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Summary: Plant phenology, the timing of recurrent biological events, shows key and complex response to climate warming, with consequences for ecosystem functions and services. A key challenge for predicting plant phenology under future climates is to determine whether the phenological changes will persist with more intensive and long‐term warming.Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 103 experimental warming studies around the globe to investigate the responses of four phenophases – leaf‐out, first flowering, last flowering, and leaf coloring.We showed that warming advanced leaf‐out and flowering but delayed leaf coloring across herbaceous and woody plants. As the magnitude of warming increased, the response of most plant phenophases gradually leveled off for herbaceous plants, while phenology responded in proportion to warming in woody plants. We also found that the experimental effects of warming on plant phenology diminished over time across all phenophases. Specifically, the rate of changes in first flowering for herbaceous species, as well as leaf‐out and leaf coloring for woody species, decreased as the experimental duration extended.Together, these results suggest that the real‐world impact of global warming on plant phenology will diminish over time as temperatures continue to increase. See also the Commentary on this article by Wang & Niu, 245: 437–439. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree plantations are considered as a solution to reduce the impacts of climate change and can enhance biodiversity. Consequently, many tree planting schemes around the world have been started to achieve these dual objectives. However, many of these tree plantations are being implemented without proper design or post‐plantation management, often overlooking potential long‐term effects on biodiversity. Therefore, it is essential to identify which aspects of tree plantations can negatively impact biodiversity. Such knowledge is vital to design new plantations and manage existing ones, such that they do not pose threats or additional costs to the conservation of natural ecosystems. To this end, we conducted an observational study in the Mediterranean heathland habitat of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. This treeless habitat, locally known as herriza, has been planted with pine trees until the onset of the 21st century. This historical tree plantation presents a unique natural experiment to assess the long‐term effect of tree cover, measured as canopy openness, on several community properties of plant, pollinators and their network of interactions. Our results reveal a strong positive relationship between canopy openness and floristic diversity and abundance. This means that, as we increase tree cover, plant diversity is reduced. We found this has consequences for pollinator diversity and plant–pollinator networks, the latter exhibiting declines in stability. Furthermore, we reveal the importance of woody blooming plants in comparison to non‐woody ones which, despite their greater importance for pollinators, they are the most impacted. These findings underscore the importance of tree cover for severely affecting multiple properties of plant–pollinator networks at different levels of organization. Overall, this knowledge indicates that high tree cover in plantations conducted 50 years ago is incompatible with maintaining and conserving plant–pollinator networks in natural treeless habitats, at least in the herriza. Actions that want to avoid negative long‐term effects of tree plantations on plant–pollinator communities should consider existing biodiversity before planting and refrain from achieving high tree cover values. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in climate and land management over the last half‐century have favoured woody plants native to grasslands and led to the rapid expansion of woody species. Despite this being a global phenomenon, it is unclear why some woody species have rapidly expanded while others have not. We assessed whether the most abundant woody encroaching species in tallgrass prairie have common growth forms and physiology or unique traits that differentiate their resource‐use strategies. We characterized the abundance, above‐ground carbon allocation, and leaf‐level physiological and structural traits of seven woody encroaching species in tallgrass prairie that span an order of magnitude in abundance. To identify species‐specific increases in abundance, we used a 34‐year species composition dataset at Konza Prairie Biological Station (Central Great Plains, USA). We then compared biomass allocation and leaf‐level traits to determine differences in carbon and water use strategies among species. While all focal species increased in abundance over time, encroachment in this system is primarily driven by three species: Cornus drummondii, Prunus americana and Rhus glabra. The most dominant species, Cornus drummondii, had the most extreme values for several traits, including the lowest leaf:stem mass ratios, lowest photosynthetic capacity and highest turgor loss point. Two of the most abundant species, Cornus drummondii and Rhus glabra, had opposing growth forms and resource‐use strategies. These species had significantly different above‐ground carbon allocation, leaf‐level drought tolerance and photosynthetic capacity. There were surprisingly few interspecific differences in specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content, suggesting these traits were poor predictors of species‐level encroachment. Synthesis. Woody encroaching species in tallgrass prairie encompass a spectrum of growth forms and leaf physiology. Two of the most abundant woody species fell at opposite ends of this spectrum. Our results suggest niche differences among a community of woody species facilitate the rapid encroachment by a few species. This study shows that woody encroaching species do not conform to a ‘one‐size‐fits‐all’ strategy, and a diversity of growth forms and physiological strategies may make it more challenging to reach management goals that aim to conserve or restore grassland communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations might reflect the strategies described in the leaf economic spectrum (LES) due to their dependence on photosynthesis and respiration. We examined if NSC concentrations correlate with leaf structure, chemistry, and physiology traits for 114 species from 19 sites and 5 biomes around the globe. Total leaf NSC concentrations varied greatly from 16 to 199 mg g−1 dry mass and were mostly independent of leaf gas exchange and the LES traits. By contrast, leaf NSC residence time was shorter in species with higher rates of photosynthesis, following the fast‐slow strategies in the LES. An average leaf held an amount of NSCs that could sustain one night of leaf respiration and could be replenished in just a few hours of photosynthesis under saturating light, indicating that most daily carbon gain is exported. Our results suggest that NSC export is clearly linked to the economics of return on resource investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is considered one of the most critical abiotic environmental stresses and limits plant growth, development, and productivity. It constitutes a real threat to humanity, especially in dry areas worldwide. Plants manage the negative effects of drought through a complex set of related mechanisms. Knowledge of plant responses and adaptation is more meaningful in plant breeding and genetics for improving drought resistance species. This review will focus on drought response mechanisms and drought adaptation, providing examples from plant species differing in their life-form, including herbaceous and woody plants. Additionally, the potential role of enhancing plant drought responses will be emphasized. This review is of potential significance to researchers and those who wish to obtain a glimpse into plant behavior under drought conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the influence of woody plant encroachment on the diversity of rodents in mesic savannas at the Roodeplaat and Goss Farms in South Africa. Some 142 animals from six species were recorded in 1748 trap nights. The non‐encroached habitat showed twice the species richness of encroached habitats, and three species were notably absent from encroached habitats. Strategies that reduce tree density in encroached savannas will benefit rodents while the inclusion of day‐time sampling will improve the estimation of rodent abundance and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epiphytic plant species grow on other plants, called phorophytes, positively contributing to biodiversity. This study analyzes the interactions between epiphytic and woody plants in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. A total of 555 individual woody plants were sampled, allowing the construction of a network of 24 phorophytes and 15 epiphytic species. 