Modulatory role of plant-derived metabolites on host-microbiota interactions:personalized therapeutics outlook

A diverse array of microbes in and on the human body constitute the microbiota.These micro-residents continuously interact with the human host through the language of metabolites to dictate the host’s physiology in health and illnesses.Any biotic and abiotic component ensuring a balanced host-microbiota interaction are potential microbiome therapeutic agents to overcome human diseases.Plant metabolites are continually being used to treat various illnesses.These metabolites target the host’s metabolic machinery and host-gut microbiota interactions to overcome human diseases.Despite the paramount therapeutic significance of the factors affecting host-microbiota interactions,a comprehensive overview of the modulatory role of plant-derived metabolites in host-microbiota interactions is lacking.The current review puts an effort into comprehending the role of medicinal plants in gut microbiota modulation to mitigate various human illnesses.It would develop a holistic understanding of hostmicrobiota interactions and the role of effectors in health and diseases.

Research on Visualization and Interactive Design of Plant Configuration Virtual Reality in the Context of Digitalization

This study aims to explore the application of digital technology in landscape design,focusing on the research of virtual reality visualization and interactive design in the process of plant configuration.Through an in-depth analysis of digital technology,the study outlines its important role in landscape design,especially in the application of plant configuration.The current application status of virtual reality technology in landscape design is discussed,as well as how interactive design can enhance user experience and participation.Furthermore,the achievements and challenges of digital technology in landscape design are summarized.Finally,it proposes future research directions and suggestions,aiming to provide new ideas and methods for practice and research in the field of landscape design and promote the further application and development of digital technology in landscape design.

Mapping QTLs with epistatic effects and QTL×environment interactions for plant height using a doubled haploid population in cultivated wheat

Quantitative trait loci （QTLs） for plant height in wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） were studied using a set of 168 doubled haploid （DH） lines, which were derived from the cross Huapei 3/Yumai 57. A genetic linkage map was constructed using 283 SSR and 22 EST-SSR markers. The DH population and the parents were evaluated for wheat plant height in 2005 and 2006 in Tai＇an and 2006 in Suzhou. QTL analyses were performed using the software of QTLNetwork version 2.0 based on the mixed linear model. Four additive QTLs and five pairs of epistatic effects were detected, which were distributed on chromosomes 3A, 4B, 4D, 5A, 6A, 7B, and 7D. Among them, three additive QTLs and three pairs of epistatic QTLs showed QTL×environment interactions （QEs）. Two major QTLs, Qph4B and Qph4D, which accounted for 14.51% and 20.22% of the phenotypic variation, were located similar to the reported locations of the dwarfing genes Rhtl and Rht2, respectively. The Qph3A-2 with additive effect was not reported in previous linkage mapping studies. The total QTL effects detected for the plant height explained 85.04% of the phenotypic variation, with additive effects 46.07%, epistatic effects 19.89%, and QEs 19.09%. The results showed that both additive effects and epistatic effects were important genetic bases of wheat plant height, which were subjected to environmental modifications, and caused dramatic changes in phenotypic effects. The information obtained in this study will be useful for manipulating the QTLs for wheat plant height by molecular marker-assisted selection （MAS）.

Characterization of the Main Effects, Epistatic Effects and Their Environmental Interactions of QTL on the Genetic Basis of Plant Height and Heading Date in Rice

Main-effect QTL, epistatic effects and their interactions with environment are important genetic components of quantitativetraits. In this study, we analyzed the QTL, epistatic effects and QTL by environment interactions (QE) underlying plantheight and heading date, using a doubled-haploid ( DH) population consisting of 190 lines from the cross between anindica parent Zhenshan 97 and a japonica parent Wuyujing 2, and tested in two-year replicated field trials. A geneticlinkage map with 179 SSR (simple sequence repeat) marker loci was constructed. A mixed linear model approach wasapplied to detect QTL, digenic interactions and QEs for the two traits. In total, 20 main-effect QTLs, 9 digenic interactionsinvolving 18 loci, and 5 QTL by environment interactions were found to be responsible for the two traits. No interactionswere detected between the digenic interaction and environment. The amounts of variations explained by QTLs of maineffect were 53.9% for plant height and 57.8% for heading date, larger than that explained by epistasis and QEs. However,the epistasis and QE interactions sometimes accounted for a significant part of phenotypic variation and should not bedisregarded.

Interactions between a cyanobacterial bloom (Microcystis) and the submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum oryzetorum Kom.

