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15 pages, 807 KiB  
Article
Role of Plant Growth Regulators in Adventitious Populus Tremula Root Development In Vitro
by Miglė Vaičiukynė, Jonas Žiauka, Valentinas Černiauskas and Iveta Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2427; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152427 - 5 Aug 2025
Abstract
Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.) is a tree species with recognised ecological and economic importance for both natural and plantation forests. For the fast cloning of selected aspen genotypes, the method of plant propagation through in vitro culture (micropropagation) is often recommended. [...] Read more.
Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.) is a tree species with recognised ecological and economic importance for both natural and plantation forests. For the fast cloning of selected aspen genotypes, the method of plant propagation through in vitro culture (micropropagation) is often recommended. The efficiency of this method is related to the use of shoot-inducing chemical growth regulators, among which cytokinins, a type of plant hormone, dominate. Although cytokinins can inhibit rooting, this effect is avoided by using cytokinin-free media. This study sought to identify concentrations and combinations of growth regulators that would stimulate one type of P. tremula organogenesis (either shoot or root formation) without inhibiting the other. The investigated growth regulators included cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), auxin transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), auxins indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol (PBZ), and a gibberellin mixture (GA4/7). Both BAP and TIBA increased shoot number per P. tremula explant and decreased the number of adventitious roots, but TIBA, in contrast to BAP, did not inhibit lateral root formation. However, for the maintenance of both adventitious shoot and root formation above the control level, the combination of PBZ and GA4/7 was shown to be especially promising. Full article
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25 pages, 1529 KiB  
Article
Native Flora and Potential Natural Vegetation References for Effective Forest Restoration in Italian Urban Systems
by Carlo Blasi, Giulia Capotorti, Eva Del Vico, Sandro Bonacquisti and Laura Zavattero
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2396; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152396 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 125
Abstract
The ongoing decade of UN restoration matches with the European goal of bringing nature back into our lives, including in urban systems, and Nature Restoration Regulation. Within such a framework, this work is aimed at highlighting the ecological rationale and strategic value of [...] Read more.
The ongoing decade of UN restoration matches with the European goal of bringing nature back into our lives, including in urban systems, and Nature Restoration Regulation. Within such a framework, this work is aimed at highlighting the ecological rationale and strategic value of an NRRP measure devoted to forest restoration in Italian Metropolitan Cities, and at assessing respective preliminary results. Therefore, the measure’s overarching goal (not to create urban parks or gardens, but activate forest recovery), geographic extent and scope (over 4000 ha and more than 4 million planted trees and shrubs across the country), plantation model (mandatory use of native species consistent with local potential vegetation, density of 1000 seedlings per ha, use of at least four tree and four shrub species in each project, with a minimum proportion of 70% for trees, certified provenance for reproductive material), and compulsory management activities (maintenance and replacement of any dead plants for at least five years), are herein shown and explained under an ecological perspective. Current implementation outcomes were thus assessed in terms of coherence and expected biodiversity benefits, especially with respect to ecological and biogeographic consistency of planted forests, representativity in relation to national and European plant diversity, biogeographic interest and conservation concern of adopted plants, and potential contribution to the EU Habitats Directive. Compliance with international strategic goals and normative rules, along with recognizable advantages of the measure and limitations to be solved, are finally discussed. In conclusion, the forestation model proposed for the Italian Metropolitan Cities proved to be fully applicable in its ecological rationale, with expected benefits in terms of biodiversity support plainly met, and even exceeded, at the current stage of implementation, especially in terms of the contribution to protected habitats. These promising preliminary results allow the model to be recognized at the international level as a good practice that may help achieve protection targets and sustainable development goals within and beyond urban systems. Full article
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24 pages, 7547 KiB  
Article
Raising pH Reduces Manganese Toxicity in Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck by Efficient Maintenance of Nutrient Homeostasis to Enhance Photosynthesis and Growth
by Rong-Yu Rao, Wei-Lin Huang, Hui Yang, Qian Shen, Wei-Tao Huang, Fei Lu, Xin Ye, Lin-Tong Yang, Zeng-Rong Huang and Li-Song Chen
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2390; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152390 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 193
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) excess and low pH often coexist in some citrus orchard soils. Little information is known about the underlying mechanism by which raising pH reduces Mn toxicity in citrus plants. ‘Sour pummelo’ (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) seedlings were treated with 2 [...] Read more.
