Seed Size Research Articles

Abiotic factors similarly shape the distribution of fruit, seed and leaf traits in tropical fleshy-fruited tree communities

The distribution of plant traits is related to abiotic and biotic factors, but it is unknown whether different types of plant traits respond similarly to these factors. We simultaneously studied seed, fruit and leaf traits and their associations with abiotic and biotic factors for tree communities in the tropical mountains of southern Ecuador. We measured seed, fruit, and leaf traits on 18–33 fleshy-fruited plant species and recorded the abundance for these species on nine 1-ha forest plots located at 1000, 2000, and 3000 m a.s.l. On the same plots, we recorded abiotic (soil C/N ratio, mean temperature, and annual rainfall) and biotic factors (avian fruit removal and foliar herbivory) potentially relevant for the measured traits. We conducted principal component and RLQ analyses to test for trait-environment covariation, controlling for phylogenetic relatedness and spatial autocorrelation. We identified a trade-off between (i) seed number and seed size and between (ii) the production of few costly (nitrogen-rich) vs. many cheap (carbon-rich) fruits. Likewise, leaf trait variation was primarily associated with (i) the leaf economics spectrum and (ii) leaf size. Controlling for phylogenetic and spatial covariation, seed, fruit and leaf traits were associated with abiotic and, to a lesser extent, with biotic factors. Fruit and leaf traits linked to production costs were mainly related to soil C/N ratios, whereas traits associated with the size of seeds, fruits, and leaves were related to rainfall. Our study suggests that associations between seed, fruit and leaf traits and the abiotic environment follow similar principles in tropical tree communities.

DESEMPENHO FISIOLÓGICO DE SEMENTES DE CULTIVARES SOJA CONVENCIONAL EM FUNÇÃO DO TAMANHO E TEOR DE UMIDADE NA GERMINAÇÃO

Quality test protocols for soybean seeds recommend a period of soaking and preconditioning without detailing the size of the seeds to be evaluated, as seeds of different sizes reach different degrees of humidity in each period owing to differences in their initial moisture level and size. Determining the degree of seed moisture during the preconditioning period is important when conducting accelerated aging, tetrazolium, and primary root protrusion tests. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological performance of two conventional soybean cultivars (BRS 284 and BRS 511) with three seed sizes (6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 mm) and three moisture levels, adjusted to 10%, 12%, and 14% and a control condition with 8.8% moisture. The experimental design was a randomized block scheme in a factorial arrangement of (3×3)+1 involving seed size and moisture. Regardless of the cultivar and moisture content, seeds with large diameters were more resistant to changes, such as accelerated aging, and resulted in larger seeds and higher numbers of developed seedlings than seeds with small diameters.

Response of Seedling Growth Characteristics to Seed Size and Cotyledon Damage in Quercus wutaishanica

The successful establishment of seedlings is very important for plant regeneration, but it is vulnerable to many factors at this stage. Cotyledon damage will directly affect the health of seedlings, thus affecting the regeneration of the plant population. However, little is known about the effects of different cotyledon loss degrees of large and small seeds on seedling growth. We investigated the effects of 1/4 (light excision), 1/2 (moderate excision), and complete excision of cotyledons (heavy excision) on the growth characteristics of seedlings germinating from different sizes of seeds. The results showed that (1) shoot height, basal stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area per plant, specific leaf area, and biomass were significantly higher in large-seeded seedlings than in small-seeded seedlings; (2) slight cotyledon excision had no effect on the biomass of large-seeded seedlings but significantly reduced the biomass of small-seeded seedlings. Our study highlights that large-seeded seedlings are more tolerant than small-seeded seedlings in the early seedling recruitment, suggesting that large-seeded seedlings have a strong fitness for recruitment in young populations of Q. wutaishanica.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Targeted Mutagenesis of GmEOD1 Enhances Seed Size of Soybean

