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Summary Direct human activity and global climatic changes are threatening the existence of many vegetated habitats. Seedling establishment, one of the riskiest plant life stages, must be successful for such habitats to persist. The establishment of seedlings is known to be enhanced by nurse effects, but most studies to date have looked at the nursing effects of plants while sidelining inanimate objects. Nevertheless, nurse objects can support seedling establishment via diverse mechanisms such as moderating abiotic stresses like extreme temperatures and drought, reducing negative biological interactions such as herbivory while enhancing positive processes like seed dispersal, and providing protection from physical disturbances such as trampling and fire. The robust nature of nurse objects highlights their potential in habitat restoration. The addition of nurse objects allows a simple, single‐effort rehabilitation strategy that can later draw on natural seed dispersal and establishment. By achieving a better understanding of the processes in which nurse objects are involved we should be able to better predict vegetation dynamics and manipulate them to minimize adverse processes and support regeneration in natural habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately counting the number of sorghum seedlings from images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is useful for identifying sorghum varieties with high seedling emergence rates in breeding programs. The traditional method is manual counting, which is time-consuming and laborious. Recently, UAV have been widely used for crop growth monitoring because of their low cost, and their ability to collect high-resolution images and other data non-destructively. However, estimating the number of sorghum seedlings is challenging because of the complexity of field environments. The aim of this study was to test three models for counting sorghum seedlings rapidly and automatically from red-green-blue (RGB) images captured at different flight altitudes by a UAV. The three models were a machine learning approach (Support Vector Machines, SVM) and two deep learning approaches (YOLOv5 and YOLOv8). The robustness of the models was verified using RGB images collected at different heights. The R2 values of the model outputs for images captured at heights of 15 m, 30 m, and 45 m were, respectively, (SVM: 0.67, 0.57, 0.51), (YOLOv5: 0.76, 0.57, 0.56), and (YOLOv8: 0.93, 0.90, 0.71). Therefore, the YOLOv8 model was most accurate in estimating the number of sorghum seedlings. The results indicate that UAV images combined with an appropriate model can be effective for large-scale counting of sorghum seedlings. This method will be a useful tool for sorghum phenotyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The first year in a tree's life is characterized by distinct morphological changes, requiring constant adjustments of the hydraulic system. Despite their importance for the natural regeneration of forests and future vegetation composition, little has been known about the hydraulics of tree seedlings. At different times across the first growing season, we analysed xylem area‐specific (Kshoot_Axyl) and leaf area‐specific (Kshoot_L) shoot hydraulic conductance, as well as embolism resistance of three temperate conifer trees, two angiosperm trees and one angiosperm shrub, and related findings to cell osmotic parameters and xylem anatomical traits. Over the first 10 wk after germination, Kshoot_Axyl and Kshoot_L sharply decreased, then remained stable until the end of the growing season. Embolism resistance was remarkably low in the youngest stages but, coupled with an increase in cell wall reinforcement, significantly increased towards autumn. Contemporaneously, water potential at turgor loss and osmotic potential at saturation decreased. Independent of lineage, species and growth form, the transition from primary to secondary xylem resulted in a less efficient but increasingly more embolism‐resistant hydraulic system, enabling stable water supply under increasing risk for low water potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass seed‐based restoration has been developed in several places worldwide, but disturbance at the vulnerable initial stages of seedling recruitment has proved to be a major bottleneck to successful restoration. A detailed investigation of seagrass seedling survival and growth at the earliest stages of seedling development is an important contribution to developing techniques to improve seedling establishment and survival. Here, we investigated the early seedling development of Posidonia australis and P. sinuosa as well as quantifying the variation in seedling survival and development under different seed‐based restoration methods. Early seedling development was documented in indoor aquaria during the first month after fruit dehiscence. In the second ex situ experiment, we determined the effects of three different restoration methods (surface sowing, seedling planting, and planting inside a hessian bag) on seedling survival and development over the first 2 months of life. In the first experiment, a primary root with the first root hairs developed after 7 days. After 1 month, roots were 20–60 mm in length, firmly establishing the seedling into the sediment. Compared to surface sowing, seedling planting and hessian bag restoration treatments did not significantly affect survival for P. australis but increased seedling mortality in P. sinuosa, although growth was greater (shoot and root lengths were approximately 50 and 40% longer, respectively). These aquarium‐scale experiments suggest that planting methods would enhance seedling establishment at larger scales in some species, promoting restoration of damaged seagrass habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cliffs are marginal and poorly studied habitats that are home to a high proportion of endemic or threatened species. Here, we reviewed the survival patterns and population dynamics of plants growing on vertical cliffs and compared them to other plants with similar life forms that grow on the ground. To this end, we have compiled studies of cliff and ground-level plants from two main sources: MONITO and COMPADRE. The resulting dataset after applying some filters included a total of 243 populations of 134 plant species monitored for several years in the northern hemisphere. We tested whether survival rates of seedlings and older stages, population growth rates, and their temporal variability showed similar patterns between cliff and ground plants, and the relationship between those demographic parameters. Cliff plants showed higher survival rates for both seedlings and older life stages, as well as lower distance to population equilibrium and more stable population trends over time, compared to plants growing in the ground. Population equilibrium and temporal stability was highly correlated with the survival of post-seedling stages in both groups. These results suggest that cliff plants may be better adapted to withstand climatic variability than the more common ground-level plants occurring in less stressful environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcing imperiled plant populations with transplanted individuals is a conservation tool that is increasingly used to counter the negative effects of land use change and habitat fragmentation. A reinforcement project's success is dependent on the survival of planted individuals and the support of the extant population's growth; thus, demographic comparisons of planted and extant individuals within the same population are critical to quantify success. We assessed long‐term demographic data from planted (9 years) and extant (7 years) individuals of a rare perennial herb, Astragalus applegatei, to quantify the success of a reinforcement project. We compared cumulative survival among extant and planted cohorts and constructed generalized mixed‐effect models to understand how age affected survival, flowering, and plant size of both planted and extant individuals. Overall, 9.7% of planted individuals survived after 9–11 years. Although young planted individuals had higher flowering percentages than extant individuals, our models for survival, flowering, and plant size were similar in planted and extant individuals as they aged. Cumulative survival curves among planted cohorts varied while they were similar among extant cohorts. Furthermore, there was evidence of recruitment by planted individuals, an essential benchmark of successful translocation projects. Combined, these results suggest that reinforcement can be a successful conservation tool for A. applegatei under the right conditions and may be used to inform conservation strategies for other imperiled herbaceous perennials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately counting the number of sorghum seedlings from images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is useful for identifying sorghum varieties with high seedling emergence rates in breeding programs. The traditional method is manual counting, which is time-consuming and laborious. Recently, UAV have been widely used for crop growth monitoring because of their low cost, and their ability to collect high-resolution images and other data non-destructively. However, estimating the number of sorghum seedlings is challenging because of the complexity of field environments. The aim of this study was to test three models for counting sorghum seedlings rapidly and automatically from red-green-blue (RGB) images captured at different flight altitudes by a UAV. The three models were a machine learning approach (Support Vector Machines, SVM) and two deep learning approaches (YOLOv5 and YOLOv8). The robustness of the models was verified using RGB images collected at different heights. The R² values of the model outputs for images captured at heights of 15 m, 30 m, and 45 m were, respectively, (SVM: 0.67, 0.57, 0.51), (YOLOv5: 0.76, 0.57, 0.56), and (YOLOv8: 0.93, 0.90, 0.71). Therefore, the YOLOv8 model was most accurate in estimating the number of sorghum seedlings. The results indicate that UAV images combined with an appropriate model can be effective for large-scale counting of sorghum seedlings. This method will be a useful tool for sorghum phenotyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation can be a strategy to overcome the high mortality and declining vigour of cork oak trees facing increasing drought stress in the Mediterranean basin. Through a three-year irrigation experiment in a semi-arid Mediterranean region, which encompassed two sets of 100 planted individuals that had a 24-year age gap and the direct seeding of 100 acorns, we tested the influence of water irrigation on distinct stages of cork oak establishment and development, namely (1) acorn germination, (2) emerged seedling survival, (3) growth of planted seedlings, (4) vertical and (5) radial growth, and (6) the vigour of 28-year-old trees. Water irrigation significantly improved acorn germination and the growth of both cork oak seedlings and trees but did not affect the survival of emerged seedlings to the dry season. The vigour of 28-year-old trees (height-to-diameter ratio) showed no significant differences between the plants growing in watered and in controlled conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotyledons play an important role in early seedling establishment. However, relative to primary leaves, cotyledons tend to have a different investment-on-return strategy. To detect the potential differences in the mass (M) versus area (A) scaling relationships between cotyledons and primary leaves in different light environments, a total of 75 Acer platanoides seedlings were sampled at an open site (n  = 52; light availability: 74 ± 5 %) and a shaded site (n  = 23; light availability: 4.2 ± 1.2 %). Reduced major axis regression protocols were used to fit the M versus A scaling relationships of primary leaves and cotyledons. The bootstrap percentile method was used to test