A comparative study on the role of conventional,chemical,and nanopriming for better salt tolerance during seed germination of direct seeding rice

Salinity is one of the most significant risks to crop production and food security as it harms plant physiology and biochemistry.The salt stress during the rice emergence stages severely hampers the seed germination and seedling growth of direct-seeded rice.Recently,nanoparticles(NPs)have been reported to be effectively involved in many plant physiological processes,particularly under abiotic stresses.To our knowledge,no comparative studies have been performed to study the efficiency of conventional,chemical,and seed nanopriming for better plant stress tolerance.Therefore,we conducted growth chamber and field experiments with different salinity levels(0,1.5,and 3‰),two rice varieties(CY1000 and LLY506),and different priming techniques such as hydropriming,chemical priming(ascorbic acid,salicylic acid,and γ-aminobutyric acid),and nanopriming(zinc oxide nanoparticles).Salt stress inhibited rice seed germination,germination index,vigor index,and seedling growth.Also,salt stress increased the over accumulation of reactive oxygen species(H_(2)O_(2) and O_(2)^(-)·)and malondialdehyde(MDA)contents.Furthermore,salt-stressed seedlings accumulated higher sodium(Na^(+))ions and significantly lower potassium(K^(+))ions.Moreover,the findings of our study demonstrated that,among the different priming techniques,seed nanopriming with zinc oxide nanoparticles(NanoZnO)significantly contributed to rice salt tolerance.ZnO nanopriming improved rice seed germination and seedling growth in the pot and field experiments under salt stress.The possible mechanism behind ZnO nanopriming improved rice salt tolerance included higher contents of α-amylase,soluble sugar,and soluble protein and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes to sustain better seed germination and seedling growth.Moreover,another mechanism of ZnO nanopriming induced rice salt tolerance was associated with better maintenance of(K^(+))ions content.Our research concluded that NanoZnO could promote plant salt tolerance and be adopted as a practical nanopriming technique,promoting global crop production in saltaffected agricultural lands.

Calculation and prediction of divertor detachment via impurity seeding by using one-dimensional model

Achieving the detachment of divertor can help to alleviate excessive heat load and sputtering problems on the target plates,thereby extending the lifetime of divertor components for fusion devices.In order to provide a fast but relatively reliable prediction of plasma parameters along the flux tube for future device design,a one-dimensional(1D)modeling code for the operating point of impurity seeded detached divertor is developed based on Python language,which is a fluid model based on previous work(Plasma Phys.Control.Fusion 58045013(2016)).The experimental observation of the onset of divertor detachment by neon(Ne)and argon(Ar)seeding in EAST is well reproduced by using the 1D modeling code.The comparison between the 1D modeling and two-dimensional(2D)simulation by the SOLPS-ITER code for CFETR detachment operation with Ne and Ar seeding also shows that they are in good agreement.We also predict the radiative power loss and corresponding impurity concentration requirement for achieving divertor detachment via different impurity seeding under high heating power conditions in EAST and CFETR phase II by using the 1D model.Based on the predictions,the optimized parameter space for divertor detachment operation on EAST and CFETR is also determined.Such a simple but reliable 1D model can provide a reasonable parameter input for a detailed and accurate analysis by 2D or three-dimensional(3D)modeling tools through rapid parameter scanning.

Effects of Seeding Date and Density on Yield and Agronomic Traits of Millet : A Case Study of Wangu 098 Variety of Millet

[Objectives]To find out a suitable cultivation technique of Wangu 098 in Nanyang area,speed up the popularization,demonstration and application of Wangu 098,and provide a theoretical and practical basis for adjusting the planting structure and realizing the matching of improved varieties and methods.[Methods]The new self-bred millet variety Wangu 098 was used as the material,and the two-factor split zone experimental design was adopted.The effects of different sowing dates and densities on the yield,growth period and agronomic characters of millet were studied.[Results]The interaction of seeding date and density had a great effect on the yield and plant traits of millet.Millet yield was significantly and positively correlated with plant height,panicle length,single panicle weight,panicle grain weight and tiller number.[Conclusions]The reasonable combination of seeding date and density could give full play to the yield potential of millet.According to the experimental results and cultivation experience,the suitable seeding date of millet in Nanyang area is in the first and middle ten days of June,and the best density is about 750000 plants/ha.However,after June 30,the seeding millet did not tiller,so the density should be increased to more than 900000 plants/ha to obtain higher yield.In terms of cultivation and management,timely seeding,reasonable close planting,and coordination of vegetative growth and reproductive growth can make the plant tall and strong,panicle long and thick,and improve the yield of millet.

