Research Articles (Plant Production and Soil Science)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/1729
A collection containing some of the full text
peer-reviewed/
refereed articles published by researchers from the
Department
of Plant Production and Soil Science
Browse
Recent Submissions
Now showing 1 - 20 of 1242
Item A quantitative survey of the diversity of food plants used by the VhavenḓaMagwede , Khathutshelo; Van Wyk, Ben-Erik; Tshisikhawe, Milingoni Peter; Van Wyk, Abraham Erasmus (Braam) (Elsevier, 2025-11)This study presents quantified data on the most popular food plant species used by the Vhavenḓa. Information from existing literature on Vhavenḓa food plants and their uses was enriched through a reconnaissance survey conducted amongst Tshivenḓa-speaking communities in the Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A list of 179 useful food species representing 58 families was compiled, accompanied by photographs organised into a flip-file album. Among the 179 species identified, several categories emerged based on their primary uses (number of species between brackets): edible fruits (93), leaves cooked as vegetables (58), beverages (40), sources of caterpillars feeding on leaves (23), sources of edible seeds (17), nutraceuticals (16), cooking sodas (9), famine foods (9), edible sweet nectars (6), edible gums (5), condiments (3), source of edible stinkbugs (2), edible leaf stalks (1), and cooking oil (1). Plant families with the highest species representation were Fabaceae (19), Malvaceae (14), Cucurbitaceae (9), Amaranthaceae (9), Rubiaceae (9), Apocynaceae (8), Anacardiaceae (6), Moraceae (7), Myrtaceae (6), and Asteraceae (4). The most frequently mentioned and widely used plants include species from the genera Amaranthus, Cucumis, Ficus, Grewia, Lannea, Momordica, and Syzygium. Notably, species with the broadest range of uses were Adansonia digitata, Amaranthus hybridus (naturalised), Bidens pilosa (naturalised), Citrullus lanatus, Corchorus tridens, Lagenaria siceraria, Landolphia kirkii, Sclerocarya birrea, and Vigna unguiculata. This data is of significant scientific and practical value, offering comparative insights into future quantitative ethnobotanical studies. It provides a foundation for understanding cultural and contemporary biocultural plant use patterns in South Africa. Additionally, the findings can inform policymakers focused on floristic diversity, aiding in identifying culturally important species that may require prioritization for conservation efforts.Item Petalidium bembeense (Acanthaceae), a new species from Angola and NamibiaSwanepoel, Wessel; Van Wyk, Abraham Erasmus (Braam) (Magnolia Press, 2026-06-12)Petalidium bembeense, easily confused with P. welwitschii, is described here as a new species. It is a range-restricted species, only known from the Zebra Mountains in Namibia, and the northern extension of this mountain complex across the Kunene River in Angola, within the Kaokoveld Centre of Endemism. It typically grows on plains, hillsides, and along ephemeral riverbeds and drainage lines, mainly in soils derived from anorthosite and gabbro of the Kunene Igneous Complex. Key distinguishing features for P. bembeense include the green to reddish green appearance of the plants, indumentum on stems, petioles and inflorescence branches consisting mainly of multicellular stalked glandular trichomes and on the lamina and bracts stellate-dendritic, bifurcate, trifurcate and dendritic trichomes, interspersed with stalked glandular or simple trichomes. The flowers are borne in racemose dichasia and are notable for a relatively large corolla, lilac or mauve (pale violet) corolla lobes with contrasting paler or white traces (veins). A comparison of key morphological features distinguishing P. bembeense from P. welwitschii, its closest look-alike, is provided. Brief comparisons are also made with P. ohopohense and P. rossmannianum, species with which it was previously confused. Based on IUCN Red List criteria, a provisional conservation status of Endangered (EN) is recommended for the new species.Item Anti-quorum-sensing activity of Plectranthus aliciae in multispecies Cutibacterium acnes-Staphylococcus epidermidis systemsKupke, Isa Anina; Spittaels, Karl-Jan; Coenye, Tom; Lall, Namrita (Elsevier, 2026-07)BACKGROUND : Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial communication process mediated by the production, release, and detection of autoinducers, regulating gene expression linked to virulence and biofilm formation. Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis exhibit opportunistic pathogenic behavior on the skin, complicating treatment strategies for inflammatory skin conditions such as acne vulgaris and wound-associated infections. The interspecies relationship between C. acnes and S. epidermidis, particularly within multispecies biofilms and under different oxygen conditions, remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate QS-related interactions between these species and to evaluate the anti-virulence potential of the South African medicinal plant Plectranthus aliciae. METHODS : Interactions between C. acnes and S. epidermidis were investigated in single- and multispecies systems under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Biofilm formation was quantified using crystal violet staining, while extracellular DNA (eDNA) release, lipase activity, and autoinducer-2 (AI-2) production were measured as QS-associated phenotypes. The antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-QS activities of the ethanolic extract of P. aliciae and its hexane (Hex) and ethyl acetate (EA) partitions were assessed. Wound-healing activity was evaluated using a HaCaT keratinocyte scratch assay, and major constituents were identified using UPLC–QTOF analysis. RESULTS : Multispecies cultures demonstrated significantly higher biofilm biomass, eDNA release, and lipase activity than single-species systems, especially under aerobic conditions. The ethanolic extract of P. aliciae (PAEtOH)) and its hexane (Hex) and ethyl acetate (EA) portions exhibited significant antibacterial efficacy against C. acnes (MIC 7.8–15.6 µg/ml) and preferentially suppressed biofilm formation in multispecies environments, with biofilm reduction exceeding 80 % in some models. The inhibition of biofilm was associated with reduced extracellular DNA release, consistent with interference in biofilm structural components. At 0.5×MIC, PAEtOH, Hex, and EA reduced AI-2 production by approximately 50–89 %, accompanied by decreased extracellular DNA release and lipase activity, particularly in multispecies systems. These observations are consistent with modulation of quorum-sensing-associated virulence phenotypes; however, direct molecular targets within QS pathways were not evaluated. Lipase inhibition showed variability across systems, with more pronounced effects observed in multispecies cultures. Furthermore, PAEtOH, Hex, and EA statistically significantly improved wound closure in HaCaT keratinocytes after 18 h (p < 0.01), with closure increases of approximately 14–19% compared to the control. UPLC–QTOF analysis identified luteolin and rosmarinic acid as major constituents, both exhibiting selective anti-virulence activity in association with reduced QS-linked phenotypes CONCLUSION : Multispecies interactions were associated with enhanced virulence-related phenotypes, consistent with previous reports suggesting that S. epidermidis supports C. acnes persistence. P. aliciae extracts modulated quorum-sensing-associated behaviors and biofilm formation in vitro, supporting further investigation of plant-derived anti-virulence strategies in multispecies skin models. However, in vivo validation and molecular mechanistic studies are required to determine clinical relevance. HIGHLIGHTS • Multispecies Cutibacterium acnes (ATCC 6919)–Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 35984) biofilms exhibit enhanced virulence. • Plectranthus aliciae extracts inhibit quorum sensing and lipase inhibitory activity. • Multispecies biofilms formed under aerobic conditions show increased AI-2 and eDNA levels. • First study linking P. aliciae to quorum-sensing inhibition in skin-related bacteria.Item Localized brightness-shape-moisture soil parameterization for improved PROSAIL-5 canopy simulationBonnet, Wessel Johannes; Cho, Moses Azong; Chirwa, Paxie W.; Masemola, Cecilia (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 2026-08)The mapping and modeling of canopies is important for the understanding, monitoring, and management of vegetation systems. To effectively model or simulate canopy spectra at the hyperspectral level, background soil spectra must first be simulated accurately. Spectrometer data simulation such as this will become increasingly relevant as newer imaging spectroscopy missions such as PRISMA and AVIRIS-NG start to produce more data sets. In this study, the brightness–shape–moisture (BSM) radiative transfer model (RTM) with localized parameter distributions was used in conjunction with the PROSAIL-5 RTM to simulate canopy spectra for different biomes in the semiarid regions of Southern Africa as captured with PRISMA or AVIRIS-NG sensors. It is hypothesized that a PROSAIL-5 RTM with biome-specific BSM parameters can more accurately simulate PRISMA and AVIRIS-NG spectra than a PROSAIL-5 model simulated with the default soil spectrum, as represented by lower relative root mean square error (RRMSE) values against actual spectra. It is demonstrated that the PRISMA and AVIRIS-NG canopy spectra are more effectively simulated using their respective biome-specific BSM parameter regimes, with RRMSE improvements from 14.56% to 13.91% and from 13.64% to 10.71% for two tested images captured with these sensors.Item Occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of selected pharmaceuticals in municipal biosolids from the four wastewater treatment plants in Gauteng Province, South AfricaNgoetjana, Matome Peter; Tesfamariam, Eyob Habte; Brown, Sally; Wooding, Madelien (Nature Research, 2025-11-24)The presence of pharmaceutical residues in municipal biosolids is an emerging environmental concern due to their potential accumulation in agricultural soils following land application. While parent compounds like sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine are frequently studied, data on their transformation products in biosolids remain limited. This study assessed the