Nondestructive measurement technology of phenotype can provide substantial phenotypic data support for applications such as seedling breeding,management,and quality testing.The current method of measuring seedling phe...Nondestructive measurement technology of phenotype can provide substantial phenotypic data support for applications such as seedling breeding,management,and quality testing.The current method of measuring seedling phenotypes mainly relies on manual measurement which is inefficient,subjective and destroys samples.Therefore,the paper proposes a nondestructive measurement method for the canopy phenotype of the watermelon plug seedlings based on deep learning.The Azure Kinect was used to shoot canopy color images,depth images,and RGB-D images of the watermelon plug seedlings.The Mask-RCNN network was used to classify,segment,and count the canopy leaves of the watermelon plug seedlings.To reduce the error of leaf area measurement caused by mutual occlusion of leaves,the leaves were repaired by CycleGAN,and the depth images were restored by image processing.Then,the Delaunay triangulation was adopted to measure the leaf area in the leaf point cloud.The YOLOX target detection network was used to identify the growing point position of each seedling on the plug tray.Then the depth differences between the growing point and the upper surface of the plug tray were calculated to obtain plant height.The experiment results show that the nondestructive measurement algorithm proposed in this paper achieves good measurement performance for the watermelon plug seedlings from the 1 true-leaf to 3 true-leaf stages.The average relative error of measurement is 2.33%for the number of true leaves,4.59%for the number of cotyledons,8.37%for the leaf area,and 3.27%for the plant height.The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm in this paper provides an effective solution for the nondestructive measurement of the canopy phenotype of the plug seedlings.展开更多
Objective] The study was aimed to improve the yield and quality of cashew. [Method] Through the comparative analysis, the survival rate, new germi-nation and yield characteristics of the cutting stems with different h...Objective] The study was aimed to improve the yield and quality of cashew. [Method] Through the comparative analysis, the survival rate, new germi-nation and yield characteristics of the cutting stems with different heights by stem grafting and bark grafting. [Result] The best cutting stem height of cashew should be in 100-150 cm, when the number of new germinated shoots was 85.5-87.7. Stem grafting could significantly improve the survival rate of the shooting branch （92.7%）, growth condition of which was better than that of bark grafting, and it also had no clip cortex. The yield of stem grafting was significantly higher than that of bark grafting, and it could reach up to 18.1 kg/plant in 4 years. The branches from stem grafting had significantly better ability in resisting the wind damage than those from bark grafting. [Conclusion] The study provided references for the crown grafting of cashew planting in China.展开更多
The need for reforestation in cork oak （Quercus suber L.） areas is challenged by difficulties. Principal among these is herbivory of young plants, vegetative competition, and slow growth rates of cork oak seedlings....The need for reforestation in cork oak （Quercus suber L.） areas is challenged by difficulties. Principal among these is herbivory of young plants, vegetative competition, and slow growth rates of cork oak seedlings. We evaluated the early development of cork oak seedlings treated using tree shelters and mulching in northwestern Tunisia. We tested three tree shelter treatments （non-vented, vented, and control） to shield seedlings from animal damage and five mulch types to control competing vegetation （Italian Stone Pine, Lentisk, combination of Italian Stone Pine and Lentisk （organic mulches）, gravel （inorganic mulch） and no mulch）. At the end of the two-year experiment, sheltered seedlings were 89-99% taller than unshelteredseedlings and had higher numbers and lengths of shoot growth flushes. In contrast, both stem diameter growth and dry weight biomass （from samples extracted after two years） were significantly reduced inside tree shelters. Root-to-shoot ratio was not significantly different in sheltered vs. unsheltered seedlings, suggesting that tree shelters do not adversely affect this parameter. Mulching alone did not favour growth, but could be beneficial when combined with tree shelters. The combination of vented tree shelters and gravel mulch was the most effective treatment for promoting diameter, height and stem volume growth.展开更多
The high labor demand during rice seedling cultivation and transplantation poses a significant challenge in advancing machine-transplanted rice cultivation.This problem may be solved by increasing the seeding rate dur...The high labor demand during rice seedling cultivation and transplantation poses a significant challenge in advancing machine-transplanted rice cultivation.This problem may be solved by increasing the seeding rate during seedling production while reducing the number of seedling trays.This study conducted field experiments from 2021 to 2022,using transplanting seedling ages of 10 and 15 days to explore the effects of 250,300,and 350 g/tray on the seedling quality,mechanical transplantation quality,yields,and economic benefits of rice.The commonly used combination of 150 g/tray with a 20-day seedling age in rice production was used as CK.The cultivation of seedlings under a high seeding rate and short seedling age significantly affected seedling characteristics,but there was no significant difference in seedling vitality compared to CK.The minimum number of rice trays used in the experiment was observed in the treatment of 350-10(300 g/tray and 10-day seedling age),only 152-155 trays ha^(-1),resulting in a 62%reduction in the number of trays needed.By increasing the seeding rate of rice,missed holes during mechanical transplantation decreased by 2.8 to 4%.The treatment of 300-15(300 g/tray and 15-day seedling age)achieved the highest yields and economic gains.These results indicated that using crop straw boards can reduce the application of seedling trays.On that basis,rice yields can be increased by raising the seeding rate and shortening the seedling age of rice without compromising seedling quality.展开更多
Natural forest recovery on abandoned farmland is hindered by a variety of factors and active restoration plays an important role when quick afforestation is desired. We investigated seedling survival of four transplan...Natural forest recovery on abandoned farmland is hindered by a variety of factors and active restoration plays an important role when quick afforestation is desired. We investigated seedling survival of four transplanted native tree species （Quercus myrsinifolia, Quercus serrata, Aphananthe aspera, and Rhus sylvestris） by experimentally manipulating the vegetation cover, which was mainly dominated by dwarf bamboo （Pleioblastus chino）, and herbivore access to the planting sites on farmland that had been abandoned for 15 years at the start of the study. Few transplanted seedlings of any species survived under intact vegetation cover, irrespective of herbivore presence. In gaps in the vegetation cover, winter browsing by Japanese hare （Lepus brachyurus） damaged all species. However, lower browsing frequency and higher resprouting ability after grazing of the seedlings enabled both Quercus species to survive better than the other species. These results indicate that dwarf bamboo and the hare jointly limit the establishment of native trees in old fields. If active afforestation by transplanting seedlings at sites dominated by dwarf bamboo is planned, a combination of vegetation removal, selection of suitable species, and temporary seedling protection will be most effective.展开更多
