Cowpea is a crop of great economic and nutritional importance, used for human and animal consumption, particularly in semi-arid regions. Its growth and development depend on adequate conditions for the expansion of the root system and the establishment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of pot size on the shoot and root development of cowpea. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Ceará, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Seeds of the Setentão variety were used in a completely randomized experimental design with five replications. The plants were grown in pots with volumes of 5, 11, 18, and 25 dm³, and shoot and root system traits were evaluated, including stem, leaves, pods, dry seeds, and roots. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparison tests, as well as correlation and principal component analyses. Pot size significantly influenced plant development and the most of the evaluated traits showed strong positive correlations, indicating a close interdependence between shoot and root system variables. Principal component analysis explained 65.7% of the total observed variation. Among the evaluated pot volumes, the 18 dm³ pot showed the best overall performance, considering vegetative, productive, and root traits, and is therefore recommended for cowpea studies and production under pot conditions.
Gold mining generates severe contamination by heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), degrading soils and affecting the associated arthropod fauna. To evaluate this impact, the community of formicids (ants) was studied in 2.4 ha of mercury-contaminated soil in Ayapel, Córdoba. Three 200-m transects were established, with ten stations separated by 20 m each. Two pitfall traps, spaced 5 m apart, were installed at each station. The collected biological samples were dried in kraft paper bags and subsequently stored in labeled ziploc bags under refrigeration until specialized taxonomic classification. A total of 3,187 individuals were identified, belonging to seven subfamilies, 11 tribes, 14 genera, and 19 species. Species accumulation analysis allowed for the evaluation of community dynamics and the results showed heterogeneity among transects. Transect T3 stood out, exhibiting the highest species richness despite having less spontaneous vegetation coverage. This suggests that greater plant complexity favors a more equitable distribution in ant communities, even under conditions of soil contamination and degradation caused by mercury from mining.
Sustainable inputs combining nutrient provision with potential biostimulatory activity may improve cacao plant establishment while reducing dependence on mineral fertilizers. This study evaluated biomass suspensions of the red microalgae Porphyridium cruentum as the sole externally applied nitrogen (N) input for seed-derived plants and as a complementary input for fertilized somatic embryo-derived plantlets of Theobroma cacao L. The biomass contained 31.79 % protein, 33.69 % carbohydrates, and 27.69 % ash, together with a diverse amino acid profile and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Three greenhouse experiments were conducted. Seed-derived plants of genotype IMC67 received inorganic N, no externally applied N, or one of two concentrations of non-dialyzed biomass suspension. Somatic embryo-derived plantlets of genotype CCN51, treated at 20 and 90 days of age, received mineral fertilization alone or combined with dialyzed or non-dialyzed biomass suspensions. Growth, biomass, root architecture, stomatal conductance, and the maximum PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm) were analyzed using ANOVA. In seed-derived plants, the higher biomass concentration increased height, whereas the lower concentration promoted leaf development and secondary-root formation. Whole-plant biomass and physiological variables were unaffected. No significant effects were detected in 20 day-old plantlets. In contrast, both preparations increased mature leaf number, fresh biomass, and quaternary root formation in 90 day-old plantlets, while the dialyzed preparation also increased height and dry biomass. These findings show that P. creuntum biomass suspension can modify cacao shoot development and root system architecture depending on plant developmental stage, biomass concentration, and preparation method. The responses are consistent with nutritional and potential biostimulatory contributions, although their underlying mechanisms require further validation.
The study focused on assessing the stability of 55 F5:8 bread wheat genotypes across multiple locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Using an alpha lattice design over two years during 2014 and 2015, researchers analyzed the genotype × environment (GE) interaction and its impact on grain yield. Results from the additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis highlighted significant GE interactions influencing grain yield variability. Genotypes, environments, and their interaction contributed 9.0 %, 35.1 %, and 28.9 %, respectively, to total explainable phenotypic variation, respectively. Certain genotypes, such as G17, G45, and G40 showed average yield at well across different environments, while G58, G53 and G1 excelled in specific environments. GGE biplot analysis identified stable genotypes (e.g., G51, G36, and G53) and grouped environments into mega-environments based on yield performance. The AMMI and GGE biplot analyses explained similar proportions of the genotype × environment interaction (56.1 % and 55.5 %, respectively). Because the two methods have complementary objectives, AMMI was used to investigate GE interaction patterns, whereas GGE biplot facilitated genotype evaluation, mega-environment identification, and visualization of genotype performance, the two methods should be regarded as complementary rather than competing tools for evaluating genotype performance across environments.
Riverine ecosystems of the Guiana Shield harbor highly specialized biodiversity, including Rhyncholacis clavigera, a Colombian endemic Podostemaceae species associated with rocky substrates in rapids and waterfalls. Although information on its systematics, biology, and ecology is available, it is scattered across different sources, making it difficult to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the species. This review synthesized available knowledge on its systematics and taxonomy, distribution, habitat, life cycle, ecological function, and conservation, and identified relevant knowledge gaps. An exhaustive search of the scientific literature and institutional sources was conducted, complemented by occurrence records obtained from GBIF to update its distribution and assess its threat category. The review revealed a marked specialization for rheophytic environments and a close association between the species’ life cycle and hydrological dynamics. Furthermore, R. clavigera also provides substrate and refuge for diverse aquatic organisms, supporting its role as a structural component of the habitat. Its known distribution has expanded compared with previous assessments. Although available evidence indicates that R. clavigera meets some IUCN threat criteria, the additional conditions required to assign a threatened category could not be demonstrated. It is tentatively proposed that this species be classified as Near Threatened (NT). The main limitation for determining its extinction risk is the lack of information on population trends. Accordingly, long-term studies are needed to assess population dynamics, ecosystem functioning, and responses to hydrological changes, anthropogenic pressures, and global change.
