Protected Plants Research Articles

Current Distribution and Conservation Issues of Aquatic Plant Species Protected under Habitats Directive in Lithuania

The European Habitats Directive was adopted to halt the rapid loss of biodiversity and has become an important instrument for protecting biodiversity in the European Union. Three aquatic plant species protected under the European Habitats Directive have so far been found in Lithuania: Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Caldesia parnassifolia, and Najas flexilis. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the former and current distribution and the status of conservation of the target species. Screening for the above-mentioned protected aquatic plant species was performed in 73 natural lakes throughout Lithuania in 2019–2021. We confirmed extant populations of Aldrovanda vesiculosa in four lakes, Caldesia parnassifolia in two lakes, and Najas flexilis in four lakes in the northeastern part of the country. We studied Aldrovanda vesiculosa populations three times (2015, 2019, and 2022) in Lake Rūžas and once each in Lake Apvardai and Lake Dysnai (2020). The population density of Aldrovanda vesiculosa ranged from 193.4 ± 159.7 to 224.0 ± 211.0 individuals/m2, the mean length of plants ranged from 12.5 ± 2.1 to 14.3 ± 2.7 cm, and the mean number of apices ranged from 2.0 ± 0.7 to 2.2 ± 0.9 per individual. The habitat of Aldrovanda vesiculosa in Lake Rūžas covered an area of about 3 ha. The number of generative individuals of Caldesia parnassifolia widely varied between years in Lake Rūžas. All populations of Najas flexilis were small, although the potential habitats in the studied lakes cover relatively large areas. We propose designating all lakes with populations of Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Caldesia parnassifolia, and Najas flexilis as special areas of conservation, as well as developing and implementing action plans for the conservation of these species and their habitats.

Living on the edge: morphological, karyological and genetic diversity studies of the Hungarian Plantago maxima populations and established ex situ collection

BackgroundThe analysis of genetic diversity of protected plant species can greatly support conservation efforts. Plantago maxima Juss. ex Jacq. is a perennial species distributed along the Eurasian steppe. The westernmost range edge of the species’ distribution is located in the Pannonian basin, in Hungary where it is represented by a few, fragmented and highly endangered populations. We studied population diversity of all Hungarian range edge, natural populations, and one established ex situ population. One population from the centre of distribution (Kazakhstan) was implemented in the cpDNA haplotype study to compare the peripheral vs. central populations. We performed morphometric trait-based analysis, chromosome studies (morphometric analyses and FISH) and genetic diversity evaluations using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and cpDNA trnL-trnF to evaluate differences between the in situ and ex situ populations as well as central vs. peripheral populations.ResultsOur results showed no obvious morphological differences among the in situ and ex situ populations in the period between 2018 and 2020. One ex situ subpopulation develops flowers three years in a row from 2019, which is a favourable indicator of the introduction success. Hungarian populations are exclusively diploids (2n = 2x = 12). The karyogram consists of 5 metacentric and 1 acrocentric chromosome pair. Plantago maxima has one 35S and two 5S rDNA loci, located on the acrocentric chromosome pair. Eight variable ISSR primers yielded 100 fragments, of which 74.6% were polymorphic (mean He = 0.220). A high level of genetic variation within population was observed (92%) while the genetic differentiation among the populations was only 8%. STRUCTURE analysis revealed that the largest Kunpeszér population separated from the rest of the Hungarian populations, indicating a high rate of admixture among the other ones. Based on the trnL-trnF sequence analysis the Hungarian populations represent a single haplotype, which can indicate a reduced diversity due to isolation and recent population decline. By contrast, Kazakh population represents a distinct haplotype compared to the Hungarian samples.ConclusionsThe present study draws the attention to the high conservation value of the Plantago maxima populations from the westernmost range edge of the species’ distribution.

