Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Justin M. Mathias, Tara W. Hudiburg
Summary: The use of stable isotopes to understand plant physiological processes has become common in ecology. However, there is currently no standardized tool to calculate isotope-derived plant physiological indices. In response, we developed isocalcR, an R package that provides functions and reference data to simplify the use of stable isotope data in plant tissues.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
James R. Ehleringer, Avery W. Driscoll
Summary: This study describes the establishment of Encelia farinosa and its relationship with precipitation and water use efficiency (iWUE). The survival of yearlings to adulthood was affected by cumulative precipitation, and higher iWUE values were associated with greater survival rates and larger plants. The study suggests that there is bi-directional selection for genotypic variations in iWUE values among E. farinosa.
Article
Horticulture
Tommaso Frioni, Joshua VanderWeide, Alberto Palliotti, Sergio Tombesi, Stefano Poni, Paolo Sabbatini
Summary: This study showed that foliar applications of A. nodosum extracts could be an alternative sustainable tool to improve grapevine physiological performances under mild-to-moderate water deficit and to preserve photosystems integrity and vineyard resilience when water limiting conditions get more severe.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Eleinis Avila-Lovera, Rosa Urich, Ilsa Coronel, Wilmer Tezara
Summary: Studying the functional traits of plant species during secondary succession in tropical dry woodlands is important for understanding the recovery of tropical dry forests (TDFs) from disturbance. This study found that there were functional similarities among plant species from different successional stages in a TDF, indicating that native species from the dry deciduous woodland stage could be used for restoration of degraded areas.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Chenli Hou, Delong Tian, Bing Xu, Jie Ren, Lei Hao, Ning Chen, Xianyue Li
Summary: This study conducted experiments in the Hetao irrigation district, Inner Mongolia, China, to evaluate the differences in soil water distribution, percolation, groundwater recharge, water consumption and water productivity between alfalfa and maize fields under the Returning Farmland to Grasslands (RFG) measure. The results showed that alfalfa increased water consumption, soil water consumption, and groundwater recharge compared to maize, leading to higher yield and water productivity. The study also revealed the different water sources utilized by alfalfa and maize in an arid shallow groundwater area.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuwen Xu, Di Song, Xingliang Qi, Muhammad Asad, Sui Wang, Xiaohong Tong, Yan Jiang, Shaodong Wang
Summary: This study analyzed the physiological responses and transcriptome changes of two soybean varieties under drought stress. The results showed that the drought-tolerant variety had smaller stomata, higher ABA content, and better water use efficiency. Additionally, it had fewer differentially expressed genes and specific pathways related to drought tolerance. This study deepened our understanding of the drought resistance mechanisms in soybeans and provided valuable references for breeding drought-resistant soybeans.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Thierry Klanvi Tovignan, Yasmeen Basha, Steffen Windpassinger, Sruthy Maria Augustine, Rod Snowdon, Stjepan Vukasovic
Summary: Understanding sorghum response to water stress at different developmental stages is crucial for improving drought tolerance in sorghum varieties. This study aimed to characterize the agro-physiological responses and water use of sorghum under different drought scenarios. The experiment used a DroughtSpotter facility to track real-time water use. The results showed that DS2 had a greater impact on green leaf number and plant leaf area, but delayed flowering compared to DS1. Moreover, DS2 had taller plants and higher biomass production. However, DS1R and WW treatments outperformed both DS1 and DS2 in terms of grain yield. Transpiration and photosynthetic rates decreased concurrently with stomatal conductance, indicating stomatal down-regulation. However, the increase in intercellular CO2 concentration suggested a non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis. Overall, DS2 had higher water use efficiency compared to WW and DS1 treatments, highlighting the importance of avoiding drought stress during the critical stage of growing point differentiation for better yield and water use efficiency.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Baoming Du, Ji Zheng, Huawei Ji, Yanhua Zhu, Jun Yuan, Jiahao Wen, Hongzhang Kang, Chunjiang Liu
Summary: Estimates of seasonal variation in plant stoichiometry and water use efficiency (WUE) are critical for predicting carbon and water fluxes over time. The study found that seasonal stoichiometry and WUE are closely linked to plant growth, with temperature being the main dynamic driver of water and nutrient cycles in forest ecosystems.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhou-Kang Li, Xue-Wei Gong, Jin-Long Wang, Yu-Dong Chen, Fei-Yi Liu, Han-Peng Li, Guang-Hui Lue
