Leaf Concentrations Research Articles

Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Leaf and Stem Extracts of Barleria albostellata C.B. Clarke

Barleria albostellata C.B. Clarke (Acanthaceae) is a plant native to South Africa and relatively few studies have been performed on it. Species in this genus are known for their ethnopharmacological and phyto-medicinal values. In this study, the total flavonoid and phenolic contents and the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts were evaluated at five different concentrations (15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 μg/mL). The antioxidant activity of the extracts of B. albostellata was assessed in vitro using the 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while the phenolic content was determined using a Folin–Ciocalteu assay. The extracts’ cytotoxicity was established using a 3-[(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay in human embryonic kidney (HEK293), cervical cancer (HeLa), and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines. Methanolic leaf extracts had the highest total flavonoid content (42.39 ± 1.14 mg GAE/g DW) compared to other solvents. Additionally, the total phenolic content was the greatest in the methanol leaf extract (6.05 ± 0.09 GAE/g DW), followed by the methanol stem extracts (2.93 ± 0.73 GAE/g DW). The methanolic leaf and stem extract concentrations needed for 50% inhibition (DPPH) were 16.95 µg/mL and 14.27 µg/mL, respectively, whereas for FRAP, the reducing powers of all extracts were considerably lower than the ascorbic acid standard. The IC50 values of extracts tested in the three cell lines were >63 µg/mL. According to the findings of our study, the leaves and stems of B. albostellata are rich in several bioactive compounds that may be a possible source of natural antioxidants and may have the potential to treat certain diseases. The extraction of the bioactive compounds from the leaves and stems of B. albostellata using bioassay-guided fractionation and the assessment of their safety will be essential for further investigations into this species in the search of potential novel therapeutic drug leads. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the cytotoxic activities of leaf and stem extracts of Barleria albostellata.

Drought-Tolerance Screening of Date Palm Cultivars under Water Stress Conditions in Arid Regions

Drought stress poses a considerable challenge to agriculture sustainability in arid regions. Water scarcity severely affects date palm growth and productivity in these regions. However, as water resources become increasingly scarce in arid regions, understanding the drought tolerance of date palm cultivars becomes imperative for developing drought-resistant cultivars and optimizing irrigation water usage for sustainable agriculture. This research examines the impact of different drought stress levels based on evapotranspiration (ETc), i.e., 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% ETc, and time intervals (0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months) on leaf growth, net photosynthesis, chlorophyll a and b content, and leaf relative water content (LRWC) of four prominent date palm cultivars, Khalas, Barhee, Hilali, and Ashrasee. In addition, the study also examines the effects of drought stress on dry weight, potassium and calcium content of leaf, stem, and root, and proline content in fresh leaves of these four cultivars. A solar-powered drip irrigation system with automated time-based irrigation scheduling was used to accurately control the irrigation water amount. To real-time estimate ETc in the study area, meteorological data were collected using a cloud-based IoT system. The findings of this study revealed that severe drought conditions (40 and 60 % ETc) significantly reduced leaf growth, plant dry biomass, and physiological and biochemical attributes; however, date palm cultivars can be grown under moderate drought conditions (80% ETc) with minimal effect on phenotypic, physiological, and biochemical traits to conserve water. The study also revealed that the drought-related characteristics decreased gradually with an increase in water stress time over 24 months. Comparing the date palm cultivars revealed that the Khalas and Barhee cultivars are more drought-tolerant, followed by Hilali, while Ashrasee is susceptible. The study elucidated a water conservation strategy employed in response to drought-induced stress based on the physiological and morphological parameters of date palm cultivars. It provides valuable insights into irrigation practices in arid regions. However, future studies can be focused on other nondestructive innovative techniques such as pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM) fluorimetry, infrared radiation (IR), and video imaging system (VIS) methods to identify drought stress in date palms.

