Plants

Lallemantia iberica (L. iberica) is an important dry season medicinal plant. Drought, an important abiotic stress, adversely affects the plant’s metabolism, which can be alleviated by plant growth regulators like brassinolides. A two-year field experiment was conducted in 2017–2018 to determine the effects of three different irrigation regimes and four brassinolide concentrations on the L. iberica biochemical properties. A split-plot based on a completely randomized block design in three replicates was used as an experimental design with the following irrigation regimes: full watering, watering until flowering and watering until branching. These were the main plots, and 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 μM brassinolide concentrations were applied as the subplots. The results showed that many antioxidant enzymes and some biochemical parameters were affected by brassinolide treatment. Furthermore, the highest membrane stability and grain yield were produced in full watering treatment in the second year, and these treatments were not affected by brassinolide application. Several concentrations of brassinolide differently affected the studied treatments, and our study suggests that the amelioration of the effects of the drought stress on L. iberica could possibly be achieved through brassinolide-induced elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging defense systems. There is a need for complementary research to prove the effectiveness of foliar application of this growth regulator to improve the growth and yield of L. iberica under water shortage conditions. Full article

The chemical profile and allelopathic effect of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by a dominant shrub Serphidium kaschgaricum (Krasch.) Poljak. growing in northwestern China was investigated for the first time. Serphidium kaschgaricu was found to release volatile compounds into the surroundings to affect other plants’ growth, with its VOCs suppressing root elongation of Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Poa annua L. by 65.47% and 60.37% at 10 g/1.5 L treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, volatile oils produced by stems, leaves, flowers and flowering shoots exhibited phytotoxic activity against A. retroflexus and P. annua. At 0.5 mg/mL, stem, leaf and flower oils significantly reduced seedling growth of the receiver plants, and 1.5 mg/mL oils nearly completely prohibited seed germination of both species. GC/MS analysis revealed that among the total 37 identified compounds in the oils, 19 of them were common, with eucalyptol (43.00%, 36.66%, 19.52%, and 38.68% in stem, leaf, flower and flowering shoot oils, respectively) and camphor (21.55%, 24.91%, 21.64%, and 23.35%, respectively) consistently being the dominant constituents in all oils. Eucalyptol, camphor and their mixture exhibited much weaker phytotoxicity compared with the volatile oils, implying that less abundant compounds in the volatile oil might contribute significantly to the oils’ activity. Our results suggested that S. kaschgaricum was capable of synthesizing and releasing allelopathic volatile compounds into the surroundings to affect neighboring plants’ growth, which might improve its competitiveness thus facilitate the establishment of dominance. Full article

The genus Hydnora (Hydnoraceae) is one of the basal angiosperms in the order Piperales, found in the semi-arid regions of Africa, and the Southern Arabian Peninsula. Plants in this genus play essential roles in communities around the world as revealed by various studies. Currently, there are eight species of the genus Hydnora; seven in Africa and one in the Arabian Peninsula. Notably, Hydnora abyssinica A.Br. and Hydnora africana Thunb. are widely distributed compared to other species. They are widely used for their medicinal and nutritional values. The information on ethnobotany, chemistry, pharmacology, and distribution of genus Hydnora was gathered using phytochemical and ethnobotanical books, electronic sources, and published articles. Preliminary phytochemical screening shows that flavonoids, phenolics, proanthocyanidins, and tannins are the main compounds in H. abyssinica and H. africana. Furthermore, 11 compounds have been isolated from H. abyssinica. The biological activities of H. abyssinica and H. africana have been reported. They include antibacterial, antiproliferative, antioxidant, antidiarrhea, and antifungal potentials. Despite the Hydnora species being practiced in ancient folkloric medicine, their traditional uses and pharmacological value are poorly documented. Based on the available information on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and distribution, we aim to provide research gaps and challenges for a better understanding of this genus. This may be resourceful in the development of effective phytomedicines, and aid in conservation. The available studies on this genus on some aspects such as phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and distribution are under-reported hence the need for further research. Full article

