Morphophysiological Changes Research Articles

Effect of oregano and marsh cinquefoil extracts on the morphofunctional characteristic of mice liver tissues under acute stress

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of extracts of medicinal plants oregano (O) and marsh cinquefoil (MC) on the morphofunctional state of liver tissue in mice using the acute stress model. The object of the study was 60 laboratory mice of different sexes of the CD-1 line. A total of 6 experimental groups were formed, with 10 individuals in each: 1 control group with a standard diet (SD); 2 SD + 20 ml / kg live weight daily MC extract; 3 SD + 20 ml / kg O extract; 4 SD + stress exposure; 5 SD + stress exposure + 20 ml / kg MC extract; 6 SD + stress exposure + 20 ml / kg O extract. The results of the study showed that the action of biologically active substances in the MC and O extracts can be factors of low antigen load, indirectly increasing the functional activity of liver cells. Specific morphophysiological changes in the liver of animals with the induced stress model give grounds to believe in the presence of a free radical mechanism of damage to the cells of this organ. In the liver samples of animals with the stress model and the introduction of the MC extract into the body, a lower level of damage to hepatocytes was found in comparison with similar samples of animals with the stress model and a standard diet. The level of damage to the liver parenchyma cells in them was limited by a reversible process hydropic dystrophy of hepatocytes. When combining the processes of stress modeling and the implementation of the O extract, the active substances of the extract directly or indirectly reduced the level of damage to the structural components of the cell. In general, the obtained results allow us to conclude that the MC and O extracts have adaptogenic properties and are promising for further study as independent and complex herbal drugs.

Plant Coping with Cold Stress: Molecular and Physiological Adaptive Mechanisms with Future Perspectives.

Cold stress strongly hinders plant growth and development. However, the molecular and physiological adaptive mechanisms of cold stress tolerance in plants are not well understood. Plants adopt several morpho-physiological changes to withstand cold stress. Plants have evolved various strategies to cope with cold stress. These strategies included changes in cellular membranes and chloroplast structure, regulating cold signals related to phytohormones and plant growth regulators (ABA, JA, GA, IAA, SA, BR, ET, CTK, and MET), reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein kinases, and inorganic ions. This review summarizes the mechanisms of how plants respond to cold stress, covering four main signal transduction pathways, including the abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction pathway, Ca2+ signal transduction pathway, ROS signal transduction pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/MPK) cascade pathway. Some transcription factors, such as AP2/ERF, MYB, WRKY, NAC, and bZIP, not only act as calmodulin-binding proteins during cold perception but can also play important roles in the downstream chilling-signaling pathway. This review also highlights the analysis of those transcription factors such as bHLH, especially bHLH-type transcription factors ICE, and discusses their functions as phytohormone-responsive elements binding proteins in the promoter region under cold stress. In addition, a theoretical framework outlining plant responses to cold stress tolerance has been proposed. This theory aims to guide future research directions and inform agricultural production practices, ultimately enhancing crop resilience to cold stress.

Beneficial microorganisms: a sustainable strategy to enhance morpho-physiological traits in drought-tolerant olive cultivars

The olive tree is an emblematic fruit tree species of the Mediterranean basin facing drought. In this study, we estimated the effects of inoculating one-year-old olive trees of the ‘Moroccan Picholine’ and ‘Arbequina’ cultivars with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (M) and plant growth-promoting-bacteria (B), both individually and in combination (M + B), focusing on morpho-physiological, anatomical and nutritional changes. We evaluated these effects under two levels of water stress: well-watered conditions (WW) at 75% field capacity (FC) and drought stress (DS) at 25% FC. However, biofertilizers mitigated these effects by improving growth parameters. The M + B application increased growth parameters by 35%, 48%, 24%, and 36% in ‘Moroccan Picholine’, and by19%, 24%, 38%, and 64% in ‘Arbequina’ for the number of leaves, number of buds, growth rate, and leaf area, respectively, compared to the stressed controls. In summary, the results show that the ‘Moroccan Picholine’ cultivar has greater resistance to drought than ‘Arbequina’, making it a promising choice for arid conditions. These findings highlight the potential of biofertilizers as a sustainable approach to enhancing olive tree resilience in arid regions, contributing to agricultural sustainability.

