Search Results (326)

Rain gardens are increasingly implemented as Nature-Based Solutions for stormwater management, where vegetation must tolerate alternating wet and dry conditions driven by design-related drainage times. Despite the central role of plants, experimentally based guidance on species selection, particularly for locally adapted herbaceous taxa, remains limited. This study presents a controlled experimental screening of 13 native Italian herbaceous species to evaluate their response to two different submersion regimes. Plants were subjected to repeated short (1-day) and longer (3-day) submersion cycles and compared with a non-flooded control. Species performance was assessed through an integrated framework combining survival, growth responses, biomass allocation and visual condition. All species survived across treatments, indicating a general tolerance to transient waterlogging. However, interspecific differences emerged when multiple response variables were jointly considered. Several species not typically associated with prolonged inundation maintained high performance under longer submersion regimes, while some taxa from drier environments also showed resilience to waterlogging. The results highlight that tolerance to submersion cannot be inferred solely from habitat moisture affinity and that submersion duration represents a key design variable for rain garden design. This study provides a pragmatic, low-cost screening approach to support context-specific plant selection in temperate urban environments. Full article

Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) is an intracellular non-oxidizing enzyme that relies on thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), which is important for plant survival under anaerobic conditions and increasingly recognized for its role in broader stress reaction. However, the PDC gene family of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), an important waterlogging-sensitive agricultural product, has not yet been discovered. In this study, eight SlPDC genes were discovered within the tomato genome. Gene structure analysis revealed that SlPDC members exhibited varying intron–exon configurations, with SlPDC8 possessing the most complex structure containing seven introns. Promoter analysis revealed a multitude of cis-acting elements responsive to light, hormones, and various stresses. Particularly, the promoter of SlPDC8 contains both ABRE and TGACG/CGTCA-motif. Tissue-specific expression profiles showed that SlPDC8 was mainly highly expressed in the roots. Expression profiling demonstrated that SlPDC genes respond divergently to different abiotic stresses, including salt, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), drought, waterlogging, cold, heat, darkness, and UV radiation stresses. Notably, SlPDC1, SlPDC7, and SlPDC8 were significantly upregulated by waterlogging, with SlPDC8 showing the most robust induction. Functional validation through VIGS proved that SlPDC8-silenced plants exhibited significantly impaired growth, decreased photosynthetic pigment content, severe leaf wilting, and poor root development under waterlogging conditions compared to control plants. Furthermore, silencing SlPDC8 led to increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, indicating heightened oxidative damage under waterlogging stress. We conclusively demonstrate that SlPDC8 plays a critical positive regulatory role in waterlogging tolerance by maintaining cellular homeostasis and enhancing antioxidant capacity. Full article

In reclaimed and poorly drained soils, combined salinity–waterlogging stress markedly inhibits the early vegetative growth of maize. In this study, maize seedlings at 12 days after sowing (DAS) were subjected to combined stress by immersing the entire root system in 200 mM NaCl for 7 d (stress; ST), then transferred to recovery conditions and supplied potassium at equivalent activity (5 mM K⁺; soil drench) as KH₂PO₄ (ST + K + P), K₂SO₄ (ST + K + S), and potassium silicate (ST + K + Si) at 0 and 5 days after treatment (DAT). Morphological traits, chlorophyll fluorescence, and gas-exchange parameters were measured at PreTR (immediately after stress termination), 5 DAT, and 10 DAT. Phytohormone, mineral nutrient profiles, oxidative stress markers and redox status, osmotic and metabolic parameters, and the expression patterns of key ion transport and stress-responsive genes were quantified at 0 and 10 DAT. The effects of K supplementation were evident across the growth- and photosynthesis-related indicators. Treatment groups (ST + K + Si, ST + K + S, and ST + K + P) exhibited significantly higher carbon fixation capacity than ST at 10 DAT. The Na/K ratio was also notably reduced in all K-supplemented groups, indicating that ionic homeostasis was restored with K supplementation through improvements in various stress response indicators such as phytohormones, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant responses. The potassium- and silicon-treated group showed the greatest recovery effect, which may reflect the physiological characteristics of cereal species. Overall, these findings provide foundational data for the development of cultivation technology to expand the cultivation area of maize. Full article