Plastic-film-side seeding,as an alternative to traditional film mulching,improves yield stability and income in maize production in semi-arid regions

Planting under plastic-film mulches is widely used in spring maize production in arid-cold regions for water conservation and warming the soil.To ameliorate the associated issues such as plastic-film residues and additional labor during the“seedling release”in spring maize production,we have developed a plastic-film-side seeding(PSS)technology with the supporting machinery.In the semi-arid regions of Northwest China,a 7-year trial demonstrated that PSS increased plant number per hectare by 6547 and maize yield by 1686 kg ha–1compared with the traditional method of seeding under plastic-film mulch(PM).Two-year experiments were conducted in two semi-arid regions to further understand the effects of PSS on three important aspects of production:(i)the moisture and temperature of soil,(ii)maize development,yield output,and water use efficiency(WUE),and(iii)the revenue and plastic-film residuals in comparison with that of flat planting(CK)and PM.Continuous monitoring of the soil status demonstrated that,compared with CK,the PSS treatment significantly increased the temperature and moisture of the 0–20 cm soil in the seeding row at the early stage of maize development,and it also promoted grain yield(at 884–1089 kg ha^(–1))and WUE,achieving a similar effect as the PM treatment.Economically,the labor inputs of PSS were equal to CK,whereas the PM cost an additional 960 CNY ha–1in labor for releasing the seedlings from below the film.Overall,the PSS system increased profits by 5.83%(547 CNY ha^(–1)yr^(–1))and 8.16%(748 CNY ha^(–1)yr^(–1))compared with CK and PM,respectively.Environmentally,PSS achieved a residual film recovery rate of nearly 100%and eliminated 96 to 130 kg ha^(–1)of residual plastic-film in PM in 3–5 years of maize production.Collectively,these results show that PSS is an eco-friendly technique for improving yield stability and incomes for the sustainable production of maize in semi-arid regions.

Grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under different nitrogen and seeding rates in direct-seeded and double-season rice in Central China

Nitrogen(N) and seeding rates are important factors affecting grain yield and N use efficiency(NUE) in directseeded rice. However, these factors have not been adequately investigated on direct-seeded and double-season rice(DDR) in Central China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various N and seeding rates on the grain yield and NUE of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Field experiments were conducted in 2018 in Wuxue County and 2019 in Qichun County, Hubei Province, China with four N rates and three seeding rates.The results showed that the grain yield of the ultrashort-duration variety ranged from 6.32 to 8.23 t ha–1with a total growth duration of 85 to 97 days across all treatments with N application. Grain yield was increased significantly by N application in most cases, but seeding rate had an inconsistent effect on grain yield. Furthermore, the response of grain yield to the N rates was much higher than the response to seeding rates. The moderate N rates of 100–150 and 70–120 kg N ha–1in the early and late seasons, respectively, could fully express the yield potential of the ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Remarkably higher N responses and agronomic NUE levels were achieved in the early-season rice compared with the late-season rice due to the difference in indigenous soil N supply capacity(INS) between the two seasons. Seasonal differences in INS and N response should be considered when crop management practices are optimized for achieving high grain yield and NUE in ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR.

The structure-directing role of heterologous seeds in the synthesis of zeolite

Zeolites have been widely used as catalysts,ion-exchangers,and adsorbents in chemical industries,detergent industry,steel industry,glass industry,ceramic industry,medical and healthfield,and environmentalfield,and recently applied in energy storage.Seed-assisted synthesis is a very effective approach in promoting the crystallization of zeolites.In some cases,the target zeolite cannot be formed in the absence of seed zeolite.In homologous seed-assisted synthesis,the structure of the seed zeolite is the same to that of the target zeolite,while the structure of the seed zeolite is different to that of the target zeolite in the heterologous seed-assisted synthesis.In this review,we briefly summarized the heterologous seed-assisted syntheses of zeolites and analyzed the structure-directing effect of heterologous seeds and surveyed the“common composite building units(CBUs)hypothesis”and the“common secondary building units(SBUs)hypothesis”.However,both hypotheses cannot explain all observations on the heterologous seed-assisted syntheses.Finally,we proposed that the formation of the target zeolite does need nuclei with the structure of target zeolite and the formation of the nuclei of the target zeolite can be promoted by either the undissolved seed crystals with the same CBUs or SBUs to the target zeolite or by the facilitated appropriate distribution of the specific building units due to the presence of the heterologous seed that does not have any common CBUs and SBUs with the target zeolite.

