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Aquatic Plant Biology 2023
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Aquatic Plant Biology 2023

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 14731

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Fan Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
Interests: aquatic plant and freshwater environment; aquatic plant physiology; aquatic plant reproduction biology; plant–environmental factor interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Compared to terrestrial plants, aquatic plants are a small taxonomic group; however, aquatic plants play a significant role in the aquatic environment. As the key components in aquatic ecosystems, they are the basis of biodiversity in water bodies. Exploring the response of aquatic plants to the water environment, including but not limited to changes in plant reproductive strategies, morphological changes in plants, changes in physiological response mechanisms, and changes in molecular mechanisms, etc., is helpful to understand the co-existence mechanism of aquatic plants and the water environment and discover some special nutrient utilization mechanisms of this small taxon. It can also provide the theoretical basis for carrying out ecological restoration of water bodies by phytoremediation. This Special Issue of Plants aims to highlight the morphological, physiological, and molecular response of aquatic plants to the water environment, and the role of aquatic plants in water ecosystems.

Dr. Fan Liu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • aquatic plants
  • morphological changes
  • physiological responses
  • molecular mechanisms
  • aquatic plants and environments

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 5516 KiB  
Article
Ice-Ice Disease Prevalence and Intensity in Eucheumatoid Seaweed Farms: Seasonal Variability and Relationship with the Physicochemical and Meteorological Parameters
by Albaris B. Tahiluddin and Ertugrul Terzi
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2157; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152157 - 3 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1001
Abstract
Since its initial report in the Philippines in 1981, ice-ice disease (IID) remains a substantial threat to the sustainability of eucheumatoid seaweed production. However, comprehensive investigations into the prevalence, intensity, and potential relationships with physicochemical and meteorological parameters are limited, particularly in open-sea [...] Read more.
Since its initial report in the Philippines in 1981, ice-ice disease (IID) remains a substantial threat to the sustainability of eucheumatoid seaweed production. However, comprehensive investigations into the prevalence, intensity, and potential relationships with physicochemical and meteorological parameters are limited, particularly in open-sea farms. This is the first study to conduct a 12-month monitoring of IID prevalence and intensity in eucheumatoid seaweed farms in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. The research aimed to elucidate seasonal variations and potential associations with physicochemical and meteorological parameters. The findings revealed significant seasonal variations in IID prevalence, with a higher incidence observed during the dry season compared to the wet season. Additionally, deep-water farms exhibited significantly higher prevalence and ice-ice spot numbers per bundle compared to shallow-water farms. Furthermore, Kappaphycus striatus displayed a significantly greater ice-ice spot length per bundle compared to K. alvarezii. Notably, no interaction effects were observed among season, species, and depth. Interestingly, while no correlations were found between ice-ice disease and most measured physicochemical and meteorological parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, water current velocity, wind speed) or nutrient concentrations (phosphate, nitrate, nitrite), an inverse correlation (p < 0.05) emerged between ammonium levels and IID intensity parameters (number and length of ice-ice spot per bundle). Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between monthly rainfall and IID intensity. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamics of IID in open-sea eucheumatoid seaweed (Kappaphycus) farming, highlighting the influence of seasonality, depth, and species susceptibility, as well as the relationship between IID severity and ammonium levels and rainfall. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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14 pages, 2224 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Climate Change on the Distribution Pattern of Species Richness of Endemic Wetland Plants in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
by Yigang Li, Danzeng Zhaxi, Ling Yuan, Anming Li, Jianhua Li, Jinhu Wang, Xing Liu and Yixuan Liu
Plants 2024, 13(14), 1886; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13141886 - 9 Jul 2024
Viewed by 897
Abstract
Wetland ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), the region with the richest biodiversity and the most important ecological barrier function at high altitudes, are highly sensitive to global change, and wetland plants, which are important indicators of wetland ecosystem structure and function, are [...] Read more.
