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Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jul 7;21(13). Epub 2020 Jul 7.

National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), Via Università 133, 80055 Portici (NA), Italy.

European chestnut orchards are multifunctional agroforestry systems with a key role in environmental management. Their biodiversity is at risk of erosion and farmers do not have enough tools to protect and valorize traditional ecotypes. In particular, cost effective and reliable molecular markers for cultivar identification are lacking. Read More

Am J Bot 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Department of Forest Genetics, Austrian Research and Training Centre for Forests, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, 1131, Vienna, Austria.

Premise: A good understanding of genetic variation and gene dispersal in tree populations is crucial for their sustainable management, particularly in a context of rapid environmental changes. West African Sudanian savannahs are being fragmented and degraded, partly due to expansion of crop cultivation and monocultures that reduce tree density and may impact pollinators. The population dynamics of important indigenous trees could also be affected. Read More

Environ Manage 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Kent Business School, University of Kent, Kent, UK.

Although collaboration is vital in addressing global environmental sustainability challenges, research understanding on stakeholder engagement in climate-smart production innovation adoption and implementation, remains limited. In this paper, we advance knowledge about stakeholder collaboration by examining the roles played by stakeholders in scaling-up ecological sustainability innovations. Using the illustrative context and case of green cocoa industry in Ghana, the analysis identified three distinctive phases of stakeholder engagement in ecological sustainability innovations implemented from 1960 to 2017. Read More

Ambio 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Av. André Araújo, 2936, Manaus, AM, CEP 69.067-375, Brazil.

National parks are under attack in many parts of the world, including Brazil, which the Convention on Biodiversity ranks as the world's most biodiverse country. Brazil has been experiencing an unprecedented environmental crisis, and the political situation in the country favors approval of environmentally damaging measures by both the legislative and executive branches of government. A new and largely unreported setback is a proposal in the National Congress for a road cutting the Iguaçu National Park in two. Read More

World Dev Perspect 2020 Jun;18:100206

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), c/o The World Agroforestry Center, ICRAF House, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, P.O. Box 1041, Nairobi 0062, Kenya.

Understanding the process that underpins the effective and equitable adoption of modern crop varieties remains an imperative for agricultural development in Africa. This study examines gender differences in adoption rates and determinants of the decision to adopt drought-tolerant (DT) and non-drought-tolerant (ND) maize varieties, based on analysis of maize production data from Tanzania and Uganda. Applying a switching regression with multinomial logit models, we exploit plot level adoption decisions by women and men individually or jointly with in the household, controlling for gender dimension of resource ownership along with other covariates. Read More

J Neuroinflammation 2020 Jul 1;17(1):200. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Neural Engineering and Biological Interdisciplinary Studies, Institute of Military Cognition and Brain Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100850, China.

Background: Astrocytes are crucial regulators in the central nervous system. Abnormal activation of astrocytes contributes to some behavior deficits. However, mechanisms underlying the effects remain unclear. Read More

Mol Plant Microbe Interact 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Shandong Agricultural University, 34734, College of Life Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, China;

Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of plant growth promotion of rhizobacteria is very important. This study explored the mechanism by which Bacillus pumilus LZP02 promotes growth in rice roots through proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic techniques. The results showed that B. Read More

Mol Med Rep 2020 Jun 22. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Life Science and Agroforestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.

Toosendanin (TSN) is a tetracyclic triterpenoid extracted from Melia toosendan Sieb, et Zucc, which primarily grows in specific areas of China. Although toosendanin (TSN) exerts antitumoral effects on various human cancer cells, its influence on gastric cancer (GC) is remains to be elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) serve crucial roles in apoptosis and proliferation of cancer cells. Read More

J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2020 22;11:66. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA.

