Search Results (120)

Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz. ex Ledeb.) Schischk., commonly known as divaricate siler, is a well-known medicinal plant from the Apiaceae family. Its natural habitat is rapidly declining owing to the harvesting of its roots, used as fángfēng in traditional Oriental medicine. This underutilized herb may serve as a valuable source of bioactive phenolic compounds, which can potentially be influenced by salicylic acid (SA) elicitation—a practical method to increase the concentration of valuable substances in plants. A field study showed that foliar application of SA on one-year-old S. divaricata positively influenced the total phenolic content in the herb, with the highest increase observed at 1.0 mM SA. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) data became increasingly complex with rising SA levels, identifying up to 48 compounds, including cinnamoyl quinic acids (CQAs), dihydrofurochromones (DFCs), and flavonol O-glycosides (FOGs), most reported for the first time in this species. The highest concentrations of CQAs, DFCs, and FOGs in plants treated with 1.0 mM SA were 83.14, 3.75, and 60.53 mg/g, respectively, compared to 42.76, 0.95, and 40.73 mg/g in untreated (0.0 mM SA) plants. Nine in vitro antioxidant assays revealed strong radical-scavenging and nitric oxide (NO)- and Fe²⁺-chelating activities in 1.0 mM SA-treated plants, indicating robust antioxidative properties of the S. divaricata herb. Thus, foliar application of SA considerably enriches the herb with target antioxidants, increasing its medicinal value, which is reflected in the plant’s biological response. This could potentially reduce the overexploitation of natural populations of S. divaricata, helping to preserve this valuable plant. Full article

In the irrigation districts of Northern China, the flood resources utilization for deep storage irrigation, which is essentially characterized by active excessive irrigation, aims to have the potential to mitigate freshwater shortages, and long-term groundwater overexploitation. It is crucial to detect the effects of irrigation amounts on agricultural yield and the mechanisms under deep storage irrigation. A three-year field experiment (2020–2023) was conducted in the Guanzhong Plain, according to five soil wetting layer depths (RF: 0 cm; W1: control, 120 cm; W2: 140 cm; W3: 160 cm; W4: 180 cm) with soil saturation water content as the irrigation upper limit. Results exhibited that, compared to W1, the W2, W3, and W4 treatments led to the increased plant height, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation. Meanwhile, the W2, W3, and W4 treatments improved kernel weight increment achieving maximum grain-filling rate (W_max), maximum grain-filling rate (G_max), and average grain-filling rate (G_ave), thereby enhancing the effective spikes (ES) and grain number per spike (GS), and thus increased wheat grain yield (GY). In relative to W1, the W2, W3, and W4 treatments increased the ES, GS, and GY by 11.89–19.81%, 8.61–14.36%, and 8.17–13.62% across the three years. Notably, no significant difference was observed in GS and GY between W3 and W4 treatments, but W4 treatment displayed significant decreases in ES by 3.04%, 3.06%, and 2.98% in the respective years. The application of a structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that deep storage irrigation improved ES and GS by positively regulating W_max, G_max, and G_ave, thus significantly increasing GY. Overall, this study identified the optimal threshold (W3 treatment) to maximize wheat yields by optimizing both the vegetative growth and grain-filling dynamics. This study provides essential support for the feasibility assessment of deep storage irrigation before flood seasons, which is vital for the balance and coordination of food security and water security. Full article

The distribution of suitable habitats for medicinal plants is affected by climate, soil, land use, and other factors. Arnebiae Radix, an important traditional Chinese medicinal resource in Xinjiang, includes Arnebia euchroma (Royle) I. M. Johnst. and Arnebia guttata Bunge and is at risk of over-exploitation. This study predicted suitable planting areas by integrating habitat and phytochemical suitability using the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS. The AUC values for A. euchroma and A. guttata were 0.977 and 0.952, with TSS values of 0.829 and 0.725, respectively, validating the high accuracy of the prediction model. Under the current scenario, the areas of suitable habitats for A. euchroma and A. guttata were 108,914 and 176,445 km², mainly distributed along the main mountains in Xinjiang. Under future climate scenarios, the suitable habitat area of A. euchroma increased by 11–18%, except in the ssp126-2090s scenario, while the suitable habitat area of A. guttata area decreased by 3–18%. Both species were influenced by land use/land cover and soil available nitrogen content; additionally, A. euchroma was affected by the precipitation in the driest month, and A. guttata by the mean diurnal range. The content of secondary metabolites was positively correlated with habitat suitability, with soil factors contributing 35.25% to the total secondary metabolite content. Their suitable habitats predominantly occur in grasslands (42–82%). As habitat and phytochemical suitability distributions aligned, the eastern and western sides of the northern Kunlun Mountain Pass emerged as key areas for cultivation. This research can provide a scientific foundation for selecting optimal planting regions for the two Arnebia species. Full article