Effects of Different Irradiance Conditions on Photosynthetic Activity, Photosystem II, Rubisco Enzyme Activity, Chloroplast Ultrastructure, and Chloroplast-Related Gene Expression in Clematis tientaiensis Leaves

Clematis is a perennial ornamental vine known as the “Vine Queen” for its gorgeous floral color and rich flower shape. Clematis tientaiensis, an endangered plant, is a key protected wild plant and a rare breeding parent of Clematis because of its extremely high ornamental value. Light environment is one of the important environmental factors affecting the space distribution and the size of C. tientaiensis population. One-year-old homogenous and healthy potted C. tientaiensis plants were grown under four different light intensities (T1: 1800 ± 30/0 µmol m−2 s−1; T2: 1500 ± 30/0 µmol m−2 s−1; T3: 1200 ± 30/0 µmol m−2 s−1; T4: 900 ± 30/0 µmol m−2 s−1). This study analyzed the potential adaptive mechanism of C. tientaiensis in response to irradiance by investigating the photosynthesis, rapid light curve, chloroplast ultrastructure, Rubisco activase enzyme (RAC), Rubisco enzyme, amino acids, and gene expression under four irradiance treatments. High light caused the leaves chlorosis and yellowing, reduced the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), RAC and Rubisco enzyme activity; the quantum yield of unregulated energy dissipation [Y(NO)], and increased the content of eight amino acids content. The expression of psbA, psbB, psbC, and Psb(OEC) were down-regulated with decreasing irradiance. The results showed that C. tientaiensis plants grown under T1 (1800 ± 30 µmol m−2 s−1) irradiance were in danger of absorbing more light energy than they could use for photosynthesis, while they exhibited good adaptability to the T3 (1200 ± 30 µmol m−2 s−1) irradiance, and the PSII reaction center and Rubisco and RCA enzymes could be the key points in response to high light stress, which also emphasized the importance of appropriate light management practices for promoting the growth and population expansion of C. tientaiensis.

Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) with Biofilm-Forming Ability: A Multifaceted Agent for Sustainable Agriculture

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) enhance plant growth, as well as protect plants from several biotic and abiotic stresses through a variety of mechanisms. Therefore, the exploitation of PGPB in agriculture is feasible as it offers sustainable and eco-friendly approaches to maintaining soil health while increasing crop productivity. The vital key of PGPB application in agriculture is its effectiveness in colonizing plant roots and the phyllosphere, and in developing a protective umbrella through the formation of microcolonies and biofilms. Biofilms offer several benefits to PGPB, such as enhancing resistance to adverse environmental conditions, protecting against pathogens, improving the acquisition of nutrients released in the plant environment, and facilitating beneficial bacteria–plant interactions. Therefore, bacterial biofilms can successfully compete with other microorganisms found on plant surfaces. In addition, plant-associated PGPB biofilms are capable of protecting colonization sites, cycling nutrients, enhancing pathogen defenses, and increasing tolerance to abiotic stresses, thereby increasing agricultural productivity and crop yields. This review highlights the role of biofilms in bacterial colonization of plant surfaces and the strategies used by biofilm-forming PGPB. Moreover, the factors influencing PGPB biofilm formation at plant root and shoot interfaces are critically discussed. This will pave the role of PGPB biofilms in developing bacterial formulations and addressing the challenges related to their efficacy and competence in agriculture for sustainability.

Geographic distribution, conservation effectiveness, and gaps for national key protected wild plants in China

