The Tibetan Railway has introduced pressures on the fragile grassland ecosystems of the Tibetan Plateau. However, the impact of the railway on the carbon sequestration remains unclear, as existing studies primarily focus on in-situ vegetation observations. In this study, we extracted the start and end of the growing season (SOS, EOS) and maximum daily GPP (GPPmax) along the railway corridor from the satellite-derived Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) data, and quantified the extent and intensity of the railway's disturbance on these indicators. We further employed the Statistical Model of Integrated Phenology and Physiology (SMIPP) to translate these disturbances into annual cumulative GPP (GPPann). Results show that Tibetan Railway significantly influences grassland within 50-meters, causing earlier SOS (0.1086 d m-1), delayed EOS (0.0646 d m-1), and reduced GPPmax (0.0069 gC m-2 d-1 m-1) as the distance to the railway gets closer. The advanced SOS and delayed EOS contributed gains of 28.82 and 104.26 MgC y-1, but reduction in GPPmax accounted for a loss of 2952.79 MgC y-1. Railway-induced phenology-physiology trade-off causes GPPann loss of 2819.71 MgC y-1. This study reveals Tibetan Railway's impact on grassland carbon cycling, offering insights for grassland conservation and sustainable transportation infrastructure projects.

The freeze-thaw erosion zone of the Tibetan Plateau (FTZTP) maintains an ecologically fragile system with enhanced thermal sensitivity under climate warming. Vegetation phenology in this cryosphere-dominated environment acts as a crucial biophysical indicator of climate variability, showing potentially amplified responses to environmental changes relative to other ecosystems. To investigate vegetation phenological characteristics and their climate responses, we derived key phenological parameters (the start, end and length of growing season-SOS, EOS, LOS) for the FTZTP from 2001 to 2021 using MODIS EVI data and analysed their spatiotemporal patterns and climatic drivers. Results indicated that the spatial distribution of phenology was highly heterogeneous, influenced by local climate, complex topography and diverse vegetation. SOS generally exhibited a delayed trend from east to west, while EOS was progressively later from the central plateau towards the southeast and southwest. Consequently, LOS shortened along both east-west and south-north gradients. Under sustained warming and wetting, the region experienced intensified freeze-thaw cycles, characterised by a delayed freeze-start, advanced thaw-end and shortened freeze-thaw duration. Both climate warming and freeze-thaw changes drove an overall significant advancement of SOS (-3.1 days/decade), delay of EOS (+2.2 days/decade) and extension of LOS (+5.3 days/decade) over the 21-year period. Notably, an abrupt phenological shift occurred around 2015. Prior to 2015, both SOS and EOS advanced, whereas afterward, SOS transitioned to a delaying trend and EOS exhibited a markedly stronger delay, leading to a pronounced extension of LOS. This regime shift was primarily attributed to changes in hydrothermal conditions controlled by climate warming and evolving freeze-thaw dynamics, with temperature being the dominant factor and precipitation exerting seasonally differential effects. Our findings elucidate the complex responses of alpine cryospheric ecosystems to climate change, revealing freeze-thaw processes as a key modulator of vegetation phenology.

