Search Results (14)

With the continuous improvement in living standards, consumers’ demand for rice quality has been increasingly growing. This study analyzed the quality characteristics of different rice varieties under various cultivation methods. This study examined the rice variety Liaoxing 21 (LX21), the upland rice variety Han 9710 (H9710), and the hybrid rice variety Liaoyou 7362 (LY7362) from Liaoning Province to evaluate the effects of transplanting (TP) and direct seeding (DS) on processing, appearance, nutritional, and tasting quality. The results indicated that the planting method (PM) had a relatively minor impact on processing quality. Compared to TP, DS significantly increased grain length (GL) by 1.19%, grain width (GW) by 2.69%, appearance (A) by 2.61%, stickiness (Ss) by 7.15%, degree of balance (DB) by 3.19%, apparent amylose content (AAC%) by 6.20%, fa by 0.66%, fa/fb₃ by 5.34%, and protein content (PC) by 19.93%. However, DS significantly reduced the grain length/width ratio (GL/W) by 1.03%, chalky grain rate (CGR) by 46.00%, chalkiness (CH) by 52.76%, and fb₃ by 4.23%. Compared to DS, TP resulted in a higher peak viscosity (PV), final viscosity (FV), and pasting temperature (PaT), whereas setback (SB) was lower. Among the tested varieties, LX21 exhibited superior milled rice rate (MRR), head rice rate (HRR), GL, GL/W, A, Ss, DB, taste value (T), and FV compared to H9710 and LY7362, while demonstrating significantly lower CGR, CH, hardness (H), fa, trough viscosity (TV), and peak time (PeT). Under the same planting conditions, the conventional rice variety LX21 demonstrated excellent processing, appearance, and taste quality, whereas H9710 exhibited favorable nutritional quality and Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) characteristics. Meanwhile, we also analyzed the correlation between temperature/light conditions and nutritional quality, as well as RVA profiles. The results showed that variations in temperature and light were closely associated with amylopectin accumulation and starch pasting properties. This study highlights the findings that selecting the appropriate PMs and japonica rice varieties can effectively enhance overall rice quality. In the medium maturing regions of Liaoning Province, adopting DS with medium–early maturing japonica rice varieties offers an optimal production strategy for achieving high quality, high yield, and efficient utilization of temperature and light resources. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the potential of a nitrogen-fixing endophyte, Methylobacterium symbioticum SB23, as a sustainable biofertilizer in peach (Prunus persica) cultivation. We compared three treatments: a control with soil application of ammonium sulfate (250 kg ha⁻¹) and two endophyte foliar applications at different doses: a single high-dose application (M.SYM500 at 500 kg ha⁻¹) and a split half-dose application (M.SYM250 at 250 kg ha⁻¹ applied twice). The first application was made at the fruit stage’s appearance, and the second when the fruits were fully developed. Key assessments included chlorophyll content and shoot growth, which were evaluated at 52 and 100 days after application (DAA), with continued growth benefits observed through 193 DAA. Evaluations were conducted of fruit characteristics, amino acid profiles, and plant tissues of leaves for nitrogen and phosphorus at 107 DAA (harvest). The M.SYM500 treatment notably enhanced fruit weight and increased specific amino acids, such as glutamic acid, methionine, and phenylalanine, contributing to improved fruit quality and resistance properties. No significant differences in °Brix (total soluble solid) levels were observed among treatments, indicating that photosynthetic gains were likely directed towards biomass and structural growth rather than sugar accumulation. This study demonstrates that nitrogen-fixing endophytes can be effective in reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers while sustaining or improving peach growth and fruit quality. Full article