As climate change continues to alter rainfall patterns and precipitation regimes across the globe, waterlogging is emerging as a widespread and pressing issue that threatens agricultural productivity and food security. In this study, we investigated the potential of humic substances to mitigate waterlogging stress in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) seedlings. Specifically, humic acid and fulvic acid solutions were applied to the growth medium at weekly intervals both before and after a 10-day waterlogging period. The effects of humic acid and fulvic acid applications on waterlogging-induced stress were evaluated through various physiological and biochemical parameters, including shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, proline, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid, abscisic acid, and antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. The results indicated that waterlogging stress significantly impaired plant growth parameters, but these adverse effects were mitigated by humic acid and fulvic acid applications. The humic substances contributed to stress tolerance by modulating key biochemical responses, including a shift in proline, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, abscisic acid, and antioxidant enzyme activity levels, which otherwise increased under stress conditions. Furthermore, the decline in indole acetic acid and gibberellic acid content due to waterlogging was alleviated by humic acid and fulvic acid treatments. Overall, the findings suggest that humic acid and fulvic acid can effectively reduce the detrimental effects of waterlogging stress in cabbage seedlings, demonstrating their potential as biostimulants with comparable protective effects. Full article

Wind disturbance is the major driver of forest damage in Northern Europe, particularly during late autumn and winter when cyclonic activity might coincide with unfrozen soil conditions. We quantified the thermal regime of periodically waterlogged mineral soils in relation to snow cover thickness (SCT) in hemiboreal forests of Latvia. The study was conducted in 15 forest stands dominated by birch (Betula spp.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) during two contrasting winters (2023/2024 and 2024/2025) across two regions differing in local climatic conditions. Soil temperature was monitored at 0, 10, and 20 cm depths, while SCT was measured at five points per plot. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the effects of air temperature, precipitation, region, season, and species composition to snow cover thickness (SCT) and effect of the other parameters to soil temperatures. SCT varied strongly between regions and seasons. Snow accumulation was lower in pine- and spruce-dominated stands compared to birch stands. Formation of snow layer increased soil temperatures at the surface, whereas SCT had a more pronounced insulating effect at depths of 10–20 cm, especially during prolonged snow cover (F = 15.43 − 54.25, p < 0.001). Heat transfer from deeper layers further enhanced thawing under waterlogged conditions. Snow cover significantly insulates soil in a depth-dependent manner, with its magnitude varying across regions and seasons. Promoting mixed-species stands and selecting deep-rooted species, such as birch, can enhance the formation of frozen soil, and thus soil–root anchorage, reducing wind damage risk on periodically waterlogged soils. Full article

Uranium production tailing ponds in Kamyanske (Ukraine) are objects of increased radioecological danger. Violation of the stability and integrity of containment dams threatens the uncontrolled spread of radionuclides. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively assess the factors affecting the technical condition and environmental safety of the Sukhachivske tailing dam. The study included a visual inspection and detailed geophysical work using the natural pulse electromagnetic field of the Earth (NPEMFE) method. This method was chosen to identify hidden filtration paths and stress zones in the body of the earth dam. An analysis of the spatial distribution of waterlogging, filtration, and fissuring in the hydraulic structure was performed. Based on the results of the NPEMFE survey, six zones with varying degrees of waterlogging and stress–strain states of the structure were identified. The presence of externally unmanifested filtration paths and suffusion areas was established, and a tectonic scheme of fracture development in the dam body was compiled. A correlation was found between the dominant azimuths of crack extension (70–79° and 350–359°) and the directions of regional tectonic lineament zones, at the intersection of which the tailing pond is located. It has been established that modern tectonic movements along fault zones create zones of permeability, which serve as primary pathways for water filtration and further development of suffusion. This conclusion introduces a new tectonic feature for risk diagnosis and monitoring of similar hydraulic structures. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) readily accumulates cadmium (Cd), posing dietary exposure risks in populations dependent on rice-based diets. This study investigated how sulfur (S) redox processes regulate Cd mobility in S-deficient, Cd-contaminated paddy soil under waterlogged conditions. A pot experiment was conducted with two S treatments (−S and +S, 30 mg kg⁻¹) throughout the rice growing season. S addition markedly increased pore water S²⁻ concentrations during early growth (tillering) and mid-season (booting) and suppressed the diffusion of SO₄²⁻ from non-rhizosphere to rhizosphere at later stages (filling–maturity). Consequently, Cd in soil pore water was significantly lower in +S than −S treatments at all stages. Sulfur-amended soil showed a redistribution of Cd from labile fractions (exchangeable and carbonate-bound) to more stable fractions (Fe/Mn oxide-bound). Sulfur application also altered the rhizosphere microbiome: the relative abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) increased at the booting and filling stages, while sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) became more dominant at maturity. Additionally, +S enhanced Cd sequestration on rice root iron plaque by 32–67% during the grain-filling and maturity stages compared to −S. Throughout the rice growing period, redox-driven shifts in the S²⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio emerged as a key control on Cd behavior, with low pe + pH (strongly reducing conditions) promoting Cd sulfide precipitation and high pe + pH (more oxidizing conditions) causing Cd remobilization. Full article

