Elements are important functional traits reflecting plant response to climate change. Multiple elements work jointly in plant physiology. Although a large number of studies have focused on the variation and allocation of multiple elements in plants, it remains unclear how these elements co-vary to adapt to environmental change. We proposed a novel concept of the multi-element network including the

The mainly Australian grass genus Austrostipa (tribe Stipeae) comprising approximately 64 species represents a remarkable example of an evolutionary radiation. To investigate aspects of diversification, macro- and micromorphological variation in this genus, we conducted molecular phylogenetic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses including representatives from most of Austrostipa’s currently

Calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) and its substrates play important roles in plant response to stress. So far, the documentation on the characterization of the CDPK and downstream interaction components (especially transcription factors, TFs) is limited. In the present study, an interaction between CgCDPK (protein kinase) (accession no. MW26306) and CgbHLH001 (TF) (accession no. MT797813) from

The Lolium genus encompasses many species that colonize a variety of disturbed and non-disturbed environments. Lolium perenne L. spp. perenne, L. perenne L. spp. multiflorum, and L. rigidum are of particular interest to weed scientists because of their ability to thrive in agricultural and non-agricultural areas. Herbicides are the main tool to control these weeds; however, Lolium spp. populations

Plants and phytophagous arthropods have co-evolved for millions of years. During this long coexistence, plants have developed defense mechanisms including constitutive and inducible defenses. In an effort to survive upon herbivore attack, plants suffer a resource reallocation to facilitate the prioritization of defense toward growth. These rearrangements usually end up with a penalty in plant growth

Environments with short growing seasons and variable climates can have soil temperatures that are suboptimal for chilling-sensitive crops. These conditions can adversely affect root growth and physiological performance thus impairing water and nutrient uptake. Four greenhouse trials and a field study were conducted to investigate if rootstocks can enhance tomato performance under suboptimal soil temperatures

Lucerne (Medicago sativa), a major perennial pasture legume, belongs to a species complex that includes several subspecies with wild and cultivated populations. Stand establishment may be compromised by poor germination. Seed scarification, deterioration and temperature have an impact on germination. The objective of this study was to analyse the genetic diversity of lucerne germination in response

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) seed lipid is a promising non-edible feedstock for biodiesel production. In order to meet the increasing demand, achieving high seed lipid content is one of the major goals in tobacco seed production. The TT8 gene and its homologs negatively regulate seed lipid accumulation in Arabidopsis and Brassica species. We speculated that manipulating the homolog genes of TT8 in

European farmers and especially organic farmers rely on legume–grass mixtures in their crop rotation as an organic nitrogen (N) source, as legumes can fix atmospheric N, which is the most important element for plant growth. Furthermore, legume–grass serves as valuable fodder for livestock and biogas plants. Therefore, information about aboveground biomass and N fixation (NFix) is crucial for efficient

Food legumes are important for defeating malnutrition and sustaining agri-food systems globally. Breeding efforts in legume crops have been largely confined to the exploitation of genetic variation available within the primary genepool, resulting in narrow genetic base. Introgression as a breeding scheme has been remarkably successful for an array of inheritance and molecular studies in food legumes

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the world’s staple food crops and one of the most devastating foliar diseases attacking wheat is powdery mildew (PM). In Denmark only a few specific fungicides are available for controlling PM and the use of resistant cultivars is often recommended. In this study, two Chinese wheat landraces and two synthetic hexaploid wheat lines were used as donors for creating

A fast and nondestructive method for recognizing the severity of wheat Fusarium head blight (FHB) can effectively reduce fungicide use and associated costs in wheat production. This study proposed a feature fusion method based on deep convolution and shallow features derived from the high-resolution digital Red-green-blue (RGB) images of wheat FHB at different disease severity levels. To test the robustness

Crop improvement for Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) requires a well-defined phenotype and genotype, especially for different N-forms. As N-supply enhances growth, we comprehensively evaluated 25 commonly measured phenotypic parameters for N response using 4 N treatments in six indica rice genotypes. For this, 32 replicate potted plants were grown in the green-house on nutrient-depleted sand. They were

Methodology combining mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) with ion mobility separation (IMS) has emerged as a biological imaging technique due to its versatility, sensitivity and label-free approach. This technique has been shown to separate isomeric compounds such as lipids, amino acids, carboxylic acids and carbohydrates. This report describes mass spectrometry imaging in combination with traveling-wave

Adventitious root (AR) development takes place in an intricate cellular environment. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses, triggered by wounding in cuttings, can modulate this process. A comparative assessment of biochemical and anatomical parameters at critical rooting stages in hard- (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and easy- (Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill ex Maiden) to-root species was

