Search Results (329)

Sonneratia ovata is an important tree species for ornamental, economic, ecological, and medicinal value and is identified as an endangered species. There are very few studies on the reproductive traits, genetic diversity, and population structure of S. ovata. Therefore, it is urgent to accurately understand its genetic background and reproductive status in order to better conserve and manage S. ovata. S. ovata has a mixed mating system, is partially self-compatible and needs pollinators, according to the outcrossing index, pollen–ovule ratio, pollination treatment results and outcrossing rate. Natural populations maintained high outcrossing coupled with inbreeding and low genetic diversity (H_e = 0.215), and the population DC was regarded as the center of genetic diversity. The Mantel test showed that there existed a positive correlation between geographic and genetic distance among populations, which was in line with the IBD model. Molecular variance was largely confined to within-population differences (75.4%), while inter-population differences accounted for 24.6%. Structure and PCoA analysis supported the UPGMA cluster. This study is the first to investigate reproductive traits, genetic diversity, and population structure through SSR. The results provide a scientific basis for cross breeding, conservation, and management of this species. In future, it is necessary to increase relevant research (human, environment, habitat factors, etc.) to better protect and utilize this species. Full article

Forests sustain high levels of biodiversity and essential ecosystem services, yet the impact of management practices on below-ground functioning remains difficult to assess. A comprehensive evaluation of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal diversity is, therefore, required to better understand ecosystem dynamics. This study, conducted within the SelpiBioLife project, examined ECM community structure in two Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold forests in central Italy by integrating above- and below-ground sampling. Across 108 plots, ECM fruiting bodies (EMFb) were recorded during one fruiting season, and 54 soil cores were collected to characterize ECM root tips (EMRt) through morpho-anatomical analyses and ITS sequencing. Species richness and community composition were compared using rarefaction, PERMANOVA, NMDS, Mantel tests, and SIMPER analysis. A total of 70 EMFb species and 54 EMRt morphotypes were identified, displaying significant differences between sites and sampling types. EMFb surveys revealed greater richness, whereas EMRt reached sampling saturation only at one site, suggesting additional hidden diversity. Distinct community patterns were detected in ordination space, and weak correlations emerged between EMFb and EMRt dissimilarities, indicating complementary ecological information. These findings show that single-method monitoring underrepresents ECM diversity. Combined above- and below-ground investigations provide a more accurate basis for evaluating silvicultural impacts and maintaining forest ecosystem resilience. Full article

Major historic olive tree cultivars around the Mediterranean originate from the Jordan area and possess a proven abiotic stress tolerance; however, they were unexplored from the diversity perspective. Therefore, historic olive tree accessions from three northern regions—Irbid (i), Jerash (J), and Ajloun (A)—were analyzed using DNA molecular markers to identify and study their genetic relationships and genetic structure. DNA molecular markers of inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) were used. A total of 3150 data entries (859 present and 2291 absent) were generated with fragment sizes ranging from 350 to 2000 bp. Data entries were evaluated with UPGMA and population genetic structure analysis. The results showed that similarity among the investigated sixty-three accessions ranged from 9% between J14 and i20 up to 100% between ‘J11’ and ‘J12’ and between A8 and A9. The discriminating power values for ISSR_807, ISSR_810, and ISSR_825 were 0.70, 0.61, and 0.83, respectively. A generated dendrogram showed ten major clades, while the genetic structure could resolve four unique genetic pools: one for Irbid, one for Jerash, and two for Ajloun. In addition, analysis of 19 phenotypic parameters covering leaf, fruit, stone, and flesh was able to confirm the molecular data. Phenotypic and ISSR data were analyzed using PCA, cluster, and Mantel tests. ISSR markers showed clear genetic differentiation among groups, whereas phenotypic traits displayed lower variation but a significant correlation with molecular diversity. Promising accessions with either pure or admixture genetic makeup were identified. The resolved genetic structure of the investigated historic olive accessions would open new frontiers for olive breeding and utilization, helping to overcome current production challenges and climate change limitations. Full article