AbstractNational key protected wild plants (NKPWPs) are species with important conservation value based on genetics, ecology, culture, and/or scientific research, which are also confronted with serious threats. However, their geographical distribution patterns and conservation status remain unclear. In this study, we compiled 1032 species of NKPWPs. We measured the diversity to identify hotspots of NKPWPs based on species richness, weighted range size rarity and a complementarity‐based analysis. Comparing the distribution and hotspots of NKPWPs with the coverage of Chinese nature reserves (NRs), we assessed conservation effectiveness and identified conservation gaps. The results identified 13 diversity hotspots; only 9.5% of them were covered by NRs with >30% of the grid cell area, and even 19.5% were not covered at all by NRs. Overall, 44.7% of NKPWPs were effectively protected by national NRs. Despite this success, 571 species in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, Guangdong, southern Hainan, Taiwan, and northern Xinjiang remain unprotected by NRs. The protected proportion of plants with first‐level protection was lower than that of plants with second‐level protection. The low overall proportion of protected hotspots indicates that the conservation outlook for NKPWPs is not optimistic. This study identifies priority conservation areas and conservation gaps and provides a scientific reference for the conservation of wild plants in China.

Biotic Aspects of Geo-Environmental Studies for Environmental Engineering Surveys

A theoretical review of publications containing information on the habitats of rare and protected plant species in the central and southern part of the Verkhnekamskoye salt deposit (Perm Krai) has been carried out. Information on the habitats of rare and protected plant and lichen species included in the Red Book of the Perm Territory and growing in the area is summarized. The insufficient amount of the available data required for engineering and ecological surveys has been shown. The need to carry out the special research to identify locations of protected plant, fungi and lichen species and to assess the status of their populations, initiated by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Forestry and Ecology of the Perm Territory, is considered.

Influence of methods of basic tillage on the yield of spring barley varieties in the zone of influence of field-protective plantations

The article discusses the results of studies on the study of modern released varieties of spring barley in the conditions of an agroforestry landscape and their response to various methods of basic tillage. It was found that in years with different climatic characteristics, there are differences in varieties in the duration of phenological phases. The longest vegetation was observed in the Bulat variety, and the shortest in the Prairie variety. The best results in terms of germination and preservation of plants were obtained in the variant with the Bulat variety, while in all varieties it was noted that these indicators were higher in the forested area than in the agrolandscape without forest belts. Analysis of the productivity of varieties showed that the studied varieties had different yields depending on the methods of tillage and the type of agricultural landscape. On the reclaimed territory and without protective plantings, the Bulat variety can be distinguished. The yield of this variety was the highest in all studied tillage options compared to other varieties. In the variant with flat-cut tillage to a depth of 0.25-0.27 m, it amounted to 2.63 t/ha under the conditions of the agricultural landscape without forest belts, and 2.89 t/ha under the protection of forest belts. Thus, it can be recommended for agricultural producers to cultivate the Bulat variety, and to carry out the main processing of light chestnut soil with a tool with flat-cutting working bodies to a depth of 0.25-0.27 m.

Co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium and Phosphate Solubilizing Microbes on Growth Promotion of Groundnut Under Rain-fed Conditions

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can improve plant development and protect plants from diseases and abiotic stresses. Plant-bacterial interactions in the rhizosphere are important factors in soil fertility and plant health. Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria include the cyanobacteria of the genera Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Azorhizobium, Allorhizobium, Sinorhizobium and Mesorhizobium. Therefore, to investigate the effect of co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium and phosphate solubilizing microbes (PSM) on groundnut crop under field conditions using normal soil, divided into eight different study groups i.e., control (T1), Bradyrhizobium isolate -1 (T2), Bradyrhizobium isolate -2 (T3), Bradyrhizobium isolate -3(T4), Phosphate solubilizing microbe (PSM) (T5), T2 + PSM (T6), T3 + PSM (T7), T4 + PSM (T8). The results showed maximum groundnut pod yield (2428 kg ha-1) was obtained in treatment where inoculation with bacterial isolate-2 applied as compared to control. In case of plant height and shoot dry biomass, maximum response was observed in T7 (59.4 cm, 4733 kg ha-1) as compared to control i.e., 40.5 cm, 3156.7 kg ha-1 respectively. It was concluded that this technique might be useful and applicable to cut down the high input cost of phosphate fertilizers for the production of other crops also