the significance of the differences in the scaling exponents of M versus A between the two light environments. The scaling exponents of cotyledons at both two sites, as well as the primary leaves at the shade site, were greater than unity indicating 'diminishing returns', while the scaling exponent of primary leaves at the open site was smaller than unity indicating 'increasing returns'. The data collectively indicated light-dependent shifts in support investments and differences in the function of cotyledons and primary leaves. Average leaf structural traits displayed significant differences between the two light environments in accordance with the premium in enhancing photosynthetic capacity in high light and light interception in low light. Although the trait responses to light availability were similar for primary leaves and cotyledons, primary leaves were more responsive to light availability, indicating lower plasticity of cotyledons in response to light levels. These results advance our understanding of the roles of cotyledons and primary leaves in the life history of seedlings in different forest light environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the potential of iron/iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) to act as fertilizer is an area of immense interest. This paper reports the green synthesis of IONPs using aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaves and its characterization with XRD, HRTEM and FTIR. This environmentally benign route avoids hazardous and toxic chemicals commonly employed in nanoparticle synthesis. The IONPs formed (Fe2O3) are stabilized by the phenolic and aromatic compounds found in the aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum and are of small crystallite size (5–30 nm). Peanut seedlings treated with these IONPs exhibited a superior growth performance at lower application rates (100 mg L−1), as evidenced by better growth parameters, which also corroborated with gibberellic acid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. The differential activity of green synthesized IONPs, highlighted in this study, compared to already reported chemically synthesized IONPs, reveals their functional superiority.Article Highlights: Iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized using leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum. XRD, HRTEM and FTIR analysis suggest the formation of biomolecule-capped nanoparticles ranging in size from 5 to 30 nm. On application of the synthesised Fe2O3 NPs as fertilizers on peanut seedlings, enhanced growth with superior shoot characters and better pigment accumulation was noticed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) has been used worldwide, but its possible negative effects on macrophytes have been scarcely studied. The main goal of the present work was to assess the potential phytotoxic effects of CPF on different stages (seed and seedling) of the wetland macrophyte Bidens laevis. During the germination of seeds, stimulation of radicle growth at low concentrations of CPF (10 µg/L) and inhibition of its elongation at 80 µg/L CPF were observed. In seedlings, concentrations ≤ 160 µg/L CPF did not exhibit adverse effects on growth after 7 days of exposure, despite the decrease of photosynthetic pigments and carotenoids observed at 40 µg/L CPF compared to the control. Environmentally relevant concentrations of CPF altered neither oxidative stress biomarkers nor pigment contents in seedlings exposed for 48 h, suggesting CPF would be non-toxic to B. laevis in natural scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backround: In recent years, with the increasing demand for seedless grape varieties that have lower production costs, are disease resistant/tolerant and require less chemical pesticides, the embryo recovery technique has begun to be used more in table grape breeding studies. However, the desired high success rate has not yet been achieved in these studies. Although there are different reasons for this, especially the grape varieties selected for cross-breeding and the timing of transferring the embryos to medium are among the most important reasons. In this study, focusing on these two important factors, the embryos obtained from different hybridization combinations were transferred to agar medium at different weeks for 4 years and the most successful combination and time were determined. In addition, seedless and large berry grape varieties and some seeded varieties that are resistant/tolerant to fungal diseases were selected as parents because they can provide resistance to disease infections in vitro and thus increase the success rate. Results: The results obtained from the study showed that the selected variety and combination significantly affected the success rate in embryo rescue. Especially in combinations with the 'Yalova Seedless' variety as the female parent, more successful results were obtained compared to combinations of other varieties. When 'Yalova Seedless' variety was pollinated with pollen of 'Red Globe', 'Muscat Bailey A' and 'Exalta' varieties, more seedlings were obtained with the help of embryo rescue. The results obtained over four years showed that the best sampling time after pollination was the eighth week and then the seventh week. Conclusions: According to the results obtained, it has been shown that the selected varieties and the sampling time significantly affect the success rate in embryo rescue studies. Therefore, higher success rates can be achieved in comprehensive breeding studies in which they will be included as pollinators, especially in different seeded varieties that are resistant to diseases and have larger berry size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: For practical and theoretical purposes, ecological studies commonly classify trees into five major life‐cycle stages: seed, seedling, sapling, juvenile and adult. Whereas the seed and adult stages are usually accurately delimited across studies, there are discrepancies and ambiguity in the categorization of seedlings, saplings and juveniles, which can significantly affect the conclusions of community ecology studies. Here we propose a standardized set of criteria intended for community‐level research for delimiting these three stages based on biological and ecological rationales. Methods: We assessed the relevance of such standardization by conducting a meta‐analysis of the effects of two human‐caused disturbances (defaunation and logging) on each early tree life stage and examining differences in effect sizes and confidence intervals among: (1) studies that match our delimitation criteria, (2) studies that do not match these criteria, and (3) all studies grouped together regardless of the criteria they used. Results: We found stronger effects with narrower confidence intervals when considering only the studies that matched our standardized delimitation criteria. In fact, the proportion of significant effects was between 1.7 (defaunation) and 5.4 (logging) times higher in studies matching our delimitation criteria than in studies that do not match them, probably because confidence intervals were 2.3–3.1 times smaller in the former group than in the latter. For logging studies, the direction of the effects changed in 30%–50% of the cases when comparing the results from all data and studies not matching our criteria with the results of the studies matching our criteria, always from non‐significant to significant effects. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for an ecologically meaningful categorization of early tree life stages based on standardized measures to increase the confidence, accuracy, reproducibility and generalization in plant biology and community ecological research. Synthesis efforts will particularly benefit from this standardized protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labor scarcity, especially during peak periods, significantly challenges Bangladesh's agriculture. The widespread adoption of mechanical transplanting in rice cultivation holds the potential to address this challenge. Commercializing this technology could open significant opportunities for small and marginal farmers, ultimately bolstering food security in Bangladesh. This review paper assesses the economic feasibility of mechanical transplanting compared to manual methods. The study involved an extensive literature review of relevant research literature, journals, conference papers and academic presentations to gather and analyze pertinent data. Manual operated transplanters, particularly the riding type are well suited for small scale farmers due to their user friendliness and higher field capacity. Eight row transplanters are recommended for more significant operations or business oriented farms, surpassing their four and six row counterparts in field capacity, efficiency and operational speed. Within the category of walking type transplanters, the six row variant is more fuel efficient than its four row counterpart which excels in functional utility. Mechanical transplanting is a cost effective and advantageous practice in Bangladesh, delivering higher yields at a reduced cost. The availability of an affordable and accessible transplanter is imperative in the Bangladeshi context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of studies on the direction of enrichment of dendroflora of artificial plantations showed the promising potential of Pinus pallasiana (L.) for agroforestry in the southern regions of Russia. The aim is to develop a technology for obtaining planting material with a closed root system taking into account the ecological and biological characteristics of coniferous plants. The accelerated technology of obtaining seedlings of P. pallasiana with a closed root system was developed. The location of research in closed ground conditions (greenhouse, area 252 m²) at the Nizhnevolzhskaya station on the selection of woody species -- branch of the Federal Research Center of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia, Volgograd region, Kamyshin; coordinates 50.078957, 45.370560). The research period was from December 2020 to September 2022. Substrate composition, optimal timing and frequency of plant feeding with complex fertilizers, including chlorine-free fertilizers, were recommended. Accelerated terms of cultivation and placement of pine plants for adaptation on the hardening site give a positive effect, which is associated with the economical consumption of seeds, and the safety of seedlings at all stages of cultivation. A technique is proposed that allows the root to avoid deformation, which, under conditions of soil moisture deficit, allows to increase the rooting of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cliffs are marginal and poorly studied habitats that are home to a high proportion of endemic or threatened species. Here, we reviewed the survival patterns and population dynamics of plants growing on vertical cliffs and compared them to other plants with similar life forms that grow on the ground. To this end, we have compiled studies of cliff and ground-level plants from two main sources: MONITO and COMPADRE. The resulting dataset after applying some filters included a total of 243 populations of 134 plant species monitored for several years in the northern hemisphere. We tested whether survival rates of seedlings and older stages, population growth rates, and their temporal variability showed similar patterns between cliff and ground plants, and the relationship between those demographic parameters. Cliff plants showed higher survival rates for both seedlings and older life stages, as well as lower distance to population equilibrium and more stable population trends over time, compared to plants growing in the ground. Population equilibrium and temporal stability was highly correlated with the survival of post-seedling stages in both groups. These results suggest that cliff plants may be better adapted to withstand climatic variability than the more common ground-level plants occurring in less stressful environments.

