Search Results (6,002)

Meadow arnica is a valuable medicinal plant, used in both the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the development, yield, and quality of flower heads (raw material) of meadow arnica grown in an organic farming system. The inoculation of plants with AMF improved the mass of above- and underground organs, including the mass of raw material, as well as the content of chlorophylls and general sugar in the leaves, followed by enhanced starch storage in the roots. The content of phenolics in the raw material was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The following flavonoids were assessed here: cynaroside, rutin, hyperoside, cosmosiin, astragalin, and diosmetin, as well as the phenolic acids: neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, rosmarinic, cichoric, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic, and 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids. The contents of these substances were higher in non-inoculated plants than in inoculated ones, which contradicts most studies conducted to date on medicinal and aromatic plants. Nevertheless, the results are interesting primarily because of the beneficial developmental changes in inoculated plants, as evidenced by a significantly higher mass of arnica flower heads, more efficient uptake of mineral nutrients from the soil, and lower nitrogen levels in aboveground organs. Full article

Due to their aesthetic qualities and versatile applications, medicinal and aromatic plants are an important component of landscape systems. The diversity of color, shape, and texture observed in the vegetative and reproductive organs of these plants contributes to visual composition, while their medicinal and aromatic properties enhance their ecological and socio-cultural significance. However, many taxa are underrepresented in landscape planning applications. This study examined the diversity of medicinal and aromatic plant taxa identified at the Iğdır University Şehit Bülent Yurtseven Campus in Iğdır Province, Turkey, using a descriptive approach. Plant taxa were evaluated based on their families, life forms, leaf characteristics, flowering periods, and medicinal and aromatic properties. Multivariate analyses were conducted to examine phenological similarities among the taxa. A total of 98 plant taxa were identified; 66 taxa possess only medicinal properties, one taxon possesses only aromatic properties, and 31 taxa possess both. These findings reveal that the campus is home to a wide variety of medicinal and aromatic plant taxa, with characteristics relevant to planting layout and species selection. Consequently, this study provides a descriptive foundation for further research on how such taxa can be incorporated into campus planting designs and green space planning. Full article

People spend most of their time indoors, highlighting the importance of indoor environmental quality for health and wellbeing. While previous studies have shown that exposure to nature can benefit wellbeing, much of this research has focused on outdoor environments, and less is known about how indoor plants and their spatial characteristics influence human perceptions and experiences. This paper reports on a survey study exploring how perceived health and wellbeing are influenced by indoor plants and human preferences for their characteristics, spatial arrangement, and other features within indoor environments. Indoor plants serve as visual and multisensory environmental stimuli. By examining the relationship between indoor plants, preferences, perceptions, visual comfort, multisensory experiences, and wellbeing, the study aims to understand these influences. The questionnaires include multiple-choice questions, yes-no questions, and open-ended questions, allowing the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The survey findings highlight the unique benefits of indoor plants, emphasising their potential to enhance wellbeing in ways that outdoor nature may not fully replicate in indoor settings. One significant finding of this study is that scattering indoor plants throughout a space can enhance the connection to nature through three-dimensional spatial interaction, potentially improving wellbeing. This arrangement may serve as a bridge to the outdoors, providing a psychological link to the natural environment. Crucial preference factors also include the complexity and coherence of indoor plants’ appearance, such as colour, shape, and size. The results further indicate that students prefer indoor plants over other elements such as cut flowers, fake plants, or artificial plant representations. The findings indicate that caring for indoor plants may foster emotional engagement, a sense of fulfilment, and place attachment through everyday interaction. In public spaces, plants may also enhance feelings of refuge and perceived security. These findings provide practical recommendations for designing indoor environments that enhance student wellbeing and human–environment interaction. Full article