We assessed the effect of mulching and tree shelters on the establishment and early growth of zeen oak(Quercus canariensis Willd.) during the first 4 years after planting in Northwestern Tunisia. Five mulch types(Ital...We assessed the effect of mulching and tree shelters on the establishment and early growth of zeen oak(Quercus canariensis Willd.) during the first 4 years after planting in Northwestern Tunisia. Five mulch types(Italian Stone Pine(Pinus pinea L.), Lentisk(Pistacia lentiscus L.),and a combination of Italian Stone Pine and Lentisk(organic mulches), gravel(inorganic mulch) and control), and three tree shelter types(non-vented and vented tree shelters, and control) were tested. An increase in the number of internodes occurred under the gravel mulch, while a reduction in survival was found for the lentisk mulch. Tree shelters had no effect on survival, but increased mean height growth and reduced mean diameter growth during the 4 years(excepting a non-significant effect for vented tree shelter at year four). Comparison of the annual shoots and growth units(GU) between sheltered and unsheltered plants according to year of formation revealed two growth phases. In first phase, shoots were totally or partially inside the shelters; mean length of annual shoots and GU were greater for sheltered plants. The second phase was characterized by shoots emerging from shelters; mean length of annual shoots and GU were similar for all plants, with or without tree shelters. Results suggest that the use of tree shelters, particularly vented shelters, could contribute to the improvement of the artificial regeneration of zeen oak.The use of mulching alone or in combination with tree shelters did not improve zeen oak performance in the field.展开更多
Testing techniques to reduce weed infestation is a crucial step in developing direct tree seeding systems. The use of pre-emergence herbicides may be an alternative to manual weeding techniques, but so far, informatio...Testing techniques to reduce weed infestation is a crucial step in developing direct tree seeding systems. The use of pre-emergence herbicides may be an alternative to manual weeding techniques, but so far, information on how they affect the seeds of native tree species is scarce. We established a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the effects of four pre-emergence herbicides (atrazine, diuron, isoxaflutole and oxyfluorfen) on weed suppression and seedling emergence and early growth of seven tropical forest tree species (Annona coriacea Mart., Citharexylum myrianthum Cham., Cordia ecalyculata Vell., Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub., Psidium guajava L., Pterogyne nitens Tul. and Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with five treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted of a single dose of each pre-emergence herbicide and a control. Throughout the 60 days after sowing we evaluated weed cover and seedling emergence and early growth of tree species. Overall, our results suggest that all tested herbicides reduced weed cover; however, they also negatively affected tree species seedling emergence. Of the four herbicides tested, atrazine and diuron showed the greatest effects on tree seedling emergence, oxyfluorfen was least aggressive towards native species and isoxaflutole was most effective in weed control. Native tree species varied in their responses to herbicides, indicating that future experiments should increase the number of species tested as well as investigate how seed traits can affect the species responses to different herbicides.展开更多
Population shrinkage of alpine cushion plants with ongoing climate warming has been empirically confirmed.Since cushion plants play important roles in sustaining alpine plant community and ecosystem functions,their po...Population shrinkage of alpine cushion plants with ongoing climate warming has been empirically confirmed.Since cushion plants play important roles in sustaining alpine plant community and ecosystem functions,their population dynamics may directly influence the future alpine ecosystems.However,little is known about how climate warming affect cushion population recruitment,especially at early life-history stages.In this study,we conducted a laboratory simulation of climate warming to detect the effects of warming temperature and associated moisture and light changes on seed germination and seedling growth of the typical alpine cushion plant Arenaria oreophila.Results suggested that increasing temperature indeed exerted strong constraints on the population recruitment processes.Specifically,increased temperatures could quickly initialize seed germination(4e6 days at higher temperatures vs.29 e32 days at low temperature,respectively,after sowing),accelerate them to reach the maximum germination percentage(9e19 days at higher temperatures vs.57e86 days at low temperature,respectively,after sowing)and significantly accelerate seedling growth rate.However,higher temperatures accelerated seedling mortality(more than 80%).In addition,lower light availability also increased seedling mortality though it could generally increase the final seed germination percentage.The effects of water might be dependent on temperature and light.All results suggested that cushion A.oreophila is quite sensitive to climate warming which strongly constrains its seedling establishment process.We,therefore,speculate that the continuing climate warming in future will exert uncertain risks in the persistence of cushion A.oreophila,possibly by constraining the process of seedling recruitments.展开更多
Planting genetically improved,fast-growing tree seedlings is gaining importance as a strategy to enhance forest productivity and reduce labor requirements during plantation establishment.In this study,we evaluated the...Planting genetically improved,fast-growing tree seedlings is gaining importance as a strategy to enhance forest productivity and reduce labor requirements during plantation establishment.In this study,we evaluated the early growth and survival of advanced-generation Cryptomeria japonica seedlings compared to conventional stock,under varying planting densities and cultivation methods.A field experiment was conducted over 5 years using containergrown and bare-root seedlings derived from first-and second-generation plus trees,alongside traditional seedlings.The results showed that advanced-generation seedlings exhibited higher growth in tree height,stem diameter,and crown development than traditional seedlings,particularly when planted as container stock.These seedlings also had higher survival rates,likely due to their rapid initial height growth,which reduced the risks of accidental damage during weeding operations.Wider planting intervals increased the risk of man-made injury and seedling mortality,while faster-growing seedlings were more likely to escape from competing vegetation.Our findings highlight the potential of improved seedling stock to enhance early plantation success and reduce management inputs in the critical establishment phase of forestry.展开更多
[Objective]To elucidate the role of ethylene(ET),a latex yield stimulant of the rubber tree,on the sieve tube(ST)transport efficiency of materials(especially sucrose)needed for natural rubber biosynthesis.[Method]Rubb...[Objective]To elucidate the role of ethylene(ET),a latex yield stimulant of the rubber tree,on the sieve tube(ST)transport efficiency of materials(especially sucrose)needed for natural rubber biosynthesis.[Method]Rubber tree seedlings were treated with ET solution or water which was used as a control on the bark,and latex samples and ST tissue samples were collected for proteomic analyses and latex sucrose content determination respectively.[Results]After ET treatment,the sucrose content of the latex was found significantly decreased.A total of 66 ethylene-responsive proteins(ERPs)were distinguished by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE),and 54 were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF and database searching.The majority of these ERPs were involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolic processes in the ST.[Conclusion]Our findings suggest that the application of ET may increase the transport efficiency of the ST and that the application of ET promotes the consumption of energy and sucrose in the ST.展开更多
