Researchers have tried hard to study the toxic effects of single pollutants like certain antibiotics and nanoplastic particles on plants. But we still know little about how these pollutants interact when they're together in the environment, and what combined toxic effects they have on plants. This study assessed the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), both individually and in combination, on soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings by various concentration gradients treatments of PS-NPs (0, 10, 100 mg/L) and CIP (0, 10 mg/L). The results indicated that high concentrations of PS-NPs significantly impeded soybean seedling growth, as evidenced by reductions in root length, plant height, and leaf area. CIP predominantly affected the physiological functions of leaves, resulting in a decrease in chlorophyll content. The combined exposure demonstrated synergistic effects, further intensifying the adverse impacts on the growth and physiological functions of soybean seedlings. Metabolomic analyses indicated that single and combined exposures markedly altered the metabolite expression profiles in soybean leaves, particularly related to amino acid and antioxidant defense metabolic pathways. These results indicate the comprehensive effects of NPs with antibiotics on plants and provide novel insights into toxic mechanisms.

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has intensified interest in soilless cultivation systems. However, hydroponics is unable to provide mechanical support for plant roots, and traditional soilless cultivation substrates mostly suffer from poor water retention capacity, rapid nutrient loss, and difficulty in precise control. Hydrogel-based soilless cultivation substrates show great potential for application due to their excellent water absorption, water retention and adjustable transparency. In this study, P(AM-co-NIPAM)/gelatin composite hydrogels with adjustable pore structures, mechanical strength and transparency were obtained by regulating the concentration of crosslinker. Soybean seedlings were grown on these substrates to evaluate the effects of hydrogel properties on root and shoot growth. The results demonstrate that hydrogels with optimized crosslink density possess superior mechanical properties, enhanced water retention capacity, and adequate transparency, facilitating both robust plant growth and high-resolution root system observation. We found that under the MBA content of 0.05 %, the hydrogel matrix could significantly promote the growth of aerial part and root system of soybean seedlings, and was conducive to the colonization of root bacteria. This work highlights the potential of controlled hydrogel matrices in soilless cultivation as a sustainable solution to improve root growth environments, enhance resource utilization, and enable dynamic root system studies. Given their adjustable structure and compatibility with plant growth, such hydrogels may also serve as promising candidates for future application in soilless crop production systems, particularly in scenarios where water and substrate optimization are critical to sustainable agricultural practices.

While various studies have attempted to investigate the efficacy of biochars in enhancing plant seedlings, research on the application of biochar specifically for Coffea arabica L. seedlings in drought conditions remains restricted. To reveal the mitigation of biochar in the Coffee. seedlings under drought stress, the impacts of different biochar doses on soil physicochemical, biological, and hydrological parameters, as well as the growth of Coffee seedlings were evaluated. To mimic the effect of drought stress, utilizing three different levels of water holding capacity (20 %, 40 %, and 60 % of WHC) was performed with three different corncob biochar application rates of 1 %, 2.5 %, and 5 % w/w of soil. The results revealed that corncob biochar application increased pH, cation exchange capacity and organic matter. While soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass carbon, and dissolved organic carbon had increased in application biochar 1 and 5 % under both drought and no drought conditions. Corncob biochar at 1 % application rate enhanced the growth and chlorophyll content under drought condition significantly (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between biochar application and water holding capacity on membrane damage and total soluble sugar content under drought conditions. The relative water and proline content had increased in biochar application at 1 %. Based on these findings, the application of biochar into coffee seedling production systems may help mitigate the adverse effects of water scarcity while promoting long-term soil health and agricultural resilience, particularly in tropical and subtropical highland regions where climate change-induced drought events are becoming more frequent.

The black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) can damage the cotton seedlings and induce destructive yield loss. Seed coating with systemic insecticides is a cost-effective alternative to control A. ipsilon during the early stage of cotton, but the control efficacy and exposure risk to honeybees remain unclear. This study evaluated the control effects of the anthranilic diamide insecticide chlorantraniliprole on A. ipsilon in cotton crops and the corresponding exposure risks to honeybees. Field studies revealed the control efficacy of chlorantraniliprole at 2 or 4 g/kg seed was greater than 75%, which was comparable to its spray control during the seedling development stage. A residual toxicity trial revealed that chlorantraniliprole treatment had a dose-response control effect on A. ipsilon during the 19 days after sowing. The residue levels of chlorantraniliprole in the stem bases and soil were found consistent with the residual toxicity against A. ipsilon. In the cotton flowering period, the highest detection frequency and residue of chlorantraniliprole were found in pollen from the plots treated with 4 g/kg seed. By using 2 independent risk assessment approaches, the exposure risk of chlorantraniliprole seed treatments were evaluated to be acceptable to honeybees. Overall, chlorantraniliprole coated with 2 g/kg seed was an effective alternative for controlling A. ipsilon at the cotton seedling stages.

Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) impairs crop growth by inducing oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a biocompatible ferruginated carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs) nanozyme is developed to target ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage and improving the absorption and transfer of Cd ions in wheat. Notably, Fe-CQDs exhibit multi-enzyme activities mimicking peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), enabling effective neutralization of active species such as hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide anions (O2 center dot-). Importantly, root application of 10 mg L-1 Fe-CQDs alleviates Cd stress and promotes wheat growth in both hydroponic and soil cultures. Specifically, the levels of O2 center dot-, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaf tissues decrease, whereas the non-enzyme antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), increases. Cell wall thickness in the Fe-CQDs-treated group is reduced by 42.4% compared with the Cd group. Moreover, Fe-CQDs enhance the expression of genes related to antioxidants, stress resistance, Cd detoxification, and nutrient transport. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses show that Fe-CQDs stimulate the production of flavonoids and regulate the activity of metal transporter genes (YSL, ABC, ZIP) to maintain ROS homeostasis. These findings highlight the potential of Fe-CQDs nanozyme platforms in mitigating oxidative damage and enhancing crop growth, offering new insights into the application of nanobiotechnology in agriculture. (c) 2025 Crop Science Society of China and Institute of Crop Science, CAAS. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

To elucidate the mechanism underlying the enhancement of salinity tolerance by tea polyphenols (TPs), we employed seedlings of the wheat cultivar Longchun 30 to explore the individual and combined effects of 150 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) and 25 mg L-1 (25) or 100 mg L-1 (100) TPs on growth parameters, element absorption and transport, as well as polyphenols including anthocyanin metabolism. Compared to the control, treatment with NaCl significantly reduced plant biomass, relative growth rate (by 62%), leaf area (by 61%), AS(K)(+), Na+ levels (by 38%), and AS(Ca2)(+), Na+ levels (by 54%) in wheat seedlings. Conversely, it led to an increase in TSK+, Na+ (by 88%) and TSCa2+, Na+ levels (by 257%). Moreover, the NaCl treatment diminished the antioxidant activity in the in vitro leaf extract, resulting in enhanced reactive oxygen species levels and oxidative damage in wheat leaves. Furthermore, the levels of total polyphenols (by 27%), flavonoids (by 31%), and anthocyanins (by 27%) in wheat leaves were markedly reduced under salt stress. This was accompanied by the down-regulation of the activities of 4-coumaroyl: CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone-3-dioxygenase (F3H), dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase, along with the down-regulation of their gene expression. In contrast, individual TPs exposure resulted in weak, ineffective, or even opposite effects on most of these parameters. More importantly, the addition of TPs partly counteracted salinity-induced changes in these parameters, particularly by increasing total polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins levels, upregulating the activities of the aforementioned six enzymes, and enhancing the expression of Ta4CL, TaCHI, TaF3H, and TaDFR in wheat leaves under salinity stress. Additionally, the growth-promoting effect of 100 mg L-1 TPs on salinity-stressed seedlings was stronger than that of 25 mg L-1 TPs. Overall, TPs application significantly enhanced the growth of salinity-stressed wheat seedlings by improving K+ and Ca2+ absorption and elevating polyphenols, including flavonoids and anthocyanins levels. Moreover, the accumulation of anthocyanins in salinity-stressed wheat leaves induced by TPs was attributed to the up-regulation of the activities and gene expression of synthesis-related enzymes.

Quercus longispica is a dominant shrub in the Himalayan subalpine region, demonstrating high levels of persistence despite high seed predation and extreme climatic conditions. However, its seed germination ecology and adaptations for seedling recruitment remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of temperature, water potential, and insect damage on seed germination and seedling establishment. Pre-germination seed traits and seed-to-seedling ontogeny were systematically analyzed. Our results demonstrated that seed germination percentages decreased with increasing insect damage across all temperature and water potential treatments. Cool temperatures (5-10 degrees C) yielded the highest germination percentages, potentially due to the suppression of parasitoid activity and mildew growth. While drought conditions also suppressed parasitoid activity, they significantly increased seed mortality. Despite a decline in seedling performance with increasing seed damage, overall seedling establishment remained robust. Several adaptive traits enable Q. longispica to persist in its harsh environment. Multi-seeded, non-apical embryos combined with rapid germination help embryos evade or escape damage from parasitism and predation. The rapid elongation of cotyledonary petioles pushes the embryo axis into the soil, with rapid nutrient and water transfer from the cotyledon to the taproot, thereby avoiding the threats of predation, drought, cold, and wildfire. Additionally, temperature-regulated epicotyl dormancy at the post-germination stage prevents the emergence of cold-intolerant seedlings in winter. This study provides the first comprehensive description of seed-to-seedling ontogeny in this Himalayan subalpine oak, offering crucial insights into the adaptive mechanisms that facilitate successful seedling recruitment in the challenging subalpine habitats.

