Utilizing data platform management to implement "5W" analysis framework for preventing and controlling corruption in grassroots government.

In the era of information technology advancement, big data analysis has emerged as a crucial tool for government governance. Despite this, corruption remains a challenge at the grass-roots level, primarily attributed to information asymmetry. To enhance the efficacy of corruption prevention and control in grass-roots government, this study introduces the concept of data platform management and integrates it with the "5W" (Who, What, When, Where, Why) analysis framework. The research is motivated by the observation that existing studies on corruption prevention primarily concentrate on the formulation of laws and regulations, neglecting the potential improvement in actual effectiveness through the utilization of data platforms and analytical frameworks. The research employs methodologies grounded in the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis framework, the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle analysis framework, and the 5W analysis framework. Throughout the iterative process of implementing data platform management, various timeframes are established, and the impact of the three models is evaluated using indicators such as public participation and government satisfaction. The research reveals that the SWOT framework can formulate targeted strategies, the PDCA framework continuously optimizes work processes, and the 5W framework profoundly explores the root causes of corruption. The outcomes indicate a 10.76% increase in the public participation level score with the 5W model, rising from 71.67%, and a 23.24% increase in the governance efficiency score, reaching 66.12%. The SWOT model excels in case handling prescription and corruption reporting rate. The synergistic application of the three models demonstrates a positive impact. In conclusion, the amalgamation of data platform management and a multi-model approach effectively enhances the corruption prevention capabilities of grass-roots governments, offering insights for the establishment of transparent and efficient grass-roots governance.

Analysis of bitter compounds in traditional preparations of Gentiana purpurea L.

Roots of Gentiana purpurea are known to have an intense bitter taste due to its high content of secoiridoids. In folk medicine roots have commonly been prepared as water decoctions, soaked in ethanol, or boiled with milk, wine, or beer. The aim of this study was to explore how various historical preparation methods influence yields of major bitter compounds in G. purpurea. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that maceration with 40% and 70% ethanol, boiling with acetic acid (3% and 6%), vinegar and raw milk gave the highest extraction yields of gentiopicrin. Erythrocentaurin was detected when the roots were added to cold water before boiling, possibly because of enzymatic degradation. In contrast, erythrocentaurin was not detected in preparations where roots were added to boiling water, or when they were extracted with acetic acid or alcohol. The results stress the significance of traditional preparation methods to optimize yield of bioactive compounds.

The effects of dune plant roots on loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nest success.

Sand dunes are supported by the extensive root systems of dune plants that anchor the dune and protect it from erosion. While all plants that grow on the dunes support their structure, invasive plants can outcompete the native and non-native dune plants for resources such as nutrients, sunlight, and space to grow. During the summer, sea turtles lay nests on beaches and near dunes; however, their eggs and hatchlings are at risk of destruction and entrapment by dune plant root penetration. Dune plant roots can penetrate sea turtle nest cavities, thus decreasing hatch success of the eggs and emergence success of the hatchlings. We aimed to determine how plant roots impact threatened loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests on Casey Key, Sarasota County, Florida, USA and to assess the factors affecting plant root invasion. Specifically, we determined the effect of plant roots on loggerhead sea turtle nest success, the extent of the impact of invasive plants over non-invasive plants on nests, and if the distance from the dune (barrier) affects whether roots will penetrate the nest. From July to August 2022, we excavated 93 nests to determine the extent of root penetration and identify associated plant species. This field campaign was supported by a long-term dataset (1987-2022) on loggerhead sea turtle nesting across the region. We found that root presence decreased hatch success by 21% and emergence success by 18%, compared to nests that lacked roots within the nest chamber. Nests closer to the dune were more likely to have a higher proportion of root damage and lower hatch and emergence success. This study helps advance understanding of how native and non-native plants affect sea turtle reproductive success and helps inform coastal management aimed at conserving threatened loggerhead populations.

