Search Results (412)

Leccinum is an ecologically significant and taxonomically complex genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi widely distributed across boreal, temperate, Mediterranean, and selected tropical regions. Despite its ecological, nutritional, and applied importance, no comprehensive review has previously synthesized global knowledge on this genus. This work provides the first integrative assessment of Leccinum research, combining a bibliometric analysis of 293 peer-reviewed publications with an in-depth qualitative synthesis of ecological, biochemical, and environmental findings. Bibliometric results show increasing scientific attention since the mid-20th century, with major contributions from Europe, Asia, and North America, and dominant research themes spanning taxonomy, ecology, chemistry, and environmental sciences. The literature review highlights substantial advances in phylogenetic understanding, species diversity, and host specificity. Leccinum forms ectomycorrhizal associations with over 60 woody host genera, underscoring its functional importance in forest ecosystems. Nutritionally, Leccinum species are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, bioactive polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and umami-related peptides, with demonstrated antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activities. At the same time, the genus exhibits notable bioaccumulation capacity for heavy metals (particularly Hg, Cd, and Pb) and radionuclides, making it both a valuable food source and a sensitive environmental bioindicator. Applications in biotechnology, environmental remediation, forest restoration, and functional food development are emerging but remain insufficiently explored. Identified research gaps include the need for global-scale phylogenomic frameworks, expanded geographic sampling, standardized biochemical analyses, and deeper investigation into physiological mechanisms and applied uses. This review provides the first holistic synthesis of Leccinum, offering an integrated perspective on its taxonomy, ecology, nutritional composition, environmental significance, and practical applications. The findings serve as a foundation for future mycological, ecological, and biotechnological research on this diverse and understudied fungal genus. Full article

Urban rivers are essential resources for human societies; however, their degradation poses serious public health, economic, and environmental risks. Conventional physical remediation methods can partially mitigate pollution by targeting specific contaminants, but they are often limited in scope, lack long-term sustainability, and fail to restore ecological functions. In contrast, biotechnological approaches integrated with ecological engineering offer sustainable and nature-based solutions for river depollution, conservation, and revitalization. Although these strategies are supported by a solid theoretical framework and successful applications in other aquatic systems, their large-scale implementation in urban rivers has only recently begun to gain momentum. This review critically examines strategies for the revitalization of polluted urban rivers, progressing from conventional remediation techniques to advanced biotechnological interventions. It highlights real-world applications, evaluates their advantages and limitations, and discusses policy frameworks and management strategies required to promote the broader adoption of biotechnological solutions for sustainable urban river restoration. The goal is to demonstrate the transformative potential of integrated biotechnological, eco-engineering, and data-driven approaches—particularly microbial, phytoplankton-based, and biofilm systems—to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions in urban river restoration while highlighting the need for scalable designs, adaptive management, and supportive regulatory frameworks to enable their large-scale implementation. Full article

Phenolic compounds are widespread environmental contaminants whose removal from water and wastewater is essential for ecosystem protection. Among the several purification technologies, the use of zero-valent metals has gained increasing interest in recent years. The identification of effective and environmentally friendly materials is a key issue for the development of this technology. In this study, zero-valent magnesium (ZVMg), a highly reactive non-toxic material, was used for the first time for the degradation of gallic acid (GA), chosen as a model phenolic compound, in an aqueous system. Several tests were conducted in order to identify the effect of pH, ZVMg amount, and temperature on the process performance. Moreover, the reusability of the reactive material in subsequent treatment cycles was assessed. Optimal operational conditions were achieved with a ZVMg amount of 0.3 g, corresponding to a ratio of 0.33 g_GA/g_Mg, reaching a removal efficiency of almost 90% in about 180 min. The performance was clearly favored by an alkaline environment, and yields close to the maximum values were reached under uncontrolled pH conditions. The increase in temperature significantly accelerated the reaction rate, which followed pseudo-first-order kinetic law, achieving high abatement percentages with a reduced quantity of ZVMg. Finally, Mg⁰ demonstrated good reusability, maintaining high efficiency, close to 78%, for up to four cycles, with the possibility of restoring the material’s activity through acid washing. The detected results confirm that ZVMg is a promising and sustainable reactive material for environmental remediation processes, offering an effective alternative for the treatment of water contaminated by phenolic compounds. Full article

