS contributed mainly to the adult-plant resistance, while another one on chromosome arm 1HS made a significant contribution to the seedling resistance.Powdery mildew (PM), caused by Blumeria hordei, can occur at all post emergent stages of barley and constantly threatens crop production. To identify more genes for effective resistance to powdery mildew for use in breeding programs, 696 barley accessions collected from different regions of the world were evaluated for PM resistance at seedling and adult growth stages in three different states of Australia. These barley accessions were genotyped using DArTSeq with over 18,000 markers for a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Using the FarmCPU model, 54 markers showed significant associations with PM resistance scored at the seedling and adult-plant stages in different states of Australia. Another 40 markers showed tentative associations (LOD > 4.0) with resistance. These markers are distributed across all seven barley chromosomes. Most of them were grouped into eleven QTL regions, coinciding with the locations of most of the reported resistance genes. Two major MTAs were identified on chromosome arms 3HS and 5HL, with one on 3HS contributing to adult plant resistance and the one on 5HL to both seedling and adult plant resistance. An MTA on 7HS contributed mainly to the adult-plant resistance, while another one on chromosome arm 1HS made a significant contribution to the seedling resistance.

Fast Multi-View 3D reconstruction of seedlings based on automatic viewpoint planning

Three-dimensional models of plants provide valuable phenotypic information. Phenotypic measurements of plant structures are essential for monitoring plant growth and understanding plant responses to environmental changes. Existing 3D reconstruction techniques have achieved accurate reconstruction models of some plants such as corn and soybeans. However, several drawbacks exist in current plant 3D reconstruction systems, including high cost, fixed capture perspectives and complex operation. To address these issues and considering the influence of camera capture angles on model reconstruction accuracy, we investigated a viewpoint planning reconstruction method. We designed a plant seedling reconstruction system that utilizes a consumer-grade L515 LiDAR sensor and a precision turntable. We establish a viewpoint rule based on the camera imaging model of the three-dimensional spatial structure of leaves, constructing minimum constraints on the leaf normal vector and the camera optical axis. This enables to determine the optimal capture viewpoint for each leaf to obtain the maximum leaf information. The angle β between the leaf normal vector and the camera optical axis serves as the basis for the turntable rotation, systematically planning the rotation of the turntable to enable the camera to capture the maximum useful leaf information. Unlike static camera-based turntable reconstruction systems that capture images at fixed angle intervals, we plan the rotation of the turntable based on the acquired information. This allows us to obtain more effective point cloud information of plant seedlings from the same or even fewer images, reducing the collection of redundant images and reconstructing more accurate plant seedling 3D models. Additionally, we measured commonly used leaf traits in plant phenotypic studies, such as leaf length, leaf width, and leaf area. The leaf area measured based on the reconstructed seedling model exhibited high accuracy (R2 > 0.99). The results of this study demonstrate that the consumer-grade L515 LiDAR sensor combined with the proposed viewpoint planning method can effectively reconstruct accurate seedling 3D models and measure phenotypic information. Due to the absence of error accumulation caused by adjacent view registration, this approach offers advantages such as shorter reconstruction time, higher efficiency and increased accuracy compared to some multi-view point cloud registration and reconstruction methods. Therefore, this system can be applied to three-dimensional reconstruction and phenotype analysis of plant seedlings due to its high efficiency and accuracy.

Современная практика искусственного лесовосстановления в таежной зоне европейской части России

The article presents an analysis of technologies and techniques for creating forest plantations used in the Arkhangelsk and Kirov Regions, as well as the Komi Republic, based on the materials of reforestation projects for 2020. The territories under consideration belong to 6 forest areas: the Northern taiga, the Dvina-Vychegda taiga, the Southern taiga, the coniferous- broad-leafed (mixed) forests, the Western Ural taiga and the area of tundra forests and sparse taiga. The database created on the basis of the data from reforestation projects includes 13 indicators: categories of reforestation areas, forest vegetation conditions (terrain, soil type, soil moisture, group of forest types, degree of turfing), as well as tillage methods, mechanisms and aggregates used for tillage and planting seedlings and saplings and planting stock type. It has been established that in the studied regions, reforestation is more often carried out in fresh (1–2-year-old) felling areas in place of spruce plantations of blueberry forests, with podzolic drained and poorly drained soils. When cultivating soil for forest plantations, excavators are widely used (44 %), replacing traditional tractors with ploughs (usually PL-1). In most areas, furrow tillage is prevalent (52 %), but strips, mounds and patch scarification are also common (40 %). Containerized spruce and pine planting stocks have become more widely used (more than 50 % of the area), though seedlings are extremely rare (7 % in the Kirov Region). The data obtained allow us to asses the real picture of the use of reforestation technologies in the taiga zone on the example of three subjects of the Russian Federation, which will help the subjects of the Russian Federation in making management decisions for exercising their powers in the reforestation field.