occurrence, distribution, and environmental risks of sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, and two of their selected metabolites in biosolids collected from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Gauteng Province, South Africa. A single biosolid sampling campaign was conducted across the four WWTPs, each characterized by varying operational parameters. Sulfamethoxazole and its two metabolites were not detected in any of the samples. In contrast, carbamazepine and its metabolites—carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide and carbamazepine diol—were detected, with maximum concentrations of 150.67, 601.95, and 89.18 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Carbamazepine and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide occurred in all samples, while carbamazepine diol appeared in 50% of the samples. The concentration patterns varied across WWTPs and were significantly correlated with biosolid pH, organic carbon content, and oxidation-reduction potential. Risk quotient analysis indicated that the predicted soil concentrations of carbamazepine (0.50 ng/g dry weight) pose negligible ecological risk (RQ = 0.003). However, due to a lack of ecotoxicological data, environmental risks associated with carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide and carbamazepine diol could not be fully assessed. Overall, the findings highlight the persistence of carbamazepine and its metabolites in biosolids and underscore the importance of optimizing sludge treatment processes and generating toxicity data for pharmaceutical metabolites to support safe land application practices.Item Assessment of herbaceous vegetation species composition growing around Kleinkopje opencast coal mine, Mpumalanga Province, South AfricaMangwane, Mziwanda; Madakadze, Ignacio Casper; Nherera-Chokuda, F.V.; Dube, S.; Mndela, M.; Tjelele, T.J.; Pule, H.T. (Nature Research, 2025-12-29)Coal mining involves the removal of natural vegetation, heavy excavation; combustion and ignition accompanied by a release of coal dust to the atmosphere that drastically reduce the ecosystem services. A study was conducted to assess of veld grasses around a coal mine in Emalahleni in Mpumalanga. Six 100 m line transects were established on rehabilitated site and natural veld in Kleinkopje coal mine. Plant identification, leaf and tiller counting, and biomass harvesting were conducted on each of five 1 m2 sampling quadrats placed at intervals of 20 m along the transect. Nineteen (19) grass species, some (07) forbs and (03) sedges were recorded. Therefore, Eragrostis curvula (31.5%) was the most frequent on the natural veld, followed by Cynodon dactylon (28.36%) and Panicum maximum (22.25%) on the rehabilitated. On the natural veld, Aristida congesta had higher tiller production (17 tillers per plant) while E. curvula averaged 11 tillers per plant on the rehabilitated site. On the rehabilitated site, U. mosambicensis produced averaged 94 leaves per plant than all other species on both sites. Basal cover, species diversity and richness did not differ (p > 0.05) between rehabilitated site and natural veld. Rehabilitated site had a generally higher biomass production of 4.35 kg DM ha− 1 than natural veld with 3.24 kg DM ha− 1. E. curvula and C. dactylon had higher contribution to the total biomass production on both sites. However, their biomass production was insignificantly different (p > 0.05) from that of Urochloa mozambicensis and P. maximum on rehabilitated site and Heteropogon contortus on natural site. Our results indicated that E. curvula and C. dactylon are highly persistent and productive hence they are ideal for mine rehabilitation.Item Plant traits and associated ecological data from Afromontane grasslands of Maloti-Drakensberg, South AfricaHalbritter , Aud H.; Vandvik, Vigdis; Bison, Nicole N.; Clark, Vincent Ralph; Cross, Marcella; Greve, Michelle; Kemppinen, Julia; Kühn, Nicola; Maitner, Brian S.; Michaletz, Sean T.; Navarro, Jocelyn; Niittynen, Pekka; Le Roux, Peter Christiaan; White, Joseph D.M.; Abebe, Bezawit Yilma; Arzt, Nadine Michaela; Baldaszti , Ludwig; Aragón, Lina; Beale, Samuel; Birkeli , Kristine; Courtenay, Anya P.; Dawson , Hilary Rose; Draganova, Liliya Kirilova; Gillespie, Lauren E.; Goff, Kaleb A.; Gowera, Anna Tariro Deirdre; Gualdoni-Becerra, Axel; Gwate, Onalenna; Hagenberg, Liyenne Wu Chen; Hansda, Priya; Harris, Rebecca; Lee, Joshua; Louw, Michelle A .; Määttänen, Aino-Maja; Malamud, Nathan; Malekana, Lesego; McMillan, Bridgette; Rabi, Nasser; Mustri, Michael; Mekasha, Samson; Nasir, Sara Shemsu; Navarro-Rosales, Francisco; Ofosu-Bamfo, Bismark; Phiri, Akuonani Zakeyo; Rentier, Eline Sterre; Vázquez-Ribera, Carmen; Rivas, Grecia; Satriawan, Tin Widyani; Smit, Imke Chrissie; Sobowale Soremi , Paul Abayomi; Stokka, Ragnhild Svensen; Šubrt, Jiří; Trepel, Jonas; Wieczorkowski , Jakub D.; Enquist, Brian J. (Nature Research, 2025-11-12)The Afromontane region harbors ancient grasslands with high levels of endemism, now under threat from land-use change, biological invasions and encroachment, and climate warming. As part of an international Plant Functional Traits Course we collected comprehensive trait data in five sites along an