Search Results (1,021)

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

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are essential nutrients that play critical roles in plant physiological processes and the accumulation of N and P in broccoli head was significantly correlated with yield. Therefore, there is a need for a rapid, non-destructive diagnosis of crop status by detecting deficiencies in essential nutrients. This study evaluated the effects of N and P deficiency on field grown broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenk) using a plant-induced electrical signal (PIES) sensor, in which needle electrodes are inserted into the stem to measure electrical conductivity reflecting plant water and ion status. Four treatments were established, including the control (N100P100) with sufficient N and P supply, N deficiency (N0P100), P deficiency (N100P0), and combined N–P deficiency (N0P0). For sufficient supply, urea and fused phosphate (FP) were applied at rates of 122 kg N ha⁻¹ and 71 kg P ha⁻¹, respectively. Soil, stem, and leaf nutrient contents, growth parameters, and stress related indicators were analyzed and their relationship with PIES values were evaluated. PIES was highest in control (N100P100) and lowest under N–P deficiency (N0P0). Higher PIES values were observed during the vegetative stage, whereas values declined during the reproductive stage, reflecting changes in physiological activity. Growth parameters such as shoot and root weight and stem diameter were generally superior in the control (N100P100) treatment, while leaf calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K) concentrations showed no significant differences among treatments. Total N content in leaves was higher in N fertilized treatments (control and P deficiency). Photosynthesis-related parameters, including soil plant analysis development (SPAD), Fv/Fm, and chlorophyll content, were lowest under N–P deficiency, which was reflected in the PIES. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the PIES was closely associated with growth and photosynthetic parameters and clearly distinguished N sufficient treatments (control and P deficiency) from N deficient treatments (N0P100, N0P0). Overall, these findings suggest that PIES monitoring can serve as a sensitive physiological indicator of nutrient stress and may be applied as an early diagnostic tool before visible growth inhibition occurs in broccoli cultivation. Full article

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an important vegetable with high nutritional and medicinal value. Its reliance on asexual reproduction causes variety degradation and low propagation efficiency, severely limiting the garlic industry. This study established an efficient shoot organogenesis system for the garlic cultivar Gailiangsuan through optimizing tissue culture protocols. Various explants, media, and hormone combinations were tested to determine the optimal conditions for improving in vitro propagation efficiency. The results demonstrated that for garlic inflorescence explants, immature inflorescences protruding 0–5 cm from the leaf sheath or not protruding were the optimal explants, exhibiting the highest shoot number. The Gamborg B5 (B₅) medium supplemented with a hormone combination of zeatin (ZT) 2 mg/L + indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) 0.05–0.2 mg/L at the first stage and ZT 0.2 mg/L + IAA 0.05 mg/L at the second stage was the most effective for improving in vitro propagation efficiency. For in vitro stem disc culture, the B₅ medium containing 6-benzylaminopurine (6–BA) 2 mg/L + 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) 0.2 mg/L was optimal. Moreover, a sucrose concentration of 7% was identified as optimal for microbulb development, resulting in significantly larger microbulbs than those grown in a medium with 3% sucrose. These results provide a technical basis for large-scale production of high-quality garlic seedlings. Full article

SHORT INTERNODE (SHI)-related sequence (SRS) transcription factors are plant-specific zinc-finger proteins increasingly implicated in growth and abiotic stress responses. Despite their diverse vital role in plants, they are largely unexplored in bread wheat. In this study, we identified 15 TaSRS genes and classified them into five homoeologous groups in the bread wheat genome. Each TaSRS protein consisted of conserved RING-like zinc-finger and IGGH domains. The synteny and phylogenetic analyses provided insight into the evolutionary divergence and conservation of TaSRS proteins. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements along with various transcription factor binding sites, indicating their plausible roles in drought and salinity stress responses and signalling. Additionally, the predicted regulation of a few TaSRS genes through certain miRNAs involved in hormone and stress responses, plant development, and nutrient uptake suggested their diverse functions. In silico protein–protein interaction and gene ontology analyses further anticipated an association of TaSRS proteins with organ development and hormone and stress response. High-throughput transcriptomic profiling revealed differential expression of TaSRS genes across various vegetative and reproductive stages and abiotic stress conditions. The qRT-PCR analyses confirmed the stress-responsive role of TaSRS1-1D, TaSRS2-3D, TaSRS4-7A, and TaSRS5-7A under drought and salinity conditions. These results indicated the potential role of TaSRS genes in stress adaptation and opened up opportunities for their detailed functional characterization and applications in the development of salinity and drought resilience in crops. Full article