Manganese (Mn) excess and low pH often coexist in some citrus orchard soils. Little information is known about the underlying mechanism by which raising pH reduces Mn toxicity in citrus plants. ‘Sour pummelo’ (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) seedlings were treated with 2 (Mn2) or 500 (Mn500) μM Mn at a pH of 3 (P3) or 5 (P5) for 25 weeks. Raising pH mitigated Mn500-induced increases in Mn, iron, copper, and zinc concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, and zinc distributions in roots, but it mitigated Mn500-induced decreases in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and boron concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves, as well as nutrient imbalance. Raising pH mitigated Mn500-induced necrotic spots on old leaves, yellowing of young leaves, decreases in seedling growth, leaf chlorophyll concentration, and CO2 assimilation (ACO2), increase in root dry weight (DW)/shoot DW, and alterations of leaf chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP) transients and related indexes. Further analysis indicated that raising pH ameliorated Mn500-induced impairment of nutrient homeostasis, leaf thylakoid structure by iron deficiency and competition of Mn with magnesium, and photosynthetic electron transport chain (PETC), thereby reducing Mn500-induced declines in ACO2 and subsequent seedling growth. These results validated the hypothesis that raising pH reduced Mn toxicity in ‘Sour pummelo’ seedlings by (a) reducing Mn uptake, (b) efficient maintenance of nutrient homeostasis under Mn stress, (c) reducing Mn excess-induced impairment of thylakoid structure and PEPC and inhibition of chlorophyll biosynthesis, and (d) increasing ACO2 and subsequent seedling growth under Mn excess. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Nutrition)
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18 pages, 1711 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Fresh Maize
by Suying Guo, Rengui Zhao and Jinhao Lan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157431 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 83
Abstract
This study measured eight key phenotypic traits across 259 fresh maize inbred lines, including plant height and spike length. A total of 82 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with these phenotypes were identified by applying a mixed linear model to calculate the [...] Read more.
This study measured eight key phenotypic traits across 259 fresh maize inbred lines, including plant height and spike length. A total of 82 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with these phenotypes were identified by applying a mixed linear model to calculate the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values and integrating genome-wide genotypic data through genome-wide association analysis (GWAS). A further analysis of significant SNPs contributed to the identification of 63 candidate genes with functional annotations. Notably, 11 major candidate genes were identified from multi-trait association loci, all of which exhibited highly significant P-values (<0.0001) and explained between 7.21% and 12.78% of phenotypic variation. These 11 genes, located on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9, were functionally involved in signaling, metabolic regulation, structural maintenance, and stress response, and are likely to play crucial roles in the growth and physiological processes of fresh maize inbred lines. The functional genes identified in this study have significant implications for the development of molecular markers, the optimization of breeding strategies, and the enhancement of quality in fresh maize. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)
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14 pages, 2583 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveal the Physiological Variations of a Gradient-Pale-Green Leaf Mutant in Sorghum
by Kuangzheng Qu, Dan Li, Zhenxing Zhu and Xiaochun Lu
Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1841; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081841 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 207
Abstract
Sorghum is an important cereal crop. The maintenance of leaf color significantly influences sorghum growth and development. Although the mechanisms of leaf color mutation have been well studied in many plants, those in sorghum remain largely unclear. Here, we identified a sorghum gradient-pale-green [...] Read more.