Relationship between herbivory and leaf traits in mangroves on Iriomote Island, southern Japan

Relationship between herbivory and leaf traits in mangroves on Iriomote Island, southern Japan

Effect of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) to Split Application of Nitrogen at Different Stages under Irrigated Conditions

A field experimentation was conducted at carried out during kharif 2022 at research farm, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur. The objectives were to study the effect of nitrogen and split application of nitrogen on growth and productivity of pearl millet. The experiment consisted of 9 treatment combinations comprising three levels of nitrogen (100% RDN (60 kg N/ha), 125% RDN (75 kg N/ha) and 150% RDN (90 kg N/ha) with three levels of split application of nitrogen (Full dose of N at sowing, ½ N at sowing + ½ N at tillering (20-25 DAS) and 1/3 N at sowing + 1/3 N at tillering (20-25 DAS) + 1/3 N at boot stage (35-40 DAS)). The experiment was laid out in split plot design and replicated thrice. The result revealed that levels of nitrogen significantly influenced highest plant height (cm), dry matter accumulation at different stages, chlorophyll content in leaf at 60 DAS, number of effective tillers per plant, length of ear, test weight, grain, stover, biological yields, NPK content and their uptake and protein content with the application of 125% RDN (75 kg N/ha) over 100% RDN (60 kg N/ha). Significantly higher net return (Rs 56315/ha) and highest B:C ratio (2.03) were also obtained with 125% RDN (75 kg N/ha). Further, the split application of nitrogen significantly influenced plant height (cm), dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll content in leaf at 60 DAS, number of effective tillers per plant, length of ear, test weight, grain, stover, biological yields, NPK content and their and protein content with the application of 1/3 N at sowing + 1/3 N at tillering (20-25 DAS) + 1/3 N at boot stage (35-40 DAS) over full dose of N at sowing and ½ N at sowing + ½ N at tillering (20-25 DAS). This treatment also increased significantly net return (Rs 67552/ha) and B:C ratio (2.45) rest of the treatments

Environmental pollution biomonitoring around a cement factory based on the Air Pollution Tolerance Index of some tree species.

The present study examined the ability of Quercus castaneifolia C.A.M., Parrotia persica C.A.M., and Carpinus betulus L. for environmental pollution biomonitoring based on the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). Four leaf traits, total leaf chlorophyll content, leaf extract pH, ascorbic acid content, and relative water content of leaf, were used to compute the APTI values. The study was conducted at five sites in the Hyrcanian forests at different distances from a cement factory close to the Neka city, northern Iran. Based on the results, a 22.5, 30.1, and 25.8% decrease was thus recorded in total chlorophyll content for Q. castaneifolia, P. persica, and C. betulus, respectively, compared to the reference site. However, ascorbic acid content shows an increment of 179.8, 116.8, and 97.3% for P. persica, C. betulus, and Q. castaneifolia, respectively, in the polluted sites as compared to the reference site. The relative water content of P. persica was significantly higher than of Q. castaneifolia and C. betulus in all studied sites. APTI was significantly different among the species, and P. persica was highly tolerant to air pollution, with the highest values of APTI ranging from 11.8 to 16.9. The APTI values of Q. castaneifolia ranged from 9.5 to 11.3 and showed an intermediate tolerance to air pollution. Also, the most sensitive species to air pollution was C. betulus, with a range of 6.6-7.9 in APTI values. Based on APTI values, it can be suggested that P. persica can be used as a biomonitor, while C. betulus can be used as a bioindicator for atmospheric dust deposition and heavy metal pollution.

Responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth and soil properties to conventional non-biodegradable and new biodegradable microplastics

Residual plastic films in soils are posing a potential threat to agricultural ecosystem. However, little is known about the impacts of microplastics (MPs) derived from biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic films on plant-soil systems. Here, we carried out a pot experiment using soil-cultivated lettuce treated by two types of MPs, degradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT-MPs) and non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE-MPs). MPs resulted in different degrees of reduction in shoot biomass, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic parameters, and leaf contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), accelerated accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, and increased malondialdehyde content in lettuce leaves. Moreover, MPs obviously decreased contents of total N, nitrate, ammonium, and available K in soils, and increased available P, thus altering soil nutrient availability. MPs also significantly decreased proportions of macroaggregates, and decreased soil electrical conductivity and microbial activity. PBAT-MPs had significantly greater impacts on oxidative damage, photosynthetic rate, soil aggregation, microbial activity, and soil ammonium than those of PE-MPs. Our results suggested that MPs caused oxidative damages, nutrient uptake inhibition, soil properties alteration, ultimately leading to growth reduction, and PBAT-MPs exhibited stronger impacts. Therefore, it is urgent to further study the ecological effects of MPs, especially biodegradable MPs, on soil-plant systems.