Substantial tracts of fallow farmland remain unutilized across southwestern China throughout winter and spring. To explore a high-yield planting pattern for utilizing such fallow land, a cereal–legume intercropping experiment was conducted in Chengdu in 2021–2022 and in 2022–2023. This involved five different intercropping ratios of oat (Avena sativa) and common vetch (Vicia sativa) including 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 based on seed number per unit area. The relative density, LER (land equivalent ratio), hay yield, nutritional composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics were assessed. The study revealed that the combination of oat and common vetch led to a significant enhancement in the production performance over the monocultures. At the flowering stage, the most balanced interspecific competition was observed at a ratio of 50:50. The ratio of 50:50 had the higher LER in the mixture—from 1.018 to 1.873—, which was significantly higher than the other two intercropping ratios in 2021–2022. At the flowing development stage in 2021–2022, the harvesting of mixed crops at the 50:50 ratio resulted in a significant higher crude protein yield, 1454.7 kg/hm², than the other intercropping ratios. As the growth stage continued, the mixture hay neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents increased, while the relative feed value and crude fat content decreased. The soluble sugar content increased with the prolongation of the growth stage and peaked at the jointing stage, and decreased with the decrease in the proportion of oat in the mixture. Additionally, the gas production showed an overall decreasing trend with the increase in the proportion of common vetch. The dry matter degradation rate in the mixture hay was overall higher than that of the monocultures, and the NH₃-N content showed an overall trend of increasing with the decrease with the intercropping ratio of oat. Consequently, the 50:50 ratio may be recommended as an oat-common vetch intercropping ratio suitable for utilizing fallow fields in southwestern China from October to April to produce high-quality forage. Full article

This study evaluated the susceptibility of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars to Euschistus heros feeding across various phenological stages. Three cultivars (IPR Curió, IPR Sabiá, and IPR Urutau) were infested with 0.5 insects per plant for eight days starting at anthesis and 8, 16, 24, 32, and 40 days after flowering (DAF) using a randomized block design with five replicates. E. heros did not significantly impact grain yield or reproductive abscission, except for the IPR Curió cultivar during flowering, which demonstrated substantial qualitative damage. Feeding injury resulted in increased grain punctures and the grading of commercial classification to Type 2. The most critical susceptibility period occurred during the grain-filling stages (16–24 DAF). IPR Curió was the most sensitive cultivar, exhibiting Type 2 status at both 16 and 24 DAF. These findings demonstrate that although common beans exhibit quantitative tolerance to E. heros at the tested density, qualitative damage during grain development significantly compromises marketability and value. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) should prioritize protecting the crop during mid-to-late reproductive stages to ensure that grain quality standards are met. Full article

Despite the undisputable ecosystem importance of honeybees, human activities have a substantial impact on their health. Since foraging is directly linked to a wide range of crops and bee-attracting flowers, plant protection products are at the forefront of chemical scrutiny, along with contamination of pollen, nectar, beehive components and water by other xenobiotics. In this study, a non-targeted Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) screening was applied to 25 honeybee samples collected after reported death incidents in Greece. This approach led to the tentative annotation of over 50 compounds across various chemical classes, including pesticides, PFAS candidates not included in the EFSA “PFAS-4”, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, industrial chemicals, and natural product constituents. In parallel, targeted pesticide residue analysis using liquid and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS) was performed, covering more than 250 active substances and providing direct quantitative results, revealing 11 active substances in concentrations ranging from <limit of quantification (LOQ) to 0.95 mg/kg, overlapping substantially with the HRMS detection. Overall, this study does not allow concrete causal attribution of mortality to specific chemicals; however, it documents complex co-occurrence patterns (pesticides together with other xenobiotics and plant bioactives), not excluding sublethal and mixture-toxicity effects. Quantified pesticide concentrations were below acute LD50-based thresholds, yet selected samples combined neonicotinoid/pyrethroid/fungicide signatures and other contaminants, supporting the need for mixture-toxicity frameworks and effect-based follow-ups. Full article

Excessive planting density and heavy rainfall weather threatens global agriculture, particularly affecting maize. Biochar is an environmentally friendly soil amendment that has a yield-increasing effect. However, the regulatory mechanism of biochar frequency on crop internode development and photosystem II photosynthetic efficiency remains unknown. A total of nine treatments were followed in this experiment. Three applications of biochar were as follows: no biochar application (B0); biochar application at 4.2 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (B1); and biochar application at 8.4 t ha⁻¹ 2 year⁻¹ (B2), alongside three nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (0, N0; 180 kg ha⁻¹, N1 and 225 kg ha⁻¹, N2). The results showed that the internode thickness of the 2nd to 5th nodes under N2B2 treatment increased by 17.7%, 16.0%, 19.7%, and 21.7%, respectively, compared to N0B0. Annual biochar application had a higher stem diameter coefficient for the 1st to 3rd nodes than no biochar (B0) and treatments applied every two years (B2). Annual biochar application had the highest dry weight of internodes and plant height compared with B0 and B2. The relative chlorophyll content of leaves was significantly increased by biochar combined with N fertilizer or by N fertilizer alone. Biochar combined with N fertilizer significantly reduced NPQt and ΦNPQ, which were reduced by 59% and 50%, respectively, under N2B1 treatment compared with N0B0. The N2B1 treatment increased ΦII by 30% compared to N0B0. Stem diameter coefficient was significantly negatively correlated with NPQt and ΦNPQ and significantly positively correlated with ΦII and Fv/Fm. Compared to B1, B2 increased the maize yield. Annual biochar application combined with N fertilizer reduced stem collapse and enhanced post-flowering photosynthesis. Overall, considering the yield traits, 8.4 t ha⁻¹ biochar application combined with 180 kg ha⁻¹ N fertilizer treatment was the best. This study will provide reference data for cultivation regulation to enhance maize’s resistance to collapse and maintain photosynthetic capacity. Full article