游荡型黄河滩涂植物群落多样性及种间联结性

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 游荡型黄河滩涂植物群落多样性及种间联结性 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202108202317 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金委员会重点项目(41930643);河南省高校科技创新人才(22HASTIT033);河南省重大科技专项(201300311700) Plant diversity and interspecific associations of different floodplains in the wandering Yellow River Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:黄河干流流量季节性变化和小浪底"调水调沙"形成了黄河河南段特殊的游荡型滩涂生态系统,为揭示游荡型黄河滩涂(嫩滩、二滩、高滩和大堤)群落组成和种间关系及群落稳定性规律,于2015年9月至2018年11月,采用典型样方法在郑州黄河湿地自然保护区游荡型黄河滩涂开展群落学调查,利用149个草本层样方分析群落物种组成、多样性、种间联结性和群落稳定性。结果表明:(1)研究区植物共有90科289属445种,其中被子植物87科286属440种,裸子植物2科2属3种;蕨类植物仅见1属2种。(2)不同滩涂生境优势种具有显著差异,且总体狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)和小蓬草(Erigeron canadensis)为优势种,国家二级保护植物野大豆(Glycine soja)呈斑块聚集分布,且为嫩滩和二滩亚优势种。(3)大堤物种多样性各指标取值最大,嫩滩次之,二滩和高滩较小。(4)χ2检验、Jaccard指数、Pearson相关检验和Spearman秩相关检验表明,优势种种对种间联结性不强,各物种间相对独立。(5)二滩总体联结性呈现不显著负关联,其他3种类型均为显著负关联,M. Godron稳定性分析说明群落总体均处于不稳定演替阶段。因此,游荡型黄河滩涂生态系统总体不稳定,河道的游荡多变导致滩涂植物更新频繁,这可为黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展国家战略提供重要基础数据和科学指导。 Abstract:The seasonal flow variation of the Yellow River mainstream and water-sediment regulation by the Xiaolangdi project have formed a special wandering floodplain ecosystem. In order to reveal the community composition, interspecific relationship and community stability of the wandering Yellow River floodplains (Newly-formed floodplain, Second floodplain, Highly-formed floodplain, Levee), we utilized the typical quadrat method to investigate plants in Zhengzhou Yellow River Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve of the typical wandering Yellow River floodplains from September 2015 to November 2018. We delved into the community species composition, species diversity, interspecific association and community stability based on 149 herb layer quadrats. The results showed that: (1) 445 species were occurred in our four floodplains, belonging to 289 genera and 90 families. Among them, there were 440 species, 286 genera and 87 families of angiosperms, and three species, two genera and two families of gymnosperms, and only one genus and two species of pteridophytes. (2) There were significant differences in dominant species among four floodplains. In general, Cynodon dactylon, Phragmites australis, and Erigeron canadensis were the dominant species. In Newly-formed floodplain and Second floodplain, Glycine soja (Class II protected plant, in China) was subdominant species, which distributed sporadically in patches. (3) The species diversity indices of the Levee were the largest, followed by the Newly-formed floodplain, and those of the Second floodplain and Highly-formed floodplain were smaller. (4) χ2 test, Jaccard index, Pearson correlation test and Spearman rank correlation test showed that the dominant species pairs were not strongly interspecific linked, and each species was relatively independent. (5) The overall association of Second floodplain showed non-significantly negative association, while that of the rest were significantly negatively associated. Combined with the M. Godron's stability analysis, the community was in an unstable successional stage. These results indicated that the wandering Yellow River floodplain ecosystem was generally unstable, and the wandering and variable river channel led to the frequent regeneration of floodplain community. This provides important basic data and scientific guidance for national strategies of ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

РОСТ, СОСТОЯНИЕ И ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ КУСТАРНИКОВЫХ ПОРОД В УСЛОВИЯХ ОТВАЛОВ ЖЕЛЕЗОРУДНЫХ МЕСТОРОЖДЕНИЙ