Sorghum is an important cereal crop. The maintenance of leaf color significantly influences sorghum growth and development. Although the mechanisms of leaf color mutation have been well studied in many plants, those in sorghum remain largely unclear. Here, we identified a sorghum gradient-pale-green leaf mutant (sbgpgl1) from the ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis mutant library. Phenotypic, photosynthesis-related parameter, ion content, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses were performed on wild-type BTx623 and the sbgpgl1 mutant at the heading stage, revealing changes in several agronomic traits and physiological indicators. Compared with BTx623, sbgpgl1 showed less height, with a smaller length and width of leaf and panicle. The overall Chl a and Chl b contents in sbgpgl1 were lower than those in BTx623. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were significantly reduced in sbgpgl1 compared to BTx623. The content of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) was considerably lower in sbgpgl1 leaves than in BTx623. A total of 4469 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 775 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified by RNA-seq and UPLC-MS/MS. The results showed that sbgpgl1 primarily influenced sorghum metabolism by regulating metabolic pathways and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, resulting in the gradient-pale-green leaf phenotype. These findings reveal key genes and metabolites involved on a molecular basis in physiological variations of the sorghum leaf color mutant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)
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16 pages, 8222 KiB  
Article
Multi-Dimensional Feature Perception Network for Open-Switch Fault Diagnosis in Grid-Connected PV Inverters
by Yuxuan Xie, Yaoxi He, Yong Zhan, Qianlin Chang, Keting Hu and Haoyu Wang
Energies 2025, 18(15), 4044; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154044 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 247
Abstract
Intelligent monitoring and fault diagnosis of PV grid-connected inverters are crucial for the operation and maintenance of PV power plants. However, due to the significant influence of weather conditions on the operating status of PV inverters, the accuracy of traditional fault diagnosis methods [...] Read more.
Intelligent monitoring and fault diagnosis of PV grid-connected inverters are crucial for the operation and maintenance of PV power plants. However, due to the significant influence of weather conditions on the operating status of PV inverters, the accuracy of traditional fault diagnosis methods faces challenges. To address the issue of open-circuit faults in power switching devices, this paper proposes a multi-dimensional feature perception network. This network captures multi-scale fault features under complex operating conditions through a multi-dimensional dilated convolution feature enhancement module and extracts non-causal relationships under different conditions using convolutional feature fusion with a Transformer. Experimental results show that the proposed network achieves fault diagnosis accuracies of 97.3% and 96.55% on the inverter dataset and the generalization performance dataset, respectively. Full article
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14 pages, 1957 KiB  
Article
Reliability and Availability Analysis of a Two-Unit Cold Standby System with Imperfect Switching
by Nariman M. Ragheb, Emad Solouma, Abdullah A. Alahmari and Sayed Saber
Axioms 2025, 14(8), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms14080589 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 215
Abstract
This paper presents a stochastic analysis of a two-unit cold standby system incorporating imperfect switching mechanisms. Each unit operates in one of three states: normal, partial failure, or total failure. Employing Markov processes, the study evaluates system reliability by examining the mean time [...] Read more.
This paper presents a stochastic analysis of a two-unit cold standby system incorporating imperfect switching mechanisms. Each unit operates in one of three states: normal, partial failure, or total failure. Employing Markov processes, the study evaluates system reliability by examining the mean time to failure (MTTF) and steady-state availability metrics. Failure and repair times are assumed to follow exponential distributions, while the switching mechanism is modeled as either perfect or imperfect. The results highlight the significant influence of switching reliability on both MTTF and system availability. This analysis is crucial for optimizing the performance of complex systems, such as thermal power plants, where continuous and reliable operation is imperative. The study also aligns with recent research trends emphasizing the integration of preventive maintenance and advanced reliability modeling approaches to enhance overall system resilience. Full article
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13 pages, 1599 KiB  
Article
Differential Expression of Hsp100 Gene in Scrippsiella acuminata: Potential Involvement in Life Cycle Transition and Dormancy Maintenance
by Fengting Li, Lixia Shang, Hanying Zou, Chengxing Sun, Zhangxi Hu, Ying Zhong Tang and Yunyan Deng
Diversity 2025, 17(8), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17080519 - 26 Jul 2025
Viewed by 178
Abstract
Protein degradation plays a fundamental role in maintaining protein homeostasis and ensures proper cellular function by regulating protein quality and quantity. Heat shock protein 100 (Hsp100), found in bacteria, plants, and fungi, is a unique chaperone family responsible for rescuing misfolded proteins from [...] Read more.
