Vegetation restoration and reconstruction are effective approaches to desertification control and achieving social and economic sustainability in desert areas.However,the self-succession ability of native plants durin...Vegetation restoration and reconstruction are effective approaches to desertification control and achieving social and economic sustainability in desert areas.However,the self-succession ability of native plants during the later periods of vegetation restoration remains unclear.Therefore,this study was conducted to bridge the knowledge gap by investigating the regeneration dynamics of artificial forest under natural conditions.The information of seed rain and soil seed bank was collected and quantified from an artificial Caragana korshinskii Kom.forest in the Tengger Desert,China.The germination tests were conducted in a laboratory setting.The analysis of species quantity and diversity in seed rain and soil seed bank was conducted to assess the impact of different durations of sand fixation(60,40,and 20 a)on the progress of vegetation restoration and ecological conditions in artificial C.korshinskii forest.The results showed that the top three dominant plant species in seed rain were Echinops gmelinii Turcz.,Eragrostis minor Host.,and Agropyron mongolicum Keng.,and the top three dominant plant species in soil seed bank were E.minor,Chloris virgata Sw.,and E.gmelinii.As restoration period increased,the density of seed rain and soil seed bank increased first and then decreased.While for species richness,as restoration period increased,it gradually increased in seed rain but decreased in soil seed bank.There was a positive correlation between seed rain density and soil seed bank density among all the three restoration periods.The species similarity between seed rain or soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation decreased with the extension of restoration period.The shape of the seeds,specifically those with external appendages such as spines and crown hair,clearly had an effect on their dispersal,then resulting in lower seed density in soil seed bank.In addition,precipitation was a crucial factor in promoting rapid germination,also resulting in lower seed density in soil seed bank.Our findings provide valuable insights for guiding future interventions during the later periods of artificial C.korshinskii forest,such as sowing and restoration efforts using unmanned aerial vehicles.展开更多
The maintenance of sand-fixing vegetation is important for the stability of artificial sand-fixing systems in which seed dispersal plays a key role.Based on field wind tunnel experiments using 11 common plant species ...The maintenance of sand-fixing vegetation is important for the stability of artificial sand-fixing systems in which seed dispersal plays a key role.Based on field wind tunnel experiments using 11 common plant species on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert,China,we studied the secondary seed dispersal in the fixed and semi-fixed sand dunes as well as in the mobile dunes in order to understand the limitations of vegetation regeneration and the maintenance of its stability.Our results indicated that there were significant variations among the selected 11 plant species in the threshold of wind speed(TWS).The TWS of Caragana korshinskii was the highest among the 11 plant species,whereas that of Echinops gmelinii was the lowest.Seed morphological traits and underlying surface could generally explain the TWS.During the secondary seed dispersal processes,the proportions of seeds that did not disperse(no dispersal)and only dispersed over short distance(short-distance dispersal within the wind tunnel test section)were significantly higher than those of seeds that were buried(including lost seeds)and dispersed over long distance(long-distance dispersal beyond the wind tunnel test section).Compared with other habitats,the mobile dunes were the most difficult places for secondary seed dispersal.Buried seeds were the easiest to be found in the semi-fixed sand dunes,whereas fixed sand dunes were the best sites for seeds that dispersed over long distance.The results of linear mixed models showed that after controlling the dispersal distance,smaller and rounder seeds dispersed farther.Shape index and wind speed were the two significant influencing factors on the burial of seeds.The explanatory power of wind speed,underlying surface,and seed morphological traits on the seeds that did not disperse and dispersed over short distance was far greater than that on the seeds that were buried and dispersed over long distance,implying that the processes and mechanisms of burial and long-distance dispersal are more complex.In summary,most seeds in the study area either did not move,were buried,or dispersed over short distance,promoting local vegetation regeneration.展开更多
Amaranthus retroflexus L. is a serious and widespread malignant weed in soybean fields in Heilongjiang Province. Exploring the dormancy characteristics of A. retroflexus L. seeds and the physiological response of its ...Amaranthus retroflexus L. is a serious and widespread malignant weed in soybean fields in Heilongjiang Province. Exploring the dormancy characteristics of A. retroflexus L. seeds and the physiological response of its seedlings to acifluorfen sodium can provide a basis for further researches on its resistance mechanism. Using newly harvested and stored A. retroflexus L. seeds for one year as experimental materials, the effects of different concentrations of HCl, NaOH, water temperature, gibberellic acid(GA) and polyethylene glycol(PEG) on the dormancy and germination of A. retroflexus L. seeds were studied. The sensitivity of A. retroflexus L.to acifluorfen sodium was determined using bioassay. The effects on leaf chlorophyll content and target enzyme activity were studied at a normal dosage of 360 g a.i. hm^(-2) and a doubling dosage of 720 g a.i. hm^(-2) of acifluorfen sodium. Newly harvested seeds exhibiting dormancy were soaked in water of various temperatures and in different concentrations of NaOH and HCl, which were ineffective in breaking the seed dormancy. GA could break seed dormancy, and the highest seed germination rate reached 93.33% when they were soaked at 3 000 mg·L^(-1) for 72 h and 4 000 mg·L^(-1) for 48 h. The drought stress was simulated with a 15%-25% polyethylene glycol solution, which had no significant effect on the seed germination rate. The GR_(50) value of acifluorfen sodium for A. retroflexus L. was 705.7 g a.i. hm^(-2), which was 1.96 times the recommended dose in the field. After the application of different doses of acifluorfen sodium, the chlorophyll content of A. retroflexus L. reached its minimum value 3 days after treatment(DAT), and then gradually increased. The activity of the target enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase(PPO) reached the highest value at 7 DAT under different dosages, and gradually returned to normal levels thereafter. Soaking with gibberellin was an effective method to break seed dormancy. A. retroflexus L. seeds had certain drought resistance during the germination process. A. retroflexus L. was not sensitive to acifluorfen sodium and acifluorfen sodium ether, and could not effectively inhibit the PPO activity, indicating that A. retroflexus L. had target resistance to acifluorfen sodium.展开更多
The seed storage materials accumulate during seed development,and are essential for seed germination and seedling establishment.Here we employed two bi-parental populations of an F2:3 population developed from a cross...The seed storage materials accumulate during seed development,and are essential for seed germination and seedling establishment.Here we employed two bi-parental populations of an F2:3 population developed from a cross of improved 220(I220,small seeds with low starch)and PH4CV(large seeds with high starch),as well as recombinant-inbred lines(RILs)of X178(high starch)and its improved introgression line I178(low starch),to identify the genes that control seed storage materials.We identified a total of 12 QTLs for starch,protein and oil,which explained 3.44-10.79%of the phenotypic variances.Among them,qSTA2-1 identified in F2:3 and qSTA2-2 identified in the RILs partially overlapped at an interval of 7.314-9.554 Mb,and they explained 3.44-10.21%of the starch content variation,so they were selected for further study.Fine mapping of qSTA2-2 with the backcrossed populations of ^(I220)/PH4CV in each generation narrowed it down to a 199.7 kb interval that contains 14 open reading frames(ORFs).Transcriptomic analysis of developing seeds from the near-isogenic lines(NILs)of ^(I220)/PH4CV(BC_(5)F_(2))showed that only 11 ORFs were expressed in 20 days after pollination(DAP)seeds.Five of them were upregulated and six of them were downregulated in NIL^(I220),and the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between NIL^(I220) and NIL^(PH4CV) were enriched in starch metabolism,hormone signal transduction and glycosaminoglycan degradation.Of the eleven NIL^(I220) differential expressed ORFs,ORF4(Zm00001d002260)and ORF5(Zm00001d002261)carry 75%protein sequence similarity,both encodes an glycolate oxidase,were the possible candidates of qSTA2-2.Further analysis and validation indicated that mutation of the qSTA2-2 locus resulted in the dysfunction of ABA accumulation,the embryo/endosperm ratio and the starch and hormone levels.展开更多