Various types of vegetation were tested on the dumps of the Kursk magnetic anomaly (KMA), composed of various rocks and their mixtures, with the improvement of forest growing conditions by land use and without this technique, including five types of shrubby species: sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens Lam.), golden currant (Ribes aureum Pursh.), tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica L.) and red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa L.). Growth indicators, safety and productivity of breeds were studied. Golden currant was one of the first to be tested, which turned out to be an unsuitable breed for creating protective plantings on dumps without measures to improve their forest growing conditions. On chalk-marl mixtures and quaternary loams, it completely fell out by the age of 12-15 years. Shrubs used in forest reclamation on two-component post-technogenic areas are characterized by different preservation. By the age of 43, the greatest preservation, equal to 50.5%, was noted in the sea buckthorn. It also has the highest growth rates. When choosing shrub species for forest reclamation, it is necessary to take into account their biological productivity, which increases the concentration of nutrients in the substrates and improves their physical properties. The sea buckthorn at the age of 9 has a large phytomass (2368 g), the heaviest leaf mass (396 g) and a total supply of phytomass (143.9 kg /ha) in the stand. The authors recommend using shrub species for laying preliminary crops at the initial stage of reclamation or introducing them into complex plantings in an amount of no more than 50%. Taking into account the soil-improving role of shrub species, it would be advisable to further introduce more durable tree species.

Effect of growing media and irrigation frequencies on early vegetative growth of <em>Piper longum</em> L

Systematic cultivation with well-developed agronomic practices for selected medicinal herbs involves conservation of wild populations from over harvesting, continuous supply and sustainable utilization. The present research was conducted to find-out the most suitable growing medium and irrigation frequency for commercial cultivation of <em>Piper longum</em> L. For this purpose, six different growing media along with three different irrigation frequencies were used. The experiment was arranged factorially with Completely Randomized Design in triplicates inside a protected plant house under controlled environmental conditions. Destructive measurements were taken at 12 weeks after planting. In addition, all growing media were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, available nitrogen, organic matter, phosphorous, available potassium using three replicates. Data analysis was carried out using analysis of variance with statistical analysis system while Duncan multiple range test was employed for mean separation. Based on the results, interaction effects between growing media and irrigation frequencies were not significant (P≥0.05) for plant height (cm), number of leaves, number of branches and shoot dry weight (g) of P. longum harvested at 12 weeks after establishment. Growing media and irrigation interval were significant on the growth parameters while the highest plant height of 43.3 cm was observed in topsoil: compost -1:1 closely followed by topsoil: sand: compost -1:1:1 (42.2 cm).<em> P. longum</em> grown in topsoil: sand: compost -1:1:1 (V/V) had the highest number of branches (7.6). Further, significantly (P≤0.05) higher number of leaves (43) and shoot dry weight (15.7g) were recorded in topsoil: sand: compost -1:1:1. Irrigation frequencies had no significant (P&gt;0.05) effect on growth parameters of <em>P. longum</em> (Figure 2). Shoot dry weights had no significant difference with the changing irrigation frequency. Based on the composition analysis and growth parameters, top soil: sand: compost (1:1:1) growing media and 9 days irrigation frequency appeared to be the most promising combination for early vegetative growth of P. longum.

Matrix Model for Integrated Pest Management as a Combined Function of Extension Education and Economic Concepts

The Farmer Field Schools (FFS) help to establish the significance of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concept, i.e., the FFS contributed to demonstrating the importance of the IPM idea. In this paradigm, the integrated pest management specialist's decision is based on the application of agricultural extension and economic principles. This requires an analysis and understanding of the ecosystem and plant physiology, followed by monitoring the population dynamics of the pest to determine the pest’s economic injury level, and finally, determining the appropriate action to suppress it. The transition point from organically integrated pest control measures to chemical pest control is when pest density exceeds economic injury. In other words, when pest density surpasses economic damage, an organically integrated pest control approach gives way to the chemical pest control method. This study advises conducting research experiments and studies to ascertain the economic impacts of pandemic pests on the targeted crop, such as powdery mildew and aphid pests in the protected tomato plant culture. JEL CODE: Q16

