Plants

11 pages, 1522 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is Moss Still a Reliable Biomonitor of Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition After Decades of Emissions Reductions?

by Mehriban Jafarova, Julian Aherne, Monia Renzi, Serena Anselmi, Inga Zinicovscaia, Nikita Yushin, Ilaria Bonini and Stefano Loppi

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071114 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Mosses are widely used as biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition due to their broad distribution, ease of sampling, and capacity to trap and accumulate atmospheric particles. However, since 2000, S emissions have decreased by more than 80% across Europe, [...] Read more.

Mosses are widely used as biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition due to their broad distribution, ease of sampling, and capacity to trap and accumulate atmospheric particles. However, since 2000, S emissions have decreased by more than 80% across Europe, and N oxides by 40–50%. This study evaluated whether moss remains effective for monitoring atmospheric N and S deposition after decades of emission reductions. This assessment was conducted at 33 rural sites in Tuscany, Central Italy, a region characterized by relatively low levels of N and S deposition. The content of N and S in moss were compared with the air concentrations (gases and particles) and wet and dry deposition of N and S from the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) model and an air pollution index derived from trace element concentrations. The average N content of moss (1.15 ± 0.42%) was an order of magnitude greater than that of S (0.11 ± 0.02%), reflecting the dominance of N deposition. Nevertheless, N and S in moss were strongly correlated (r_s = 0.55), suggesting shared sources. Further, N showed a strong correlation with the dry deposition of oxidized N (r_s = 0.53), while S was strongly correlated with the wet deposition of S oxides (r_s = 0.53) and magnetic susceptibility (r_s = 0.69). Overall, our findings confirm that mosses remain effective biomonitors of N and S deposition and can provide reliable spatial and temporal monitoring, especially as the traditional monitoring networks decline. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Plants and Their Use in Biomonitoring and Environmental Protection)

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18 pages, 5820 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Endemic of Kazakhstan Allium lehmannianum Merckl. Ex Bunge and Its Position Within the Genus Allium

by Daulet Sh. Abdildanov, Polina V. Vesselova, Gulmira M. Kudabayeva, Bektemir B. Osmonali, Michail V. Skaptsov and Nikolai Friesen

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1113; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071113 (registering DOI) - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

The paper presents data on the phylogeny, anatomy of vegetative organs, phytocenosis composition, and ploidy of two populations of endemic Allium lehmannianum Merckl. ex-Bunge. in the flora of northeastern Betpakdala. Some discrepancies in nomenclature and sectional affiliation are discussed and corrected. Allium lehmannianum [...] Read more.

The paper presents data on the phylogeny, anatomy of vegetative organs, phytocenosis composition, and ploidy of two populations of endemic Allium lehmannianum Merckl. ex-Bunge. in the flora of northeastern Betpakdala. Some discrepancies in nomenclature and sectional affiliation are discussed and corrected. Allium lehmannianum belongs to the section Multicaulea F. O. Khass. and Enlalych. subgenus Allium, the main range covering the eastern Old Mediterranean region. The ploidy of Allium lehmannianum was studied for the first time using flow cytometry techniques. The sequencing of nrITS was used to construct a phylogenetic tree, including sequences from the NCBI database. The phylogenetic tree of A. lehmannianum was compiled by taking into account previously published data. During the fieldwork in the northeastern part of Betpakdala, the species was found to grow in a rubbly, stony, weakly undulating plain in two different communities. In this work, we applied molecular genetic, cytometric, and anatomical studies on the collected samples of two populations from the northeastern part of the Betpakdala desert to determine the taxonomic composition of a relict and endemic species of Kazakhstan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Diversity and Classification)

16 pages, 1709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical and Physiological Performance of Seeds of Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd.) Kuntz (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) at Different Phases of Maturation

by Olívia Domingues Ribeiro, Reynaldo Azevedo Santos, Mário Augusto Gonçalves Jardim, Jaisielle Kelem França Benjamim, Thiara Luana Mamoré Rodrigues Hirosue, Eloisa Helena de Aguiar Andrade, Mozaniel Santana de Oliveira and Ely Simone Cajueiro Gurgel

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1112; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071112 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Determining the optimal harvest time for Pentaclethra macroloba seeds is essential to preserve germination potential and ensure high-quality oil production, valued in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This study aimed to identify the maturation phase that maximizes seed physiological quality and oil yield. [...] Read more.

