Silphium perfoliatum is a perennial herbaceous species which grows spontaneously in North American prairies, with good ecological plasticity and adaptability in different environments and conditions. It is part of the Asteraceae family, genus Asterales, which has a wide variety of spontaneous and cultivated species (over 33 known species). Due to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, the increase in average temperatures, and the chaotic distribution of rainfall, the identification of plant species with tolerance to abiotic stressors and with high ecological plasticity is a priority. The research objectives were to evaluate the impact of the of induced soil-drought conditions and heatwave on the growth and photosynthesis processes and their components in second-year S. pefoliatum plants, in the early flowering stage. Although numerous experiments have been carried out on the evaluation of the rate of photosynthesis under drought conditions in different cultivated and spontaneous species, there are no literature data on the impact of these conditions on S. perfoliatum. The obtained results attest that intense soil drought affects the growth rate of plants by reducing leaf area and chlorophyll content. Also, photosynthetic activity has been inhibited, and the values of the photosynthetic parameters in the mature leaves of S. perfoliatum in the flowering stage (6.1. BBCH) show that there was a close relationship between the two parameters and assimilation rate (A), intracellular CO2 concentration (ci), transpiration (E), and stomatal conductance (gsH2O) due to an increase in PAR or CO2-atm concentration. Based on the obtained data, Silphium perfoliatum seems to be an anisohydric species, which eliminates important amounts of water in short-term drought conditions, maintaining the osmotic potential through the synthesis of osmolytes and metabolic protection. The stress induced by prolonged drought also has a negative impact on the biomass accumulation in the aboveground organs.

The market for agricultural biologicals as replacements for synthetic crop chemicals has grown significantly due to their ability to improve soil health while reducing the overall carbon footprint. In particular, bio stimulants can enhance crop yield and quality, increase soil microbial activity, and provide other various benefits to support crop productivity. Additionally, a decline in crude protein content in crops—caused by plant breeding, climate change, declining soil organic matter, and changes in environmental legislation— has led to an increased demand for strategies to boost protein levels in staple cereal crops. Ergothioneine (EGT), an amino acid with recognized nutraceutical and micronutrient properties, has gained popularity for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties on human health. EGT has been studied in relation to cardiometabolic diseases, anti-aging, neurodegenerative disorders, and various other inflammatory conditions. While plants and humans cannot biosynthesize EGT, its production by Streptomyces coelicolor presents as a promising bio-stimulant to support overall plant health and human health. Our study investigates the potential for Streptomyces coelicolor M145 to enhance EGT levels in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum). In vitro analyses quantified intracellular EGT production, under nutrient-rich and minimal nutrient conditions, using a developed cell extract protocol to determine how intracellular EGT levels vary based on condition and time. Following inoculation of S. coelicolor on T. aestivum roots, EGT was extracted and quantified from plant roots and shoots. Results confirmed successful EGT extraction from bacterial cell extracts and plant tissues. Additionally, a fluorescent confocal microscopy staining and imaging protocol was developed to assess bacterial colonization on T. aestivum and its potential as a root endophyte. As soon as day 5 post-inoculation, microscopy revealed clear colonization of S. coelicolor inhabiting T. aestivum roots, shoots, and internodes.

Winter ploughing is a soil tillage practice performed between harvest of the previous crop and planting of the next one within the winter months. This study investigates the impact of the tillage practice on the quality of wheat grain, focusing on two key parameters: moisture content and grain hardness. A total of 72 wheat grain samples were collected from a field at Látókép Experimental Station (Debrecen, Hungary), where winter ploughing was applied before sowing and harvesting. The two parameters were measured using a grain analyser, and the results were subjected to Past4.11 Statistical Software for analysis. The mean moisture content of the wheat grains was 11.907%, with a standard error of 0.0787 and a 95% confidence interval ranging from 11.75% to 12.064%. Grain hardness averaged 106.49 psi, with a standard error of 1.8856 and a 95% confidence interval of 102.73 psi to 110.25 psi. The results revealed moderate variability in both moisture content and grain hardness, with skewness values of 0,264254 and -0,4254446, indicating slight asymmetry in both parameter distributions. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and confidence intervals of 1,9768 at p=0.05 confirmed the reliability of the observed results. These findings suggest that winter ploughing tillage contributes to stable moisture retention but shows variable effects on grain hardness, possibly due to factors such as soil conditions and environmental variability. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of winter ploughing on wheat quality and yield, as well as its impact under different weather conditions and wheat varieties.