Characterization and transformation of TtMYB1 transcription factor from Tritipyrum to improve salt tolerance in wheat

BackgroundCommon wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a worldwide cereal crop, which is an integral part of the diets of many countries. In addition, the MYB gene of wheat plays a role in the response to salt stress.Results“Y1805” is a Tritipyrum variety that is relatively tolerant to salt. We used transcriptome analysis to show that the “Y1805” MYB gene was both highly expressed and sensitive to salt stress. Compared with control roots, the level of MYB expression during salt stress was higher, which rapidly decreased to control levels during the recovery process. MYB gene relative expression showed the highest levels in “Y1805” roots during salt stress, with the stems and then leaves being the next highest stressed tissues. The novel MYB gene (TtMYB1) was successfully cloned from “Y1805”. It showed a coding sequence length of 783 bp with 95.79% homology with Tel2E01G633100 from Thinopyrum elongatum. TtMYB1 and MYB from Th. elongatum were clustered in the same branch using phylogenetic analysis, which indicated high similarities. The TtMYB1 gene is located in the nucleus. The coleoptile method was employed when a TtMYB1 overexpression vector was used during transformation into “1718” (common wheat). Under high salt stress, TtMYB1 leaves of overexpression lines had decreased wilting, when compared with wild-type (WT) plants. During normal conditions, salt stress, and recovery, the lengths of the roots and the heights of seedlings from the overexpression lines were found to be significantly greater than roots and seedlings of WT plants. In addition, during high salt stress, the overexpression lines showed that proline and soluble sugar levels were higher than that of WT plants, but with lower malondialdehyde levels. Forty-three proteins that interacted with TtMYB1 were identified using the yeast two-hybrid assay. Protein-protein interaction analyses indicated that most were SANT domain-containing and Wd repeat region domain-containing proteins. Among these proteins, ribosomal proteins were the main node. Abiotic stress-related terms (such as “carbonate dehydratase activity”, “protein targeting peroxisomes”, and “glutathione peroxidase activity”) were enriched in GO analysis. In KEGG analysis, “carbohydrate metabolism”, “environmental information processing”, “genetic information processing”, “signaling and cell precursors”, and “energy metabolism” pathways were enriched.ConclusionThe TtMYB1 gene might enhance salt tolerance by increasing proline and soluble sugar content and antioxidase activity in transgenic wheat. It therefore has the potential to enhance high salt tolerance in plants.

Agrooter® - Skillful Natural Tubes to Enhance Soil Productivity and Manage Hydric Stress

Agrooter® is a Hungarian patent created by the first author, tested in several field experiments in Hungary and recently in some African countries. The point of the invention is that small tubes are mixed into the fertile soil, which keeps moisture or air in the soil, depending on their position. In the case of an entirely random distribution of the tubes within the soil, the tubes achieve both advantages. The point of this patent is the carefully designed size and amount of empty tubes fabricated from organic bio-degradable materials and micro-grinded specific minerals. Using these tubes in the plantations helps to avoid hydric stress and increases yield and improves quality. These small particles improve the water budget (significantly decreases water demand) and enhance the soil’s porosity. After the description of the principle of the tubes, including the positive impact of the tubes on micro-biotic life in the soil, technical advice is also presented on the optimum amounts of mixing the tubes into the soil, and ways of planting are illustrated for plant seedlings and tree saplings. Finally, six different plants planted and observed in Hungary demonstrate the usefulness of these effects. The most common feature of these results is that significant improvements are obtained by using the Agrooter® compared to the traditional plantation by using a 50% smaller amount of irrigation water.

Invasive alien plant brush piles reduce invasive seedling growth and increase animal abundance

Management of alien invasive species is an essential action necessary to help reverse biodiversity loss. Here, we measure the effectiveness of brush piles constructed from invasive alien plant material to suppress the growth of invasive plant seedlings. We found invasive seedling recruitment was fully suppressed in brush pile plots compared to control plots due to suboptimal growth light and temperature conditions created by the piles. Further, brush piles supported 2‐fold to +7‐fold more animals than control plots. This method offers a promising solution for restoration practitioners' need for accessible, low‐cost management intervention for the on‐site disposal of removed plant biomass, which we demonstrated can also enhance native wildlife abundance.