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Drought stress can profoundly affect plant growth and physiological vitality, yet there is a notable scarcity of controlled drought experiments focused on herbaceous species of the forest understorey. In this study, we collected seeds from five forb and four graminoid species common in European temperate forests. Seeds were germinated under controlled glasshouse conditions and subjected to moderate drought stress for 5 weeks. We assessed biomass partitioning, stomatal and leaf morphology, leaf gas exchange, minimum leaf conductance (gmin), and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Comparison of the two ecological guilds revealed that graminoids had a higher R/S, improved WUE, greater carboxylation efficiency, and enhanced non‐photochemical quenching under drought conditions compared to forbs. In contrast, forbs had significantly lower gmin, with higher total biomass and total leaf area. Despite these differences in morpho‐physiological functional traits, both groups experienced a similar relative reduction in biomass after drought stress. Key predictors of biomass accumulation under drought included photochemical quenching, stomatal traits, total leaf area and gmin. A negative correlation between biomass and gmin suggests that plants with lower residual water loss after stomatal closure can accumulate more biomass under drought stress. Additionally, gmin was positively correlated with guard cell length, suggesting that larger stomata contribute to higher residual water loss. Contrasting strategies in morpho‐physiological responses to drought define the differences between the two groups. In graminoids, drought resistance suggests greater emphasis on stress tolerance as a survival strategy. In contrast, forbs were able to maintain higher biomass and total leaf area, indicating a competitive strategy for maximizing resource acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant leaves receive different light intensities that lead to changes in many of their characteristics, including leaf morphology and anatomy. These changes occur in trees within- and between-crown and this ecophysiological issue has been widely addressed in temperate regions. However, due to increased habitat complexity and species richness, tropical forests may create slightly different light gradients. This study compares these gradients using a tropical plant, Eugenia hiemalis, a high plastic shrub. Leaves were collected from the top and base of the crown of sun-exposed plants (within-crown light gradient) and compared with leaves collected from the middle of crowns, of plants in sunny and shaded sites (between-crown light gradient). The analysis of 25 morphological and anatomical characteristics showed that the between-crown light gradient has a greater influence on leaf responses to light, possibly due to the existence of highly shaded environments in tropical forests compared to surrounding grasslands. Leaves that receive more light have a thicker cuticle and mesophyll and higher stomatal density, leaves at the top of the crown. On the other hand, leaves at the base of the crown and from shaded sites had greater leaf area, leaf dry mass, and specific leaf area. The vertical light gradient that occurs within-crown is weaker than the between-crown gradient, suggesting a great acclimation ability of species both inside and outside tropical forests, such as found in E. hiemalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity provides valuable genetic resources and forms the basis of plant breeding. Plant leaves are closely connected to the external environment and play important roles in plant growth and development. Here, 13 cultivars of Camellia yuhsienensis were collected from Southern China to examine the magnitude of genetic diversity and differentiation, using cluster analysis based on 21 leaf traits and ten Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Morphological study indicated that all traits varied to different degrees, indicating a high degree of genetic diversity in C. yuhsienensis. Eight typical leaf characteristics were screened using principal component analysis, which showed that the selected traits were highly correlated and clustered. Average polymorphism percentage was obtained from the ISSR marker pattern using ten primers. A total of 201 loci were amplified, of which 175 were polymorphic with an average polymorphism percentage of 87.06%. Polymorphism information content (PIC), marker index (MI) and resolving power (RP) revealed that the selected primers were found to be informative in distinguishing C. yuhsienensis germplasm resources. Nei's diversity Index and the Shannon's diversity index values indicated a certain level of genetic diversity. Cluster analysis results based on leaf structure and molecular markers were generally consistent, indicating a high degree of effective loci for morphological markers of C. yuhsienensis. Our results revealed genetic differences and commonalities among the cultivars, providing valuable information to identify appropriate seedling cultivars and conserve germplasm resources for future utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hibiscus syriacus L. is a deciduous shrub with a strong environmental resistance and wide application prospects. The genetic background and ploidy levels of Hibiscus cultivars are complex, and polyploid breeding has long been an important method for developing new Hibiscus cultivars. However, the relationship of ploidy levels with leaf morphology, stomatal characteristics, and leaf anatomy remains unclear. Results: This study analyzed three ploidy levels (triploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid) of Hibiscus syriacus. Flow cytometry confirmed the ploidy levels, and morphological traits were evaluated. Leaf length, leaf width, and petiole length decreased with increasing ploidy. Stomatal length, stomatal width, guard cell length, and guard cell width increased and stomatal number and density decreased with increasing ploidy. The hexaploids exhibited the highest midrib diameter and palisade tissue thickness values. Correlation analyses revealed that stomatal morphology served as a reliable marker for determining ploidy levels. Conclusion: This study highlights the impact of varying ploidy levels on the leaf and stomatal morphologies and leaf anatomy of Hibiscus syriacus. These findings can provide theoretical guidance for improving Hibiscus cultivars in terms of stress resistance, adaptability, and ornamental traits, and for developing new cultivars with enhanced characteristics. Future research should focus on utilizing these morphological markers to optimize breeding strategies for Hibiscus cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf morphology is an important agronomic trait in crop production. Our study identified a maple leaf type (mlt) cucumber mutant and located the regulatory gene for leaf shape changes through BSA results. Hybrid F1 and F2 populations were generated by F1 self-crossing, and the candidate mlt genes were identified within the 2.8 Mb region of chromosome 2 using map cloning. Through the sequencing and expression analysis of genes within the bulk segregant analysis (BSA) region, we identified the target gene for leaf shape regulation as CsWOX4 (CsaV3_2G026510). The change from base C to T in the original sequence led to frameshift mutations and the premature termination of translation, resulting in shortened encoded proteins and conserved WUSCHEL (WUS) box sequence loss. The specific expression analysis of the CsWOX4/Cswox4 genes in the roots, stems, leaves and other tissue types of wild-type (WT) and mutant plants revealed that CsWOX4 was higher in the root, but Cswox4 (mutant gene) was significantly higher in the leaf. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that CsWOX4 was localized in the nucleus. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the mitochondrial cell cycle phase transition, nucleosome and microtubule binding pathways. Simultaneously, the quantitative analysis of the expression trends of 25 typical genes regulating the leaf types revealed the significant upregulation of CsPIN3. In our study, we found that the conserved domain of CsWOX4 was missing in the mutant, and the transcriptome data revealed that the expression of some genes, such as CsPIN3, changed simultaneously, thereby jointly regulating changes in the cucumber leaf type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking 4-year-old Rosa roxburghii seedlings as the research object, the effects of glyphosate in orchards on the nutritional growth, leaf structure, photosynthetic characteristics, fluorescence characteristics and fruits were studied by soil application of glyphosate. The results show that new leaf morphology was deformed and yellowed, stomatal density and stomatal index were significantly decreased, MDA content was increased, and SOD, CAT and LOX activities were significantly increased after 15 days of glyphosate treatment. PN, GS, Fv/Fm, ABS/RC, TRo/RC, ETo/RC and DIo/RC of new leaves were significantly reduced with increasing glyphosate concentrations. New leaf photosynthetic organ development and photosynthetic pigment accumulation were affected under glyphosate, resulting in inhibition of photosynthesis, leading to a decrease in photosynthetic rate and ultimately affecting fruit development. The protective enzyme activity of new leaves was activated after glyphosate spraying, thereby enhancing its adaptability to adversity, while damage to PSII was reduced by increasing the energy dissipated through heat dissipation and reducing excess excitation energy under low dose glyphosate treatment. The adaptability of new leaf cell membranes could be improved, and thus the damage caused by glyphosate was mitigated in Rosa roxburghii orchards when glyphosate was applied at concentrations of less than 1.84 kg.ha-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how the intrinsic ability of populations and species to meet shifting selective demands shapes evolutionary patterns over both short and long timescales is a major question in biology. One major axis of evolutionary flexibility can be measured by phenotypic integration and modularity. The