60% of the epiphytes were accidental, 13% were facultative epiphytes or hemiepiphytes, and 26% were holoepiphytes. The phorophyte-epiphyte interaction network had a nonnested structure with moderate evenness and richness values. Larger phorophytes, those with rough bark and native species of Argentina showed a higher epiphyte species richness. These findings provide relevant information for urban biodiversity management, urban tree management, and air quality studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of the allelic diversity of donor and recipient tissues was conducted and their ploidy was assessed using microsatellite markers in transplant symbionts obtained by grafting or local transplantation. Betula pendula Roth var. carelica (Mercklin) Hamet-Ahti—Karelian (Curly) birch bark tissue, whose patterned texture contrasts well with the normal (straight-grained) wood of the recipients—silver birch Betula pendula Roth and downy birch Betula pubescens Ehrh—was used as a donor. It has been shown that even with local ring transplantation of donor tissues, when all descending and ascending transport pathways along the axis of the recipient's trunk are completely "cut" around the circumference of the trunk, successful fusion of genetically heterogeneous tissues occurs, which, even years later (9 years), retain their phenotypic and genetic characteristics. Using microsatellite analysis, it was established that, regardless of the method of production, transplant symbionts are characterized by clearly expressed allelic diversity, although microsatellite instability and even genetic chimerism may appear at some loci in the case of a ring transplant. In particular, the allele imbalance in individual chromosomes varied from 22.2 to 37.9%, which exceeds the norm (3–20%) established for somatic cells of angiosperm woody plants. Moreover, in the areas of tissue fusion of the donor and recipient in the cross section and at the junction of their marginal surfaces, this indicator reached 78%, which did not affect the results of genotyping. Of the seven microsatellite markers studied, the greatest differences in the tissues of the scion (Karelian birch) and rootstock (silver birch) were established in relation to three (L1.10, L5.4, and L7.3), while those in the case of local transplantation were for four loci (L2.2, L1.10, L10.1, and L5.4). It has been suggested that the use of the grafting method and, especially, ring tissue transplantation opens up new possibilities for experimental phytobiology, including in matters related to plant transplantation, and the practical value of using microsatellite markers is not limited only to the task of genotyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woody plants are encroaching across terrestrial ecosystems globally, and this has dramatic effects on how these systems function and the livelihoods of producers who rely on the land to support livestock production. Consequently, the removal of woody plants is promoted widely in the belief that it will reinstate former grasslands or open savanna. Despite this popular management approach to encroachment, we still have a relatively poor understanding of the effects of removal on society, and of alternative management practices that could balance the competing needs of pastoral production, biodiversity conservation and cultural values. This information is essential for maintaining both ecological and societal benefits in encroached systems under predicted future climate changes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of the social–ecological perspectives of woody encroachment based on recent studies and global meta‐analyses by assessing the ecological impacts of encroachment and its effects on sustainable development goals (SDGs) when woody plants are retained and when they are removed. We propose a working definition of woody encroachment based on species‐ and community‐level characteristics; such a definition is needed to evaluate accurately the effects of encroachment. We show that encroachment is a natural process of succession rather than a sign of degradation, with encroachment resulting in an overall 8% increase in ecosystem multifunctionality. Removing woody plants can increase herbaceous plant richness, biomass and cover, but at the expense of biocrust cover. The effectiveness of woody plant removal depends on plant identity, and where, when and how they are removed. Under current management practices, either removal or retention of woody plants can induce trade‐offs among ecosystem services, with no management practice maximising all SDGs [e.g. SDG2 (end hunger), SDG13 (climate change), SDG 15 (combat desertification)]. Given that encroachment of woody plants is likely to increase under future predicted hotter and drier climates, alternative management options such as carbon farming and ecotourism could be effective land uses for areas affected by encroachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Estimating chloroplast pigment content by using chlorophyll meters is faster and cheaper than by using traditional pigment-extraction protocols. However, the reliability of chlorophyll meters requires a preliminary test of the relationship between the estimated and actual concentrations. Aims: To establish an optimized protocol for extracting leaf chloroplast pigments from Eucalyptus urophylla and Khaya senegalensis seedlings. Moreover, we evaluated the relationship between chlorophyll-content estimation by using chlorophyll meters with the SPAD index by using SPAD-502 and with Falker chlorophyll index (FCI) by using ClorofiLOG, and that by using the optimal chloroplast pigment-extraction protocol. Methods: The effectiveness of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) saturated with CaCO3 at 25°C and 65°C and 80% acetone (v/v) was assessed as extractors, by using different incubation times. Chlorophyll-content estimation was assessed using chlorophyll meters with the SPAD index by using SPAD-502 and with Falker chlorophyll index (FCI) by using ClorofiLOG. Key results: For both Eucalyptus urophylla and Khaya senegalensis seedlings, the optimal protocol for extracting pigments from chloroplasts was incubation for 4 h by using DMSO saturated with CaCO3 at 65°C. Chlorophyll-content estimation using SPAD-502 and ClorofiLOG showed a strong positive correlation with measurements from the optimized pigment-extraction protocol. Furthermore, the regression equations of the chlorophyll-content estimation with chlorophyll meters allowed predicting the real content, because the values were very close to those measured using traditional extraction protocols. Conclusions: The SPAD index and the FCI were reliable methods for estimating chlorophyll content in seedlings of both species. This could make measuring the chloroplast pigments faster and cheaper, especially regarding experimentation under field conditions. The protocol to estimate photosynthetic-pigment content was optimized in Eucalyptus urophylla and Khaya senegalensis seedlings by using different extraction methods to evaluate its relationship with values estimated using chlorophyll meters. In both species, a strong positive correlation was observed between estimated values and the values from extraction that used DMSO saturated with CaCO3 at 65°C. Photograph by the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consolidation of oil sands tailings is a cost‐ and time‐consuming process that requires treatment via active (e.g., centrifugation) and passive (e.g., self‐weight consolidation) methods. The use of plants to dewater tailings is a promising concept and has previously been evaluated using agronomic grass species in greenhouse studies. This greenhouse study evaluated the short‐term survivorship and growth of 32 upland and lowland native plant species (12 forbs, 14 graminoids, and six woody plants) in centrifuged tailings and benchmarked their performance against reclamation soil and undisturbed forest soil. All plant species were propagated from seed and transplanted as seedlings into containers filled with one of the three substrates. After 42 days, the height (woody species only) and total aboveground biomass were determined for all living plants. As expected, the mortality of seedlings in tailings was higher than plants grown in the other two substrates. Graminoid species, regardless of species community type (wetland or upland), had higher survival probabilities and growth compared to forb or woody species across all substrates. Of forbs and woody species evaluated, Geum aleppicum and Populus tremuloides showed the most promise amongst the upland species, and Rumex occidentalis was the wetland equivalent. Core Ideas: We evaluated short‐term survivorship and growth of 32 native boreal wetland and upland species on treated tailings.The performance of those species on treated tailings compared against reclamation soils and forest soils.Graminoids were the top‐performing plant community group in terms of survival and biomass.Populus tremuloides was the top‐performing woody species tested in this study, achieving high survival rates and biomass.Given the potential rooting capacity of trees and shrubs, future work should focus on the development of those species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acclimatization is the last step of plants in vitro propagation while it comes to alter the environment conditions from tailor for plant requirements, sterile laboratory to external ex vitro conditions. Consequently, during acclimatization it may reach to plants mortality due to abiotic and biotic stresses occurring in external environment (high temperature, light intensity, low air relative humidity and the presence of microorganisms and pathogens in soil). Micropropagated plants develop alter organs on morphological, anatomical or biochemical levels which must be correct during acclimatization to improve adaptation of plants to ex vitro conditions. Therefore, there is a need to create acclimatization protocols to improve the effectiveness of this vegetative propagation method. So far there were formulated facilities as pre-acclimation, in vitro acclimatization, water cultures, CO2 enrichment, application of biostimulators and plant growth regulators. In following research we focused on describing previous achievements about the changes occurring in woody plants by micropropagation and summary of achievements in acclimatization of micropropagated woody plants. This article summary the current state of knowledge on acclimatization for various range of woody species by anatomical, physiological and biochemical levels. There are described ways to increase the survival of acclimatized plants and minimize acclimatization stress it also collects substances used so far to enhance plant growth during acclimatization.Key message: Acclimatization poses challenges in micropropagation of woody plants. During this stage, changes occur in plants. The ability of them to survey can be improved by various range of treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ungulate herbivory might induce different effects on the diversity and growth of