As COVID-19 has swept across the world, governments have been prompted to order social distancing measures, from the closure of schools, restaurants and public facilities to quarantines and lockdowns. Access to and contact with nature have been suggested to help combat impacts associated with isolation measures, and a coincidental surge in the number of visitors to country parks in Hong Kong has recently

This study investigated how the ploidy level of the kiwifruit pollinizer cultivars “CK3” (diploid), “T line” (tetraploid), “Pohwa” (hexaploid) and “Chieftain” (hexaploid) affected fruit set, fruit quality, and seed formation in the tetraploid kiwifruit cultivars “Halla Gold” and “Sweet Gold” cultivated in an unheated greenhouse in Jeju, Korea. Pollen tubes growing in the pistil reached and combined

Powdery mildew (PM), caused by Podosphaera xanthii, is one of the most serious disease in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). Specific members of the Mildew Locus O (MLO) gene family act as susceptibility factors by recognizing PM pathogens and the corresponding loss-of-function mutations confer broad-spectrum durable host resistance. However, the potential PM-susceptibility genes in bitter gourd have

Russland kennzeichnet im Moment (2019) das schnellste Wachstum im Obstbau im Osten. Der Apfelmarkt Russlands von ca. 2,6–4,3 Mio. t Äpfeln/Jahr besteht aus 0,9–1,1 Mio. t Erwerbsobstbau, je nach Schätzung ca. 800.000 t oder 2,5 Mio. t aus Hausgärten, die statistisch schwer zu erfassen sind, und ca. 1,3 Mio. t (2016), aber nur noch 0,7 Mio. t in Frostjahr 2017 Import aus Serbien, Kasachstan, Usbekistan

We explored the relationship between skin color and the expression of genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis during fruit ripening in two citrus cultivars, ‘Shiranuhi’ (a hybrid mandarin cultivar) and ‘Suneat’ (mutant cultivar derived from a natural bud mutation of ‘Shiranuhi’). We identified 16 and 7 genes putatively involved in carotenoid biosynthesis and regulation via phylogenetic analysis in

ABSTRACT Biological herbicides or bioherbicides can reduce the use of synthetic herbicides and minimise the negative environmental impact of them. To be successful, bioherbicides must have a competitive price, efficiency and consistency. In this review, the highest level of development, and the future prospects for herbicides of biological origin are reported and discussed. Application of bioherbicides

This study investigated the optimal culture conditions of anther-derived callus induction according to heat shock treatment, culture medium, and the concentration of myo-inositol, AgNO3, and Fe-EDTA. We also explored the optimal culture conditions for the regeneration of haploid-derived plants, made by using anther-derived callus, according to the concentration of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and

Lettuce downy mildew caused by Bremia lactucae is one of the main diseases in high humidity and low temperature conditions. The identification of virulence factors appearing in the pathogen population could help improve breeding programs against this disease. This study aimed to monitor and evaluate virulence dynamic changes in B. lactucae virulence among two Brazilian regions to recommend resistance

ABSTRACT MicroRNA (miRNA) belongs to a class of non-coding small RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. In this study, we employed transcriptome, small RNA, and degradome sequencing to systematically investigate the miRNAs in Paeonia ostii. In total, 113 novel miRNA hairpin precursors were predicted, and 123 novel potential miRNAs were identified. Among them, five novel miRNAs and

Hexaploid spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) may exhibit significant crown rot disease responses to infection by Fusarium pseudograminearum, with a range of susceptibility levels available in commercial cultivars. Dry conditions during grain-fill may lead to the expression of prematurely senescing culms, which typically fail to set grain. Assessment of hexaploid spring wheat plants exhibiting both non-senescent

ABSTRACT Photosynthetic activity and remobilisation of nutrients during the reproductive phase of rice are detrimental factors, directly linked with crop productivity. The objective of this study was to determine the priming efficacy on different physiological features such as generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), accumulation of malondialdehyde, activities of enzymatic and content of non-enzymatic

ABSTRACT The study objective was to determine the effects of field application of hexanal on pre-harvest market attributes of orange (Citrus sinensis L.) fruits. The first factor was hexanal concentration (0.01, 0.02, 0.04% and controls – untreated fruits), the second factor consisted of time of hexanal application prior to fruit harvest (7, 21, 42 and 60 days to harvest) and the third factor was season

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-020-00527-5

Street trees are often unequally distributed in urban areas, and their physical and structural attributes, such as extent of canopy cover, species composition, and size distribution, are also spatially heterogeneous. Some studies report that inequalities are more prevalent in streetscapes than in private landscapes. Considering the existing inequality issues and public nature of street trees, street

The original version of this article unfortunately contained two mistakes.