Simple Summary The enzymic latch and iron gate theories represent two prevailing and contrasting mechanisms governing ecosystem carbon stability: the former via a phenolics accumulation mediated biochemical cascade that suppresses hydrolytic enzyme activity, and the latter via an abiotic pathway where ferrous iron oxidation suppresses phenol oxidase activity and promotes iron-bound soil organic carbon formation. Therefore, deciphering the stabilization mechanisms for the vast carbon stocks in permafrost peatlands represents a central challenge for climate change projections. In this study, we assessed the spatial distribution and interrelationships of peatland soil extracellular enzyme activities, iron phases, and iron-bound soil organic carbon across three permafrost zones in the Great Hing'an Mountains. Contrary to the enzymic latch mechanism, our data revealed that hydrolytic enzyme activities (beta-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase) were neither negatively correlated with phenolics nor positively correlated with phenol oxidase activity. Instead, iron emerged as the central regulator, with a positive correlation between ferrous iron and phenol oxidase activity and with ferric iron stabilizing soil organic carbon through co-precipitation. Our results highlighted that permafrost degradation could poses a threat to the dominant iron gate carbon sequestration mechanism in peatlands, potentially triggering a positive climate feedback.Abstract Distinct paradigms, such as the enzymic latch and iron gate theories, have been proposed to elucidate SOC loss or accumulation, but their relative significance and whether they are mutually exclusive in permafrost peatlands remain unclear. To address this, we evaluated their relative importance and identified the dominant factors controlling SOC stability. Therefore, we employed a space-for-time substitution approach across a permafrost gradient (continuous, discontinuous, and isolated) by systematically quantifying extracellular enzyme activities, iron (Fe) phases, and iron-bound soil organic carbon (Fe-SOC) at various depths (0-10, 10-30, and 30-50 cm) in peatlands. Our results did not support the enzymic latch theory, with hydrolytic enzyme activities (beta-glucosidase (BG), cellobiohydrolase (CBH), and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG)) showing positive correlations with phenolics but negative correlations with phenol oxidase (PHO) activity. However, ferrous iron (Fe(II)) was significantly positively correlated with PHO activity, and ferric iron (Fe(III)) stabilized SOC through co-precipitation with it to form Fe-SOC, supporting the iron gate theory. Moreover, Fe-SOC decreased from the continuous to the isolated permafrost zone, and with soil depth from 0-10 cm to 30-50 cm. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis indicated that Fe(III) directly and indirectly (via Fe-SOC and phenolics) affected SOC. Our study demonstrated the primacy of the iron gate mechanism in controlling carbon stability in the Great Hing'an Mountains permafrost peatlands, providing new insights for projecting carbon-climate feedback.

Mitigating the co-existence of environmental stresses on crop plants necessitates the development of integrated, eco-friendly, and sustainable approaches to alleviate plant stress responses. This study represents the first attempt to mitigate the toxic impact of prevalent pollutant (salinity) and an emergent plastic manufacturing pollutants (bisphenol A, BPA) using the polyamine (cadaverine).Tomato plants, treated with or without cadaverine, were subjected to NaCl salinity (120 mM), BPA (375 mg kg(-1) soil), and their combinations compared to non-stressed control plants examining morphological, physiological, metabolic, and molecular responses. After 10 days of transplanting, tomato plants under combined stress were unable to survive without cadaverine application. However, cadaverine spraying mitigated the damaging effects of both single and combined stresses under short- and long-term exposure, enabling stressed plants to endure the conditions and complete their life cycles. Cadaverine efficiently restrained the reduction in chlorophylls, carotenoids, and cytosolutes under applied stresses compared to the stressed plants. Cadaverine also increased alpha-tocopherol content (by 171 and 53 %) and enhanced the activity of polyphenol oxidase (by 26 and 32 %), glutathione s-transferases (by 18 and 39 %), superoxide dismutase (by 23 and 46 %), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (by 9 and 25 %), under BPA and salinity stress, respectively. Thus, cadaverine ameliorated the oxidative and nitrosative burst induced by BPA or salinity, respectively by declining hydroxyl radical (by 28 % and 20 %), superoxide anion (by 73 % and 74 %), nitric oxide (by 60 and 65 %), lipid peroxidation (by 35 % and 54 %), and lipoxygenase activity (by 74 and 68 %). Moreover, cadaverine enhanced the expression of defence-related genes, including polyphenol oxidase, tubulin, and thaumatin-like protein, and reduced the uptake of BPA in the tomato's roots while promoting its metabolism in leaves and fruits. This ensured the safety of the harvested fruits. By mitigating stress, improving plant resilience, and limiting pollutant accumulation, cadaverine presents significant potential for sustainable agricultural practices and food safety. These findings offer valuable insights into the role of cadaverine in managing abiotic stress and safeguarding crop health in environmentally challenging conditions.