Population variability of vegetative organs of Dahurian larch in Eastern Transbaikalia

The available information on the morphological diversity and localization of the morphological forms of Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii) in Siberia is currently insufficient. This research seeks to fill the knowledge gaps to some extent. The paper describes the population variability of vegetative organs of Larix gmelinii growing in Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia. The problem is approached by studying a complex of morphological characters of natural Larix gmelinii populations along the Transbaikalian rivers. Also, the habitat conditions of Dahurian larch coenopopulations were recorded for further analysis of the connection between the morphological characters and the habitat parameters. The study established the values of morphological characters and their variability limits and traced the localization patterns of the morphological forms of Dahurian larch in the river basins. Moreover, the morphological characters of larch vegetative organs were found to relate to the location and the habitat conditions of the coenopopulations. The research materials can be useful for correcting the larch seeding zones in Transbaikalia, establishing larch genetic reserves, and introducing new morphological forms into the selection for urban beautification and protective plantations. The study provides additional information on the morphological variability patterns of Larix gmelinii for the area of species in general. Keywords: Eastern Transbaikalia, Larix gmelinii, vegetative organs, population variability

Effect of Heavy Metal Stress on Phenolic Compounds Accumulation in Winter Wheat Plants.

Heavy metal stress can lead to many adverse effects that inhibit cellular processes at various levels of metabolism, causing a decrease in plant productivity. In response to environmental stressors, phenolic compounds fulfill significant molecular and biochemical functions in plants. Increasing the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in plants subjected to heavy metal stress helps protect plants from oxidative stress. A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effect of the accumulation of copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) salts at concentrations of 200, 500, and 1000 ppm on seed germination, the activity of enzymes in the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase pathway (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL), along with the total phenol and flavonoid contents in seedlings of hybrid Triticum aestivum L. (winter wheat) cultivars. The accumulation of heavy metals, especially Cu, had a negative impact on the seed germination process. The cultivar "Hyacinth" reacted most strongly to heavy metal stress, which was confirmed by obtaining the lowest values of the germination parameters. Heavy metal stress caused an increase in the activity of PAL and TAL enzymes and an increase in the accumulation of phenolic compounds. Under the influence of Cu, the highest activity was shown in cv. "Hyvento" (especially at 200 ppm) and, due to the accumulation of Pb, in cv. "Hyacinth" (1000 ppm) and cv. "Hyking" (200 ppm). The cultivar "Hyking" had the highest content of phenolic compounds, which did not increase with the application of higher concentrations of metals. In other cultivars, the highest content of total phenols and flavonoids was usually observed at the lowest concentration (200 ppm) of the tested heavy metals, Cu and Pb.

Microbial Inoculants as Plant Biostimulants: A Review on Risk Status.

Modern agriculture systems are copiously dependent on agrochemicals such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides intended to increase crop production and yield. The indiscriminate use of these chemicals not only affects the growth of plants due to the accumulation of toxic compounds, but also degrades the quality and life-supporting properties of soil. There is a dire need to develop some green approach that can resolve these issues and restore soil fertility and sustainability. The use of plant biostimulants has emerged as an environmentally friendly and acceptable method to increase crop productivity. Biostimulants contain biological substances which may be capable of increasing or stimulating plant growth in an eco-friendly manner. They are mostly biofertilizers that provide nutrients and protect plants from environmental stresses such as drought and salinity. In contrast to the protection of crop products, biostimulants not only act on the plant's vigor but also do not respond to direct actions against pests or diseases. Plant biostimulants improve nutrient mobilization and uptake, tolerance to stress, and thus crop quality when applied to plants directly or in the rhizospheric region. They foster plant growth and development by positively affecting the crop life-cycle starting from seed germination to plant maturity. Legalized application of biostimulants causes no hazardous effects on the environment and primarily provides nutrition to plants. It nurtures the growth of soil microorganisms, which leads to enhanced soil fertility and also improves plant metabolism. Additionally, it may positively influence the exogenous microbes and alter the equilibrium of the microfloral composition of the soil milieu. This review frequently cites the characterization of microbial plant biostimulants that belong to either a high-risk group or are closely related to human pathogens such as Pueudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, etc. These related pathogens cause ailments including septicemia, gastroenteritis, wound infections, inflammation in the respiratory system, meningitis, etc., of varied severity under different conditions of health status such as immunocompromized and comorbidity. Thus it may attract the related concern to review the risk status of biostimulants for their legalized applications in agriculture. This study mainly emphasizes microbial plant biostimulants and their safe application concerns.

