Research Articles (Plant Production and Soil Science)
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Item Assessing Gonipterus defoliation levels using multispectral unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data in Eucalyptus plantationsNzuza, Phumlani; Schröder, Michelle L.; Heim, Rene J.; Daniels, Louis; Slippers, Bernard; Hurley, Brett Phillip; Germishuizen, IIaria; Sivparsad, Benice; Roux, Jolanda; Maes, Wouter H. (Elsevier, 2025-12)Invasive insect pest Gonipterus sp. n. 2 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) threatens Eucalyptus species, causing defoliation and yield loss through adult and larval feeding. Early detection is important for early intervention to prevent pest outbreaks. As conventional insect pest monitoring methods are time-consuming and spatially restrictive, this study assessed the potential of UAV monitoring. Multispectral imagery was obtained with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) across six different stands of young Eucalyptus dunnii with varying levels of Gonipterus sp. n. 2 infestations. Some stands were revisited, a total of 9 datasets were covered. Reference damage levels were obtained through visual assessments of (n = 89–100) trees at each site. Across sites, a decrease in canopy reflectance in both the visual and the near-infrared domains with increasing damage levels was consistently observed. Several vegetation indices showed consistent patterns, but none showed site independence. XGBoost, Support Vector Machine and Random Forest (RF) were used to predict damage levels using five input spectral data types. XGBoost performed best, closely followed by RF. Both models consistently selected very similar features. The best-performing models included reflectance, vegetation indices and grey-level co-occurrence matrix data. When data from 10 different wavelengths were used, the highest classification accuracy was 92 % across all sites in classifying defoliation levels. With a classical 5-band multispectral camera, accuracy was 88 %, but distinguishing medium damage from low remained challenging. However, the method was less reliable when trained and validated on separate fields. This study highlights the potential of multi-site datasets in increasing the model's generalization, using UAV based multispectral imagery to assess Gonipterus sp. n. 2 damage and demonstrating reliable upscaling from individual tree assessments to stand scale. However, it also recognises the difficulty of generating a robust model that performs well on untrained sites. HIGHLIGHTS • Canopy damage from Gonipterus sp. n. 2 was assessed across stands using UAV imagery, capturing defoliation, chlorophyll reduction. • The 5-band imagery perfomed comparable to the 10-band but was less effective at detecting subtle low vs no damage defoliation. • Similar pattern was observed across sites but absolute reflectance and vegetation indices are site specific.Item Conserving carbon stocks under climate change : importance of trees outside forests in agricultural landscapes of Mongala Province, Democratic Republic of CongoAzenge, Jean Pierre; Zon, Aboubacar-Oumar; Diesse, Hermane; Meniko, Jean Pierre Pitchou; Ebuy, Jerome; Kassi, Justin N'Dja; Chirwa, Paxie W. (MDPI, 2025-06)This study aimed to evaluate the role of trees outside forests on agricultural land (TOF-AL) in preserving the initial aboveground biomass (AGB) of forests within the agricultural landscape of Mongala province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2024, tree inventories were conducted over four months in the forests and agricultural lands of Mongala province to analyse AGB. The effects of artisanal logging and charcoal production activities on the AGB conservation rate were considered. This study indicates that 78.3% of the trees encountered in agricultural lands were large-diameter trees (diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 60 cm). In forest areas, large-diameter trees accounted for 55.9% of tree density. The average AGBs are 66.8 Mg ha−1 for TOF-AL and 373.5 Mg ha−1 for forest trees. The AGB of TOF-AL accounts for 17.9% of the AGB of the total forest trees. The AGB conservation rates vary by region, with Lisala having the highest at 22.1%, Bumba the lowest at 11.2%, and Bongandanga at 20.5%. Artisanal logging and charcoal production reduce the AGB conservation rate of TOF-AL. The AGB conservation rate is positively correlated with the distances to major cities. These results prove that conserving trees in agricultural landscapes can reduce the AGB losses associated with slash-and-burn agriculture and contribute to mitigating climate change effects.Item Evergreen forests in South Africa – their composition, biogeography, ecological dynamics and sustainable use managementGeldenhuys, Coert Johannes; Moll, Eugene J.; Swart, Rudi Crispin (Elsevier, 2026-01)South African forests are organized into eight Forest Groups and 26 National Forest Types and have a long history of biogeographical inter-relationships, that drove the ecological adaptation of their plant and animal species to survive diverse disturbance-recovery processes. Such relationships have been assessed in various studies to provide a better understanding of the ecology of their biota, within their assemblages, in widely fragmented species associations. The derived concept is that their biodiversity, productivity and value, for the benefit of current and future generations, can be maintained through active resource use practices that simulate natural, disturbance-recovery processes underlying their ecology. These forests are confined to fire-shadow areas within a larger suitable climatic-edaphic landscape; with large parts of the landscape being fire-prone. These fire-adapted vegetation systems, such as grassland, shrubland (Fynbos), bushland and woodland, with their own