BackgroundTomato yield is significantly reduced by root-knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.), particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study evaluated 20 bacterial isolates (B1-B20), belonging to the genera Bacillus, Lysobacter, Paenibacillus, and Streptomyces, from Sekem farms in Egypt for their potential to biocontrol RKN and stimulate plant growth in tomato 'Moneymaker.' The bacteria were compared to well-known microbial biocontrol agents (MBA), including Rhizobium etli G12 (B21), Pseudomonas trivialis 3Re2-7 (B22), Sporosarcina psychrophile Sd4-11 (B23), and B. subtilis Sb1-20 (B24), and a negative control, Escherichia coli JM109 (B25). The study involved seed-coated and -uncoated plants with bacterial isolates, planted in plastic pots, and inoculated with 1500 M. incognita J2 individuals per pot. Plants were grown in a saran-house during the 2022 and 2023 fall seasons, and their RKN-satisfying response (number of galls: NG and egg masses: NEM), vegetative growth, and metabolic activity were assessed 45 days after inoculation.ResultsIn seasons of 2022 and 2023, seed coating with bacterial isolates achieved a significant improvement in plant growth (coefficient of variation: CV ranging 26.8-120.2% in 2022 and 10.9-48.8% in 2023) and a reduction in RKN-satisfying response (CV for NG: 57.6 and 53.8%, respectively; and for NEM: 56.5 and 65.3%, respectively). Compared to uncoated-seed plants, the bacterial seed coating reduced NG by 0.66-74.09% in 2022 and 14.61-66.29% in 2023. Similarly, NEM decreased by 0.63-70.61% in 2022 and 41.91-77.46% in 2023. The coated-seed plants by Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii (B5), Streptomyces subrutilus Wb2n-11 (B12), Streptomyces scabiei (B19), and Bacillus mojavensis (B20), along with the well-known MBAs B22 and B23, showed increased photosynthetic pigments, fresh weight of roots and shoots, stem size, and number of leaves. This growth has also led to higher dry weights in roots and shoots, and an increase in the root content of carbohydrates and proteins. Seed coating induced systemic RKN resistance by increasing polyphenols in the root. In contrast, uncoated-seed plants showed reduced foliar photosynthesis pigment and metabolic activity due to high RKN damage. Principal component analysis revealed significant correlations among the evaluated traits. Hierarchical clustering categorized bacteria isolates into five clusters based on their impact on estimated plant traits.ConclusionB5, B12, B19, B20, B22, and B23 demonstrated superior performance in both controlling RKN and stimulating vegetative growth in tomato 'Moneymaker' plants as known MBAs.

Phenolic foam (PF) produces much PF waste during processing because of its friability and tendency to pulverize. Currently, commonly used disposal methods like incineration and landfill cause air and soil pollution. Moreover, protective polyurethane foam (PUF) requires both excellent acoustic insulation and mechanical strength in scenarios, such as factories and roads, to enhance environmental comfort and safety. In this study, PF waste was recycled via a mechanical method, and compounding the recycled PF powder as a functional filler with PUF significantly improved its mechanical and acoustic properties. The sample (PUFB-2.5) with 2.5 g PF powder added achieved a compressive strength of 372.19 kPa, 99.03% higher than the standard foam sample (PUFB-0). Additionally, the sample (PUFB-10) with 10.0 g PF powder added achieved an optimal average sound absorption coefficient (alpha) of 0.59, 63.89% higher than PUFB-0. In the 400-2400 Hz frequency range, sample PUFB-2.5 displayed superior sound absorption properties, with alpha reaching 0.78. This study not only achieves the recyclable and circular utilization of PF waste but also enhances the mechanical and acoustic properties of PUF and offers new paths for the convergence of material science and environmental engineering industries.

Olive oil (OO) has longstanding significance in human history, particularly in the Mediterranean region, where it has been a cornerstone of diet, economy, and culture. This history adds to modern evidence-based knowledge. Background: The Mediterranean diet (MD), rich in plant-based foods and OO, has been extensively associated with improved cardiometabolic and cognitive health. Recent interest has emerged in understanding how intermittent fasting protocols may enhance these effects. Still, the quality of OO does not only lie in the extraction process; it is also dependent on the tree variety, the soil, and the agricultural practices, ending with the way in which the finished product is stored and consumed. Objectives: This review explores the synergistic potential between OO consumption and intermittent fasting, focusing on their combined impact on metabolic health, oxidative stress, and inflammatory pathways. Methods: A literature search was conducted using multiple databases to identify studies addressing the health effects of OO, fasting, and the MD. Both human and relevant preclinical studies were considered, with emphasis on those evaluating inflammatory markers, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and neuroprotective mechanisms. Results: Evidence suggests that the bioactive compounds in EVOO may potentiate the benefits of fasting by enhancing antioxidant capacity, reducing postprandial inflammation, and modulating gene expression related to cellular metabolism. Combined, these factors may support improved insulin sensitivity, reduced oxidative damage, and delayed onset of age-related diseases. Conclusions: Understanding the integrative role of OO and fasting within the MD framework could offer valuable insights for nutritional strategies aimed at preventing metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegeneration. These findings also support the need for future clinical trials exploring the timing, dosage, and dietary context in which these interventions are most effective.