Drought-Induced Morphophysiological and Metabolite Changes in Oil Palm Seedlings from Jambi, Indonesia

Oil palm requires sufficient water for optimal growth. However, oil palm plantations in Indonesia face the challenge of global climate change, which causes increased temperatures and unpredictable rainy seasons. The research aimed to analyze oil palm accessions from Jambi that are tolerant to drought based on plant morphophysiological characteristics and metabolite profile. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse using a factorial randomized block design. Five oil palm accessions were evaluated in this study, i.e., Muara Jambi (MJ), Tebo (TB), Tanjung Jabung Barat (TJB), Merangin (MR), and Simalungun (SM). Seedlings were planted in pots containing 20 kg of soil and acclimatized for 14 days before treatment. Drought treatments were carried out for two, four, and six weeks. Observations were made on growth, physiological, and metabolite changes at the end of each drought period. The study showed that the SM accession exhibited a higher photosynthetic rate and fresh and dry biomass than the other accessions. However, the content of proline and MDA increased significantly in oil palm throughout the drought periods. Metabolomic profiling revealed a significant increase in 13 metabolites under drought stress, i.e., citramalate, L-tyrosine, ferulate, and 3-4-dihydroxybenzoate were the four most prevalent metabolites in the leaf. The root produced more L-proline, aspartate, aconitate, kaempferol-3-o-pentoside, oxoadipate, citrate, L-phenylalanine, maltose, phenylacetic acid, and citramalate. These metabolites have roles in plant metabolic pathways such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), lysine biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism.

Morpho-physiological changes and metabolomic profiles of cucumber seedlings following seed treatment with Trichoderma strains

Morpho-physiological changes and metabolomic profiles of cucumber seedlings following seed treatment with <i>Trichoderma</i> strains

Multifaceted Responses to Heat Stress in Plants: A Review of the Morpho-physiological, Biochemical and Anatomical Changes

Heat stress, a significant abiotic factor, adversely affects plant growth and productivity by disrupting various physiological and biochemical processes. Plants, being immobile, respond to environmental changes through alterations in gene expression, metabolism, and growth dynamics. Elevated temperatures, exceeding the threshold for heat tolerance, negatively influence critical functions such as photosynthesis, respiration, water balance, and membrane stability. Root development is particularly sensitive to heat stress, resulting in reduced root mass and impaired water and nutrient uptake. Photosynthetic capacity diminishes due to decreased chlorophyll content and impaired photochemical reactions, leading to reduced biomass and yield. Heat stress impacts plant water status by disturbing hydraulic conductivity and increasing membrane permeability, leading to dehydration and a decline in water potential. This stress reduces membrane stability, resulting in electrolyte leakage and cellular damage. It also induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which requires the activation of antioxidant enzymes to minimize oxidative stress. Also, to maintain osmotic balance and enhance stress tolerance, plants accumulate osmolytes such as proline. Additionally, anatomical adaptations in leaves, stems, and roots, such as changes in stomatal density, xylem vessel size, and gas exchange patterns, highlight the plant's strategies to cope with heat stress. Understanding these varied responses is crucial for developing strategies to enhance crop resilience in the face of increasing global temperatures and climate change.

Effect of Seed Hydropriming on the Elongation of Plumule and Radicle During the Germination Process and Changes in Enzyme Activity Under Water-Deficient Conditions.

Hydropriming rice seeds effectively improve the germination percentage, shortens the germination period, and promotes seedling growth. The impact of seed hydropriming is to speed up growth under dry soil conditions, thereby avoiding drought damage. This study analyzes the effect of hydropriming on morpho-physiological changes in the water uptake of rice seeds using "Kasalath" and "Nipponbare" under water-deficit conditions. Upon exposure to osmotic stress, both varieties showed delays in the time to reach germination. In addition, all germination phases exhibited reductions in the activity of alpha-amylase and total soluble sugar by osmotic stress; however, in all germination phases of the hydroprimed seeds, the activity and contents of those were significantly increased, resulting in increased size of the coleoptile, plumule, and radicle. In hydroprimed seeds, "Kasalath" was superior to "Nipponbare" in the ratio of the water-deficit-to-well-watered conditions for all traits related to germination, which may have been attributable to hydropriming having a greater effect on "Kasalath". Interestingly, Primed "Kasalath" had a lower level of α-amylase, despite the having a higher content of total soluble sugars than primed "Nipponbare".

Особенности морфофункционального и физиологического состояния осетровых рыб с нефрокальцинозом в условиях садковой аквакультуры

When growing sturgeon fish in cages, which are especially valuable nowadays, great attention should be paid to their health. Along with other pathological manifestations of various natures, a disease such as kidney nephrocalcinosis can pose a potential danger to these aquaculture objects. This pathology was recorded in juvenile sterlet (age – 0+ years), in immature individuals of Russian sturgeon (age – 2 years), in which clinical and pathological examinations were carried out, including pieces of kidneys were selected for histological analysis, blood samples for carrying out hematological and biochemical studies. The appearance of nephrocalcinates in the kidneys of sturgeon fish was confirmed using histological methods: corresponding pathological transformations were found on micropreparations of the kidneys of Russian sturgeon and sterlet. Morphophysiological changes in the condition of the kidneys of the studied sturgeon fish can be assessed as moderate and minor, not life-threatening. Thus, 60% of the examined individuals of Russian sturgeon did not have any detected pathohistological changes in the organ; among sterlet there were 80% of such individuals. When analyzing hematological and biochemical blood parameters, deviations of some indicators were found. Thus, the sterlet had a low level of hemoglobin, all fish had an insufficient number of red blood cells in the blood; in Russian sturgeon, a high level of pathologically altered erythrocytes was determined, the amount of serum protein was increased, deviations were found in the ratio of its fractions, high levels of uric acid, low levels of triglycerides, β-lipoproteins, ALT and AST activity in the blood. Indirectly, these changes in the physiological state of sturgeon fish with nephrocalcinosis indicate that this disease most likely arose as a result of the influence of a complex of factors on the fish, among which the main ones may be disturbances in the hydrochemical regime and the balance of feeding.

Effects of benzophenone-3 on the liver and thyroid of adult zebrafish

Benzophenone-3 (BP-3), commonly known as oxybenzone, is an organic compound that acts as a sunscreen, protecting the skin from UVA and UVB rays. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of BP-3 on the liver and thyroid using morphological and biochemical approaches. Adult male zebrafish were randomly assigned to three groups, each with three repetitions (n = 10 per group) water control, solvent control (0.01% ethanol), and 1 μg/L of BP-3, using a static exposure system for 96 h. After the experiment, histopathological analyses of the liver and thyroid were performed, along with histochemical analyses (glycogen) and biochemical evaluations of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT). Exposure to BP-3 resulted in significant histopathological changes in the liver of Danio rerio, increasing the frequency of circulatory disturbances, progressive changes, inflammatory responses, and regressive changes. On the other hand, the thyroid gland did not show any morphological changes during exposure to BP-3, maintaining its typical structure with follicles. There was a significant increase in SOD activity, while CAT showed no changes after 96 h of exposure. The results obtained demonstrate that exposure to BP-3 causes significant morphophysiological changes in the liver of D. rerio, highlighting not only the negative impacts on the health of these organisms but also the ecotoxicological potential of the substance and its consequences for aquatic biota in contaminated environments.

Melatonin Ameliorates Cadmium Toxicity in Tobacco Seedlings by Depriving Its Bioaccumulation, Enhancing Photosynthetic Activity and Antioxidant Gene Expression.

