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Introduction: The leaf-height-seed (LHS) plant ecology strategy scheme posits that functional traits such as leaf size, stem height and seed mass play a key role in life history of plants. Although many studies have explored the LHS scheme across plant species, to our knowledge, no study has so far linked functional trait patterns across different plant clades. Methods: Here, we first explored the LHS scheme of several plant clades, i.e., palms, other monocots, dicots and gymnosperms, to understand how potential forces drive variation of plant functional traits. Results: We showed that phylogeny constrains plant functional traits and appears to be the most decisive factor that controls variation in seed mass irrespective of plant clades. Apart from phylogeny, a majority of variation in seed mass was explained by leaf size in palms clade, whereas by plant height in other monocots and dicots. Neither leaf size nor plant height well explained variation in seed mass of gymnosperms clade. Conclusion: Our study strongly suggests that different plant clades exhibit distinct LHS schemes, paving a new avenue for better understanding evolution and correlation between functional traits across sets of plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of plant type on n-alkane biomarker has been widely studied, but the influence of plant type on n-alkanoic acids (n-FAs) has received less attention. Understanding the effect of the distribution of n-FAs and their hydrogen isotope composition (δ2HFA) is critical for interpreting sedimentary δ2HFA values as proxies of hydroclimate and/or vegetation changes. In this study, we systematically investigated the distribution of n-FAs and δ2HFA values across seasons on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). Our results showed that there were no significant seasonal differences in n-FAs distribution and δ2HFA values, but there were significant differences in δ2HFA values across plant types. The δ2HFA values ranged from −185‰ to −125‰ in dicots (−161‰±28‰), and from −215‰ to −170‰ in monocots (−196‰±22‰) on the CLP. Isotope fractionation between δ2HFA values and precipitation δ2H (εFA-P) was also 2H-enriched in dicots relative to monocots. At the regional scale of the CLP, δ2HFA values were not correlated with δ2H values of precipitation. However, δ2HFA values from the CLP were similar to expectations from a global comparison, both in terms of their mean values and high variability among plants growing in sites with similar δ2H values of precipitation. As some of this variability in εFA-P is due to the effect of plant type, a careful assessment of the likely sources of waxes in terrestrial sediments is critical when using δ2HFA values for paleohydroclimate reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen is becoming an increasingly important subject for molecular researchers in genetic engineering, plant breeding, and environmental monitoring. To broaden the scope of these studies, it is essential to develop accessible methods for scientists who are not specialized in palynology. The article presents a simplified technical procedure for preparing pollen grains for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The protocol is convenient for any molecular laboratory due to its small set of reagents, ease of execution, low cost, does not require special equipment, and takes only one hour to complete. The high penetrating ability of formaldehyde and the final delicate dehydration using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) instead of critical point drying allow for sufficient preservation of the architecture of the aperture, which is considered a gateway for the passage of biomolecules. The method was successfully applied to pollen grains of representatives of dicotyledons (beetroot, petunia, radish, tomato and tobacco) and monocotyledons (lily, onion, corn, rye and wheat). Species studied included insect-pollinated (entomophilous) and wind-pollinated (anemophilous) species. A comparative analysis of the sizes of fresh living pollen grains under a light microscope and those prepared for SEM showed some shrinkage. Quantitative analysis of the degree of pollen grain shrinkage showed that this process depends on the initial shape of dry pollen grains, and the number and structure of apertures. The results support the theoretical model of the folding/unfolding pathways of pollen grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work was carried out with the objective of updating the weed flora associated with sugar cane in Cuba. Weed identification surveys corresponding to 2023 were carried out in all sugarcane production units in the country. Identification was carried out by walking the field along its diagonals, with the help of catalogs to the identification of the species. Families' diversity index, the relative frequency of the species at the field and the relation of interference for morfotipo they were determinated. The frequency was determined and classified into the categories of: Accidental; Uncommon; Moderately common and Very common. The surveys showed the existence of seven families, of which two belong to the class Liliatae (Monocotyledons) and five to the Magnoliatae (Dicotyledons). The Poaceae family presented the highest relative diversity index (54.2%), followed by Fabaceae and Mimosaceae with the same value (12.5%). twenty one genera were distinguished, 11 from the class Liliatae and 10 from the Magnoliatae. The most frequent were Brachiaria and Sorghum, both from the Poaceae family, with three and two meanings, respectively. The floristic inventory revealed the existence of 24 species of weeds associated with sugar cane as the most frequent at the national level, with frequency values above 1%, of which 14 belong to the class Liliatae and 10 to the Magnoliatae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PIN‐FORMED (PIN) proteins mediate the auxin flow throughout the plant and have been identified in many species. However, evolution differences in the PIN gene families have not been systematically analyzed, and their functions under abiotic stresses in grape are largely unexplored. In this study, 373 PIN genes were identified from 25 species and divided into 3 subgroups. Physicochemical properties analysis indicated that most of the PIN proteins were unstable alkaline hydrophobic proteins in nature. The synteny analysis showed that the PINs contained strong gene duplication. Motif composition revealed that PIN gene sequence differences between monocotyledons and dicotyledons were due to evolutionary‐induced base loss, and the loss was more common in dicotyledonous. Meanwhile, the codon usage bias showed that the PINs showed stronger codon preference in monocotyledons, monocotyledons biased towards C3s and G3s, and dicotyledons biased towards A3s and T3s. In addition, the VvPIN1 can interact with VvCSN5. Significantly, under freezing treatment, the ion leakage, O2·−$$ \left({O}_2^{\cdotp -}\right) $$, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were obviously increased, while the proline (Pro) content, peroxidase (POD) activity, and glutathione (GSH) content were decreased in VvPIN1‐overexpressing Arabidopsis compared to the wild type (WT). And quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) showed that AtICE1, AtICE2, AtCBF1, AtCBF2, and AtCBF3 were down‐regulated in overexpression lines. These results demonstrated that VvPIN1 negatively regulated the freezing tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Collectively, this study provides a novel insight into the evolution and a basis for further studies on the biological functions of PIN genes in monocotyledons and dicotyledons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana bunchy top virus is a multicomponent circular ssDNA virus (family Nanoviridae) that causes one of the most devastating diseases of cultivated bananas and plantains (family Musaceae). It is transmitted by the aphids Pentalonia nigronervosa and P. caladii