species assemblages, biodiversity and functionality, developed in potentially suitable evergreen forest landscapes. Economic development through agriculture, forestry, conservation, and infrastructure has changed to cooler fires or fire exclusion. This has contributed to the widespread establishment of invasive alien plant (IAP) species and the invasion of evergreen forest species (naturalizing) into the broader landscape. These evergreen forest species either expanded directly or became established via the light-demanding IAPs that nurse the more shade-tolerant, indigenous forest species. Forestry plantations in the fire-prone landscapes have also facilitated the expansion of natural forest. This better understanding of the ecology and functionality of the natural forest systems can be used in sustainable forest management practices to benefit from the products, values, and services they provide to society. Bottlenecks to the application of the knowledge gained into diverse sustainable resource use practices exist due to fortress conservation mindsets and strategies, and the national and provincial policies and regulations that are not aligned with the contemporary ecological realities. For example, (i) it is necessary to allow variable harvesting practices of timber and poles based on the ecology and regeneration strategies of targeted species and not insisting on one universal system of minimizing disturbance; (ii) a changed approach is needed towards using IAP stands strategically (selective ringbarking or thinning) to facilitate forest recovery and not simply clearing them, taking account of historic vegetation systems; (iii) participatory management in the sustainable harvesting of non-timber products (such as poles, firewood, timber for wood carving, etc.) and non-wood forest products (bark for traditional medicine and fibre, ferns for florist greenery, fruit and other foods, etc.) should become the norm rather than applying restrictive law enforcement of no use. Guidance is provided towards better resource-use practices for timber, poles, firewood, bark for traditional medicine and other non-wood forest products that could/hopefully can contribute to the development of diverse small businesses related to the interests of all levels of rural and urban societies. HIGHLIGHTS Highlights of Geldenhuys et al. Review Paper on Evergreen forest ecologt. • The paper challenges the general perception that all natural evergreen forests in South Africa should be protected from disturbance to ensure their presence into the future, with evergreen forests in South Africa having a long history of biogeographical relationships that comprised the adaptation of their plant and animal species to diverse disturbance-recovery processes. • Evergreen forests in South Africa cover about 0.5 % of their potential area of >7 % of South Africa based on rainfall, with the major limitation of their limited presence and major fragmentation being fire flow patterns that sees landscapes potentially suitable for forests being covered by fire-adapted vegetation systems with their own species assemblages, biodiversity and functionality, such as grassland, shrubland (Fynbos), bushland and woodland. • Changing fire regimes and fire exclusion through commercial agriculture and forestry, fire controls in conservation areas, and infrastructure development, contribute to forest expansion via plantation forestry, invader plant stands, and naturalising forest species into former fire zones and fire-adapted vegetation systems. • The derived concept is that evergreen forest biodiversity, productivity and use value for the benefit of current and future generations can be maintained through active resource use practices that simulate the natural disturbance-recovery processes underlying their ecological dynamics, and so guidance is provided towards better resource use practices for timber, poles, firewood, bark for traditional medicine and other non-wood forest products that could contribute to development of diverse small businesses at all levels of rural and urban societies. • It is essential that current national and provincial policies and regulations be adjusted to be aligned with the ecological realities to remove bottlenecks constraining the application of the gained knowledge.Item Potato yield forecasting from satellitesSteyn, Martin J.; Mukiibi, Alex (Plaas Media, 2025-03)Remote sensing has for long been used to assist producers in precision farming. It allows the monitoring of crop vegetation over large areas and enables the assessment of crop health and vegetation vigour, which facilitate timely management interventions, such as pest and disease control, fertiliser application, weed control, and irrigation. Satellite images can, for example, be linked to geographic information system (GIS) yield maps or soil nutrient status maps to identify and manage problematic areas in crop fields. Such interventions can improve crop growth and and ultimately increase final yields.Item Storage capacity of entomopathogenic nematodes in Barricade® gel and potassium polyacrylate hydrogelZulu, Sinethemba; Ramakuwela, Tshimangadzo; Baimey, Hugues; Laing, Mark; Shapiro-Ilan, David; Cochrane, Nicolene (Paradigm Publishing, 2025-06)Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) used as biocontrol agents are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light, high temperature, and desiccation. Thus, formulations have been developed to protect EPNs during application. However, the ability of these formulations to enhance storage capacity has not been investigated. This study analyzed storage capacity (survival and efficacy) of EPN species, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (SGI 245), Steinernema tophus (ROOI 352) and Steinernema innovationi (SG I35) produced either in vivo or in vitro and formulated in 