Using cover crops (CCs) following annual crops, together with sustainable nitrogen (N) management, significantly enhances soil carbon (C) storage. However, carbon accumulation in tropical soils is strongly influenced by the respective crop sequences. This study evaluated soil C stocks and fractions in a system incorporating maize–soybean rotation and successive CCs. A randomized block design with split plots was implemented, where main plots consisted of different CCs and the subplots of treatments with and without N fertilization of maize. Chemical fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) were analyzed at depths from 0 to 40 cm, and C stocks down to 100 cm. The SOM fractions responded to N topdressing of maize, varying with soil depth. Soil C stocks during the maize phase were significantly higher than during soybean cultivation (p < 0.05), likely reflecting greater residue inputs from species with elevated C:N ratios. Legume crops following maize intensified C accumulation, emphasizing the importance of N inputs for soil C dynamics. Soil C losses were lowest in the treatments with Raphanus sativus without and Crotalaria juncea with N fertilization. These findings highlight the relevance of combining CCs and N management to optimize C sequestration in tropical agroecosystems.

The influence of crown illumination on leaf damage of horse chestnut species (Aesculus hippocastanum L., Aesculus glabra Willd, Aesculus flava Aiton, Aesculus pavia L., Aesculus × carnea Hayne, Aesculus parviflora Walter, Aesculus chinensis Bunge) affected by ohrid leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dymić) was studied using some accessions from the arboretum botanical tree collection. A. hippocastanum, A. glabra, A. flava had the lowest chl a content in the foliage on the sunlit side of the crown, while in A. pavia, A. parviflora and A. chinensis this indicator was the highest. The chl a content in the leaves of A. hippocastanum and A. flava under shaded conditions was 1.3 and 2.4 times higher than in the sunlit part, while in A. pavia, A. parviflora and A. chinensis the chl a content on the shaded side was 1.2, 1.6 and 1.3 times lower. The quantitative content of chl b in the sunlit part of the crown in A. hippocastanum and A. flava was significantly higher than in the other species. Moreover, while A. flava and A. parviflora had the highest chl b content in the foliage of the shaded part of the crown, A. glabra and A. × carnea had the lowest. Similarly, differences in proline levels were found in the leaves of different horse chestnut species on the sunny side of the crown. Higher proline levels in less infested species were identified. Water content imbalances due to feeding by leaf miners were most characteristic of the severely affected species. Chlorophyll fluorescence determination revealed high photochemical activity with an effective defense system in resistant species, while non-resistant species exhibited weak defense mechanisms in both sunlight and shade. To assess horse chestnut species the hyperspectral analysis indices (DSWI and SIPI) were also successfully applied. Changes in chl a and chl b content, proline levels, and leaf water-holding properties can be used to assess the resistance of horse chestnut species using classical physiological and biochemical methods. Hyperspectral analysis indices (DSWI and SIPI) can also be successfully applied.

Accurate authentication of herbal medicine Descurainiae Semen, the tiny seeds of Descurainia sophia, is challenging due to their morphological similarity to various adulterants. To develop a precise and reliable molecular identification method, we conducted comparative analyses of rDNA-ITS sequences using D. sophia and five adulterant species and subsequently developed species-specific sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. The discriminatory power and detection limits of these markers were evaluated using serially diluted genomic DNA from each species and commercially available Descurainiae Semen, respectively. The SCAR markers developed in this study enabled the detection of adulterant contamination at levels as low as 0.01–1%. Among several potential adulterants tested using 17 herbal medicines, Erysimum macilentum was found to be the most common adulterant in commercial products, with a ratio of 88%. The SCAR-PCR assay established in this study provides a rapid and accurate tool for identifying D. sophia and illegal adulterants at the species level and at very low contamination levels, thereby supporting improved quality control and enhancing consumer confidence in the herbal medicine industry.

