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Marginal lands have been proposed to produce non-food crop biomass for energy or green materials. For this purpose, the selection, implementation, and growth optimization of plant species on such lands are key elements to investigate to achieve relevant plant yields. Stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica ) is a herbaceous perennial that grows spontaneously on contaminated lands and was described as suitable to produce fibers for material applications. Two mercury-contaminated soils from industrial wastelands with different properties (grassland soil and sediment landfill) were used in this study to assess the potential growth of stinging nettle in a greenhouse mesocosm experiment. Two organic amendments were studied for their impact on nettle growth. The solid digestate from organic food wastes significantly doubled plant biomass whereas the compost from green wastes had a lower impact. The highest doses of organic amendments significantly increased the number of fibers, which doubled following digestate application, while reducing leaf Hg concentration. Both amendments significantly improved soil respiration and enzymatic activities linked to the microbial biomass in the soil from the sediment landfill by the end of the experiment. In the context of a phytomanagement scenario, solid digestate would be a preferred amendment resource to improve nettle production on industrial wastelands.

High-throughput sequencing has become a prominent tool to assess plant-associated microbial diversity. Still, some technical challenges remain in characterising these communities, notably due to plant and fungal DNA co-amplification. Fungal-specific primers, Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) clamps, or adjusting PCR conditions are approaches to limit plant DNA contamination. However, a systematic comparison of these factors and their interactions, which could limit plant DNA contamination in the study of plant mycobiota, is still lacking. Here, three primers targeting the ITS2 region were evaluated alone or in combination with PNA clamps both on nettle ( Urtica dioica ) root DNA and a mock community. PNA clamps did not improve the richness or diversity of the fungal communities but increased the number of fungal reads. Among the tested factors, the most significant was the primer pair. Specifically, the 5.8S-Fun/ITS4-Fun pair exhibited a higher OTU richness but fewer fungal reads. Our study demonstrates that the choice of primers is critical for limiting plant and fungal DNA co-amplification. PNA clamps increase the number of fungal reads when ITS2 is targeted but do not result in higher fungal diversity recovery at high sequencing depth. At lower read depths, PNA clamps might enhance microbial diversity quantification for primer pairs lacking fungal specificity., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

The stinging nettle Urtica dioica L. is a perennial crop with low fertilizer and pesticide requirements, well adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. It has been successfully grown in most European climatic zones while also promoting local flora and fauna diversity. The cultivation of nettle could help meet the strong increase in demand for raw materials based on plant fibers as a substitute for artificial fibers in sectors as diverse as the textile and automotive industries. In the present review, we present a historical perspective of selection, harvest, and fiber processing features where the state of the art of nettle varietal selection is detailed. A synthesis of the general knowledge about its biology, adaptability, and genetics constituents, highlighting gaps in our current knowledge on interactions with other organisms, is provided. We further addressed cultivation and processing features, putting a special emphasis on harvesting systems and fiber extraction processes to improve fiber yield and quality. Various uses in industrial processes and notably for the restoration of marginal lands and avenues of future research on this high-value multi-use plant for the global fiber market are described.

Extracellular adenosine is produced from ATP by CD39 and CD73, and can modulate tumor development by acting on cancer cells or immune cells. Adenosine metabolism has been poorly studied in uveal melanoma. We studied the protein levels of CD39 and CD73 in a small, well described cohort of patients with uveal melanoma. Our results show a high variability in the levels of the two proteins, both in positivity and in intensity. Our results suggest that similar studies on larger cohorts could determine the clinical value and the druggability of these enzymes in the given clinical setting.Supplemental data for this article is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15257770.2022.2032738.

Societal Impact Statement: In 2018, a breeding population of the European spruce bark‐beetle, Ips typographus, was discovered in woodland in southeast England. Ips typographus is a major forest pest in continental Europe; however, despite previous findings at ports and sawmills, this was the first recorded infestation in the UK. The number of generations per year (voltinism) varies with latitude and altitude. Applying a phenological model, we find that the current climate in southern UK could support two generations, while temperature accumulation in parts of Scotland may be insufficient to support one generation. Global warming will increase voltinism and hence the risk of establishment. Summary: The European spruce bark‐beetle, Ips typographus, is a major pest of Norway spruce across mainland Europe; however, until 2018, it was considered absent from the United Kingdom (UK). The finding of a breeding population of I. typographus in Kent, England, in 2018 and subsequent findings in pheromone traps across the southeast of England, has led to an urgent need to improve understanding of environmental suitability across the UK.Two distinct published phenological models for I. typographus, developed in Sweden and Austria, were adapted for use in the UK and validated against pheromone trap data collected at the original site of infestation and in the surrounding area from 2019 to 2022.Both models captured some, but not all, of the within‐season variation in trap catches. One, the PHENIPS model, more accurately captured early season flight patterns. The climate in the southeast of England is mild enough to facilitate two generations of the beetle, while further north the pest is expected to be univoltine. At high altitude in Scotland, there is insufficient thermal warming within a season for the completion of one annual generation.Phenological modelling does not explain why the pest failed to establish in England prior to 2018 including when a large amount of infested material was imported to sawmills in the 1940s. Under 2 and 3°C global warming scenarios, we might expect to see an increase in potential voltinism across the UK in the next few decades, increasing the risk of large outbreaks of I. typographus were it allowed to establish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioresources have been gaining popularity due to their abundance, renewability, and recyclability. Nevertheless, given their diverse composition and complex hierarchical structures, these bio-based sources must be carefully processed to effectively extract valuable raw polymeric materials suitable for producing man-made organic fibres. This review will first highlight the most relevant bio-based sources, with a particular focus on promising unconventional biomass sources (terrestrial vegetables, aquatic vegetables, fungi, and insects), as well as agroforestry and industrial biowaste (food, paper/wood, and textile). For each source, typical applications and the biopolymers usually extracted will also be outlined. Furthermore, acknowledging the challenging lignocellulosic structure and composition of these sources, an overview of conventional and emerging pre-treatments and extraction methods, namely physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological methodologies, will also be presented. Additionally, this review aims to explore the applications of the compounds obtained in the production of man-made organic fibres (MMOFs). A brief description of their evolution and their distinct properties will be described, as well as the most prominent commercial MMOFs currently available. Ultimately, this review concludes with future perspectives concerning the pursuit of greener and sustainable polymeric sources, as well as effective extraction processes. The potential and main challenges of implementing these sources in the production of alternative man-made organic fibres for diverse applications will also be highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an interdisciplinary overview of nettle bioactive compounds and processing, and ir also explores its role in the circular bioeconomy. Urtica dioica L. is sometimes referred to as a multipurpose herbaceous species that has been used historically