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On occasion, following the publication of a paper, serious concerns might be raised, either about the study, the author(s), or background processes. When editors-in-chief (EiCs) have sufficient evidence in the case of a serious ethical offense or methodological errors that may invalidate the paper's findings or ethical standing, they can retract the paper rapidly. However, in the interim period between receiving a report and seeking a solution, several weeks, months or even years might pass, and readers need to be alerted to its potential unreliability. In such an instance, the current alternative (but not corrective) document takes the form of an editorial expression of concern (EoC). However, a case might be unresolved for a long time, with an EoC attached to it, so EiCs are encouraged to seek a resolution as promptly as possible because there are academics who might need to cite and/or rely on that paper. Curiously, even though a comprehensive debate is provided by COPE ethics guidelines and ICMJE recommendations, which refer to EoCs, guidance is not entirely clear. This paper makes an attempt to improve guidelines that editors could consider when faced with the dilemma of whether to issue an EoC, or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to its own description, the biomedical meta-database PubMed exists "with the aim of improving health—both globally and personally." Unfortunately, PubMed contains an increasing amount of low-quality research that may detract from this goal. Currently, PubMed warns its users and protects itself from such problems with a disclaimer stating that the presence of any article, book, or document in PubMed does not imply an endorsement of, or concurrence with, its contents by the NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), or the U.S. Federal Government. However, we are critical of a "disclaimer-only" stance and encourage PubMed to take further action against low-quality research being found and indexed in its database, and thus available for use. To address this problem, we offer two lines of reasoning to argue that PubMed should not function merely as a passive index of health-related research. Instead, we first argue that only trustworthy published research is able to further PubMed's goal of health improvement. Secondly, on the basis of surveys, we argue that researchers place a high level of trust in articles that are referenced in this meta-database. We cannot expect any one set of actors to ensure trustworthy content on PubMed, which requires collective responsibility among authors, peer reviewers, editors, and indexers alike. Instead, we propose a curation-based model that incorporates three mechanisms of collaborative content curation: open expert feedback on indexed content, journal auditing, and constant transparent reassessment of indexed entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter to the editor discusses the risks associated with relying on artificial intelligence (AI) text, specifically OpenAI's ChatGPT, for scientific writing. The authors conducted an experiment to test ChatGPT's ability to provide accurate estimates of the surface area of lakes worldwide. However, ChatGPT was unable to provide accurate information and did not acknowledge or reference the relevant scientific literature. These findings support previous concerns about the reliability and accountability of AI-generated text. [Extracted from the article]

The human factor in decision-making in tennis, like so many sports, plays a fundamental part of its ambience and/or drama or entertainment. This is because some line calls by some line umpires can be dubious, or even incorrect. In tennis events that allow for challenges to line calls, an artificial intelligence-based referee, in the form of electronic line calling (ELC), is then used to resolve the challenge, and the result is handed out by the chair umpire. This commentary debates the merits and demerits that may be associated with the total elimination of human line umpires by employing ELC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate on "predatory" publishing within academic scholarly communication continues. Blacklists (or watchlists) pertaining to "predatory" open access publishing by Jeffrey Beall, anonymous websites that cloned Beall's blacklists, with or without updates, as well as a now-defunct blacklist, Dolos list, contain classification errors. During a Google search in 2021–2022, we found that dozens of academic libraries around the world, primarily in the USA, had continued to promote those blacklists. The list was revisited on 23 February 2023, focusing on libraries in seven Anglophonic countries, noting that 37 libraries were still promoting the Beall-based blacklists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a product of lipid peroxidation that is often determined in abiotic stress-related phytoremediation research. This study assessed (July 14, 2022) the frequency of eight nomenclatural forms of MDA between 2001 and 2021 using three major databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS9). The most common form (75,060, 57,874, and 65,663 times in PubMed, Scopus, and WoS, respectively) of MDA was "malondialdehyde", followed by "malonaldehyde" (68,240, 3815, and 2337 times in these three databases, respectively). According to WoS, the journals that used "malondialdehyde" and "malonaldehyde" most frequently were Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer-Nature) (587 times) and The Journal of Chemical Physics (AIP Publishing) (57 times). Other less-frequent forms were: malonyldialdehyde, malonic dialdehyde, malon-dialdehyde, malone dialdehyde, malonic aldehyde, and malonodialdehyde. We recommend that the editors of journals that publish papers with themes that are closely associated with plant stress specify in their instructions for authors their journal's preferable nomenclatural form of MDA. The plant abiotic stress community, including phytoremediation specialists, need to debate this topic with the objective of seeking a standardized nomenclatural form of MDA, which would help to fortify the integrity of searches in major databases by allowing all relevant literature to be accurately identified. Novelty statement Malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation that is often determined in stress-related phytoremediation research, has various forms to its name. These nomenclatural variations were assessed in PubMed-, Scopus-, and Web of Science-indexed literature. This is the first study to detect, report, quantify and debate these forms of MDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fundamental basis for effective health-related policymaking of any democratic nation should be open and transparent communication between a government and its citizens, including scientists and healthcare professionals, to foster a climate of trust, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign. Since misinformation is a leading cause of vaccine hesitancy, open data sharing through an evidence-based approach may render the communication of health strategies developed by policymakers with the public more effective, allowing misinformation and claims that are not backed by scientific evidence to be tackled. In this narrative review, we debate possible causes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and links to the COVID-19 misinformation epidemic. We also put forward plausible solutions as recommended in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) is supposed to be a permanent identifier for researchers. Despite this, the ORCID registry or database carries entries of "researchers" that are evidently not as claimed, dummy accounts, or "ghost" accounts. As part of an ongoing project to assess the oddities in, and reliability of, ORCID, this letter records the existence of 29 cases of "researchers" with the names (first or family) of vegetables. Editors are cautioned to verify ORCID accounts associated with submitted papers to ensure their validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Predatory" publishing is a non-binary academic phenomenon, but personal and professional biases may influence the criteria used to create associated blacklists and whitelists. Academic librarians, as scholarly communicators, play an essential role in transmitting accurate information about "predatory" publishing to students, staff, funders, university management and the public. In this paper, lessons are drawn from the published literature to offer advice to academic librarians about the grey zone in predatory publishing to avoid select misinformation pitfalls. Academic librarians need to recognise the flaws and weaknesses of blacklists and of the criteria used to establish them. By offering accurate insight and advice, academic librarians can establish an effective online warning system to users about "predatory" publishing, allowing them to be more effective scholarly communicators, and not vessels of miscommunication. Academic librarians are essential in aiding the academic community to find solutions to this threat to the literature's integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary takes note of the existence of "tortured phrases" (i.e. unspecific jargon or confusing alternative phrases), as indexed in the Tortured Phrases Detector of the Problematic Paper Screener (PPS) (sourced on January 10, 2023) in 213 preprints, 13 of which are related to COVID-19. Select "tortured phrases" in 11 preprints are highlighted, to offer readers an appreciation of this phenomenon. The incorrect representation of jargon in the medical and health literature may risk confusing readers by reducing the impact of effective and precise communication. Whereas some "tortured phrases" might represent simple mistranslations, in other cases, an abundance of such terms in a single preprint might reveal a more serious ethical issue, such as the undeclared use of a paper mill or an unprofessional editing service. This commentary is thus only a spring-board to introduce this linguistic phenomenon and to encourage interested academics to explore more cases, the practical implications of their existence, and even the weaknesses and strengths of PPS. Caution is needed about excessive extrapolation of the existence of "tortured phrases", so as not to automatically associate them with ethical infractions or misconduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petaloid stamens in Paeonia lactiflora constitute an important developmental phenomenon that explain double flower formation. Although research on stamen development in model plants has progressed considerably, the underlying molecular mechanism in P. lactiflora petaloid stamens is still unclear. In this study, acomparative transcriptomic analysis was performed on two cultivars of P. lactiflora ('Fen Yu Nu' and 'Lian Tai') with different stamen developmental patterns. Following transcriptome sequencing, 89,393 unigenes were identified in P. lactiflora. Trend analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) indicated that 18 candidate genes were likely involved in the formation and development of petaloid stamens, including seven MADS-box genes, PlAP3, PlDEFA, PlPI2, PlAG-1, PlSEP3, PlSEP1-1, and PlSEP1-2, and 11 other transcription factors (TFs), PlTCP2, PlTCP4, PlTCP9, PlbHLH36, PlICE1, PlLBD38, PlNAC083, PlBLH11, PlPDF2, PlGBF1, and PlIIIA. Using these 18 selected candidate genes, we propose ahypothetical model of gene expression network that regulates the development of petaloid stamens. Our results provide acollection of candidate genes that are useful for the analysis of P. lactiflora petaloid stamens, allowing for in-depth studies of the development pattern of P. lactiflora flower organs, and providing atheoretical basis for related research on petaloid stamens of flowers in other herbaceous plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is an environmental stress that limits agricultural and horticultural production worldwide. Paeonia lactiflora Pall. is a perennial flowering plant with strong environmental adaptability and a good candidate for production in arid areas. Using the Illumina Hiseq platform to study the transcriptome of P. lactiflora leaves under drought stress, 62.27 Gb of clean data was obtained and 87,099 unigenes (N50 = 1,352 bp; mean length = 790.66 bp) were obtained by transcriptome sequencing. After screening 4,198 differentially expressed genes, genes that may be related to the response of P. lactiflora to drought stress were identified: 28 signal transduction genes, 12 protein kinase genes, 14 transcription factor genes, 35 osmotic adjustment genes, 14 antioxidase enzyme genes, 22 photosynthesis genes, 9 AQP genes, 20 HSP genes, and 17 LEA genes. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that transcription factors, such as ERF, WRKY, and NAC transcription factor family members regulate the synthesis of hormones that play a role in signal transduction pathways of peony in response to drought stress. These results enrich currently available herbaceous peony gene sequence resources, fortify the identification of candidate genes and molecular regulatory mechanisms in response to drought stress, allowing genetic engineering to be used to create drought-tolerant plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to assess, under laboratory conditions, how the accumulation of four heavy metals (HMs) (lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn)), prepared as aqueous solutions from 1 μM to 1 mM, affected biochemical and physiological parameters of Amaranthus retroflexus seedlings. Seedlings showed considerably high resistance to all investigated HMs and no significant oxidative stress in leaves. After chronic exposure to high doses of any of the HMs, seedlings remained viable, but with slightly slower axial growth. We propose the use of biochemical indices (lipid peroxidation (LPO) intensity; level of total peroxides) as criteria to assess the adaptive potential of amaranth plants to HMs. These indices had very high correlation coefficients (r) with the accumulation of HMs in A. retroflexus roots, stems and leaves: 0.86–0.89 for malone dialdehyde (MDA) content for Ni and Zn, and 0.79–0.94 for total peroxides (for Cu, Pb, and maximum in Ni). At 1 mM of any HM, seedlings accumulated Pb and Ni at levels of HM-hyperaccumulating species. If soil is contaminated (in terms of maximum permissible concentration, MPC) by Pb (8.2 ± 2.2 MPC) or Ni (3.5 ± 1.0 MPC) (equivalent to 1 mM of the HM in solution), A. retroflexus is a strong candidate for the phytoremediation of Pb- and Ni-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate efficiency of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to remediate soils polluted with zinc (Zn). Treatments consisted of four AMFs (control, Rhizophagus intraradices, Funneliformis mosseae and Glomus versiforme) and five levels of Zn (Z0: control, Z1: 10 mg kg−1, Z2: 50 mg kg−1, Z3: 100 mg kg−1 and Z4: 500 mg kg−1). The inoculation of tall fescue with F. mosseae and G. versiforme resulted in an increase in dry weight of shoots and uptake and concentration of shoot phosphorus) phosphorus (P) and Zn, while use of R. intraradices increased root dry weight and uptake of root Zn and P. The highest concentration of Zn in shoots was obtained in plants inoculated with F. mosseae. Root Zn concentration at all levels of Zn was significantly higher in plants inoculated with R. intraradices than other treatments. At 500 mg Zn kg−1, Zn translocation efficiency was higher in plants inoculated with F. mosseae, followed by G. versiforme, while most effective accumulation of Zn in roots was in plants inoculated with R. intraradices. Generally, efficiency of AMF in phytoremediation of Zn by plants mainly depends on fungal isolates and levels of Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent fires in Northeast Iran in the autumn of 2010 resulted in the burning of some valuable forest habitats. The objective of this study was to apply geographic information systems (GIS) to determine to what degree three key factors (environmental, climatic, and anthropogenic) influence the severity rating of fires in these forests. The forest fire sites were surveyed and imported into GIS. The severity of burnt areas was considered in relation to the three factors. Statistical functions were used to calculate the effect of the factors at each fire site. Logistic and stepwise regressions were used to determine the fire severity rating related to each factor. The results indicate that as the number of cumulative days after the onset of fire increased, the burnt areas also increased at a rate of 303.5 ha/day (R2 = 0.95). Consequently, forest density, daily mean wind speed, daily mean temperature and distance to roads were highly correlated with the daily severity rating of forest fires, and only daily temperature and forest density affected the size of the burnt areas. Prediction maps show that about 24% of the forests have high fire durability, amounting to 7% of the fire-sensitive area. The findings from this case indicate that GIS can be effectively employed in fire management to assess damage, and possibly to prevent future fires, thus assisting in the preservation of valuable forest resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paphiopedilumis one of the most popular and rare orchid genera. Members of the genus are sold and exhibited as pot plants and cut flowers. Wild populations ofPaphiopedilumare under the threat of extinction due to over-collection and loss of suitable habitats. A reduction in their commercial value through large-scale propagationin vitrois an option to reduce pressure from illegal collection, to attempt to meet commercial needs and to re-establish threatened species back into the wild. Although they are commercially propagatedviaasymbiotic seed germination,Paphiopedilumare considered to be difficult to propagatein vitro, especially by plant regeneration from tissue culture. This review aims to cover the most important aspects and to provide an up-to-date research progress onin vitropropagation ofPaphiopedilumand to emphasize the importance of further improving tissue culture protocols forex vitro-derived explants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The most important part of a biomedical scientific manuscript is undeniably the research data. Yet, scientists generate and validate that data, culminating, in most cases, in a scientific manuscript. Thus, authorship, specifically the contributions and attributed responsibilities of the authors, remains a central issue in science publishing. This article examines the definitions of authorship as defined by four publishing organizations—the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Council of Scientific Editors (CSE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)—and 15 science, technology, and medicine (STM) publishers. The objective is to understand whether there is consistency among definitions. Five of these STM publishers rely specifically on the ICMJE definitions of authorship, while 12/15 are COPE members. The clarity, logic, realism, feasibility, and enforceability of these definitions will be discussed. Our analysis reveals that authorship definitions are inconsistent among the 15 STM publishers. Scientists have the inherent right to determine who is an author of an article according to the ethical guidelines of their institutes, but these may differ from the guidelines indicated by publishers, while editors and publishers have the right to verify authorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of biosolids to agricultural fields is becoming increasingly common. The effect of biosolids on the behavior of metals in different plants has been reported to be variable and ambiguous. A greenhouse experiment was conducted