Endoscopically-assisted extraction of broken roots or fragments within the mandibular canal: a retrospective case series study.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of endoscope-assisted fractured roots or fragments extraction within the mandibular canal, along with quantitative sensory testing (QST) alterations in the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). METHODS: Six patients with lower lip numbness following mandibular third molar extraction were selected. All patients had broken roots or fragments within the mandibular canal that were extracted under real-time endoscopic assistance. Follow-up assessments were conducted on postoperative days 1, 7, and 35, including a standardized QST of the lower lip skin. RESULTS: The average surgical duration was 32.5 min, with the IAN exposed in all cases. Two of the patient exhibited complete recovery of lower lip numbness, three experienced symptom improvement, and one patient remained unaffected 35 days after the surgery. Preoperative QST results showed that the mechanical detection and pain thresholds on the affected side were significantly higher than those on the healthy side, but improved significantly by postoperative day 7 in five patients, and returned to baseline in two patients on day 35. There were no significant differences in the remaining QST parameters. CONCLUSIONS: All endoscopic surgical procedures were successfully completed without any additional postoperative complications. There were no cases of deterioration of IAN injury, and lower lip numbness recovered in the majority of cases. Endoscopy allowed direct visualization and examination of the affected nerve, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of the IAN.

Biotechnological interventions for the production of forskolin, an active compound from the medicinal plant, Coleus forskohlii.

Coleus forskohlii, an Indian-origin medicinal plant is the sole natural source of the labdane terpenoid forskolin (C22H34O7), with growing demand. Forskolin emerged as an industrially important bioactive compound, with many therapeutic applications in human health. It has established potential effects in the treatment of various diseases and conditions such as glaucoma, asthma, obesity, allergies, skin conditions and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, clinical trials against different types of cancers are progressing. The mechanism of action of forskolin mainly involves activating adenylyl cyclase and elevating cAMP, thereby regulating different cellular processes. For the extraction of forskolin, tuberous roots of C. forskohlii are used as they contain the highest concentration of this metabolite. Approximately 2500 tonnes of the plant are cultivated annually to produce a yield of 2000-2200 kg ha-1 of dry tubers. The forskolin content of the root is distributed in the range of 0.01-1%, which cannot meet the increasing commercial demands from industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, dietary supplements, food and beverages. Hence, various aspects of micropropagation with different culture methods that employ precursors or elicitors to improve the forskolin content have been explored. Different extraction and analytical methods are also introduced to examine the yield and purity of forskolin. This review discusses the significance, clinical importance, mechanism of action and different approaches used for mass production including tissue culture for the lead compound forskolin to meet market needs.

PAT mRNA decapping factors are required for proper development in Arabidopsis.

Evolutionarily conserved protein associated with topoisomerase II (PAT1) proteins activate mRNA decay through binding mRNA and recruiting decapping factors to optimize posttranscriptional reprogramming. Here, we generated multiple mutants of pat1, pat1 homolog 1 (path1), and pat1 homolog 2 (path2) and discovered that pat triple mutants exhibit extremely stunted growth and all mutants with pat1 exhibit leaf serration while mutants with pat1 and path1 display short petioles. All three PATs can be found localized to processing bodies and all PATs can target ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 2-LIKE 9 transcripts for decay to finely regulate apical hook and lateral root development. In conclusion, PATs exhibit both specific and redundant functions during different plant growth stages and our observations underpin the selective regulation of the mRNA decay machinery for proper development.

Effect of Cd(II) adsorption onto rice roots on its uptake by different indica and japonica rice varieties and toxicity effect of Cd(II) under acidic conditions.

The rapid increase in soil acidity coupled with the deleterious effects of cadmium (Cd) toxicity had led to a decline in worldwide agricultural production. Rice absorbs and accumulates Cd(II) from polluted paddy soils, increasing human health risks throughout the food chain. A 35-day hydroponic experiment with four japonica and four indica (two each of them tolerant and sensitive cultivars) was conducted in this study to investigate the adsorption and absorption of Cd(II) by rice roots as related with surface chemical properties of the roots. The results showed that the three chemical forms of exchangeable, complexed, and precipitated Cd(II) increased with the increase in Cd(II) concentration for all rice cultivars. The roots of indica rice cultivars carried more negative charges and had greater functional groups and thus adsorbed more exchangeable and complexed Cd(II) than those of japonica rice cultivars. This led to more absorption of Cd(II) by the roots and greater toxicity of Cd(II) to the roots of indica rice cultivars and more inhibition of Cd(II) stress on the growth of the roots and whole plants of indica rice cultivars compared with japonica rice cultivars, which was one of the main reasons for more declines in the biomass and length of indica rice roots and shoots than japonica rice cultivars. Cd(II) stress showed more toxicity to the sensitive rice cultivars and thus greater inhibition on the growth of the cultivars due to more exchangeable and complexed Cd(II) adsorbed by their roots induced by more negative charges and functional groups on the roots compared with tolerant rice cultivar for both indica and japonica, which resulted in greater decreases in the biomass and length of roots and shoots as well as chlorophyll contents of the sensitive cultivars than the tolerant cultivars. The roots of sensitive rice cultivars also absorbed more Cd(II) than tolerant rice cultivars due to the same reasons as above. These findings will provide useful references for the safe utilization and health risk prevention of Cd-contaminated paddy fields.