among host plants of Musaceae and some other families of monocots. Our Illumina sequencing reconstruction of virome components of BBTV-infected banana plants and their neighbor non-banana plants sampled in Vietnam and Laos revealed the monocot Commelina sp. (Commelinaceae) and the dicots Bidens pilosa and Chromolaena odorata (both Asteraceae) as hosts of BBTV and circular ssDNA alphasatellites (family Alphasatellitidae). Counting the proportions and relative abundances of Illumina reads representing BBTV genome components and alphasatellites suggested that Chromolaena and Commelina are poor hosts for BBTV and one to three alphasatellite species, whereas Bidens is a permissive host for BBTV and four alphasatellite species representing two genera of Alphasatellitidae. Our findings provide evidence for the dicot plants of family Asteraceae as alternative hosts of BBTV and its alphasatellites, which warrants further investigation of these and other dicots as a potential refuge and source of BBTV and multiple alphasatellites that become associated with this virus and likely affect its replication, transmission, and host range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in Bayburt Merkez, Aydıntepe and Demirözü districts in 2020 in order to determine the weeds, their densities and their incidence in the bean cultivation areas of Bayburt Province. Considering the product pattern around the area to be studied, studies were carried out in areas with different product patterns, using 1 m² frames in the inner parts of the area. Counts were made for each weed in the frame. As a result of the examinations, 26 weed species belonging to 26 genera belonging to 16 families, 1 from Monocotyledoneae and 15 from the Dicotyledoneae, were determined. It has been determined that the densities of these weeds vary between 0.02 and 5.29 plant m-2 and the average density is 18.98 plant m-2. As a result of the survey studies conducted on the basis of Bayburt province, the highest species in terms of average density and frequency of occurrence were Elymus repens (L.) Gould (5.29 plant m-2; 68.46%), Amaranthus retroflexus L. (4.50 plant m-2; 66.65%), Convolvulus arvensis L. (3.16 plant m-2; 62.92%), Chenopodium album L. (0.87 plant m-2; 31.86%) and Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (0.82 plant m-2; 31.79%) and the least species were Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv. (0.07 plant m-2; 5.67%), Ranunculus arvensis L. (0.07 plant m-2; 4.76%), Chondrilla juncea L. (0.07 plant m-2; 3.89%), Vicia cracca L. (0.06 plant m-2; 5.56%), Boreava orientalis Jaub. and Spach (0.04 plant m-2; 3.43%) and Isatis glauca Aucher ex Boiss. (0.02 plant m-2; 1.54%). In the bean fields of Bayburt province, it is necessary to control weeds such as Elymus repens (L.) Gould, Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Convolvulus arvensis L. in order to increase the yield to be obtained from the unit area. For this, attention should be paid to bean varieties adapted to the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trihelix transcription factor (TTF) gene family is an important class of transcription factors that play key roles in regulating developmental processes and responding to various stresses. To date, no comprehensive analysis of the TTF gene family in large‐scale species has been performed. A cross‐genome exploration of its origin, copy number variation, and expression pattern in plants is also unavailable. Here, we identified and characterized the TTF gene family in 110 species representing typical plant phylogenetic taxa. Interestingly, we found that the number of TTF genes was significantly expanded in Chara braunii compared to other species. Based on the available plant genomic datasets, our comparative analysis suggested that the TTF gene family likely originated from the GT‐1‐1 group and then expanded to form other groups through duplication or deletion of some domains. We found evidence that whole‐genome duplication/triplication contributed most to the expansion of the TTF gene family in dicots, monocots and basal angiosperms. In contrast, dispersed and proximal duplications contributed to the expansion of the TTF gene family in algae and bryophyta. The expression patterns of TTF genes and their upstream and downstream genes in different treatments showed a functional divergence of TTF‐related genes. Furthermore, we constructed the interaction network between TTF genes and the corresponding upstream and downstream genes, providing a blueprint for their regulatory pathways. This study provided a cross‐genome comparative analysis of TTF genes in 110 species, which contributed to understanding their copy number expansion and evolutionary footprint in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The 14–3–3 family is more highly conserved among monocotyledons, and overexpression of MdGRF13 improved drought and salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. The 14–3–3 are highly conserved regulatory proteins found in eukaryotes and play an essential role in plant growth, development and stress response. However, the 14–3–3 gene family evolution in monocotyledons and dicotyledons and the biological functions of the MdGRF13 under abiotic stress remain unknown. In our study, 195 members of the 14–3–3 family were identified from 12 species and divided into ε group and the Non-ε group. Synteny analysis within the 14–3–3 family indicated that segmental duplication events contributed to the expansion of the family. Selective pressure analysis indicated that purifying selection was a vital force in the 14–3–3 genes evolution, and monocotyledons had a lower million years ago (Mya) mean values than dicotyledons. Meanwhile, the codon adaptation index (CAI) and frequency of optical codons (FOP) are higher and the effective number of codons (Nc) is lower in monocotyledons 14–3–3 genes compared to dicotyledons. Moreover, the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) demonstrated that MdGRF13 interacts with MdRD22, MdLHP1a and MdMORF1. Significantly, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and relative conductivity were decreased, while the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities were increased in transgenic Arabidopsis compared to the wild type (WT) under drought and salt stress. These results suggest that overexpression of MdGRF13 significantly improved the tolerance to drought and salt stress in transgenic Arabidopsis. Thus, our results provide a theoretical basis for exploring the evolution and function of the 14–3–3 gene family in monocotyledons and dicotyledons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Unlike monocots and dicots, many conifers, particularly Pinaceae, form three or more cotyledons. These are arranged in a whorl, or ring, at a particular distance from the embryo tip, with cotyledons evenly spaced within the ring. The number of cotyledons, nc, varies substantially within species, both in clonal cultures and in seed embryos. nc variability reflects embryo size variability, with larger diameter embryos having higher nc. Correcting for growth during embryo development, we extract values for the whorl radius at each nc. This radius, corresponding to the spatial pattern of cotyledon differentiation factors, varies over three-fold for the naturally observed range of nc. The current work focuses on factors in the patterning mechanism that could produce such a broad variability in whorl radius. Molecularly, work in Arabidopsis has shown that the initiation zone for leaf primordia occurs at a minimum between inhibitor zones of HD-ZIP III at the shoot apical meristem (SAM) tip and KANADI (KAN) encircling this farther from the tip. PIN1-auxin dynamics within this uninhibited ring form auxin maxima, specifying primordia initiation sites. A similar mechanism is indicated in conifer embryos by effects on cotyledon formation with overexpression of HD-ZIP III inhibitors and by interference with PIN1-auxin patterning. Methods: We develop a mathematical model for HD-ZIP III/KAN spatial localization