Sensory quality is of increasing importance to consumer decisions in choosing a product, and it is certainly an important factor in repurchasing in terms of meeting the necessary aroma quality and taste properties. To better understand the effects of rootstocks and scions on fruit quality, the sensory profile and volatile aroma composition of the fruits of hydroponically grown tomato plants were evaluated

Magnesium (Mg) is an abundant and important cation in cells. Plants rely on Mg transporters to take up Mg from the soil, and then Mg is transported to anthers and other organs. Here, we showed that MGT6+/− plants display reduced fertility, while mgt6 plants are fertile. MGT6 is expressed in the anther at the early stages. Pollen mitosis and intine formation are impaired in aborted pollen grains (PGs)

Lycoris species have great ornamental and medicinal values; however, their low regeneration efficiency significantly restricts their commercial production. Exogenous hormone application is an effective way to promote bulblet development, but their effect on Lycoris radiata has not been verified to date. In the present study, we examined the effect of different exogenous hormones on bulblet development

Floral volatiles and reward traits are major drivers for the behavior of mutualistic as well as antagonistic flower visitors, i.e., pollinators and florivores. These floral traits differ tremendously between species, but intraspecific differences and their consequences on organism interactions remain largely unknown. Floral volatile compounds, such as terpenoids, function as cues to advertise rewards

Plant litter decomposition is a crucial ecosystem process that regulates nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and plant productivity and is strongly influenced by increased nitrogen (N) deposition. However, the effects of exogenous N input on litter decomposition are still poorly understood, especially in temperate shrublands, which hinders predictions of soil C and nutrient dynamics under the context

Salt stress is an adverse environmental factor for plant growth and development. Under salt stress, plants can activate the selective autophagy pathway to alleviate stress. However, the regulatory mechanism of selective autophagy in response to salt stress remains largely unclear. Here, we report that the selective autophagy receptor PagNBR1 (neighbor of BRCA1) is induced by salt stress in Populus

Digital farming is a novel agricultural philosophy that aims to maximize a crop yield with the minimal environmental impact. Digital farming requires the development of technologies that can work directly in the field providing information about a plant health. Raman spectroscopy (RS) is an emerging analytical technique that can be used for non-invasive, non-destructive, and confirmatory diagnostics

The current study has determined the effect of red and blue lights on the enhancement of growth, antioxidant property, phytochemical contents, and expression of proteins in Scrophularia kakudensis. In vitro-grown shoot tip explants of S. kakudensis were cultured on the plant growth regulator-free Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and cultured under the conventional cool white fluorescent lamp (control)

Nepenthes is a genus comprising carnivorous tropical pitcher plants that have evolved trapping organs at the tip of their leaves for nutrient acquisition from insect trapping. Recent studies have applied proteomics approaches to identify proteins in the pitcher fluids for better understanding the carnivory mechanism, but protein identification is hindered by limited species-specific transcriptomes

Sweetpotato is an important food crop globally, serving as a rich source of carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber, and micronutrients. Sweetpotato yield depends on the modification of adventitious roots into storage roots. The underlying mechanism of this developmental switch is not fully understood. Interestingly, storage-root formation is manifested by formation of starch-accumulating parenchyma cells and

ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5) is an important regulator of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway involved in regulating seed germination and postgerminative growth in Arabidopsis, which integrates various phytohormone pathways to balance plant growth and stress responses. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying ABI5 and its interacting proteins remain largely unknown. Here

Fertilization plays an irreplaceable role in raising crop yields; however, there are issues with unnecessary and blind use of chemical fertilizers, which raise the risk of contamination in the atmosphere. It is hypothesized that fertilization of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) will together improve the essential oil (EO) yield and composition of Tagetes minuta L. Thus, 2 years field experiment were carried

Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) are channels facilitating the passive diffusion of water and small solutes. Arabidopsis PIP2;7 trafficking occurs through physical interaction with SNARE proteins including the syntaxin SYP121, a plasma membrane Qa-SNARE involved in membrane fusion. To better understand the interaction mechanism, we aimed at identifying the interaction motifs in SYP121 and

Cyclocarya paliurus is an extremely valuable and multifunctional tree species whose leaves have traditionally been used in used in medicine or as a medicinal tea in China. In recent years, anthracnose has been frequently observed on young leaves of C. paliurus in several nurseries located in Jiangsu Province, resulting in great yield and quality losses. To date, no information is available about the

The small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus; SBPH) is a piercing-sucking insect that secretes salivary proteins into its plant host during feeding. However, the mechanisms by which these salivary proteins regulate plant defense responses remain poorly understood. Here, we identified the disulfide isomerase (LsPDI1) in the SBPH salivary proteome. LsPDI1 was highly expressed in the SBPH salivary

