Search Results (3,610)

The global expansion of tree plantations has led to extensive fragmentation of natural forests, posing significant challenges for biodiversity conservation. Understanding the diversity patterns and underlying mechanisms of ground-dwelling insects in these fragmented landscapes is critical to inform effective conservation strategies. To address this, we sampled ground-dwelling insects using pitfall traps across nine remnant natural forest fragments (“islands”) embedded within a tree plantation matrix in Guangxi, China. We examined insect family-level diversity and community composition in relation to fragment isolation (low vs. high) and size (large vs. small) and explored the mechanisms driving the observed patterns. Our results revealed no significant difference in ground-dwelling insect diversity between low-isolation and high-isolation fragments. However, diversity was significantly lower in smaller fragments compared to larger ones. This reduction was primarily driven by decreased seedling density within smaller fragments, directly reflecting the adverse effects of plantation-driven fragmentation on native seedling establishment. Furthermore, we observed noble shifts in community composition of ground-dwelling insects along both fragment isolation and size gradients. Highly isolated fragments exhibited a decline in phytophagous insects and omnivores (with detritivore-herbivore diets), but an increase in detritivores. Smaller fragments exhibited consistent declines across multiple insect taxa spanning various dietary guilds. The observed changes in ground-dwelling insect composition were driven by shifts in plant (especially seedling) community composition. Our findings reveal a clear cascading effect: plantation-driven fragmentation limits native plant regeneration, and these limitations subsequently propagate to higher trophic levels, profoundly impacting ground-dwelling insects. Effective restoration of plantation-fragmented landscapes requires strategies that both prioritize the preservation of large, continuous forest fragments and promote native seedling recruitment within existing fragments. Full article

This study demonstrates a hierarchical spectral modelling approach for predicting pasture nutrition metrics using TabPFN (Tabular Prior-Data Fitted Network), a transformer-based machine learning architecture. In the face of climate variability, aligning stocking rates with pasture resources is crucial for sustainable livestock grazing, requiring accurate assessments of both pasture biomass and nutrient composition. Our research, conducted across diverse growth stages at five tropical and subtropical savanna rangeland properties in Queensland, Australia, with native and introduced C4 grasses, employed a hierarchical sampling and modelling strategy that scales from laboratory spectroscopy to Sentinel-2 satellite predictions via uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) hyperspectral imaging. Spectral data were collected from leaf (laboratory spectroscopy) through field (point measurements), UAV hyperspectral imaging, and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Traditional laboratory wet chemistry methods determined plant leaf and stem nutrient content, from which crude protein (CP = total nitrogen (TN) × 6.25) and dry matter digestibility (DMD = 88.9–0.779 × acid detergent fibre (ADF)) were derived. TabPFN models were trained at each spatial scale, achieving validation ${\mathrm{R}}^2$ of 0.76 for crude protein at the leaf scale, 0.95 at the UAV scale, and 0.92 at the Sentinel-2 satellite scale. For dry matter digestibility, validation ${\mathrm{R}}^2$ was 0.88 at the UAV scale and 0.73 at the Sentinel-2 scale. A pasture classification masking approach using a deep neural network with 98.6% accuracy (7 classes) was implemented to focus predictions on productive pasture areas, excluding bare soil and woody vegetation. The Sentinel-2 models were trained on 462 samples from 19 site–date combinations across 11 field sites. The TabPFN architecture provided notable advantages over traditional neural networks: no hyperparameter tuning required, faster training, and superior generalisation from limited training samples. These results demonstrate the potential for accurate and efficient prediction and mapping of pasture quality across large areas (100 s–1000 s ${\mathrm{k}\mathrm{m}}^2$) using freely available satellite imagery and open-source machine learning frameworks. Full article

The genus Cirsium (family Asteraceae, subfamily Carduoideae) comprises more than 200 species distributed throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In recent years, particular scientific interest has focused on Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (creeping thistle) and Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. (spear thistle). These species are notable for their high content of secondary metabolites and broad biological activity. However, the available data on their phytochemical composition and biological potential remain fragmented. This information is methodologically diverse and scattered across different scientific disciplines, underscoring the need for systematic analysis. In this study, a comprehensive literature review was conducted. Sources included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and other online databases. The focus was on phytochemical composition and pharmacological activity. Both species contain a wide range of secondary metabolites. These include phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acids), flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin), triterpenoids (lupeol, taraxerol), and phytosterols. C. vulgare generally has higher levels of chlorogenic acid and flavonoid glycosides. In contrast, C. arvense has a greater abundance of triterpenes and steroidal compounds. Pharmacological studies show antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities for both species. Overall, the available data indicate that C. arvense and C. vulgare are promising sources of biologically active compounds with diverse pharmacological potential. Although there are some limitations regarding standardization and the depth of preclinical and clinical validation, the obtained results confirm their relevance for further pharmacological and phytochemical research. Full article