and use this to characterize the molecular regulation that could generate (a) the three-fold whorl radius variation (and associated nc variability) observed in conifer cotyledon development, and (b) the HD-ZIP III and KAN shifts induced experimentally in conifer embryos and in Arabidopsis. Results: This quantitative framework indicates the sensitivity of mechanism components for positioning lateral organs closer to or farther from the tip. Positional shifting is most readily driven by changes to the extent of upstream (meristematic) patterning and changes in HD-ZIP III/KAN mutual inhibition, and less efficiently driven by changes in upstream dosage or the activation of HD-ZIP III. Sharper expression boundaries can also be more resistant to shifting than shallower expression boundaries. Discussion: The strong variability seen in conifer nc (commonly from 2 to 10) may reflect a freer variation in regulatory interactions, whereas monocot (nc = 1) and dicot (nc = 2) development may require tighter control of such variation. These results provide direction for future quantitative experiments on the positional control of lateral organ initiation, and consequently on plant phyllotaxy and architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant DUR3 homologous protein is a high affinity urea transporter which belongs to the family of sodium/solute symporter family, and plays an important role in the active absorption of exogenous urea and redistribution of endogenous urea by plants. The purpose of this study was to clarifystructure and evolution situation of cotton DUR3 gene. Based on bioinformatics methods, DUR3 genes were identified from Gossypium hirsutum and G. raimondii genomic sequences, and then the gene structure, transmembrane domain, motif location, as well as phylogenetic relationship, were systematically analyzed. The results were as follows: (1) Three DUR3 genes were identified from the A and D subgroup chromosomes of upland cotton and G. raimondii genomic sequences. These three cotton DUR3 homologous proteins, like other plant DUR3 homologous proteins, had 15 transmembrane domains and three highly conserved motifs with consistent positions. (2) The gene structure analysis showed that the number of exons of DUR3 genes in dicotyledons was significantly higher than that in monocotyledons, and so were the cotton DUR3 genes. (3) Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the amino acid sequences of different species were classified according to species kinship, and cotton clustered in one branch with dicotyledons. (4) The Ka/Ks values of orthologous and paralogous DUR3 genes were generally more than one, indicating that those genes mainly experienced positive selection among evolution. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for further research on cotton DUR3 homologous protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of intra site activity areas and the recovery of organic remains in forests usually present limitations in relation to visibility and conservation. However, the study of microremains has allowed to overcome these limitations and to expand knowledge around the relationship between human groups and plants. The result of micro remains from plants studied from a sample of ashes extracted from the hearth at the Pozo de la Chola site are presented. Multiple microfossil analysis protocol was followed to preserve fragile microfossil assemblages. Silicophytoliths and starches, together with other materials, allowed us to glimpse practices related to the processing, cooking and disposal of food from plants related to corn (Zea mays), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), chili (Capsicum sp.), and the use of wild monocots of the Cannaceae, Arecaceae and Bromeliaceae families. As well as woody dicots, possibly as fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to identify the mechanism of functioning of the tubulin cytoskeleton, we have investigated the impact of clinorotation on cortical microtubules organization in the process of cell differentiation in growth zones of plant roots of Zea mays and Beta vulgaris. The similar organization of cortical and endoplasmic microtubules’ network in both species is noted. Clinorotation did not significantly change the organization of microtubules in meristem cells and the central elongation root zone. However, in the distal elongation zone of roots, both Z. mays and B. vulgaris expressed deviations of individual microtubules from the ordered transverse organization (at an angle greater than 45º). This deviation of the microtubules is likely caused by clinorotation and results in discoordination of root growth under these conditions. In addition, it has been found that the scope of destruction of the MT network by taxol in the root cells of both species is not dependent on clinorotation.

The Huasochugo archaeological center extends over 5 km², on the crest of three ledges and plains of the hill of the same name, on the left bank of the La Vega river, Shulgán hamlet, Huaso district, Julcán province, La Libertad region, Peru (3,739 masl and 8°16'15.03''S 78°27'55.03''W). It presents cultural (extension, edged stone architecture and planning) and natural importance. The preliminary study of flora and fauna is disclosed. The Flora presents 69 species, 56 genera and 30 families. Two fern families, one gymnosperm family (Ephedraceae) and 27 angiosperm families (24 families are dicots and three are monocots). Asteraceae registers the largest number of species (16 sps.; 23.19%). 16 species are endemic. Lupinus otuzcoensis C.P. Sm. (Fabaceae), Quinchamalium elongatum Pilg. (Schoepfiaceae) and Jaltomata mionei S. Leiva & Quip. (Solanaceae) are Endangered (EN). The main biotype is Puya raimondii Harms (Bromeliaceae) "cahua". Knowledge about the use of plants, in various activities of daily life, has been transmitted over time. For the fauna, two endemic species of lizards (Stenocercus latebrosus Cadle, 1998, and Stenocercus melanopygus Boulenger, 1900) and 12 species of birds listed as Least Concern (LC) were recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weevils from the tribe Derelomini (Curculionidae: Curculioninae) are specialized brood pollinators engaged in mutualistic relationships with several angiosperm lineages. In brood pollination systems, reproductive plant tissues are used for the development of insect larval stages, whereas adult insects pollinate their plant hosts as a reward. The evolutionary history of derelomines in relationship to their hosts is poorly understood and potentially contrasts with other brood pollination systems, wherein a pollinator lineage is usually associated with a single host plant family. In the case of Afrotropical Derelomini, host records indicate a diverse host repertoire consisting of several families of monocot and dicot plants. In this study, we investigate their phylogenetic relationships, timing of diversification and evolution of host use. Our results suggest that derelomine lineages started their diversification ~40 Mya. Reconstructions of host use evolution support an ancestral association with the monocotyledonous palm family (Arecaceae), followed by several shifts towards other plant families in Afrotropical lineages, especially to dicotyledonous plants from the family Ebenaceae (on the genus Euclea L.). Some level of phylogenetic conservatism of host use is recovered for the lineages associated with either palms or Euclea. Multiple instances of sympatric weevil assemblages on the same plant are also unravelled, corresponding to either single or independent colonization events. Overall, the diversity of hosts colonized and the frequency of sympatric assemblages highlighted in non-obligatory plant–derelomine brood pollination systems contrast with what is generally expected from plant–insect brood pollination systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicides are key weed-control tools, but their repeated use across large areas has favored the evolution of herbicide resistance. Although