Seed size is a critical agronomic trait that influences the yield and appearance quality of soybeans, making it a primary breeding objective with significant economic value. While the molecular mechanisms that regulate soybean seed size remain largely unknown, several functional molecular targets have been applied in breeding to create larger grain size materials. In this study, we utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce the targeted mutagenesis of GmEOD1, which encodes the E3 ubiquitin ligase. The resulting homozygous soybean mutant of GmEOD1 exhibited larger seed size and 100-seed weight, with no significant change in the average seed weight per plant. The sum of crude protein and oil content increased significantly in mutants while fatty acid composition remained unchanged. We identified six haplotypes among 156 soybean cultivars, with Hap1 and Hap2 representing the majority of cultivars with relatively higher 100-seed weight, suggesting that sequence variations of GmEOD1 may correlate with seed weight. Transcriptomic analysis across five stages of seed development revealed that stages one–three mainly focused on cell cycle, growth, wall synthesis and modification, photosynthesis, and sugar metabolism; promoting cell growth, reproduction, and carbon accumulation; and providing key intermediates for substance synthesis. Stages four–five focused on polysaccharide catabolism, xylan metabolism, and nutrient pool activity, promoting the accumulation of dry matter, such as sugars, proteins, and lipids in seeds. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of modules related to seed size revealed 13 hub genes involved in seed development regulation. This study provides a valuable theoretical basis and excellent opportunities for genetic editing of germplasm cells with subsequent molecular soybean seed size breeding, facilitating easier seed selection to improve soybean quality.

Initial growth and chlorophyll indices of maize plants originating from seeds of different shapes and sizes

The objective of this work was to evaluate the initial growth and chlorophyll content of maize plants originated from seeds with different sizes and shapes, as well as to establish the relationship between growth traits, chlorophyll index and seed formats. The experimental design was a randomized complete blocks, and the treatments were composed by seeds of four sizes and shapes for each of the two genotype used, and four collection periods (21, 24, 27 and 30 DAE) and four replications. The root and shoot length, stem diameter, leaf area, dry mass of leaf, stem, roots and total, leaf mass ratio, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area and chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll were determined. It was verified that seedlings of genotype "A" originated from large round seeds, presented the highest stem diameter, leaf dry mass, stem dry mass, root dry mass and total dry mass. There is a distinct response in the growth of maize plants as a function of the genotype. Regardless of the genotype, the size and shape of seeds do not influence the indexes of chlorophyll a, b and total. There is a positive and strong correlation between seeds of different sizes and shapes with leaf area, leaf dry mass and specific leaf area.

Development of an automated precision planter for solanaceous vegetable seeds

An automated precision planter was developed to mechanize the seedling preparation process. The machine was fabricated based on the seeds size and tray cells distance. It can precisely place single seeds per row in tray continuously. Tomato, eggplant, and pepper were used as test materials. Three vacuum pressures (0.68 kPa, 0.93 kPa, and 1.18 kPa) were used to determine the performance of the machine. Evaluated in terms of single seeds, double, multiple, missing cells, singulation efficiency, seed utilization efficiency, seeding efficiency and seeding capacity. Results showed it can plant single seeds with 57.81–86.98%, double with 4.95–29.43%, multiple with 0.09–4.25%, and missing cells with 4.43–36.89%. Also, the machine has a singulation efficiency of 63.98–93.91% with a seed utilization efficiency of 70.69–94.17%, seeding efficiency of 63.11–95.57% and a seeding capacity between 3,310 – 5,011 cells per hour which was 3.8 times faster than manual. The precision of the machine was affected by pressure and seed surface area which are highly significant on the performance of the machine. The total cost of the planter was $564.94 with a payback period of 1.41 years with a return on investment of 60.36 % using a custom rate of $0.055/tray.