Wetland ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), the region with the richest biodiversity and the most important ecological barrier function at high altitudes, are highly sensitive to global change, and wetland plants, which are important indicators of wetland ecosystem structure and function, are also threatened by wetland degradation. Therefore, a comprehensive study of changes in the geographical distribution pattern of plant diversity, as well as species loss and turnover of wetlands in the QTP in the context of global climate change is of great importance for the conservation and restoration of wetland ecosystems in the QTP. In this study, species turnover and loss of 395 endemic wetland plants of the QTP were predicted based on the SSP2-4.5 climate change scenarios. The results showed that there were interspecific differences in the effects of climate change on the potential distribution of species, and that most endemic wetland plants would experience range contraction. Under the climate change scenarios, the loss of suitable wetland plant habitat is expected to occur mainly in parts of the southern, north-central and north-western parts of the plateau, while the gain is mainly concentrated in parts of the western Sichuan Plateau, the Qilian Mountains, the Three Rivers Source Region and the northern Tibetan Plateau. Overlaying the analysis of priority protected areas with the established protected areas in the QTP has resulted in the following conservation gaps: the eastern Himalayan region, midstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the transition zone between the northern Tibetan Plateau and the Hengduan Mountains, Minshan-Qionglai mountain, Anyemaqen Mountains (southeast) to Bayankala (southeast) mountains, the southern foothills of the Qilian Mountains and the northern Tibetan Plateau region. In the future, the study of wetland plant diversity in the QTP and the optimisation of protected areas should focus on the conservation gaps. This study is of great importance for the study and conservation of wetland plant diversity in the QTP, and also provides a scientific basis for predicting the response of wetland plants to climate change in the QTP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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14 pages, 1749 KiB  
Article
Response of Functional Traits of Aquatic Plants to Water Depth Changes under Short-Term Eutrophic Clear-Water Conditions: A Mesocosm Study
by Yang Liu, Leah Ndirangu, Wei Li, Junfeng Pan, Yu Cao and Erik Jeppesen
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101310 - 9 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1847
Abstract
Aquatic plants play a key role in the structuring and functioning of shallow lake ecosystems. However, eutrophication often triggers shifts in plant communities and species diversity, especially in the early stages when the water is still clear. Additionally, water depth is an important [...] Read more.
Aquatic plants play a key role in the structuring and functioning of shallow lake ecosystems. However, eutrophication often triggers shifts in plant communities and species diversity, especially in the early stages when the water is still clear. Additionally, water depth is an important factor regulating aquatic plant communities. We conducted a 50-day mesocosm study to investigate how water depth (50 cm and 100 cm) affected the functional traits (vertical expansion versus horizontal colonisation) of 20 aquatic plants under eutrophic clear-water conditions. Among the selected species, the submerged plants Hydrocotyle vulgaris and Limnophila indica exhibited higher plant height or biomass in deeper water, while the emergent plants Myriophyllum aquaticum showed the opposite trend. Additionally, Ludwigia peploides subsp. stipulacea exhibited better vertical growth than the remaining species, and the submerged species Vallisneria denseserrulata had better horizontal colonisation. There was a positive correlation between plant height and rhizome length, indicating the absence of a trade-off between vertical growth and horizontal expansion. Our findings suggest an overall resilience of aquatic plants to varying water depths within our study range and highlight the importance of analysing functional traits when selecting appropriate species in freshwater ecosystem restoration, particularly in the face of climate change-induced water depth fluctuations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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13 pages, 1782 KiB  
Article
Which Has a Greater Impact on Plant Functional Traits: Plant Source or Environment?
by Ling Xian, Jiao Yang, Samuel Wamburu Muthui, Wyckliffe Ayoma Ochieng, Elive Limunga Linda and Junshuang Yu
Plants 2024, 13(6), 903; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060903 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1331
Abstract
The deterioration of water quality caused by human activities has triggered significant impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Submerged macrophytes play an important role in freshwater ecosystem restoration. Understanding the relative contributions of the sources and environment to the adaptive strategies of submerged macrophytes is [...] Read more.
The deterioration of water quality caused by human activities has triggered significant impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Submerged macrophytes play an important role in freshwater ecosystem restoration. Understanding the relative contributions of the sources and environment to the adaptive strategies of submerged macrophytes is crucial for freshwater restoration and protection. In this study, the perennial submerged macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum was chosen as the experimental material due to its high adaptability to a variable environment. Through conducting reciprocal transplant experiments in two different artificial environments (oligotrophic and eutrophic), combined with trait network and redundancy analysis, the characteristics of the plant functional traits were examined. Furthermore, the adaptive strategies of M. spicatum to the environment were analyzed. The results revealed that the plant source mainly influenced the operational pattern among the traits, and the phenotypic traits were significantly affected by environmental factors. The plants cultured in high-nutrient water exhibited a higher plant height, longer leaves, and more branches and leaves. However, their physiological functions were not significantly affected by the environment. Therefore, the adaptation strategy of M. spicatum to the environment mainly relies on its phenotypic plasticity to ensure the moderate acquisition of resources in the environment, thereby ensuring the stable and efficient operation of plant physiological traits. The results not only offered compelling evidence on the adaptation strategies of M. spicatum in variable environments but also provided theoretical support for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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15 pages, 7007 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification and Co-Expression Networks of WOX Gene Family in Nelumbo nucifera
by Juan-juan Li, Xiao-yan Qiu, Yu-jun Dai, Tonny M. Nyonga and Chang-chun Li
Plants 2024, 13(5), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050720 - 4 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1405
Abstract
WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) genes are a class of plant-specific transcription factors, regulating the development of multiple tissues. However, the genomic characterizations and expression patterns of WOX genes have not been analyzed in lotus. In this study, 15 NnWOX genes were identified [...] Read more.
WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) genes are a class of plant-specific transcription factors, regulating the development of multiple tissues. However, the genomic characterizations and expression patterns of WOX genes have not been analyzed in lotus. In this study, 15 NnWOX genes were identified based on the well-annotated reference genome of lotus. According to the phylogenetic analysis, the NnWOX genes were clustered into three clades, i.e., ancient clade, intermediate clade, and WUS clade. Except for the conserved homeobox motif, we further found specific motifs of NnWOX genes in different clades and divergence gene structures, suggesting their distinct functions. In addition, two NnWOX genes in the ancient clade have conserved expression patterns and other NnWOX genes exhibit different expression patterns in lotus tissues, suggesting a low level of functional redundancy in lotus WOX genes. Furthermore, we constructed the gene co-expression networks for each NnWOX gene. Based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), ten NnWOX genes and their co-expressed genes were assigned to the modules that were significantly related to the cotyledon and seed coat. We further performed RT-qPCR experiments, validating the expression levels of ten NnWOX genes in the co-expression networks. Our study reveals comprehensive genomic features of NnWOX genes in lotus, providing a solid basis for further function studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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19 pages, 4373 KiB  
Article
Ecotype-Specific and Correlated Seasonal Responses of Biomass Production, Non-Structural Carbohydrates, and Fatty Acids in Zostera marina
by Pedro Beca-Carretero, Clara Marín, Tomás Azcárate-García, Claudia L. Cara, Fernando Brun and Dagmar B. Stengel
Plants 2024, 13(3), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13030396 - 29 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1321
Abstract
Seagrasses, which are marine flowering plants, provide numerous ecological services and goods. Zostera marina is the most widely distributed seagrass in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions. This study aimed to (i) examine seasonal trends [...] Read more.
Seagrasses, which are marine flowering plants, provide numerous ecological services and goods. Zostera marina is the most widely distributed seagrass in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions. This study aimed to (i) examine seasonal trends and correlations between key seagrass traits such as biomass production and biochemical composition, and (ii) compare seasonal adaptation of two ecotypes of Z. marina exposed to similar environmental conditions on the west coast of Ireland. During summer, plants accumulated higher levels of energetic compounds and levels of unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) decreased. Conversely, the opposite trend was observed during colder months. These findings indicate a positive seasonal correlation between the production of non-structural carbohydrates and saturated fatty acids (SFAs), suggesting that seagrasses accumulate and utilize both energetic compounds simultaneously during favorable and unfavorable environmental conditions. The two ecotypes displayed differential seasonal responses by adjusting plant morphology and production, the utilization of energetic reserves, and modulating unsaturation levels of fatty acids in seagrass leaves. These results underscore the correlated seasonal responses of key compounds, capturing ecotype-specific environmental adaptations and ecological strategies, emphasizing the robust utility of these traits as a valuable eco-physiological tool. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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14 pages, 4322 KiB  
Article
Negative Effects of Butachlor on the Growth and Physiology of Four Aquatic Plants
by Yixuan Huang, Suting Zhao, Ling Xian, Wei Li, Cunyu Zhou and Junyao Sun
Plants 2024, 13(2), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13020304 - 19 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1873
Abstract
The increasing use of herbicides in intelligent agricultural production is driven by the time-consuming nature of manual weeding, as well as its ephemeral effectiveness. However, herbicides like butachlor degrade slowly and can be washed away by rainwater, ultimately flowing into the farm ponds [...] Read more.