target-site has been the most prevalent and studied type of resistance, non-target-site resistance (NTSR) is increasing. However, the genetic factors involved in NTSR are widely unknown. In this study, four gene groups encoding putative NTSR enzymes, namely, cytochrome-P450, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), uridine 5′-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT), and nitronate monooxygenase (NMO) were analyzed. The monocot and dicot gene sequences were downloaded from publicly available databases. Phylogenetic trees revealed that most of the CYP450 resistance-related sequences belong to CYP81 (5), and in GST, most of the resistance sequences belonged to GSTU18 (9) and GSTF6 (8) groups. In addition, the study of upstream promoter sequences of these NTSR genes revealed stress-related cis-regulatory motifs, as well as eight transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) were identified. The discovered TFBS were commonly present in both monocots and dicots, and the identified motifs are known to play key roles in countering abiotic stress. Further, we predicted the 3D structure for the resistant CYP450 and GST protein and identified the substrate recognition site through the homology approach. Our description of putative NTSR enzymes may be used to develop innovative weed control techniques to delay the evolution of NTSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LSU proteins belong to a plant-specific gene family initially characterized by their strong induction in response to sulfate (S) deficiency. In the last few years, LSUs have arisen as relevant hubs in protein–protein interaction networks, in which they play relevant roles in the response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Most of our knowledge on LSU genomic organization, expression and function comes from studies in Arabidopsis and tobacco, while little is known about the LSU gene repertoire and evolution of this family in land plants. In this work, a total of 270 LSU family members were identified using 134 land plant species with whole-genome sequences available. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that LSU genes belong to a Spermatophyta-specific gene family, and their homologs are distributed in three major groups, two for dicotyledons and one group for monocotyledons. Protein sequence analyses showed four new motifs that further support the subgroup classification by phylogenetic analyses. Moreover, we analyzed the expression of LSU genes in one representative species of each phylogenetic group (wheat, tomato and Arabidopsis) and found a conserved response to S deficiency, suggesting that these genes might play a key role in S stress responses. In summary, our results indicate that LSU genes belong to the Spermatophyta-specific gene family and their response to S deficiency is conserved in angiosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve good identification performance, the existing identification method of crop diseases based on deep learning needs considerable annotated images to train. However, collection of crop leaves disease images in field is time-consuming and laborious, so it is urgent to propose a timely and effective identification model for limited labeled crop disease images. This paper proposed a Few-shot Learning method based on Siamese Network to identify crop leaves diseases, which used randomly generated image sample pairs as input. In experiments, since crops are divided into monocotyledons and dicotyledons, this paper used Few-shot Learning method to train monocotyledon plant diseases model named SiamNet2 and dicotyledon plant diseases model named SiamNet1, which were used to identify monocotyledon and dicotyledon plant diseases. The results of 5-way 5-shot dicotyledon plant disease identification and 10-way 10-shot monocotyledon plant disease identification showed that the identification accuracy of SiamNet2 was 8.7% and 12.4% higher than that of SiamNet1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch phosphorylase (PHO) is a multimeric enzyme with two distinct isoforms: plastidial starch phosphorylase (PHO1) and cytosolic starch phosphorylase (PHO2). PHO1 specifically resides in the plastid, while PHO2 is found in the cytosol. Both play a critical role in the synthesis and degradation of starch. This study aimed to report the detailed structure, function, and evolution of genes encoding PHO1 and PHO2 and their protein ligand-binding sites in eight monocots and four dicots. "True" orthologs of PHO1 and PHO2 of Oryza sativa were identified, and the structure of the enzyme at the protein level was studied. The genes controlling PHO2 were found to be more conserved than those controlling PHO1; the variations were mainly due to the variable sequence and length of introns. Cis-regulatory elements in the promoter region of both genes were identified, and the expression pattern was analyzed. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicated that PHO2 was expressed in all tissues with a uniform pattern of transcripts, and the expression pattern of PHO1 indicates that it probably contributes to the starch biosynthesis during seed development in Zea mays. Under abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, PHO1 was found to be downregulated in Arabidopsis and Hordeum vulgare. However, we found that ABA could up-regulate the expression of both PHO1 and PHO2 within 12 h in Zea mays. In all monocots and dicots, the 3D structures were highly similar, and the ligand-binding sites were common yet fluctuating in the position of aa residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Root anatomical traits play crucial roles in understanding root functions and root form–function linkages. However, the root anatomy and form–function linkages of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous herbs remain largely unknown.We measured order‐based anatomical traits and mycorrhizal colonization rates of 32 perennial herbs of monocotyledons and dicotyledons in a temperate steppe.For monocots, relative constant proportion of cortex and mycorrhizal colonization rates, but increased cell‐wall thickening of the endodermis and proportion of stele were observed across root orders, indicating a slight reduction in absorption capacity and improvement in transportation capacity across orders. For dicots, the cortex and mycorrhizal colonization disappeared in the fourth‐order and/or fifth‐order roots, whereas the secondary vascular tissue increased markedly, suggesting significant transition of root functions from absorption to transportation across root orders. The allometric relationships between stele and cortex differed across root orders and plant groups, suggesting different strategies to coordinate the absorption and transportation functions among plant groups.In summary, our results revealed different functional transition patterns across root orders and distinct strategies for coordinating the absorption and transportation of root system between monocots and dicots. These findings will contribute to our understanding of the root form and functions in herbaceous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adventitious roots or shoot-borne roots transdifferentiate from cells close to vascular tissues after cell reprogramming, which is associated with increased transcriptional activity. Recently, Garg et al. provided a genome-wide landscape of transcriptional signatures during the early stages of adventitious root initiation in rice and showed that conserved transcription factors acquire species-specific function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gretchen Hagen3 (GH3) gene family is necessary for growth and development in plants and is regulated by osmotic stress and various hormones. Although it has been reported in many plants, the evolutionary relationship of GH3 in grape has not been systematically analyzed from the perspective of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous. This study identified and analyzed 188 GH3 genes, which