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Due to their soft and hard skills, retirees in any field of study, including the arts, humanities, social, natural and biomedical sciences, mathematics and engineering, carry a wealth of experience, both personal and professional, could continue to be of benefit to students and early career researchers, even after they have retired. Their educational background and experience could enrich the education knowledge stream if their input, expertise and skills could be tapped after retirement, provided that they are physically and/or mentally healthy, able to communicate their ideas in a clear, lucid, and constructive way, and have accompanied support. Perspectives are offered about how retirees could benefit the research and education knowledge stream across disciplines in schools and institutes of higher education, such as universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autumn daffodil (Sternbergia lutea) is a wild bulbous plant with tremendous ornamental value. Knowledge of the changes that occur during dormancy would be helpful to improve breeding strategies for this geophyte, its artificial cultivation for application in landscaping, and its commercialization. In a Mediterranean climate, the plant enters dormancy in June (stage 1, S1), dormancy proper, which lasts for two months [July and August; stage 2 (S2)], while September and October [stage 3 (S3); i.e., autumn] represent the exit from dormancy and the start of flowering. In this research, the biochemical changes in four tissues of bulbs (outer scales, inner scales, basal plate and bud) in the three stages (S1–S3), as well as in the leaves and roots of plants in two stages (S1, S3), were assessed. The total soluble protein, proline, phenolic and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents in almost all tissues of the bulb increased from S1 to September (the first month of stage 3), but then decreased in October (the second month of stage 3). In contrast, total soluble carbohydrate content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased during S2 but increased in S3. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and peroxidase (POD) activity increased in S1–S3. In leaves and roots, proline, H2O2, and MDA content, as well as POD and SOD activity, were highest in S1. In contrast, total soluble carbohydrate and total soluble protein contents were highest in S3. The findings of this experiment will help to better understand autumn daffodil bulb dormancy from a biochemical perspective, allowing for more effective management of commercial bulb propagation and production, as well as transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors with compound family names face a constant set of challenges in having their names accurately represented in the scientific literature. In my personal case (Teixeira da Silva, JA), an as-yet-unquantified body of literature miscites me (and thus my work) as "da Silva, JAT", "Silva, JA", or other inaccurate forms. This paper provides evidence of the modification and thus misrepresentation of my professional publishing name in proofs of select papers eventually published in Springer Nature journals, despite the accuracy of metadata at the submission and acceptance stages. This record may also be helpful for other scientists with non-standard or compound family names, who may have had a similar experience. Springer Nature currently outsources the development of its proofs to Straive. Possible reasons as to why this misrepresentation might be occurring, and some solutions, are proposed. The misrepresentation of an author's professional publishing name may cause them reputational damage by distorting their publishing record, so publishers need to be aware of this issue and take appropriate measures to avoid such errors, correcting them whenever they are discovered and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a purely academic exercise of interest, and spurred by a curious debate in a blog entry over a decade ago, the purpose of this paper was to appreciate the incidence of select movie (film) titles in the titles of papers indexed in Scopus. Using 11 of the first 20 titles of a top 100 list of movie classics at the "Rotten Tomatoes" website, we assessed (January 2024) how frequently they appeared in the titles of those papers. While the vast majority of movie titles referred to the movie (or book version) itself, except for "The Wizard of Oz", which had 74.6% positive results for a software with this name, we found that some authors may have employed such titles to draw attention to their papers because readers would likely to be drawn to them due to familiarity with the movie title, or name recognition. To test this hypothesis, we assessed citation counts relative to the average of other papers published in the same journals and in the same years, finding that 83% of the 95 papers assessed had lower citation counts than the average of papers published in the same journal and in the same year. We also considered the ethics of the verbatim use of movie titles, especially of movies that may be copyrighted, when quotation marks are not used, or the absence of a note within the paper itself to indicate the source of the title's inspirational wording. Although we are cognizant of several limitations to this study, which serves as an initial springboard for additional future multidisciplinary studies, we suggest some additional research ideas to popularize the intersection between film studies, basic academic sciences, bibliometrics, and publishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The video assistant referee (VAR), popularized in football (soccer), has been decisive in many games played in several international and domestic competitions ever since the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) formalized its use for the first time in the 2018 Men's Football World Cup. Serving as a support tool for on-field referees, it is not only a game unifier but also a conflict pacifier by using a technology-based method to objectively appreciate whether human decisions were accurate and fair or erroneous and thus in need of correction. Given the overwhelming support evidenced by its broad adoption, but also some criticisms and concerns about this technology, an objective assessment of the growing literature on VAR is timely to take stock of what is known and what is still unknown about its use and perception. Using primarily indexed English literature from 2018 to 2024, this narrative review aims to gauge four main talking points related to VAR, including, but not limited to, the technology used, why VAR is perceived as controversial, and its perception in a socio-cultural context. This review underscores the positive perception of referees towards VAR, highlighting improved decision accuracy and minimal match disruption. Fans and media express trust in VAR, but call for refinements. Concerns about in-stadium communication with spectators suggest a need for enhanced decision transparency. We also acknowledge limitations, including language bias, literature (un)availability and sex-based disparities, while proposing future research avenues. Overall, VAR has become integral to football, shaping its officiating landscape, and inviting continuous improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple replacement—most likely due to a linguistic error—of the Greek letter beta (β) by the German letter Eszett (ß), has led to the introduction of an error in a body of literature related to beta (β)-catenin, resulting in the "creation" of a non-existent compound and false positive, Eszett (ß)-catenin. A search on 9 December 2023 in PubMed for ß-catenin and β-catenin