Strategies and coping mechanisms for stress tolerance under sub-optimal nutrition conditions could provide important guidelines for developing selection criteria in sustainable agriculture. Nitrogen (N) is one of the major nutrients limiting the growth and yield of crop plants, among which wheat is probably the most substantial to human diet worldwide. Physiological status and photosynthetic capacity of two contrasting wheat genotypes (old Slomer and modern semi-dwarf Enola) were evaluated at the seedling stage to assess how N supply affected osmotic stress tolerance and capacity of plants to survive drought periods. It was evident that higher N input in both varieties contributed to better performance under dehydration. The combination of lower N supply and water deprivation (osmotic stress induced by polyethylene glycol treatment) led to greater damage of the photosynthetic efficiency and a higher degree of oxidative stress than the individually applied stresses. The old wheat variety had better N assimilation efficiency, and it was also the one with better performance under N deficiency. However, when both N and water were deficient, the modern variety demonstrated better photosynthetic performance. It was concluded that different strategies for overcoming osmotic stress alone or in combination with low N could be attributed to differences in the genetic background. Better performance of the modern variety conceivably indicated that semi-dwarfing (Rht) alleles might have a beneficial effect in arid regions and N deficiency conditions. Full article

This study represents the first survey studying the occurrence, genetic diversity, and pathogenicity of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with symptomatic citrus species in citrus-production areas in five European countries. Based on morphological features and phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) and β-tubulin (TUB2) genes, nine species were identified as belonging to the genera Diplodia, Dothiorella, Lasiodiplodia, and Neofusicoccum. Isolates of Neofusicoccum parvum and Diplodia pseudoseriata were the most frequently detected, while Dothiorella viticola had the widest distribution, occurring in four of the five countries sampled. Representative isolates of the nine Botryosphaeriaceae species used in the pathogenicity tests caused similar symptoms to those observed in nature. Isolates assayed were all re-isolated, thereby fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Isolates of Diplodia pseudoseriata and Diplodia olivarum are recorded for the first time on citrus and all species found in our study, except N. parvum, are reported for the first time on citrus in Europe. Full article

A significant increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration and associated climate aridization and soil salinity are factors affecting the growth, development, productivity, and stress responses of plants. In this study, the effect of ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (800 ppm) CO₂ concentrations were evaluated on the C₄ xero-halophyte Kochia prostrata treated with moderate salinity (200 mM NaCl) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress. Our results indicated that plants grown at elevated CO₂ concentration had different responses to osmotic stress and salinity. The synergistic effect of elevated CO₂ and osmotic stress increased proline accumulation, but elevated CO₂ did not mitigate the negative effects of osmotic stress on dark respiration intensity and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency. This indicates a stressful state, which is accompanied by a decrease in the efficiency of light reactions of photosynthesis and significant dissipative respiratory losses, thereby resulting in growth inhibition. Plants grown at elevated CO₂ concentration and salinity showed high Na⁺ and proline contents, high water-use efficiency and time required to reach the maximum P700 oxidation level (PSI), and low dark respiration. Maintaining stable water balance, the efficient functioning of cyclic transport of PSI, and the reduction of dissipation costs contributed to an increase in dry shoot biomass (2-fold, compared with salinity at 400 ppm CO₂). The obtained experimental data and PCA showed that elevated CO₂ concentration improved the physiological parameters of K. prostrata under salinity. Full article

The in vitro cell cultures derived from the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) have been used for the production of stilbenes treated with different biotic and abiotic elicitors. The red-grape cultivar Váh has been elicited by natural cellulose from Trichoderma viride, the cell wall homogenate from Fusarium oxysporum and synthetic jasmonates. The sodium-orthovanadate, known as an inhibitor of hypersensitive necrotic response in treated plant cells able to enhance production and release of secondary metabolite into the cultivation medium, was used as an abiotic elicitor. Growth of cells and the content of phenolic compounds trans-resveratrol, trans-piceid, δ-viniferin, and ɛ-viniferin, were analyzed in grapevine cells treated by individual elicitors. The highest accumulation of analyzed individual stilbenes, except of trans-piceid has been observed after treatment with the cell wall homogenate from F. oxysporum. Maximum production of trans-resveratrol, δ- and ɛ-viniferins was triggered by treatment with cellulase from T. viride. The accumulation of trans-piceid in cell cultures elicited by this cellulase revealed exactly the opposite effect, with almost three times higher production of trans-resveratrol than that of trans-piceid. This study suggested that both used fungal elicitors can enhance production more effectively than commonly used jasmonates. Full article