Determining the optimal harvest time for Pentaclethra macroloba seeds is essential to preserve germination potential and ensure high-quality oil production, valued in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This study aimed to identify the maturation phase that maximizes seed physiological quality and oil yield. Fruits and seeds were collected from 44 mother plants in Belém and São Domingos do Capim, Brazil, during three final maturation phases: P1 (dark green pericarp, beige seeds), P2 (yellowish-green pericarp, light-brown seeds), and P3 (black pericarp, dark brown seeds). Germination, vigor tests, and gas chromatography analyses revealed that seeds from P3 exhibited the highest vigor (93–99% germination) and oil yield (up to 13.1%). Major fatty acids were oleic (up to 65.23%), linoleic (up to 8.45%), and behenic acids (up to 17.22%). The ripening period ranged from 7 to 8 months, influenced by environmental factors. Optimal seed quality and oil yield are achieved when harvesting occurs before dispersal, targeting fruits with yellowish-green pericarp transitioning to black. Post-harvest drying enhances oil extraction efficiency. These findings support the conservation of P. macroloba through viable seeds and promote economic sustainability by optimizing oil production, benefiting biodiversity and local extractive communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-dispersal Seed Behavior: Dormancy, Germination, Viability, and Mortality)

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16 pages, 2302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Sesquiterpene Lactones from Saussurea lappa: Isolation, Structural Modifications, and Herbicide Bioassay Evaluation

by Elson S. Alvarenga, Francisco A. Macías, Stephani S. Ferreira, Juan C. G. Galindo and José M. G. Molinillo

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1111; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071111 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Considering the resistance of weeds to different herbicides with different mechanisms of action, the search for new, more selective compounds with low toxicity to other species in nature has been very important for the development of agriculture. Because of that, considering the biological [...] Read more.

Considering the resistance of weeds to different herbicides with different mechanisms of action, the search for new, more selective compounds with low toxicity to other species in nature has been very important for the development of agriculture. Because of that, considering the biological activity of allelochemicals and natural epoxides, four new epoxy compounds derived from dehydrocostus lactone were synthetized and evaluated for their potential herbicide activity against three species of seeds, Allium cepa (onion), Lepidium sativum (garden cress), and Lactuca sativa (lettuce). In assays with A. cepa, compound 4 inhibited radicle length by 80% at 100 μM. Notably, for L. sativum, compound 4 showed significant inhibition, reducing stalk and radicle lengths by 80% at 100 μM, surpassing the performance of the commercial herbicide Logran. However, diol 5 notably inhibited radicle growth by 28% at 100 μM, making the most significant observed effect. One of the noteworthy lactones studied is epoxide 4. This highlights the importance of the epoxide functional group in affecting both radicle and shoot lengths of seeds. Therefore, the synthesis of these compounds has proven advantageous and holds great potential for the development of new herbicides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Bioactive Substances Identification, Extraction, and Application)

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26 pages, 4195 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Amendment-Mediated Herbivory Resistance, Crop Improvement, and Phytoremediation in Canola: Physiological Defense Mechanism and Health Risk Assessment

by Muhammad Wajid Javed, Mansoor ul Hasan, Muhammad Sagheer, Asim Abbasi, Mubshar Hussain, Muhammad Arshad, Dilbar Hussain, Raja Adil Sarfaraz, Razia Riaz and Nazih Y. Rebouh

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071110 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

A two-year field study was conducted using canola to check the efficacy of different soil amendment treatments (SAT), i.e., with elemental sulfur (ES), bio-sulfur (BS), and compost (Cp) mixtures against insecticide-treated (Carbosulfan) and untreated controls regarding aphid populations. The results of the experiment [...] Read more.

A two-year field study was conducted using canola to check the efficacy of different soil amendment treatments (SAT), i.e., with elemental sulfur (ES), bio-sulfur (BS), and compost (Cp) mixtures against insecticide-treated (Carbosulfan) and untreated controls regarding aphid populations. The results of the experiment revealed that ES treatments significantly reduced aphid abundance, followed by Cp and ES+Cp. However, BS improved aphid herbivory. The number of siliques, seeds, thousand-seed weight, and yield were improved with a trend of ES+Cp > Cp > BS+Cp. Similarly, physiological mechanisms revealed the regulation of nutrient and phenolic contents in canola with ES improving sulfur, BS nitrogen, Cp, and ES+Cp calcium, and BS+Cp enhancing phosphorus, potassium, iron, and zinc. Furthermore, RP-HPCL indicated that ferulic acid was highest in insecticide-treated plot. Similarly, Cp improved quercetin and gallic acid; ES+Cp caffeic, chlorogenic, m-coumaric, and sinapic acid; and BS+Cp enhances syringic, vanillic, ferulic, p-coumaric, and cinnamic acid. The analysis regarding health risk assessment revealed among different SAT, ES+Cp significantly reduced the Hazardous Quotient (HQ) of Cu and Zn. However, further research is still needed to explore SAT’s potential to remediate other heavy metal stresses with possible implications for pest management in different field crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Plant Protection)

