Nutrient Storage Research Articles

Determining the Usage Properties of Some Natural Substrate Materials in submerged macrophyte Vallisneria sp. culture

In this research, which targets removing nutrients resulting from the metabolic wastes of fish and unconsumed feed from the environment in aquarium systems where fish, plants, and ground material are used in the same environment and use them as plant nutrients, it was aimed to determine the usage properties of zeolite, leonardite and diatomite materials on the growth parameters of the Vallisneria sp. plant. 
 The study was conducted in three stages for 8 months. The first step of the study was planned as the plant adaptation phase, and no fish were added to the environment. In the second step, fish was introduced. The third step was designed to determine the adsorbent mixture's plant nutrient storage capacity (effective usage period). In the experimental aquariums, no plant nutrient or fertiliser other than fish food was used at all stages. The effects and using duration on the growth of the Vallisneria sp plant of adsorbed nutrients from unconsumed feed by leonardite and zeolite mixture were investigated in three stages in aquarium condition. Trial groups were formed by adding the adsorbent mixture of the feed having a 40% protein value to the first group (G1), the adsorbent mixture of the feed having a 33% protein value to the second group (G2), and the adsorbent mixture without feed to the third group (G3).
 When the SGR values at the end of the experiment were compared, there was no statistical difference between the G1 and G2 groups, which contained 40% and 33% protein (P>0.05). On the other hand, both groups (G1, G2) showed significantly higher (P

Temporal evaluation of soil chemical quality using VNIR and XRF spectroscopies

New soil sensing technologies, such as visible and near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VNIR) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), emerged as alternatives to low-cost, rapid, and environmental-friendly soil analyses. Studies involving the prediction of integrated soil quality indices using individual and combined soil sensing techniques have not been conducted yet on tropical soils, especially regarding the temporal stability of models' performance. This study evaluated tropical soils to give insight into the potential of using individual and combined VNIR and XRF sensors to predict the Soil Chemical Quality Index (SCQI) and its sub-functions (Nutrient Availability, Acidity/Al Toxicity, and Nutrient Storage and Cycling). Furthermore, the temporal stability of these models' performance and a spiking strategy to mitigate performance loss throughout crop seasons were assessed. We conducted this study using 924 soil samples collected over three years (2018, 2019, and 2022) in a field managed with an integrated crop-livestock system (200 ha) in a Brazilian tropical area. We determined the SCQI and its sub-functions for each sample from 15 soil quality indicators. Soil samples were scanned with VNIR (350–2500 nm) and XRF (0–35 kV) spectrometers. VNIR spectroscopy predicted the SCQI, Nutrient Availability, and Nutrient Storage and Cycling with satisfactory accuracy (models classified as good, good, and excellent, respectively), outperforming the XRF technique and the fusion approach. The prediction performance of SCQI and its sub-functions does not show temporal stability. However, the performance loss can be mitigated using the spiking strategy, i.e., using new data from subsequent seasons to recalibrate the global model.

Changes of soil nutrients and organic carbon fractions in Caragana korshinskii forests with different restoration years in mountainous areas of southern Ningxia, China.

Vegetation restoration can effectively enhance soil quality and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. In this study, the distribution characteristics of soil nutrients and SOC along soil profile (0-100 cm), and their responses to restoration years (16, 28, 38 years) were studied in Caragana korshinskii plantations in the southern mountainous area of Ningxia, compared with cropland and natural grassland. The results showed that: 1) the contents of SOC, soil total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) and the proportion of particulate organic carbon to total organic carbon (POC/SOC) all decreased with increasing soil depth. The ratio of mineral-associated organic carbon to total organic carbon (MAOC/SOC) exhibited an opposite trend. 2) The contents of SOC, TN, TP, C:P, N:P, POC and MAOC gra-dually decreased as the restoration years increased. However, the C:N ratio showed no significant change. The POC/SOC ratio initially increased and then decreased, while the MAOC/SOC ratio decreased initially and then increased. 3) In three different types of vegetation, POC, MAOC, and SOC showed a highly significant positive linear correlation, with the increase in SOC mainly depended on the increase in MAOC. The SOC, TN, TP, POC and MAOC contents in natural grassland and C. korshinskii plantations were significantly higher than those in cropland. In conclusion, soil nutrients and POC and MAOC contents of C. korshinskii plantations gradually decreased with the increases in restoration years. However, when compared with cropland, natural grassland and C. korshinskii plantations demonstrated a greater capacity to maintain and enhance soil nutrient and carbon storage.