In the environmental context of Türkiye, the quantity of organic matter present in the soil is a crucial factor that affects its productivity potential. While peat offers an optimal growth condition, it is an expensive material due to its limited availability globally, and in Türkiye. Hence, the research employed compost, which could be a viable replacement for peat, and is a sustainable, and independent alternative resource. The study examined the effects of 13 diverse growing media, both in pure, and mixed form, which included a control treatment of a 2:1 peat to perlite mixture, and three composts derived from grape, apple, and tomato pulps. The research investigated various growth criteria, such as seedling height, hypocotyl length, and diameter, number of leaves per seedling, root length, seedling dry weight, and root dry weight of tomato, cucumber, and pepper plants. The study indicated that grape compost, apple compost, tomato compost:peat:perlite (GAT:P:P), and grape compost:peat:perlite (G:P:P) were viable alternatives to the traditional peat/perlite mixture for tomato seedlings. Similarly, grape compost (G), apple compost (A), and apple compost:perlite (A:P) showed potential as substitutes for cucumber seedlings while apple compost (A) proved a possible option for chilli seedlings. In particular, the treatments using solely apple or grape composts, or a combination of both, exhibited superior performance in comparison to the control treatment.

Abstract Exploring the potential of iron/iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) to act as fertilizer is an area of immense interest. This paper reports the green synthesis of IONPs using aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaves and its characterization with XRD, HRTEM and FTIR. This environmentally benign route avoids hazardous and toxic chemicals commonly employed in nanoparticle synthesis. The IONPs formed (Fe2O3) are stabilized by the phenolic and aromatic compounds found in the aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum and are of small crystallite size (5–30 nm). Peanut seedlings treated with these IONPs exhibited a superior growth performance at lower application rates (100 mg L−1), as evidenced by better growth parameters, which also corroborated with gibberellic acid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. The differential activity of green synthesized IONPs, highlighted in this study, compared to already reported chemically synthesized IONPs, reveals their functional superiority.

Abstract Backround In recent years, with the increasing demand for seedless grape varieties that have lower production costs, are disease resistant/tolerant and require less chemical pesticides, the embryo recovery technique has begun to be used more in table grape breeding studies. However, the desired high success rate has not yet been achieved in these studies. Although there are different reasons for this, especially the grape varieties selected for cross-breeding and the timing of transferring the embryos to medium are among the most important reasons. In this study, focusing on these two important factors, the embryos obtained from different hybridization combinations were transferred to agar medium at different weeks for 4 years and the most successful combination and time were determined. In addition, seedless and large berry grape varieties and some seeded varieties that are resistant/tolerant to fungal diseases were selected as parents because they can provide resistance to disease infections in vitro and thus increase the success rate. Results The results obtained from the study showed that the selected variety and combination significantly affected the success rate in embryo rescue. Especially in combinations with the ‘Yalova Seedless’ variety as the female parent, more successful results were obtained compared to combinations of other varieties. When ‘Yalova Seedless’ variety was pollinated with pollen of ‘Red Globe’, ‘Muscat Bailey A’ and ‘Exalta’ varieties, more seedlings were obtained with the help of embryo rescue. The results obtained over four years showed that the best sampling time after pollination was the eighth week and then the seventh week. Conclusions According to the results obtained, it has been shown that the selected varieties and the sampling time significantly affect the success rate in embryo rescue studies. Therefore, higher success rates can be achieved in comprehensive breeding studies in which they will be included as pollinators, especially in different seeded varieties that are resistant to diseases and have larger berry size.