were distinctly divided into 9 subgroups, and found these subgroups have obviously been clustered between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous. VvGH3-x genes had higher synteny with apple and Arabidopsis than that of rice, and the average Ka/Ks value in monocotyledons was higher than that of dicotyledons. The codon usage index showed that monocotyledons preferred to use G3s, C3s, and GC3s, while dicotyledons preferred to use A3s and T3s. The GH3 genes of grape exhibited different expression patterns in various tissues, different abiotic stresses, and hormonal treatments. The subcellular localization showed that VvGH3-9 was expressed in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Additionally, under 20% PEG treatment, the IAA and ABA contents, relative expression levels of VvGH3-9 , relative electrical conductivity (REC), as well as MDA were obviously increased in VvGH3-9 overexpression lines at 72 h. In contrast, compared to WT, the contents of proline and H 2 O 2 , the activities of POD, SOD, and CAT, and the relative expression levels of drought responsive genes were significantly decreased in overexpressing lines. Collectively, this study provided helpful insight for the evolution of GH3 genes and presented some possibilities to study the functions of GH3 genes in monocotyledons and dicotyledons. • 188 GH3 genes had obvious clustering between monocots and dicots. • VvGH3-x had higher synteny with apple and Arabidopsis than rice. • 10 Motifs of monocots were higher conservation than dicots. • Monocots preferred to use G3s, C3s, and GC3s, whereas dicots preferred to use A3s and T3s. • Overexpression of VvGH3-9 negatively regulated the drought sensitivity in transgenic Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates that the vascular flora of the Rangpur district area consists of 825 species under 537 genera and 139 families. The pteridophytes and gymnosperms are represented by 25 and seven species, respectively, whereas the angiosperms by 793 species including 582 species of dicotyledons (Magnoliopsida) and 211 species of monocotyledons (Liliopsida). Poaceae with 67 species, representing 8.12% of the flora, is appeared as the largest family, and followed by Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Araceae, Malvaceae and Euphorbiaceae that collectively constitute 17.94% of this flora. Persicaria comprising 10 species is recorded as the largest genus, and followed by Ficus, Euphorbia, Solanum, Albizia and Brassica. About 59.71% taxa of this flora are herbs, 21.71% trees, 14.72% shrubs and the rest are palms, lianas, and bamboos. Erect herbs forming 35.22% of the flora comprise the most common life-form. In this flora, almost 64.29% taxa are native and the rest 35.71% are exotic. Nearly 62.61% taxa of the flora are found in wild, 26.90% as planted and 10.49% as cultivated. About 35.46% of the species commonly occur throughout all upazilas of this district. Most of the species are harboured in fallow lands, roadsides, gardens, and homesteads. All species of this district flora are known as economically useful. Most of its habitats and ecosystems are exposed to different threats. Adequate measures with effective management plans should be adopted and implemented for the sustainable use, improvement and conservation of this precious flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agronomy Journal / Agronomski Glasnik (0002-1954) is the property of Croatian Society of Agronomists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Agronomy is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play important roles in plant growth and development. Although BR receptors have been intensively studied in Arabidopsis, those in foxtail millet remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the BR signaling function of BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) is conserved between Arabidopsis and foxtail millet, a new model species for C4 and Panicoideae grasses. We identified four putative BR receptor genes in the foxtail millet genome: SiBRI1, SiBRI1-LIKE RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (SiBRL1), SiBRL2 and SiBRL3. Phylogenetic analysis was used to classify the BR receptors in dicots and monocots into three branches. Analysis of their expression patterns by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that these receptors were ubiquitously expressed in leaves, stems, dark-grown seedlings, roots and non-flowering spikelets. GFP fusion experiments verified that SiBRI1 localized to the cell membrane. We also explored the SiBRI1 function in Arabidopsis through complementation experiments. Ectopic overexpression of SiBRI1 in an Arabidopsis BR receptor loss-of-function mutant, bri1-116, mostly reversed the developmental defects of the mutant. When SiBRI1 was overexpressed in foxtail millet, the plants showed a drooping leaf phenotype and root development inhibition, lateral root initiation inhibition, and the expression of BR synthesis genes was inhibited. We further identified BRI1-interacting proteins by immunoprecipitation (IP)-mass spectrometry (MS). Our results not only demonstrate that SiBRI1 plays a conserved role in BR signaling in foxtail millet but also provide insight into the molecular mechanism of SiBRI1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents elementary taxonomic data on the composition of vascular flora in the disaster prone coastal district Satkhira of Bangladesh. The results of this study show that this district houses 664 species under 468 genera and 133 families of vascular plants. The Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms are represented by 21 and five species, whereas, the Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons) and Liliopsida (monocotyledons) of Angiosperms by 494 and 144 species, respectively. About 59.64% of these species are herbs, 15.96% shrubs, 21.69% trees, 2.26% palms and 0.45% bamboos. Total 73.04% of the species are wild, 19.88% planted and 7.08% cultivated. In this area, Fabaceae with 31 species is the largest family, followed by Asteraceae with 27 species, Apocynaceae with 26 species and Malvaceae with 25 and Acanthaceae with 22 species. Ficus with seven species is recorded as the largest genus, which is followed by Solanum, Hygrophila, Euphorbia, Senna, Phyllanthus, Ipomoea, Hibiscus and Alternanthera. Most of the species are found in fallow lands, roadsides, woodlands, homesteads and scrub jungles and useful as medicine, ornamental, fibre, fruit, livestock feed, soil binder and timber. The floristic composition of this district is still rich, though most of its habitats and ecosystems are vulnerable to natural disasters. Effective conservation plan and measures should be adopted for the precious flora of this coastal district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phrase "Darwin's abominable mystery" is frequently used with reference to a range of outstanding questions about the evolution of the plant group today known as the angiosperms. Here, I seek to more fully understand what prompted Darwin to coin the phrase in 1879, and the meaning he attached to it, by surveying the systematics, paleobotanical records, and phylogenetic hypotheses of his time. In the light of this historical research, I argue that Darwin was referring to the origin only of a subset of what are today called angiosperms: a (now obsolete) group equivalent to the "dicotyledons" of the Hooker and Bentham system. To Darwin and his contemporaries, the dicotyledons' fossil record began abruptly and with great diversity in the Cretaceous, whereas the gymnosperms and monocotyledons were thought to have fossil records dating back to the Carboniferous or beyond. Based on their morphology, the dicotyledons were widely seen by botanists in Darwin's time (unlike today) as more similar to the gymnosperms than to the monocotyledons. Thus, morphology seemed to point to gymnosperm progenitors of dicotyledons, but this hypothesis made the monocotyledons, given their (at the time) apparently longer fossil record, difficult to place. Darwin had friendly disagreements about the mystery of the dicotyledons' abrupt appearance in the fossil record with others who thought that their evolution must have been more rapid than his own gradualism would allow. But the mystery may have been made "abominable" to him because it was seen by some contemporary paleobotanists, most notably William Carruthers, the Keeper of Botany at the British Museum, as evidence for divine intervention in the history of life. Subsequent developments in plant systematics and paleobotany after 1879 meant that Darwin's letter was widely understood to be referring to the abrupt appearance of all angiosperms when it was published in 1903, a meaning that has been attached to it ever since. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, there are few studies and reports on the use of endogenous promoters of obligate biotrophic fungi. The WY195 promoter in the genome of Oidium heveae, the rubber powdery mildew pathogen, was predicted using PromoterScan and its promoter function was verified by the transient expression of the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. WY195 drove high levels of GUS expression in dicotyledons and monocotyledons. qRT-PCR indicated that GUS expression regulated by the WY195 promoter was 17.54-fold greater than that obtained using the CaMV 35S promoter in dicotyledons (Nicotiana tabacum), and 5.09-fold greater than that obtained using the ACT1 promoter in monocotyledons (Oryza sativa). Furthermore, WY195-regulated GUS gene expression was induced under high-temperature and drought conditions. Soluble proteins extracted from WY195-hpaXm transgenic tobacco was bioactive. Defensive micro-HR induced by the transgene expression of hpaXm was observed on transgenic tobacco leaves. Disease resistance bioassays showed that WY195-hpaXm transgenic tobacco enhanced the resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). WY195 has great potential for development as a new tool for genetic engineering. Further in-depth studies will help to better understand the transcriptional regulation mechanisms and the pathogenic mechanisms of O. heveae.

Until now, there are few studies and reports on the use of endogenous promoters of obligate biotrophic fungi. The WY195 promoter in the genome of Oidium heveae , the rubber powdery mildew pathogen, was predicted using PromoterScan and its promoter function was verified by the transient expression of the β- glucuronidase (GUS) gene. WY195 drove high levels of GUS expression in dicotyledons and monocotyledons. qRT-PCR indicated that GUS expression regulated by the WY195 promoter was 17.54-fold greater than that obtained using the CaMV 35S promoter in dicotyledons (Nicotiana tabacum), and 5.09-fold greater than that obtained using the ACT1 promoter in monocotyledons (Oryza sativa). Furthermore, WY195-regulated GUS gene expression was induced under high-temperature and drought conditions. Soluble proteins extracted from WY195- hpaXm transgenic tobacco was bioactive. Defensive micro-HR induced by the transgene expression of hpaXm was observed on transgenic tobacco leaves. Disease resistance bioassays showed that WY195- hpaXm transgenic tobacco enhanced the resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). WY195 has great potential for development as a new tool for genetic engineering. Further in-depth studies will help to better understand the transcriptional regulation mechanisms and the pathogenic mechanisms of O. heveae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of trichomes is extremely large in the plant kingdom: this is the pubescence of leaves and glumes in cereals and fruits and petioles in fruit plants, thorns in rose and cucumber, hairs on Drosera leaves, or cotton fibers. Trichomes vary in shape, size, structure, location, capability to secrete, etc. All trichomes share a common basic function—protecting plants from various biotic and abiotic factors. Artificial selection sometimes works against the development of trichomes. For example, in the selection of fruit trees, preference is given to those with smooth fruits. Among wild species, intraspecific variability on the presence/absence of trichomes was also detected. The aim of this review is to compare the mechanisms of formation of trichomes in different species in order to estimate extension of homologous series in hereditary variability within different taxa. Data on the morphology of trichomes are summarized. Data on genes determining variability are compared, and orthologous genes are revealed. Comparison with data on gene networks involved in the development of trichomes indicates that, despite the common molecular mechanisms of trichome development in all higher plants, mutations of different components of this gene network confer observed variability within different taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allelopathic potential of Thymus pulegioides L. chemical polymorphism was investigated under natural and laboratory conditions. A field analysis of 127 natural habitats hosting chemotypes of T. pulegioides with different ratios of phenolics, geraniol, and ɑ-terpinyl acetate was conducted. Effects of chemotypes, and their main compounds on seed germination and radicle growth of Trifolium pratense L. and Poa pratensis L. were conducted under laboratory conditions. Field analysis showed that Poa species were more plentiful in comparison with Trifolium species, independent of the chemotypical composition of T. pulegioides habitats. Laboratory tests with plant-acceptors showed a stronger inhibitory effect of essential oils on the germination and radicle growth of P. pratensis but in some instances germination was stimulated. Dissimilar effects were observed for the same allelochemical through air and water on the same plant-acceptor. Significantly, different effects of essential oils on radicle growth occurred in T. pratense and P. pratensis: with sensitivity to the phenolic chemotype via air and the ɑ-terpinyl acetate chemotype through water. This demonstrates that chemical polymorphism can expand communication opportunities of T. pulegioides with associated plant species. Combining investigations in natural habitats with laboratory experiments can help understand the effect of chemical polymorphism on plant-plant ecological interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the species, frequency, and density of the weed species in sugar beet fields in Central, Banaz and Sivaslı districts of UÅŸak province. Methods and Results: The survey studies were conducted in 44 fields in the central district of UÅŸak, 19 fields in Banaz district and 10 fields in Sivaslı district considering the sugar beet cultivation areas in July 2018. Within the scope of the survey studies, the species, frequency and density of the weed were determined by placing 1m² frame 4 times in 1 decare selected in the way to represent the field. As a result of the survey, 51 weed species belonging to 22 families including 1 parasitic, 1 monocotyledon and 20 dicotyledons were recorded. Amaranthus retroflexus L. (100%), Chenopodium album L. (100%), Convolvulus arvensis L. (87.67%) and Polygonum spp. (73.97%) were the most common species found in the sugar beet cultivation areas. Conclusions: As a result of the surveys conducted in sugar beet cultivation areas in UÅŸak province, very dense (≥10 plant m-2 ) and dense (5.00-9.99 plant m-2 ) weed species were not found and in all the districts, the main species were A. retroflexus, C. album, C. arvensis, and Polygonum spp. Significance and Impact of the Study: In UÅŸak, being one of the provinces where sugar beet production is performed, determining the frequency and density of the weeds in the production areas is important for the region. It is also considered that determining the method/methods for struggling against the weeds which continue their existence in the fields during the production period would provide an insight for the further studies and contribute to the local producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taxonomic