Fungal traits help to understand the decomposition of simple and complex plant litter.

Litter decomposition is a key ecosystem process, relevant for the release and storage of nutrients and carbon in soil. Soil fungi are one of the dominant drivers of organic matter decomposition, but fungal taxa differ substantially in their functional ability to decompose plant litter. Knowledge is mostly based on observational data and subsequent molecular analyses and in vitro studies have been limited to forest ecosystems. In order to better understand functional traits of saprotrophic soil fungi in grassland ecosystems, we isolated 31 fungi from a natural grassland and performed several in vitro studies testing for i) leaf and wood litter decomposition, ii) the ability to use carbon sources of differing complexity, iii) the enzyme repertoire. Decomposition strongly varied among phyla and isolates, with Ascomycota decomposing the most and Mucoromycota decomposing the least. The phylogeny of the fungi and their ability to use complex carbon were the most important predictors for decomposition. Our findings show that it is crucial to understand the role of individual members and functional groups within the microbial community. This is an important way forward to understand the role of microbial community composition for the prediction of litter decomposition and subsequent potential carbon storage in grassland soils.

Rhizome fragment weight and density of competing shoots determine belowground regrowth of Elymus repens

AbstractManagement of perennial weeds has become increasingly complex with the reduction of herbicide use and tillage. Their capacity to store nutrients into vegetative organs and to regenerate to establish new individuals makes them very persistent and hard to control. A key aspect for managing perennial weeds is to minimise storage reserves to reduce vegetative regeneration. For that prospect, better knowledge of the regrowth capacities from storage organs is needed. Our work focused on the mechanistic understanding of belowground regrowth dynamics from fragments of Elymus repens rhizomes by analysing the effect of source and sink factors. The effect of rhizome fragment weight (i.e., source) and the number of regrowing buds and belowground shoots (i.e., sinks) was assessed for four mechanisms: sprouting, belowground shoot elongation, belowground shoot biomass to length conversion and biomass allocation to belowground shoots versus roots. Heavier fragments contributed to faster sprouting, faster belowground shoot elongation and increased the proportion of remobilised biomass allocated to belowground shoots. Higher belowground shoot density increased the proportion of remobilised biomass allocated to belowground shoots but decreased individual elongation rate. In other words, larger reserves resulted in a better regeneration capacity and a higher number of growing belowground shoots increased the competition for reserves among them. The belowground shoot that sprouted first on a fragment grew faster and dominated the other shoots on the same fragment. Dominant belowground shoots were located toward the apical end of the fragment. These findings support the fact that tillage should aim at cutting storage organs into the smallest fragments possible to reduce regeneration capacity. This study also emphasised that belowground regrowth mechanisms are complex, and further studies should investigate other species with different types of storage organs.

Macroinvertebrate and environmental responses to dredging and submerged macrophytes transplantation

AbstractEutrophication of freshwater ecosystems is a global problem, but restoration can be difficult due to ongoing problems relating to water pollution, sedimentary nutrient stores and altered aquatic biodiversity. Mitigation of Eutrophication is often conducted alongside transplantation of submerged macrophytes and dredging, but knowledge of ecosystem response to post‐dredging transplantation of submerged macrophytes is limited.We report a long‐term (2008–2018) in situ monitoring study to evaluate the effects of different restoration measures: dredging only (Dredged) and dredged with post‐transplantation of submerged macrophytes (Dredged with macrophytes) conducted in five subtropical eutrophic lakes, Taihu basin. Water and sediment nutrients, bloom‐forming algaeMicrocystisand macroinvertebrate were monitored every 2 years for each treatment and compared with reference areas (Control) established in unrestored parts of the same lake.Dredging only decreased sediment nutrients (e.g. carbon, phosphorus) significantly; however, this effect diminished about 5 years later. Dredged with macrophytes had a stronger, longer lasting positive effect on water quality than dredged alone. Disturbance caused by dredging (without macrophytes transplantation) decreased the biomass ofMicrocystis, while transplantation of macrophytes shortly after dredging did not contribute to the decreasing ofMicrocystisbiomass. The biomass ofMicrocystisin Dredged with macrophytes areas was always similar to Control over the period of our monitoring.A positive effect of submerged macrophytes transplantation post‐dredging was found for macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity: Dredged with macrophytes areas had significantly higher macroinvertebrate biomass and richness than Dredged areas after 9 years' recovery. Macroinvertebrate richness in Dredged with macrophytes areas nearly doubled compared to Control, while Dredged areas were just restored to Control levels.Synthesis and applications: Our study provides an long‐term field monitoring with new findings about the benefits and caution of submerged macrophytes transplantation post‐dredging and the effect of partial restoration, which could inform eutrophic waterbody restoration schemes.