revealed 395 and 45,919 results, respectively. The 25 results of ß-catenin published in 2023 were examined in more detail to appreciate the location(s) in each paper where this error had occurred. While the scientific findings of these studies do not seem to be impacted by this error, authors and editors would need to weigh the need or benefit of correcting this error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent paper published in European Science Editing (ESE; https://doi.org/10.3897/ese.2023.e102691) assessed that journal's citations in 38 papers published between 2020 and 2022 using Dimensions and Scopus. The rationale for that study was that Dimensions, unlike Scopus, was "free", and thus a useful substitute for bibliometric analyses, but it is contended herein that the latter claim is not entirely accurate. To complement that analysis, citations of the same 38 papers, as well as 29 papers that had not been analyzed, giving the full complement of 67 papers published in ESE from 2020 to 2022, were reassessed (17 October 2023) using Scopus, Dimensions, and Google Scholar, since the latter is free. In addition, those papers' attention scores were appreciated from their Altmetrics scores, which were harvested from Dimensions. Although citation trends for the 38 papers were replicated, when the Altmetric scores of the additional 29 papers were also considered, the Altmetric score for ESE increased by 221 from 633 to give a total of 854. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the effect of Glomus versiforme fungus on genes and metabolites related to the biosynthetic pathway of polyamines in pot marigold under drought stress, an experiment was conducted at three irrigation levels [100, 65, and 35% of field capacity (FC)] for 1, 2, 4, and 8 d in mycorrhizal (M) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants. At both 35 and 65% FC, putrescine (Put) accumulation peaked at 1 d. Accompanying the accumulation of Put at 1 d, there was an increase in the expression of ARG and ODC genes directly involved in the Put biosynthetic pathway, as well as the ADC, AIH, and CPA genes involved in the indirect Put biosynthetic pathway. At 1 d, M plants induced the accumulation of Put and increased the expression of ADC, AIH, and CPA, but had no significant effect on ODC expression. At both 35 and 65% FC, SAMDC gene expression increased from 1 to 8 d, and the expression of this gene was higher in M plants from 2 to 8 d. At both drought levels, highest Spd content and SPDS gene expression were observed at 2 d. Moreover, Spd accumulation from 2 to 8 d and SPDS gene expression from 4 to 8 d were higher in M plants than in NM plants. At both drought levels, Spm content and SPMS gene expression increased between 4 and 8 d, during which the accumulation and expression level of this gene in M plants was higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) is a leading ethics-promoting organization associated with academic publishing. COPE continuously fortifies its ethics guidelines, also serving as a warning portal of "predatory" publishing behavior. A 2019 COPE discussion document on "predatory publishing" lists 16 warning signs of predatory publishers/journals. Grounded in legitimacy theory, this study examines, by adopting COPE's 16 warning signs of "predatory publishing" as criteria, the case of a current COPE member publisher, Academic and Business Research Institute (AABRI). Our assessment reveals that, according to COPE's own stated criteria, AABRI would be considered as "predatory." The objective of this case study was to appreciate whether COPE's 16 warning signs may be insufficiently sensitive to detect a predatory journal or publisher, or whether those criteria require an adjustment if the journal/publisher is academically legitimate but is found to be otherwise. If such criteria were to be used widely by academics (and others) to characterize journals or publishers, but result in a surprising or undesired negative classification ("predatory"), then this may have widespread ramifications not only for global academia but also for scholarship and society at large. An incorrect classification could also negatively impact the COPE "brand" of ethical and scholarly legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge pertaining to scholarly publishing is not limited to information held within academic papers, and within a complex publishing environment that is in constant flux due to challenges and threats, there is interest in knowing how journals are adjusting to these parameters. The Internet Archive is a free and easy way to archive information that is found on websites. We recently argued for its use in the archival of website-based citations, and expand those arguments herein to focus on the importance to archive journal editorial boards, for three reasons: first, journals might not have any formal mechanisms to register changes in the editorial constitution of the board; second, there is historical importance in appreciating changes to editorial board constituency, including changes to gender representation; and third, changes might be made opaquely to hide or masquerade information that is intricately linked to the historical aspect of that journal. Our interest is thus not only within a historical prism, but also from a bibliometric point of view, given that the editorial board defines—to some extent—the journal's content by serving as its gatekeepers of quality. We attempted to archive the editorial board pages of 46 journal editorial board URLs, achieving 100% mementos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) ranks journals into four quartiles (Q1–Q4). SJR serves as a safelist for journal selection, when trying to avoid predatory journals, as journals that have been indexed by SJR are seen as having stringent publishing standards. An AI-based tool, the Academic Journal Predatory Checking System (AJPC), claims to be able to differentiate suspected predatory journals from normal journals. In this study, we asked (25 March 2023) AJPC to classify the top 2500 journals (based on SJR ranking). We found that 65.64% of these journals were classified as "suspected predatory", 33.28% were classified as "normal", while 1.08% of the journals could not be classified. A follow-up run (30 March 2023) returned different results (89.20%, 10.16% and 0.64%). This set of results is worrying, not only because of the number of SJR journals that are thought to be "predatory", but also because of the difference in results when using the same tool a matter of days apart. We extended our analysis and looked at seven stand-alone publishers (Elsevier, Frontiers, MDPI, OMICS, Springer Nature (incl. Nature Portfolio), Taylor & Francis and Wiley). In total, we asked AJPC to classify 17,721 journals. The results confirm that we should be concerned about the classifications provided by AJPC. For example, 100% (4756) of Elsevier journals were classified as "suspected predatory". Even Springer Nature (which includes the journal that published the AJPC paper) has journals which were classified at "suspected predatory". We thus urge caution against relying on AJPC at present. We also urge the AJPC's authors to provide an explanation as to why a journal is classified in a particular way, as part of their user interface. We are willing to conduct further analyses should AJPC be revised and updated as it could provide an important service to the scholarly community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acknowledgements are usually a minor part of scientific papers, but they serve a very important function. This section of the manuscript is normally reserved to thank those who offered assistance, but not enough to merit