Article
Plant Sciences
Rui Xu, Shundan Cheng, Jing Zhou, Mulualem Tigabu, Xiangqing Ma, Ming Li
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between leaf functional traits and C, N, P stoichiometry of Chinese fir from different geographical provenances, as well as their relationship with the main environmental factors. The results showed significant differences in intraspecific leaf traits among provenances, and these differences were related to geographical origin and environmental factors. These findings are important for evaluating the species' adaptation to climate change and developing long-term conservation strategies.
Article
Soil Science
Liming Yin, Tingshuang Zhang, Feike A. Dijkstra, Changfu Huo, Peng Wang, Weixin Cheng
Summary: The order of roots has a significant impact on the priming effect, with higher order roots showing higher decomposition rates and priming effects, as well as higher ratios of fungi to bacteria and enzyme activities. The difference in carbon:nitrogen ratio of litter may be the reason for these patterns.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Tingyu Xu, Xiang Niu, Bing Wang, Xiaohan Qiu, Ye Shou, Jiani Luo, Yajun Guo
Summary: Studying the variation and correlation of traits among provenances is important for selecting excellent provenances and understanding the acclimation mechanisms under climate change. This study found significant differences in functional traits and photosynthetic parameters among Cunninghamia lanceolata provenances, and that leaf functional traits can better reflect the variation of photosynthetic characteristic parameters. Precipitation appeared to be a key factor influencing intraspecific leaf traits' variability.
Article
Forestry
Qiulu Meng, Feng Fu, Jie Wang, Tuo He, Xiaomei Jiang, Yonggang Zhang, Yafang Yin, Ning Li, Juan Guo
Summary: Ray traits significantly differ between juvenile wood and mature wood in Pinus massonia and Cunninghamia lanceolata. Juvenile wood generally has more rays, larger ray spacing and ray number, smaller ray height and shorter ray cells compared to mature wood. Positive correlations between ray parenchyma cell length and ray tracheid length, and negative correlations of ray number and ray spacing with uniseriate ray height were found. Axial tracheid cell wall thickness also correlated with ray spacing, ray number, and ray parenchyma cell length.
Article
Forestry
Xin Yu, Xin Guan, Fuming Xiao, Weidong Zhang, Qingpeng Yang, Qingkui Wang, Silong Wang, Longchi Chen
Summary: Soil acidification is a major factor affecting the productivity of Chinese fir. This study shows that liming can alleviate aluminum toxicity, improve root investment efficiency, and enhance nutrient absorption capacity in Chinese fir seedlings.
Article
Agronomy
Qi Jiang, Linqiao Jia, Xiaohong Wang, Wangyuan Chen, Decheng Xiong, Shidong Chen, Xiaofei Liu, Zhijie Yang, Xiaodong Yao, Tingting Chen, Ailian Fan, Guangshui Chen, Yusheng Yang
Summary: This study found that warming shortens the lifespan of fine roots, while decreased soil moisture prolongs lifespan. In warm soil, fine roots become thinner and deeper, with increased emergence in winter and decreased emergence in summer. Additionally, carbon supply also affects fine root lifespan. The findings highlight the importance of considering temperature and its co-varying factors in predicting root lifespan under climate change.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Xin Liu, Shilin Ma, Zhaohui Jia, Muhammad Ramzan, Miaojing Meng, Jinping Wang, Chong Li, Yinlong Zhang, Jinchi Zhang
Summary: The effects of simulated sulfuric, nitric, and mixed acid rain on the root systems of Quercus acutissima and Cunninghamia lanceolata were investigated. The study found that different tree species had varied responses to acid rain, with the sulfur/nitrogen ratio being an important factor affecting plant root growth. This research may contribute to new strategies for the cultivation and protection of plantations in the future.
ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Haiyan Liang, Lidong Wang, Yanru Wang, Xiaoqiang Quan, Xiaoyu Li, Yaning Xiao, Xiaoli Yan
Summary: This study investigated the response of two tree species, Cunninghamia lanceolata and Schima superba, to different NH4+-N and NO3--N ratios. The results showed that the two species had different responses to different forms of nitrogen, and the mixed NH4+-N and NO3--N treatments were more beneficial for their growth and aboveground biomass accumulation.