Contrasting shrub and grass hydraulic responses to experimental drought.

Whole-plant hydraulics provide important information about responses to water limitation and can be used to understand how plant communities may change in a drier climate when measured on multiple species. Here, we measured above- and belowground hydraulic traits in Cornus drummondii, an encroaching shrub within North American tallgrass prairies, and Andropogon gerardii, a dominant C4 grass, to assess the potential hydraulic responses to future drought as this region undergoes woody expansion. Shelters that reduced precipitation by 50% and 0% were built over shrubs and grasses growing in sites that are burned at 1-year and 4-year frequencies. We then measured aboveground (Kshoot), belowground (Kroot), and whole-plant maximum hydraulic conductance (Kplant) in C. drummondii and Kroot in A. gerardii. We also measured vulnerability to embolism (P50) in C. drummondii stems. Overall, we show that: (1) A. gerardii had substantially greater Kroot than C. drummondii; (2) belowground hydraulic functioning was linked with aboveground processes; (3) above- and belowground C. drummondii hydraulics were not negatively impacted by the rainfall reductions imposed here. These results suggest that a multi-year drought will not ameliorate rates of woody expansion and highlight key differences in aboveground and belowground hydraulics for dominant species within the same ecosystem.

Molecular networking-based mass spectral identification of Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. metabolites and their selective binding affinities for dengue virus enzymes.

Brucea javanica, a valued traditional medicinal plant in Malaysia, known for its fever-treating properties yet remains underexplored for its potential antiviral properties against dengue. This study aims to simultaneously identify chemical classes and metabolites within B. javanica using molecular networking (MN), by Global Natural Product Social (GNPS), and SIRIUS in silico annotation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS2)-based MN explores chemical diversity across four plant parts (leaves, roots, fruits, and stem bark), revealing diverse metabolites such as tryptophan-derived alkaloids, terpenoids, and octadecadenoids. Simultaneous LC-MS2 and MN analyses reveal a discriminative capacity for individual plant components, with roots accumulating tryptophan alkaloids, fruits concentrating quassinoids, leaves containing fusidanes, and stem bark primarily characterised by simple indoles. Subsequently, extracts were evaluated for dengue antiviral activity using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and plaque assays, indicates potent efficacy in the dichloromethane (DCM) extract from roots (EC50 = 0.3 µg/mL, SI = 10). Molecular docking analysis of two major compounds; canthin-6-one (264) and 1-hydroxy-11-methoxycanthin-6-one (275) showed potential binding interactions with active sites of NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of dengue virus (DENV) protein. Subsequent in vitro evaluation revealed compounds 264 and 275 had a promising dengue antiviral activity with SI value of 63 and 1.85. These identified metabolites emerge as potential candidates for further evaluation in dengue antiviral activities.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: Enhanced production of withanolides and phenolic acids from hairy root culture after application of elicitors.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is an important indigenous medicinal plant with extensive pharmaceutical potential. The root is the main source of major bioactive compounds of this plant species including withanolides, withanine, phenolic acids, etc. Hairy root culture (HRC) is a crucial method for low-cost production of active compounds on a large scale. Four different Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains have been used for the hairy root induction. Maximum transformation efficiency (87.34 ± 2.13%) was achieved with A4 bacterial strain-mediated transformed culture. The genetic transformation was confirmed by using specific primers of seven different genes. Seven HR (Hairy root) lines were selected after screening 29 HR lines based on their fast growth rate and high accumulation of withanolides and phenolic acids content. Two biotic and three abiotic elicitors were applied to the elite root line to trigger more accumulation of withanolides and phenolic acids. While all the elicitors effectively increased withanolides and phenolic acids production, among the five different elicitors, salicylic acid (4.14 mg l-1) induced 11.49 -fold increase in withanolides (89.07 ± 2.75 mg g-1 DW) and 5.34- fold increase in phenolic acids (83.69 ± 3.11 mg g- 1 DW) after 5 days of elicitation compared to the non-elicited culture (7.75 ± 0.63 mg g-1 DW of withanolides and 15.66 ± 0.92 mg g-1 DW of phenolic acids). These results suggest that elicitors can tremendously increase the biosynthesis of active compounds in this system; thus, the HRC of W. somnifera is cost-effective and can be efficiently used for the industrial production of withanolides and phenolic acids.