Red coloration contributes to fruit quality and is determined by anthocyanin content in peach (Prunus persica). Our previous study illustrated that anthocyanin accumulation is strongly regulated by light, and the effect of induction differs according to light quality. Here we showed that both ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation promoted anthocyanin biosynthesis in “Hujingmilu” peach

Bacteria exhibiting beneficial traits like increasing the bioavailability of essential nutrients and modulating hormone levels in plants are known as plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria. The occurrence of this specific group of bacteria in the endophytic environment may reflect the decisive role they play in a particular condition. This study aimed to determine the taxonomical diversity of the culturable

In viticulture, rootstocks are essential to cope with edaphic constraints. They can also be used to modulate scion growth and development to help improve berry yield and quality. The rootstock contribution to scion growth is not fully understood. Since nitrogen (N) is a significant driver of grapevine growth, rootstock properties associated with N uptake and transport may play a key role in the growth

Increasing incidence of chronic diseases in the 21st century has emphasized the importance of developing crops with enhanced nutritional value. Plant-based diets are associated with reduced incidence of many chronic diseases. The growing population and increased food demand have prioritized the development of high-yielding commercial crop varieties at the expense of natural flavors as well as health-benefiting

Laticifer occurrence and structure are poorly known in Sapindaceae. Occurrence is likely underestimated owing to the low production of latex in most species. We investigated 67 species from 23 genera of Sapindaceae to verify laticifer occurrence and their structural, developmental and chemical features, as well as their evolutionary history in the family. Shoots were collected from herbarium and fresh

The MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog) family is one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, and is widely involved in the regulation of plant metabolism. In this study, we show that a MYB4 transcription factor, BpMYB4, identified from birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) and homologous to EgMYB1 from Eucalyptus robusta Smith and ZmMYB31 from Zea mays L. is involved

In agriculture, the increasing scarcity of arable land and the increase in extreme weather conditions has led to a large proportion of crops, especially vegetables, being cultivated in protected soilless cultivation methods to provide people with sufficient and high-quality food. Rockwool has been used for decades as a soil substitute in soilless cultivation. Since rockwool is not biodegradable, it

During endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation, free N-glycans (FNGs) are produced from misfolded nascent glycoproteins via the combination of the cytosolic peptide N-glycanase (cPNGase) and endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase) in the plant cytosol. The resulting high-mannose type (HMT)-FNGs, which carry one GlcNAc residue at the reducing end (GN1-FNGs), are ubiquitously found in developing

Waterlogging stress (WS) induces ethylene (ET) and polyamine (spermine, putrescine, and spermidine) production in plants, but their reprogramming is a decisive element for determining the fate of the plant upon waterlogging-induced stress. WS can be challenged by exploring symbiotic microbes that improve the plant’s ability to grow better and resist WS. The present study deals with identification and

Plant albinism causes the etiolation of leaves because of factors such as deficiency of chloroplasts or chlorophylls. In general, albino tea leaves accumulate higher free amino acid (FAA) contents than do conventional green tea leaves. To explore the metabolic changes of etiolated leaves (EL) in the light-sensitive Japanese albino tea cultivar “Koganemidori,” we performed integrated metabolome and

Edamame is a food-grade soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] that is harvested immature between the R6 and R7 reproductive stages. To be labeled as a premium product, the edamame market demands large pod size and intense green color. A staggered harvest season is critical for the commercial industry to post-harvest process the crop in a timely manner. Currently, there is little information to assist in

Helianthus annuus L. is an important oilseed crop, which exhibits moderate salt tolerance and can be cultivated in areas affected by salinity. Using patch-clamp electrophysiology, we have characterized Na+ influx and K+ efflux conductances in protoplasts of salt-tolerant H. annuus L. hybrid KBSH-53 under high salinity. This work demonstrates that the plasma membrane of sunflower root cells has a classic

The diversity of inflorescences among flowering plants is captivating. Such charm is not only due to the variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and flowers displayed, but also to the range of reproductive systems. For instance, hermaphrodites occur abundantly throughout the plant kingdom with both stamens and carpels within the same flower. Nevertheless, 10% of flowering plants have separate unisexual flowers

The Italian grape germplasm is characterized by a high level of richness in terms of varieties number, with nearly 600 wine grape varieties listed in the Italian National Register of Grapevine Varieties and with a plethora of autochthonous grapes. In the present study an extended SNP genotyping has been carried out on Italian germplasm of cultivated Vitis vinifera subsp. sativa and Vitis hybrids. Several