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18 pages, 3041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Aspergillus flavus on Seedling Development in Maize

by Isabella Mazzoleni, Elena Novarina, Yuki Michelangelo Zerlottin, Tommaso Bardelli, Mauro Dal Prà, Mattia Zuffada, Matteo Cremonesi, Luca Antonietti, Romana Bravi, Pier Giacomo Bianchi and Anna Pia Maria Giulini

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1109; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071109 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Plant growth and its interaction with microorganisms change yearly. High temperature and humidity have characterized recent seasons in the north of Italy and around the world, increasing the parasitic ability of Aspergillus flavus to colonize maize kernels and aflatoxin levels. These molecules have [...] Read more.

Plant growth and its interaction with microorganisms change yearly. High temperature and humidity have characterized recent seasons in the north of Italy and around the world, increasing the parasitic ability of Aspergillus flavus to colonize maize kernels and aflatoxin levels. These molecules have the highest acute and chronic toxicity of all mycotoxins; the maximal concentration in agricultural food and feed products, and their commodities, are regulated worldwide. In this study we suggest a simple methodology to test the susceptibility of candidate maize varieties to A. flavus before their release onto the market. A panel of 92 inbred lines and 14 hybrids were analysed, disease phenotypes were scored on artificially inoculated kernels using a rolled towel assay, and therefore we observed different responses to fungal infection on the kernels, outlining a high variability among the tested lines characterized by a different effect of the pathogen on seedling development. Even the hybrids responded differently on a statistical basis to A. flavus with regard to the development of coleoptile, allowing their categorization into classes of susceptibility to be used for the varietal registration. Interestingly, the hybrid 6a-A was less susceptible to A. flavus compared to its reciprocal in terms of the length of the coleoptile. The comparison of breeding lines released on the market in different years suggested a poor improvement in genetic resistance against A. flavus in maize so far, opening up a possible topic for future research aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change on agriculture. Full article

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27 pages, 15201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptional Dynamics Underlying Somatic Embryogenesis in Coffea canephora

by Marcos-David Couoh-Cauich, Hugo A. Méndez-Hernández, Rosa M. Galaz-Ávalos, Ana Odetth Quintana-Escobar, Enrique Ibarra-Laclette and Víctor M. Loyola-Vargas

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071108 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

In Coffea canephora, a direct somatic embryogenesis (SE) protocol has been established by pretreating plants with NAA and kinetin, followed by the induction of leaf explants in a liquid medium with BA. Through a transcriptomic analysis of 10 key moments of the [...] Read more.

In Coffea canephora, a direct somatic embryogenesis (SE) protocol has been established by pretreating plants with NAA and kinetin, followed by the induction of leaf explants in a liquid medium with BA. Through a transcriptomic analysis of 10 key moments of the induction of SE in C. canephora, we were able to establish that the transcriptional responses of this process are divided into four stages. These stages correspond to the pretreatment, characterized by the positive regulation of genes associated with cell wall remodeling, flavonoid biosynthesis, and antioxidant activity that prepare the explants for the intense cellular activity that represents the induction of SE. During the first few hours, the early response to induction occurs, characterized by the highest number of differentially expressed genes, most related to the response to multiple stimuli. At 24 h, a late response begins with the upregulation of genes related to energy production and the biosynthesis of amino acids. Finally, WOX, BBM, and ABI3 genes are upregulated during the embryogenic response. The downregulation of genes related to the circadian cycle, photomorphogenesis, photosynthesis, and chloroplast components were observed throughout the process. The detailed analysis of the primary transcriptional responses that occur during the SE of C. canephora helps us to clarify how auxins and cytokinins orchestrate the integration of different networks of plant metabolism and lead to the development of somatic embryos. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Tissue Culture: Genomics, Proteomics, Transcriptomics, and Metabolomics Approaches)

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20 pages, 2349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Native Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Containing ACC Deaminase Promote Plant Growth and Alleviate Salinity and Heat Stress in Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants in Saudi Arabia

by Madeha A. Alonazi, Hend A. Alwathnani, Fahad N. I. AL-Barakah and Fahad Alotaibi

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1107; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071107 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Halotolerant, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to alleviate plant growth under abiotic stresses, especially those isolated from saline arid soils. In this study, 66 bacterial isolates, obtained from various habitats in Saudi Arabia, were characterized for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, and [...] Read more.