The crosstalk of phytohormones in the regulation of growth and development and the response of plants to environmental stresses is a cutting-edge research topic, especially in crop species. In this paper, we study the role and crosstalk between abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), and jasmonate (JA) in the control of germination and seedling growth in water or in standard nutrient solution and under salt stress (supplemented with 100–200 mM NaCl). The roles of ET and JA were studied using squash ET- and JA-deficient mutants aco1a and lox3a, respectively, while the crosstalk between ET, JA, and ABA was determined by comparing the expression of the key ABA, JA, and ET genes in wild-type (WT) and mutant genotypes under standard conditions and salt stress. Data showed that ET and JA are positive regulators of squash germination, a function that was found to be mediated by downregulating the ABA biosynthesis and signaling pathways. Under salt stress, aco1a germinated earlier than WT, while lox3a showed the same germination rate as WT, indicating that ET, but not JA, restricts squash germination under unfavorable salinity conditions, a function that was also mediated by upregulation of ABA. ET and JA were found to be negative regulators of plant growth during seedling establishment, although ET inhibits both the aerial part and the root, while JA inhibits only the root. Both aco1a and lox3a mutant roots showed increased tolerance to salt stress, a phenotype that was found to be mainly mediated by JA, although we cannot exclude that it is also mediated by ABA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argania spinosa is among the most important species of the Moroccan forest in terms of ecological, environmental, and socio-economic aspects. However, it faces a delicate balance between regeneration and degradation in its natural habitat. Hence, the efforts to preserve and regenerate argan forests are crucial for biodiversity, soil quality, and local livelihoods, yet they face challenges like overgrazing and climate change. Sustainable management practices, including reforestation and community engagement, are vital for mitigating degradation. Similarly, exploiting the argan tree's rhizosphere can enhance soil quality by leveraging its rich microbial diversity. This approach not only improves crop growth but also maintains ecosystem balance, ultimately benefiting both agriculture and the environment. This enrichment can be achieved by different factors: mycorrhizae, plant extracts, algae extracts, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). The benefits provided by PGPR may include increased nutrient availability, phytohormone production, shoot, root development, protection against several plant pathogens, and disease reduction. In this study, the effect of rhizobacteria isolated from the Agran rhizosphere was evaluated on germination percentage and radicle length for Argania spinosa in vitro tests, growth, collar diameter, and branching number under greenhouse conditions. One hundred and twenty (120) bacteria were isolated from the argan rhizosphere and evaluated for their capacity for phosphate solubilization and indole acetic acid production. The results showed that 52 isolates could solubilize phosphorus, with the diameters of the solubilization halos varying from 0.56 ± 0.14 to 2.9 ± 0.08 cm. Among 52 isolates, 25 were found to be positive for indole acetic acid production. These 25 isolates were first tested on maize growth to select the most performant ones. The results showed that 14 isolates from 25 tested stimulated maize growth significantly, and 3 of them by 28% (CN005, CN006, and CN009) compared to the control. Eight isolates (CN005, CN006, CN004, CN007, CN008, CN009, CN010, and CN011) that showed plant growth of more than 19% were selected to evaluate their effect on argan germination rate and radicle length and were subjected to DNA extraction and conventional Sanger sequencing. The 8 selected isolates were identified as: Brevundimonas naejangsanensis sp2, Alcaligenes faecalis, Brevundimonas naejangsanensis sp3, Brevundimonas naejangsanensis sp4, Leucobacter aridicollis sp1, Leucobacter aridicollis sp2, Brevundimonas naejangsanensis sp1, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The results showed that Leucobacter aridicollis sp2 significantly increased the germination rate by 95.83%, and the radicle length with a value of 2.71 cm compared to the control (1.60 cm), followed by Brevundimonas naejangsanensis sp3 and Leucobacter aridicollis sp1 (2.42 cm and 2.11 cm, respectively). Under greenhouse conditions, the results showed that the height growth increased significantly for Leucobacter aridicollis sp1 (42.07%) and Leucobacter aridicollis sp2 (39.99%). The isolates Brevundimonas naejangsanensis sp3 and Leucobacter aridicollis sp1 increased the gain of collar diameter by 41.56 and 41.21%, respectively, followed by Leucobacter aridicollis sp2 and Staphyloccocus saprophyticus (38.68 and 22.79%). Leucobacter aridicollis sp1 increased the ramification number per plant to 12 compared to the control, which had 6 ramifications per plant. The use of these isolates represents a viable alternative in sustainable agriculture by improving the germination rate and root development of the argan tree, as well as its development, while increasing the availability of nutrients in the soil and consequently improving fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic and climatic variables combine to alter river flow regimes worldwide, which can influence shifts in species composition. Exacerbation of drought events in southeastern United States floodplains may have varying impacts on survival and regeneration of high bottomland, low bottomland, and swamp forest species, causing distribution shifts between these forest types. We tested 7-month-old seedlings of the swamp species water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), Ogeechee tupelo (Nyssa ogeche), and pop ash (Fraxinus caroliniana), and the low bottomland species overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) and water hickory (Carya aquatica) in a controlled experiment with increasing drought treatment. We compared timing to 95% mortality and determined lethal soil moisture thresholds for species. Swamp species were no more vulnerable to mortality under increasing drought than low bottomland hardwood species found in neighboring wet floodplain habitats, suggesting that duration of drought may not be a main driver of compositional shifts between these forests. Study Implications : Natural flows of river systems around the world have been altered by humans and a changing climate. Increased intensity of drought events can affect tree species growing adjacent to rivers and influence their ability to reproduce, thus changing the composition of floodplain forests. We tested the drought tolerance of three swamp species accustomed to frequent flooding and two low bottomland hardwood species accustomed to less frequent flooding to see which species might be more affected by drought. We observed no differences between these two groups, suggesting that greater flood tolerance may not imply greater drought intolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed germination and seedling development are the most susceptible stages to water deficit in the plant's life cycle. Silicon (Si) treatment was reported as a mitigator of water deficit stress effects for the growth and productivity of many crops. In this context, this study aims to explore the stimulatory effect of exogenous silicon (1.5 mM CaSiO3) application on germination and seedling growth of two chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties, Zahor (ZA) and Farihane (FA), under two levels of water deficit, mild (-0.45 MPa) and severe stress (-0.75 MPa), induced using polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) for 8 days. Several germination traits, seedling growth attributes, and embryo reserve mobilization were assessed, as well as the molecules involved in osmoregulation and antioxidant defense systems. The results showed that both stress levels significantly (p < 0.001) reduced seed germination and seedling growth and induced oxidative stress in the studied chickpea varieties. Meanwhile, under severe stress, the Si treatment significantly (p < 0.001) improved the final germination percentage by 92.8% and 45.6%, the fresh weight by 13.5% and 54.16%, the shoot length by 47.8% and 82.14%, and the root length by 48.7% and 95.38% in ZA and FA varieties, respectively. Exogenous Si supply significantly (p < 0.05) counteracted the negative impact of the water deficit on seed germination by improving the reserve mobilization process. Si significantly (p < 0.05) mitigated water deficit-mediated oxidative stress by reducing electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide contents and by enhancing proline accumulation and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (total polyphenols and flavonoids) antioxidant activities. These findings suggested that Si might confer an improved tolerance of chickpea to the water deficit during germination and seedling growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are serious pathogens in pistachio orchards and nurseries. Unfortunately, in most orchards, regular monitoring and correct use of integrated nematode management methods are not done. Nematode damage, along with the salinity and alkalinity of the soil in most pistachio orchards and unprincipled fertilization, has caused a significant decrease in pistachio production per hectare. Chemical nematicides for control lead to environmental pollution and seriously threaten human health. Therefore, finding low-risk methods to manage root-knot nematodes is a priority. Soil and bio solarization, soil amendments using organic fertilizers such as cow, poultry manure, and agricultural fermentation waste have shown convincing results. Following the observation of different levels of nematode control using mineral and chemical fertilizers, the present study was designed. So, the effect of different sulfur concentrations and application time on the control of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, and its effect on growth factors of pistachio plants were surveyed. Materials and Methods: The experimental treatments were different sulfur concentrations (zero, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg of soil) and two application methods of sulfur (first time, simultaneous planting of pistachio seedlings with sulfur and nematode treatments and second time, planting of