Deep eutectic solvent-based shaking-assisted extraction for determination of bioactive compounds from Norway spruce roots.

Polyphenolic compounds play an essential role in plant growth, reproduction, and defense mechanisms against pathogens and environmental stresses. Extracting these compounds is the initial step in assessing phytochemical changes, where the choice of extraction method significantly influences the extracted analytes. However, due to environmental factors, analyzing numerous samples is necessary for statistically significant results, often leading to the use of harmful organic solvents for extraction. Therefore, in this study, a novel DES-based shaking-assisted extraction procedure for the separation of polyphenolic compounds from plant samples followed by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis was developed. The DES was prepared from choline chloride (ChCl) as the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and fructose (Fru) as the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) at various molar ratios with the addition of 30% water to reduce viscosity. Several experimental variables affecting extraction efficiency were studied and optimized using one-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) and confirmed by response surface design (RS). Nearly the same experimental conditions were obtained using both optimization methods and were set as follows: 30 mg of sample, 300 mg of ChCl:Fru 1:2 DES containing 30% w/w of water, 500 rpm shaking speed, 30 min extraction time, 10°C extraction temperature. The results were compared with those obtained using conventional solvents, such as ethanol, methanol and water, whereby the DES-based shaking-assisted extraction method showed a higher efficiency than the classical procedures. The greenness of the developed method was compared with the greenness of existing procedures for the extraction of polyphenolic substances from solid plant samples using the complementary green analytical procedure index (ComplexGAPI) approach, while the results for the developed method were better or comparable to the existing ones. In addition, the practicability of the developed procedure was evaluated by application of the blue applicability grade index (BAGI) metric. The developed procedure was applied to the determination of spruce root samples with satisfactory results and has the potential for use in the analysis of similar plant samples.

The metabolic fingerprint of Scots pine - root and needle metabolites show different patterns in dying trees.

The loss of leaves and needles in tree crowns and tree mortality are increasing worldwide, mostly as a result of more frequent and severe drought stress. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is a tree species that is strongly affected by these developments in many regions of Europe and Asia. So far, changes in metabolic pathways and metabolite profiles in needles and roots on the trajectory towards mortality are unknown, although they could contribute to a better understanding of the mortality mechanisms. Therefore, we linked long-term observations of canopy defoliation and tree mortality with the characterization of the primary metabolite profile in needles and fine roots of Scots pines from a forest site in the Swiss Rhone valley. Our results show that Scots pines are able to maintain metabolic homeostasis in needles over a wide range of canopy defoliation levels. However, there is a metabolic tipping point at around 80-85% needle loss. Above this threshold, many stress-related metabolites (particularly osmoprotectants, defense compounds and antioxidants) increase in the needles, whereas they decrease in the fine roots. If this defoliation tipping point is exceeded, the trees are very likely to die within a few years. The different patterns between needles and roots indicate that mainly belowground carbon starvation impairs key functions for tree survival and suggests that this is an important factor explaining the increasing mortality of Scots pines.

Callus Induction Followed by Regeneration and Hairy Root Induction in Common Buckwheat.