Exotic tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (melaleuca) deposits large quantities of slowly decomposing litter biomass that accumulates over time and covers forest floors in its adventive habitats in Florida (USA). Herein, we...Exotic tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (melaleuca) deposits large quantities of slowly decomposing litter biomass that accumulates over time and covers forest floors in its adventive habitats in Florida (USA). Herein, we assessed the influence of melaleuca litter cover, seed addition, and seeding date on seedling emergence and survival. The assessment was conducted by ma-nipulating litter cover and seed inputs of melaleuca and two native species at different dates in two soil types. Litter cover was either removed or left in place in organic and arenaceous soils within melaleuca stands. Each of the three treatment plots were seeded with melaleuca, wax myrtle or sawgrass, while the fourth plot was not seeded and served as the control. Seedlings were counted at 2-wk intervals to determine cumulative seedling emergence and survival during the experimental period. The experiment was repeated four times within a year. Soil type did not influence seedling emergence of all three species but influenced survival of wax myrtle. Litter removal increased the emergence of melaleuca, sawgrass, and wax myrtle and increased the survival of melaleuca. Seed addition increased the emergence and survival of sawgrass and wax myrtle but made no difference for melaleuca. Seeding during the periods of high soil moisture content had positive effects on the emergence and survival of melaleuca, wax myrtle, and sawgrass seedlings. These findings are deemed useful in planning active restoration for melaleuca invaded sites.展开更多
[Objectives]To screen effective agents for the management of root rot in tobacco floating seedlings.[Methods]A total of eight treatments were implemented in a large-scale field trial,which included three replications....[Objectives]To screen effective agents for the management of root rot in tobacco floating seedlings.[Methods]A total of eight treatments were implemented in a large-scale field trial,which included three replications.Each treatment was administered at the recommended dosages.[Results]The application of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil+amino acids demonstrated a control efficacy of 93.65%against root rot in tobacco floating seedlings.In comparison,the application of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil alone exhibited a control efficacy of 88.42%.The most effective treatment for promoting root growth in tobacco seedlings was Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil+amino acids,which resulted in a 54.65%increase in root growth compared to the blank control.This was followed by the application of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil alone,which yielded a 39.53%increase in root growth relative to the blank control.[Conclusions]The application of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil+amino acids is recommended for use in the seedling pools of tobacco seedling cultivation.Specifically,it is advised to incorporate 1 mL of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil and 2 mL of amino acids into each seedling tray prior to their introduction into the seedling pool.This treatment has demonstrated significant efficacy in preventing and controlling root rot in tobacco floating seedlings,while also promoting the health of the root system and ensuring the quality of transplanted tobacco seedlings.展开更多
One-year-old seedlings of Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis, Phellodendron amurense were grown in open-top chambers (OTCs) with 700 and 500 (mol/mol CO2 concentrations, control chamber and on open site (ambient ...One-year-old seedlings of Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis, Phellodendron amurense were grown in open-top chambers (OTCs) with 700 and 500 (mol/mol CO2 concentrations, control chamber and on open site (ambient CO2, about 350 (mol/mol CO2) respectively at the Open Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the growth course responses of three species to elevated CO2 and temperature during one growing season was studied from May to Oct. 1999. The results showed that increase in CO2 concentration enhanced the growth of seedlings and the effect of 700 (mol/mol CO2 was more remarkable than 500 (mol/mol CO2 on seedling growth. Under the condition of doubly elevated CO2 concentration, the biomass increased by 38% in average for coniferous seedlings and 60% for broad-leaved seedlings. With continuous treatment of high CO2 concentration, the monthly-accumulated biomass of shade-tolerant Pinus koraiensis seedlings was bigger in July than in August and September, while those of Pinus sylvestriformis and Phellodendron amurense seedlings showed an increase in July and August, or did not decrese until September. During the hot August, high CO2 concentration enhanced the growth of Pinus koraiensis seedlings by increasing temperature, but it did not show dominance in other two species.展开更多
Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) impairs crop growth by inducing oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a biocompatible ferruginated carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs...Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) impairs crop growth by inducing oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a biocompatible ferruginated carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs) nanozyme is developed to target ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage and improving the absorption and transfer of Cd ions in wheat. Notably, Fe-CQDs exhibit multi-enzyme activities mimicking peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), enabling effective neutralization of active species such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), hydrogen peroxide (H_(2)O_(2)), and superoxide anions (O_(2)•^(-)). Importantly, root application of 10 mg L^(-1) Fe-CQDs alleviates Cd stress and promotes wheat growth in both hydroponic and soil cultures. Specifically, the levels of O_(2)•^(-), H_(2)O_(2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaf tissues decrease, whereas the non-enzyme antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), increases. Cell wall thickness in the Fe-CQDs-treated group is reduced by 42.4% compared with the Cd group. Moreover, Fe-CQDs enhance the expression of genes related to antioxidants, stress resistance, Cd detoxification, and nutrient transport. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses show that Fe-CQDs stimulate the production of flavonoids and regulate the activity of metal transporter genes (YSL, ABC, ZIP) to maintain ROS homeostasis. These findings highlight the potential of Fe-CQDs nanozyme platforms in mitigating oxidative damage and enhancing crop growth, offering new insights into the application of nanobiotechnology in agriculture.展开更多
The oilseed crop Camelina sativa exhibits salinity tolerance,but the effects on early growth stages across a range of different salts and in combination with salicylic acid(SA)have not been thoroughly evaluated.In thi...The oilseed crop Camelina sativa exhibits salinity tolerance,but the effects on early growth stages across a range of different salts and in combination with salicylic acid(SA)have not been thoroughly evaluated.In this study,seeds were germinated in varying concentrations of six salts(NaCl,CaCl_(2),ZnCl_(2),KCl,MgSO_(4),and Na2SO_(4))with or without 0.5 mM SA.Using the halotime model,we estimated salt thresholds for germination and parameters of seedling growth.Germination and seedling growth parameters of camelina significantly decreased with increasing salt concentration across all salt types.Salts containing Zn and SO_(4) were most detrimental to germination and seedling growth.Except for KCl,0.5 mM SA generally reduced the salinity tolerance threshold(Saltb(50))of camelina.Specifically,Saltb(50)was 21.5%higher for KCl and 16.1%,25.0%,54.9%,21.0%,and 5.6%lower for CaCl_(2),NaCl,MgSO_(4),Na2SO_(4),and ZnCl_(2),respectively,when 0.5 mM SA was compared to 0 mM SA.Furthermore,camelina seedling growth was consistently more sensitive than germination across all salt types.SA did not significantly enhance germination or seedling growth and was harmful when combined with certain salts or at the germination stage.It can be concluded that both the type of salt and the concentration of SA are as critical as the salt concentration in saline irrigation water.展开更多