Summary: This study aimed to explore the physiological responses of Calligonum mongolicum to atmospheric water uptake, specifically focusing on the effects of foliar water uptake on shoot water status and photosynthesis. The results showed that C. mongolicum is capable of foliar water uptake, and the absorbed water can be transported downward through the xylem, improving branch water status and photosynthetic capacity. These findings provide a new perspective for understanding the drought survival mechanism of plants in arid environments.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Wei Ting Ma, Yong Zhi Yu, Xuming Wang, Xiao Ying Gong
Summary: Carbon isotope composition (delta C-13) is widely used to estimate the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) of plants, providing valuable insights into the functional response of plants to climate change. However, the current literature lacks comprehensive review papers on the theoretical basis, assumptions, and uncertainty of C-13-based iWUE models. This study presents different models and discusses their limitations, emphasizing the importance of understanding mesophyll conductance and post-photosynthetic fractionation for improving the accuracy of iWUE estimation.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Xue Wang, Wei-Long Zheng, Xiuzhi Ma, Fei-Hai Yu, Mai-He Li
Summary: Biochar has been used as a cost-effective amendment to improve soil water content and mitigate the effects of drought on plants. However, its effects on trees during longer drought durations are still not well understood. In this greenhouse experiment, we found that the growth of Pinus massoniana saplings decreased with longer drought duration, likely due to suppressed photosynthetic capacity. Surprisingly, biochar application decreased sapling survival and exacerbated the negative effects of drought duration on P. massoniana growth, possibly because it increased soil pH.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Geology
German Mora, Ana M. Carmo, William Elliott
Summary: The study explores the sensitivity of plant carbon isotope fractionation to changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, with some studies finding no effect while others show a strong dependency. Results suggest that Aptian gymnosperms utilized homeostatic adjustments with rising Ca, possibly involving increased carbon assimilation and/or stomatal closure. The similarity between Aptian and modern gymnosperms indicates that the processes regulating CO2 and water vapor exchange during photosynthesis have remained unchanged in gymnosperms over the past 128 million years.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yi Ning Xu, Xuming Wang, Yan Ran Sun, Hai Tao Liu, Lei Li, Rudi Schaufele, Hans Schnyder, Xiao Ying Gong
Summary: This study investigates the effect of vapour pressure deficit (VPD) on the CO2-concentrating mechanism and bundle-sheath leakiness of low-leakiness C4 species. The results show that high VPD leads to an increase in photosynthetic 13C discrimination and bundle-sheath leakiness, which are positively correlated with leaf nitrogen content and intrinsic water-use efficiency.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bonan Li, Stephen P. Good, Richard P. Fiorella, Catherine E. Finkenbiner, Gabriel J. Bowen, David C. Noone, Christopher J. Still, William R. L. Anderegg
Summary: Stable isotope ratios of H, O, and C are informative of environmental exchanges, especially δ13C for latent heat flux under arid and low annual precipitation conditions. These stable isotope datasets collected by NEON contribute valuable information about bulk environmental fluxes useful for interpreting biogeochemical and ecohydrological processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jie-Jun Xi, Si-Yuan Huang, Wei-Jie Liu, Shu He, Yuhui Chen, Xiu-Zhu Sun, Guo-Liang Pei, Jing Zhao, Jing Zhang, Pei-Zhi Yang, Tian-Ming Hu
Summary: The study demonstrates that Zygophyllum xanthoxylum efficiently enhances growth, reduces transpiration, and improves intrinsic water use efficiency and photosynthetic chlorophyll by accumulating Na+. By adjusting stomatal opening, CO2 intake, and light utilization efficiency, Z. xanthoxylum achieves more biomass production while using less water, providing valuable insights for enhancing agricultural production in water-limited areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Bruna Wurr Rodak, Douglas Siqueira Freitas, Leonardo Franco Bernardes, G. J. E. O. Lima, A. R. Reis, Jose Lavres Junior, Luiz Roberto Guimaraes Guilherme
Summary: The study found that nickel-enriched soil acidity amendments can have short-term positive effects on soybean yield and growth, but the efficacy of nickel decreases in the second year. By adjusting nickel fertilization, crop yield and base saturation can be improved, optimizing soil management practices over time.