in food, textiles, and medicine owing its rich profile of biological compounds. This study synthesizes the recent literature to examine nettle's applications across various industries, from nutritional supplements to eco-friendly fiber materials. In addition, it highlights nettle's potential in sustainable production chains, aligning with the EU's bioeconomy directives. The methods involve a comprehensive literature review and data analysis, with a focus on bioactive compounds and eco-sustainable applications. The results of this review underscore the plant's unique adaptability to low-input farming and its contributions to reducing resource dependency. The findings position nettle as a valuable resource for sustainable innovation, emphasizing its relevance within circular economic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many species, polymorphic genomic inversions underlie complex phenotypic polymorphisms and facilitate local adaptation in the face of gene flow. Multiple polymorphic inversions can co-occur in a genome, but the prevalence, evolutionary significance, and limits to complexity of genomic inversion landscapes remain poorly understood. Here, we examine genome-wide genetic variation in one of Europe's most destructive forest pests, the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus , scan for polymorphic inversions, and test whether inversions are associated with key traits in this species. We analyzed 240 individuals from 18 populations across the species' European range and, using a whole-genome resequencing approach, identified 27 polymorphic inversions covering ∼28% of the genome. The inversions vary in size and in levels of intra-inversion recombination, are highly polymorphic across the species range, and often overlap, forming a complex genomic architecture. We found no support for mechanisms such as directional selection, overdominance, and associative overdominance that are often invoked to explain the presence of large inversion polymorphisms in the genome. This suggests that inversions are either neutral or maintained by the combined action of multiple evolutionary forces. We also found that inversions are enriched in odorant receptor genes encoding elements of recognition pathways for host plants, mates, and symbiotic fungi. Our results indicate that the genome of this major forest pest of growing social, political, and economic importance harbors one of the most complex inversion landscapes described to date and raise questions about the limits of intraspecific genomic architecture complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: An updated classification system for the Aporia agathon group is proposed after the re-examination of a long series of specimens with mitogenomic data. Our results showed that A. japfuensis, A. bifurcata, A. moltrechti, A. kuangtungensis, and A. omotoi should be recognised as full species, while lemoulti, gigantea, and fanjinensis should be recognized as subspecies of A. largeteaui. In addition, two subspecies, A. kuangtungensis yufeii and A. kuangtungensis josephi, are described herein. Pierid species of the Aporia agathon group are among the largest Sino-Himalayan members of genus Aporia, with four conventionally recognised species, namely A. agathon, A. largeteaui, A. gigantea, and A. lemoulti. Recent publications indicated that some of these species may contain more than one species despite their similar morphological characters. The present research analysed this group of butterflies using mitogenomic data, and proved that A. japfuensis stat. nov., A. bifurcata stat. nov., A. moltrechti reinst. stat., A. kuangtungensis stat. nov. and A. omotoi stat. nov. should be recognised as distinct species, while lemoultistat. rev., gigantea stat. nov. and fanjinensis stat. rev. should be subspecies of A. largeteaui. Two new subspecies, namely A. kuangtungensis yufeii ssp. nov. and A. kuangtungensis josephi ssp. nov. were described. Illustrations of specimens and male and female genitalia of each taxon were provided in this article with an updated classification system. Variable melanism and yellow tinge are two major factors causing historical taxonomic confusion; thus, such characters should be less crucial for this species group. Future research is still necessary to elucidate the evolutionary history of these species along with other Aporia taxa, as well as the mechanism of variable melanism and yellow coloration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising global temperature makes understanding the impact of warming on plant physiology in critical ecosystems essential, as changes in plant physiology can either help mitigate or intensify climate change. The northern peatlands belong to the most important parts of the global carbon cycle. Therefore, knowledge of the ongoing and future climate change impacts on peatland vegetation photosynthesis is crucial for further refinement of peatland or global carbon cycle and vegetation models. As peat moss (Sphagnum spp.) and bog cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) represent some of the most common plant functional groups of peatland vegetation, we examined the impact of experimental warming on the status of their photosynthetic apparatus during the early vegetation season. We also studied the differences in the winter to early spring transition of peat moss and bog cranberry photosynthetic activity. We have shown that peat moss starts photosynthetic activity earlier because it relies on light-dependent energy dissipation through the winter. However, bog cranberry needs a period of warmer temperature to reach full activity due to the sustained, non-regulated, heat dissipation during winter, as suggested by the doubling of photosystem II efficiency and 36% decrease in sustained heat dissipation between the mid-March and beginning of May. The experimental warming further enhanced the performance of photosystem II, indicated by a significant increase in the photosystem II performance index on an absorption basis due to warming. Therefore, our results suggest that bog cranberry can benefit more from early spring warming, as its activity is sped up more compared to peat moss. This will probably result in faster shrub encroachment of the peatlands in the warmer future. The vegetation and carbon models should take into account the results of this research to predict the peatland functions under changing climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ips is a genus of bark beetles found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, many of which are highly destructive to coniferous forests and plantations. Fungal symbionts, especially ophiostomatoid fungi, have contributed to the success of Ips bark beetles. Recently, climate change accelerated tree mortality caused by bark beetles and their fungal symbionts. However, the knowledge of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with Ips bark beetles is inadequate in China. Therefore, this study investigated the ophiostomatoid fungal communities associated with different Ips bark beetles from various coniferous forest areas of China. A total of 14,512 ophiostomatoid fungal strains were isolated from 1265 vigorous adult beetles and 826 fresh galleries belonging to 11 Ips species infesting 16 coniferous tree species, including pines, spruces, and larches, from 42 sampling sites in nine provinces or autonomous regions in northeast, northwest and southwest China. Based on a combination of morphological features and phylogenetic analysis, 71 taxa belonging to eight genera were identified (Ceratocystiopsis, Graphilbum, Grosmannia, Leptographium, Masuyamyces, and Ophiostoma in Ophiostomatales; Endoconidiophora and Graphium in Microascales), of which 38 species were described as new. Comparing patterns of fungal assemblages indicated that fungal symbionts genetically co-differentiated with their vectors. Host trees possibly reinforce the coarse species-specific association between ophiostomatoid fungi and Ips bark beetles. This study further demonstrates the high diversity of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with Ips bark beetles and provides insights into their symbiotic associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Scaphoideus titanus is the main transmission vector Flavescence doreé (FD) in Europe, causing significant damage to grapevine production. The causative agent of FD is the bacterium 'Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis'. However, little is known about the interaction of this plant pathogen with the bacterial communities within the insect host. In this study, we characterize the bacterial communities in S. titanus across different European populations and different life stages. We found significant differences in the microbial composition across different populations but did not observe any differences between nymphs and adults of the same population. The Nearctic leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the primary vector of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis', the