This study presents a drone-based aerial imaging method for automated rice seedling detection and counting in paddy fields.Utilizing a drone equipped with a high-resolution camera,images are captured 14 days postsowin...This study presents a drone-based aerial imaging method for automated rice seedling detection and counting in paddy fields.Utilizing a drone equipped with a high-resolution camera,images are captured 14 days postsowing at a consistent altitude of six meters,employing autonomous flight for uniform data acquisition.The approach effectively addresses the distinct growth patterns of both single and clustered rice seedlings at this early stage.The methodology follows a two-step process:first,the GoogleNet deep learning network identifies the location and center points of rice plants.Then,the U-Net deep learning network performs classification and counting of individual plants and clusters.This combination of deep learning models achieved a 90%accuracy rate in classifying and counting both single and clustered seedlings.To validate the method’s effectiveness,results were compared against traditional manual counting conducted by agricultural experts.The comparison revealed minimal discrepancies,with a variance of only 2–4 clumps per square meter,confirming the reliability of the proposed method.This automated approach offers significant benefits by providing an efficient,accurate,and scalable solution for monitoring seedling growth.It enables farmers to optimize fertilizer and pesticide application,improve resource allocation,and enhance overall crop management,ultimately contributing to increased agricultural productivity.展开更多
Insect herbivory is ubiquitous in various ecosystems,and directly influences the growth and survival of individual plants,especially during their vulnerable early life stages like the seedling phase.This,in turn,exert...Insect herbivory is ubiquitous in various ecosystems,and directly influences the growth and survival of individual plants,especially during their vulnerable early life stages like the seedling phase.This,in turn,exerts a significant influence on forest community diversity and structure,as well as ecosystem function and stability.Notable variation in herbivory has been detected both among and within plant species.For decades,many hypotheses have been proposed to explain such variations,including both biotic and abiotic variables.However,most studies have considered only one or several of these hypotheses by focusing on a few potential variables,and their results were usually inconsistent;thus,the factors driving herbivory remain unclear.In this study,we examined leaf herbivory by insects of woody species seedlings in a subtropical forest in southwestern China over two seasons.In total,24 potential variables that represented abiotic resource availability,characters of individual seedlings,conspecific and heterospecific species,and the whole seedling community were selected to test several commonly discussed alternative herbivory hypotheses.Overall,our findings showed that the plant apparency hypothesis was more supported than the other hypotheses in explaining insect seedling herbivory.Our results further indicated that the mechanisms and causes of insect herbivory are complex,multifactorial,species-specific and vary with seasons,indicating that there may be no uniform rules in explaining herbivory for all seedlings.Consequently,such complexity may play an important role in promoting species coexistence and biodiversity maintenance in seedling communities,which may further translate into the following generation of saplings or even adult communities.Changes in the community of insect herbivores and/or variables influencing insect herbivory,may disrupt stability of the original seedling community,thus affecting the regeneration and development of the entire forest community.Therefore,we suggest that issues related to insect herbivory should be considered when developing forest management and conservation.展开更多
Nitrogen(N)deficiency is a critical factor limiting natural regeneration in coastal shelterbelt forests,but the influence of different N forms on seedling establishment under varying light conditions remains poorly un...Nitrogen(N)deficiency is a critical factor limiting natural regeneration in coastal shelterbelt forests,but the influence of different N forms on seedling establishment under varying light conditions remains poorly understood.This study investigated the effects of N forms and N concentrations on Ligustrum compactum seedlings under simulated canopy gap conditions using a three-factor design:N form(NO_(3)^(-)-N,NH_(4)^(+)-N,mixed N),N concentration(30 and 60 kg ha^(-1)a^(-1)),and light intensity(30%,60%,and 90%full sunlight).Results showed that N addition significantly promoted seedling growth,net photosynthesis rate,and water use efficiency;however,the effects varied among N forms and concentrations.Overall,NO_(3)^(-)-N or mixed N were more favored by L.compactum seedlings;however,the N preference was altered by light intensity and N concentration.For instance,L.compactum showed greater NO_(3)^(-)-N or mixed N preference under low and medium light intensities,while displaying more NH_(4)^(+)-N preference under high light intensity.N concentration also affected the growth and N preference of L.compactum seedlings,but the variance explained by N concentration was lower than that of light intensity.Leaf C,N,P stoichiometry exhibited stronger correlations with seedling's morphological trait plasticity than those of leaf gas exchange,and further analysis demonstrated that leaf C:P and N:P were the top two critical factors affecting seedling growth,indicating that the coordination and balance among C,N,P elements were more important in explaining the seedling growth under N addition.Therefore,our results clarified that the N preference of L.compactum seedlings could be altered by light intensity and revealed that leaf C,N,P ratios were stronger predictors than leaf gas exchange parameters for explaining the N effects on seedling performance.These findings demonstrated the mechanisms of light-N interactions affecting seedling performance,providing practical guidance for optimizing N fertilization and improving natural regeneration in canopy gaps of degraded coastal shelterbelt forests.展开更多
Forestation in the increasingly urbanized area generates a huge demand for ornamental tree stocks, requiring new approach to promote the cultural efficiency of highly valued seedlings. Chitosan oligosaccharide(COS) is...Forestation in the increasingly urbanized area generates a huge demand for ornamental tree stocks, requiring new approach to promote the cultural efficiency of highly valued seedlings. Chitosan oligosaccharide(COS) is one of biodegradable natural plant growth modifier derived from chitin and an abundant water insoluble biopolymer. In this study, Buddhist pine(Podocarpus macrophyllus)(PM) and Northeast yew(Taxus cuspidata)(TC) were cultured with or without COS addition from 1 July to 17 November 2016. Relative to the TC seedlings, the PM seedlings had greater growth of height and biomass which was found to be negatively correlated with the changes of nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) concentrations in shoot during the culture. Only those TC seedlings treated without COS addition had higher proportion of decline in the initial N concentration than that in the PM seedlings. Root P concentration declined less in Buddhist pine seedlings than that in Northeast yew seedlings treated with COS. By 17 of November 2016, both N and P seemed to have been diluted in the PM seedlings and exceed the demand in the TC seedlings. In conclusion, COS had the potential to be used for the culture of ornamental tree seedlings to promote nutrient utilization for shoot biomass accumulation, but more specific effect on nutrient allocation and utilization need to be confirmed by more studies.展开更多
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2019YFD1001900)the HZAU-AGIS Cooperation Fund(Grant No.SZYJY2022006).
