Journal Description
Plants
Plants
is an international, scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal on plant science published semimonthly online by MDPI. The Australian Society of Plant Scientists (ASPS), the Spanish Phytopathological Society (SEF), the Spanish Society of Plant Physiology (SEFV), the Spanish Society of Horticultural Sciences (SECH) and the Italian Society of Phytotherapy (S.I.Fit.) are affiliated with Plants and their members receive a discount on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, PubAg, AGRIS, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Plant Sciences) / CiteScore - Q1 (Plant Science)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 15.3 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
4.5 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.8 (2022)
Latest Articles
Contributions of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Receptors for the Activities of Pectis brevipedunculata Essential Oil against Drosophila suzukii and Pollinator Bees
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101392 (registering DOI) - 17 May 2024
Abstract
The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors play pivotal roles in the transmission of neuronal information in the nervous system of insects, which has led these proteins to be targeted by synthetic and natural products. Here, we assessed the insecticidal potential of the essential oil
[...] Read more.
The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors play pivotal roles in the transmission of neuronal information in the nervous system of insects, which has led these proteins to be targeted by synthetic and natural products. Here, we assessed the insecticidal potential of the essential oil of Pectis brevipedunculata (Gardner) Sch. Bip., a neotropical Asteraceae plant used in traditional medicine, for controlling Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) adults by feeding exposure. By using in silico approaches, we disentangle the contribution of GABA receptors and other potential neuronal targets (e.g., acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferases) in insects that may explain the essential oil differential activities against D. suzukii and two essential pollinator bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus and Partamona helleri Friese). Neral (26.7%) and geranial (33.9%) were the main essential oil components which killed D. suzukii with an estimated median lethal concentration (LC50) of 2.25 µL/mL. Both pollinator forager bee species, which would likely contact this compound in the field, were more tolerant to the essential oil and did not have their diet consumptions affected by the essential oil. Based on the molecular predictions for the three potential targets and the essential oil main components, a higher affinity of interaction with the GABA receptors of D. suzukii (geranial −6.2 kcal/mol; neral −5.8 kcal/mol) in relation to A. mellifera (geranial −5.2 kcal/mol; neral −4.9 kcal/mol) would contribute to explaining the difference in toxicities observed in the bioassays. Collectively, our findings indicated the involvement of GABA receptors in the potential of P. brevipedunculata essential oil as an alternative tool for controlling D. suzukii.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Insect Control: The Potential Impact of Plant Essential Oils)
►
Show Figures
Open AccessArticle
Identification and Functional Verification of the Glycosyltransferase Gene Family Involved in Flavonoid Synthesis in Rubus chingii Hu
by
Yujie Shi, Zhen Chen, Mingkai Shen, Qianfan Li, Shunli Wang, Jingyong Jiang and Wei Zeng
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1390; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101390 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Glycosylation is catalyzed by UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) and plays an important role in enriching the diversity of flavonoids. Rubus plants contain a lot of natural flavonoid glycosides, which are important plants with a homology of medicine and food. However, information about the
[...] Read more.
Glycosylation is catalyzed by UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) and plays an important role in enriching the diversity of flavonoids. Rubus plants contain a lot of natural flavonoid glycosides, which are important plants with a homology of medicine and food. However, information about the Rubus UGT gene family is very limited. In this study, we carried out genome-wide analysis and identified the 172, 121, 130, 121 UGT genes in R. chingii, R. corchorifolius, R. idaeus, and R. occidentalis, respectively, and divided them into 18 groups. The analysis of the protein motif and gene structure showed that there were structural and functional conservations in the same group, but there were differences among different groups. Gene replication analysis showed that raspberry and dicotyledons had a higher homology. The expansion of the UGTs gene family was mainly driven by tandem replication events, and experienced purified selection during the long evolution of the raspberry. Cis-acting element analysis showed that they were related to plant growth and development, hormone regulation, and stress response. In addition, according to a comprehensive analysis of the co-expression network constructed by transcriptome data and phylogenetic homology, RchUGT169 was identified as a flavonoid glucosyltransferase. Through the transient expression in tobacco, it was verified that RchUGT169 could catalyze the conversion of kaempferol and quercetin to the corresponding flavonoid glycosides. In conclusion, this research enriched the understanding of the diversity of UGTs in Rubus and determined that RcUGT169 can catalyze flavonoids.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive and Functional Compounds in Plant Fruits, Flowers and Seeds: Biosynthesis and Regulation)
Open AccessArticle
Ascent and Attachment in Pea Plants: A Matter of Iteration
by
Silvia Guerra, Giovanni Bruno, Andrea Spoto, Anna Panzeri, Qiuran Wang, Bianca Bonato, Valentina Simonetti and Umberto Castiello
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1389; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101389 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) can perceive the presence of potential supports in the environment and flexibly adapt their behavior to clasp them. How pea plants control and perfect this behavior during growth remains unexplored. Here, we attempt to fill this gap
[...] Read more.
Pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) can perceive the presence of potential supports in the environment and flexibly adapt their behavior to clasp them. How pea plants control and perfect this behavior during growth remains unexplored. Here, we attempt to fill this gap by studying the movement of the apex and the tendrils at different leaves using three-dimensional (3D) kinematical analysis. We hypothesized that plants accumulate information and resources through the circumnutation movements of each leaf. Information generates the kinematical coordinates for the final launch towards the potential support. Results suggest that developing a functional approach to grasp movement may involve an interactive trial and error process based on continuous cross-talk across leaves. This internal communication provides evidence that plants adopt plastic responses in a way that optimally corresponds to support search scenarios.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Behavioral Ecology)
Open AccessArticle
Effect of Rootstock Genotype and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) Species on Early Colonization of Apple
by
Chris Cook, David Huskey, Mark Mazzola and Tracey Somera
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1388; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101388 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
The effect of plant cultivar on the degree of mycorrhization and the benefits mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been documented in many crops. In apple, a wide variety of rootstocks are commercially available; however, it is not clear whether some rootstock
[...] Read more.
The effect of plant cultivar on the degree of mycorrhization and the benefits mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been documented in many crops. In apple, a wide variety of rootstocks are commercially available; however, it is not clear whether some rootstock genotypes are more susceptible to mycorrhization than others and/or whether AMF species identity influences rootstock compatibility. This study addresses these questions by directly testing the ability/efficacy of four different AMF species (Rhizophagus irregularis, Septoglomus deserticola, Claroideoglomus claroideum or Claroideoglomus etunicatum) to colonize a variety of commercially available Geneva apple rootstock genotypes (G.11, G.41, G.210, G.969, and G.890). Briefly, micropropagated plantlets were inoculated with individual species of AMF or were not inoculated. The effects of the rootstock genotype/AMF interaction on mycorrhization, plant growth, and/or leaf nutrient concentrations were assessed. We found that both rootstock genotype and the identity of the AMF are significant sources of variation affecting the percentage of colonization. However, these factors largely operate independently in terms of the extent of root colonization. Among the AMF tested, C. etunicatum and R. irregularis represented the most compatible fungal partners, regardless of apple rootstock genotype. Among the rootstocks tested, semi-dwarfing rootstocks appeared to have an advantage over dwarfing rootstocks in regard to establishing and maintaining associations with AMF. Nutrient uptake and plant growth outcomes were also influenced in a rootstock genotype/AMF species-specific manner. Our findings suggest that matching host genetics with compatible AMF species has the potential to enhance agricultural practices in nursery and orchard systems.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Physiological and Agronomical Response of Coffee to Different Nitrogen Forms with and without Water Stress
by
Victor Hugo Ramirez-Builes, Jürgen Küsters, Ellen Thiele and Juan Carlos Lopez-Ruiz
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1387; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101387 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is the most important nutrient in coffee, with a direct impact on productivity, quality, and sustainability. N uptake by the roots is dominated by ammonium (NH4+) and nitrates (NO3−), along with some organic forms at
[...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) is the most important nutrient in coffee, with a direct impact on productivity, quality, and sustainability. N uptake by the roots is dominated by ammonium (NH4+) and nitrates (NO3−), along with some organic forms at a lower proportion. From the perspective of mineral fertilizer, the most common N sources are urea, ammonium (AM), ammonium nitrates (AN), and nitrates; an appropriate understanding of the right balance between N forms in coffee nutrition would contribute to more sustainable coffee production through the better N management of this important crop. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influences of different NH4-N/NO3-N ratios in coffee from a physiological and agronomical perspective, and their interaction with soil water levels. Over a period of 5 years, three trials were conducted under controlled conditions in a greenhouse with different growing media (quartz sand) and organic soil, with and without water stress, while one trial was conducted under field conditions. N forms and water levels directly influence physiological responses in coffee, including photosynthesis (Ps), chlorophyll content, dry biomass accumulation (DW), nutrient uptake, and productivity. In all of the trials, the plants group in soils with N ratios of 50% NH4-N/50% NO3-N, and 25% NH4-N/75% NO3-N showed better responses to water stress, as well as a higher Ps, a higher chlorophyll content, a higher N and cation uptake, higher DW accumulation, and higher productivity. The soil pH was significantly influenced by the N forms: the higher the NO3−-N share, the lower the acidification level. The results allow us to conclude that the combination of 50% NH4-N/50% NO3-N and 25% NH4-N/75% NO3-N N forms in coffee improves the resistance capacity of the coffee to water stress, improves productivity, reduces the soil acidification level, and improves ion balance and nutrient uptake.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nitrogen in Plant Growth and Development)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
RsRbohD1 Plays a Significant Role in ROS Production during Radish Pithiness Development
by
Qiong Gong, Chaonan Wang, Weiqiang Fan, Shuiling Li, Hong Zhang, Zhiyin Huang, Xiaohui Liu, Ziyun Ma, Yong Wang and Bin Zhang
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101386 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Pithiness is one of the physiological diseases of radishes, which is accompanied by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the sponging of parenchyma tissue in the fleshy roots. A respiratory burst oxidase homolog (Rboh, also known as NADPH oxidase) is a
[...] Read more.