causative agent of Flavescence doreé in Europe. Although microorganisms play an important role in the ecology and behavior of insects, knowledge about the interaction between S. titanus and microbes is limited. In this study, we employed an amplicon metabarcoding approach for profiling the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial communities of S. titanus across several populations from four European localities. Additionally, we investigated changes in bacterial communities between nymphal and adult stages. In total, we identified 7,472 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in adults from the European populations. At the genus level, 'Candidatus Karelsulcia' and 'Candidatus Cardinium' were the most abundant genera, with both being present in every individual. While we found significant changes in the microbial composition of S. titanus across different European populations, no significant differences were observed between nymphal and adult stages. Our study reveals new insights into the microbial composition of S. titanus and highlights the role of geography in influencing its bacterial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect's resilience to adverse conditions poses a significant challenge for integrated pest control. This has resulted in huge economic losses to agriculture and forestry production as well as a range of severe ecological issues. As a physiological mechanism of insects, digestive physiology plays an important role in the process of adaptation to stress factors. However, there has been no systematic review of what stresses insects can adapt to through digestive physiology and how digestive physiology is involved in insect adaptation to stresses. In this review, the potential link between digestive physiology and adaptation of insects to biotic and abiotic stresses, including plant defense mechanisms, chemical insecticides, and entomopathogenic microorganisms, is analyzed. We point to that digestive physiology composed of digestive enzymes and gut microbial communities is an important strategy for insects to resist plant physical defense (e.g., hemicellulose, pectin, and microfibers), chemical defense (e.g., azadirachtin, diterpenoid acids, and phenolic glycosides), chemical insecticide stress, and entomopathogenic microorganism infection. In addition, the primary function of the digestive physiology in insects is to ensure energy supply during biotic and abiotic stress, assist in the metabolism of exogenous toxins (e.g., anti-insect proteins, primary metabolites, secondary metabolites, and insecticides), and improve their innate immunity against entomopathogenic microorganisms. This review is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of pest adaptation to adversity, and provide a breakthrough point for analyzing the causes of pest outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many industries and academia have devoted a lot of effort and money to creating and/or using good extract-transform-load (ETL) software suitable for their data analysis purposes since it is considered a key to their success. As a result, we find the valuable interventions of research efforts based on ETL software are divided according to well-known approaches such as Business Intelligence, Big Data, and/or Semantic. As a result, problems arise in keeping up with changes and handling the significant diversity in features across these approaches. Which results in disorientation in the finding, evaluation, and choice of an ETL for industries and academia facing their approaches needs. These problems inspire us to provide a contribution that uses the systematic-literature-review (SLR) method to collect 207 papers from three databases, namely, ScienceDirect, Springer, and IEEE, dated from 2010 to 2022, grouped based on both ETL approaches and their commonly used criteria, afterwards using an existing method that automatically identifies the adequate multicriteria method for this study, which gives us the analytical-hierarchy-process method to provide the best research paper according to the requirements of scientific literature. The result implies the great significance of this study in multiple ways, providing a global idea of research papers about ETL approaches, allowing customers to eliminate uncertainty from selecting an ETL according to their specific approach needs, preferences, and interests, and also enabling future researchers and developers of ETL to decide when to focus and how to make innovative contributions to fill gaps in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) has been in feed in the past in many countries, and mainly, its leaves were used as a food source for birds and animals to enhance productivity and accelerate their metabolism. It also enhances the carcass percentage of meat animals, particularly broilers. It can potentially be used as a soya bean replacer as it will lower the feed cost. Its leaves can boost the immune system, particularly enhancing the chicken's ability to fight against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Its antioxidant capability prevents free radical generation, reducing the chances of free radicle injuries. In ruminants, its use as a feed additive can lead to an increase in milk production. In animals, any kind of stress during the raising stage deteriorates the meat quality, so this herb prevents the carcass meat from deteriorating and has a better percentage of crude protein, crude fiber, and metabolizable energy, which results in an economic perspective. Supplementation of Urtica dioica in feed can enhance carcass output and provide the potential to counteract bacterial and viral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) endangers human and wildlife health globally, primarily due to its release from artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM). During gold extraction, Hg is emitted into the environment and converted to highly toxic methylmercury by microorganisms. In Madre de Dios (MDD), Peru, ASGM dominates the economy and has transformed rainforests into expansive deforested areas punctuated by abandoned mining ponds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of bats as bioindicators for mercury pollution intensity in tropical terrestrial ecosystems impacted by ASGM. We collected 290 bat fur samples from three post-ASGM sites and one control site in Madre de Dios. Our results showed a wide Hg distribution in bats (0.001 to 117.71 mg/kg) strongly influenced by feeding habits. Insectivorous and piscivorous bats from ASGM sites presented elevated levels of Hg surpassing the mercury small mammal threshold for small mammals (10 mg/kg). We observed the highest reported fur mercury concentrations for insectivorous Neotropical bats reported to date (Rhynchonycteris naso, 117 mg/kg). Our findings further confirm that Hg emissions from ASGM are entering local food webs and exposing wildlife species at several trophic levels to higher levels of Hg than in areas not impacted by mining. We also found that three bat genera consistently showed increased Hg levels in ASGM sites relative to controls indicating potential usefulness as bioindicators of mercury loading in terrestrial ecosystems impacted by artisanal and small-scale gold mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer immunotherapy, as an emerging approach to cancer treatment, has tremendous potential for application. Compared to traditional methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, it has the ability to restore the patient's immune system, leading to long-term immune memory with less damage to normal tissues. However, immunotherapy has its limitations, including limited therapeutic efficacy, restricted patient populations, and inconsistent treatment responses. Finding effective immunotherapeutic approaches has become a key focus of its clinical application. The adenosine pathway is a recently discovered tumor immune regulatory signaling pathway. It can influence the metabolism and growth of tumor cells by acting through key enzymes in the adenosine pathway, thereby affecting the development of tumors. Therefore, inhibiting the adenosine pathway is an effective cancer immunotherapy. Common adenosine pathway inhibitors include small molecules and antibody proteins, and extensive preclinical trials have demonstrated their effectiveness in inhibiting tumor growth. The short half-life, low bioavailability, and single administration route of adenosine pathway inhibitors limit their clinical application. With the advent of nanotechnology, nano-delivery of adenosine pathway inhibitors has addressed these issues. Compared to traditional drugs, nano-drugs extend the drug's circulation time and improve its distribution within the body. They also offer targeting capabilities and have low toxic side effects, making them very promising for future applications. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of the adenosine pathway in tumor immune suppression, the clinical applications of adenosine pathway inhibitors, and nano-delivery based on adenosine pathway inhibitors. In the final part of this article, we also briefly discuss the technical issues and challenges currently present in nano-delivery of adenosine pathway inhibitors, with the hope of advancing the progress of adenosine inhibitor nano-drugs in clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bark beetle Ips typographus (L.) is the most important pest in European Norway spruce forests. Especially after abiotic disturbance events, like storms or snowfall, this beetle can utilise vast amounts of trees with impaired defences, leading to mass outbreaks and further mortality of spruce. In 2018, the 'Vaia' storm damaged huge areas of Norway spruce-dominated forests in the Southern Alps. In the following years, the same regions were additionally affected by heavy snowfalls providing high amounts of suitable material for I. typographus brood establishment and development. Since then, these forests have faced unprecedented population outbreaks of I. typographus with severe effects for forest ecosystems, from both an ecological and an economic perspective. A comprehensive understanding of this beetle's genetic structure, including effects of the last ice ages as well as consequences of current population outbreaks, can give insights into the population dynamics of an eruptive species. Here, we studied the genetic structure of five epidemic populations from the Southern Alps and one from a potential glacial refugium in the Apennines. Our results revealed a low genetic diversity and a weak population structure among all studied locations. In the six analysed populations, four already described haplotypes, belonging to three slightly divergent haplogroups, were found. These haplotypes were evenly distributed among populations, including the potential glacial refugium in the Apennines. High gene flow among populations is probably maintained by the beetle's high dispersal capacity and high population densities, resulting in a panmictic population structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms associated with plants play a crucial role in their growth, development, and overall health. However, much remains unclear regarding the relative significance of tree species identity and spatial variation in shaping the distribution of plant bacterial communities across large tropical regions, as well as how these communities respond to environmental changes. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the characteristics of bacterial community composition in association with two rare and endangered tropical tree species, Dacrydium pectinatum and Vatica mangachapoi, across various geographical locations on Hainan Island. Our findings can be summarized as follows: (1) Significant differences existed in the bacterial composition between D. pectinatum and V. mangachapoi, as observed in the diversity of bacterial populations within the root endosphere. Plant host-related variables, such as nitrogen content, emerged as key drivers influencing leaf bacterial community compositions, underscoring the substantial impact of plant identity on bacterial composition. (2) Environmental factors associated with geographical locations, including temperature and soil pH, predominantly drove changes in both leaf and root-associated bacterial community compositions. These findings underscored the influence of geographical locations on shaping plant-associated bacterial communities. (3) Further analysis revealed that geographical locations exerted a greater influence than tree species identity on bacterial community compositions and diversity. Overall, our study underscores that environmental variables tied to geographical location primarily dictate changes in plant bacterial community composition. These insights contribute to our understanding of microbial biogeography in tropical regions and carry significant implications for the conservation of rare and endangered tropical trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper investigates and compares challenges and success factors within different supply chain ERPs used globally across humanitarian and private organizations in Africa, Asia, Canada, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. Eighteen challenges and 27 success factors were selected from literature published between 2015 and 2020 to determine whether they are equally relevant globally in the private and humanitarian sectors. Design/methodology/approach: The research utilized an anonymous online questionnaire advertised on different social media websites and completed by 50 humanitarian supply chain professionals and 53 private sector professionals worldwide. The collected data was analyzed using a descriptive statistic–crosstabulation analysis to show the differences or similarities in supply chain professionals' opinions from humanitarian and private organizations. Additionally, the hypotheses were tested by using the Mann–Whitney Test. Findings: Findings revealed that all the examined success factors were supported except one, which was similar in both sectors. However, the challenges during the implementation of ERPs differ in these two sectors — with four success factors not supported in the humanitarian sector and nine not supported challenges in the private sector. Originality: This study's significance is that, as per the researchers' knowledge, such a comparative study was never done before, and it will allow both sectors' professionals to understand all the elements mentioned above better and integrate them while implementing supply chain ERPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the phyllomicrobiome dynamics in cauliflower plants holds significant promise for enhancing crop resilience against black rot disease, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. In this study, the culturable microbiome and metagenomic profile of tolerant (BR-161) and susceptible (Pusa Sharad) cauliflower genotypes were investigated to elucidate microbial interactions associated with disease tolerance. Isolation of phyllospheric bacteria from asymptomatic and black rot disease symptomatic leaves of tolerant and susceptible cultivars yielded 46 diverse bacterial isolates. Molecular identification via 16S rRNA sequencing revealed differences in the diversity of microbial taxa between genotypes and health conditions. Metagenomic profiling using next-generation sequencing elucidated distinct microbial communities, with higher diversity observed in black rot disease symptomatic leaf of BR-161. Alpha and beta diversity indices highlighted differences in microbial community structure and composition between genotypes and health conditions. Taxonomic analysis revealed a core microbiome consisting of genera such as Xanthomonas, Psychrobacillus, Lactobacillus, and Pseudomonas across all the samples. Validation through microbiological methods confirmed the presence of these key genera. The findings provide novel insights into the phyllomicrobiome of black rot-tolerant and susceptible genotypes of cauliflower. Harnessing beneficial microbial communities identified in this study offers promising avenues for developing sustainable strategies to manage black rot disease and enhance cauliflower crop health and productivity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Dominant native plants are crucial for vegetation reconstruction and ecological restoration of mining areas, though their adaptation mechanisms in stressful environments are unclear. This study focuses on the interactions between dominant indigenous species in antimony (Sb) mining area, Artemisia lavandulaefolia and Betula luminifera, and the microbes in their rhizosphere. The rhizosphere microbial diversity and potential functions of both plants were analyzed through the utilization of 16S, ITS sequencing, and metabarcoding analysis. The results revealed that soil environmental factors, rather than plant species, had a more significant impact on the composition of the rhizosphere microbial community. Soil pH and moisture significantly affected microbial biomarkers and keystone species. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota, exhibited high resistance to Sb and As, and played a crucial role in the cycling of carbon, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S). The genes participating in N, P, and S cycling exhibited metabolic coupling with those genes associated with Sb and As resistance, which might have enhanced the rhizosphere microbes' capacity to endure environmental stressors. The enrichment of these rhizosphere functional microbes is the combined result of dispersal limitations and deterministic assembly processes. Notably, the genes related to quorum sensing, the type III secretion system, and chemotaxis systems were significantly enriched in the rhizosphere of plants, especially in B. luminifera, in the mining area. The phylogenetic tree derived from the evolutionary relationships among rhizosphere microbial and chloroplast whole-genome resequencing results, infers both species especially B. luminifera, may have undergone co-evolution with rhizosphere microorganisms in mining areas. These findings offer valuable insights into the dominant native rhizosphere microorganisms that facilitate plant adaptation to environmental stress in mining areas, thereby shedding light on potential strategies for ecological restoration in such environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The usefulness of Wolbachia-based control methods for several insect orders is investigated in this synthesis, with a particular emphasis on sterile insect technique (SIT) and incompatible insect technique (IIT). Strong control tactics and financing are required, as demonstrated by the integration of SIT into the management of Drosophila suzukii and the evaluation of a new SIT/IIT combination against Aedes mosquitoes. The potential of Wolbachia includes biological vector control in agriculture, particularly defence against pests that affect rice. Examining host-shifting dynamics and phenotypic impacts, especially in scale insects, highlights the ecological connectivity that is essential to comprehending the complexity of Wolbachia. The summary discusses the worldwide distribution of Wolbachia, focusing on genetics, medicinal uses, and mutualistic and parasitic adaptations. With developments in gene functional assays and multiomics, Wolbachia research is changing and becoming a paradigm for microbial symbiosis, with profound effects on education and translational research. Effective in a variety of insect orders, including dipteran, lepidopteran, and hemipteran, Wolbachia-based control tactics are investigated, noting the importance of sterile and incompatible insect techniques. Encouraging approaches for controlling Aedes mosquitoes are necessary, as demonstrated by the evaluation of a new SIT/IIT combination and the incorporation of SIT into Drosophila suzukii management. For example, Wolbachia may protect plants from rice pests, demonstrating its potential for agricultural biological vector management. Maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility dynamics are explored, while Wolbachia phenotypic impacts on mosquito and rice pest management are examined. The importance of host evolutionary distance is emphasised in recent scale insect research that addresses host-shifting. Using greater information, a suggested method for comprehending Wolbachia host variations in various contexts emphasises ecological connectivity. Endosymbionts passed on maternally in nematodes and arthropods, Wolbachia are widely distributed around the world and have evolved both mutualistic and parasitic traits. Wolbachia is positioned as a paradigm for microbial symbiosis due to advancements in multiomics, gene functional assays, and its effect on human health. The challenges and opportunities facing Wolbachia research include scale issues, ecological implications, ethical conundrums, and the possibility of customising strains through genetic engineering. It is thought that cooperative efforts are required to include Wolbachia-based therapies into pest management techniques while ensuring responsible and sustainable ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scolytinae is a subfamily of weevils that contains many major pest species. Most scolytines employ an outbreeding mating system: individuals emerge from their natal host trees and fly to new hosts, where they mate with unrelated conspecifics. However, in several outbreeding species, some individuals mate prior to emergence, either with a sibling or an unrelated neighbor from another gallery. Preemergence mating allows females to start adult life with a supply of sperm; they can then dig a gallery on their own in a new host tree. In this study, we examined preemergence mating in Ips typographus, a supposedly outbred bark beetle that causes considerable damage to European spruce forests. Our field and laboratory studies have shown that 15–94% of females are mated at (re)emergence, a wide range of values that is shaped by environmental conditions and time of year. This figure is also positively correlated with time spent under the bark. Moreover, in laboratory experiments, outbreeding females had the same level of productivity whether they established themselves with a partner or on their own. However, compared to both types of outbreeding females, solitary inbreeding females exhibited lower productivity due to higher mortality in the egg and postlarval stages, suggesting the presence of inbreeding depression. In a choice experiment, females preferentially entered nuptial chambers containing unrelated males versus brothers. These results shed new light on this bark beetle's mating behavior, which ultimately influences the species' ability to colonize new areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme weather episodes related to anthropogenic climate change have enhanced the frequency and magnitude of bark beetle disturbance, causing worldwide mortality of forests in the last decades. Changes in temperature and precipitation regimes are altering the relationships between host tree populations and associated bark beetle species, as these insect-host systems are highly sensitive to climate extremes. However, it is not fully understood how climate interacts with the different components of bark beetle-host systems, and thus, the existing knowledge is still insufficient to face the challenges of understanding the system response to changing environmental conditions. Here, we review the most important findings of the influence of climatic factors on the dynamics of bark beetle and host tree populations at different spatiotemporal scales. Future research should integrate how the effects of climate on individual tree responses to beetle attack scale up to outbreak patterns at regional scale. Recent advances in plant physiology, disturbance ecology, ecological niche modelling, and remote sensing can further our understanding of the risks of bark beetle disturbance in forest ecosystems under changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Tribes Coriacephilini, Corthylini, Cryphalini, Ernoporini, Trypophloeini, Xyloctonini, and Xyloterini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Scolytinae) include spermophagous, phloeophagous, and xylomycetophagous species. Besides direct damage caused by burrowing into host plant tissues, some species are vectors of aggressive pathogens causing plant dieback and death, with consequent economic and ecological relevance. The international trade in plants and wood products is one of the main pathways for the introduction of non-native species worldwide. In this context, data availability on host plants and their economic uses is essential in pest risk assessment and for planning effective detection and monitoring strategies against invasive species. This paper provides a complete and updated list of host plants, with economic categorization, for 2139 scolytine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus is a pest causing severe damage in forests dominated by Norway spruce in Europe. Microorganisms play essential roles in bark beetles, including nutrition, fitness as well as in overcoming host defenses. Here, we performed high-throughput 16S rRNA metabarcoding of I. typographus across different populations in Europe, to assess its bacterial community. We investigated four postglacial refugial areas in Europe and focused specifically on a current bark beetle hot spot in the Dolomites where we compared populations with different epidemiological phases (outbreaking vs. non-outbreaking) and across different seasons (pre-overwintering vs. overwintering). Our results show that the bacterial community structure varied among populations from the refugial areas and between different regions within the Dolomites. We found a significant difference in the bacterial community between pre-overwintering and overwintering individuals, but we did not find differences between epidemic and endemic populations. The prevalence of the genera Erwinia (which was present in all individuals) and Pseudoxanthomonas (present in almost all individuals) across all populations suggests that these taxa form the core bacterial community of I. typographus. Furthermore, several additional bacterial taxa occurred in all populations, but with variable frequencies. This study highlights a complex interaction of I. typographus and various bacterial taxa across different regions and ecological phases and provides new insights into the role of microorganisms in the biology of this important pest species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pollution is a growing global concern and one of the most challenging environmental issues today, involving the human sector as well. Innovative soil remediation strategies are needed to conserve the natural resources of the environment. Endophytes are present in all plants species, living symbiotically in a continuum dynamic mutualism. Among multiple changing roles, safeguarding the host in terms of increasing resistance to abiotic factors has been widely demonstrated. Following these physiological changes, host plants