Protein degradation plays a fundamental role in maintaining protein homeostasis and ensures proper cellular function by regulating protein quality and quantity. Heat shock protein 100 (Hsp100), found in bacteria, plants, and fungi, is a unique chaperone family responsible for rescuing misfolded proteins from aggregated states in an ATP-dependent manner. To date, they are primarily known to mediate heat stress adaptation and enhance cellular survival under extreme conditions in higher plants and algae. Resting cyst formation in dinoflagellates is widely recognized as a response to adverse conditions, which offers an adaptive advantage to endure harsh environmental extremes that are unsuitable for vegetative cell growth and survival. In this study, based on a full-length cDNA sequence, we characterized an Hsp100 gene (SaHsp100) from the cosmopolitan bloom-forming dinoflagellate Scrippsiella acuminata, aiming to examine its life stage-specific expression patterns and preliminarily explore its potential functions. The qPCR results revealed that Hsp100 transcript levels were significantly elevated in newly formed resting cysts compared to vegetative cells and continued to increase during storage under simulated marine sediment conditions (darkness, low temperature, and anoxia). Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM)-based quantification further confirmed that Hsp100 protein levels were significantly higher in resting cysts than in vegetative cells and increased after three months of storage. These findings collectively highlighted the fundamental role of Hsp100 in the alteration of the life cycle and dormancy maintenance of S. acuminata, likely by enhancing stress adaptation and promoting cell survival through participation in proteostasis maintenance, particularly under natural sediment-like conditions that trigger severe abiotic stress. Our work deepens the current understanding of Hsp family members in dinoflagellates, paving the way for future investigations into their ecological relevance within this ecologically significant group. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)
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14 pages, 2497 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Variations in Nectar Robbing and Its Effects on Reproduction in Salvia castanea Diels (Lamiaceae)
by Han-Wen Xiao and Yan-Bo Huang
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2266; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152266 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 195
Abstract
Nectar robbing typically reduces nectar availability to pollinators, damages flower structure, and/or induces secondary robbing. Consequently, it may reduce pollen deposition and seed set, increase pollination efficiency and outcrossing, and/or not affect reproduction in some species. However, spatiotemporal variations in nectar robbing and [...] Read more.
Nectar robbing typically reduces nectar availability to pollinators, damages flower structure, and/or induces secondary robbing. Consequently, it may reduce pollen deposition and seed set, increase pollination efficiency and outcrossing, and/or not affect reproduction in some species. However, spatiotemporal variations in nectar robbing and their effects on plant reproduction have received little attention. In this study, we assessed the effects of nectar robbing on floral visits, seed set, nectar volume and concentration, and flower longevity in two populations of Salvia castanea Diels (Lamiaceae) in the Himalayan region of Southwestern China in 2014–2020. We also examined whether one or a few visits by pollinators can result in the stigma receiving sufficient pollen to fertilize all ovules of S. castanea. We found that significant differences in the nectar robbing rate did not affect seed set in any of the years for either population of S. castanea. In the robbed and unrobbed flowers, nectar was consistently replenished every night at higher concentrations. Bagging, nectar robbing, and sufficient pollination did not affect flower longevity. Salvia castanea required only 5–10 pollen grains to achieve the maximum seed set. However, pollinators depositing more than 10 pollen grains after a single visit ensured a high seed set of >80%. Our results suggest that nectar availability, floral longevity maintenance, and sufficient pollen deposition mitigate the effects of nectar robbing on the reproductive success of S. castanea. These results are expected to further our understanding of plant–animal interactions and the ecological consequences of nectar robbing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)
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21 pages, 3528 KiB  
Article
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy of Light-Independent ROS in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. TROL-FNR Mutants
by Ena Dumančić, Lea Vojta and Hrvoje Fulgosi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 7000; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26147000 - 21 Jul 2025
Viewed by 247
Abstract
Thylakoid rhodanese-like protein (TROL) serves as a thylakoid membrane hinge linking photosynthetic electron transport chain (PETC) complexes to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) synthesis. TROL is the docking site for the flavoenzyme ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR). Our prior work indicates that the TROL-FNR [...] Read more.