Pharmacokinetics of the Recalcitrant Drug Lamotrigine: Identification and Distribution of Metabolites in Cucumber Plants.

Treated wastewater is an important source of water for irrigation. As a result, irrigated crops are chronically exposed to wastewater-derived pharmaceuticals, such as the anticonvulsant drug lamotrigine. Lamotrigine is known to be taken up by plants, but its plant-derived metabolites and their distribution in different plant organs are unknown. This study aimed to detect and identify metabolites of lamotrigine in cucumber plants grown for 35 days in a hydroponic solution by using LC-MS/MS (Orbitrap) analysis. Our data showed that 96% of the lamotrigine taken up was metabolized. Sixteen metabolites possessing a lamotrigine core structure were detected. Reference standards confirmed two; five were tentatively identified, and nine molecular formulas were assigned. The data suggest that lamotrigine is metabolized via N-carbamylation, N-glucosidation, N-alkylation, N-formylation, N-oxidation, and amidine hydrolysis. The metabolites LTG-N2-oxide, M284, M312, and M370 were most likely produced in the roots and were translocated to the leaves. Metabolites M272, M312, M314, M354, M368, M370, and M418 were dominant in leaves. Only a few metabolites were detected in the fruits. With an increasing exposure time, lamotrigine leaf concentrations decreased because of continuous metabolism. Our data showed that the metabolism of lamotrigine in a plant is fast and that a majority of metabolites are concentrated in the roots and leaves.

A high epicuticular wax strawberry mutant reveals enhanced resistance to Tetranychus urticae Koch and Botrytis cinerea

Cuticular wax is crucial for plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses, but its relationship with resistance in strawberries is not well understood. A stable genetic mutant (MT) of ‘Benihoppe’ strawberries with a glossier leaf surface and stronger resistance was identified during cultivation. In this study, we analyzed the anatomical and physiological traits of leaves from ‘Benihoppe’ and its mutant and compared their cuticular wax properties. We also analyzed the differentially expressed genes involved in leaf cuticular wax accumulation and investigated their characteristics against Tetranychus urticae Koch and Botrytis cinerea. Comparisons between morphological and physiological features revealed that the mutant had smaller, darker leaves with a thicker upper epidermis and palisade tissue. GC-MS analysis showed that the total cuticular wax content of the MT leaf (1147.84 μg/dm2) had 1.74 times more total wax content than that of ‘Benihoppe’ (660.66 μg/dm2). The main components of cuticular wax in the MT leaf were primary alcohols (C18, C20, C22, C24, C25 and C26), alkanes (C20 and C31) and fatty acids (C26), whose content increased by 138.37%, 53.69% and 86.80%, respectively, compared with that of ‘Benihoppe’. Based on the comparative transcriptome data, we identified FaKAS2, FaFATA2, FaLACS1, FaKCS12/19, FaPAS2, FaECR, FaCER1 and FAR3/5 as potential key genes involved in wax synthesis of strawberries. Furthermore, MT leaves exhibited lower susceptibility to Tetranychus urticae Koch and its cuticular wax extraction inhibited the growth of Botrytis cinerea more effectively. Therefore, the increase of total cuticular wax and the content of major wax components in MT may be the main contributor to the enhanced resistance. These results not only deepen our understanding of the cuticular wax regulation but also provide potential gene resources for developing more resistant strawberry varieties.

Precipitation pattern alters the effects of nitrogen deposition on the growth of alien species Robinia pseudoacacia

AimsNitrogen (N) supply and precipitation pattern (amount and frequency) both affect plant growth. However, N deposition is increasing and precipitation regimes are changing in the context of global change. An experiment was conducted to access how the growth of Robinia pseudoacacia, a widely distributed and cultivated N2-fixing alien species, is affected by both the pattern of precipitation and N supplies. MethodsSeedlings were grown in a glasshouse at four different N levels combined with different precipitation regimes, including three precipitation amounts, and two precipitation frequencies. After treatment for 75 days, plant height, biomass allocation, leaf and soil nutrient concentrations were measured. ResultsPlants under high precipitation frequency had greater biomass compared with plants lower precipitation frequency, despite receiving the same amount of precipitation. Higher N supply reduced biomass allocation to nodules. Under low precipitation level, nodule growth and N2 fixation of R. pseudoacacia was more inhibited by high N deposition compared with plants under higher precipitation level. Even slightly N deposition under higher precipitation inhibited N2 fixation but it was insufficient to meet the N needs of the plants. ConclusionsEven at low levels, N deposition might inhibit N2 fixation of plants but low N in soil cannot meet the N requirements of plants, and caused N2 fixation limitation in plants during seedling stage. There was likely a transition from N2 fixation to acquisition of N from soil directly with root when N supply was increased.