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lucelia Borgo, Flavio Henrique Silveira Rabelo, Ilara Gabriela Frasson Budzinski, Thais Regiani Cataldi, Thiago Gentil Ramires, Patricia Dayane Carvalho Schaker, Alessandra Ferreira Ribas, Carlos Alberto Labate, Jose Lavres, Ann Cuypers, Ricardo Antunes Azevedo
Summary: Proline plays adaptive roles in plant tolerance to Cd-induced stress, with overproduction of proline leading to better metabolic adjustment and reduced oxidative stress. Endogenous overproduction of proline under stress-inducible promoters can enhance plant tolerance to Cd exposure.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Liamara Santos Masullo, Vitoria Duarte Derisso, Gislene Roberta Manarim, Alexandre de Vicente Ferraz, Jose Henrique Tertulino Rocha, Patricia Andressa de avila, Antonio Leite Florentino, Claudio Lima de Aguiar, Jose Lavres, Jose Leonardo de Moraes Goncalves
Summary: Micronutrient deficiencies can impact plant growth and productivity, leading to increased carbohydrates and decreased lignification in leaves, as well as reduced resistance to pests and pathogens.
Article
Plant Sciences
Caroline Figueiredo Oliveira, Eder Duarte Fanaya, Nikolas Souza Mateus, Jose Lavres, Elcio Ferreira Santos
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc supply on phosphorus uptake and utilization efficiency in different cotton cultivars. The results showed that a balanced supply of phosphorus and zinc promoted biomass accumulation, while an imbalanced supply reduced the accumulation of both nutrients in the shoots. Under low phosphorus supply, adequate zinc cultivations improved phosphorus utilization efficiency in certain cultivars. These findings suggest that agricultural management should consider different cultivars to achieve balanced mineral nutrition.
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fernando Giovannetti Macedo, Wanderley Jose de Melo, Arthur Bernardes Cecilio Filho, Elcio Ferreira Santos, Renata Beatriz Cruz, Mariana Belloti
Summary: The interaction between nickel (Ni) and calcium (Ca) can increase tomato yield and reduce the occurrence of blossom-end rot (BER). The study found that the application of nickel under sufficient calcium conditions can increase the nutrient content in tomato leaves, improve gas exchange, and enhance urease activity. The lowest glyoxalase activities were observed in plants grown with sufficient calcium and nickel doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg dm(-3). Therefore, the use of nickel at these doses should be considered in tomato fertilization programs focused on reducing BER.
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Ezio Nalinde Paulo, Fernando Shintate Galindo, Flavio Henrique Silveira Rabelo, Joaquim Jose Frazao, Jose Lavres
Summary: This study evaluated the efficiency of nitrification inhibitor DMPP on urea and ASN nitrogen sources in three tropical soils. The results showed that DMPP could delay the nitrification process and reduce nitrate losses, with a more significant effect on sandy-textured soils.