Pithiness is one of the physiological diseases of radishes, which is accompanied by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the sponging of parenchyma tissue in the fleshy roots. A respiratory burst oxidase homolog (Rboh, also known as NADPH oxidase) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the production of ROS in plants. To understand the role of Rboh genes in radish pithiness, herein, 10 RsRboh gene families were identified in the genome of Raphanus sativus using Blastp and Hmmer searching methods and were subjected to basic functional analyses such as phylogenetic tree construction, chromosomal localization, conserved structural domain analysis, and promoter element prediction. The expression profiles of RsRbohs in five stages (Pithiness grade = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively) of radish pithiness were analyzed. The results showed that 10 RsRbohs expressed different levels during the development of radish pithiness. Except for RsRbohB and RsRbohE, the expression of other members increased and reached the peak at the P2 (Pithiness grade = 2) stage, among which RsRbohD1 showed the highest transcripts. Then, the expression of 40 genes related to RsRbohD1 and pithiness were analyzed. These results can provide a theoretical basis for improving pithiness tolerance in radishes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Growth and Development of Vegetable Crops)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Bulk Segregant Analysis Sequencing and RNA-Seq Analyses Reveal Candidate Genes Associated with Sepal Color Phenotype of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)
by
Benqi Wang, Xia Chen, Shuping Huang, Jie Tan, Hongyuan Zhang, Junliang Wang, Rong Chen and Min Zhang
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101385 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Eggplant is a highly significant vegetable crop and extensively cultivated worldwide. Sepal color is considered one of the major commercial traits of eggplant. Eggplant sepals develop from petals, and sepals have the ability to change color by accumulating anthocyanins, but whether the eggplants
[...] Read more.
Eggplant is a highly significant vegetable crop and extensively cultivated worldwide. Sepal color is considered one of the major commercial traits of eggplant. Eggplant sepals develop from petals, and sepals have the ability to change color by accumulating anthocyanins, but whether the eggplants in sepal and their biosynthetic pathways are the same as those in petals is not known. To date, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of sepal color formation. In this study, we performed bulked segregant analysis and transcriptome sequencing using eggplant sepals and obtained 1,452,898 SNPs and 182,543 InDel markers, respectively, as well as 123.65 Gb of clean data using transcriptome sequencing. Through marker screening, the genes regulating eggplant sepals were localized to an interval of 2.6 cM on chromosome 10 by bulked segregant analysis sequencing and transcriptome sequencing and co-analysis, combined with screening of molecular markers by capillary electrophoresis. Eight possible candidate genes were then screened to further interpret the regulatory incentives for the eggplant sepal color.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Modeling Nitrogen Fate and Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiencies under Different Greenhouse Vegetable Production Systems Using the WHCNS-Veg Model
by
Hongyuan Zhang, William D. Batchelor, Kelin Hu, Hui Han and Ji Li
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1384; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101384 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Quantitative evaluation of the effects of diverse greenhouse vegetable production systems (GVPS) on vegetable yield, soil water consumption, and nitrogen (N) fates could provide a scientific basis for identifying optimum water and fertilizer management practices for GVPS. This research was conducted from 2013
[...] Read more.
Quantitative evaluation of the effects of diverse greenhouse vegetable production systems (GVPS) on vegetable yield, soil water consumption, and nitrogen (N) fates could provide a scientific basis for identifying optimum water and fertilizer management practices for GVPS. This research was conducted from 2013 to 2015 in a greenhouse vegetable field in Quzhou County, North China. Three production systems were designed: conventional (CON), integrated (INT), and organic (ORG) systems. The WHCNS-Veg model was employed for simulating vegetable growth, water dynamics, and fates of N, as well as water and N use efficiencies (WUE and NUE) for four continuous growing seasons. The simulation results revealed that nitrate leaching and gaseous N emissions constituted the predominant N loss within GVPS, which separately accounted for 11.5–59.4% and 6.0–21.1% of the N outputs. The order of vegetable yield, N uptake, WUE, and NUE under different production systems was ORG > INT > CON, while the order of nitrate leaching and gaseous N loss was CON > INT > ORG. Compared to CON, ORG exhibited a significant increase in yield, N uptake, WUE, and NUE by 24.6%, 24.2%, 26.1%, and 89.7%, respectively, alongside notable reductions in nitrate leaching and gaseous N loss by 67.7% and 63.2%, respectively. The ORG system should be recommended to local farmers.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water and Nitrogen Management in Soil-Crop System II)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Octoploids Show Enhanced Salt Tolerance through Chromosome Doubling in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)
by
Jiali Ye, Yupu Fan, Hui Zhang, Wenjun Teng, Ke Teng, Juying Wu, Xifeng Fan, Shiwen Wang and Yuesen Yue
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101383 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Polyploid plants often exhibit enhanced stress tolerance. Switchgrass is a perennial rhizomatous bunchgrass that is considered ideal for cultivation in marginal lands, including sites with saline soil. In this study, we investigated the physiological responses and transcriptome changes in the octoploid and tetraploid
[...] Read more.