strength, scale, and structure of integration may constrain or catalyze evolution in the face of new selective pressures. We analyze a dataset of seven leaf measurements across Vitaceae to examine how correlations in trait divergence are linked to transitions between freezing and nonfreezing habitats. We assess this by applying a custom algorithm to compare the timing of habitat shifts to changes in the structure of evolutionary trait correlation at discrete points along a phylogeny. We also explore these patterns in relation to lineage diversification rates to understand how and whether patterns in the evolvability of complex multivariate phenotypes are linked to higher‐level macroevolutionary dynamics. We found that shifts in the structure, but not the overall strength, of phylogenetic integration of leaves precipitate colonization of freezing climates. Lineages that underwent associated shifts in leaf trait integration and subsequent movement into freezing habitats also displayed lower turnover and higher net diversification, suggesting a link among shifting vectors of selection, internal constraint, and lineage persistence in the face of changing environments. Shifts in the structure of leaf integration correspond to movement between temperate and tropical habitats in the grape clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic control of many plant traits can be highly complex. Both allelic variation (sequence change) and dosage variation (copy number change) contribute to a plant's phenotype. While numerous studies have investigated the effect of allelic or dosage variation, very few have documented both within the same system, leaving their relative contribution to phenotypic effects unclear. The Populus genome is highly polymorphic, and poplars are fairly tolerant of gene dosage variation. Here, using a previously established Populus hybrid F1 population, we assessed and compared the effect of natural allelic variation and induced dosage variation on biomass, phenology, and leaf morphology traits. We identified QTLs for many of these traits, but our results indicate limited overlap between the QTLs associated with natural allelic variation and induced dosage variation. Additionally, the integration of data from both allelic and dosage variation identifies a larger set of QTLs that together explain a larger percentage of the phenotypic variance. Finally, our results suggest that the effect of the large indels might mask that of allelic QTLs. Our study helps clarify the relationship between allelic and dosage variation and their effects on quantitative traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-temperature stress (LTS) in spring results in tremendous yield loss in wheat production, and the application of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) can alleviate stress-induced damage. However, the underlying effect of spraying KH2PO4 on the physiological characteristics of wheat flag leaves under spring LTS remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of spraying KH2PO4 on flag leaf physiological traits and yield under spring LTS, including treatments at 15 °C and spraying H2O (CK), treatment at −4 °C and spraying H2O (LT1), and treatment at −4 °C and spraying KH2PO4 (LT2). The results showed that spraying KH2PO4 significantly increased the activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), the peroxidase (POD), and the catalase (CAT), and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the flag leaves. Compared to LT1, the SOD, POD, and CAT activities in the flag leaves of the Yangnong19 (YN19) and Xinmai26 (XM26) via LT2 increased by 5.5%, 10.9%, and 3.9%, and 5.4%, 9.2%, and 4.4%, respectively, and the MDA content of the YN19 and XM26 decreased by 10.5% and 9.1%, respectively, at 0–12 d after low temperature treatment (DALTT). Spraying KH2PO4 appreciably alleviated damage to the leaf cell morphology and tissue integrity, and increased the accumulation of proline and soluble protein, the chlorophyll content, and the activities of Ribulose–1,5–bisphosphate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The net photosynthetic rate in the flag leaves of the YN19 and XM26 via LT2 increased by 37.9% and 35.9%, respectively, at 0–12 DALTT, compared to LT1. Moreover, spraying KH2PO4 reduced the yield loss rate of the YN19 and XM26 by 13.06% and 16.72%, respectively. The present study demonstrates that spraying KH2PO4 can enhance wheat resistance to spring LTS and maintain the photosynthetic capacity of flag leaves, alleviating the negative effects of LTS on grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon is one of the most important cucurbit crops, but its production is seriously affected by viral infections. Although eIF4E proteins have emerged as the major mediators of the resistance to viral infections, the mechanism underlying the contributions of eIF4E to watermelon disease resistance remains unclear. In this study, three CleIF4E genes and one CleIF(iso)4E gene were identified in the watermelon genome. Among these genes, CleIF4E1 was most similar to other known eIF4E genes. To investigate the role of CleIF4E1, CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to knock out CleIF4E1 in watermelon. One selected mutant line had an 86 bp deletion that resulted in a frame-shift and the expression of a truncated protein. The homozygous mutant exhibits developmental defects in plant growth, leaf morphology and reduced yield. Furthermore, the mutant was protected against the zucchini yellow mosaic virus, but not the cucumber green mottled mosaic virus. In summary, this study preliminarily clarified the functions of eIF4E proteins in watermelon. The generated data will be useful for elucidating eIF4E-related disease resistance mechanisms in watermelon. The tissue-specific editing of CleIF4E1 in future studies may help to prevent adverse changes to watermelon fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding far-red (FR) photons to a constant photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) alters photosynthesis, leaf morphology, and biomass accumulation of horticultural plants. However, the influences of partially substituting PPFD with FR photons under the same extended PPFD (ePPFD) on the growth of greenhouse lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is still unknown. In this study, loose-leaf lettuce ('Dasusheng') grown in a greenhouse in the fall was implemented using six supplementary light treatments including white plus red (WR) LEDs with substitutive FR photon flux density at 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 mmol·m22·s21 under the same ePPFD (WR139, WR129+FR10, WR109+FR30, WR89+FR50, WR69+FR70, and WR49+FR90, respectively). Lettuce grown with natural light only was designated as NL. The results indicated that supplementary light led to lower plant height, thicker leaves, higher biomass accumulation, higher vitamin C content, higher starch content, and higher total soluble sugar content in lettuce compared with those of lettuce grown under NL. Lettuce grown under WR139 resulted in a 40.0% decrease in plant height, 66.8% increase in leaf thickness, and 34.1% increase in shoot fresh weight compared with those of lettuce grown under NL. No significant differences were observed in leaf width, specific leaf area, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, soil plant analysis development value, apparent quantum yield, soluble protein content, and light use efficiency of lettuce among the WR139, WR129+FR10, and WR109+FR30 treatments. Furthermore, decreased trends were observed in the biomass accumulation and maximum net photosynthetic rate of lettuce with the increased substituted FR photon flux density. However, an opposite trend was found in the maximum photochemical quantum yield. In conclusion, partially substituting PPFD with FR photons at 10 to 30 lmol·m22·s21 had similar effects on the biomass accumulation and nutritional quality of greenhouse lettuce. The FR photons should be applied with the consideration of photon flux density because the results also demonstrated negative effects of excess substituted FR photons for PPFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hibiscus is a charismatic genus of the Malvaceae family that is noted for its diversity, lacking identifiable characteristics for distinguishing its various species. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop authentication methods for genus delimitation and species delineation. The present study aims to discern the taxonomic relationships between the well-known, globally familiar, and economically important five Hibiscus species, namely: H. × rosa-sinensis, H. sabdariffa, H. schizopetalus, H. syriacus and H. tiliaceus based on traditional morphological and anatomical characteristics compared to the contemporary chemotaxonomy. In this context, the leaf-based methanolic extracts of the studied species were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC–MS) to estimate their secondary metabolites similarity. In addition, selected qualitative morphological and anatomical traits including leaf venation patterns, epidermal micromorphology, stomata types and trichomes diversity, petiole serial sectioning (outline, adaxial groove features, vasculature traces arrangement), and midrib characteristics of the studied species were investigated. The results of both chemotaxonomy and traditional taxonomy exhibited a remarkable agreement in the delineation of the five studied species. Specifically, the chemotaxonomy-based dendrogram separates the studied species into two main clusters with the H. sabdariffa as an outlier species in a single cluster and the remaining four species as another cluster with variant distances in its similarity indices. Similarly, the traditional morphological and anatomical characteristics revealed distinct traits for H. sabdariffa compared to the remaining four species. The findings of this study highlight the significance of integrating the structural features with phytochemicals profiling as a potential approach that could be harnessed for the delineation of the taxonomically challenging Hibiscus genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Quercus, commonly known as oak, has great potential as one of the