on a soil spiked with four rates of copper (Cu) (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg kg−1) and zinc (Zn) (0, 150, 300, and 450 mg kg−1) in lettuce culture. When Cu and Zn were spiked to anaerobically-digested biosolids, their availability in lettuce increased. Root and shoot fresh weight decreased due to a decrease in photosynthetic rate. superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidases (POD) activity increased after the application of Cu and Zn. The bioavailability of Zn in lettuce was greater than that of Cu because of a higher transfer factor in plants and due to a higher endogenous Zn concentration.These results will allow for better fertilization management when biosolids are applied to tomato culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was established to assess the ability of selenium (Se) to reduce cadmium (Cd) toxicity when tomato was grown hydroponically. A factorial experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with six replicates in cucumber (Cucumis sativuscv. 4200). The Se was applied at four levels [0 mg L–1(Se0), 2 mg L–1Se (Se1), 4 mg L–1Se (Se2), and 6 mg L–1Se (Se3)], whereas Cd was applied at three levels [0 µM Cd (Cd0), 5 µM Cd (Cd1), and 7 µM Cd (Cd2)]. The Se improved the dry weight of roots even when plants were exposed to Cd. Treatment Se1 improved the dry weight of shoots in Cd1 and Cd2. Treatments Se1 and Se2 improved photosynthesis in Cd1. Treatment Se1 significantly improved stomatal conductance in Cd2 at all levels of Se relative to Cd2. The greatest Cd concentration in leaves was observed in Cd2 × Se0 and while Se concentration in solution increased in response to Se1, Se2, and Se3. The greatest Se level reduced Cd uptake the most. Growth and photosynthetic attributes can be negatively affected by Cd, but Se has the ability to buffer, or improve, several attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African violet (Saintpaulia ionanthaH. Wendl) is one of the most easily and commonly tissue-cultured ornamental plants. Despite this, there are limited reports on photosynthetic capacity and its impact on the plant quality during acclimatization. Various growth, photosynthetic and biochemical parameters and activities of antioxidant enzymes and dehydrins of micropropagated plants were assessed under three light intensities (35, 70, and 100 µmol m−2s−1photosynthetic photon flux density – PPFD). Fresh and dry plant biomass, plant height, and leaf area were optimal with high irradiance (70–100 µmol m−2s−1PPFD). Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and net photosynthesis were optimal in plants grown under 70 µmol m−2s−1PPFD. Stomatal resistance, malondialdehyde content, andFv/Fmvalues were highest at low light irradiance (35 µmol m−2s−1PPFD). The activities of three antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, increased as light irradiance increased, signaling that high light irradiance was an abiotic stress. The accumulation of 55, 33, and 25 kDa dehydrins was observed with all light treatments although the expression levels were highest at 35 µmol m−2s−1PPFD. Irradiance at 70 µmol m−2s−1PPFD was suitable for the acclimatization of African violet plants. Both low and high irradiance levels (35 and 100 µmol m−2s−1PPFD) induced the accumulation of antioxidants and dehydrins in plants which reveals enhanced stress levels and measures to counter it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabriggsia ovalifolia W. T.Wang. is an endangered species indigenous to China. Leaf cuttings and petiole segments derived from 1-year-old potted plants, originally derived from in vitro cultures, were used to study the effects of various plant growth regulators (PGRs) and orientation (only for leaf cuttings) on the induction of adventitious shoots and roots. Leaf cuttings and petiole segments dipped in 20.0 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) for 30 min induced the highest number of shoots per explant (6.8 and 9.8, respectively) among the PGRs tested, and 1 - 20 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) induced more roots than indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or χ-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Leaf cuttings placed abaxial side down induced significantly more adventitious shoots (5.0 per cutting) than leaf cuttings placed abaxial side up (0.6 per cutting). More than 96% of plantlets survived when transferred to square plastic trays filled with a 1:1 (v/v) mix of sand and perlite. This study provides a simple, quick and efficient method of propagation from leaf cuttings or petiole segments, allowing this endangered ornamental species to be maintained sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zygotic embryos of three herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactifloraPall.) cultivars (‘Fen Yu Nu’, ‘Zhong Sheng Fen’ and ‘Zhu Sha Pan’) were used to study embryo germination and optimum plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations for in vitro propagation and root initiation. Mature zygotic embryos (>90 days after flowering [DAF]) gave better germination and survival than immature zygotic embryos (50–70 DAF). A protocol for initiating shoot growth and axillary shoot proliferation was established using mature embryos. The best results were obtained when using excised zygotic embryos (EZEs) obtained by removing the testa and endosperm from the seed. The best medium for EZE germination (an embryo with cotyledons) was half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (with double-strength CaCl2) supplemented with 0.5 mg L?16-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.5 mg L?1gibberellic acid (GA3). The best medium for axillary shoot proliferation was half-strength MS medium (including double-strength CaCl2) supplemented with 1 mg L?1BA and 1 mg L?1GA3. PGR-free half-strength MS was the best medium for promoting root development on seedlings (a germinated EZE with tender leaves) and for robust in vitro seedling establishment. The acclimatization of herbaceous peony remains the most challenging step of the in vitro protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science affects multiple basic sectors of society. Therefore, the findings made in science impact what takes place at a commercial level. More specifically, errors in the literature, incorrect findings, fraudulent data, poorly written scientific reports, or studies that cannot be reproduced not only serve as a burden on tax-payers’ money, but they also serve to diminish public trust in science and its findings. Therefore, there is every need to fortify the validity