Plant-environment interactions (Hoboken, N.J.)最新文献

To reduce pressure on arable land and water resources, crops can be grown in controlled environments that allow one to recuperate water transpired by plants. This would reduce water demand and potentially allow the use of saline water. However, condensing atmospheric water affects the vapor pressure deficit (VPD), which will affect plant transpiration, nutrient transport, salt uptake, and ultimate growth. This study examined responses of two genotypes of tomato and cucumber during the vegetative phase to varying VPD levels (3.1 and 1.9 kPa) and NaCl concentrations (0 and 30 mM) grown in hydroponic solutions. Under higher VPD (3.1 kPa), transpiration significantly increased in both tomato and cucumber, driving higher water loss. In tomatoes, higher VPD (3.1 kPa) increased the total dry biomass of the Saluoso genotype from 4.3 to 7.1 g and of the Sweeterno genotype from 4.9 to 7.3 g. Root zone salinity diminished the differences in biomass induced by VPD, with little effect on biomass accumulation in both tomato genotypes. Root zone salinity consistently reduced dry weight in cucumber, lowering Addison's from 15.5 to 9.5 g and Proloog's from 13.5 to 10.0 g, regardless of VPD. Unlike tomato, cucumber did not respond to VPD and was more sensitive to salinity. These findings indicate that in hydroponic cultivation, particularly in protected environments, the possibility of producing clean water alongside crop production depends on species-specific responses. In tomatoes, high VPD enhanced growth and demonstrated compatibility with the use of saline water, supporting the dual goal of productivity and water recovery. However, in cucumbers, the sensitivity to salinity and lack of response to VPD highlight the need for careful species selection and management to achieve sustainable water use and crop production.

Land degradation and climate change are interconnected environmental pressing challenges that significantly contribute to declining agricultural productivity and worsening food insecurity in Ethiopia. To address these challenges, the Ethiopian government introduces climate-smart agricultural practices, including drought-tolerant and early-maturing crop varieties, small-scale irrigation practices, and efficient fertilizer use. This study examined the impact of climate-resilient crop intensification strategies on household food security, measured by household food consumption score (HFCS), household dietary diversity score (HDDS), and household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS). The data were collected from 411 smallholder farmers using structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The multistage sampling technique was employed to select study participants. Analysis techniques involved descriptive statistics, the food security index, the ordered probit model, and an endogenous switching regression model. The study reveals the multidimensional nature of household food security: 87.83% of households have better food access (HFCS), 56.45% have moderate dietary quality (HDDS), yet 70.8% experience food insecurity (HFIAS), highlighting persistent access challenges. Adopting all three climate-smart crop intensification strategies considered in this study, including maturing crop varieties, small-scale irrigation practices, and efficient fertilizer use, significantly improves household food consumption and dietary diversity while reducing food insecurity. Joint adoption of these strategies increases food variety by 90.5% and decreases food insecurity by 69.9%. Effective extension services, irrigation infrastructure, and viable crop varieties are crucial for enhancing adoption rates and improving food security. The findings of this study emphasized the importance of integrating multiple climate-smart agricultural practices to enhance food security in Ethiopia. By adopting a combination of drought-tolerant crops, small-scale irrigation, and efficient fertilizer use, smallholder farmers can significantly improve their household food consumption and dietary diversity while reducing food insecurity. It is recommended that smallholder farmers adopt a combination of climate-smart strategies to enhance crop productivity and food security, supported by strengthened extension services that provide implementation guidance.

Traits of seeds are far less-studied than those of vegetative plants, despite the importance of this stage in a plant's life cycle. Much research has demonstrated the importance of certain aspects of seed phenotype, including both chemical and physical traits, to survival in the face of biotic and abiotic selective pressures. One trait with demonstrated physiological and defensive functionality is seed mucilage. This persistent hydrogel coating on the surface of the seed is extremely common and found in thousands of species across angiosperms, with many independent evolutionary origins. Despite attention in taxonomic, floristic, ecological, and biomaterial investigations for over a century, and the economic importance of products derived from this mucilage, the trait is often overlooked, and protocols for the labs determining seed mucilage across plants vary. Here, in response to a paper claiming seed mucilage in many new species due to flawed methodology, we lay out specific protocols to determine the presence of mucilage, in an effort to standardize across studies. We hope these methods prove useful in both evaluating the current literature and permit cross-study comparisons to advance the study of this important trait.