trees and shrubs. The density, distribution, and the species of ungulates as well as plant communities' composition and other factors determine whether ungulate herbivory promotes or limits plants' diversity and growth. The impacts of ungulates on woody plants are commonly surveyed with exclosure-control approaches. In practice, such surveys frequently only cover short periods of time, addressing immediate management needs. Long-term surveys, documenting lasting effects of ungulate herbivory, are highly needed, but still rare. However, the general transferability of outcomes of long-term surveys might be limited due to different disturbing factors. This study addresses two basic aspects of long-term monitoring in mountainous forests, based on a unique 30-year data set: (1) Possible long-term effects of herbivores on forest vegetation (e.g., species/structural diversity of woody plants) and (2) potential differences between short-term and long-term surveys in terms of height growth patterns. In our study, diversity of woody plant species showed great variability with no significant impact of ungulate herbivory. The presence of ungulates had a significantly negative effect on the vertical structural diversity and growth of trees. Due to the slower growth on control plots, it took trees longer to reach a 160 cm height-threshold with their terminal shoots than on exclosure plots. Our long-term control-exclosure data set indicated that long-term survey data indeed might differ from growth patterns represented by short-term surveys. This can be induced by several factors, like site-specific growth patterns of trees, occurrences of natural abiotic disturbances that influence the functional life of exclosures, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eremosparton songoricum (Litv.) Vass. is a desert legume exhibiting extreme drought tolerance and the ability to withstand various harsh environments, making it a good candidate for investigating stress tolerance mechanisms and exploring valuable stress-resistant genes. However, the absence of a genetic transformation system for E. songoricum poses significant limitations for functionally validating these stress-resistant genes in situ. In this study, we developed an Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation system for E. songoricum utilizing the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene as a reporter. We investigated three types of explants (seedlings, assimilated branches and callus) and the effects of different Agrobacterium strains, seedling ages, OD600 values, acetosyringone (AS) concentrations, sucrose concentrations and infection times on the transformation efficiency. The results reveal that the optimal transformation system was infecting one-month-old regenerating assimilated branches with the Agrobacterium strain C58C1. The infection solution comprised 1/2 MS medium with 3% sucrose and 200 μM AS at an OD600 of 0.8, infection for 3 h and then followed by 2 days of dark cultivation, which achieving a maximum transformation rate of 97%. The maximum transformation rates of the seedlings and calluses were 57.17% and 39.51%, respectively. Moreover, we successfully utilized the assimilated branch transient transformation system to confirm the role of the previously reported transcription factor EsDREB2B in E. songoricum. The overexpression of EsDREB2B enhanced drought tolerance by increasing the plant's reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity in situ. This study established the first transient transformation system for a desert legume woody plant, E. songoricum. This efficient system can be readily applied to investigate gene functions in E. songoricum. It will expedite the exploration of genetic resources and stress tolerance mechanisms in this species, offering valuable insights and serving as a reference for the transformation of other desert plants and woody legumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In monoculture-dominated landscapes, recovering biodiversity is a priority, but effective restoration strategies have yet to be identified. In this study, we experimentally tested passive and active restoration strategies to recover taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of woody plants within 52 tree islands established in an oil palm landscape. Large tree islands and higher initial planted diversity catalyzed diversity recovery, particularly functional diversity at the landscape level. At the local scale, results demonstrated that greater initial planting diversity begets greater diversity of native recruits, overcoming limitations of natural recruitment in highly modified landscapes. Establishing large and diverse tree islands is crucial for safeguarding rare, endemic, and forest-associated species in oil palm landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild olive represents one of the most iconic woody plants in the Mediterranean Basin. This slow‐growing evergreen tree is characteristic of sclerophyll vegetation, extremely tolerant to drought, salinity and diseases, thus is commonly used as rootstock for grafting cultivated olive varieties. Since 2022, extensive dieback and mortality of wild olive trees have been observed in Sardinia, Italy. Affected plants showed leaf chlorosis, wilting, defoliation, shoot blight and epicormic shoots, often associated with root rot and necroses on the feeder roots, initially associated with Phytophthora bilorbang and P. pseudocryptogea. A 2‐year study was thereafter conducted to clarify the aetiology of this unusual disease. Using a baiting technique, 10 Phytophthora taxa from three phylogenetic clades (2, 6, 8) were isolated from 53 of 87 rhizosphere soil samples collected, including P. asparagi, P. bilorbang, P. crassamura, P. inundata, P. kelmanii, P. oleae, P. pseudocryptogea, P. sansomeana and P. syringae. Additionally, some isolates that showed several polymorphisms in rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences compared with closely related known species are reported here as P. taxon paulensis. Pathogenicity tests on 1‐year‐old wild olive seedlings showed that nine out of 10 Phytophthora taxa significantly reduced root length of inoculated seedlings compared to controls. P. inundata and P. oleae caused the greatest reduction, while root length of seedlings inoculated with P. kelmanii did not differ from the controls. This study provides insights into the role of Phytophthora taxa in the wild olive decline in Sardinia, indicating the urgent need to expand monitoring and implement effective management strategies to mitigate the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abandoned and even active limestone quarries (excavation sites) can represent important secondary habitats for many species, including wild bees, associated with dry grasslands, which are threatened biodiversity hotspots in Europe. However, is not well understood how interactions between local habitat and landscape characteristics influence the value of limestone quarries for wild bees and how this could guide conservation schemes. We studied how wild bee communities in limestone quarries are affected by landscape variables (connectivity to neighbouring dry grasslands, landscape diversity), local quarry characteristics (area, age, woody vegetation cover, flowering plant species) and their interactions. We surveyed bee communities during 208 transects in 19 quarries in southern Lower Saxony, Germany. In total, we recorded 114 bee species (2360 individuals), including 35 endangered species. High flowering plant species richness positively affected bee abundance and richness. Large quarry area was important for determining the presence of endangered bee species. High levels of woody vegetation cover had a negative effect on bee abundance and richness. Bee abundance and richness can increase with quarry age, but only at sites with moderate woody vegetation cover. We found potentially positive interactions between quarry age and landscape diversity and/or habitat connectivity to neighbouring dry grasslands. In particular, high habitat connectivity ensured stable richness of endangered species in old quarries. Synthesis and applications. Observed negative effects of high woody vegetation cover on bee communities highlight the importance of local management to reduce shrub encroachment and reset successional processes in limestone quarries. Local management is particularly important in old quarries of great ecological value, where the adverse impact of high woody vegetation cover on wild bees appears to be most severe. Large and old quarries with high connectivity to neighbouring dry grasslands are especially valuable for endangered bee species. Therefore, landscape‐scale restoration and conservation of dry grasslands is the most promising approach to promote endangered bee species through enhanced habitat connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant species richness and composition are influenced by complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that operate on different spatial scales. Since spatial scales vary continuously in nature, it is expected that multiple factors simultaneously affect species richness and composition at an intermediate spatial scale (i.e., the mesoscale landscape level). Previous studies have shown that local topography and elevation are important factors for shaping intermediate spatial scale plant species richness; however, the relative importance of these factors has rarely been examined. Here, we used spatially explicit woody plant data to examine the factors that characterize the spatial pattern of primary evergreen forest biodiversity at the intermediate spatial scale. We found that the spatial pattern of species diversity in a predominantly warm temperate evergreen forest at the landscape level is mainly characterized by shifts in species composition along the elevation gradient. Our study also found that compositional shift along the elevational gradient was mainly caused by habitat specialization among congeneric species, suggesting that niche