Response of Gladiolus Plant to Spraying with Plant Extracts and their Effect on Vegetative and Flowering Growth Indicators

An experiment was conducted in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening at the College of the Agriculture - University of Karbala during 2020-2021 to show the response of the Gladius plant to spraying with plant extracts, Hibiscus Sabdoriffa extract (0, 5, 10 g. l-1) and Moringa leaf extract (0, 4, 8 g. l-1) and its effect on vegetative and flower growth indicators. Results showed that Exogenous application of Hibiscus Sabdoriffa’s extract (10 g. l-1) with Moringa leaf extract (8 g. l-1) significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, leaf content of total chlorophyll, length of flowering shamrock, number of florets and duration of flowering. It reached (48.37 cm, 8.03 leaves. plant 1, 61.13 SPAD, 43.71 cm, 9.25 flowers. shamrock 1, and 11.44 days) compared with the control treatment.

The Effect of Spraying with Jasmonic Acid and Sugar Alcohols on some Chemical and Hormonal Properties of Lemon and Benzher Seedlings

In 2022, researchers from the University of Samarra’s Department of Horticulture and the College of Agriculture built a wooden canopy to perform their experiment. To study the effect of spraying with jasmonic acid and sugar alcohols on some chemical and hormonal properties of lemon and benzher seedlings, the seedlings were chosen as homogeneous as possible in size at the age of one and a half years. The experiment included three factors: the first being two Speciess of citrus seedlings, lemon and benzher. The second factor is spraying with three levels of jasmonic acid 0, 10, 20 mmol L-1, and the third factor is spraying seedlings with three concentrations of sugar alcohols 0, 3, 6 ml L-1. The experiment was designed according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD), the results showed the superiority of lime over benzher in the leaves content of nitrogen, chlorophyll, and jasmonic leaves content, and the values were 2.332%, 12.12 mg gm-1, 64.78 mg kg-1, respectively. As for benzher, it excelled in the rate of increase in the percentage of phosphorus, potassium, Carbohydrates, as it recorded 0.476%, 1.240%, and 3.284%, respectively.Also spraying with jasmonic resulted in a significant increase, especially the treatment Ja2, which was superior to the two treatments Ja1 and Ja0 in the leaves content of nitrogen, chlorophyll, leaf content of jasmonic, percentage of phosphorus, potassium, carbohydrates, and the results were 2.364%, 12.34 mg gm-1, 69.13 mg kg -1, 0496%, 1.263%, 3.300%, respectively. Spraying with sugar alcohols had a significant effect at the concentration of 6 ml L-1 S2 in the leaf content of nitrogen, chlorophyll, phosphorus, potassium, and carbohydrates, and the values were 2.339%, 12.20 mg gm-1., 0.491, 1.243%, 3.277%, respectively, while the average of these characteristics was lowest in the control group that received treatment S0. All of the qualities analyzed displayed substantial variations in the binary and triple interactions of the research components.