Halotolerant, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to alleviate plant growth under abiotic stresses, especially those isolated from saline arid soils. In this study, 66 bacterial isolates, obtained from various habitats in Saudi Arabia, were characterized for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, and screened for heat and salt stress resilience. Finally, selected halotolerant PGPR strains were assessed for their potential to improve maize (Zea mays L.) growth under salinity stress using in vitro assays. Our results indicated that many isolates possessed key PGP traits such ACC deaminase, N-fixation, and phytohormone production. Additionally, several isolates were able to tolerate high temperatures, and 20 bacterial isolates were classified as halotolerant. Furthermore, among the isolates, Pseudomonas soyae (R600), Bacillus haynesii (SFO145), Salinicola halophilus (SFO075), and Staphylococcus petrasii (SFO132) significantly enhanced various maize growth parameters under salt stress conditions when compared to uninoculated plants. These halotolerant PGPR are good candidates to be explored as bioinoculants for sustainable agriculture under saline arid soil conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB): Second-Generation Biofertilizers, Bioremediation, Abiotic and Biotic Stress)

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23 pages, 4678 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GC-Faster RCNN: The Object Detection Algorithm for Agricultural Pests Based on Improved Hybrid Attention Mechanism

by Bolun Guan, Yaqian Wu, Jingbo Zhu, Juanjuan Kong and Wei Dong

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071106 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Pest infestations remain a critical threat to global agriculture, significantly compromising crop yield and quality. While accurate pest detection forms the foundation of precision pest management, current approaches face two primary challenges: (1) the scarcity of comprehensive multi-scale, multi-category pest datasets and (2) [...] Read more.

Pest infestations remain a critical threat to global agriculture, significantly compromising crop yield and quality. While accurate pest detection forms the foundation of precision pest management, current approaches face two primary challenges: (1) the scarcity of comprehensive multi-scale, multi-category pest datasets and (2) performance limitations in detection models caused by substantial target scale variations and high inter-class morphological similarity. To address these issues, we present three key contributions: First, we introduce Insect25—a novel agricultural pest detection dataset containing 25 distinct pest categories, comprising 18,349 high-resolution images. This dataset specifically addresses scale diversity through multi-resolution acquisition protocols, significantly enriching feature distribution for robust model training. Second, we propose GC-Faster RCNN, an enhanced detection framework integrating a hybrid attention mechanism that synergistically combines channel-wise correlations and spatial dependencies. This dual attention design enables more discriminative feature extraction, which is particularly effective for distinguishing morphologically similar pest species. Third, we implement an optimized training strategy featuring a cosine annealing scheduler with linear warm-up, accelerating model convergence while maintaining training stability. Experiments have shown that compared with the original Faster RCNN model, GC-Faster RCNN has improved the average accuracy mAP0.5 on the Insect25 dataset by 4.5 percentage points, and mAP0.75 by 20.4 percentage points, mAP0.5:0.95 increased by 20.8 percentage points, and the recall rate increased by 16.6 percentage points. In addition, experiments have also shown that the GC-Faster RCNN detection method can reduce interference from multiple scales and high similarity between categories, improving detection performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing Systems Thinking in Crop Protection Science)

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22 pages, 8380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Distinct Differences in Organic Acid Metabolism Between the Pericarp and the Pulp of Cerasus humilis During Fruit Maturation

by Bingcheng Guo, Li Zhang and Jinli Guo

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1105; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071105 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Organic acids are key components that determine the taste and flavor of fruits, playing a crucial role in maintaining fruit quality and nutritional value. To investigate the metabolic differences of organic acids between the fruit pericarp and the pulp during the developmental maturation [...] Read more.