Zeolites have been widely used as catalysts,ion-exchangers,and adsorbents in chemical industries,detergent industry,steel industry,glass industry,ceramic industry,medical and healthfield,and environmentalfield,and recen...Zeolites have been widely used as catalysts,ion-exchangers,and adsorbents in chemical industries,detergent industry,steel industry,glass industry,ceramic industry,medical and healthfield,and environmentalfield,and recently applied in energy storage.Seed-assisted synthesis is a very effective approach in promoting the crystallization of zeolites.In some cases,the target zeolite cannot be formed in the absence of seed zeolite.In homologous seed-assisted synthesis,the structure of the seed zeolite is the same to that of the target zeolite,while the structure of the seed zeolite is different to that of the target zeolite in the heterologous seed-assisted synthesis.In this review,we briefly summarized the heterologous seed-assisted syntheses of zeolites and analyzed the structure-directing effect of heterologous seeds and surveyed the“common composite building units(CBUs)hypothesis”and the“common secondary building units(SBUs)hypothesis”.However,both hypotheses cannot explain all observations on the heterologous seed-assisted syntheses.Finally,we proposed that the formation of the target zeolite does need nuclei with the structure of target zeolite and the formation of the nuclei of the target zeolite can be promoted by either the undissolved seed crystals with the same CBUs or SBUs to the target zeolite or by the facilitated appropriate distribution of the specific building units due to the presence of the heterologous seed that does not have any common CBUs and SBUs with the target zeolite.展开更多
The yellow seed trait is preferred by breeders for its potential to improve the seed quality and commercial value of Brassica napus.In the present study,we produced yellow seed mutants using a CRISPR/Cas9 system when ...The yellow seed trait is preferred by breeders for its potential to improve the seed quality and commercial value of Brassica napus.In the present study,we produced yellow seed mutants using a CRISPR/Cas9 system when the two BnPAP2 homologs were knocked out.Histochemical staining of the seed coat demonstrated that proanthocyanidin accumulation was significantly reduced in the pap2 double mutants and decreased specifically in the endothelial and palisade layer cells of the seed coat.Transcriptomic and metabolite profiling analysis suggested that disruption of the BnPAP2 genes could reduce the expression of structural and regulated genes in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways.The broad suppression of these genes might hinder proanthocyanidin accumulation during seed development,and thereby causing the yellow seed trait in B.napus.These results indicate that BnPAP2 might play a vital role in the regulatory network controlling proanthocyanidin accumulation.展开更多
Pumpkin belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae,which comprises several species that has economical as well as agronomical importance.All parts of pumpkin are edible and laden with beneficial neutraceutical compounds.P...Pumpkin belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae,which comprises several species that has economical as well as agronomical importance.All parts of pumpkin are edible and laden with beneficial neutraceutical compounds.Pumpkin seeds are valuable source protein which can help in eradicating protein malnutrition and lipids(rich in PUFAs)contains essential as well as non essential fatty acids which prevents from various ailments like cancer and other cardiovascular diseases.Since,seeds of pumpkin are abundant in macro(magnesium,phosphorous,potassium,sodium and calcium)and micro minerals(iron,copper,manganese,zinc and selenium),they can be used as an incredible dietary supplement which in turn helps in curbing various deficiency disorders.This review enlightens the characteristics of pumpkin seeds,process of valorization of pumpkin seeds and the effect of processing on their nutritional composition which have been studied currently with the aim to use this wonder seeds for human wellbeing.Pumpkin seeds possess many bioactive compounds like polyphenols,flavonoids,phytosterols and squalene which makes it a lucrative raw material for pharmacological and food industries.Pumpkin seeds work as anti-depressant and helps majorly in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia(BHP).Daily consumption of pumpkin seeds can reduce the chances of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.Pumpkin seeds are rich in tocopherols and can be used for oil extraction for edible purposes and utilized in other food formulations for future use.展开更多
A weed is a plant that thrives in areas of human disturbance, such as gardens, fields, pastures, waysides, and waste places where it is not intentionally cultivated. Dispersal affects community dynamics and vegetation...A weed is a plant that thrives in areas of human disturbance, such as gardens, fields, pastures, waysides, and waste places where it is not intentionally cultivated. Dispersal affects community dynamics and vegetation response to global change. The process of seed disposal is influenced by wind, which plays a crucial role in determining the distance and probability of seed dispersal. Existing models of seed dispersal consider wind direction but fail to incorporate wind intensity. In this paper, a novel seed disposal model was proposed in this paper, incorporating wind intensity based on relevant references. According to various climatic conditions, including temperate, arid, and tropical regions, three specific regions were selected to establish a wind dispersal model that accurately reflects the density function distribution of dispersal distance. Additionally, dandelions growth is influenced by a multitude of factors, encompassing temperature, humidity, climate, and various environmental variables that necessitate meticulous consideration. Based on Factor Analysis model, which completely considers temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, wind, and land carrying capacity, a conclusion is presented, indicating that the growth of seeds is primarily influenced by plant attributes and climate conditions, with the former exerting a relatively stronger impact. Subsequently, the remaining two plants were chosen based on seed weight, yielding consistent conclusion.展开更多
The fruits of Dacryodes edulis are rich in biologically active substances, which makes them of great interest in terms of validation. In this study, we targeted the primary metabolites in the epicarp, the mesocarp and...The fruits of Dacryodes edulis are rich in biologically active substances, which makes them of great interest in terms of validation. In this study, we targeted the primary metabolites in the epicarp, the mesocarp and the seed of the fruit of Dacryodes edulis at taste maturity, which were selected for their nutritional quality and its appreciation throughout the Gulf of Guinea area, which is very popular because of its large size, texture and special taste. The evaluation of total carbohydrates, total lipids and soluble proteins in the epicarp, mesocarp and seed of the fruit at taste maturity was made from spectrophotometer measurements. The overall analysis of the results of the present study shows that total carbohydrates, total lipids and proteins accumulate more in the seed with respectively 251.33 ± 1.15 mg/g DM;9.92 ± 0.201 mg/g DM and 55.075 ± 0.024 mg/g DM. Likewise, the results indicate low concentrations of total carbohydrates and total lipids in the epicarp with respectively 245 ± 1 mg/g DM and 4.77 ± 0.047 mg/g DM, on the other hand, it is the mesocarp which presents the lowest content of soluble proteins: 28.075 ± 3.231 mg/g DM. This variation could be linked to the nature of the compartment, more particularly to the storage location. This comparative study could lead to the valorization of the seed of the fruit of Dacryodes edulis for its richness in metabolites and arouse significant interest in nutrition.展开更多