most widely cultivated plant species. However, the lack of superior varieties is a bottleneck for its usage and application in Southwest China. Here, this study aims to explore the growth and photosynthetic traits of 18 oak varieties with the goal of identifying the adaptable superior varieties for the region, focusing on nutrient growth, leaf morphology, chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic parameters over a 32-week growth period. The results showed that a significant diversity was observed among the varieties. Growth rhythm and fitted curves divided the 18 oak varieties into three patterns. Additionally, for the leaf morphological parameters, Q. denta boasted the maximum leaf area (167.24 cm2), leaf width (13.62 cm), and leaf aspect ratio (156.6); Q. mongo showed the greatest leaf length (20.37 cm); while Q. acutis had the largest leaf form factor (3.44) and leaf gap (0.39). Chlorophyll content was based on three-time-points investigation, with higher levels observed in Q. mongo, Q. robur 4, Q. wutai, Q. denta, Q. acutis, and Q. robur 1. The transpiration rate (E) (5.03 mmol m−2), stomatal conductance (gsw) (0.22 mol m−2 s−1), and total water vapor conductance (gtw) (0.19 mol m−2 s−1) were dominantly obtained in Q. robur 1, while Q. denta exhibited the highest intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) (564.67 µmol mol−1). Conversely, Q. wutai displayed a significantly higher leaf chamber CO2 concentration (Ca) (502.11 µmol mol−1). Furthermore, growth traits showed a correlation with leaf morphological and photosynthetic traits. PCA analysis grouped the oak varieties into five clusters, with Q. acutis, Q. robur 1, Q. palus 3, Q. denta, Q. nutta, Q. mongo, and Q. wutai identified as superior varieties. These findings not only offer promising oak candidate varieties for Southwest China, but also provide insights for establishing efficient breeding program for other woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change alters vegetation patterns, pushing subtropical forests further north. These forests play a crucial role for carbon neutrality efforts due to their significant CO2 assimilation potential. This study investigated CO2 assimilation rate along with growth, morphological, and physiological traits in 23 half-sib families of Quercus acuta and 26 half-sib families of Q. glauca, two prominent East Asian evergreen broadleaf species. Q. acuta exhibited significantly higher growth rates, with diameter at breast height (DBH) and aboveground biomass exceeding those for Q. glauca by 12.1% and 69.9%, respectively (p < 0.001). Leaf traits, including leaf mass pear area (LMA), leaf nitrogen, and chlorophyll content, were also greater in Q. acuta, showing 24.5%, 45.8%, and 15.6% higher values (p < 0.001). While photosynthetic traits were similar, Q. acuta exhibited a 12.7% higher intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) (p < 0.01). Among half-sib families, marginal differences were observed in growth traits (p < 0.1), and significant differences in leaf morphology and physiological traits (p < 0.05) were observed. A positive correlation was found between growth and physiological traits associated with the CO2 assimilation rate in Q. acuta, but not in Q. glauca. These findings highlight the potential of Q. acuta and Q. glauca for supporting future carbon neutrality efforts and provide traits supporting carbon uptake, valuable for selecting tree species with enhanced carbon sequestration potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Understanding relationships among leaf nutrient concentrations, morphological traits and plant flammability aids predictions of plant flammability. Few studies have simultaneously examined these relationships in a phylogenetic context. Aim. Quantify relationships among plant flammability, leaf nutrient concentrations, morphological traits and phylogenetic pattern. Methods. We measured shoot and whole plant flammability (for small-sized species), shoot and leaf morphological traits, and leaf nutrient concentrations for 29 vascular plant taxa. Shared and unique plant flammability variation explained by nutrient traits, leaf morphology and shoot traits was estimated, incorporating phylogenetic relationships among species via variance partitioning. Key results. Flammability had a substantial phylogenetic proportion; 28% of variation in flammability was explained either independently by phylogenetic relatedness or as shared variation with morphology and shoot traits (49%), or nutrient concentrations (20%). Twig dry matter content and retained dead material were positively and moisture content and most nutrient traits were negatively correlated with plant flammability. Conclusions. Variation in leaf nutrient concentrations and plant morphology showed a strong phylogenetic pattern, suggesting that features of plants that determine their flammability are strongly underpinned by evolution. Implications. The substantial shared variation between leaf nutrient concentrations, morphological traits and phylogenetic relationships suggests that morphological traits will be more useful than nutrient traits when predicting flammability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite accumulating evidence for the adverse effects of magnesium (Mg) deficiency or excess on grain crops, how Mg imbalance affects plant growth and potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) nutrition in vegetable crops is still unclear. The aim of this study was to ascertain the response of plant growth, nutrient uptake and Mg-K-Ca interactions in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to various levels of Mg supply. The growth parameters and nutrient contents of hydroponic plants were measured under the Mg levels of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 mmol/L Mg2+ from seedling to fruit ripening stage. Results showed that both Mg deficiency (0 mmol/L Mg2+) and excess (3.0 mmol/L Mg2+) negatively affected shoot and root growth, leading to a noticeable decrease in total plant biomass across different stages (41.2-52.8% and 17.7-38.3%, respectively). Mg imbalance additionally altered leaf morphology and disrupted chloroplast structure. As a consequence of increased Mg levels, the Mg contents in various plant organs increased, whereas the Ca contents decreased substantially. The trend of K contents under different Mg levels was dependent on the plant growth stage. Although Mg levels did not prominently affect plant K contents during the early growth stage, they were significantly negatively correlated in the leaves and positively correlated in the fruit during the late growth stage. When translocated from roots to aboveground organs, Mg and Ca were mainly distributed in the leaves, with K preferentially distributed in the fruit. The findings of this study underscore that the symptoms of Mg imbalance generally develop from middle leaves in vegetable crops, exemplified by tomato, which is different from the pattern in common grain crops. Vegetable production necessitates nutrient supply for the middle and upper parts of Mg-deficient plants, and attention should be paid to the nutritional imbalance of Ca and K in plants under excessive Mg supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated CO2 can affect the synthesis and distribution of photosynthetic assimilates. However, the carbohydrate metabolism molecular mechanism of cucumber leaves in response to CO2 enrichment is unclear. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the key functional regulatory genes in cucumber. In this study, the growth of cucumber leaves under different CO2 conditions was compared. The results showed that under CO2 enrichment, leaf area increased, the number of mesophyll cells increased, stomata enlarged, and more starch grains accumulated in the chloroplasts. Compared with the control, the starch and soluble sugar content of leaves were maximally increased by 194.1% and 55.94%, respectively; the activities of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), ADPG pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), starch synthase (SSS), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose synthase (SS) and invertase (Inv) were maximally increased by 36.91%, 66.13%, 33.18%, 21.7%, 54.11%, and 46.01%, respectively. Through transcriptome analysis, a total of 1,582 differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, in which the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway was significantly enriched, and 23 genes of carbon metabolism were screened. Through metabolome analysis, a total of 22 differential accumulation metabolites (DAMs) were identified. Moreover, D-glucose and D(+)-glucose were significantly accumulated, showing upregulation 2.4-fold and 2.6-fold, respectively. Through combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolome, it was revealed that seven genes were highly related to D-glucose, and Csa6G153460 (AGPase), Csa5G612840 (β-glucosidase), and Csa4G420150 (4-α-glucanotransferase) were significantly correlated to the carbohydrate regulatory network. Furthermore, the mechanism of CO2 enrichment that promotes carbohydrate metabolism in leaves at the molecular level was revealed. This mechanism advances the development of the cell wall and leaf morphology by activating the expression of key genes and improving enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The ipê trees belonging to the genus Handroanthus are among the most exploited species in the Amazon Forest. However, limitations in the wood identification processes can lead to an overexploitation of a single species. We compare, macroscopically, the wood anatomy of five Amazon Handroanthus species (H. barbatus , H. capitatus , H. impetiginosus , H. incanus and H. serratifolius –Bignoniaceae). Except for H. barbatus the species are trees over 20 m tall and are used commercially. We compared leaf morphology of the two most commercially used species (H. impetiginosus and H. serratifolius), aiming to separate them in the field with identification keys. For wood macroscopical analyses, 55 samples were used; the specimens were obtained in the field and from wood collections. The dichotomous key, preferable to be used in a laboratory, enables the distinction