The increasing use of herbicides in intelligent agricultural production is driven by the time-consuming nature of manual weeding, as well as its ephemeral effectiveness. However, herbicides like butachlor degrade slowly and can be washed away by rainwater, ultimately flowing into the farm ponds and posing risks to aquatic plants. To identify and recommend superior restoration strategies that effectively address the challenges posed by butachlor, we investigated the impacts of butachlor on the growth and physiology of four common aquatic plants (i.e., Hydrilla verticillata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Potamogeton maackianus, and Myriophyllum aquaticum) and their potential role in mitigating environmental damage by reducing residual herbicide levels. Our findings indicated that M. aquaticum was tolerant to butachlor, exhibiting higher growth rates than other species when exposed to various butachlor concentrations. However, the concentration of butachlor negatively impacted the growth of H. verticillata, C. demersum, and P. maackianus, with higher concentrations leading to more significant inhibitory effects. After a 15-day experimental period, aquatic plants reduced the butachlor residuals in culture mediums across concentrations of 0.5 mg/L, 1 mg/L, and 2 mg/L compared to non-plant controls. Our findings classified P. maackianus as butachlor-sensitive and M. aquaticum as butachlor-tolerant species. This investigation represents novel research aimed at elucidating the contrasting effects of different concentrations of butachlor on four common aquatic species in the agricultural multi-pond system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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12 pages, 2543 KiB  
Article
Climate Change Potentially Leads to Habitat Expansion and Increases the Invasion Risk of Hydrocharis (Hydrocharitaceae)
by Jiongming Yang, Zhihao Fu, Keyan Xiao, Hongjin Dong, Yadong Zhou and Qinghua Zhan
Plants 2023, 12(24), 4124; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12244124 - 10 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1473
Abstract
Climate change is a crucial factor impacting the geographical distribution of plants and potentially increases the risk of invasion for certain species, especially for aquatic plants dispersed by water flow. Here, we combined six algorithms provided by the biomod2 platform to predict the [...] Read more.
Climate change is a crucial factor impacting the geographical distribution of plants and potentially increases the risk of invasion for certain species, especially for aquatic plants dispersed by water flow. Here, we combined six algorithms provided by the biomod2 platform to predict the changes in global climate-suitable areas for five species of Hydrocharis (Hydrocharitaceae) (H. chevalieri, H. dubia, H. laevigata, H. morsus-ranae, and H. spongia) under two current and future carbon emission scenarios. Our results show that H. dubia, H. morsus-ranae, and H. laevigata had a wide range of suitable areas and a high risk of invasion, while H. chevalieri and H. spongia had relatively narrow suitable areas. In the future climate scenario, the species of Hydrocharis may gain a wider habitat area, with Northern Hemisphere species showing a trend of migration to higher latitudes and the change in tropical species being more complex. The high-carbon-emission scenario led to greater changes in the habitat area of Hydrocharis. Therefore, we recommend strengthening the monitoring and reporting of high-risk species and taking effective measures to control the invasion of Hydrocharis species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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15 pages, 5887 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis of Macrophytes’ Myriophyllum spicatum Response to Ammonium Nitrogen Stress Using the Whole Plant Individual
by Wyckliffe Ayoma Ochieng, Li Wei, Godfrey Kinyori Wagutu, Ling Xian, Samuel Wamburu Muthui, Stephen Ogada, Duncan Ochieng Otieno, Elive Limunga Linda and Fan Liu
Plants 2023, 12(22), 3875; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12223875 - 16 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1426
Abstract
Ammonium toxicity in macrophytes reduces growth and development due to a disrupted metabolism and high carbon requirements for internal ammonium detoxification. To provide more molecular support for ammonium detoxification in the above-ground and below-ground parts of Myriophyllum spicatum, we separated (using hermetic [...] Read more.
Ammonium toxicity in macrophytes reduces growth and development due to a disrupted metabolism and high carbon requirements for internal ammonium detoxification. To provide more molecular support for ammonium detoxification in the above-ground and below-ground parts of Myriophyllum spicatum, we separated (using hermetic bags) the aqueous medium surrounding the below-ground from that surrounding the above-ground and explored the genes in these two regions. The results showed an upregulation of asparagine synthetase genes under high ammonium concentrations. Furthermore, the transcriptional down and/or upregulation of other genes involved in nitrogen metabolism, including glutamate dehydrogenase, ammonium transporter, and aspartate aminotransferase in above-ground and below-ground parts were crucial for ammonium homeostasis under high ammonium concentrations. The results suggest that, apart from the primary pathway and alternative pathway, the asparagine metabolic pathway plays a crucial role in ammonium detoxification in macrophytes. Therefore, the complex genetic regulatory network in M. spicatum contributes to its ammonium tolerance, and the above-ground part is the most important in ammonium detoxification. Nevertheless, there is a need to incorporate an open-field experimental setup for a conclusive picture of nitrogen dynamics, toxicity, and the molecular response of M. spicatum in the natural environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Biology 2023)
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