Multi-storey estates that concentrate a high share of the urban population are of particular importance for the quality of life in European Cities. To explore the diversity of their socio-environmental potential, we investigated complexes of different spatial structures, environmental, social and economic conditions - socmodernist estates from 1960 to 1990 and modern multifamily residential areas built

ABSTRACT To evaluate the effect of the management system on soil quality, chemical and biological properties were measured in soils (0–20 cm depth) from Japanese plum orchards managed under organic and conventional conditions. The experiment was conducted between 2005 and 2014 in orchards established at the agricultural research station at Alcalá del Río, Seville, Spain. Overall, the soil chemical

ABSTRACT In the ethylene signalling pathway, EIN2 is an essential signal transducer linking ethylene perception on endoplasmic reticulum to transcriptional regulation in the nucleus, EIN3/EIL1 transcription factors initiate various responses leading to an ethylene response, and EBFs function in ethylene perception by regulating EIN3/EIL1 turnover. In this work, we isolated and characterised three EIN3

The constant demand by society for quality timber associated with reduced exploitation of native forests has promoted the use of alternative species such as the African Mahogany (Khaya grandifoliola C. Dc.). The production cycle of this species began with the introduction of seeds in the 1970s and good silvicultural performance of the first planted matrix trees, then spreading throughout several Brazilian

ABSTRACT The effects of controlling night temperatures (NTs) during summer-season on flowering and photosynthetic characteristics in Chrysanthemum morifolium were investigated at NTs of 20, 23, 26, or 29°C and a day temperature (DT) of 35°C. Days to budding and flowering increased more in the plants grown at NTs of 26 or 29°C than those of 20 or 23°C, regardless of cultivar. The flowers appeared as

The speed of flower opening is closely related to their ornamental period. Ethylene functions as a negative regulator involved in the regulation of the petal expansion process. In this study, we isolated a NF-YC transcription factor gene, RhNF-YC9, from rose petals. RhNF-YC9 expression was induced at the early stages of flower opening but was inhibited by ethylene treatment. Silencing RhNF-YC9 decreased

ABSTRACT The Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis (Brum.f.) Trin.) is conventionally propagated by underground corm with a lower propagation rate. In the present study, we attempted to develop a simple and efficient protocol for in vitro shoot regeneration, corm formation, and the generation of plantlets, on MS medium supplemented with BA, TDZ, NAA, and IAA. Additionally, the effect of BA on the

Previous studies have shown that high light intensity can induce anthocyanin synthesis (AS) in petunia plants. To identify which kind of light quality plays a role in inducing such metabolic process, and what transcripts participate in controlling it, we carried out whole-transcriptome sequencing and analysis of petunia petals treated with different light-quality conditions. Among the red and white

The effect of postharvest treatment of Putrescine (PUT) alone or in combination with chitosan on maintaining quality of strawberry cv. San Andreas during cold storage was investigated. The treated strawberry fruits were examined for weight loss, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid contents, total anthocyanins, total phenolic contents, antioxidant content, decay incidence and sensory

Knowledge about the impacts of urban heat islands (UHI) and associated thermal gradients on vegetation seasonality (i.e. phenology) is vital for understanding spatial patterns in vegetation ecosystem functions. However, in contrast to temperate cites, there is little evidence to show how UHI influences landscape phenological processes in the tropics. In this study, we examined vegetation phenological

A growing group of cities feels responsible to feed urban populations sustainably. This has stimulated cities to embrace urban agriculture as an alternative in their food system orientation. However, while urban agriculture in all its diversity has arrived in the urban fabric and at planners’ desks, it largely remains an outsider to urban planning practices of peri-urban zones. How could city’s planning

Autumn leaf senescence and coloration is a complex process and a striking natural phenomenon. Here, through biology approach integrating transcriptomic analyses in Ginkgo biloba, we determined that the content of chlorophyll decreased during leaf senescence, while carotenoid components increased until late October in the turning stage (TS) and then decreased in the yellow leaf stage (YS). Simultaneously

Fusarium fujikuroi is the pathogen of rice bakanae disease and has been intensively studied for gibberellin (GA) production. F. fujikuroi is phylogenetically subclassified into G- and F-groups, which differ in GA and fumonisin production. A higher amount of GA is produced by the G-group than the F-group. A previous study found that the GA production difference between the G-group strain Gfc0801001

This erratum is published due to incorrect name placement in original article.

