Hasil untuk "Plant ecology"

M. Horner‐Devine, M. Lage, J. Hughes et al.

A. Vaudo, J. Tooker, H. Patch et al.

Pollinator nutritional ecology provides insights into plant–pollinator interactions, coevolution, and the restoration of declining pollinator populations. Bees obtain their protein and lipid nutrient intake from pollen, which is essential for larval growth and development as well as adult health and reproduction. Our previous research revealed that pollen protein to lipid ratios (P:L) shape bumble bee foraging preferences among pollen host-plant species, and these preferred ratios link to bumble bee colony health and fitness. Yet, we are still in the early stages of integrating data on P:L ratios across plant and bee species. Here, using a standard laboratory protocol, we present over 80 plant species’ protein and lipid concentrations and P:L values, and we evaluate the P:L ratios of pollen collected by three bee species. We discuss the general phylogenetic, phenotypic, behavioral, and ecological trends observed in these P:L ratios that may drive plant–pollinator interactions; we also present future research questions to further strengthen the field of pollination nutritional ecology. This dataset provides a foundation for researchers studying the nutritional drivers of plant–pollinator interactions as well as for stakeholders developing planting schemes to best support pollinators.

Zayneb Kthiri, Maissa Ben Jabeur, Chahine Karmous et al.

The use of biological control agents offers a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides for managing soil-borne plant diseases. This study investigates the biocontrol potential of a newly isolated yeast strain, Meyerozyma guilliermondii INAT-MT731365, as a biotic elicitor to enhance growth and Fusarium crown and root rot (FCRR) resistance in hydroponically grown tomato plants. Tomato plants were treated with M. guilliermondii or left untreated as controls, then divided into two groups, one infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) and one not infected. Physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses were monitored after treatment and inoculation. In the absence of the pathogen, M. guilliermondii treatment significantly enhanced plant growth and chlorophyll content. Concurrently, the yeast elicited a priming effect, characterized by low-level upregulation of PR1, β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase genes, downregulation of the P69G gene, and activation of defense enzymes such as peroxidase, chitinase, and β-1,3-glucanase, along with increased phenolic content and hydrogen peroxide accumulation, indicative of both SA- and JA/ET-mediated signalling induced systemic resistance (ISR). In control plants, FORL impaired plant defense with an early downregulation of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase genes and stability in PR1 gene expression, followed by transient activation of peroxidase and chitinase and low activation of catalase, β-1,3-glucanase, and accumulation of phenolics. Upon FORL infection, treated plants exhibited strong upregulation of PR1, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase genes mirrored by sustained increases in H₂O₂ and phenolic content and peroxidase, catalase, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activity. The simultaneous activation of both SA- and JA/ET-mediated signalling ISR resulted in a 61.8% reduction in FCRR severity and improved growth and photosynthetic traits. These findings highlight M. guilliermondii as a promising biocontrol agent that primes tomato plants for faster, stronger responses to soilborne pathogens while promoting growth under both healthy and stress conditions.

Aruna A. Kumari, K. Kalpana

The experiment was conducted during the months of August to March, 2023–24 to examine the cost structure and value addition across different chilli processing units, small, medium, and large-and maps value chains in both domestic and export markets. Primary data were collected from 135 chilli farmers and 10 processing firms across NTR, Prakasam, and Kurnool districts between August, 2023 and March 2024. The study estimated processing recovery, cost per kilogram, and the distribution of value addition costs among key stakeholders such as farmers, traders, commission agents, wholesalers, retailers, and exporters.Results revealed that small units had the highest chilli powder recovery (92.5%) and the lowest processing cost (`Rs. 16.61 kg-1), while large units, despite higher processing volumes, incurred the highest costs (`Rs. 29.45 kg-1), mainly due to labor and energy expenses. Value addition was most prominent at the farmer level in domestic dry chilli chains, while processing firms dominated in chilli powder chains for export markets, contributing up to 69.54% of total value addition.The findings highlight the critical role of processing efficiency and stakeholder coordination in enhancing profitability and competitiveness of the chilli sector. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve value chain integration, promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and upgrade processing technologies, especially for small and medium enterprises.

Diandong Wang, Jingjing Liao, Zhaoming Cai et al.