Gastric protective effect of Alpinia officinarum flavonoids: mediating TLR4/NF-κB and TRPV1 signalling pathways and gastric mucosal healing

Context Our previous studies have found that total flavonoid of Alpinia officinarum Hance (Zingiberaceae) (F.AOH) had protective effects on gastric ulcer (GU). Objective To investigate the protective mechanism of F.AOH on acetic acid-induced chronic GUs in rats and ethanol-induced GES-1 cells damage. Materials and methods In vivo: Gastric damage was induced in SD rats by administering acetic acid after oral treatment with F-AOH at 54, 27 and 13.5 mg/kg (2 weeks of continuous gavage). After a comprehensive evaluation of rats’ serum and gastric tissue-related indicators, gene transcriptome sequencing, qPCR and Western blotting were used to investigate the mechanism further. In vivo: GES-1 cells were incubated with F-AOH (8, 4 and 2 μg/mL) for 16 h and treated with 7% ethanol for 4 h. Transwell and flow cytometry were employed to detect migration and apoptosis of cells. Results F.AOH effectively reduced the area of GUs in rats (from 11.2 ± 1.89 to 2.19 ± 0.95), reversing ethanol-induced cells apoptosis (from 23 ± 1.3 to 8.11 ± 0.93%). It also inhibited the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and iNOS proteins, decreasing the levels of TNF-α IL-6 in serum, improving oxidative stress levels and increasing the expression of Bcl-2/Bax dimer genes. In addition, 4005 differentially expressed genes between the acetic acid model and the drug groups. Through experimental verification, F.AOH can inhibit the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway and TRPV1 receptor. Conclusions F.AOH, as an effective gastric protective plant component, had potential therapeutic value in anti-inflammatory pain and antioxidative stress gastrointestinal diseases.

Effect of Biocontrol Agent (Bacillus and Mycorrhizal Fungi) Application against Twisted Disease (Fusarium spp.) in Off-Season Shallot Production

The demand for shallots has increased along with the Indonesian population. To achieve shallot production goals, farmers began to plant shallots outside usual planting season. However, unfavourable environmental conditions and pest attacks are obstacles faced by farmers. The use of Biological Control Agents (BCA) is a way to improve plant growth and protect plants against plant pathogens or even abiotic stresses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of shallot plants after BCA (Bacillus and Mycorrhizal Fungi) application, especially against twisted disease during off-planting season. This research was conducted by preparing BCA isolates, applying BCA, measuring disease incidence and intensity, observing plant growth development, analyzing phenol content, and analyzing phosphate content. Results showed BCA Bacillus and mycorrhizal fungi did not inhibit Fusarium spp. infection. Agronomic measurements showed no significant difference in crown weight and root weight, but isolate B8 significantly increase the number of leaves while isolate M significantly decreased plant height. Isolates B6, B7, and M significantly reduced the total phenol content in shallot plants. Phosphate analysis on isolate M did not have significant effects on shallot plants, while BCA Bacillus and Mycorrhizal fungi application could not suppress twisted disease. Nevertheless, B8 treatment has the potential to increase shallot growth; therefore, further research must be conducted.