Sect. Tuberculata, as one of the endemic plant groups in China, belongs to the genus Camellia of the Theaceae family and possesses significant economic and ecological value. Nevertheless, the characteristics of habitat distribution and the major eco-environmental variables affecting its suitability are poorly understood. In this study, using 65 occurrence records, along with 60 environmental factors, historical, present and future suitable habitats were estimated using MaxEnt modeling, and the important environmental variables affecting the geographical distribution of sect. Tuberculata were analyzed. The results indicate that the size of the its potential habitat area in the current climate was 1.05 × 10⁵ km², and the highly suitable habitats were located in Guizhou, central-southern Sichuan, the Wuling Mountains in Chongqing, the Panjiang Basin, and southwestern Hunan. The highest probability of presence for it occurs at mean diurnal range (bio2) ≤ 7.83 °C, basic saturation (s_bs) ≤ 53.36%, temperature annual range (bio7) ≤ 27.49 °C, −7.75 °C < mean temperature of driest quarter (bio9) < 7.75 °C, annual UV-B seasonality (uvb2) ≤ 1.31 × 10⁵ W/m², and mean UV-B of highest month (uvb3) ≤ 5089.61 W/m². In particular, bio2 is its most important environmental factor. During the historical period, the potential habitat area for sect. Tuberculata was severely fragmented; in contrast, the current period has a more concentrated habitat area. In the three future periods, the potential habitat area will change by varying degrees, depending on the aggressiveness of emissions reductions, and the increase in the potential habitat area was the largest in the SSP2.6 (Low-concentration greenhouse gas emissions) scenario. Although the SSP8.5 (High-concentration greenhouse gas emissions) scenario indicated an expansion in its habitat in the short term, its growth and development would be adversely affected in the long term. In the centroid analysis, the centroid of its potential habitat will shift from lower to higher latitudes in the northwest direction. The findings of our study will aid efforts to uncover its originsand geographic differentiation, conservation of unique germplasms, and forestry development and utilization. Full article

Cyanogenic glucosides are specialized metabolites produced by over 3000 species of higher plants from more than 130 families. The deployment of cyanogenic glucosides is influenced by biotic and abiotic factors in addition to being developmentally regulated, consistent with their roles in plant defense and stress mitigation. Despite their ubiquity, very little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms that regulate their biosynthesis. The biosynthetic pathway of dhurrin, the cyanogenic glucoside found in the important cereal crop sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), was described over 20 years ago, and yet no direct regulator of the biosynthetic genes has been identified. To isolate regulatory proteins that bind to the promoter region of the key dhurrin biosynthetic gene of sorghum, SbCYP79A1, yeast one-hybrid screens were performed. A bait fragment containing 1204 base pairs of the SbCYP79A1 5′ regulatory region was cloned upstream of a reporter gene and introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Subsequently, the yeast was transformed with library cDNA representing RNA from two different sorghum developmental stages. From these screens, we identified SbGATA22, an LLM domain B-GATA transcription factor that binds to the putative GATA transcription factor binding motifs in the SbCYP79A1 promoter region. Transient assays in Nicotiana benthamiana show that SbGATA22 localizes to the nucleus. The expression of SbGATA22, in comparison with SbCYP79A1 expression and dhurrin concentration, was analyzed over 14 days of sorghum development and in response to nitrogen application, as these conditions are known to affect dhurrin levels. Collectively, these findings suggest that SbGATA22 may act as a negative regulator of SbCYP79A1 expression and provide a preliminary insight into the molecular regulation of dhurrin biosynthesis in sorghum. Full article

The biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationship is the basis for studying the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the simultaneous assessment of multi-trophic-level biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality relationship is more conducive to unravelling the restoration mechanism of degraded ecosystems, especially for degraded forest ecosystems with harsh habitats and infertile soils such as karst. In this study, we evaluated the biodiversity and soil multifunctionality (SMF) of degraded karst forests (scrub, SB; secondary growth forests, SG; old-growth forests, OG) in the Maolan National Nature Reserve, China, using 30 sample plots. Biodiversity and soil multifunctionality (SMF) at three trophic levels (plant–soil fauna–soil microorganisms), were assessed through vegetation surveys and soil sampling. One-way ANOVA showed that SMF increased with natural restoration, but multi-trophic level biodiversity showed different trends. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between plant species diversity and SMF (p < 0.001), whereas soil fauna and soil microorganisms were negatively correlated with SMF. Structural equation modeling revealed a cascading effect of the multi-trophic level on the stimulation of the SMF during restoration. Only soil microorganisms exhibited a direct driving effect on SMF (p < 0.001), whereas plants indirectly influenced soil microorganisms through soil fauna, which subsequently affected the SMF. Although we observed the negative effects of increased plant diversity on soil fauna and soil microbial diversity in terms of quantitative relationships, the increase in soil fauna species and the evenness of soil microbial function still contributed to SMF restoration. This study revealed the cascading effects of multi-trophic diversity in promoting SMF restoration and emphasized that soil microbes are key to unraveling restoration mechanisms and processes, whereas soil fauna is an important intermediate link. Full article