elevation gradient from 2,000–2,800 m a.s.l. and in a climate warming experiment at 3,064 m a.s.l. in the Maloti-Drakensberg, South Africa. We sampled 24,405 aboveground and 94 root trait measurements from 171 vascular plant taxa paired with 11 other datasets reflecting vegetation and structure, leaf and ecosystem carbon and water fluxes, leaf hyperspectral reflectance, and microclimatic and environmental data. Our data provide the first recorded trait data for 47 vascular plant species and more than double the trait data coverage from the Maloti-Drakensberg (106% increase). This study offers insights into plant and ecosystem functioning, provides a baseline for assessing impacts of environmental change, builds local competence, and aligns with similar data from China, Svalbard, Peru, and Norway.Item Do inter-basin water transfer schemes facilitate the dispersal of freshwater crabs across catchments? A genetic case study from the Eastern Cape, South AfricaGouws, Gavin; Chakona, Albert; Nadermann, Jana; Martin, Melissa B.; Barker, Nigel (Wiley, 2026-08)The impacts of inter-basin water transfer schemes (IBWTs) are well-understood globally. In South Africa, changes caused by the connection of the Orange, Great Fish and Sundays rivers have been studied, but evidence of inter-basin dispersal is restricted to freshwater fishes. This study investigated whether IBWTs provided conduits for the dispersal of freshwater crabs (genus Potamonautes) across catchment divisions. Crabs were sampled from ten locations, representing upstream, putatively native populations from the three catchments and downstream (potential recipient) populations. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data (from the protein-coding cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and non-coding 16S rRNA regions) and microsatellite genotype data were analysed to identify catchment-specific lineages and potentially admixed populations, indicating movement among catchments. Genetically distinct populations of Potamonautes were identified in each catchment, and there was no evidence of admixture or catchment-lineage discordance to suggest translocation or gene flow among catchments. These results show a lack of inter-basin dispersal and indicate that human-made connections do not facilitate crab dispersal. In contrast, ecological differences, such as habitat preferences and feeding ecology, may predispose other groups, such as certain freshwater fishes, to migrate through these connections. This study highlights the importance of understanding species-specific responses when evaluating the potential impact of IBWT schemes, and underscores the need for further research on the movement ecology of African freshwater crabs.Item Field validation of satellite-based crop coefficients and evapotranspiration of irrigated potato in a semi-arid climateSteyn, Joachim Marthinus; Mukiibi, Alex; Hols, Reinhard; Franke, Angelinus C. (Elsevier, 2026-10)Please read abstract in the article. HIGHLIGHTS • Satellite NDVI correlated well with potato canopy development over the growing season. • The NDVI approach offers crop coefficients that reflect actual green canopy cover. • NDVI derived crop coefficients correlated well with those from eddy covariance. • ET from the NDVI approach correlated well with ET measured by eddy covariance. • The dynamic NDVI-Kc approach offers a promising alternative for real-time irrigation scheduling of potatoes.Item Wind effects on Tundra vegetation : insights from natural windbreaks in the Sub-AntarcticMarneweck, Nicola; De Kock, Leandri; Schoombie, Janine; Greve, Michelle; Le Roux, Peter Christiaan (Wiley, 2026-08-17)QUESTIONS : Wind is an understudied component of climate, with relatively few studies quantifying the effect of wind exposure on natural vegetation. Wind can, however, alter leaf microclimate, reduce soil water availability and physically damage plants, thereby influencing the growth of individual plants, with its effects potentially scaling up to affect plant community characteristics. The paucity of research assessing the relationship between wind conditions and plant communities' taxonomic and functional composition is a key gap in our understanding of environment–vegetation relationships in windy environments. LOCATION : Sub-Antarctic Marion Island. METHODS : We test whether vegetation characteristics, including vascular plant species richness, composition, cover and functional traits, differ between the windward and sheltered sides of natural windbreaks. RESULTS : Wind exposure did not strongly affect vascular plant richness, cover or composition, with larger differences in these responses occurring between sampling sites than between windward and sheltered microsites. Wind most strongly affected maximum plant height (both for individual species and for the community), with significantly shorter-statured plants observed in wind-exposed microsites. In contrast, most species' leaf traits were unaffected by wind exposure, with only 21% of species–trait combinations differing significantly between microsites. In those cases, plants experiencing greater wind exposure had lower leaf area, specific leaf area or leaf dry matter content, with changes in leaf thickness varying