Thylakoid rhodanese-like protein (TROL) serves as a thylakoid membrane hinge linking photosynthetic electron transport chain (PETC) complexes to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) synthesis. TROL is the docking site for the flavoenzyme ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR). Our prior work indicates that the TROL-FNR complex maintains redox equilibrium in chloroplasts and systemically in plant cells. Improvement in the knowledge of redox regulation mechanisms is critical for engineering stress-tolerant plants in times of elevated global drought intensity. To further test this hypothesis and confirm our previous results, we monitored light-independent ROS propagation in the leaves of Arabidopsis wild type (WT), TROL knock-out (KO), and TROL ΔRHO (RHO-domain deletion mutant) mutant plants in situ by using confocal laser scanning microscopy with specific fluorescent probes for the three different ROS: O2·−, H2O2, and 1O2. Plants were grown under the conditions of normal substrate moisture and under drought stress conditions. Under the drought stress conditions, the TROL KO line showed ≈32% less O2·− while the TROL ΔRHO line showed ≈49% less H2O2 in comparison with the WT. This research confirms the role of dynamical TROL-FNR complex formation in redox equilibrium maintenance by redirecting electrons in alternative sinks under stress and also points it out as promising target for stress-tolerant plant engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insight into Oxidative Stress in Plants)
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17 pages, 8540 KiB  
Article
Effects of N-P-K Ratio in Root Nutrient Solutions on Ectomycorrhizal Formation and Seedling Growth of Pinus armandii Inoculated with Tuber indicum
by Li Huang, Rui Wang, Fuqiang Yu, Ruilong Liu, Chenxin He, Lanlan Huang, Shimei Yang, Dong Liu and Shanping Wan
Agronomy 2025, 15(7), 1749; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071749 - 20 Jul 2025
Viewed by 339
Abstract
Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is a cornerstone of ecosystem health, facilitating nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and biodiversity maintenance in trees. Optimizing Pinus armandiiTuber indicum mycorrhizal synthesis enhances the ecological stability of coniferous forests while supporting high-value truffle cultivation. This study conducted a pot [...] Read more.
Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is a cornerstone of ecosystem health, facilitating nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and biodiversity maintenance in trees. Optimizing Pinus armandiiTuber indicum mycorrhizal synthesis enhances the ecological stability of coniferous forests while supporting high-value truffle cultivation. This study conducted a pot experiment to compare the effects of three root nutrient regulations—Aolu 318S (containing N-P2O5-K2O in a ratio of 15-9-11 (w/w%)), Aolu 328S (11-11-18), and Youguduo (19-19-19)—on the mycorrhizal synthesis of P. armandiiT. indicum. The results showed that root nutrient supplementation significantly improved the seedling crown, plant height, ground diameter, biomass dry weight, and mycorrhizal infection rate of both the control and mycorrhizal seedlings, with the slow-release fertilizers Aolu 318S and 328S outperforming the quick-release fertilizer Youguduo. The suitable substrate composition in this experiment was as follows: pH 6.53–6.86, organic matter content 43.25–43.49 g/kg, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen 89.25–90.3 mg/kg, available phosphorus 83.69–87.32 mg/kg, available potassium 361.5–364.65 mg/kg, exchangeable magnesium 1.17–1.57 mg/kg, and available iron 33.06–37.3 mg/kg. It is recommended to mix the Aolu 318S and 328S solid fertilizers evenly into the substrate, with a recommended dosage of 2 g per plant. These results shed light on the pivotal role of a precise N-P-K ratio regulation in fostering sustainable ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, offering a novel paradigm for integrating nutrient management with mycorrhizal biotechnology to enhance forest restoration efficiency in arid ecosystems. Full article
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17 pages, 1884 KiB  
Article
A Habitat-Template Approach to Green Wall Design in Mediterranean Cities
by Miriam Patti, Carmelo Maria Musarella and Giovanni Spampinato
Buildings 2025, 15(14), 2557; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142557 - 20 Jul 2025
Viewed by 286
Abstract
Integrating nature-based solutions into sustainable urban design has become increasingly important in response to rapid urbanization and climate-related environmental challenges. As part of these solutions, green walls not only enhance the thermal and acoustic performance of buildings but also contribute to urban ecosystem [...] Read more.