partitioning among closely-related species is a fundamentally important feature of the intermediate spatial scale species richness pattern. Furthermore, we found that specialization in a habitat of closely-related species can be established even within a limited environmental gradient. This suggests that biotic interactions among closely-related species may be an important factor driving habitat specialization, and biotic interactions may play an important role in shaping landscape-scale biodiversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the main ecological constraints on plants' adaptive strategies to tolerate multiple abiotic stresses is a central topic in plant ecology. We aimed to uncover such constraints by analysing how the interactions between climate, soil features and species functional traits co‐determine the distribution and diversity of stress tolerance strategies to drought, shade, cold and waterlogging in woody plants of the Northern Hemisphere. Functional traits and soil fertility predominantly determined drought and waterlogging/cold tolerance strategies, while climatic factors strongly influenced shade tolerance. We describe the observed patterns by defining 'stress tolerance biomes' and 'polytolerance hotspots', that is, geographic regions where woody plant assemblages have converged to specific tolerance strategies and where the coexistence of multiple tolerance strategies is frequent. The depiction of these regions provides the first macroecological overview of the main environmental and functional requirements underlying the ecological limits to the diversity of abiotic stress tolerance strategies in woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Plant Health Newsletter on Horizon Scanning for November 2024, published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), provides a summary of monthly results related to plant health threats. The newsletter covers various plant pests, including Colletotrichum theobromicola, Erwinia pyrifoliae, and Xylella fastidiosa, among others. The monitoring system scans over 25,000 sources in 79 languages from 204 countries to identify relevant information on plant pests. The newsletter aims to assist the European Commission and Member States in addressing phytosanitary concerns and benefit professionals and the public interested in plant health. [Extracted from the article]

The "Plant Health Newsletter on Horizon Scanning" for October 2024 by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides updates on plant pests and threats, including bacteria, fungi, insects, nematodes, and viruses. It highlights regulated pests like Bactrocera dorsalis and Zeugodacus cucurbitae, as well as new pests such as Fusarium kyushuense and Heterodera luodingensis. The document aims to assist the European Commission and Member States in addressing phytosanitary concerns by providing timely and relevant information on plant health threats, including the identification of the Begomovirus gossypimultanense in petunia in India and spinach as a new natural host for the virus in China. The newsletter also discusses how climate covariate selection can impact the predictive accuracy of species distribution models, particularly for invasive species like Diaphorina citri, and acknowledges the support of various organizations and experts in compiling the information presented. [Extracted from the article]

Myrtaceae are a large family of woody plants, including hundreds that are currently under threat from the global spread of a fungal pathogen, Austropuccinia psidii (G. Winter) Beenken, which causes myrtle rust. A reference genome for the Australian native rainforest tree Rhodamnia argentea Benth. (malletwood) was assembled from Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-reads, 10x Genomics Chromium linked-reads, and Hi-C data (N50 = 32.3 Mb and BUSCO completeness 98.0%) with 99.0% of the 347 Mb assembly anchored to 11 chromosomes (2 n = 22). The R. argentea genome will inform conservation efforts for Myrtaceae species threatened by myrtle rust, against which it shows variable resistance. We observed contamination in the sequencing data, and further investigation revealed an arthropod source. This study emphasizes the importance of checking sequencing data for contamination, especially when working with nonmodel organisms. It also enhances our understanding of a tree that faces conservation challenges, contributing to broader biodiversity initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shrub/dwarf tree Haloxylon ammodendron is a prevalent woody plant used to combat desertification in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwestern China. Despite its drought resistance, artificial stands of this species experience significant degradation approximately ten years post-afforestation. Stumping, which involves cutting a portion of the above-ground part of shrubs/trees, is a common practice aimed at reducing water consumption and enhancing the growth of these stands. However, the impact of stumping on the sap flow of H. ammodendron remain inadequately understood, posing challenges to the sustainable management of these artificial stands. In this study, we monitored the sap flow of H. ammodendron subjected to various stumping treatments in the Ulan Buh Desert using the PS-TDP8 tree sap flow monitoring system. Concurrently, we measured several meteorological factors with an automatic weather station. We examined the changes in sap flow velocity following stumping and its response to meteorological factors to elucidate water use during growth. Our findings indicate that both the change in sap flow velocity and characteristics were closely associated with the degree of stumping. The initiation time of sap flow for H. ammodendron under different stumping treatments was earlier than that of the control group. The daily mean value and daily accumulation of sap flow followed the order: 50% stumping > control (no stumping) > 75% stumping > 100% stumping. Sap flow velocity and daily sap flow accumulation increased at 50% stumping but decreased at 75% and 100% stumping. Stumping altered the relationships between sap flow velocity and meteorological factors, with the correlation coefficient between these variables decreasing as the degree of stumping increased. The sap flow following stumping was primarily influenced by both the degree of stumping and meteorological factors. These results may contribute to a better understanding of water transport during the growth of H. ammodendron following stumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: There are advantages to flowering early in the spring, including greater pollinator fidelity and longer fruit maturation time. But plant phenology has advanced in recent years, making many plants vulnerable to freezing damage from late frosts. Methods: To determine the costs and benefits of flowering early in the growing season, we exposed Prunus pumila plants to two freezing treatments and a delayed flowering treatment in subsequent years. Data were collected on ovary swelling, fruit production, and pollinator visitation on hand‐ and open‐pollinated plants in all treatments. We also measured tissue damage after freeze events. Results: Our results suggest that flowering time and temperature affect reproductive success, with fewer fruits produced after hard freezes. The same was not true for light freezes, which had minimal impact on reproduction. Freezing damage to plants after a hard freeze did affect the number of dipteran pollinators but not the overall pollinator visitation rate. Despite the clear impact of freezing temperatures on plant reproduction, flowering early provided an advantage in that reproductive output decreased with delayed flowering. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Prunus pumila will retain the ability to attract pollinators and produce viable seeds if exposed to false spring conditions that involve a light freeze, but hard freezes may reduce yield by an order of magnitude. Although the advantages to flowering early may outweigh the risk of freezing damage under current conditions, it is possible that flower viability may be constrained under continued climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire exclusion is a key factor driving conifer expansion into temperate semi-arid grasslands. However, it remains unclear how reintroducing fire affects the aboveground storage of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the expanding tree species and belowground in soils. To assess the impacts of fire reintroduction C and N pools and fluxes in areas of conifer expansion we targeted a region of the Northern Great Plains that has experienced extensive woody plant expansion (WPE) of two species: ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and juniper (Juniperus spp). We quantified tree mortality of both species to estimate the amount of dead biomass C and N produced by a recent prescribed fire, in addition to changes in soil C, pyrogenic C (PyC), and N concentrations across a woody-cover gradient using a before/after/control experimental design. Post-fire soil chemical analysis revealed a 2 year increase in mineral soil C, PyC and N, suggesting the return of fire led to the transfer of partially combusted plant organic matter back to the soil. Further, we found that functional trait differences between the two species influenced the distribution of living conifer biomass-N prior to fire. Despite junipers having 41% less total aboveground biomass than ponderosa, they contained two times more aboveground N. Prescribed fire resulted in 88% mortality of all mature juniper stems and increased fire severity correlated with greater pre-fire juniper cover. Ponderosa mortality varied by size class, with > 40 cm stem diameter class having only 28% mortality. High mortality and greater aboveground N storage in juniper biomass, compared to ponderosa, led to 77% of the total conifer biomass N lost. Consequently, the functional attributes of expanding trees differentially contribute to fluxes of C and N after the