In aquatic ecosystems, macrophytes and phytoplankton are main primary producers, in which macrophyte plays an important role in maintaining clear water state, while phytoplankton often dominates in turbid waterbodies. In the present study, the growth and photosynthetic activity of the submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum oryzetorum Kom. in different cell densities of cyanobacterial bloom are studied. The results show that the plant length and fresh mass of C. oryzetorum are promoted by low cyanobacterial cell densities. Medium and high cyanobacterial cell densities, on the contrary, act as inhibitory. Furthermore, the photosynthetic activity of C. oryzetorum is strongly inhibited by high cyanobacterial cell densities. To a certain extent, the growth of cyanobacteria is inhibited by C. oryzetorurn, but no significant effect is found in this study.

Electricity-Carbon Interactive Optimal Dispatch of Multi-Virtual Power Plant Considering Integrated Demand Response

As new power systems and dual carbon policies develop,virtual power plant cluster(VPPC)provides another reliable way to promote the efficient utilization of energy and solve environmental pollution problems.To solve the coordinated optimal operation and low-carbon economic operation problem in multi-virtual power plant,a multi-virtual power plant(VPP)electricity-carbon interaction optimal scheduling model considering integrated demand response(IDR)is proposed.Firstly,a multi-VPP electricity-carbon interaction framework is established.The interaction of electric energy and carbon quotas can realize energy complementarity,reduce energy waste and promote low-carbon operation.Secondly,in order to coordinate the multiple types of energy and load in VPPC to further achieve low-carbon operation,the IDR mechanism based on the user comprehensive satisfaction(UCS)of electricity,heat as well as hydrogen is designed,which can effectively maintain the UCS in the cluster within a relatively high range.Finally,the unit output scheme is formulated to minimize the total cost of VPPC and the model is solved using theCPLEX solver.The simulation results showthat the proposed method effectively promotes the coordinated operation among multi-VPP,increases the consumption rate of renewable energy sources and the economics of VPPC and reduces carbon emissions.

What factors control plant height?

Plant height(PH)is one of the most important components of the plant ideotype,and it affects plant biomass,yield,lodging resistance,and the ability to use mechanized harvesting.Since many complex pathways controlling plant growth and development remain poorly understood,we are still unable to obtain the most ideal plants solely through breeding efforts.PH can be influenced by genotype,plant hormonal regulation,environmental conditions,and interactions with other plants.Here,we comprehensively review the factors influencing PH,including the regulation of PH-related developmental processes,the genetics and QTLs contributing to PH,and the hormone-regulated molecular mechanisms for PH.Additionally,the symbiotic influence of grafting on PH is discussed,focusing on the molecular regulation of gene expression and genetics.Finally,we propose strategies for applying recent findings to breeding for better PH,highlight some knowledge gaps,and suggest potential directions for future studies.

Responses of plant diversity and soil microorganism diversity to nitrogen addition in the desert steppe,China

Nitrogen(N)deposition is a significant aspect of global change and poses a threat to terrestrial biodiversity.The impact of plant-soil microbe relationships to N deposition has recently attracted considerable attention.Soil microorganisms have been proven to provide nutrients for specific plant growth,especially in nutrient-poor desert steppe ecosystems.However,the effects of N deposition on plant-soil microbial community interactions in such ecosystems remain poorly understood.To investigate these effects,we conducted a 6-year N-addition field experiment in a Stipa breviflora Griseb.desert steppe in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,China.Four N treatment levels(N0,N30,N50,and N100,corresponding to 0,30,50,and 100 kg N/(hm2•a),respectively)were applied to simulate atmospheric N deposition.The results showed that N deposition did not significantly affect the aboveground biomass of desert steppe plants.N deposition did not significantly reduce the alfa-diversity of plant and microbial communities in the desert steppe,and low and mediate N additions(N30 and N50)had a promoting effect on them.The variation pattern of plant Shannon index was consistent with that of the soil bacterial Chao1 index.N deposition significantly affected the beta-diversity of plants and soil bacteria,but did not significantly affect fungal communities.In conclusion,N deposition led to co-evolution between desert steppe plants and soil bacterial communities,while fungal communities exhibited strong stability and did not undergo significant changes.These findings help clarify atmospheric N deposition effects on the ecological health and function of the desert steppe.