Background: Dietary energy source and level in lactation diets can profoundly affect milk yield and composition. Such dietary effects on lactation performance are underpinned by alteration of the rumen microbiota, of which bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protozoa may vary differently. However, few studies have examined all the four groups of rumen microbes. Read More

PLoS One 2020 24;15(6):e0235169. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Department of Agroforestry Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

A country's cultural landscapes are an important part of its heritage. The growing need to identify, catalogue and preserve these resources has led to a rapid change in the management and inventorying of heritage in general and of cultural landscapes in particular. The main aim of this work is to develop and apply an updated and integrated methodology for capturing and processing geo-information for the digital documentation of cultural heritage. Read More

Emerg Microbes Infect 2020 Dec;9(1):1554-1566

CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.

Virulent infectious fungal diseases, in natural and managed landscapes, are increasing. Fungal diseases in humans, animals and plants have caused die-off and extinction events and have become a threat to food security. A caving expedition in Yunnan Province, China, revealed two bat carcasses covered in fungal mycelia. Read More

Molecules 2020 Jun 18;25(12). Epub 2020 Jun 18.

College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.

Tartary buckwheat is one of the nutritious minor cereals and is grown in high-cold mountainous areas of arid and semi-arid zones where drought is a common phenomenon, potentially reducing the growth and yield. Melatonin, which is an amphiphilic low molecular weight compound, has been proven to exert significant effects in plants, under abiotic stresses, but its role in the Tartary buckwheat under drought stress remains unexplored. We evaluated the influence of melatonin supplementation on plant morphology and different physiological activities, to enhance tolerance to posed drought stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alleviating lipid peroxidation. Read More

PeerJ 2020 10;8:e9229. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom.

The handling, capturing, butchering, and transportation of wildmeat can increase the risk of zoonoses, including the Ebola virus disease (EVD). Guinea, West Africa, experienced a catastrophic outbreak of EVD between 2013 and 2016. This study aimed to understand local people's sources of information concerning EVD, their perceptions of potential wildlife carriers of EVD and their meat and fish consumption behavior during this period. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy.

The European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is one of the most abundant ungulate species in Europe. Many studies have investigated its distribution, behavior, and ecology, but few have focused on its role as bioindicators for pollutants, particularly regarding antlers, which has been shown to indicate also deer physiology. The presence of geothermal power plants can induce accumulation of potentially polluting elements (such as Tl, S, and Pb). Read More

Metabolites 2020 Jun 15;10(6). Epub 2020 Jun 15.

College of Agriculture and Applied Biosciences-Can Tho University, Can Tho 94000, Vietnam.

The methanol extracts of nine popular cultivated Vietnamese rice cultivars ( L.cv. OM 2395, 5451, 6976, 380, 5930, 4498, 3536, N406, and 7347) were used to explore their allelopathic potential on barnyardgrass ( L. Read More

Environ Manage 2020 Jun 12. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), United Nations Avenue, Gigiri PO Box 30677, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.

Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is a multipurpose, drought resistant, wild fruit tree, endemic to arid and semi-arid lands of Sub-Saharan Africa. Baobab populations have been showing a lack of regeneration, and therefore causes concern for the species survival. Read More

Glob Chang Biol 2020 Jun 12. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.

Interlocked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation require transformative interventions in the land management and food production sectors to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen adaptive capacity, and increase food security. However, deciding which interventions to pursue and understanding their relative co-benefits with and trade-offs against different social and environmental goals has been difficult without comparisons across a range of possible actions. This study examined 40 different options, implemented through land management, value chains, or risk management, for their relative impacts across 18 Nature's Contributions to People (NCP) and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Read More

Front Microbiol 2020 26;11:906. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Helotiales is a polyphyletic order of Ascomycetes. The paucity of relevant molecular data and unclear connections of sexual and asexual morphs present challenges in resolving taxa within this order. In the present study, Patellariopsidaceae fam. Read More

Clin Exp Allergy 2020 Jul 23;50(7):815-823. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

La Paz Hospital Institute for Health Research (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain.