Fig (Ficus carica L.), a deciduous fruit tree that belongs to the Moraceae family, is cultivated worldwide as an important fruit crop for raw and processed foods. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) is a widely used method in F. carica to elucidate expression of genes related to various physiological responses. However, no studies have identified appropriate reference genes for RT-qPCR normalization in F. carica. In this study, 12 genes were selected from the F. carica genome as candidate reference genes for normalizing target gene expression. All candidate genes exhibited high amplification efficiency and specificity in the absence of primer dimers or extra PCR amplicons. The expression levels of the candidate genes were measured in three different plant tissues (fruit, leaf, and stem) under fungal pathogen infection using RT-qPCR. Their expression stabilities were evaluated using four computational algorithms: geNorm, Normfinder, delta-Ct, and BestKeeper. The RefFinder program was also used to calculate the geometric mean of the stability rankings obtained from these algorithms. The comprehensive ranking revealed that FcYLS8, FcPP2A, and FcAP2M were the most stable reference genes under biotic stress in the fruits, leaves, and stems, respectively. In contrast, traditional reference genes such as FcACT2, FcEF-1α, FcGAPDH, FcUBC21, and FcUBQ5 exhibited relatively low expression stability in all tested tissues. This study identified and validated stable reference genes for RT-qPCR normalization in F. carica, thus providing a valuable resource for accurate gene expression studies under biotic stress and highlighting the importance of validating reference genes to ensure reliable and reproducible RT-qPCR analysis.

Photosynthetic prokaryotes known as cyanobacteria produce an extensive range of primary and secondary metabolites that serve multiple biotechnological and biomedical purposes. The non-model filamentous Phormidium species capture researchers’ attention through their biotechnological potentials from diverse metabolites and their ability to thrive in tough environments while producing bioactive compounds. In this study, a thermotolerant strain of Phormidium ambiguum was isolated from the Chundzha thermal springs in southeastern Kazakhstan and characterized morphologically, physiologically, and biochemically. This cyanobacterium demonstrated fast growth in its culture media along with significant accumulation of proteins (44.8% DM), carbohydrates (45% DM), and photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll a and valuable carotenoids, including b-carotene, myxoxantophyll and zeaxanthin. The LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of cyanobacterial non-polar extract identified 150 potential metabolites which include fatty acid derivatives, terpenoids and carotenoid-related compounds known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, as well as immune system stimulation. Biological assays confirmed a weak antioxidant capacity in the DPPH test, while in immunological assays, the extract of P. ambiguum stimulated T lymphocyte proliferation and activation, as well as NK cell proliferation in vitro. It also exhibited moderate antibacterial activity towards tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains. While additional studies are required to address environmental robustness, biosynthetic regulation, and practical scalability, the present findings indicate that P. ambiguum represents a valuable non-model cyanobacterium for exploratory bioprospecting. Its metabolite profile and observed bioactivities support further investigation of this thermotolerant strain as a potential source of immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial compounds under controlled conditions.

The floral morphology of Rosa chinensis significantly influences its ornamental value. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying specific floral types remain poorly understood. Viridiflora, a stable genetic variant of R. chinensis, exhibits homeotic transformation of floral organs into sepal-like structures, providing a valuable model for studying floral organ identity and development. In this study, Viridiflora was compared with Old Blush to elucidate floral development through morphological observation, transcriptomic profiling, and functional genetics. Four distinct developmental stages were defined, encompassing the formation of sepal, petal, stamen, and pistil primordia. Transcriptome analysis identified candidate genes associated with the Viridiflora phenotype, among which RcAGAMOUS2 (RcAG2) and RcFRUITFULL (RcFUL) were selected for in-depth functional characterization. The proteins encoded by these two genes are hydrophilic, lack signal peptides and transmembrane domains, and contain multiple phosphorylation sites. They feature typical MADS-box family domains and show close phylogenetic affinity to Rosa rugosa. Subcellular localization showed their nuclear presence. Heterologous overexpression of RcAG2 and RcFUL in Arabidopsis resulted in notable phenotypic alterations: RcAG2 caused petal reduction and stamen exposure, while RcFUL led to greenish, leaf-like petals with pigmentation gradients, increased sepal number, and failed seed set. Conclusion: These results suggest that RcAG2 and RcFUL play key roles in floral organ development through genetic regulation, providing a theoretical foundation for further research on floral development in R. chinensis.