Large-scale interplant exchange of macromolecules between soybean and dodder under nutrient stresses

Parasitic plants and their hosts communicate through haustorial connections.Nutrient deficiency is a common stress for plants,yet little is known about whether and how host plants and parasites communicate during adaptation to such nutrient stresses.In this study,we used transcriptomics and proteomics to analyze how soybean(Glycine max)and its parasitizing dodder(Cuscuta australis)respond to nitrate and phosphate deficiency(-N and-P).After-N and-P treatment,the soybean and dodder plants exhibited substantial changes of transcriptome and proteome,although soybean plants showed very few transcriptional responses to-P and dodder did not show any transcriptional changes to either-N or-P.Importantly,large-scale interplant transport of mRNAs and proteins was detected.Although the mobile mRNAs only comprised at most 0.2%of the transcriptomes,the foreign mobile proteins could reach 6.8%of the total proteins,suggesting that proteins may be the major forms of interplant communications.Furthermore,the interplant mobility of macromolecules was specifically affected by the nutrient regimes and the transport of these macromolecules was very likely independently regulated.This study provides new insight into the communication between host plants and parasites under stress conditions.

Herbivory and Plant Genotype Influence Fitness-Related Responses of<i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>to Indirect Plant-Plant Interactions

Previous studies have demonstrated that genetic identity between interacting perennial plants results in more effective defense when emitter and receiver neighbors have greater genetic similarity. However, the effects of both genetic relatedness and presence of herbivores on fitness-related responses of neighboring plants have not yet been explored. Our aim was to examine how manipulating these two important factors genetic and environmental factors can influence indirect plant-plant communication in the annual crucifer Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants of a single genotype (receivers) were exposed to volatile emissions of neighboring emitter plants with a similar or different genotype, and either intact or damaged by larvae of a specialist herbivore for ten days. Each of the four treatments was isolated in separate environmental chambers and the full experiment was replicated twice. Receiver plant growth and reproductive-related traits were measured ten days after exposure to treatments, and at senescence. Results showed that the effect of herbivory and plant genotype of emitter plants influenced responses related growth and reproduction in receiver plants. Receiver plants grew taller, had more inflorescence branching, and produced more fruits (60% more) when exposed to undamaged emitters of a different genotype than receivers exposed to the other emitter plant treatments. Therefore, genotype identity and environmental context (presence of herbivory) may be important factors influencing indirect plant-plant communication, which could, in turn, result in selection for genotypes showing increased fitness-related responses.

Interactions between a Root Knot Nematode (<i>Meloidogyne exigua</i>) and Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Coffee Plant Development (<i>Coffea arabica</i>)

This paper focuses on parasitic root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne exigua) and how to decrease their pathogenic effect on coffee plants (Coffea arabica), by examining the behaviour of and the interactions between nematodes, coffee plant and arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). The experiment was carried out at the seedling stage, with six (6) treatments (plants with M. exigua, plants with arbuscular mycorrhizae, plants with both organisms, and the same time, first mycorrhizae plants, then nematodes were inoculated and vice versa). After 5 months the measured variables were: dry biomass (roots and shoot), nematode knots caused by M. exigua in root, nematode juvenile (J2) found in 100.0 g of soil, and mycorrhizal percentage. Plant nutrients (P and N) contents were analysed. Significant differences were found in all the variables, but concentration N content in plants. Plants with mycorrhizae and plants with mycorrhizae and then inoculated with nematodes have the same behaviour. Control plants and plants with nematode and then inoculated with mycorrhizae behave similarly. It is thought that arbuscular mycorrhizae are formed before the nematode infestation, allowing coffee plants to regain the energy lost by the parasitic interaction. AM may help coffee plants with lignifications of the plant cell wall cuticle. As the cuticle thickens it is more difficult for nematodes to penetrate and enter into plant roots. Therefore, arbuscular mycorrhizae help coffee plants to uptake and transport nutrients, improving its nutritional status and stabilizing nematode attacks. It is suggested that symbiotic interactions help neutralize parasitic interactions.

XIV International Symposium on Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants

The ＂XIV International Symposium on Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants＂ （14th ISINIP） will be held in Beijing, China, on 11-15 October 2008. It will be held together with the Annual Meeting of HarvestPlus-China. The joint symposium will provide opportunities to scientists from soil sciences, plant nutrition, plant breeding, animal and human nutrition around the world to communicate their new results and experiences in studying iron nutrition of plants, animal and human for a better understanding of the mechanisms of iron from soils, over plants to animals and human beings. The scientific topics of the symposium are as follows：

A Study on Alien Invasive Plants from the Interactive Mechanism between Species Niche and Material/Energy Flow

[Objective]This study was to reveal the essence of mechanism about how the alien invasive plants spread.[Method]Species niche and material/energy flow were used as basic research indicators to analyze the intrinsic mechanism of alien plants invasion.[Result]Most of the invasive plants have not been explicitly defined and their effective control methods not brought forward.[Conclusion]Overrun of alien invasive plants depends on whether the niche of a species could be continuously met at spatial level.Based on this we put forward corresponding control measures,proposed an assumption to establish a cylinder-network model and discussed the definition of alien invasive plants.

