Bangladesh Journal of Botany is the official organ of the Bangladesh Botanical Society established in 1972. Full text articles available. The web address of the Bangladesh Botanical Society is http://www.bdbotsociety.org List of the online scholarly database link where indexed Bangladesh Journal of Botany https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BJB/indexing
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Acidification indices and organic carbon characteristics of acidic soil with different straw incorporation rates
This study analyzed the acidification indices and organic carbon differences of acidic tobacco-growing soils with different straw incorporation rates. The results showed that the Tengchong acidic tobacco-growing soil had low potential acidity and high base saturation. The long-term straw incorporation increased the organic matter year by year, but the soil pH in the tobacco growing season showed a decreasing trend. The ratio of humic acid to extractable humus (PQ), HA/FA value, E4 value, the rA value at 1630/cm in the infrared emission peak band, and the relative area after integration were significantly higher than those of the soils from Changning Jifei Town and Yongan Xiyang Town. The E4/E6 value, △logK value, and A2920/A1630 value of the soil collected from Tengchong were lower than those of soils from the other two areas. Thus, the soil from Tengchong had a high relative HA content in its humus composition and a complex organic carbon structure. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 631-644, 2025 (September) Special
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Microbial community structure during the restoration of Wuliangsuhai sediment
In this study, the sediment in the process of in-situ restoration was taken as the research object. Based on high-throughput sequencing, microbial community structure in sediment at 2 and 6 months was analyzed. The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla in the repair process included Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexi and Desulfobacterota. The dominant phyla of fungi changed from Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota to Ascomycota. Thiobacillus is the dominant bacterium in the genus.The dominant strain of fungi has changed from Solicoccozyma and Mortierella to Exophiala. Redundancy analysis showed that COD was the main environmental factor affecting bacterial communities (Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota). TP is the main environmental factor affecting the sediment fungal community. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of in-situ remediation technology of Wuliangsuhai sediment. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 645-655, 2025 (September) Special
Combined effects of soil amendents and effective microbial agents on container seedling growth and incidence of citrus canker
To investigate the combined effects of soil amendments and effective microbial agents for the cultivation of container-planted citrus seedlings, Citrus reticulata Ehime 28 was used as the test material. Bentonite clay and attapulgite were mixed with natural soil, and effective microbial agents were then added. The combination comprising attapulgite, bentonite, and effective microbial agents could reduce the soil bulk density and increase the total porosity, pH and EC values, and contents of Olsen-P and Olsen-K in the soil. The combination contains 60% natural soil, 10% attapulgite, 30% bentonite, and 300 times the amount of EM microbial agents significantly promoted the growth of citrus leaves and the formation of chlorophyll; was beneficial to the biomass accumulation of the plants; and promoted the uptake of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The incidence of cankers on plant leaves was significantly reduced. This combination has the potential to improve the efficiency of nurseries in producing healthy citrus container seedlings. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 657-665, 2025 (September) Special
Study on soil reinforcement characteristics of Artemisia nigra after root damage in central and western inner mongolia
There was positive power function correlation between tensile strength and root diameter, and a negative power function correlation between tensile strength and root diameter after single, mild and severe cyclic loading. Cyclic load significantly increased the root tensile force and strength. Compared with single load, the tensile force increased by 22.61 and 47.61%, and the tensile strength increased by 20.38 and 43.85% after mild and severe cyclic load, respectively. The strength of the root-soil complex of Artemisia nigra were linearly positively correlated with the vertical load. The greater the depth of the burying root, the lower the soiling efficiency. The strength and cohesion of the root-soil composite under the condition of soil pore water pressure is less than that of the soil pore water. The internal friction angle are positive growth rates under different soil pore water pressure conditions. The strength characteristics of the root-soil composite increase with increasing root diameter. The shear rate has no significant effect on the strength characteristics of the root-soil composite. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 667-676, 2025 (September) Special