This section describes a set of methods for callus induction followed by the successful regeneration of whole plants and obtaining a culture of transgenic hairy roots from buckwheat plants (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.). Callus induction and regeneration are key steps for many biotechnological, genetic, and breeding approaches, such as genetic modification, production of biologically active compounds, and propagation of valuable germplasm. Induction of hairy roots using Agrobacterium rhizogenes is also an important tool for functional gene research and plant genome modification. While many efforts were invested into the development of the corresponding protocols, they are not equally efficient for different cultivars. Here, we have tested and optimized the protocols of callus induction, regeneration, and transformation using A. rhizogenes for a set of cultivars of F. esculentum, including wild ancestor of cultivated buckwheat F. esculentum ssp. ancestrale and a self-pollinated accession KK8. The optimal medium for callus induction is Murashige-Skoog basal medium with 3% sucrose which includes hormones 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid 2 mg/L and kinetin 2 mg/L; for shoot initiation 6-benzylaminopurine 2 mg/L, kinetin 0.2 mg/L, and indole-3-acetic acid 0.2 mg/L; for shoot multiplication 6-benzylaminopurine 3 mg/L and indole-3-acetic acid 0.2 mg/L; and for root initiation half-strength Murashige-Skoog medium with 1.5% sucrose and indole-3-butyric acid 1 mg/L. A. rhizogenes R1000 strain proved to be the most efficient in inducing hairy roots in buckwheat and T-DNA transfer from binary vectors. Seedling explants cut at the root area and immersed in agrobacterium suspension, as well as prickling the cotyledonary area with agrobacteria dipped syringe needle, are the most labor-effective methods of infection, allowing to initiate hairy root growth in 100% of explants.

A transcriptomic dataset for investigating the Arabidopsis Unfolded Protein Response under chronic, proteotoxic endoplasmic reticulum stress.

The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a retrograde, ER-to-nucleus, signalling pathway which is conserved across kingdoms. In plants, it contributes to development, reproduction, immunity and tolerance to abiotic stress. This RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) dataset was produced from 14-day-old Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings challenged by tunicamycin (Tm), an antibiotic inhibiting Asn-linked glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), causing an ER stress and eventually activating the UPR. Wild-type (WT) and a double mutant deficient for two main actors of the UPR (INOSITOL-REQUIRING ENZYME 1A and INOSITOL-REQUIRING ENZYME 1B) were used as genetic backgrounds in our experimental setup, allowing to distinguish among differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) which ones are dependent on or independent on IRE1s. Also, shoots and roots were harvested separately to determine organ-specific transcriptomic responses to Tm. Library and sequencing were performed using DNBseq™ technology by the Beijing Genomics Institute. Reads were mapped and quantified against the Arabidopsis genome. Differentially-expressed genes were identified using Rflomics upon filtering and normalization by the Trimmed Mean of M-value (TMM) method. While the genotype effect was weak under mock conditions (with a total of 182 DEGs in shoots and 195 DEGs in roots), the tunicamycin effect on each genotype was characterized by several hundred of DEGs in both shoots and roots. Among these genes, 872 and 563 genes were statistically up- and down-regulated in the shoot tissues of the double mutant when compared to those of WT, respectively. In roots of Tm-challenged seedlings, 425 and 439 genes were significantly up- and down-regulated in mutants with respect to WT. We believe that our dataset could be reused for investigating any biological questions linked to ER homeostasis and its role in plant physiology.

Disposable Bioreactors Used in Process Development and Production Processes with Plant Cell and Tissue Cultures.

The bioreactor is the centerpiece of the upstream processing in any biotechnological production process. Its design, the cultivation parameters, the production cell line, and the culture medium all have a major influence on the efficiency of the process and the result of the cultivation. Disposable bioreactors have been used for the past 20 years, playing a major role in process development and commercial production of high-value substances at medium scales.Our review deals with scalable, disposable bioreactors that have proven to be useful for the cultivation of plant cell and tissue cultures. Based on the definitions of terms and a categorization approach, the most commonly used, commercially available, disposable bioreactor types are presented below. The focus is on wave-mixed, stirred, and orbitally shaken bioreactors. In addition to their instrumentation and bioengineering characteristics, cultivation results are discussed, and emerging trends for the development of disposable bioreactors for plant cell and tissue cultures are also addressed.

Belowground Response of a Bahiagrass Pasture to Long-Term Elevated [CO2] and Soil Fertility Management.