Analysis of Genetic Effects of Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Interaction on Quantitative Traits:Genetic Model for Diploid Plants

A genetic model was proposed for simultaneously analyzing genetic effects of nuclear, cytoplasm, and nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction （NCI） as well as their genotype by environment （GE） interaction for quantitative traits of diploid plants. In the model, the NCI effects were further partitioned into additive and dominance nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction components. Mixed linear model approaches were used for statistical analysis. On the basis of diallel cross designs, Monte Carlo simulations showed that the genetic model was robust for estimating variance components under several situations without specific effects. Random genetic effects were predicted by an adjusted unbiased prediction （AUP） method. Data on four quantitative traits （boll number, lint percentage, fiber length, and micronaire） in Upland cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） were analyzed as a worked example to show the effectiveness of the model.

Effects of P-Cd-Zn Interactions on the Absorption and Accumulation of Submerged Macro-phytes to P,Cd and Zn

[Objective] This study was to explore the effects of P-Cd-Zn interactions on the absorption and accumulation of submerged plants to P,Cd and Zn.[Method]Employing the hydroponic culture to simulate the Cd,Zn heavy metal contamination and P eutrophication environment,we studied the effects of P-Cd-Zn interactions on the absorption and accumulation of submerged plants to P,Cd and Zn.[Result]For Hydrilla verticillata,in the presence of 0-1 mg/L P,it showed a synergy relationship with low concentrations of Cd and Zn,suggesting that P could promote the absorption and accumulation of plants to Cd and Zn.For Elodea nuttallii,in the presence of 5-50 mg/L P,it showed an antagonistic relationship with high concentrations of Cd and Zn.The contents of both Cd and Zn in plants showed a declining trend with the increase of P concentration.H.verticillata and E.nuttallii had an equilibrium threshold of absorption and accumulation to P（20-23 mg/g）.[Conclusion]When the heavy metals and eutrophication pollutions both existed in the lake environment at the same time,the stress of heavy metal on plants is the major cause of pollution,while eutrophication can to some extent alleviate the toxic effect of heavy metals to plants.

Emergent plant presence and richness alter competitive interactions between two foating plants

Interactions between two plant species can be infuenced by the presence of other plant species and such an effect may change as the diversity of the other species increases.To test these hypotheses,we frst constructed aquatic communities consisting of 1,2 and 4 emergent plant species and then grew ramets of Lemna minor only,ramets of Spirodela polyrhiza only or ramets of both L.minor and S.polyrhiza within these aquatic communities.We also included controls with ramets of L.minor,S.polyrhiza or both but without any emergent plants.Biomass and number of ramets of L.minor and S.polyrhiza were signifcantly smaller with than without the emergent plants,but they did not differ among the three richness levels.The presence of S.polyrhiza did not signifcantly affect the growth of L.minor,and such an effect was not dependent on the richness of the emergent plant species.Without the emergent plant species,the presence of L.minor markedly reduced biomass(-92%)and number of ramets(-88%)of S.polyrhiza.However,such a competitive effect of L.minor on S.polyrhiza became much weaker in the presence of one emergent plant species(-46%biomass and-39%number of ramets)and completely disappeared in the presence of two or four emergent plant species.Therefore,both the presence and richness of emergent plant species can alter competitive interactions between the two duckweed species.These fndings highlight the importance of species diversity in regulating plant-plant interactions.

Effects of biofertilizer and water-saving irrigation interactions on the leaf photosynthesis and plant growth of tomatoes