Polyploid plants often exhibit enhanced stress tolerance. Switchgrass is a perennial rhizomatous bunchgrass that is considered ideal for cultivation in marginal lands, including sites with saline soil. In this study, we investigated the physiological responses and transcriptome changes in the octoploid and tetraploid of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. ‘Alamo’) under salt stress. We found that autoploid 8× switchgrass had enhanced salt tolerance compared with the amphidiploid 4× precursor, as indicated by physiological and phenotypic traits. Octoploids had increased salt tolerance by significant changes to the osmoregulatory and antioxidant systems. The salt-treated 8× Alamo plants showed greater potassium (K+) accumulation and an increase in the K+/Na+ ratio. Root transcriptome analysis for octoploid and tetraploid plants with or without salt stress revealed that 302 upregulated and 546 downregulated differentially expressed genes were enriched in genes involved in plant hormone signal transduction pathways and were specifically associated with the auxin, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and ethylene pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) detected four significant salt stress-related modules. This study explored the changes in the osmoregulatory system, inorganic ions, antioxidant enzyme system, and the root transcriptome in response to salt stress in 8× and 4× Alamo switchgrass. The results enhance knowledge of the salt tolerance of artificially induced homologous polyploid plants and provide experimental and sequencing data to aid research on the short-term adaptability and breeding of salt-tolerant biofuel plants.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism of Drought and Salinity Tolerance in Crops)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Isolation of a Marker Olean-12-en-28-butanol Derivative from Viscum continuum E. Mey. Ex Sprague and the Evaluation of Its Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials
by
Sipho Mapfumari, Buang Matseke and Kokoette Bassey
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1382; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101382 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Viscum continuum E. Mey. Ex Sprague (Mistletoe) is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on the branches of other trees with reported numerous biological activities. This study was aimed at isolating a compound/s that will be used as a standard reference for quality control
[...] Read more.
Viscum continuum E. Mey. Ex Sprague (Mistletoe) is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on the branches of other trees with reported numerous biological activities. This study was aimed at isolating a compound/s that will be used as a standard reference for quality control of South African-based commercialized mistletoe products and to further perform antioxidant and antimicrobial tests on the isolated compound. A dried sample of mistletoe was ground and extracted successively with hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), acetone and methanol using a serial exhaustive cold maceration procedure. The compound was isolated using column chromatography, and its chemical structure was elucidated using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The antioxidant activity of the compound was determined using DPPH, hydrogen radical scavenging activity and reducing power assays, whereas antimicrobial activity was assessed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Subjection of the DCM extract to column chromatography resulted in the isolation of a compound elucidated as olean-12-en-28-butanol-1-one, 3-hydroxy-4,4,10, 14, 20-pentamethyl (D4). Both the DPPH, H2O2 radical scavenging activity and reducing power assays revealed a significant antioxidant potential of compound D4 with an IC50 of 0.701 mg/mL, lower than that of gallic acid (0.793 mg/mL) for the H2O2 radical scavenging assay. The results also indicated good antibacterial activity of D4 with an IC50 of 0.25 mg/mL, compared to ciprofloxacin with an IC50 of 0.0039 mg/mL, against two Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and three Gram-positive (Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. This study is the first to report on the isolation of the olean-12-en-28-butanol derivative from mistletoe of the South African ecotype.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts—Volume II)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Using Age-Stage Two-Sex Life Tables to Assess the Suitability of Three Solanaceous Host Plants for the Invasive Cotton Mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley
by
Khaled Abbes, Ahlem Harbi, Emilio Guerrieri and Brahim Chermiti
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1381; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101381 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), the cotton mealybug, is an invasive polyphagous species that has been extending its geographic range, posing a conspicuous threat to many Mediterranean crops of economic importance. These include three species of Solanaceae, namely Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato),
[...] Read more.
Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), the cotton mealybug, is an invasive polyphagous species that has been extending its geographic range, posing a conspicuous threat to many Mediterranean crops of economic importance. These include three species of Solanaceae, namely Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato), Solanum tuberosum L. (potato) and Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) all of which are economically important worldwide. In this study, we used age-stage two-sex life tables to investigate the suitability of these three plant species as hosts for P. solenopsis and to calculate pestfitness, life history parameters and population projection parameters. All tested host plants that were suitable for the pest and eggplant host plant induced a higher fecundity (276.50 ± 10.78 eggs/female), net reproductive rate (R0) (243.32 ± 15.83 offspring/female) and finite rate of increase (λ) (1.18 ± 0.0043 day−1) and more extended adult longevity (males: 6.50 ± 0.34 day and females: 24.15 ± 0.50 days). Population growth predictions over a period of 90 days of infestation, commencing with an initial population of 10 eggs showed that adult population size was 674,551 on tomato, 826,717 on potato and 355,139 on eggplant. Our data on plant host preference of P. solenopsis will aid the development of appropriate management strategies and achieve successful control of this invasive pest in key Mediterranean crop systems.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Insect Interactions II)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Unlocking the Potential of Pepper Plants under Salt Stress: Mycorrhizal Effects on Physiological Parameters Related to Plant Growth and Gas Exchange across Tolerant and Sensitive Genotypes
by
Ozlem Altuntas, Hayriye Yildiz Dasgan, Yelderem Akhoundnejad and Yahya Nas
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101380 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Agriculture is confronted with the challenge of ensuring global food security, yet the rapid expansion of salinity stress undoubtedly restricts plant productivity in cultivable areas, posing a significant threat to crop yields. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) have emerged as a biological tool for
[...] Read more.