Pectin methylesterase inhibitors GhPMEI53 and AtPMEI19 improve seed germination by modulating cell wall plasticity in cotton and Arabidopsis

The germination process of seeds is influenced by the interplay between two opposing factors,pectin methylesterase(PME)and pectin methylesterase inhibitor(PMEI),which collectively regulate patterns of pectin methylesterification.Despite the recognized importance of pectin methylesterification in seed germination,the specific mechanisms that govern this process remain unclear.In this study,we demonstrated that the overexpression of GhPMEI53is associated with a decrease in PME activity and an increase in pectin methylesterification.This leads to seed cell wall softening,which positively regulates cotton seed germination.AtPMEI19,the homologue in Arabidopsis thaliana,plays a similar role in seed germination to GhPMEI53,indicating a conserved function and mechanism of PMEI in seed germination regulation.Further studies revealed that GhPMEI53 and AtPMEI19 directly contribute to promoting radicle protrusion and seed germination by inducing cell wall softening and reducing mechanical strength.Additionally,the pathways of abscicic acid(ABA)and gibberellin(GA)in the transgenic materials showed significant changes,suggesting that GhPMEI53/AtPMEI19-mediated pectin methylesterification serves as a regulatory signal for the related phytohormones involved in seed germination.In summary,GhPMEI53 and its homologs alter the mechanical properties of cell walls,which influence the mechanical resistance of the endosperm or testa.Moreover,they impact cellular phytohormone pathways(e.g.,ABA and GA)to regulate seed germination.These findings enhance our understanding of pectin methylesterification in cellular morphological dynamics and signaling transduction,and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the PME/PMEI gene superfamily in plants.

Differential seed removal,germination and seedling growth as determinants of species suitability for forest restoration by direct seeding–A case study from northern Thailand

Background Direct seeding is potentially a more cost-effective alternative to conventional tree planting for restoring tropical forest ecosystems.However,seed loss,due to removal and damage by animals,can substantially reduce seedling establishment.Therefore,this study examined the impact of seed predation on seedling establishment of five tree species,native to upland evergreen forests of northern Thailand:Hovenia dulcis,Alangium kurzii,Prunus cerasoides,Choerospondias axillaris and Horsfieldia amygdalina.We tested the hypothesis that excluding animals would significantly reduce seed removal,and increase both germination and seedling survival.The objective was to calculate a composite index of the relative suitability of the species studied for direct seeding.Methods Seeds were placed on the ground in a deforested site and subjected to five predator-exclusion treatments:wire cage,insecticide,cage+insecticide,open cage and no exclusion(control).Results Seed loss was highest for H.amygdalina(the largest seed tested).Across species,wire cages significantly reduced seed loss by 12.4%compared with controls(P<0.001)suggesting that vertebrates were the major seed predators.Seed germination ranged from 0 to 77%among the species tested.Based on relative species-performance scores(combining measures of survival and seedling growth),P.cerasoides was the most suitable species for direct seeding,followed by A.kurzii and C.axillaris,whilst H.dulcis and H.amygdalina were unsuitable.H.dulcis had small seeds with low seed germination,whereas H.amygdalina was subjected to high seed removal.Conclusion Exclusion of seed predators and the selection of suitable species may substantially increase the success of direct seeding,as a technique for restoring upland evergreen forest ecosystems.Testing more species for their suitability is needed,to provide more diverse options for forest restoration.

Targeted mutations of BnPAP2 lead to a yellow seed coat in Brassica napus L.

