In this study, we investigated the morphological, bioecological, distribution, and genetic characteristics of Berberis napaulensis located in the Mu Cang Chai mountains, Yen Bai province, Vietnam. The study used standard plots of 20 × 20 m (400 m²) in field surveys to determine the vegetation structure and composition. The morphological characteristics of the B. napaulensis species were observed and described in different parts, including leaves, flowers, roots, shoots, and fruits. In addition, climatic factors such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, and sunshine in the study areas were evaluated from January to December 2024 upon the data of the Yen Bai province meteorological station. Soil samples were collected from the forest floor and horizon A with a standardized sampling depth of 0–20 cm and were evaluated via parameters, including pH, humus, total phosphorus, total nitrogen (TN), total potassium, and cation exchange capacity (Ca2+, Fe2+, Mg2+). Furthermore, B. napaulensis leaf samples were collected to isolate total DNA using the GeneJET Plant Genomic DNA Purification Mini Kit and analyzed by BioEdit V7.7 software. The research indicates that B. napaulensis is a perennial shrub that is distributed under the forest canopy of large trees and distributed beneath the canopy of subtropical mixed broadleaf vegetation at elevations ranging from 1700 to 2300 m and on slopes of 10–15
This study aimed to determine how tree species identity and canopy structure are associated with long-term understory diversity 75 years after post-fire reforestation by testing differences in understory richness and composition among plantation stands composed of native and non-native tree species, and the response of Cistus laurifolius cover to canopy openness and light availability. Forty 2 × 2 m subplots were sampled within eight historical experimental plots (P1–P8) of varying present-day dimensions, nested in three historical blocks (B1–B3), representing stands of Pinus sylvestris, Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani, and Cedrus libani, and compared with the adjacent native Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana stands. Canopy cover, species richness (α-diversity), beta diversity, and species–environment relationships were evaluated along a canopy-related light gradient using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and correlation analysis. Dense Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani stands with 88–97
In Zapotitlán Salinas, within the Tehuacán–Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (TCBR), 24 endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from two native cactus species, Hylocereus undatus (4 strains) and Opuntia pubescens (20 strains). Functional characterization revealed multiple plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, including phosphate and zinc solubilization, and the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores, and ammonia. Based on their PGP profiles, five strains were selected for evaluation in strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa “Cabrillo”) under greenhouse conditions. Several bacterial treatments under reduced fertilization showed significantly higher root fresh and/or dry biomass compared with the non-inoculated controls receiving either full (150 mL) or reduced (50 mL) fertilization. Taxonomic identification through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS assigned the isolates to Rhizobium, Pantoea/Erwinia, Pantoea, Paenibacillus sp., Bacillus cereus group, Sphingomonas, and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans. These results highlight the potential of endophytic bacteria associated with the two cactus species sampled in Zapotitlán Salinas within the TCBR and support their further evaluation for applications in sustainable, low-input agricultural systems.
The application of electrical and electromagnetic approaches to plants has considerable potential for diverse biological and environmental applications. However, whether such approaches can enhance the ability of plants to interact with biological contaminants, including human-pathogenic viruses, remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the effects of electrical grounding and directional electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the photosynthetic efficiency of Epipremnum aureum and evaluated its potential to reduce detectable influenza A (H1N1) viral RNA using an aqueous viral suspension as a controlled experimental model. Photosynthetic efficiency was assessed by measuring the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) under different electrical treatments. To evaluate changes in viral RNA abundance and distribution, leaves subjected to the corresponding treatments were immersed in an H1N1 viral suspension, and viral RNA was quantified by qRT-PCR in the submerged leaf samples and the surrounding suspension. Electrical grounding combined with a downwardly directed EMF produced the highest Fv/Fm values. In the leaf-immersion assay, the same treatment resulted in the greatest leaf-associated viral RNA recovery and an approximately 96
The present study evaluated the eutrophication status and herbicide contamination in Guenniche Wadi (southwestern Mediterranean), a freshwater system exposed to substantial agricultural and urban pressures and serving as the principal tributary to the ecologically and economically significant Bizerte Lagoon. Physical and chemical variables, nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a (Chl a), glyphosate and its primary metabolite (AMPA), along with suspended microalgal communities (including planktonic taxa and benthic taxa resuspended into the water column), were monitored monthly over an approximately two-year period (July 2019–May 2021). Trophic assessment, based on nitrate (NO3−), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), Chl a concentrations and Carlson’s Trophic State Index, consistently indicated a persistent hypertrophic condition. This state was accompanied by reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations, confirming severe eutrophication and ecological degradation in Guenniche Wadi. The suspended microalgal community was characterized by low diversity and dominated by pollution- and nutrient-tolerant taxa, supporting the hypertrophic status of the ecosystem. Phosphorus was identified as the principal limiting nutrient and exhibited significant correlations with total microalgal abundance and most taxonomic groups, underscoring its pivotal role in driving eutrophication processes. Glyphosate and AMPA were persistently detected throughout the study and were associated with tolerant filamentous Cyanobacteria. Overall, the integration of trophic indicators, suspended microalgal communities and herbicide monitoring provided a comprehensive assessment of the ecological status of Guenniche Wadi and highlighted the need for integrated management strategies to reduce nutrient and herbicide inputs and protect both the Wadi and the downstream Bizerte Lagoon.