Characterization of the Lagerstroemia suprareticulata chloroplast genome and comparative analysis of the crape myrtle
Lagerstroemia suprareticulata, a critically endangered species indigenous to the southwestern region of Guangxi, China, holds considerable potential for various applications. Yet, its genetic blueprint remains largely uncharted. We sequenced, assembled, and dissected the chloroplast genome (CPDNA) of L. suprareticulata to delineate its genomic architecture, evolutionary divergence, and its phylogenetic stance within the Lagerstroemia genus. This CPDNA spans 152,196 bp with a circular quadripartite structure: 84,027 bp large single-copy (LSC), 16,919 bp single-copy (SSC) region, and two 25,625 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions. Notably, genomic structure, gene content, repeats, IR dynamics, and sequence divergence among five related lythraceous species are largely conserved with slight variations. Six intergenic regions and one protein-coding gene exhibit high diversity, useful as molecular markers for phylogeny and species differentiation.. Phylogenetic assessments employing full CPDNA and coding sequences elucidate that L. suprareticulata aligns as the progenitor of L. glabra and L. anhuiensis. This analysis offers a thorough perspective on the CPDNA of L. suprareticulata, thus augmenting the genomic resources available for probing its evolutionary lineage and genetic diversity. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 677-685, 2025 (September) Special
Effects of biological treatments on production and quality parameters of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)
Innovative approaches such as seed treatment with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), mycoparasitic fungi (MPF), and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can improve yield and quality. A plot experiment with the variety Abaca was conducted on organically certified plots at two climatically distinct sites in the Czech Republic. In the early growth stages, MPF and LAB treatments showed slight improvements in root length, weight, and plant dry matter. Other parameters, including plant height before harvest, thousand-grain weight, and yield, showed a positive but statistically inconclusive effect. Regarding quality, a beneficial impact of MPF and LAB on protein content in seeds was recorded. Starch and oil contents were unaffected. The differences were relatively small, suggesting that biological seed treatments support soybean yield and quality, particularly when combined with other agrotechnical measures. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 687-693, 2025 (September) Special
Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on biomass and disease-resistance enzyme activities of actinidia arguta against canker
In this study, the seedlings of Actinidia arguta were used as the experimental materials. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Rhizophagus irregularis, and the canker pathogen Dothiorella gregaria were inoculated. The effects of AMF on the biomass of roots, stems and leaves of Actinidia arguta, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, and stem cellulose, as well as the activities of disease-resistant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), chitinase, and polygalacturonase were determined. The results showed that the inoculation of AMF could increase the biomass of roots and stems of Actinidia arguta to enhance the tree vigor and reduce the incidence of canker disease. The inoculation of AMF could significantly reduce the MDA content in the stems and roots of Actinidia arguta infected with the disease, increase the proline content in the leaves and roots, and improve the PPO activity in roots, stems and leaves, the SOD activity in stems, and the CAT activity in leaves. In the early stage of AMF inoculation, the activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase in stems and roots could be increased. It is concluded that AMF enhances the resistance of Actinidia arguta to canker disease and its disease resistance by accumulating proline, reducing the MDA content, and increasing the activities of SOD, CAT, and PPO. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 695-702, 2025 (September) Special
Mechanized kernel harvesting potential in isogenic corn doubled haploid (dh) lines