Most cycad seeds germinate under the parent plant, and seedlings die before recruitment to the juvenile stage. Decomposition of the senesced organs releases the nutrients to influence nutrient cycling. The aim of this study was to quantify the soil nitrogen that accumulates from seedling turnover. Soil cores were collected beneath male and female trees of four Cycas species in five Philippine habitats from 2019 through 2025, with matching cores collected 5 m from the trees. Five to nine replications were employed depending on the habitat. One seedling was excavated beneath each tree in one location. Total nitrogen concentration was determined by dry combustion in soil and plant tissues, and total nitrogen content was calculated for seedlings. The soils beneath female trees contained more nitrogen than beneath male trees or away from cycad trees in every habitat. The highest nitrogen concentration within seedlings occurred in coralloid roots, but leaflets contained the most nitrogen pool, indicating rapid release of nitrogen during decomposition of the senesced seedling. No differences in rhizosphere nitrogen occurred in a 2017–2025 ex situ experiment using Cycas edentata, where seeds were sown beneath female and male trees. A second 2018–2025 experiment revealed that female trees provisioned with self-seeds did not differ in rhizosphere nitrogen compared with non-kin seeds. Nitrogen fixed by cyanobacteria endosymbionts of cycad seedlings and programmed seedling mortality combine to influence nitrogen cycling in soils beneath female trees over time. Full article

Helichrysum italicum Mill. (Asteraceae), a perennial evergreen species native to the Mediterranean basin, has been traditionally employed to treat various inflammatory and infectious diseases, as well as respiratory, digestive, gallbladder, and bladder disorders. The plant is valued for its essential oil. It contains phenols and flavonoids, which play a fundamental role in the protective effects associated with the traditional use of extracts of its aerial parts. The goal of the study was to investigate the phytochemical and biological properties of polar extracts, specifically water and hydroalcoholic (50% ethanol) extracts, obtained from the aerial parts of H. italicum. The extracts were evaluated for phenolic composition and concurrently assessed for antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory activities. Additionally, the biocompatibility of the extracts was investigated using eco-toxicological models, including Artemia salina lethality and Daphnia magna cardiotoxicity assays, as well as allelopathic studies. CCD841CoN colon epithelial cell viability was also assessed in the presence of the extracts. The extracts’ protective effects were examined in an ex vivo inflammatory model using isolated mouse colon and liver tissues exposed to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Their influence on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression was investigated, as well. Docking studies were also performed to uncover on the potential mechanisms underpinning the biological effects observed in the study. The phytochemical analysis showed that hydroxycinnamic acids and quercetin derivatives were the primary components in both extracts. In particular, the hydroalcoholic extract showed higher phenol levels and more potent scavenging/reducing and enzyme inhibitory activities against tyrosinase, cholinesterases, glucosidase, and amylase. Using the aforementioned eco-toxicological and in vitro cell models, the extracts’ biocompatibility was determined to be in the range of 200–1000 µg/mL. Within this concentration interval, the extracts effectively mitigated LPS-induced stimulation of COX-2 and IL-6 gene expression. Docking studies suggest that hydroxycinnamic acids (notably chlorogenic acid) and flavonoids (including quercetin, rutin, hyperoside, and isoquercitrin) play a pivotal role in the extracts’ anti-inflammatory activity. In conclusion, this study provides scientific evidence supporting the ethnopharmacological use of H. italicum in managing oxidative stress and inflammatory disorders, especially in the digestive system. Phenolics in the extracts likely enhance their therapeutic potential. These findings warrant further research, including in vivo studies, to assess the extracts’ efficacy and safety profile comprehensively. Full article