The yellow seed trait is preferred by breeders for its potential to improve the seed quality and commercial value of Brassica napus.In the present study,we produced yellow seed mutants using a CRISPR/Cas9 system when the two BnPAP2 homologs were knocked out.Histochemical staining of the seed coat demonstrated that proanthocyanidin accumulation was significantly reduced in the pap2 double mutants and decreased specifically in the endothelial and palisade layer cells of the seed coat.Transcriptomic and metabolite profiling analysis suggested that disruption of the BnPAP2 genes could reduce the expression of structural and regulated genes in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways.The broad suppression of these genes might hinder proanthocyanidin accumulation during seed development,and thereby causing the yellow seed trait in B.napus.These results indicate that BnPAP2 might play a vital role in the regulatory network controlling proanthocyanidin accumulation.

Performance of Five Early Indica Rice Varieties under Direct Seeding in Jiangbei District

Comparative experiments were conducted on five conventional indica rice varieties,including Yongxian 15,Zhongzao 39,Shunda 135,Zhongzu 143,and Zhongzu 18.Under direct seeding conditions,their growth period and yield performance were investigated.The results showed that the yield of Zhonggang 143 and Shunda 135 was higher than that of Yongxian 15(CK),and Zhonggang 143 had the highest yield of 7.494 t/hm 2,followed by Shunda 135(7.467 t/hm 2);Yongxian 18(CK)has a yield of 7.326 t/hm 2.Taking into account factors such as field growth,yield,and growth period,Zhongzu 143 and Shunda 135 can be further promoted to optimize the early rice variety structure in Jiangbei District.

Plant life form determines spatiotemporal variability and climate response of plant seed rain in subtropical forests

Spatiotemporal variation of seed rain reflects the response of plants in terms of their reproductive strategy to environmental gradients.In this study,we collected seeds from four sites in the Dalaoling Nature Reserve,Hubei Province,China,between 2011 and 2014,measured seed output and seed mass as seed rain traits,and compared their interannual and elevational variation.Then,we ran phylogenetic generalized mixed linear models(PGLMMs) to explore the effects of temperature and precipitation as well as interspecific differences on seed rain,and fitted the best regression models for seed rain vs.weather of canopy and understory species.The results showed no correlation between values of seed output and seed mass.However,the variation of the two traits showed significantly positive correlation.Seed output of canopy species generally decreased with increasing elevation,and showed significant interannual difference;however,seed output of understory species and seed mass for both canopy and understory species did not show consistency tends along elevational or in interannual variation.Seed output was significantly affected by temperature and precipitation,while seed mass mainly varied due to interspecific differences.Weather explained more the variation of the seed output of canopy species than that of understory species,with R^(2) values of 43.0%and 29.9%,respectively.These results suggested that canopy plants contributed more to the reproductive dynamics of the whole communities,and the canopy's buffer effect on the underground weakened the response of understory plants to weather variation in terms of their reproductive strategy.

Spatiotemporal characteristics of seed rain and soil seed bank of artificial Caragana korshinskii Kom. forest in the Tengger Desert, China

Vegetation restoration and reconstruction are effective approaches to desertification control and achieving social and economic sustainability in desert areas.However,the self-succession ability of native plants during the later periods of vegetation restoration remains unclear.Therefore,this study was conducted to bridge the knowledge gap by investigating the regeneration dynamics of artificial forest under natural conditions.The information of seed rain and soil seed bank was collected and quantified from an artificial Caragana korshinskii Kom.forest in the Tengger Desert,China.The germination tests were conducted in a laboratory setting.The analysis of species quantity and diversity in seed rain and soil seed bank was conducted to assess the impact of different durations of sand fixation(60,40,and 20 a)on the progress of vegetation restoration and ecological conditions in artificial C.korshinskii forest.The results showed that the top three dominant plant species in seed rain were Echinops gmelinii Turcz.,Eragrostis minor Host.,and Agropyron mongolicum Keng.,and the top three dominant plant species in soil seed bank were E.minor,Chloris virgata Sw.,and E.gmelinii.As restoration period increased,the density of seed rain and soil seed bank increased first and then decreased.While for species richness,as restoration period increased,it gradually increased in seed rain but decreased in soil seed bank.There was a positive correlation between seed rain density and soil seed bank density among all the three restoration periods.The species similarity between seed rain or soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation decreased with the extension of restoration period.The shape of the seeds,specifically those with external appendages such as spines and crown hair,clearly had an effect on their dispersal,then resulting in lower seed density in soil seed bank.In addition,precipitation was a crucial factor in promoting rapid germination,also resulting in lower seed density in soil seed bank.Our findings provide valuable insights for guiding future interventions during the later periods of artificial C.korshinskii forest,such as sowing and restoration efforts using unmanned aerial vehicles.

