Search Results (8,045)

Pseudomonas has been revealed as an important member of plant probiotics, with its rich species diversity implying complementary plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. However, information on Pseudomonas species in the microecology of Angelica sinensis and medicinal plants in general remains to be further investigated. This study examined the microecological characteristics, PGP traits, and their underlying molecular mechanisms of Pseudomonas. Filling this gap will provide an important reference for microbial community design centered on dominant functional bacterial genera. In this study, we characterized the microecological traits, PGP properties, and their underlying molecular mechanisms of Pseudomonas strains. Microbiome analysis identified Pseudomonas as the dominant genus in the rhizosphere and a core endophytic genus, exerting significant influences on both (path coefficients = 0.971, 0.872). Comparative phenomics suggested potential functional complementarity among different strains. Our observations revealed significant differentiation in PGP traits: P. umsongensis X08 showed exceptional performance in IAA and siderophore production (IAA: 1.24 mg/mL, siderophore halo diameter: 2.04 cm); P. frederiksbergensis X06 exhibited advantages in ACC deaminase activity and potassium solubilization; and P. allii X32 demonstrated high organic phosphorus solubilization capability (3.98 mg/L). Finally, genomic data revealed that P. allii X32 possesses a rich repertoire of PGP-related genes and metabolic pathways, providing a basis for establishing molecular mechanistic hypotheses for these traits. In summary, Pseudomonas strains from different species, which exhibit complementary probiotic functions without antagonism in the A. sinensis microecosystem, provide valuable microbial resources for the ecological cultivation of A. sinensis. Full article

Wastewater surveillance gained popularity as a tool supporting public health decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we monitored four distinct socially vulnerable communities in Cincinnati, Ohio, by monitoring four subsewersheds using 15 upstream locations over two time periods: spring/summer (2023) and fall/winter (2023–2024). The goal of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of monitoring wastewater in socially and economically diverse subsewersheds. A number of 24 h composite samples were collected twice a week and analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in the four subsewersheds and two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Wastewater quality parameters (electric conductivity, pH, temperature, ORP) were also measured continuously. During the fall/winter period, increased clinical cases were correlated with high SARS-CoV-2 viral concentrations indicated by both subsewershed and WWTP monitoring. In our study, subsewershed monitoring did not provide early warning of SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater and cases compared to WWTP wastewater monitoring during the fall/winter period when outbreaks with higher pathogen levels often occur. This was possibly due to the proximity of the selected subsewersheds to the WWTPs. Although two socially vulnerable subsewersheds had higher SARS-CoV-2 viral concentrations in wastewater, the most vulnerable subsewershed had the lowest wastewater concentrations and the lowest number of reported cases during our study. Therefore, social vulnerability is not always the best predictor of the community COVID-19 burden since other factors may play a role in community infection, including transiency and population age distribution. This study presents some challenges and important findings from subsewershed SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring during two seasons in Ohio. Full article

Understanding the community assembly mechanisms and stability of artificial sand-fixing forests is critical for the management of desert ecosystems. This study investigated the understory vegetation of four artificial sand-fixing shrub forests in the Mu Us Sandy Land to understand community assembly mechanisms and stability by analyzing niche characteristics, interspecific associations, and community stability. The results showed the following: (1) Lc (Leymus chinensis), Ee (Euphorbia esula), Gd (Grubovia dasyphylla), and Ch (Corispermum hyssopifolium) all have wide ecological niches and high importance values, serving as key species for maintaining community function. (2) The understory herbaceous plant communities of S. psammophila, A. ordosica and C. fruticosum exhibited low niche overlap, and the A. fruticosa understory herbaceous plant community showed high niche overlap. (3) The overall association of the understory herbaceous plant communities of S. psammophila, A. ordosica, and C. fruticosum is positive, while that of the understory herbaceous plant community of A. fruticosa is negative; the interspecific associations are weak, and the species show an independent distribution pattern. (4) Among the four understory herbaceous plant communities, the stability of the S. psammophila understory herbaceous plant community is relatively the highest, followed by A. ordosica and C. fruticosum understory herbaceous plant community, and the stability of A. fruticosa understory herbaceous plant community is the lowest. Furthermore, community stability was positively correlated with the variance ratio (VR) but negatively correlated with mean niche overlap. We recommend prioritizing S. psammophila and C. fruticosum for sand fixation and conserving key herbaceous species to optimize resource use and stabilize interspecific relationships. The novelty of this study lies in its integrated assessment of niche characteristics, interspecific associations, and community stability, and it primarily focused on the role of interspecific relationships. Future research should incorporate environmental drivers and shrub functional traits to disentangle the synergistic effects of biotic and abiotic factors, thereby providing a more robust scientific foundation for vegetation restoration in desert ecosystems. Full article