among species. CONCLUSIONS : Wind exposure did not strongly influence vascular plant community characteristics on Marion Island, apart from restricting vegetation height. Wind did, however, influence the occurrence and traits of some individual species, generally enhancing species avoidance or resistance to wind where its effects were significant. Broadly, these results indicate that wind can significantly influence plant size and some aspects of morphology, thereby reinforcing the need to explicitly consider wind as a potentially important climate variable, especially in habitats where wind is a prominent environmental factor and in areas where wind speeds are predicted to change.Item Drivers of the fine- and broad-scale distribution of a woody encroacher in a Montane grasslandAkomolafe, Gbenga Festus; Mogashoa, Dineo; Le Roux, Peter Christiaan (Elsevier, 2025-11)The encroachment of woody species into grasslands impacts these ecosystems globally. Identifying the environmental factors associated with encroaching species’ distributions can provide insights relevant to their management, especially when examined across different spatial scales. Leucosidea sericea is an endemic woody species that is encroaching in southern African grasslands, and has the potential for considerable negative socio-ecological impacts in the region. This study, therefore, investigates the factors predicting the distribution of L. sericea at 2 contrasting scales: at a fine scale, using data from one topographically heterogenous landscape, and at a broad scale using environmental conditions across the species’ global distribution. The distribution of L. sericea is accurately modelled at both scales. At the finer scale, the species tended to occur at lower elevations and in sites with high soil moisture, low wind exposure and lower non-woody vegetation cover, suggesting that its landscape-scale occurrence patterns are sensitive to both biotic and abiotic conditions. At a broader scale, precipitation and temperature variables were more important than soil conditions in predicting its distribution. Specifically, the species had the highest probability of occurrence at sites with cooler temperatures (8–17 °C) and wetter condition (precipitation of 300–550 mm) during the warmest quarter of the year. This suggests that the warmer and drier conditions associated with current climate change trends will potentially constrain the future distribution of the species, with upslope expansion to cooler altitudes a possible response to increasing temperatures. These findings highlight that the occurrence of L. sericea is correlated with multiple environmental factors, and suggests that its distribution is likely sensitive to further climate change. Consequently, under changing temperature, rainfall conditions and shifting land-use, monitoring of this species, particularly in areas suitable for its occurrence, should be considered a priority by range- land managers, conservationists and other stakeholders to understand the need for its management. This study can serve as a framework for understanding occurrence patterns of encroaching species across different spatial scales.Item Antigonococcal activity and cytotoxicity screening of three Ziziphus species indigenous to South AfricaMabuza, Mcebisi Junior; Kaiser, Marcel; Tshikalange, Thilivhali Emmanuel; Yusuf, Abdullahi Ahmed; Bapela, Mahwahwatse Johanna (Wiley, 2026-07)Despite the extensive use of Ziziphus species in South African traditional medicine to treat various ailments, they remain poorly studied. Therefore, this study aimed to scientifically validate the ethnomedicinal use of Z. mucronata Willd., Z. rivularis Codd, and Z. zeyheriana Sond. in the treatment of gonorrhea. Their roots, stem bark, and leaves were sequentially extracted using five different solvents. The extracts were evaluated against Neisseria gonorrhoeae using the broth microdilution assay and cytotoxicity in rat skeletal (L6) myoblast cell lines. Of the 48 successive extracts evaluated, 12.5% exhibited high antigonococcal activity (MIC < 1 mg/mL), 33.3% showed moderate activity (MIC 1–6.25 mg/mL), and 54.1% were inactive (MIC > 6.25 mg/mL). Furthermore, the extracts displayed low cytotoxicity profiles, with 81% exhibiting no cytotoxicity (CC50 > 0.05 mg/mL) and the remaining 19% cytotoxic (CC50 < 0.05 mg/mL). Phytoconstituents tentatively identified and putatively attributed to the observed antigonococcal activity were n-hexadecanoic acid, phytol, and betulin. These have not been previously studied against N. gonorrhoeae; further bioactivity screening in both in vivo and in vitro models is still needed to confirm their antigonococcal activity. Future research should focus on isolating phytoconstituents and testing the antigonococcal activity in vitro and in vivo.Item Bibliometric mapping of citrus greening disease reflecting trends, shifts, and focus areasMathavha, Muneiwa Tshidino; Karoney, Edwin M.; Korsten, Lise (CAB International, 2026-05-29)BACKGROUND : Though reported more than 100 years ago Huanglongbing (HLB)/citrus greening (CG), the disease remains of global phytosanitary importance. METHODS : This study presents a systematic review of the disease from 1971 to 2024, based on