Broad bean wilt virus 1 (BBWV-1, genus Fabavirus, family Secoviridae) is a bipartite positive single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) virus infecting important horticultural and ornamental crops worldwide. RNA1 encodes proteins involved in virus replication, whereas RNA2 encodes the large and small coat proteins (LCP, and SCP, respectively) and two putative movement proteins with overlapping C-terminal but different

A qPCR-based method was developed to detect and quantify Podosphaera pannosa, the main causal agent of peach powdery mildew. A primer pair was designed to target part of the ITS region of the fungal ribosomal DNA, which proved to be highly specific and sensitive. A minimum of 2.81 pg µL− 1 of P. pannosa DNA and 6 conidia mL− 1 in artificially-prepared conidia suspensions were found to be the limit

Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) is a long-known virus naturally infecting Rubus and grapevine. It is also one of the economically most important viruses of raspberries, but there are only a limited number of sequences covering a substantial part of the genome available in the databases. The aim of this study was: i) to study the geographic distribution of RBDV in Slovenia, and ii) to sequence RNA2

Septoria tritici blotch caused by the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici is a serious threat to wheat production worldwide. Knowledge of physiologic specialization of the pathogen and identification of potential source of resistance are prerequisite for designing durable management strategies. The present study was targeted to determine the virulence pattern of eight bread wheat derived Ethiopian Z. tritici

Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-2 (GLRaV-2) and GLRaV-3 are both (+) ssRNA viruses of the family Closteroviridae and are involved in grapevine leafroll, the most destructive viral disease affecting the global grape/wine industry. Outbreaks of the disease were recently reported in Canada, causing serious concerns to the grape/wine industry. Reliable, sensitive and timely detection is key to the

This erratum is published as author overlooked inclusion of minor correction during proofing.

ABSTRACT The use of organic soil amendments to sustain crop production provides a feasible option for low-income farmers. In La Montaña, in southern Mexico, farmers grow organic hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) as their main source of income, but yields are low. The aim of this study was to evaluate the decomposition and nutrient release of different species traditionally used by farmers and to make

“The Image of the City” by Kevin Lynch is a landmark planning theory of lasting influence; its scientific rigor and relevance in the digital age were in dispute. The rise of social media and other digital technologies offers new opportunities to study the perception of urban environments. Questions remain as to whether social media analytics can provide a reliable measure of perceived city images?

In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of air-exposure treatment on water relations, longevity, and aquaporin-related gene expression of cut ‘Wild Look’ roses (Rosa hybrida L.). After harvest, cut rose flowers were placed directly in the tap water (exposed to air for 0 h) or exposed to air for 1, 2, or 3 h and then placed in tap water to recover. We determined the effects of air-exposure time

Trichomes are hair-like structures derived from plant epidermal cells. Trichomes exist in most plant species and are categorized as either glandular or non-glandular. Glandular trichomes function as chemical protection against herbivores, while non-glandular trichomes serve as physical barriers to various biotic and environmental stresses. Here, we describe a novel recessive mutation named hairless

Pepper is widely cultivated, and the application of CO2 promotes photosynthesis and increases its yield. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this are still unclear. In this study, the photosynthetic correlation indexes under elevated CO2 and control conditions were compared. The application of CO2 increased the photosynthetic capacity of pepper. Moreover, RNA-Seq analysis was used to identify

Eugenol is a natural phenolic compound known for its health-promoting properties and its ability to add a floral scent to tea plants. Plant eugenol glycosides have been identified and shown to make important contributions to fruit floral quality. However, the details of their biosynthesis and metabolism in tea plants are still unknown. Here, eugenol glucoside was unambiguously identified as a native

The quality traits of horticultural crops, including the accumulation of nutrients and flavor substances, morphology, and texture, affect the palatability and nutritional value. For many years, efforts have been made to improve the quality of horticultural crops. The recent establishment of gene editing technology, with its potential applications in horticultural crops, provides a strategy for achieving

Anthocyanins are important bioactive supplements that are consumed from multiple foods and beverage products. Screening tea cultivars producing a high level of anthocyanins can help to enrich the edible bioactive supplements. ‘Zijuan’ (ZJ) is a tea cultivar growing purple shoots rich in anthocyanins, but it is susceptible to freezing winter and sprouts late in spring. Hybridisation using ‘ZJ’ as the

The effects of the visible light wavelengths on germination, mycelial radial growth, and conidial production of the plant pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum and Fusarium fujikuroi were studied. Both fungi were grown on potato dextrose agar medium (PDA) in the dark (control) or on PDA under continuous white, blue, green or red light. In addition, the conidia from each treatment were exposed to UV radiation

The phylogenetic relationships and distribution of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum and Ralstonia solanacearum sequevars were analyzed in 108 strains of Solanaceae in three mesoregions of the Pernambuco State, Brazil. These mesoregions are characterized by a semiarid climate and account for 88.20% of the area of the state. Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum (phylotype I, biovar 3) was predominant in Agreste

