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Folia Microbiologica Jun 2024Phosphate-solubilising fungi (PSF) are beneficial microorganisms that play a pivotal role in plant growth by increasing the availability of phosphorus (P) in soil.... (Review)
Review
Phosphate-solubilising fungi (PSF) are beneficial microorganisms that play a pivotal role in plant growth by increasing the availability of phosphorus (P) in soil. Although phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants, it often becomes inaccessible as it binds into insoluble forms. PSF effectively facilitate the release of this bound phosphorus through diverse mechanisms. Numerous fungal species demonstrate the ability to solubilise various types of phosphate compounds. Among the commonly researched PSF are Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Fusarium, Trichoderma, and Sclerotium. Moreover, yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae can potentially be leveraged as PSF. PSF secrete organic acids that chelate phosphate ions, thereby increasing their solubility in the soil. Moreover, PSF contribute to the decomposition of organic phosphorus compounds in soil by employing enzymes such as phosphatases, phytases, and phosphonatases. Furthermore, PSF can interact with other soil microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM-fungi), fostering synergistic effects that further enhance plant growth and nutrient absorption. The utilisation of PSF as biofertilisers offers numerous advantages over chemical fertilisers, including environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced fertiliser utilisation efficiency. Furthermore, PSF can prove beneficial in challenging environments characterised by high phosphate sorption. Hence, this review serves as an updated study aimed at broadening the understanding of PSF and its potential applications in P solubilisation. This review also focuses on the diversity of PSF, the mechanisms underlying solubilisation, ecological roles of PSF in soil microbiome, and the benefits of sustainable agriculture. By delving into the ecological roles of PSF and their potential as biofertilisers, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of sustainable agriculture practices and addresses challenges in phosphate-scarce environments.
PubMed: 38937405
DOI: 10.1007/s12223-024-01181-0 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Nutrient requirement for crop growth, defined as the amount of nutrient that crops take up from soil to produce a specific grain yield, is a key parameter in determining...
Nutrient requirement for crop growth, defined as the amount of nutrient that crops take up from soil to produce a specific grain yield, is a key parameter in determining fertilizer application rate. However, existing studies primarily focus on identifying nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) requirements solely in relation to grain yield, neglecting grain protein content, a crucial index for wheat grain quality. Addressing this gap, we conducted multi-site, multi-cultivar, and multi-year field trials across three ecological regions of China from 2016 to 2020 to elucidate variations in nutrient requirements for grain yield and grain protein. The research findings revealed that wheat grain yield ranged from 4.1 to 9.3 Mg ha (average 6.9 Mg ha) and grain protein content ranged from 98 to 157 g kg (average 127 g kg) across the three regions. Notably, the N requirement exhibited a nonlinear correlation with the wheat grain yield but a linear increase with increasing grain protein, while the P and K requirements positively correlated with grain yield and protein content. Regression models were formulated to determine the nutrient requirements (M), enabling the prediction of N, P, and K requirements for leading cultivars with varying grain yields and protein contents. Implementing nutrient requirements based on M projections resulted in substantial reductions in fertilizer rates: 22.0 kg ha N (10.7 %), 9.9 kg ha P (20.2 %), and 8.1 kg ha K (16.3 %). This translated to potential savings of 0.4 Mt. N, 0.23 Mt. P, and 0.17 Mt. K, consequently mitigating 5.5 Mt. CO greenhouse-gas emission and yielding an economic benefit of 0.8 billion US$ annually in China. These findings underscore the significance of considering grain yield and protein content in estimating nutrient requirements for fertilizer recommendations to realize high-yielding, high-protein wheat production, and minimize overfertilization and associated environmental risks.