Long-term continuous cropping is a prevalent agricultural practice aimed at maximizing land use efficiency and crop yields, yet it often leads to severe soil degradation, nutrient imbalance, and microbial community disruption. Effective soil remediation strategies are urgently needed to restore soil health and ensure sustainable agricultural production. In this study, we investigated the impact of forest soil amendment on microbial community structure, diversity, and functional potential in long-term continuous cropping soils. Using metagenomic sequencing, we analyzed soils from natural forest (BK), forest soil-amended soils (BCP), and fields under continuous cropping for 15 years (CP15) and 30 years (CP30). Forest soil amendment significantly mitigated microbial diversity loss and structural degradation caused by prolonged monoculture. Alpha diversity analysis revealed that BCP restored microbial diversity to levels comparable to BK, while beta diversity and NMDS analyses showed that microbial community composition in BCP closely resembled that of forest soil. Taxonomic profiling indicated that forest soil amendment enriched beneficial taxa such as Actinobacterota and Acidobacteriota, reversing shifts observed in CP15 and CP30. Functionally, COG and KEGG annotations revealed that BCP soils exhibited higher abundances of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, energy production, and nutrient cycling. Notably, the amendment reduced antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors, potentially improving the microbial risk profile of soil communities. These findings demonstrate that forest soil amendment effectively restores microbial community structure and functionality in degraded soils, providing a nature-based solution for sustainable agriculture. Full article

This study focuses on the Lujiang Alum Mine, analyzing sources of acid mine drainage (AMD) generated during remediation activities. A numerical model of groundwater flow was constructed to simulate and predict the causes of AMD under the influence of remediation measures. Concurrently, hydrogen and oxygen stable-isotope-tracing techniques were employed to elucidate the pathways through which AMD occurred and the mechanisms underlying water acidification. A fully mixed model was established to quantify the rates of contribution from different water sources. The results indicate that the annual amount of acidic wastewater produced under the influence of disturbance via remediation is approximately 3.29 × 10⁵ m³. The fully mixed model based on environmental isotopes further revealed that the discharge of water from the first branch of the +85 m adit serves as the primary cause of AMD during the wet, normal, and dry seasons, with a contribution exceeding 50%. This is followed by recharge from Tianchi Lake, accounting for approximately 20–30%. In contrast, the contributions from seepage water from the roof of the +85 m adit and water from the Xiaofanshan Inclined Shaft are relatively minor. Based on these findings, we propose targeted strategies for source prevention and end-of-pipe treatment of AMD in the mining area. This work provides scientific support for the ongoing ecological restoration project at the Lujiang Alum Mine and offers valuable insights for AMD management in similar mines. Full article

Urban areas often suffer from enduring environmental issues, including flooding, biodiversity loss, heat island effects, and air and soil pollution. The Miyawaki method of afforestation, characterized by dense planting of native species on remediated soil, has been proposed as a rapid, nature-based solution for restoring urban ecological function. This study aims to evaluate early-stage changes in soil health following Miyawaki-style microforest establishment in formerly redlined neighborhoods in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Specifically, it investigates whether this method improves soil permeability, carbon content, and microbial activity within the first three years of planting. Three microforests aged one, two, and three years were assessed using a chronosequence approach. At each site, soil samples from within the microforest and adjacent untreated urban soil (control) were compared. Analyses included physical (porosity, dry density, void ratio), chemical (total carbon), and biological (microbial respiration, biomass, metabolic rate, carbon use efficiency) assessments. Soil permeability was estimated via the Kozeny–Carman equation. Microforest soils showed significantly greater porosity (p = 0.015), higher void ratios (p = 0.009), and reduced compaction compared to controls. Soil permeability improved dramatically, with factors ranging from 5.99 to 52.27. Total carbon content increased with forest age, reaching 2.0 mg C/g in the oldest site (p < 0.001). Microbial metabolic rate rose by up to 287.5% (p = 0.009), while carbon use efficiency also improved, particularly in the older microforests. Within just one to three years, Miyawaki microforests significantly enhanced both the physical and biological properties of degraded urban soils, signaling rapid restoration of soil function and the early return of ecosystem services. Full article