The results of studies on the distribution of rare elements among the products of distillation processing of polymetallic mattes are present in this article. Schemes of the developed technological equipment for the implementation of the extraction processes of rare elements via the vacuum distillation of mattes are presented. Technological tests were performed with a matte of lead, copper, and antimony plants at 1100–1250 °C and a pressure of up to 700 Pa. It was established that As, Cd, Bi, In, and Ge, by more than 90% in total, are extracted into condensate and dust in the distillation process of volatile components from mattes of lead production. At the same time, antimony is distributed between the distillate residue and condensate. Antimony by 90.47%, arsenic by 78.83% and cadmium by 98.72% are distributed into sulfide condensate and dust in the distillation of copper production matte. From the matte of the antimony plant, Sb and Bi (90.76% and 89.78%, respectively) are transferred into the condensate and cyclone dust. Arsenic is distributed between the liquid and vapor phases. Based on calculations, Se and Te will be mainly concentrated in the distillation residue. High-grade copper mattes obtained in processing mattes from lead and copper plants can be further used to obtain metallic copper by converting. The condensate and dust can be processed separately or with the dust of the mainline production for rare metal extraction. Antimony matte processing condensate containing more than 70% Sb can be directed to the process of crude antimony refining. Full article

To further promote the development of research on direct-to-plant SBS-modified asphalt, this article analyzes the development of direct-to-plant SBS modifiers. Starting from the material composition and mechanism of action, common direct-to-plant SBS modifiers were analyzed and classified into four categories based on their mechanism of action, including the instant dissolution principle, intramolecular lubrication principle, non-granulation principle, and vulcanization principle. From the evaluation of the modification effect, the method of studying the performance of direct-to-plant SBS-modified asphalt is summarized, including fluorescence microscopy, AFM technology, and molecular dynamics simulation technology. From the perspective of practical application, the construction process of direct-to-plant SBS-modified asphalt was discussed, including the design stage, raw material preparation stage, mix design stage, and on-site construction stage. The results show that common direct-to-plant SBS modifiers are primarily SBS with a small particle size (less than 200 mesh) or specific model, supplemented by additives (EVA, naphthenic oil, sulfur, petroleum resin, etc.), which improve melting efficiency and lubricity or make it undergo vulcanization reaction, change the proportion of asphalt components, and improve stability. In the evaluation of the modification effect of direct-to-plant SBS-modified asphalt, the disparity of the direct-to-plant SBS modifier is determined by observing the particle residue after dry mixing. Macroscopic indexes of modified asphalt and modified asphalt mixture are used to determine the cross-linking effect of direct-to-plant SBS modifier and asphalt, and the modification mechanism and modification effect of wet SBS modifier are evaluated at the microscopic level. The development of direct-to-plant SBS-modified asphalt should combine the characteristics of direct-to-plant SBS modifiers and the attributes of field application, targeted research, and the development of high-performance direct-to-plant SBS modifiers and complete production technologies applicable to different regions, strengthen the improvement of modification effect evaluation, and form a complete theoretical system. Full article

Over the last 20 years, begomoviruses have emerged as devastating pathogens, limiting the production of different crops worldwide. Weather conditions increase vector populations, with negative effects on crop production. In this work we evaluate the relationship between the incidence of begomovirus and weather before and during the crop cycle. Soybean and bean fields from north-western (NW) Argentina were monitored between 2001 and 2018 and classified as moderate (≤50%) or severe (>50%) according to the begomovirus incidence. Bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) and soybean blistering mosaic virus (SbBMV) were the predominant begomovirus in bean and soybean crops, respectively. Nearly 200 bio-meteorological variables were constructed by summarizing climatic variables in 10-day periods from July to November of each crop year. The studied variables included temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, wind (speed and direction), pressure, cloudiness, and visibility. For bean, high maximum winter temperatures, low spring humidity, and precipitation 10 days before planting correlated with severe incidence. In soybeans, high temperatures in late winter and in the pre-sowing period, and low spring precipitations were found to be good predictors of high incidence of begomovirus. The results suggest that temperature and pre-sowing precipitations can be used to predict the incidence status [predictive accuracy: 80% (bean) and 75% (soybean)]. Thus, these variables can be incorporated in early warning systems for crop management decision-making to reduce the virus impact on bean and soybean crops. Full article

Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter is gaining attention for its high genetic plasticity and ability to adapt to adverse environmental conditions, including heavy metal and metalloid pollution. Uptake and translocation of cadmium, copper, iron, nickel, lead, and zinc to the shoots have been characterized, but its performance with arsenic is less known and sometimes contradictory. Tolerance to As is not related to a reduced uptake, but the null mutation of the aquaporin Nip1.1 gene in Arabidopsis makes the plant completely resistant to the metalloid. This aquaporin, localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, is responsible for arsenite and antimony (Sb) membrane permeation, but the uptake of arsenite occurs also in the null mutant, suggesting a more sophisticated action mechanism than direct uptake. In this study, the DvNip1 gene homologue is cloned and its expression profile in roots and shoots is characterized in different arsenic stress conditions. The use of clonal lines allowed to evidence that DvNip1.1 expression level is influenced by arsenic stress. The proportion of gene expression in roots and shoots can be used to generate an index that appears to be a promising putative selection marker to predict arsenic-resistant lines of Dittrichia viscosa plants. Full article

This work was conducted to focus on pollutant transmission between Poland and Czechia at the most polluted area in the Czech Republic, the Moravian Silesian region. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and multivariate statistical analyses were used to determine the mass fractions of inorganic air pollutants accumulated on filters. Particle matters of sizes smaller than 10 µm (PM₁₀) were collected using a high-volume sampler (SAM Hi 30 AUTO WIND). Pollutants PM₁₀ were collected on Whatman QM-A Quartz Microfiber Filters of 150 mm in diameter based on various wind conditions. These filters were irradiated by neutron flux at the experimental reactor IBR-2 at the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna, RF. Irradiated samples were measured by gamma spectrometry techniques using HPGe detectors. In total, results are shown for 49 samples (from March to July 2021) and five field blank filters. The mass fractions of 24 elements (Sc, Cr, Fe, Ni, Co, Zn, Se, As, Br, Rb, Mo, Sb, Ba, Cs, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Hf, Au, Th, and U) were determined. The sources of pollution were specified using correlation and exploratory factor analyses and including meteorological conditions. A strong positive correlation was shown between the elements Cr, As, Br, Co, Fe, Sc, Se, Sm, Th, La, and Ce. Elemental exposure to PM₁₀ can be divided based on the factor loadings of common chemical components into three main pollution sources. According to the wind rose, the pollution came from the southeast/west direction; therefore, we can assume that the pollution most likely originated from the metallurgic complex (steel and iron production in the southeast, and a coking plant, metal foundry, and generation plant in the west). Full article

Light is a critical environmental factor that influences plant growth and development, ranging from seed germination to flowering and fruiting. This study was carried out to explore how the optimal combination of various lighting directions increases the light usage efficiency and influences the plant morphophysiology, by investigating the plant growth parameters, leaf anatomy, epidermal morphology, stomatal properties, chlorophyll content, key physiological changes, and correlated gene expressions. In closed-type plant growth chambers, rooted cuttings of two chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) cultivars, “Pearl Egg” and “Gaya Glory”, were subjected to a 10-h photoperiod with 600 μmol∙m⁻²·s⁻¹ photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in each light-direction combination (top (1/1) (T), top (1/2) + side (1/2) (TS), top (1/2) + bottom (1/2) (TB), side (1/2) + bottom (1/2) (SB), and top (1/3) + side (1/3) + bottom (1/3) (TSB)). The TS lighting significantly enhanced the morphophysiological performance, compared to the other lighting direction combinations. Notably, the excellent branch formation and earlier flowering were induced by the TS lighting in both “Pearl Egg” and “Gaya Glory” plants. Full article