of data that exists in the science literature, not only to build trust among peers, and to sustain that trust, but to reestablish trust in the public and private academic sectors that are witnessing a veritable battle-ground in the world of science publishing, in some ways spurred by the rapid evolution of the open access (OA) movement. Even though many science journals, traditional and OA, claim to be peer reviewed, the truth is that different levels of peer review occur, and in some cases no, insufficient, or pseudo-peer review takes place. This ultimately leads to the erosion of quality and importance of science, allowing essentially anything to become published, provided that an outlet can be found. In some cases, predatory OA journals serve this purpose, allowing papers to be published, often without any peer review or quality control. In the light of an explosion of such cases in predatory OA publishing, and in severe inefficiencies and possible bias in the peer review of even respectable science journals, as evidenced by the increasing attention given to retractions, there is an urgent need to reform the way in which authors, editors, and publishers conduct the first line of quality control, the peer review. One way to address the problem is through post-publication peer review (PPPR), an efficient complement to traditional peer-review that allows for the continuous improvement and strengthening of the quality of science publishing. PPPR may also serve as a way to renew trust in scientific findings by correcting the literature. This article explores what is broadly being said about PPPR in the literature, so as to establish awareness and a possible first-tier prototype for the sciences for which such a system is undeveloped or weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulb weight and plant density affect onion (Allium cepaL.) seed quality. A field experiment was conducted to investigate effects of bulb weight and plant density on yield and yield attributes of onion, cv. Taherpuri, seed. Bulbs with weights of 5 ± 2, 10 ± 2, and 15 ± 2 g, and plant densities of 100, 120, 133, 150, 160, and 200 plants/6 m2were used to determine effects. Plant emergence, number of green leaves/plant, umbel diameter, number of flowers/umbel, seed yield/plant, seed yield/plot, and germination percentage were measured. Maximum umbel diameter (7.46 cm), number of flowers/umbel (371.39), number of seeded fruit/umbel (245.16), seed yield/plant (2.94 g), and highest seed germination (96.45%) were with 100 plants/6 m2and highest seed yield/plot (286.00 g) was obtained at 200 plants/6 m2when heaviest bulbs were used. The lowest seed yield/plant was when small bulbs were grown at a density of 200 plants/6 m2. For quality onion seed production, a heavy bulb established at the lowest plant density provided the best results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cypripedium orchids have high horticultural value. The populations of most species are very geographically restricted and they are becoming increasingly rare due to the destruction of native habitats and illegal collection. Reduction of the commercial value through large-scale propagation in vitro is a preferable option to reduce pressure from illegal collection. Cypripedium species are commercially propagated via seed germination in vitro. This review focuses on in vitro seed germination and provides an in-depth analysis of the seed biology of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is supposed to exclusively be an author identification tool. In this letter, I argue that the mandatory requirement to have an ORCID for the submission of an academic paper may constitute a violation of an author's rights if it prevents them from the free and unhindered submission of a paper to a journal, especially if their identity is sufficiently unique to distinguish them from other academics with similar names, or if other websites would be able to confirm their identity. ORCID is a valuable tool to fortify one aspect of publishing's integrity. However, by barring entry of an author during the submission process, it would be essentially functioning against open science principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants are an age-old source of therapeutic agents to cure human disease.Nigella sativais used for edible and medicinal purposes in many countries. In this study, biochemical and physiological responses ofN. sativato cadmium (Cd) toxicity were investigated. Experiments were performed to study individual and combined effects of exogenous silicon (Si) applied at 60, 120, and 180 mM in the form of sodium silicate nonahydrate (Na2SiO3•9H2O) on Cd phytotoxicity in plants grown in perlite containing different concentrations of cadmium nitrate (CdN2O6). Cadmium treatment (120 μM) decreased chlorophyll and carotenoid content, dry weight, relative water content, and root and shoot fresh weights compared with the control while proline content and lipid peroxidation increased relative to the control. Black cumin is able to accumulate Cd, but Si is also able to mitigate the negative consequences on growth and yield parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) phytotoxicity, barley (Hordeum vulgareL. var. ‘Manel’) seeds were germinated for a period of 2 days in a solution containing CdCl2(25, 50, and 100 µM) or CuSO4(100, 300, and 500 µM). The growth of radicles and shoots decreased while the water content in stressed seeds remained near control values. A decline inα-amylase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities was also observed in endosperms, whileβ-amylase activity was only slightly modified by heavy metal treatments. Furthermore, Cd and Cu increased lipid peroxidation, enhanced soluble protein and sugar content even at the lowest dose, and induced a significant accumulation of proline, essentially in radicles. A synthesis of the results reveals that the inhibition of seed germination after exposure to Cd or Cu is not a consequence of reduced water uptake by seed tissues, but may be due to a failure in reserve mobilization from the endosperm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable sunflower yield is under threat by a significant rise in global temperatures. Therefore, the development of a heat-resistant sunflower breeding population or hybrid is important for sustainable yield under high temperatures. Although there are a significant number of studies aimed at understanding the mechanism of heat resistance, only few direct approaches were made to improve heat resistance in sunflower. When breeding for heat resistance, the selection criteria are