Accelerating adoption of species-agnostic plant sensors for precision farming
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Metabolite-driven mechanisms reveal chemical ecology of Lehmann Lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) invasion in North American semi-arid ecosystems
Invasive plants threaten global ecosystems, yet traditional analyses of functional traits cannot fully explain their dominance over co-occurring natives. Metabolomics offers insights into plant invasions, but single-technique studies often miss critical biochemical mechanisms. We employ a multimodal metabolomics approach (¹H NMR, LC MS/MS, FT-ICR-MS, and MALDI-MSI) to investigate the biochemical basis of Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) invasion in semi-arid North America, comparing it with a co-occurring native grass, Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica). Our analysis reveals three metabolomic traits of Lehmann lovegrass compared to Arizona cottontop: Enhanced nitrogen allocation in shoots, reduced defensive metabolites in root layers; and increased root exudate modulation under stress conditions. These traits suggest Lehmann lovegrass succeeds through adaptation to increasing aridity rather than direct competition, demonstrating adaptation to nutrient-poor environments and high phenotypic plasticity in response to increasing aridity. This integrated metabolomic approach provides new mechanistic insights into invasion ecology and plant adaptation under environmental change.
Submersible touchless interactivity in conformable textiles enabled by highly selective overbraided magnetoresistive sensors
Miniature electronics positioned within textile braids leverages the persistent flexibility and comfort of textiles constructed from electronics with 1D form factors. Here, we developed touchless interactivity within textiles using 1D overbraided magnetic field sensors. Our integration strategy minimally impacts the performance of flexible giant magnetoresistive sensors, yielding machine-washable sensors that maintain conformability when integrated in traditional fabrics. These overbraided magnetoresistive sensors exhibit a detectivity down to 380 nT and a nearly isotropic magnetoresistance amplitude response, facilitating intuitive touchless interaction. The interactivity is possible even in humid environments, including underwater, opening reliable activation in day-to-day and specialized applications. To showcase capabilities of overbraided magnetoresistive sensors, we demonstrate a functional armband for navigation control in virtual reality environments and a self-monitoring safety helmet strap. This approach bridges the integration gap between on-skin and rigid magnetic interfaces, paving the way for highly reliable, comfortable, interactive textiles across entertainment, safety, and sportswear.
The mechanism effects of root exudate on microbial community of rhizosphere soil of tree, shrub, and grass in forest ecosystem under N deposition
Forests are composed of various plant species, and rhizosphere soil microbes are driven by root exudates. However, the interplay between root exudates, microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of canopy trees, understory shrubs, grasses, and their responses to nitrogen (N) deposition remains unclear. Pinus tabulaeformis, Rosa xanthina, and Carex lancifolia were used to investigate root exudates, rhizosphere soil microbial communities, and their responses to N application in forest ecosystem. Root exudate abundances of P. tabulaeformis were significantly higher than that of R. xanthina and C. lancifolia, with carbohydrates dominating P. tabulaeformis and R. xanthina root exudates, fatty acids prevailing in C. lancifolia root exudates. Following N application, root exudate abundances of P. tabulaeformis and R. xanthina initially increased before decreasing, whereas those of C. lancifolia decreased. Microbial number of rhizosphere soil of C. lancifolia was higher than that of P. tabulaeformis and R. xanthina, but there was insignificant variation of rhizosphere soil microbial diversity among plant species. N application exerted promotional and inhibitory impacts on bacterial and fungal numbers, respectively, while bacterial and fungal diversities were increased by N application. Overall, N application had negative effects on root exudates of P. tabulaeformis, inhibiting rhizosphere soil microbial populations. N application suppressed rhizosphere soil microbial populations by increasing root exudates of R. xanthina. Conversely, N application elevated nutrient content in the rhizosphere soil of C. lancifolia, reducing root exudates and minimally promoting microbial populations. This study highlights the importance of understory vegetation in shaping soil microbial communities within forests under N deposition.
A case for assemblage-level conservation to address the biodiversity crisis
Traditional conservation efforts have centred on safeguarding individual species, but these strategies have limitations in a world where entire ecosystems are rapidly changing. Ecosystem conservation can maintain critical ecological functions, but often lacks the detail necessary for the effective conservation of threatened or endangered species. The conservation of such species is mandated by policies and remains a dominant focus of natural resource management. In this Perspective, we propose that assemblage-level conservation targeting groups of taxonomically related or functionally similar species can bridge the gap between species and ecosystems and help to address global biodiversity loss. This approach has previously been limited by data and methodological constraints, but the ongoing growth of biodiversity data, advances in ecological modelling and breakthroughs in computational power have now made effective assemblage-level conservation feasible. Community models provide insights at both the species level and the assemblage level while appropriately accounting for species variability in detection during sampling and uncertainty in biological inferences. Assemblage-level conservation can link both species-specific needs and broader ecological dynamics, ultimately enabling effective strategies for conserving threatened species, ecological communities and ecosystem functions.
Endosymbionts modulate virus effects on aphid-plant interactions
Vector-borne pathogens frequently modify traits of their primary hosts and vectors in ways that influence disease transmission. Such effects can themselves be altered by the presence of other microbial symbionts, yet we currently have limited understanding of these interactions. Here we show that effects of pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) on interactions between host plants and aphid vectors are modulated by the presence of different aphid endosymbionts. In a series of laboratory assays, we found strong interactive effects of virus infection and endosymbionts on aphid metabolomic profiles, population growth, behavior, and virus transmission during aphid feeding. Furthermore, the strongest effects—and those predicted to favor virus transmission—were most apparent in aphid lines harboring particular endosymbionts. These findings show that virus effects on host-vector interactions can be strongly influenced by other microbial symbionts and suggest a potentially important role for such interactions in disease ecology and evolution.
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