return of fire, with junipers acting as conduits for N movement due to their relatively higher N content in less fire-resistant tissues and ponderosa serving as important and more stable storage pools for C. Together, these findings highlight the importance of considering species-specific traits when planning WPE management strrategies at landscape-scales, particularly when goals include C storage or soil nutrient status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboos are perennial woody grasses that display an enigmatic mix of traits. Bamboo is highly shade intolerant like early‐successional trees. Without secondary xylem, bamboos cannot continue to grow once they reach a maximum height or replace xylem damaged by hydraulic stress and must instead replace each stem after a few years using vegetative propagation via rhizomes. These traits of bamboo would appear to make them inferior to trees in competition for both light and water in all but early‐successional wet locations. However, some species competitively exclude trees and form persistent monodominant stands across large areas in tropical and temperate forests, including areas that are not mesic. Moreover, bamboo paradoxically postpones seed production for decades to over a century, and then flowers semelparously and dies synchronously. The delayed reproduction appears to be inconsistent with an early‐successional strategy to colonize disturbed areas as soon as they form, while the simultaneous death over large areas appears to be inconsistent with a late‐successional strategy to gain and hold space. Bamboo exhibits great diversity in its growth form and life histories along the tropical‐temperate geographical cline, with tropical bamboo being taller with shorter rhizome lengths and flowering interval lengths than temperate bamboo. We hypothesize that all of the above characteristics of bamboo are essential elements of competitive strategies to arrest succession in a lineage that lacks secondary xylem. To develop this Arrested Succession Hypothesis, we construct mathematical models of competition for recently disturbed areas between a tree species and a species with bamboo's enigmatic characteristics. We modeled the growth of bamboo genetic individuals from seedlings after seed germination to clonal culms at mass flowering and then placed these individuals in competition with one another and with trees in simple models of competition for light. Results explain how bamboo's traits allow it to persist in forests late in succession despite its hydraulic disadvantages, and form monodominant stands in the temperate zone, but not in tropical forests. They explain why bamboo is semelparous with synchronized reproduction, and why maximum culm size and age, reproductive interval, and rhizome length differ between the tropics and the temperate zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New approaches are required in the agricultural sector to keep pace with the ever-growing demand for food in the context of climate change and resource deterioration and avoiding further negative impact on the environment. Nonthermal plasma is an environmentally-friendly technology which could make a difference in future agricultural production. This review intends to introduce the topic of plasma agriculture to a broad audience by describing in detail various plasma sources with potential for agricultural applications, as well as the effects of plasma exposure of seeds, both at the macroscopic scale, and concerning the intimate mechanisms occurring inside the plant. Examples meant to illustrate the plasma effect on seeds and plants have been selected among extensively investigated species, such as cereals and legumes, as well as among a few species that are less often reported in literature, such as medicinal plants and woody plants. Generally, the main effects for all types of seeds consist in increased germination, higher plant yield, seed decontamination, and sometimes higher tolerance to various stress factors. These effects are due to the physical and chemical plasma interaction with seeds followed by the response of cell mechanisms, which are addressed in detail in the paper. Finally, a few crucial aspects regarding the practical application of nonthermal plasma in agriculture are discussed to illustrate the challenges and perspective of such treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Woody ecosystems provide critical ecosystem functions and services but are increasingly threatened as invasive pathogens spread globally. Myrtle rust, caused by Austropuccinia psidii, arrived in New Zealand in 2017 and infects at least 12 of 18 species in the susceptible Myrtaceae plant family. Among these are species of structural, successional and cultural importance. We aim to assess whether the functional consequences of Myrtaceae loss could be mitigated if co‐occurring species with shared functional attributes are able to replace them. Location: New Zealand (but with concepts and methodologies that apply globally). Methods: Using a nationwide forest and shrubland plot data set, we assessed community vulnerability to the loss of Myrtaceae species by analysing proportional changes in average trait values when they are absent and produced spatial predictions indicating where species loss might have the greatest impact on community functionality. We then assessed whether compensatory infilling by co‐occurring species would mediate community vulnerability. Results: Forests and shrublands containing Kunzea ericoides and Leptospermum scoparium are highly vulnerable to their loss. Areas most vulnerable overall are the central and south‐eastern North Island, north‐eastern South Island and Stewart Island. For all species, compensatory infilling moderated the impact of their loss. However, if co‐occurring Myrtaceae were unable to respond, possibly if they were also infected, community vulnerability almost always increased because infilling species had different functional attributes, compounding the functional impact. Main Conclusions: Early successional woody plant communities and Myrtaceae‐dominated old‐growth forests are at most risk. Our spatial assessment of species‐level functional impacts from myrtle rust will facilitate better‐informed landscape‐level responses. Management actions and monitoring can now be targeted to areas and communities at greatest risk of losing ecosystem‐level processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have investigated bird diversity-environment relationships in agricultural landscapes. While many studies have emphasized the importance of natural/semi-natural elements and their diversity within or surrounding farmlands, it remains unclear how crop diversity impacts birds. There is also a significant gap in our knowledge regarding the effects of temporal changes in crop composition on bird diversity. Using small farmlands in a sub-tropical city of China, we examined how spatial and temporal variation of crops and other local farmland features was linked to species diversity of birds and their traits. In small peri‑urban agricultural areas of Guangzhou, we collected bird and crop/non-crop data approximately bimonthly from December 2021 to October 2022. Overall crop diversity and seasonal crop changes were indexed by alpha diversity (Shannon-Wiener index) and beta diversity, respectively. Both alpha and beta crop diversities were positively associated with Shannon-Wiener diversity of birds. Alpha crop diversity also tended to have a positive impact on species richness. Percent cover of woody vegetation showed a positive effect on all three bird diversity indices, i.e., species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, and evenness. Percent cover of rice affected species richness positively and evenness negatively, whereas the effects of percent cover of corn were the opposite. In a fourth-corner analysis, the abundance of plant/seed-eating birds was negatively associated with alpha crop diversity, whereas the abundance of ground-foraging birds was positively associated with beta crop diversity. These patterns indicate that seasonally dynamic crop changes as well as local crop diversity can influence bird diversity and traits in small farmlands. They also suggest that natural/semi-natural woody vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, play a critical role in enhancing species diversity of birds in farmlands dominated by herbaceous edible crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest grains and oils are an important part of China's grain and oil resources. They are derived from woody plants, which have the advantages of not occupying arable land resources, high nutritional value, and being rich in many bioactive substances, and also have good economic and ecological benefits, and have enormous development potential. This article mainly introduced the resource status, distribution, componential and functional characteristics, processing and utilization status of protein, starch, and oilseed woody plants. In response to the problems existed in the development of the forest grain and oil industry, corresponding strategies and suggestions were proposed, which could provide reference for the development of the forest grain and oil industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a globally significant fruit crop known for its nutritional and health benefits, including its role in preventing chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. The bioactive compounds in grapes contribute to these benefits. Bioactive content changes due to grapevine variety and environmental conditions necessitate ongoing research. In vitro propagation provides a controlled environment for grapevine cultivation, minimizing disease risk and ensuring consistent quality. This study investigates the potential of Nadsoniella nigra (Nn), an Antarctic yeast, as a natural alternative to synthetic auxins like Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in grapevine micro cutting propagation. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the culture liquid of Nn as a natural alternative to auxin-class hormones, using IBA as an example, for promoting rooting in grapevine microcuttings and to assess its impact on chlorophyll content, vitamin C levels, and sugar concentrations. Materials and Methods: In vitro propagation of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar 'Karmarhyt' was performed using half-strength Woody Plant Medium (WPM). Nn culture liquid was prepared at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 ml/L, and IBA was used at equivalent concentrations. Microcuttings were cultured on media supplemented with these treatments, with a control group maintained without growth regulators. Rooting was evaluated after 4 weeks by measuring rooting percentage, number of roots per shoot, and root length. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) and Chlorophyll b (Chl b) levels, vitamin C content, and sugar concentrations were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using standard error and t-tests. Results: Rooting performance of grapevine microcuttings varied with treatment. Nn culture liquid promoted rooting in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest values observed at 2.0 ml/L (97.0% rooting, 7.2 roots, 13.8 cm root length). IBA treatment resulted in peak rooting at 1.0 mg/L (100% rooting) but decreased at higher concentrations, accompanied by callus formation. Chlorophyll content was higher in Nn culture liquid treated microcuttings, with a maximum total chlorophyll of 2.20 mg/g at 2.0 mg/L, compared to a peak of 2.05 mg/g in IBA-treated microcuttings at 1.0 mg/L. Sugar and vitamin C content increased with Nn culture liquid concentrations, whereas IBA showed a less consistent effect. Conclusion: Nn culture liquid was an effective natural alternative to IBA for promoting rooting in grapevine microcuttings. It improved rooting efficiency, chlorophyll content, and increased sugar and vitamin C levels, while IBA led to growth inhibition and callus formation at higher concentrations. Nn culture liquid demonstrated consistent benefits, suggesting potential for sustainable viticulture. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that the mixture of secondary metabolites contained in the liquid culture medium of Nn possesses high biological activity and can be recommended for use in plant biotechnology in vitro to promote the growth of both underground and above-ground parts. Future research could explore its use in propagating other plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lagerstroemia indica is a widely used ornamental woody plant known for its summer flowering and significant ornamental and economic value. While L. indica boasts a variety of rich flower colors, the molecular mechanisms underlying this color formation remain unclear. In this study, we selected three different flower colors of L. indica—white (W), red (R), and purple (P)—for transcriptome and metabolome analysis. The metabolome analysis identified 538 flavonoids, with 22 anthocyanins highly accumulated in the red and purple flowers. RNA-seq analysis annotated a total of 35,505 genes. Furthermore, we identified 42 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, with their expression levels aligning with anthocyanin content. Correlation analysis revealed that 19 MYB and 11 bHLH transcription factors are likely involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Additionally, we identified 59 auxin biosynthesis and signaling-related genes that are positively correlated with anthocyanin-related genes and metabolites, suggesting that auxin may play a role in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in L. indica. This study provides valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation and color formation in L. indica petals and identifies several potential genes, laying the groundwork for further research on regulatory mechanisms and genetic improvement of L. indica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

The genus of Prunus subg. Amygdalus are endangered Tertiary-relict plants that are an essential source of woody plant oil. In order to provide a theoretical basis for better protection and utilization of species in the Prunus subg. Amygdalus. This study collected global distribution information for six species within the Prunus subg. Amygdalus, along with data on 29 environmental and climatic factors. The Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to simulate the globally suitable distribution areas for these species within the subgenus. The suitable results showed that the area under the test curve (AUC) values of the simulation results were more than 0.8, indicating that the simulation results have high accuracy. Temperature, precipitation, UV-B, and altitude were critical environmental factors affecting the distribution of each species in Prunus subg. Amygdalus. Currently, the distribution area of six species in this genus, from largest to smallest, is Prunus triloba (Lindl.) Ricker, Prunus tenella Batsch, Prunus amygdalus Batsch, Prunus pedunculata Maxim, Prunus mongolica Maxim and Prunus tangutica (Batal.) Korsh. The simulation results of distribution areas showed that under the ssp2.45 and ssp5.85 scenarios, the potential distribution areas of P. amygdalus, P. tangutica, and P. pedunculata all show a decreasing trend, while the distribution areas of P. mongolica and P. tenella, and P. triloba exhibit an increasing trend. The general distribution of P. amygdalus, P. mongolica, and P. tenella will trend to transfer in a northwest direction. P. tangutica and P. pedunculata were affected by other environmental factors (such as slope, altitude, and soil pH), and the distribution area has a tendency to move northeastward. The P. triloba moved to the southwest. The spatiotemporal distribution patterns of Prunus subg. Amygdalus can be used as a reference for forest management and to formulate species conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous vegetation is an important component of urban biodiversity and an excellent agent for exploring the mutual feedback mechanism between urbanization and urban ecosystems. Rapid urbanization has had a significant impact on the composition, structure, and distribution patterns of urban spontaneous vegetation diversity. Studying the diversity distribution patterns and causes of urban plant communities is beneficial for understanding the formation and maintenance mechanisms of plant diversity in specific urban habitats. This study selected five cities in different climate subregions of Heilongjiang Province as research targets and conducted field research using uniform sampling and typical sampling methods. The composition, distribution pattern, and driving factors of spontaneous vegetation were analyzed. The results showed the following: (1) A total of 633 examples of spontaneous vegetation were recorded, belonging to 93 families and 341 genera, mainly consisting of herbaceous plants and native plants. (2) The diversity index and similarity index of spontaneous vegetation in gravel-type abandoned land habitats are higher than those in other habitat types, while the diversity index of spontaneous vegetation in trees and shrubs is lower, and there is no significant difference in regards to different habitats. (3) Urban population density is a key factor affecting the diversity of native plants, while woody plant coverage, patch area, and landscape trait index are key factors affecting non-native plants. (4) The results of canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the total explanatory power of environmental characteristic factors in regards to the distribution pattern of spontaneous vegetation was 7.5%. The closest distance between adjacent patches, the coverage of woody plants in patches, the distance from the city edge, the patch area, and the surface impermeability of the buffer zones were key factors affecting the distribution of dominant species in spontaneous vegetation communities. The research results will provide an important reference for the conservation of urban biodiversity and the construction of low-maintenance urban green space plant landscapes in Heilongjiang Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major factors affecting the in vitro immature embryo rescue efficiencies from Prunus persica or P. armeniaca accessions have been identified, along with improving the feasibility. Variations in the woody plant medium (WPM) were used depending on the embryo size. Embryos less than 5 mm long were cultured in WPM supplemented with 1 μM BAP and 1 μM GA3, while embryos bigger than 5 mm long were cultured in hormone-free medium, with or without vermiculite. The environmental in vitro culture conditions consisted of three phases: a (I) stratification at 4 °C during a 3- to 5-month-long period in the dark, followed by (II) growth of germinated embryos at 14 °C for a 4-week-long period, with 12 h light a day, which favors plantlet development, and finally, (III) growth at 24 °C, with 16 h light a day, until the plantlets were acclimatized in the greenhouse. The germination of smaller embryos, at the end of phase I, ranged from 82.2% to 22.1% for apricots and flat peaches, respectively, whereas for bigger embryos, the germination varied from 97.3% to 53.2% for the same species. The embryo germination for peaches and nectarines ranged from 40.1% to 30.3% for smaller embryos, and from 91.9% to 63.0% for bigger embryos. Endo- and epiphytic contamination, affecting from 7.4% to 52.9% of cultured embryos, depending on the fruit type and conservation conditions, and the capacity to acclimate to soil conditions, ranging from 50.4% to 93.2%, were the two most important factors influencing the protocol's efficiency and feasibility. Considering the overall efficiencies, expressed as hardened plants transferred to field plots over clean uncontaminated embryo, the values ranged from 55.8% for nectarines, 54.0% for peaches, 45.6% for apricots, and 23.3% for flat fruits. The addition of vermiculite to the culture medium significantly improved the plantlet development, avoiding