the literature retrieved from the SCOPUS database. RESULTS : The analysis reveals that far less has been published in the literature compared to other similar phytosanitary important citrus diseases, such as citrus black spot (CBS). Published research on HLB/CG only increased from the early 2000s despite HLB being first reported in 1919. Notable HLB research increase occurred after the first detection in the USA in 2005, coinciding with extensive funding and the adoption of more accurate molecular diagnostics. CONCLUSION : According to the analyzed data, the USA and China are the leading countries in publishing HLB research. Spain’s active involvement in HLB research, despite the disease not being reported there, highlights its regulatory and scientific significance. The review also showed that climate change may accelerate the spread of HLB pathogens and their vectors into new geographical regions. The notable lack of research from Africa highlights the need for increased financial support for scientists to focus on CG.Item Measuring the quality of species list governanceGarnett, Stephen T.; Bánki, Olaf; Barik, Saroj Kanta; Berryman, Alex J.; Bouchard, Patrice; Buckeridge, John; Christidis, Les; Cigliano, María Marta; Conix, Stijn; Crawford-Weaver, Haylee; Van Dijk, Peter Paul; Evenhuis, Neil L.; Hilton-Taylor, Craig; Hobern, Donald; Johnston, Claire; Klopper, Ronell Renett; Kroh, Andreas; Le Roux, Marianne; Pape, Thomas; Pyle, Richard L.; Raz, Lauren; Thomas, Philip; Thomson, Scott; Vandepitte, Leen; Wambiji, Nina; Zachos, Frank E.; Lien, Aaron M. (Oxford University Press, 2026-01-28)Taxonomic lists are important tools for efficient communication about biodiversity. The processes by which they are created and maintained need to be robust, scientifically sound, and transparent. Articulating and scoring a set of governance quality indicators provides a way to assess the relative strengths of list management, gives list users a means to assess the quality of this process, augments the information available to list aggregators, and allows patterns to be measured over time and among forms of life. Based on published principles, we created 12 governance quality indicators which we tested on 16 lists spanning a range of taxonomic groups. Independence of taxonomy from nomenclature scored most strongly, but scores for local and regional involvement were lower. The governance quality indicators may eventually provide a rubric for assessing best practice species list governance but now need a period of further testing, review, and refinement before they are institutionalized.Item Metabolites extracted from browntop millet (Urochloa ramosa (L.) TQ Nguyen) mitigated the proliferation of breast- and colorectal carcinoma cells in vitro and retarded the EAC tumors in vivo by binding to oncogenic proteinsKuruburu, Mahadevaswamy G.; Bovilla, Venugopal R.; Naaz, Rimshia; Leihang, Zonunsiami; Shivaramakrishna, Sahana; Pramod Kumar, P.; Harish Prashanth, K.V.; Hediyal, Tousif Ahmed; Kumar, Dugganaboyana Guru; Chidambaram, Saravana Babu; Kumar, T. Durai Ananda; Twilley, Danielle; Lall, Namrita; Anantharaju, Preethi G.; Madhunapantula, SubbaRao V. (Frontiers Media, 2026-05)Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an inverse correlation between millet-based diets and incidence of cancers of colon and rectum. These findings highlight the potential of millets as functional foods for effective management of cancers. But the experimental evidences supporting these observations remain limited. Among diverse millet varieties, Browntop millet (BTM) has recently been reported to possess potent anti-oxidant and DNA protection properties. Therefore, in the current study we have hypothesized that metabolite rich fractions of browntop millet, particularly the free metabolites extract (BTM-F), exert anticancer effects by targeting key oncogenic pathways that regulate cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis in breast and colorectal cancers. To test this hypothesis, the study aimed to (a) chemically characterize free and bound metabolites (BTM-F and BTM-B) using UPLC-QTOF-MS; (b) evaluate their anticancer efficacy in vitro and in vivo models; (c) delineate their effects on cell cycle regulation and apoptosis, including modulation of caspase-dependent pathways; and(d) investigate the molecular interactions of identified bioactive metabolite with selected oncogenic protein targets using in silico approaches. Results of the study showed that metabolites of browntop millet contained bioactive phenolics and flavonoids which possessed anticancer potential. Both BTM-F and BTM-B demonstrated significant antioxidant activity and reduced viability of breast- and colorectal cancer cells (IC50: 15.36 ± 0.86 to 67.44 ± 7.46 μg/mL). Mechanistically, BTM-F could induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis through increased caspase-3 expression and DNA fragmentation. In silico analyses revealed strong binding of key metabolites-Formononetin-7-O-glucuronide, Naringenin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, and Apigenin-7-glucoside to COX-2 and mtALDH-2. In vivo, BTM-F but not BTM-B significantly suppressed EAC tumor growth. In summary, results of this study for