Botany Commons^™

A Multidirectional Study On Chemical Fingerprints And Biological Activities Of Three Cistus Extracts (C. Creticus, C. Laurifolius, And C. Salviifolius) With Ethnomedicinal Uses, Sakina Yagi, Gökhan Zengi̇n, Selami̇ Selvi̇, Güneş Ak, Zoltán Cziáky, József Jekő, Maria J. Rodrigues, Luisa Custodio, Roberto Venanzoni, Giancarlo Angeles Flores, Gaia Cusumano, Paola Angelini

Turkish Journal of Botany

Humans have used medicinal plants to treat various diseases for thousands of years. Cistus species are also widely used in traditional medicine and have various medicinal applications; therefore, they deserve more in-depth research. The present study evaluated the chemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxic properties of the twigs and leaves of C. creticus L., C. laurifolius L., and C. salviifolius L. grown in Türkiye. Methanolic extracts of the three species were rich in phenolics, mainly flavonoids, and exerted potent antioxidant activity with methanolic extract from the leaves of C. salviifolius displayed the highest total phenolic (97.08 mg GAE (gallic …

Responses Of Salvia Nemorosa L. To Silver Nanoparticle And Methyl Jasmonate Stimuli Under Salt Stress, Bi̇lal Andi̇ç, Pinar Orcan

Turkish Journal of Botany

The present study evaluated the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on Salvia nemorosa L. under NaCl stress. To this end, total soluble sugar, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, total antioxidant capacity, H2O2 content, photosynthetic pigment, MDA, and proline contents, and enzymatic antioxidant activities were assessed. When the results for photosynthetic pigment contents were evaluated, the highest levels of total carotenoid content, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b were obtained with NaCl + AgNP + MeJA treatment. Under NaCl stress, MDA and H2O2 levels increased, but they decreased when AgNP and MeJA were applied. All treatment groups had …

Morpho-Environmental Variability For Scilla L. The Biogeographic Dynamism Under Climate Change Scenarios, João Rocha, Rubén Ramírez-Rodríguez, Francisco Amich, Darinka Gonzalez, Mário Santos, Reinaldo Cajaiba, António L. Crespí

Turkish Journal of Botany

This paper explores the correlations between morphological variability and range dynamics in western Eurasian-Mediterranean flora through a fluctuating asymmetry (FA) perspective across ten climate scenarios. We investigate the potential distribution of Scilla L. and its thermopluviometric correlations, and compare them with other three genera analysed previously, for western Eurasia and northern Africa (Baldellia Parl., Jasione L., and Ononis L. -Viscosae and Natrix sections-), considering past (22 Kyrs), present, and future conditions (2081-2100). By comparing "overlapped areas" (OA) with "non-overlapped areas" (NOA), we found two distinct groups of responses among genera: Scilla show higher morphological variability in NOAs, while Baldellia concentrate …

Implementation Of A New Non-Destructive Phytobenthic Index (Npi) With The Posidonia Biotic Index (Bipo) To Evaluate The Ecological Status Of The Turkish Aegean Coasts (Eastern Mediterranean), Ergün Taşkin, Aysu Güreşen, Furkan Bi̇lgi̇ç

Turkish Journal of Botany

Within this study, the ecosystem status of the Aegean Sea coasts of Türkiye (Eastern Mediterranean) was assessed using the Posidonia Biotic Index (BiPo) and a newly proposed Non-destructive Phytobenthic Index (NPI) according to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60/EC). In addition, their relations with Land Uses Simplified Index for shallow water macroalgae (MA₋LUSI) were evaluated. The descriptors measured through NPI were: shoot density, cover, depth and type of lower limit of Posidonia meadows and cover of other macrophytic communities; Cymodocea/Zostera, canopy forming brown, coralligenous, opportunistic and alien macroalgae. The “good” status is presented by mean value of …

A New Species Of Polygonum Sect. Polygonum (Polygonaceae) From Southwest Of Türkiye, Kami̇l Coşkunçelebi̇, Suzan Kundakçi, Mutlu Gültepe, Serdar Makbul

Turkish Journal of Botany

Polygonum uysalii (Polygonaceae), a new species from the transition zone between Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian floristic region of Türkiye is described based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species is similar to P. ekimianum and P. salebrosum endemic to Türkiye, but it clearly differs by its ovate-broadly elliptic leaf (not linear–lanceolate to narrowly elliptic- suborbicular), 0.9 ̶ 1.6 mm length pedicel (not 2.1 ̶ 4.88 mm), dark brown ochrea at base (not pale brown) and trigonous fruit (not weakly trigonous only in upper part or ovate-elliptic). Diagnostic characters and phylogeny of the new species are discussed with respect to taxonomy …