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are increasingly used for the remediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, as they rapidly mineralize recalcitrant fractions to CO₂ and H₂O. However, the effects of AOPs on the geotechnical properties of such soils remain not well understood. In this study, the influences of a combined oxidation system of sodium percarbonate (SPC), nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), and sodium persulfate (PS) on the geotechnical behavior of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil were investigated. A series of tests, including basic geotechnical index, pH, Atterberg limits, particle size distribution, and consolidated undrained triaxial compression test, were conducted to explore the geotechnical responses and underlying mechanisms associated with the dual AOPs treatment. The results indicate that the diesel-contaminated soil exhibited slightly higher LL and PI compared with the natural soil. For the treated soils, LL and PI remained essentially unchanged with increasing SPC dosage. The particle-size distribution first migrated to finer fractions and then reverted to a coarser mode. The strongest fining was observed at 2% SPC, whereas higher SPC dosages induced aggregation and the formation of larger agglomerates. Consolidated undrained triaxial tests indicate that diesel contamination reduced undrained stiffness and strength. The nZVI–PS treatment without SPC produced a partial recovery in stiffness and a slight increase in the friction angle. With increasing SPC dosage, the soils exhibited a nonmonotonic response in stiffness and shear strength, where low SPC enhanced apparent cohesion and higher SPC weakened bonds while partially restoring frictional resistance. These findings suggest that advanced oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbon–contaminated soils requires a trade-off. This trade-off is between contaminant degradation efficiency and the preservation of geotechnical performance to ensure the reuse of the remediated soil. Full article

The Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS), one of the most heavily contaminated nuclear test sites globally, presents critical challenges for ecological monitoring and restoration due to long-term radioactive pollution and soil degradation. This study applied the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) model to systematically evaluate the spatiotemporal changes in ecological quality at STS from 2003 to 2023. The RSEI model integrated multi-indicator data, including NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), LST (Land Surface Temperature), WET (Wetness), and NDBSI (Normalized Difference Built-up and Soil Index), enabling a comprehensive assessment of ecological dynamics. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in ecological quality, with the RSEI increasing by 29.59% (from 0.345 in 2003 to 0.447 in 2023). PCA results indicated that ecological recovery was primarily influenced by surface temperature, vegetation cover, and soil moisture, with radioactive residues further hindering recovery in severely contaminated zones. The proportion of “Poor” areas declined from 14.99% to 0.61%, while “Moderate” and “Good” areas expanded to 55.76% and 8.87%, respectively. Peripheral regions showed faster recovery due to effective natural and management interventions, while core high-contamination zones (Sary-Uzen) exhibited slower recovery due to persistent radioactive residues. This study highlights the applicability of RSEI for assessing ecological recovery in nuclear test sites and emphasizes the need for targeted remediation strategies. These findings provide valuable insights for global ecological management of nuclear test sites, supporting sustainable restoration efforts. Full article

Under global environmental change, the health of rivers and lakes on the “Asian Water Tower”—the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau—is facing mounting pressures. This study examines Qinghai Lake, the Huangshui River, the Golmud River, and the Qinghai reach of the Yangtze River. By integrating the Water Quality Index (WQI) with the AHP–TOPSIS framework, we develop a multidimensional assessment system encompassing water resources, water environment, aquatic ecology, and management functions. The WQI results reveal pronounced spatial heterogeneity in water quality, with conditions ranked as Golmud River > Yangtze River > Huangshui River > Qinghai Lake. Dominant controlling factors also shift from dissolved oxygen in riverine systems to total phosphorus in the lake environment. The comprehensive AHP–TOPSIS evaluation further shows a health ranking of Yangtze River (0.736) > Golmud River (0.602) > Qinghai Lake (0.404) > Huangshui River (0.297), leading to the identification of four distinct management pathways: ecological conservation, natural restoration, nutrient control, and pollution remediation. By moving beyond single-parameter diagnostics, this study provides a robust methodological basis for differentiated river–lake management. The proposed “one river (lake), one strategy” framework, coupled with red-line management recommendations grounded in key indicators, offers direct scientific support for systematic protection and precise governance of aquatic ecosystems on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, contributing to national ecological security and high-level environmental stewardship. Full article