Article
Forestry
Qingqing Liu, Zhijun Huang, Xiangqing Ma, Mulualem Tigabu, Xianshuang Xing, Shaofei Jin, Bo Liu
Summary: In this study, the effects of different light qualities on Cunninghamia lanceolata seedlings were investigated, showing significant impacts on seedling growth and development. Red light and far-red light were found to promote height increment, while blue light was unfavorable for root growth. Different light qualities also had varying effects on leaf area enlargement, root growth, axillary bud number, and stem elongation in the seedlings. Manipulating light quality and wavelength in controlled environments may enhance forest production efficiency and quality.
Article
Forestry
Bohan Chen, Jiao Wang, Xuan Duan, Fengxia Zhao, Weidong Zhang, Xin Guan, Longchi Chen, Qingkui Wang, Silong Wang, Qingpeng Yang
Summary: Nitrogen deposition affects the distribution of rhizodeposition-derived carbon in Chinese fir, leading to a decrease in its overall amount and distribution into different aggregate classes.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Linfeng Zhao, Jianliang Gao
Summary: This study analyzed the coefficient of variation and correlation of 33 Chinese fir clones to explore the genetic diversity and main factors affecting the evaluation of clonal traits. Results showed rich variation in tree height, central diameter, volume, and other growth traits among the clones. The study also identified important evaluation indexes for breeding and genetic improvement, with potential for selecting new Cunninghamia lanceolate varieties with increased yield.
PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Yingchun Liao, Houbao Fan, Xiaohua Wei, Huimin Wang, Fangfan Shen, Liang Hu, Yanyan Li, Huanying Fang, Rongzhen Huang
Summary: The first-order root traits play a crucial role in nutrient foraging for plants and can be influenced by environmental changes. Understanding the responses of root traits to varied environmental conditions is important for root resource foraging under environmental alternations.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fangyuan Bian, Yukui Wang, Baoli Duan, Zhizhuang Wu, Yuanbing Zhang, Yufang Bi, Anke Wang, Hao Zhong, Xuhua Du
Summary: The continuous planting of Cunninghamia lanceolata in soil can have negative effects on plant growth and physiological traits, especially when combined with low water content. However, certain cultivars, like the super cultivar in this study, show higher tolerance to these stress factors.
Article
Forestry
Meiqin Zha, Youzhi Han, Xiangrong Cheng
Summary: Functional traits and biomass allocation of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Phoebe bournei seedlings were studied under different mixing proportions. The study found that species composition and mixing proportion significantly affected the functional traits of the two species, and the increase in productivity in mixed plantations may be due to low rates of competition between the two species.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Wen-Sheng Bu, Fang-Chao Wang, Can-Can Zhang, Helge Bruelheide, Xiang-Min Fang, Hui-Min Wang, Fu-Sheng Chen
Summary: The study found that phosphorus fertilization significantly influences plant growth, especially showing more pronounced effects in different seasons. Phosphorus fertilization increases the P concentrations of needle and root, while also affecting the N concentration of roots. In addition, nitrogen fertilization has different impacts on basal area increment in different seasons. Overall, phosphorus fertilization contributes more significantly to basal area increment during both seasons.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Zhichao Xia, Yue He, Helena Korpelainen, Ulo Niinemets, Chunyang Li
Summary: The study revealed significant impacts of tree sex and neighbor effects on root phenolics and rhizosphere microbiomes, with greater variability in metabolic composition of females and improved diversity of bacteria and fungi in mixed plantations. Bacterial and fungal diversity were correlated with specific phenolic metabolites, showing positive responses to root benzoic acid and pinoresinol.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaojun Luo, Ling Qiao, Zhichao Xia, Jiaming Yu, Xiaozhou Wang, Juhong Huang, Chang Shu, Caijun Wu, Yi He
Summary: This study investigates the influence of different parameters on the plasmonic properties, refractive index sensitivities, and SERS enhancement abilities of Au NPLs using simulations and experiments. The results show that higher aspect ratios lead to higher refractive index sensitivities, and choosing lower order resonance modes benefits higher refractive index sensitivities. The SERS enhancement abilities of Au NPLs are highly dependent on the shape and aspect ratio.