Background: Pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS) related to PR10 from vegetables is common in northern Europe, whereas in Mediterranean countries PFAS has been preferentially associated with profilins. However, there are pollen-allergic patients reactive to Bet v 1 in birch-free regions. Since it cannot be the primary sensitizer, there has to be another culprit. Read More

J Parasit Dis 2020 Jun 2;44(2):338-348. Epub 2020 Jan 2.

Parasitology Research Laboratory, Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna Philippines.

Rats are recognized as reservoir hosts of several pathogens that pose a threat to human health. Although rats are reported to be hosts of a large number of pathogens, a survey of carried by rats in various settings such as residential, agroforestry, and agricultural areas in the Philippines has not been conducted. A total of 90 rats composed of , , and were collected through trapping in selected residential, agroforestry, and agricultural areas in Los Baños Laguna, Philippines. Read More

Physiol Plant 2020 Jun 7. Epub 2020 Jun 7.

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, BT9 5PX, Belfast, UK.

Coal-mined areas are often associated with hostile environmental conditions where the scarcity of water and key nutrient resources negatively affect plant growth and development. In this study we specifically addressed how different combinations of water (W), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) might affect morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes of a native shrub species, Tamarix chinensis, grown on coal mine spoils. Our results show that under greenhouse conditions the application of moderate-to-high doses of W, N and P considerably improved growth-associated parameters (i. Read More

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2020 Jun 5;16(1):32. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Campus Morelia, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Col. Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58190, Morelia, MICH, México.

Background: Birds have been among the most important element in lives of humans around the world, due to their presence and abundance in practically all ecosystems. Zapotitlán Salinas, a community of the Tehuacán Valley, has been a site of interest for studying ecology of bird communities, but no previous studies addressing the relationship between humans and birds have been conducted in the area. Based on their local knowledge, people of the area shape the use and conservation of local bird fauna diversity, which is being maintained or lost under the influence of factors like commerce, tourism, agriculture intensification or abandonment, public policies for conservation, environmental changes, among others. Read More

PLoS One 2020 5;15(6):e0234213. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Agricultural development projects have a poor track record of success mainly due to risks and uncertainty involved in implementation. Cost-benefit analysis can help allocate resources more effectively, but scarcity of data and high uncertainty makes it difficult to use standard approaches. Bayesian Networks (BN) offer a suitable modelling technology for this domain as they can combine expert knowledge and data. Read More

J Environ Manage 2020 Jun 5;270:110855. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Key Laboratory of Southern Vegetable Crop Genetic Improvement in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China; Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh. Electronic address:

Coal mining activities remain of great environmental concern because of several negative impacts on soil ecosystems. Appropriate revegetation interventions of coal-spoiled lands can provide environmental management solutions to restore soil degraded ecosystems. The present study addressed the potential of the pioneer woody species, Elaeagnus angustifolia, in the restoration of coal-mined spoils under a range of different water (W) levels and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) applications. Read More

Environ Manage 2020 Aug 3;66(2):218-231. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

START International, 1440G Street NW, Washington, DC, 20005, USA.

Farmers managing agroecological systems across sub-humid West Africa face a variety of challenges in meeting their needs. In the face of adverse conditions, farmers have successfully managed agroforestry parklands to create an ecological equilibrium. However, climate change presents a challenging and new disturbance to farmer livelihood strategies. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2139:367-380

Agroforestry and Plant Biochemistry, Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, UCO-CeiA3, Cordoba, Spain.

In the era of high-throughput biology, it is necessary to develop a simple pipeline for metabolic pathway reconstruction in plant orphan species. However, obtaining a global picture of the plant metabolism may be challenging, especially in nonmodel species. Moreover, the use of bioinformatics tools and statistical analyses is required. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2139:157-168

Agroforestry and Plant Biochemistry, Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, UCO-CeiA3, Cordoba, Spain.