Canarium madagascariense, an endemic multifunctional tree species native to Madagascar, contributes significantly to the structural integrity of local biodiversity and ecological functions of the rainforest while serving as a source of medicinal resources for local rural communities. Additionally, its fruits are consumed by frugivorous lemurs, which play a vital role in seed dispersal and propagation. This species has been classified as threatened with extinction due to unsustainable timber extraction practices coupled with challenges in natural regeneration and climate change. It may be crucial to understand the correlation between this species and hydric stress for informing reforestation programs, management strategies, and opportunities for biodiversity conservation; however, this aspect remains poorly reported in the existing literature. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the morpho-physiological and biochemical responses of C. madagascariense seedlings subjected to hydric stress and to potassium silicate—a compound known to enhance drought resistance. In this study, 120 seedlings underwent different irrigation levels: 100%, 50%, and 25% of field capacity, both with and without potassium silicate application, under greenhouse conditions. As hydric stress intensified, reductions in diameter and height growth were observed ranging from 40% to 80% and from 42% to 72%, respectively, together with a decline in stomatal conductance from above 0.10 to a critical threshold of 0.001 mol m-2 s-1 from one week of stress. At the same time, the application of potassium silicate did not yield any significant effects on these parameters. In terms of phytochemical analysis, glucose levels nearly doubled in response to increasing stress; however, sucrose was undetectable. Notably, the total phenolic compound content exhibited significant differences with the use of potassium silicate. Specifically, the levels of three phenolic compounds—caffeic acid, epicatechin, and quercetin—were found to decrease markedly in stressed plants when compared to controls. These findings highlighted the potential utility of these molecules as indicators of water stress in C. madagascariense.

Tillage plays a crucial role in modifying soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability, all of which directly influence crop performance. Hence, understanding the response of maize to different tillage practices is of agronomic importance. Therefore, this study examined the effect of different tillage practices on maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield. The three tillage systems compared were ripping tillage, strip tillage, and winter ploughing in the 2024 growing season under field conditions. The results revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in maize yield across the tillage methods, with ripping tillage achieving the highest average yield (11.40 t ha⁻¹), followed by winter ploughing (10.60 t ha⁻¹) and strip tillage (10.20 t ha⁻¹). Ripping tillage shows a statistically proven higher yield (p<0.001) than winter ploughing and strip tillage. There was no significant difference between winter ploughing and strip tillage. Based on the results, ripping tillage should be recommended for farmers seeking to maximize maize yields, as it consistently outperformed the other tillage methods in the study. Ripping and strip-tillage practices contributed to yield improvement through improved soil moisture retention and reduced soil erosion, highlighting their potential long-term benefits for sustainable farming. These findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate tillage systems to optimize maize production while promoting the conservation of soil and the sustainability of agriculture.

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) have become a major concern to viticulture worldwide, as they have a significant economic impact on the longevity and productivity of vineyards. The simultaneous presence of several trunk pathogens in a single plant with inconsistent expression of symptoms, together with their isolation in asymptomatic grapevines and the lack of effective treatments, make these diseases extremely complex to identify and eradicate. In order to improve the knowledge on GTDs and to search for new sustainable alternatives to limit their development, the structure of fungal communities associated with GTD-infected symptomatic and asymptomatic plants was studied. Firstly, 10cm long spurs were collected from two selected grapevine cultivars with different levels of susceptibility to GTDs, in three different locations belonging to the Alentejo region (southern Portugal), and this was followed by a metagenomic analysis. Deep sequencing of fungal-directed ITS1 and ITS2 amplicons led to the detection of 1923 ASVs in the grapevine fungal microbiota, where 393 different fungal genera were found, including 29 fungal genera/species previously described as responsible for GTDs. Our results revealed that the structure of the fungal communities of the two cultivars from the three sampling sites followed a similar trend in terms of plant symptomatology. However, there were statistically significant differences in fungal abundance according to vineyard location. Regarding trunk pathogens, there are significant differences associated with the expression of trunk diseases symptoms, cultivar, and vineyard location. Our study allowed an adequate sequencing depth to unravel the complexity of the grapevine fungal communities of the selected cultivars and updated the information on the richness and diversity of GTDs-associated fungi and their relationship with the plant symptomatology. This study contributes to a better understanding of plant–pathogen interactions and to a better knowledge of GTDs, helping to mitigate and control these diseases with such a high economic impact worldwide.

Ratoon rice is a cropping pattern that occurs after harvesting the main crop of rice, and suitable cultivation measures are adopted to promote the germination of dormant buds, the growth of ratoon tillers, and the booting, flowering, grain filling, and harvest of the ratoon season.
The promotion area of ratoon rice in Southern China has been expanding in recent years. Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal element that is difficult to dissolve and has a high migration rate. Rice is one of the crops that efficiently uptake and accumulate Cd, particularly in ratoon rice. In order to identify the effect and mechanism of Cd accumulation in ratoon rice, the experiment selected two pairs of OsNramp5 gene knockout line materials, namely Shaoxiang100(S100) and its wild-type 44-5(44-5) and Lianliangyou1(L21) and its wild-type Zhenliangyou8612(Z8612), under two Cd treatments to evaluate the differences in Cd accumulation between the main and ratoon season. The results demonstrated that the Cd concentration of mutant materials was significantly lower than the WTs in all organisms of ratoon rice, indicating that knocking out the osNramp5 gene could significantly reduce Cd concentration to the main and ratoon seasons of rice, especially in brown grains. Moreover, the return of straw also affects Cd accumulation during the ratoon season, with Cd accumulation significantly increasing when the straw is returned. In the ratoon season, the Cd concentration and accumulation of the ratoon shoots and grains are positively correlated with the position of the nodes. The photosynthetic and transpiration rates of sword leaves were also positively correlated with the position of the nodes. The higher transpiration rate of the ratoon leaves at higher nodes leads to greater Cd accumulation. It is suggested that ratoon buds at higher nodes more easily accumulate Cd, leading to a risk of excessive Cd concentration in ratoon rice grains.

Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a devastating disease affecting worldwide tomato production. This study investigated the efficacy of garlic crude extract, Bacillus subtilis, and a combination of the two in managing bacterial wilt and promoting the growth of tomato plants. A randomized complete block design was used, with eight treatments: T1 (Ralstonia only), T2 (Ralstonia + Garlic extract), T3 (Ralstonia + B. subtilis), T4 (Ralstonia + Garlic extract + B. subtilis), T5 (Untreated control), T6 (Garlic extract only), T7 (B. subtilis only), and T8 (Garlic extract + B. subtilis). Disease severity, flower number, stem diameter, and plant height were assessed. Physiological parameters, including the photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO₂ concentration, were measured using a Li-Cor 6800 photosynthesis system. The results showed that T4 (Ralstonia + Garlic extract + B. subtilis) had the highest photosynthetic rate, indicating a synergistic effect between garlic extract and B. subtilis in mitigating the impact of Ralstonia. T7 (B. subtilis only) exhibited the highest stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, suggesting that B. subtilis alone enhanced gas exchange and water uptake in healthy plants. Ralstonia infection (T1) (Ralstonia only) resulted in the highest intercellular CO₂ concentration owing to reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Morphological data revealed that Ralstonia infection significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced plant height, flower number, and stem diameter compared to untreated controls. T2 (Ralstonia + Garlic extract) and T3 (Ralstonia + B. subtilis) showed moderate improvements in growth parameters compared to T1 (Ralstonia only), while T4 (Ralstonia + Garlic extract + B. subtilis) exhibited the best performance among infected plants. The findings of this study highlight the potential of garlic extract and B. subtilis as biocontrol agents and growth promoters for managing bacterial wilt in tomatoes. Therefore, this study offers an environmentally friendly approach to strengthening tomato crop resilience and productivity against diseases like bacterial wilt.

Grain number is a critical yield component in wheat, and its stability is increasingly threatened by heat stress due to global warming. Short-term heat events, lasting hours or days, frequently coincide with key developmental stages, compromising floret fertility. While the impacts of heat stress on wheat grain settings have been extensively studied at plant and canopy scales, floret-level responses remain poorly understood.

Wheat's asynchronous development among spikes, spikelets, and florets suggests positional variability in heat stress susceptibility, as pollen response to heat is highly stage-specific. To address this, we conducted four experiments to investigate floret fertility responses to 5-day heat stress at 36°C during different developmental stages. A novel quantitative model was developed and validated to characterize and predict developmental gradients among florets within a plant. Additionally, we introduced the "cohort concept," grouping florets by shared developmental stages, to better elucidate their collective responses to stress.

Our findings reveal that floret developmental gradients are key drivers of grain number sensitivity to heat stress. By accounting for the variability in floret-level susceptibility, this study highlights the importance of incorporating floret-scale developmental dynamics into heat stress assessments for wheat and other cereals and also provides new insights for breeding new genotypes with enhanced heat resilience in wheat.

Green leaf volatiles (GLVs), 6-carbon compounds that are produced through lipid peroxidation, are significant volatile signals that have been shown to protect plants against biotic and abiotic stresses including insect herbivory, pathogen infections, drought, cold, heat, and light. Since all these stresses are affected by climate change, GLVs provide an important target for research into their broad protective activities, which are unrivaled. To gain further insights into the protective properties of GLVs and their regulation, we have begun to study the effects of altered environmental conditions on the production of these compounds as well as their responses while growing under various stressors. We focused on biotic and abiotic responses, since both are intricately connected in a changing environment caused by climate change. We found, for example, that while drought and cold did not significantly affect the capacity to produce Z-3-hexenal as the first metabolite of the pathway, heat did reduce the capacity but also changed the ratios of Z-3-hexenal and E-2-hexenal. In contrast, light did cause a significant increase in the capacity to produce GLVs. Nutrients, as an important factor for growth and yield, also influenced the production of these compounds. We have further identified changes in the effectiveness of plants to respond to these compounds under changing abiotic conditions. In conclusion, our results clearly show an effect of different abiotic and biotic stressors on the capacity of maize plants to produce and respond to GLVs, as a consequence of changes in the environment caused by climate change. The implications of these first findings on the biological properties of these multifunctional compounds and their robustness to changes in the abiotic and biotic environment caused by climate change will be discussed.