Effects of wind speed,underlying surface,and seed morphological traits on the secondary seed dispersal in the Tengger Desert,China

The maintenance of sand-fixing vegetation is important for the stability of artificial sand-fixing systems in which seed dispersal plays a key role.Based on field wind tunnel experiments using 11 common plant species on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert,China,we studied the secondary seed dispersal in the fixed and semi-fixed sand dunes as well as in the mobile dunes in order to understand the limitations of vegetation regeneration and the maintenance of its stability.Our results indicated that there were significant variations among the selected 11 plant species in the threshold of wind speed(TWS).The TWS of Caragana korshinskii was the highest among the 11 plant species,whereas that of Echinops gmelinii was the lowest.Seed morphological traits and underlying surface could generally explain the TWS.During the secondary seed dispersal processes,the proportions of seeds that did not disperse(no dispersal)and only dispersed over short distance(short-distance dispersal within the wind tunnel test section)were significantly higher than those of seeds that were buried(including lost seeds)and dispersed over long distance(long-distance dispersal beyond the wind tunnel test section).Compared with other habitats,the mobile dunes were the most difficult places for secondary seed dispersal.Buried seeds were the easiest to be found in the semi-fixed sand dunes,whereas fixed sand dunes were the best sites for seeds that dispersed over long distance.The results of linear mixed models showed that after controlling the dispersal distance,smaller and rounder seeds dispersed farther.Shape index and wind speed were the two significant influencing factors on the burial of seeds.The explanatory power of wind speed,underlying surface,and seed morphological traits on the seeds that did not disperse and dispersed over short distance was far greater than that on the seeds that were buried and dispersed over long distance,implying that the processes and mechanisms of burial and long-distance dispersal are more complex.In summary,most seeds in the study area either did not move,were buried,or dispersed over short distance,promoting local vegetation regeneration.

Production of Yam Tubers Using Seed Tubers from Vitroplants Regenerated from Aerial Stems in the Yam Species Dioscorea alata (L.) and Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata (L. & P.) in Côte d’Ivoire

The aim of this study is to produce large quantities of yam tubers in the field from seed tubers derived from vitroplants regenerated from aerial stem cuttings and farmers’ tuber seeds. Seed tubers from ten yam cultivars, including five from Dioscorea alata (cDa083, cDa053, cDa115, cDa150 and cDa266) and five from Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata (cDr015, cDr027, cDr150, cDr206 and cDr148) with distinct agro-morphological characteristics, were used as material. A completely randomized block design with 3 replications was used. In each block, all cultivars and seed types were represented. When put into cultivation, the tubers produced by the vitroplants all germinated and gave 100% healthy plants, compared with 86% to 100% healthy plants for the seed tubers produced by the farmers. Yields per hectare ranged from 10 to 25 tonnes for seed tubers produced by in vitro plants, and from 4 to 9 tons for seed tubers produced by farmers. Seed tubers from vitroplants can therefore be recommended to farmers as a solution to the problem of seed tuber unavailability.

Detailed Analyses of Nymphea Seeds Consumed in the Senegal River Valley

Physicochemical investigations were performed on seeds of Nymphea lotus and N. micrantha consumed in the Senegal River valley. They revealed a composition similar to that of cereals. In order to estimate their intrinsic quality, the determination of their amino acid, fatty acid and monosaccharids profiles was done. The results indicate that monosaccharides are represented specifically by saccharose (7%) and glucose (0.67%);a predominance of stearic acid and linoleic acid as unsaturated acids (24.86%);arachidic and palmitic acids as the only saturated acid found (11.12%);a good ratio of unsaturated/saturated acid (2.23);a lack of oleic acid, linoleic, palmitoleic, myristic, caprylic acids;a poor-quality index protein due to low quantity amino acids. Nevertheless, all essential amino acids are present in the seeds. The Nymphea sp grains consumed by the populations around the Senegal River valley offer an interesting nutritional quality linked to fatty acids and carbohydrates.