The introduction of non-native fish species into southern China has been widespread, with tilapia being a major contributor. Commonly known as tilapia, Coptodon zillii, Oreochromis niloticus, and Sarotherodon galilaeus, have become the most common non-native fish in southern Chinese waters, even becoming the dominant species in some waters. In order to elucidate the seasonal and spatial distributions and environmental drivers of three tilapia species in the inland waters of Guangxi, systematic sampling was performed at 34 sampling sites in the major water systems through the four seasons in 2023. A total of 6093 specimens were collected, of which C. zillii dominated the catch (59.74%). In addition, the occurrence frequency of C. zillii was 92.65%, O. niloticus was 80.88%, and S. galilaeus was 45.59%. Seasonally, all species exhibited pronounced seasonality, peaking in summer and declining to winter minima. Similarly, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) indicated summer dispersion to a greater extent, while winter dispersion was the least of the four seasons. Spatially, C. zillii dominated the northern study area, and there was no distribution of S. galilaeus, while the proportion of S. galilaeus and O. niloticus increased as latitude moved south. The Mantel test showed three tilapia species correlated with latitude, temperature seasonality, and the min temperature of the coldest month. In addition, the results of the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) showed that the number of three tilapia species was also affected by water environmental factors: S. galilaeus was affected by turbidity, O. niloticus was affected by pH and COD_MN, and C. zillii was affected by TN and water temperature. These findings highlight the synergistic effects of environmental gradients and spatial factors in shaping tilapia distribution, providing critical insights for freshwater ecosystem management under climate change. Full article

Background and Objectives: Changes in the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and during periods with fewer or more COVID-19 cases have been inconclusively studied. Compared with 2015, in 2019, the abundances of the microorganisms Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecium increased in intensive care units (ICUs) in Taiwan. The trend in the incidence of HAIs in ICUs in Taiwan during the emergence of new infectious diseases is worth studying. Materials and Methods: We surveyed the incidence densities of different types of HAIs, device-associated HAIs, pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance in a dataset from the Taiwan Healthcare-associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System from 2015 to 2022. The change in incidence density trends was evaluated via Poisson regression, and the change in proportion trends was checked via the Mantel–Haenszel chi-square test. Results: The incidence of HAIs decreased from 5.7 to 5.17 episodes per 1000 person-days from the pre-COVID-19 period to the post-COVID-19 period. The incidences of healthcare-acquired pneumonia (HAP), device-associated HAIs decreased. However, the incidences of bloodstream infections (BSIs) increased. The percentages of patients with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii infections significantly decreased. The percentage of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection decreased, but that of patients with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium infections increased. The antimicrobial consumption related to CRKP increased and MRSA decreased. Conclusions: Overall, HAIs, HAP, and VAP decreased in incidence after the COVID-19 pandemic. These results revealed decreases in MRSA infection incidence under infection control protocols with more antimicrobial use. However, the proportion of CRKP among HAIs increased with broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent use. Based on the recent incidence of HAIs in ICUs, the quality of infection control in medical units can be enhanced to decrease HAI incidence. Full article

While the molecular mechanisms of cadmium (Cd) uptake are well-studied in rice and tobacco, hexaploid wheat remains less explored. Elucidating the roles of transporter genes in Cd uptake and translocation in wheat is critical for minimizing Cd accumulation in grains. This study compared the differences in the expression levels of Cd transporter families (including the natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP), heavy metal ATPase (HMA), zinc-regulated transporter/iron-regulated transporter (ZIP), and yellow stripe-like (YSL) families) between two high Cd-accumulating wheat varieties and two low Cd-accumulating wheat varieties using qPCR. We found that low Cd-accumulating wheat varieties had higher expression levels of TaNRAMP5 and TaHMA2 in roots and TaHMA3 in aboveground tissues, and lower expression levels of TaNRAMP6, TaZIP5, and TaYSL6 in both roots and aboveground tissues compared to the high Cd-accumulating wheat varieties. Mantel test analysis revealed that the root expression levels of TaNRAMP5 and TaNRAMP6 and aboveground expression levels of TaZIP6 and TaHMA2 were significantly correlated with the Cd content of wheat tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of TaZIP5 in roots and TaZIP5 and TaHMA3 in aboveground tissues were significantly correlated with the Cd translocation factor from roots to aboveground tissues, suggesting that TaNRAMP5, TaNRAMP6, TaZIP6, and TaHMA2 played key roles in Cd uptake and accumulation in wheat, and TaZIP5 and TaHMA3 were closely associated with Cd translocation from roots to aboveground tissues. Compared to low Cd-accumulating varieties, high Cd-accumulating wheat varieties exhibit significantly elevated levels of thiol-containing compounds for Cd chelation, including glutathione (7.65%~75.5% higher), phytochelatins (2.35%~47.2% higher), and non-protein thiols (13.2%~37.1% higher). These findings deepen insights into wheat Cd absorption processes. The identified transporter genes could serve as foundational resources for future breeding strategies aimed at reducing Cd accumulation in wheat, pending further functional validation. Full article

