Vineyard soils are frequently contaminated with copper due to the use of Cu fungicides to prevent downy mildew. This study investigated the effects of an aerated compost tea (ACT) made from grape pomace and animal manure on the downward transfer of Cu and on the accumulation of Cu in plants in a sandy loam vineyard soil. Crimson clover and pot marigold were grown in a 40 cm soil column with Cu supplied to the surface at loadings representative of those applied in European vineyards, plus additions of ACT. A source of Cu enriched in the stable isotope 65Cu was used to distinguish freshly added Cu (fresh Cu) from Cu already present in the soil (aged Cu). ACT increased the concentration of soluble humic substances (SHS) in pore water in the top 7.5 cm of the column, and increased the concentration of Cu, Al, and Fe in pore water in proportion to the concentration of SHS. The transfer of fresh Cu to deeper soil was limited to the top 5 cm, even after the addition of ACT, although fresh Cu reacted slightly more to ACT than aged Cu. ACT had no effect on Cu phytoextraction but increased the concentration of Cu in roots by almost twofold. Relatively more fresh Cu was transferred to plants than aged Cu, primarily due to its preferential accumulation on the surface. The risk associated with the use of ACT on vineyard soils is not that of promoting the downward transfer of Cu, but rather of increasing Cu availability to plants and likely to other living organisms in the topsoil.

Previous paleo-glacial studies on Kerguelen showed a singular pattern of Holocene glacier evolution on this archipelago in comparison with other southern mid-latitude glacier records. In this study, we aim to test this singularity on a longer timescale, based on 26 new in situ-produced 36Cl ages from pre-Holocene glaciogeomorphic features. Samples from moraine boulders and glacially polished bedrock were extracted at six different sites, located near the Port-aux-Francais scientific station (PAF site), on Longue Island, Australia Island, on the Port-Jeanne d'Arc Peninsula (PJDA site), on the Gallieni Peninsula at Baie Larose (BLR site) and the McMurdo Island. The moraine ages indicate that glacier culminations occurred during Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS 3) at 42.2 +/- 4.9 ka on the PAF site, and during the global Last Glacial Maximum (gLGM) at 21.5 +/- 3.2 ka on the PJDA site and at 21.4 +/- 3.7 ka and 19.4 +/- 2.6 on Baie Larose site. This is the first time that Late Pleistocene glacier culminations are evidenced on Kerguelen by direct moraine dating, thus allowing comparison with other moraine records from the southern mid-latitudes. While it remains speculative whether or not the MIS 3 glacial maximum at -42.2 ka is in phase with other glaciers at this latitude (due to high age uncertainties), the gLGM glacial maximum is synchronous with that in other southern mid-latitude regions. 36Cl CRE ages of glacially polished bedrock surfaces sampled in different locations of the archipelago vary from -39 ka to -19 ka. We interpret these results as reflecting periods of deglaciation that occurred in between the two glacier culminations and right after the gLGM on Kerguelen. These ages also suggest that some places of the archipelago were free of ice at least since - 39 ka. The presence of a MIS 3 moraine at PAF site that has not been obliterated by a gLGM advance suggests that the - 42.2 ka glacier extent was at least as large as gLGM glacial maxima on the archipelago. The glacier culmination during MIS 3 being larger than that during the gLGM on the Kerguelen Archipelago matches observations in other southern mid-latitude regions. Late Pleistocene glacier culminations on Kerguelen may have been in phase with cold temperatures recorded in SST records, which suggest a cooling around Kerguelen. However, climate drivers responsible for the larger MIS 3 glacier culmination on Kerguelen still remain unclear even if we hypothesize that changes in precipitation may have superimposed on temperature changes.

Background/Objectives: Lebanon, one of the oldest centers of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivation, is home to a rich diversity of local grape varieties. This biodiversity is linked to the country’s unique topography and millennia of cultural history. However, the wine industry primarily utilizes international varieties, putting many local varieties at risk of extinction. Methods: In this study, we analyzed 202 samples from old vineyards, home gardens, and private collections using 21 microsatellite markers to assess their identity and genetic diversity. Results: A total of 67 different genotypes were identified, with 34 not matching any existing profiles in the consulted databases, based on comparisons with the European Vitis Database, the Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC), and the databases established in two previous studies conducted in Armenia and Lebanon. Cluster analyses revealed Lebanon’s rich diversity of local grape varieties, highlighting cases of synonymy, homonymy, and misnaming. All loci were polymorphic, with 228 alleles and an average of 11.4 alleles being detected. The highest number of alleles was observed at the VVIV67 locus (19 alleles), while the lowest was found at the VVIQ52 and VVIN73 loci (5 alleles). The observed heterozygosity was 0.732, slightly below the expected value of 0.757, with gene diversity varying among the markers. Conclusions: Of the 67 genetic profiles identified, 34 are absent from national and international databases, underscoring Lebanon as a hotspot for grapevine genetic diversity. This unique genetic variation, which includes several synonyms due to geographic isolation, could provide valuable opportunities for producing distinctive wines and emphasizes the need for further research and documentation.