2% gel of either Barricade® or potassium polyacrylate hydrogel (PPH). The formulations were stored at 10°C and survival of the infective juvenile nematodes (IJs) was evaluated at two-weeks intervals for eight weeks. The efficacy of formulated nematodes was evaluated using Tenebrio molitor. After two weeks, all control treatments had 0% IJ survival for all the three isolates, whereas the gel formulations exhibited 58–76% survival. The three isolates in both the Barricade® gel and PPH formulations exhibited 37–69% IJ survival at six weeks, which declined to 0–13% after eight weeks. Both formulations of the three isolates were 60–90% effective at six weeks. The in vitro-produced IJs had a higher survival than the in vivo-produced IJs for S. innovationi and H. bacteriophora. However, the in vivo-produced IJs were more effective at killing T. molitor than the in vitro-produced EPNs for H. bacteriophora but not the Steinernema spp. In conclusion, Barricade® and PPH gel formulations substantially increased survival of the three EPN species during storage.Item Persistence of pathogens and biocontrol potential in the bell pepper fruit mycobiome from flowering to postharvestKaroney, Edwin M.; Gokul, Jarishma Keriuscia; Siyoum, Nazareth Afewerki; Molelekoa, Tintswalo; Korsten, Lise (Frontiers Media, 2025-08-19)INTRODUCTION : Several postharvest strategies have been explored to prevent postharvest losses of fruit and vegetables in small-scale production environments that are caused by fungal spoilage during storage; however, the losses remain persistent. In the bell pepper industry for instance, approximately 40% of the total global production is lost annually, highlighting a need to understand pathogen dynamics at the preharvest stage that could contribute to tissue breakdown at storage. This study therefore aimed to explore fungal community shifts during bell pepper fruit development from flowering to storage. METHODS : The samples of flowers, small fruits, mature fruits at harvest and storage were processed to identify the fungal composition using next-generation sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region. RESULTS : The results showed that bell pepper harbored 346 fungal genera across all fruit stages mainly from the phyla Ascomycota (83.9%) and Basidiomycota (15.3%). The fungal community comprised both pathogenic and beneficial taxa: Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Fusarium were among the most abundant probable pathogenic taxa, while Aureobasidium, Filobasidium, and Sampaiozyma represented potential biocontrol agents (BCAs). Trend and correlation analysis showed an antagonistic relationship between the BCAs and pathogenic fungi, possibly explaining their dynamic composition across the fruit stages. DISCUSSION : The analysis showed interaction likelihood between pathogenic taxa, giving insights into co-infection, as well as among beneficial taxa with biocontrol potential, highlighting their synergistic effect against pathogens. Based on redundancy analysis, fruit physiological changes across the developmental stages may have accounted for approximately 8.53% of the total microbial variation observed and could favor growth of spoilage pathogens at storage. The overall analysis confirmed that primary infection at the early fruit developmental stage was the source of the bell pepper decay at postharvest. This highlights the critical need to refocus postharvest spoilage management on reducing preharvest infection, particularly those relating to quiescent infections. The antagonistic characteristics in the bell pepper mycobiome can be harnessed for the development of biocontrol consortia targeting dual/multiple infections. These findings offer a new approach to the management of postharvest losses while aligning with sustainable agricultural production and food security by promoting the use of naturally occurring beneficial microbes for crop protection.Item Consumer preference and food values : can consumers in Tanzania play part in driving a sustainable food system?Alphonce, Roselyne; Gong, Yun Yun; Schonfeldt, H.C. (Hettie Carina); Korsten, Lise (Frontiers Media, 2025-08)This study examines the role of consumers in Tanzania as drivers of sustainable food systems through their food values. Recognizing consumers as key actors in the food value chain, the research aims to identify how their preferences influence the transition toward sustainable consumption. A mixed-method approach was employed, including interviews with six key food system actors, two focus group discussions with 16 consumers, and a survey of 750 consumers from urban and rural towns across three regions in Tanzania. Participants rated the importance of 16 food values such as hygiene, nutrition, taste, and price—using the Best-Worst Scaling method. To determine relative preference, data were then analyzed through count analysis and mixed logit models. Findings indicate that consumers predominantly prioritize food safety and price. Notably, their understanding of safety centers on hygiene and spoilage, issues affecting short-term health, over long-term risks like aflatoxin, pesticide residues, and antimicrobial resistance. These patterns are consistent across consumer groups, though some variation emerges across different shopping contexts. For general food purchases, hygiene, freshness, and safety are emphasized, whereas for specific items like tomatoes and bread, hygiene, price, and naturalness are more prominent. These insights highlight the need for targeted interventions by policymakers, producers, and civil society organization to align consumer values with sustainable practices. Addressing gaps in consumer awareness and preferences can facilitate shifts toward healthier, safer, and more sustainable food systems in Tanzania.Item Tree biomass carbon stocks and biodiversity, and their