Using land surface temperatures (LST) derived from remotely sensed data, numerous studies have shown that not only urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas, but within urban areas, there are large spatial variations in temperature. Few studies, however, have investigated the spatial variation of air temperature within a city. Using air temperature data collected from 117 weather stations

Fruit quality is the main factor determining market competitiveness; it represents the combination of fruit flavor, color, size, and the contents of aromatic and bioactive substances. Research on the genetic basis of fruit quality can provide new information about fruit biology, promote genomic-assisted breeding, and provide technological support for the regulation of fruit quality via habitat selection

Brassica taxa occur naturally and are also cultivated in Turkey. Due to their economic importance, several cultivars have been extensively cultivated in certain regions of the country. Alongside extensive cultivation for vegetable production of the other species of the genus, Brassica juncea has very limited cultivation. Five native species of Brassica are known from restricted locations in Turkey

Endophytic fungi are capable of infecting plants without inducing the development of any observable symptoms. Certain fungal species can also coexist as latent pathogens in their specific hosts. Several species of Fusarium have been reported to form an association with grasses as endophytes or latent pathogens, some of which are also mycotoxin producers. In this study, we aimed to address whether forage

Glasshouse pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Purpureocillium lilacinum PLSAU-1 (Pl) either alone or in combination with Glomus sp. (G) to control southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Mi) in Solanum melongena in arsenic (AS)-contaminated soil. Root fragments of maize seedlings were applied to 5 g roots containing approximately 200 G colonized root fragments/100 g

Appropriate application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer promotes plant growth, inflorescence yield, and flower quality of orchids. In this study, we used the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique to develop a prediction model of the N content in the leaf of Dendrobium orchid, which is an essential indicator for monitoring plant health. The Dendrobium orchid samples were foliar sprayed in rotation

‘Dangshansuli’ pear is a yellow–green fruit when mature, whereas that of the mutant ‘Xiusu’ is russeted. In this study, the contents of glucose, fructose and sucrose in the exocarp of ‘Xiusu’ were found to be lower than those in ‘Dangshansuli’ at 75–100 days after full bloom (DAFB) but were higher at 150 DAFB. Additionally, the contents of six polysaccharides in the exocarp of ‘Xiusu’ were higher than

ABSTRACT There is need for information on the general crop physiology and nitrogen (N) fertiliser responses of beetroot in New Zealand. We investigated the responses to N of beetroot grown in a silt loam near Hastings, Hawke’s Bay. Four fertiliser treatments (0, 160, 320 or 480 kg N ha−1) were applied as urea, split evenly over four application times. The canopy light extinction coefficient averaged

ABSTRACT Lily is one of the most valuable fresh cut flowers in the world. However, pollen pollution brings inconvenience to retailers and consumers. Anther development is a complicated and precise process but much is unknown. In this study, the anther development key gene LoAMS was isolated from Lilium Oriental Hybrids cultivar ‘Siberia’. Phylogenetic tree analysis and multiple sequence alignment showed

The presence of three vitiviruses associated with grapevine rugose wood disease, i.e. grapevine virus B (GVB), grapevine virus E (GVE) and grapevine virus F (GVF), was studied in 650 grapevine samples collected from eight viticulture growing provinces of Iran. RT-PCR assays conducted on these samples showed that 69.5% of the grapevine material is infected at least with one virus; of which GVE was the

The assessment of public adaptation policies, strategies and plans to evaluate progress, effectiveness and long-term sustainability is challenging. The potential to develop an ex-post evaluation linked to outcomes is limited given the lack of policy implementation globally and the uncertainty related to when and how impacts will happen. Ex-ante evaluations, by contrast, seem more feasible when they

Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis) is a widely cultivated vegetable crop in eastern Asia. The flavor of Chinese cabbage was mostly affected by soluble sugar content. To make clear its accumulation and regulation mechanism, the content of different sugars in the internal blade (IB), the internal midrib (IM), the external blade (EB) and the external midrib (EM) of the leafy head

The effect of preharvest sprayable 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on fruit quality and certain targeted major metabolites was investigated in ‘Chuhwangbae’ pears during short-term cold storage and shelf life. Preharvest 1-MCP application affected methionine, sucrose, and total flavonoid content and fruit decay. During cold storage and shelf life, numerous fruit quality attributes and specific targeted

(2020). Journal of horticultural science and biotechnology – journal prize 2020. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology: Vol. 95, No. 5, pp. 541-541.

Converging evidence from hundreds of studies suggests that contact with nature enhances learning in elementary and high school students –– could greening in and around schoolyards improve academic achievement in sixth grade students, many of whom are negotiating the transition from elementary to middle school? This study examines the greenness-academic achievement relationship in 450 public schools