the first time, demonstrated the anti-tumor properties of browntop millet free metabolites in vitro and in vivo. Future studies shall consider BTM-F for testing against patient-derived xenografts and develop functional food-based therapeutic formulation for the better treatment of cancers.Item Measuring the quality of species list contentsPape, Thomas; Pyle, Richard L.; Banki, Olaf; Barik, Saroj K.; Berryman, Alex J.; Bouchard, Patrice; Buckeridge , John; Christidis , Les; Cigliano , Maria Marta; Conix , Stijn; Crawford-Weaver , Haylee; Van Dijk , Peter Paul; Doring , Markus; Evenhuis , Neal; Hilton-Taylor , Craig; Hobern , Donald; Johnston , Claire; Klopper, Ronell Renett; Kroh , Andreas; Le Roux , Marianne; Lien , Aaron M; Raz , Lauren; Thomson , Scott; Vandepitte , Leen; Zachos , Frank E.; Garnett, Stephen T. (Oxford University Press, 2026-01-28)Taxonomic lists, usually of species, have many functions. However, there is currently no reliable and convenient way to determine whether a list contains the information that a user requires other than by reading the list in detail. We therefore developed 24 indicators to characterise list contents. The indicators aim to describe the extent to which the scored list covers their intended class of organisms, the quality of their taxonomic scholarship, and additional information they provide for each taxon. We tested the indicators on 16 lists drawn from a wide range of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. A list content score was derived from individual indicator scores after they had been weighted to reflect the preferences that taxonomists had expressed in a global survey. The indicators aim to help list creators provide the details taxonomists and list users consider important. We expect indicators to be refined after public debate.Item Systematic review and meta-analysis of potato tuber crackingCharachimwe, Reason R.; Aarakit, Pauline; Ndeve, Arsenio D.; Chiulele, Rogerio M.; Steyn, Joachim Marthinus; Sileshi, Gudeta W. (Springer, 2026-06-20)Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most widely produced starchy tuberous crops, and it is currently grown in over 100 countries. However, the productivity and quality of the crop are compromised by tuber cracking. While individual studies on the etiology of cracking have provided valuable insights, the evidence remains fragmented and sometimes contradictory. Therefore, a systematic review was carried out to consolidate current evidence and identify research gaps, highlight consistencies and discrepancies across studies. Literature was searched in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, and 30 eligible studies were included in the review and meta-analysis. A three-tier screening process was employed, and bibliographic information, interventions evaluated, outcomes, and impacts were recorded and the findings were visualised in figures and tables. The overall mean percentage of tuber cracking was estimated at 8.7% (95% confidence limits 5.0–12.5%) using a random effects meta-analysis. Four groups of interventions were associated with tuber cracking, with agronomic management practices being the most studied. The review and subgroup analysis identified some association with viral and fungal pathogens, management practices (e.g., irrigation and spacing), environmental factors (e.g., water stress) and varietal differences. However, the etiology of tuber cracking could not be rigorously assessed due to the small number of studies available on most of the variables and the variability of methods used. Therefore, it is recommended that future research should focus on establishingItem Antibacterial, antibiofilm and toxicity profiles of Argemone ochroleuca Sweet and Argemone mexicana Linn against phytopathogenic bacteriaMlombo, Nezelo Trizer; Makhubu, Fikile Nelly; Dube, Zakheleni Palane; Mulaudzi, Vhangani Evangeline; Cosa, Sekelwa; Khunoana, Edward Thato; Nkadimeng, Sanah Malomile; Tshikalange, Thilivhali Emmanuel (Elsevier, 2026-06)Plant diseases remain a major constraint to agricultural productivity, and the growing resistance to synthetic pesticides necessitates the development of alternative control strategies. Argemone ochroleuca and A. mexicana are known to contain bioactive compounds with notable biological activities, highlighting their potential as eco-friendly alternatives. However, their activity against phytopathogenic bacteria remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial, anti-biofilm, phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities of extracts from both plant species against phytopathogenic bacteria. Extracts were obtained using water, acetone, methanol and dichloromethane. Antibacterial activity was determined using the microdilution method, while the antibiofilm activity was assessed at initial cell attachment (T0), preformed (T8), and mature biofilm (T24) stages. Phytotoxicity was evaluated using a seed germination assay, and cytotoxicity was assessed using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay HEK cells. Acetone extracts of A. ochroleuca roots and A. mexicana shoot and root had the best antibacterial activity, with an MIC value of 0.06 mg/mL against Xanthomonas gardneri 1790. The