Allopolyploidy is considered as a principal driver that shaped angiosperms' evolution in terms of diversification and speciation. Despite the unexpected high frequency of polyploidy that was recently discovered in the coniferous genus Juniperus, little is known about the origin of these polyploid taxa. Here, we conducted the first study devoted to deciphering the origin of the only hexaploid taxon in Juniperus along with four of its closely related tetraploid taxa using AFLP markers with four primers combinations. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 10 studied species belong to 2 major clusters. J. foetidissima appeared to be more related to J. thurifera, J. sabina, and J. chinensis. The Bayesian clustering analysis showing a slight variation in genetic admixture between the studied populations of J. foetidissima, suggesting an allopolyploid origin of this species involving J. thurifera and J. sabina lineages, although a purely autopolyploidy origin of both J. thurifera and J. foetidissima cannot be ruled out. The admixed genetic pattern revealed for J. seravschanica showed that the tetraploid cytotypes of this species originated from allopolyploidy, whereas no clear evidence of hybridization in the origin of the tetraploid J. thurifera and J. chinensis was detected. This study provides first insights into the polyploidy origin of the Sabina section and highlights the potential implication of allopolyploidy in the evolution of the genus Juniperus. Further analyses are needed for a more in-depth understanding of the evolutionary scenarios that produced the observed genetic patterns.

The use of cover crops (CCs) in viticulture is threatened by the contamination of vineyard soils by copper (Cu). This study investigated the response of CCs to increased concentrations of Cu in soil as a way to assess their sensitivity to Cu and their Cu phytoextraction ability. Our first experiment used microplots to compare the effect of increasing soil Cu content from 90 to 204 mg kg(-1) on the growth, Cu accumulation level, and elemental profile of six CC species (Brassicaceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae) commonly sown in vineyard inter-row. The second experiment quantified the amount of Cu exported by a mixture of CCs in vineyards with contrasted soil characteristics. Experiment 1 showed that increasing the soil Cu content from 90 to 204 mg kg(-1) was detrimental to the growth of Brassicaceae and faba bean. The elemental composition of plant tissues was specific to each CC and almost no change in composition resulted from the increase in soil Cu content. Crimson clover was the most promising CC for Cu phytoextraction as it produced the most aboveground biomass, and, along with faba bean, accumulated the highest concentration of Cu in its shoots. Experiment 2 showed that the amount of Cu extracted by CCs depended on the availability of Cu in the topsoil and CC growth in the vineyard, and ranged from 25 to 166 g per hectare. Taken together, these results emphasize the fact that the use of CCs in vineyards may jeopardised by the contamination of soils by Cu, and that the amount of Cu exported by CCs is not sufficiently high to offset the amount of Cu supplied by Cu-based fungicides. Recommendations are provided for maximizing the environmental benefits provided by CCs in Cu-contaminated vineyard soils.

Evolutionary biologists recognize that understanding the phylogenetic history of closely related species is challenging without considering their population genetics history. The taxonomy of Magnolia sect. Talauma in Cuba has long been debated, with several changes in taxon delimitations. All these taxonomic revisions were based exclusively on leaf morphological characteristics of a few individuals, limiting their ability to elucidate taxon boundaries. Recent studies have focused on conservation genetics and species delimitation of Cuban magnolias, based on ecological, morphological and genetic data. Here, we use full plastome sequences and microsatellite data to infer phylogenetic relationships and potential historical migration events among species in Magnolia sect. Talauma in Cuba. Bayesian phylogeny and TreeMix were used to understand the phylogenetic relationships. Based on this, Magnolia sect. Talauma in Cuba does not comprise a monophyletic group. The data continue to show a highly supported unresolved species complex in the taxa of Magnolia subsect. Talauma from north-eastern Cuba. From a taxonomic point of view, our results do not entirely support the most recent taxonomic review proposed for the family in Cuba.