Seed priming is a simple, economical, and sustainable technique capable of enhancing crop resilience to abiotic stresses. A plastic greenhouse experiment was conducted on the durum wheat cultivar, Karim, sown in a 375 L volume container under semi-controlled conditions. Plots were arranged in a completely randomized design regarding treatments (control, salinity) and priming agents (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA; gibberellic acid, GA₃; and salicylic acid, SA). Some physiological, biochemical, and morphometric traits were analyzed at vegetative and reproductive stages. The obtained results demonstrated that salinity stress reduced plant growth and the SPAD index, hampered photosynthetic efficiency through disrupted PSII integrity and energy management in the electron transfer chain, and significantly affected ear filling (EF) and grain caliber (marked by mean weight of 100 grains, MW100G). However, seed hormonal priming allowed the alleviation of salinity stress effects on durum wheat growth and yield. Although IAA and GA₃ have shown significant potential in improving durum wheat tolerance to salinity, SA was found to be the most effective priming agent. It promotes the biosynthesis of chlorophyll pigments, restores the functional integrity of PSII, enhances photosynthetic efficiency, increases plant growth, and stimulates ear filling and wheat grain development. The principal component analysis demonstrated the interdependence of the vegetative and reproductive traits and presents SA as the most effective treatment that brings plants close to control conditions, despite the salinity. Full article

Constituting the first synopsis on woody bamboos in southern South America, this contribution provides a comprehensive overview of its 12 native genera. The synopsis includes botanical descriptions for each genus, a complete checklist of the taxa, as well as information on their habitat, uses and applications, and flowering period. Furthermore, it provides keys that allow for the identification of the genera: one based on vegetative characters, and the other on both vegetative and reproductive characters. Full article

Maize cultivation in tropical Oxisols during the second growing season faces significant climatic risks, where spatial heterogeneity in soil water retention often dictates economic viability. This study integrated a trimodal sensing approach, combining multispectral, thermal, and LiDAR data, with proximal physiological measurements to map isohydric responses and yield variability. Conducted in the Brazilian Cerrado, the research monitored a one-hectare maize field using UAV-based sensors alongside ground truth evaluations of gas exchange, leaf water potential, and soil moisture. Results revealed high yield variability (6.6 to 13.4 Mg ha⁻¹) primarily governed by clay content-mediated water availability. Maize exhibited strict isohydric behavior, maintaining homeostatic leaf water potential through preventive stomatal closure, which limited CO₂ assimilation in zones with lower water retention. A significant statistical decoupling was observed between plant height and final grain yield, as water stress impacted reproductive stages more severely than vegetative growth. Furthermore, the Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) served as a robust proxy for biomass vigor rather than mere water deficit. These results confirm that yield variability in tropical Oxisols was not a product of hydraulic failure, but rather a consequence of carbon limitation necessitated by the crop’s conservative hydraulic management to maintain leaf water potential within safe thresholds. Full article

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a globally important vegetable crop and a key model species for studying reproductive development in other Solanaceae members with edible fleshy fruits, such as eggplant, sweet and hot peppers, and Physalis spp. The morphogenesis and patterning of tomato floral organs fundamentally determine fruit yield and quality. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and gene editing have significantly deepened our understanding of the molecular network regulating tomato reproductive development. This process, from the transition of vegetative shoot apical meristem to the inflorescence meristem, forming floral meristems with primordia of sepals, petals, stamens, carpels, and fruits, is precisely coordinated by a genetic network involving homeobox and other types of transcription factors, along with signaling pathways. This review systematically outlines the core regulatory network, with an emphasis on the MADS-domain transcription factor family and its associated ABCDE model. Integrating insights from hormone signaling and mutant phenotypes, we summarize the maintenance of inflorescence meristem identity, the specification of floral meristems, and the morphogenetic patterns and core gene regulatory mechanisms for each floral whorl in tomato. We further extend this framework to the flower–fruit continuum, examining how carpel development, floral meristem termination, and ovule differentiation influence fruit morphology, locule number, pericarp structure, and metabolic traits. Finally, we discuss the integration of floral organ development with molecular design breeding and formulate a forward-looking research agenda that translates floral regulatory mechanisms to breeding strategies for yield, uniformity, and fruit quality. This synthesis provides a theoretical foundation and genetic resources for the genetic improvement of tomato flower architecture and its underlying regulatory mechanisms. Full article

Accurate fresh weight (FW) estimation is essential for growth monitoring and yield prediction in greenhouse fruit vegetables, but remains challenging due to the dynamic allocation between vegetative and reproductive organs. This study aimed to systematically evaluate modeling strategies for FW estimation in sweet pepper and identify which approach is most suitable under conditions of dynamic biomass partitioning. Non-destructive morphological measurements were collected under greenhouse cultivation, and allometric models based on geometric equations were established as baselines. Their performance was compared with machine learning (ML) models and ensemble learning frameworks. To address limited data availability, numerical data augmentation with Gaussian noise and a variational autoencoder was applied. Among the allometric models, the stick model combined with a sigmoid function showed the highest performance, with an $R^2$ of 0.80 for shoot FW and 0.54 for fruit FW. All ML models outperformed the allometric models, and the ensemble model achieved the highest predictive accuracy, with an $R^2$ of 0.96 for shoot FW and 0.89 for fruit FW. Data augmentation further improved predictive performance across all ML models, particularly for fruit FW prediction. Feature contribution analysis revealed that temporal progression was the dominant predictor of fruit FW, while structural traits played the primary role in shoot FW estimation. Ensemble-based ML, combined with data augmentation, provides a methodological framework for non-destructive FW estimation of sweet pepper in controlled environments such as greenhouses and smart farming systems. Full article