Article
Ecology
Jiantong Liu, Xinyu Wang, Lin Liu, Xuefeng Wu, Zhichao Xia, Qingxue Guo
Summary: The study revealed distinct differences in rhizosphere soil bacterial community and nitrogen cycling functions between deciduous and evergreen trees, with root biomass having the most significant impact on these processes.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chao-Yong Wang, Lei-Lei Li, Scott J. Meiners, Chui-Hua Kong
Summary: Plants actively respond to their neighbors by altering root placement patterns, which involve root detection and interactions mediated by root-secreted functional metabolites. However, the chemically mediated root placement patterns and their underlying mechanisms remain unknown.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaojun Luo, Shutong Zhang, Zhichao Xia, Rui Tan, Qiuju Li, Ling Qiao, Yi He, Guoqi Zhang, Zhihong Xu
Summary: We developed a combined surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and colorimetric strategy for quantitating malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The method is based on a condensation reaction between 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP)-modified Au nanoflowers (Au NFs) and MDA, causing aggregation of the Au NFs and a color change from purple to blue. Additionally, a new Raman peak appeared at 1630 cm(-1) that correlated with MDA concentration, allowing for quantitative measurement based on SERS. The developed assay showed high sensitivity, selectivity, and a broad linear range, outperforming other optical and electrochemical methods.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Feng-Li Li, Xin Chen, Hui-Min Luo, Scott J. Meiners, Chui-Hua Kong
Summary: (-)-Loliolide acts as a root-secreted signal that modulates nicotine production and the expression of key genes involved in defense and flowering in tobacco-Arabidopsis co-culture, simultaneously mediating belowground and aboveground processes. This research reveals that root-secreted (-)-Loliolide can regulate plant defense and reproductive responses, providing important insights into plant-plant signaling interactions.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lei-Lei Li, Zheng Li, Yonggen Lou, Scott J. J. Meiners, Chui-Hua Kong
Summary: The production of defensive metabolites in plants can be induced by signaling chemicals released by neighboring plants. This study demonstrates that (-)-loliolide functions as a common belowground signal mediating chemical defense in plants, triggering the production of defensive compounds and the expression of defense-related genes. These findings provide critical insights into belowground signaling interactions in plants.
Article
Agronomy
Huan-Huan Zhao, Hong-Yu Li, Chui-Hua Kong
Summary: The interaction between herbicide-resistant barnyardgrass and rice is mediated by rhizosphere microbial communities. Resistant barnyardgrass recruits specific bacteria and fungi to enhance its stress tolerance, and the root exudates of barnyardgrass are correlated with the core microbes in rice rhizosphere soil. Modulating the rhizosphere microbiota may improve rice growth, increase crop productivity, and ensure sustainability.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Forestry
You Xu, Xin Chen, Le Ding, Chui-Hua Kong
Summary: Plants produce and release allelochemicals that interfere with the growth of other plants, and this allelopathy plays an important role in natural and managed ecosystems. This review specifically focuses on allelopathy and allelochemicals in grasslands and forests, discussing their effects on plant invasion, grassland degradation, and forest regeneration. Specialized metabolites, such as phenolics, terpenoids, and nitrogen-containing compounds, are responsible for allelopathic effects in these ecosystems. Allelochemicals also mediate below-ground interactions and affect the biodiversity, productivity, and sustainability of grasslands and forests. Moreover, plants with allelopathic properties can adjust the production of allelochemicals based on the identity of neighboring plants, further influencing interspecific and intraspecific interactions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Le Ding, Huan-Huan Zhao, Hong-Yu Li, Xue-Fang Yang, Chui-Hua Kong
Summary: In this study, a penoxsulam-resistant barnyardgrass biotype capable of kin recognition was identified. When grown with closely related penoxsulam-susceptible barnyardgrass, the penoxsulam-resistant biotype exhibited reduced root growth and distribution, advanced flowering, and increased seed production. However, such kin recognition responses were not observed in the presence of distantly related barnyardgrass. Kin recognition in plants could occur at the herbicide-resistant barnyardgrass biotype level and facilitate cooperation between genetically related biotypes to compete with interspecific rice.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhichao Xia, Yue He, Helena Korpelainen, Ulo Niinemets, Chunyang Li
Summary: This study found that female roots release a greater amount and more diverse phenolic allelochemicals, resulting in growth inhibition of same-sex neighbors and deterioration of the soil microorganism community. When grown with males, female growth was consistently enhanced, especially in the roots. The presence of males also reduced phenolic accumulation in the soil, leading to a shift from allelopathic inhibition to chemical facilitation. These effects were enhanced by a favorable soil bacterial community and increased bacterial diversity, which induced changes in the orientation of female roots.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hong-Yu Li, Yan Guo, Bo-Yan Jin, Xue-Fang Yang, Chui-Hua Kong
Summary: This study demonstrated relative fitness and phytochemical responses in six herbicide-resistant weeds and their susceptible counterparts, showing significant differences in viability, fecundity fitness, and phytochemical composition between the two. Fitness costs were observed in some herbicide-resistant weeds, but not in others. The results suggest that (-)-loliolide may act as a phytochemical cue to explain the fitness costs of herbicide-resistant weeds.