Cross-ecosystem transmission of plant pathogens from crops to natural forests is increasingly recognized as a key factor in disease emergence and biodiversity loss. Agricultural systems serve as major sources of inoculum, with landscape interfaces—such as crop–forest edges, riparian zones, abandoned orchards, and nursery–wildland transitions—acting as active epidemiological gateways. Biological vectors, abiotic dispersal, and human activities collectively enable pathogen movement across these boundaries. Host-range expansion, recombination, and hybridization allow pathogens to infect both cultivated and wild hosts, leading to generalist and recombinant lineages that survive across diverse habitats. In natural ecosystems, such introductions can alter community composition, decrease resilience, and intensify the impacts of climate-driven stress. Advances in molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance, environmental DNA, and remote sensing–GIS (Geographic Information System) approaches now enable high-resolution detection of pathogen flow across landscapes. Incorporating these tools into interface-focused monitoring frameworks offers a pathway to earlier detection, better risk assessment, and more effective mitigation. A One Health, landscape-based approach that treats agro–wild interfaces as key control points is essential for reducing spillover risk and safeguarding both agricultural productivity and the health of natural forest ecosystems. Full article

In northwestern Ecuador, where more than 90% of the original forest cover has been lost, it is unknown how soil chemistry influences bat diversity. This study evaluated bat diversity, non-herbaceous plant community structure, and soil nutrients in 30 plots distributed across crops on two farms separated by 32 km. Soil analyses revealed variations in organic matter and nutrients, identifying calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron as the most influential. A total of 1662 individuals of 24 non-herbaceous plant species and 193 individuals of 16 bat species were recorded, dominated by frugivorous and nectarivorous guilds. Generalized linear mixed models showed significant relationships between bat diversity indices and soil nutrients. These elements improve tree growth, fruiting, and flowering, which increases the quality and availability of food resources for bats. In return, these mammals provide key ecosystem services such as pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control. Our findings highlight that soil chemistry indirectly regulates bat communities by influencing vegetation structure and resource availability. This integrated approach underscores the importance of soil–plant–animal interactions in tropical agricultural landscapes, offering practical guidance. Full article

This article analyzes the symbolism of the phytomorphic motif of the mountain vine in the traditional embroidery of Cuetzalan, made by the Nahua women of the Masehual Siuamej Mosenyolchicauani collective. From the iconological approach, the pre-iconographic, iconographic and iconological levels of the motif will be examined, with the support of ethnography. The study identifies that the vine, a recurring plant element in traditional blouses, not only fulfills an ornamental function, but also constitutes a symbol of vital continuity, union and regeneration. Its visual representation alludes to the movement of life and the relationship between the natural and spiritual planes within the Nahua worldview. Through embroidery, the artisans express their connection to the land and the transmission of ancestral textile knowledge, reaffirming their cultural identity in a community context. Full article

Soil salinity is a major constraint on global crop production, disrupting photosynthesis, ion homeostasis, and growth. Beyond the roles of classic osmoprotectants and antioxidant enzymes, flavonoids have emerged as versatile mediators of salt stress tolerance at the interface of redox control, hormone signaling, and developmental plasticity. This review summarizes current evidence on how salinity remodels flavonoid biosynthesis, regulation, and function from cellular to whole-plant scales. We first outline the phenylpropanoid–flavonoid pathway, with emphasis on transcriptional control by MYB, bHLH, and NAC factors and their integration with ABA, JA, and auxin signaling. We then discussed how post-synthetic modifications such as glycosylation and methylation adjust flavonoid stability, compartmentation, and activity under salt stress. Functional sections highlight roles of flavonoids in ROS scavenging, Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis, membrane integrity, and the modulation of ABA/MAPK/Ca²⁺ cascades and noncoding RNA networks. Spatial aspects, including root–shoot communication and rhizosphere microbiota recruitment, are also considered. Based on this synthesis, we propose a flavonoid-centered stress network (FCSN), in which specific flavonoids function as key nodes that connect metabolic flux with hormonal crosstalk and stress signaling pathways. We argue that reconceptualizing flavonoids as central stress network regulators, rather than generic antioxidants, provides a basis for metabolic engineering, bio-stimulant design, and breeding strategies aimed at improving crop performance on saline soils. Full article

