Abstract High temperature stress influences plant growth, seed yield, and fatty acid contents by causing oxidative damage. This study investigated the potential of thiourea (TU) to mitigate oxidative stress and restoring seed oil content and quality in canola. The study thoroughly examined three main factors: (i) growth conditions—control and high temperature stress (35 °C); (ii) TU supplementation (1000 mg/L)—including variations like having no TU, water application at the seedling stage, TU application at seedling stage (BBCH Scale-39), water spray at anthesis stage, and TU application at anthesis stage (BBCH Scale-60); (iii) and two canola genotypes, 45S42 and Hiola-401, were studied separately. High temperature stress reduced growth and tissue water content, as plant height and relative water contents were decreased by 26 and 36% in 45S42 and 27 and 42% Hiola-401, respectively, resulting in a substantial decrease in seed yield per plant by 36 and 38% in 45S42 and Hiola-401. Seed oil content and quality parameters were also negatively affected by high temperature stress as seed oil content was reduced by 32 and 35% in 45S42 and Hiola-401. High-temperature stress increased the plant stress indicators like malondialdehyde, H 2 O 2 content, and electrolyte leakage; these indicators were increased in both canola genotypes as compared to control. Interestingly, TU supplementation restored plant performance, enhancing height, relative water content, foliar chlorophyll (SPAD value), and seed yield per plant by 21, 15, 30, and 28% in 45S42; 19, 13, 26, and 21% in Hiola-401, respectively, under high temperature stress as compared to control. In addition, seed quality, seed oil content, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid were improved by 16, 14, and 22% in 45S42, and 16, 11, and 23% in Hiola-401, as compared to control. The most significant improvements in canola seed yield per plant were observed when TU was applied at the anthesis stage. Additionally, the research highlighted that canola genotype 45S42 responded better to TU applications and exhibited greater resilience against high temperature stress compared to genotype Hiola-401. This interesting study revealed that TU supplementation, particularly at the anthesis stage, improved high temperature stress tolerance, seed oil content, and fatty acid profile in two canola genotypes.
ABSTRACT Weed communities influence the dynamics of ecosystems, particularly in disturbed environments where anthropogenic activities often result in higher pollution. Understanding the dynamics existing between native weed communities and invasive species in disturbed environments is crucial for effective management and normal ecosystem functioning. Recognising the potential resistance of native weed communities to invasion in disturbed environments can help identify suitable native plants for restoration operations. This review aims to investigate the adaptations exhibited by native and non‐native weeds that may affect invasions within disturbed environments. Factors such as ecological characteristics, altered soil conditions, and adaptations of native weed communities that potentially confer a competitive advantage relative to non‐native or invasive weeds in disturbed environments are analysed. Moreover, the roles of biotic interactions such as competition, mutualistic relationships, and allelopathy in shaping the invasion resistance of native weed communities are described. Emphasis is given to the consideration of the resistance of native weeds as a key factor in invasion dynamics that provides insights for conservation and restoration efforts in disturbed environments. Additionally, this review underscores the need for further research to unravel the underlying mechanisms and to devise targeted management strategies. These strategies aim to promote the resistance of native weed communities and mitigate the negative effects of invasive weed species in disturbed environments. By delving deeper into these insights, we can gain an understanding of the ecological dynamics within disturbed ecosystems and develop valuable insights for the management of invasive species, and to restore long‐term ecosystem sustainability.
Aegilops tauschii Coss. is known as a noxious grass weed seriously affecting wheat quality and yield. To investigate its present occurrence in wheat fields and the potential genetic diversity of the grass weed in China, a filed survey covering major wheat production regions was conducted during 2017–2019. Seeds of different Ae. tauschii populations collected from the survey were analyzed with Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) technique. Results showed that Ae. tauschii was occurring in each of the provinces surveyed with varied occurrence frequency ranging from 0.91% in Sichuan Province to 92.85% in Henan Provinces. Eighty alleles with size ranging from 98 bp to 277 bp were detected from the 192 collected Ae. tauschii populations with 17 SSR markers. Ae. tauschii, in this study, exhibited a moderately high level of genetic diversity, high differentiation, deficient heterozygosity and limited gene flow. Compared with other provinces, Hubei populations possessed relatively low genetic diversity. Dendrogram analysis showed that genetic distance did not seem to be related to geographic distribution. Additionally, STRUCTURE analysis suggested that Ae. tauschii populations in wheat fields of China can be divided into three groups, which was further supported by cluster analysis. Among the three groups, solely 7% of the total variation was detected, whereas the majority variation (67%) occurred among different populations within same group. Undoubtedly, such information will help us to better understand population relationships and spread of Ae. tauschii in China and will provide a new perspective for its integrated management.
COVID-19 patients with diabetes mellitus present a unique subset, often experiencing more severe disease due to their compromised immune status and chronic inflammatory state. Objectives: The current study aimed to see the diversity in HRCT findings in COVID-19 patients with diabetes, aiming to elucidate the extent and nature of pulmonary involvement in this high-risk group. Methods: This retrospective study included 134 diabetic patients, and the data was collected from the patient records unit. BMI was categorized according to World Health Organization criteria, and glycemic control was evaluated based on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Additionally, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-hip ratio were measured. Lipid profile parameters were also analyzed, including serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The duration of diabetes was categorized into two groups: <10 years and ≥10 years. Finally, the diversity in the patient characteristics was seen using the HRCT findings. Results: Most of the study patients were female (66.41%). The mean BMI was 24.37±4.11. BMI categories were as follows: underweight (BMI <18.5) in 8.02% of patients, healthy weight (BMI 18.5-24.9) in 32.83% of patients, overweight (BMI 25-29.9) in 26.86% of patients, and obese (BMI ≥30) in 32.08% patients. The mean HbA1c level was 9.02±1.89. Glycemic control was categorized as good in 43 patients (32.08%) and poor in 91 patients (67.91%). The mean waist circumference was 82.88 ± 12.41 cm, the hip circumference was 92.0 ± 10.71 cm, and the waist-hip ratio was 0.91 ± 0.13. The mean serum lipid levels were as follows: cholesterol 181.0 ± 7.70 mg/dL, LDL 145.50 ± 21.56 mg/dL, triglycerides 195.75 ± 18.10 mg/dL, and HDL 39.51 ± 5.76 mg/dL. Patients were categorized by the duration of diabetes diagnosis: <10 years in 110 patients (36.7%) and ≥10 years in 190 patients (63.3%). Conclusion: The study highlights the critical need for personalized clinical management of COVID-19 patients with diabetes. By understanding the specific HRCT patterns and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, healthcare providers can improve the prognosis and outcomes for this disease group.