The proteomics of orphan, unsequenced, and recalcitrant organisms is highly challenging. This is the case of the typical Mediterranean forest tree Holm oak (Quercus ilex). Proteomics has moved on quite fast from the classical 2DE-MS to shotgun or gel-free/label-free approaches, with the latter possessing a series of advantages over the gel-based ones. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2139:57-68

Agroforestry and Plant Biochemistry, Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.

Proteomics encompasses efforts to identify all the proteins of a proteome, with most of studies about plant proteomics based on a bottom-up mass spectrometry (MS) strategy, in which the proteins are subjected to digestion by trypsin and the tryptic fragments are subjected to MS analysis. The identification of proteins from MS/MS spectra has been performed using different algorithms (Mascot, Sequest) against plant protein sequence databases such as UniProtKB or NCBI_Viridiplantae. But these databases are not the best choice for nonmodel species where they are underrepresented, resulting in poor identification rates. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2139:21-56

Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of Asturias, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.

The evolution of next-generation sequencing and high-throughput technologies has created new opportunities and challenges in data science. Currently, a classic proteomics analysis can be complemented by going a step beyond the individual analysis of the proteome by using integrative approaches. These integrations can be focused either on inferring relationships among proteins themselves, with other molecular levels, phenotype, or even environmental data, giving the researcher new tools to extract and determine the most relevant information in biological terms. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2139:1-10

Agroforestry and Plant Biochemistry, Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, UCO-CeiA3, Cordoba, Spain.

The third edition of "Plant Proteomics Methods and Protocols," with the title "Advances in Proteomics Techniques, Data Validation, and Integration with Other Classic and -Omics Approaches in the Systems Biology Direction," was conceived as being based on the success of the previous editions, and the continuous advances and improvements in proteomic techniques, equipment, and bioinformatics tools, and their uses in basic and translational plant biology research that has occurred in the past 5 years (in round figures, of around 22,000 publications referenced in WoS, 2000 were devoted to plants).The monograph contains 29 chapters with detailed proteomics protocols commonly employed in plant biology research. They present recent advances at all workflow stages, starting from the laboratory (tissue and cell fractionation, protein extraction, depletion, purification, separation, MS analysis, quantification) and ending on the computer (algorithms for protein identification and quantification, bioinformatics tools for data analysis, databases and repositories). Read More

Molecules 2020 May 22;25(10). Epub 2020 May 22.

Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic.

Essential oils obtained via the hydrodistillation of two Asian herbs ( and were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Additionally, both the liquid and vapor phase of essential oil were tested on antimicrobial activity using the broth microdilution volatilization method. Antimicrobial activity was tested on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria-, , , and . Read More

Planta Med 2020 May 25. Epub 2020 May 25.

Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.

This review summarizes data on the antimicrobial effectiveness of volatile agents of plant origin and methods for evaluating their activity in the vapour phase. As a result of literature analysis, the antimicrobial efficacy of vapours from 122 different plant species and 19 pure compounds examined in 61 studies using different tests against a broad spectrum of microorganisms was identified and summarized. In addition, 11 different techniques found in the literature are described in detail. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 May 20;17(10). Epub 2020 May 20.

State Cultivation Base of Eco-agriculture for Southwest Mountainous Land, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.

High-intensity utilization of sloping farmland causes serious soil erosion and agricultural, non-point source pollution (AGNSP) in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA). Crop-mulberry systems are important agroforestry systems for controlling soil, water, and nutrient losses. However, there are many different mulberry hedgerow planting patterns in the TGRA. Read More

PLoS One 2020 21;15(5):e0233011. Epub 2020 May 21.

Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

The coastal vegetation of islands is expected to be affected by future sea-level rise and other anthropogenic impacts. The biodiverse coastal vegetation on the eastern part of the Dutch Wadden Island of Ameland has experienced land subsidence caused by gas extraction since 1986. This subsidence mimics future sea-level rising through increased flooding and raising groundwater levels. Read More

Plants (Basel) 2020 May 16;9(5). Epub 2020 May 16.

