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1. The AusTraits plant dictionary

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03368-z  

   Wenk, Elizabeth H; Sauquet, Hervé; Gallagher, Rachael V; Brownlee, Rowan; Boettiger, Carl; Coleman, David; Yang, Sophie; Auld, Tony; Barrett, Russell; Brodribb, Timothy; et al (December 2024, Scientific Data)

   Abstract Traits with intuitive names, a clear scope and explicit description are essential for all trait databases. The lack of unified, comprehensive, and machine-readable plant trait definitions limits the utility of trait databases, including reanalysis of data from a single database, or analyses that integrate data across multiple databases. Both can only occur if researchers are confident the trait concepts are consistent within and across sources. Here we describe the AusTraits Plant Dictionary (APD), a new data source of terms that extends the trait definitions included in a recent trait database, AusTraits. The development process of the APD included three steps: review and formalisation of the scope of each trait and the accompanying trait description; addition of trait metadata; and publication in both human and machine-readable forms. Trait definitions include keywords, references, and links to related trait concepts in other databases, enabling integration of AusTraits with other sources. The APD will both improve the usability of AusTraits and foster the integration of trait data across global and regional plant trait databases. 

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2. Invasive plant benefits a native plant through plant-soil feedback but remains the superior competitor

   https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.64.57746  

   Buerdsell, Sherri L.; Milligan, Brook G.; Lehnhoff, Erik A. (January 2021, NeoBiota)

   null (Ed.)

   Plant soil feedback (PSF) occurs when a plant modifies soil biotic properties and those changes in turn influence plant growth, survival or reproduction. These feedback effects are not well understood as mechanisms for invasive plant species. Eragrostis lehmanniana is an invasive species that has extensively colonized the southwest US. To address how PSFs may affect E. lehmanniana invasion and native Bouteloua gracilis growth, soil inoculant from four sites of known invasion age at the Appleton-Whittell Audubon Research Ranch in Sonoita, AZ were used in a PSF greenhouse study, incorporating a replacement series design. The purpose of this research was to evaluate PSF conspecific and heterospecific effects and competition outcomes between the invasive E. lehmanniana and a native forage grass, Bouteloua gracilis . Eragrostis lehmanniana PSFs were beneficial to B. gracilis if developed in previously invaded soil. Plant-soil feedback contributed to competitive suppression of B. gracilis only in the highest ratio of E. lehmanniana to B. gracilis . Plant-soil feedback did not provide an advantage to E. lehmanniana in competitive interactions with B. gracilis at low competition levels but were advantageous to E. lehmanniana at the highest competition ratio, indicating a possible density-dependent effect. Despite being beneficial to B. gracilis under many conditions, E. lehmanniana was the superior competitor. 

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3. Plant exocytosis: Weaving distinct pathways to the plant plasma membrane

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2022.02.003  

   Nielsen, Erik (March 2022, Molecular Plant)
4. Manipulating plant microbiomes in the field: Native mycorrhizae advance plant succession and improve native plant restoration

   https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14036  

   Koziol, Liz; Bauer, Jonathan T.; Duell, Eric B.; Hickman, Karen; House, Geoffrey L.; Schultz, Peggy A.; Tipton, Alice G.; Wilson, Gail W. T.; Bever, James D. (October 2021, Journal of Applied Ecology)

   Abstract The plant microbiome is critical to plant health and is degraded with anthropogenic disturbance. However, the value of re‐establishing the native microbiome is rarely considered in ecological restoration. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are particularly important microbiome components, as they associate with most plants, and later successional grassland plants are strongly responsive to native AM fungi.With five separate sites across the United States, we inoculated mid‐ and late successional plant seedlings with one of three types of native microbiome amendments: (a) whole rhizosphere soil collected from local old‐growth, undisturbed grassland communities in Illinois, Kansas or Oklahoma, (b) laboratory cultured AM fungi from these same old‐growth grassland sites or (c) no microbiome amendment. We also seeded each restoration with a diverse native seed mixture. Plant establishment and growth was followed for three growing seasons.The reintroduction of soil microbiome from native ecosystems improved restoration establishment.Including only native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities produced similar improvements in plant establishment as what was found with whole soil microbiome amendment. These findings were robust across plant functional groups.Inoculated plants (amended with either AM fungi or whole soil) also grew more leaves and were generally taller during the three growing seasons.Synthesis and applications. Our research shows that mycorrhizal fungi can accelerate plant succession and that the reintroduction of both whole soil and laboratory cultivated native mycorrhizal fungi can be used as tools to improve native plant restoration following anthropogenic disturbance. 

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5. Engineering the Plant Microenvironment To Facilitate Plant-Growth-Promoting Microbe Association

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00138  

   Zvinavashe, Augustine T.; Mardad, Ilham; Mhada, Manal; Kouisni, Lamfeddal; Marelli, Benedetto (November 2021, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry)