Invertebrate herbivory increases along an experimental gradient of grassland plant diversity

Plant diversity is a key driver of ecosystem functioning best documented for its influence on plant productivity. The strength and direction of plant diversity effects on species interactions across trophic levels are less clear. For example, with respect to the interactions between herbivorous invertebrates and plants, a number of competing hypotheses have been proposed that predict either increasing or decreasing community herbivory with increasing plant species richness. We investigated foliar herbivory rates and consumed leaf biomass along an experimental grassland plant diversity gradient in year eight after establishment. The gradient ranged from one to 60 plant species and manipulated also functional group richness (from one to four functional groups—legumes, grasses, small herbs, and tall herbs) and plant community composition. Measurements in monocultures of each plant species showed that functional groups differed in the quantity and quality of herbivory damage they experienced, with legumes being more damaged than grasses or non-legume herbs. In mixed plant communities, herbivory increased with plant diversity and the presence of two key plant functional groups in mixtures had a positive (legumes) and a negative (grasses) effect on levels of herbivory. Further, plant community biomass had a strong positive impact on consumed leaf biomass, but little effect on herbivory rates. Our results contribute detailed data from a well-established biodiversity experiment to a growing body of evidence suggesting that an increase of herbivory with increasing plant diversity is the rule rather than an exception. Considering documented effects of herbivory on other ecosystem functions and the increase of herbivory with plant diversity, levels of herbivory damage might not only be a result, but also a trigger within the diversity–productivity relationship.     

Arabidopsis defense response against Fusarium oxysporum

The plant fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (Fox) is the causal agent of root rot or wilt diseases in several plant species, including crops such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), banana (Musa sapientum) and asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). Colonization of plants by Fox leads to the necrosis of the infected tissues, a subsequent collapse of vascular vessels and decay of the plant. Plant resistance to Fox appears to be monogenic or oligogenic depending on the host. Perception of Fox by plants follows the concept of elicitor-induced immune response, which in turn activates several plant defense signaling pathways. Here, we review the Fox-derived elicitors identified so far and the interaction among the different signaling pathways mediating plant resistance to Fox.     

药用植物生长发育与有效成分积累关系研究进展

药用植物有效成分是其发挥临床疗效的物质基础, 也是评价药材质量的重要指标, 而这些有效成分的产生和分布通常有种属、器官、组织以及生长发育时期的特异性。明确药用植物主要药用成分在植物不同生长发育阶段的积累变化规律和形成机制, 对中药品质与临床疗效有重要的指导意义。该文主要概述了不同发育阶段对药用植物不同药用部位(根、茎、叶、花、果实和种子)中有效成分积累的影响, 并对药用植物次生代谢产物合成和积累机制的相关研究技术进行了展望, 为生产实践上调控药用植物次生物质合成、药用植物的合理利用以及提高中药材品质奠定了理论基础。     

Influence of the male on embryo quality

Early pregnancy failure or loss (EPL) represents a major source of wastage and inefficiency in livestock production systems. Although successful embryo development is dependent upon genetic and epigenetic contributions from both the male and female, potential adverse male affects on embryo quality and development are probably often underestimated. Of adverse male effects which have been identified, those associated with sperm and semen "quality" have been best characterized. In turn, although many factors can adversely impact semen quality, the mechanisms involved are relatively few. This presents opportunities for identifying biological markers for spermatogenic damage, as well as protective measures.     

Rosmarinic acid

Rosmarinic acid is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid. It is commonly found in species of the Boraginaceae and the subfamily Nepetoideae of the Lamiaceae. However, it is also found in species of other higher plant families and in some fern and hornwort species. Rosmarinic acid has a number of interesting biological activities, e.g. antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory and antioxidant. The presence of rosmarinic acid in medicinal plants, herbs and spices has beneficial and health promoting effects. In plants, rosmarinic acid is supposed to act as a preformed constitutively accumulated defence compound. The biosynthesis of rosmarinic acid starts with the amino acids L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine. All eight enzymes involved in the biosynthesis are known and characterised and cDNAs of several of the involved genes have been isolated. Plant cell cultures, e.g. from Coleus blumei or Salvia officinalis, accumulate rosmarinic acid in amounts much higher than in the plant itself (up to 36% of the cell dry weight). For this reason a biotechnological production of rosmarinic acid with plant cell cultures has been proposed.     