Agriculture is confronted with the challenge of ensuring global food security, yet the rapid expansion of salinity stress undoubtedly restricts plant productivity in cultivable areas, posing a significant threat to crop yields. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) have emerged as a biological tool for enhancing plant salt stress tolerance. To utilize this biological tool, this study evaluated the response in growth and physiological parameters of tolerant (Karaisali) and sensitive (Demre) pepper genotypes. The experiment involved mycorrhizal-treated (Glomus clarium) and non-mycorrhizal (control) plants of both the tolerant and sensitive pepper genotypes. The plants were subjected to two salt doses: 75 and 150 mM. The plant growth and physiological parameters were measured at 40 days after transplanting. The mycorrhizal activity was found to be significantly more effective in the sensitive genotype. We found notable differences in mycorrhizal activity between the pepper genotypes under salt stress conditions, with the sensitive genotype “Demre” showing greater responsiveness to mycorrhizal association compared with the “Karaisali” variety. Under both moderate (75 mM NaCl) and higher salt stress levels (150 mM NaCl), both the “Karaisali” and “Demre” varieties exhibited substantial increases in their shoot dry weights. However, these increases were consistently higher in the “Demre” plants. Moreover, the AMFs demonstrated significant enhancements in photosynthesis rates under both moderate and high salinity levels in both genotypes. Overall, our findings suggest that AMFs play a crucial role in improving plant growth, water status, and photosynthesis characteristics, particularly in salt-sensitive pepper genotypes, under moderate-to-high salinity levels. In conclusion, the plant growth, water status, and photosynthesis characteristics of the salt-sensitive pepper genotype were significantly improved by AMFs at medium and high salinity levels, such as 75 mM and 150 mM NaCl, respectively.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulants in Sustainable Horticulture and Agriculture: Development, Function, and Applications)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Ethnomedicinal Plants and Herbal Preparations Used by Rural Communities in Tehsil Hajira (Poonch District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan)
by
Tahira Jabeen, Muhammad Shoaib Amjad, Khalid Ahmad, Rainer W. Bussmann, Huma Qureshi and Ivana Vitasović-Kosić
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1379; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101379 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The present study emphasizes the importance of documenting ethnomedicinal plants and herbal practices of the local rural communities of Tehsil Hajira (Pakistan). The aim was to document, explore and quantify the traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed
[...] Read more.
The present study emphasizes the importance of documenting ethnomedicinal plants and herbal practices of the local rural communities of Tehsil Hajira (Pakistan). The aim was to document, explore and quantify the traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using various quantitative indices. The results showed that 144 medicinal plant species from 70 families and 128 genera play an important role in herbal preparations. The most common type of preparation was powder (19.0%), followed by paste (16.7%), aqueous extract (15.7%), decoction (14.7%) and juice (11.0%). Fragaria nubicola (0.94) and Viola canescens (0.93) had the highest relative frequency of mention (RFC), while Berberis lycium (1.22) and Fragaria nubicola (1.18) had the highest use value (UV). Geranium wallichianum (85.5), Ligustrum lucidum (83) and Indigofera heterantha (71.5) were the most important species in the study area with the highest relative importance (RI) value. The diseases treated were categorized into 17 classes, with diseases of the digestive system and liver having the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) value, followed by diseases of the oropharynx and musculoskeletal system. Important plants mentioned for the treatment of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are Zanthoxylum alatum, Berberis lycium, Mentha longifolia, Punica granatum, Rubus ellipticus and Viola canescens. New applications of rarely documented plants from this area are: Oxalis corniculata paste of the whole plant to treat vitiligo, Carthamus tinctorius flowers to treat chicken pox, Dioscorea deltoidea tuber powder to treat productive cough, Inula cappa root decoction to treat miscarriage, Habenaria digitata tuber juice for the treatment of fever, Viola canescens leaves and flowers for the treatment of sore throat and Achillea millefolium root and leaf juice for the treatment of pneumonia. These plants may contain interesting biochemical compounds and should be subjected to further pharmacological studies to develop new drugs. Traditional medicinal knowledge in the area under study is mainly limited to the elderly, traditional healers and midwives. Therefore, resource conservation strategies and future pharmacological studies are strongly recommended.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Ethnobotany and Ethnoecology)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Aeration Alleviated the Adverse Effects of Nitrogen Topdressing Reduction on Tomato Root Vigor, Photosynthetic Performance, and Fruit Development
by
Jingang Li, Pingru He, Qiu Jin, Jing Chen, Dan Chen, Xiaoping Dai, Siyu Ding and Linlin Chu
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1378; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101378 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
To explore the compensation effect of aeration on tomato vegetative and reproductive growth in arid and semi-arid areas, a two-year field experiment was conducted with four micro-nano aeration ratios (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) and three nitrogen topdressing levels (80, 60, and 40
[...] Read more.