Salt, drought and freezing stress were major abiotic factors limiting plant growth, development and yield. Halostachys caspica (Amaranthaceae), a halophyte native to saline-arid desert regions, tolerated multiple abiotic stresses, but its molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance remain unclear. By integrating the small RNA library and transcriptome data of H. caspica under high salinity, HcmiR172e was identified as a differentially expressed miRNA and selected for the study of multiple abiotic stress responses. Using its mature sequence (20 nt) to align with upregulated genes from the transcriptome, HcTOE3 (AP2 subfamily transcription factor belonging to the AP2/ERF family) was preliminarily predicted as its target gene through bioinformatic analysis. Our previous work demonstrated that HcTOE3 was strongly upregulated by multiple abiotic stresses, including salinity, drought, heat and low temperature. Furthermore, overexpression of HcTOE3 conferred freezing tolerance to Arabidopsis throughout the entire growth period. In this study, miRNA expression analyses showed that HcmiR172e was significantly downregulated in the assimilating branches of H. caspica under low temperature, heat, salt, drought, oxidative stress and abscisic acid (ABA) application. Tobacco transient expression assays and 5′RLM-RACE confirmed that HcmiR172e directly cleaved HcTOE3 transcripts in the region close to the 5′end of the ORF. HcmiR172e-overexpressing Arabidopsis displayed increased sensitivity to salt, drought, freezing stresses and ABA treatment, along with enhanced growth inhibition, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, decreased osmolyte content and downregulation of stress-responsive genes. In contrast, HcTOE3-overexpressing Arabidopsis exhibited the opposite phenotypes, physiological responses and corresponding gene expression patterns under multiple stress treatments. These findings collectively elucidated the antagonistic regulatory roles of HcmiR172e and HcTOE3 in plant abiotic stress responses, providing novel molecular targets for engineering stress-tolerant crops for saline, arid, freezing environments. Full article

Urban street greenery plays a crucial role in enhancing biodiversity, environmental quality, and human well-being. However, how different street greening strategies shape urban plant diversity across functional urban contexts remains insufficiently understood. Taking Jinan, a rapidly urbanizing city in China, as a case study, this research investigates the spatial patterns, compositional differences, and driving mechanisms of plant diversity between Green Streets (GS) and Non-Green Streets (NGS) across various Urban Functional Units (UFUs). A 1 km × 1 km grid was used to delineate UFUs, combined with field-based plant surveys, linear regression analyses, and the public space assessment framework of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.7.1. Results indicate that plant diversity is strongly dependent on urban functional types, with higher species richness observed in residential and recreation/leisure districts, and lower levels in industrial, commercial, and transportation districts. The ecological effects of GS exhibit clear context dependence, being more pronounced in residential, educational, and public service areas, but limited in commercial and industrial zones. NGS recorded a significantly higher total number of plant species (346) than GS (116), with NGS dominated by native spontaneous species and GS characterized by introduced cultivated plants, reflecting the filtering effects of different management intensities. Management variables, particularly watering (positive) and fertilization frequency (negative), is primarily positively associated with plant diversity in GS, whereas diversity in NGS is more closely associated with socio-economic and spatial factors such as UFU area and housing prices. Furthermore, the current SDG 11.7.1 indicator emphasizes the quantity and accessibility of public spaces but insufficiently captures their ecological quality. This study highlights the need to integrate biodiversity and vegetation structural complexity into public space assessments, providing scientific support for quality-oriented urban green infrastructure planning and sustainable urban development. Full article

Berberis darwinii is a native Chilean berry distributed across contrasting agro-ecological zones, highlighting its broad ecological amplitude and agronomic relevance. The objective of this study was to identify productive, functional, and balanced elite accessions of B. darwinii by integrating phenotypic, fruit quality, nutritional, and antioxidant traits under contrasting water availability. Ninety-six accessions were evaluated in a common-garden experiment over two consecutive growing seasons (irrigated and rainfed) for morphological, productive, and fruit quality traits. Substantial variation was observed in plant height, shoot number, leaf area, and spine density. Across seasons, some accessions combined high yields (up to 8.5 t ha⁻¹), fruit diameters exceeding 8 mm, and elevated soluble solids (up to 33 °Brix). Because water regime, season, and plant age were not experimentally separated, these contrasts indicate adaptive performance under contrasting water availability rather than direct irrigation effects. Functional analyses revealed high biochemical diversity, with total polyphenols reaching 18,168.7 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ dry weight, anthocyanins up to 5747.7 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside 100 g⁻¹ dry weight, and ORAC values up to 35.4 mmol Trolox 100 g⁻¹ fresh weight. Multivariate analyses supported the selection of elite candidates for low-input domestication and functional ingredient development. This integrated common-garden framework links intra-specific phenotypic variation with phenolic/antioxidant diversity, supporting trait-based selection and interpretation of stress-associated secondary metabolism. Full article