Effects of rising atmospheric CO2 concentration [CO2] on pastures and grazing lands are beginning to be researched, but these important systems remain understudied compared to other agronomic and forest ecosystems. Therefore, we conducted a long-term (2005-2015) study of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) response to elevated [CO2] and fertility management. The study was conducted at the USDA-ARS, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory open-top field chamber facility, Auburn, AL. A newly established bahiagrass pasture was exposed to either ambient or elevated (ambient + 200 µmol mol-1) [CO2]. Following one year of pasture establishment, half the plots received a fertilizer treatment [N at 90 kg ha-1 three times yearly plus P, K, and lime as recommended by soil testing]; the remaining plots received no fertilization. These treatments were implemented to represent managed (M) and unmanaged (U) pastures; both are common in the southeastern US. Root cores (0-60 cm depth) were collected annually in October and processed using standard procedures. Fertility additions consistently increased both root length density (53.8%) and root dry weight density (68.2%) compared to unmanaged plots, but these root variables were generally unaffected by either [CO2] or its interaction with management. The results suggest that southern bahiagrass pastures could benefit greatly from fertilizer additions. However, bahiagrass pasture root growth is unlikely to be greatly affected by rising atmospheric [CO2], at least by those levels expected during this century.

Morpho-Anatomical Modulation of Seminal Roots in Response to Water Deficit in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum).

The productivity of durum wheat in Mediterranean regions is greatly reduced by water deficits that vary in intensity and time of occurrence. The development of more tolerant cultivars is the main solution for fighting these stresses, but this requires prior study of their mechanisms. The involvement of the root system in drought avoidance is of major importance. It is in this context that the present work attempts to establish the impact of morpho-anatomical remodeling of seminal roots on dehydration avoidance at the javelina stage in five durum wheat genotypes grown under three water regimes, 100%, 60% and 30% of field capacity (FC). In the last two treatments, which were applied by stopping irrigation, moisture was concentrated mainly in the depths of the substrate cylinders and was accompanied by greater root elongation compared with the control. The elongation reached rates of 20 and 22% in the ACSAD 1231 genotype and 12 and 13% in the Waha genotype, in the 60% FC and 30% FC treatments respectively. The seminal roots anatomy was also modified by water deficit in all genotypes but to different degrees. The diameter of vessels in the late metaxylem vessels was reduced, reaching 17.3 and 48.2% in the Waha genotype in the 60% FC and 30% FC treatments, respectively. The water deficit also increased the number of vessels in the early metaxylem, while reducing the diameter of its conducting vessels. ACSAD 1361 and Langlois genotypes stood out with the highest rates of diameter reduction. The morpho-anatomical transformations of the roots contributed effectively to the plants' absorption of water and, consequently, to the maintenance of a fairly high relative water content, approaching 80%.

Interspecific facilitation of micronutrient uptake between cluster-root-bearing trees and non-cluster rooted-shrubs in a Banksia woodland.

Background and aims: Belowground interspecific plant facilitation is supposed to play a key role in enabling species co-existence in hyperdiverse ecosystems in extremely nutrient-poor, semi-arid habitats, such as Banksia woodlands in southwestern-Australia. Manganese (Mn) is readily mobilised by Banksia cluster root activity in most soils and accumulates in mature leaves of native Australian plant species without significant remobilisation during leaf senescence. We hypothesised that neighbouring shrubs are facilitated in terms of Mn uptake depending on distance to surrounding cluster root-forming Banksia trees. Methods: We mapped all Banksia trees and selected neighbouring shrubs within a study site in Western Australia. Soil samples were collected and analysed for physical properties and nutrient concentrations. To assesses the effect of Banksia tree proximity on leaf Mn concentrations [Mn] of non-cluster-rooted woody shrubs, samples of similarly aged leaves were taken. We used multiple linear models to test for factors affecting shrub leaf [Mn]. Results: None of the assessed soil parameters showed a significant correlation with shrub leaf Mn concentrations. However, we observed a significant positive effect of very close Banksia trees (2 m) on leaf [Mn] in one of the understorey shrubs. We found additional effects of elevation and shrub size. Conclusions: Leaf micronutrient concentrations of understorey shrubs were enhanced when growing within 2 m of tall Banksia trees. Our model predictions also indicate that belowground facilitation of Mn uptake was shrub size-dependent. We discuss this result in the light of plant water relations and shrub root system architecture. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11104-023-06092-6.