The intensifying Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect exacerbates urban heat stress. While vegetation is a key mitigation strategy, the quantitative effects of its spatial configuration are not fully understood. This study employed ENVI-met simulations to systematically evaluate how three design parameters—tree spacing (8–18 m), canopy structure (single/multi-layer, sparse/dense), and horizontal layout (enclosed, semi-enclosed, linear)—regulate summer microclimate in urban parks. Results demonstrated that reduced spacing and denser canopies significantly enhanced cooling and humidification. The multi-layer dense canopy and an enclosed “mouth-shaped” layout yielded the optimal performance, achieving a maximum daytime air temperature reduction and a corresponding humidity increase. Furthermore, layout orientation was identified as a critical modulating factor. Spatial configuration exerted a stronger influence on microclimate outcomes than structural complexity itself. This study provides a predictive, evidence-based framework for optimizing urban green space design. The framework and the derived design principles are directly transferable to other cities in humid subtropical climates, offering generalizable strategies to enhance microclimate regulation and climate resilience globally. Full article

Plant functional traits are key to understanding species performance, community assembly and ecosystem processes. Fruit and seed traits play an important role in early life-cycle processes by influencing seed dispersal, germination, and establishment, ultimately shaping plant regeneration and ecosystem dynamics. While global initiatives such as TRY and Seed Information Database (SID) have assembled extensive trait data, coverage of reproductive traits remains limited, and high-quality images of diaspores are particularly scarce, particularly in subtropical Asia. To address this need, we created an open-source, comprehensive database of fruit and seed traits, accompanied by diaspore images against a high-contrast background. This dataset documents 684 species in 128 families recorded in Hong Kong and provides standardised measurements of morphological attributes (e.g., length, mass, number of seeds per fruit) and dispersal characteristics (e.g., presence of appendages). Our measurements were validated against previously published records of common species in Hong Kong, showing strong consistency with R² = 0.80 (p < 0.001) for fruit dry mass and R² = 0.91 (p < 0.001) for seed dry mass, respectively. This database provides a valuable resource for trait-based ecology, forest dynamics and conservation biology. Additionally, it supports applications in ecological restoration, habitat management, and predicting plant responses to environmental change. This initiative enhances our understanding of trait-based ecology by complementing global initiatives such as TRY and SID and improving the representation of reproductive traits from subtropical Asia, a region that is underrepresented in existing global databases. Full article

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) disrupt biodiversity, ecosystem functions, rural livelihoods, and human health/well-being. Hence, the negative impact of Cenchrus setaceus (syn. Pennisetum setaceum) as an invasive weed poses many concerns in terms of environmental and socio-economic impact. The abundance in previous research on invasion ecology, weed biology, and the management of C. setaceus establishes the chance to carry out an in-depth evaluation of this invasive alien species for a cohesive understanding, closely linked to policy development. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of previous research, identify knowledge gaps, and incorporate recent practical research findings on C. setaceus to elucidate management options. Standard methods were used to collect the literary evidence on multiple thematic aspects linked with its traits and management. Results revealed the substantial negative impacts of C. setaceus on ecosystems, ascribed to multiple physiological, biochemical, and ecological features. Further, a multitude of plant traits such as rapid seed distribution and efficient reproductive strategies imposed serious challenges in the control of C. setaceus. Deployment of integrated control methods for at least three years in depleting seed bank conjunction by planting native grass may help in its confinement. In conclusion, policy measures like strict biosecurity/legal regulations, explicit elucidation of weed biology, early detection and response, ecological modeling, and long-term monitoring with community participation can expand the horizon of C. setaceus control and help achieve its sustainable management. Full article