highest biofilm inhibition was recorded at T0 on A. mexicana root aqueous extracts against Ralstonia solanacearum 1315 at 87.21%, indicating preferential interference with early biofilm development. Aqueous extracts showed no phytotoxic effect on tomato seed germination, whereas the acetone, methanol, and dichloromethane extracts caused significant inhibition. Most extracts exhibited low cytotoxicity on HEK cells, with IC50 values greater than 0.020 mg/mL. These findings demonstrate that A. ochroleuca and A. mexicana possess potent antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, particularly against early-stage biofilms, with minimal cytotoxicity, supporting their potential as eco-friendly agents for plant disease management. HIGHLIGHTS • Argemone ochroleuca and A. mexicana demonstrated strong antibacterial activity. • Significant inhibition of initial cell attachment was exhibited by the extracts. • Water extracts had no phytotoxic effects on tomato seeds. • Most of the extracts had no apparent cytotoxic effects. • These plant extracts could serve as effective biocontrol agents.Item Trade-offs and bet-hedging in clonal offspring allocationLubbe, F. Curtis; Gotzenberger, Lars; Schmickl, Roswitha; Oberlander, Kenneth Carl; Prochazka, Tomas; Klimesova, Jitka (Wiley, 2026-06)Reproduction is vital to maintain populations and species, yet because of finite resources, organisms often specialise in their reproductive allocation strategies, such as with many plants prioritising seed size or number (i.e. size/number trade-off). Alternatively, plants may make multiple types of seeds, as seed heteromorphism, a form of bet-hedging to increase offspring survival under variable environmental conditions. Those strategies are well described for seeds, but many plants also reproduce clonally, and such reproductive allocation strategies remain unknown for clonal offspring because of difficulties in measuring and standardising allocation to individual offspring across a large number of species. To better understand potential trends in clonal offspring allocation, we studied the southern African clade of the genus Oxalis, where mature offspring bulbs are physiologically distinct from the mother plant. We assessed number, size, protection and placement of clonal offspring for 104 species grown from individual bulbs in pots in a greenhouse. We also measured investment (as dry mass) in below-ground support structures: spacer stems and roots, tunics and contractile roots. We found a trade-off between size and number of clonal offspring, where plants produce fewer large bulbs and more small bulbs, similar to the well-known trade-off between seed size and number. We also identified a trade-off in distribution versus protection of offspring bulbs, as indicated by greater offspring bulb production correlated with investment in below-ground spacers. For two thirds of the species, individual parental bulbs placed offspring in multiple locations simultaneously, here identified as clonal offspring heteromorphism. Offspring bulb size also varied with depth, with individual plants producing relatively larger bulbs deeper in the soil and smaller bulbs closer to or above the soil surface. Synthesis. This is the first study assessing trends in offspring allocation and protection across a large set of species. These trends indicate multiple coordinated trade-offs and potential bet-hedging, implying that investment in clonal reproduction is resource-limited and adapted for unpredictable environmental conditions.Item Global alternatives of natural vegetation coverBastin , Jean-François; Latte, Nicolas; Bogaer, Jan; Garcia, Claude A.; Berzaghi, Fabio; Maestre, Fernando T.; Svenning, Jens-Christian; Assede, Emeline Sessi Pelagie; Barima, Sabas; Besisa, Timothée; Bouchoms, Samuel; Crowther, Thomas W.; De Haulleville, Thalès; De Lame, Hugo; Depoortere, Pauline; Dufrêne, Marc; Hoek Van Dijke, Anne J.; Lhoest, Simon; Mahy, Gregory; Messier, Christian; Mollicone, Danilo; Nantenaina Ramalason , Felana; Peaucelle, Marc; Plumacker, Antoine; Quétier, Fabien; Rakotondrasoa, Olivia; Sambieni, Kouagou Raoul; Sparrow , Ben; Tarelkin, Yegor; Useni Sikuzani, Yannick; Vander Linden, Arthur; Lejeune, Philippe (Nature Research, 2025-07-16)Preserving and restoring terrestrial ecosystems is essential to preventing the decline of life on Earth. To guide global conservation efforts, we present a detailed counterfactual map showing Earth’s natural tree, short vegetation, and bare ground cover. This map accounts for environmental filtering along with realistic scenarios of fire frequency and wildlife herbivory. The most likely scenario suggests 43% (5669 ± 74 Mha) of land could support trees, 39% (5183 ± 86 Mha) shrubs and grasses, and 18% (2352 ± 59 Mha) bare ground. Adjustments in fire and herbivory could shift a minimum of 675 Mha of land, stressing the importance of considering alternative outcomes when restoring a landscape. Our findings also suggest that adjustments in fire frequency and wildlife herbivory could have a greater impact on natural vegetation than expected climate changes by 2050, highlighting decision-makers’ responsibility to guide conservation and restoration toward a sustainable and biodiverse future.