Growth stimulation and management of diseases of ornamental plants using phosphate solubilizing microorganisms: current perspective

Ornamental plants play an important role in human society since flowers are considered a vital component due to their beauty, texture, color, shape and fragrance. To produce high quality ornamentals, growers in general have intensified the use of agrochemicals without considering their deleterious impact on floral attributes. Also, the agrochemicals (including fertilizers and pesticides) used in floriculture are expensive and their excessive application results in emergence of pathogens resistant to such chemicals. It has, therefore, become imperative to develop renewable, inexpensive and eco-friendly fertilizers without producing any disturbing impact on quality of ornamentals. In this regard, phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) among plant growth promoting rhizobacteria have been identified as an efficient alternative to agrochemicals in floriculture. Even though, there are adequate reports on the effect of PSM on growth and development of numerous plants, information on the impact of PSM on production and quality of ornamental plants is, however, critically scarce. Considering these gaps and success of PSM application in floriculture achieved so far, efforts have been directed to highlight the impact of PSM on the production of ornamentals grown distinctively in different production systems. Also, the role of PSM in the management of ornamental diseases is discussed and considered. The review will conclude by identifying several PSM for future researches aiming to improve the health and quality of ornamentals grown in different production systems. Use of PSM is also likely to reduce the use of chemicals in floriculture.     

Phospholipids as Plant Growth Regulators

In this paper the potential to use phospholipids and lysophospholipids as plant growth regulators is discussed. Recent evidence shows that phospholipids and phospholipases play an important signalling role in the normal course of plant development and in the response of plants to abiotic and biotic stress. It is apparent that phospholipase A (PLA), C (PLC) and D (PLD), lysophospholipids, and phosphatidic acid (PA) are key components of plant lipid signalling pathways. By comparison, there is very little information available on the effect of exogenously applied phospholipids on plant growth and development. This paper serves to introduce phospholipids as a novel class of plant growth regulator for use in commercial plant production. The biochemistry and physiology of phospholipids is discussed in relation to studies in which phospholipids and lysophospholipids have been applied to plants and plant parts. Implicit in the observations is that phospholipids impact the hypersensitive response and systemic acquired resistance in plants to improve crop performance and product quality. Based on published data, a scheme outlining a possible mode of action of exogenously applied phospholipids is proposed.     

Effects of livestock grazing on biodiversity: A meta-analysis on three trophic levels

Livestock impact is one of the main causes of habitat loss globally. However, the effects of livestock on flora and fauna diversity have been contradictory, observing cases with positive, neutral, and negative effects. We performed a meta-analysis of the scientific information published in the last 15 years, using Google Scholar and WoS for the search. The inclusion criteria were if the studies presented a) changes in abundance, richness, biomass, plant cover, and consumers; b) included replicas; c) the size of the sample; d) study on domestic cattle, and e) reported the mean and standard deviation of effects of each treatment. We found 2450 scientific publications of which we selected 67 publications that reported the effects a) of grazing on the richness, abundance, cover, and biomass of plants (producers), and b) on richness and abundance of primary and secondary consumers, comparing grazed and non-grazed (or weakly grazed) environments. Grazing did not significantly affect the abundance of the plants or animals studied, regardless of whether they were primary or secondary consumers. The magnitude and direction of the observed effects on plants and consumers could be influenced by livestock type, the natural environments evaluated (forests, grasslands, or scrublands), the spatial and temporal scales involved, and the plant species origin (i.e., native versus non-native). The significant effect of livestock on plants and consumers, also can be differentiated in the characteristics of the species (e.g., life-history traits, etc.) that go beyond their position in the food chains. Evaluating the livestock grazing effect in more than one trophic level helps understand how grazing affects the species according to their way of life, in contrast to evaluations of a single trophic level.     

The effects of tannin-rich plants on parasitic nematodes in ruminants

Apart from the obvious role of plants in herbivore nutrition, they are also a rich source of bioactive products that can operate either to the benefit or the detriment of grazing animals. Here, we review the available evidence for the potential beneficial effects that plant-derived bioactive substances can have on gastrointestinal parasites. Tannin-rich plants have attracted most attention for their effect on internal nematodes in ruminants. These plants could act through direct antiparasitic activity but might also act indirectly by increasing host resistance. The effects vary with the species of plant, parasite and host. More research is required to understand better the mechanisms of action, and therefore make more pertinent use of these bioactive plants in livestock systems.     