of the five species. However, the use of this key requires more knowledge about wood anatomy, since it was necessary to use more quantitative characteristics, due to the great intraspecific variation in Handroanthus woods, also reflected in the PCA (principal components analysis) and grouping analysis. To identify the plant species H. impetiginosus and H. serratifolius , the use of axial parenchyma type and vessel characteristics were important distinguishing factors, while in leaves, the most significant features were characteristics such as leaf margin, trichomes and domatia. In addition, by focusing on these key features, a multiple access identification key was created, which simplified the identification by reducing the number of characteristics necessary for the identification, facilitating its use in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Endophytic fungi in pasture grasses help the plant resist unfavourable biotic and abiotic conditions. Despite some well-documented aspects of how these fungi confer resistance to insects, some mechanisms are not well known. In this work, we measured the effects of such endophytes on aphids, an important pest group. We measured aphid feeding activity and life-history effects to further understand the mode of action of endophyte–perennial ryegrass systems. We were able to demonstrate that, in some cases, fungal endophytes significantly deterred feeding, but in other cases, feeding was not affected, and yet high mortality was observed. This suggests a complex scenario of interactions between compounds in the endophyte–perennial-ryegrass–aphid system. Our study shows that fungal endophytes have the potential to improve sustainable aphid control by decreasing the use of insecticide sprays. The bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), is an economically significant pest of pasture grasses, the latter being capable of hosting several fungal endophyte–perennial ryegrass symbiota rich in alkaloids and toxic to vertebrates and invertebrates. Measuring aphid feeding behaviour can provide insights into the effectiveness and mode of action of different fungal endophytes. This study investigated the effects of different Epichloë–perennial ryegrass symbiota on the feeding behaviour of R. padi using the electrical penetration graph technique while also assessing the aphid life history. In most cases, endophytes had significant feeding deterrence and paired fecundity and mortality effects. But, in some instances, endophytes with the highest aphid mortality did not significantly deter feeding, suggesting a more complicated scenario of interactions between the relative concentration of metabolites, e.g., host plant defence response metabolites and alkaloids, and/or physical changes to leaf morphology. Overall, this study sheds light on the mode of action of Epichloë endophytes against aphids and highlights the importance of Epichloë–perennial ryegrass symbiota in the management of insect pests such as aphids in pasture-based grazing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia sinensis, renowned as the second most widely consumed nonalcoholic beverage worldwide, bears substantial economic importance, prompting cultivators to breed various clones for enhanced flavor and quality. This study analyzed the variation in leaf phenotype, phytochemicals (total tannins and proanthocyanidins content) and antioxidant potential of 36 widely cultivated tea clones from India's sub-Himalayan region using multivariate analysis. Results indicated that TV23 had the largest leaf and SS27 and RR had the smallest. TS520 was the richest in tannin, proanthocyanidins, and antioxidants, while S3A1 and Heeleakah were the least. Principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis unveiled four morphological clusters (representative clones - TV1, TV23, TV30, 124.48.8) and four phytochemical clusters (representative clones - TS520, TV9, TV27, P126). GC-MS analysis revealed that TV1 and TV30 had high caffeine content (82.0%), while TS520 exhibited abundant antioxidant compounds, including sycllo-inositol (23.84%) and epigallocatechin (4.23%). TS520's exceptional antioxidant properties, confirmed by DPPH, ABTS, and total antioxidant capacity assays, may result from its cultivation through seed propagation. Correlation analysis showed antioxidant potential had moderate negative associations with leaf size, strong negative with inter-secondary vein number, and positive with petiole length. This study is pivotal for assessing tea clone diversity, with broader applications in tea improvement and breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthium is a genus of annual herbaceous plants that stands out within Asteraceae for being wind‐pollinated, diclinous monoecious, and bearing solitary pistillate flowers in peculiar spiny structures (burs). Xanthium sect. Acanthoxanthium is native to South America and characterized by the presence of trifurcate spines at the base of the leaves. Past taxonomic treatments of the section have been contradictory, some recognising up to six species, others reducing all to a single polymorphic species. Altogether, 42 samples of X. sect. Acanthoxanthium were analysed, the vast majority taken from herbarium specimens between 20 and 160 years old. We sampled multiple specimens of X. spinosum from throughout its broad range as well as those taxa with narrower distributions, covering the whole range of morphological variation in the section. When possible, we included types and original material. We used Hyb‐Seq techniques to obtain information from about 1000 single‐copy nuclear genes and complete plastomes. Phylogenomic data were submitted to coalescent‐based species delimitation approaches (SPEEDEMON). Additionally, we performed geometric morphometric analysis of leaf outlines. The results strongly support the identification of four lineages in the section favouring the acceptance of four of the hitherto described species, i.e., X. ambrosioides, X. argenteum, X. catharticum, and X. spinosum. These results were to some extent corroborated by morphometric analyses. While X. ambrosioides was well distinct from X. spinosum based on leaf morphology, such difference was not observed between X. spinosum and X. catharticum. However, X. catharticum differs from X. spinosum in its ecological requirements, being a species rather adapted to high‐mountain environments of the Neotropics. Intriguingly, X. argenteum – a taxon described from a single herbarium collection – was also inferred as a species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Amazonian species of açaí palm trees (Euterpe oleracea and Euterpe precatoria) are exploited in the commercial production of açaí pulp or juice. While E. oleracea benefits from developed cultivation technologies, E. precatoria lacks such advancements. Studies on the morphology and development of açaí palms under cultivation conditions can contribute to increasing the productivity of the species. The aim of this study was to carry out morphological characterization, assess growth and development in the juvenile phase of the plants, and obtain allometric models for E. precatoria and E. oleracea. Evaluations were conducted between 44 and 48 months post-planting. Allometric equations were formulated to accurately estimate leaf area. The results showed that E. oleracea begins reproduction earlier and exhibits greater growth in stem dimensions and leaf areas compared to E. precatoria, indicating that E. precatoria can be cultivated at higher planting densities. Allometric models, based on leaf length and width, effectively predicted individual leaf areas for both species, demonstrating their utility in optimizing cultivation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Hibiscus syriacus L. is a deciduous shrub with a strong environmental resistance and wide application prospects. The genetic background and ploidy levels of Hibiscus cultivars are complex, and polyploid breeding has long been an important method for developing new Hibiscus cultivars. However, the relationship of ploidy levels with leaf morphology, stomatal characteristics, and leaf anatomy remains unclear. Results This study analyzed three ploidy levels (triploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid) of Hibiscus syriacus. Flow cytometry confirmed the ploidy levels, and morphological traits were evaluated. Leaf length, leaf width, and petiole length decreased with increasing ploidy. Stomatal length, stomatal width, guard cell length, and guard cell width increased and stomatal number and density decreased with increasing ploidy. The hexaploids exhibited the highest midrib diameter and palisade tissue thickness values. Correlation analyses revealed that stomatal morphology served as a reliable marker for determining ploidy levels. Conclusion This study highlights the impact of varying ploidy levels on the leaf and stomatal morphologies and leaf anatomy of Hibiscus syriacus. These findings can provide theoretical guidance for improving Hibiscus cultivars in terms of stress resistance, adaptability, and ornamental traits, and for developing new cultivars with enhanced characteristics. Future research should focus on utilizing these morphological markers to optimize breeding strategies for Hibiscus cultivars.

[Objective] The study aims to investigate the growth and physiological characteristics of Arnebia guttata along the altitudinal gradients, in order to understand its ecological adaptation mechanism under different habitat conditions and provide a theoretical basis for the conservation and utilization of the wild resources of A . guttata. [Methods] A . guttata in Wushi County in northwestern Tarim Basin was chosen as the research subject. The leaf morphology, growth indicators, photosynthetic pigments, proline, soluble osmoregulatory substances, malondialdehyde content, and the activities of antioxidant enzyme were measured at five different altitudinal sites (1 155, 1 227, 1 332, 1 533, 2 137 m). [Results] The plant height, aboveground biomass, total biomass, leaf area, specific leaf area, and the content of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b of A . guttata were the highest at the lowest altitude (1 155 m) and decreased with increasing altitude, reaching the lowest at 2 137 m. Among them, plant height, aboveground biomass, and leaf area were decreased by 22.89%, 31.77%, and 26.58%, respectively. The minimum value of specific leaf mass, root/shoot ratio, and carotenoid content, carotenoid/chlorophyll ratio, malondialdehyde, proline, soluble sugar, and ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase enzyme activity of A . guttata were at 1 155 m, and increased with increasing altitude, reaching the maximum at 2 137 m. [Conclusion] The environmental condition of lower altitude is conducive to the growth and biomass accumulation of A . guttata in Wushi County. As altitude rises, the physiological stress on A . guttata becomes intensified, which adapts to the harsh environment to increase the soluble osmotic substances and the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