pistachio seedlings after 45 days of sulfur application and nematode inoculation) in four pistachio cultivars (Akbari, Qazvini, Badami Reez Zarand and Sefid Pistachio Nogh). The pure population of root-knot nematode was propagated on Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Mobil. The number of two secondstage juveniles was considered for inoculating each gram of soil. The pathogenicity indexes of nematode, including the number of second-stage juveniles per 300 grams of soil, the number of galls, and egg masses per gram of root, were calculated after two months of planting. Growth factors, including green leaf weight, fresh and dry weight of root and stem, root volume, stem and root length, stem diameter, and SPAD index, were also measured in all experimental treatments. The experiment was carried out in a factorial, completely randomized design with 12 replicates. SAS software version 9 was used for data analysis. Means were compared using Duncan's test. Results: A low population of second-stage juveniles was observed in all cultivars at 50 mg/kg sulfur concentration. A significant decrease in gall and egg mass indexes was observed at the second time compared to the first sulfur application. Except for the Akbari cultivar, the nematode reproduction factor showed a significant reduction at 50 mg/kg. In the absence of nematodes in the Akbari cultivar, the concentration of 150 mg/kg of sulfur increased the stem fresh weight by 40% compared to the control. Regardless of the concentration, the first time showed better results on the SPAD in three Akbari, Qazvini, and Badami cultivars. In the presence of nematode and the second time, the concentration of 50 mg/kg of sulfur for the Qazvini cultivar caused a 68% increase in the stem fresh weight, 32% in the stem length, and 22% in the stem diameter and the same conditions, for Qazvini and Sefid Pistachio Nogh, had the greatest effect on the leaf weight. The concentration of 50 mg/kg of sulfur and the second time for Qazvini and Sefid pistachio Nogh cultivars had the highest effect on the green leaf weight compared to the control in the presence of nematodes. Discussion: In this research, apart from the Akbari cultivar, the largest decrease was observed in the soil covered with plastic in three other cultivars. According to the results of this research, using a concentration of 50 mg/kg of sulfur, covering the soil surface, and planting pistachio seeds after 45 days can significantly reduce the root-knot nematode population. This finding can be used in pistachio nurseries. For further studies, it is suggested to use sulfur fertilizers and their mixture with biological agents compatible with salty and alkaline soils of pistachio planting areas to reduce the population of root-knot nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: The secondary metabolic conversion of monolignans to sesquilignans/dilignans was closely related to seed germination and seedling establishment in Arctium lappa. Arctium lappa plants are used as a kind of traditional Chinese medicines for nearly 1500 years, and so far, only a few studies have put focus on the key secondary metabolic changes during seed germination and seedling establishment. In the current study, a combined approach was used to investigate the correlation among secondary metabolites, plant hormone signaling, and transcriptional profiles at the early critical stages of A. lappa seed germination and seedling establishment. Of 50 metabolites in methonolic extracts of A. lappa samples, 35 metabolites were identified with LC–MS/MS and 15 metabolites were identified with GC–MS. Their qualitative properties were examined according to the predicted chemical structures. The quantitative analysis was performed for deciphering their metabolic profiles, discovering that the secondary metabolic conversion from monolignans to sesquilignans/dilignans was closely correlated to the initiation of A. lappa seed germination and seedling establishment. Furthermore, the critical transcriptional changes in primary metabolisms, translational regulation at different cellular compartments, and multiple plant hormone signaling pathways were revealed. In addition, the combined approach provides unprecedented insights into key regulatory mechanisms in both gene transcription and secondary metabolites besides many known primary metabolites during seed germination of an important traditional Chinese medicinal plant species. The results not only provide new insights to understand the regulation of key medicinal components of 'ARCTII FRUCTUS', arctiin and arctigenin at the stages of seed germination and seedling establishment, but also potentially spur the development of seed-based cultivation in A. lappa plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: PM3 and PM8 alleles carried by two CIMMYT wheat lines confer powdery mildew resistance in seedlings and/or adult plants. A stage-specific epistatic interaction was observed between PM3 and PM8. Powdery mildew is an important foliar disease of wheat. Major genes for resistance, which have been widely used in wheat breeding programs, are typically effective against only limited numbers of virulence genes of the pathogen. The main aim of this study was to map resistance loci in wheat lines 7HRWSN58 and ZWW09-149 from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Doubled haploid populations (Magenta/7HRWSN58 and Emu Rock/ZWW09-149) were developed and grown in controlled environment experiments and inoculated with a composite of Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici isolates that had been collected at various locations in Western Australia. Plants were assessed for powdery mildew symptoms (percentage leaf area diseased) on seedlings and adult plants. Populations were subjected to genotyping-by-sequencing and assayed for known SNPs in the resistance gene PM3. Linkage maps were constructed, and markers were anchored to the wheat reference genome sequence. In both populations, there were asymptomatic lines that exhibited no symptoms. Among symptomatic lines, disease severity varied widely. In the Magenta/7HRWSN58 population, most of the observed variation was attributed to the PM3 region of chromosome 1A, with the allele from 7HRWSN58 conferring resistance in seedlings and adult plants. In the Emu Rock/ZWW09-149 population, two interacting quantitative trait loci were mapped: one at PM3 and the other on chromosome 1B. The Emu Rock/ZWW09-149 population was confirmed to segregate for a 1BL·1RS translocation that carries the PM8 powdery mildew resistance gene from rye. Consistent with previous reports that PM8-derived resistance can be suppressed by PM3 alleles, the observed interaction between the quantitative trait loci on chromosomes 1A and 1B indicated that the PM3 allele carried by ZWW09-149 suppresses PM8-derived resistance from ZWW09-149, but only at the seedling stage. In adult plants, the PM8 region conferred resistance regardless of the PM3 genotype. The resistance sources and molecular markers that were investigated here could be useful in wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poplar is a globally important industrial tree species due to its fast growth and abundant applications. However, poplars require sufficient water during the growing season, and drought usually limits their production. Drought caused by climate change poses a serious threat to widely planted poplar plantations, making it crucial to clarify and improve the drought resistance of poplars. We employed two male poplar clones, namely, Siyang-1 (Populus × euramericana 'Siyang-1') and NL3804 (Populus deltoides 'Nanlin 3804'), to investigate the growth and physiological responses of these clones to soil drought stress within 25 days. Under drought treatment, both clones experienced a significant reduction in height growth and biomass accumulation, with Siyang-1 exhibiting a more substantial decrease. Under drought treatment, Siyang-1 allocated more assimilates to roots than NL3804. Compared with Siyang-1, NL3804 wilted earlier and had a significantly higher wilting coefficient (p < 0.05). Siyang-1 had higher peroxidase (POD) activity in leaves under drought stress, while NL3804 had a greater increase in membrane permeability. Drought stress increased P absorption and decreased K absorption in both clones but had no significant effect on N absorption. The translocation of limited N and K resources into the stems and roots, as well as the increased uptake of P by the roots, can contribute to defending against drought for poplars. Siyang-1 enhances its drought resistance by modulating its nutrient status and slowing its growth rate, whereas NL3804 accumulates more biomass in the drought stage but perishes sooner, due to imbalances in water and antioxidant systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate vermicompost derived from various local organic wastes as a nursery material for cultivating cabbage and chili seedlings, converting organic waste into fertilizer through vermicomposting. Method: Local organic materials, including cow dung, spent mushroom waste, and coffee grounds were utilized as the main substrates for earthworm bedding. Three main substrates, one additive (white popinac leaves), and various combinations of these materials were processed, resulting in a total of 10 methods. After two months of composting, all vermicompost was analyzed for N, P, and K content before being used as nursery material for seedling production of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and chili (Capsicum annuum). A commercial nursery material was used as a control. Results: The results revealed a significant difference between vermicompost with bedding derived from different organic materials and N P K content. After 4 weeks of plant germination, plant height, leaf width, leaf length, and the number of leaves of cabbage showed the greatest in treatment with vermicompost 8 (cow dung: spent mushroom waste: white popinac leaves) followed by vermicompost 4 (cow dung: spent mushroom), which showed comparable results to the commercial nursery material. A negative effect on chili seedling growth was found in some treatments. Conclusion: The study concluded that cow dung proved to be an excellent material for use as a bedding substrate and earthworm feed. Vermicompost produced from a combination of cow dung and spent mushroom waste, or supplemented with white popinac leaves, can effectively serve as a nursery material for cabbage seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal diseases are crucial factors in reducing chickpea production. Ascochyta Blight is caused