study on the flora of Dohar upazila (sub-district) under Dhaka district has been conducted that results in occurrence of 204 angiosperm taxa under 165 genera and 68 families. Magnoliopsida is represented by 158 taxa distributed in 129 genera and 53 families. In contrast, Liliopsida is constituted by 46 taxa under 36 genera and 15 families. Asteraceae appears to be the largest family in Magnoliopsida consisting of 16 species, whereas Poaceae is the largest family with 16 species in Liliopsida. In Magnoliopsida, 23 families are represented by a single species, while in Liliopsida, 7 families are symbolized by a single species. Vegetation analysis shows that herbs are represented by 133 taxa, shrubs by 23 and trees by 48 taxa. Dichotomous bracketed keys to the families, genera, species and varieties are provided for easy identification of the taxa. Each taxon is supplemented by updated nomenclature, habit and representative specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of plants adapted to an extreme environment with a high concentration of iron such as Río Tinto allowed the study of important elements for the development and control of plant growth including their localization, management, and storage. The absorption, transport, and accumulation of iron were studied in different species of dicotyledons (Sarcocornia pruinosa, Salicornia patula, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, and Halogeton sativus of the Chenopodiaceae family) and monocotyledons (Imperata cylindrica, Cynodon dactylon, and Panicum repens from the Poaceae family), all obtained from the Río Tinto banks in different sample collection campaigns. The results clearly show that phytoferritin is not observed in the chloroplast of monocotyledons, an important difference from what is observed in dicotyledons. The presence of plastids with a high concentration of iron in the sieve tubes of monocotyledons strongly suggests their possible role in the transport and accumulation of iron in these plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agronomy Journal / Agronomski Glasnik (0002-1954) is the property of Croatian Society of Agronomists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and aims: Different methodologies were proposed for the detection of silica deposits in plant tissues. These methodologies include dry and wet ashing (which destroy the surrounding tissue), phenol staining (toxic), safranin-crystal violet lactone and fast green-methyl red staining (not specific for silica), fluorescence microscopy, electronic microscopy, EDAX and Raman analyses (which involve expensive equipment). Here we presented an easy and cheap method based on tissue clearing and immersion oil mounting. M&M: We tested the methodology in longitudinal and cross sections of culms, leaves and roots of ten species that effectively accumulate silica. We applied different clearing techniques according to the type of plant material, we mounted in immersion oil and observed under light microscope. We compared the results with the ones obtained by traditional silicophytolith techniques. Results: Silica deposits were observed in all species and organs analyzed, and the observations were coincident with the results obtained by other techniques. It was also possible to identify calcium crystals, allowing the description of the most common biomineralizations produced by plants. Conclusions: The technique here proposed can be used for exploratory as well as for specific studies about the content and distribution of silicophytoliths in almost any tissue, organ and plant species. It can be applied in any laboratory, because it does not require expensive or hardly available equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The CRT gene duplication is a widespread in plant genomes. • The Arabidopsis genome, in contrast to other plant genomes, has only 3 CRT homologs. • The CRT isoforms reveal a functional specialization. Abstract Calreticulin (CRT) is an multifunctional resident endoplasmic reticulum (ER) luminal protein implicated in regulating a variety of cellular processes, including Ca2+ storage/mobilization and protein folding. These multiple functions may be carried out by different CRT genes and protein isoforms. The plant CRT family consist of three genes: CRT1 and CRT2 classified in the common subclass (CRT1/2), and CRT3. These genes are highly conserved during evolution and encode three different protein products (CRT1, 2 and 3). The aim of the current study was to conduct a comparative analysis and sequence-based classification of the plant CRT genes. We used nucleotide and amino acid sequences to phylogenetically cluster the genes and examine potential glycosylation patterns. Additionally, we analyzed phylogenetic relationships within the CRT subclasses. Finally, we analyzed intraspecific CRT duplication events among mono- and dicotyledon species. Our results confirm that each of the CRT genes exist in multiple copies in plant genomes, and that CRT gene duplication is a widespread process in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, the enzyme CCD8 (carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 8) is involved in the synthesis of an important hormone, strigolactone, and therefore, plays an important role in controlling growth and development. Using cDNA and protein sequence derived from the gene ZmCCD8 from maize, we identified putative orthologs of the gene encoding CCD8 in six other monocots and eight dicots; the sequence similarity ranged from 52–75.9% at the gene level and 60.9–93.7% at the protein level. The average length of the gene was ~3.3 kb (range: 2.08 to 3.98 kb), although the number of introns within the genes differed (4 or 5 in dicots and 3 or 4 in monocots, except in T. urartu with 6 introns). Several cis-acting regulatory elements were identified in the promoters of CCD8 genes, which are known to respond to biotic and abiotic stresses. The N-terminal end (up to ~70 amino acids) of CCD8 proteins was highly variable due to insertions, deletions and mismatches. The variation in genes and proteins were particularly conspicuous in T. urartu and Ae. tauschii among the monocots and A. thaliana and P. persica among the dicots. In CCD8 proteins, 12 motifs were also identified, of which 6 were novel; 4 of these novel motifs occurred in all the 15 species. The 3D structures of proteins had the characteristic features of the related enzyme apocarotenoid oxygenase (ACO) of Synechocystis (a representative of cyanobacteria). The results of qRT-PCR in wheat revealed that under phosphorous (P)-starved condition (relative to expression under optimum P used as control), the expression of TaCCD8 genes increased ~37 fold in root tissue of the cultivar C306 and ~33 fold in shoot tissue of the cultivar HUW468 (the two cultivars differed in their P-use efficiency). This suggested that expression of TaCCD8 genes is genotype-dependent and tissue-specific and is regulated under different levels of P supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate occurrence of T. pulegioides α-terpinyl acetate chemotype, as source of natural origin α-terpinyl acetate, to determine its phytotoxic and antimicrobial features. Were investigated 131 T. pulegioides habitats. Essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Phytotoxic effect of essential oil of this chemotype on monocotyledons and dicotyledons through water and air was carried out in laboratory conditions; the broth microdilution method was used to screen essential oil effect against human pathogenic microorganisms. Results showed that α-terpinyl acetate was very rare compound in essential oil of T. pulegioides: it was found only in 35% of investigated T. pulegioides habitats. α-Terpinyl acetate (in essential oil and pure) demonstrated different behavior on investigated plants. Phytotoxic effect of α-terpinyl acetate was stronger on investigated monocotyledons than on dicotyledons. α-Terpinyl acetate essential oil inhibited seeds germination and radicles growth for high economic productivity forage grass monocotyledon Poa pratensis, but stimulated seed germination for high economic productive forage legume dicotyledon Trifolium pretense. α-Terpinyl acetate essential oil showed high antimicrobial effect against fungi and dermatophytes but lower effect against bacteria and Candida yeasts. Therefore, T. pulegioides α-terpinyl acetate chemotype could be a potential compound for developing preventive measures or/and drugs for mycosis.