Environmental factors controlling seasonal and spatial variability of zooplankton in thermokarst lakes along a permafrost gradient of Western Siberia

Humic thermokarst lakes of permafrost peatlands in Western Siberia Lowland (WSL) are major environmental controllers of carbon and nutrient storage in inland waters and greenhouse gases emissions to the atmosphere in the subarctic. In contrast to sizable former research devoted to hydrochemical and hydrobiological (phytoplankton) composition, zooplankton communities of these thermokarst lakes and thaw ponds remain poorly understood, especially along the latitudinal gradient, which is a perfect predictor of permafrost zones. To fill this gap, 69 thermokarst lakes of the WSL were sampled using unprecedented spatial coverage, from continuous to sporadic permafrost zone, in order to assess zooplankton (Cladocera, Copepoda, Rotifera) diversity and abundance across three main open water physiological seasons (spring, summer and autumn). We aimed at assessing the relationship of environmental factors (water column hydrochemistry, nutrients, and phytoplankton parameters) with the abundance and diversity of zooplankton. A total of 74 zooplankton species and taxa were detected, with an average eight taxa per lake/pond. Species richness increased towards the north and reached the maximum in the continuous permafrost zone with 13 species found in this zone only. In contrast, the number of species per waterbody decreased towards the north, which was mainly associated with a decrease in the number of cladocerans. Abundance and diversity of specific zooplankton groups strongly varied across the seasons and permafrost zones. Among the main environmental controllers, Redundancy Analysis revealed that water temperature, lake area, depth, pH, Dissolved Inorganic and Organic Carbon and CO2 concentrations were closely related to zooplankton abundance. Cladocerans were positively related to water temperature during all seasons. Copepods were positively related to depth and lake water pH in all seasons. Rotifers were related to different factors in each season, but were most strongly associated with DOC, depth, CH4, phytoplankton and cladoceran abundance. Under climate warming scenario, considering water temperature increase and permafrost boundary shift northward, one can expect an increase in the diversity and abundance of cladocerans towards the north which can lead to partial disappearance of copepods, especially rare calanoid species.

Effects of tree size and organ age on variations in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry in Pinus koraiensis

Carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are of fundamental importance for growth and nutrient dynamics within plant organs and deserve more attention at regional to global scales. However, our knowledge of how these nutrients vary with tree size, organ age, or root order at the individual level remains limited. We determined C, N, and P contents and their stoichiometric ratios (i.e., nutrient traits) in needles, branches, and fine roots at different organ ages (0–3-year-old needles and branches) and root orders (1st–4th order roots) from 64 Pinus koraiensis of varying size (Diameter at breast height ranged from 0.3 to 100 cm) in northeast China. Soil factors were also measured. The results show that nutrient traits were regulated by tree size, organ age, or root order rather than soil factors. At a whole-plant level, nutrient traits decreased in needles and fine roots but increased in branches with tree size. At the organ level, age or root order had a negative effect on C, N, and P and a positive effect on stoichiometric ratios. Our results demonstrate that nutrient variations are closely related to organ-specific functions and ecophysiological processes at an individual level. It is suggested that the nutrient acquisition strategy by younger trees and organ fractions with higher nutrient content is for survival. Conversely, nutrient storage strategy in older trees and organ fractions are mainly for steady growth. Our results clarified the nutrient utilization strategies during tree and organ ontogeny and suggest that tree size and organ age or root order should be simultaneously considered to understand the complexities of nutrient variations.