WRKY transcription factors play critical roles in plant growth, development, metabolism, and stress responses. In this study, we performed the first genome-wide characterization of the WRKY gene family in Bupleurum chinense, using a T2T-level assembly of the autotetraploid genome. A total of 303 BcWRKY genes were identified and found to be unevenly distributed across four subgenomes. Phylogenetic and structural analyses revealed that segmental duplications after polyploidization drove lineage-specific expansion of the family. Meta-transcriptome analysis demonstrated that BcWRKY genes exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns and dynamic responses to stress, suggesting functional diversification. Under drought, waterlogging, methyl jasmonate, and ABA treatments, the contents of saikosaponins A and D significantly increased. This increase was accompanied by transcriptional activation of multiple BcWRKY genes. Correlation analysis between ten BcWRKYs and ten saikosaponins biosynthetic associated genes (BcBASs, BcCYPs, and BcUGTs) identified BcWRKY22, BcWRKY33, and BcWRKY46 as potential regulators of saikosaponin metabolism under stress conditions. Our study provided a comprehensive framework for understanding BcWRKY gene evolution and secondary metabolic regulation in polyploid medicinal plants. It also offered candidate genes for breeding B. chinense cultivars with high saikosaponin content. Full article

Poorly drained pastures in tropical America are recurrently degraded by Marandu Death Syndrome (MDS), affecting beef and dairy production. This study screened genotypes of Megathyrsus maximus and Urochloa spp. for waterlogging tolerance under controlled conditions to identify discriminant, easily measurable morphoagronomic traits suitable for breeding programs. Four experiments were conducted in factorial arrangement (five genotypes × two water regimes, with four replications), where morphoagronomic and physiological variables were analyzed using multivariate techniques. The first two principal components explained 75.17–88.60% of the total variation and stayed above 70% after variable reduction, without significantly altering genotype dispersion. Physiological responses showed a strong correlation with morphoagronomic traits. The most informative traits were the number of yellow and senescent leaves, number of tillers, SPAD index, leaf dry mass, and root dry mass. Genotypes were grouped by tolerance level. Among M. maximus, ‘Mombaça’ was the most tolerant, while PM13 and PM21 were the least. In Urochloa spp., U. humidicola cv. Tully was the most tolerant and ‘Marandu’ the least tolerant. Screening under controlled conditions is an alternative to distinguish genotypes with contrasting tolerance; however, because controlled environments do not fully reproduce the multifactorial nature of MDS, this approach is recommended only for early stages of breeding programs. Nevertheless, field evaluations on poorly drained soils under grazing remain essential to confirm tolerance to MDS. Full article