PubMed: 38936741
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174187 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024As a terrestrial ecosystem, alpine grasslands feature diverse vegetation types and play key roles in regulating water resources and carbon storage, thus shaping global... (Review)
Review
As a terrestrial ecosystem, alpine grasslands feature diverse vegetation types and play key roles in regulating water resources and carbon storage, thus shaping global climate. The dynamics of soil nutrients in this ecosystem, responding to regional climate change, directly impact primary productivity. This review comprehensively explored the effects of climate change on soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and their balance in the alpine meadows, highlighting the significant roles these nutrients played in plant growth and species diversity. We also shed light on machine learning utilization in soil nutrient evaluation. As global warming continues, alongside shifting precipitation patterns, soil characteristics of grasslands, such as moisture and pH values vary significantly, further altering the availability and composition of soil nutrients. The rising air temperature in alpine regions substantially enhances the activity of soil organisms, accelerating nutrient mineralization and the decomposition of organic materials. Combined with varied nutrient input, such as increased N deposition, plant growth and species composition are changing. With the robust capacity to use and integrate diverse data sources, including satellite imagery, sensor-collected spectral data, camera-captured videos, and common knowledge-based text and audio, machine learning offers rapid and accurate assessments of the changes in soil nutrients and associated determinants, such as soil moisture. When combined with powerful large language models like ChatGPT, these tools provide invaluable insights and strategies for effective grassland management, aiming to foster a sustainable ecosystem that balances high productivity and advanced services with reduced environmental impacts.
PubMed: 38936732
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174295 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Schwertmannite (Sch) is found in environments abundant in iron and sulfate. Microorganisms that utilize iron or sulfate can induce the phase transition of...
Schwertmannite (Sch) is found in environments abundant in iron and sulfate. Microorganisms that utilize iron or sulfate can induce the phase transition of Schwertmannite, consequently leading to the redistribution of coexisting pollutants. However, the impact of the molar ratio of sulfate to iron (S/Fe) on the microbial-mediated transformation of Schwertmannite and its implications for the fate of cadmium (Cd) have not been elucidated. In this study, we examined how S/Fe influenced mineral transformation and the fate of Cd during microbial reduction of Cd-loaded Schwertmannite by Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Our findings revealed that an increase in the S/Fe ratio facilitated sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in mitigating the toxicity of Cd, thereby expediting the generation of sulfide (S(-II)) and subsequently triggering mineral phase transformation. As the S/Fe ratio increased, the predominant minerals in the system transitioned from prismatic-cluster vivianite to rose-shaped mackinawite. The Cd phase and distribution underwent corresponding alterations. Cd primarily existed in its oxidizable state, with its distribution being directly linked not only to FeS content but also showing a robust correlation with phosphorus. The coexistence of vivianite and FeS minerals proved to be more favorable for Cd immobilization. These findings have significant implications for understanding the biogeochemistry of iron (oxyhydr)oxides and Cd fate in anaerobic environments.
PubMed: 38936727
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174275 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Climate and land-use changes have an overlying impact on non-point source (NPS) pollution in river basins. However, the control effect of Best Management Practices...
Climate and land-use changes have an overlying impact on non-point source (NPS) pollution in river basins. However, the control effect of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for NPS pollution is not yet clear under future scenarios. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was coupled with the entropy-weighted method, global climate patterns and land-use data to explore the dynamic variations in total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads in the Jing River Basin during the baseline (2000-2020) and future periods (2021-2065), evaluate the pollution reduction effectiveness of individual and combined BMPs, and propose practical BMP configurations. Results indicate that a future trend of urban land expansion, particularly in the economic scenario (LU_SSP585), leads to weakened environmental ecosystems, while the sustainable scenario (LU_SSP126) exhibits more balanced land development. The MIROC-ES2L model demonstrates higher Taylor skill scores, forecasted significant increases in precipitation, maximum, and minimum temperatures under the SSP585 scenario. Spatial heterogeneity in TN and TP loads is notable, showing an upward trajectory in the future. The interaction between land-use and climate change has complex effects on TN and TP loads, with land-use-induced TN changes being relatively small (4.6 %) and TP changes substantial (24.3 %). The spatial distribution, under overlying effects, leans towards the influence of climate change, emphasizing its dominant role in TN and TP load variations. Distinct differences exist in the reduction of NPS pollution loads among different BMPs, with combined BMPs demonstrating superior effectiveness. The environmental-cost effectiveness trends of BMPs remain consistent across various future scenarios. RG (Return agricultural land to grass), RG + TT (Terracing), and RG + FR10 (Fertilizer reduction: 10 %) + GW (Grassed waterway) + FS (Filter strip) + TT emerge as the most effective single, double, and multiple BMP combinations, respectively. The results offer valuable insights for preventing and mitigating future NPS pollution risks, optimizing land-use layouts, and enhancing watershed management decisions.