The plant-specific TCP transcription factor family plays crucial roles in morphogenesis and stress adaptation. While characterized in many species, this family remains unstudied in Punica granatum. We performed the first genome-wide analysis of the TCP family in pomegranate, identifying 24 PgTCP genes classified into the PCF, CIN, and CYC/TB1 subclades, supported by conserved gene structures and motifs. Evolutionary analysis indicated segmental duplication and purifying selection shaped this family. Expression profiling revealed distinct spatiotemporal patterns: PgTCP2/9/14/21 were highly expressed in flowers, with PgTCP21 also notably abundant in fruit tissues (seed coats and pericarp), suggesting roles in reproductive development. PgTCP19, an ortholog of the branching suppressor BRC1, showed dominant expression in dormant buds, implicating it in shoot architecture regulation. Furthermore, PgTCP5 and the miR319-targeted PgTCP22 were leaf-predominant, indicating a function in leaf development. Under abiotic stress, PgTCPs displayed dynamic, treatment-specific responses. A subset of genes was rapidly induced by cold, while PgTCP14 and PgTCP23 showed sustained upregulation during drought. Several light-responsive PgTCPs were suppressed under shading. This study provides a foundational resource, functionally classifies the PgTCP family, and identifies key candidates regulating organ development and stress resilience for future functional validation and molecular breeding in pomegranate. This work provides the first comprehensive overview of the TCP gene family in pomegranate and offers candidate genes for future functional studies related to development and stress responses. Full article

Light quality plays a decisive role in controlled-environment agriculture, shaping plant morphology, physiology, and productivity. This study investigated the impact of far-red (FR) light on Cannabis sativa L. by comparing two different application strategies: continuous FR supplementation throughout 12 h of the photoperiod and end-of-day (EOD) FR exposure applied only at the end of the light period. In both treatments, FR was added to a background spectrum of red and blue (RB) light, while a control group grown under RB light alone was included to assess the specific effects of FR on plant growth, physiological responses, and flowering. Continuous FR exposure induced pronounced shade-avoidance traits, increasing plant height by 9% and petiole length by 17% relative to the control, and raised leaf dry weight to 12.9 g, 9% higher than under EOD (11.7 g) and 16.3% higher than under RB alone (10.8 g). Besides plant height and petiole length, both FR and EOD treatment induced limited morphological adjustments but increased chlorophyll content by 9%, resulting in greater canopy expansion and photosynthetic potential. However, flowering time was unaffected by spectral treatment, confirming that Cannabis floral induction is tightly regulated by photoperiod rather than light quality. Energy-use analysis revealed that EOD supplementation achieved many of the benefits of continuous FR while reducing overall consumption, but energy-use efficiency analysis proved FR as the more efficient treatment. These findings highlight the potential of FR light, particularly when applied continuously, to optimize vegetative growth and canopy physiology in controlled-environment Cannabis cultivation, while EOD strategies offer a practical compromise between cost savings and physiological benefits. Full article

Acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) are key targets for herbicide resistance breeding in Brassica crops, yet the evolutionary origin and functional role of AHAS2 genes in Brassica napus (AACC) and B. carinata (BBCC) remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the distribution, ancestry, and agronomic trait associations of AHAS2 across 227 accessions representing six Brassica species. Bra.AHAS2 was amplified in 21 of 42 B. rapa (AA) accessions, and Bol.AHAS2 in 10 of 15 B. oleracea (CC) accessions. In B. napus, BnaA.AHAS2 and BnaC.AHAS2 were amplified in 73/131 and 30/131 accessions, respectively, with 19 accessions showing amplification of both homologs. All seven B. carinata accessions amplified BcaC.AHAS2. No AHAS2 homologs were amplified in three B. nigra (BB) or 29 B. juncea (AABB) accessions. Phylogenetic and gene structure analyses revealed that BnaA.AHAS2 (in B. napus) originated from Bra.AHAS2 of B. rapa, whereas BnaC.AHAS2 (in B. napus) and BcaC.AHAS2 (in B. carinata) derived from Bol.AHAS2 of B. oleracea. Association analysis showed the amplification of BnaA.AHAS2 or BnaC.AHAS2 was not associated with tribenuron-methyl resistance. However, amplification of BnaA.AHAS2 was significantly associated with reduced plant height, branching height, silique number on the terminal raceme, seed yield per plant, and thousand-seed weight in B. napus. Furthermore, haplotypes of BnaA.AHAS2 (BnaA05g03070D) were significantly associated with eicosenoic acid content, oleic acid content, flowering time, and cadmium translocation. Collectively, these findings resolve the diploid progenitor origins of AHAS2 in Brassica allotetraploids and reveal previously unrecognized associations of AHAS2 with agronomic and stress-related traits, offering valuable insights for molecular breeding in oilseed Brassica crops. Full article

This study evaluated morphological variation in 45 accessions of cultivated Perilla frutescens var. frutescens (PFF) and var. crispa (PFC) collected from South Korea and Japan, together with their weedy counterparts, var. frutescens (WPFF) and var. crispa (WPFC) from South Korea, using ten quantitative and ten qualitative traits. Clear morphological differentiation was observed between cultivated and weedy forms in both varieties, particularly in pigmentation, plant fragrance, and seed-related traits. PFF cultivars were characterized by predominantly green pigmentation, a typical frutescens aroma, and significantly larger and heavier seeds, suggesting stronger phenotypic differentiation in leaf and seed utilization. In contrast, PFC cultivars showed substantial morphological overlap with WPFC and WPFF accessions, indicating comparatively weaker phenotypic differentiation. Principal component analysis showed that the first principal component (PC1) explained 25.7% of the total phenotypic variance and was strongly associated with five quantitative traits (plant height, inflorescence length, floret number, seed size, and 100-seed weight) and five qualitative traits (adaxial and abaxial leaf color, flower color, seed color, and seed hardness). Along PC1, PFF cultivars formed a well-defined cluster, whereas PFC cultivars and the weedy WPFF and WPFC accessions exhibited broader dispersion, reflecting greater morphological variability. These results provide morphological insights into the differentiation between cultivated and weedy Perilla accessions and indicate potential domestication-related patterns. However, these interpretations are based primarily on morphological observations, and further genetic and evolutionary studies will be necessary to clarify the domestication history of these taxa. The identified trait complexes provide a useful phenotypic foundation for marker-assisted breeding, informed cultivar selection, and effective germplasm conservation and management. Full article

Grapevine growth and physiological performance are strongly influenced by biotic and abiotic stresses occurring during the growing season. Plant stimulants are increasingly applied in viticulture as management tools aimed at supporting plant physiological processes and improving plant performance under variable environmental conditions; however, cultivar-specific responses to different application strategies remain insufficiently characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar plant stimulant application strategies differing in application frequency and phenological timing on selected physiological and canopy-related indicators in Slovak grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) under field conditions. The assessed parameters included leaf chlorophyll a and b contents, chlorophyll a/b ratio, leaf area index (LAI), vegetation indices (NDVI and PRI), cluster weight, and basic must composition. Grapevines were subjected to three treatment variants: a control without plant stimulant application, a variant with two foliar applications, and a variant with three foliar applications of commercial biostimulants (Tecamin Max, Tecamin Flower, and Tecamin Brix) performed at key phenological stages during the growing season. Plant stimulant applications were associated with variations in leaf chlorophyll content and LAI values, particularly under repeated application strategies. NDVI and PRI complemented leaf-level measurements by capturing cultivar-dependent differences in canopy condition and photosynthetic regulation throughout the season. Responses of cluster weight and must composition to plant stimulant application were moderate and varied among cultivars, indicating cultivar-specific responses. Although no consistent increase in cluster yield was observed, treated variants showed higher sugar content and lower titratable acidity in several cultivars, indicating differences in grape composition and ripening-related traits. Overall, the results indicate that foliar plant stimulant application strategies can influence physiological and canopy-level grapevine traits in a cultivar-dependent manner. The combined use of leaf-level, canopy-level, and spectral indicators provides a practical framework for evaluating plant stimulant strategies under field conditions and supports their application in sustainable viticulture. Full article