by the necrotrophic fungi Didymella rabiei and is one of the most destructive diseases in most world areas. Therefore, a completely randomized factorial design with five replications was applied to evaluate the effects of Ascochyta Blight disease fungi on the chickpea plant. The chlorophyll index, the activities of superoxide dismutase isoforms, and evolutionary analyses were performed to get further insights. Also, 2D electrophoresis of chickpea leaf proteins, gene ontology, and protein-protein interactions analysis was performed. The results did not show any significant effect of A. rabiei infection on the wet weight of chickpea seedlings. Chlorophyll index levels significantly decreased with A. rabiei infection in both chickpea lines. Electrophoretic analysis of superoxide dismutase on 8% polyacrylamide gel revealed three isoforms. The activities of superoxide dismutase isoforms significantly increased with A. rabiei disease. Identification of proteins was performed according to their isoelectric points and approximate molecular weights. Leaf proteome analysis of chickpea lines showed that the expression of eight reproducible spots changed significantly under A. rabiei disease condition. Candidate proteins were components of defense and regulation systems. High expression of Dual specificity protein, Peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase B2, and chloroplastic phosphatase 1B (the proteins involved in the defense system) reveals their essential functions under A. rabiei infection. Increased activities of superoxide dismutase enzymes and proteins involved in the defense system can reduce A. rabiei infection effects on chickpea seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature and chilling injury is a major agricultural meteorological disaster restricting cotton production in Xinjiang. Therefore, this research used the daily average air temperature of 46 national basic meteorological stations in the northern, southern and eastern cotton areas of Xinjiang from 1961 to 2022. Combined with the monitoring indices of low temperature and chilling injury in cotton seedling stage. This research analyzed the temporal and spatial variation of mild, moderate and serious low temperature and chilling injury in cotton seedling stage by climate tendency rate, MK mutation test and accumulative anomaly. The aim was to provide scientific basis for rational formulation of disaster prevention and mitigation measures in different cotton areas of Xinjiang. The results indicate that the air temperature at the seedling stage in the cotton area of Xinjiang showed a significant upward trend between 1961 and 2022, with a tendency rate of 0.30℃·10y−1 . In 1999, 2004, and 2003, the occurrence of mild chilling injury during the seedling stage was less frequent in northern Xinjiang, southern Xinjiang, and eastern Xinjiang, respectively. Similarly, in 2006 and 2008, the frequency of moderate chilling injury during the seedling stage was lower in northern Xinjiang, southern Xinjiang, and eastern Xinjiang. In 1975 and 2003, the cotton areas of northern and southern Xinjiang entered the stage of less occurrence of serious seedling chilling injury. In the past 60 years, the low temperature and chilling injury at seedling stage in Xinjiang occurred more frequently in the 1980s and 1990s. The years of mild and moderate chilling injury accounted for 79.0% and 37.1% of the study period, respectively, and the years of serious chilling injury accounted for only 8.1%. The low temperature and chilling injury at seedling stage mainly in mild and moderate forms, primarily in the northern Xinjiang cotton area, followed by the southern Xinjiang cotton area. The occurrence of low temperature and chilling injury was lowest in eastern Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To stably produce domestic wheat under water-scarce environmental conditions due to climate change, root characteristics with excellent water utilization rates are crucial. In this study, we analyzed the root and grain phenotypes of 37 domestic wheat varieties over a two-year period by combining the results of genetic mutations related to semi-dwarfing and grain size. Root length was positively correlated with maximum root depth (r=0.76**) and total seminal root length (r=0.54**), whereas it was negatively correlated with the number of roots (r=-0.33**) and root angles (r=-0.51**). The thousand-kernel weight was positively correlated with embryo width (r=0.34**) and embryo area (r=0.33**) but was not correlated with other root traits. Embryo length was positively correlated with the number of roots (r=0.34**) and coleoptile length (r=0.42**). Phenotypic analyses of roots and grains, along with genotypic analyses of semi-dwarfing (Rht-B1 and Rht-D1) and grain size (TaCWI-4A, TaCWI-5D, TaGW2-6A, TaSus2-2B) genes, revealed that the Rht-D1b genotype led to reduced root depth, increased root angles, and reduced coleoptile length. TaCwi-A1, TaCWI-5D, TaSus2-2B, and TaGW2-6A, possessing the alleles TaCwi-A1a, Hap-5D-C, Hap-L, and Hap-6A-G associated with a larger grain size, resulted in an increased number of roots and root depth. Domestic wheat varieties were categorized into three clusters based on root, grain, and coleoptile trait characteristics, with 15 varieties in Cluster I, 9 in Cluster II, and 13 in Cluster III. The results of this study can be utilized in basic research to develop varieties that can produce stable domestic wheat by selecting resources with excellent root growth and seed characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals benefit from scatterhoarding, storing food around their home range for use during a period of scarcity, by later eating the stored food. Seedlings may be used as cues of belowground food. We investigated whether scatterhoarders such as eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788) and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus (Linnaeus, 1758)) use characteristics of seedlings and their seeds as physical cues of the value of the seed. We buried 176 germinating seeds (white oak (Quercus alba L.) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.)) in a hardwood forest in Alabama, USA. Seeds were recovered faster with longer leaves (rate ratio (RR) = 0.68, 0.58–0.78, 95% confidence limits (C.L.)) and taller stems (RR = 0.91, 0.88–0.93, 95% C.L.) during spring 2022, and with a smaller number (RR = 1.15, 1.04–1.27, 95% C.L.) of longer leaves (RR = 0.81, 0.70–0.93, 95% C.L.) during fall 2022 (both P < 0.0001). For all seeds, we found that longer roots increased the likelihood of seeds being used (rather than ignored; odds ratio = 1.45, 1.00–2.09, 95% C.L., P = 0.05). We found new evidence suggesting that hoarders use aboveground cues from the seedling to dig it up and belowground seedling cues to assess seed value. These findings add to our understanding of assessing food availability for hoarding animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of establishing fruit orchards has traditionally been attributed to the vigor of the nursery plant used. This study aimed to evaluate the post-transplant survival, canopy growth and fruit productivity of two sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars ('Lapins'/'Colt' and 'Regina'/'Gisela 12') with different radicular basal volumes of 100%, 50% and 25% and nursery plant types: (i) bare root (BR) or (ii) bagged (B). The initial stem diameter of the plants ranged from 12 to 19 mm, and their height ranged from 1.4 to 1.8 m. Plants grafted onto 'Colt' rootstock exhibited twice the initial root volume compared to those grafted onto 'Gisela 12'. Evaluations were carried out in three commercial orchards during three seasons in the Central Valley of Chile. The results indicated that root volume and nursery type did not affect plant survival and productivity. For 'Regina'/'Gisela 12', only the bag treatment resulted in less trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) and shoot length, and for 'Lapins'/'Colt', the BR25 treatment showed a lower initial TCSA than other treatments, although without a negative effect on yield. Hence, the presumption about the influence of root volume and plant type on the successful establishment of a sweet cherry on 'Colt' and 'Gisela 12' rootstock can be discarded. The survival, growth and precocity of the orchard depend more on post-planting conditions and water management than on the number or type of nursery plant roots. It is important to prioritize proper post-planting care and water management for optimal orchard health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the characteristics of invasiveness of the subtropical Chinese evergreen oak Q. myrsinifolia under conditions of introduction to the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia. In the last 20 years, this species has been actively generating viable young-growth stands in conditions of well-drained slopes, while forming the single-species communities, expanding beyond the boundaries of parklands. It additionally discusses the characteristics of favorable conditions for further invasion by this woody plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Pythium-induced damping-off is a disease that causes the decay of germinating seeds and young seedlings of tomato, and it is one of the most significant yield constraints for farmers in both nurseries and fields. Conventional fungicides are widely used to manage this disease, leading to two major consequences. Excessive fungicide use not only endangers human health and raises environmental concerns but also promotes the emergence of pesticide-resistant microorganisms in the environment. Consequently, there is growing interest in developing long-term damping-off management strategies that minimize reliance on conventional pesticides. To facilitate decision-making, a better understanding of pathogen biology and disease epidemiology is required. The major findings of this review works are as follows: i) Pythium-induced damping-off is an emerging disease that affects tomatoes in nurseries and fields and causes economic loss; ii) Epidemiological factors identified as most favorable for disease development include high soil moisture (70% or higher), low light, and moderate soil temperatures around 25°C.; and iii) Considerable research efforts in recent years have focused on developing bio-control solutions for damping-off, showing promising future prospects. To ensure higher tomato production, researchers and growers should manage Pythium-induced damping off in their fields. This review serves as a useful guide for the management of this disease.