determinants in a traditional agroforestry landscape in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South AfricaMakhubele, Lucky; Chirwa, Paxie W.; Araia, Mulugheta Ghebreslassie (Springer, 2025-01)Traditional agroforestry systems have been recognized worldwide for their positive contribution to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and improving socio-economic livelihood. Little has been reported regarding the effects of ecological determinants (tree density, species richness and diversity) on the biomass carbon accumulation potential of traditional agroforestry in South Africa, especially in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve (VBR). The main objective of this study was to quantify tree biomass carbon stock and biodiversity in the VBR traditional agroforestry landscape along three distance levels (immediate, intermediate, and far distance) from villages to the forest. Vegetation data was collected using forestry inventory tools. In each distance, nine (9) linear transects (250 m long) were established with five rectangular plots (20 × 10m2) in 10 m apart. The sampling intensity was 10% and the sampling effort achieved was > 80%. Tree diversity metrics and above-and below ground carbon estimates were calculated from the data and then analyzed using PERMANOVA, ANOVA, Spearman’s correlation, and linear regression models. Tree species richness and diversity had no significant effect on carbon stocks, while an effect was found on tree density and elevation. The results showed no statistically significant differences in above-and below ground carbon stocks (F = 0.888, p = 0.413) among distance levels from villages while tree density (F = 19.353, p < 0.05) was found to be increasing with increasing distance from the village to the forest. The results suggest that biomass carbon stocks in traditional agroforestry landscape are independent of species richness and diversity, dependent on tree density. The lower tree density, species richness and diversity at immediate distance implies the effect of proximity disturbance. The immediate distance has a greater potential for high biomass carbon accumulation if the disturbance can be minimized and tree density augmented through planting indigenous tree species and conservation.Item Drought tolerance assessment of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) accessions based on morphological and physiological traitsKunene, Sithembile; Gerrano, Abe Shegro; Odindo, Alfred O. (Elsevier, 2025-09)Understanding the adaptive responses of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) under water-limited conditions is vital for improving resilience of this crop in semi-arid agriculture. This study evaluated the growth, yield, physiological, and photochemical responses of 24 Bambara groundnut accessions under drought stress and non-stress conditions. Significant variation (p < 0.05) was observed among accessions for key morphological traits such as leaf length, plant height, and petiole number. Drought stress markedly reduced biomass and seed yield, with Acc 97 and Acc 100 demonstrating superior yield under stress. Physiological responses showed significant declines in photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under drought. However, accessions such as Acc 25, Acc 61, and Acc 87 maintained relatively higher water-use efficiency and photochemical stability, indicating better drought adaptation. Drought indices highlighted Acc 200, Acc 190, and Acc 175 as promising genotypes, combining high yield potential and stress tolerance. Principal component analysis revealed that photosynthetic efficiency and biomass traits predominantly contributed to phenotypic variation under stress. Overall, this study identified genetically diverse and drought-resilient Bambara groundnut accessions with potential for targeted breeding programs aimed at enhancing drought tolerance and securing food production in marginal environments.Item South African medicinal plants traditionally used to treat gonorrhoea : a comprehensive reviewTshikalange, Thilivhali Emmanuel; Lawal, Fatimah; Mabuza, J. Mcebisi; Bapela, Mahwahwatse Johanna (Elsevier, 2025-10)Gonorrhoea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and a major health issue in South Africa. This review provides a detailed list of South African medicinal plants used to treat gonorrhoea. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Researchers used databases like Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Search terms included “medicinal” plants, “traditional use,” “gonorrhoea,” “venereal diseases,” “sexually transmitted infections,” and “South Africa.” Plant species were verified through the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the New Plants of Southern Africa (NEWPOSA) online databases. A total of 28 plant species from 21 families were identified in South Africa for treating gonorrhoea. The Fabaceae and Maliaceae families, with three plant species each, were the most commonly used for this purpose. However, only 44 % of these species have undergone pharmacological testing against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The remaining 56 % have not been evaluated for gonococcal activity. Although some phytoconstituents have been isolated, few antigonococcal compounds have been documented. Cytotoxicity tests have mostly been conducted in vitro, with limited evidence from in vivo studies. In vivo evaluations are essential for accurately determining the clinical safety of crude extracts and isolated compounds. Future research should focus on validating the antigonococcal properties of South African medicinal plants, isolating phytoconstituents, and conducting in vivo safety assessments.Item Assessment of the genetic diversity of the critically endangered aloe peglerae Schonland (Asphodelaceae) by means