Butterflies are charismatic insects that are critical pollinators for plants that humans and wildlife depend on; however, butterflies have some of the largest measured declines. Two iconic butterflies in the USA, the Regal Fritillary (Argynnis idalia) and the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), are proposed for protection due to decreasing numbers from overexploitation, agricultural activities, disease and development. We surveyed 145 sites and walked 557 km from mid-June to August in 2019 and 2021 to create baseline information for butterflies and fill in knowledge gaps for these species. We observed 16,986 individuals and identified 52 species of butterflies. Generally, butterflies were more abundant at lower wind speeds and in areas with higher forb cover and less bare ground. We identified more species in locations with taller grass, higher bloom densities, higher cover of forbs, and less bare ground. We observed 11 Regal Fritillaries and 31 Monarchs extending from northeastern to southeastern Wyoming in a variety of habitats. The predicted suitable habitat of Regal Fritillaries and Monarchs was highly influenced by sagebrush cover and mean temperature of the wettest quarter according to species distribution models. Our results provide information to managers about the status, distribution, and habitat use of butterflies in a previously un-surveyed area. Historical butterfly surveys were limited to mountain ecosystems, and we provide baseline information on the habitat characteristics that support the highest abundances and most species in prairie ecosystems that can be compared to future efforts. Full article

In light of the current global challenges, such as climate change, the overexploitation of natural resources, and increasing food demand, drought-tolerant forage crops present substantial potential for development in dryland regions. However, there is a notable gap in research that integrates yield improvement, nutritional quality enhancement, and resistance to pests and diseases in the production of forage crops in semi-arid areas. Therefore, selecting oat forage varieties that exhibit high yield, superior quality, and enhanced pest resistance can substantially advance the forage industry and animal husbandry in semi-arid regions. In this study, ten oat varieties, including both domestic and international cultivars, were cultivated in a semi-arid region (Weiqi town, Gansu Province) during the 2023–2024 growing season. A comprehensive analysis was performed to assess the yield, quality, and pest resistance of these varieties. All ten oat varieties successfully completed their growth cycles. Among them, Everleaf 126 exhibited a shorter plant height compared to the other varieties, measuring 103.32 cm and 115.14 cm over two years. However, its superior leaf area and tiller number led to the highest hay yields (11,819.33 kg/ha and 13,550.67 kg/ha) and seed yields (4913.20 kg/ha and 5242.33 kg/ha). Additionally, Everleaf 126 demonstrated significantly higher leaf–stem ratios (0.35 and 0.41), crude protein content (8.52% and 9.13%), and crude fat content (2.19% and 2.69%) relative to other oat varieties (p < 0.05). Furthermore, it showed the best resistance to powdery mildew (MR), red leaf disease (HR), leaf spot disease (MR), and aphids (R). The plant height of Kona was the lowest, measuring 81.22 cm and 87.16 cm, respectively, with the fewest number of tillers and the smallest leaf area. Baler II exhibited the lowest hay yield at 8770.10 kg/ha and 7898.33 kg/ha, as well as the lowest seed yield at 3409.33 kg/ha and 3323.90 kg/ha. Kona also had the lowest leaf–stem ratio (0.19 and 10.13) and crude protein content (5.74% and 6.58%), while exhibiting the highest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) values. Furthermore, Kona showed the poorest resistance to powdery mildew (MS) and leaf spot (MS). Finally, based on the comprehensive evaluation analysis of the membership function, in the semi-arid region, Everleaf 126 achieved the highest overall performance based upon a comprehensive evaluation, followed by Molasses and Longyan No.3. In comparison, Kona received the poorest performance. Full article

Palm groves are abundant in southeastern Mexico and have significant economic and socio-cultural relevance. Studies on the production and management of palm groves are abundant in the area. However, an ecological approach is scarce but necessary for conserving these overexploited species. Palm groves are abundant on the island of Cozumel and develop on contrasting substrates: rocky and sandy ones. Thus, we aimed to explore how soil types affected community structure and composition. We sampled a total of 2900 m² (29 plots of 10 × 10 m) of palm grove, 13 growing in sandy soil and 16 in rocky soil. We registered the species present in each plot, plant density, cover, height, and DBH. A hierarchical cluster analysis re-grouped the sampled plots based on their floristic affinities, and thus, we had 17 plots for the sandy substrate and 12 from the rocky substrate, which were used for later analyses. The dominant species in both palm groves was Thrinax radiata, and species richness was the same in both soil types (33 species). Contrasting substrates resulted in different community composition and structure. The palm groves from the sandy substrate had more vines but fewer shrubs and higher plant density, height, and DBH. The above suggests that the low availability of soil in the rocky substrate does not allow the same state of vegetation development that occurs in the sandy substrate. Full article

Acer tegmentosum, an indigenous medicinal plant under threat from overexploitation, is a deciduous tree species native to Northeast China, southern regions of the Russian Far East, and Korea. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of samaras (single-seeded fruit) of A. tegmentosum to determine the type of seed dormancy as well as to identify the factors responsible for dormancy release. We identified the seed dormancy to be that of deep physiological dormancy (PD). PD can be combined with mechanical resistance of the seed coat, which limits the protrusion of the radicle during germination. We observed that mechanical resistance exhibited by the water-permeable testa is associated with PD of A. tegmentosum. This was previously attributed to seed dormancy in Acer as testa-imposed dormancy or embryo dormancy. In A. tegmentosum, PD and mechanical resistance of the testa were overcome through cold stratification treatment at 1 and 4 °C, which was similar to winter duration under natural conditions. The pericarp of samaras facilitated germination at an early spring temperature (15/6 °C) after cold stratification at 1 and 4 °C, enabling the seedling survival of A. tegmentosum. We concluded that the covering structures composed of testa and pericarp in A. tegmentosum play vital roles in dormancy release and subsequent seed germination; they respond to external environmental cues based on the climatic conditions of Northeast Asia. This adaptation probably determines their behavior at an early life stage in response to environmental factors. Full article

(1) Background: Juglans neotropica Diels, native to the Andes, is highly valued for its quality wood, medicinal uses, edible fruits, and natural dyes. However, its population has been greatly reduced due to overexploitation, becoming threatened and resulting in genetic stochasticity. Therefore, a prompt ex situ and in situ conservation effort is needed for its conservation and restoration. (2) Methods: A total of 439 trees of J. neotropica Diels were sampled from selected individuals across the northern and central regions of Ecuador. These trees were planted in a randomized complete block design to assess their growth and genetic variability. (3) Results: Annual average tree growth varied significantly among progenies. Based on their dasometric traits, two distinct groups were identified as superior and surveillance. Five trees demonstrated promising traits (TJ182, ChL2314, ChL142, TJ1310, and BSM14), suggesting potential for inclusion in forest genetic improvement programs. (4) Conclusions: Fifteen percent of individuals from the five studied provenances exhibited desirable dasometric characteristics and high-quality wood. In addition, several individuals within the progenies exhibit resistance to biotic agents, indicating a genetic potential for disease. Full article

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin. is an endemic plant species found in Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Its roots and rhizomes are used to treat physical fatigue and weakness following illness. The present study examines the scaling up of caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivative and flavonoid production in R. carthamoides transformed roots. The transformed roots were grown in shaken Erlenmeyer flasks of varying volumes (0.5–2 L), a temporary immersion system (TIS) (Rita^® and PlantForm bioreactors), and a nutrient sprinkle bioreactor (NSB) in Woody Plant medium for 35 days. The highest dry biomass production was achieved in the 0.5 L and 1 L flasks and in the NSB bioreactor, yielding 22.2 to 20.4 g/L—approximately 14 to 23 times the weight of the inoculum. The accumulation of individual specialized metabolites varied depending on the culture system used. The peak amount of CQAs (544.5 mg/L), in terms of the increase in dry weight and metabolite levels, was obtained in the NSB bioreactor. The primary CQAs were chlorogenic acid (5-CQA) and a tri-CQA 1. The highest concentration of 5-CQA (7.38 mg/g DW) was found in the roots cultivated in the NSB bioreactor. In contrast, the tri-CQA 1 dominated in the roots from 2 L shaken Erlenmeyer flasks (8.44 mg/g DW). Our findings demonstrate that transformed roots growing in an NSB bioreactor are an effective system for increasing CQA production, potentially serving as an alternative source. This biotechnological approach could help reduce the overexploitation of field-grown R. carthamoides, a currently threatened species. Full article