Application of organic mulches has repeatedly been shown to reduce infestation with Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the Colorado potato beetle (CPB). In order to determine if the nutritional status of potatoes as affected by mulch could explain the mulch effects in potatoes against CPB, we determined potato leaf nutrient composition in unmulched control plots and plots mulched with grass-clover or triticale-vetch and assessed mulch effects on CPB damage and development in the field during 3 years and under controlled conditions. In mulched plots, foliar Mo, Cl, and K contents were consistently higher than those without mulch, and leaf damage by CPB was reduced significantly. In addition, increased B contents were associated with undamaged plant material, while higher Zn contents were associated with leaves damaged by CPB. Under controlled conditions, CPB fitness was not affected by mulch application. Overall, reduced CPB damage could not be clearly attributed to altered foliar nutrient contents due to mulching. It is thus more likely that CPB reductions in mulched systems are due to mechanisms other than an altered nutrient balance.

Tree diseases are a growing threat to ecosystem service provision by trees in cities and towns globally. Phytophthora is a widespread genus of plant pathogens (oomycetes) that have contributed to significant tree mortality worldwide; however, there has been little research into the impact of Phytophthora infection on urban trees or on ecosystem services important for urban populations, such as urban cooling. This study utilizes a network of Internet-of-Things linked sap flow sensors and point dendrometers collecting data every ~10 min throughout the growing season, combined with ground-based sampling (leaf chlorophyll content, Leaf Area Index), to monitor the impact of Phytophthora plurivora on mature Common Lime (Tilia × europaea) street trees, a globally common urban tree species known to be susceptible to Phytophthora. P. plurivora infection disrupted tree water flux, with an 87% reduction in median diurnal water use in infected trees (24.84 (IQR 77.04) L tree^-1 day^-1) compared with asymptomatic trees (198.36 (IQR 88.22) L tree^-1 day^-1). Infection also significantly reduced stem growth, with median shrinkage in infected trees of -0.22% (IQR 0.32%) compared with 0.35% (IQR 0.20%) growth in asymptomatic trees over the study period (May-October). However, infected trees with less disease damage were able to maintain growth and urban cooling similar to asymptomatic trees during the study period, highlighting the tensions between controlling disease spread and public safety hazards while maintaining ecosystem service provision. Our research raises questions about the impact of P. plurivora on other critical ecosystem services and in other common urban tree species and settings.

Monotropastrum humile (D.Don) H.Hara (Ericaceae), a mycoheterotrophic plant, retains scale leaves of a certain size despite their lack of photosynthetic function. This study aimed to clarify the morphological basis for the persistence of these scale leaves by examining their relationship with floral organs through morphological and anatomical analyses. For the morphometric analysis, measurements were taken at seven locations. For the anatomical analysis, epidermal cells were photographed and analyzed in abaxial and adaxial views. The sizes of scale leaves and floral characters showed allometric growth. M. humile is pollinated by long-tongued bumblebees; it must maintain flower size for effective pollination. Therefore, its scale leaves cannot become allometrically smaller, and it is necessary to invest a large amount of resources into scale leaves. Our studies show that M. humile must constrainedly maintain scale leaves to form flowers, even if leaves lose the function of photosynthesis.

The suppression of isoprene emissions by high CO₂ levels can be mitigated by increasing temperature; however, little is known about why and to what extent species differ in their temperature-dependent release from high CO₂ inhibition. We studied leaf photosynthetic characteristics and isoprene emissions over a 25°C-40°C temperature range at CO₂ concentrations of 150, 400, and 1000 μmol mol^-1 in two species with contrasting heat resistance. In the temperate species Populus tremula, rising temperatures above 30°C shifted electron flow from photosynthesis to isoprene synthesis, reducing CO₂ inhibition due to enhanced isoprene synthase activity and decreased sensitivity of the DMADP pool. Conversely, the tropical species Inga edulis showed greater heat tolerance in its photosynthetic apparatus, maintaining electron flow for CO₂ fixation, and exhibited a consistent CO₂ suppression of isoprene emissions throughout the experiment. These findings indicate that species differences in relative sensitivity of light and dark reactions of photosynthesis play crucial roles in modulating isoprene emissions under combined high CO₂ and temperature conditions.