Detection of moisture content and size of pumpkin seeds based on hyperspectral reflection and transmission imaging techniques

Moisture content and size can affect the vigor and weight of pumpkin seeds, where vigor is the key to evaluating seed quality, and weight is an important characteristic of the seeds. Therefore, detecting the moisture content and size of pumpkin seeds contributes to improving seed quality. In this study, hyperspectral reflection and transmission imaging techniques were used to detect the moisture and size of single pumpkin seeds. Linear PLSR and nonlinear LSSVM models were established to predict the moisture content of single pumpkin seeds using reflection and transmission spectral data. Five variable selection and data fusion methods, namely randomization test, variable selection based on C-value, uninformative variable elimination, Monte Carlo-uninformative variable elimination, and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), were adopted to optimize the models. Compared with the models based on reflection and transmission spectra, low-level data fusion improved the model performance. The mid-level data fusion with models based on the CARS algorithm achieved the optimal performance, corresponding to R2P and RMSEP of 0.9219, 0.0279%, and 0.9231, 0.0278%, for the PLSR and LSSVM models, respectively. Finally, it was demonstrated that using hyperspectral reflection images to determine the size of pumpkin seeds is feasible, and the length and width of all samples were determined. The results show that hyperspectral imaging techniques and data fusion can effectively detect the moisture content of single pumpkin seeds, and measuring the size of pumpkin seeds is feasible using image processing algorithms.

Effect of Temperature, Seed Size, Sowing Depth, and Position on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Bauhinia retusa Roxb. and Bauhinia variegata L.

In urban forestry plantations are implemented in different cities of the world for social and environmental benefits. Bauhinia retusa and Bauhinia variegata are important species and to be used as large-scale plantation programs in urban forestry which might solve or mitigate urban, social, and environmental issues such as improving the physical & mental health of residents, food and nutrition security, increasing urban biodiversity, cooling the neighboring, preventing soil erosion, flooding, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The present study was conducted with the aim of producing quality planting material for B. retusa and B. variegata in the nursery for afforestation programs. Seeds of B. retusa and B. variegata were collected from the natural habitats to assess seed germination and seedling growth. Seeds were stored in different types of containers at room temperature and later on exposed to 15, 20, and 25 °C in seed germinator. Seeds were further sown in polythene bags according to the seed size, seed coat color, seed sowing depth, the orientation of seeds, and the result of the emergence of seedlings, their growth, and biomass were estimated. A two-way analysis of variance was calculated to estimate the variation among the studied parameters. Results revealed that a constant 25 °C temperature was considered best for seed germination of both the Bauhinia species. Polybags were found the most suitable for storing the Bauhinia seeds among the storage containers. The seedling emergence and growth were maximum in yellow color and large seeds. In B. retusa, seedling emergence, and growths were the maximum in seeds sown at a horizontal position and in B. variegata at an upright position. Seedling emergence, length, and biomass were recorded the maximum when seeds of B. retusa were sown at 4 cm depth and B. variegata seeds were sown at 2 cm depth. The study recommends that the yellow color seed that has to be sown at 2 cm to 4 cm depth with upright and horizontal positions is considered best for the production of quality planting stock of both studied Bauhinia species.

Metabolic characteristics of self-pollinated wheat seed under red and blue light during early development.

Blue light has a greater effect on jasmonic acid and flavonoid accumulation in wheat seeds than red light; blue light reduces starch synthesis and the size of starch granules and seeds. This study sought to elucidate the effects of blue and red light on seed metabolism to provide important insights regarding the role of light quality in regulating seed growth and development. We used combined multi-omics analysis to investigate the impact of red and blue light (BL) on the induction of secondary metabolite accumulation in the hexaploid wheat Dianmai 3 after pollination. Flavonoids and alkaloids were the most differentially abundant metabolites detected under different treatments. Additionally, we used multi-omics and weighted correlation network analysis to screen multiple candidate genes associated with jasmonic acid (JA) and flavonoids. Expression regulatory networks were constructed based on RNA-sequencing data and their potential binding sites. The results revealed that BL had a greater effect on JA and flavonoid accumulation in wheat seeds than red light. Furthermore, BL reduced starch synthesis and stunted the size of starch granules and seeds. Collectively, these findings clarify the role of BL in the metabolic regulation of early seed development in wheat.

Sympatric primate seed dispersers and predators jointly contribute to plant diversity in a subtropical forest.