Plant microtubule studies: past and present

Here, I briefly review historical and morphological aspects of plant microtubule studies in land plants. Microtubules are formed from tubulins, and the polymeric configurations appear as singlet, doublet, and triplet microtubules. Doublet microtubules occur in the axoneme of cilia and flagella, and triplet microtubules occur in the basal bodies and centrosomes. Doublet and triplet microtubules are lost in all angiosperms and some gymnosperms that do not possess flagellated sperm. In land plants with flagellated sperm, centriolar centrosomes transform into basal bodies during spermatogenesis. In flowering plants, however, most male gametes (sperm) are conveyed to eggs without the benefit of cilia or flagella; thus, higher plants lack centriolar centrosome and doublet and triplet microtubules. The loss of centriolar centrosomes from the life cycle of flowering plants may have influenced the evolution of the plant microtubule system. Comparison of mitotic apparatuses in basal land plants and flowering plants illuminates the evolutionary transition from the centriolar microtubule system to the acentriolar microtubule system.     

Reclamation of tannery polluted soil through phytoremediation

The huge volume of sludge emanating from the tannery effluent treatment plants poses a serious environmental problem. Phytoremediation is an emerging technology in which the plants are employed to reclamate the contaminated soil strewn with heavy metals (metalloids) and toxic compounds. This work focuses the impact of application of tannery sludge on biochemical properties of 6 months old tree saplings of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Neem), Melia azedarach Linn. (Wild Neem) and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit (Subabool) raised over the tannery sludge in an attempt to use these plants for phytoremediation. The plants raised over the garden soil served as the control. The porosity and water holding capacity of the tannery sludge were higher. The plant growth supporting elements such as Ca, total N₂, NO₃ and Mg were higher in the sludge. The plants raised over the sludge were found to be dark green with increased morphometric parameters. Electrophoretic profile revealed amplification of a few polypeptides (100, 105, 49 and 55 KDa). The levels of biomolecules and the CO₂ absorption increased in 6 months old plants. There was a significant uptake and transport of chromium in all the three tree species suggesting that these plants could be employed in phytoremediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals.Key words: Azadirachta indica (Neem), CO₂ uptake, Leucaena leucocephala (Subabool), Melia azedarach (Wild Neem), metalloids, Phytoremediation, Stress biomolecules, Tannery sludge     

Factors affecting production of COS and CS2 in Leucaena and Mimosa species

Carbon disulfide (CS₂) and carbonyl sulfide (COS) are colorless, foul-smelling, volatile sulfur compounds with biocidal properties. Some plants produce CS₂ or COS or both. When used as an intercrop or forecrop, these plants may have agronomic potential in protecting other plants. Most of the factors which affect production of these plant-generated organic sulfides are unknown. We determined the effects of sulfate concentration, plant age, nitrogen fixation, drought stress, root injury (through cutting), and undisturbed growth on COS production in Leucaena retusa or Leucaena leucocephala and the effect of some of these factors on CS₂ production in Mimosa pudica. In addition, we determined if organic sulfides were produced in all Leucaena species. When L. retusa and M. pudica seedlings were grown in a plant nutrient medium with different sulfate concentrations (50 to 450 mg SL^-1), COS or CS₂ from crushed roots generally increased with increasing sulfate concentration. COS production was highest (74 ng mg^-1 dry root) for young L. retusa seedlings and declined to low amounts (<5 ng mg^-1 dry root) for older seedlings. Nitrogen fixation reduced the amounts of COS or CS₂ produced in L. leucocephala and M. pudica. Under conditions of undisturbed growth, root cutting, or drought stress, no COS production was detected in 4-to 8-weeks-old L. retusa plants. COS or CS₂ or both was obtained from crushed roots or shoots of all 13 known Leucaena species.     

陕西洋县药用植物群落土壤种子库特性研究

采用种子萌发法对洋县药用植物群落土壤种子库物种组成、单位面积种子密度、物种丰富度及与地上群落结构的关系进行了研究。结果显示,研究区内共有种子植物50种(包括药用植物21种),隶属于28科47属,其中草本植物45种、乔木5种;不同药用植物群落间土壤种子库种子密度差异显著,从大到小依次为:2年生凹叶厚朴(Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.subsp.biloba(Rehd.et Wils.)Law)4年生凹叶厚朴7年生凹叶厚朴11年生凹叶厚朴杜仲-凹叶厚朴(Eucommia ulmoides Oliver-Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.subsp.biloba(Rehd.et Wils.)Law)7年生厚朴(Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.)杜仲山茱萸(Cornus officinalis Sieb.et Zucc.)山茱萸-凹叶厚朴;土壤种子库具有表聚性,土层深度与种子数量成负相关;药用植物群落土壤种子库与地上群落结构相似性普遍较低。低林龄群落的土壤种子库密度大于高林龄群落,因此低林龄群落有利于天然更新,它们在植被恢复和生物多样性保护中的潜在价值更大。本研究结果可为洋县药用植物群落天然更新提供理论指导。     