important. A desirable screening criterion should be rapid, highly heritable, and allow for the discrimination of resistant and susceptible ecotypes before reproductive maturity so that undesirable plants can be eliminated. In contrast, destructive selection criteria are not applicable for a segregating population. On the basis of an extensive review of data and experimentation, traits such as leaf and head orientation at the time of anthesis are proposed for practical utilization of sunflower heat-resistant breeding. These traits could be utilized as markers linked with heat avoidance. The traits are simply inherited, non-destructive, non-laborious, and show no impact of the environment and are independent of genotype × environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution, growth, development and productivity of crop plants are greatly affected by various abiotic stresses. worldwide, sustainable crop productivity is facing major challenges caused by abiotic stresses by reducing the potential yield in crop plants by as much as 70%. Plants can generally adapt to one or more environmental stresses to some extent. Physiological and molecular studies at transcriptional, translational, and transgenic plant levels have shown the pronounced involvement of naturally occurring plant polyamines (PAs), in controlling, conferring, and modulating abiotic stress tolerance in plants. PAs are small, low molecular weight, non-protein polycations at physiological pH, that are present in all living organisms, and that have strong binding capacity to negatively charged DNA, RNA, and different protein molecules. They play an important role in plant growth and development by controlling the cell cycle, acting as cell signaling molecules in modulating plant tolerance to a variety of abiotic stresses. The commonly known PAs, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine tend to accumulate together accompanied by an increase in the activities of their biosynthetic enzymes under a range of environmental stresses. PAs help plants to combat stresses either directly or by mediating a signal transduction pathway, as shown by molecular cloning and expression studies of PA biosynthesis-related genes, knowledge of the functions of PAs, as demonstrated by developmental studies, and through the analysis of transgenic plants carrying PA genes. This review highlights how PAs in higher plants act during environmental stress and how transgenic strategies have improved our understanding of the molecular mechanisms at play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although zinc (Zn) and boron (B) positively influence yield and quality of onion (Allium cepaL.) seed, the response is genotype dependent and the interaction of both elements is rarely studied. The study was conducted to investigate the quality of onion, cv. Taherpuri, seed production as influenced by Zn and B fertilization. Three levels of Zn: 0 kg·ha−1(control), 7 kg·ha−1, or 12 kg·ha−1; three levels of B: 0 kg·ha−1(control), 6 kg·ha−1, or 8 kg·ha−1; or any combination of both were studied. Factors assessed were number of umbels/plant, number of seeded fruit/umbel, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, and germination percentage. Highest seed yield (3.67 g/plant), seed yield (1073 kg·ha−1), and germination (89.82%) was from the 12 × 8 kg·ha−1of Zn and B combination. Onion seed quantity and quality can be benefited when Zn and B are applied at medium to higher levels of both in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering is the most elusive and fascinating of all plant developmental processes. The ability to induce flowering in vitro in orchids would reduce the relatively long juvenile phase and provide deeper insight into the physiological, genetic and molecular aspects of flowering. This review synthesizes all available studies that have been conducted on in vitro flowering of orchids with the objective of providing valuable clues as to the mechanism(s) that is possibly taking place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TheLemnabioassay is one of the most standardized higher plant bioassays for assessing the impacts of contaminants in aquatic environments. The simple anatomy and ease with whichLemnasp. can be handled makes them ideal test organisms. They have been used to predict the cytotoxic, cytogenetic, and mutagenic effects of several chemical pollutants including,inter alia, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, metalloids, organometallic compounds, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, radionuclides, and pharmaceuticals. However, there is still some contention as to the exact scope of application and definition of theLemnabioassay regarding its accuracy of prediction and toxicity assessment. In this article, we review some critical issues on the development and effective use of theLemnabioassay. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study assessed the distribution of heavy metals in soil and their subsequent accumulation in plants at a site at Umudike, Nigeria, that had been contaminated by agrochemicals. Soil and plant samples were analysed for zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd). The highest concentrations of Zn (251.50 mg/kg) and Cd (61.33 mg/kg) were obtained at a soil depth of 0–10 cm. The highest concentrations of Zn (16.52 mg/kg), Cd (27.12 mg/kg) and Cr (164.07 mg/kg) were accumulated byBaphia nitida. The levels of Cd, Cr and Zn in soil were 27.97–61.33, 24.97–45.43 and 148.57–251.50 mg/kg, and their concentrations inB. nitidawere 16.18–27.13, 97.99–164.07 and 0.10–16.52 mg/kg, respectively. There were significant correlations between Cd and Cr and Cd and Zn in soil, as well as between Cd and Cr in plants. The concentration of Cd in soil reflected a state of pollution relative to Dutch criteria for soil and the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can humic acid (HA) and glutamic acid (GA), when added to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentumMill. cv. ‘Hongyangli’) nutrient solution in a hydroponic system, improve growth? Tomato seedlings were grown in six nutrient solutions: (1) control (C), (2) C + 25 mg L−1HA (HA1); (3) C + 50 mg L−1HA (HA2); (4) C + 100 mg L−1GA; (5) HA1 + GA; (6) HA2 + GA. Various biochemical and physiological parameters were measured. HA increased photosynthesis rate and mesophyll conductance. HA did not significantly affect transpiration, stomatal conductance, titratable acidity, or antioxidant activity. In addition, GA improved protein and sugar content, mesophyll conductance and yield. The combination of HA and GA was more effective, especially with 50 mg L−1HA. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidases (POD) did not change in the presence of HA or GA. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased by 30% in HA2 together with GA. HA has a positive effect on tomato hydroponic growth when applied with GA. This expands the use of HA and GA for horticultural commodities in hydroponic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to investigate the response of vegetative growth, yield, and some metabolic constituents of maize grains cv. Single Cross 124 to foliar applications of salicylic acid (SA; 100, 200, and 400 mg L−1) and thiourea (TU; 500, 1000, and 1500 mgL−1), two bioregulators, either alone or in combination. The foliar application of SA and TU alone significantly increased stem diameter, number of leaves / plant, leaf area, total dry weight / plant, leaf area index, net assimilation rate, specific leaf weight, and yield (i.e., ear length, ear diameter, number of grains / row, number of rows / ear, 100-grain weight, grain yield / plant, grain yield / fed (1 feddan = 4200 m2), harvest index, and shelling percentage) by increasing SA or TU concentrations up to 200 and 1500 mg L−1, respectively. Salicylic acid and TU, when applied alone, significantly improved the nutritional value and quality of maize grains by increasing crude protein, total soluble sugars, total free amino acids, and total soluble phenols. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This review provides an informative and broad overview of orchid biotechnology, addressing several important aspects such as molecular systematics, modern breeding, in vitro morphogenesis, protoplast culture, flowering control, flower color, somaclonal variation, orchid mycorrhiza, pathogen resistance, virus diagnosis and production of virus-free plants, functional genomics, genetic transformation, conservation biotechnology and pharmaceutical biotechnology. This resource will provide valuable insight to researchers who are involved in orchid biology and floriculture, using biotechnology to advance research objectives. Producing an improved orchid through biotechnology for industrial purposes or to serve as a model plant for pure and applied sciences is well within reach and many of the current techniques and systems are already employed at the commercial production level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chrysanthemum is globally the second most important ornamental in terms of socioeconomic importance. Even though the vast range of flower colors, shapes and forms were initially created using conventional and mutation breeding, transgenic strategies are now more frequently used with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation being the most popular form of introducing foreign genes into chrysanthemums. Even so, transformation efficiency remains dependent on cultivar and regeneration procedure. Transgenic molecular breeding has seen the introduction of important traits such as novel flower color and form and plant architecture, prolonged cut-flower vase-life, resistance to biotic stresses such as viruses/viroids, pathogens and insects. However, chimerism and transgene silencing continue to be limiting factors. Transgenic strategies, despite opening up new avenues for creating new cultivars with improved agronomic and horticultural traits, may be limited due to the risk of transgenic pollen escaping into the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Transverse thin cell layers (tTCLs) of apple (Malus X domestica Borkh.) leaves and conventional leaf segments of two apple cultivars ('Royal Gala' and 'Freedom') were used to investigate the effects of thidiazuron (TDZ), the position of the source leaves, and the period of regeneration, on the developmental outcome. The mean numbers of regenerated shoots per tTCL explant (4.4 and 2.1 for 'Royal Gala' and 'Freedom', respectively) and per conventional leaf segment (6.3 and 2.3 for 'Royal Gala' and 'Freedom', respectively) after 7 weeks of regeneration were equivalent to, or lower than the mean numbers of regenerated shoots (6.3 per tTCL, or 10.2 per conventional leaf segment explant) from the first leaves of 'Royal Gala' after 9 weeks of regeneration at the optimal level of TDZ. The numbers of regenerated shoots per tTCL explant of 'Freedom' did not increase from 7 to 9 weeks at the optimal level of TDZ (2.5 mg l-1). However, the number of shoots which could be regenerated from a single leaf using tTCLs was 6.5- to 17.5-fold higher than by using conventional leaf explants, depending on the genotype, the position of the source leaf, and the period of regeneration. A plant growth correction factor allowed growth and development to be compared using different parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to select a suitable sunflower genotype with a high germination rate and germination speed under controlled field conditions, a selection program was launched. The effect of seed quality-related traits on the emergence time, germination percentage (G%), and germination index (GI) using three water regimes (rainfed, 50% water supply, 100% water supply) was assessed for six lines selected from an adapted sunflower population: C8.3.1.2 (Line1), 64A71 (Line 2), C7.3.2.2 (Line 3), C1.3.1.1 (Line 4), C5.2.3.2 (Line 5), and C31.1.1.2 (Line 6). Total seed crude protein (SCP), seed oil content (SOL), kernel-grain ratio (KGR), hull-kernel ratio (HKR), seed length:width ratio (LWR), and 100-seed weight (HSW) were assessed. Genotype and water regime independently affected G%, which ranged from 31%–72%, 39%–96%, and 35%–89% for rainfed, 50% water, and 100% water regimes, respectively. All lines showed the highest G% at 50% water supply except for C7.3.2.2. Except for C7.3.2.2 and C1.3.1.1, G% decreased when the water level increased. There was a significant positive correlation between KGR and G% in 50% and 100% regimes (r = 0.63, r = 0.59, respectively; P < 0.01). However, the association was significantly negative between HKR and G% in 50% and 100% regimes (r = −0.47, r = −0.63, respectively; P < 0.01). The G% in the 100% regime was also significantly and positively correlated with SCP (r = 0.49; P < 0.05). Compared with the 50% and 100% regimes, G% in the rainfed treatment was not correlated with any seed-related traits. The HKR, KGR, and SCP can be considered to be the most selective criteria since they show a significant correlation with the 50% and 100% water regimes. In conclusion, 50% water supply is the most adapted regime for most of the sunflower genotypes examined in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive assurance is a widely accepted explanation for the evolution of selfing, although theory suggests that an evolutionarily stable mixed mating strategy does not maximize seed production. We present a correlation analysis involving 28 species representing 23 families showing that selfing can evolve independently of inbreeding depression. We discuss the cost-benefit trade-off of selfing, in particular the incongruence of whether delayed selfing provides reproductive assurance in 22 species representing 14 families, in which pollen and seed discounting are minimized when pollinators or mates are scarce. Reproductive assurance, in response to frequent pollinator failure, can be reconciled with an evolutionarily stable mixed mating system contributed to by delayed selfing, which is still advantageous even if there is strong inbreeding depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is one of the most serious challenges facing us today. It may be linked to the increase in atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), leading to a rise in sea level, notable shifts in ecosystems, and in the frequency and intensity of wild fires. There is a strong interest in stabilizing the atmospheric concentration of CO2 and other GHGs by decreasing carbon emission and/or increasing carbon sequestration. Biotic sequestration is an important and effective strategy to mitigate the effects of rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations by increasing carbon sequestration and storage capacity of ecosystems using plant photosynthesis and by decreasing carbon emission using biofuel rather than fossil fuel. Improvement of photosynthetic carbon assimilation, using transgenic engineering, potentially provides a set of available and effective tools for enhancing plant carbon sequestration. In this review, firstly different biological methods of CO2 assimilation in C3, C4 and CAM plants are introduced and three types of C4 pathways which have high photosynthetic performance and have evolved as CO2 pumps are briefly summarized. Then (i) the improvement of photosynthetic carbon assimilation of C3 plants by transgenic engineering using non-C4 genes, and (ii) the overexpression of individual or multiple C4 cycle photosynthetic genes ( PEPC, PPDK, PCK, NADP-ME and NADP-MDH) in transgenic C3 plants (e.g. tobacco, potato, rice and Arabidopsis) are highlighted. Some transgenic C3 plants (e.g. tobacco, rice and Arabidopsis) overexpressing the FBP/SBPase, ictB and cytochrome c6 genes showed positive effects on photosynthetic efficiency and growth characteristics. However, over the last 28 years, efforts to overexpress individual, double or multiple C4 enzymes in C3 plants like tobacco, potato, rice, and Arabidopsis have produced mixed results that do not confirm or eliminate the possibility of improving photosynthesis of C3 plants by this approach. Finally, a prospect is provided on the challenges of enhancing carbon assimilation of C3 plants using transgenic engineering in the face of global warming, and the trends of the most promising approaches to improving the photosynthetic performance of C3 plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterosis increases the productivity of a crop. Gongronema latifolia has very few and scanty records of heterosis studies and known levels of vitamin contents because it has been harvested from the wild and has a long gestation period of 14–16 months; thus, manual cross-pollination could be difficult in the species. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the levels of certain vitamins and lycopene in genotypes of Gongronema latifolia and to estimate heterosis for the traits across two years. Stem cuttings of five parent plants and their resulting hybrids were established in a field in a randomized complete block design in 2008. Young leaves from these genotypes were harvested and used to determine the levels of vitamins and lycopene and to estimate heterosis in 2009 and 2010. Better parent heterosis (BPH) ranged from −90% to 203% in both years. All vitamins and lycopene, with the exception of Vitamin C, showed positive heterosis in a minimum of five cross combinations. Vitamin E showed the highest BPH of 109% in 2009. Vitamin C had a BPH of 65% in 2010. Vitamin A, on the other hand, had a lower BPH of 52% in 2009. Two hybrids, ENS-8-MBU × AKS-33-EKPENE EDIENE and IMS-20-NJIABA × AKS-33-EKPENE EDIENE, complemented each other by exhibiting heterosis for the determined vitamins and lycopene. Selection of two hybrids with a higher level of vitamins and lycopene than in the parents should improve the availability of these nutrients, eventually at a commercial level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Breeders have long been interested in understanding the biological function and mechanism of xero-halophytes and their ability for growth in drought-stricken and salinized environments. However, the mechanisms in response to stress have been difficult to unravel because their defenses require regulatory changes to the activation of multiple genes and pathways. Metabolomics is becoming a key tool in comprehensively understanding the cellular response to abiotic stress and represents an important addition to the tools currently employed in genomics-assisted selection for plant improvement. In this review, we highlight the applications of plant metabolomics in characterizing metabolic responses to salt and drought stress, and identifying metabolic quantitative trait loci (QTLs). We also discuss the potential of metabolomics as a tool to unravel stress response mechanisms, and as a viable option for the biotechnological improvement of xero-halophytes when no other genetic information such as linkage maps and QTLs are available, by combining with germplasm-regression-combined marker-trait association identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the concentration of three heavy metals zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in soil and in a woody plant species, Milicia excelsa, at Ishiagu quarry, Nigeria. The highest soil concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd in soil were obtained at 1 m from the quarry site. In M. excelsa, the highest concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd were 3.12-9.1, 3.9-6.01, and 0.51-1.12 mg kg-1, respectively. There were significant positive correlations between Cd and Zn (r = 0.963) and Cd and Pb (r = 0.974) in plants as well as between Cd and Pb (r = 9.84) in soil. The level of Cd in soil reflected significant pollution compared to average global concentrations in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]