The article titled "Ranunculus cantoniensis DC. (Ranunculaceae): an addition to the flora of West Bengal, India" discusses the discovery of a new species of Ranunculus in West Bengal. The researchers collected specimens and conducted an analysis to confirm the identity of the species. The article provides detailed information on the habitat, distribution, and characteristics of the species, making it valuable for botanists and researchers interested in the flora of West Bengal. Additionally, the article cites two other publications that may be useful for researchers studying Ranunculus or related topics. [Extracted from the article]

To provide research data for the phylogenetic evolution, classification and identification of plants in sect. Tuberculata of Camellia genus, 10 species of the section, leaf epidermal micromorphology and pollen morphology were observed by light microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and based on pollen features and leaf epidermal features to clustered separately. The results were as follows: (1) 10 species had no significant difference in pollen morphology and size, the pollen shape was subspheroidal, prolate or oblatesphere; the outline in polar view was trilete rounded or trilete regular teiangular; the outline in equatorial view was oblong or fusiform, P/E ranged from 0.85 to 1.16; the aperature type was tricolporate aperature. The exine sculpture was significantly different, the feature had coarsely warty, foveolate reticulate or rugulate with beadedmun, and had important classification value for sect. Tuberculata. (2) The cluster analysis of the measurement index showed that when the Euclidean distance was 4.5, the 10 species were divided into four groups, and some of the classification results were the same as the macroscopic morphological classification. (3) The leaf epidermal cells of 10 species were irregular or polygon, with great morphological differences among species. There were glands in the upper and lower epidermis of C. zengii, C. rhytidophylla and C. rubimuricata; cyclic type stomatal apparatuses were only distributed in the lower epidermis; anticlinal wall pattern were sinuolate, sinuous, repand and sinuate. (4) The cell size and stomatal features (size and density) of leaf epidermis micromorphology were significantly different between species. This study shows that pollen morphology and leaf epidermal micromorphology are diverse in sect. Tuberculata, which can be used as the basis for distinguishing some closely related species in sect. Tuberculata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anatomically preserved moss gametophyte has been discovered in a marine carbonate concretion from the Baculites Hill locality, James Ross Island, Antarctica. The concretion is derived from the Late Cretaceous Beta Member of the Santa Marta Formation, dated as early to middle Campanian (ca. 80 Ma). The moss has actinomorphic stems with alternate branching, spiral, patent leaf arrangement and large numbers of attached rhizoids. The largest stem is 210 µm in diameter with the largest branch measuring up to 3.7 mm long and 90–100 µm wide. Most stems appear to contain a distinct conducting strand. Cross sections show that the leaves are strongly plicate with a simple D-shaped costal anatomy and unistratose laminae typically with bistratose margins. Leaves range from 650–700 µm wide and at least 700 µm long. The costa appears percurrent, 90 µm wide and 55 µm thick. Laminar cells are elongate, rhomboidal, L/W = 5:1. No ornamentation or papillae have been observed on the upper medial cells of the leaf. These fossils show leaf morphology and costal anatomy similar to several orders of acrocarpous mosses, in the Dicranidae including species of the family Rhabdoweisiaceae. While the combination of characters does not fit into any known genus, it suggests that this moss represents a fossil member of the Dicranales s.l. To date, this represents the most completely preserved moss gametophyte from Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves play a crucial role as ornamental organs in Spathiphyllum, exhibiting distinct differences across various Spathiphyllum varieties. Leaf development is intricately linked to processes of cell proliferation and expansion, with cell morphology often regulated by plant cell walls, primarily composed of cellulose. Alterations in cellulose content can impact cell morphology, subsequently influencing the overall shape of plant organs. Although cellulases have been shown to affect cellulose levels in plant cells, genetic evidence linking them to the regulation of leaf shape remains limited. This study took the leaves of Spathiphyllum 'Mojo' and its somatic variants as the research objects. We screened four cellulase gene family members from the transcriptome and then measured the leaf cellulose content, cellulase activity, and expression levels of cellulase-related genes. Correlation analysis pinpointed the gene SpGH9A3 as closely associated with leaf shape variations in the mutant. Green fluorescent fusion protein assays revealed that the SpGH9A3 protein was localized to the cell membrane. Notably, the expression of the SpGH9A3 gene in mutant leaves peaked during the early spread stage, resulting in smaller overall leaf size and reduced cellulose content upon overexpression in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bonin Islands, comprised of the Mukojima, Chichijima, and Hahajima Islands, are known for their isolated and distinctive habitats, hosting a diverse array of endemic flora and fauna. In these islands, adaptive radiation has played a remarkable role in speciation, particularly evident in the Callicarpa genus that is represented by three species: Callicarpa parvifolia and C. glabra exclusive to the Chichijima Islands, and Callicarpa subpubescens, distributed across the entire Bonin Islands. Notably, C. subpubescens exhibits multiple ecotypes, differing in leaf hair density, flowering time, and tree size. In this study, we aimed to investigate species and ecotype diversification patterns, estimate divergence times, and explore cryptic species within Callicarpa in the Bonin Islands using phenotypic and genetic data (double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing). Genetic analysis revealed that C. parvifolia and C. glabra both formed single, distinct genetic groups. Conversely, C. subpubescens consisted of six genetic groups corresponding to different ecotypes and regions, and a hybrid group resulting from the hybridization between two of these genetic groups. Population demography analysis focusing on six Chichijima and Hahajima Islands‐based species/ecotypes indicated that all species and ecotypes except one ecotype diverged simultaneously around 73–77 kya. The star‐shaped neighbor‐net tree also suggests the simultaneous divergence of species and ecotypes. The species and ecotypes that simultaneously diverged adapted to dry environments and understory forests, suggesting that aridification may have contributed to this process of adaptive radiation. Moreover, leaf morphology, flowering time, and genetic analyses suggested the presence of two cryptic species and one hybrid species within C. subpubescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Plants express diverse nutrient use and acquisition traits, but it is unclear how trait combinations at the species level are constrained by phylogeny, trait coordination, or trade‐offs in resource investment. One trait – nitrogen (N) fixation – is assumed to correlate with other traits and used to define plant functional groups, despite potential confounding effects of phylogeny.We quantified growth, carbon metabolism, fixation rate, root phosphatase activity (RPA), mycorrhizal colonization, and leaf and root morphology/chemistry across 22 species of fixing and nonfixing tropical Fabaceae trees under common conditions.Belowground trait variation was high even among closely related species, and most traits displayed a phylogenetic signal, including N‐fixation rate and nodule biomass. Across species, we observed strong positive correlations between physiological traits such as RPA and root respiration. RPA increased ~ fourfold per unit increase in fixation, supporting the debated hypothesis that N‐fixers 'trade' N for phosphatases to enhance phosphorus acquisition. Specific root length and root N differed between functional groups, though for other traits, apparent differences became nonsignificant after accounting for phylogenetic nonindependence.We conclude that evolutionary history, trait coordination, and fixation ability contribute to nutrient trait expression at the species level, and recommend explicitly considering phylogeny in analyses of functional groupings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theobroma cacao is primarily cultivated for its seeds. In the Philippines, where cacao yields are decreased by pod rots and vascular streak dieback (VSD)-like symptoms, the fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Botryospaheriaceae) is the only reported species of Lasiodiplodia reported to cause disease in cacao. Here to identify and determine the pathogenicity of Lasiodiplodia isolates from cacao trees, we isolated Lasiodiplodia from from a leaf with blight (isolate PH22-080), stem with vascular streak (PH22-060), pod rot (PH22-120), an asymptomatic stem (PH22-014), and leaf litter (PH22-007). All strains were pathogenic