The Influence of Environmental Conditions on Secondary Metabolites in Medicinal Plants: A Literature Review

Medicinal plants, a source of different phytochemical compounds, are now subjected to a variety of environmental stresses during their growth and development. Different ecologically limiting factors including temperature, carbon dioxide, lighting, ozone, soil water, soil salinity and soil fertility has significant impact on medicinal plants′ physiological and biochemical responses, as well as the secondary metabolic process. Secondary metabolites (SMs) are useful for assessing the quality of therapeutic ingredients and nowadays, these are used as important natural derived drugs such as immune suppressant, antibiotics, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer. Plants have the ability to synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites to cope with the negative effects of stress. Here, we focus on how individual environmental variables influence the accumulation of plant secondary metabolites. A total of 48 articles were found to be relevant to the review topic during our systematic review. The review showed the influence of different environmental variables on SMs production and accumulation is complex suggesting the relationship are not only species-specific but also related to increases and decline in SMs by up to 50 %. Therefore, this review improves our understanding of plant SMs ability to adapt to key environmental factors. This can aid in the efficient and long-term optimization of cultivation techniques under ambient environmental conditions in order to maximize the quality and quantity of SMs in plants.     

Air pollution from natural and anthropic sources and male fertility

Exposure to air pollution has been clearly associated with a range of adverse health effects, including reproductive toxicity. However, a limited amount of research has been conducted to examine the association between air pollution and male reproductive outcomes, specially semen quality. We performed a systematic review (up to March 2017) to assess the impact of environmental and occupational exposure to air pollution on semen quality. Epidemiological studies focusing on air pollution exposures and male reproduction were identified by a search of the PUBMED, MEDLINE, EBSCO and TOXNET literature bases. Twenty-two studies were included which assess the impact of air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NOx, O₃, PAHs) on main semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility, morphology), CASA parameters, DNA fragmentation, sperm aneuploidy and the level of reproductive hormones. The number of studies found significant results supporting the evidence that air pollution may affect: DNA fragmentation, morphology and motility.In summary, most studies concluded that outdoor air pollution affects at least one of the assessed semen parameters. However the diversity of air pollutants and semen parameters presented in the studies included in the review and different study design caused lack of consistency in results and difficulties in comparison.     

Functional substitutability of native herbivores by livestock for soil carbon stock is mediated by microbial decomposers

Grazing by large mammalian herbivores impacts climate as it can favor the size and stability of a large carbon (C) pool in the soils of grazing ecosystems. As native herbivores in the world's grasslands, steppes, and savannas are progressively being displaced by livestock, it is important to ask whether livestock can emulate the functional roles of their native counterparts. While livestock and native herbivores can have remarkable similarity in their traits, they can differ greatly in their impacts on vegetation composition which can affect soil-C. It is uncertain how these similarities and differences impact soil-C via their influence on microbial decomposers. We test competing alternative hypotheses with a replicated, long-term, landscape-level, grazing-exclusion experiment to ask whether livestock in the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem of northern India can match decadal-scale (2005–2016) soil-C stocks under native herbivores. We evaluate multiple lines of evidence from 17 variables that influence soil-C (quantity and quality of C-input from plants, microbial biomass and metabolism, microbial community composition, eDNA, veterinary antibiotics in soil), and assess their inter-relationships. Livestock and native herbivores differed in their effects on several soil microbial processes. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) was 19% lower in soils under livestock. Compared to native herbivores, areas used by livestock contained 1.5 kg C m⁻² less soil-C. Structural equation models showed that alongside the effects arising from plants, livestock alter soil microbial communities which is detrimental for CUE, and ultimately also for soil-C. Supporting evidence pointed toward a link between veterinary antibiotics used on livestock, microbial communities, and soil-C. Overcoming the challenges of sequestering antibiotics to minimize their potential impacts on climate, alongside microbial rewilding under livestock, may reconcile the conflicting demands from food-security and ecosystem services. Conservation of native herbivores and alternative management of livestock is crucial for soil-C stewardship to envision and achieve natural climate solutions.     