The influence of electromagnetic radiation on the body of the honey bee

The paper presents data on the influence of electromagnetic radiation on the organism of honey bees. For this, three groups of bee families were formed. Bee families of the control group were kept under the influence of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. In the 1st experimental group, offspring were exposed to radiation with a frequency of 2580 MHz. For this, we used a GZ-122 microwave generator with an output power of 1×10-12 W. Irradiation was carried out in a chamber isolated from light and shielded from microwave radiation, which was located in a thermally and sound-insulated room shielded from microwave radiation. In experiments with bee brood, the temperature was maintained at 35 °С in shielded TS-80 thermostats. Irradiation was carried out in the following mode: 9 hours of irradiation and 7 hours of pause (without irradiation). This cycle was repeated 3 times in a row. The bee families of the second experimental group were under the influence of the same generator, which irradiated the brood in the following mode: 16 hours of irradiation and 7 hours of pause (without irradiation). This cycle was repeated 3 times in a row. It was established that bees that developed under long-term artificial irradiation acquire the morphophysiological characteristics of bees with fewer reserve nutrients. Long-term radiation exposure negatively affects the storage of nutrients in the form of lipids by 25.69 % (P < 0.05), the reduction of total nitrogen by 16.93 % (P < 0.05). Such a negative trend was revealed against the background of a 14.1 % lower mass (P < 0.01) compared to bees that developed under natural irradiation.

Tree–litter–soil system C:N:P stoichiometry and tree organ homeostasis in mixed and pure Chinese fir stands in south subtropical China

IntroductionCultivation of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) have alleviated timber shortages and mixed stands with Chinese fir and indigenous species represent a sustainable forestry model. Studying system nutrient balance and tree nutrient homeostasis can provide insights into the ecological advantages of Chinese fir mixed stands and guide the management of plantations.MethodsMixed Chinese fir plantations with two native broadleaf species (Michelia macclurei and Mytilaria laosensis) and pure Chinese fir stands were examined for our study. The responses in carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) distribution and their stoichiometric characterization in the tree–litter–soil system to stand changes were evaluated. In addition, the ecological stoichiometric homeostasis of leaves, branches, trunks, bark and roots was used to measure the trees’ adaptive capacity to stand changes.ResultsThe results showed that the mixed stands of Michelia macclurei and Chinese fir significantly increased soil OC, TN, and TP, and improved the carbon sequestration and nutrient storage functions of the plantations. The mixed stands improved the litter mass and C:N and C:P to different degrees. The soil N and P imbalance reduced the leaf N:P, resulting in N limitation of different trees, while the principal component analysis showed that the improvement of soil TN in the mixed plantation alleviated the N limitation. In addition, mixed stands reduced N, P, and N:P homeostasis in branch, trunk, and bark of some Chinese fir trees, whereas mixed species showed flexibility in leaf N:P homeostasis.DiscussionTherefore, the selection of mixed species for mixed forests is a critical factor to consider when creating mixed plantations. These results contribute to our understanding of the ecological stoichiometry of fir plantations and are of considerable importance for the sustainable development of plantations as well as for the response to global climate change.

Sonographic Measurement of the Liver in a Private Care Setting in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Introduction: The liver is one of the principal organs of our body involved in over 500 physiological functions related to metabolism, digestion, immunity, and storage of nutrients, which makes it an essential organ to preserve life. The aim of my study is to measure the different size of the liver sonographically in a randomly selected patients sample and identify factors that affect liver size.
 Methods: In this cross sectional study100 subjects were evaluated for liver length in a private care setting during a one-year study period from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021 after informed written consent. Diagnosis of liver diseases, gender differences, liver and non -liver involvements and risk factors were obtained from the subjects. Sonographic measurements of the liver in centimeters were taken from the participants.
 Results: The average liver size in the midclavicular line was 15.0 ± 1.5 cm; the average for females was 14.9 ± 1.6 cm and 15.1 ± 1.5 cm for males. 29% of all patients were male with various liver pathologies while 47% of patients were both male and female but shared the same liver pathology, the remaining 24% of patients were female with different pathologies of the liver. Minimum age of the study population was 6 years and the maximum age were 82 years. Regarding occupations of study population, 16% were doing service,29% were housewives,18% were students. Most of the study subjects were from Chattogram (98%) and 32% of the patients had a history of smoking. Liver size exceeded 16 cm in 53% of patients had liver or non-liver involvement and 47% are liver involvement. The fatty changes in the liver Grade I were the most common finding (36%).
 Conclusions: Sonographic measurement of liver length can lead to early diagnosis of various liver diseases.

Storage cell proliferation during somatic growth establishes that tardigrades are not eutelic organisms.