An incomplete diallel cross design was taken to evaluate the combining ability and application potential of the DH lines. The results revealed significant differences in General Combining Ability (GCA) among the DH lines, with JM104 and JM108 exhibiting high dehydration rates and a strong tendency to form high-yield hybrids. Comprehensive analysis of GCA across agronomic traits indicated that JM104 possesses high combining ability and application value, followed by JM108 and JM105. Superior combinations with high Total Combining Ability (TCA) effects and rapid dehydration rates included JM104×JF004, JM104×PHB1M, and JM108×JF004, which require further multi-year and multi-location trials to fully explore their potential. Genetic parameter analysis suggested that traits such as plant height, ear height, ear length, and kernel rows per ear should be selected in early generations. When configuring hybrids, DH lines with superior traits such as plant height, ear height, ear length, and ear diameter should be selected as parents, with comprehensive consideration of GCA for ear diameter, kernel moisture content, and dehydration rate, as well as Specific Combining Ability (SCA) of the hybrids. Specifically, the enhancement of husk leaf quantity should focus on SCA selection. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 703-710, 2025 (September) Special
Driving factors of vegetation cover change in Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomeration
This study was based on remote sensing data from 2010 to 2023, and combined methods such as Geodetector to analyze the spatio-temporal variation characteristics and driving factors of the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) in the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomeration. The study used the pixel dichotomy model to estimate the FVC, and evaluated the change trends through Theil-Sen trend analysis and Mann-Kendall significance test. The results showed that the FVC increased from 0.74 in 2010 to 0.80 in 2023, with an average annual growth rate of 0.0624/10/years. High-coverage areas are concentrated in Fangchenggang and Qinzhou in Guangxi, while low-coverage areas are mainly distributed in coastal cities such as Haikou and Zhanjiang. The analysis of driving factors shows that the urbanization rate (q-value = 0.6464) and precipitation (q-value = 0.5479) are the main influencing factors, and the interaction between population density and urbanization rate (q-value = 0.965) has the strongest explanatory power for vegetation cover. In the future, the change of vegetation cover will mainly be randomly stable. The persistent areas are mainly distributed in Chongzuo and the southern part of Nanning, while coastal cities such as Haikou and Zhanjiang may face the risk of degradation. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 711-719, 2025 (September) Special
Functional characterization and salt-stress-induced expression analysis of soybean GMCYP86A1S genes
This study cloned the homologous genes (GmCYP86A1a and GmCYP86A1b) of AtCYP86A1 in soybean by homology comparison. Subsequently, systematic analyses of the gene structures, regulatory elements in promoter sequences, and physicochemical properties of GmCYP86A1a and GmCYP86A1b were conducted using bioinformatics approaches. Additionally, quantitative assessment of the expression patterns of these two genes and their transcriptional responses to NaCl stress was performed via qRT-PCR assays. The experimental evidence demonstrated that GmCYP86A1a and GmCYP86A1b exhibit highly similar gene structures, and both encode proteins harboring characteristic structural motifs typical of CYP450 enzymes. The promoter regions of the GmCYP86A1a and GmCYP86A1b genes contain diverse cis-acting elements that regulate growth and development, mediate phytohormonal signaling, and coordinate environmental stress adaptation mechanisms. The physicochemical properties of GmCYP86A1a and GmCYP86A1b proteins show distinct differences, both proteins are localized on the endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, GmCYP86A1a and GmCYP86A1b are root-specific genes and are induced and upregulated under NaCl stress. The current findings establish a framework for further investigation of molecular mechanisms by which GmCYP86A1a and GmCYP86A1b genes mediate salt stress adaptation in soybean. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 721-729, 2025 (September) Special
Isolation and application of a lactic acid bacterium from Pennisetum Giganteum to improve the silage quality of king grass
In this study, a dominant strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was isolated from Pennisetum giganteum and used alone or in combination with cellulase, xylanase, and glucose oxidase in a silage experiment with King grass. The results showed that all additives improved the aroma, color, and texture of the silage, as well as enhanced its nutritional content and fermentation quality. Comprehensive analysis indicated that the combination of L. plantarum and xylanase was the most effective, significantly increasing lactic acid content, reducing pH and ammonia nitrogen levels, and improving overall silage quality. This combination shows strong potential for application and provides theoretical and technical support for the utilization of King grass as feed. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 731-739, 2025 (September) Special