Irrigation and fertilizer interaction is an efficient cultivation management strategy for facility agriculture.However,the effects of irrigation and fertilizer management on tomato growth and its physiological factors remain unclarified.In this study,two irrigation patterns(W1,conventional irrigation;W2,water-saving irrigation)and four fertilizer application patterns(CF,chemical fertilizer;BOF,biological organic fertilizer;NPK,nutrient compound fertilizer;BOF+NPK)were selected to observe the effects of their interaction on cherry tomato plant growth,leaf photosynthesis and fruit quality through pot experiments.The results showed that W2 treatments promoted plant height growth compared to W1 under the same fertilizer addition.Moreover,irrigation and fertilizer management had significant effects on net photosynthetic rate,intercellular oxidation concentration,stomatal conductance and transpiration rate at the first sequence flowering and fruiting stages.The maximum tomato plant height(99.0 cm)was achieved under the irrigation and fertilizer pattern of BOF and W2,along with the highest fruit yield of 1.98 kg/plant,which was approximately 31.1%higher than the minimum yield under the combined CF and W2 treatment.Under W2 treatments,the application of either NPK or BOF increased the soluble sugar content of tomatoes.The structural equation models showed that the soil alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen could directly significantly affect the yield and soluble sugar.The findings suggest that optimization of irrigation-fertilizer interactions positively regulates tomato growth,providing an efficient model for tomato irrigation and fertilizer management and a reference for sustainable development of facility agriculture.

The rhizosphere microbial complex in plant health:A review of interaction dynamics

Climate change,urbanization,and population increase limit food availability.To sustain human existence,there is the need to increase food and agricultural production to mitigate the impact of these factors.Scientists have been working for years on ways to increase food production.From plant breeding techniques to soil science,scientists have made tremendous progress.The rhizobiome has been proven to be important to crop production,and the impact of the rhizobiome on plant health cannot be overemphasized.Being rich in diverse complex microbial interactions,the rhizosphere has become a major force in recent plant growth promotion studies.The upsurge in next-generation sequencing applications with the various“omics”technologies is helping to unearth information relating to rhizosphere impact on plant growth.Explaining the complex interactions between and across microbial species present in the rhizosphere is important to further enhance our understanding of their mechanistic and mutualistic functions.Knowledge from this can be used in rhizosphere biome engineering for improved plant growth and yield in the face of the various biotic and abiotic challenges.

Proteomics: A Successful Approach to Understand the Molecular Mechanism of Plant-Pathogen Interaction

In recent years, proteomics has played a key role in identifying changes in protein levels in plant hosts upon infection by pathogenic organisms and in characterizing cellular and extracellular virulence and pathogenicity factors produced by pathogens. Proteomics offers a constantly evolving set of novel techniques to study all aspects of protein structure and function. Proteomics aims to find out the identity and amount of each and every protein present in a cell and actual function mediating specific cellular processes. Structural proteomics elucidates the development and application of experimental approaches to define the primary, secondary and tertiary structures of proteins, while functional proteomics refers to the development and application of global (proteome wide or system-wide) experimental approaches to assess protein function. A detail understanding of plant defense response using successful combination of proteomic techniques and other high throughput techniques of cell biology, biochemistry as well as genomics is needed for practical application to secure and stabilize yield of many crop plants. This review starts with a brief introduction to gel- and non gel-based proteomic techniques followed by the basics of plant-pathogen interaction, the use of proteomics in recent pasts to decipher the mysteries of plant-pathogen interaction, and ends with the future prospects of this technology.

Tri-Trophic Interactions within Potato Agro-Ecosystem, Qassim, KSA

Tri-trophic interactions between fertilizer applications, cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Golver) and associated beneficial insects were studied to investigate direct and indirect effects of fertilizers (types and ratios) on potato plants under field and greenhouse conditions, A. gossypii and associated beneficial insects. Fertilizers regimes showed direct impacts on the potato plant phenology and indirect effects on both A. gossypii population and the associated beneficial insects. Our data indicated that potato plants had been influenced by fertilizer elements used within tri-trophic system comprising potato plants, cotton aphid, and certain associated beneficial insects. This demonstrates that a bottom-up interaction is robust and has a particular value in the attraction of beneficial insects towards the potato plant signals due to used fertilizers which can also have a function when plants are attacked by A. gossypii. Yet, flexibility in the use of fertilizers (as chemical cues) is conserved, and that may help beneficial insects to specifically focus on the odor of plants that carry potential plant hosts and avoid plants that are only attacked by non-hosts. These results support the still controversial notion that fertilizer elements, at least in part, help plants to serve as functional signals to attract the enemies of the harmful insects. These observations declare the benefits of the tri-trophic interactions as an ecological phenomenon in particular and the food chain in general. Additionally, this study may be useful to be used as a predictable model with the associated beneficial insects which may have key roles in overall aphid suppression or regulating its population. Impact of fertilizers on potato phenology characteristics and the cotton aphid population density seems to be variable based on types and ratios of the fertilizers. Interfacing the impact of natural enemies (plant-pest-natural enemies) through tri-trophic relationship within the food chain verified to be straightforward way of predicting on the impact of beneficial insects-guild on the cotton aphid population density.