Effect of Salicylic Acid Spraying on Physiological and Enzymatic Characteristics of three Broad bean Cultivars under Saline Soil Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season (2022-2023) in the field of the Department of Crops / Faculty of Agriculture - Al-Qasim Green University, to find out the effect of spraying salicylic acid on the physiological and enzymatic characteristics of three Cultivars of beans under saline soil conditions using the design of complete random sectors in the order of splinter panels, as the main panels included Cultivars (Spanish, Turkish, Dutch), while the secondary panels included foliar spraying of salicylic acid (without spraying, spraying at a concentration of 100 mg L -1, spraying at a concentration of 200 mg L -1).The results of the analysis of variance indicate a significant difference at the level of probability of 5% for all the studied traits, as the Spanish Cultivar outperformed in the total chlorophyll content 23. (mg100 g soft weight) and proline 1.284(mcg g-1 dry matter), while Dutch Cultivar outperformed in the enzyme POD 20.44 (units of absorption g-1 soft weight). Also, foliar spraying of salicylic acid achieved a positive effect at a concentration of 200 mg/L in the leaf content of total chlorophyll pigments 24.239 (mg100 g soft weight)and enzyme CAT 10.94 (units of absorption g-1 soft weight)and enzyme POD 22.251 (units of absorption g-1 soft weight) and seed yield 2.40 tons ha-1 and harvest indx 49.23%.

Estimation of Chlorophyll Using SPAD meter

A chlorophyll meter measures the greenness of leaves and can indicate the chlorophyll content and N status. Therefore, by using a chlorophyll meter, proxy information related to the leaf N content could be obtained and this would avoid the need of laborious laboratory analysis. Keeping in this view a field experiment was conducted during winter (Rabi) 2019 growing season at the experimental field of JNKVV, Jabalpur to estimate crop nitrogen (N) and chlorophyll content in wheat using SPAD. The treatment comprised of 3 sources of nutrient M1- Inorganic sources (NPK fertilizers), M2- organic sources (FYM, vermicompost, biofertilizers Azotobacter and PSB) and M3- Integrated sources (50% Inorganic + 50% organic) as main treatments and 5 NPK levels S1- control, S2- 100% RDF, S3- 150% RDF, S4- 200% RDF, S5- Based on soil test value for target yield of 6t ha-1 as sub treatments were replicated thrice in a split plot design. The results showed that the correlation (r = 0.94, 0.90, 0.92 and 0.94, respectively) and coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.96, 0.94, 0.83 and 0.94, respectively) was significantly and positively correlated with SPAD and nitrogen concentration in leaf. Similarly significant and positive correlation (r = 0.84, 0.76, 0.78 and 0.71, respectively) found with SPAD and total chlorophyll values. Coefficient of determination (R2) SPAD with chlorophyll and leaf N concentration proved to be significant (R2 = 0.75, 0.76, 0.54 and 0.85, respectively) at different growth stages. It was concluded that SPAD meter are useful for the determination of proxy chlorophyll and total nitrogen content of wheat plant.

Combining Genetic and Transcriptomic Approaches to Identify Transporter-Coding Genes as Likely Responsible for a Repeatable Salt Tolerance QTL in Citrus

The excessive accumulation of chloride (Cl−) in leaves due to salinity is frequently related to decreased yield in citrus. Two salt tolerance experiments to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for leaf concentrations of Cl−, Na+, and other traits using the same reference progeny derived from the salt-tolerant Cleopatra mandarin (Citrus reshni) and the disease-resistant donor Poncirus trifoliata were performed with the aim to identify repeatable QTLs that regulate leaf Cl− (and/or Na+) exclusion across independent experiments in citrus, as well as potential candidate genes involved. A repeatable QTL controlling leaf Cl− was detected in chromosome 6 (LCl-6), where 23 potential candidate genes coding for transporters were identified using the C. clementina genome as reference. Transcriptomic analysis revealed two important candidate genes coding for a member of the nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family (NPF5.9) and a major facilitator superfamily (MFS) protein. Cell wall biosynthesis- and secondary metabolism-related processes appeared to play a significant role in differential gene expression in LCl-6. Six likely gene candidates were mapped in LCl-6, showing conserved synteny in C. reshni. In conclusion, markers to select beneficial Cleopatra mandarin alleles of likely candidate genes in LCl-6 to improve salt tolerance in citrus rootstock breeding programs are provided.