Sustainable management of surface substrate layer based on soil microbial diversity during wheat growth season
High-throughput sequencing technology was used to systematically analyze the composition, diversity, and dynamic changes of soil microbial communities during the wheat growing season in Lintong, Shaanxi Province. The abundance of bacterial communities significantly increases after the complete planting cycle of wheat, while the fungal community structure was relatively stable. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria constitute the dominant bacterial communities. The fungal community was Ascomycota and Zygomycota. The growth process of wheat significantly changes the structural composition of bacterial communities, enhances enzyme activity and biological regulatory functions of bacterial communities, while inhibiting cellular processes and environmental information processing functions. This study revealed the succession pattern of soil microbial communities during the wheat growing season, identified key microbial groups that maintain soil ecosystem functions, and provided an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for the sustainable management of the surface substrate layer in the study area. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 741-748, 2025 (September) Special
Deparia chingii (Athyriaceae) - a new species was reported from China
Deparia chingii, a new species was reported from China. Comparative study was conducted between D. chingii, a new species, and D. patersenii, a related species, using a combination of plant resources, taxonomy, palynology, macrography, micrography, microscopic and submicroscopic structures. The results showed that the leaves of D. chingii were oval rectangular circle, bipinnately lobed, 8-10 pairs of lateral pinnae were close to each other, with short stalks, and the first pair of pinnae on the lower part of the leaves were slightly shortened; the leaves were glabrous on both sides; stipe, rachis and costae were nearly smooth; sori short linear, 4 to 6 pairs per lobe, and the sori were separated from each other when mature, with short pubescent on the dorsal side of the indusium, perispore with auricular ornamentation. The leaves of D. patersenii were ovate-oblanceolate, double pinnation, separated laterally, with 8 to 10 pairs of pinnae; stipe, rachis, costae and both sides of leaf are covered with small scales and nodal pubescence, sori often cover the dorsal lobes when mature, perispore with long columnar or prickly ornamentation. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 749-753, 2025 (September) Special
A new species of Dryopteris (Dryopteridaceae) from China
A new species of Dryopteris songyinghuensis was reported in the study. It is closer to D. peninsulae Kitag. for its morphological and palynological characters of LM and SEM studies but differs by a number of characters, such as, stipe base densely covered with dark-brown, margin dentate lanceolate scales, margin dentate oval scales above middle stipe, rachis and costae with dark brown, margin dentate oval and lanceolate scales, leaves triangular oblong, lower pair of pinnae slightly longer, upward pair of pinnae gradually shortened, bipinnatifid or tripinnatifid, sori spread abaxially, each pinna is lined on either side of the midvein, occurs between the midvein and the margin, perispore with curved strip ridge, semi-ring ornamentation. The sp. nov. is described with LM and SEM characters of spore and fronds, compared with that of D. peninsulae Kitag. and provided with photographs. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 755-760, 2025 (September) Special
Effects of mulching with different specifications of plastic film on the growth of fresh-eating maize
This study examines the effects of plastic film mulching with varying specifications on the mid-to-late growth stages of fresh-eating maize, analyzing differences in weed growth, leaf length, plant height, growth period and yield. The findings reveal that black plastic film effectively suppresses weed growth, whereas white plastic film fosters it. Prior to the trumpet stage, white plastic film demonstrates a superior ability to enhance leaf elongation compared to black plastic film. However, after entering the trumpet stage, black plastic film proves more advantageous. Based on variations in leaf color under different mulching treatments, it can be inferred that black plastic film significantly increases chloroplast quantity or chlorophyll content, thereby promoting photosynthesis and overall growth. Maize plants exhibit a marked increase in height with black plastic film, with thickened black film yielding the most pronounced effect, while white plastic film hinders height growth. Additionally, black plastic film enhances the number of ears per plant and ear length, with thickened black film yielding the best results. Mulching cultivation also has a positive impact on the number of kernel rows per ear, with black plastic film exhibiting a more significant effect than white plastic film. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 761-768, 2025 (September) Special