Modeling Analysis of Factors Influencing Wind-Borne Seed Dispersal: A Case Study on Dandelion

A weed is a plant that thrives in areas of human disturbance, such as gardens, fields, pastures, waysides, and waste places where it is not intentionally cultivated. Dispersal affects community dynamics and vegetation response to global change. The process of seed disposal is influenced by wind, which plays a crucial role in determining the distance and probability of seed dispersal. Existing models of seed dispersal consider wind direction but fail to incorporate wind intensity. In this paper, a novel seed disposal model was proposed in this paper, incorporating wind intensity based on relevant references. According to various climatic conditions, including temperate, arid, and tropical regions, three specific regions were selected to establish a wind dispersal model that accurately reflects the density function distribution of dispersal distance. Additionally, dandelions growth is influenced by a multitude of factors, encompassing temperature, humidity, climate, and various environmental variables that necessitate meticulous consideration. Based on Factor Analysis model, which completely considers temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, wind, and land carrying capacity, a conclusion is presented, indicating that the growth of seeds is primarily influenced by plant attributes and climate conditions, with the former exerting a relatively stronger impact. Subsequently, the remaining two plants were chosen based on seed weight, yielding consistent conclusion.

Studies of the Variability of Primary Metabolites in the Epicarp, Mesocarp and Seed of Dacryodes edulis Fruit at Taste Maturity

The fruits of Dacryodes edulis are rich in biologically active substances, which makes them of great interest in terms of validation. In this study, we targeted the primary metabolites in the epicarp, the mesocarp and the seed of the fruit of Dacryodes edulis at taste maturity, which were selected for their nutritional quality and its appreciation throughout the Gulf of Guinea area, which is very popular because of its large size, texture and special taste. The evaluation of total carbohydrates, total lipids and soluble proteins in the epicarp, mesocarp and seed of the fruit at taste maturity was made from spectrophotometer measurements. The overall analysis of the results of the present study shows that total carbohydrates, total lipids and proteins accumulate more in the seed with respectively 251.33 ± 1.15 mg/g DM;9.92 ± 0.201 mg/g DM and 55.075 ± 0.024 mg/g DM. Likewise, the results indicate low concentrations of total carbohydrates and total lipids in the epicarp with respectively 245 ± 1 mg/g DM and 4.77 ± 0.047 mg/g DM, on the other hand, it is the mesocarp which presents the lowest content of soluble proteins: 28.075 ± 3.231 mg/g DM. This variation could be linked to the nature of the compartment, more particularly to the storage location. This comparative study could lead to the valorization of the seed of the fruit of Dacryodes edulis for its richness in metabolites and arouse significant interest in nutrition.

Seed-assisted growth for high-performance perovskite solar cells:A review

The rapid increase in the power conversion efficiency(PCE)of perovskite solar cells(PSCs)is closely related to the development of deposition techinique for perovskite layer.The high-quality perovskite film enables efficient charge transportation and less trap states,which are eventually translated into enhanced device performance.Seed-assisted growth(SAG)is a potential technique for depositing highly-crystallized perovskite films with preferential crystal orientation among the numerous approaches related to crystallization modulation.In this review,we summarize the recent advances in the SAG technique for both one-step and two-step processed perovskite films.Additionally,seeding at the buried interface and on the top surface are also introduced.We present different seeds and their corresponding seeding mechanism in detail,such as inorganic nanomaterials,organic ammoniums,alkali metal halides,and perovskite seeds.Finally,challenges and perspectives are proposed to investigate the potential expansion of seeding engineering in high-performance PSCs,particularly large-area devices.

qSTA2-2,a novel QTL that contributes to seed starch synthesis in Zea mays L.