Disease caused by <i>Plasmodiophora brassicae</i> severely disrupts cruciferous crops by altering root physiology and rhizosphere ecology. While pathogen-induced shifts in rhizosphere microbiomes are documented, the mechanisms linking root exudate reprogramming to microbial community remodeling remain poorly understood. Here, we integrated untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate how root exudates reshape the rhizosphere microbiome of tumorous stem mustard (<i>Brassica juncea</i> var. tumida) through <i>P. brassicae</i> infection. Metabolomic profiling identified 1718 root exudate metabolites, with flavones (e.g., apigenin 7-<i>O</i>-β-D-rutinoside, VIP > 1.5) and phenolic derivatives (e.g., gastrodin) being selectively enriched in infected plants. <i>P. brassicae</i> infection significantly increased rhizobacterial richness (ACE index, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and restructured the community composition, marked by enrichment of <i>Paenibacillus</i> (LDA score > 3.0). Procrustes analysis revealed tight coupling between microbial community shifts and metabolic reprogramming (M² = 0.446, <i>p</i> = 0.005), while Spearman correlations implicated pathogen-induced metabolites like geniposidic acid in recruiting beneficial <i>Paenibacillus</i>. Our results reveal that plant hosts dynamically secrete defense-related root metabolites to remodel the rhizosphere microbiome in response to <i>P. brassicae</i> infection. This dual-omics approach elucidates a chemical dialogue mediating plant–microbe–pathogen interactions, offering novel insights for engineering disease-suppressive microbiomes through root exudate manipulation.

Desilal Kokebie, Abiyu Enyew, Eshete Kassaw et al.

Climate change-induced salinity stress significantly threatens global soybean production. This study evaluated the physiological and photosynthetic responses of three soybean varieties (Afigat, Gishama, Pawi-2) under controlled salt stress to identify promising tolerant germplasm. We found that increasing salinity generally reduced the water content, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), and photosynthetic pigments. Conversely, adaptive mechanisms were evident in the increased water uptake and retention capacities. Multivariate analysis, specifically Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and GGE Biplot models, was employed to rigorously interpret the complex physiological data. These analyses identified WUC, RWC, chlorophyll a, and Fv/Fm as the most critical indicators for salt tolerance screening. Based on these key traits, the variety Pawi-2 demonstrated superior physiological adaptation, while Gishama was the most susceptible. The research validates multivariate techniques for effective genotype selection and identifies physiologically resilient Pawi-2 as a valuable genetic resource for molecular breeding programs, which requires subsequent confirmation of agronomic performance under field conditions.

S. McNaughton

M. Öpik, M. Öpik, M. Metsis et al.

I. Kaplan, R. Denno

K. Butzer

M. Brandl

Sean W. Hixon, Ricardo Fernandes, Antonin Andriamahaihavana et al.

Abstract We present the first open-access, island-wide isotopic database (IsoMad) for modern biologically relevant materials collected on Madagascar within the past 150 years from both terrestrial and nearshore marine environments. Isotopic research on the island has increasingly helped with biological studies of endemic organisms, including evaluating foraging niches and investigating factors that affect the spatial distribution and abundance of species. The IsoMad database should facilitate future work by making it easy for researchers to access existing data (even for those who are relatively unfamiliar with the literature) and identify both research gaps and opportunities for using various isotope systems to answer research questions. We also hope that this database will encourage full data reporting in future publications.

Muhammad Rafiq, Amna Shoaib, Arshad Javaid et al.

Black Scurf is one of the destructive fungal diseases of potato crops caused by fungus Rhizoctonia solani. Cultural practices and fungicide applications are insufficient in effectively combating the pathogen, while utilizing resistant cultivars has become one of the most economical and effective way to control disease. About ten commercial potato varieties were screened out against the disease by artificially inoculating the plants with R. solani and these potato varieties were grouped based on disease incidence and disease severity. Four varieties (Ronoldo, Rubi, Challenge, and Sadaf) were grouped as resistant, three varieties (SH-5, Sante and Astrex) as moderately susceptible and three varieties (Karoda, Mosica and Simply red) as susceptible with significantly highest disease incidence (P ≤ 0.05). Disease also reduced number and size of tubers, while the disease incidence showed negative (P < 0.001) correlation with chlorophyll and protein contents, and activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes. It was concluded that a combination of phenotypic and physiological indices could be used to identify black scurf resistance in potatoes.

Niv DeMalach, E. Zaady, R. Kadmon

Chong Li, Zhaohui Jia, Shilin Ma et al.