PubMed: 38936719
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174260 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry... Jun 2024Two-dimensional materials with layered structures, appropriate band gaps, and high carrier mobility have attracted tremendous interest for their potential applications....
Two-dimensional materials with layered structures, appropriate band gaps, and high carrier mobility have attracted tremendous interest for their potential applications. Here we report the growth of monolayer SnP on Au(111) surfaces by molecular beam epitaxy. The kinetic processes for the growth and the crystalline properties are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. The weak interaction between SnP and its Au(111) substrate is signified by the random crystal orientation distributions of SnP nanosheets. The electronic structures exhibit a band gap of ∼0.25 eV and high charge carrier mobility comparable to that of black phosphorus engineered by compressive strain. Additionally, domain boundary junctions with opposite chirality are observed, resulting from the strained film in the epitaxial growth process. Our work provides a method to fabricate high-quality monolayer SnP and suggests that the monolayer SnP is a promising candidate for applications in nanoelectronics and optoelectronics.
PubMed: 38935845
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01195 -
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in... Jun 2024Positively charged phosphorus-containing heterocycles are characteristic core skeletons for functional molecules. While various phosphonium-containing five- or...
Positively charged phosphorus-containing heterocycles are characteristic core skeletons for functional molecules. While various phosphonium-containing five- or six-membered ring compounds have been reported, seven-membered ring phosphepinium has not yet been fully studied. In this study, dithieno[2,3-b;3,2-f]phosphepinium ions containing electron-donating aminophenyl groups were synthesized. An X-ray crystallographic analysis of the resulting donor-acceptor-donor dyes revealed a bent conformation of the central seven-membered ring. This compound exhibited fluorescence in the near-infrared region with a bathochromic shift of 70 nm compared to phosphepine oxide congener and a large Stokes shift. High fluorescence quantum yields were obtained even in polar solvents due to the suppression of the nonradiative decay process. The theoretical study revealed that the phosphepinium skeleton is highly electron-accepting owing to the orbital interaction between a px orbital of the phosphonium moiety and a π* orbital of the 1,3,5-hexatriene moiety. Owing to the lower-lying px orbital in the phosphonium moiety compared with that of the phosphine oxide and the bent conformation of the seven-membered ring, the phosphepinium ring effectively furnishes a px-π* conjugation. A large structural relaxation with the contribution of a quinoidal resonance structure is suggested in the excited state, which is responsible for the intense emission with a large Stokes shift.
PubMed: 38935519
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202410204 -
TAG. Theoretical and Applied Genetics.... Jun 2024Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for plant growth, and its deficiency can cause decreased crop yield. This study systematically evaluated the low-phosphate (Pi)...
Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for plant growth, and its deficiency can cause decreased crop yield. This study systematically evaluated the low-phosphate (Pi) response traits in a large population at maturity and seedling stages, and explored candidate genes and their interrelationships with specific traits. The results revealed a greater sensitivity of seedling maize to low-Pi stress compared to that at maturity stage. The phenotypic response patterns to low-Pi stress at different stages were independent. Chlorophyll content was found to be a potential indicator for screening low-Pi-tolerant materials in the field. A total of 2900 and 1446 significantly associated genes at the maturity and seedling stages were identified, respectively. Among these genes, 972 were uniquely associated with maturity traits, while 330 were specifically detected at the seedling stage under low-Pi stress. Moreover, 768 and 733 genes were specifically associated with index values (low-Pi trait/normal-Pi trait) at maturity and seedling stage, respectively. Genetic network diagrams showed that the low-Pi response gene Zm00001d022226 was specifically associated with multiple primary P-related traits under low-Pi conditions. A total of 963 out of 2966 genes specifically associated with traits under low-Pi conditions or index values were found to be induced by low-Pi stress. Notably, ZmSPX4.1 and ZmSPX2 were sharply up-regulated in response to low-Pi stress across different lines or tissues. These findings advance our understanding of maize's response to low-Pi stress at different developmental stages, shedding light on the genes and pathways implicated in this response.