Determining The Long-Term Effectiveness Of Seeding Post-Dam Removal In The Elwha River, Wa, Through Soil Seed Bank Analysis, Makenna Tabino, Rebecca Brown

2024 Symposium

Following the historic dam removal along the Elwha River in Olympic National Park, we are evaluating the impact of seeding in the former Lake Mills reservoir by examining the soil seed bank composition. The Elwha River had the largest dam removal project in history, and the second largest ecological restoration project in National Parks Service history. Active restoration (seeding and planting) took place in terraces and valley walls, the two dominant landform types found in the former reservoir. While the plant community in the former dam reservoirs is well documented, the soil seed bank remains unexplored.

My objective is to …

Designing A Decision-Support Tool For Fertilizer Recommendations In Oil Palm Smallholders, Rana Farrasati

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), originally from West Africa, now accounts for 42% of global vegetable oil production and mainly includes key regions cultivated in tropical regions of Southeast Asia, West Africa, South America, and Central America. Despite its economic significance, the oil palm industry faces challenges of stagnant yields and large yield gaps, particularly among independent smallholders. These issues often stem from inadequate nutrient management practices and limited agronomic knowledge. Our objective was to quantify nutrient requirements for mature oil palm plantations as a basis to design a decision support tool (DST) for fertilizer recommendations. To do so, …

Bio-Based Sprayable Mulch For Weed Control In Row Crop Systems, Camila Chiaranda Rodrigues

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Improving current crop productivity levels requires transformative advancements in management, engineering, and science. One of the main challenges is the increasing difficulty of weed management due to herbicide-resistant weeds. There is a growing need for alternative weed management methods to reduce pesticide use and improve environmental safety. An emerging technology that is being developed is spray-on films which could help address these challenges. Spray-on films are liquid solutions that after spraying on the soil will dry and form a physical barrier. The overall objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a chicken feather bio-based sprayable mulch film …

Assessing The Above- And Belowground Productivity Of Fall-Planted Cover Crop Cultivars In Nebraska's Diverse Ecoregions, Bridget Mckinley

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cover crops (CC) provide essential ecosystem services including soil conservation, nutrient cycling, and weed suppression, through the accumulation of aboveground (AGB) and belowground (BGB) biomass. While AGB has been widely studied, BGB contributions, particularly root development and distribution, remain less understood. This study evaluated fall-planted CC across three Nebraska ecoregions, assessing AGB productivity, BGB biomass, and correlations between ground cover, plant height, and AGB.

Thirty treatments, including grasses, legumes, brassicas, and mixtures, were evaluated over two fall growing seasons (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at three UNL research centers in northeast, west central, and west Nebraska. AGB was highest at west site …

Twas Facilitates Gene-Scale Trait Genetic Dissection Through Gene Expression, Structural Variations, And Alternative Splicing In Soybean, Delin Li, Qi Wang, Yu Tian, Xiangguang Lyv, Hao Zhang, Huilong Hong, Huawei Gao, Yan-Fei Li, Chaosen Zhao, Jiajun Wang, Ruizhen Wang, Jinliang Yang, Bin Liu, Patrick S. Schnable, James C. Schnable, Ying-Hui Li, Li-Juan Qiu

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identifies trait-associated loci, but identifying the causal genes can be a bottleneck, due in part to slow decay of linkage disequilibrium (LD). A transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) addresses this issue by identifying gene expression–phenotype associations or integrating gene expression quantitative trait loci with GWAS results. Here, we used self-pollinated soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) as a model to evaluate the application of TWAS to the genetic dissection of traits in plant species with slow LD decay. We generated RNA sequencing data for a soybean diversity panel and identified the genetic expression regulation of 29 …

Scaling Individual Tree Transpiration With Thermal Cameras Reveals Interspecies Differences To Drought Vulnerability, Mostafa Javadian, Donald M. Aubrecht, Joshua B. Fisher, Russell L. Scott, Sean P. Burns, Jen L. Diehl, J. William Munger, Andrew D. Richardson

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Understanding tree transpiration variability is vital for assessing ecosystem water-use efficiency and forest health amid climate change, yet most landscape-level measurements do not differentiate individual trees. Using canopy temperature data from thermal cameras, we estimated the transpiration rates of individual trees at Harvard Forest and Niwot Ridge. PT-JPL model was used to derive latent heat flux from thermal images at the canopy-level, showing strong agreement with tower measurements (R2 = 0.70–0.96 at Niwot, 0.59–0.78 at Harvard at half-hourly to monthly scales) and daily RMSE of 33.5 W/m2 (Niwot) and 52.8 W/m2 (Harvard). Tree-level analysis revealed species-specific responses to …