Mutualistic and antagonistic plant-animal interactions differentially contribute to the maintenance of species diversity in ecological communities. Although both seed dispersal and predation by fruit-eating animals are recognized as important drivers of plant population dynamics, the mechanisms underlying how seed dispersers and predators jointly affect plant diversity remain largely unexplored. Based on mediating roles of seed size and species abundance, we investigated the effects of seed dispersal and predation by two sympatric primates (Nomascus concolor and Trachypithecus crepusculus) on local plant recruitment in a subtropical forest of China. Over a 26month period, we confirmed that these primates were functionally distinct: gibbons were legitimate seed dispersers who dispersed seeds of 44 plant species, while langurs were primarily seed predators who destroyed seeds of 48 plant species. Gibbons dispersed medium-seeded species more effectively than small- and large-seeded species, and dispersed more seeds of rare species than common and dominant species. Langurs showed a similar predation rate across different sizes of seeds, but destroyed a large number of seeds from common species. Due to gut passage effects, gibbons significantly shortened the duration of seed germination for 58% of the dispersed species; however, for 54% of species, seed germination rates were reduced significantly. Our study underlined the contrasting contributions of two primate species to local plant recruitment processes. By dispersing rare species and destroying the seeds of common species, both primates might jointly maintain plant species diversity. To maintain healthy ecosystems, the conservation of mammals that play critical functional roles needs to receive further attention.

Examination of behavior, physiology and intestinal microbiological structure in small-sized sea cucumbers, Apostichopus japonicus: Relationship of color morph to seed quality

Seed selection is an essential process in the production of the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, as it is important to assure sufficient survival and growth, as well as production efficiency in subsequent aquaculture operations. It was considered that using morph color as an index for selecting high-quality seed would be valuable in this regard. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the differences in body size, foraging behavior, melatonin levels, and intestinal flora structure of seeds of A. japonicus in dark and light color morphs. Here, we found that dark-colored seeds of sea cucumbers showed significantly longer foraging distances both in the day and at night, compared to the light-colored seeds. This indicates that dark-colored seeds of A. japonicus have a significantly greater locomotor ability. Melatonin levels of dark-colored seeds of sea cucumber were significantly higher than those of light-colored seeds, suggesting that dark-colored A. japonicus has greater antioxidant ability. In addition, in the composition of intestinal microbiota, the higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B ratio) and a higher abundance of the phylum Planctomycetes were detected in dark-colored seeds of sea cucumber. Further, dark-colored seeds of sea cucumber had greater body weight/body length and body wall weight/body length, indicating that dark-colored seeds have a better growth potential. On the basis of the obtained results, it is suggested that aqua-culturists select dark-colored seeds in order to improve production efficiency.

TINJAUAN HUKUM ISLAM TERHADAP JUAL BELI BIBIT IKAN LELE DENGAN SISTEM SAMPEL (Studi Kasus di Desa Madusari Kecamatan Siman Ponorogo)

Many residents of Madusari Village, Siman Ponorogo District, are engaged in the business of buying and selling catfish seeds, because according to them selling and raising catfish seeds is capable of making a profit and the yield is sufficient to meet their daily needs. Buying and selling catfish seeds in Madusari Village, Siman District uses a sample system. The sample system, namely the first scale, is used as a reference for the next scale. Based on the background above, the researcher took the formulation of the problem about how to buy and sell catfish seeds using the sample system in Madusari Village, Siman Ponorogo sub-district. What is the review of Islamic Law on the Mechanism of Buying and Selling Catfish Seeds with the System in Madusari Village, Siman Ponorogo District. The steps in the data collection technique are interviews, observation, and documentation. The mechanism for buying and selling catfish fingerlings uses a sample system in Madusari Village, Siman Ponorogo District, which is carried out by grouping the size of the fish seeds using the previous grading bucket, then weighing them on a digital scale weighing 1 ounce and it is known that in 1 ounce the average number is 15 fish, for The second scale and so on do not count the number of catfish fingerlings, even though between the first scale and so on the number of catfish fingerlings is not the same, but both parties are mutually willing, and after the calculation is complete, one ounce is added in each transaction..