of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markersSchmidt, Xander; Barker, Nigel; Frisby, Arnold Walter (Elsevier, 2025-11)Aloe peglerae Schönland, commonly known as the Red-hot Poker Aloe or Magaliesberg Aloe, is listed as Critically Endangered on the Red List of endangered plant species of South Africa. It is a slow growing succulent, endemic to the Magaliesberg, with a disjunct population near Krugersdorp, within the Gauteng and North West provinces of South Africa. Sharp population declines due to poaching and habitat loss have prompted both reintroduction programmes and associated studies on the genetic variability of the species across its distribution range, all in an attempt to better inform future conservation efforts. This study sampled 12 A. peglerae localities from which the genetic diversity was assessed using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) DNA “fingerprinting”, coupled with automated fragment detection. Three fluorescently labelled ISSR primers were used to amplify ISSR profiles from the 174 samples obtained from the 12 localities. Following rigorous data quality assessment, a final data set of 145 samples was obtained. The use of automated detection of ISSR fragments was extremely sensitive and the data set comprised over 2500 bands obtained from just three primers. Analysis of genetic variation was conducted using four different methods: STRUCTURE analysis, Networks, Phenetic analyses (using both UPGMA and Neighbour Joining (NJ)), and AMOVA. Results from these analyses indicate a gradual genetic transition between eastern and western localities along the Magaliesberg mountain range, representing one large population, as well as a completely distinct population from the Krugersdorp area. While samples from different localities usually possess enough differentiation to be generally identified as separate groups, those in close geographical proximity share sufficient similarities to suggest that conservation translocations can utilise propagules from neighbouring localities to augment and/or reintroduce depleted populations. Both in-situ and ex-situ conservation of the Krugersdorp population is urgently required, and translocations into this habitat should be done using propagules from within this population alone. This study highlights the advantages of using automated detection of ISSR fragments to provide many more data points than conventional agarose gel visualisation. As such, this approach is cost-effective and is recommended for studies assessing the genetic diversity of rare and endangered plant taxa.Item Plant pathogen name game : Cross Kingdom Review for the naming of biotic agents associated with plantsBull, Carolee T.; Salgado-Salazar, Catalina; Romberg, Megan K.; Allen, Cavan; Kantor, Mihail; Handoo, Zafar; Aboughanem-Sabanadzovic, Nina; Sabanadzovic, Sead; Coutinho, Teresa A. (Annual Reviews, 2025-09)To communicate across scientific disciplines, regulatory bodies, and the agricultural community, the naming of plant pathogens assigned to specific taxa is critical. Here, we provide an overview of the nomenclatural systems governing the naming of plant-pathogenic nematodes, fungi, oomycetes, prokaryotes, and viruses. Although we focus on the nature of the nomenclatural codes, we briefly discuss fundamental principles of taxonomy, including classification and identification. Key elements of the codes of nomenclature that ensure stability and clarity when naming species of pathogens are defined. When comparing the practice of nomenclature across different kingdoms, the classification and nomenclatural systems differ, and thus unique challenges are faced. We provide guidance from the codes and current practice for naming novel species. When there are nomenclatural conflicts, international committees play a critical role in their resolution. They also play a role in updating the codes to reflect new advancements in science. With this review, we aim to assist plant pathologists, journal editors, and those in related fields by providing an entrée to the legalistic requirements of the codes. Authors must consult and follow the rules of the appropriate code for any proposal of new or new combinations of names. To those interested in naming new species (or renaming the current ones), we recommend collaborations with experts in the field of taxonomy to ensure that rules for accurate and consistent naming practices and procedures are followed and to increase the likelihood that the proposed nomenclature is correct and acceptable.Item Warming has limited effects on plant growth through nutrient release : evidence from sub-Antarctic Marion IslandPallett, Nita C.M.; Ripley, Brad S.; Greve, Michelle; Cramer, Michael D. (Oxford University Press, 2025-09)Please read abstract in the article.Item Diversity and ethnobotanical use-value of trees outside forests on the agricultural landscape of the Mongala Province, Democratic Republic of CongoAzenge, Jean Pierre; Wassila, Ibrahim Seidou; Kassi, Justin N'Dja; Chirwa, Paxie W. (Springer, 2025-09)Trees outside forests on agricultural land (TOF-AL) are essential for the livelihoods of rural communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, yet their diversity, use, and management are poorly documented, particularly in Mongala province. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of TOF-AL species, quantify their ethnobotanical use values, and analyze the management strategies of local communities. We conducted ethnobotanical surveys and tree inventories in 900 agricultural plots across 45 villages in the three territories of Mongala province. The data were analyzed using diversity indices, the total ethnobotanical use value (TUVs) index, and hierarchical clustering analysis to classify species based on their use values. We identified 136 TOF-AL species on agricultural land in Mongala, with a Shannon diversity index of 3.544. The results show that more than 62% of the total abundance is concentrated in ten most common species. The clustering analysis revealed three distinct clusters of 23 privileged species: Cluster 1 (high value for energy and construction), Cluster 2 (high value for commerce and crafts), and Cluster 3 (multifunctional species with high value for food, medicine, and commerce). The high abundance of Cluster 3 species and the rarity of Cluster 2 species indicate that use value directly influences the conservation status of the species. Our results show that the diversity and abundance of TOF-AL are the result of specific management choices guided by local ethnobotanical knowledge. Species that provide continuous and non-destructive benefits are actively conserved by farmers, while those with high commercial value are threatened by intense harvesting pressure. This study calls for the adoption of differentiated management strategies to ensure the sustainability of resources. It suggests targeted reforestation programs and economic incentives for threatened species (Cluster 2) and the strengthening of existing management practices for abundant species (Clusters 1 and 3), underscoring the importance of integrating traditional knowledge into agroforestry conservation.Item Consensus classifications are crucial for conservation : how CITES utilizes checklistsKlopper, Ronell Renett (Wiley, 2025-08)The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an end-user of the consensus classifications and checklists produced by global initiatives such as the World Flora Online (WFO). This paper provides a brief background on CITES and the impact of classification and nomenclature changes on the CITES processes and enforcement of CITES regulations, with a focus on plants. The importance of global consensus classifications for CITES-listed plants is highlighted and the ways in which CITES utilizes checklists are illustrated. The WFO and especially the Taxonomic Expert Networks can, and already do, make huge contributions towards the production of checklists for CITES.Item Native plant species screening for phytogeochemical exploration in the Zambian CopperbeltMukube, Pumulo; Syampungani, Stephen; Machogo-Phao, Lerato; Hitzman, Murray W. (Elsevier, 2026-01)Trace element analysis of plant tissues can aid mineral exploration for sediment hosted Cu-Co deposits in the Zambian Copperbelt (ZCB). This study was conducted at the Mitumba prospect, an area in the ZCB known to have copper minerals but no historical mining activities, to identify native plant species and their tissues that are most indicative of mineralized zones. Field inventory and ecological analysis identified 22 native plant species from 12 different families, of which Fabaceae (36.4%) was dominant. At species level and based on the coating index, we identified several predominant species, among them, Haumaniastrum katangense (Lamiaceae), Aframomum angustifolium (Zingiberaceae), Brachystegia boehmii (Fabaceae), and Diplorynchus condilocarpon (Apocynaceae). Sampling was undertaken of soils and plant organs above the known mineralized zone and at control points outside of the mineralized area. Most species translocated Cu from the roots to the aboveground biomass as indicated by translocation factors (TF) > 1 but only three species, namely, Haumaniastrum katangense, Aframomum angustifolium and Diplorynchus condilocarpon can both translocate and bioconcentrate (BCF > 1) bioavailable Cu from the rhizosphere, making them ideal candidates for phytogeochemical exploration. Only Haumaniastrum katangense and Aframomum angustifolium accumulated Co. Plant roots and leaves demonstrate significant Cu anomalism and show a wider population of anomalous values compared to the soils. Statistical and machine learning techniques both indicate significant relationships between soil Cu concentration and the content of Cu in plant roots and leaves highlighting soil pH, organic matter and clay content as the major physicochemical variables influencing metal bioavailability in soil-plant systems. HIGHLIGHTS • Trace element analysis of plant tissues can aid locating orebodies. • Haumaniastrum katangense, Aframomum angustifolium and Diploryhncus condilocarpon are copper indicators. • Haumanastrum katangense and Aframomum angustifolium also accumulate cobalt. • Machine learning algorithms effectively elucidate soil-plant relationships. • Soil pH, organic matter and clay content influences metal bioavailability.Item Phylogenomics and the rise of the angiospermsZuntini, Alexandre R.; Carruthers, Tom; Maurin, Olivier; Bailey, Paul C.; Leempoel, Kevin; Brewer, Grace E.; Epitawalage, Niroshini; Françoso, Elaine; Gallego-Paramo, Berta; McGinnie, Catherine; Negrão, Raquel; Roy, Shyamali R.; Simpson, Lalita; Romero, Eduardo Toledo; Barber, Vanessa M.A.; Botigué, Laura; Clarkson, James J.; Cowan, Robyn S.; Dodsworth, Steven; Johnson, Matthew G.; Kim, Jan T.; Pokorny, Lisa; Wickett, Norman J.; Antar, Guilherme M.; DeBolt, Lucinda; Gutierrez, Karime; Hendriks, Kasper P.; Hoewener, Alina; Hu, Ai-Qun; Joyce, Elizabeth M.; Kikuchi, Izai A.B.S.; Larridon, Isabel; Larson, Drew A.; De Lírio, Elton John; Liu, Jing-Xia; Malakasi, Panagiota; Przelomska, Natalia A.S.; Shah, Toral; Viruel, Juan; Allnutt, Theodore R.; Ameka, Gabriel K.; Andrew, Rose L.; Appelhans, Marc S.; Arista, Montserrat; Ariza, María Jesús; Arroyo, Juan; Arthan, Watchara; Bachelier, Julien B.; Bailey, C. Donovan; Barnes, Helen F.; Barrett, Matthew D.; Barrett, Russell L.; Bayer, Randall J.; Bayly, Michael J.; Biffin, Ed; Biggs, Nicky; Birch, Joanne L.; Bogarín, Diego; Borosova, Renata; Bowles, Alexander M.C.; Boyce, Peter C.; Bramley, Gemma L.C.; Briggs, Marie; Broadhurst, Linda; Brown, Gillian K.; Bruhl, Jeremy J.; Bruneau, Anne; Buerki, Sven; Burns, Edie; Byrne, Margaret; Cable, Stuart; Calladine, Ainsley; Callmande, Martin