Drought is a major limiter of yield in common bean, decreasing food security for those who rely on it as an important source of protein. While drought can have large impacts on yield by reducing photosynthesis and therefore resources availability, source strength is not a reliable indicator of yield. One reason resource availability does not always translate to yield in common bean is because of a trait inherited from wild ancestors. Wild common bean halts growth and seed filling under drought and awaits better conditions to resume its developmental program. This trait has been carried into domesticated lines, where it can result in strong losses of yield in plants already producing pods and seeds, especially since many domesticated lines were bred to have a determinate growth habit. This limits the plants ability to produce another flush of flowers, even if the first set is aborted. However, some bred lines are able to maintain higher yields under drought through maintaining growth and seed filling rates even under water limitations, unlike their wild predecessors. We believe that maintenance of sink strength underlies this ability, since plants which fill seeds under drought maintain growth of sinks generally, and growth of sinks correlates strongly with yield. Sink strength is determined by a tissue’s ability to acquire resources, which in turn relies on resource uptake and metabolism in that tissue. Lines which achieve higher yields maintain higher resource uptake rates into seeds and overall higher partitioning efficiencies of total biomass to yield. Drought limits metabolism and resource uptake through the signaling molecule abscisic acid (ABA) and its downstream affects. Perhaps lines which maintain higher sink strength and therefore higher yields do so through decreased sensitivity to or production of ABA. Full article

Lannea egregia (Anacardiaceae) and Emilia sonchifolia (Asteraceae) are plants used in traditional medicine in southwestern Nigeria. The essential oils from the leaves of L. egregia and E. sonchifolia were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Both essential oils were dominated by sesquiterpenoids. The major components in L. egregia leaf essential oil were α-panasinsen (34.90%), (E)-caryophyllene (12.25%), α-copaene (11.39%), and selina-4,11-diene (9.29%), while E. sonchifolia essential oil was rich in γ-himachalene (25.16%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.72%), and γ-gurjunene (8.58%). The essential oils were screened for antimicrobial activity against a panel of bacteria and fungi and displayed minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 156 μg/mL to 625 μg/mL. Based on these results, either L. egregia or E. sonchifolia essential oil may be recommended for exploration as complementary antibacterial or antifungal agents. Full article

The Viburnum genus is of particular interest to horticulturalists, phylogeneticists, and biogeographers. Despite its popularity, there are few existing molecular markers to investigate genetic diversity in this large genus, which includes over 160 species. There are also few polymorphic molecular tools that can delineate closely related species within the genus. Viburnum farreri, a member of the Solenotinus subclade and one of the centers of diversity for Viburnum, was selected for DNA sequencing and development of genomic simple sequence repeats (gSSRs). In this study, 15 polymorphic gSSRs were developed and characterized for a collection of 19 V. farreri samples. Number of alleles per locus ranged from two- to- eight and nine loci had four or more alleles. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.84 and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.10 to 0.80 for the 15 loci. Shannon diversity index values across these loci ranged from 0.21 to 1.62. The markers developed in this study add to the existing molecular toolkit for the genus and will be used in future studies investigating cross-transferability, genetic variation, and species and cultivar delimitation in the Viburnum genus and closely allied genera in the Adoxaceae and Caprifoliaceae. Full article