Moreover, monocotyledons have significantly reduced pectin content in their cell walls; does this imply that monocots evolved a distinct cell wall growth mechanism, or are HG-related growth mechanisms an epiphenomenon? Direct exploration of the cell wall structure revealed that its polymers are distributed anisotropically: cellulose is deposited in the cell wall in parallel fibrils perpendicular to the growth axis (Gutierrez et al., 2009; Anderson et al., 2010). These observations inspired an alternative vision of plant cell growth where pectin demethylation leads to cell wall expansion without the turgor pressure, underpinned by the rearranging of HG polymers on a different lattice, from the compact hexagonal to a looser rectangular net (Haas et al., 2020). Plant cell wall extensibility: connecting plant cell growth with cell wall structure, mechanics, and the action of wall-modifying enzymes. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Powdery mildew (PM) is one of the most important and widespread plant diseases caused by biotrophic fungi. Notably, while monocot (grass) PM fungi exhibit high-level of host-specialization, many dicot PM fungi display a broad host range. To understand such distinct modes of host-adaptation, we sequenced the genomes of four dicot PM biotypes belonging to Golovinomyces cichoracearum or Oidium neolycopersici. Results: We compared genomes of the four dicot PM together with those of Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei (both DH14 and RACE1 isolates), B. graminis f.sp. tritici, and Erysiphe necator infectious on barley, wheat and grapevine, respectively. We found that despite having a similar gene number (6620–6961), the PM genomes vary from 120 to 222 Mb in size. This high-level of genome size variation is indicative of highly differential transposon activities in the PM genomes. While the total number of genes in any given PM genome is only about half of that in the genomes of closely related ascomycete fungi, most (~ 93%) of the ascomycete core genes (ACGs) can be found in the PM genomes. Yet, 186 ACGs were found absent in at least two of the eight PM genomes, of which 35 are missing in some dicot PM biotypes, but present in the three monocot PM genomes, indicating remarkable, independent and perhaps ongoing gene loss in different PM lineages. Consistent with this, we found that only 4192 (3819 singleton) genes are shared by all the eight PM genomes, the remaining genes are lineage- or biotype-specific. Strikingly, whereas the three monocot PM genomes possess up to 661 genes encoding candidate secreted effector proteins (CSEPs) with families containing up to 38 members, all the five dicot PM fungi have only 116–175 genes encoding CSEPs with limited gene amplification. Conclusions: Compared to monocot (grass) PM fungi, dicot PM fungi have a much smaller effectorome. This is consistent with their contrasting modes of host-adaption: while the monocot PM fungi show a high-level of host specialization, which may reflect an advanced host-pathogen arms race, the dicot PM fungi tend to practice polyphagy, which might have lessened selective pressure for escalating an with a particular host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral root branching along the primary root involves complex gene regulatory networks in model plant Arabidopsis. However, it is largely unclarified whether different plant species share a common mechanism to pattern the lateral root along the primary axis. In this study, we assessed the development pattern of lateral root among several dicot and monocot plants, including Arabidopsis, tomato, Medicago , Nicotiana , rice, and ryegrass by using an agar-gel culture system. Our results reveal a regular-spaced distribution pattern of lateral roots along the primary root axis of both dicot and monocot plants. Meanwhile, the root patterning is tightly controlled by root bending and the plant hormone auxin. However, nitrogen and phosphate starvations trigger distinguished root growth patterns among different plant species. Our studies strongly suggest a partially shared signaling pathway underlying root patterning of various plant species, and also provide a foundation for further identification of genes associated with root development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a novel biostimulant for sustainable crop disease management, PSP1, based on the plant defense-elicitor AsES, an extracellular protease produced by the strawberry fungal pathogen Acremonium strictum. Fungal fermentation conditions and downstream processing were determined to maximize extracellular protein production, product stability and a high plant defense-eliciting activity, as monitored by anthracnose resistance in supernatant-treated strawberry plants subsequently infected with a virulent strain of Colletotrichum acutatum. Fermentation batches were shown to reduce anthracnose development by 30–60% as compared to infected non-treated plants. Product formulation was shown to be stable for 6 months when stored at temperatures up to 45°C and toxicological tests showed that PSP1 was harmless to beneficial organisms and non-toxic to mammalian species at concentrations 50 times higher than those used in plant experiments. Furthermore, disease protection studies using dilutions of PSP1 indicated that there is a minimum threshold protease activity needed to induce pathogen defense in strawberry and that this induction effect is dose-independent. A significant characteristic of PSP1 is its broad-range protection against different diseases in various crop species. In soybean, PSP1 reduced the symptomatology by 70% of Corynespora cassiicola, etiological agent of the target spot. This protection effect was similar to the commercial inducer BION 500 WG based on BTH, and both products were shown to induce an oxidative burst and up-regulated PR1-gene expression in soybean. Furthermore, a double PSP1-treatment on greenhouse-grown sugarcane plants provided protection against bacterial red stripe disease caused by Acidovorax avenae and a double foliar application of PSP1 on field-grown wheat plants significantly increased resistance against Fusarium graminearum, causal agent of head blight disease, manifested mainly in an increased seed germination rate. In summary, these disease protection studies demonstrated an effective control against both bacterial and fungal pathogens in both monocot and dicot crop species, which together with its low production cost, effectiveness at low concentrations, long shelf-life, tolerance to high temperatures, harmlessness to non-target organisms and simple handling and application, make PSP1 a very promising candidate for effective and sustainable disease management in many crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of road traffic intensity on the content of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil and plants. Relationships between the PCB content in soil and in plants to the distance from the route were determined. The study material was collected along three exit routes from Warsaw at the following distances from the route: 0, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 m. The PCB content was analyzed using gas chromatography. In soil it varied within: 0.331–37.077 ng/g, and in plants within: 0.303–4.727 ng/g. Congeners 153 and 138 had the highest percentage content in the sum of the studied PCBs in soils, whereas congeners 28 and 52 in plants. Larger influence of the road traffic intensity on the PCB content was observed in the case of soil rather than plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]