The analysis of genetic diversity in natural populations of valuable medicinal plant species experiencing overexploitation is a key aspect of their natural conservation strategy. Mobile genetic elements and other interspersed repeats, which are major components of eukaryotic genomes, serve as effective tools for studying plant biodiversity and variability. The genetic diversity of four valuable medicinal plant Rhodiola rosea L. populations was investigated using the inter-repeat amplified PCR method with inter-priming binding sites (iPBSs) for genome profiling. At the interpopulation level, unique amplicons characteristic of specific R. rosea populations were identified. Molecular variance analysis revealed that the biodiversity of R. rosea populations in the Kazakh Altai region is 56% attributed to interpopulation differences and 44% to intrapopulation differences. It was shown that populations located in favorable environmental conditions have greater genetic diversity compared to those in extreme habitats. This study identified a high degree of polymorphism among R. rosea populations using the inter-repeat amplified PCR method. The genetic diversity of the populations ranged from 0.105 to 0.156, with an average heterozygosity of 0.134. The findings provide new insights into the population structure of R. rosea in the Kazakh Altai, enabling the identification of different genotypes, which will significantly complement traditional methods for conserving this valuable medicinal plant. Full article

In arid Turkana County, over 90% of the population is food insecure, and wild edible plants (WEPs) provide 12–30% of dietary intake. However, climate change and overexploitation threaten these crucial resources. This study employed sequential qualitative methods to investigate community perceptions, conservation priorities for WEPs, barriers, and necessary actions in Turkana. It combined participatory community workshops and expert validation interviews. The research revealed critical threats to WEP availability, including climate change, shifting cultural practices, and a lack of natural regeneration. Key conservation barriers included intergenerational knowledge gaps, inadequate policy implementation, and conflicts between immediate needs and long-term conservation goals. In developing conservation plans, the stakeholders identified and prioritized WEP species based on food value, medicinal properties, cultural significance, utility, and drought resistance. The co-developed conservation strategy emphasized both in situ protection measures, such as community awareness programs and local policy enforcement mechanisms, and restoration actions that include planting prioritized WEPs in home gardens and community spaces. Collaborative roles for communities, non-governmental organizations, researchers, and government actors were identified to provide training, resources, and technical support. This strategy also emphasizes the need for incentivization through food/cash-for-work programs and small business grants to promote alternative livelihoods. The strategies align with some of the most-utilized conservation frameworks and principles, and present new ideas such as integrating indigenous knowledge. Expert validation confirmed the feasibility of proposed actions, highlighting the importance of multi-stakeholder approaches. This study contributes to expanding our knowledge base on community-based conservation and provides insights for policymakers, emphasizing WEPs’ critical role in food security, cultural preservation, and ecological resilience. The findings could serve as a model for similar initiatives in other arid regions facing comparable challenges. Full article

There is no doubt that global climate change is happening and affecting life on Earth in a variety of ways. It can be seen on the extreme events of natural disasters, prolonged periods of drought, and increased summer and annual temperatures. While climate change affects every place on Earth, the Mediterranean region is considered a hot spot of climate change. Temperature is expected to increase further, precipitation, especially during summer months, is expected to decrease, and extreme rainfall events are projected to increase. These projected changes will affect both continental and insular environments, with small islands being particularly vulnerable due to the lack of space for species to move into more favorable conditions. As a result, these environments need to be studied, the changes quantified, and the consequences monitored. The current study focuses on the island of Fournoi in the central eastern part of the Aegean Sea. We employed data from a local meteorological station, which operates for a limited period, the Climate Research Unit TS data, and remote sensing thermal data to monitor the trends in aridity over a period of almost 40 years. The results show that summer temperature has increased significantly over the last 40 years, and this is confirmed by both meteorological and remote sensing data. At the same time, precipitation seems to remain stable. Despite the increased aridity imposed by the increased temperature and stable precipitation, vegetation seems not to be experiencing extreme stress. On the contrary, it seems to be following a positive trend over the study period. This observation is explained by the extreme resilience of the plant species of the study area and the fact that vegetation has been recovering over the last 50 years after a period of human overexploitation, and this recovery overcomes the stress imposed by increased aridity. Full article