Phenolic profile of whole seeds and seed fractions of lentils and its impact on antioxidant activity

Seed color and size are the major traits influencing consumer's acceptability and market class of lentils worldwide. In this paper we assessed the in vitro antioxidant capacity of whole seeds, hulls, and cotyledons of five lentil varieties in relation to their phenolic profile. The samples were evaluated for total polyphenol content and different phenolic classes, such as condensed tannin content, total monomeric anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. Individual phenolic compounds, including flavonols, flavanols, flavones, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids, were further quantitatively investigated by HPLC-DAD. Total antioxidant capacity was evaluated by ABTS and ORAC assays, and a direct measurement (ABTSdir) was used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the bioactive compounds present in the whole-meal flours without extraction. The five genotypes showed considerable variations in their phenolic content and profile as well as antioxidant activities. The results showed a preferential accumulation of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity in the hulls compared to cotyledons. Delphinidin and cyanidin were the most abundant flavonoids in the hulls, while epicatechin and catechin were the most concentrated in the cotyledons. A highly significant correlation was observed between ABTS, ORAC and ABTSdir and total polyphenols. The antioxidant capacities were highly correlated with several individual phenolics detected in hulls and cotyledons. The overall results showed that the lentil fractions and extracts with higher phenolics had also higher antiradical activity which was independent on seed size and color. Identifying lentil genotypes with diverse phenolic profile in cotyledons and whole seeds could meet diverse consumers preferences and health requirements.

Pengaruh Bahan Pelleting terhadap Perkecambahan Benih Bawang Merah (Allium cepa L.)

Shallot is an important commodity, but their productivity in Indonesia is still low. TSS can be used because of its higher production, longer shelf life, more resistance to disease pathogens, cheaper procurement and distribution costs, guaranteed seed quality, and high productivity potential, but has a small shape so it is difficult to plant so seed coating technology is needed. Seed pellets are coatings of seeds to change the shape, size and weight of seeds. This study aims to determine the effect of pelleting techniques on shallot seeds. This research was conducted with one treatment factor, namely without pelleting, soil + CMC, soil + CMC + Mycorrhizae, soil + CMC + Trichoderma, soil + CMC + Dolomite, soil + CMC + humic acid, soil + AG, soil + AG+ Mycorrhizae, soil +AG+Trichoderma, soil+AG+Dolomite, soil+AG+Humic acid. Each treatment was carried out with 3 replications so that 33 experimental units were obtained, with one experimental unit in the form of a planting media tray with 25 seeds each. The results of the study explained that the pelleting technique had no effect on germination, root length, coleoptile length, wet safe weight, dry safe weight, seed weight and had a significant effect on the emergence of plumules with the best treatment obtained in the soil. CMC + humic acid and seed pellet weight. stated that seed pellets can change the weight, size and shape of seeds so as to facilitate planting. The conclusion of this study is that shallot seed pelleting can be applied to shallot cultivation because it does not inhibit the growth and development of shallots and can facilitate the planting of shallot seeds. Key words: Shallot, seed, pelleting, TSS

Molecular Network for Regulation of Seed Size in Plants.

The size of seeds is particularly important for agricultural development, as it is a key trait that determines yield. It is controlled by the coordinated development of the integument, endosperm, and embryo. Large seeds are an important way of improving the ultimate "sink strength" of crops, providing more nutrients for early plant growth and showing certain tolerance to abiotic stresses. There are several pathways for regulating plant seed size, including the HAIKU (IKU) pathway, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, G (Guanosine triphosphate) protein regulatory pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, transcriptional regulators pathway, and phytohormone regulatory pathways including the auxin, brassinosteroid (BR), gibberellin (GA), jasmonic acid (JA), cytokinin (CK), Abscisic acid (ABA), and microRNA (miRNA) regulatory pathways. This article summarizes the seed size regulatory network and prospective ways of improving yield. We expect that it will provide a valuable reference to researchers in related fields.