Climate change threatens the stability of temperate grassland ecosystems in Inner Mongolia, a core part of the Eurasian Steppe, by driving widespread shifts in plant species distributions. Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn., a dominant native perennial herb in Inner Mongolian steppes, is ecologically vital for degraded grassland restoration and forage supply, but its response to future climate change is unclear. Here, we used an optimized MaxEnt model to assess its potential distribution under current and future climate scenarios. We processed 228 initial occurrence records into 112 valid points, selected 11 non-collinear environmental variables, optimized model parameters with the R package ENMeval, and projected distributions for the 2050s and 2100s under CMIP6 SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, while quantifying habitat fragmentation with landscape metrics. We found that annual mean temperature and annual precipitation dominate A. cristatum distribution (total contribution ~87%), with current highly suitable habitats concentrated in central-eastern Inner Mongolia. Future scenarios show stable core suitable habitats with northward and westward shifts, habitat fragmentation will slightly increase. Our findings clarify the climate response of A. cristatum and support its conservation and adaptive grassland management. Full article

Soil fumigation effectively mitigates replanting obstacles induced by intensive cultivation, yet its non-targeted biocidal effects can suppress beneficial microbial activity, potentially compromising agricultural sustainability. Microbial inoculation, as a strategy to supplement beneficial microorganisms, is often employed to restore soil microbial communities. However, in practice, commonly used exogenous microbial consortia exhibit poor adaptability in non-native environments, frequently resulting in limited efficacy. To address this limitation, we propose an ecological intervention based on the reintroduction of indigenous cultivable microorganisms: cultivable microbial communities were isolated from healthy adjacent soils and inoculated into fumigated soils affected by replanting obstacles. The experimental soil consisted of black soil under continuous cropping, collected from Northeast China. The three treatments were continuous cropping soil (control), fumigated continuous cropping soil and fumigated continuous cropping soil after inoculation of indigenous cultivable microorganisms. Using high-throughput sequencing and agronomic–chemical analyses, combined with cross-domain networks and procrustes analysis, we systematically assessed the ecological effects of this approach on microbial restoration and the alleviation of replanting obstacles. The results showed that indigenous cultivable microorganism inoculation significantly increased the richness of bacterial and fungal communities in fumigated soils within 21 days, extending microbial richness and diversity. Furthermore, inoculation accelerated the reconstruction of dominant microbial community structures, with the relative abundance of dominant species reaching up to 80%. Positive synergistic interactions between bacteria and fungi increased by approximately 10%, enhancing network stability. Key bacterial taxa, such as Paenibacillus and Mycobacterium, were significantly correlated with available potassium and phosphorus content, while Micromonospora, Massilia, and Flavisolibacter influenced plant fresh weight, total nitrogen, and potassium accumulation. Key fungal taxa, such as Cryptococcus and Phialemonium, were significantly associated with soil organic matter stability, maize photosynthetic efficiency, plant dry weight, and total phosphorus content. This study confirms the ecological adaptability and functionality of indigenous cultivable microorganisms in soil ecosystem restoration, offering a low-risk, highly effective localized intervention strategy for sustainable agriculture. Full article

Astragalus glycyphyllos (Fabaceae) is known to be a source of flavones, flavonols, and isoflavones, and its in vitro culture may promote the efficiency and sustainability of obtaining pharmacologically valuable fractions. The aim of this study was to develop an effective plantlet regeneration protocol for A. glycyphyllos, providing the accumulation of phenolic compounds and antioxidants in cultured tissues. The results show a maximum seed germination rate (67.8%) after scarification (mechanical with sandpaper followed by treatment with 50% sulfuric acid) and subsequent sterilization with 1.1% sodium hypochlorite solution. The maximum regeneration rate (95%) was achieved on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.5 mg·L⁻¹ thidiazuron. A thidiazuron concentration of 0.05 mg·L⁻¹, combined with a twofold increase in iron chelate content, induced the maximum yield of total flavonoids (8.74 mg·g⁻¹ DW), and significant levels of total phenolics (4.15 mg·g⁻¹) and antioxidants (1.83 mg AAE·g⁻¹) in the microshoot tissues. HPLC analysis showed kaempferol glycosides (1.51 mg·g⁻¹) and acylated kaempferol glycosides (2.76 mg·g⁻¹) as major components. Formononetin in a modest amount (0.09 mg·g⁻¹) was detected in hydrolyzed extracts. The phenolic profiles of the microshoots and native plants coincided in hydroxycinnamic acid composition; meanwhile, quercetin glycosides were present only in in situ plants, and formononetin was found only in the plantlets. The results confirm the prospects of biotechnological methods for the industrial production of standardized medicinal raw materials. Full article