Plant polyphenols represent valuable additives for food packaging; however, their poor hydrophilicity necessitates complex pre-treatments. In this study, we propose a simple and eco-friendly strategy for the direct incorporation of hydrophobic polyphenols into packaging films. Using carboxymethyl chitosan and oxidized carrageenan as substrates, we successfully introduced hydrophobic polyphenols into multifunctional hydrogel films through borate ester bonds. The mechanical strength of these films was further enhanced by schiff base bonds. The prepared hydrogel films exhibited antibacterial rates exceeding 98 % against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and demonstrated excellent antioxidant and UV shielding properties. As the oxidation degree of carrageenan increased, the water vapor permeability rate of the hydrogel films decreased from 1.34 x 10-1 0 g & sdot;m-1 & sdot;s-1 & sdot;Pa-1 to 3.13 x 10-1 1 g & sdot;m-1 & sdot;s-1 & sdot;Pa-1 , while the oxygen permeability rate decreased from 40.61 meq/kg to 20.04 meq/kg. This design effectively mitigates the deterioration of fruits and vegetables caused by dehydration and oxidation. Furthermore, the hydrogel films containing carrageenan with a medium oxidation degree exhibited superior mechanical properties, with tensile strength increasing by 4.8-fold and the ability to bear a load of 200 g. The banana preservation experiments demonstrated that hydrogel films can effectively delay the deterioration of bananas. Notably, the film exhibited excellent biodegradability, degrading by 90 % in soil within 60 days, underscoring its significant potential for developing functional and environmentally friendly food packaging systems.

The role of silicon in mitigating the incidence and damage of yellow stem borer in rice crops is well proven. However, the underlying mechanisms offered by silicon amendment in rice crops against yellow stem borer were not explored or poorly understood. Here, we have shown that silicon supplement to rice plants at 200 mg/kg of soil, improved silicification in stem tissues by increased length, width (18.1-32.5%), and area (6.6-14.2%) of silica cells and silicon content given over scanning electron microscopy and electron-dispersive spectrophotometric analysis. The increased activities of antioxidant and defense enzymes such as catalase (106-215%), superoxide dismutase (74.5%), peroxidase (52.1%), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (74%), and polyphenol oxidase (47.3%) in rice plants supplemented with silicon and infested with yellow stem borer at different durations were shown. The enhanced concentrations of total sugars (23.6%) and total phenols (18.4%) were also observed due to silicon supplement to rice plants. However, the defense enzyme activities were less in rice plants without silicon supplementation and yellow stem borer infestation. The outcome of the study highlighted the impact of silicon in activating the defense responses in rice plants infested with yellow stem borer. Silicon supplementation should be considered as one of the alternative and sustainable measures for integrated management of yellow stem borer in rice across ecosystems.

The use of nanoparticles has emerged as a popular amendment and promising approach to enhance plant resilience to environmental stressors, including salinity. Salinity stress is a critical issue in global agriculture, requiring strategies such as salt-tolerant crop varieties, soil amendments, and nanotechnology-based solutions to mitigate its effects. Therefore, this paper explores the role of plant-based titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) in mitigating the effects of salinity stress on soybean phenotypic variation, water content, non-enzymatic antioxidants, malondialdehyde (MDA) and mineral contents. Both 0 and 30 ppm nTiO2 treatments were applied to the soybean plants, along with six salt concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl) and the combined effect of nTiO2 and salinity. Salinity decreased water content, chlorophyll and carotenoids which results in a significant decrement in the total fresh and dry weights. Treatment of control and NaCl treated plants by nTiO2 showed improvements in the vegetative growth of soybean plants by increasing its chlorophyll, water content and carbohydrates. Additionally, nTiO2 application boosted the accumulation of non-enzymatic antioxidants, contributing to reduced oxidative damage (less MDA). Notably, it also mitigated Na+ accumulation while promoting K+ and Mg++ uptake in both leaves and roots, essential for maintaining ion homeostasis and metabolic function. These results suggest that nTiO2 has the potential to improve salinity tolerance in soybean by maintaining proper ion balance and reducing MDA level, offering a promising strategy for crop management in saline-prone areas.