Rethinking Iconic Species Reforestation in West Africa: Seed Shape Harnessing Is Strategic for Enhanced Germination and Vigorous Growth in Khaya senegalensis and Parkia biglobosa

Seed size is a critical factor that can impact the regeneration process of plant populations. The objective of this study is to identify optimal seeds for the cultivation of two overexploited native forest species in Côte d’Ivoire, namely Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A.Juss., 1830 and Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R.BR. ex G. Don, 1830. A total of 1080 seeds per species were evaluated for germination and seedling vigour in two distinct environments (dry and humid) in Côte d’Ivoire. The results demonstrated that, for Khaya senegalensis, larger seeds exhibited higher germination rates, whereas for Parkia biglobosa, smaller and medium-sized seeds showed better germination performance. However, regardless of species and study site, larger seeds consistently produced more vigorous seedlings. In this case, pretreatment tests on large seeds of Parkia biglobosa can potentially enhance their germination performance. Large seeds, ranging from 0.25–0.37 g in Khaya senegalensis and 0.2–0.32 g in Parkia biglobosa, appear to be the most suitable and best candidates for high-quality, high-performance seeds to optimise the cultivation of these species in Côte d’Ivoire. Distributing such seeds to farmers can contribute to the success of reforestation and agroforestry programs involving these target species in Côte d’Ivoire. These findings contribute to the sustainable management of the target species and can serve as a basis for restructuring forest regeneration policies in Côte d’Ivoire.

Morpho-anatomy and HPTLC Profiling of Senna Mill. Seeds Used in Traditional System of Indian Medicine

Pharmacognosy Research,2023,15,3,551-561.DOI:10.5530/pres.15.3.058Published:June 2023Type:Original Article Authors:Radha P, Divya KG, Udhayavani C, Murugammal S, Shakila R, and Sunil Kumar KN Author(s) affiliations:Radha P1,*, Divya KG2, Udhayavani C1, Murugammal S3, Shakila R3, Sunil Kumar KN3 1Department of Botany, Siddha Medicinal Plants Garden (Central Council for Research in Siddha, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India), Mettur Dam, Salem, Tamil Nadu, INDIA. 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Siddha Central Research Institute (Central Council for Research in Siddha, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India), Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA. 3Department of Chemistry, Siddha Central Research Institute (Central Council for Research in Siddha, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India), Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA. Abstract:Background: The present study was carried out to compare macro-microscopy, powder microscopy and HPTLC analysis of six species such as Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb., Senna alata (L.) Roxb., Senna alexandrina Mill., Senna occidentalis (L.) Link., S. uniflora (Mill.) Irwin and Barneby, S. tora (L.) Roxb. of the genus Senna Mill. belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae. Materials and Methods: Six selected Senna species were collected, shade dried and pharmacognostic study were performed used techniques such as microscopy and HPTLC analysis. Results: Seed macro-morphology of the selected six species shows significant variations in size, shape, colour, ornamentation and number of seeds per pod. The basic cellular structure of six Senna species was anatomically similar but variation was observed in number of layers. Microscopic characters of the selected species revealed key diagnostic features that can help to determine the relationship between the closely related species; macrosclerieds and osteosclerdies were observed in Senna auriculata and S. occidentalis. Powder microscopy of selected six Senna species varied in colour, texture and odour. Numerous rosette crystals in cotyledonary cells were found only in Senna tora which is a significant variation from other five Senna species. HPTLC finger print profiling was performed with ethanol extract at 254 nm, 366 nm and 575 nm derivatization using vannilin-sulphuric acid and the results were documented. In 254 nm 14 bands were separated but the major peak at Rf 0.31 (22.24%) appeared in S. alexandrina. Conclusion: A detailed morphological and pharmacognostical evaluations play an important role to avoid misidentification and delimitation of selected six Senna species and HPTLC profiling is an additional analytical tool for species identification. Keywords:anatomy., S. alata, S. alexandrina, S. auriculata, S. occidentalis, S. tora, S. uniflora, SennaView:PDF (1.85 MB)

Synthesis of Pd@Rh nanocubes with well-defined {100} surface and controlled shell thicknesses for the fabrication of Rh nanocages

We report a facile synthesis of Pd@Rh core–shell nanocubes with ultrathin Rh shell and well-defined, smooth {100} facets for the production of Rh cubic nanocages. Under carefully optimized conditions, the deposition and diffusion rates of Rh adatoms on Pd cubic seeds can be tuned to a suitable level to enable the layer-by-layer growth of Rh overlayers. Specifically, the reaction temperature, type of Rh precursor, injection rate of the precursor solution, in addition to the size of the Pd seeds, all play an important role in establishing the desired growth mode while preventing island growth and homogeneous nucleation. The Rh shell not only endows the nanocrystals with significantly enhanced shape stability against thermally activated transformation under heating up to 500 °C, but also enables the production of Rh nanocages with ultrathin walls and well-preserved {100} facets, which to our knowledge has not been reported in literature.