Despite the fact that they are sessile organisms, plants actively move their organs and also use these movements to manipulate the surrounding biotic and abiotic environments. Plants maintain communication with neighboring plants, herbivores, and predators through the emission of diverse chemical compounds by their shoots and roots. These infochemicals modify the environment occupied by plants. Moreover, some infochemicals may induce morphophysiological changes of neighboring plants. We have used methyl-jasmonate (MeJa), a plant natural infochemical, to trigger communication between emitters and receivers Sorghum bicolor plants. The split roots of two plants were allocated to three different pots, with the middle pot containing the roots of both plants. We scored low stomatal conductance (g_S) and low CO₂ net assimilation (A) using the plants that had contact with the infochemical for the first time. During the second contact, these parameters showed no significant differences, indicating a memory effect. We also observed that the plants that had direct leaf contact with MeJa transmitted sensory information through their roots to neighboring plants. This resulted in higher maximum fluorescence (F_M) and structural changes in root anatomy. In conclusion, MeJa emerges as possible trigger for communication between neighboring sorghum plants, in response to the environmental challenges. Full article

RNA-mediated pathways form an important regulatory layer of myriad biological processes. In the last decade, the potential of RNA molecules to contribute to the control of agricultural pests has not been disregarded, specifically via the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism. In fact, several proofs-of-concept have been made in this scope. Furthermore, a novel research field regarding extracellular RNAs and RNA-based intercellular/interorganismal communication is booming. In this article, we review key discoveries concerning extracellular RNAs in insects, insect RNA-based cell-to-cell communication, and plant–insect transfer of RNA. In addition, we overview the molecular mechanisms implicated in this form of communication and discuss future biotechnological prospects, namely from the insect pest-control perspective. Full article

Anthropogenic disturbances, such as illegal harvesting and livestock browsing, often affect natural forests. However, the resulting tree species diversity, composition, and population structure have rarely been quantified. We assessed tree species diversity and importance value indices and, in particular, Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. population structure, across 100 sample plots of 25 m × 40 m in disturbed and non-disturbed sites at the Dinder Biosphere Reserve, Sudan, from April 2019 to April 2020. We found that the tree species diversity in non-disturbed sites was more than double that of disturbed sites (p < 0.001, T = 32.6), and seedlings and saplings comprised more than 72% of the entire tree population (F_2,48 = 116.4, p = 0.034; F_2,48 = 163.2, p = 0.021, respectively). The tree density of B. aegyptiaca in the disturbed site was less than half that of the non-disturbed site (p = 0.018, T = 2.6). Balanites aegyptiaca was seven times more aggregated in disturbed sites compared to more regularly spaced trees in non-disturbed sites (T = 39.3 and p < 0.001). The poor B. aegyptiaca population status of the disturbed site shows that the conservation of this vulnerable species is essential for a sustainable management and utilization scheme. Full article

The genus Monarda (family Lamiaceae) contains 22 species of which three are native to southern Alabama, M. citriodora, M. fistulosa, and M. punctata. Several species of Monarda have been used in traditional medicines of Native Americans, and this present study is part of an ongoing project to add to our understanding of Native American pharmacopeia. Plant material from M. citriodora, M. fistulosa, and M. punctata was collected in south Alabama and the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation. The essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques to determine the chemical compositions as well as enantiomeric distributions. The compounds thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and their derivatives were the primary terpenoid components found in the essential oils. The known biological activities of these compounds are consistent with the traditional uses of Monarda species to treat wounds, skin infections, colds, and fevers. Full article

Arid coastal habitats are stressful regions subjected to the effects of biotic and abiotic factors. Vascular plants in these habitats display different responses to cope with these environmental fluctuations. This work addressed the morpho-anatomical features and chemical responses of two medicinal vascular plant species Artemisia monosperma Delile and Limbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort., growing naturally along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Soil properties (physical and chemical), morpho-anatomical features and chemical constituents (secondary metabolites, antioxidant activity and essential oils) for the two species were performed. Our results displayed that both species are surviving where soils are alkaline, high saline with low moisture and organic carbon. The morphology of both species appeared woody low shrub with fleshy leaves. The most marked anatomical attributes were the thick cuticle of the epidermal layer in leaves and stems, compact palisade cells and abundant idioblasts (secretory ducts, phenolic compounds and calcium oxalate). Also, sclerenchymatous pericycle fibers in stem and glandular trichomes on the leaf had appeared in A. monosperma. Both plants exhibited a considerable content of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and antioxidant activity with a higher level in A. monosperma than L. crithmoides. The leaf extracts of both plants showed higher values than the stem extracts. The sesquiterpenes group were the major identified compounds of the essential oils (EOs) in A. monosperma and L. crithmoides, and the majority were oxygenated sesquiterpenes with percentages of 42.63% and 51.49%, respectively. The second major group of EOs was monoterpenes, which were represented in A. monosperma in concentrations (34.04%) much higher than those recorded in L. crithmoides (4.97%). Exploring the local adaptation mechanism used by the target plants helps us to understand how these plants can acclimatize to harsh conditions, and this provides critical insights into the protection and survival strategy of species under extreme conditions. Full article