Growth Of Passionflower (Passiflora Incarnata) On A Green Roof Using Commercial Fertilizer Vs. Natural Compost, Siobhan Day, Corinne Parker, Carmyn Harrison, Lauren York

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Tennessee’s state wildflower, is valued for its ecological role as a pollinator plant and its historical significance to the Cherokee, making it an ideal candidate for green roofs that support biodiversity and urban sustainability. This study examined the feasibility of growing passionflower on a green roof and tested whether commercial fertilizer (Miracle-Gro) or natural compost would lead to greater growth compared to no fertilizer. Twelve plants were divided equally into three treatment groups: control, Miracle-Gro, and compost, with growth measurements taken weekly from September to November. Results suggest that passionflowers treated with Miracle-Gro achieved the most growth, …

Fire And Ant Interactions Mediated By Honeydew And Extrafloral Nectar In An Australian Tropical Savanna, Fernanda M. P. Oliveira, Carlos H. F Silva, Melinda L. Moir, Inara R. Leal, Alan N. Andersen

Natural Resources Research Articles

Fire is a major disturbance affecting ecosystems globally, but its impact on mutualisms has received minimal attention. Here, we use a long-term field experiment to investigate the impact of different fire regimes on globally important ant–honeydew and ant–extrafloral nectar (EFN) mutualistic interactions in an Australian tropical savanna. These interactions provide ants with a key energy source, while their plant and hemipteran hosts receive protection services. We examined ant interactions on species of Eucalyptus (lacking EFNs) and Acacia (with EFNs) in three replicate plots each of burning every 2 and 3 years early in the dry season, burning late in the …

2024 Fall Newsletter, Plaster Creek Stewards

Newsletters

Highlights:

Project GreenER Returns in 2025

Sustainable Business of the Year

PCS Is Showing Up Around the Community

Botanical Highlight: Discovery of a New Kent County Native Grass

Fall Event Furthers New Tree Planting Initiatives

Plaster Creek: Unsalted?

Making Connections at Calvin

Parkway Pocket Garden Maintenance Booklet, Plaster Creek Stewards

Print Materials

Parkway pocket gardens are designed for areas between the sidewalk and street, but without a basin and curb-cut. By replacing lawn in parkways with native plants, it can soak up rainwater that falls on the gardens, provide habitat and a food source for pollinators and birds, and increase biodiversity in your neighborhood. This maintenance guide covers the Michigan native plants that may be found in a parkway pocket garden, maintenance recommendations, and weeds you may encounter.

Zadoks Growth Scale, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Zadoks growth scale is a 0-99 scale of development that is recognised internationally for research, advisory work, and farm practice, particularly to time the application of chemicals and fertilisers.

Summer- And Fall-Planted Cover Crops Across Nebraska: Assessing Performance Using Aerial Imagery And Evaluating Short-Term Soil Impacts, Grace Emperatriz Pacheco Jiron

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cover crops are widely recognized for improving soil health and promoting sustainability in agricultural systems. Despite the increasing use of monitoring tools like aerial imagery, their application in evaluating summer-planted cover crops in the Great Plains remains limited, hindering effective management strategies. Fall-planted cover crops provide long-term environmental benefits, including enhanced soil quality and erosion control; however, understanding their short-term effects on soil properties is crucial for encouraging adoption. This study assessed summer- and fall-planted cover crops across Nebraska, integrating aerial imagery and soil health analyses.

Over two years, fifteen summer-planted monocultures and five mixtures were evaluated for establishment, biomass …

Ur’S Witness Oak Project Honors Enslaved Ancestors, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

This article is about one tree and one cemetery plot. Though the existence of some may have been forgotten, many more burial grounds for the enslaved are known and some of these may still have trees old enough to have “witnessed” the interments of those who toiled so hard, for so long. What better way to remember their contributions to the land that continues to nourish us than by maintaining a living legacy of Witness Tree progeny?

Field-Based Courses Still Matter, But Not Like They Used To, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

Increasingly, field-based courses are providing the first real opportunities for students to experience nature in meaningful ways. As a baseline, even before the content delivery and the graded assessments, this is already enough to change the way a person feels in the world and to spark an appreciation for the life around them.

(Part of a special feature on education in which recent winners of the Botanical Society of America's Charles E. Bessey Award share teaching philosophies and strategies.)

What Do Turtleheads & Cotton Have In Common?, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

I will not be offended if, dear reader, your response to the question posed in the title is something along the lines of, “Hmmm, probably not very much!”