Black-odorous water pollution presents a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and severely hinders the sustainable development of the ecological environment, as conventional remediation technologies often fall short in achieving the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants. In this study, a novel composite remediation agent was developed by integrating microbial active components with modified clay minerals—sodium-modified zeolite (Na-Z) and magnesium–aluminum–lanthanum layered ternary hydroxides loaded onto sulfuric acid-modified bentonite (Mg-Al-La-LTHs@SBt)—through gel-embedding immobilization. This integrated system enabled the synergistic remediation of both overlying water and sediment pollutants. The modified clay minerals exhibited strong adsorption capacity for nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in the overlying water. Under 25 °C conditions, the composite agent achieved removal efficiencies of 58.14% for ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) and 88.89% for total phosphorus (TP) while significantly reducing sedimentary organic matter and acid volatile sulfide (AVS). Notably, the agent retained substantial remediation efficacy even under low-temperature conditions (5 °C). High-throughput microbial community analysis revealed that the treatment enriched beneficial phyla (e.g., Proteobacteria) and beneficial genera (e.g., Thiobacillus) and suppressed sulfate-reducing groups (e.g., Desulfobacterota), promoting favorable nitrogen and sulfur transformations. These results provide a robust material and methodological basis for efficient, synergistic restoration of black-odorous water and the sustainable development of water resources. Full article

Copper (Cu) pollution poses environmental and health risks. Owing to its adaptability and potential for water purification, Nymphoides peltata (N. peltata) is being considered for use in the remediation of Cu pollution. However, the feasibility of using N. peltata for the remediation of Cu-polluted water bodies has not yet been assessed. Here, the physiological response of N. peltata to Cu stress was determined. N. peltata samples were exposed to varying Cu concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mg∙L⁻¹), and the activities of glutamine synthetase (GS), nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), and glycolate oxidase (GO) were measured together with the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments. The results revealed that under Cu stress, NR and GS activities significantly decreased, while NiR activity significantly increased. Exposure to 0.2 mg∙L⁻¹ Cu promoted chlorophyll synthesis and enhanced Rubisco and GO activities; in contrast, exposure to Cu concentrations above 0.4 mg∙L⁻¹ significantly inhibited the aforementioned parameters. These findings indicate that Cu stress, regardless of concentration, significantly affects nitrogen metabolism in N. peltata by decelerating nitrate reduction and impairing the ammonification process. Meanwhile, only high Cu concentrations significantly affected photosynthesis. N. peltata can survive low Cu stress by regulating its photosynthetic enzymes. Therefore, N. peltata has potential for the ecological restoration of water bodies polluted with low Cu concentrations. Full article

In this study, three benign oxidants, potassium ferrate (Fe(VI)), sodium persulfate (PS), and sodium percarbonate (SPC), were combined with nonthermal plasma (NTP) to enhance the degradation of Malachite Green (MG) and Metanil Yellow (MY). Experimental factors, including dye concentration, oxidant dose, and treatment time, were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The hybrid systems achieved markedly improved decolorization rates, with maximum efficiencies exceeding 99% within 30 min, compared to 96% for NTP alone. Kinetic analysis confirmed significantly higher rate constants for NTP-assisted oxidants, particularly NTP + Fe (VI) (k_obs = 0.127 min⁻¹), followed by NTP + PS (0.114 min⁻¹) and NTP + SPC (0.098 min⁻¹). Enhanced mineralization, together with stable pH and controlled conductivity variations, further substantiated the efficient breakdown of the dye molecules. Phytotoxicity assays demonstrated that untreated dyes severely inhibited germination. In contrast, effluents treated with NTP + PS and NTP + Fe (VI) restored germination and root growth to levels comparable to the deionized water (DIW) control, indicating substantial toxicity reduction. These results confirm that NTP-oxidants significantly improve oxidation performance, accelerate reaction kinetics, and yield environmentally safe effluents suitable for practical wastewater remediation. Full article

