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Annual Review of Plant Biology May 2023Plant invasions, a byproduct of globalization, are increasing worldwide. Because of their ecological and economic impacts, considerable efforts have been made to... (Review)
Review
Plant invasions, a byproduct of globalization, are increasing worldwide. Because of their ecological and economic impacts, considerable efforts have been made to understand and predict the success of non-native plants. Numerous frameworks, hypotheses, and theories have been advanced to conceptualize the interactions of multiple drivers and context dependence of invasion success with the aim of achieving robust explanations with predictive power. We review these efforts from a community-level perspective rather than a biogeographical one, focusing on terrestrial systems, and explore the roles of intrinsic plant properties in determining species invasiveness, as well as the effects of biotic and abiotic conditions in mediating ecosystem invasibility (or resistance) and ecological and evolutionary processes. We also consider the fundamental influences of human-induced changes at scales ranging from local to global in triggering, promoting, and sustaining plant invasions and discuss how these changes could alter future invasion trajectories.
Topics: Humans; Ecosystem; Plants; Biological Evolution; Introduced Species
PubMed: 36750415
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-070522-071021 -
Plant Communications Apr 2024Plant genetic transformation strategies serve as essential tools for the genetic engineering and advanced molecular breeding of plants. However, the complicated...
Plant genetic transformation strategies serve as essential tools for the genetic engineering and advanced molecular breeding of plants. However, the complicated operational protocols and low efficiency of current transformation strategies restrict the genetic modification of most plant species. This paper describes the development of the regenerative activity-dependent in planta injection delivery (RAPID) method based on the active regeneration capacity of plants. In this method, Agrobacterium tumefaciens is delivered to plant meristems via injection to induce transfected nascent tissues. Stable transgenic plants can be obtained by subsequent vegetative propagation of the positive nascent tissues. The method was successfully used for transformation of plants with strong regeneration capacity, including different genotypes of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), potato (Solanum tuberosum), and bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae). Compared with traditional transformation methods, RAPID has a much higher transformation efficiency and shorter duration, and it does not require tissue culture procedures. The RAPID method therefore overcomes the limitations of traditional methods to enable rapid in planta transformation and can be potentially applied to a wide range of plant species that are capable of active regeneration.
Topics: Plants, Genetically Modified; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Ipomoea batatas
PubMed: 38243598
DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100822 -
Quantitative Plant Biology 2023In 1997, Barthlott and Neinhuis published a groundbreaking article entitled "Purity of the sacred lotus, or escape from contamination in biological surfaces" that caused...
In 1997, Barthlott and Neinhuis published a groundbreaking article entitled "Purity of the sacred lotus, or escape from contamination in biological surfaces" that caused a true paradigm shift in surface science. In this article, they explained the water-repellent and self-cleaning properties of plants, attributing the superhydrophobicity to nano- and micrometric wax textures on the surface of the leaves. This became known as the "Lotus Effect". In the late 1980s, Barthlott already demonstrated the microtexture of plant surfaces and its effect on wetting. However, this knowledge remained confined to botany until the 1997 article popularized it. The dissemination of this knowledge to the materials science community led to the development of countless synthetic superhydrophobic surfaces and a better understanding of wetting mechanisms. The story of this discovery and its consequences demonstrates the relevance of atypical approaches and emphasizes the urgency of respecting biodiversity.
PubMed: 38156077
DOI: 10.1017/qpb.2023.15 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Pitaya ( spp.) is a member of the cactus family that is native to Central and South America but is now cultivated throughout the sub-tropical and tropical regions of the... (Review)
Review
Pitaya ( spp.) is a member of the cactus family that is native to Central and South America but is now cultivated throughout the sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world. It is of great importance due to its nutritional, ornamental, coloring, medicinal, industrial, and high consumption values. In order to effectively utilize and develop the available genetic resources, it is necessary to appreciate and understand studies pertaining to the usage, origin, nutrition, diversity, evaluation, characterization, conservation, taxonomy, and systematics of the genus . Additionally, to gain a basic understanding of the biology of the plant, this review has also discussed how biotechnological tools, such as cell and tissue culture, micropropagation (i.e., somatic embryogenesis, organogenesis, somaclonal variation, mutagenesis, androgenesis, gynogenesis, and altered ploidy), virus-induced gene silencing, and molecular marker technology, have been used to enhance pitaya germplasm.
PubMed: 37762287
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813986 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Being sessile organisms that need to effectively explore space (above and below ground) and acquire resources through growth, plants must simultaneously consider...
Being sessile organisms that need to effectively explore space (above and below ground) and acquire resources through growth, plants must simultaneously consider multiple possibilities and wisely balance the energy they spend on growth with the benefits for survival [...].
PubMed: 38674541
DOI: 10.3390/plants13081132 -
Current Biology : CB Feb 2024Plants have been an essential source of human medicine for millennia. In this review, we argue that a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to the study of medicinal... (Review)
Review
Plants have been an essential source of human medicine for millennia. In this review, we argue that a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to the study of medicinal plants that combines methods and insights from three key disciplines - evolutionary ecology, molecular biology/biochemistry, and ethnopharmacology - is poised to facilitate new breakthroughs in science, including pharmacological discoveries and rapid advancements in human health and well-being. Such interdisciplinary research leverages data and methods spanning space, time, and species associated with medicinal plant species evolution, ecology, genomics, and metabolomic trait diversity, all of which build heavily on traditional Indigenous knowledge. Such an interdisciplinary approach contrasts sharply with most well-funded and successful medicinal plant research during the last half-century, which, despite notable advancements, has greatly oversimplified the dynamic relationships between plants and humans, kept hidden the larger human narratives about these relationships, and overlooked potentially important research and discoveries into life-saving medicines. We suggest that medicinal plants and people should be viewed as partners whose relationship involves a complicated and poorly explored set of (socio-)ecological interactions including not only domestication but also commensalisms and mutualisms. In short, medicinal plant species are not just chemical factories for extraction and exploitation. Rather, they may be symbiotic partners that have shaped modern societies, improved human health, and extended human lifespans.