The taxonomy of Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba has long been debated with many changes in the last few years. New evidence based on ecological, morphological and genetic data has indicated the occurrence of three taxa, with changes in the limits from the latest taxonomic treatment. In this sense, the taxonomy and nomenclature of Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba is reviewed. Diagnoses of all taxa are presented with an identification key, nomenclatural information and distribution. Magnolia subsect. Talauma in Cuba comprises three endemic species: Magnolia orbiculata, M. minor and M. oblongifolia. Magnolia orbiculata is the only species that keeps the same limits as in the previous taxonomic treatments of the group, whereas it is not the same for the northeastern Cuban species.

Post-anthesis phosphorus (P) uptake and the remobilization of the previously acquired P are the principal sources of grain P nutrition in wheat. However, how the acquired P reaches the grains and its partitioning at the whole plant level remain poorly understood. Here, the temporal dynamics of the newly acquired P in durum wheat organs and its allocation to grain were examined using pulse-chase 32P-labeling experiments at 5 and 14 days after anthesis. Durum wheat plants were grown hydroponically under high and low P supplies. Each labeling experiment lasted for 24 h. Plants were harvested 24, 48, and 96 h after labeling. Low and high P treatments significantly affected the allocation of the newly acquired P at the whole plant level. Three days (96 h) after the first 32P-labeling, 8% and 4% of the newly acquired P from exogenous solution were allocated to grains, 73% and 55% to the remainder aboveground organs, and 19% and 41% to the roots at low and high P supplies, respectively. Three days after the second labeling, the corresponding values were 48% and 20% in grains, 44% and 53% in the remainder aboveground organs, and 8% and 27% in roots at low and high P supplies, respectively. These results reveal that the dynamics of P allocation to grain was faster in plants grown under low P supply than under high supply. However, the obtained results also indicate that the origin of P accumulated in durum wheat grains was mainly from P remobilization with little contribution from post-anthesis P uptake. The present study emphasizes the role of vegetative organs as temporary storage of P taken up during the grain filling period before its final allocation to grains.

An accurate taxa delimitation, based on a full understanding of evolutionary processes involved in taxa differentiation, can be gained from a combination of ecological, morphological, and molecular approaches. The taxonomy of Magnoliasubsect.Talauma in Cuba has long been debated and exclusively based on traditional morphological study of a limited number of individuals. A more accurate description of leaf morphology variation using geometric morphometrics combined with genetic data could bring consistency to taxa delimitation in this group. Leaf samples for the morphological (243) and genetic (461) analyses were collected throughout the entire distribution range. The variability of each taxon was analyzed through multivariate and geometric morphometry, and 21 genetic markers (SSR). The observed leaf morphological variability was higher than previously described. Morphological and genetic classifications were highly congruent in two out of four taxa. Our data brought evidence that Magnoliaorbiculata can be considered a true species with very clear genetic and morphological limits. The main taxonomic issues concern the north-eastern Cuban populations of Magnoliasubsect.Talauma. The data supported the existence of two clear groups: corresponding mainly to M.minor-M.oblongifolia and T.ophiticola. However, these two groups cannot be considered fully delimited since genetic markers provided evidence of genetic admixture between them. Due to the likely absence of, at least strong, reproductive barriers between these three taxa, we propose therefore to consider them as a species complex.

The genus Ramonda includes three Paleoendemic and Tertiary relict species that survived in refugial habitats of the Balkan Peninsula (R. nathaliae and R. serbica) and the Iberian Peninsula (R. myconi). They are all "resurrection plants," a rare phenomenon among flowering plants in Europe. Ramonda myconi and R. nathaliae are diploids (2n = 2x = 48), while R. serbica is a hexaploid (2n = 6x = 144). The two Balkan species occur in sympatry in only two localities in eastern Serbia, where tetraploid potential hybrids (2n = 4x = 96) were found. This observation raised questions about the existence of gene flow between the two species and, more generally, about the evolutionary processes shaping their genetic diversity. To address this question, genetic markers (AFLP) and an estimate of genome size variation were used in a much larger sample and at a larger geographic scale than previously. The combination of AFLP markers and genome size results suggested ongoing processes of interspecific and interploidy hybridization in the two sites of sympatry. The data also showed that interspecific gene flow was strictly confined to sympatry. Elsewhere, both Ramonda species were characterized by low genetic diversity within populations and high population differentiation. This is consistent with the fact that the two species are highly fragmented into small and isolated populations, likely a consequence of their postglacial history. Within sympatry, enormous variability in cytotypes was observed, exceeding most reported cases of mixed ploidy in complex plant species (from 2x to >8x). The AFLP profiles of non-canonical ploidy levels indicated a diversity of origin pathways and that backcrosses probably occur between tetraploid interspecific hybrids and parental species. The question arises whether this diversity of cytotypes corresponds to a transient situation. If not, the question arises as to the genetic and ecological mechanisms that allow this diversity to be maintained over time.