authorship, funders, or any other people or organizations or artificial intelligent tools that may have in any way been directly associated either with the research reported in that study, or with the published paper. Despite this, it is not uncommon to see wide disparities in ethics and author guidelines pertaining to acknowledgements, as was observed in 45 publishing-related entities (journals, publishers, preprints, ethics organizations, open access aggregators) that were assessed in this study. Greater standardization is required, especially among members of ethics policy groups such as the Committee on Publication Ethics or the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Moreover, even though verification is an essential step of this process, it is difficult to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Santalum album (E,E)-α-farnesene synthase catalyzes FPP into (E,E)-α-farnesene. Overexpression of the SaAFS gene positively improved cold stress tolerance through JA biosynthesis and signaling pathways in Arabidopsis. Volatile terpenoids are released from plants that suffer negative effects following exposure to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent studies revealed that (E,E)-α-farnesene synthase (AFS) plays a significant role in a plant’s defence against biotic attack. However, little is known about whether AFS contributes to plant resistance to cold stress. In this study, a SaAFS gene was isolated from Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.) and functionally characterized. The SaAFS protein mainly converts farnesyl diphosphate to (E,E)-α-farnesene. SaAFS was clustered into the AFS clade from angiosperms, suggesting a highly conserved enzyme. SaAFS displayed a significant response to cold stress and methyl jasmonate. SaAFS overexpression (OE) in Arabidopsis enhanced cold tolerance by increasing proline content, reducing malondialdehyde content, electrolyte leakage, and accumulating reactive oxygen species. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that upregulated genes related to stress response and JA biosynthesis and signaling were detected in SaAFS-OE lines compared with wild type plants that were exposed to cold stress. Endogenous JA and jasmonoyl-isoleucine content increased significantly in SaAFS-OE lines exposed to cold stress. Collectively considered, these results suggest that the SaAFS gene is a positive regulator during cold stress tolerance via JA biosynthesis and signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of retractions of the academic literature increase, there is also a bibliometric interest in appreciating the volume of citations that retracted papers received prior to, and following, a retraction. We assessed the pre- and post-citation counts of one paper each of five classes of retracted papers using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOS-CC). The papers (and their respective DOIs) were: (C1) Data or classification error (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204076); (C2) fraud (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1208-0); C3) paper mill (https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2381482); C4) tortured phrase (https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-020-02455-4); C5) plagiarism (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2012.06.051). C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 were cited (September 7, 2022) 43, 45, 35, 3, and 16 times, respectively. Separately, noting the shortcomings of the WOS-CC citation classification system for citations, we propose a new four-tier classification system for citation sentiment or use (background; supportive; contradictory; manipulative) that accommodates both the functionality and sentiment of a citation to assess how a retracted paper (or indeed, any paper), is cited. We tested this new classification system using C5. We envision that these two new systems (five classes of retracted papers; four tiers of citation behavior) can further be implemented in citation databases to improve the informative value of these resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to a letter by Ansorge, who questioned whether authors or science need the right not to want to be cited, we fully respect his opinion and choice to express that he believes that such a right is not needed. However, we counter that argument by noting that, even in the absence of concrete examples, to have a solid theoretical basis for arguing a right is essential, even if it is not always welcomed, or appreciated by all, or even many. The ability to have an equal right on any two sides of any argument or situation, including those related to the right to cite a paper, or to not cite a paper, or even to be cited, or to not want to be cited, is a fundamental right that we advocated for in our initial letter, and which we fortify in this follow-up letter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo, a fast growing plant, is a valuable and renewable bioresource with great socioeconomic value. Sustainable production is needed to combat industrial overexploitation by the paper, pulp, and fuel industries, as well as improper resource management that has widened the gap between supply and demand. Biotechnology applications, such as in vitro propagation and tissue culture, offer a range of solutions for improved and controlled growth, resulting in a more effective and reliable production chain. Seed propagation is ineffective for bamboo due to low seed viability, while vegetative propagation is limited to small-scale production. Genetic transformation of bamboo species remains limited, although the bamboo genome is now better understood and genetic improvement is possible. This review discusses protocols for in vitro propagation, in vitro flowering, synthetic seed production, and transgenic techniques used to improve bamboo. In addition, the application of next-generation sequencing technology to bamboo plants will be examined for fundamental processes related to growth and stress regulation, lignin and cellulose biosynthesis, secondary cell wall deposition, and flowering behavior. This review will provide researchers with a comprehensive overview and better understanding of bamboo biotechnology for better utilization and adaptation as a sustainable bioresource. Key message: Fast-growing bamboo has significant socioeconomic value. Due to industrial overexploitation and inadequate resource management, there is a growing gap between the supply and demand for bamboo. The use of biotechnology can enhance and regulate bamboo growth for environmentally friendly output. For improved use and adaption as a sustainable bioresource, this review offers a thorough overview of bamboo biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Rushnik) seeds were treated with thidiazuron (TDZ; 0.01–10 nmol/L), a plant growth regulator (PGR) with cytokinin-like activity, and grown hydroponically for 7 days. The aim of pretreatment with TDZ was to try and mitigate herbicide-induced stress in winter rye plants. The leaves of 7-days-old seedlings were sprayed with 100 μM of paraquat (PQ), a herbicide, and biochemical and physiological responses were assessed after 4 or 8 h in fully developed leaves. After 8 h, PQ treatment significantly increased H2O2 and lipid peroxidation levels (39% increase for both relative to 0 h) as well as APOX activity (35% increase), but significantly decreased total antioxidant activity (33% decrease) and photosynthetic apparatus activity (up to 38% decrease), as assessed by chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Pretreatment with TDZ weakened the toxic effects of PQ on rye seedlings, especially 8 h after PQ treatment. This was most evident