Abstract Ecologists have worked to ascribe function to the variation found in plant populations, communities and ecosystems across environments for at least the past century. The vast body of research in functional ecology has drastically improved understanding of how individuals respond to their environment, communities are assembled and ecosystems function. However, with limited exceptions, few studies have quantified differences in plant function during the earliest stages of the plant life cycle, and fewer have tested how this early variability shapes populations, communities and ecosystems. Drawing from the literature and our collective experience, we describe the current state of knowledge in seedling functional ecology and provide examples of how this subdiscipline can enrich our fundamental understanding of plant function across levels of organisation. To inspire progressive work in this area, we also outline key considerations involved in seedling functional research (who, what, when, where and how to measure seedling traits) and identify remaining challenges and gaps in understanding around methodological approaches. Within this conceptual synthesis, we highlight three critical areas in seedling ecology for future research to target. First, given wide variation in the definition of a ‘seedling’, we provide a standard definition based on seed reserve dependence while emphasising the need to measure ontogenetic variation more clearly both within and following the seedling stage. Second, studies demonstrate that seedlings can be studied in multiple media (e.g. soil, agar, filter paper) and conditions (e.g. field, greenhouse, laboratory). We recommend that researchers select methods based on explicit goals, yet follow standard guidelines to reduce methodological noise across studies. Third, research is critically needed to assess the implications of different methodologies on trait measurement and compatibility across studies. By highlighting the importance of seedling functional ecology and suggesting pathways to address key challenges, we aim to inspire future research that generates useful and comparable data on seedling functional ecology. This work is critical to explain variation within and among populations, communities and ecosystems and integrate this most vulnerable stage of plant life into ecological frameworks.

The utilization of cellulolytic fungi, specifically Trichoderma sp, as decomposers represents an effort to accelerate the bioconversion process and enhance the quality of organic fertilizers. In addition to their decomposing abilities, Trichoderma sp also possess the capability to inhibit pathogen growth. This study aims to identify Trichoderma fungi associated with patchouli soil, roots and stems. Analyzing the ability of Trichoderma isolates patchouli as bioconversion of organic waste for quality compost and able to increase disease plant resistance. The Trichoderma identification methods included soil, root, and stem sampling of patchouli plants in Ranto Sabon Village, Aceh Jaya, for isolation, purification, and identification. Five isolates of Trichoderma fungi were molecularly identified as longibrachiatum (2 isolates) and T. yunnanense (3 isolates). Composting of six types of organic waste, including patchouli waste, coffee grounds, rain tree leaves, water hyacinth, rice straw, and sawdust, was conducted with three treatments: control, addition of T. harzianum, and addition of T. yunnanense. The addition of T. harzianum or T. yunnanense in composting organic materials resulted in physical and physicochemical characteristics that met the Indonesian National Standard (INS): 19-7030-2004, except for treatments with sawdust. Compost from organic materials such as patchouli waste, rain tree leaves, and coffee grounds with the addition of T. harzianum or T. yunnanense showed the best patchouli seedling growth rate performance. In contrast, T. yunnanense performs better than T. harzianum as an organic compost bioconversion in improving patchouli seed resistance by increasing the peroxidase activity value of pathogen-inoculated patchouli seeds.

Plant growth elements, particularly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are vital for their growth and development, particularly for understory vegetation and their excess limits the net productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. This study focuses on the understory vegetation responds and adaptation to key essential nutrients under changing climate scenarios in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, still needs research attention. this, we set up an experiment taking four treatments in a 50-year-old Castanopsis sclerophylla secondary forest under (a) control (CK), (b) N, (c) P, and (d) combined N and P addition, applied to natural forest regeneration seedlings of C. sclerophylla attained similar growth parameters of diameter of 3 cm and 10 cm height. In addition, carbon, N, P, and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) were determined through the anthrone colorimetric approach in different parts of seedlings. Results show that the combined N + P application enhanced the N and P by 14.48 %−140.55 % in the seedlings in both dry and wet seasons, respectively. However, during wet season, the content of NSC in the plant leaves significantly exceeded under P addition. Remarkably, CK showed increased P in the growing season but lower during the dry season. Furthermore, the root starch content of seedlings showed a significant increase under the application of N and P compared to combined N + P, ranging between 45.60 % and 58.70 %. Overall, the plant growth is attributed to N and P intake. The nutrient addition and seasonal variations have a coupled effect on seedling growth as proved in the in the natural open forest experiment. The study outcomes emphasize that the alterations in NSC allocation in the roots and leaves of C. sclerophylla seedlings under N + P addition could enhance their adaptation to future global climate changes, drought conditions, and high N concentrations.

Forest restoration is increasingly heralded as a global strategy to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change, yet long-term studies that compare the effects of different restoration strategies on tree recruit demographics are lacking. We measured tree recruit survival and growth annually in three restoration treatments-natural regeneration, applied nucleation and tree plantations-replicated at 13 sites in southern Costa Rica-and evaluated the changes over a decade. Early-successional seedlings had 14% higher survival probability in the applied nucleation than natural regeneration treatments. Early-successional sapling growth rates were initially 227% faster in natural regeneration and 127% faster in applied nucleation than plantation plots but converged across restoration treatments over time. Later-successional seedling and sapling survival were similar across treatments but later-successional sapling growth rates were 39% faster in applied nucleation than in plantation treatments. Results indicate that applied nucleation was equally or more effective in enhancing survival and growth of naturally recruited trees than the more resource-intensive plantation treatment, highlighting its promise as a restoration strategy. Finally, tree recruit dynamics changed quickly over the 10-year period, underscoring the importance of multi-year studies to compare restoration interventions and guide ambitious forest restoration efforts planned for the coming decades. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding forest landscape restoration: reinforcing scientific foundations for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'.