Organic acids are key components that determine the taste and flavor of fruits, playing a crucial role in maintaining fruit quality and nutritional value. To investigate the metabolic differences of organic acids between the fruit pericarp and the pulp during the developmental maturation of the Cerasus humilis, this experiment utilized Cerasus humilis cultivated in Inner Mongolia, China, as the experimental material. By measuring the malic acid and citric acid content, as well as the activities of the related metabolic enzymes in the fruit pericarp and the pulp at five developmental stages, this study investigated the characteristics of organic acid accumulation, changes in enzyme activities, and the expression trends of corresponding genes. Transcriptomic data were integrated to support the analysis. This study specifically analyzed the reasons for the differences in acidity between the pericarp and the pulp, and performed a correlation analysis of various indicators. The results indicated that, during development, the organic acid composition in both the pericarp and the pulp was primarily malic acid, with citric acid as a secondary component. The malic acid and citric acid content in the pericarp were significantly higher than in the pulp, resulting in greater overall acidity in the pericarp. The combined action of PEPC, NAD-MDH, and NADP-ME was identified as the primary reason for the differences in malic acid content between the pericarp and the pulp of Cerasus humilis. CS and ACO were identified as the key enzymes responsible for the lower citric acid content in the pulp compared to the pericarp. Furthermore, the expression levels of ChMDH2, ChME, ChCS2, ChCS3, ChACO1, and ChACO2 differed significantly between the fruit pericarp and the pulp, suggesting their regulatory roles in organic acid accumulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)

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14 pages, 3669 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica 4Ns Additional Line Confers Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight

by Yinghui Li, Hang Peng, Hao Zhang, Liangxi Li, Muhammad Saqlain, Dandan Wu, Wei Zhu, Lili Xu, Yiran Cheng, Yi Wang, Jian Zeng, Lina Sha, Haiqin Zhang, Xing Fan, Yonghong Zhou and Houyang Kang

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071104 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the major wheat diseases caused by Fusarium species (mainly Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium asiaticum), resulting in significant global wheat yield losses and risks to food security. Breeding wheat varieties with resistance genes is the most [...] Read more.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the major wheat diseases caused by Fusarium species (mainly Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium asiaticum), resulting in significant global wheat yield losses and risks to food security. Breeding wheat varieties with resistance genes is the most environmentally friendly and economical strategy for controlling FHB. Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng ex P. C. Kuo (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs), which showed abiotic tolerance and biotic resistance, has significant research value and potential as an important genetic resource for wheat improvement. In previous studies, we crossed Psathyrostachys huashanica with common wheat and developed wheat lines containing different N_S chromosomes. In this study, we identified a 4N_S additional line, DA26, from the progenies of wheat-P. huashanica-derived lines using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses. Line DA26 showed high resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) in the greenhouse and field conditions. However, the parental common wheat lines Chinese Spring (CS) and CSph2b mutant showed high susceptibility to FHB. A field evaluation of the agronomic traits showed that the plant height of DA26 was significantly lower than CS, while there were no significant differences in the other agronomic traits. In addition, we also developed eight 4Ns-specific primers to identify the 4Ns chromosome, which can facilitate wheat breeding and FHB resistance gene mapping in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wheat Breeding for Disease Resistance)

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14 pages, 3238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Reveal Key Genes and Metabolic Pathway in Flower and Fruit Color Formation of Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok

by Shuai Zhang, Tianyuan Li, Shan Liu, Xinliang Qi, Yu Yang, Jiancheng Zhang, Luting Jia, Pengfei Wang and Xiaopeng Mu

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1103; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071103 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Anthocyanins play a pivotal role in determining the color diversity in the flowers and fruits of Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok. This study performed a metabolomic analysis of the flowers and fruits of two varieties differing in pigmentation phenotypes (‘Jinou 1’ and ‘Nongda 5’), [...] Read more.

Anthocyanins play a pivotal role in determining the color diversity in the flowers and fruits of Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok. This study performed a metabolomic analysis of the flowers and fruits of two varieties differing in pigmentation phenotypes (‘Jinou 1’ and ‘Nongda 5’), and the results indicated that the cyanidin, pelargonidin, paeonidin, and delphinidin were the main substances serving as the primary pigments contributing to their striking chromatic divergence between two varieties. Transcriptome profiling revealed that several key structural genes (ChCHS1, ChDFR, ChF3H, and ChF3’H) in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway exhibited significantly elevated expression levels in ’Jinou 1’ compared to ’Nongda 5’. Further metabolomic and transcriptomic correlation analyses identified that ChMYB9 and ChMYB12 exhibited strong positive associations with anthocyanin pathway metabolites in both floral and fruit tissues. Notably, ChMYB9 displayed the strongest correlation with the metabolite profiles, suggesting it may serve as a core regulatory component of the anthocyanin biosynthesis. This research provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis in C. humilis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Physiology and Metabolism)

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16 pages, 2926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Floristic Inventory and Diversity of Urban Green Spaces in the Municipality of Assemini (Sardinia, Italy)

by Marco Sarigu, Lina Podda, Giacomo Calvia, Andrea Lallai and Gianluigi Bacchetta

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071102 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Urban greenery is a key component of green infrastructure, contributing to environmental sustainability and urban well-being. Between 2019 and 2020, a comprehensive inventory of ornamental flora was conducted in Assemini (Sardinia, Italy), documenting 198 vascular plant taxa, including 155 exotic, 41 native, and [...] Read more.