for low doses (0.01 to 1 nmol/L) of TDZ. An index of efficiency indicated that 0.1 nmol/L TDZ was the most effective concentration to reduce the toxic effect of PQ on winter rye seedlings. This research provides fundamental information about the practical use of TDZ as a means to diminish the toxic effects of a herbicide (PQ) on cultivated winter rye plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These YABBY genes are transcription factors (TFs) that play crucial roles in various developmental processes in plants. There is no comprehensive characterization of YABBY genes in a valuable Chinese orchid herb, Dendrobium officinale. In this study, a total of nine YABBY genes were identified in the D. officinale genome. These YABBY genes were divided into four subfamilies: CRC/DL, FIL, INO, and YAB2. Expression pattern analyses showed that eight of the YABBY genes were strongly expressed in reproductive organs (flower buds) but weakly expressed in vegetative organs (roots, leaves, and stems). DoYAB1, DoYAB5, DoDL1, and DoDL3 were abundant in the small flower bud stage, while DoDL2 showed no changes throughout flower development. In addition, DoDL1-3 genes were strongly expressed in the column, tenfold more than in sepals, petals, and the lip. DoYAB1 from the FIL subfamily, DoYAB2 from the YAB2 subfamily, DoYAB3 from the INO subfamily, and DoDL2 and DoDL3 from the CRC/DL subfamily were selected for further analyses. Subcellular localization analysis showed that DoYAB1-3, DoDL2, and DoDL3 were localized in the nucleus. DoYAB2 and DoYAB3 interacted strongly with DoWOX2 and DoWOX4, while DoYAB1 showed a weak interaction with DoWOX4. These results reveal a regulatory network involving YABBY and WOX proteins in D. officinale. Our data provide clues to understanding the role of YABBY genes in the regulation of flower development in this orchid and shed additional light on the function of YABBY genes in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corydalissaxicola Bunting, a medicinal herb known for alkaloids, grows mainly in Guizhou province and northwest Guangxi province of China. In this study, for the first time for this plant, an efficient adventitious shoot proliferation and regeneration system via shoot organogenesis from leaf and petiole explants was established. Cytokinins, including 6-benzyladenine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ), induced callus and then shoot organogenesis. Most adventitious shoots were induced from leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (pH 6.5) supplemented with 2.0 µM BA and 0.5 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). This medium was also optimal for shoot proliferation. The rooting ½MS medium was supplemented with 1.0 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.2 µM NAA; 95.7% of shoots induced roots within 30 d and 91% of plantlets survived on a peat:vermiculite (1:1, v:v) substrate after 90 d. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a water shortage crisis, the landscape management of perennial ryegrass, a common lawn grass, is a major challenge. An organic material that can help to overcome this challenge is rice husk biochar (RHB). A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate whether RHB (0%, 5%, and 10% w/w) can mitigate the adverse impacts of drought stress [100%, 50% and 25% of water holding capacity (WHC)] on the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes of perennial ryegrass. When soil was amended with RHB under drought stress, this improved soil physical and chemical properties as well as leaf nutrient content, and increased shoot and root dry weights by 36.27% and 31.36%, respectively compared to the no-biochar treatment. The highest increase in leaf nutrients was 64.77% for Mg2+ and 25.45% for Fe2+. In addition, higher leaf relative water content and nutrient status in plants led to a higher production of chlorophyll (166.97%), and a decrease in the content of proline (−28.79%), hydrogen peroxide (−42.88%) and malondialdehyde (−14.13%). The use of RHB significantly improved visual quality by 30.53% and 50.13% at 50% and 25% WHC, respectively compared to the no-RHB treatment. The amendment of soil with RHB changed soil physico-chemical characteristics and increased nutrient uptake. As a result, shoot and root growth improved, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency were enhanced, and the drought tolerance of perennial ryegrass ultimately increased. Consequently, the application of RHB, especially at a higher concentration (10%), may be a potential strategy to mitigate drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity stress is one of the most important global problems that afflicts and limits the growth and development of turfgrass in arid and semi-arid areas. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the interaction between gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and salinity (NaCl) on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Perennial ryegrass plants were treated with three concentrations of GABA (0, 50, and 100 mM) and NaCl (0, 50, and 100 mM) for two months. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that GABA, salinity, and their interaction had significant effects on the majority of measured traits. In shoots and roots, the application of salinity increased the Na+/K+ ratio, as well as proline, total soluble carbohydrates and protein (TSP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, but reduced relative water content, membrane stability index (MSI), total chlorophyll content, and shoot and root growth. When GABA was applied in saline conditions, Na+ did not accumulate, the Na+/K+ ratio decreased, and the amount of K+ content increased significantly in shoots and roots, thereby allowing plant growth to resume. Peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities increased significantly (51.83% and 322%, respectively), whereas H2O2 and MDA contents decreased significantly (34.4% and 67%, respectively). In addition, the construction of a biplot, heatmap, and correlation plot fortified the positive effects of GABA on perennial ryegrass growth in saline conditions. GABA may help to alleviate salinity damage through its involvement in osmotic adjustment (proline and TSP), reducing the Na+/K+ ratio and limiting oxidative damage in cells with a dramatic increase in POD and SOD activity. Therefore, the application of GABA is an alternative technique for improving turfgrass tolerance to salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic publishing is undergoing a highly transformative process, and many established rules and value systems that are in place, such as traditional peer review (TPR) and preprints, are facing unprecedented challenges, including as a result of post-publication peer review. The integrity and validity of the academic literature continue to rely naively on blind trust, while TPR and preprints continue to fail to effectively screen out errors, fraud, and misconduct. Imperfect TPR invariably results in imperfect papers that have passed through varying levels of rigor of screening and validation. If errors or misconduct were not detected during TPR's editorial screening, but are detected at the post-publication stage, an opportunity is created to correct the academic record. Currently, the most common forms of correcting the academic literature are errata, corrigenda, expressions of concern, and retractions or withdrawals. Some additional measures to correct the literature have emerged, including manuscript versioning, amendments, partial retractions and retract and replace. Preprints can also be corrected if their version is updated. This paper discusses the risks, benefits and limitations of