Chemical and plant-based strategies have become increasingly critical for the remediation of saline–alkali soils. However, the underlying mechanisms driving improvements in soil quality and ecological functionality remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we adopted a synergistic remediation approach that integrated multiple switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars with a coal-based soil amendment to enhance saline–alkali land. A field experiment was conducted using five switchgrass varieties (YM-1, YM-2, YM-3, YM-4, and YM-5), each receiving a uniform application of the coal-based soil conditioner at 10 t ha⁻¹. A traditional control group was not included in this study, as the experimental design focused on direct comparisons between varieties. Our results showed that soil ionic composition played a significant role in shaping microbial activity. Notably, we found that YM-5 treatment exhibited the highest relative soil microbial abundance (22.1%) under the condition of soil amendments. Furthermore, the YM-5 treatment significantly reduced soil Na+ content and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) (p < 0.05), outperforming other treatments. Compared to YM-2, the YM-5 treatment also resulted in substantial increases in soil organic carbon (SOC) and available potassium (AK), increases of 78.28% and 54.3%, respectively. In addition to enhancing physicochemical parameters, the integration of switchgrass and amendment promoted soil biological vitality. For example, the YM-2 treatment achieved a 7.4% increase in catalase (CAT) activity and a 6.3% reduction in soil pH compared to YM-3, indicating improved redox balance and acid–base regulation. Collectively, these findings provide direct empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of switchgrass–amendment combinations in saline–alkali soil restoration. Among the tested cultivars, YM-5 demonstrated superior ecological performance and is recommended as the most suitable genotype for saline–alkali soil amelioration when used in conjunction with coal-based amendments. Full article

The research on cadmium (Cd) pollution remediation technologies in farmland is of great significance for ensuring food security. However, there is currently a lack of empirical research on the passivation effects of the related repair materials on alkaline farmland in arid regions. This study selected a typical experimental area in a dryland corn farmland in Ningxia, Northwest China. Field experiments were conducted on four typical remediation materials: mercapto clay minerals, sepiolite remediation materials, microbial inoculants, and bio-organic fertilizers. The effects of these four materials on the available cadmium in the soil, cadmium content in corn stems and leaves, and enrichment coefficients were analyzed. The results show that the four types of remediation fertilizers have significant differences in their effects on the available Cd content in the soil, with a reduction range of 3.33–60.94%. The order of the inhibitory effect from strong to weak is as follows: mercapto clay mineral passivation material, bio-organic fertilizer, sepiolite, and microbial inoculant. The cumulative distribution pattern of Cd in the organs of corn plants is leaf > stem > grain. It reduces the cadmium content in corn stems by 7.01–37.16% and reduces the cadmium content in corn leaves by 1.45–26.56%. Under the four types of remediation fertilizer treatments, the enrichment coefficients of corn stems and leaves all decreased. The enrichment coefficient of stems decreased by 3.78% to 29.42%, and the enrichment coefficient of leaves decreased by 3.41% to 31.92%. The mercapto clay minerals passivation material has the best effect on reducing the available cadmium in the soil of dryland corn in the arid areas of Northwest China and also has the best effect on inhibiting the absorption of cadmium by various organs of corn. It can be further verified in the field and promoted for application, providing support for the restoration of heavy metal pollution in farmland based on local conditions and differentiated measures. Full article

Air pollution, soil contamination, and rising illness demand integrated, nature-based solutions. Willow trees (Salix spp.) uniquely combine ecological resilience with therapeutic value, remediating polluted environments while supporting human well-being. This review synthesizes recent literature on the established role of Salix spp. in phytoremediation and growing contribution to forest therapy through emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). As urbanization accelerates and environmental pressures intensify globally, the surprising adaptability and multifunctionality of Salix justify the utilization of this genus in building resilient and health-promoting ecosystems. The major points discussed in this work include willow-based phytoremediation strategies, such as rhizodegradation, phytoextraction, and phytostabilization, contributing to restoring even heavily polluted soils, especially when combined with specific strategies of microbial augmentation and trait-based selection. Salix plantations and even individual willow trees may contribute to forest therapy (and ‘forest bathing’ approaches) through volatile compounds emitted by Salix spp. such as ocimene, β-caryophyllene, and others, which exhibit neuroprotective (against Parkinson’s disease), anti-inflammatory, and mood-enhancing properties. Willow’s significantly extended foliage season in temperate regions allows for prolonged ‘forest bathing’ opportunities, enhancing passive therapeutic engagement in urban green infrastructures. Remarkably, the pharmacological potential of willow extends beyond salicin, encompassing a diverse array of phytocompounds with applications in phytomedicine. Finally, willow’s ease of propagation and adaptability make this species a convenient solution for multifunctional landscape design, where ecological restoration and human well-being converge. Overall, this review demonstrates the integrative value of Salix spp. as a keystone genus in sustainable landscape planning, combining remarkable environmental resilience with therapeutic benefits. Future studies should explore standardized methods to evaluate the combined ecological and therapeutic performance of Salix spp., integrating long-term field monitoring with analyses of BVOC emissions under varying environmental stresses. Full article