The aim of this study is to produce large quantities of yam tubers in the field from seed tubers derived from vitroplants regenerated from aerial stem cuttings and farmers’ tuber seeds. Seed tubers from ten yam culti...The aim of this study is to produce large quantities of yam tubers in the field from seed tubers derived from vitroplants regenerated from aerial stem cuttings and farmers’ tuber seeds. Seed tubers from ten yam cultivars, including five from Dioscorea alata (cDa083, cDa053, cDa115, cDa150 and cDa266) and five from Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata (cDr015, cDr027, cDr150, cDr206 and cDr148) with distinct agro-morphological characteristics, were used as material. A completely randomized block design with 3 replications was used. In each block, all cultivars and seed types were represented. When put into cultivation, the tubers produced by the vitroplants all germinated and gave 100% healthy plants, compared with 86% to 100% healthy plants for the seed tubers produced by the farmers. Yields per hectare ranged from 10 to 25 tonnes for seed tubers produced by in vitro plants, and from 4 to 9 tons for seed tubers produced by farmers. Seed tubers from vitroplants can therefore be recommended to farmers as a solution to the problem of seed tuber unavailability.展开更多
Plasticizers are essential additives in the processing of polyvinyl chloride(PVC),with phthalate plasticizers being widely used.However,these conventional plasticizers have been shown to be harmful to human health and...Plasticizers are essential additives in the processing of polyvinyl chloride(PVC),with phthalate plasticizers being widely used.However,these conventional plasticizers have been shown to be harmful to human health and environmentally unfriendly,necessitating the exploration of eco-friendly bio-based alternatives.In this study,Camellia oleifera seed oil,a specialty resource in China,was utilized as a raw material and reacted with 4,4′-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline)(AG-80)to synthesize Phenyl Camellia seed Oil Ester(PCSOE).PCSOE was employed as a plasticizer to prepare modified PVC films with varying concentrations,with the conventional plasticizer dioctyl phthalate(DOP)serving as a control.Experimental results demonstrate that PSCOE-plasticized PVC films exhibit enhanced hydrophilicity,tensile strength,and thermal stability compared to DOP-modified PVC films.The contact angle of PSCOE-plasticized PVC films ranges from 66.26°to 78.48°,which is generally lower than the contact angle of DOP-modified PVC films at 78.40°,indicating improved hydrophilicity due to the modification with PCSOE.The tensile strength of PSCOE-plasticized PVC films ranges from 17.73 to 20.17 MPa,all surpassing the value of 16.41 MPa for DOP-modified PVC films.Moreover,the temperatures corresponding to 5%,10%,and 50%weight loss for PVC samples modified with PCSOE are higher than those for DOP.Hence,PCSOE presents a viable alternative to DOP as a plasticizer for PVC materials.展开更多
[Objectives]This study was conducted to select suitable mixed seed coating agents for improving the quality of"grey-matter"hybrid rice seeds.[Methods]Three different mixed seed coating agents(A,B,C)were used...[Objectives]This study was conducted to select suitable mixed seed coating agents for improving the quality of"grey-matter"hybrid rice seeds.[Methods]Three different mixed seed coating agents(A,B,C)were used to coat the seeds of two varieties(Taiyou 390 and Zhenliangyou 8612)of hybrid rice with different"grey-matter"content(5%,15%,25%),and the results were investigated and compared.[Results]The combinations of treatment B(seed coating agent A+Linong)and treatment C(Manshijin+seed coating agent A)could significantly improve indexes including seed germination potential,germination rate,seed vigor,seedling height,fibrous roots and fresh weight of the two varieties with a"grey-matter"content greater than 15%,but had no significant effects on main root length,dry weight,leaf number and tiller number,and the effects of treatment B was better than those of treatment C.That is to say,mixed seed coating agent B(seed coating agent A+Linong)was suitable for use as a seed coating agent to improve the quality of"grey-matter"seeds.[Conclusions]This study provides a reference plan for the safe use of mixed seed batches with"grey-matter"deterioration.展开更多
Grassland degradation can alter the structure and function of ecosystem and soil seed bank.Therefore,estimating the role of soil seed bank in vegetation regeneration of degraded grasslands is crucial.We selected grass...Grassland degradation can alter the structure and function of ecosystem and soil seed bank.Therefore,estimating the role of soil seed bank in vegetation regeneration of degraded grasslands is crucial.We selected grasslands with three levels of degradation,namely non-degraded(ND),mildly degraded(MD),and heavily degraded(HD)to analyze the effect of grassland degradation on soil seed bank,as well as the role of soil seed bank on vegetation regeneration of the alpine grasslands,China.Soil samples from each level were collected in May,before seedling emergence,in August,after completion of transient seed bank germination,and in December,after seed dispersal,to determine the seed density and species composition through germination experiment.Result showed that a total of 35 plant species was identified,including 15 species observed in both soil seed bank and above-ground vegetation.A total of 19,15,and 14 species of soil seed bank were identified in December,May,and August,respectively.The most abundant species in soil seed bank were Compositae(5 species),followed by Poaceae(4 species),and Cyperaceae(3 species).Degradation level has no significant impact on species richness and Shannon-Wiener index of soil seed bank.In addition,sampling month and grassland degradation affected soil seed bank density,in which December>May>August,and ND>MD>HD,indicating that density of transient seed bank was greater than persistent seed bank.Soil seed bank density of surface layer(0–5 cm)accounting for 42%–72%of the total density,which was significantly higher than that of deep layer(5–10 cm).Similarity of species composition between vegetation and soil seed bank was low,and it increased with degradation level(ranged from 0.14 to 0.69).We concluded that grassland degradation affects soil seed bank density more than species diversity,and soil seed bank contributed slightly to vegetation regeneration of degraded alpine grassland.Therefore,it is unlikely that degraded alpine meadow can be restored solely through soil seed bank.展开更多
Background Direct seeding is potentially a more cost-effective alternative to conventional tree planting for restoring tropical forest ecosystems.However,seed loss,due to removal and damage by animals,can substantiall...Background Direct seeding is potentially a more cost-effective alternative to conventional tree planting for restoring tropical forest ecosystems.However,seed loss,due to removal and damage by animals,can substantially reduce seedling establishment.Therefore,this study examined the impact of seed predation on seedling establishment of five tree species,native to upland evergreen forests of northern Thailand:Hovenia dulcis,Alangium kurzii,Prunus cerasoides,Choerospondias axillaris and Horsfieldia amygdalina.We tested the hypothesis that excluding animals would significantly reduce seed removal,and increase both germination and seedling survival.The objective was to calculate a composite index of the relative suitability of the species studied for direct seeding.Methods Seeds were placed on the ground in a deforested site and subjected to five predator-exclusion treatments:wire cage,insecticide,cage+insecticide,open cage and no exclusion(control).Results Seed loss was highest for H.amygdalina(the largest seed tested).Across species,wire cages significantly reduced seed loss by 12.4%compared with controls(P<0.001)suggesting that vertebrates were the major seed predators.Seed germination ranged from 0 to 77%among the species tested.Based on relative species-performance scores(combining measures of survival and seedling growth),P.cerasoides was the most suitable species for direct seeding,followed by A.kurzii and C.axillaris,whilst H.dulcis and H.amygdalina were unsuitable.H.dulcis had small seeds with low seed germination,whereas H.amygdalina was subjected to high seed removal.Conclusion Exclusion of seed predators and the selection of suitable species may substantially increase the success of direct seeding,as a technique for restoring upland evergreen forest ecosystems.Testing more species for their suitability is needed,to provide more diverse options for forest restoration.展开更多