The synergistic effects of soil-applied boron and foliar-applied silicon on cotton fiber quality and yield

Studies of boron (B) and silicon (Si) synergy in cotton crops have shown promising results; however, the focus was on the foliar application of B and Si. Nonetheless, B is an element with little mobility in the plant and its best form of application is in the soil. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of soil applied B and foliar applied sSi on fiber quality and crop yield of cotton. For this purpose, a field experiment was carried out using cotton cultivar FM 985 GLTP. The soil’s B in the experimental site is classified as low for cotton cultivation. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete-block design, in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme, with three doses of B: 0.0 kg ha−1 (deficiency), 2.0 kg ha−1 (recommended dose), and 4.0 kg ha−1 (high dose) in the absence and presence (920 g L−1) of Si, with four replications. One week after the 4th application of Si, B and Si leaf content was determined. At boll opening, crop yield was estimated, and fiber quality analysis was realized. Boron deficiency reduced cotton yield, in 11 and 9%, compared to the application of 2 and 4 kg ha−1 of B, respectively. The presence of Si, however, increased plant yield in 5% in the treatments with 0 and 2 kg ha−1 of B, respectively. Cotton fiber length and elongation were not influenced by the B doses and Si presence. Fiber breaking strength was increased in 5% by the presence of Si and was not influenced by B deficiency. Micronaire was 8% smaller in the treatment with 0 kg ha−1 of B and 6% smaller in the absence of Si. Short fiber index was 4% greater in the plants of the treatment with 0 kg ha−1 of B. The results of this study reports that the complementation with Si via foliar application increases fiber quality by enhance breaking strength and micronaire. In conclusion, the interaction between soil-applied B and foliar-applied Si is beneficial for cotton cultivation, resulting in high cotton yield with better fiber quality.

Exploitation of various physio-morphological and biochemical traits for the identification of drought tolerant genotypes in cotton

BackgroundDrought is one of the limiting factors for quality and quantity of cotton lint in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Therefore, development of drought tolerant cotton genotypes have become indispensable. The identification of drought tolerant genotypes is pre-requisite to develop high yielding cultivars suitable for drought affected areas.MethodsForty upland cotton accessions were selected on the basis of their adaptability and yield. The collected germplasm accessions were evaluated at seedling stage on the basis of morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters. The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions in greenhouse where these genotypes were sown under different levels of drought stress by following factorial under completely randomized design. The data were collected at seedling stages for root and shoot lengths, relative leaf water content, excised leaf water losses, peroxidase content and hydrogen peroxide concentrations in leaf tissues.ResultsThe biometrical analysis revealed that germplasm is significantly varied for recorded parameters, likewise interaction of genotypes and water stress was also significantly varied. The cotton germplasm was categorized in eight clusters based on response to water stress. The genotype Cyto-124 exhibited lowest H2O2 content under drought conditions, minimum excised leaf water loss under stress environment was exhibited by genotypes Ali Akber-802 and CEMB-33. Overall, on the basis of morphological and biochemical traits, SL-516 and Cyto-305 were found to be drought tolerant. Genotypes 1852 − 511, Stoneville 15–17 and Delta Pine-55 showed low values for root length, peroxidase activity and higher value for H2O2 contents. On the basis of these finding, these genotypes were declared as drought susceptible. ConclusionThe categorization of cotton germplasm indicating the differential response of various parameters under the control and drought stress conditions. The recorded parameters particularly relative leaf water contents and biochemical assays could be utilized to screen large number of germplasm of cotton for water deficit conditions. Besides, the drought tolerant genotypes identified in this research can be utilized in cotton breeding programs for the development of improved cultivars.

Increase the Efficient Use of Phosphorus Fertilizer for Maize in the Calcareous Soils

ABSTRACT Phosphorus (P) is one of the 17 essential plant nutrients, and it is critical for plant metabolism, photosynthesis, and growth. P fertilizers are also critical for crop production and global food security. Type and application method of P fertilizer may lead to increased P accumulation and crop production in the Ganges delta soils. The aim of the present study is to increase the P use efficiency (PUE) by two different P application methods for maize cultivation. The experiment comprised a factorial combination of two methods (broadcasting and furrow placement) and three rates of P fertilizer (36, 48, and 60 kg P/ha). Considering P application methods, furrow placement gave 8.66–27.92% yield benefit over broadcasting method. Maize yield, PUE by crop plant, partial factor productivity, economic efficiency, and P concentration in leaf were remarkably higher in furrow placement than conventional broadcasting method of P application. The furrow placement exhibited higher yield at lower rate of P application (36 and 48 kg P/ha), while no significant changes were observed for grain yield between two methods for high P rate (60 kg/ha). Thus, it is concluded that furrow placement of P application at 36 and 48 kg/ha would give the best grain yield of maize in the Ganges delta floodplain soils.