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient required for plant growth, photosynthesis and metabolic regulation. Its importance is related to the involvement in several metabolic processes that ensure proper cellular function and balanced plant development throughout the production cycle. In plants, Mn is absorbed predominantly as Mn²⁺, and its availability is strongly influenced by soil pH, aeration, and other mineral nutrients in the soil solution. After uptake by roots, Mn is translocated to the shoot, accumulating primarily in metabolically active organs such as stems, young leaves and flowers. Although Mn exhibits limited mobility in the phloem, adequate concentrations are necessary to sustain both vegetative development and reproductive growth. Adequate Mn concentration is directly reflected in fruit development, as well-nourished plants show improved flowering, greater assimilate translocation capacity, and better fruit filling, thereby positively influencing yield and quality. However, Mn deficiency is common in alkaline soils or soils with high organic matter, causing interveinal chlorosis in young leaves, reduced growth, and lower biomass production. Under prolonged conditions, deficiency leads to less vigorous plants with reduced metabolic efficiency. Conversely, Mn toxicity, typically associated with acidic and poorly drained soils, restricts root development and induces nutritional imbalances with other elements, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. Therefore, proper Mn management is essential to ensure nutritional balance and optimal performance of agricultural crops. Overall, this review synthesizes advances in Mn transport, cellular compartmentalization, and metabolic regulation, emphasizing how Mn interacts with other mineral nutrients to influence plant physiology. Attention is given to the integration of Mn with redox networks, photosynthetic regulation, and reproductive development. By linking transport mechanisms with physiological outcomes, this review identifies key patterns governing Mn homeostasis and highlights implications for crop nutrition and sustainable nutrient management. Full article

Early and recent studies have demonstrated that exposure to moonlight influences the entire life cycle of plants from seed germination to vegetative growth and reproduction. Exposure to moonlight was found to induce genome reorganization in plants and significant changes in gene expression, protein, and metabolite profiles. However, the specific factors that facilitate moonlight perception are unknown. To uncover the photoreceptors responsible for moonlight perception, we analyzed Arabidopsis phototropin mutants (phot1, phot2, and phot1phot2) as well as the phytochrome mutants phyA and phyB for their response to full moonlight (FML). De-etiolation assays revealed that plants do perceive and respond to FML within 5 h of exposure. Thus, among the photoreceptor mutants analyzed, only phot1 and phot1phot2 were impaired in apical hook opening and cotyledon unfolding under FML. Interestingly, under high light intensity, all examined mutants underwent proper de-etiolation. Further analysis showed that phot1 as well as phyB mutants were impaired in response to moonlight, displaying no changes in nuclear size and in protein profiles following exposure to FML and were comparable to plants exposed to dark. The FML (5 h exposure) did not induce the formation of fewer, large nuclear photobodies, as occurred following 5 h exposure to growth-room light. Our findings highlighted phot1 and phyB as photoreceptors necessary for plants to perceive and respond to FML. It is proposed that the initial perception of moonlight is facilitated by the blue-light receptor phot1 and is subsequently interpreted into a functional state by the R/FR receptor phyB. Full article