Climate change variation on a small scale may alter the underlying processes determining a pattern operating at large scale and vice versa. Plant response to climate change on individual plant levels on a fine scale tends to change population structure, community composition and ecosystem processes and functioning. Therefore, we reviewed the literature on plant response and resilience to climate change in space and time at different scales on the Tibetan Plateau. We report that spatiotemporal variation in temperature and precipitation dynamics drives the vegetation and ecosystem function on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), following the water–energy dynamics hypothesis. Increasing temperature with respect to time increased the net primary productivity (NPP) on most parts of the Tibetan Plateau, but the productivity dynamics on some parts were constrained by 0.3 °C decade⁻¹ rising temperature. Moreover, we report that accelerating studies on plant community assemblage and their contribution to ecosystem functioning may help to identify the community response and resilience to climate extremes. Furthermore, records on species losses help to build the sustainable management plan for the entire Tibetan Plateau. We recommend that incorporating long-term temporal data with multiple factor analyses will be helpful to formulate the appropriate measures for a healthy ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau. Full article

Sucrose non-fermenting1-related protein kinases (SnRKs) are a type of Ser/Thr protein kinases, and they play an important role in plant life, especially in metabolism and responses to environmental stresses. However, there is limited information on SnRK genes in Dendrobium officinale. In the present research, a total of 36 DoSnRK genes were identified based on genomic data. These DoSnRKs could be grouped into three subfamilies, including 1 member of DoSnRK1, 7 of DoSnRK2, and 28 of DoSnRK3. The gene structure analysis of DoSnRK genes showed that 17 members had no introns, while 16 members contained six or more introns. The conserved domains and motifs were found in the same subfamily. The various cis-elements present in the promoter regions showed that DoSnRK genes could respond to stresses and hormones. Furthermore, the expression patterns of DoSnRK genes in eight tissues were investigated according to RNA sequencing data, indicating that multiple DoSnRK genes were ubiquitously expressed in these tissues. The transcript levels of DoSnRK genes after drought, MeJA, and ABA treatments were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and showed that most DoSnRK genes could respond to these stresses. Therefore, genomic characterization and expression analyses provide valuable information on DoSnRK genes for further understanding the functions of SnRKs in plants. Full article

Microalgae are considered a potential source of valuable compounds for multiple purposes and are potential agents for bioremediation of aquatic environments contaminated with different pollutants. This work evaluates the use of agricultural waste, unsterilized and anaerobically digested, to produce biomass from a strain of Chlorella sorokiniana. Furthermore, the presence of bacteria in these wastes was investigated based on the bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed a specific growth rate ranging between 0.82 and 1.45 day^–1, while the final biomass yield in different digestate-containing treatments (bacterial-contaminated cultures) ranged between 0.33 and 0.50 g L⁻¹ day⁻¹. Besides, substantial amounts of ammonium, phosphate, and sulfate were consumed by C. sorokiniana during the experimental period. The predominant bacteria that grew in the presence of C. sorokiniana in the effluent-containing treatments belonged to the genera Chryseobacterium, Flavobacterium, Sphingomonas, Brevundimonas, Hydrogenophaga, Sphingobacterium, and Pseudomonas. Therefore, this microalga can tolerate and grow in the presence of other microorganisms. Finally, these results show that anaerobically digested agricultural waste materials are a good substitute for growth media for green microalgae; however, phosphate and sulfate levels must also be controlled in the media to maintain adequate growth of microalgae. Full article