Nitrogen(N) and seeding rates are important factors affecting grain yield and N use efficiency(NUE) in directseeded rice. However, these factors have not been adequately investigated on direct-seeded and double-season...Nitrogen(N) and seeding rates are important factors affecting grain yield and N use efficiency(NUE) in directseeded rice. However, these factors have not been adequately investigated on direct-seeded and double-season rice(DDR) in Central China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various N and seeding rates on the grain yield and NUE of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Field experiments were conducted in 2018 in Wuxue County and 2019 in Qichun County, Hubei Province, China with four N rates and three seeding rates.The results showed that the grain yield of the ultrashort-duration variety ranged from 6.32 to 8.23 t ha–1with a total growth duration of 85 to 97 days across all treatments with N application. Grain yield was increased significantly by N application in most cases, but seeding rate had an inconsistent effect on grain yield. Furthermore, the response of grain yield to the N rates was much higher than the response to seeding rates. The moderate N rates of 100–150 and 70–120 kg N ha–1in the early and late seasons, respectively, could fully express the yield potential of the ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Remarkably higher N responses and agronomic NUE levels were achieved in the early-season rice compared with the late-season rice due to the difference in indigenous soil N supply capacity(INS) between the two seasons. Seasonal differences in INS and N response should be considered when crop management practices are optimized for achieving high grain yield and NUE in ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR.展开更多
Agro seeds are vulnerable to environmental stressors,adversely affecting seed vigor,crop growth,and crop productivity.Different agrochemical-based seed treatments enhance seed germination,but they can also cause damag...Agro seeds are vulnerable to environmental stressors,adversely affecting seed vigor,crop growth,and crop productivity.Different agrochemical-based seed treatments enhance seed germination,but they can also cause damage to the environment;therefore,sustainable technologies such as nano-based agrochemicals are urgently needed.Nanoagrochemicals can reduce the dose-dependent toxicity of seed treatment,thereby improving seed viability and ensuring the controlled release of nanoagrochemical active ingredients However,the applications of nanoagrochemicals to plants in the field raise concerns about nanomaterial safety,exposure levels,and toxicological implications to the environment and human health.In the present comprehensive review,the development,scope,challenges,and risk assessments of nanoagrochemicals on seed treatment are discussed.Moreover,the implementation obstacles for nanoagrochemicals use in seed treatments,their commercialization potential,and the need for policy regulations to assess possible risks are also discussed.Based on our knowledge,this is the first time that we have presented legendary literature to readers in order to help them gain a deeper understanding of upcoming nanotechnologies that may enable the development of future generation seed treatment agrochemical formulations,their scope,and potential risks associated with seed treatment.展开更多
Brassica napus(B.napus)is a globally significant oilseed crop,making a substantial contribution to both human oil and livestock feed production.Enhancing seed weight is crucial for improving rapeseed yield;however,onl...Brassica napus(B.napus)is a globally significant oilseed crop,making a substantial contribution to both human oil and livestock feed production.Enhancing seed weight is crucial for improving rapeseed yield;however,only a limited number of seed weight-related genes have been functionally validated in B.napus thus far.UBIQUITINSPECIFIC PROTEASE 15(UBP15)belongs to the ubiquitin protease pathway and plays a maternal role in prolonging seed development in Arabidopsis.The potential utilization of UBP15 for enhancing seed yield in B.napus has remained unexplored until now.In this study,we identified the orthologs of UBP15 in B.napus and investigated its functionality using the CRISPR-Cas9 system.We generated mutant plants with multiple editing types targeting Bnaubp15s and successfully isolated T-DNA-free homozygous mutant lines that exhibited edits across four homologs of BnaUBP15 in T2 generation plants.Our preliminary data demonstrated that mutation of BnaUBP15s significantly reduced seed size,seed weight,and plant height while noticeably increasing the number of primary branches.These findings not only provide crucial evidence for further elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of seed weight and size by BnaUBP15s but also offer promising novel germplasm for enhancing plant architecture.展开更多
Abscisic acid(ABA)is involved in regulating diverse biological processes,but its signal transduction genes and roles in hemp seed germination are not well known.Here,the ABA signaling pathway members,PYL,PP2C and SnRK...Abscisic acid(ABA)is involved in regulating diverse biological processes,but its signal transduction genes and roles in hemp seed germination are not well known.Here,the ABA signaling pathway members,PYL,PP2C and SnRK2 gene families,were identified from the hemp reference genome,including 7 CsPYL(pyrab-actin resistance1-like,ABA receptor),8 CsPP2CA(group A protein phosphatase 2c),and 7 CsSnRK2(sucrose nonfermenting1-related protein kinase 2).The content of ABA in hemp seeds in germination stage is lower than that in non-germination stage.Exogenous ABA(1 or 10μM)treatment had a significant regulatory effect on the selected PYL,PP2C,SnRK2 gene families.CsAHG3 and CsHAI1 were most significantly affected by exogenous ABA treatment.Yeast two-hybrid experiments were performed to reveal that CsPYL5,CsSnRK2.2,and CsSnRK2.3 could interact with CsPP2CA7 and demonstrate that this interaction was ABA-independent.Our results indicated that CsPYL5,CsSnRK2.2,CsSnRK2.3 and CsPP2CA7 might involve in the ABA signaling transduction pathway of hemp seeds during the hemp seed germination stages.This study suggested that novel genetic views can be brought into investigation of ABA signaling pathway in hemp seeds and lay the foundation for further exploration of the mechanism of hemp seed germination.展开更多
In Burkina Faso, the seeds of Balanites aegyptiaca have been considered to be potentially high lipid, protein and mineral sources but seem to be neglected and sometimes unknown by communities. This study aims to compl...In Burkina Faso, the seeds of Balanites aegyptiaca have been considered to be potentially high lipid, protein and mineral sources but seem to be neglected and sometimes unknown by communities. This study aims to complete data on seed oil and detail on amino acids and minerals composition of the seed of B. aegyptiaca for better use. Physicochemical parameters such as moisture and ash content, saponification index, iodine, acid value, peroxide value and the melting point were determined. Seed oil triglycerides, fatty acids and amino acids have been estimated throughout this study. The moisture and ash content were 3.70% ± 0.1% and 2.90% ± 0.2%, respectively. The saponification and iodine values were respectively 181.96 ± 0.4 mg KOH/g of oil and 104.86 ± 0.6 g of iodine/100 g of oil. Polyunsaturated fatty acid content (50.94%) was the most important. Triglyceride (LLO, 22.4%) was the major triglyceride. 9 essential amino acids and 9 non-essential amino acids were identified. Phenylalanine (11697.82 ± 0.00 mg/kg) was the most important essential amino acid. The content of 21 minerals was determined and the most important was potassium (9323.13 ± 0.01 mg/kg). Ca/P, Ca/Mg, Ca/Mg and Na/K ratios were 0.34;1.18;0.04 and 0.19 respectively. B. aegyptiaca seed oil is a source of multiple nutritional values and can be used by the population for multipurpose.展开更多
基金funded by the General Project of Key R&D Plan of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China(2021BEG03008,2022BEG02012)the Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent Project of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region(2021GKLRLX13)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31760707).