Integrating nature-based solutions into sustainable urban design has become increasingly important in response to rapid urbanization and climate-related environmental challenges. As part of these solutions, green walls not only enhance the thermal and acoustic performance of buildings but also contribute to urban ecosystem health by supporting biodiversity. In this context, the careful selection of plant species is essential to ensure ecological efficiency, resilience, and low maintenance. This study presents a model for selecting plant species suitable for natural green walls in Mediterranean cities, with a focus on habitats protected under Directive 92/43/EEC. The selection followed a multi-phase process applied to the native flora of Italy, using criteria such as chorological type, life form, ecological indicator values, altitudinal range, and habitat type. Alien and invasive species were excluded, favoring only native Mediterranean species adapted to local pedoclimatic conditions and capable of providing ecosystem, esthetic, and functional benefits. The outcome of this rigorous screening led to the identification of a pool of species suitable for green wall systems in Mediterranean urban settings. These selections offer a practical contribution to mitigating the urban heat island effect, improving air quality, and enhancing biodiversity, thus providing a valuable tool for designing more sustainable and climate-adaptive buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural-Based Solution for Sustainable Buildings)
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14 pages, 2027 KiB  
Article
The Role of Potassium and KUP/KT/HAK Transporters in Regulating Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) Fruit Development
by José A. Mercado-Hornos, Claudia Rodríguez-Hiraldo, Consuelo Guerrero, Sara Posé, Antonio J. Matas, Lourdes Rubio and José A. Mercado
Plants 2025, 14(14), 2241; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142241 - 20 Jul 2025
Viewed by 363
Abstract
Potassium is the most abundant macronutrient in plants, participating in essential physiological processes such as turgor maintenance. A reduction in cell turgor is a hallmark of the ripening process associated with fruit softening. The dynamic of K+ fluxes in fleshy fruits is [...] Read more.
Potassium is the most abundant macronutrient in plants, participating in essential physiological processes such as turgor maintenance. A reduction in cell turgor is a hallmark of the ripening process associated with fruit softening. The dynamic of K+ fluxes in fleshy fruits is largely unknown; however, the reallocation of K+ into the apoplast has been proposed as a contributing factor to the decrease in fruit turgor, contributing to fruit softening. High-affinity K+ transporters belonging to the KUP/HT/HAK transporter family have been implicated in this process in some fruits. In this study, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the KUP/KT/HAK family of high-affinity K+ transporters in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) was conducted, identifying 60 putative transporter genes. The chromosomal distribution of the FaKUP gene family and phylogenetic relationship and structure of predicted proteins were thoroughly examined. Transcriptomic profiling revealed the expression of 19 FaKUP genes within the fruit receptacle, with a predominant downregulation observed during ripening, particularly in FaKUP14, 24 and 47. This pattern suggests their functional relevance in early fruit development and turgor maintenance. Mineral composition analyses confirmed that K+ is the most abundant macronutrient in strawberry fruits, exhibiting a slight decrease as ripening progressed. Membrane potential (Em) and diffusion potentials (ED) at increasing external K+ concentrations were measured by electrophysiology in parenchymal cells of green and white fruits. The results obtained suggest a significant diminution in cytosolic K+ levels in white compared to green fruits. Furthermore, the slope of change in ED at increasing external K+ concentration indicated a lower K+ permeability of the plasma membrane in white fruits, aligning with transcriptomic data. This study provides critical insights into the regulatory mechanisms of K+ transport during strawberry ripening and identifies potential targets for genetic modifications aimed at enhancing fruit firmness and shelf life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Quality and Physiology of Vegetables and Fruits)
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20 pages, 6173 KiB  
Article
Research on an Energy-Harvesting System Based on the Energy Field of the Environment Surrounding a Photovoltaic Power Plant
by Bin Zhang, Binbin Wang, Hongxi Zhang, Abdelkader Outzourhit, Fouad Belhora, Zoubir El Felsoufi, Jia-Wei Zhang and Jun Gao
Energies 2025, 18(14), 3786; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18143786 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 289
Abstract
With the large-scale global deployment of photovoltaics (PV), traditional monitoring technologies face challenges such as wiring difficulties, high energy consumption, and high maintenance costs in remote or complex terrains, which limit long-term environmental sensing. Therefore, energy-harvesting systems are crucial for the intelligent operation [...] Read more.