Pollination syndromes reflect the convergence of floral traits among plants sharing the same pollinator guild. However, bee-pollinated orchids exhibit striking variation in color and size. This diversity reflects the multiple reward strategies that evolved within the family, each interacting differently with bee sensory biases. Here, we tested whether the complex floral visual displays of orchids differ in signal identity and intensity among reward systems. We also considered intrafloral modularity, measured as the color differentiation among flower parts, and color–size integration. For this, we measured and modeled floral morphometric and reflectance data from sepals, petals, lip tips, and lip bases under bee vision from 95 tropical Epidendroid species to compare chromatic and achromatic contrasts, spectral purity, and mean reflectance across wavebands, plus flower and display size, among reward systems. Reward types included 19 food-deceptive, 8 nectar-offering, 10 oil-offering, 11 fragrance-offering, and 47 orchid species of unknown reward strategy. Principal component analyses on 34 color and 9 size variables summarized major gradients of visual trait variation: first component (19.1%) represented overall green-red reflectance and achromatic contrasts, whereas the second (16.5%) captured chromatic contrast–size covariation. Reward systems differed mostly in signal identity rather than signal intensity. Flower chromatic contrasts presented strong integration with flower size, while achromatic contrasts were negatively associated with display size. While deceptive and nectar-offering orchids tend toward larger solitary flowers with bluer and spectrally purer displays, oil- and fragrance-offering orchids tend toward smaller, brownish, or yellow to green flowers, with larger inflorescences. Rewardless orchids presented more achromatically conspicuous signals than rewarding orchids, but smaller displays. Orchid species clustered by reward both in PCA spaces and in bee hexagon color space. Deceptive orchids were typically associated with UV + White colors, oil orchids with UV + Yellow lip tips, and fragrance orchids with UV-Black lip bases and UV-Green lip tips. Together, these results indicate that orchid reward systems promote qualitative rather than quantitative differentiation in visual signals, integrating display color and size. These long-evolved distinct signals potentially enable foraging bees to discriminate among resource types within the community floral market. Our results demonstrate that color and flower display size are important predictors of reward strategy, likely used by foraging bees for phenotype-reward associations, thus mediating the evolution of floral signals. Full article

Bioaerosols emitted from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are key vectors for airborne microbial transmission, yet the mechanisms by which abundant and rare microbial taxa regulate pathogen dynamics remain unclear. This study explored the ecological roles of abundant and rare taxa through a comprehensive analysis of bioaerosols from two full-scale WWTPs, integrating high-throughput sequencing of bacterial and fungal communities. Results showed that the rare taxa exhibited higher alpha diversity, and their community construction was dominated by deterministic processes. While the abundant taxa showed higher spatial homogeneity, and their distribution was more consistent with the neutral model, suggesting the dominance of stochastic processes. Network analysis revealed that rare taxa held keystone topological roles within the microbial networks. Moreover, partial least squares path model quantified their direct effects on pathogen abundance, revealing a strong positive direct effect of abundant bacterial taxa but a significant negative direct effect of rare bacterial taxa. This study elucidates the dual roles of taxa with different abundance levels in community assembly and pathogen regulation, emphasizing that effective risk assessment and management strategies should account not only for the carrier role of abundant taxa but also for the regulatory function of the rare biosphere in shaping pathogen dynamics. Full article

In recent years, many locales featuring therapeutic landscapes have seen a rise in health tourism. Existing scholarship tends to either concentrate on specific types of landscape or analyze human emotional experiences separately, often overlooking how therapeutic landscape experiences arise from interactions among human and non-human actors. This study focuses on the relationship between tourists and non-human actors (plants such as rice and lotus leaves, etc.) through immersive interaction. This research is built on critical plant theory and draws on a case study of Xixiang Rural Garden, Erlang Town, China, to examine the co-evolution of therapeutic landscape experience and health tourism and its inherent dynamism. Utilizing qualitative methods, data were collected between October 2024 and September 2025 through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and policy document analysis, involving diverse stakeholders, including local government officials, project designers, villagers, and tourists. From a micro-level empirical perspective, the study examines the co-evolution of therapeutic landscape experiences and health tourism and its underlying dynamics. The results show that visitors’ therapeutic experiences deepen through a cyclical process of “therapeutic spatial practices–relational negotiations–experiential transformation.” Key mechanisms driving this process include plant agency, cross-cultural dialogue, and multisensory engagement, which collectively facilitate the transition from initial sensory perceptions to deeper ecological awareness and multispecies relations. Based on micro-level empirical analysis, this study offers concrete policy insights for local governments seeking to promote the sustainable development of therapeutic tourism. In response to practical challenges, specific pathways are proposed: constructing plant-led symbiotic environments, establishing multisensory activity mechanisms, and adopting community-driven management models. These recommendations provide practical guidance for enhancing therapeutic landscape experiences and promoting the sustainable advancement of rural health tourism. Full article