Urban greenery is a key component of green infrastructure, contributing to environmental sustainability and urban well-being. Between 2019 and 2020, a comprehensive inventory of ornamental flora was conducted in Assemini (Sardinia, Italy), documenting 198 vascular plant taxa, including 155 exotic, 41 native, and 2 cryptogenic species from 65 families. Among the exotic species, most were neophytes (63%), and 14% were archaeophytes. In terms of life forms, scapose phanerophytes, with a tree-like growth habit, dominated (45%), while Mediterranean and American chorotypes were the most represented, each accounting for 21%. A total of 7356 plants were recorded, comprising trees (61.3%), shrubs (32.3%), and climbers (5.7%), belonging to 90 shrub, 89 tree, and 19 climber taxa. The highest number of plants was found in “Green Areas” and “Schools”, which also exhibited the greatest biodiversity, with 136 different taxa each. The most planted species were Quercus ilex, Nerium oleander, and Olea europaea. The survey also identified 21 allergenic, 36 toxic, and 35 mechanically harmful species, primarily located in “Green Areas” and “Schools”. Biodiversity analysis using the Shannon Index revealed significant diversity, with Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, and Fagaceae emerging as the most represented families. These findings highlight the importance of plant inventories in urban green space management for sustainable planning. Well-maintained green spaces can enhance ecological resilience, improve public health, and promote social cohesion in future urban developments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flora and Vegetation in Cities: Basic and Applied Scientific Knowledge for Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 3441 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytoextraction and Cd Allocation to the Stem of Woody Species Used in Cacao Agroforestry

by Fabricio E. L. Carvalho, Andrea C. Montenegro, Laura D. Escobar-Pachajoa, Jairo Rojas-Molina, Jorge E. Camacho-Diaz and Gersain A. Rengifo-Estrada

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1101; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071101 (registering DOI) - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Global cacao production, primarily led by African countries, is facing a crisis, which presents growth potential for South American countries like Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. However, a significant challenge for these countries is cadmium (Cd) contamination in cacao beans. Agroforestry systems with cacao [...] Read more.

Global cacao production, primarily led by African countries, is facing a crisis, which presents growth potential for South American countries like Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. However, a significant challenge for these countries is cadmium (Cd) contamination in cacao beans. Agroforestry systems with cacao (CAFSs) improve soil health and can remediate Cd through tree phytoextraction. Effective phytoremediation requires Cd-tolerant, high-biomass species and preferential Cd allocation to stems. This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of four forest species (Cariniana pyriformis Miers, Terminalia superba Engl. and Diels, Swietenia macrophylla King, and Cedrela odorata L.) under cadmium (Cd) exposure. C. pyriformis exhibited hypertolerance, showing minimal biomass reduction (less than 15%, changing from 1.619 to 1.343 g plant⁻¹) under excess Cd conditions, compared to Cedrela odorata and T. superba, which showed significant biomass reductions. C. pyriformis and T. superba showed notable Cd accumulation in stems (652.99 and 635.39 mg Cd kg⁻¹), an essential feature for wood tree-mediated phytoextraction, while C. odorata allocated more Cd to leaves (35.35 mg Cd kg⁻¹). C. pyriformis maintained high photosynthesis (12.8 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹), light use efficiency (0.086 mol CO₂ mol photons⁻¹), and an increased relative growth rate (0.575 g g⁻¹ day⁻¹) under Cd exposure. Overall, C. pyriformis demonstrated significant potential for use in phytoremediation due to its high Cd tolerance (84%), efficient allocation to stems (17%), and sustained physiological performance under Cd exposure. Conversely, C. odorata allocates Cd to leaves (16%), which can reintroduce Cd into the soil, and exhibits a low tolerance index (54%) under higher cadmium contamination. Further studies are still needed to understand the specific mechanisms of Cd accumulation in stems of promising species like C. pyriformis and T. superba. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)

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15 pages, 4838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Jasmonic Acid-Mediated Antioxidant Defense Confers Chilling Tolerance in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

by Weixia Liu, Jielin Wang, Dan Zhu, Xiaomin Yin, Gongfu Du, Yuling Qin, Zhiyuan Zhang and Ziji Liu

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071100 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Chilling stress inhibits the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.), reduces its overall agricultural yield, and deteriorates fruit quality. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the mechanism through which okra plants respond to chilling stress. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of [...] Read more.