Green spaces in subtropical cities are important for providing ecological services that support human well-being and serve as reservoirs for diverse microbial communities, which in turn support ecosystem functions. However, studies on the characteristics of the phyllosphere microbial community and public health risks associated with putative pathogens in various urban green spaces exposed to anthropogenic stress remain limited. To address this gap, we collected leaf samples from forests, greenbelts, parklands, and wetlands across Wuhan, China, and analyzed the bacterial and fungal communities via next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. For bacterial and fungal communities, alpha diversity was significantly greater in low-traffic zones than in high-traffic zones. Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct clustering of bacterial and fungal communities according to the urban green space type. Anthropogenic factors (foot traffic) influence green space type to shape microbial community structure, function, and stability, with shifts significantly associated with soil physicochemical properties via Mantel tests and redundancy analysis. The relative abundance of Enterobacter and Enterococcus was significantly greater in high-intensity parklands (HIPS) and high-intensity greenbelts (HIGS) (41.84, 38.32%), respectively. Our findings provide important information for the sustainable management of urban green spaces by regulating microbial communities, offering new insights into ecosystem health and human well-being. Full article

This study evaluated the genetic diversity of 33 Coffea canephora genotypes through morphophysiological and molecular analyses, aiming to identify promising genotypes for pre-breeding purposes in the southern region of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Cutting-propagated seedlings were evaluated 120 days after planting, considering height, stem and crown diameter, number of leaves, fresh and dry shoot and root weight, chlorophyll content, and root characteristics. Molecular analysis was performed on 32 genotypes; one was excluded due to absent DNA, and 18 ISSR markers were used. Morphological data were analyzed by ANOVA, Scott–Knott’s mean test, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis. The results revealed significant diversity among genotypes. The first two principal components explained 75.5% of the total variability. Genotypes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 32, and 33 stood out as those that produced the most vigorous seedlings. Molecular analysis also revealed genetic diversity among genotypes, with the formation of 16 groups, while the morphophysiological analysis revealed four groups. The Mantel test demonstrated a small but significant positive difference (r = 0.228; p = 0.018) between the genetic and morphophysiological distances of the genotypes. This diversity indicates that the genotypes evaluated are promising for use in C. canephora breeding programs. Full article

Wheat serves as the primary raw material for medium- and high-temperature Daqu, a key saccharification, fermentation, and flavoring agent in Chinese Baijiu production. To investigate the influence of wheat’s main components on the quality and volatile profile of Daqu, this study comparatively analyzed the main components of three distinct wheat varieties and the physicochemical indices and volatile characteristics of the Daqu produced from them. Results indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in the main components of the wheats and in the physicochemical indices and sensory scores of their corresponding Daqu samples. CM605 Daqu exhibited the highest acidity, NM660 Daqu showed the highest saccharification power, and MM907 Daqu had the highest liquefaction power. A total of 66 volatile compounds were identified across the three Daqu types, encompassing esters, alcohols, aldehydes, acids, phenols, ketones, pyrazines, etc. The contents of volatile compounds varied significantly among the Daqu samples made from different wheats; notably, the total contents of esters, alcohols, and aldehydes showed significant differences (p < 0.05). The Spearman correlation analysis revealed highly significant correlations (p < 0.01) between several wheat quality characteristics and Daqu quality indices, identifying wheat starch and protein as key factors affecting Daqu quality. The PLS-DA analysis revealed 34 differential volatile compounds. Mantel test correlation analysis further confirmed that wheat components including starch, albumin, globulin, gliadin, glutenin, and fat could influence the differential volatiles in Daqu. For instance, amylopectin content showed a significant positive correlation with n-pentanol, isovaleric acid, and propyl acetate (p < 0.05). This study provides a solid foundation for a deeper understanding of the relationship between wheat composition and Daqu quality, facilitating the more precise selection of wheat varieties to improve Daqu quality during production. Full article