on wounded leaves and stems and infected pods even without wounds. On the basis of molecular analysis of combined sequence data for ITS, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2 and morphological characteristics, the strains were identified as L. pseudotheobromae (PH22-080), L. theobromae (PH22-120), and Lasiodiplodia sp. (PH22-060), which were confirmed to be pathogenic on cacao leaves, stems, and pods. L. theobromae (PH22-007) and L. hormozganensis (PH22-014) showed potential to cause disease in cacao but further investigation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change threatens current crops, necessitating the development of stress-tolerant alternatives. De novo domestication of already tolerant plants is a promising solution, but the wild progenitors may become weeds that are challenging to identify in the field. Genome editing could add signature traits to de novo domesticated crops to make them recognizable by remote sensing. Genes associated with the biosynthesis of anthocyanin and carotenoid and with leaf and seed morphology are potential editing targets for improving automated recognition of weeds in agriculture. Most high-yielding crops are susceptible to abiotic and biotic stresses, making them particularly vulnerable to the potential effects of climate change. A possible alternative is to accelerate the domestication of wild plants that are already tolerant to harsh conditions and to increase their yields by methods such as gene editing. We foresee that crops' wild progenitors could potentially compete with the resulting de novo domesticated plants, reducing yields. To improve the recognition of weeds, we propose using gene editing techniques to introduce traits into de novo domesticated crops that will allow for visual recognition of the crops by weeding robots that have been trained by machine learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming may pose a threat to the productivity of grazed grasslands. In this study, we investigated changes in the warming response of aboveground regrowth with the repetition of simulated grazing in two Mongolian pasture species, Agropyron cristatum and Stipa krylovii. Plants were grown under warming or non-warming conditions and subjected to repeated clipping of aboveground parts three times at 4-week intervals. Aboveground parts collected at each clipping and whole plants harvested at the end of the experiment were dried and weighed. Specific leaf area (SLA) and the content of nitrogen (N) and crude fiber (CF) in leaves were measured to evaluate leaf morphology and pasture nutritional value. In both species, warming had little effect on regrowth when clipping was repeated one or two times. In A. cristatum, however, warming significantly diminished regrowth when clipping was repeated three times. Belowground biomass decreased with clipping–regrowth cycles only in A. cristatum, and the decline was enhanced by warming, implying that the depletion of belowground reserves contributed to the reduction of regrowth in this species. SLA and the N and CF contents were similar in the warming and non-warming treatments, indicating that warming had little effect on leaf morphology and pasture nutritive value in these Mongolian pasture species. Our results suggest that warming would likely have little effect on regrowth performance of grassland plants under lightly grazed conditions, but warming can decrease regrowth when grazing frequency is high, with the degree of decrease being species dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dry leaf of Turpinia arguta (Lindl.) Seem. is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a quick-acting product for sore throat and pharyngitis relief. Samples of T. arguta were collected from 40 different habitats mostly located in Jiangxi Province, and leaf appearance traits and dry matter yield were analyzed. HPLC was used to quantify ligustroflavone and rhoifolin, the pharmacological-quality markers for this species, according to the 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The correlations between leaf-measurable traits, ligustroflavone and rhoifolin contents, and climate factors were subsequently assessed using Pearson's two-tailed correlation test and redundancy analysis. The highest dry matter yields were found in locations S(G-mt), Q(J-t), and A(X-t). Ligustroflavone and rhoifolin contents ranged from 0.023% to 1.336% and 0.008% to 0.962%, respectively; the highest levels of ligustroflavone and rhoifolin compounds were found in locations A(X-t) and Y(B-mt). Leaf morphology was influenced by the mean temperature of the warmest quarter, while leaf thickness was affected by the minimum temperature of the coldest month, precipitation seasonality, and solar radiation. Larger and thicker leaves predicted higher yields of ligustroflavone and rhoifolin compounds in T. arguta under Chinese southern conditions, such as those in Anyuan and Quannan counties. Our findings suggest that enhancing the mean diurnal temperature range and implementing appropriate shading during cultivation can enhance the ligustroflavone and rhoifolin compounds of T. arguta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durian (Durio spp.) is native to Southeast Asia and has potential for development. However, some species are threatened due to deforestation and extensive land conversion. This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity and relationships of durian and wild relatives (Durio spp.) on the Indonesia Island Borneo using a leaf morphology and DNA barcoding (matK) marker. In this study, 15 durian samples from this region were used, excluding ‘Monthong’ (Durio zibethinus) and ‘Bengang’ (Neesia strigosa) as the outgroups from the GenBank database. The leaf morphology was analyzed descriptively, whereas the genetic diversity was by the nucleotide diversity index (π%). The relationship of durians was revealed by the maximum likelihood (ML) method and examined with the bootstrap statistics for 1000 replicates, also confirmed by the PCA (principal component analysis). Based on the leaf morphology, the durians are divided into five forms, i.e., obovate-lanceolate, elliptic, ovate, oblong, and linearoblong. ‘Pampaken’ and ‘Pampaken Burung Kecil’ indicated the earliest form (obovate-lanceolate), whereas the linear-oblong was by ‘Kamundai.’ Following the molecular marker, it was seen that the durians have low genetic diversity (π%) with only 0.015. However, phylogenetically, the durians were separated into four similar clades or groups for ML and PCA. In this instance, it has appeared that most of the durians evaluated in the current study have close relationships, except for the taxa with the farthest relationship. The results provide valuable information for the local and global durian conservation mission, including future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is one of the main limiting factors driving the expansion of Spartina alterniflora by affecting plant functioning. Comparative studies of plant leaves, under 0 (T0), 5 (T5), 10 (T10), and 20 g/kg (T20) soil salinity, were carried out. Results showed that soil salinity significantly affected most leaf traits of S. alterniflora. Total and live leaf numbers first increased and then decreased with increasing soil salinity. Leaf morphology in T5 were substantially larger than another three treatments, and the ratio of leaf length to width considerably decreased with increasing soil salinity. As the soil salinity increased, leaf dry mass and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) displayed a pattern similar to total leaf number. Leaf mass traits indicated that while a more efficient nutrient conservation strategy was adopted in T10, S. alterniflora rapidly produced biomass in T0. Strong correlations were observed between leaf morphological and mass traits except for some parts of LDMC. The confidence ellipses of leaf traits indicated significant differences in leaf traits of the four treatments. We believe that insights into the aforementioned aspects can contribute to a better understanding of the responses of leaf traits of S. alterniflora and provide valuable information about its adaptation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn, as one of the three major grain crops in China, plays a crucial role in ensuring national food security through its yield and quality. With the advancement of agricultural intelligence, agricultural robot technology has gained significant attention. High-precision navigation is the basis for realizing various operations of agricultural robots in corn fields and is closely related to the quality of operations. Corn leaf and stalk recognition and ranging are the prerequisites for achieving high-precision navigation and have attracted much attention. This paper proposes a corn leaf and stalk recognition and ranging algorithm based on multi-sensor fusion. First, YOLOv8 is used to identify corn leaves and stalks. Considering the large differences in leaf morphology and the large changes in field illumination that lead to discontinuous identification, an equidistant expansion polygon algorithm is proposed to post-process the leaves, thereby increasing the average recognition completeness of the leaves to 86.4%. Secondly, after eliminating redundant point clouds, the IMU data are used to calculate the confidence of the LiDAR and depth camera ranging point clouds, and point cloud fusion is performed based on this to achieve high-precision ranging of corn leaves. The average ranging error is 2.9 cm, which is lower than the measurement error of a single sensor. Finally, the stalk point cloud is processed and clustered using the FILL-DBSCAN algorithm to identify and measure the distance of the same corn stalk. The algorithm combines recognition accuracy and ranging accuracy to meet the needs of robot navigation or phenotypic measurement in corn fields, ensuring the stable and efficient operation of the robot in the corn field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intelligent harvesting technology for jujube leaf branches presents a novel avenue for enhancing both the quantity and quality of jujube leaf tea, whereas the precise detection technology for jujube leaf branches emerges as a pivotal factor