have beneficial potential in degrading pollutants from contaminated soils. Enzymes produced by host plants along with endophytes may also, degrade macromolecule compounds into small molecules or convert more toxic substances into less toxic substances to increase their adaptability. Phytoremediation technology with endophyte fungi is an ecological alternative strategy that has been documented as a promising technology for remedying contaminated soils. This review article aims to piece together the physiological, chemical and genetical mechanisms employed in phytoremediation techniques mediated by endophytic fungi and highlight the importance of the plant-microbiome ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus and the North American spruce beetle Dendroctonus rufipennis cause high mortality of spruces on their native continents. Both species have been inadvertently transported beyond their native ranges. With similar climates and the presence of congeneric spruce hosts in Europe and North America, there is a risk that one or both bark beetle species become established into the non-native continent. There are many challenges that an introduced population of bark beetles would face, but an important prerequisite for establishment is the presence of suitable host trees. We tested the suitability of non-native versus native hosts by exposing cut bolts of Norway spruce (Picea abies), black spruce (Picea mariana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) to beetle attacks in the field in Norway and Canada. We quantified attack density, brood density and reproductive success of I. typographus and D. rufipennis in the three host species. We found that I. typographus attacked white and black spruce at comparable densities to its native host, Norway spruce, and with similar reproductive success in all three host species. In contrast, D. rufipennis strongly preferred to attack white spruce (a native host) but performed better in the novel Norway spruce host than it did in black spruce, a suboptimal native host. Our results suggest that I. typographus will find abundant and highly suitable hosts in North America, while D. rufipennis in Europe may experience reduced reproductive success in Norway spruce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil degradation is a global problem and refers to the reduction or loss of the biological and economic productive capacity of the soil resource. In Europe, the countries most affected by soil degradation are undoubtedly those of the Mediterranean basin. Among these, Italy shows clear signs of degradation, with different characteristics, especially in the southern regions, where climatic and meteorological conditions strongly contribute to it. Apulia, the Tavoliere plain in particular, is a fragile and very sensitive ecosystem due to its intrinsic characteristics and the level of anthropic exploitation. Agricultural production pays the highest price, as increasing desertification due to climate change and the loss of agricultural land severely limit the extent of land available to produce food for an ever-growing population. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) could be a low-cost and long-term solution to restore soil fertility, as they provide a wide range of benefits in agriculture, including increasing crop productivity, improving soil nutrient levels and inhibiting the growth of pathogens. This review shows how PGPB can be used to improve the quality of soils, their impact on agriculture, their tolerance to abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, heavy metals and organic pollutants) and their feasibility. The use of PGPB could be promoted as a green technology to be applied in marginal areas of Apulia to increase soil fertility, reduce pollution and mitigate the impacts of abiotic stresses and climate change. This is supported by a series of studies showing that the growth of plants inoculated with PGPB is superior to that of non-inoculated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural and environmental-friendly approaches to control pests and diseases in horticultural production systems are showing an increasing trend. Biological alternatives, such as botanical extracts and basic substances, show promise in the reduction of the necessity for conventional plant protectants. In ornamentals, less is known about the usage, behaviour and potential of botanicals and basic substances for plant protection. In two trials, we investigated the effect of a weekly foliar spray of an aqueous extract of nettle (Urtica sp.; dried material 15 g · L–1) on two aphids, Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Aulacorthum solani. Experiments were conducted in the greenhouse with Ranunculus asiaticus as hostplant. The Urtica tea and azadirachtin (NeemAzal-T/S) as a standard used in common horticultural production were compared with the water control. Both previously infested and noninfested plants were built up to examine the effect on aphid population growth and migration. As a result, we showed that both treatments, Urtica tea and azadirachtin, reduce the aphid density significantly in comparison with the water control, although the effect of the Urtica tea was not as substantial as that of azadirachtin. Contrarily, treatments could not prevent aphid migration on previously noninfested plants. The study demonstrates that the basic substance Urtica tea can be suitable for the reduction of aphid pests in ornamental plant production, and thus, reduce the amount of synthetic plant protectants in horticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms play a key role in plant adaptation to the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of toxic metals present in the soil on the biodiversity of plant‐related, endophytic mycobiota. The mycobiome of plants and soil from a Zn–Pb heap and a metal‐free ruderal area were compared via Illumina sequencing of the ITS1 rDNA. The biodiversity of plants and fungi inhabiting mine dump substrate was lower than that of the metal free site. In the endosphere of Arabidopsis arenosa from the mine dump the number of endophytic fungal taxa was comparable to that in the reference population, but the community structure significantly differed. Agaricomycetes was the most notably limited class of fungi. The results of plant mycobiota evaluation from the field study were verified in terms of the role of toxic metals in plant endophytic fungi community assembly in a reconstruction experiment. The results presented in this study indicate that metal toxicity affects the structure of the plant mycobiota not by changing the pool of microorganisms available in the soil from which the fungal symbionts are recruited but most likely by altering plant and fungi behaviour and the organisms' preferences towards associating in symbiotic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogens, especially invasive species, have caused significant global ecological, economic, and social losses in forests. Plant disease research has traditionally focused on direct interactions between plants and pathogens in an appropriate environment. However, recent research indicates that the microbiome can interact with the plant host and pathogens to modulate plant resistance or pathogen pathogenicity, thereby altering the outcome of plant–pathogen interactions. Thus, this presents new opportunities for studying the microbial management of forest diseases. Compared to parallel studies on human and crop microbiomes, research into the forest tree microbiome and its critical role in forest disease progression has lagged. The rapid development of microbiome sequencing and analysis technologies has resulted in the rapid accumulation of a large body of evidence regarding the association between forest microbiomes and diseases. These data will aid the development of innovative, effective, and environmentally sustainable methods for the microbial management of forest diseases. Herein, we summarize the most recent findings on the dynamic structure and composition of forest tree microbiomes in belowground and aboveground plant tissues (i.e., rhizosphere, endosphere, and phyllosphere), as well as their pleiotropic impact on plant immunity and pathogen pathogenicity, highlighting representative examples of biological control agents used to modulate relevant tree microbiomes. Lastly, we discuss the potential application of forest tree microbiomes in disease control as well as their future prospects and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lack of water is a major constraint for microbial life in hyperarid deserts. Consequently, the abundance and diversity of microorganisms in common habitats such as soil are strongly reduced, and colonization occurs primarily by specifically adapted microorganisms that thrive in particular refugia to escape the harsh conditions that prevail in these deserts. We suggest that plants provide another refugium for microbial life in hyperarid deserts. We studied the bacterial colonization of Tillandsia landbeckii (Bromeliaceae) plants, which