Soil remediation for cadmium (Cd) toxicity is essential for successful tobacco cultivation and production. Melatonin application can relieve heavy metal stress and promote plant growth; however, it remains somewhat unclear whether melatonin supplementation can remediate the effects of Cd toxicity on the growth and development of tobacco seedlings. Herein, we evaluated the effect of soil-applied melatonin on Cd accumulation in tobacco seedlings, as well as the responses in growth, physiological and biochemical parameters, and the expression of stress-responsive genes. Our results demonstrate that melatonin application mitigated Cd stress in tobacco, and thus promoted plant growth. It increased root fresh weight, dry weight, shoot fresh weight and dry weight by 58.40%, 163.80%, 34.70% and 84.09%, respectively, compared to the control. Physiological analyses also showed significant differences in photosynthetic rate and pigment formation among the treatments, with the highest improvements recorded for melatonin application. In addition, melatonin application alleviated Cd-induced oxidative damage by reducing MDA content and enhancing the activities of enzymatic antioxidants (CAT, SOD, POD and APX) as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants (GSH and AsA). Moreover, confocal microscopic imaging confirmed the effectiveness of melatonin application in sustaining cell integrity under Cd stress. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations illustrated the alleviative role of melatonin on stomata and ultrastructural features under Cd toxicity. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that melatonin application upregulated the expression of photosynthetic and antioxidant-related genes, including SNtChl, q-NtCSD1, NtPsy2 and QntFSD1, in tobacco leaves. Together, our results suggest that soil-applied melatonin can promote tobacco tolerance to Cd stress by modulating morpho-physiological and biochemical changes, as well as the expression of relevant genes.

Maize Morphophysiological Changes Modulated by Cover Crops Rotation in Northeast Brazil

Cover crops have gained attention due to their potential benefits for the soil and physiological performance of subsequent crops. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and productive aspects of maize grown in succession to cover crops in northeastern Brazil. A randomized complete block design with four repetitions was employed, in which the treatments consisted of the following cover crops: sunn hemp, spectabilis, pigeon pea, Brachiaria sp., jack bean, millet, and fallow. Physiological aspects and production components of maize were evaluated at the tasseling (VT) and smooth grain (R3) phenological stages. Millet cover increased carotenoid content in maize leaves by up to 78% at R3. Maize grown after pigeon pea, millet, and Brachiaria sp. showed up to 42% greater CO2 assimilation efficiency compared to jack bean. Carboxylation efficiency increased by up to 34% in maize grown after millet and Brachiaria sp., while water use efficiency improved by up to 76% in maize after sunn hemp and pigeon pea at R3. Sunn hemp, spectabilis, and jack bean reduced soil temperature by 2 °C compared to fallow. The highest maize yield was observed after jack bean, with an 8% increase over fallow. These findings demonstrate the benefits of incorporating cover crops into maize cultivation systems in the semi-arid region of Brazil.

Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management Based on Silicon to Morpho-Physiological Changes on Maize: Enhancing Light Interception and Radiation use Efficiency

Environmentally sustainable maize cultivation is essential to optimise its growth and yield potential for global food security as a key goal in sustainable agriculture. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), when coupled with silicon (Si) supplementation, has gained attention for its potential to improve crop productivity. This study investigates the impact of INM practices enriched with silicon on maize morphology and physiology changes, with a particular focus on increasing light interception (f) and Plant solar energy conversion efficiency (P-SECE) or the commons term called RUE. Experiments were conducted during the wet season of December 2022 to March 2023 in Triguna Abadi Grower group's Field Trial Center, Sukorambi Village, Jember, East Java, Indonesia. Two corn varieties which one is hybrid (P5027) and the other open pollinated (Lamuru) were cultivated using conventional chemical fertilizer and combined with the sole of INM and Si as well as INM+Si under a split plot design. The results showed that INM+Si significantly changed the morpho-physiological characteristics of plants so that the canopy architecture was ideal for increasing light interception in the vegetative phase by up to 3,23% compared to conventional fertilisation. In general,the INM, Si, and INM+Si fertilization methods were able to increase interception and photosynthetic efficiency compared to conventional fertilization, which had a positive impact on P-SECE levels till 1,66-2,36% and plant growth which illustrated an increase in dry weight up to 47,45%. Meanwhile, P5027, which has a more ideal canopy architecture than Lamuru, has relatively better interception efficiency, P-SECE, and growth. Significant findings related to sustainable agriculture are that Si fertilisation has a better macro-nutrient balance illustrated by the N/P ratio at 8.75. The increase in interception efficiency, RUE, and macro-nutrient balance due to the INM with Si Based fertilisation method led to increased plant growth and yield that support food security.