subculture to fresh medium when an extension of phase III was required before acclimatization. Compared to laboratory glassware, the use of food glass containers with air-permeable sealing film, along with vermiculite-containing medium, significantly reduced the costs when handling the large number of embryos required for breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To investigate the wild woody plant resources in Mengshan Nature Reserve through field surveys, analyze the composition of plant families and genera, and provide scientific basis for the protection and utilization of woody plant resources in the region. [Method] From January 2022 to December 2023, a survey was conducted using the transect method. Based on field investigations and reference literature review, the composition and geographical elements of the wild woody plant flora families and genera were studied. [Result] The results showed that there were 282 species belonging to 69 families and 136 genera of woody plants in Mengshan Mountain. The geographical elements of the flora were complex. There were 9 areal-types and 5 subtypes of the families, 13 distribution types and 4 variations in the distribution area of the genus. The comprehensive analysis showed that the main geographical composition was the north temperate along with the pantropical elements. This phenomenon was related to the ecological geography of the Mengshan Mountains and indicated a complexity of flora in the study area. [Conclusion] The results indicated that woody flora of Mengshan Reserve was ancient to a certain extent, the floristic element analysis showed that temperate components were dominant, but there were also pantropical components, which might be related to the natural geographical environment in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientifically and rationally developing woody forage plant resources is an important way to solve the shortage of feed raw material resources, which is of great significance for sustainable development of animal husbandry in our country. There are many kinds of woody forage plants, strong adaptability and high nutritional value, and it is better to replace part of protein feed for feeding ruminants and monogastric animals. At present, woody forage plants such as arborvitae, forage mulberry, moringa and cassava have been widely used in animal husbandry production. The nutrient composition, active ingredients and biological characteristics of woody forage plants are important aspects to consider as feed ingredients. In this paper, the research progress on the nutrient composition, active ingredients and biological characteristics of woody forage plants commonly used in animal production is reviewed, in order to provide a reference for promoting the development and utilization of woody forage plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Two functional responses largely guide woody plants' survival to winter conditions: cold hardiness and dormancy. Dormancy affects budbreak timing based on chill accumulation. Effects of warming on dormancy may appear time‐shifted: fall and winter warming events decrease chill accumulation, delaying budbreak observed in spring. The same warming events also affect cold hardiness dynamics, having immediate implications. As cold deacclimation rates increase with dormancy progression, the same amount of warming has greater damage risk the later it occurs in the season, depending on return of low temperatures. Should frequency of erratic weather increase with climate change, more instances of risk are expected. However, understanding how plants fare through seasons now and in future climates still requires better knowledge of winter physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bud dormancy is a survival strategy that plants have developed in their native habitats. It helps them endure harsh seasonal changes by temporarily halting growth and activity until conditions become more favorable. Research has primarily focused on bud dormancy in tree species and the ability to halt growth in vegetative tissues, particularly in meristems. Various plant species, such as potato, have developed specialized storage organs, enabling them to become dormant during their yearly growth cycle. Deciduous trees and potato tubers exhibit a similar type of bud endodormancy, where the bud meristem will not initiate growth, even under favorable environmental conditions. Chilling accumulation activates C-repeat/dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) factors (CBFs) transcription factors that modify the expression of dormancy-associated genes. Chilling conditions shorten the duration of endodormancy by influencing plant hormones and sugar metabolism, which affect the timing and rate of bud growth. Sugar metabolism and signaling pathways can interact with abscisic acid, affecting the symplastic connection of dormant buds. This review explores how chilling affects endodormancy duration and explores the similarity of the chilling response of dormant buds in potato tubers and woody perennials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal bud dormancy in perennial woody plants is a crucial and intricate process that is vital for the survival and development of plants. Over the past few decades, significant advancements have been made in understanding many features of bud dormancy, particularly in model species, where certain molecular mechanisms underlying this process have been elucidated. We provide an overview of recent molecular progress in understanding bud dormancy in trees, with a specific emphasis on the integration of common signaling and molecular mechanisms identified across different tree species. Additionally, we address some challenges that have emerged from our current understanding of bud dormancy and offer insights for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) is a woody ornamental plant originating from China, and beloved by people worldwide. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) play a crucial role in regulating the flowering quality of tree peonies in both field and potted conditions. However, the effects of NSCs accumulation and allocation in various organs during the vegetative growth stage on the flowering quality of tree peony under forcing culture remains unclear. (2) Two-year-old grafted seedlings of tree peony cv. 'Luoyanghong' were subjected to orthogonal treatments to investigate the role of NSCs accumulation in plants' developmental process. We measured leaf photosynthetic capacity, NSCs accumulation in the organs of seedlings, observed key ornamental characteristics of flowering quality under forcing culture conditions, and evaluated the qualities of seedlings and flowers using the seedling index (SI) and flowering index (FI), respectively. (3) There was a significant positive correlation between leaf photosynthetic capacity and NSCs accumulation in both the whole plant and roots of potted tree peony. Roots were identified as the primary organs for NSCs accumulation in potted tree peonies. Sufficient NSCs accumulation in the plant, particularly in the roots during the defoliation period, was essential not only for enhancing the seedling quality of potted tree peonies but also for improving the flowering quality under forcing culture conditions. Both the seedling index (SI) and flowering index (FI) exhibited a significant dose-response with increasing root NSCs accumulation at defoliation. The T3 group, which involved slight root pruning (by 25%), combined with a high-concentration rooting agent (750 mg·L−1) and Metarhizium anisopliae (20 million U·mL−1), resulted in the highest photosynthetic capacity, SI, FI and NSCs accumulation status (NSCAR), making it the optimal treatment combination. (4) This finding indicates that increasing NSCs accumulation in the roots of potted tree peonies is a crucial biological foundation for producing high-quality potted flowers under forcing culture conditions, which provide new insights into the importance of NSCs in tree peony flowering and may improve the production technology for high-quality potted tree peony flowers under forcing culture conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permafrost considerably influences boreal forest ecosystems by constraining the niche space of woody plants. The influence of permafrost on ecosystems could dramatically change with permafrost thawing due to recent rapid climate warming. However, the influence of permafrost on shrub species in the understory of boreal forests is not completely understood. We investigated two closely related common shrubs, Labrador teas (Ericaceae, Rhododendron subsect. Ledum): R. groenlandicum and R. tomentosum, which exist sympatrically in the discontinuous permafrost zone of interior Alaska. We employed field surveys and trait measurements across permafrost gradients under the same climatic conditions to examine the associations among permafrost environments, abundances, and leaf traits of the two species. Contrasting habitat attributes were found between the two species: R. groenlandicum is abundant under shaded, drier, thicker active layer conditions, whereas R. tomentosum is common under more open, wetter, and thinner active layer conditions. This suggests that habitat segregation between these species occurs in the discontinuous permafrost zone. Compared with R. groenlandicum, R. tomentosum, which dominated permafrost conditions, had smaller leaves with smaller specific leaf areas (SLA) and low nitrogen concentrations (i.e., conservative leaves). Moreover, both species presented more conservative leaves under permafrost conditions. These intraspecific variations were mainly directly associated with canopy openness in R. groenlandicum but with active layer thickness in R. tomentosum. In summary, our study suggests that large environmental variations driven by heterogeneous permafrost conditions can lead to the sympatric distributions of closely related shrub species in discontinuous permafrost zones and that conservative leaves can contribute to their