Effects of different soil amendments on soil physical and chemical properties and oil sunflower yield in saline-sodic in Northern Shaanxi China
In order to explore the response effects of different amendments and salt tolerant crops on the management of moderate saline-sodic and crop yield, this study was carried out in typical saline-sodic in Northern Shaanxi. Taking the salt tolerant crop oil sunflower as the research object, three soil amendments were applied, including desulfurization gypsum (FGD), "xiyoufeng" soil amendment (SA) and "yueyuyuan" microbial agent (MA). The effects of different amendments on soil physical and chemical properties and oil sunflower yield were analyzed. The results showed that the application of soil additives effectively reduced the soil pH, total salt content and bulk density of saline-sodic by 2.24~10.15, 0.82~15.76 and 2.67%~8.00%; the soil organic matter, hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were increased respectively by 15.65~56.55, 2.32~39.57, 49.75~95.48 and 5.33%~32.96%; the plant height and stem diameter of oil sunflower were increased respectively by 1.50~9.02%, 0.84~4.20%; the yield was increased by 17.67~72.24%, and the quality was improved. Compared with CK, soil pH, total salt content and bulk density decreased by 0.91, 0.12 g/kg and 0.84 g/cm3, respectively, and the yield increased by 1153.37 kg/hm-2, which provided a practical reference scheme for the improvement of saline-sodic in arid areas. It was suggested that YUEYUYUAN microbial agent should be preferred to treat moderate saline-sodic in Northern Shaanxi. Our study provides scientific recommendations for applying amendments worldwide in the saline-sodic. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 769-781, 2025 (September) Special
Effects of exogenous microbial additives to improve tobacco leaf quality
To investigate the effect of adding microbial agents in the fermentation stage on the quality of tobacco leaves prepared by imitating black tea method. Using Yunyan 87 middle leaves as materials, two microbial agents of Schwanniomyces occidentalis and Bacillus subtilis were sprayed onto the leaves before fermentation, and the effects of different microbial treatments on the main chemical composition, sensory quality, microbial diversity of tobacco leaves were analyzed. The starch content in tobacco leaves treated with S. occidentalis and B. subtilis decreased by 25.00 and 47.64%, and the total pigment content decreased by 46.15 and 30.77%, respectively. Tobacco leaves treated with two microbial agents can increase the characteristic aroma of burnt sweet and sour sweet respectively. The treatment of the two agents can improve the community richness and species diversity of tobacco leaves, and effectively improve the abundance of dominant bacteria such as Firmicutes and Candida. Both exogenous microorganisms can effectively reduce the starch and pigment contents in tobacco leaves, improve the sensory quality of tobacco leaves, improve the diversity of microbial community, and then improve the quality of tobacco leaves prepared by imitating black tea method. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 783-790, 2025 (September) Special
Prediction of potential distributions of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. based on maxent model
Based on distribution data of 140 sites and 10 environmental factors of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. The MaxEnt model and geographic information system (GIS) were used to predict potentially suitable habitats of the species. The results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value of the area under the receiver operation characteristic curve (ROC) was 0.92, indicating that the model prediction results were reliable. The highly suitable areas of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb in China are mainly concentrated in the provinces of the Yangtze River Basin including the southern Henan province central and southern Anhui province, southern Jiangsu province, Shanghai, eastern and northern Zhejiang province northern Jiangxi province southern Hubei province and central Hunan province, part of Chongqing and north of Taiwan, covering an area of about 3.39 of China's land area. The dominant environmental factors affecting the distribution of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb were related to precipitation and temperature, including precipitation in March, seasonal changes of precipitation, isotherm and standard deviation of seasonal changes in temperature. These results are consistent with the actual distribution and biological characteristics of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb , and can provide a reference for its promotion and planting. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 791-796, 2025 (September) Special