文摘Nondestructive measurement technology of phenotype can provide substantial phenotypic data support for applications such as seedling breeding,management,and quality testing.The current method of measuring seedling phenotypes mainly relies on manual measurement which is inefficient,subjective and destroys samples.Therefore,the paper proposes a nondestructive measurement method for the canopy phenotype of the watermelon plug seedlings based on deep learning.The Azure Kinect was used to shoot canopy color images,depth images,and RGB-D images of the watermelon plug seedlings.The Mask-RCNN network was used to classify,segment,and count the canopy leaves of the watermelon plug seedlings.To reduce the error of leaf area measurement caused by mutual occlusion of leaves,the leaves were repaired by CycleGAN,and the depth images were restored by image processing.Then,the Delaunay triangulation was adopted to measure the leaf area in the leaf point cloud.The YOLOX target detection network was used to identify the growing point position of each seedling on the plug tray.Then the depth differences between the growing point and the upper surface of the plug tray were calculated to obtain plant height.The experiment results show that the nondestructive measurement algorithm proposed in this paper achieves good measurement performance for the watermelon plug seedlings from the 1 true-leaf to 3 true-leaf stages.The average relative error of measurement is 2.33%for the number of true leaves,4.59%for the number of cotyledons,8.37%for the leaf area,and 3.27%for the plant height.The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm in this paper provides an effective solution for the nondestructive measurement of the canopy phenotype of the plug seedlings.
基金Supported by the National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant of CATAS-TCGRI(163003201503316300320140322016+1 种基金pzsfyl-201613)the Ministry of Agriculture Tropical Crop Germplasm Resources Protection(16RZZY-101)~~
文摘Objective] The study was aimed to improve the yield and quality of cashew. [Method] Through the comparative analysis, the survival rate, new germi-nation and yield characteristics of the cutting stems with different heights by stem grafting and bark grafting. [Result] The best cutting stem height of cashew should be in 100-150 cm, when the number of new germinated shoots was 85.5-87.7. Stem grafting could significantly improve the survival rate of the shooting branch （92.7%）, growth condition of which was better than that of bark grafting, and it also had no clip cortex. The yield of stem grafting was significantly higher than that of bark grafting, and it could reach up to 18.1 kg/plant in 4 years. The branches from stem grafting had significantly better ability in resisting the wind damage than those from bark grafting. [Conclusion] The study provided references for the crown grafting of cashew planting in China.
基金supported by the laboratory of silvopastoral resources (Silvopastoral Institute-Tabarka)
文摘The need for reforestation in cork oak （Quercus suber L.） areas is challenged by difficulties. Principal among these is herbivory of young plants, vegetative competition, and slow growth rates of cork oak seedlings. We evaluated the early development of cork oak seedlings treated using tree shelters and mulching in northwestern Tunisia. We tested three tree shelter treatments （non-vented, vented, and control） to shield seedlings from animal damage and five mulch types to control competing vegetation （Italian Stone Pine, Lentisk, combination of Italian Stone Pine and Lentisk （organic mulches）, gravel （inorganic mulch） and no mulch）. At the end of the two-year experiment, sheltered seedlings were 89-99% taller than unshelteredseedlings and had higher numbers and lengths of shoot growth flushes. In contrast, both stem diameter growth and dry weight biomass （from samples extracted after two years） were significantly reduced inside tree shelters. Root-to-shoot ratio was not significantly different in sheltered vs. unsheltered seedlings, suggesting that tree shelters do not adversely affect this parameter. Mulching alone did not favour growth, but could be beneficial when combined with tree shelters. The combination of vented tree shelters and gravel mulch was the most effective treatment for promoting diameter, height and stem volume growth.
基金funded by the Jiangsu Key Research Program,China(BE2022338)the Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund,China(CX(23)3107)+3 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions,China(22KJB210004)the Jiangsu Province Agricultural Major Technology Collaborative Promotion Project,China(2022-ZYXT-04-1)the Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province,China(KYCX23_3569)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions,China.
文摘The high labor demand during rice seedling cultivation and transplantation poses a significant challenge in advancing machine-transplanted rice cultivation.This problem may be solved by increasing the seeding rate during seedling production while reducing the number of seedling trays.This study conducted field experiments from 2021 to 2022,using transplanting seedling ages of 10 and 15 days to explore the effects of 250,300,and 350 g/tray on the seedling quality,mechanical transplantation quality,yields,and economic benefits of rice.The commonly used combination of 150 g/tray with a 20-day seedling age in rice production was used as CK.The cultivation of seedlings under a high seeding rate and short seedling age significantly affected seedling characteristics,but there was no significant difference in seedling vitality compared to CK.The minimum number of rice trays used in the experiment was observed in the treatment of 350-10(300 g/tray and 10-day seedling age),only 152-155 trays ha^(-1),resulting in a 62%reduction in the number of trays needed.By increasing the seeding rate of rice,missed holes during mechanical transplantation decreased by 2.8 to 4%.The treatment of 300-15(300 g/tray and 15-day seedling age)achieved the highest yields and economic gains.These results indicated that using crop straw boards can reduce the application of seedling trays.On that basis,rice yields can be increased by raising the seeding rate and shortening the seedling age of rice without compromising seedling quality.