constraining its development. The precise identification and localization of jujube leaf branches using real-time object detection technology are crucial steps toward achieving intelligent harvesting. When integrated into real-world scenarios, issues such as the background noise introduced by tags, occlusions, and variations in jujube leaf morphology constrain the accuracy of detection and the precision of localization. To address these issues, we describe a jujube leaf branch object detection network based on YOLOv7. First, the Polarized Self-Attention module is embedded into the convolutional layer, and the Gather-Excite module is embedded into the concat layer to incorporate spatial information, thus achieving the suppression of irrelevant information such as background noise. Second, we incorporate implicit knowledge into the Efficient Decoupled Head and replace the original detection head, enhancing the network's capability to extract deep features. Third, to address the issue of imbalanced jujube leaf samples, we employ Focal-EIoU as the bounding box loss function to expedite the regression prediction and enhance the localization accuracy of the model's bounding boxes. Experiments show that the precision of our model is 85%, which is increased by 3.5% compared to that of YOLOv7-tiny. The mAP@0.5 value is 83.7%. Our model's recognition rate, recall and mean average precision are superior to those of other models. Our method could provide technical support for yield estimation in the intelligent management of jujube orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional morphologies of insects, such as spines and horns, have recently garnered attention as an effective system for elucidating the processes underlying dramatic changes in external morphology. Adult leaf beetles of Dactylispa Weise 1897 exhibit sharp spines on their pronotum and elytra, while their pupae lack such features. In order to obtain foundational data for future investigations into the developmental mechanisms governing spine formation, this study assessed variations in spine numbers across ten body regions and in spine size across three body regions in adults of Dactylispa higoniae (Lewis in Ann Mag Nat Hist (Ser. 6) 17:329–343, 1896. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222939608680376) and D. issikii (Chûjô in Bull Umeno Entomol Lab 6:5–13, 1938). As a result, the degree of variation in spine numbers and size was variable among body regions even within single species. However, the number of spines on the pronotal front margin in D. higoniae and the elytral interval 4 in D. issikii was stable. The spine numbers of these two species did not exhibit significant differences between the right and left sides of the body and was not likely to be influenced by sex or elytral length. Furthermore, we observed pronotal and elytral spines that formed inside the pupal cuticle of late-stage pupae of these two species. Our observations suggested neither pronotal nor elytral spines exhibit a formation pattern resembling concentric folded structures, as seen in beetle horns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant height and leaf morphology are considered complex agronomy traits; both are significantly related to nutrient utilization, lodging resistance, and photosynthetic efficiency, which ultimately affect biomass and yield. However, the molecular mechanism of leaf morphogenesis is still unclear. WOX is a group of plant-specific transcription factor families that regulate growth and development, cell division, and differentiation in plants. In the present study, we identified and characterized the m-876 mutant in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), which exhibited an extreme reduction in leaf width and plant height. Using a map-based cloning strategy, the m-876 mutant was narrowed down to an 11.4 Mb genomic interval on the long arm of chromosome 5. By analyzing the gene annotation information and nucleotide sequences, we found that HvWOX3A (HORVU.MOREX.r3.5HG0467090) had a G-to-A substitution at the second exon in the m-876 mutant, resulting in a change of the coding amino acid from Tryptophan to a premature stop codon at the 200th amino acid position. Remarkably, the mutation of the HvWOX3A gene leads to changes in gene expression in the m-876 mutant. Collectively, our results indicate that the loss function of the HORVU.MOREX.r3.5HG0467090 gene might be responsible for the phenotypic variation in barley mutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caryodaphnopsis is a small genus of the Lauraceae family with disjunct distribution in tropical Asia and tropical America. Taxa from each region form a well-supported monophyletic clade. However, the species circumscription in Asian Caryodaphnopsis remains ambiguous due to few and generally unstable morphological characters used for classification. To address this, we conducted an integrative taxonomy of the Asian clade. We investigated 13 populations, sampled 57 accessions covering the entire taxonomic diversity, geographic range, and morphological variation in Asia, and reconstructed a new phylogeny using single‐nucleotide polymorphisms. We obtained a well‐resolved phylogeny of the Asian Caryodaphnopsis. The first diverged clade consists of three species endemic to lowland forests. The second (largest) clade (eight species in total) mainly occurs in limestone mountain forests and has a double‐layered lower leaf epidermis morphology of type 2 (less complete roomy with closed "roof") and type 3 (complete roomy with closed "roof"). Based on the diagnostic morphological characters, distinct distributional ranges, and monophyly of each clade, we recognize 12 species in the Asian Caryodaphnopsis, including three new species: C. cangyuanensis sp. nov., C. hekouensis sp. nov., and C. rubrinervis sp. nov. We also reinstate C. latifolia, and re‐circumscribe the widespread C. tonkinensis and other species based on fruit and inflorescence morphology and molecular evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cymbidium faberi Rolfe is one of the traditional Chinese orchids with important ornamental value, and the cultivation of Cymbidium faberi Rolfe mutant strains with different appearances is essential to increase its economic value. However, at present, their acquisition largely relies on natural mutation. The objectives of this research were to mutagenize Cymbidium faberi Rolfe protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) and shoots in vitro using sodium azide (NaN3) and to screen and evaluate mutants in the mutagenized seedlings using morphological characteristics. Cymbidium faberi Rolfe PLBs and shoots were used as mutagenic materials. Mutations were induced by the addition of 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mg·L−1 and 0.0 (control), 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0 mg·L−1 NaN3 to a shoot-growth-inducing medium. The mortality rates of the PLBs and shoots increased with an increase in the NaN3 concentration. At 14 d of co-cultivation, the PLBs and shoots were most efficiently mutagenized with 1.5 mg·L−1 and 4.0 mg·L−1 NaN3, respectively. After the explants were cultured for 3 months, changes in leaf and flower morphology were observed in some mutants: shorter and thicker leaves, shorter node length, reduced height, and mid-translucent leaves compared with controls. Some Cymbidium faberi Rolfe bloomed prematurely, with single flowers with large, thick petal sepals and small inflorescences. Colors included light green throughout, with some exhibiting purple stamens. This suggests that NaN3 can effectively mutagenize Cymbidium faberi Rolfe PLBs and shoots to satisfy people's demand for this plant's ornamental properties while increasing its economic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of plants to alter specific combinations of leaf traits during development and in response to abiotic stress is crucial for their success and survival. While there are numerous studies on the variation of leaf traits within the canopies of Populus species, the application of network analysis to understand the variation and combinations of these traits across different growth stages is rare. The leaves of Populus euphratica, a dominant species in arid regions, exhibit notable morphological variations at different developmental stages and canopy heights in response to water scarcity and climate change. In this study, 34 leaf traits (morphological, chemical, photosynthetic, and hydraulic) and their roles in drought adaptation were investigated in 60 Populus euphratica plants at five developmental stages and five canopy heights using leaf trait network (LTN) analysis. The aim was to analyze adaptive strategies to arid environments at different developmental stages and canopy heights through the interdependence of leaf traits. The results showed that the internal coordination capacity of leaf trait networks decreased and then increased with each developmental stage, while the functional modules of leaf trait networks were loosely connected and aggregated with the increase in tree diameter at breast height. With increasing canopy height, the coordination linkage's ability between leaf traits showed an increasing then decreasing trend, and the traits of the leaves in the canopy at 6 m were more closely connected, less modular, and simpler in topology compared with those in the other layers. Leaves form functional modules by coordinating specific traits that promote growth and resist drought. Leaf photosynthesis, water transport, and nutrient traits were central to different developmental stages, whereas leaf morphology, nutrient metabolism, and drought-resistance-related traits were central to the canopy height. Leaf morphology and osmoregulatory traits play key roles in leaf trait network regulation, including leaf length and width, leaf shape index, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins, which are important "intermediary traits" in the Populus euphratica leaf network. Further analysis revealed that structural traits were important at different developmental stages and canopy heights. When resources are limited, the leaf preferentially maintains a stable connection between structural traits to enhance photosynthesis, and