Institute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.

Global warming is not only affecting arid and semi-arid regions but also becoming a threat to agriculture in Central and Eastern European countries. The present study analyzes the responses to drought and salinity of two varieties of cultivated in Romania. Lavender seedlings were subjected to one month of salt stress (100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl) and water deficit (complete withholding of irrigation) treatments. Read More

Environ Monit Assess 2020 May 18;192(6):378. Epub 2020 May 18.

Department of Systematics and Ecology, Center for Exact and Natural Sciences, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.

The exploitation of forest resources, especially non-timber forest products, has effects on different biological levels, from the biochemical level of an organism to the ecosystem level. The present study addresses the effects of different management strategies (protected area, managed area, and an area where the species is cultivated in agroforestry systems) in reproductive phenology, fruit features, and phytochemical profiles of Dimorphandra gardneriana (Leguminosae), a tree species, pioneer, and socioeconomically important plant of the Brazilian Savanna. Its fruits are exploited by extractivist communities to obtain rutin and quercetin, which are internationally traded bioflavonoids (two of the ten most exported phytochemicals in Brazil). Read More

Animals (Basel) 2020 May 13;10(5). Epub 2020 May 13.

State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.

Oxidative stress can cause cell damage. Hydroxy-selenomethionine (HMSeBA) is an organic Se source with emerging antioxidant advantages. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of HMSeBA, selenomethionine (SeMet) and sodium selenite (SS) on the antioxidant response and the ability to resist oxidative stress in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC). Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Aug 7;731:139252. Epub 2020 May 7.

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Beef Cattle, Av. Rádio Maia, 830, Vila Popular, 79106-550, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

In agroforestry systems, trees modify climatic parameters over a given area and create a complex microclimate through interactions between topography, plant composition and organizational structure of trees. In this way, indicators such as surface temperature of tree canopy and pasture, monitored by infrared thermography, are important to monitor the thermal environment of animal production and pasture establishment. Goals of this study were (1) to evaluate temporal and local variations of temperature and humidity leaf surface of tree canopy and pasture in agroforestry systems by infrared remote sensing and, (2) to validate infrared thermography as a potential tool for assessment microclimate in agroforestry systems. Read More

Physiol Plant 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15.

Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, 03 Quang Trung, Da Nang, Vietnam.

Because of a production error, this article was published online before peer review was complete. The content has been removed pending the outcome of the peer review process. The publisher apologises for the error. Read More

Front Plant Sci 2020 28;11:474. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.

In sub-Saharan Africa, one of the major challenges to smallholder farmers is soil with low fertility and inability to apply nitrogen fertilizer externally due to the cost. Development of maize hybrids, which perform better in nitrogen depleted soils, is one of the promising solutions. However, breeding maize for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is hindered by expensive phenotypic evaluations and trait complexity under low N stress. Read More

Conserv Biol 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

Department of Economic Analysis & ICEI, Complutense University of Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.

The extraordinary population growth of certain ungulate species is increasingly a concern in agroforestry areas because overabundance may negatively affect natural environments and human livelihoods. However, society may have negative perceptions of killing wildlife to reduce their numbers and mitigate damage. We used an online survey that included a choice experiment to determine Spanish citizens' (n = 190) preferences toward wildlife population control measures related to negative effects of ungulate overabundance (negative impacts on vegetation and other wildlife species and disease transmission to livestock) in 2 agroforestry national parks in Spain. Read More

Heliyon 2020 May 3;6(5):e03884. Epub 2020 May 3.

Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.

is a woody plant species with important economic value, its seeds could be used to produce biodiesel and the oil extracted from them serve many kinds of industrial applications. In this study, we established a regeneration system of for the first time using apical buds as explants on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with the plant growth regulators, 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA). The optimal condition for adventitious bud induction was MS medium containing 1. Read More

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2020 Jun 8;104(6):828-833. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Islamic University, Kushtia, 7003, Bangladesh.