This study aims to uncover the structural and functional characteristics of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities of Kengyilia thoroldiana under five types of topographic habitats in the source region of the Yellow River, and to explore the interaction mechanisms between bacterial communities and plant-soil factors, thereby providing microbiological support for the ecological restoration of Kengyilia thoroldiana artificial grasslands in alpine desert grassland. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to compare the species composition, diversity, interaction networks, and functional characteristics of rhizosphere bacterial communities of Kengyilia thoroldiana across five topographic habitats in the source region of the Yellow River. Additionally, Mantel tests and redundancy analysis (RDA)) were conducted to explore the key environmental factors driving the structure of bacterial communities. The results showed that habitat differences significantly influenced the community characteristics of Kengyilia thoroldiana and soil physicochemical properties. The plant height, coverage, biomass, and soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents were highest in habitats H2 and H5, while they were lowest in habitats H1 and H3. In contrast, soil pH and electrical conductivity exhibited an opposite trend. At the bacterial community level, the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in habitat H5 reached 1917, with α-diversity indices such as Shannon, Ace, and Chao1 being 6.13, 1820.85, and 1844.80, respectively, significantly higher than those in habitat H1. Cluster analysis revealed that habitat H3 formed a distinct group, while the bacterial community structures in the remaining four habitats were similar. Functional prediction indicated that chemoheterotrophy and aerobic chemoheterotrophy were the dominant functions across all habitats, with functional expression values exceeding 9300 in habitats H2, H4, and H5. Redundancy analysis confirmed that soil pH and SOC were the key factors driving the structure of rhizosphere bacterial communities of Kengyilia thoroldiana. In summary, topographic habitats influence the growth of Kengyilia thoroldiana plant communities by shaping soil environmental heterogeneity, thereby regulating the structure and function of rhizosphere bacteria associated with Kengyilia thoroldiana. Full article

Bioavailable phosphorus is essential for sustaining high crop productivity, yet excessive inorganic P fertilization often leads to P accumulation in stable soil forms, reducing utilization efficiency. Straw serves as an organic P source and enhances P availability by stimulating microbial activity. However, systematic studies on how organic P inputs (straw returning) and inorganic P fertilizers regulate soil bioavailable P through microbial and enzymatic processes remain limited. A 16-year field experiment was carried out in a rice–wheat rotation system, including five fertilization treatments: no fertilization (CK), optimized fertilization (OPT), increased N (OPTN), increased P (OPTP), and optimized fertilization combined with straw mulching/returning (OPTM). This study evaluates the impacts of long-term organic and inorganic P sources on soil P fractions, extracellular enzyme activities, and the composition of microbial communities, alongside their collective contributions to crop yield. In this study, based on soil samples collected in 2023, we found that fertilization led to significant increases in Citrate-P and HCl-P, enhanced the activities of β-1,4-glucosidase (BG), β-D-cellobiosidase (CBH), and β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), and altered both microbial diversity and co-occurrence network complexity. The OPTM treatment showed the highest yield and improved microbial diversity and network complexity, with Enzyme-P, Citrate-P, and HCl-P increasing by 62.64%, 11.24%, and 9.49%, and BG, CBH, and NAG activities rising by 22.74%, 40.90%, and 18.09% compared to OPT. Mantel tests and random forest analyses revealed significant associations between microbial community and biochemical properties, while partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) indicated that inorganic P source enhanced yield primarily through altering soil P dynamics and enzymatic processes, while microbial communities under organic P source acted as key mediators to increase crop productivity. These findings deepen insights into how microbial communities and enzymatic stoichiometry synergistically regulate phosphorus bioavailability and wheat yield, providing a theoretical basis for sustainable fertilization practices in rice–wheat rotation systems. Full article

Coastal reclamation reshapes both soils and vegetation, yet their coupled trajectories remain poorly understood. Here we investigated soil–vegetation co-evolution across a 15-year chronosequence on Hengsha Island in the Yangtze River estuary. The reclaimed soils were formed primarily from dredged estuarine silt and clay slurry deposited during hydraulic filling. Four representative sites were studied, spanning 3 (Y3), 7 (Y7), 10 (Y10), and 15 (Y15) years since reclamation. Soil physicochemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) were measured, while vegetation cover was quantified using NDVI and fractional vegetation cover (FVC) derived from satellite data. Soil conditions improved markedly with reclamation age: pH, conductivity, and salinity declined, whereas nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium accumulated significantly (p < 0.001). Vegetation shifted from salt-tolerant pioneers (e.g., Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis) to mixed communities and cultivated rice fields (Oryza sativa), reflecting progressive improvements in soil quality. Vegetation cover increased in parallel, with NDVI rising from 0.12 ± 0.05 (Y3) to 0.35 ± 0.09 (Y15), reflecting a shift from salt-tolerant pioneers to structurally complex communities. Mantel tests revealed strong positive associations of NDVI with organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and negative associations with pH, conductivity, and salinity. Structural equation modeling identified organic matter and nitrogen enrichment, along with declining pH and dissolved salts, as dominant drivers of vegetation recovery. These results highlight a co-evolutionary process in which soil improvement and vegetation succession reinforce one another, offering insights for ecological restoration and sustainable management in coastal reclamation landscapes. Full article