these traits and their combinations might confer drought resistance. During the rapid development stage, the connection between chemical traits becomes important, and the leaf grows by rapidly accumulating nutrients. In summary, this study provides new perspectives and insights into the drought adaptation strategies of P. euphratica at different developmental stages and canopy heights by analyzing leaf trait networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to optimise the chromosome preparation technique by examining the impact of various factors on the quality of chromosome slices obtained from Newhall navel orange leaves. The wall removing hypotonic flame drying method was employed, and factors including leaf parts, developmental period, pretreatment time, enzyme ratio, and enzyme treatment duration were examined. Our findings revealed that the use of the apices of leaves from stage II, pretreated with 0.002 mol/L 8-hydroxyquinoline for 3 hours at room temperature, followed by enzymatic digestion in a mixture of 5% cellulase and 0.3% pectinase for 3 hours at 37 °C, provided the optimal conditions for chromosome preparation. This optimised protocol allowed for clear visualisation of morphological characteristics, establishing a reliable and efficient method for chromosome preparation in Newhall navel oranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The research on plant leaf morphology is of great significance for understanding the development and evolution of plant organ morphology. As a relict plant, the G. biloba leaf morphology typically exhibits bifoliate and peltate forms. However, throughout its long evolutionary history, Ginkgo leaves have undergone diverse changes. Methods: This study focuses on the distinct "trumpet" leaves and normal fan-shaped leaves of G. biloba for analysis of their phenotypes, photosynthetic activity, anatomical observations, as well as transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Results: The results showed that trumpet-shaped G. biloba leaves have fewer cells, significant morphological differences between dorsal and abaxial epidermal cells, leading to a significantly lower net photosynthetic rate. Additionally, this study found that endogenous plant hormones such as GA, auxin, and JA as well as metabolites such as flavonoids and phenolic acids play roles in the formation of trumpet-shaped G. biloba leaves. Moreover, the experiments revealed the regulatory mechanisms of various key biological processes and gene expressions in the trumpet-shaped leaves of G. biloba. Discussion: Differences in the dorsal and abdominal cells of G. biloba leaves can cause the leaf to curl, thus reducing the overall photosynthetic efficiency of the leaves. However, the morphology of plant leaves is determined during the primordia leaf stage. In the early stages of leaf development, the shoot apical meristem (SAM) determines the developmental morphology of dicotyledonous plant leaves. This process involves the activity of multiple gene families and small RNAs. The establishment of leaf morphology is complexly regulated by various endogenous hormones, including the effect of auxin on cell walls. Additionally, changes in intracellular ion concentrations, such as fluctuations in Ca2+ concentration, also affect cell wall rigidity, thereby influencing leaf growth morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncontrolled terpenoid emissions from forest trees in Japan may have contributed to high O3 concentrations observed in urban and suburban areas. To estimate ozone formation via a series of reactions between NOx and terpenoids using atmospheric chemistry models, it is important to produce terpenoid emission inventories by collecting all reported emission data for the major tree species in Japan and examining their reliability. In this review, we first describe three different plant terpenoid emission types, i.e., isoprene-emitting type, monoterpene-emitting type with storage tissues and organs, and monoterpene-emitting type without storage tissues and organs. Second, we describe various methods for measuring plant terpenoid emissions, including a recently developed simplified method, and explain their reliability. We emphasized that applicable measurement methods depend on the terpenoid emission types. Data obtained using static chamber methods should not be considered because they have the highest uncertainty resulting from normal chamber materials that are not specific to terpenoid measurements and lack humidity control. Finally, we show the absolute values of the collected emission rates and describe their variability. The deciduous oak species, Quercus serrata and Quercus mongolica var. crispula, and bamboo species, Phyllostachys pubescens and Phyllostachys bambusoides, are strong isoprene emitters. Among the monoterpene emitters, four evergreen broadleaf trees, including three Quercus species, had the highest basal emission rate (BER). The monoterpene storage type conifers Larix kaempferi and Pinus densiflora have relatively lower BERs. Emission data are not available for Castanopsis cuspidata, and seasonal changes in emission rates have not been reported for several major tree species in the top 20 rankings. Within species, the reported emission rates of some tree species differed by threefold. These differences may be attributed to the reliability of the measurement and analytical systems, tree age, leaf morphology, environmental conditions, and genetic diversity. We emphasize the need for reliable measurements to achieve a more precise terpenoid emission inventory for major tree species in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf morphology is a crucial agronomic characteristic of rice that influences crop yield directly. One primary cause of rice leaf rolling can be attributed to alterations in bulliform cells. Several HD-ZIP IV genes have been identified to be epidemical characterized and function in leaf rolling in rice. Still others need to be studied to fully understand the overall function of HD-ZIP IV family. Among the nine ROC genes encoding HD-ZIP IV family transcription factors in rice, ROC1 exhibits the highest expression in the leaves. Overexpression of ROC1 decreased the size of bulliform cells, and thus resulted in adaxially rolled leaves. To the contrary, knockout of ROC1 (ROC1KO) through Crispr-cas9 system enlarged bulliform cells, and thus led to abaxially rolled leaves. Moreover, ROC1KO plants were sensitive to drought. ROC1 could form homodimers on its own, and heterodimers with ROC5 and ROC8 respectively. Compared to ROC1KO plants, leaves of the ROC1 and ROC8 double knocked out plants (ROC1/8DKO) were more severely rolled abaxially due to enlarged bulliform cells, and ROC1/8DKO plants were more drought sensitive. However, overexpression of ROC8 could not restore the abaxial leaf phenotype of ROC1KO plants. Therefore, we proved that ROC1, a member of the HD-ZIP IV family, regulated leaf rolling and drought stress response through tight association with ROC5 and ROC8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The iconic, palmately compound leaves of Cannabis have attracted significant attention in the past. However, investigations into the genetic basis of leaf shape or its connections to phytochemical composition have yielded inconclusive results. This is partly due to prominent changes in leaflet number within a single plant during development, which has so far prevented the proper use of common morphometric techniques.Here, we present a new method that overcomes the challenge of nonhomologous landmarks in palmate, pinnate, and lobed leaves, using Cannabis as an example. We model corresponding pseudo‐landmarks for each leaflet as angle‐radius coordinates and model them as a function of leaflet to create continuous polynomial models, bypassing the problems associated with variable number of leaflets between leaves.We analyze 341 leaves from 24 individuals from nine Cannabis accessions. Using 3591 pseudo‐landmarks in modeled leaves, we accurately predict accession identity, leaflet number, and relative node number.Intra‐leaf modeling offers a rapid, cost‐effective means of identifying Cannabis accessions, making it a valuable tool for future taxonomic studies, cultivar recognition, and possibly chemical content analysis and sex identification, in addition to permitting the morphometric analysis of leaves in any species with variable numbers of leaflets or lobes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling interacts frequently with auxin signaling when it regulates plant development, affecting multiple physiological processes; however, to the best of our knowledge, their interaction during tomato development has not yet been reported. Here, we found that type 2C protein phosphatase (SlPP2C2) interacts with both flavin monooxygenase FZY, an indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) biosynthetic enzyme, and small auxin upregulated RNA (SAUR) of an IAA signaling protein and regulates their activity, thereby affecting the expression of IAA‐responsive genes. The expression level of SlPP2C2 was increased by exogenous ABA, IAA, NaCl, or dehydration treatment of fruits, leaves, and seeds, and it decreased in imbibed seeds. Manipulating SlPP2C2 with overexpression, RNA interference, and CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated genome editing resulted in pleiotropic changes, such as morphological changes in leaves, stem trichomes, floral organs and fruits, accompanied by alterations in IAA and ABA levels. Furthermore, the RNA‐seq analysis indicated that SlPP2C2 regulates the expression of auxin‐/IAA‐responsive genes in different tissues of tomato. The results demonstrate that SlPP2C2‐mediated ABA signaling regulates the development of both vegetative and reproductive organs via interaction with FZY/SAUR, which integrates the cross‐talk of ABA and auxin signals during development and affects the expressions of development‐related genes in tomato. Significance Statement: SlPP2C2 regulates tomato development by integrating ABA and auxin signals through interaction with FZY/SAUR. This finding extends our knowledge of ABA signal cross talk in regulation of tomato development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]