Microbial inoculants can be used to restore abandoned mines because of their positive effects on plant growth and soil nutrients. Currently, soils in greenhouse pot studies are routinely sterilized to eradicate microorganisms, allowing for better inoculant colonization. Large-scale field sterilization of abandoned mining site soils for restoration is difficult, though. In addition, microbial inoculants have an impact on plants. Plants also have an impact on local microbes. The interactions among microbial inoculants, native microorganisms, and plants, however, have not been studied. We created a pot experiment utilizing the soil and microbial inoculant from a previous experiment because it promoted plant growth in that experiment. To evaluate the effects of the plants, native microorganisms, and microbial inoculants, we assessed several indicators related to soil elemental cycling and integrated them into the soil multifunctionality index. The addition of the microbial inoculant and sterilizing treatment had a significant impact on alfalfa growth. When exposed to microbial inoculant treatments, the plant and sterilization treatments displayed radically different functional characteristics, where most of the unsterilized plant treatment indices were higher than those of the others. The addition of microbial inoculant significantly increased soil multifunctionality in plant treatments, particularly in the unsterilized plant treatment, where the increase in soil multifunctionality was 260%. The effect size result shows that the positive effect of microbial inoculant on soil multifunctionality and unsterilized plant treatment had the most significant promotion effect. Plant and native microorganisms amplify the positive effects of microbial inoculant.

Z. Punja

Sultan Nilay Can, Adam Nunn, Dario Galanti et al.

Bisulfite sequencing is a widely used technique for determining DNA methylation and its relationship with epigenetics, genetics, and environmental parameters. Various techniques were implemented for epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) to reveal meaningful associations; however, there are only very few plant studies available to date. Here, we developed the EpiDiverse EWAS pipeline and tested it using two plant datasets, from <i>P. abies</i> (Norway spruce) and <i>Q. lobata</i> (valley oak). Hence, we present an EWAS implementation tested for non-model plant species and describe its use.

J. Pickett, L. Wadhams, Christine Woodcock et al.

Tamara Janakiev, Nikola Unković, Ivica Dimkić et al.

The susceptibility of Serbian plum cultivars to pathogens originating from their phyllosphere was evaluated by inoculating detached young leaves and mature fruits. The virulence of indigenous isolates of the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas congelans, Erwinia persicina, Clavibacter michiganensis and Rhizobium nepotum was tested on detached leaves of four Serbian plum cultivars (Ranka, Požegača, Čačanska lepotica and Čačanska rodna). The Pseudomonas syringae isolates formed intense symptoms within 48 hours on all tested cultivars with severity index values in the range of 41 – 47%. The other isolates had significantly lower severity values or no symptoms were developed. This study demonstrates for the first time pathogenicity of Pseudomonas congelans on plum, with symptom intensity not significantly different from P. syringae after 96 h of incubation. Virulence of Monilinia laxa isolates was tested on mature fruit of the Čačanska rodna and Požegača cultivars and was detected in both of them. Higher susceptibility to M. laxa was recorded for the Požegača cultivar, with a fruit infection rate between 43 and 66%. In the case of the Rodna cultivar, no statistically significant difference in the fruit infection rate was detected between the four tested M. laxa isolates. These data indicate significant susceptibility of Serbian plum cultivars to indigenous P. syringae and M. laxa isolates.

Z. S. L. Foster, J. E. Weiland, C. F. Scagel et al.

The microbiome of agricultural crops influences processes such as nutrient absorption, drought stress, and susceptibility to pathogens. Interactions between a plant’s genotype and its environment influence the composition of the microbiome, but these interactions are not well understood. We compared how the fungal and oomycete microbiomes of rhododendrons from Oregon nurseries differed among cultivars, growth conditions, and nurseries. Roots were sampled from randomly selected container and field-grown plants of three cultivars of rhododendron at four nurseries. The internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) barcode was sequenced with the Illumina MiSeq using two sets of primers specific to fungi and oomycetes, respectively. Sequences were used to infer community composition using VSEARCH and a custom reference database combining curated fungal and oomycete sequences. Comparisons of diversity and community composition were conducted in R using the vegan and metacoder packages. Organism lifestyle was inferred using the FUNGuild database. Few oomycetes were found and fungal communities were dominated by saprobes and mutualists. Nurseries that grew plants in containers and in-field had a significantly higher diversity of fungi than those that only grew plants in containers. Microbiome composition differed significantly among growth conditions and nurseries, but not among cultivars. This suggests that, among these cultivars of rhododendron, environment is important in structuring the root microbiome, but cultivar is not.