Tardigrades, microscopic ecdysozoans known for extreme environment resilience, were traditionally believed to maintain a constant cell number after completing embryonic development, a phenomenon termed eutely. However, sporadic reports of dividing cells have raised questions about this assumption. In this study, we explored tardigrade post-embryonic cell proliferation using the model species Hypsibius exemplaris. Comparing hatchlings to adults, we observed an increase in the number of storage cells, responsible for nutrient storage. We monitored cell proliferation via 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation, revealing large numbers of EdU+ storage cells during growth, which starvation halted. EdU incorporation associated with molting, a vital post-embryonic development process involving cuticle renewal for further growth. Notably, DNA replication inhibition strongly reduced EdU+ cell numbers and caused molting-related fatalities. Our study is the first to demonstrate using molecular approaches that storage cells actively proliferate during tardigrade post-embryonic development, providing a comprehensive insight into replication events throughout their somatic growth. Additionally, our data underscore the significance of proper DNA replication in tardigrade molting and survival. This work definitely establishes that tardigrades are not eutelic, and offers insights into cell cycle regulation, replication stress, and DNA damage management in these remarkable creatures as genetic manipulation techniques emerge within the field.

Long-term effects of vegetation restoration and forest management on carbon pools and nutrient storages in northeastern Loess Plateau, China

It is crucial for understanding the variations of carbon and nutrient pools within the ecosystems during long-term vegetation restoration to accurately assess the effects of different ecological restoration patterns. However, the long-term spatio-temporal variations of carbon and nutrient pools under different vegetation types remain unclear. The sites for long-term natural and planted forests (i.e., Natural secondary forest, Pinus tabulaeformis planted forest, Platycladus orientalis planted forest, and Robinia pseudoacacia planted forest) on the northeastern Loess Plateau, China were selected, to measure and analyze the differences and interannual variations of vegetation attributes at four synusiae and soil properties at 0–100 cm over the period of 12 years (2006–2017). The principal component analysis (PCA) and Mantel test were also conducted to explore the relationships among vegetation attributes, soil properties, and carbon and nutrient pools. The results showed that: compared with the planted forests, the natural secondary forest had lower arborous biomass (84.21 ± 1.53 t hm−2) and higher understory biomass and plant heights. Compared to planted forests, the secondary forest had higher soil carbon and nitrogen contents (13.74 ± 3.50 g kg−1 and 1.16 ± 0.34 g kg−1). The soil carbon pool in the secondary forest was 22.0% higher than planted forests, while the vegetation carbon pool in the P. tabulaeformis was 75.5% higher than other forests. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Mantel test revealed that vegetation attributes and soil properties had significant correlations with carbon and nutrient pools, especially at the arborous synusia (p < 0.01). The findings indicated that in the ecologically fragile Loess Plateau region, the selection of appropriate vegetation restoration types should be guided by varying ecological restoration goals and benefits, aiming to expected ecological outcomes. This insight offers a strategic implication for forest management that is tailored to improve carbon and nutrient pools in areas with similar environmental conditions.

Effects of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) Expansion on the Stock and Nutrient Characteristics of the Litter Layer in Subtropical Coniferous and Broad-Leaved Mixed Forests, China

To reveal the changes on the stock of the litter layer and its nutrient storage capacity during Moso bamboo expansion in subtropical coniferous and broad-leaved forests, permanent plots were set up in the transitional zone in Wuxie National Park, Zhuji, Zhejiang, China. The plots contained conifer and broad-leaved forests (CFs), transition forests (TFs), and Moso bamboo forests (MFs), which represented three stages of the expansion of Moso bamboo to the surrounding forests. Litter samples were collected and analyzed by un-decomposed, semi-decomposed, and decomposed layers. The stock of the litter layer, the content and storage of the main nutrient elements, and their release rate were measured. It was revealed that the stock of the litter layer and each decomposition layer decreased as the bamboo expands. However, the litter decomposition rate exhibited a positive correlation with the expansion of Moso bamboo, which might be due to the change in the physical properties of the litter. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in the un-decomposed and semi-decomposed layers of the litter contents of C, N, and P between the three forests, but the contents of C, N, and P in the decomposed layer gradually decreased with the expansion of Moso bamboo. There were no remarkable differences in the N content, C/N, C/P, and lignin/N values of the un-decomposed layer of the three forests, indicating that the litter quality was not the principal reason affecting the decomposition rate. The total nutrient storage in the litter layer decreased significantly with the bamboo expansion, and the release rate of nutrient elements increased, which was adverse to the accumulation and storage of the nutrients. The material cycle of the original forest ecosystem is likely to deteriorate gradually with the bamboo expansion.