Exotic Populus taxa pose a threat to the success of riparian forest restoration in floodplain areas. We evaluated the impact of exotic Populus taxa on softwood riparian forest development along the river Common Meuse after introducing native Populus nigra and after the re-establishment of the natural river dynamics. We sampled 154 poplar seedlings that spontaneously colonized restored habitat and assessed

The cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is currently the third most important food crop in the world and is becoming increasingly important to the local economies of developing countries. Climate change threatens to drastically reduce potato yields in areas of the world where the growing season is predicted to become hotter and drier. Modern potato is well known as an extremely drought susceptible

Hybridization in plants results in phenotypic and genotypic perturbations that can have dramatic effects on hybrid physiology, ecology, and overall fitness. Hybridization can also perturb epigenetic control of transposable elements, resulting in their proliferation. Understanding the mechanisms that maintain genomic integrity after hybridization is often confounded by changes in ploidy that occur in

The economic viability and energy use of vertical farms strongly depend on the efficiency of the use of light. Increasing far-red radiation (FR, 700–800 nm) relative to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm) may induce shade avoidance responses including stem elongation and leaf expansion, which would benefit light interception, and FR might even be photosynthetically active when used

Blue is a favored color of many humans. While blue skies and oceans are a common visual experience, this color is less frequently observed in flowers. We first review how blue has been important in human culture, and thus how our perception of blue has likely influenced the way of scientifically evaluating signals produced in nature, including approaches as disparate as Goethe’s Farbenlehre, Linneaus’

Eclipta prostrata (L.) is an important and well-known medicinal plant due to its valuable bioactive compounds. Microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and salinity could directly impact plant metabolome, thus influencing their secondary metabolites and the efficacy of herbal medicine. In this study, the role of different single AMF species (Funneliformis mosseae, Septoglomus deserticola

Climate adaptation through phenotypic innovation will become the main challenge for plants during global warming. Plants exhibit a plethora of mechanisms to achieve environmental and developmental plasticity by inducing dynamic alterations of gene regulation and by maximizing natural variation through large population sizes. While successful over long evolutionary time scales, most of these mechanisms

Understanding the genetics of field-based tolerance to high iron-associated (HIA) stress in rice can accelerate the development of new varieties with enhanced yield performance in West African lowland ecosystems. To date, few field-based studies have been undertaken to rigorously evaluate rice yield performance under HIA stress conditions. In this study, two NERICA × O. sativa bi-parental rice populations

Salinity is one of the most impacting abiotic stresses regarding crop productivity and quality. Among the strategies that are attracting attention in the protection of crops from abiotic stresses, there is the use of plant biostimulants. In this study, Megafol (Meg), a commercial plant biostimulant, was tested on olive plants subjected to severe saline stress. Plants treated with salt alone showed

Ca2+ is a second messenger that mediates plant responses to abiotic stress; Ca2+ signals need to be decoded by Ca2+ sensors that translate the signal into physiological, metabolic, and molecular responses. Recent research regarding the Ca2+ sensor CALCINEURIN B-LIKE PROTEIN 10 (CBL10) has resulted in important advances in understanding the function of this signaling component during abiotic stress

WRKY transcription factors play important roles in plants, including responses to stress; however, our understanding of the function of WRKY genes in plant responses to viral infection remains limited. In this study, we investigate the role of NbWRKY40 in Nicotiana benthamiana resistance to tomato mosaic virus (ToMV). NbWRKY40 is significantly downregulated by ToMV infection, and subcellular localization

Increased plant density markedly affects canopy morphophysiological activities and crop productivity. This study aims to model maize canopy final morphology under increased interplant competition by revising a functional–structural plant model, i.e., ADEL-Maize. A 2-year field experiment was conducted at Mengcheng, Anhui Province, China, in 2016 and 2018. A randomized complete block design of five

In the Anthropocene, more than three quarters of ice-free land has experienced some form of human-driven habitat modification, with agriculture dominating 40% of the Earth’s surface. This land use change alters the quality, availability, and configuration of habitat resources, affecting the community composition of plants and insects, as well as their interactions with each other. Landscapes dominated

Plants exhibit a wide array of floral forms and pollinators can act as agent of selection on floral traits. Two trends have emerged from recent reviews of pollinator-mediated selection in plants. First, pollinator-mediated selection on plant-level attractants such as floral display size is stronger than on flower-level attractant such as flower color. Second, when comparing plant species, distinct

Although boron (B) is an element that has long been assumed to be an essential plant micronutrient, this assumption has been recently questioned. Cumulative evidence has demonstrated that the players associated with B uptake and translocation by plant roots include a sophisticated set of proteins used to cope with B levels in the soil solution. Here, we summarize compelling evidence supporting the