Given the significant damage rate observed during the transportation of current garlic combine harvesters in China, this study aims to design a new garlic combine harvester capable of achieving minimal harvest losses. The designed machine can simultaneously complete operations for garlic digging, clamping transport, seedling-bulb separation, soil cleaning, and fruit collection across two rows. Through the use of theoretical analysis and calculation of garlic harvesting operations, the key parameters of soil-breaking device, clamping transport device, length-limiting cutting device, and soil cleaning conveyor were determined. The BoxBehnken test technique was utilized within Design-Expert software, and orthogonal experiments were conducted with the unit's forward speed, digging depth, and soil-breaking angle as test factors, and the stem cutting rate and bulb damage rate as test indices. The test results showed that when the unit's forward speed, digging depth, and soil-breaking angle were 0.49 m/s, 100 mm, and 20 degrees, respectively, the working parameter combination was the best, and the rate of stem cutting and damage were 95.71% and 3.10%, respectively. The findings from the field experiment and optimization aligned closely. This study can provide reference for the development of mechanized garlic harvesting.

AimHigh temperatures during forest fires can cause significant damage to tropical dry forest areas and alter their ecological stability, particularly by affecting seed viability and seedling emergence. This study evaluates the seedling emergence response of 18 dry forest species to fire-simulated temperatures, aiming to assess their potential for restoration in fire-prone Colombian ecosystems.LocationThe seeds used in this study were obtained from three tropical dry forests in Colombia.MethodsA total of 9832 seeds from 18 dry forest species were collected directly from the soil seed bank in three tropical dry forests in Colombia. These seeds were then exposed to simulated forest fire temperatures (100 degrees C, 150 degrees C, and 200 degrees C) for 10 min. Seed viability was analyzed using the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reagent (tetrazolium test) and assessed using a generalized linear model. Seedling emergence and mean emergence time were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with temperature treatments as factors.ResultsThe study revealed that seedling emergence significantly decreased with higher heat shock temperatures. Notably, Hura crepitans and Parkinsonia aculeata tolerated temperatures up to 100 degrees C, while Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Enterolobium cyclocarpum showed increased emergence at that temperature. Based on their emergence responses, species were classified as stimulated, tolerant, sensitive, or vulnerable. Seed viability declined with rising temperatures, and the mean emergence time increased in species like Cordia alba, Crescentia cujete, and Lonchocarpus violaceus.ConclusionsThis study shows that heat shocks at 150 degrees C and 200 degrees C significantly reduced seed bank viability for most Colombian dry forest species. However, Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Enterolobium cyclocarpum were stimulated by 100 degrees C heat shocks, while Hura crepitans and Parkinsonia aculeata showed no adverse effects. Vulnerable species like Coccoloba acuminata and Pithecellobium dulce exhibited no viable seeds at higher temperatures, suggesting potential local extinctions. These results emphasize the need to focus on heat-tolerant species for restoration efforts in fire-prone ecosystems.

Soil salinity inhibits germination and seedling establishment, causing patchy crop stands, uneven growth, and poor yields. This study aims to evaluate the early-stage salinity tolerance of Brassicaceae seeds inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacterial (PGPB) strains (E1 and T7) isolated from saline soils. Non-inoculated and inoculated seeds of Lobularia maritima, Sinapis alba, and Brassica napus were cultivated under control and salinity conditions, first in agar plates to assess a germination inhibitory concentration of salt for each species and later in soil irrigated with water containing 0 or 75 mM NaCl. Our results indicate that T7 was the only strain able to increase the germination of L. maritima under saline conditions. However, an increase in shoot biomass, root length, and number of branches was observed in L. maritima and S. alba plants inoculated with T7 and in B. napus with E1. Concomitantly, those seedlings exhibited less oxidative damage and greater capacity to balance plant reactive oxygen species production. This study suggests that inoculation of seeds with halotolerant PGPB strains is a suitable strategy for improving the negative effects of salinity in the early stages. Nonetheless, the observed specific plant-host interaction highlights the need for establishing tailored PGPB-crop associations for specific unfavourable environmental conditions.