A biomonitoring study using terrestrial mosses was performed in the vicinity of an Integrated Iron and Steel plant near the Czech–Polish border. Moss samples were collected in two seasons (June, October) in order to embrace the effect of the heating season on the pollution levels. The contents of metals (Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Sb and Hg) were determined using the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and contents of N, C, H via elemental analysis. The influence of the proximity of the factory, the heating season and modelled concentrations of particulate matter <10 µm (PM₁₀) on determined concentrations of elements were studied via multivariate statistical methods using clr-transformed data. This approach led to the first-time demonstration that not only the distance from the industrial source but also the sampling season and PM₁₀ concentrations significantly affect the elemental content in mosses; the association of the emissions from the source and the determined concentrations of elements in moss samples were more evident outside the heating season (October). The analyses of transformed data revealed the association of Fe, Cr, V, As and Al with the coarse particles and their dominant spatial distribution depending on the prevailing wind directions. The spatial distribution of Mn, Zn and Cd, which are carried by fine particles, appears to depend more on atmospheric dispersion and long-range transport, and, thus, these metals should be considered weak markers of the pollution load in the close surroundings of an industrial source. Full article

Five types of material, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS), ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA), naphthenic oil, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA-g-MAH) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were used as the raw ingredients for manufacturing direct-to-plant SBS in this paper. Thirteen kinds of direct-to-plant SBS with different EVA/SBS and naphthenic oil/SBS were prepared as well as the processes diagrammatic sketch of dispersion and swelling of direct-to-plant SBS modifier in bitumen were discussed. Microscopic images of direct-to-plant SBS modified bitumen with different components were obtained using fluorescence microscopy. The micro-images were analysed and quantified with MATLAB software. The influence of key components on the micro-morphology of direct-to-plant SBS-modified bitumen is discussed, followed with the tests on melting points and the melting indexes of direct-to-plant SBS with different EVA/SBS and naphthenic oil/SBS. The performances test of bitumen and bituminous mixture modified by these direct-to-plant SBS were also conducted. Results show that, with the ratio improvement of EVA/SBS or naphthenic oil/SBS, the number of the pixel dot number of area (SBS) in microscopic images increased. Enlargement of the pixel dot number of centre line elongate and the structure fineness was observed, indicating that the dispersion and swelling effect of the SBS modifier in bitumen had been improved. Meanwhile, the macro index, such as the melting point and melting index of direct-to-plant SBS, was also improved corresponding to the increase of EVA/SBS ratio or naphthenic oil/SBS ratio. With the addition of EVA or naphthene oil content, penetration and ductility of direct-to-plant SBS modified bitumen received gradual enhancement, but the softening point and viscosity were found out to be decreased. The high-temperature and low-temperature performances of direct-to-plant SBS modified bituminous mixture can be effectively improved by adding EVA or naphthenic oil. By meeting the required performances of direct-to-plant SBS, modified bitumen and bituminous mixture, the component of direct-to-plant SBS is recommended as, SBS:EVA:naphthenic oil:EVA-g-MAH:BHT is 1:0.1–0.5:0.05–0.2:0.03:0.05. For the compatibleness of SBS with different bitumen are different, necessary tests verification is recommended to be carried out prior to usage. Full article

Preliminary investigations were carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of the leaves of O. stamineus extracted serially with solvents of increasing polarity (petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water); bioassay-guided purification of plant extracts using the subcutaneous glucose tolerance test (SbGTT) was also carried out. Only the chloroform extract, given at 1 g/kg body weight (b.w.), significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the blood glucose level of rats loaded subcutaneously with 150 mg/kg (b.w.) glucose. The active chloroform extract of O. stamineus was separated into five fractions using a dry flash column chromatography method. Out of the five fractions tested, only chloroform fraction 2 (Cƒ2), at the dose of 1 g/kg (b.w.) significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) blood glucose levels in SbGTT. Active Cƒ2 was split into two sub-fractions Cƒ2-A and Cƒ2-B, using a dry flash column chromatography method. The activities Cƒ2-A and Cƒ2-B were investigated using SbGTT, and the active sub-fraction was then further studied for anti-diabetic effects in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. The results clearly indicate that Cƒ2-B fraction exhibited a blood glucose lowering effect in fasted treated normal rats after glucose-loading of 150 mg/kg (b.w.). In the acute streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model, Cƒ2-B did not exhibit a hypoglycemic effect on blood glucose levels up to 7 hours after treatment. Thus, it appears that Cƒ2-B functions similarly to metformin, which has no hypoglycemic effect but demonstrates an antihyperglycemic effect only in normogycemic models. The effect of Cƒ2-B may have no direct stimulatory effects on insulin secretion or on blood glucose levels in diabetic animal models. Verification of the active compound(s) within the active fraction (Cƒ2-B) indicated the presence of terpenoids and, flavonoids, including sinensitin. Full article