Article
Agronomy
Xin Chen, Feng-Li Li, Chui-Hua Kong
Summary: This study reveals the influence of root-secreted signaling molecules and rhizosphere bacteria on the flowering time of Arabidopsis. The root-secreted small molecule signal (-)-loliolide can regulate the flowering time of Arabidopsis and affect the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and soil. The carotenoid-deficient Arabidopsis mutant szl1-1, which does not secrete (-)-loliolide, exhibits an early flowering time and a different rhizosphere and soil bacterial community compared to the wild-type Arabidopsis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zuodong Zhu, Yue He, Jiahui Xu, Zhenghu Zhou, Amit Kumar, Zhichao Xia
Summary: This study investigated the effects of a broad-spectrum pesticide on leaf physiology and phyllosphere bacterial communities in the dioecious Populus cathayana. The results showed that pesticide application did not affect phyllosphere bacterial diversity but negatively impacted leaf physiology. Specifically, the pesticide had a greater negative impact on males, reducing their photosynthetic capacity and antioxidant ability. This study highlights the sex-specific phyllosphere bacterial community composition and the response of leaf physiology to environmental factors in dioecious plants.
JOURNAL OF PLANT ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zhichao Xia, Yue He, Jiahui Xu, Zuodong Zhu, Helena Korpelainen, Chunyang Li
Summary: This study investigated the responses of fine root traits and rhizosphere microbial communities to drought in Populus euphratica plants. The results showed that females increased specific root length (SRL) in response to drought, while males showed no changes in roots but had increased arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphal biomass and Gram-negative bacteria populations. Furthermore, the composition of fungal symbiotroph communities associated with male and female roots differed under drought conditions. These findings indicate that the responses of soil microbes to drought are influenced by plant sex and microbial group and are related to root trait adjustments.
SOIL ECOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
He Zhang, Aurore Degre, Caroline De Clerck, Shuangshuang Li, Jinshan Lian, Yuanyuan Peng, Tao Sun, Lindan Luo, Yanan Yue, Guihua Li, Jianfeng Zhang
Summary: The continuous expansion of sandy soil poses a threat to crop security. The use of chitin-rich organic material and attapulgite as soil amendments can improve degraded soil by increasing nutrient content and enzyme activity and altering bacterial community structure. This study provides insights into the link between soil properties, bacterial community structure, and microbial carbon metabolism function.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xian Zhou, Yi Jiang, Ganghua Leng, Wanting Ling, Jian Wang
Summary: Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) residues have significant impacts on soil pollution remediation. The addition of exogenous functional microbial consortium and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) can promote the degradation of bound PAH residues. This study fills the cognitive gap of GRSP in regulating the degradation of bound PAH residues in soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Soil Science
Xinyu Zhao, Evrim Elcin, Lizhi He, Meththika Vithanage, Xiaokai Zhang, Jie Wang, Shuo Wang, Yun Deng, Nabeel Khan Niazi, Sabry M. Shaheen, Hailong Wang, Zhenyu Wang
Summary: The increase of cultivated varieties of Chinese herbal remedies, the expansion of cultivation area, and long-term monoculture cropping have led to aggravated problems of soil diseases, yield loss, and quality reduction. Biochar, as a carbon-rich material, has the potential to improve soil quality and alleviate continuous crop obstacles for Chinese herbal remedies.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Editorial Material
Soil Science
Melanie M. Pollierer, Anton Potapov, Andrey Zaitsev
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Yajie Wang, Jiefeng Li, Yongfen Wei, Zhiyi Deng, Xiaodi Hao, Fusheng Li
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of heavy metal pollution caused by coal production on soil microbial ecology in the semi-arid region of Heilongjiang. The results reveal negative correlations between heavy metals and bacterial abundance and diversity. Twelve sensitive bacterial taxa and corresponding models were identified. Water content and total phosphorus were also found to play vital roles in regulating the bacterial community in the soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Sujit Das, Sunanda Biswas, B. Ramakrishnan, T. K. Das, T. J. Purakayastha, B. H. Gawade, Priya Singh, Partha Sarathi Ghorai, Saloni Tripathy, Kanchan Sinha