occur in the hyperarid regions of the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest and oldest deserts on Earth. Results: We detected clear differences between the bacterial communities being plant associated to those of the bare soil surface (PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.187, p = 0.001), indicating that Tillandsia plants host a specific bacterial community, not only dust-deposited cells. Moreover, the bacterial communities in the phyllosphere were distinct from those in the laimosphere, i.e., on buried shoots (R2 = 0.108, p = 0.001), indicating further habitat differentiation within plant individuals. The bacterial taxa detected in the phyllosphere are partly well-known phyllosphere colonizers, but in addition, some rather unusual taxa (subgroup2 Acidobacteriae, Acidiphilum) and insect endosymbionts (Wolbachia, "Candidatus Uzinura") were found. The laimosphere hosted phyllosphere-associated as well as soil-derived taxa. The phyllosphere bacterial communities showed biogeographic patterns across the desert (R2 = 0.331, p = 0.001). These patterns were different and even more pronounced in the laimosphere (R2 = 0.467, p = 0.001), indicating that different factors determine community assembly in the two plant compartments. Furthermore, the phyllosphere microbiota underwent temporal changes (R2 = 0.064, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that T. landbeckii plants host specific bacterial communities in the phyllosphere as well as in the laimosphere. Therewith, these plants provide compartment-specific refugia for microbial life in hyperarid desert environments. The bacterial communities show biogeographic patterns and temporal variation, as known from other plant microbiomes, demonstrating environmental responsiveness and suggesting that bacteria inhabit these plants as viable microorganisms. 1mJ_tDG7agf2H2TZP3Dsmg Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aim: Research on population genetic patterns and potential distribution dynamics can provide insights into the development of pest management strategies. Herein, we integrated population genetic analyses with the climatic niche approach to investigate spatial population genetic variations and potential geographical distribution (PGD) of the herbivorous pest Phytomyza horticola. We also analysed its population response patterns to both late Pleistocene climatic events and future climate change. Location: China. Methods: We analysed the patterns of genetic diversity distribution in 29 populations from 19 regions across China using three mitochondrial (COI, COII and Cytb) genes as markers. We estimated demographic histories using neutrality tests, mismatch distributions and Bayesian skyline plots. Changes in PGD were assessed using an ecological niche model. Results: High genetic diversity was found in most populations, and the northern population exhibited higher haplotype diversity. The population genetic structure included the Tibet lineage and a large lineage comprising the remaining populations. Demographic analyses indicated that rapid population expansion occurred during the cold Last Glacial Maximum. In addition, our projections suggested that P. horticola currently has a vast PGD in China, for which the human influence index was the strongest variable. Large areas of cold northern regions were highly suitable for its survival. Under future global warming, highly suitable habitats will shift towards the higher latitudes. Main conclusions: P. horticola is widely distributed across varied environments, which may be attributed to its high degree of genetic variation. Human activities likely facilitated the current PGD and the frequent gene flow that homogenized differentiation among most populations. In addition, P. horticola exhibits strong adaptability to cold climates and environments from the past to the future. Considering future climatic changes, prevention and control should focus on high‐latitude regions, and vigilance regarding human‐mediated pest dispersals and outbreaks should be maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main objective of the study is to facilitate the development and implementation of customised ERP systems by defining an ontology based on mutually exclusive database schemas for various business needs, resulting from the type of activity and the specificity of the market and industry. The need arises from the contradicting duality of the approach, indicating the need to choose between adapting standard solutions to the requirements of specific customers and developing new systems. Methods: Data on the schemes for processes performed and information needed and produced were collected from seventeen companies. The aggregate and synthesis of the research data was carried out to identify common and area-specific solutions. The SOL concept was introduced and implemented. Results: As a result, an ontology providing a universal approach to the analysis of processes was developed in order to automatically describe business processes by assigning companies to business models. Conclusions: The effect of the work on the indicated stage of the project is the development of a knowledge base containing standard models of the ERP class system built of many components. The solution to the research task is an ontology containing the developed structures and mechanisms to allow one to select the system functionality depending on the problems identified in the enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bark-feeding and wood-boring insect pests can have significant negative impacts on conifers and wood production. The damage they cause is expected to increase in the future due to climate change and the growth of international trade. This study employed DNA barcoding of beetle juveniles (Coleoptera) sampled from standing trap trees and cut log piles at regular intervals over a 2-yr period to monitor the beetle community dynamics and associated environmental factors. Tree species was found to have a major influence on beetle communities, most strikingly at the start of early decay stages. Lower species diversity was reported from standing trap tree samples compared to log pile samples, likely due to higher residual defences in dying and recently dead trees. While the species identified from standing trap trees are more likely to be a threat to the forestry sector, the species found in the log piles are more likely to be beneficial due to their high abundance and their ability to compete with pests for breeding substrate. The analysis of beetles collected inside trees revealed additional information on ontogenetic niches and host preferences beyond that acquired solely from flight interception trap data. Our results offer insights on community composition and dynamics of bark-feeding and wood-boring insect species in Welsh conifer forests and provide resources for monitoring and management of potential pest species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The hawkmoth genus Neogurelca Hogenes & Treadaway, 1993 (Sphingidae: Macroglossinae: Macroglossini), comprises seven species, four of which are found in Asia and the other three in Central America. The members of this group in China are still poorly known, especially their distributions and taxonomy. We performed an analysis based on a 658 bp region of the COI mitochondrial gene, covering three species and including two populations of N. montana from Yunnan and Beijing, to resolve their phylogenetic positions. A morphological analysis of both sexes of the four Asian species was also undertaken. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the Beijing population of N. montana as a well-supported clade that is distinct from but close to the Yunnan population, which is consistent with the morphological differences between them. We describe the Beijing population of N. montana as a new subspecies, Neogurelca montana taihangensis ssp. nov., based on our analysis. Additionally, we collected larvae of N. montana in Beijing and describe its life history and larval hosts and compare them with those of N. himachala. Neogurelca montana (Rothschild & Jordan, 1915) is a species of the genus Neogurelca Hogenes & Treadaway, 1993, that was previously known from Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet, China. Recently, however, this species was also found in Beijing and Hebei. These populations differ from those in southwest China in body colour and the shape of the yellow patches of the hindwing—a paler body colour and triangular patches in the former and darker body colour and fan-like patches in the latter. Wing morphology, male and female genitalia, and molecular evidence (DNA barcodes) were analysed for the different localities of this species and three other Neogurelca species—N. hyas, N. himachala, and N. masuriensis. Our molecular data support the Beijing population of montana as a valid subspecies, which we describe as N. montana taihangensis ssp. nov. Wing and genital morphology confirm the molecular conclusions. We also collected larvae of the new subspecies