The impacts of climate change on Mediterranean weed flora were investigated to inform future weed management strategies. Projections indicate that rising temperatures and increased atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are likely to favor ruderal species characterized by rapid phenological development and high dispersal capacity. Enhanced abiotic stressors—such as elevated temperatures, water scarcity, and increased UV-B radiation—are expected to affect crops more severely than weeds, given the latter’s greater evolutionary potential to develop stress-tolerant biotypes. Moreover, the increased frequency and intensity of extreme events (e.g., drought, flooding, and soil salinization) may reduce weed community diversity, potentially leading to dominance by a limited number of highly competitive species and consequently intensifying reliance on chemical weed control. Simplification of weed communities may also increase vulnerability to the introduction and establishment of alien species, particularly those originating from hot and arid regions, some of which may be parasitic, toxic, or allergenic. Climate change-induced phenological mismatches between flowering plants and pollinators are likely to favor wind-pollinated weed species, further compromising the aesthetic and ecological quality of agricultural landscapes. Additionally, increased production of wind-dispersed allergenic pollen, together with the anticipated rise in herbicide applications, may pose significant risks to human health. An effective agronomic strategy to address future weed scenarios should include the genetic improvement in crops to enhance adaptive plasticity, exploiting germplasm from ancestral lines and related wild species. Full article

Ranked 30th globally in dryness, South Africa faces severe challenges in ensuring fodder security, which is worsened by climate change impacts on agriculture. However, there is still limited knowledge about optimising fodder radish cultivation under shifting climatic conditions. This study investigated the effects of planting dates (December to March), cultivars (Nooitgedacht, Line 2 and Endurance) and seasons (2020/21 and 2021/22) on growth, yield, and crude protein (CP) and mineral concentrations under rainfed conditions. Seasonal variation significantly (p < 0.05) influenced emergence, relative growth, and flowering across planting dates. Fresh tuber yield was highest when Nooitgedacht was planted in December (2052 and 2102 kg ha⁻¹). In contrast, January planting enhanced aboveground biomass and crude protein (CP) yield, with Endurance recording the highest biomass (1260 and 1157.95 kg ha⁻¹ DM) and tuber CP yield (19.2 and 18 kg ha⁻¹). December planting favoured tuber production, whereas January planting optimised biomass, CP yield, and persistence. Planting date and cultivar significantly affected leaf and tuber mineral concentrations. December–January plantings generally enhanced leaf P, K, and Zn concentrations. Endurance and Nooitgedacht accumulated higher micronutrients than Line 2, particularly under early planting. The late flowering of Endurance extended the grazing period, aligning with late-winter forage demand under rainfed conditions. Overall, this study offers practical guidance for improving the quantity and quality of fodder radish in diverse agricultural settings. Future work should evaluate these cultivars across more sites to confirm performance stability under variable rainfall patterns. Full article

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) are powerful and flexible tools for identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with quantitative traits (yield, stress resistance) in plants. Variable selection and machine learning are two effective approaches in GWAS. However, both face limitations in complex, noisy data analysis in the big-data era. In this study, we integrated variable selection and machine learning under the mixed linear model framework, proposing a novel method, the improved LASSO screening and sparse Bayesian learning algorithm (ILSBL). The ILSBL first corrects the polygenic and environmental noise, then reduces genotypic dimensionality by LASSO-based variable selection, and finally performs parameter estimation using sparse Bayesian learning. Two simulation experiments and association analyses of three flowering-time-related traits in Arabidopsis thaliana were conducted to validate the new algorithm. The results showed that, compared to established methods, the ILSBL exhibited flexibility in simulation studies and maintained robust performance under complex genetic backgrounds, achieving a favorable balance among statistical power, parameter estimation accuracy, runtime efficiency, and false-positive rate. The analysis of the real Arabidopsis datasets further confirmed the advantages of ILSBL for GWASs, with 30 candidate genes adjacent to significant quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with flowering-related traits. These results provide valuable insights for a better understanding of the genetic basis underlying flowering-related traits in Arabidopsis. Full article