文摘Natural forest recovery on abandoned farmland is hindered by a variety of factors and active restoration plays an important role when quick afforestation is desired. We investigated seedling survival of four transplanted native tree species （Quercus myrsinifolia, Quercus serrata, Aphananthe aspera, and Rhus sylvestris） by experimentally manipulating the vegetation cover, which was mainly dominated by dwarf bamboo （Pleioblastus chino）, and herbivore access to the planting sites on farmland that had been abandoned for 15 years at the start of the study. Few transplanted seedlings of any species survived under intact vegetation cover, irrespective of herbivore presence. In gaps in the vegetation cover, winter browsing by Japanese hare （Lepus brachyurus） damaged all species. However, lower browsing frequency and higher resprouting ability after grazing of the seedlings enabled both Quercus species to survive better than the other species. These results indicate that dwarf bamboo and the hare jointly limit the establishment of native trees in old fields. If active afforestation by transplanting seedlings at sites dominated by dwarf bamboo is planned, a combination of vegetation removal, selection of suitable species, and temporary seedling protection will be most effective.
基金supported by the laboratory of silvopastoral resources(Silvopastoral Institute-Tabarka)
文摘We assessed the effect of mulching and tree shelters on the establishment and early growth of zeen oak(Quercus canariensis Willd.) during the first 4 years after planting in Northwestern Tunisia. Five mulch types(Italian Stone Pine(Pinus pinea L.), Lentisk(Pistacia lentiscus L.),and a combination of Italian Stone Pine and Lentisk(organic mulches), gravel(inorganic mulch) and control), and three tree shelter types(non-vented and vented tree shelters, and control) were tested. An increase in the number of internodes occurred under the gravel mulch, while a reduction in survival was found for the lentisk mulch. Tree shelters had no effect on survival, but increased mean height growth and reduced mean diameter growth during the 4 years(excepting a non-significant effect for vented tree shelter at year four). Comparison of the annual shoots and growth units(GU) between sheltered and unsheltered plants according to year of formation revealed two growth phases. In first phase, shoots were totally or partially inside the shelters; mean length of annual shoots and GU were greater for sheltered plants. The second phase was characterized by shoots emerging from shelters; mean length of annual shoots and GU were similar for all plants, with or without tree shelters. Results suggest that the use of tree shelters, particularly vented shelters, could contribute to the improvement of the artificial regeneration of zeen oak.The use of mulching alone or in combination with tree shelters did not improve zeen oak performance in the field.
基金financially supported by a Scientific Initiation Scholarship from FAPESP(So Paulo Research Council)financially supported by a Research Productivity Fellowship from CNPq(National Council for Research and Technological Development)
文摘Testing techniques to reduce weed infestation is a crucial step in developing direct tree seeding systems. The use of pre-emergence herbicides may be an alternative to manual weeding techniques, but so far, information on how they affect the seeds of native tree species is scarce. We established a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the effects of four pre-emergence herbicides (atrazine, diuron, isoxaflutole and oxyfluorfen) on weed suppression and seedling emergence and early growth of seven tropical forest tree species (Annona coriacea Mart., Citharexylum myrianthum Cham., Cordia ecalyculata Vell., Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub., Psidium guajava L., Pterogyne nitens Tul. and Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with five treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted of a single dose of each pre-emergence herbicide and a control. Throughout the 60 days after sowing we evaluated weed cover and seedling emergence and early growth of tree species. Overall, our results suggest that all tested herbicides reduced weed cover; however, they also negatively affected tree species seedling emergence. Of the four herbicides tested, atrazine and diuron showed the greatest effects on tree seedling emergence, oxyfluorfen was least aggressive towards native species and isoxaflutole was most effective in weed control. Native tree species varied in their responses to herbicides, indicating that future experiments should increase the number of species tested as well as investigate how seed traits can affect the species responses to different herbicides.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK0502 to H.S.)the Yunnan Applied Basic Research Project(202001AT070060 to J.G.C.)+1 种基金the CAS“Light ofWest China”Program(J.G.C.)the Young Academic and Technical Leader Raising Foundation of Yunnan Province(202205AC160053 to J.G.C.).
文摘Population shrinkage of alpine cushion plants with ongoing climate warming has been empirically confirmed.Since cushion plants play important roles in sustaining alpine plant community and ecosystem functions,their population dynamics may directly influence the future alpine ecosystems.However,little is known about how climate warming affect cushion population recruitment,especially at early life-history stages.In this study,we conducted a laboratory simulation of climate warming to detect the effects of warming temperature and associated moisture and light changes on seed germination and seedling growth of the typical alpine cushion plant Arenaria oreophila.Results suggested that increasing temperature indeed exerted strong constraints on the population recruitment processes.Specifically,increased temperatures could quickly initialize seed germination(4e6 days at higher temperatures vs.29 e32 days at low temperature,respectively,after sowing),accelerate them to reach the maximum germination percentage(9e19 days at higher temperatures vs.57e86 days at low temperature,respectively,after sowing)and significantly accelerate seedling growth rate.However,higher temperatures accelerated seedling mortality(more than 80%).In addition,lower light availability also increased seedling mortality though it could generally increase the final seed germination percentage.The effects of water might be dependent on temperature and light.All results suggested that cushion A.oreophila is quite sensitive to climate warming which strongly constrains its seedling establishment process.We,therefore,speculate that the continuing climate warming in future will exert uncertain risks in the persistence of cushion A.oreophila,possibly by constraining the process of seedling recruitments.
基金supported by FFPRI FTBC Operational Expense Grants。
文摘Planting genetically improved,fast-growing tree seedlings is gaining importance as a strategy to enhance forest productivity and reduce labor requirements during plantation establishment.In this study,we evaluated the early growth and survival of advanced-generation Cryptomeria japonica seedlings compared to conventional stock,under varying planting densities and cultivation methods.A field experiment was conducted over 5 years using containergrown and bare-root seedlings derived from first-and second-generation plus trees,alongside traditional seedlings.The results showed that advanced-generation seedlings exhibited higher growth in tree height,stem diameter,and crown development than traditional seedlings,particularly when planted as container stock.These seedlings also had higher survival rates,likely due to their rapid initial height growth,which reduced the risks of accidental damage during weeding operations.Wider planting intervals increased the risk of man-made injury and seedling mortality,while faster-growing seedlings were more likely to escape from competing vegetation.Our findings highlight the potential of improved seedling stock to enhance early plantation success and reduce management inputs in the critical establishment phase of forestry.