文摘Vegetation restoration and reconstruction are effective approaches to desertification control and achieving social and economic sustainability in desert areas.However,the self-succession ability of native plants during the later periods of vegetation restoration remains unclear.Therefore,this study was conducted to bridge the knowledge gap by investigating the regeneration dynamics of artificial forest under natural conditions.The information of seed rain and soil seed bank was collected and quantified from an artificial Caragana korshinskii Kom.forest in the Tengger Desert,China.The germination tests were conducted in a laboratory setting.The analysis of species quantity and diversity in seed rain and soil seed bank was conducted to assess the impact of different durations of sand fixation(60,40,and 20 a)on the progress of vegetation restoration and ecological conditions in artificial C.korshinskii forest.The results showed that the top three dominant plant species in seed rain were Echinops gmelinii Turcz.,Eragrostis minor Host.,and Agropyron mongolicum Keng.,and the top three dominant plant species in soil seed bank were E.minor,Chloris virgata Sw.,and E.gmelinii.As restoration period increased,the density of seed rain and soil seed bank increased first and then decreased.While for species richness,as restoration period increased,it gradually increased in seed rain but decreased in soil seed bank.There was a positive correlation between seed rain density and soil seed bank density among all the three restoration periods.The species similarity between seed rain or soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation decreased with the extension of restoration period.The shape of the seeds,specifically those with external appendages such as spines and crown hair,clearly had an effect on their dispersal,then resulting in lower seed density in soil seed bank.In addition,precipitation was a crucial factor in promoting rapid germination,also resulting in lower seed density in soil seed bank.Our findings provide valuable insights for guiding future interventions during the later periods of artificial C.korshinskii forest,such as sowing and restoration efforts using unmanned aerial vehicles.
基金supported by the Key R&D Program of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China(2021BEG03008)the Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China(2021AAC03083).
文摘The maintenance of sand-fixing vegetation is important for the stability of artificial sand-fixing systems in which seed dispersal plays a key role.Based on field wind tunnel experiments using 11 common plant species on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert,China,we studied the secondary seed dispersal in the fixed and semi-fixed sand dunes as well as in the mobile dunes in order to understand the limitations of vegetation regeneration and the maintenance of its stability.Our results indicated that there were significant variations among the selected 11 plant species in the threshold of wind speed(TWS).The TWS of Caragana korshinskii was the highest among the 11 plant species,whereas that of Echinops gmelinii was the lowest.Seed morphological traits and underlying surface could generally explain the TWS.During the secondary seed dispersal processes,the proportions of seeds that did not disperse(no dispersal)and only dispersed over short distance(short-distance dispersal within the wind tunnel test section)were significantly higher than those of seeds that were buried(including lost seeds)and dispersed over long distance(long-distance dispersal beyond the wind tunnel test section).Compared with other habitats,the mobile dunes were the most difficult places for secondary seed dispersal.Buried seeds were the easiest to be found in the semi-fixed sand dunes,whereas fixed sand dunes were the best sites for seeds that dispersed over long distance.The results of linear mixed models showed that after controlling the dispersal distance,smaller and rounder seeds dispersed farther.Shape index and wind speed were the two significant influencing factors on the burial of seeds.The explanatory power of wind speed,underlying surface,and seed morphological traits on the seeds that did not disperse and dispersed over short distance was far greater than that on the seeds that were buried and dispersed over long distance,implying that the processes and mechanisms of burial and long-distance dispersal are more complex.In summary,most seeds in the study area either did not move,were buried,or dispersed over short distance,promoting local vegetation regeneration.
基金Supported by the National Major Special Project for the Cultivation of New Genetically Modified Biological Varieties(Topic ZX08011-003)。
文摘Amaranthus retroflexus L. is a serious and widespread malignant weed in soybean fields in Heilongjiang Province. Exploring the dormancy characteristics of A. retroflexus L. seeds and the physiological response of its seedlings to acifluorfen sodium can provide a basis for further researches on its resistance mechanism. Using newly harvested and stored A. retroflexus L. seeds for one year as experimental materials, the effects of different concentrations of HCl, NaOH, water temperature, gibberellic acid(GA) and polyethylene glycol(PEG) on the dormancy and germination of A. retroflexus L. seeds were studied. The sensitivity of A. retroflexus L.to acifluorfen sodium was determined using bioassay. The effects on leaf chlorophyll content and target enzyme activity were studied at a normal dosage of 360 g a.i. hm^(-2) and a doubling dosage of 720 g a.i. hm^(-2) of acifluorfen sodium. Newly harvested seeds exhibiting dormancy were soaked in water of various temperatures and in different concentrations of NaOH and HCl, which were ineffective in breaking the seed dormancy. GA could break seed dormancy, and the highest seed germination rate reached 93.33% when they were soaked at 3 000 mg·L^(-1) for 72 h and 4 000 mg·L^(-1) for 48 h. The drought stress was simulated with a 15%-25% polyethylene glycol solution, which had no significant effect on the seed germination rate. The GR_(50) value of acifluorfen sodium for A. retroflexus L. was 705.7 g a.i. hm^(-2), which was 1.96 times the recommended dose in the field. After the application of different doses of acifluorfen sodium, the chlorophyll content of A. retroflexus L. reached its minimum value 3 days after treatment(DAT), and then gradually increased. The activity of the target enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase(PPO) reached the highest value at 7 DAT under different dosages, and gradually returned to normal levels thereafter. Soaking with gibberellin was an effective method to break seed dormancy. A. retroflexus L. seeds had certain drought resistance during the germination process. A. retroflexus L. was not sensitive to acifluorfen sodium and acifluorfen sodium ether, and could not effectively inhibit the PPO activity, indicating that A. retroflexus L. had target resistance to acifluorfen sodium.