Interplay of UV-filter pollution and temperature rise scenarios on Mytilus galloprovincialis health: Unveiling sperm quality and adult physiology, biochemistry, and histology insights

Addressing the impacts of emerging contaminants within the context of climate change is crucial for understanding ecosystem health decline. Among these, the organic UV-filters 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor (4-MBC) and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) are widely used in cosmetics and personal care products. Their unique physico-chemical properties, along with their growing commercialization and consumption, have made them ubiquitous in aquatic environments through both direct and indirect releases, raising significant concerns about their potential threats to inhabiting biota. Additionally, increasing surface water temperatures exacerbate ecological risks, making it imperative to understand the implications for non-target species at different biological levels. This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of UV-filters 4-MBC or BP-3, at ecologically relevant concentrations, combined with current and predicted warming scenarios, on the performance and male reproductive health of Mytilus galloprovincialis mussel populations. Using biomarkers across sub-cellular, cellular, tissue, and individual levels, the study revealed significant physiological and biochemical impairments in both sperm cells and adults exposed to UV-filters. Temperature emerged as the primary driver influencing mussel responses and modulating the impacts of 4-MBC/BP-3, emphasizing their sensitivity to temperatures outside the optimal range and interactive effects between stressors. Specifically, sperm motility declined with increasing UV-filter concentrations, while temperature alone influenced ROS production, leading to compromised mitochondrial activity and DNA damage in the presence of combined stressors, indicative of potential reproductive impairments. Adults exhibited high UV-filter bioconcentration potential in whole tissues, compromised physiological status, morphophysiological changes in digestive glands, oxidative stress, and alterations in metabolic capacity, antioxidant defences, and biotransformation mechanisms, correlating with UV-filter exposure and temperature increase. Among the UV-filters tested, 4-MBC was the most detrimental, especially when combined with warming. Overall, this study underscores the vulnerability of M. galloprovincialis to cumulative stressors and highlights the importance of employing a multi-biomarker approach to assess and mitigate the impacts of stressors on coastal ecosystems.

Coconut oil affects aging-related changes in Mongolian gerbil liver morphophysiology

Aging causes changes in liver morphophysiology, altering hepatocyte morphology and organ function. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, coconut oil has been used as a therapeutic agent in diets, in an attempt to attenuate alterations in the liver naturally caused by aging. Herein, we evaluated the effects of coconut oil consumption during aging on Mongolian gerbil liver morphophysiology. The animals were divided into three experimental groups: the gerbils in the Adult Control Group (AC) were euthanized at 3 months of age, the gerbils in the Old Control Group (OC) at 15 months of age, and the gerbils in the Coconut Oil Group (CO) received 0.1 ml/day of coconut oil for 12 months and were euthanized at 15 months of age. Prolonged consumption of coconut oil during aging prevented the animals and the liver from gaining mass. However, the other results showed that coconut oil intensified the morphophysiological alterations of aging, promoting an increase in the hepatocyte cytoplasm and nuclei. In addition, an increase in blood vessels, reticular fibers, lipid droplets, and lipofuscin granules were observed in the CO group. Finally, the results also demonstrated that coconut oil promotes an increase in lipid peroxidation, indicated by an increase in MDA levels. We therefore conclude that coconut oil has the potential to intensify the morphophysiological alterations that occur in the liver during aging.