Evaluation methods to determine soil and water conservation status in different ecosystems
In order to study the effect of different vegetation types on ecosystem water and soil conservation function, an area was selected as the research object, and the evaluation method of ecosystem water and soil conservation function under the application of different plant measures was designed based on ENVI and ArcGIS software. Delineate five types of vegetation in the study area. The experimental results showed that in the evaluation of water conservation function, the water conservation capacity of the five types of vegetation and the water conservation amount per unit area are ranked from large to small, i.e. grassland, shrub grassland, woodland, woodland and shrub mixed areas, cultivated land, in the evaluation of soil water conservation function, the potential and actual soil erosion of cultivated land are much greater than those of the other four vegetation types. Among the remaining four vegetation types, shrubs > mixed area of shrubs and forest land > forest land > grassland. In the order of soil conservation per unit area, cultivated land is far less than other vegetation types, and the other orders are grassland > forest land > mixed area of forest land and shrub > shrub. It can be seen that among the five vegetation types, grassland has the strongest effect on soil and water conservation, and cultivated land is the worst. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 797-804, 2025 (September) Special
Assessment of hybrid vigor in yield traits of hybrid maize
The analysis of the hybrid vigor of yield traits in high-yield maize variety Jikeyu 817 showed that it had a significant yield increasing effect, with increase of 2.50 and 17.60% compared to the control varieties, respectively. All yield traits exhibited a high level of heterosis, with relative heterosis ranging from 4.52 to 67.89%, with an average of 29.70%. The advantage of Chinese relatives ranges from 4.57 to 205.81%, with an average of 57.56%. The hybrid vigor index ranges from 104.47 to 301.71%, with an average of 157.80%. Among the traits, the hybrid vigor of yield is the highest, with relative hybrid vigor, mid-parent vigor, and hybrid vigor index of 67.89 , 205.81 and 301.71%, respectively. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 805-809, 2025 (September) Special
Purification strategies and biological evaluation of phenylpropanoids from Lonicera Macranthoides Hand-Mazz
Phenylpropanoids, a class of bioactive compounds found in Lonicera macranthoides Hand.-Mazz, are known for their diverse pharmacological properties. This study focused on the purification of total phenylpropanoids (TP) from Lonicera macranthoides extract (LME) using nine types of macroporous resins. Among them, HPD-100 resin exhibited the highest purification efficiency. Optimal conditions for purification were determined as follows: extract concentration of 10 mg/ml, solution pH of 3, resin dosage of 7 g, elution solution concentration of 60%, elution volume of 30 ml, loading rate of 1.5 ml/min, loading volume of 200 ml, elution rate of 2.0 ml/min, and elution volume of 220 ml. Adsorption kinetics conformed to the pseudo-second-order model, while thermodynamic analysis aligned with the Freundlich isotherm model, indicating spontaneous and exothermic adsorption with negative values for enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy. Molecular docking further revealed π-π and π-σ interactions between the resin and phenylpropanoid molecules, with a docking score of -3.388 kcal/mol, supporting the resin’s affinity for the target compounds. These findings provide a robust foundation for the efficient extraction and functional evaluation of phenylpropanoids from L. macranthoides. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 811-821, 2025 (September) Special
Field evapotranspiration and water consumption of dryland spring corn