W.; Cano, Ángela; Cantrill, David J.; Cardinal-McTeague, Warren M.; Carlsen, Mónica M.; Carruthers, Abigail J.A.; Castro Mateo, Alejandra de; Chase, Mark W.; Chatrou, Lars W.; Cheek, Martin; Chen, Shilin; Christenhusz, Maarten J.M.; Christin, Pascal-Antoine; Clements, Mark A.; Coffey, Skye C.; Conran, John G.; Cornejo, Xavier; Couvreur, Thomas L.P.; Cowie, Ian D.; Csiba, Laszlo; Darbyshire, Iain; Davidse, Gerrit; Davies, Nina M.J.; Davis, Aaron P.; Dijk, Kor-jent van; Downie, Stephen R.; Duretto, Marco F.; Duvall, Melvin R.; Edwards, Sara L.; Eggli, Urs; Erkens, Roy H.J.; Escudero, Marcial; Fabriani, Federico; Fay, Michael F.; Ferreira, Paola de L.; Ficinski, Sarah Z.; Fowler, Rachael M.; Frisby, Sue; Fu, Lin; Fulcher, Tim; Galbany-Casals, Mercè; Gardner, Elliot M.; German, Dmitry A.; Giaretta, Augusto; Gibernau, Marc; Gillespie, Lynn J.; González, Cynthia C.; Goyder, David J.; Graham, Sean W.; Grall, Aurélie; Green, Laura; Gunn, Bee F.; Gutiérrez, Diego G.; Hackel, Jan; Haevermans, Thomas; Haigh, Anna; Hall, Jocelyn C.; Hall, Tony; Harrison, Melissa J.; Hatt, Sebastian A.; Hidalgo, Oriane; Hodkinson, Trevor R.; Holmes, Gareth D.; Hopkins, Helen C.F.; Jackson, Christopher J.; James, Shelley A.; Jobson, Richard W.; Kadereit, Gudrun; Kahandawala, Imalka M.; Kainulainen, Kent; Kato, Masahiro; Kellogg, Elizabeth A.; King, Graham J.; Klejevskaja, Beata; Klitgaard, Bente B.; Klopper, Ronell Renett; Knapp, Sandra; Koch, Marcus A.; Leebens-Mack, James H.; Lens, Frederic; Leon, Christine J.; Léveillé-Bourret, Étienne; Lewis, Gwilym P.; Li, De-Zhu; Li, Lan; Liede-Schumann, Sigrid; Livshultz, Tatyana; Lorence, David; Lu, Meng; Lu-Irving, Patricia; Luber, Jaquelini; Lucas, Eve J.; Luján, Manuel; Lum, Mabel; Macfarlane, Terry D.; Mansano, Vidal F.; Masters, Lizo E.; Mayo, Simon J.; McColl, Kristina; McDonnell, Angela J.; McDougall, Andrew E.; McLay, Todd G.B.; McPherson, Hannah; Meneses, Rosa I.; Merckx, Vincent S.F.T.; Michelangeli, Fabián A.; Mitchell, John D.; Monro, Alexandre K.; Moore, Michael J.; Mueller, Taryn L.; Mummenhoff, Klaus; Munzinger, Jérôme; Muriel, Priscilla; Murphy, Daniel J.; Nargar, Katharina; Nauheimer, Lars; Nge, Francis J.; Nyffeler, Reto; Orejuela, Andrés; Ortiz, Edgardo M.; Palazzesi, Luis; Peixoto, Ariane Luna; Pell, Susan K.; Pellicer, Jaume; Penneys, Darin S.; Perez-Escobar, Oscar A.; Persson, Claes; Pignal, Marc; Pillon, Yohan; Pirani, José R.; Plunkett, Gregory M. Plunkett; Powell, Robyn F.; Prance, Ghillean T.; Puglisi, Carmen; Qin, Ming; Rabeler, Richard K.; Rees, Paul E.J.; Renner, Matthew; Roalson, Eric H. Roalson; Rodda, Michele; Rogers, Zachary S.; Rokni, Saba; Rutishauser, Rolf; Salas, Miguel F. de; Schaefer, Hanno; Schley, Rowan J.; Schmidt-Lebuhn, Alexander; Shapcott, Alison; Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan; Shepherd, Kelly A.; Simmons, Mark P.; Simões, Andre O.; Simões, Ana Rita G.; Siros, Michelle; Smidt, Eric C.; Smith, James F.; Snow, Neil; Soltis, Douglas E.; Soltis, Pamela S.; Soreng, Robert J.; Sothers, Cynthia A.; Starr, Julian R.; Stevens, Peter F.; Straub, Shannon C.K.; Struwe, Lena; Taylor, Jennifer M.; Telford, Ian R.; Thornhill, Andrew H.; Tooth, Ifeanna; Trias-Blasi, Anna; Udovicic, Frank; Utteridge, Timothy M.A.; Valle, Jose C. Del; Verboom, G. Anthony; Vonow, Helen P.; Vorontsova, Maria S.; Vos, Jurriaan M. de; Al-Wattar, Noor; Waycott31,52, 130; Welker, Cassiano A.D.; White, Adam J.; Wieringa, Jan J.; Williamson, Luis T.; Wilson, Trevor C.; Wong, Sin Yeng; Woods, Lisa A.; Woods, Roseina; Worboys, Stuart; Xanthos, Martin; Yang, Ya; Zhang, Yu-Xiao; Zhou, Meng-Yuan; Zmarzty, Sue; Zuloaga, Fernando O.; Antonelli, Alexandre; Bellot, Sidonie; Crayn, Darren M.; Grace, Olwen M.; Kersey, Paul J.; Leltch, Illa J.; Sauquet, Hervé; Smith, Stephen A. Smith; Elserhardt, Wolf L.; Forest, Félix; Baker, William J. (Nature Research, 2024-05)Angiosperms are the cornerstone of most terrestrial ecosystems and human livelihoods. A robust understanding of angiosperm evolution is required to explain their rise to ecological dominance. So far, the angiosperm tree of life has been determined primarily by means of analyses of the plastid genome. Many studies have drawn on this foundational work, such as classification and first insights into angiosperm diversification since their Mesozoic origins. However, the limited and biased sampling of both taxa and genomes undermines confidence in the tree and its implications. Here, we build the tree of life for almost 8,000 (about 60%) angiosperm genera using a standardized set of 353 nuclear genes. This 15-fold increase in genus-level sampling relative to comparable nuclear studies provides a critical test of earlier results and brings notable change to key groups, especially in rosids, while substantiating many previously predicted relationships. Scaling this tree to time using 200 fossils, we discovered that early angiosperm evolution was characterized by high gene tree conflict and explosive diversification, giving rise to more than 80% of extant angiosperm orders. Steady diversification ensued through the remaining Mesozoic Era until rates resurged in the Cenozoic Era, concurrent with decreasing global temperatures and tightly linked with gene tree conflict. Taken together, our extensive sampling combined with advanced phylogenomic methods shows the deep history and full complexity in the evolution of a megadiverse clade.Item Patterns of mature woody plant species encroachment on vegetation structure, density, and diversity of the understory layer across the Marikana ThornveldMangwane, Mziwanda; Madakadze, Ignacio Casper; Tjelele, Tlou Julius; Ramoelo, Abel (Frontiers Media, 2025-05)INTRODUCTION : Bush encroachment has a negative impact on the vegetation structure, ecosystem functions, and services of savanna rangelands. Woody plant encroachment creates an imbalance in the grass-to-tree ratio, leading to a decline in ecosystem services, including grazing capacity and soil nutrients. METHODS : This study aimed to evaluate the vegetation structure, diversity, and relationships of tree species across four different growth stages in the Marikana Thornveld. Three sites were identified at the Roodelpaat experimental farm, where six 1-hectare plots were established. In each plot, nine 10 m × 10 m subplots were set up to identify mature woody plants, shrubs, and saplings. Seedlings were identified within three 1.69 m² quadrats nested within each subplot. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION : The study identified a total of 9,028 individual woody plants, including 158 seedling species, 161 saplings, 159 shrubs, and 154 mature woody plant species. The regression line plotted seedling density against the densities of mature trees, shrubs, and saplings, with b values significantly less than 1, indicating a negative impact of mature trees, shrubs, and saplings on the seedling layer. Seedling abundance displayed a non-linear relationship with mature trees, indicating a 4.75% representation of seedling abundance within the mature tree layer. Woody seedling species exhibited the highest abundance across four growth stages. Overall, across all woody plant species at different growth stages, there was a general decline in the woody density class, resulting in a J-shaped curve pattern. Seedlings and mature trees exhibited the highest diameter at breast height (dbh) proportions among individual woody plants from the first to the third DBH size classes, followed by a decline. CONCLUSION : Generally, these results highlight a weak relationship between mature woody plant species and the understory layer, including shrubs, saplings, and seedlings. Consequently, mature woody plants cannot predict the establishment of understory woody plants or the recruitment of seedlings as a cause of bush encroachment.Item Research progress on climate change adaptation strategies to control invasive crop pest in sub-Saharan Africa : a bibliometric and systematic reviewAssede, Emeline Sessi Pelagie; Othoo, Calvince Ouko; Ly, Ahmadou; Bayisa, Gobena; Tarkegn, Temesgen Gashaw; Zohoun, Megnisse; N'goran, Anje-Jokebed (Frontiers Media, 2025-02)This bibliometric and systematic review assesses research progress and climate change adaptation strategies to control invasive crop pests in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientific publications on crop pest management in sub-Saharan Africa in a context of climate change adaptation were extracted from papers published between 1991 and 2024. A literature search was conducted on Scopus, dimension, and google scholar, followed by screening and data extraction in compliance with ROSES standards. Findings indicated that pests such as armyworms, fruit flies and coffee berry borer cause huge losses. Communities are adopting integrated pest management, water harvesting, drip irrigation, resistant varieties, and improving production efficiency. Agro-ecological practices reduce pest invasions while preserving the environment. Meanwhile, chemical insecticide use remains an emergency solution as its effects on pest control would be more efficient. However, promising approaches emerge around biocontrol, agroforestry integrating pest management, and gender-tailored strategies. Nevertheless, regional disparities persist in scientific output. In conclusion, while invasive pests represent a major plant health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, this review highlights innovative adaptation strategies. Their development will require coordinated mobilization to catalyze the sustainable agro-ecological transition that sub-Saharan Africa needs to address these multidimensional challenges. Future research should assess farmer’s perception on the effectiveness of the existing pest management practices for invasive crop pests.Item Comparative analysis of five African traditional multipurpose crops using a food systems approachMunialo, Sussy; Madzorera, Isabel; Lartey, Anna; Abdallah Noor, Ramadhani; Thiam, Aboubacry; Covic, Namukolo; Amos, Laar; Adelheid, Onyango; Baye, Kaleab; Nikiema, Laetitia Ouedraogo; Wafaie, Fawzi; Sibanda, Lindiwe Majele (Taylor and Francis, 2025)Diversifying food systems with traditional multi-purpose crops like sorghum, cassava, and amaranth is key to improving food security and nutrition. However, studies focusing on a variety of nutrient-dense crops, addressing research, policy, and practice, are missing. Most research focuses on cereals like sorghum, overlooking other crops such as vegetables, root crops, legumes, and nuts, limiting nutrient diversity in food system. A review of five traditional crops—sorghum, amaranth, cassava, cowpea, and cashew nuts—assessed research, policy, and practice, aiming to enhance food systems. The review found that existing initiatives on traditional crops are mainly production-focused and region-specific, with gaps in processing, value addition, marketing, nutrition, consumption, and transport. Limited policies and stakeholder involvement has hindered commercialization. Key recommendations should be implemented across research, practice, and policy along the food systems. Research actions include improving taxonomic classification, developing modern breeding programs, researching yield gaps, and enhancing understanding of transport and logistics. Practical strategies involve improving field management through training, integrating informal and formal seed systems, and promoting commercial use. Policies should address all food system aspects including processing, consumption, marketing, and transportation. Increased stakeholder engagement across the value chain is essential for unlocking the potential of traditional crops.