Understanding the growth, development, and production patterns of perennial crops is crucial for optimizing agricultural practices and enhancing crop productivity. Growth models are valuable tools in this regard, offering insights into how crops respond to different experimental treatments. This study evaluates the suitability of repeated Gompertz growth curves for assessing the impact of compost amendment on the yield of cut roses over an 18-month period. Yield data was collected from an experiment testing the effects of four different compost treatments on cut roses, with daily records of the number of stems harvested per replicate plot. Comparison of Generalized Additive Mixed Models with repeated Gompertz growth curves showed that the Gompertz model effectively captured yield dynamics in individual flushes with minimal compromise in model accuracy. As the crop matured, asymptote parameter estimates increased, while growth rate parameter estimates decreased, reflecting a stabilization of growth patterns. Compost amendment significantly enhanced early-stage yield, with treatments receiving full fertigation consistently outperforming the control during the first year. As the crop matured, differences in yields among treatments diminished, indicating that the benefits of compost amendment are most pronounced during the initial growth phase within the 18-month timeframe. The substantial increase in yield after compost amendment highlights its potential for sustainable management practices, guiding the sector in optimizing compost usage to enhance yield while supporting environmental sustainability. To understand the dynamic effects of different management practices (in this case different compost treatments) on rose yield across flowering flushes, the repeated growth curve provides an adequate framework.

Alpine environments are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change, with glacier retreat rapidly altering plant communities, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. However, the socio-economic consequences of these biodiversity changes remain largely unexplored. Understanding Nature's Contributions to People (NCP) provides a valuable framework for assessing biodiversity's role in human well-being. While NCP has typically been studied at the landscape level, we focus on species-specific contributions of plants to highlight the importance of glacial biodiversity for people. Our novel concept of Plants' Contributions to People (PCP) provides insights into the ecological, social, and economic significance of plant biodiversity and offers a practical approach for guiding conservation efforts and policy decisions. We surveyed 99 plant species in four glacier environments in the Italian Alps; one glacier (Trobio) underwent a complete extinction in 2023 while another glacier (Amola) has a widespread surface debris cover and is proximate to extinction. We then grouped plant species into early, intermediate, and late depending on their successional stages, and then linked plants to 13 different PCP based on extensive literature research. By comparing present and projected future scenarios, we assessed the absolute and relative changes in PCP under glacier extinction. Our results show that changes in PCP are primarily driven by declining plant species richness. Most affected PCP are associated with air quality, soil health, and nutrient regulation, which decrease by sevenfold on average across plant species. Whereas natural hazards regulation showed no significant variation, association with pest and disease increases especially for late species. While future plant communities may provide PCP that are qualitatively similar to present-day communities, the volume of species-specific contributions would decrease due to biodiversity loss associated with glacier extinction. Our results provide the first evidence of PCP shift toward erosion following a decrease in plant species richness. This case study demonstrates that PCP is a valuable tool for assessing the ecological and socio-economic consequences of biodiversity change, helping raise awareness of the biodiversity crisis and inform conservation actions aimed at sustaining ecosystem functions in a rapidly changing world.

During the course of evolution, higher plants have developed efficient strategies to cope with herbivory from arthropods. Upon perception of herbivore-derived cues, the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway is activated and triggers the expression of defense genes. The first land plants that arose ca. 500 Mya were bryophytes, including liverworts, and fossil records indicate that they were also exposed to herbivore pressure. Interestingly, recent studies showed that the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha contains a functional JA pathway that protects against insect feeding. However, since the appearance of insects is estimated to have occurred several million years after that of bryophytes, we hypothesized that this pathway could have been used to fend off contemporaneous gastropod feeders. Here, we challenged M. polymorpha with the land snail Helix aspersa and found that neonates grew significantly bigger on Mpcoi1, a mutant in the JA pathway, than on wild-type plants. This finding demonstrates that JA-dependent defenses in a liverwort are effective against gastropod herbivory and suggests that this feeding group constitutes an additional selection pressure that may have arisen early during land plant evolution.