Chilling stress inhibits the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.), reduces its overall agricultural yield, and deteriorates fruit quality. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the mechanism through which okra plants respond to chilling stress. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of chilling tolerance by comparing the transcriptome and metabolome of chilling-tolerant (Ae182) and chilling-sensitive (Ae171) okra varieties. We found that Ae182 exhibits higher antioxidant enzyme activities, including SOD, POD, CAT, and APX, suggesting it mitigates oxidative stress more effectively than Ae171. Metabolomics analysis revealed that Ae182 produces higher levels of jasmonic acid (JA) and JA-isoleucine (JA-Ile) under chilling stress, potentially activating genes that alleviate oxidative damage. Additionally, integrated analyses identified key transcription factors, such as AP2, BHLH, and MYB, associated with JA and chilling stress. These findings provide candidate genes for further research on chilling resistance in okra. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)

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20 pages, 3381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Ordinary to Extraordinary: The Crucial Role of Common Species in Desert Plant Community Stability with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungi Under Increased Precipitation

by Zhanquan Ji, Qianqian Dong, Rong Yang, Wenhao Qin, Yi Peng and Yangyang Jia

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071099 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Climate change is altering precipitation patterns in Central Asia’s arid zones, destabilizing desert ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, key soil microorganisms forming symbiosis with most plants, critically maintain ecosystem stability, yet their mechanisms in regulating individual plant species to sustain community stability remain [...] Read more.

Climate change is altering precipitation patterns in Central Asia’s arid zones, destabilizing desert ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, key soil microorganisms forming symbiosis with most plants, critically maintain ecosystem stability, yet their mechanisms in regulating individual plant species to sustain community stability remain unclear. We conducted a 5-year in situ experiment in the Gurbantunggut Desert, testing how AM fungi influence desert plant community stability under increased precipitation. Using a randomized block design with three treatments—control (CK), increased precipitation (W), and precipitation with Benomyl fungicide (BW)—we monitored plant community dynamics. We discovered that both increased precipitation and AM fungi altered plant community structure without affecting diversity. Precipitation boosted aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and density, enhancing community stability via dominant species (e.g., Meniocus linifolius), supporting the mass ratio hypothesis. AM fungi further stabilized the community by increasing ANPP and enhancing the common species stability under increased precipitation, while the contribution of rare species was also non-negligible, aligning with the subordinate insurance hypothesis. Overall, our study elucidates how increased precipitation and AM fungi regulate plant community stability at the species level. Specifically, it overcomes key gaps by revealing AM fungi’s pivotal role in stabilizing communities through sustaining common species stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)

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30 pages, 225854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LGWheatNet: A Lightweight Wheat Spike Detection Model Based on Multi-Scale Information Fusion

by Zhaomei Qiu, Fei Wang, Tingting Li, Chongjun Liu, Xin Jin, Shunhao Qing, Yi Shi, Yuntao Wu and Congbin Liu

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071098 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Wheat spike detection holds significant importance for agricultural production as it enhances the efficiency of crop management and the precision of operations. This study aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of wheat spike detection, enabling efficient crop monitoring under resource-constrained conditions. To [...] Read more.

Wheat spike detection holds significant importance for agricultural production as it enhances the efficiency of crop management and the precision of operations. This study aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of wheat spike detection, enabling efficient crop monitoring under resource-constrained conditions. To this end, a wheat spike dataset encompassing multiple growth stages was constructed, leveraging the advantages of MobileNet and ShuffleNet to design a novel network module, SeCUIB. Building on this foundation, a new wheat spike detection network, LGWheatNet, was proposed by integrating a lightweight downsampling module (DWDown), spatial pyramid pooling (SPPF), and a lightweight detection head (LightDetect). The experimental results demonstrate that LGWheatNet excels in key performance metrics, including Precision, Recall, and Mean Average Precision (mAP50 and mAP50-95). Specifically, the model achieved a Precision of 0.956, a Recall of 0.921, an mAP50 of 0.967, and an mAP50-95 of 0.747, surpassing several YOLO models as well as EfficientDet and RetinaNet. Furthermore, LGWheatNet demonstrated superior resource efficiency with a parameter count of only 1,698,529 and GFLOPs of 5.0, significantly lower than those of competing models. Additionally, when combined with the Slicing Aided Hyper Inference strategy, LGWheatNet further improved the detection accuracy of wheat spikes, especially for small-scale targets and edge regions, when processing large-scale high-resolution images. This strategy significantly enhanced both inference efficiency and accuracy, making it particularly suitable for image analysis from drone-captured data. In wheat spike counting experiments, LGWheatNet also delivered exceptional performance, particularly in predictions during the filling and maturity stages, outperforming other models by a substantial margin. This study not only provides an efficient and reliable solution for wheat spike detection but also introduces innovative methods for lightweight object detection tasks in resource-constrained environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Smart Agriculture with Remote Sensing as the Core and Its Applications in Crops Field)