Summary: This study assessed the impact of conservation agriculture on the biological soil health index in a rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The results showed that zero till direct seeded rice and crop residue incorporation could improve soil organic carbon, enzyme activities, and microbial population. Specifically, the inclusion of mungbean residues and sesbania brown manuring significantly increased the abundance of the nifH gene in the soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xingxiu Huang, Genxing Pan, Lianqing Li, Xuhui Zhang, Hailong Wang, Nanthi Bolan, Bhupinder Pal Singh, Chongjian Ma, Fuwei Liang, Yanjie Chen, Huashou Li
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of using a mixture of biomass waste ash and biochar on soil pH, heavy metal remediation, and plant growth. The results showed that the mixed use could ameliorate soil acidification, reduce absorption of cadmium and lead by plants, and promote plant growth. The special fertilizer prepared from the mixture can be used to promote crop growth and reduce environmental pollution.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Astrid C. H. Jaeger, Martin Hartmann, Rafaela Feola Conz, Johan Six, Emily F. Solly
Summary: This study investigates the effects of tree mortality on soil microbial communities using a mesocosm experiment. The results show that tree death influenced soil microbial abundance and composition, with the potential to affect soil processes in forest ecosystems.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Dane C. Elmquist, Subodh Adhikari, Ina Popova, Sanford D. Eigenbrode
Summary: This study investigated the effects of soil arthropod communities from cereal-based agroecosystems on wheat plant growth and above-belowground interactions. The results showed that wheat grown in soils with arthropod communities had better growth and defense against aphids, compared to wheat grown in soils without arthropod communities.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Lei Wang, Jing Wang, Zhonghou Tang, Jidong Wang, Yongchun Zhang
Summary: This study found that the application of organic fertilizer enhances carbon and phosphorus cycling enzyme activities in soil, reshapes the soil microbial community structure, and regulates the interactions between these crucial indicators through soil organic carbon.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Soil Science
M. Pawlett, N. T. Girkin, L. Deeks, D. L. Evans, R. Sakrabani, P. Masters, K. Garnett, N. Marquez-Grant
Summary: The modern funeral industry faces environmental risks and challenges, and natural burial offers a more sustainable alternative. However, there is a lack of research comparing the risks and benefits of natural burial practices, including groundwater contamination and atmospheric emissions. More scientific research is needed to understand and regulate funeral options, as well as cultural incentives for natural burial.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zhongcheng Wang, Jin Zhao, Dan Xiao, Meifeng Chen, Xunyang He
Summary: Root AMF colonization, diversity, and interactions vary with soil depth. Higher soil nutrient levels and root biomass promote colonization but suppress diversity and interactions in the upper soil layer compared to deeper layers.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zhiyang Zhang, Shiting Zhang, Riikka Rinnan
Summary: This study revealed the mechanisms behind the effects of dung deposition on soil heterotrophic respiration, providing insights for grassland management and carbon feedback prediction in grazed ecosystems.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Ismail Ibrahim Garba, Graham R. Stirling, A. Marcelle Stirling, Alwyn Williams
Summary: Integrating diverse cover crops into dryland crop-fallow rotations can enhance soil nutrient and water retention, suppress soil-borne pests, and improve soil health. The effects on soil nematode communities are modulated by the functional type and mixture composition of the cover crops. Selecting cover crops with appropriate traits can improve soil health through suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes, promotion of free-living nematodes, and enhancement of soil food web complexity.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Min Li, Chao He, Miao Wei, Junmeng Long, Jingru Wang, Xinrong Yang, Kehan Wang, Xueli He
Summary: In extreme desert environments, black septate endophytes (DSE) can benefit the relict plant Gymnocarpos przewalskii by assisting it to survive and maintain ecosystem stability. The colonization of DSE in the roots of G. przewalskii varies significantly with seasons and sites, with soil properties being a major factor affecting the composition of DSE. Additionally, the functional metabolite composition of DSE strains varies greatly with different drought levels and isolates, indicating the potential complementarity between different strains in helping hosts cope with drought stress.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)