基金supported by grants from the STI 2030-Major Projects,China(2022ZD040190101,2022ZD040190502)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072130,32272162 and 31701437)+1 种基金the Project of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City,China(SCKJ-JYRC-2023-64)the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University,and the China Agriculture Research System(CARS-02-13)。
文摘The seed storage materials accumulate during seed development,and are essential for seed germination and seedling establishment.Here we employed two bi-parental populations of an F2:3 population developed from a cross of improved 220(I220,small seeds with low starch)and PH4CV(large seeds with high starch),as well as recombinant-inbred lines(RILs)of X178(high starch)and its improved introgression line I178(low starch),to identify the genes that control seed storage materials.We identified a total of 12 QTLs for starch,protein and oil,which explained 3.44-10.79%of the phenotypic variances.Among them,qSTA2-1 identified in F2:3 and qSTA2-2 identified in the RILs partially overlapped at an interval of 7.314-9.554 Mb,and they explained 3.44-10.21%of the starch content variation,so they were selected for further study.Fine mapping of qSTA2-2 with the backcrossed populations of ^(I220)/PH4CV in each generation narrowed it down to a 199.7 kb interval that contains 14 open reading frames(ORFs).Transcriptomic analysis of developing seeds from the near-isogenic lines(NILs)of ^(I220)/PH4CV(BC_(5)F_(2))showed that only 11 ORFs were expressed in 20 days after pollination(DAP)seeds.Five of them were upregulated and six of them were downregulated in NIL^(I220),and the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between NIL^(I220) and NIL^(PH4CV) were enriched in starch metabolism,hormone signal transduction and glycosaminoglycan degradation.Of the eleven NIL^(I220) differential expressed ORFs,ORF4(Zm00001d002260)and ORF5(Zm00001d002261)carry 75%protein sequence similarity,both encodes an glycolate oxidase,were the possible candidates of qSTA2-2.Further analysis and validation indicated that mutation of the qSTA2-2 locus resulted in the dysfunction of ABA accumulation,the embryo/endosperm ratio and the starch and hormone levels.
基金support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFA1500401,2021YFA1501202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22288101)the 111 Project(B17020)for supporting this work.
文摘Zeolites have been widely used as catalysts,ion-exchangers,and adsorbents in chemical industries,detergent industry,steel industry,glass industry,ceramic industry,medical and healthfield,and environmentalfield,and recently applied in energy storage.Seed-assisted synthesis is a very effective approach in promoting the crystallization of zeolites.In some cases,the target zeolite cannot be formed in the absence of seed zeolite.In homologous seed-assisted synthesis,the structure of the seed zeolite is the same to that of the target zeolite,while the structure of the seed zeolite is different to that of the target zeolite in the heterologous seed-assisted synthesis.In this review,we briefly summarized the heterologous seed-assisted syntheses of zeolites and analyzed the structure-directing effect of heterologous seeds and surveyed the“common composite building units(CBUs)hypothesis”and the“common secondary building units(SBUs)hypothesis”.However,both hypotheses cannot explain all observations on the heterologous seed-assisted syntheses.Finally,we proposed that the formation of the target zeolite does need nuclei with the structure of target zeolite and the formation of the nuclei of the target zeolite can be promoted by either the undissolved seed crystals with the same CBUs or SBUs to the target zeolite or by the facilitated appropriate distribution of the specific building units due to the presence of the heterologous seed that does not have any common CBUs and SBUs with the target zeolite.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971980,U19A2029)The science and technology innovation Program of Hunan Province,China(2023RC1077)+1 种基金the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Foundation of Hunan,China(2022CX55)the Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department,China(2021JC0007)。
文摘The yellow seed trait is preferred by breeders for its potential to improve the seed quality and commercial value of Brassica napus.In the present study,we produced yellow seed mutants using a CRISPR/Cas9 system when the two BnPAP2 homologs were knocked out.Histochemical staining of the seed coat demonstrated that proanthocyanidin accumulation was significantly reduced in the pap2 double mutants and decreased specifically in the endothelial and palisade layer cells of the seed coat.Transcriptomic and metabolite profiling analysis suggested that disruption of the BnPAP2 genes could reduce the expression of structural and regulated genes in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways.The broad suppression of these genes might hinder proanthocyanidin accumulation during seed development,and thereby causing the yellow seed trait in B.napus.These results indicate that BnPAP2 might play a vital role in the regulatory network controlling proanthocyanidin accumulation.
基金The authors would like to thank Harcourt Butler Technical University,Kanpur India for providing infrastructure,guidance,knowledge and support.
文摘Pumpkin belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae,which comprises several species that has economical as well as agronomical importance.All parts of pumpkin are edible and laden with beneficial neutraceutical compounds.Pumpkin seeds are valuable source protein which can help in eradicating protein malnutrition and lipids(rich in PUFAs)contains essential as well as non essential fatty acids which prevents from various ailments like cancer and other cardiovascular diseases.Since,seeds of pumpkin are abundant in macro(magnesium,phosphorous,potassium,sodium and calcium)and micro minerals(iron,copper,manganese,zinc and selenium),they can be used as an incredible dietary supplement which in turn helps in curbing various deficiency disorders.This review enlightens the characteristics of pumpkin seeds,process of valorization of pumpkin seeds and the effect of processing on their nutritional composition which have been studied currently with the aim to use this wonder seeds for human wellbeing.Pumpkin seeds possess many bioactive compounds like polyphenols,flavonoids,phytosterols and squalene which makes it a lucrative raw material for pharmacological and food industries.Pumpkin seeds work as anti-depressant and helps majorly in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia(BHP).Daily consumption of pumpkin seeds can reduce the chances of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.Pumpkin seeds are rich in tocopherols and can be used for oil extraction for edible purposes and utilized in other food formulations for future use.
文摘A weed is a plant that thrives in areas of human disturbance, such as gardens, fields, pastures, waysides, and waste places where it is not intentionally cultivated. Dispersal affects community dynamics and vegetation response to global change. The process of seed disposal is influenced by wind, which plays a crucial role in determining the distance and probability of seed dispersal. Existing models of seed dispersal consider wind direction but fail to incorporate wind intensity. In this paper, a novel seed disposal model was proposed in this paper, incorporating wind intensity based on relevant references. According to various climatic conditions, including temperate, arid, and tropical regions, three specific regions were selected to establish a wind dispersal model that accurately reflects the density function distribution of dispersal distance. Additionally, dandelions growth is influenced by a multitude of factors, encompassing temperature, humidity, climate, and various environmental variables that necessitate meticulous consideration. Based on Factor Analysis model, which completely considers temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, wind, and land carrying capacity, a conclusion is presented, indicating that the growth of seeds is primarily influenced by plant attributes and climate conditions, with the former exerting a relatively stronger impact. Subsequently, the remaining two plants were chosen based on seed weight, yielding consistent conclusion.
文摘The fruits of Dacryodes edulis are rich in biologically active substances, which makes them of great interest in terms of validation. In this study, we targeted the primary metabolites in the epicarp, the mesocarp and the seed of the fruit of Dacryodes edulis at taste maturity, which were selected for their nutritional quality and its appreciation throughout the Gulf of Guinea area, which is very popular because of its large size, texture and special taste. The evaluation of total carbohydrates, total lipids and soluble proteins in the epicarp, mesocarp and seed of the fruit at taste maturity was made from spectrophotometer measurements. The overall analysis of the results of the present study shows that total carbohydrates, total lipids and proteins accumulate more in the seed with respectively 251.33 ± 1.15 mg/g DM;9.92 ± 0.201 mg/g DM and 55.075 ± 0.024 mg/g DM. Likewise, the results indicate low concentrations of total carbohydrates and total lipids in the epicarp with respectively 245 ± 1 mg/g DM and 4.77 ± 0.047 mg/g DM, on the other hand, it is the mesocarp which presents the lowest content of soluble proteins: 28.075 ± 3.231 mg/g DM. This variation could be linked to the nature of the compartment, more particularly to the storage location. This comparative study could lead to the valorization of the seed of the fruit of Dacryodes edulis for its richness in metabolites and arouse significant interest in nutrition.