With the large-scale global deployment of photovoltaics (PV), traditional monitoring technologies face challenges such as wiring difficulties, high energy consumption, and high maintenance costs in remote or complex terrains, which limit long-term environmental sensing. Therefore, energy-harvesting systems are crucial for the intelligent operation of photovoltaic systems; however, their deployment depends on the accurate mapping of wind energy fields and solar irradiance fields. This study proposes a multi-scale simulation method based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimize the placement of energy-harvesting systems in photovoltaic power plants. By integrating wind and irradiance distribution analysis, the spatial characteristics of airflow and solar radiation are mapped to identify high-efficiency zones for energy harvesting. The results indicate that the top of the photovoltaic panel exhibits a higher wind speed and reflected irradiance, providing the optimal location for an energy-harvesting system. The proposed layout strategy improves overall energy capture efficiency, enhances sensor deployment effectiveness, and supports intelligent, maintenance-free monitoring systems. This research not only provides theoretical guidance for the design of energy-harvesting systems in PV stations but also offers a scalable method applicable to various geographic scenarios, contributing to the advancement of smart and self-powered energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section D: Energy Storage and Application)
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23 pages, 10278 KiB  
Article
Natural-Based Solution for Sewage Using Hydroponic Systems with Water Hyacinth
by Lim Yen Yen, Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah, Muhammad Fauzul Imron and Setyo Budi Kurniawan
Water 2025, 17(14), 2122; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142122 - 16 Jul 2025
Viewed by 376
Abstract
Domestic wastewater discharge is the major source of pollution in Malaysia. Phytoremediation under hydroponic conditions was initiated to treat domestic wastewater and, at the same time, to resolve the space limitation issue by installing a hydroponic system in vertical space at the site. [...] Read more.
Domestic wastewater discharge is the major source of pollution in Malaysia. Phytoremediation under hydroponic conditions was initiated to treat domestic wastewater and, at the same time, to resolve the space limitation issue by installing a hydroponic system in vertical space at the site. Water hyacinth (WH) was selected in this study to identify its performance of water hyacinth in removing nutrients in raw sewage under batch operation. In the batch experiment, the ratio of CODinitial/plantinitial was identified, and SPSS ANOVA analysis shows that the number of plant size factors was not statistically different in this study. Therefore, four WH, each with an initial weight of 60 ± 20 g, were recommended for this study. Throughout the 10 days of the batch experiment, the average of COD, BOD, TSS, TP, NH4, and color removal was 73%, 73%, 86%, 79%, 77%, and 54%, respectively. The WH biomass weight increased by an average of 78%. The plants have also improved the DO level from 0.24 mg/L to 4.88 mg/L. However, the pH of effluent decreased from pH 7.05 to pH 4.88 below the sewage Standard B discharge limit of pH 9–pH 5.50. Four WH plant groups were recommended for future study, as the COD removal among the other plant groups is not a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the lower plant biomass is preferable for the high pollutant removal performance due to the fact that it can reduce the maintenance and operating costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Wastewater Treatment and Reuse)
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