基金Supported by the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund(1630022015003)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31270651,31570684)~~
文摘[Objective]To elucidate the role of ethylene(ET),a latex yield stimulant of the rubber tree,on the sieve tube(ST)transport efficiency of materials(especially sucrose)needed for natural rubber biosynthesis.[Method]Rubber tree seedlings were treated with ET solution or water which was used as a control on the bark,and latex samples and ST tissue samples were collected for proteomic analyses and latex sucrose content determination respectively.[Results]After ET treatment,the sucrose content of the latex was found significantly decreased.A total of 66 ethylene-responsive proteins(ERPs)were distinguished by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE),and 54 were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF and database searching.The majority of these ERPs were involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolic processes in the ST.[Conclusion]Our findings suggest that the application of ET may increase the transport efficiency of the ST and that the application of ET promotes the consumption of energy and sucrose in the ST.
文摘Exotic tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (melaleuca) deposits large quantities of slowly decomposing litter biomass that accumulates over time and covers forest floors in its adventive habitats in Florida (USA). Herein, we assessed the influence of melaleuca litter cover, seed addition, and seeding date on seedling emergence and survival. The assessment was conducted by ma-nipulating litter cover and seed inputs of melaleuca and two native species at different dates in two soil types. Litter cover was either removed or left in place in organic and arenaceous soils within melaleuca stands. Each of the three treatment plots were seeded with melaleuca, wax myrtle or sawgrass, while the fourth plot was not seeded and served as the control. Seedlings were counted at 2-wk intervals to determine cumulative seedling emergence and survival during the experimental period. The experiment was repeated four times within a year. Soil type did not influence seedling emergence of all three species but influenced survival of wax myrtle. Litter removal increased the emergence of melaleuca, sawgrass, and wax myrtle and increased the survival of melaleuca. Seed addition increased the emergence and survival of sawgrass and wax myrtle but made no difference for melaleuca. Seeding during the periods of high soil moisture content had positive effects on the emergence and survival of melaleuca, wax myrtle, and sawgrass seedlings. These findings are deemed useful in planning active restoration for melaleuca invaded sites.
文摘[Objectives]To screen effective agents for the management of root rot in tobacco floating seedlings.[Methods]A total of eight treatments were implemented in a large-scale field trial,which included three replications.Each treatment was administered at the recommended dosages.[Results]The application of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil+amino acids demonstrated a control efficacy of 93.65%against root rot in tobacco floating seedlings.In comparison,the application of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil alone exhibited a control efficacy of 88.42%.The most effective treatment for promoting root growth in tobacco seedlings was Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil+amino acids,which resulted in a 54.65%increase in root growth compared to the blank control.This was followed by the application of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil alone,which yielded a 39.53%increase in root growth relative to the blank control.[Conclusions]The application of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil+amino acids is recommended for use in the seedling pools of tobacco seedling cultivation.Specifically,it is advised to incorporate 1 mL of Metalaxyl-M·Fludioxonil and 2 mL of amino acids into each seedling tray prior to their introduction into the seedling pool.This treatment has demonstrated significant efficacy in preventing and controlling root rot in tobacco floating seedlings,while also promoting the health of the root system and ensuring the quality of transplanted tobacco seedlings.
基金Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Open Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystem.
文摘One-year-old seedlings of Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis, Phellodendron amurense were grown in open-top chambers (OTCs) with 700 and 500 (mol/mol CO2 concentrations, control chamber and on open site (ambient CO2, about 350 (mol/mol CO2) respectively at the Open Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the growth course responses of three species to elevated CO2 and temperature during one growing season was studied from May to Oct. 1999. The results showed that increase in CO2 concentration enhanced the growth of seedlings and the effect of 700 (mol/mol CO2 was more remarkable than 500 (mol/mol CO2 on seedling growth. Under the condition of doubly elevated CO2 concentration, the biomass increased by 38% in average for coniferous seedlings and 60% for broad-leaved seedlings. With continuous treatment of high CO2 concentration, the monthly-accumulated biomass of shade-tolerant Pinus koraiensis seedlings was bigger in July than in August and September, while those of Pinus sylvestriformis and Phellodendron amurense seedlings showed an increase in July and August, or did not decrese until September. During the hot August, high CO2 concentration enhanced the growth of Pinus koraiensis seedlings by increasing temperature, but it did not show dominance in other two species.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (3237152 and 22104102)Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (2025ZNSFSC0155)+1 种基金Open Project Program (SKL-KF202416) of State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest ChinaTwo-Way Support Programs of Sichuan Agricultural University (P202105)
文摘Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) impairs crop growth by inducing oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a biocompatible ferruginated carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs) nanozyme is developed to target ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage and improving the absorption and transfer of Cd ions in wheat. Notably, Fe-CQDs exhibit multi-enzyme activities mimicking peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), enabling effective neutralization of active species such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), hydrogen peroxide (H_(2)O_(2)), and superoxide anions (O_(2)•^(-)). Importantly, root application of 10 mg L^(-1) Fe-CQDs alleviates Cd stress and promotes wheat growth in both hydroponic and soil cultures. Specifically, the levels of O_(2)•^(-), H_(2)O_(2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaf tissues decrease, whereas the non-enzyme antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), increases. Cell wall thickness in the Fe-CQDs-treated group is reduced by 42.4% compared with the Cd group. Moreover, Fe-CQDs enhance the expression of genes related to antioxidants, stress resistance, Cd detoxification, and nutrient transport. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses show that Fe-CQDs stimulate the production of flavonoids and regulate the activity of metal transporter genes (YSL, ABC, ZIP) to maintain ROS homeostasis. These findings highlight the potential of Fe-CQDs nanozyme platforms in mitigating oxidative damage and enhancing crop growth, offering new insights into the application of nanobiotechnology in agriculture.
基金the Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan (GABIT) Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University (SANRU) for the use of the services and financial supports of this research
文摘The oilseed crop Camelina sativa exhibits salinity tolerance,but the effects on early growth stages across a range of different salts and in combination with salicylic acid(SA)have not been thoroughly evaluated.In this study,seeds were germinated in varying concentrations of six salts(NaCl,CaCl_(2),ZnCl_(2),KCl,MgSO_(4),and Na2SO_(4))with or without 0.5 mM SA.Using the halotime model,we estimated salt thresholds for germination and parameters of seedling growth.Germination and seedling growth parameters of camelina significantly decreased with increasing salt concentration across all salt types.Salts containing Zn and SO_(4) were most detrimental to germination and seedling growth.Except for KCl,0.5 mM SA generally reduced the salinity tolerance threshold(Saltb(50))of camelina.Specifically,Saltb(50)was 21.5%higher for KCl and 16.1%,25.0%,54.9%,21.0%,and 5.6%lower for CaCl_(2),NaCl,MgSO_(4),Na2SO_(4),and ZnCl_(2),respectively,when 0.5 mM SA was compared to 0 mM SA.Furthermore,camelina seedling growth was consistently more sensitive than germination across all salt types.SA did not significantly enhance germination or seedling growth and was harmful when combined with certain salts or at the germination stage.It can be concluded that both the type of salt and the concentration of SA are as critical as the salt concentration in saline irrigation water.