these forms of correcting the academic literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Publons was a peer reviewer rewards platform that aimed to recognize the contribution that academics made during peer review to a journal. For about 10 years of its existence, Publons became the most popular service among peer reviewers. Having gained traction and popularity, Publons was purchased in 2017 by Clarivate Analytics (now Clarivate), and many academics, journals and publishers invested time and effort to participate in Publons. Using Publons, various peer review-related experiments or pilot programs were initiated by some academic publishers regarding the introduction of open peer review into their journals' editorial processes. In this paper, we examine pertinent literature related to Publons, and reflect on its benefits and flaws during its short-lived history. In mid-August 2022, Clarivate fused Publons into the Web of Science platform. Publons, as a brand peer review service, has now ceased to exist but some of the functionality remains in Web of Science while other aspects that used to be open and free at Publons are now paid-for services. We reflect on the effect of such experiments, which initially had bold and ambitious academic objectives to fortify peer review, on academics' trust, especially when such projects become commercialized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A continued lack of clarity persists because academics, policymakers, and other interested parties are unable to clearly define what is a "predatory" journal or publisher, and a potentially wide gray zone exists there. In this perspective, we argue that journals should be evaluated on a continuum, and not just in two shades, black and white. Since evaluations about what might constitute "predatory" are made by humans, the psychological decision-making system that determines them may induce biases. Considering such human psychological characteristics might shed light on the deterministic criteria that have been used, and continue to be used, to classify a journal or publisher as "predatory", and perhaps, bring additional clarity to this discussion. Better methods of journal evaluation can be obtained when the factors that polarize journal evaluations are identified. As one example, we need to move away from simply using whitelists and blacklists and educate individual researchers about how to evaluate journals. This paper serves as an educational tool by providing more clarity about the "gray" publishing zone, and argues that currently available qualitative and quantitative systems should be fused to deterministically appreciate the zonation of white, gray and black journals, so as to possibly reduce or eliminate the influence of cognitive or "perception" bias from the "predatory" publishing debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores that the topic of ethics dumping (ED), its causes and potential remedies. In ED, the weaknesses or gaps in ethics policies and systems of lower income countries are intentionally exploited for intellectual or financial gains through research and publishing by higher income countries with a more stringent or complex ethical infrastructure in which such research and publishing practices would not be permitted. Several examples are provided. Possible ED needs to be evaluated before research takes place, and detected prior to publication as an academic paper, because it might lead to a collaborative effort between a wealthier country with restrictive ethical policies and a less wealthy country with more permissive policies. Consequently, if that collaboration ultimately results in an academic paper, there are ethical ramifications of ED to scholarly communication. Institutional review board approval is central to avoid ED-based collaborations. Blind trust and goodwill alone cannot eliminate the exploitation of indigenous or "vulnerable" populations' intellect and resources. Combining community-based participatory research using clear codes of research conduct and a simple but robust verification system in academic publishing may reduce the risks of ED-based research from being published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some journals and publishers offer a free or paid rapid peer review service. In the latter case, such a service is offered at a premium, i.e., for an additional fee, and authors receive, in return, a privileged service, namely faster peer review. In the cut-throat world of survival in academia, the difference of a few weeks or months in terms of speed of peer review and publication may bring untold benefits to authors that manage to benefit from accelerated peer review. We examine the deontological aspects behind this two-tier peer review system, including some positive, but mainly negative, aspects. Some paid accelerated peer review services thrive. We examine the paid accelerated peer review services by Taylor & Francis, Future Medicine Ltd., Elsevier, and two stand-alone journals that are OASPA members. This suggests that there is a demand, and thus market, for faster peer review. However, this privilege risks creating a two-tiered system that may divide academics between those who can pay versus those who cannot. We recommend that those papers that have benefited from accelerated peer review clearly indicate this in the published papers, as either a disclaimer or within the acknowledgements, for maximum transparency of the peer review and publication process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: R2R3-type MYB transcription factors are associated with diverse developmental processes and responses to abiotic stresses. However, there is limited information regarding drought-responsive R2R3-MYB in a widespread subtropical tree species, Schima superba. Hence, the purpose of this study was to identify and functionally characterize the role of SsMYB113 in S. superba under drought stress. Results: SsMYB113, a novel R2R3-MYB transcription factor that was targeted to the nucleus in Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts, functioned as a transcriptional activator during in vitro and in vivo assays. SsMYB113 transcript was abundant in the leaves of six-month-old S. superba, and was significantly up-regulated by PEG-simulated drought stress and abscisic acid (ABA). Overexpression of SsMYB113 in A. thaliana seedlings led to enhanced tolerance to drought stress and facilitated flavonoid biosynthesis and ABA accumulation, including of corresponding biosynthetic genes, particularly SsCHS and SsNCED. Furthermore, SsMYB113 was shown to bind directly to the promoters of SsCHS and SsNCED using Y1H and a dual-LUC assay, thus activating their expression. In addition, in SsMYB113-overexpressing lines, proline, water content, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activities increased, while malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakage, and the rate of superoxide production decreased, suggesting the explicit role of SsMYB113 in conferring drought tolerance. Conclusions: Drought-responsive SsMYB113 functioned as a positive regulator by participating in flavonoid and ABA biosynthesis, thereby enhancing drought stress tolerance in indigenous fast-growing S. superba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heliotropium foertherianum Diane and Hilger (Boraginaceae), an evergreen shrub or tree that grows naturally on tropical atoll sandbanks above the high tide line of beaches, is used for landscaping in tropical islands but also has medicinal and ecological value. In this study, shoot proliferation and regeneration protocols were established for H. foertherianum for the first time. Adventitious shoots were successfully induced from young leaves and internode explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L–1 thidiazuron, applied alone or in combination with 0.2 mg L–1 6-benzyladenine (BA). Shoot proliferation was optimal on MS medium with 2.0 mg L–1 BA and 0.2 mg L–1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), achieving a shoot proliferation coefficient of 4.7 within 45 d of culture. When BA concentration was too high (> 3.0 mg L–1), fasciated stems and abnormal leaves formed. Adventitious roots were induced from 100% of adventitious shoots on half-strength MS medium with 2.0 mg L–1 IBA within 45 d. When rooted plantlets were transferred to a substrate of peat:vermiculite:perlite (1:1:1) (v:v:v), over 95% survived within 3 mo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: An in vitro-to-ex vitro shoot tip-derived protocol was developed to mass propagate (40,000 plants/year)Dracaena cambodiana. Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnep (Agavaceae) has considerable ornamental and medicinal value, but due to over-exploitation of its natural stands, it has become endangered. In this study, we developed an in vitro-to-ex vitro protocol that allows for the mass propagation (micropropagation) of this plant. A regeneration protocol was developed for this plant from the culture of shoot tips. Callus and then adventitious shoots were induced on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L NAA while 2.0 mg/L TDZ and 1.0 mg/L BA in MS medium induced resembling somatic embryo-like structures, each which was able to develop a radicle, a hypocotyl and shoot. BA induced hyperhydricity when used at 4.0 mg/L. When cultured on ½MS medium with 0.5 mg/L of either NAA or IBA, 100% of shoots formed roots within one month. Almost 100% of plantlets transferred to a substrate of coconut husk and peat (1:1, v/v) survived. This study also reports the first large-scale production of D. cambodiana plantlets in plastic bags (40,000 plants/year), with the potential for more than 1 million plants/year, allowing for market demand to be met and plants to be produced in sufficient volumes for eco-restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Fortified forest management strategies, coupled with in situ and ex situ conservation strategies, are needed for long-term conservation of rare, valuably important Dalbergia latifolia. Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.; Fabaceae) is a highly valued and commercially important tree species. In its global natural habitats, D. latifolia is sparsely distributed. Apart from its uses in furniture, plywood, veneer and carved wood products, it is globally known for its use in the guitar industry. Possessing unique tonal properties and beautiful wood finishing, it is considered an iconic material in the manufacture of guitars. High demand for the wood, coupled with its growing rarity, has resulted in excessive harvest and an illegal trade. In parallel, habitat destruction has led to a rapid decline in its natural populations globally. Today, most of the best trees have already been extracted, and rosewood forests are under severe threat of depletion. Conservationists worldwide are concerned about the fate of rosewood mainly because it takes many decades to grow to a commercially viable size and centuries to reach full maturity. With the increasing rarity of timber, exponentially growing demand for wood, and rampant illegal trade, rosewood prices have soared in the global market. It has thus been listed in Appendix II of CITES from 2016 and categorised as 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN. This review provides a comprehensive set of information about the taxonomy, distribution, morphology, pollination and seed biology, regeneration, insect pests and diseases, and wood quality of Indian rosewood. It also discusses trade, alternative species, and conservation options. The natural habitats of D. latifolia need to be more stringently monitored so that appropriate management interventions can be adopted to conserve the genetic resources of this valuable timber species. Since the regeneration status of D. latifolia in forest areas is still unknown, long-term monitoring and an understanding of the factors influencing stand establishment would ensure that this tree species is preserved in natural forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordia subcordata Lam. (Boraginaceae) is a woody tree that grows in coastal wasteland and mangrove edges. Its wood is used for woodcraft, and the tree, which is used in landscaping, also has medicinal and ecological value (e.g., coastal protection). In this study, a shoot proliferation and regeneration system was established for this plant. Callus was induced from terminal young leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 1.0 mg L–1 thidiazuron or 1.0 mg L–1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or optimally with 0.5 or 1.0 mg L–1 of both. Callus differentiated from an average of 35.4% of explants into 3 to 5 adventitious shoots (indirect shoot organogenesis) within 45 d. Optimal shoot proliferation medium was MS medium with 0.8 mg L–1 6-benzyladenine (BA). A higher concentration of BA (1.5 mg L–1) in the presence of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) enhanced callus induction from the base of shoots and decreased shoot proliferation. On ½MS medium with 0.5 mg L–1 NAA and/or indole-3-butyric acid, adventitious roots were induced from shoots. Within 1 mo, 95.4% of plantlets transferred to a substrate of vermiculite and peat (1:1, v/v) survived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mannan polysaccharides (MPs), which contain substituted O-acetyl groups in their backbone, are abundant in the medicinal plant Dendrobium officinale. Acetyl groups can influence the physiological and biochemical properties of polysaccharides, which mainly accumulate in the stems of D. officinale at four developmental stages (S1–S4), showing an increasing trend and a link with water-soluble polysaccharides (WSPs) and mannose. The genes coding for enzymes that catalyze O-acetyl groups to MPs are unknown in D. officinale. The TRICHOME BIREFRINGENCE-LIKE (TBL) gene family contains TBL and DUF231 domains that can transfer O-acetyl groups to various polysaccharides. Based on an established D. officinale genome database, 37 DoTBL genes were identified. Analysis of cis-elements in the promoter region showed that DoTBL genes might respond to different hormones and abiotic stresses. Most of the genes with MeJA-responsive elements were upregulated or downregulated after treatment with MeJA. qRT-PCR results demonstrated that DoTBL genes had significantly higher expression levels in stems and leaves than in roots. Eight DoTBL genes showed relatively higher expression at S2–S4 stages, which showed a link with the content of WSPs and O-acetyl groups. DoTBL35 and its homologous gene DoTBL34 displayed the higher mRNA level in different organs and developmental stages, which might participate in the acetylation of MPs in D. officinale. The subcellular localization of DoTBL34 and DoTBL35 reveals that the endoplasmic reticulum may play an important role in the acetylation of MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euryodendron excelsum H. T. Chang, a critically endangered species endemic to China, is a source of valuable material for the furniture and construction industries. However, this species has some challenges associated with rooting during in vitro propagation that have yet to be resolved. In this study, we optimized rooting and conducted a transcriptomic analysis to appreciate its molecular mechanism, thereby promoting the practical application of in vitro propagation of E. excelsum, and providing technical support