In this study, we investigated the effect of long-term pesticides and chemical fertilizers application on the microbial communities specifically anammox and denitrification bacteria in rice field soils. The abundances of microbial communities (16S rDNA), anammox (hszB), and denitrification (narG, nirK, nirS, and nosZ) genes were quantified by q-PCR. 10 pesticides (5 insecticides, 3 fungicides and 2 herbicides) and chemical fertilizers urea, potassium, phosphate, DAP (di-ammonium phosphate), gypsum, and boric acid were used by local farmers. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Aug 20;729:138819. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

University of Palermo, Department of Engineering, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 9, Palermo 90128, Italy. Electronic address:

Sustainable agriculture is strongly promoted by Agenda 2030 and peri-urban agriculture is considered strategic for agri-food sustainability. Although, innovative farming practices are being implemented, the analysis of their impacts often does not reach the required depth. Within the EU project 'UIA-OpenAgri - New Skills for new Jobs in Peri-urban Agriculture', a regeneration process of a peri-urban area in Milan (Italy) was started, through the development of an innovative food hub. Read More

Heliyon 2020 Apr 23;6(4):e03802. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Natural Resources Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.

Climate-change mitigation projects are expected to improve local livelihoods in targeted areas. Several REDD+ projects aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conserving and enhancing forest carbon stocks, and sustainably managing forests have been implemented in Cambodia but few studies have examined the effects on local livelihoods before and during project implementation. Our study applies a sustainable livelihood framework to assess the livelihood assets of local communities in the Oddar Meanchey and Keo Seima REDD+ project sites in Cambodia before and during project implementation. Read More

Data Brief 2020 Jun 18;30:105557. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Los Lagos, Avda. Fuchslocher 1305, Osorno, Chile.

The data set comes from a tree inventory conducted in an evergreen forest fragment (dominated by and ) and four fragments dominated by . The forests are located in an agroforestry matrix landscape of the Coastal Mountain Range of the Chilean Lake District. The data collection was carried out using line transect sampling, which was traced through the core of each fragment oriented towards its longest axis. Read More

Front Genet 2020 17;11:387. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.

Invasive species often cause serious economic and ecological damage. Despite decades of extensive impacts of invasives on bio-diversity and agroforestry, the mechanisms underlying the genetic adaptation and rapid evolution of invading populations remain poorly understood. The black locust gall midge, , a highly invasive species that originated in North America, spread widely throughout Asia and Europe in the past decade. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Apr 30;10(1):7320. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Rodovia MG 424 km 65, Sete Lagoas, 35701-970, Brazil.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity on acid soils adversely affects maize yields, which can be overcome by combining soil amendments with genetic tolerance. In maize, ZmMATE1 confers Al tolerance via Al-activated citrate release, whereby citrate forms non-toxic complexes with Al in the rhizosphere. Here, we investigated Al tolerance mechanisms in maize germplasm originated from Kenya based on quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping. Read More

J Appl Microbiol 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Praha - Suchdol, Czech Republic.

Aims: The objective of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial interactions between two volatile agents, Cinnamomum cassia essential oil (CCEO) and 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) against Staphylococcus aureus strains in liquid and vapour phases.

Methods And Results: In vitro antimicrobial effect of CCEO in combination with 8-HQ was evaluated against 12 strains of S. aureus by broth volatilization chequerboard method. Read More

BMC Plant Biol 2020 Apr 25;20(1):181. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

School of Economics and Finance, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, People's Republic of China.

Background: Water availability and nutrient-status of soils play crucial roles in seedling establishment and plant survival in coal-spoiled areas worldwide. Restoration of spoils pertains to the application of proper doses of nutrients and water, and selection of particular plant species for efficient revegetation. This study aimed at examining the potential effects of different combinations of soil-water and fertilizers (nitrogen, N and phosphorus, P) on morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes of Amorpha fruticosa grown in coal-mined spoils. Read More