基金funded by the Ministry of Education and Training Project(code number:B2023-TCT-08).
文摘This study presents a drone-based aerial imaging method for automated rice seedling detection and counting in paddy fields.Utilizing a drone equipped with a high-resolution camera,images are captured 14 days postsowing at a consistent altitude of six meters,employing autonomous flight for uniform data acquisition.The approach effectively addresses the distinct growth patterns of both single and clustered rice seedlings at this early stage.The methodology follows a two-step process:first,the GoogleNet deep learning network identifies the location and center points of rice plants.Then,the U-Net deep learning network performs classification and counting of individual plants and clusters.This combination of deep learning models achieved a 90%accuracy rate in classifying and counting both single and clustered seedlings.To validate the method’s effectiveness,results were compared against traditional manual counting conducted by agricultural experts.The comparison revealed minimal discrepancies,with a variance of only 2–4 clumps per square meter,confirming the reliability of the proposed method.This automated approach offers significant benefits by providing an efficient,accurate,and scalable solution for monitoring seedling growth.It enables farmers to optimize fertilizer and pesticide application,improve resource allocation,and enhance overall crop management,ultimately contributing to increased agricultural productivity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32171533 and 31971444)Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.2208085J28)。
文摘Insect herbivory is ubiquitous in various ecosystems,and directly influences the growth and survival of individual plants,especially during their vulnerable early life stages like the seedling phase.This,in turn,exerts a significant influence on forest community diversity and structure,as well as ecosystem function and stability.Notable variation in herbivory has been detected both among and within plant species.For decades,many hypotheses have been proposed to explain such variations,including both biotic and abiotic variables.However,most studies have considered only one or several of these hypotheses by focusing on a few potential variables,and their results were usually inconsistent;thus,the factors driving herbivory remain unclear.In this study,we examined leaf herbivory by insects of woody species seedlings in a subtropical forest in southwestern China over two seasons.In total,24 potential variables that represented abiotic resource availability,characters of individual seedlings,conspecific and heterospecific species,and the whole seedling community were selected to test several commonly discussed alternative herbivory hypotheses.Overall,our findings showed that the plant apparency hypothesis was more supported than the other hypotheses in explaining insect seedling herbivory.Our results further indicated that the mechanisms and causes of insect herbivory are complex,multifactorial,species-specific and vary with seasons,indicating that there may be no uniform rules in explaining herbivory for all seedlings.Consequently,such complexity may play an important role in promoting species coexistence and biodiversity maintenance in seedling communities,which may further translate into the following generation of saplings or even adult communities.Changes in the community of insect herbivores and/or variables influencing insect herbivory,may disrupt stability of the original seedling community,thus affecting the regeneration and development of the entire forest community.Therefore,we suggest that issues related to insect herbivory should be considered when developing forest management and conservation.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32101506)the Shenyang Top Youth Program(U35)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(2023205)。
文摘Nitrogen(N)deficiency is a critical factor limiting natural regeneration in coastal shelterbelt forests,but the influence of different N forms on seedling establishment under varying light conditions remains poorly understood.This study investigated the effects of N forms and N concentrations on Ligustrum compactum seedlings under simulated canopy gap conditions using a three-factor design:N form(NO_(3)^(-)-N,NH_(4)^(+)-N,mixed N),N concentration(30 and 60 kg ha^(-1)a^(-1)),and light intensity(30%,60%,and 90%full sunlight).Results showed that N addition significantly promoted seedling growth,net photosynthesis rate,and water use efficiency;however,the effects varied among N forms and concentrations.Overall,NO_(3)^(-)-N or mixed N were more favored by L.compactum seedlings;however,the N preference was altered by light intensity and N concentration.For instance,L.compactum showed greater NO_(3)^(-)-N or mixed N preference under low and medium light intensities,while displaying more NH_(4)^(+)-N preference under high light intensity.N concentration also affected the growth and N preference of L.compactum seedlings,but the variance explained by N concentration was lower than that of light intensity.Leaf C,N,P stoichiometry exhibited stronger correlations with seedling's morphological trait plasticity than those of leaf gas exchange,and further analysis demonstrated that leaf C:P and N:P were the top two critical factors affecting seedling growth,indicating that the coordination and balance among C,N,P elements were more important in explaining the seedling growth under N addition.Therefore,our results clarified that the N preference of L.compactum seedlings could be altered by light intensity and revealed that leaf C,N,P ratios were stronger predictors than leaf gas exchange parameters for explaining the N effects on seedling performance.These findings demonstrated the mechanisms of light-N interactions affecting seedling performance,providing practical guidance for optimizing N fertilization and improving natural regeneration in canopy gaps of degraded coastal shelterbelt forests.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31600496)The National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFC0500307)
文摘Forestation in the increasingly urbanized area generates a huge demand for ornamental tree stocks, requiring new approach to promote the cultural efficiency of highly valued seedlings. Chitosan oligosaccharide(COS) is one of biodegradable natural plant growth modifier derived from chitin and an abundant water insoluble biopolymer. In this study, Buddhist pine(Podocarpus macrophyllus)(PM) and Northeast yew(Taxus cuspidata)(TC) were cultured with or without COS addition from 1 July to 17 November 2016. Relative to the TC seedlings, the PM seedlings had greater growth of height and biomass which was found to be negatively correlated with the changes of nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) concentrations in shoot during the culture. Only those TC seedlings treated without COS addition had higher proportion of decline in the initial N concentration than that in the PM seedlings. Root P concentration declined less in Buddhist pine seedlings than that in Northeast yew seedlings treated with COS. By 17 of November 2016, both N and P seemed to have been diluted in the PM seedlings and exceed the demand in the TC seedlings. In conclusion, COS had the potential to be used for the culture of ornamental tree seedlings to promote nutrient utilization for shoot biomass accumulation, but more specific effect on nutrient allocation and utilization need to be confirmed by more studies.