Changes in preservation conditions act as an important environmental filter driving shifts in microbial communities. However, the precise identities, functional traits, and ecological mechanisms of the dominant agents driving stage-specific deterioration remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated microbial communities and dominant fungal degraders in waterlogged versus dried bamboo slips using amplicon sequencing, multivariate statistics, and microbial isolation. Results revealed compositionally distinct communities, with dried slips sharing only a small proportion of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with waterlogged slips, while indicating the persistence of a subset of taxa across preservation states. A key discovery was the dominance of Fonsecaea minima (92% relative abundance) at the water-solid-air interface of partially submerged slips. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) indicate that this fungus forms melanin-rich, biofilm-like surface structures, suggesting enhanced surface colonization and stress resistance. In contrast, the fungal community isolated from dried slips was characterized by Apiospora saccharicola associated with detectable xylanase activity. Meanwhile, the xerophilic species Xerogeomyces pulvereus dominated (99% relative abundance) the storage box environment. Together, these results demonstrate that preservation niches select for fungi with distinct functional traits, highlighting the importance of stage-specific preservation strategies that consider functional traits rather than taxonomic identity alone. Full article

Drought, high temperature, salinity, waterlogging, and nutrient deficiency, along with metal toxicity, are among the environmental factors that have resulted in much alteration of many ecosystems by climate change. Such stresses have dramatically lowered the global average human harvest of core crops, which, in turn, has driven an overall decrease in worldwide agricultural productivity. Plants have developed a variety of defense strategies against biotic and abiotic stress. Evidence of the successful roles of phytohormone-like neurotransmitters in ameliorating the response to stress has already been established. One neurotransmitter accumulated by the plants is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a non-protein amino acid that is essential for signaling in plant growth regulation and development via the control of physiological and biochemical processes. Plant tissues demonstrate rapid accumulation of GABA when exposed to various abiotic stresses. Consequently, it is imperative to understand how this accumulation affects the resistance and productivity of crops in challenging environmental conditions. Previously, different application methods and doses of GABA on different plant species were used under various abiotic stress conditions. The research findings exhibited that the method and concentration of GABA depend on the type of crop. Furthermore, the GABA dose depends on the methods of GABA application. The present review summarizes the potential doses and methods of applications of GABA under different abiotic stress conditions to ameliorate deficiencies in plant growth, yield, and stress tolerance through the avoidance of oxidative damage and maintenance of cell organelle structures. This review will also describe the complex mechanism by which GABA contributes to the attenuation of the effects of abiotic stresses by regulating some important physiological, molecular, and biochemical processes in crops. Full article

Groundwater resources are scarce in the cold and arid regions of north China. Moreover, regional water resource replenishment without external sources remains difficult. This water deficit has become a major factor restricting the sustainable development of regional vegetable production. The effective utilization of rainwater harvesting for irrigated agricultural production is necessary to suppress droughts and floods in farming under the semi-arid climate of this area in order to both guarantee a stable supply of vegetables to the market in south and north China and promote the balanced development of regional agriculture–resource–environment integration. In this study, based on continuous simulation and Python modeling, we simulated and analyzed the water supply and production effects of irrigation with harvests and stored rainwater on tomatoes under different water supply scenarios from 1992 to 2023. We then designed and tested a water-saving and high-yield project for rainwater-irrigated greenhouses in 2024 and 2025 under natural rainfall conditions in northwestern Hebei Province based on the reference irrigation scheme. The water supply satisfaction rate, water demand satisfaction rate, and volume of water inventory of tomato fields under different water supply scenarios increased with the rainwater tank size, and the corresponding drought yield reduction rate of tomato decreased. Under the actual rainfall scenarios in 2024 and 2025, a 480 m² greenhouse with a 14.4 m³ rainwater tank for producing tomatoes irrigated with rainwater drip from the greenhouse film collected 127.7 and 120.5 m³ of rainwater, respectively. The volume of the rainwater tank was exceeded 8.3 and 8.0 times, and up to 93.8% and 95.0% of the irrigated groundwater was replaced; additionally, the average yield of the small-fruited tomato ‘Beisi’ was 50,076.6 kg·hm⁻² and 48,110.2 kg·hm⁻², reaching 96.1% and 92.3% of the expected yield. Conclusion: The irrigation strategy based on the innovative “greenhouse film–rainwater harvesting–groundwater replenishment” model developed in this study has successfully achieved a high substitution rate of groundwater for greenhouse tomato production in the cold and arid regions of north China while ensuring stable yields by mitigating drought and waterlogging risks. This model not only provides a replicable technical framework for sustainable agricultural water resource management in semi-arid areas but also offers critical theoretical and practical support for addressing water scarcity and ensuring food security under global climate change. Full article