Phosphates were widely used in composting, but their impact on the degradation of organic matter transformation in food waste compost was not well known. In this study, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O and K₂HPO₄ were separately added to food waste for a 30-day composting process. Chemical stoichiometry, high-throughput sequencing, and Mantel analysis were used to reveal the effect of phosphate addition on carbon conversion in composting. Results showed that soluble phosphate addition enhanced compost maturation despite inhibiting crude protein degradation. At the end of composting, the addition of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O and K₂HPO₄ resulted in a 33.75% and 45.15% increase in GI compared to the control group. Compared with K₂HPO₄, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O addition improved total organic carbon (degradation rate increased by 2.9%) and total volatile solids (increased by 1.13%) degradation while reducing pH (decreased by 0.52), promoting total nitrogen preservation (increased by 25.56%). Microbial co-occurrence networks showed that phosphate increased community complexity and stability, enriching core taxa (Lentilactobacillus, Paraburkholderia, Catelliglobosispora, and Pseudarthrobacter). Mantel tests linked microbial diversity to lipid decomposition and maturation. Random forest analysis revealed that additive soluble phosphate boosted organic matter and lipid degradation by stimulating Tepidisphaera and Thermobifida, while suppressing Lactiplantibacillus. Additionally, soluble phosphate enhanced crude protein degradation via Compostibacillus, Weizmannia, and Ureibacillus enrichment. At the end of composting, Tepidisphaera (14.68%) and Thermobifida (30.62%) had a higher proportion in Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O treatment, which might be an important reason why this treatment was beneficial for organic matter degradation. Overall, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O achieved the highest maturity and nitrogen retention, proving optimal for food waste composting. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the restoration effect of artificially mixed-sown grasslands by investigating the characteristics of plant communities and soil fungal communities in long-term (22-year-established) artificial grasslands under six Poaceae mixture combinations. The experiment took mixed-sown grasslands of grass species established in 2002 on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau as the research object. It employed ITS gene high-throughput sequencing technology to construct a fungal community distribution map and combined it with FUNGuild (Functional Guilds of Fungi) functional predictions to analyze fungal species abundance, structural diversity, molecular co-occurrence networks, and functional characteristics. By integrating Mantel test and RDA (redundancy analysis), we identified key environmental factors driving soil microbial community structure in mixed-sown grasslands and revealed the plant–soil–microbe interaction mechanisms in a Poaceae mixture grassland. The results showed that the HC treatment (a mixture of three grass species) significantly enhanced plant biomass and soil nutrient accumulation. In 2023 and 2024, its aboveground biomass increased by 66.14% and 60.91%, respectively, compared to the HA treatment (monoculture). Soil organic matter increased by 52.32% and 48.35%, while electrical conductivity decreased by 48.99% and 51.72%, respectively. The fungal community structure improved under the HD treatment (a mixture of four grass species), with an increased abundance of the dominant phylum Ascomycota and a 14.44% rise in the Shannon index compared to the HA treatment. The network complexity under the HF treatment (a mixture of six grass species) increased (with edge numbers reaching 494), while the functional abundance of plant pathogen was significantly lower than that under the HA treatment. Mantel test and RDA revealed that SEC (soil electrical conductivity) was significantly positively correlated with pH, while both exhibited negative correlations with other plant and soil physicochemical indicators. Moreover, SEC emerged as the core factor driving fungal community assembly. Mixed sowing of three to four grass species effectively regulated soil electrical conductivity, simultaneously enhancing plant biomass, soil nutrients, and fungal community diversity, representing an optimal strategy for artificial restoration of degraded grasslands. Full article

This study develops an integrated framework for groundwater pollution source identification by coupling Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), and the Mantel test, with the Qujiang River Basin as a case study. The framework enables a full-process assessment, encompassing qualitative identification, quantitative apportionment, and spatial validation of pollution drivers. Results indicate that groundwater chemistry is primarily influenced by three categories of sources: natural rock weathering, agricultural and domestic activities, and industrial wastewater discharge. Anthropogenic sources account for 73.7% of the total contribution, with mixed agricultural and domestic inputs dominating (38.5%), followed by industrial effluents (35.2%), while natural weathering contributes 26.3%. Mantel test analysis further shows that agricultural and domestic pollution correlates strongly with intensive farmland distribution in the midstream area, natural sources correspond to carbonate outcrops and higher elevations in the upstream, and industrial contributions cluster in downstream industrial zones. By integrating PCA, PMF, and Mantel analysis, this study offers a robust and transferable framework that improves both the accuracy and spatial interpretability of groundwater pollution source identification. The proposed approach provides scientific support for regionalized groundwater pollution prevention and control under complex hydrogeological settings. Full article