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16 pages, 3290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maize Cultivation in Sun Mushroom Post-Harvest Areas: Yield, Soil Chemical Properties, and Economic Viability

by Lucas da Silva Alves, Matheus Rodrigo Iossi, Cinthia Elen Cardoso Caitano, Wagner Gonçalves Vieira Júnior, Pedro Afonso Gomes Teixeira, Reges Heinrichs, Arturo Pardo-Giménez and Diego Cunha Zied

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071097 - 2 Apr 2025

Abstract

Cultivating crops in post-harvest areas of sun mushrooms presents an innovative alternative to reduce reliance on mineral fertilizers. Advances in crop cultivation in these areas could make this a sustainable solution for enhancing food security. We evaluated maize cultivation in a sun mushroom [...] Read more.

Cultivating crops in post-harvest areas of sun mushrooms presents an innovative alternative to reduce reliance on mineral fertilizers. Advances in crop cultivation in these areas could make this a sustainable solution for enhancing food security. We evaluated maize cultivation in a sun mushroom post-harvest area, focusing on soil and leaf macronutrient composition, yield factors, and economic benefits. Four management practices were tested: a post-harvest area without mineral fertilization (SMS); a post-harvest area with fertilization at sowing (SMS + S); a post-harvest area with fertilization at sowing and topdressing (SMS + S + TD); and a control area with standard mineral fertilization. The SMS treatment maintained adequate soil pH and electrical conductivity, and in the first crop, increased soil P, Ca, and Mg levels by 5%, 140%, and 23%, respectively, without significantly affecting yield compared to the control. However, nutrient absorption faced challenges due to a nutritional imbalance of Ca/Mg. In the second crop, SMS + S + TD was crucial for higher yields (up to 6500 kg ha⁻¹) and showed similarity to the control in a Nearest Neighbor Analysis, particularly in leaf N content. Regarding the economic benefits, SMS reduced mineral fertilization in the first crop, increasing the net benefit by up to 380%, while in the second crop, topdressing became indispensable for the SMS area, with SMS + S + TD generating the greatest net benefit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Management Practices on Field Crop Growth, Yield, and Quality)

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15 pages, 2583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic Traits, Hormonal Distribution, and Metabolite Profiling of Isatis indigotica Seeds from 21 Samples in China: A Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb

by Lunyan Wang, Jia Liu, Yilun Dong, Yanan Gao, Xiangyu Xing, Tianyue Cong, Li Meng, Wanru Li, Xinyu Li, Viktar Lemiasheuski, Chunying Zheng and Yang Liu

Plants 2025, 14(7), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071096 - 1 Apr 2025

Abstract

“Banlangen” (Isatis indigotica Fort., indigowoad root) is the dried root of a plant in the Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) family, which has been cultivated in China for over 2000 years. This herb has significant medicinal value and played an important therapeutic role during the [...] Read more.

“Banlangen” (Isatis indigotica Fort., indigowoad root) is the dried root of a plant in the Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) family, which has been cultivated in China for over 2000 years. This herb has significant medicinal value and played an important therapeutic role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Isatis indigotica is widely cultivated in China, with varying seed quality across different regions. Investigating the seed quality and distribution of endogenous metabolites of Isatis indigotica from various regions is of great significance for its efficient utilization. In this study, 21 samples from Isatis indigotica seeds were collected from 15 different regions of China and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A systematic analysis was conducted on seed phenotypes, germination rate, endogenous metabolites, and hormones. The results showed that the germplasm traits of Isatis indigotica from northern China were generally superior to those from southern China, with seed size positively correlated with the accumulation of sugars (D-allose, D-(+)-cellobiose, maltitol, α-D-glucopyranoside, d-galactose, maltose, D-(−)-fructose, and galactitol) and organic acids (hexadecanoic acid, benzoic acid, propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, and cinnamic acid). Additionally, seed germination in the samples from SuQian and Shanxi was closely related to hormone distribution (gibberellic acid and abscisic acid). This study provides valuable data to support the evaluation of seeds from different sources of medicinal plants and has important implications for the cultivation and identification of Isatis indigotica varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights and Regulation of Plant Growth and Metabolism)

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