Bacillus cereus EC9 protects tomato against Fusarium wilt through JA/ET-activated immunity.

The mechanisms of action and the limitations of effectiveness of natural biocontrol agents should be determined in order to convert them into end products that can be used in practice. Rhizosphere Bacillus spp. protect plants from various pathogens by displaying several modes of action. However, the ability of Bacillus spp. to control plant diseases depends on the interaction between the bacteria, host, and pathogen, and the environmental conditions. We found that soil drenching of tomato plants with the non-antifungal Bacillus cereus strain EC9 (EC9) enhances plant defense against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol). To study the involvement of plant defense-related phytohormones in the regulation of EC9-activated protection against Fol, we conducted plant bioassays in tomato genotypes impaired in salicylic acid (SA) accumulation, jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, and ethylene (ET) production, and analyzed the transcript levels of pathways-related marker genes. Our results indicate that JA/ET-dependent signaling is required for EC9-mediated protection against Fol in tomato. We provide evidence that EC9 primes tomato plants for enhanced expression of proteinase inhibitor I (PI-I) and ethylene receptor4 (ETR4). Moreover, we demonstrated that EC9 induces callose deposition in tomato roots. Understanding the involvement of defense-related phytohormones in EC9-mediated defense against Fusarium wilt has increased our knowledge of interactions between non-antifungal plant defense-inducing rhizobacteria and plants.

System of Rice Intensification in Indonesia: Research, Adoption and Opportunities

The conventional rice cultivation method is observed to be ineffective in increasing rice production in Indonesia, compounded further by the frequent occurrence of various diseases, pest infestations, and weather uncertainties. The long-term practice of using high agrochemical inputs has adversely affected natural resources such as water, soil, and air. Thus, farming transformation is much needed in order to address the nation’s food security. This transformation can be done via the adoption of agroecological practices which rely on biological processes rather than on agrochemicals to maintain soil fertility and protect plant health. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is an agroecological method of rice cultivation that relies primarily on creating conditions for healthy plant growth by minimizing inter-plant competition through individual planting and wide spacing, at the same time improving soil structure and functioning by applying organic amendments, facilitating soil-surface aeration during weeding, and managing water to avoid both continuous flooding and water-stressed conditions. This combination of management practices results in better rice growth and yield compared with standard cultivation methods. For this purpose, the impacts of the SRI method on the economic, environmental, and social perspectives were studied. We conclude that the high productivity obtained by the SRI farmers and field trials has proven the suitability of the SRI method for sustainable rice farming in Indonesia. SRI improves the productivity of land, water and increases rice yield by three times higher than the conventional method. SRI is now regarded as a good option to be practiced by farmers in order to bring about a new kind of green revolution that relies upon ecosystem services to increase yield.

Comparative chloroplast genomics provides insights into the genealogical relationships of endangered Tetraena mongolica and the chloroplast genome evolution of related Zygophyllaceae species.

A comprehensive understanding of genetic background for rare species will provide an important theoretical basis for the future species management, monitoring and conservation. Tetraena mongolica is restrictedly distributed in the western Ordos plateau of China and has been listed as a national protected plant. We generated 13 chloroplast (cp) genomes of T. mongolica (size range of 106,062-106,230bp) and conducted a series of comparative analyses of six Zygophyllaceae cp genomes. T. mongolica cp genome exhibited a quadripartite structure with drastically reduced inverted repeats (IRs, 4,315bp) and undergone the loss of a suit of ndh genes and a copy of rRNAs. Furthermore, all the T. mongolica populations were divided into two genetic groups based on complete cp phylogenomics. In addition, notably variable genome size, gene order and structural changes had been observed among the six Zygophyllaceae cp genomes. Overall, our findings provide insights into the cp genome evolution mode and intraspecific relationships of T. mongolica, and provide a molecular basis for scientific conservation of this endangered plant.