Topics: Humans; Plants, Medicinal; Medicine, Traditional; Ethnobotany; Phytotherapy; Biodiversity
PubMed: 38412829
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.038 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023
PubMed: 37609521
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1254184 -
Journal of Ethnobiology and... Sep 2023Edible flowers (EFs) represent valuable sources of both food and medicinal resources, holding the promise to enhance human well-being. Unfortunately, their significance... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Edible flowers (EFs) represent valuable sources of both food and medicinal resources, holding the promise to enhance human well-being. Unfortunately, their significance is often overlooked. Ethnobotanical studies on the EFs are lacking in comparison with their botanical and phytochemical research. The practice of consuming flowers as food has a rich culture and long history in China, especially among different linguistic groups in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. However, economic activities have led to a decline of this tradition. Consequently, preserving the traditional knowledge and culture tied to the EFs in Xishuangbanna becomes both essential and pressing.
METHODS
The field ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Xishuangbanna during five visits in April 2021 and May 2023, covering 48 villages and 19 local markets of all three county-level areas and 9 different linguistic groups. By conducting a comprehensive literature review and on-site field surveys, relevant information regarding the EFs of Xishuangbanna was systematically collected and documented. Additionally, the relative frequency of citation (RFC) values were calculated from the survey data.
RESULTS
A total of 212 taxa (including species and varieties) of EFs from 58 families and 141 genera were documented in the study area. The edible parts of flowers were classified into 13 categories including peduncle, petal, flower buds, inflorescence as a whole, and etc. They were consumed in 21 ways and as 8 types of food. The inflorescence was the most commonly consumed category, accounting for 85 species (40.1%) of the total categories. They always eat flowers as vegetables (184 species, 86.8%). The preparing form of stir-frying was the preferred food preparation method (138, 65.1%). The Xishuangbanna locals had profound knowledge of which EFs required specific processing to remove their toxicity or bitterness. The dishes can be made from either exclusively from the flowers themselves or by incorporating them alongside other plant parts like stems and leaves. Some EFs with high RFC value, such as Musa acuminata and Bauhinia variegata var. candida, showed significant cultural meanings. These edible flowers occupy specific positions in local traditional culture.
CONCLUSION
Traditional knowledge regarding edible flowers holds substantial significance and serves as a representative element of the flower-eating culture in Xishuangbanna. Nevertheless, this knowledge and cultural practice are currently decreasing. Serving as a bridge between tradition and modernity, the flower-eating culture, which derives from local people's practical experience, shows the potential of EFs and can be applied to the conservation of biocultural diversity, healthy food systems, and sustainable development.
Topics: Humans; China; Ethnobotany; Vegetables; Surveys and Questionnaires; Flowers; Plants, Edible
PubMed: 37777741
DOI: 10.1186/s13002-023-00608-1 -
Plant Communications Apr 2024ATP is the primary form of energy for plants, and a shortage of cellular ATP is generally acknowledged to pose a threat to plant growth and development, stress... (Review)
Review
ATP is the primary form of energy for plants, and a shortage of cellular ATP is generally acknowledged to pose a threat to plant growth and development, stress resistance, and crop quality. The overall metabolic processes that contribute to the ATP pool, from production, dissipation, and transport to elimination, have been studied extensively. Considerable evidence has revealed that in addition to its role in energy supply, ATP also acts as a regulatory signaling molecule to activate global metabolic responses. Identification of the eATP receptor DORN1 contributed to a better understanding of how plants cope with disruption of ATP homeostasis and of the key points at which ATP signaling pathways intersect in cells or whole organisms. The functions of SnRK1α, the master regulator of the energy management network, in restoring the equilibrium of the ATP pool have been demonstrated, and the vast and complex metabolic network mediated by SnRK1α to adapt to fluctuating environments has been characterized. This paper reviews recent advances in understanding the regulatory control of the cellular ATP pool and discusses possible interactions among key regulators of ATP-pool homeostasis and crosstalk between iATP/eATP signaling pathways. Perception of ATP deficit and modulation of cellular ATP homeostasis mediated by SnRK1α in plants are discussed at the physiological and molecular levels. Finally, we suggest future research directions for modulation of plant cellular ATP homeostasis.
Topics: Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Adenosine Triphosphate; Signal Transduction; Homeostasis
PubMed: 38327057
DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100834 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Angiosperms are frequently assumed to constitute a monophyletic group. Therefore, the origin of angiosperms is a key question in systematic botany since the answer to... (Review)
Review
Angiosperms are frequently assumed to constitute a monophyletic group. Therefore, the origin of angiosperms is a key question in systematic botany since the answer to this question is hinged with many questions concerned with angiosperm evolution. Previously, the lack of fossil evidence undermines the robustness of related hypotheses, and explains the instability of the systematics of angiosperms in the past century. With increasing evidence of early angiosperms, the origin and early evolution of angiosperms become approachable targets. However, reaching a strict consensus is still a mission impossible now: there are too many issues open to debate. A good sign in research is that palaeobotanists started addressing the issue of criterion identifying angiosperms, this would bring order in studies of early angiosperms. Several flaws in fundamental concepts inflicting botany require efforts to elucidate and remedy. The author here opens a discussion on these problems, hoping that more botanists will join to discuss and clarify previously blurry concepts and place a solid foundation for future development in botany.
PubMed: 37895411
DOI: 10.3390/life13102029