To explore the compensation effect of aeration on tomato vegetative and reproductive growth in arid and semi-arid areas, a two-year field experiment was conducted with four micro-nano aeration ratios (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) and three nitrogen topdressing levels (80, 60, and 40 kg·ha−1) during the tomato growth period in Ningxia, China. The results showed that increasing the aeration ratio in the range of 0–15% was conducive to the enhancement of tomato root vigor (the ability of triphenyltetrazolium chloride to be reduced, 3–104%) and the leaf net photosynthetic rate (14–63%), favorable to the facilitation of plant dry matter accumulation (3–59%) and plant nitrogen accumulation (2–70%), and beneficial to the improvement of tomato yield (12–44%) and fruit quality. Interestingly, since the aeration ratio exceeded 10%, the increase in the aeration ratio showed no significant effects on the single-fruit weight, tomato yield, and fruit quality. Moreover, with aerated underground drip irrigation, properly reducing the traditional nitrogen topdressing level (80 kg·ha−1) by 25% was favorable for enhancing tomato root vigor (5–31%), increasing tomato yield (0.5–9%), and improving fruit soluble solid accumulation (2–5%) and soluble sugar formation (4–9%). Importantly, increasing the aeration ratio by 5% could compensate for the adverse effects of reducing the nitrogen topdressing level by 25% by improving the leaf photosynthetic rate, promoting plant dry matter accumulation, increasing tomato yield, and enhancing the soluble solid and soluble sugar accumulation in tomato fruits. Synthetically considering the decrease in the nitrogen topdressing amount, leading to plant growth promotion, a tomato yield increase, and fruit quality improvement, a favorable nitrogen topdressing level of 60 kg·ha−1 and the corresponding proper aeration ratio of 10% were suggested for tomato underground drip irrigation in the Yinbei Irrigation District of Ningxia.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management and Efficient Utilization of Water and Fertilizer in Field Crops II)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Detection Model of Tea Disease Severity under Low Light Intensity Based on YOLOv8 and EnlightenGAN
by
Rong Ye, Guoqi Shao, Ziyi Yang, Yuchen Sun, Quan Gao and Tong Li
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1377; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101377 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
In response to the challenge of low recognition rates for similar phenotypic symptoms of tea diseases in low-light environments and the difficulty in detecting small lesions, a novel adaptive method for tea disease severity detection is proposed. This method integrates an image enhancement
[...] Read more.
In response to the challenge of low recognition rates for similar phenotypic symptoms of tea diseases in low-light environments and the difficulty in detecting small lesions, a novel adaptive method for tea disease severity detection is proposed. This method integrates an image enhancement algorithm based on an improved EnlightenGAN network and an enhanced version of YOLO v8. The approach involves first enhancing the EnlightenGAN network through non-paired training on low-light-intensity images of various tea diseases, guiding the generation of high-quality disease images. This step aims to expand the dataset and improve lesion characteristics and texture details in low-light conditions. Subsequently, the YOLO v8 network incorporates ResNet50 as its backbone, integrating channel and spatial attention modules to extract key features from disease feature maps effectively. The introduction of adaptive spatial feature fusion in the Neck part of the YOLOv8 module further enhances detection accuracy, particularly for small disease targets in complex backgrounds. Additionally, the model architecture is optimized by replacing traditional Conv blocks with ODConv blocks and introducing a new ODC2f block to reduce parameters, improve performance, and switch the loss function from CIOU to EIOU for a faster and more accurate recognition of small targets. Experimental results demonstrate that YOLOv8-ASFF achieves a tea disease detection accuracy of 87.47% and a mean average precision (mAP) of 95.26%. These results show a 2.47 percentage point improvement over YOLOv8, and a significant lead of 9.11, 9.55, and 7.08 percentage points over CornerNet, SSD, YOLOv5, and other models, respectively. The ability to swiftly and accurately detect tea diseases can offer robust theoretical support for assessing tea disease severity and managing tea growth. Moreover, its compatibility with edge computing devices and practical application in agriculture further enhance its value.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant Pathology and Disease Management)
Open AccessArticle
Obtaining and Characterization of an Interspecific Hybrid between Lilium callosum and ‘Snow Queen’ and Evaluation of the Botrytis Stress Response
by
Yongyao Fu, Shulin Lu, Chengchen Liu, Chaojun Ding, Xiaoyu Wang, Xinrong Li, Sijia Jiang and Liping Yang
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1376; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101376 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
To cultivate excellent lily germplasms, an interspecific hybrid (LC×SQ-01) was successfully obtained by using a cut-style pollination method in which the rare wild lily Lilium callosum was used as the female parent and the cut flower L. longiflorum ‘Snow Queen’ was used as
[...] Read more.
To cultivate excellent lily germplasms, an interspecific hybrid (LC×SQ-01) was successfully obtained by using a cut-style pollination method in which the rare wild lily Lilium callosum was used as the female parent and the cut flower L. longiflorum ‘Snow Queen’ was used as the male parent. The morphological features of LC×SQ-01 included height, leaf length, and width, which were observed to be between those of the parents in the tissue-cultured seedlings. The height and leaf length of LC×SQ-01 were more similar to those of the male parent, and the width was between the widths of the parents for field-generated plants. The epidermal cell length and the guard cell and stoma sizes were between those of both parents in tissue-cultured and field-generated plants. In addition, the shapes of the epidermal cells and anticlinal wall in LC×SQ-01 were more analogous to those in the male parent, while the stoma morphology was different from that of both parents. Fourteen pairs of polymorphic SSR primers were identified in both parents, and the validity of LC×SQ-01 was demonstrated by PCR amplification using five pairs of SSR primers. Flow cytometry and root tip squashing assays revealed that LC×SQ-01 was a diploid plant, similar to its parents. Furthermore, the LC×SQ-01 hybrid was more resistant to B. cinerea than its parents, and it also showed much greater peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity than the parents. These results lay a foundation for breeding a new high-resistance and ornamental lily variety.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flower Germplasm Resource and Genetic Breeding)
Open AccessReview
Exploring Chemical Variability in the Essential Oils of the Thymus Genus
by
Karim Etri and Zsuzsanna Pluhár
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1375; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101375 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Thyme remains an indispensable herb today, finding its place in gastronomy, medicine, cosmetics, and gardens worldwide. It is highly valued in herbal remedies and pharmaceutical formulations for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties derived from the richness of its essential oil, which comprises
[...] Read more.