COMMUNICATIONS IN SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lucelia Borgo, Flavio Henrique Silveira Rabelo, Monica Lanzoni Rossi, Felipe Hipolito dos Santos, Maria Luiza Ginez Nogueira, Luis Reynaldo Ferracciu Alleoni, Francisco Scaglia Linhares, Jaco Vangronsveld, Jose Lavres
Summary: It has been found that selenium supply can affect the availability of cadmium and increase the tolerance of plants to cadmium. The interaction between cadmium and selenium, as well as the soil pH, has an impact on the plant's ability to extract cadmium and its growth.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Soil Science
Tiago Rodrigues Tavares, Budiman Minasny, Alex McBratney, Mauricio Roberto Cherubin, Gabriel Toledo Marques, Marcos Mantelli Ragagnin, Elton Eduardo Novais Alves, Jose Padarian, Jose Lavres, Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho
Summary: The timely diagnosis of plant-available soil nutrient contents is crucial in enhancing agricultural intensification and bridging yield gaps. There is a global demand for a practical and easy-to-use analytical tool capable of predicting the nutrient status of agricultural soils to make the soil chemical diagnosis faster, cheaper, and environmentally friendly. A growing body of research has highlighted the potential of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) sensors for monitoring the condition of agricultural soils. This study critically reviews current knowledge on the feasibility of using XRF sensors and suggests ways forward to predict plant-available soil nutrients.
Article
Forestry
Antonio Leite Florentino, Nikolas de Souza Mateus, Izaias Pinheiro Lisboa, Adam da Cruz Rodrigues, Alexandre de Vicente Ferraz, Liamara Santos Masullo, Jose Lavres, Jose Leonardo de Moraes Goncalves
Summary: Soil liming is an important strategy to reduce acidity and increase nutrient availability. Lime recommendation for eucalyptus aims to supply Ca and Mg, but it may also reduce metallic micronutrients content. Copper and zinc fertilization is recommended to replace the amount extracted from harvesting plant products. This study investigated the effects of lime and Cu plus Zn application on eucalyptus seedlings in terms of biomass production, leaf area, leaf pigments, as well as Cu and Zn concentration, accumulation, and distribution.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guillermo Esteban Santa-Maria, Jose Lavres, Gerardo Rubio
Summary: The concept of mineral plant nutrient needs to be redefined by considering three dimensions: ontology, practical rules, and consequences for human activities. Incorporating an evolutionary perspective can provide biological insight and integrate information from different disciplines. A new definition is proposed to account for the complexity and diverse biological activities related to mineral nutrients.
Article
Plant Sciences
Elcio Ferreira Santos, Caroline Oliveira Figueiredo, Mateus Andrey Pires Rocha, Maria Gabriela Dantas Bereta Lanza, Vinicius Martins Silva, Andre Rodrigues Reis
Summary: This study investigated the effects of selenium (Se) and phosphorus (P) interaction on cowpea plants. The results showed that adequate P supply increased dry mass production and Se concentration in shoots, roots, and grains. The interaction between Se and P also affected chlorophyll and carotenoids concentrations, and the combined application of Se and P increased total sugar concentration in the grain. However, low P supply decreased Se accumulation in cowpea seeds.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Gabriela Goncalves Moreira, Rodrigo Hakamada, Renato Meulman Leite de Silva, Cristiane Camargo Zani de Lemos, Antonio Leite Florentino, Jose Leonardo de Moraes Goncalves
Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate the losses, survival, uniformity, and growth of a clonal planting of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla in Brazil during a short rotation, based on the different morphological characteristics of the seedlings as indicators of quality. The quality of seedlings was positively correlated with stem diameter, leaf biomass, and PH50 at 60 days of age, but these relationships lost significance over time. Only the old seedlings showed a difference in wood volume compared to the other treatments during the 36 to 64 month period.
Article
Forestry
Nikolas de Souza Mateus, Eric Victor Oliveira Ferreira, Antonio Leite Florentino, Alexandre Vicente Ferraz, Jean-Christophe Domec, Lionel Jordan-Meille, Jose Albertino Bendassolli, Jose Leonardo Moraes Goncalves, Jose Lavres
Summary: Potassium (K) supply can enhance growth and improve osmotic adjustment in Eucalyptus seedlings under drought stress, by regulating leaf development, stomatal density, and leaf gas exchange parameters to increase water use efficiency.