Background: Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of inadequate calcium intake, yet no data exist for vulnerable population groups in Madagascar. We aimed to assess daily calcium intake, the major contributing food sources, and the prevalence of inadequate intake in young children, adolescents, and women of reproductive age. Methods: The 2024 National Micronutrient Survey used a two-stage probabilistic design across all 23 regions. The daily calcium intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire that focused on calcium-rich foods that are commonly consumed in Madagascar and the calcium concentration measured in drinking water. Results: Calcium intake was low across all population groups, averaging 200–300 mg/d in adolescents and women and below 180 mg/d in young children. The prevalence of inadequate intake exceeded 96% in every population group. While calcium intake increased with increasing household wealth in children, the opposite pattern was observed for adolescents and women, whose intake decreased with increasing wealth. The main contributors to calcium intake were cassava leaves, cassava roots, small fresh and dried fish eaten with bones, drinking water across all population groups, and breastmilk in young children. Conclusions: The calcium intake is low throughout Madagascar and across all demographic groups. Strategies to improve intake are urgently needed and should include promoting continued breastfeeding and the consumption of calcium-rich, locally available, affordable foods such as small fish eaten with bones and leafy green vegetables, alongside a consideration of wheat flour fortified with calcium. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a globally important legume crop valued as a major source of plant-based protein and edible oil. Understanding the transcriptional programs underlying tissue-specific development is essential for improving seed quality and agronomic performance. Here, we present an integrative transcriptomic analysis of soybean based on 12 samples representing key seed developmental stages—including globular, heart, cotyledon, embryo, dry seed, mid-mature, and late-mature—and vegetative and reproductive tissues, including leaf, root, stem, flower bud, and seedling at 6 days after imbibition (6 DAI). Following data preprocessing and filtering, 54,880 genes were retained for downstream analysis. Principal component analysis revealed clear separation between seed and non-seed tissues, indicating that tissue identity is the dominant driver of transcriptomic variation. Analysis of the top 100 most variable genes further highlighted distinct expression modules associated with seed maturation and vegetative growth. Differential expression analysis identified 9785 genes exhibiting significant expression differences between seed and non-seed tissues, including 1139 upregulated and 8646 downregulated genes under relaxed statistical thresholds. Functional characterization of seed-upregulated genes revealed enrichment of biological processes related to storage metabolism, embryo development, and stress protection mechanisms associated with desiccation tolerance. In addition, co-expression network and correlation analyses demonstrated strong transcriptional coherence among seed tissues and distinct clustering of vegetative organs. Together, these results provide a comprehensive systems-level overview of transcriptional organization across soybean tissues and identify candidate gene sets relevant to seed biology, functional genomics, and crop improvement. Full article

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) are among the most destructive pests affecting cucumber production, causing significant reductions in plant growth and yield. This study investigated the efficacy of chitosan-based soil amendments, alone and in combination with hot or cold jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) leaf extracts and leaf powder, in suppressing nematode infestation and enhancing cucumber vegetative growth under greenhouse conditions. Treatments were evaluated for their impact on nematode reproduction, including egg masses, eggs per egg mass, second-stage juveniles (J2s), female numbers, and gall formation, as well as on plant growth parameters such as height, leaf number, and fresh and dry biomass. Chitosan alone reduced egg masses, eggs per egg mass, and J2s by 43.83%, 56.35%, and 50.63%, respectively, while hot water extract reduced them by 44.10%, 54.18%, and 50.48%. Cold extract was less effective, with reductions of 31.36%, 48.29%, and 40.31%, whereas leaf powder alone caused reductions of 44.20%, 54.60%, and 45.00%. Combined applications exhibited higher efficacy: hot extract + chitosan reduced egg masses, eggs per egg mass, and J2s by 61.64%, 59.45%, and 55.57%, leaf powder + chitosan by 64.38%, 60.70%, and 60.71%, and the triple treatment (leaf powder + chitosan + hot extract) achieved the highest suppression, reducing egg masses, eggs per egg mass, and J2s by 75.90%, 74.66%, and 69.22%, respectively. All treatments significantly enhanced cucumber growth compared with the naturally infested control. The triple treatment increased plant height by 38.5%, leaf number by 42.1%, fresh shoot biomass by 46.3%, and dry shoot biomass by 44.8%. Single treatments also improved growth, though to a lesser extent, reflecting a synergistic effect of chitosan and jojoba-derived amendments. These findings demonstrate that integrating biopolymer-based amendments with plant-derived bioactive compounds can simultaneously suppress root-knot nematode populations and promote cucumber growth. This study provides a solid basis for developing sustainable and eco-friendly integrated pest management strategies that reduce reliance on chemical nematicides. Full article

Antimicrobial metabolite production in basidiomycetes varies by strain and growing conditions. This study compared the antimicrobial activity of extracts from nine fungal strains at both their vegetative and reproductive stages. Wild-growing fungal fruiting bodies were collected and identified through both morphological characterization and molecular sequencing. Extracts from fruiting bodies, mycelia, and culture liquids were tested using the agar well diffusion method and by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Analysis revealed that the highest antimicrobial activity was associated with culture liquid extracts. Antimicrobial properties were detected in the submerged mycelium extracts of only two strains: Stereum hirsutum 1 and Flammulina rossica 16. For fruiting bodies, activity was restricted to extracts of strains from the genus Fomitopsis. The strain S. hirsutum 1 was determined to be the most effective producer of antibacterial compounds. The highest activity was exhibited by the S. hirsutum 1 culture liquid extract, with an MIC of 320 µg/mL against clinical Gram-positive strains (Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium) and Gram-negative Proteus vulgaris. The studied strains demonstrated higher production of antimicrobial metabolites during vegetative growth, with the active compounds being primarily extracellular. Submerged cultivation of basidiomycetes offers an efficient method for obtaining antimicrobial metabolites, permitting their subsequent isolation, physicochemical characterization, and biomedical evaluation. Full article