Topics: Zea mays; Seedlings; Stress, Physiological; Phenotype; Phosphorus; Genes, Plant; Genome-Wide Association Study; Chlorophyll; Quantitative Trait Loci; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genetic Association Studies; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
PubMed: 38935162
DOI: 10.1007/s00122-024-04681-2 -
European Journal of Nutrition Jun 2024Taxes on unhealthy foods can help improve population health in the United Kingdom (UK), but the health effects of food substitutions resulting from these taxes are often...
PURPOSE
Taxes on unhealthy foods can help improve population health in the United Kingdom (UK), but the health effects of food substitutions resulting from these taxes are often unclear. We investigated the potential impacts of a salt and sugar tax on hypothetical intra-category food substitutions, cost, body-mass index (BMI), and environmental footprints.
METHODS
Purchase panel data from Kantar (2017) were used to determine the most popular foods high in salt or sugar within eight 'salt-intensive'/'sugar-intensive' food categories. Within food categories, the most popular lower salt (≤ 1.5 g salt/100 g product) and lower sugar (≤ 22.5 g sugar/100 g product) substitutes were also identified. Hypothetical swaps between high salt/sugar foods and lower salt/sugar substitutes were explored, focusing on changes to cost, caloric intake and BMI, and environmental impacts in the UK population.
RESULTS
The suggested intra-category substitutions were largely like-for-like and did not accrue an added overall cost to consumers. The substitutions reduced calorie intake by about 200 kcal/day and lowered the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the UK from approximately 60-65% to about 40-45%. The proposed food substitutions led to a total reduction of -2.7Mt of greenhouse gases, ∼ -500.000 ha of land, -0.5km of blue water, -12km of scarcity weighted water, ∼ -12.000t of phosphorus, and nearly - 14.000t of sulphur dioxide over one year for the UK population due to reductions in calorie intake.
CONCLUSION
Food substitutions following a tax on salt and sugar could lead to significant benefits for health and the environment, without necessarily resulting in major changes to people's expenditure on familiar salty and sugary snacks.
PubMed: 38935140
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03452-5 -
Kidney Research and Clinical Practice Jun 2024Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant challenge in healthcare, imposing a significant social burden. While there are considerable researches dedicated to AKI and...
BACKGROUND
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant challenge in healthcare, imposing a significant social burden. While there are considerable researches dedicated to AKI and the recovery of AKI patients, a crucial factor in their prognosis, is often overlooked. Thus, our study aims to address this issue through the development of a machine learning-based approach to predict restoration of kidney function in patients with AKI.
METHODS
Our study encompassed data from 350,345 cases, derived from two hospitals. AKI was classified in accordance with the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes. Criteria for recovery were established as either a 33% decrease in serum creatinine levels at AKI onset or reduction to values lower than the baseline, which was initially employed for the diagnosis of AKI. We employed various machine learning models, selecting 43 pertinent features for analysis.
RESULTS
Our analysis contained 7,041 and 2,929 patients' data from internal cohort and external cohort respectively. The Categorical Boosting model demonstrated significant predictive accuracy, as evidenced by an internal area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.7860, and an external AUROC score of 0.7316, thereby confirming its robustness in predictive performance. SHapley Additive exPlanations values were employed to explain key factors impacting recovery of renal function in AKI patients, highlighting factors such as elevated urine specific gravity, body temperature, and phosphorus levels.
CONCLUSION
This study presented a novel machine learning framework for predicting renal function recovery in patients with AKI, offering a deeper understanding of the key variables affecting recovery. The clinical applicability of the model was assessed across distinct hospital settings, which revealed variations in its efficacy. Although the model exhibited favorable outcomes, the necessity for further enhancements and the incorporation of more diverse datasets is imperative for its application in real-world scenarios.
PubMed: 38934029
DOI: 10.23876/j.krcp.23.330