Внутривидовое разнообразие Pinus sylvestris L. в географических культурах Центральной лесостепи

The provenance trials of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Central Russian forest-steppe area were established by M.M. Veresen in 1959. They have become a natural laboratory for genetic and environmental research in order to solve the practical issues of forest seed zoning. The study of the intraspecific diversity of the provenance trials makes it possible to distinguish patterns in the formation of species with various origins under the influence of different ecological, genetic, and climatic conditions. This article presents the results of a multi-year research project. This allows us to state with full responsibility the strong influence of environmental and genetic factors on the characteristics of growth, resistance, trunk productivity, and reproductive capacity of Scots pine in new growing conditions. The generative parts of the study objects were also examined by morphometric indicators. The changes were revealed in seed production, size, cone coloring, color and weight of 1000 pieces of seeds, seed release, seed fullness, germinative energy, and absolute germination. Genetic factors, which are programmed by ancestry, define the constancy of the difference in size and color of cones and seeds. In addition, genetic factors, along with the weather conditions of a new location, regulate reproductive ability. It was noted that Scots pine with different geographical origins enters the flowering phase at different times. The northern trees are 5–7 days earlier than locals; the southern trees are 5 days later. They were studied in the climate of the Voronezh region. The variability in the characteristics of the generative organs of Scots pine is also affected by its place of birth. The size and weight of the cone are directly related to the geographic latitude. The length and weight of the cone increase with movement from north to south. There is no strict relationship between the release of the seeds during free pollination and the place of origin since the study objects were surrounded by various pollinators. The weight of 1000 seeds changes with the same regularity as in natural stands of pine: it increases with the geographical latitude of the origin. Consequently, under the influence of new growing conditions, Scots pine is strongly affected by its genetic factors that determine the stability, trunk productivity, and reproductive capacity of the species. For citation: Galdina T.E., Chernodubov A.I., Mikhailova M.I. Intraspecific Diversity of Pinus sylvestris L. in Provenance Trials of the Central Russian Forest-Steppe Area. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2023, no. 3, pp. 84–98. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2023-3-84-98

A NAC transcription factor ZaNAC93 confers floral initiation, fruit development, and prickle formation in Zanthoxylum armatum

Zanthoxylum armatum is a dioecious prickly plant which developed apomictic reproduction. The increases in male flowers and prickle density in female plants lead to low yield and picking efficiency. However, little is known concerning the mechanisms of floral development and prickle formation. NAC is a well-known transcription factor that participates in multiple aspects of plant growth and development. Herein, we characterize the functions and regulatory mechanisms of candidate NACs controlling both traits in Z. armatum. A total of 159 ZaNACs were identified, and 16 of these were male-biased, represented by the NAP subfamily members ZaNAC93 and ZaNAC34, orthologs of AtNAC025 and AtNARS1/NAC2 respectively. Overexpression of ZaNAC93 in tomato led to modifications in flower and fruit development, including earlier flowering, increased numbers of lateral shoots and flowers, accelerated plant senescence, and reduced size and weight of fruits and seeds. In addition, the trichome density in leaves and inflorescences was dramatically reduced in ZaNAC93-OX lines. Overexpression of ZaNAC93 resulted in the up-/downregulation of genes associated with GA, ABA and JA signaling pathways, such as GAI, PYL and JAZ, as well as several TFs, including bZIP2, AGL11, FBP24 and MYB52. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that ZaNAC93 protein could interact with AP1, GAI, bZIP2 and AGL11 in Z. armatum, which might contribute to floral induction, fruit growth, and trichome initiation. This work provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of ZaNAC93 in reproductive development and prickle formation in Z. armatum.