Understanding the combining ability of nutritional, agronomic and industrial traits in soybean F2 progenies

Obtaining soybean genotypes that combine better nutrient uptake, higher oil and protein levels in the grains, and high grain yield is one of the major challenges for current breeding programs. To avoid the development of unpromising populations, selecting parents for crossbreeding is a crucial step in the breeding pipeline. Therefore, our objective was to estimate the combining ability of soybean cultivars based on the F2 generation, aiming to identify superior segregating parents and populations for agronomic, nutritional and industrial traits. Field experiments were carried out in two locations in the 2020/2021 crop season. Leaf contents of the following nutrients were evaluated: phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. Agronomic traits assessed were days to maturity (DM) and grain yield (GY), while the industrial traits protein, oil, fiber and ash contents were also measured in the populations studied. There was a significant genotype × environment (G × A) interaction for all nutritional traits, except for P content, DM and all industrial traits. The parent G3 and the segregating populations P20 and P27 can be used aiming to obtain higher nutritional efficiency in new soybean cultivars. The segregating populations P11 and P26 show higher potential for selecting soybean genotypes that combine earliness and higher grain yield. The parent G5 and segregant population P6 are promising for selection seeking improvement of industrial traits in soybean.

Performance of some new soybean genotypes against the infestation of the cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis Boisd

Cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptra: Noctuidae) is considered one of the most destructive insect pests in Egypt. A field trail was conducted at the experimental farm of Nubaria agricultural research station, Behaira Governorate, Egypt, during 2021 and 2022 seasons to evaluate the performance of 14 new genotypes and two check varieties under the cotton leaf worn natural infestation conditions. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The combined results revealed that there were substantial differences across genotypes for all evaluated parameters. The genotypes (H7L39/2015, H6L49, and H6L28) were considered as more resistant ones over the resistant check variety (Giza 111) which recorded the least infestation (25.86, 27.57 and 32.14 %, respectively), with feeding damage area of 18.52, 19.58 and 18.58 %, respectively. These genotypes gave the highest leaf content of P%, K%, total phenolic compounds, yield, and its components. The correlations between infestation% and leaflet area damage% or N all were positive on one another. All other correlations, with the exception of plant height and branches no plant-1, had negative effects on one another. The results proposed that the genotypes (H7L39/2015, H6L49 and H6L28) are promising and could be planted at Nubaria region and used in the breeding programs.

Enhanced production of anticancer triterpenoids in optimized Pistacia lentiscus L. callus cultures via methyl jasmonate and silver nitrate elicitation

Pistacia lentiscus L. is a traditional medicinal plant from the Mediterranean region with a long history of use. Elicitor-based strategies have proven effective in enhancing the production of secondary metabolites (SMs) with therapeutic potential in callus cultures.In addition, optimizing callus cultures is crucial for the synthesis and stability of SMs production. In this study, we have successfully established practical and optimized callus cultures from the leaves and roots of the mastic tree. Full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium gave the highest callus growth, with the combination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and kinetin (each at 1 mg/l) giving the most favourable results for both explant types (80 % and 84 % callus induction, respectively). Optimal culture conditions were determined to be a sucrose concentration of 15 g/l, a pH of 5.8, a temperature of 25 °C and light intensities of 20 μmol m−2 s−1 for roots and 80 μmol m−2 s−1 for leaves. It is interesting to note that methyl jasmonate (MeJA) positively affected callus biomass, whereas silver nitrate (AgNO3) had the opposite effect. Elicitation with AgNO3 and MeJA significantly enhanced the biosynthesis of anticancer triterpenoids, particularly ursonic acid (UA), ursolic acid (ULA), masticadienolic acid (MDLA), and oleanonic acid (ONNA). Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis revealed a remarkable 26.71-fold and 3.4-fold increase in UA content in leaf and root calli treated with AgNO3, respectively. It is noteworthy that ULA, MDLA and ONNA were not present prior to elicitation but were detected after elicitation. The accumulation of anticancer triterpenoids in callus cultures generated from various P. lentiscus L. explants is first demonstrated in our research. In addition, this research demonstrates a structured methodology for the enhancement of the accumulation of anticancer triterpenoids during callus culture.