Estimating surrogates, utility graphs and indicator sets for soil capacity and security assessments using legacy data

Context Legacy data from prior studies enable preliminary analysis for soil security assessment which will inform future research questions. Aims This study aims to utilise the soil security assessment framework (SSAF) to evaluate the capacity of soil in fulfilling various roles and understand the underlying drivers. Methods The framework entails: (1) defining a combination of role(s) × dimension(s) and identifying a target indicator (a soil property that can be used to evaluate a particular role × dimension combination) or a surrogate indicator (an alternative indicator when there is not a clear target indicator); (2) transforming the indicator into a unitless score (ranging from 0 to 1) using a utility graph based on expert knowledge; (3) fitting the remaining soil properties (potential indicators) into utility graphs and weighing them using (a) ordination and (b) regression method. The application of this framework is demonstrated in evaluating two soil roles: nutrient storage and habitat for biodiversity (with pH and microbial DNA Shannon’s diversity index as surrogates, respectively) for an area in the lower Hunter Valley region, New South Wales, Australia. Key results The regression model provides utility estimates that were similar to those obtained from surrogates, in comparison to the utility derived from the ordination model. Conclusions This study provides a methodological pathway to examine the capacity and drivers of fulfilling different soil roles. The standardisation of this method opens the door to a complete quantification under the SSAF. Implications Indicators derived from a legacy dataset can be used for soil security assessment.

GPCRs involved in metabolic diseases: pharmacotherapeutic development updates.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are expressed in a variety of cell types and tissues, and activation of GPCRs is involved in enormous metabolic pathways, including nutrient synthesis, transportation, storage or insulin sensitivity, etc. This review intends to summarize the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and mechanisms by a series of GPCRs, such as GPR91, GPR55, GPR119, GPR109a, GPR142, GPR40, GPR41, GPR43 and GPR120. With deep understanding of GPCR's structure and signaling pathways, it is attempting to uncover the role of GPCRs in major metabolic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, dyslipidemia and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, for which the global prevalence has risen during last two decades. An extensive list of agonists and antagonists with their chemical structures in a nature of small molecular compounds for above-mentioned GPCRs is provided as pharmacologic candidates, and their preliminary data of preclinical studies are discussed. Moreover, their beneficial effects in correcting abnormalities of metabolic syndrome, diabetes and dyslipidemia are summarized when clinical trials have been undertaken. Thus, accumulating data suggest that these agonists or antagonists might become as new pharmacotherapeutic candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Autumnal Potassium Induced Modulations in Plant Osmoprotectant Substances, Nutrient Stoichiometry and Precision Sustainable Seedling Cultivation in Parashorea chinensis

Parashorea chinensis, an endemic tree species in China’s tropical rainforests, holds ecological and economic importance. Challenges like low resistance, poor quality, and low survival rates hinder its successful cultivation. This study explores the potential of autumn potassium fertilization on Parashorea seedlings from two provenances (Napo and Tianyang). The treatments included no fertilizer (CK-1), a single application of 160 mg K·plant−1 (CK-2), and various potassium levels K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, and K6 (corresponding to 0, 40, 80, 160, 320, and 640 mg·K·plant−1, respectively) combined with nitrogen (200 mg·plant−1) and phosphorus (80 mg·plant−1) fertilization. The findings indicate that autumn potassium application, in conjunction with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization, significantly enhances seedling height and biomass in both provenances, resulting in an average increase of 101% and 89% under the K4 treatment compared to CK-1 and CK-2, comparatively. Both Napo and Tianyang provenances exhibited distinct responses in photosynthetic rate (2.70 μmol·m−2·s−1 and 1.97 μmol·m−2·s−1, respectively) and stomatal conductance (0.042 mol·m−2·s−1 and 0.029 mol·m−2·s−1, respectively) to the K4 treatment, which proved most effective. The chlorophyll content was significantly higher for Napo provenance with the K3 treatment (74.31%, 58.99%), while for Tianyang, it was higher with the K4 treatment (41.48%, 17.36%), compared to CK-1 and CK-2, respectively. Antioxidant enzymes activity, osmoregulatory capacity, and malondialdehyde content all exhibited variations with potassium application levels, with the K4 treatment offering significant benefits. In Napo provenance, lignin (199.82 mg·g−1) and cellulose (252.38 mg·g−1) peaked at K4, while Tianyang exhibited variation, higher lignin (184.25 mg·g−1) at K3, and cellulose (257.73 mg·g−1) at K4. Nutrient content analysis demonstrates that the K4 treatment enhances nutrient absorption and storage, increasing total N (21.56 mg·kg−1), P (4.69 mg·kg−1), and K (13.49 mg·kg−1) content. A comprehensive analysis reveals that the K4 treatment yields the highest quality scores (1.87, 1.85) and membership values (0.82, 0.68) for both Napo and Tianyang seedlings, with Napo seedlings outperforming their Tianyang provenance. Thus, treatment K4 underscores the effectiveness of autumn potassium applications for robust seedling cultivation and adaptation, offering valuable insights for sustainable cultivation practices.

Soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus storage in juniper–oak savanna: role of vegetation and geology

Abstract. Woody-plant encroachment into grasslands and savannas has been globally widespread during the past century, likely driven by interactions between grazing, fire suppression, rising atmospheric CO2, and climate change. In the southernmost US Great Plains, Ashe juniper and live oak have increased in abundance. To evaluate potential interactions between this vegetation change and the underlying soil parent material on ecosystem biogeochemistry, we quantified soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and δ13C of SOC in soils obtained from trenches passing through grassland, juniper, and oak patches on soils lying atop the respective Edwards and Buda limestone formations in central Texas. Soils on the Edwards formation are more shallow and have more rock outcropping than those on Buda. The δ13C values of SOC under grasslands was −19 ‰, whereas those under woody patches were −21 ‰ to −24 ‰, indicating that wooded areas were relatively recent components of the landscape. Compared with grasslands, areas now dominated by juniper or oak had elevated SOC, TN, and TP storage in soils lying atop Edwards limestone. In Buda soils, only oak patches had increased SOC, TN, and TP storage compared with grasslands. Woody encroachment effects on soil nutrients were higher in soils on the Edwards formation, perhaps because root and litter inputs were more concentrated in the relatively shallow layer of soil atop the Edwards bedrock. Our findings suggest that geological factors should be considered when predicting nutrient store responses in savannas following vegetation change. Given that woody encroachment is occurring globally, our results have important implications for the management and conservation of these ecosystems. The potential interactive effects between vegetation change and soil parent material on C, N, and P storage warrant attention in future studies aimed at understanding and modeling the global consequences of woody encroachment.

A widespread bacterial protein compartment sequesters and stores elemental sulfur.

Subcellular compartments often serve to store nutrients or sequester labile or toxic compounds. As bacteria mostly do not possess membrane-bound organelles, they often have to rely on protein-based compartments. Encapsulins are one of the most prevalent protein-based compartmentalization strategies found in prokaryotes. Here, we show that desulfurase encapsulins can sequester and store large amounts of crystalline elemental sulfur. We determine the 1.78-angstrom cryo-EM structure of a 24-nanometer desulfurase-loaded encapsulin. Elemental sulfur crystals can be formed inside the encapsulin shell in a desulfurase-dependent manner with l-cysteine as the sulfur donor. Sulfur accumulation can be influenced by the concentration and type of sulfur source in growth medium. The selectively permeable protein shell allows the storage of redox-labile elemental sulfur by excluding cellular reducing agents, while encapsulation substantially improves desulfurase activity and stability. These findings represent an example of a protein compartment able to accumulate and store elemental sulfur.

Ceramides are fuel gauges on the drive to cardiometabolic disease.

Ceramides are signals of fatty acid excess that accumulate when a cell's energetic needs have been met and its nutrient storage has reached capacity. As these sphingolipids accrue, they alter the metabolism and survival of cells throughout the body including in the heart, liver, blood vessels, skeletal muscle, brain, and kidney. These ceramide actions elicit the tissue dysfunction that underlies cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, metabolic-associated steatohepatitis, and heart failure. Here, we review the biosynthesis and degradation pathways that maintain ceramide levels in normal physiology and discuss how the loss of ceramide homeostasis drives cardiometabolic pathologies. We highlight signaling nodes that sense small changes in ceramides and in turn reprogram cellular metabolism and stimulate apoptosis. Finally, we evaluate the emerging therapeutic utility of these unique lipids as biomarkers that forecast disease risk and as targets of ceramide-lowering interventions that ameliorate disease.