Here I examine the overexploitation of Artemisia granatensis, a narrow endemic medicinal plant species from Sierra Nevada, Spain, and the consequences for its conservation. With over 50,000 flowering plant species used for medicinal purposes worldwide, many species face sustainability issues due to overharvesting and habitat loss. Historical documentation of A. granatensis use dates back to the 13th century, highlighting its significance in traditional medicine. However, this species has suffered extensive overexploitation, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, leading to a significant decline in populations. Conservation concerns were first raised in 1909, and despite the species being legally protected since 1982, illegal collection and environmental pressures persist. Today, A. granatensis is critically endangered, with fewer than 2000 individuals remaining in fragmented populations. The study synthesizes the historical and recent literature to understand the long-standing pressures on this species and the limited conservation efforts made. Cultivation of A. granatensis is proposed as a crucial strategy to reduce pressure on wild populations and ensure the survival of this flagship important plant species. Full article

Groundwater overexploitation in West Ordos necessitates sustainable irrigation practices. This study evaluated three irrigation levels—W1 (3300 m³ · ha⁻¹), W2 (2850 m³ · ha⁻¹), and W3 (2400 m³ · ha⁻¹)—by modifying the wide-width planting pattern of maize. Additionally, two levels of straw mulch were analyzed: F1 (9000 kg · ha⁻¹) and F2 (no mulch). The study aimed to investigate the effects of these treatments on corn growth dynamics, soil water temperature, soil enzyme activity, yield, grain quality, and water use efficiency. The results indicated a decline in growth indices, enzyme activities, grain quality, and yield under the limited irrigation levels W2 and W3 compared to W1. The highest corn yields were observed with W1F1 (6642.54 kg · ha⁻¹) and W2F1 (6602.38 kg · ha⁻¹), with the latter showing only a 0.6% decrease. Notably, water use efficiency in the W2F1 treatment improved by 4.69%, 12.08%, 10.27%, 12.59%, and 12.96% compared to W1F1, W3F1, W1F2, W2F2, and W3F2, respectively. Straw mulch (F1) significantly elevated the soil temperature, increasing the effective accumulated temperature during the growth period by 10.11~85.79 °C, and boosted the soil enzyme activity by 10–25%. Under limited irrigation, the W2 (2850 m³ · ha⁻¹) and F1 (9000 kg · ha⁻¹ straw) treatments achieved the highest water productivity of 2.48 kg·m⁻³, maintaining a high yield of 6602.38 kg · ha⁻¹ while preserving nutrients essential to the corn’s quality. This approach presents a viable strategy for wide-width corn planting in groundwater-depleted regions, offering a scientifically grounded and sustainable water management solution for efficient corn production in West Ordos. Full article

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, also known as Podophyllum emodi Wall, holds significant ecological, ornamental, and medicinal values. However, it has become endangered due to overexploitation, prolonged seed dormancy, slow natural regeneration, and climate change. This study developed an efficient in vitro protocol for callogenesis and micropropagation of P. hexandrum to conserve germplasm in in vitro conditions. Callus formation from various plant parts, including the leaf, stem, rhizome, radicle, and cotyledon, was induced using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. The combination of benzyladenine at 1 mg L⁻¹ and 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid at 3 mg L⁻¹ was optimal for biomass production, yielding 215.88 ± 0.31 mg, with growth per gram at 8.32 ± 0.32 and a growth rate of 13.62 ± 0.25 mg/day on MS medium. For shoot proliferation, benzyladenine (3.5 mg L⁻¹) and naphthalene acetic acid (0.5 mg L⁻¹) combined with activated charcoal showed the highest shoot induction percentage per explant. For shoot regeneration from calluses, 6-benzylaminopurine (0.5 mg L⁻¹) and thidiazuron (2 mg L⁻¹) were most effective, producing superior shoot length, number of regenerations, and regeneration percentage. Root induction was successful with α-naphthalene acetic acid supplementation (0.5 to 1.5 mg L⁻¹) in MS medium, resulting in the highest number per explant (4.08 ± 0.08), length (5.45 ± 0.15 cm), and rooting rate (87.00 ± 1.66%) of roots in plantlets. Subculturing for callus culture was performed every 28 days for up to four subcultures to prevent nutrient depletion and toxic metabolite accumulation, ensuring tissue health and viability. Continuous subculturing of callus on MS medium maintained healthy P. hexandrum germplasm in vitro. Overall, this micropropagation protocol provides a rapid system for conserving P. hexandrum germplasm. Full article