Root-promoting Biostimulant Enhances Salinity Tolerance in Wild and Cultivated Rocket Salads

AbstractRocket salads (Diplotaxis spp. and Eruca spp.) are leafy vegetables appreciated for their typical taste and nutritional value. When exposed to salt stress, these plants undergo morpho-physiological and metabolic changes. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of a “root-promoting biostimulant” (Radifarm®) applied during germination (Experiment 1) and during the growth cycle (Experiment 2) on two rocket species under salt stress. Experiment 1 explored if Radifarm® can protect seed from salt stress in early-stage development. Different salt levels (0, 150 and 200 mM NaCl) were combined with different Radifarm® concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 mL L− 1). Experiment 2 investigated how Radifarm® can promote plant growth after transplantation when irrigated with saline water (0, 150, and 200 mM NaCl) until harvest. Experiment 1 showed that salt stress significantly affected the germination of rocket salads. The addition of Radifarm® did not improve the germination of D. tenuifolia grown under any salt conditions, but it was beneficial for E. sativa when the highest level of Radifarm® was applied. In Experiment 2, the application of Radifarm® significantly reduced the symptoms of salt stress in both species. In E. sativa, salt stress affected all growth parameters (plant height, leaf number and area). However, under 200 mM NaCl, plants fully recovered when Radifarm® was applied. The same recovery was observed for chlorophyll content in both species. Radifarm® also contributed to increase protein and lipid content compared to plants under salt stress. This study showed that Radifarm® was able to protect both species from salt stress.

Combined salt and low nitrate stress conditions lead to morphophysiological changes and tissue-specific transcriptome reprogramming in tomato

Despite intense research towards the understanding of abiotic stress adaptation in tomato, the physiological adjustments and transcriptome modulation induced by combined salt and low nitrate (low N) conditions remain largely unknown. Here, three traditional tomato genotypes were grown under long-term single and combined stresses throughout a complete growth cycle. Physiological, molecular, and growth measurements showed extensive morphophysiological modifications under combined stress compared to the control, and single stress conditions, resulting in the highest penalty in yield and fruit size.The mRNA sequencing performed on both roots and leaves of genotype TRPO0040 indicated that the transcriptomic signature in leaves under combined stress conditions largely overlapped that of the low N treatment, whereas root transcriptomes were highly sensitive to salt stress. Differentially expressed genes were functionally interpreted using GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, which confirmed the stress and the tissue-specific changes. We also disclosed a set of genes underlying the specific response to combined conditions, including ribosome components and nitrate transporters, in leaves, and several genes involved in transport and response to stress in roots. Altogether, our results provide a comprehensive understanding of above- and below-ground physiological and molecular responses of tomato to salt stress and low N treatment, alone or in combination.

The light intensity in the cultivation environment and the impact of glyphosate on plants of the Urochloa genus

The variation in light within the environment triggers morphophysiological changes in plants and can lead to distinct responses in sun-exposed or shaded plants to glyphosate. The response of Urochloa genotypes subjected to desiccation with 2160, 1622.4, 1080, 524.4, 273.6, and 0.0 g ha−1 of glyphosate was evaluated in full sun and shade conditions. Cayana grass, mulato II grass, and sabiá grass – hybrids recently launched on the market, in addition to palisade grass and congo grass were evaluated. Under full sun, we achieved control of congo grass using 1080 g ha−1 of glyphosate, while the other grasses required 2160 g ha−1. In the low-light environment, sabiá grass was effectively controlled with 524.4 g ha−1 of glyphosate, but the other grasses needed 273.6 g ha−1. In shading, compared to full sun, the savings with glyphosate were 75 and 76% for the control of congo grass and sabiá grass, respectively, and 87% for palisade grass, mulato II grass and cayana grass. Increasing glyphosate doses leads to a decline in the quantum efficiency of photosystem II and in the electron transport rate, especially in the shade. Urochloa genotypes are more sensitive to glyphosate in the shade, which must be considered when determining the herbicide dose.