Aerated compost tea (ACT) contains soluble humic substances (SHS) that are expected to alter the dynamics and ecotoxicity of Cu in soil. This study investigated the efficiency of ACT in enhancing the mobility and phytoextraction of Cu in vineyard soil. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) was grown on a vineyard soil at three concentrations of Cu (90, 261 and 432 mg kg-1), and supplied (or not) with ACT, then sampled after 56 days to determine the amount of Cu phytoextracted. Soil was extracted with 0.01 M KCl and potentiometric analyses were performed to measure the impact of ACT on the speciation of Cu in the extraction solution. ACT was found to increase the mobility of Cu in the soil by a factor of 3-14 depending on the soil Cu content and on the soil extraction date. The increase in Cu mobility was associated with an increase in absorbance at 254 nm and with a decrease in the free ionic fraction of Cu in the KCl extract, suggesting that Cu was mainly mobilized by the SHS present in the compost tea, and through a ligand-controlled dissolution process. ACT increased Cu phytoextraction at Cu90 and Cu261 by on average 80% thanks to its positive impact on plant growth, and on Cu accumulation in plant shoots, whereas it reduced Cu phytoextraction at Cu432 due to its deleterious effect on plant growth at this soil Cu content. ACT is thus an efficient way to increase the phytoavailability of Cu in soil, but probably should not be used in vineyard soils that are highly contaminated by Cu. To obtain Cu phytoextraction yields in line with the needs of the wine sector, the use of ACT needs to be associated with the cultivation of a Cu-accumulating plant.

Durum wheat is one of the cereal crops that accumulates the highest concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxin in its grains, thereby affecting the safety of products made of durum wheat grains (pasta and semolina). This study investigates in planta the interaction between Cd and Fusarium graminearum, the main causal agent of DON accumulation in grains. A pot experiment was designed to characterize the response of durum wheat to F. graminearum infection at three levels of Cd exposure: 0.1, 2, and 10 mg Cd kg-1 soil, which showed that the accumulation of Cd and DON resulted from interacting processes. On the one hand, plant exposure to Cd reduced the concentration of DON in grains. The mitigating effect of Cd on DON accumulation was attributed to the restricted growth of F. graminearum, which could result from enhanced plant resistance to the fungal pathogen induced by Cd exposure. On the other hand, F. graminearum infection of durum wheat increased the Cd concentration in the grains. The promoting effect of Fusarium infection on Cd accumulation was attributed to decoupling of the allocation of Cd and photoassimilates to the grains and to the reduced strength of the grain sink for photoassimilates caused by the fungus. Provided that this result is confirmed in field conditions, it suggests that in Cd-contaminated soils, particular attention should be paid to agronomic practices that affect Fusarium head blight disease to avoid further increase in the risk of exceeding the regulatory limit set by the European Union for Cd in durum wheat.

Phosphorus (P) export with harvested grains is a key step of the P cycle in agroecosystems. In wheat, the accumulation of P in grains originates from both exogenous and endogenous P sources. We investigated the effects of different post-anthesis P supply on P partitioning and P remobilization in two durum wheat cultivars with contrasting biomass allocation. Wheat plants were grown on a complete nutrient solution with sufficient P until anthesis. Thereafter, half of the plants were deprived of P and the other half was maintained on the complete nutrient solution. P uptake, allocation, remobilization, and traits related to yield and grain P were determined. Modifications of post-anthesis P supply had no effect on grain yield. Grain P concentrations at maturity for deprived P supply ranged from 2.2 to 3.4 mg P g DW− 1. Without P, net P fluxes to grains essentially came from leaves (35%), roots (28%) and stems (17% ). With P, net P fluxes came mainly from post-antheis P uptake. Our results suggest that when the P nutrition of durum wheat is limited after anthesis, endogenous P remobilization can sustain grain growth with minor yield penalties if the plants are well supplied during vegetative growth.