Soil reservoirs are the foundation for stable grain production and sustainable development in dryland agricultural areas. This study combines long-term field positioning experiments to study the changes in soil moisture of spring maize in the Changwu Arid Plateau in the southern Loess Plateau from 2021 to 2024, and analyzes the interannual and intra annual variation characteristics and dynamic laws of soil reservoirs. The results showed that there was a significant deficit in soil reservoirs during dry years, with a deficit of 94.3 mm in the second season and 123.7 mm in the fourth season, and negative compensation in water balance was observed. In the year of abundant water, the soil reservoir had a significant surplus (208.6 mm), and the water balance showed positive compensation. The water source for evapotranspiration and water consumption during the growth period of spring corn indicated that, in wet years, it came solely from precipitation during the growth period, whereas in dry years, it was derived partly from precipitation and partly from soil water storage from the previous season. The water status of soil reservoirs had a significant impact on the growth of spring maize, and the water storage function of soil reservoirs was of great importance in alleviating the adverse effects of drought on crop growth. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 823-829, 2025 (September) Special
Screening of formula for growing stropharia rugosoannulata using tobacco stalks as a substitute and its impact on soil properties for mushroom cultivation
To explore the feasibility of substituting sawdust with tobacco stalks for cultivating Stropharia rugosoannulata and its impact on soil properties, this study designed cultivation formulas with varying tobacco stalk ratios (0-50%) and analyzed mycelial growth rates, fruiting body agronomic traits, and changes in soil nutrients and enzyme activities. Results showed that the mycelial growth rate first increased and then decreased with a higher tobacco stalk ratio when tobacco stalk ratio was below 50%. T4 (30% tobacco stalks) was optimal with the highest rate (1.69 cm/d), as its tobacco stalk particle size improved mycelium-substrate contact and aeration. D3 (10% tobacco stalks + 90% corn stalks) had the best stipe/cap diameter, individual weight and available K (543.29 mg/kg), while D4 (20% tobacco stalks + 80% corn stalks) showed the highest alkali-hydrolyzed N (118.77 mg/kg) and balanced performance. D6 (100% corn stalks) had the highest available phosphorus content (6.38 mg/kg). Soil enzyme activity analysis indicated that invertase activity peaked in D6 (153.12 mg/g d⁻¹), whereas urease activity was highest in D5 (1.75 μg/g d⁻¹). Correlation analysis showed that the tobacco stalk ratio was extremely positively correlated with the mushroom shape index (r = 0.729**), and urease activity was significantly negatively correlated with fruiting body agronomic traits. In conclusion, T4 promoted mycelial growth, while D3 and D4 aligned soil nutrient improvement with the growth requirements of fruiting bodies, and D4 emerged as the most well-rounded treatment due to its balanced carbon-nitrogen release and favorable fruiting body phenotypic traits. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 831-840, 2025 (September) Special
Effects of projected climate change on spring maize in rain-fed agriculture system of the Loess Plateau
To bolster food security in the Loess Plateau, the Chinese government initiated a land expansion program (2013-2017) targeting a 337.80 km2 increase in cultivated area through integrated ditch management and reclamation. Given the region’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture, optimizing production under climate change is critical for evidence-based policymaking. This study evaluates climate and fertilization impacts on spring maize yields using the APSIM model under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways SSP1-2.6 (sustainable low-emission development) and SSP5-8.5 (fossil-fueled high-emission development). Baseline simulations (1980-2014) revealed substantial yield gains with elevated nitrogen application: compared to the 90 kg N/ha control, treatments of 150 kg N/ha and 200 kg N/ha increased yields by 1,263 kg/ha and 1,326 kg/ha, respectively, during the 2030-2100 projection period. Climate-driven yield variability exhibited marked spatiotemporal heterogeneity, with annual mean increases under 90 kg N/ha fertilization reaching 1,111 kg/ha (SSP1-2.6) and 1,018 kg/ha (SSP5-8.5) relative to baseline conditions. These findings highlight the dual role of adaptive nitrogen management and climate-resilient land-use planning, providing actionable insights to maximize the ecological and agricultural returns of soil-water conservation initiatives while safeguarding long-term food security in this vulnerable agroecosystem. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 841-853, 2025 (September) Special
Effects of different concentrations of lead and cadmium stress on spinach growth and physiology