adaptation under permafrost conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data on the variability of aggregated transfer factors (Tag) of 90Sr in different species of woody plants growing in the area influenced by the Mayak Production Association are summarized. The radioecological situation in this territory is primarily determined by two events: the discharge of radioactive waste into the Techa River (1949−1951) and the Kyshtym accident (1957). The main causes of Tag variability are analyzed, including species-specific characteristics of plants, different soil moisture regimes, and the level of 90Sr contamination. The dependence of this radionuclide's Tag in trees on soil contamination density is described by a power function. In buffer zones and background areas the 90Sr Tag corresponds to the variability ranges established by the IAEA, while in more contaminated impact areas, the accumulation capacity in trees tends to decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of Botryosphaeriaceae family with 25 genera and several species are spread over a wide range of lands and climates worldwide. They cause gummosis, decline, dieback and blight on many woody plants. The purpose of present study was to diagnose the pathogens linked to the aforementioned symptoms on almond trees in seven orchards of Yozgat province (Türkiye) with a DSb type climate (Hot humid continental - Köppen Geiger system of climatic classification). These trees displayed dieback, gummosis trunk and branch canker symptoms. They were identified by cultural and morphological characteristics, and compared by sequencing of the ITS regions, EF-1α and β-tubulin genes with those of other species in GenBank (NCBI). Based on the colony and conidial characteristics, 72 isolates were identified as Diplodia seriata, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Neofusicoccum parvum and Botryosphaeria dothidea. Pathogenicity tests were succesfully realized on two-year-old almond cv: Ferradual seedlings using Koch's postulates. According to current data, B. dothidea was identified for the first time on almond trees in Türkiye. Accurate identification, prevalence and incidence of the pathogens are crucial for developing effective disease management strategies to prevent disease outbreaks in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the 25 hm² karst forest big plot in Gulinqing, Yunnan, we carried out sample-plot investigation, specimen collection and identification, floristic analysis, Jaccard similarity coefficient and principal component analysis (PCA), in order to explore its floristic characteristics and the status of the Gulinqing big plot in Yunnan and the geographical relationships among Gulinqing in Yunnan, Bubeng in Yunnan, and Nonggang in Guangxi, China. The results were as follows: (1) There were about 78 families, 238 genera, and 406 species (including infraspecies taxa and excluding woody vines) of woody plants with DBH≥1 cm. (2) In the plot, the families with 2-5 species and with one species were dominant and accounted for 37.18% and 34.62% of the total number of families, respectively, while the genera with 2-4 species and with one species were also dominant and accounted for 30.25% and 65.13% of the total number of genera, respectively. (3) Through analysis of the areal-types of families and genera, it was found that it had been divided into 9 areal-types and 7 variations at the family level, and the proportion of families was the highest at Pantropic, accounting for 50.77%, and the ratio of tropical flora to temperate flora (R/T) was 4.42; there were 11 areal-types at the genera level, mainly composed of Tropical Asian, Pantropic, Old World Tropics, accounting for 33.47%, 18.22%, and 13.98%, respectively, and R/T of the genera was 10.25. (4) The composition of Gulinqing, Bubeng and Nonggang big plots showed that Gulinqing and Bubeng had the highest similarity in family and genera level at Jaccard similarity coefficient (0.674 and 0.395, respectively), and Bubeng and Nonggang with the smallest Jaccard similarity coefficient (0.575 and 0.297, respectively) . (5) The analysis results of the floristic spectrum PCA and the Jaccard similarity coefficient in the level of genera were similar, but different one at the level of families, e.g. a higher geographical connection between Gulinqing and Nonggang through the PCA analysis of family. In summary, this plot has a high diversity of families and genera, significant tropical characteristics, ancient floristic characteristics, obvious transitional status and extensive flora connections. However, there is an inconsistent geographical connection among Gulinqing, Bubeng and Nonggang from the composition and floristic spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation technology utilises the ability of plants to remove metal toxicity in the soil. Bamboo is one of the fast-growing woody plants that may potentially facilitate the immediate removal of toxic metals from the soil. This study was conducted to identify the potential of Dendrocalamus asper in phytofiltering metal elements from the mining sites such as the Chini watershed in Pahang. Dendrocalamus asper was grown in a greenhouse with several applications of bamboo biochar (BB) and EDTA in addition to the efficiency test in reducing soil contaminants for 100 days. The present study found Dendrocalamus asper with the addition of BB+EDTA had reduced 37.44% Fe, 43.72% As, 79.27% Pb, 22.67% Cd, and 48.60% Al concentration in the soil. The same treatment also showed a higher plant accumulation of metal concentrations Pb (31-fold) followed by Al (1.3-fold), Cr (1.3-fold), As (1.05-fold), Fe (82%) and Cd (81%) compared to the control. Growing bamboo with the combination of BB+EDTA was found to be useful for Pb phytoextraction and suitable as a phytostabiliser for Al, Fe, As, Cr and Cd. The understanding in the potential of Dendrocalamus asper in reducing soil contaminants may benefit stakeholders in managing and r estoring contaminated sites in the fut ure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhododendron formosum Wall. is an endemic plant to Eastern Himalaya (Meghalaya). Due to excessive collection from its natural habitat and deforestation, its populations have been reduced to a great extent and are becoming a rare sight in the wild. The present study was designed to establish a sustainable regeneration protocol to yield large-scale propagation of R. formosum and the genetic stability of regenerated plants was ascertained using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) primers. The highest percentage (91%) of seed germination was observed in Woody Plant medium (WPM), followed by 87.20% and 70.80% in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and Anderson medium (AM), respectively. Furthermore, WPM basal medium was found to be beneficial for the growth of seedlings as it generated more healthy plants with well-grown leaves. WPM medium supplemented with 2iP (2.0 mg L−1) recorded a maximum number of shoot proliferation (8.3 ± 0.95 shoots/explant) with the highest mean shoot length (1.2 cm). NAA (0.5 mg L−1)-enriched WPM produced the highest number of roots (5.1 ± 0.47) per explant, with an average root length of 2.11 cm. An autoclaved compost mixture containing potting soil, soil inoculum, rotten wood, and leaf mold (3:1:1:1) was used as a potting medium for hardening and the survival percentage of in vitro-derived plants was about 70%. The genetic uniformity of regenerated plants was ascertained using ISSR primers, which recorded a 91.94% monomorphic banding pattern along with low levels of intra-clonal polymorphisms. A cluster dendrogram was obtained based on the ISSR banding profiles that exhibit genetic similarity among the micropropagated plants, as evidenced by the similarity coefficient, which ranged from 0.96 to 1.00. The present study optimized a rapid and cost-effective micropropagation protocol to conserve these plant resources as well as in vitro raised plants could be an excellent source for sustainable commercial utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Progress in the systematic studies of the olive family (Oleaceae) during the last two decades provides the opportunity to update its backbone phylogeny and to investigate its historical biogeography. We also aimed to understand the factors underlying the disjunct distribution pattern between East Asia and both West Asia and Europe that is found more commonly in this family than in any other woody plant family. Methods Using a sampling of 298 species out of ~750, the largest in a phylogenetic study of Oleaceae thus far, with a set of 36 plastid and nuclear markers, we reconstructed and dated a new phylogenetic tree based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods and checked for any reticulation events. We also assessed the relative support of four competing hypotheses [Qinghai–Tibet Plateau uplift (QTP-only hypothesis); climatic fluctuations (climate-only hypothesis); combined effects of QTP uplift and climate (QTP–climate hypothesis); and no effects (null hypothesis)] in explaining these disjunct distributions. Key Results We recovered all tribes and subtribes within Oleaceae as monophyletic, but uncertainty in the position of tribe Forsythieae remains. Based on this dataset, no reticulation event was detected. Our biogeographical analyses support the QTP–climate hypothesis as the likely main explanation for the East–West Eurasian disjunctions in Oleaceae. Our results also show an earlier origin of Oleaceae at ~86 Mya and the role of Tropical Asia as a main source of species dispersals. Conclusion Our new family-wide and extensive phylogenetic tree highlights both the stable relationships within Oleaceae, including the polyphyly of the genus Chionanthus , and the need for further systematic studies within the largest and most undersampled genera of the family (Chionanthus and Jasminum). Increased sampling will also help to fine-tune biogeographical analyses across spatial scales and geological times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]