The rise in emerging viral outbreaks has intensified the need for novel antiviral therapies and highlighted the untapped potential of natural products. Influenza viruses, particularly avian strains, continue to evolve rapidly, yet the antiviral properties of Jordan’s native plants remain largely unexplored. This study focused on avian influenza and screened twelve endemic plant species, using ethanol to selectively extract polar phytochemicals likely to interact with the hydrophilic active site of neuraminidase (NA). Among these, Arbutus andrachne leaf and fruit extracts emerged as potent in vitro inhibitors of recombinant N9 neuraminidase, a key enzyme in influenza replication, with IC₅₀ values of 31.6 µg/mL and 32.9 µg/mL, respectively. LC-MS analysis identified hyperoside as the major shared flavonoid in both extracts, which may contribute to the observed inhibitory activity. These findings support the potential of A. andrachne as a natural source for herbal preparations with antiviral activity. Full article

Verbascum hasbenlii Aytaç & H. Duman is a narrowly distributed endemic species native to Çanakkale, Türkiye. This study aimed to establish and optimize callus induction and cell suspension culture systems for V. hasbenlii. Leaf explants obtained from 10-week-old seed-derived in vitro plants were cultured on six Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing different combinations of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 0.5 or 1.0 mg/L) and 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP; 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 mg/L). After four weeks, callus induction was achieved in all treatments (96–100%), although significant differences were observed in explant browning, callus biomass, diameter, and morphology. The medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L NAA produced the highest callus biomass (1.245 g) and diameter (5.06 mm), while maintaining low explant browning and a compact-friable texture suitable for suspension culture establishment. Cell suspension cultures exhibited a typical growth pattern with lag, exponential, and stationary phases. On day 9, cultures showed increased growth parameters, including packed cell volume (PCV: 7.50%), fresh weight (FW: 0.0580 g), and dry weight (DW: 0.0052 g), with relatively high cell viability (80.72%). Biomass accumulation reached maximum levels between days 18–21, while cell viability decreased to 66.82%. These findings provide an optimized in vitro culture system for future studies on secondary metabolite production in V. hasbenlii. Full article

Drought stress severely limits plant growth and productivity, yet the molecular basis of drought tolerance and post-drought recovery remains incompletely understood in many forage legumes. Medicago ruthenica is a perennial legume native to arid and cold regions and exhibits strong drought resilience. Results: We integrated key physiological traits related to stomatal regulation, photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense with RNA-seq across four stages (well-watered control, CK; drought for 9 days, D9; drought for 12 days, D12; and rewatering for 4 days, RW). Drought triggered stage-dependent physiological shifts, and transcriptome profiling identified >3000 drought- and rewatering-responsive genes enriched in primary metabolism, redox homeostasis and hormone signaling. WGCNA highlighted two drought-associated modules (MEcyan and MEcoral1) and prioritized three hub transcription factors for functional validation: 861 (AP2/ERF), 22 (WRKY) and 89 (bZIP). Overexpression of each gene in tobacco improved drought tolerance, as indicated by enhanced growth/root traits, increased osmolyte accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced membrane damage. Conclusions: Together, these results provide an integrated view of drought stress response and recovery in M. ruthenica and identify 861, 22 and 89 as candidate regulatory genes for engineering drought resilience in legumes. Full article

Sonchus oleraceus L., a member of the Asteraceae family native to Eurasia, is a herbaceous plant whose young stems and leaves are consumed globally as a medicinal and edible wild vegetable; it is rich in flavonoids and exhibits various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. This study optimized the extraction process of flavonoids from Xinjiang S. oleraceus using response surface methodology and evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of luteoloside in vitro. Based on single-factor experiments and Box–Behnken design, the effects of ethanol concentration, extraction time, solid-to-liquid ratio, and extraction temperature on flavonoid yield were investigated. The optimal extraction conditions were determined as ethanol concentration 62%, extraction time 30 min, solid-to-liquid ratio 1:91 g/mL, and extraction temperature 64 °C, with a flavonoid yield of 21.64 mg/g. After purification via polyamide column chromatography, the luteoloside content was determined by HPLC to be 44.06 μg/g. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that a luteoloside concentration of 100 μmol/L reduced the viability of Oryctolagus cuniculus colon epithelial cells to approximately 80%. ELISA results demonstrated that luteoloside significantly inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory factors, including TNF-α, while promoting the expression of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. These findings indicate that luteoloside effectively alleviates LPS-induced cellular inflammation. Full article