for the ecological protection of this rare and endangered species. Results showed that ex vitro rooting performed the highest rooting percentage with 98.33% at 25 days. During ex vitro rooting, there was a wide fluctuation of endogenous levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at the stage of root primordia formation. Transcriptome analysis revealed multiple differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in adventitious root (AR) development. DEGs involved in plant hormone signal transduction, such as genes encoding auxin-induced protein, auxin-responsive protein, and auxin transporter-like protein, and in response to H2O2, oxidative stress, abiotic and biotic stimuli were significantly up- or down-regulated by ex vitro treatment with 1 mM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Our results indicate that ex vitro rooting is an effective method to induce AR from E. excelsum plantlets during micropropagation. DEGs involved in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway played a crucial role in AR formation. H2O2, produced by environmental stimulation, might be related to AR induction as a result of the synergistic action with IBA, ultimately regulating the level of endogenous IAA. Key message: Under ex vitro rooting, a synergistic action between H2O2 produced by environmental stimulation and IBA played crucial role in the regulation of AR formation from E. excelsum plantlets during micropropagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizanthes is a holoparasitic plant of the Rafflesiaceae, and, just like Rafflesia, its host is Tetrastigma (Vitaceae). Unlike Rafflesia, very little research has been conducted on Rhizanthes other than a few studies focusing on its taxonomy and anatomy, and limited studies on its propagation, despite some ethnomedicinal uses in several regions of Indonesia. Wild populations of Rhizanthes are declining due to deforestation and overharvesting by locals. Artificial pollination and possible seed spread, which are similar to Rafflesia, may be useful for future propagation-based studies, which are generally very difficult and challenging for members of the Rafflesiaceae. This paper emphasizes the cultural and ethnomedicinal importance of Rhizanthes and seeks to define a conservation road-map that incorporates a scientifically-based approach to research while also seeking a four-pronged approach to the conservation of Rhizanthes: 1) conventional and biotechnology-based conservation; 2) germplasm multiplication and preservation; 3) reintroduction into the wild and conservation of wild populations; 4) policy-based protective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flowers of pagoda tree (Sophora japonica L.) are white, which limited its ornamental value and caused few researches on its flower color and anthocyanin accumulation. A pink flower mutant (PM) was discovered, which provided an opportunity to investigate anthocyanin biosynthesis in pagoda tree flowers. In this study, the anthocyanin and flavone/flavonol contents in petals of PM and wild type (WT; white flower) were measured. The content of total anthocyanins was significantly higher in the PM than in the WT at four floral stages (S1–S4). There were no significant differences of total flavonol content between these two varieties at each floral stage, indicating that the flavone/flavonol content did not influence flower color, while anthocyanin was a key factor to determine pink flower coloration. Then, transcriptome analysis was performed by using the petals of PM and WT at S1–S4. Differentially expressed genes encoding chalcone synthase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, flavonol synthase, flavanone 3′-hydroxylase, dihydroflavonol-4-reductase, anthocyanidin synthase, and UDP-glucose: flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase were identified. Importantly, we found that SjDFR2 might be the key gene in anthocyanin accumulation in petals. Transcription factors, SjPAP1, SjMYB111, SjMYB1b, SjMYBL2, SjTT8, and WD40 protein SjTTG1, might play critical roles in regulation of anthocyanin accumulation in petals. Moreover, regulatory factors involved in the phytohormone signal pathway (SjIAA19, SjIAA27, SjAXR3, SjARF20, and SjERS1), and light signal pathway (SjHY5), were also screened out. These results will provide some new insights into the control of flower color in pagoda tree, as well as some candidate genes to breed novel flower colors using molecular methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. (Fabaceae), famed for its wood, is a vulnerable plant species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List as a result of its over-utilisation. This mini-review, which provides a synthesis of the micropropagation of this woody plant species, can be useful for the establishment of a more focused and comprehensive micropropagation protocol. An in-depth analysis of previously published reports indicates that the most commonly employed explant in D. latifolia in vitro regeneration protocols are seedling-derived explants such as cotyledonary nodes since the use of ex vitro material leads to considerable contamination and phenolic oxidation. The media composition for culture initiation, multiplication, maintenance and rooting has been thoroughly studied but in most studies, pertinent information about acclimatization and plant survival in the field was not provided, reducing the reproducibility of protocols. This mini-review provides possible solutions to overcome explant contamination and browning during D. latifolia in vitro culture establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepturus repens (G. Forst.) R. Br. is a perennial grass that grows on coral reef outcrops and sandy beaches and has drought tolerance and salt resistance. In this study, the internodes of L. repens were used as explants and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.13 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA) to successfully induce axillary shoots. Additional experimental results showed that cytokinins were a key factor for the successful induction and proliferation of shoots. BA induced 7.2 axillary shoots per explant, significantly more than kinetin (KIN), which induced 3.5 axillary shoots per explant. Shoots were proliferated more successfully on medium supplemented with 1.13 mg L−1 BA and a low concentration of 0.09 mg L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) than BA alone. Shoot bases were used as explants for embryogenic callus induction and subsequent plant regeneration, which was possible on MS medium supplemented with 0.11 mg L−1 2,4-D, 0.09 mg L−1 NAA, and 0.22 mg L−1 TDZ. Separately, callus differentiated into adventitious shoot buds on MS medium containing 1.13 mg L−1 BA or 1.10 mg L−1 KIN singly or combined with 0.09 mg L−1 NAA. On MS medium without plant growth regulators (PGR-free) or only containing 0.09 mg L−1 NAA, callus induced both adventitious shoots and somatic embryos that developed a radical on PGR-free medium. All shoots formed roots on ½MS medium containing a low concentration (0.19 to 0.37 mg L−1) of NAA or IBA within 20 d. The survival percentage of plantlets with 3 to 4 shoot clusters exceeded 99% on a substrate consisting of yellow mud, organic fertilizer, and perlite (10:3:1, v:v:v). After transplanting, plantlets with one or two shoot clusters showed 68 to 86% survival within 1 mo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Kopyor and macapuno are two coconut mutants from Southeast Asia that are often described erroneously or interchangeably mismatched due to a lack of research, so future studies are encouraged. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.; Arecaceae), a widely distributed plant with popular culinary applications, especially of the endosperm, has several nutritional and medicinal benefits. Two coconut mutants are widely recognized in Southeast Asia, namely kopyor and macapuno, specifically in Indonesia and Philippines, respectively. Kopyor coconut is known for its brittle solid endosperm while macapuno coconut is known for its gelatinous solid endosperm. Both mutant types have many other synonyms in other countries. Over many decades, the biology of macapuno coconut, including endosperm anatomy, histology, cytology, physiology, and genetics have been described, while kopyor coconut is still understudied. However, some literature and websites erroneously describe kopyor as macapuno coconut, or consider them interchangeably, which is an unintentional consequence of insufficient scientific research on these coconut mutants. Additionally, in Indonesia, there is another local mutant in Banten called wax coconut ("kelapa lilin") that some researchers claim as the actual Indonesian macapuno coconut due to its strong resemblance to kopyor coconut. Unfortunately, wax coconut is not only understudied, it is rarely documented. Additional evidence of their differences, in terms of morphological, biochemical and genetic characteristics, is needed. Moreover, clear documentation will also be needed for a better comparison. Understanding the differences between kopyor and macapuno coconuts will not only help to further clarify their scientific description in the literature, but will also guide locals, researchers, and industries to characterize similar mutants, if found in specific regions, for future study and bioprospecting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predatory nature of a journal is in constant debate because it depends on multiple factors, which keep evolving. The classification of a journal as being predatory, or not, is no longer exclusively associated with its open access status, by inclusion or exclusion on perceived reputable academic indexes and/or on whitelists or blacklists. Inclusion in the latter may itself be determined by a host of criteria, may be riddled with type I errors (e.g., erroneous inclusion of a truly predatory journal in a whitelist) and/or type II errors (e.g., erroneous exclusion of a truly valid scholarly journal in a whitelist). While extreme cases of predatory publishing behavior may be clear cut, with true predatory journals displaying ample predatory properties, journals in non-binary grey zones of predatory criteria are difficult to classify. They may have some legitimate properties, but also some illegitimate ones. In such cases, it might be too extreme to refer to such entities as "predatory". Simply referring to them as "potentially predatory" or "borderline predatory" also does little justice to discern a predatory entity from an unscholarly, low-quality, unprofessional, or exploitative one. Faced with the limitations caused by this gradient of predatory dimensionality, this paper introduces a novel credit-like rating system, based in part on well-known financial credit ratings companies used to assess investment risk and creditworthiness, to assess journal or publisher quality. Cognizant of the weaknesses and criticisms of these rating systems, we suggest their use as a new way to view the scholarly nature of a journal or publisher. When used as a tool to supplement, replace, or reinforce current sets of criteria used for whitelists and blacklists, this system may provide a fresh perspective to gain a better understanding of predatory publishing behavior. Our tool does not propose to offer a definitive solution to this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter makes note that the responsibility to detect text written by AI, such as ChatGPT, is the sole responsibility of editors and journals/publishers. This proposed policy is made to ensure proper authorship and to therefore assuage readers of a paper's authorship validity—so as not to have AI-driven guest authorship—so that the integrity of the biomedical literature is not further degraded. Two letters to the editor were recently written in this journal by ChatGPT and edited by the author. The extent to which ChatGPT contributed to those letters' content is unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of three levels of water supply (unlimited (WW); water stress during flowering (RO); rainfed (P)) on radiation properties and yield of two soybean varieties (Sinara, Sin; Sigalia, Sig) were evaluated. Sin is considered to be tolerant to water stress. The effect of leaf area index, year, variety, and meteorological variables on evapotranspiration (ET) was analysed by hierarchical regression. This study attempted to identify how water supply affects the crop–light relationship between photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmission and radiation use efficiency (RUE), which were involved in qualitative and quantitative traits related to soybean production (biomass and yield attributes: seed yield, 1000-grain weight, oil and protein content). Unstandardized coefficients of air temperature (Ta) showed that a 1 °C increase in daily mean Ta induced a higher ET, on average 0.16 mm day−1. Soil moisture strongly affected sowing time. When averaged across three seasons at flowering, 97.7, 95.1 and 97.3% of incoming PAR were intercepted by the canopies of plants in WW, RO and P, respectively. The average extinction coefficient (k) and RUE pooled across both varieties were 0.42 and 1.32 g MJ PAR−1 for WW, and 0.46 and 0.98 g MJ PAR−1 for RO, respectively, compared with 0.44 and 1.15 g MJ PAR−1 for P. As expected, water treatment significantly affected all yield traits: RO decreased yield whereas WW increased yield compared to P. Practically, both varieties are suitable for cultivation under water stress during flowering but Sin showed greater yield under unlimited watering and rainfed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonols are important active ingredients that are found in abundance in Dendrobium officinale. Research on flavonol biosynthesis currently focuses on the more ubiquitous kaempferol and quercetin, but little is known on the biosynthesis of myricetin. Notably, flavonol synthase (FLS), which is responsible for the biosynthesis of flavonols, has not yet been identified. In this study, we isolated a flavonol synthase, DoFLS1, from Dendrobium officinale. DoFLS1 harbors conserved 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase-specific and FLS-specific motifs. DoFLS1 is a cytoplasmic protein. DoFLS1 was universally expressed in roots, stems, and leaves of juvenile and adult D. officinale plants. DoFLS1 expression was strongly correlated in juvenile and adult D. officinale plants (R2 = 0.86 and 0.98, respectively; p < 0.01) with the average of corresponding flavonol levels. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana expressing DoFLS1 exhibited a 1.24-fold increase in flavonol content and a 25.78% decrease in anthocyanin content compare to wild-type plants, possibly resulting from a 78.61% increase in myricetin level. Moreover, the loss of anthocyanin was attributed to decreased expression of dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) genes in transgenic A. thaliana that expressed DoFLS1. DoFLS1 also complemented the deficiency in flavonol of the A. thaliana fls1-3 mutant, which had reduced anthocyanin but increased flavonol content relative to the fls1-3 mutant. In addition, DoFLS1 was significantly upregulated after treatment with cold, drought or salicylic acid. These findings provide genetic evidence for the involvement of DoFLS1 in the biosynthesis of flavonol and in response to abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]