绿叶挥发物产生特征及其生态生理作用研究进展

该文系统综述了植物绿叶挥发物(green leaf volatiles, GLVs)的形成特征、对植物的生态生理作用及调控机制等方面的最新研究进展。GLVs是指植物经十八碳烷酸途径过氧化物酶分支途径产生的含6个碳原子的醛、醇及其酯。除叶片外, 植物的根、茎、果实、种子等部位均可以合成该类化合物, 合成调控存在转录和转录后水平的调控。在特定植物中, GLVs合成及其组分还受到植物生长发育阶段和生长季节等外源环境的影响。昆虫啃食、微生物感染以及有益真菌的定植等生物逆境与缺氮等物理逆境均具有诱导GLVs合成的作用。除了参与植物特有气味形成外, GLVs在植物直接和间接防御应答中发挥着重要的作用。GLVs不仅具有抑制微生物和多种昆虫繁殖的作用, 还具有诱导多种防御化合物合成、预置(prime)有关信号途径的作用。基于GLVs在植物界的广泛存在性和在防御应答中的多层次作用, 该文作者提出了GLVs在道地药材品质形成中的潜在作用及开展相关研究的必要性和紧迫性。     

Glyco-engineering of biotherapeutic proteins in plants

Many therapeutic glycoproteins have been successfully generated in plants. Plants have advantages regarding practical and economic concerns, and safety of protein production over other existing systems. However, plants are not ideal expression systems for the production of biopharmaceutical proteins, due to the fact that they are incapable of the authentic human N-glycosylation process. The majority of therapeutic proteins are glycoproteins which harbor N-glycans, which are often essential for their stability, folding, and biological activity. Thus, several glyco-engineering strategies have emerged for the tailor-making of N-glycosylation in plants, including glycoprotein subcellular targeting, the inhibition of plant specific glycosyltranferases, or the addition of human specific glycosyltransferases. This article focuses on plant N-glycosylation structure, glycosylation variation in plant cell, plant expression system of glycoproteins, and impact of glycosylation on immunological function. Furthermore, plant glyco-engineering techniques currently being developed to overcome the limitations of plant expression systems in the production of therapeutic glycoproteins will be discussed in this review.     

Selfish genetic elements and sexual selection: their impact on male fertility

Females of many species mate with more than one male (polyandry), yet the adaptive significance of polyandry is poorly understood. One hypothesis to explain the widespread occurrence of multiple mating is that it may allow females to utilize post-copulatory mechanisms to reduce the risk of fertilizing their eggs with sperm from incompatible males. Selfish genetic elements (SGEs) are ubiquitous in eukaryotes, frequent sources of reproductive incompatibilities, and associated with fitness costs. However, their impact on sexual selection is largely unexplored. In this review we examine the link between SGEs, male fertility and sperm competitive ability. We show there is widespread evidence that SGEs are associated with reduced fertility in both animals and plants, and present some recent data showing that males carrying SGEs have reduced paternity in sperm competition. We also discuss possible reasons why male gametes are particularly vulnerable to the selfish actions of SGEs. The widespread reduction in male fertility caused by SGEs implies polyandry may be a successful female strategy to bias paternity against SGE-carrying males.     

Selfish genetic elements and sexual selection: their impact on male fertility

Females of many species mate with more than one male (polyandry), yet the adaptive significance of polyandry is poorly understood. One hypothesis to explain the widespread occurrence of multiple mating is that it may allow females to utilize post-copulatory mechanisms to reduce the risk of fertilizing their eggs with sperm from incompatible males. Selfish genetic elements (SGEs) are ubiquitous in eukaryotes, frequent sources of reproductive incompatibilities, and associated with fitness costs. However, their impact on sexual selection is largely unexplored. In this review we examine the link between SGEs, male fertility and sperm competitive ability. We show there is widespread evidence that SGEs are associated with reduced fertility in both animals and plants, and present some recent data showing that males carrying SGEs have reduced paternity in sperm competition. We also discuss possible reasons why male gametes are particularly vulnerable to the selfish actions of SGEs. The widespread reduction in male fertility caused by SGEs implies polyandry may be a successful female strategy to bias paternity against SGE-carrying males.