文摘The aim of this study is to produce large quantities of yam tubers in the field from seed tubers derived from vitroplants regenerated from aerial stem cuttings and farmers’ tuber seeds. Seed tubers from ten yam cultivars, including five from Dioscorea alata (cDa083, cDa053, cDa115, cDa150 and cDa266) and five from Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata (cDr015, cDr027, cDr150, cDr206 and cDr148) with distinct agro-morphological characteristics, were used as material. A completely randomized block design with 3 replications was used. In each block, all cultivars and seed types were represented. When put into cultivation, the tubers produced by the vitroplants all germinated and gave 100% healthy plants, compared with 86% to 100% healthy plants for the seed tubers produced by the farmers. Yields per hectare ranged from 10 to 25 tonnes for seed tubers produced by in vitro plants, and from 4 to 9 tons for seed tubers produced by farmers. Seed tubers from vitroplants can therefore be recommended to farmers as a solution to the problem of seed tuber unavailability.
基金funded by the Scarce and Quality Economic Forest Engineering Technology Research Center(2022GCZX002)the Key Lab.of Biomass Energy and Material,Jiangsu Province(Grant No.JSBEM-S-202305).
文摘Plasticizers are essential additives in the processing of polyvinyl chloride(PVC),with phthalate plasticizers being widely used.However,these conventional plasticizers have been shown to be harmful to human health and environmentally unfriendly,necessitating the exploration of eco-friendly bio-based alternatives.In this study,Camellia oleifera seed oil,a specialty resource in China,was utilized as a raw material and reacted with 4,4′-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline)(AG-80)to synthesize Phenyl Camellia seed Oil Ester(PCSOE).PCSOE was employed as a plasticizer to prepare modified PVC films with varying concentrations,with the conventional plasticizer dioctyl phthalate(DOP)serving as a control.Experimental results demonstrate that PSCOE-plasticized PVC films exhibit enhanced hydrophilicity,tensile strength,and thermal stability compared to DOP-modified PVC films.The contact angle of PSCOE-plasticized PVC films ranges from 66.26°to 78.48°,which is generally lower than the contact angle of DOP-modified PVC films at 78.40°,indicating improved hydrophilicity due to the modification with PCSOE.The tensile strength of PSCOE-plasticized PVC films ranges from 17.73 to 20.17 MPa,all surpassing the value of 16.41 MPa for DOP-modified PVC films.Moreover,the temperatures corresponding to 5%,10%,and 50%weight loss for PVC samples modified with PCSOE are higher than those for DOP.Hence,PCSOE presents a viable alternative to DOP as a plasticizer for PVC materials.
基金Supported by Changsha Science and Technology Major Project(kh2201219)Special Project of the Central Government Guiding Local Science and Technology Development(2023ZYC010)。
文摘[Objectives]This study was conducted to select suitable mixed seed coating agents for improving the quality of"grey-matter"hybrid rice seeds.[Methods]Three different mixed seed coating agents(A,B,C)were used to coat the seeds of two varieties(Taiyou 390 and Zhenliangyou 8612)of hybrid rice with different"grey-matter"content(5%,15%,25%),and the results were investigated and compared.[Results]The combinations of treatment B(seed coating agent A+Linong)and treatment C(Manshijin+seed coating agent A)could significantly improve indexes including seed germination potential,germination rate,seed vigor,seedling height,fibrous roots and fresh weight of the two varieties with a"grey-matter"content greater than 15%,but had no significant effects on main root length,dry weight,leaf number and tiller number,and the effects of treatment B was better than those of treatment C.That is to say,mixed seed coating agent B(seed coating agent A+Linong)was suitable for use as a seed coating agent to improve the quality of"grey-matter"seeds.[Conclusions]This study provides a reference plan for the safe use of mixed seed batches with"grey-matter"deterioration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31960279)the Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province, China (21JR11RA018)+1 种基金the Special Project for Central Universities to Build World-class Universities/Disciplines, and Characteristic Development GuidanceProgram for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of Ministry of Education, China (IRT_17R88)
文摘Grassland degradation can alter the structure and function of ecosystem and soil seed bank.Therefore,estimating the role of soil seed bank in vegetation regeneration of degraded grasslands is crucial.We selected grasslands with three levels of degradation,namely non-degraded(ND),mildly degraded(MD),and heavily degraded(HD)to analyze the effect of grassland degradation on soil seed bank,as well as the role of soil seed bank on vegetation regeneration of the alpine grasslands,China.Soil samples from each level were collected in May,before seedling emergence,in August,after completion of transient seed bank germination,and in December,after seed dispersal,to determine the seed density and species composition through germination experiment.Result showed that a total of 35 plant species was identified,including 15 species observed in both soil seed bank and above-ground vegetation.A total of 19,15,and 14 species of soil seed bank were identified in December,May,and August,respectively.The most abundant species in soil seed bank were Compositae(5 species),followed by Poaceae(4 species),and Cyperaceae(3 species).Degradation level has no significant impact on species richness and Shannon-Wiener index of soil seed bank.In addition,sampling month and grassland degradation affected soil seed bank density,in which December>May>August,and ND>MD>HD,indicating that density of transient seed bank was greater than persistent seed bank.Soil seed bank density of surface layer(0–5 cm)accounting for 42%–72%of the total density,which was significantly higher than that of deep layer(5–10 cm).Similarity of species composition between vegetation and soil seed bank was low,and it increased with degradation level(ranged from 0.14 to 0.69).We concluded that grassland degradation affects soil seed bank density more than species diversity,and soil seed bank contributed slightly to vegetation regeneration of degraded alpine grassland.Therefore,it is unlikely that degraded alpine meadow can be restored solely through soil seed bank.
基金This study was funded by the Thailand Research Fund(TRF Grant Number:MRG5980177),the Development and Promotion of Science and Technology Talents Project(Royal Thai Government Scholarship).Chiang Mai University partially supported this research,including the inputs of Stephen Elliott.