This study investigated the ecotoxicological effects of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) stress, both individually and in combination, on spinach (Spinacia oleracea), by analyzying the growth characteristics, antioxidant responses, and photosynthetic damage mechanisms of spinach under controlled experimental conditions with different concentration gradients. Pb-Cd combined stress significantly inhibited spinach biomass, with a dose-dependent and synergistic enhancement, with the total dry weight decreasing by up to 62.8%. The root system was the primary target of stress, with dry weight loss (minimum 28.4% in control) being significantly higher than that of the aerial parts. The biomass differences between stems and leaves were closely associated with the differential antioxidant capacity of the organs. At low concentrations, the increase in leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (by 12.3-18.5%) partly alleviated oxidative damage, while a sharp increase in peroxidase (POD) activity in the roots (3.8-fold at Pb200 + Cd20) revealed a lignin-mediated cell wall reinforcement mechanism. The antioxidant system responded with a dynamic threshold effect: at low concentrations (Pb50/Cd5), SOD activity significantly increased (421.5 U/g FW), triggering primary defense, whereas at high concentrations (Pb200/Cd20), enzyme activity decreased to 382.4 U/g FW. Cd exerted a more pronounced destructive effect on chlorophyll a (decrease by 56.3%) compared to Pb (34.7%), with the mechanism involving chloroplast structural damage and Mg2+ competition inhibition. Combined stress, through a synergistic pathway (Cd inhibition of synthetase activity, Pb acceleration of pigment degradation), reduced chlorophyll a content to only 28.9%. This study quantifies the physiological tolerance thresholds of spinach to Pb-Cd combined stress and reveals a coupled mechanism of 'heavy metal interaction-antioxidant hierarchical response-photosynthetic damage synergy', providing a theoretical basis for ecological risk assessment of polluted farmland and safe spinach production. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 855-864, 2025 (September) Special
Effects of combined microbial and plant remediation on water transport and nutrient uptake in heavy metalpolluted mining areas
This study investigated the changes in soil water transport and nutrient content under plant-microbe synergistic remediation in a mining area. To restore and improve heavy metal contaminated soils, three enriched plant species were used in combination with microbial agents. Results showed that herbaceous plants significantly improved soil texture in the short term. The highest soil moisture was observed in the 0-20 cm layer, especially in the AH treatment (EM fungi + Vetiver grass + Seabuckthorn). AH also reduced soil pH most effectively. The AX treatment (EM fungi + Vetiver grass) increased soil organic matter by 25.7% compared to the control. Rhizobia combined with shrub grass planting enhanced soil nitrogen. Both AX and AH significantly increased effective phosphorus (57.1 and 55.6 mg/kg) and available potassium (194 and 174 mg/kg), as well as total microbial counts (4.071 × 107 and 3.561 × 107 cells/g), showing increases of 94.8 and 70.4%, respectively, over the control. Overall, AH and AX treatments were most effective in improving soil moisture and quality in contaminated mining areas. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 865-873, 2025 (September) Special
Prediction of maize chlorophyll nitrogen content using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy
Chlorophyll quantification in summer maize (Zea mays L.) leaves is the focus of this research, specifically at the jointing phenological stage. Based on field experiments and the correlation between canopy spectral characteristics and chlorophyll during typical growth stages, the spectral reflectance of corn leaf samples was determined using an ASD FieldSpec Pro spectrometer with a wavelength range of 350-2500 nm. Variations in spectral reflectance patterns were examined across different chlorophyll concentrations. The reflectance spectra underwent Savitzky-Golay 9-point smoothing, followed by preprocessing with MSC and SNV. Subsequently, first-derivative, second-derivative, and reciprocal logarithmic transformations were applied. PLSR was employed to establish optimal spectral estimation models for chlorophyll. The results provide a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for non-destructive crop growth monitoring and precision nitrogen management. Reflectance spectra processed with Savitzky-Golay 9-point smoothing combined with different transformations significantly improved the signal-to-noise ratio. Derivative transformations enhanced the correlation between spectral data and corn leaf chlorophyll content. Using highly correlated combination bands substantially improved model stability and predictive capability. For PLSR models, the optimal approach involved MSC processing of smoothed spectra followed by second-derivative transformation, achieving Rc²=0.9799, RMSEC=3.3027, and SEC=3.3225. The prediction models developed using various analytical approaches exhibited robust consistency and precise performance, facilitating efficient chlorophyll level assessment in large-scale maize fields. Bangladesh J. Bot. 54(3): 875-883, 2025 (September) Special