Thyme remains an indispensable herb today, finding its place in gastronomy, medicine, cosmetics, and gardens worldwide. It is highly valued in herbal remedies and pharmaceutical formulations for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties derived from the richness of its essential oil, which comprises various volatile components. However, climate change poses a significant challenge today, potentially affecting the quality of thyme, particularly the extracted essential oil, along with other factors such as biotic influences and the plant’s geographical distribution. Consequently, complex diversity in essential oil composition was observed, also influenced by genetic diversity within the same species, resulting in distinct chemotypes. Other factors contributing to this chemodiversity include the chosen agrotechnology and processing methods of thyme, the extraction of the essential oil, and storage conditions. In this review, we provide the latest findings on the factors contributing to the chemovariability of thyme essential oil.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Active Compounds in Horticultural Plants)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Assessment of Anticancer Properties of Argemone mexicana L. and Berberine: A Comparative Study
by
Joel H. Elizondo-Luevano, Ramiro Quintanilla-Licea, Imelda N. Monroy-García, Miroslava Kačániová, Uziel Castillo-Velázquez, Aldo F. Bazaldúa-Rodríguez, Lourdes M. Garza-Vega, Ángel D. Torres-Hernández and Abelardo Chávez-Montes
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101374 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Argemone mexicana L. has been used in traditional Mexican medicine. Among its bioactive constituents, berberine (BER) has garnered attention for its cytotoxic properties against different tumor cell lines. This study investigates the in vitro toxicity against HEP-G2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and murine lymphoma
[...] Read more.
Argemone mexicana L. has been used in traditional Mexican medicine. Among its bioactive constituents, berberine (BER) has garnered attention for its cytotoxic properties against different tumor cell lines. This study investigates the in vitro toxicity against HEP-G2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and murine lymphoma (L5178Y-R) cells using the MTT assay of the methanol extract (AmexM), sub-partitions of A. mexicana, and BER. Selectivity indices (SIs) were determined by comparing their cytotoxic effects on VERO (monkey kidney epithelial) and PBMC (human peripheral blood mononuclear) non-tumoral cells. Additionally, the anti-hemolytic effect of these treatments was assessed using the AAPH method. The treatment with the most promising activity against tumor cells and anti-hemolytic efficacy underwent further evaluation for toxicity in Artemia salina and antioxidant activities using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. BER demonstrated an IC50 = 56.86 µg/mL in HEP-G2 cells and IC50 < 5.0 µg/mL in L5178Y-R cells, with SI values of 15.97 and >5.40 in VERO and PBMC cells, respectively. No significant hemolytic effects were observed, although AmexM and BER exhibited the highest anti-hemolytic activity. BER also demonstrated superior antioxidant efficacy, with lower toxicity in A. salina nauplii compared to the control. Additionally, BER significantly attenuated nitric oxide production. This study highlights the antiproliferative effects of A. mexicana, particularly BER, against HEP-G2 and L5178Y-R tumor cell lines, along with its selectivity towards normal cells. Furthermore, its anti-hemolytic and antioxidant potentials were demonstrated, suggesting that BER is a promising candidate for potent chemotherapeutic agents.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activity, Phytochemical Prospective and Bioefficiency of Plant Species)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Bx Involved in Benzoxazinoids Biosynthesis Revealed the Roles of DIMBOA during Early Somatic Embryogenesis in Dimocarpus longan Lour
by
Xiaoqiong Xu, Chunyu Zhang, Chunwang Lai, Zhilin Zhang, Jiajia Wu, Qun Su, Yu Gan, Zihao Zhang, Yukun Chen, Rongfang Guo, Yuling Lin and Zhongxiong Lai
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1373; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101373 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are tryptophan-derived indole metabolites and play a role in various physiological processes, such as auxin metabolism. Auxin is essential in the process of somatic embryogenesis (SE) in plants. In this study, we used bioinformatics, transcriptome data, exogenous treatment experiments, and qPCR
[...] Read more.
Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are tryptophan-derived indole metabolites and play a role in various physiological processes, such as auxin metabolism. Auxin is essential in the process of somatic embryogenesis (SE) in plants. In this study, we used bioinformatics, transcriptome data, exogenous treatment experiments, and qPCR analysis to study the evolutionary pattern of Bx genes in green plants, the regulatory mechanism of DlBx genes during early SE, and the effect of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazine-3-one (DIMBOA) on the early SE in Dimocarpus longan Lour. The results showed that 27 putative DlBxs were identified in the longan genome; the Bx genes evolved independently in monocots and dicots, and the main way of gene duplication for the DlBx was tandem duplication (TD) and the DlBx were strongly constrained by purification selection during evolution. The transcriptome data indicated varying expression levels of DlBx during longan early SE, and most DlBxs responded to light, temperature, drought stress, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) treatment; qRT-PCR results showed DlBx1, DlBx6g and DlBx6h were responsive to auxin, and treatment with 0.1mg/L DIMBOA for 9 days significantly upregulated the expression levels of DlBx1, DlBx3g, DlBx6c, DlBx6f, DlB6h, DlBx7d, DlBx8, and DlBx9b. The correlation analysis showed a significantly negative correlation between the expression level of DlBx1 and the endogenous IAA contents; DIMBOA significantly promoted the early SE and significantly changed the endogenous IAA content, and the IAA content increased significantly at the 9th day and decreased significantly at the 13th day. Therefore, the results suggested that DIMBOA indirectly promote the early SE by changing the endogenous IAA content via affecting the expression level of DlBx1 and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content in longan.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics in Modern Plant Science)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Comprehensive Assessment of the Effect of Multi-Cropping on Agroecosystems
by
Jovita Balandaitė, Kęstutis Romaneckas, Rasa Kimbirauskienė and Aušra Sinkevičienė
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101372 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Multi-cropping is becoming an increasingly popular technique in agriculture to tackle major and complex agroecosystem problems such as biodiversity and soil fertility loss, erosion and degradation, increased greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Comprehensively assessing the impact of multi-cropping intensity on agroecosystems is a new
[...] Read more.
Multi-cropping is becoming an increasingly popular technique in agriculture to tackle major and complex agroecosystem problems such as biodiversity and soil fertility loss, erosion and degradation, increased greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Comprehensively assessing the impact of multi-cropping intensity on agroecosystems is a new and still under-researched approach that can provide a better understanding of the impact of individual indicators on the overall functioning of biodiverse agroecosystems. Data from a stationary field experiment using multi-cropping at the Vytautas Magnus University Experimental Station between 2020 and 2022 were used to carry out this study. The study included maize, hemp, and faba bean as single, binary, and ternary crops. A complex assessment approach (CEI value) was used to determine the impact of these crops on the agroecosystem, the interrelationships between the main indicators, and the strength of their effects. It was found that the ternary maize–hemp–faba bean crop had the most positive effect on the agroecosystem. The effectiveness of other crops was 2 to 35% less. The lowest value was calculated for the maize–faba bean crop.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Mechanisms for Crop Development, Productivity and Quality Promotion)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Journal Menu
► ▼ Journal Menu-
- Plants Home
- Aims & Scope
- Editorial Board
- Reviewer Board
- Topical Advisory Panel
- Instructions for Authors
- Special Issues
- Topics
- Sections & Collections
- Article Processing Charge
- Indexing & Archiving
- Editor’s Choice Articles
- Most Cited & Viewed
- Journal Statistics
- Journal History
- Journal Awards
- Society Collaborations
- Conferences
- Editorial Office
Journal Browser
► ▼ Journal BrowserHighly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Topic in
Agronomy, Beverages, Fermentation, Horticulturae, Plants
Grapevine Facing Climate Change: From Land, through Plants to Grapes and Wine
Topic Editors: Othmane Merah, Ana Fernandes De Oliveira, Daniela Satta, Mario Cunha, Jesus Yuste, Jalloul BouajilaDeadline: 30 June 2024
Topic in
Agronomy, Diversity, Forests, IJPB, Plants
Plant Invasion
Topic Editors: Bruce Osborne, Panayiotis G. DimitrakopoulosDeadline: 31 July 2024
Topic in
Agriculture, Agronomy, Microorganisms, Plants, Soil Systems, Nitrogen
Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Agro-Ecosystems and Other Anthropogenically Maintained Ecosystems
Topic Editors: Jie Li, Adnan Mustafa, Jan FrouzDeadline: 30 September 2024
Topic in
Agronomy, Crops, Plants
Abiotic Stress Responses in Wheat: Perspectives on Productivity and Sustainability
Topic Editors: Wenshan Guo, Jinfeng Ding, Min ZhuDeadline: 31 October 2024
Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Plants
Traditional Cultivars as a Genetic Source of Stress Tolerance and Quality Enhancement
Guest Editors: Marija Viljevac Vuletić, Ines MihaljevićDeadline: 25 May 2024
Special Issue in
Plants
Diagnosis and Control of Plant Bacterial Diseases
Guest Editor: Joel L. VannesteDeadline: 31 May 2024
Special Issue in
Plants
Microscopy Techniques in Plant Studies
Guest Editors: Emilio de Castro Miguel, Maura Da Cunha, Thaiz Batista Azevedo Rangel MiguelDeadline: 20 June 2024
Special Issue in
Plants
In Vitro Morphogenesis of Plants
Guest Editor: Praveen K. SaxenaDeadline: 30 June 2024
Topical Collections
Topical Collection in
Plants
Advances in Plant Diversification and Biosystematics
Collection Editors: Yang Liu, Ângela Sartori
Topical Collection in
Plants
New Trends in Plant Science in Italy
Collection Editors: Claudio Moser, Massimo Galbiati
Topical Collection in
Plants
New Trends in Plant Science in China
Collection Editors: Ming Chen, Dijun Chen, Xianwen Meng
Topical Collection in
Plants
Essential Oils of Plants (Chemical Composition, Variation and Properties)
Collection Editors: Jésus Palá-Pául, Joe Brophy