in the Beijing suburbs and describe its life history and larval hosts and compare them with those of N. himachala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolbachia have been developed as a tool for protecting humans from mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases. The success of using Wolbachia relies on the facts that Wolbachia are maternally transmitted and that Wolbachiainduced cytoplasmic incompatibility provides a selective advantage to infected over uninfected females, ensuring that Wolbachia rapidly spread through the target pest population. Most transinfected Wolbachia exhibit a strong antiviral response in novel hosts, thus making it an extremely efficient technique. Although Wolbachia has only been used to control mosquitoes so far, great progress has been made in developing Wolbachia-based approaches to protect plants from rice pests and their associated diseases. Here, we synthesize the current knowledge about the important phenotypic effects of Wolbachia used to control mosquito populations and the literature on the interactions between Wolbachia and rice pest planthoppers. Our aim is to link findings from Wolbachia-mediated mosquito control programs to possible applications in planthoppers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to various industrial applications of mercury (Hg), its release into the environment at high concentration is becoming a great threat to living organisms on a global scale. Human exposure to Hg is greatly correlated with contamination in the food chain through cereal crops and sea foods. Since Hg is a non-essential component and does not possess a biological role and exhibits carcinogenic and genotoxic behaviour, biomonitoring with a focus on biomagnification of higher living animals and plants is the need of the hour. This review traces the plausible relationship between Hg concentration, chemical form, exposure, bioavailability, bioaccumulation, distribution, and ecotoxicology. The toxicity with molecular mechanisms, oxidative stress (OS), protein alteration, genomic change, and enzymatic disruptions are discussed. In addition, this review also elaborates advanced strategies for reducing Hg contamination such as algal and phytoremediation, biochar application, catalytical oxidation, and immobilization. Furthermore, there are challenges to overcome and future perspectives considering Hg concentrations, biomarkers, and identification through the nature of exposures are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several factors, such as genetic drift, gene flow and migration that affect the population genetic structure and phylogeographic distribution of genetic lineages within single species. Previous studies of the bladder grasshoppers, Bullacris unicolor of South Africa, showed divergence in mitochondrial CO1 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) haplotype diversity and significant genetic structure. In this study, we revisit these findings adding more samples from different locations and using mitochondrial CO1 and Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene sequences. We tested the hypothesis that the western, northern and eastern distribution ranges of B. unicolor show different population genetic patterns, corresponding with isolation-by-distance. Mitochondrial CO1 and ITS data were collected for 99 individuals from 12 localities across the Western, Northern and Eastern sides of South Africa. Overall, significant variation in genetic structure was found across the localities as indicated by FST analyses. Haplotype and phylogeographical analyses suggested that restricted gene flow played a role in shaping current genetic patterns, although isolation-by-distance was not supported, as confirmed by Mantel tests. Phylogenetic trees of both genetic sequences revealed two major clades, with western and northern sides. Also, the major clades exhibit a few sub-clades within the localities, showing other factors shaping the genetic structure of B. unicolor include the geographical barriers, and most likely due to changes in habitat specificity and habitat fragmentation. Taken together, this study aims to contribute information on the population structure and genetic diversity of B. unicolor populations across South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Forest disturbances are intensifying globally, yet regional drivers of these dynamics remain poorly understood. We investigated recent disturbance intensities in Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) forests in Slovakia (Central Europe) with different management objectives in 2000–2017 based on Landsat imagery. We focused on 122 strict reserves without any management, their actively managed surroundings (500 m and 2000 m buffers), and managed production forests beyond the buffer areas. We used generalized additive mixed models to test for differences in temporal trends of disturbance intensity among these management categories. We found that disturbance intensity was increasing in all management categories during the studied period. The increase was more pronounced in the managed forests (compound annual disturbance rate 1.76% year−1) and the 2000 m buffer (2.21% year−1) than in the strict reserves (0.58% year−1). The predicted cumulative disturbance during the 18-year period was 9.9% in the reserves and 30.5% in the 2000 m buffer. We found that forests in nature reserves can be more resistant to disturbances than forests managed for timber production, despite management efforts to control disturbances in managed forests. Our findings can help reconcile the different perceptions of natural disturbances and their management in Central Europe and support climate-adapted management strategies that consider natural disturbances as an indispensable component of ecosystem dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common nettle, Urtica dioica L., is an herbaceous perennial forb belonging to the Urticaceae family, distributed in temperate and tropical region in many parts of the world, and it has been reported to have multiple uses. We investigated the quality of the biomass of the local ecotype of Urtica dioica grown in the experimental plot of the “Alexandru Ciubotaru” National Botanical Garden (Institute), Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. The results revealed that the dry matter of the common nettle whole plant harvested in flowering period contained 20.7% CP, 10.6% ash, 26.8% CF, 32.9% ADF, 57.4% NDF, 6.6 % ADL, 26.3% Cel, 24.5% HC, with forage value 633 g/kg DDM, RFV= 103, 12.47 MJ/kg DE, 10.23 MJ/kg ME and 6.25 MJ/kg NEl. The ensiled mass contained 22.1% CP, 14.5% ash, 28.3% CF, 33.8% ADF, 53.0% NDF, 6.6 % ADL, 27.3% Cel, 19.2% HC, with forage value 626 g/kg DDM, RFV= 110, 12.34 MJ/kg DE, 10.13 MJ/kg ME and 6.14 MJ/kg NEl. It has been determined that studied common nettle substrates have C/N=13.4-15.0 and the biochemical methane potential reaches 319-321 l/kg ODM. The local ecotype of Urtica dioica can be used as an alternative forage source for farm animals or as co-substrate in biogas generators for renewable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reviews the impacts of climate change on Greek forests, analysing factors such as climate trends, forest management, biodiversity, genetics, insects, and wildfires, using data from the Scopus and Mendeley databases and official reports. By utilising our current understanding and allocating necessary efforts and resources, we actively address climate change consequences on forests. This study focuses on climate change and extreme weather outcomes on forests. Greek mountain forests at 520–1310 m experience decreasing annual mean and minimum temperatures (−0.015 and −0.027 °C yr–1) but increasing maximum temperatures (+0.014 °C yr–1), especially in Southern Greece (+0.047 °C yr–1). Recent findings reveal forests migrating to higher altitudes with favourable conditions, correlating with water availability, temperature, and tree growth, necessitating further research on forest productivity. A decline in fir tree-ring growth (Average Tree Ring Width Index < 0.6) is observed in mainland Greece, indicating temperature's effect on growth. Effective forest tree conservation requires prioritising biodiversity monitoring, considering climate change impacts on phenology and addressing the absence of strategies to protect and enhance genetic diversity. Climate change influenced 70 forestry pests' ranges, notably among Greek insect pests. Annual burned areas from forest fires data indicate a consistent long-term increasing trend, underscoring fire prevention prioritization and exploring fire risk, behaviour, and climate change. The study highlights two to four significant knowledge gaps, and one to three key challenges pertaining to the six research areas. Finally, it promotes partnerships for informed decision-making and better outcomes by integrating Indigenous knowledge, scientific understanding, and collaboration among research, policy, and local management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]