Alfalfa cultivation is an effective way to achieve soil improvement while utilizing saline soils. Irrigation and drainage, as physical measures to leach salts, can effectively reduce the soil salt content, while application of organic fertilizer fermented with an effective microorganism (EM) may further enhance the improvement effect of saline–alkaline soil by improving soil fertility and microbial community structure. However, there is still a lack of systematic assessment on the effects of applying these three measures on the saline soil–plant system. In this study, we used alfalfa as the plant material and set three water depths of 8 mm (IR1), 16 mm (IR2), and 24 mm (IR3) under the condition of irrigating every 10 days with remote-controlled timed and quantitative irrigation, which is the most acceptable to farmers in the era of smart agriculture. EM organic fertilizer dosage was designed as 0 kg/ha (CK), 1500 kg/ha (OF1), 3000 kg/ha (OF2), 4500 kg/ha (OF3), and 6000 kg/ha (OF4). The multiple-crop alfalfa yield, quality (crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF)), and soil electrical conductivity (EC) were observed. The results showed that after the application of EM organic fertilizer, the soil’s EC value of fertilized treatments was higher than that of CK, but this difference became smaller with the prolongation of alfalfa’s growing period, implying that EM organic fertilizer could absorb more soil salts by promoting alfalfa’s growth; the water depth was obviously negatively correlated with the soil’s EC value, demonstrating that the increase in the water depth had a stronger ability to reduce the soil salts. By the end of the experiment, the soil’s EC values were reduced by 21.4–43.7% for the treatments. The alfalfa yield was significantly increased by EM organic fertilizer application, and the three alfalfa yields were increased by 63.3–69.1%, 65.4–83.6%, and 52.6–56.2%, respectively, when fertilizer application was elevated from CK to OF4. The highest alfalfa yields were all found at IR2OF4, reaching 1164.7, 2637.3 and 2519.7 t/ha, corresponding to the first, second, and third alfalfa crops, respectively. The analysis of alfalfa quality indexes revealed that higher CP values were found in the IR2 treatments, and increasing fertilizer application from OF1–OF4 resulted in an increase in CP values by 2.4–9.1%, 1.5–7.4%, and 0.8–6.7% for the three alfalfa crops. Relatively low NDF and ADF values were observed for alfalfa under IR2 conditions; however, the application of EM organic fertilizer reduced the NDF and ADF values within a certain range. According to the results of the entropy weight evaluation model, IR3OF4, IR3OF2, and IR3OF3 were the top three treatments with the best overall benefits, respectively, with relative closeness values of 0.71, 0.70, and 0.68, in that order, which suggests that the appropriate water depth is 24 mm, while the appropriate EM organic fertilizer dosage is in the range of 3000–6000 kg/ha. There was a pattern observed in our study, in which the treatments with better overall benefits were better distributed at high water depths, which emphasizes the critical role of the irrigation volume in ameliorating saline soils. The conclusions of the study are intended to provide a practical basis for the comprehensive utilization and sustainable development of saline soils. Full article

We surveyed bee communities across an organic conifer tree farm landscape in northern Idaho to assess how managed forest–agriculture mosaics support pollinator diversity. Bees were collected from farm fields, adjacent conservation forests, and a pollinator garden between May and August 2024 using aerial nets and identified to species or morphospecies. In total, 94 bee species were recorded, representing a mix of ground-nesting (46%), cavity-nesting (37%), and social (17%) taxa. Bee richness was highest in farm fields (66 species), intermediate in forests (48 species), and lowest in the pollinator garden (35 species). Community turnover among habitats was substantial (Jaccard dissimilarity = 0.67–0.76; Bray-Curtis dissimilarity = 0.53–0.55), indicating distinct assemblages associated with each habitat type. Comparisons with regional datasets from Montana and Washington revealed moderate overlap (Jaccard = 0.22–0.24), suggesting that the Highland Flats farm supports a partly unique bee fauna within the Northern Rockies. Seven non-native bee species and nine species of conservation concern (five Osmia, four Bombus) were detected, with those of conservation concern taxa often visiting native Lupinus flowers. Most bee visits occurred on non-native plants, though native blooms contributed key seasonal resources. These findings demonstrate that organic tree farms with structurally diverse forests and managed floral resources can function as refugia for both common and at-risk bees in temperate forested landscapes. Full article