Western North Carolina (WNC), part of the Appalachian landscape, hosts a robust forest product industry but faces increasing challenges like land marginalization, warming temperatures and raw material shortages. This study evaluates the site suitability and cost-effectiveness of cultivating Populus species for high-value veneer–plywood (VP) production in WNC using the Veneer-Poplar Productivity and Economic Assessment Model (VP-PEAM). The model integrates site-specific variables (elevation, soil characteristics, landform and land-use history) to optimize site-species management strategies across diverse landscapes. Twelve scenarios are analyzed to assess how biophysical and land-use factors influence VP growth and profitability. The results show that VP productivity and profitability decline with increasing elevation, past land-use intensity, soil compaction and decreasing soil depth. All land-use types studied support profitable VP production. Yet, flood plain sites with medium-textured soils and moderate water table depths (0.61–1.83 m) offer optimal conditions. Even under suboptimal conditions, extended rotations maintain profitability, except on sites with persistent waterlogging or shallow water tables (<0.31 m). VPs generate higher annual equivalent opportunity benefits (USD 1568–USD 2763 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 15- to 18-year rotations) compared to non-forest land uses, suggesting their potential to enhance regional wood supply and land-use efficiency. These findings contribute to site-informed forest management and offer a modeling approach for assessing forest resilience and cost-effectiveness in Appalachian landscapes. Full article

Cassava plants’ response to waterlogging must be monitored in an accurate and timely manner to mitigate the adverse effects of waterlogging stress. Under waterlogging conditions, root hypoxia reduces water uptake and stomatal closure limits transpiration, which often results in increased leaf temperature due to reduced evaporative cooling. However, how this relationship changes in cassava leaves under waterlogged conditions remains poorly understood. This study hypothesized that more negative ΔT values reflect enhanced transpirational cooling, which is a key determinant of superior physiological performance under waterlogging stress among cassava genotypes. Two cassava cultivars were subjected to twelve days of waterlogging. Results revealed a significant decrease in photosynthetic rate (p < 0.001), stomatal conductance (p < 0.001), and transpiration rate (p < 0.001), as well as an increase in leaf temperature (p < 0.001) and ΔT (p < 0.001), reflecting impaired stomatal regulation and reduced evaporative cooling. Strong negative correlations between ΔT and photosynthetic parameters (Pn (p < 0.001, r = −0.91), gs (p < 0.001, r = −0.91), and E (p < 0.001, r = −0.87)) were observed, presenting ΔT as a reliable, nondestructive indicator of cassava’s physiological responses under hypoxic conditions. Findings indicate that maintaining cooler canopies may contribute to waterlogging-tolerant cassava genotypes, and that ΔT can act as a screening parameter for waterlogging-tolerant genotypes. However, further studies with contrasting genotypes and additional parameters are recommended for validation. Full article

Abiotic stresses, including salt stress, drought, extreme temperature, heavy metal pollution, and waterlogging, interfere with the normal physiological activities of plants through multiple pathways. These stresses destroy the structure and function of cell membranes, inhibit enzyme activity, cause protein denaturation, and trigger oxidative stress. Such effects not only slow plant biomass accumulation but may also initiate a series of secondary metabolic reactions, increasing the metabolic burden on plants. Abiotic stress poses a serious threat to agricultural production through yield reductions, while exerting profound negative impacts on ecosystem stability, causing many adverse effects. This review focuses on how Trichoderma promotes plant growth and nutrient uptake through multiple mechanisms under abiotic stress conditions. Additionally, it produces abundant secondary metabolites to activate the antioxidant system, thereby enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stress and their defense capabilities. It can boost soil nutrient availability, enhance agrochemical-contaminated soil, promote crop growth, and improve yield and quality, while reducing the use of chemical pesticides and lessening environmental impacts. Therefore, as a crucial soil microorganism, Trichoderma has great potential in alleviating crop abiotic stress. Through deep research and technological innovation, Trichoderma is expected to become an important tool for sustainable agricultural development. Full article