Maize is a key staple cereal, with its cultivation improved through genetics, denser planting, and greater fertilizer use. However, little is known about the effects of nanomaterials on maize’s grain quality. This study evaluated the effect of the foliar application of orange carbon dots (o-CDs) on maize’s growth, grain yield, and quality under typical field conditions. Two ZP maize hybrids and their inbred lines were tested. The results showed a gradual increase in grain yield for the hybrids, particularly ZP 4567, which responded significantly to a 5 mg/L treatment. Increased starch content was observed in both the hybrid ZP 4567 and the inbred line L56 L026 following treatment with o-CDs at concentrations of 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L. The significant increase in oil content was observed in inbred line L56 L026. Photosynthetic parameters and pigments were elevated in both hybrids after treatments, although the antioxidative capacity remained unchanged. The findings suggest that o-CDs positively influence grain yield and quality by enhancing photosynthesis and increasing the accumulation of key biochemical compounds. This study provides novel insights into the application of carbon nanoparticles in sustainable crop production.

Building on the thematic foundation established in the first volume of this Special Issue-namely, leveraging spectral technologies (from proximal sensing to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and satellite platforms) to advance precision agriculture and forestry-this second edition further consolidates methodological progress and expands the breadth of applications [...].

Plants adapt to phosphate starvation by remodeling root architecture and reallocating carbohydrates. Glucose-6-phosphate 1-epimerase (G6PE), a key enzyme in carbon and energy metabolism, is hypothesized to contribute to phosphate starvation responses. Here, we investigated the role of G6PE in rice and Arabidopsis through phenotypic, physiological, and molecular analyses of osg6pe and atg6pe mutants. Under normal-phosphate (NP) conditions, both mutants exhibited significantly reduced biomass and fresh weight compared with the wild-type (WT) plants, indicating growth inhibition caused by the mutations. Under low-phosphate (LP) conditions, the mutants displayed enhanced root growth, suggesting that G6PE functions as a negative regulator of radial root growth under phosphate deficiency. The osg6pe mutant showed elevated phosphate content and increased leaf starch accumulation under LP, whereas it accumulated more phosphate but less starch under NP. Expression analysis revealed that G6PE transcripts were suppressed under NP but remained relatively stable under LP. Notably, among phosphate starvation-induced (PSI) genes, only PHT1;4 showed notable transcriptional changes in both species. These findings indicate that G6PE contributes to phosphate homeostasis by modulating carbohydrate metabolism, restraining radial root growth, and selectively regulating PHT1 expression under phosphate-deficient conditions.

The previously published liverwort checklist of Laos, one of the least-studied countries in Asia, was titled “Listing the Unknown”, based on the fact that only 66 species are known for such a landscape-diverse country. Our collection revealed 39 genera and 76 species, 62 of which are newly recorded species to the country, bringing the total number of known species to 128. Among the reported genera, there are 22 liverwort genera new to Laos, all of which could have been expected in this area. Although new data expands the species list, the total number of species recorded remains inadequately small. The presented studies are based primarily on collections at lower elevations (below 500 m above sea level), in strongly modified secondary forest conditions, and are of interest specifically as an example of the liverwort flora of heavily modified, anthropogenically disturbed habitats of rather dry tropical forest communities. The provided checklist includes data on the ecological conditions of the collected species and their altitudinal range. Further research on the liverwort flora of Laos should be conducted in the upper altitudinal zones of the north and the east of the country.