Phosphorus (P) in durum wheat grains after anthesis originates from either the external P source or the internal remobilization of P from different plant organs. The supply of P and its use by the plant are important factors that can affect the contribution of each source to grain P nutrition. Thus, this experiment aimed to quantify the origin of P in grains of durum wheat plants with different P nutritional status. Wheat plants were grown from juvenile stages to maturity in complete nutrient solutions with either high (0.125 mM) or low (0.025 mM) P concentrations in greenhouse conditions. Phosphorus in nutrient solutions was spiked by introducing(32)P after anthesis to quantify the external P uptake and its partitioning within plant organs (spikelets, leaves, stems, roots, and post-anthesis tillers) and grains. Phosphorus use efficiency in durum wheat plants was also determined. The low and high P supply resulted in two highly different plant nutritional P status. Plants with low P status remobilized most of their stored P in all organs and allocated more than 72% of post-anthesis P uptake to grain P nutrition, whereas in the high P plants this was only 56%. Enhanced remobilization of P and the efficient allocation of newly acquired P to grains were crucial for durum wheat grain P nutrition grown under low P supply. The remobilization of P represented 81% of grain P in low P plants while it represented 65% for high P plants. Organs that contributed the most to P remobilization in low P plants were spikelets (43%) and leaves (35%). The post-anthesis tiller development was reduced in low P plants suggesting a preferential allocation of P to grains under this treatment. We concluded that P loading into grains in durum wheat is mainly derived from the remobilization of internal P sources stored before anthesis, even at high external P supply during grain filling.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an oleaginous plant that has been described as the "queen of oilseeds" because of the quality of its oil. It is a major oilseed plant rich in unsaturated fatty acids, proteins and natural antioxidants. Seventy accessions of sesame (Sesamum indicum) were analysed to determine the fatty acid composition of their seeds by gas chromatography. Oleic (C18: 1-n-9) and linoleic (C28: 2n-6) acids are the two major fatty acids in sesame oil; they represent about 82.3% of the total fatty acids. The oleic acid content is between 38.4 and 47.3% with an average of 42.5% and that of linoleic acid between 35.9 and 44.3% with an average of 40.7%. The palmitic (C16: 0) and stearic (C18: 0) acids come in second place with average contents of 9.5 and 5.9% respectively. Palmitoleic (C16: 1n-7), α-linolenic (C18: 3n-3), arachidic (C20: 0), eicosenoic (C20: 1n-9) and behenic (20: 0) acids were also detected but with contents generally less than 0.5%. The levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) range from 36.2% to 44.7%, which shows a significant variation of PUFAs in Germplasm. The use oleic desaturation (ODR) ratio and linoleic ratio (RL) to estimate the efficiency of the desaturation pathways shows a high degree of oleic desaturation (ODR = 0.5), whereas the linoleic desaturation ratio is very low (LDR = 0.01), which would explain the high levels of oleic acid and linoleic acid of Germplasm. The results of this study provided useful background information on Germplasm and also identified some accessions rich in oleic and linoleic acid that can be used to develop cultivars with desirable compositions of these fatty acids.

Recent research suggests that the frequency of polyploidy may have been underestimated in gymnosperms. One notable example is in the conifer genus Juniperus, where there are already a few reports of polyploids although data are still missing for most species. In this study, we evaluated the extent of polyploidy in Juniperus by conducting the first comprehensive screen across nearly all of the genus. Genome size data from fresh material, together with chromosome counts, were used to demonstrate that genome sizes estimated from dried material could be used as reliable proxies to uncover the extent of ploidy diversity across the genus. Our analysis revealed that 16 Juniperus taxa were polyploid, with tetraploids and one hexaploid being reported. Furthermore, by analyzing the genome size and chromosome data within a phylogenetic framework we provide the first evidence of possible lineage-specific polyploidizations within the genus. Genome downsizing following polyploidization is moderate, suggesting limited genome restructuring. This study highlights the importance of polyploidy in Juniperus, making it the first conifer genus and only the second genus in gymnosperms where polyploidy is frequent. In this sense, Juniperus represents an interesting model for investigating the genomic and ecological consequences of polyploidy in conifers.

Polyploidy and natural hybridization are considered as two major evolutionary processes involved in plant speciation and diversification. In conifers, natural hybridization has been noticed to be more frequent than polyploidy. Nevertheless, a few cases of polyploidy have been reported in the genus Juniperus. In this genus, a new variety Juniperus sabina var. balkanensis has been postulated to have arisen from an ancient hybridization between the tetraploid species Juniperus thurifera and the diploid species Juniperus sabina var. sabina. The genome size variation and the ploidy level of two J. sabina taxa were estimated by flow cytometry in a panel of 29 populations. All 13 populations of J. sabina var. sabina were diploid, with genome sizes ranging from 22.09 to 25.03 pg/2C, while the 16 populations of J. sabina var. balkanensis were tetraploid, with genome sizes ranging from 41.99 pg to 51.33 pg/2C. These findings open new venues towards the discovering of the polyploidization pathway of J. sabina var. balkanensis and to understand historical and ecological factors that explain its current geographical distribution.