Morpho-physiological Characteristics under Salinity Stress of Triticum aestivum L. var. Alex

The aim of the study was to highlight morpho-physiological changes like plant height, spike characteristics and stomata features in wheat induced by salt stress. Seeds of wheat var. Alex were sown, in mezo-phyto-cosmos, in five repetitions, under six saline doses, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 mM NaCl. The experiment was conducted under field conditions. The assessments including plant height, arista, and spike length were taken and evaluated at the end of the experiment. Adaxial stomatal imprints have been sampled and the stomata density (number of stomata/mm2) and their size were assessed under the microscope. Wheat morphological parameters were affected by the highest salinity dose. Plant height was significantly reduced in the 60 and 75 mM NaCl doses by 16% and 20%. The spike length showed a significant reduction only in the highest saline dose treatment. Arista length registered the highest value in the 15 mM NaCl treatment with 23% more compared to the control. Stomata density reported the highest value in the 15 mM NaCl treatment, significantly higher compared to the 0 mM NaCl dose. The highest salinity doses significantly reduced plant height and spike length. Arista length and stomata density showed similar patterns.

Protein hydrolysates enhance recovery from drought stress in tomato plants: phenomic and metabolomic insights.

High-throughput phenotyping technologies together with metabolomics analysis can speed up the development of highly efficient and effective biostimulants for enhancing crop tolerance to drought stress. The aim of this study was to examine the morphophysiological and metabolic changes in tomato plants foliarly treated with two protein hydrolysates obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of vegetal proteins from Malvaceae (PH1) or Fabaceae (PH2) in comparison with a control treatment, as well as to investigate the mechanisms involved in the enhancement of plant resistance to repeated drought stress cycles. A phenotyping device was used for daily monitoring morphophysiological traits while untargeted metabolomics analysis was carried out in leaves of the best performing treatment based on phenotypic results.Results: PH1 treatment was the most effective in enhancing plant resistance to water stress due to the better recovery of digital biomass and 3D leaf area after each water stress event while PH2 was effective in mitigating water stress only during the recovery period after the first drought stress event. Metabolomics data indicated that PH1 modified primary metabolism by increasing the concentration of dipeptides and fatty acids in comparison with untreated control, as well as secondary metabolism by regulating several compounds like phenols. In contrast, hormones and compounds involved in detoxification or signal molecules against reactive oxygen species were downregulated in comparison with untreated control. The above findings demonstrated the advantages of a combined phenomics-metabolomics approach for elucidating the relationship between metabolic and morphophysiological changes associated with a biostimulant-mediated increase of crop resistance to repeated water stress events.

Unravelling the synergistic interaction of Thrips tabaci and newly recorded, Thrips parvispinus with Alternaria porri (Ellis.) Cif., inciting onion purple blotch.

Onion purple blotch is the most indispensable foliar disease of crop and has become a major concern for farmers and research fraternity. An attempt to investigate the role of injury in parasitism by Alternaria porri indicated that disease incidence and severity enhance considerably with injury. Thrips injured plants inoculated with A. porri presented 100% incidence and 52-72% severity while mechanically injured plants inoculated with A. porri showed 60-70% incidence and 28-34% severity. The uninjured plants showed considerably less disease incidence (30-40%) and severity (10-16%). Injured inoculated plants presented reduced leaf length and leaf area while the leaf diameter remained unaffected. The lesion number, lesion length and size was substantially enhanced with concomitant infestation of pest and pathogen. Thrips tabaci injury led to more pronounced symptoms of purple blotch compared to Thrips parvispinus injury. There was substantial decrease in photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content with stress imposed on plant whilst the relative stress injury was enhanced. The induction of injury and inoculation of A. porri had an impact on the concentration of total phenolics, total soluble sugars, total proteins and hydrogen peroxide in onion leaves. A. porri combined with injury caused a more pronounced decrease in total soluble sugars and total protein content while enhancement in total phenolics and hydrogen peroxide content compared to uninjured plants. The dynamic nature of morpho-physiological and biochemical changes owing to stress conditions imposed on onion plant adds an extra layer of complexity in understanding the onion plant physiology and their ability to work out in response to challenging environment conditions.