文摘Background Direct seeding is potentially a more cost-effective alternative to conventional tree planting for restoring tropical forest ecosystems.However,seed loss,due to removal and damage by animals,can substantially reduce seedling establishment.Therefore,this study examined the impact of seed predation on seedling establishment of five tree species,native to upland evergreen forests of northern Thailand:Hovenia dulcis,Alangium kurzii,Prunus cerasoides,Choerospondias axillaris and Horsfieldia amygdalina.We tested the hypothesis that excluding animals would significantly reduce seed removal,and increase both germination and seedling survival.The objective was to calculate a composite index of the relative suitability of the species studied for direct seeding.Methods Seeds were placed on the ground in a deforested site and subjected to five predator-exclusion treatments:wire cage,insecticide,cage+insecticide,open cage and no exclusion(control).Results Seed loss was highest for H.amygdalina(the largest seed tested).Across species,wire cages significantly reduced seed loss by 12.4%compared with controls(P<0.001)suggesting that vertebrates were the major seed predators.Seed germination ranged from 0 to 77%among the species tested.Based on relative species-performance scores(combining measures of survival and seedling growth),P.cerasoides was the most suitable species for direct seeding,followed by A.kurzii and C.axillaris,whilst H.dulcis and H.amygdalina were unsuitable.H.dulcis had small seeds with low seed germination,whereas H.amygdalina was subjected to high seed removal.Conclusion Exclusion of seed predators and the selection of suitable species may substantially increase the success of direct seeding,as a technique for restoring upland evergreen forest ecosystems.Testing more species for their suitability is needed,to provide more diverse options for forest restoration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971845 and 32101819)the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System(CARS-01-20)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2021M691179)。
文摘Nitrogen(N) and seeding rates are important factors affecting grain yield and N use efficiency(NUE) in directseeded rice. However, these factors have not been adequately investigated on direct-seeded and double-season rice(DDR) in Central China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various N and seeding rates on the grain yield and NUE of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Field experiments were conducted in 2018 in Wuxue County and 2019 in Qichun County, Hubei Province, China with four N rates and three seeding rates.The results showed that the grain yield of the ultrashort-duration variety ranged from 6.32 to 8.23 t ha–1with a total growth duration of 85 to 97 days across all treatments with N application. Grain yield was increased significantly by N application in most cases, but seeding rate had an inconsistent effect on grain yield. Furthermore, the response of grain yield to the N rates was much higher than the response to seeding rates. The moderate N rates of 100–150 and 70–120 kg N ha–1in the early and late seasons, respectively, could fully express the yield potential of the ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Remarkably higher N responses and agronomic NUE levels were achieved in the early-season rice compared with the late-season rice due to the difference in indigenous soil N supply capacity(INS) between the two seasons. Seasonal differences in INS and N response should be considered when crop management practices are optimized for achieving high grain yield and NUE in ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR.
文摘Agro seeds are vulnerable to environmental stressors,adversely affecting seed vigor,crop growth,and crop productivity.Different agrochemical-based seed treatments enhance seed germination,but they can also cause damage to the environment;therefore,sustainable technologies such as nano-based agrochemicals are urgently needed.Nanoagrochemicals can reduce the dose-dependent toxicity of seed treatment,thereby improving seed viability and ensuring the controlled release of nanoagrochemical active ingredients However,the applications of nanoagrochemicals to plants in the field raise concerns about nanomaterial safety,exposure levels,and toxicological implications to the environment and human health.In the present comprehensive review,the development,scope,challenges,and risk assessments of nanoagrochemicals on seed treatment are discussed.Moreover,the implementation obstacles for nanoagrochemicals use in seed treatments,their commercialization potential,and the need for policy regulations to assess possible risks are also discussed.Based on our knowledge,this is the first time that we have presented legendary literature to readers in order to help them gain a deeper understanding of upcoming nanotechnologies that may enable the development of future generation seed treatment agrochemical formulations,their scope,and potential risks associated with seed treatment.
基金This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1200400)National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072099,31971977).
文摘Brassica napus(B.napus)is a globally significant oilseed crop,making a substantial contribution to both human oil and livestock feed production.Enhancing seed weight is crucial for improving rapeseed yield;however,only a limited number of seed weight-related genes have been functionally validated in B.napus thus far.UBIQUITINSPECIFIC PROTEASE 15(UBP15)belongs to the ubiquitin protease pathway and plays a maternal role in prolonging seed development in Arabidopsis.The potential utilization of UBP15 for enhancing seed yield in B.napus has remained unexplored until now.In this study,we identified the orthologs of UBP15 in B.napus and investigated its functionality using the CRISPR-Cas9 system.We generated mutant plants with multiple editing types targeting Bnaubp15s and successfully isolated T-DNA-free homozygous mutant lines that exhibited edits across four homologs of BnaUBP15 in T2 generation plants.Our preliminary data demonstrated that mutation of BnaUBP15s significantly reduced seed size,seed weight,and plant height while noticeably increasing the number of primary branches.These findings not only provide crucial evidence for further elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of seed weight and size by BnaUBP15s but also offer promising novel germplasm for enhancing plant architecture.
基金funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Public Welfare Research Institutes(ZZ13-YQ049)the Scientific Research Project of Hainan Academician Innovation Platform(SQ2021PTZ0052)the National Key R&D Program of China from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(No.2019YFC1711100).
文摘Abscisic acid(ABA)is involved in regulating diverse biological processes,but its signal transduction genes and roles in hemp seed germination are not well known.Here,the ABA signaling pathway members,PYL,PP2C and SnRK2 gene families,were identified from the hemp reference genome,including 7 CsPYL(pyrab-actin resistance1-like,ABA receptor),8 CsPP2CA(group A protein phosphatase 2c),and 7 CsSnRK2(sucrose nonfermenting1-related protein kinase 2).The content of ABA in hemp seeds in germination stage is lower than that in non-germination stage.Exogenous ABA(1 or 10μM)treatment had a significant regulatory effect on the selected PYL,PP2C,SnRK2 gene families.CsAHG3 and CsHAI1 were most significantly affected by exogenous ABA treatment.Yeast two-hybrid experiments were performed to reveal that CsPYL5,CsSnRK2.2,and CsSnRK2.3 could interact with CsPP2CA7 and demonstrate that this interaction was ABA-independent.Our results indicated that CsPYL5,CsSnRK2.2,CsSnRK2.3 and CsPP2CA7 might involve in the ABA signaling transduction pathway of hemp seeds during the hemp seed germination stages.This study suggested that novel genetic views can be brought into investigation of ABA signaling pathway in hemp seeds and lay the foundation for further exploration of the mechanism of hemp seed germination.
文摘In Burkina Faso, the seeds of Balanites aegyptiaca have been considered to be potentially high lipid, protein and mineral sources but seem to be neglected and sometimes unknown by communities. This study aims to complete data on seed oil and detail on amino acids and minerals composition of the seed of B. aegyptiaca for better use. Physicochemical parameters such as moisture and ash content, saponification index, iodine, acid value, peroxide value and the melting point were determined. Seed oil triglycerides, fatty acids and amino acids have been estimated throughout this study. The moisture and ash content were 3.70% ± 0.1% and 2.90% ± 0.2%, respectively. The saponification and iodine values were respectively 181.96 ± 0.4 mg KOH/g of oil and 104.86 ± 0.6 g of iodine/100 g of oil. Polyunsaturated fatty acid content (50.94%) was the most important. Triglyceride (LLO, 22.4%) was the major triglyceride. 9 essential amino acids and 9 non-essential amino acids were identified. Phenylalanine (11697.82 ± 0.00 mg/kg) was the most important essential amino acid. The content of 21 minerals was determined and the most important was potassium (9323.13 ± 0.01 mg/kg). Ca/P, Ca/Mg, Ca/Mg and Na/K ratios were 0.34;1.18;0.04 and 0.19 respectively. B. aegyptiaca seed oil is a source of multiple nutritional values and can be used by the population for multipurpose.