This study determined the effects of salt stress (NaCl) and alkali stress (Na2CO3) on the growth and physiology of Amorpha fruticosa seedlings. The results showed that salt and alkali stress inhibited the growth of root, stem and leaf, but the appropriate concentration of salt and alkali stress could stimulate root elongation. Salt stress and alkali stress resulted in the decrease of photosynthetic capacity of seedlings. The degree of Na+ absorption by the roots is relatively low, and a large amount of Na+ absorbed into the body is separated in the stem and total petiole. The concentration K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in diverse plant organs significantly changed under both stresses while concentration of K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in leaflets did not change significantly. In addition, accumulation of Cl- under salt stress was not obvious. Soluble sugar accumulation in roots and lobules remarkably increased under both stresses. The distribution of soluble sugar in each vegetative organ was changed. The absorption of degree of harmful ions was relatively low, and more harmful ions were accumulated in the stem and total petiole. This was the response strategy of the seedlings to adapt to salt and alkali stress and it provides a theoretical basis for planting Amorpha fruticosa in areas with relatively low salinization degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hylastes species are known to cause damage to conifers in plantations in northern Sweden, and in recent years an increase in seedling damage has been observed in southern Sweden. However, there are few studies on Hylastes spp and the damage it can cause, so there is a lack of knowledge regarding pest management. In order to investigate an eventual interaction between damage by Hylastes spp and the more well-known Hylobius abietis (L) we registered damage by these species. Unprotected spruce seedlings were compared with seedlings protected from Hylobius abietis by a mechanical coating or with an insecticide. The effect of mechanical site preparation (MSP) was studied, with half of the seedlings being planted in unprepared soil and the other half after MSP. Both seedling protection and MSP significantly reduced the level of damage caused by Hylastes spp. MSP reduced the proportion of affected and killed seedlings and reduced the level of damage at the root collar. Protecting the seedlings reduced the level of damage, and no difference was found between seedlings treated with an insecticide and those provided with a coating. Similar responses were observed with both containerized and plug plus seedlings. In conclusion, measures against Hylobius abietis seem to also prevent damage by Hylastes spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to test the effect of oxygen content (low O2, high O2, air) during hermetic seed storage at 20±2℃ over 8 and 12 months on seed germination and seedling root and shoot length in tomato, onion, cabbage, and marrow seeds. Samples with low oxygen storage had higher seed germination as well as longer root and shoot lengths than both control and high oxygen storage. When the storage period extended from 8 to 12 months, the germination percentages also reduced. However, these results varied among the species. The greatest advantage of low oxygen storage was obtained in tomatoes, which exhibited 15% and 9% higher germination compared to the control after 8 and 12 months of storage, respectively. The longest root and shoot lengths of 6.4 cm and 11.6 cm, respectively, were obtained from the low oxygen storage treatments. A similar positive effect of low oxygen storage was observed in onion and cabbage seeds but not in marrows. Results indicated that oxygen level in the packets during storage can be an effective component to maintain high seed germination and seedling growth potential (seed vigour). The difference in the effect on different species is a matter of further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pre-planted cultivation is widely used in tobacco seedlings in south China to avoid damage from the cold. However, the underlying mechanisms of pre-planted cultivation that can improve the cold tolerance of tobacco are still unknown. In the present study, hormone measurement was performed on seedlings with both pre-planted cultivation and floating cultivation. The results showed that pre-planted tobacco seedlings accumulated more ABA than floating ones at the same growth stage. Further exogenous application of ABA inhibitors on pre-planted seedlings decreased their freezing tolerance. However, exogenous application of ABA enhanced the cold tolerance of floating-cultivated seedlings. To explore the ABA-responsive AREB/ABF members, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of the AREB/ABF family in tobacco and identified 16 members. Duplicated NtAREB/ABF genes showed high structural conservation and contributed to gene family expansion. Amino acid sequence alignments showed high sequence similarity among the gene products, especially in the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) region, indicating that they could possess functional redundancy. Gene expression profiles revealed most of the NtAREB/ABF members showed significantly improved expression after ABA treatment by qPCR. Three NtAREB/ABFs (Ntab0169850, Ntab0398220, and Ntab0577270) were randomly selected for further analysis. Subcellular localization analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) demonstrated that they are nuclear-localized proteins and have an affinity to ABRE in vitro. Finally, transactivation activity assays revealed that Ntab0169850 and Ntab0398220 possess transcriptional activity in yeast. Collectively, these data demonstrate why pre-planted tobacco seedlings showed enhanced cold tolerance and provide a framework for future functional analysis of the AREB/ABF subfamily in tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most trees die as seedlings, with harsh environmental conditions, such as early‐spring frosts and summer heat waves, being important drivers of early mortality. However, it remains unclear whether tolerance to different environmental extremes (e.g. frost vs. heat) trades‐off, or covaries synergistically and how stress tolerances relate to growth rates and life history strategies. Given the likely role of extreme environmental conditions as environmental filters, the ability to tolerate different stressors at the seedling stage could shape the occurrence and composition of present and future forests.We explored the relationships between different leaf‐level stress tolerances, functional traits and geographic distributions across 22 species of temperate European tree seedlings. We measured indicators of tolerance to frost, drought and heat and related these values to growth rates and to important functional traits (e.g. leaf mass per area and stem‐specific density). Finally, we explored the links between measured seedling stress tolerances and climatic niche limits inferred from adult trees' distributions.We found that seedlings of most species were either moderately tolerant to all three stressors, or susceptible to all of them. Moreover, higher stress tolerances were associated with traits describing slower growth and lower competitive ability. However, seedling tolerances to climatic factors were unrelated to the environmental limits of their adult geographic distributions.Synthesis. Our results suggest that temperate tree seedlings might not experience trade‐offs when facing an increase in multiple extreme climate stressors, but may experience trade‐offs related to growth rate and competitive ability in the establishment phase. The lack of correlation between leaf‐level stress tolerances and the environmental limits of adult geographic distributions suggests that predicting species' current or future geographic distributions in Europe will require a more nuanced understanding of how climatic tolerances at juvenile and adult stages influence range limits. A better understanding of the interaction between survival in extreme climate, leaf‐level stress tolerances of seedlings and the factors driving species distributions is needed to understand future forest responses to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid wastes such as municipal wastes and agricultural wastes can pollute our environment if they are not disposed properly. In contrast, under manipulation, they can be changed into valuable products such as bio-enzymes and bio fuel. Bio-enzymes derived from kitchen wastes and agricultural wastes are cost effective and can be utilized in industry and agriculture with cutting in cost. This research is carried out to provide information about the cost-effective bio-enzymes with emphasis on their effect on germination and growth of seedlings of peanut (Arachis hypogea L. subsp. fastigiata). For bio-enzyme production, kitchen wastes such as onion-peels, cruciferous and citric fruits were used as solid substrate. Fermentation method was solid state fermentation with and without isolated microbes. The fermented formulation was that the mixture of three substrates at a weight/weight/weight ratio of 1:1:1 was placed into four airtight plastic containers containing the mixture of molasses and water at a volume/volume ratio of 1:10. Isolated bacteria, P1, P2 and P105 were introduced into three formulated mixtures, BE2, BE3, and BE4, respectively. All of them were fermented at 25° - 30° for three months. From this research, different hydrolytic activities of these four formulated bio-enzymes were investigated and their concentration being likely to impact on the germination and growth of peanut were examined in comparison to Hydro treatment used as negative control. Among BE1, BE2, BE3, BE4 and Hydro treatments, BE3 treatment at 1:200 dilution significantly showed the most effective activity on germination index, vigor index, branches per plant and pods per plant with 6.31 ± 0.29, 44.9 ± 23.63, 6.85 ± 0.15 branches per plant and 28.98 ± 0.07 pods per plant, respectively. This research shed light on the effect of bio-enzymes on peanut plant cultivation, particularly BE3, and it may become a potential for smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pythium-induced damping-off is a disease that causes the decay of germinating seeds and young seedlings of tomato, and it is one of the most significant yield constraints for farmers in both nurseries and fields. Conventional fungicides are widely used to manage this disease, leading to two major consequences. Excessive fungicide use not only endangers human health and raises environmental concerns but also promotes the emergence of pesticide-resistant microorganisms in the environment. Consequently, there is growing interest in developing long-term damping-off management strategies that minimize reliance on conventional pesticides. To facilitate decision-making, a better understanding of pathogen biology and disease epidemiology is required. The major findings of this review works are as follows: i) Pythium-induced damping-off is an emerging disease that affects tomatoes in nurseries and fields and causes economic loss; ii) Epidemiological factors identified as most favorable for disease development include high soil moisture (70% or higher), low light, and moderate soil temperatures around 25°C.; and iii) Considerable research efforts in recent years have focused on developing bio-control solutions for damping-off, showing promising future prospects. To ensure higher tomato production, researchers and growers should manage Pythium-induced damping off in their fields. This review serves as a useful guide for the management of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moon orchid, scientifically known as Phalaenopsis amabilis L., is a well-favored decorative plant in Indonesia. When engaging in the cultivation of orchids, it is vital to consider several expenses, encompassing the price associated with planting material. The objective of this study is to assess the commercial viability of Moon Orchids (Phalaenopsis amabilis L.) by investigating the impact of different planting substrates. This study pertains to the properties owned by CV. Temple Orchids in Semarang City, and was conducted during the months of May and July in the year 2023. The present study employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to investigate the effects of three distinct planting media treatments: kadaka roots (M1), charcoal (M2), and sphagnum moss (M3). Each therapy was repeated six times. The criteria for this study encompass the quantification of root count, root length, leaf count, leaf length, and leaf span. The study data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), with a significant level of 5%. A financial study was conducted to ascertain the expenses associated with orchid production. These data suggest that each media treatment had a similar influence on all studied parameters. Sphagnum moss is considered the optimal planting medium for promoting vegetative development in Phalaenopsis amabilis L. seedlings. When the R/C ratio number is 1, it indicates that the orchid cultivation company has reached the break-even point. This point signifies that the orchid cultivation entrepreneur is neither generating a profit nor incurring a loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]