The seed storage materials accumulate during seed development,and are essential for seed germination and seedling establishment.Here we employed two bi-parental populations of an F2:3 population developed from a cross of improved 220(I220,small seeds with low starch)and PH4CV(large seeds with high starch),as well as recombinant-inbred lines(RILs)of X178(high starch)and its improved introgression line I178(low starch),to identify the genes that control seed storage materials.We identified a total of 12 QTLs for starch,protein and oil,which explained 3.44-10.79%of the phenotypic variances.Among them,qSTA2-1 identified in F2:3 and qSTA2-2 identified in the RILs partially overlapped at an interval of 7.314-9.554 Mb,and they explained 3.44-10.21%of the starch content variation,so they were selected for further study.Fine mapping of qSTA2-2 with the backcrossed populations of ^(I220)/PH4CV in each generation narrowed it down to a 199.7 kb interval that contains 14 open reading frames(ORFs).Transcriptomic analysis of developing seeds from the near-isogenic lines(NILs)of ^(I220)/PH4CV(BC_(5)F_(2))showed that only 11 ORFs were expressed in 20 days after pollination(DAP)seeds.Five of them were upregulated and six of them were downregulated in NIL^(I220),and the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between NIL^(I220) and NIL^(PH4CV) were enriched in starch metabolism,hormone signal transduction and glycosaminoglycan degradation.Of the eleven NIL^(I220) differential expressed ORFs,ORF4(Zm00001d002260)and ORF5(Zm00001d002261)carry 75%protein sequence similarity,both encodes an glycolate oxidase,were the possible candidates of qSTA2-2.Further analysis and validation indicated that mutation of the qSTA2-2 locus resulted in the dysfunction of ABA accumulation,the embryo/endosperm ratio and the starch and hormone levels.

Differential roles of seed and sprout regeneration in forest diversity and productivity after disturbance

Natural regeneration after disturbances is a key phase of forest development,which determines the trajectory of successional changes in tree species composition and diversity.Regenerating trees can originate from either seeds or sprouts produced by disturbed trees with sprouting ability.Although both regeneration strategies often develop and co-occur after a disturbance,they tend to affect forest development differently due to significant functional differences.However,the origin of tree regeneration is rarely distinguished in post-disturbance forest surveys and ecological studies,and the differential roles of seed and sprout regeneration in forest productivity and diversity remain poorly understood.To address these research gaps,we explored the role of sprout and seed regeneration in the formation of woody species diversity and above-ground biomass(AGB)productivity in early-stage forest development.Data were collected in two experimental forest stands in the Czech Republic,where trees were cut with varying intensities with the density of residual(uncut)trees ranging from 0 to 275 trees per hectare.All trees were mapped and their sizes were measured before cutting and then,either as a stump with sprouts or a residual tree,remeasured 11 years later.In addition,all tree saplings were mapped and measured 11 years after logging,and their origin(sprout or seed)was identified.To assess abundances and productivity,we estimated AGB of all2,685 sprouting stumps of 19 woody species and 504 generative(i.e.,seed origin)individuals of 16 woody species,using allometric equations.Mixed-effects models were used to analyze the effects of each regeneration strategy on woody species diversity and the total AGB under varying densities of residual trees.Nonmetric multidimensional scaling was used to evaluate the effect of regeneration strategies on species composition.AGB and diversity of sprouts were significantly higher than those of seed regeneration.Sprouts formed on average97.1%of the total regeneration AGB in H ady and 98.6%in Sobe s ice.The average species richness of sprouts was4.7 in H ady and 2.2 in Sob e sice,while the species richness of seed regeneration averaged 2.1 and 1.1 in H ady and Sob e sice,respectively.Increasing density of residual trees reduced AGB and diversity of both sprouts and seed regeneration,but seed regeneration was affected to a greater extent.Residual trees had an especially strong inhibitory effect on the establishment of seed regeneration.Consequently,seed-originated saplings were nearly absent in plots with high residual tree density,and abundant sprouts accounted for most of the AGB and diversity.However,unlike sprouts whose species composition resembled that of the original stand,seed regeneration brought in new species,enriching the stand?s overall species pool and beta diversity.Our results demonstrated differential roles of sprout and seed regeneration in the early stage of forest succession.Sprout regeneration was the main source of woody AGB productivity as well as species diversity,and its importance increased with the increasing density of standing mature trees.The results indicate the crucial yet previously underestimated role of sprout regeneration in post-disturbance forest dynamics.They suggest that the presence of residual mature trees,whether retained after partial cutting or undisturbed,can substantially suppress seed regeneration while the role of sprout regeneration in early succession becomes more distinctly evident.