Shoot Dry Matter Research Articles

The Application Timing of a Cytokinin B-Mo-based Product Affects the Characteristics of Rooted Cuttings and Nonstructural Carbohydrates of Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides cv. Wild Lime) during Adventitious Root Development

A large group of horticulture species are propagated vegetatively through shoot-tip cuttings harvested from stock plants and planted to form adventitious roots. Adventitious rooting leads to establishing a carbohydrate sink in the region of root regeneration that is highly dependent on energy and carbon skeletons. We hypothesized that the timing of exogenous applications of cytokinin (CK) and boron (B)–molybdenum (Mo)-based products during adventitious root development can affect the flow of sugars from leaves to sinks, carbon allocation to the adventitious roots, and the quality of rooted cuttings. During this project, we aimed to determine if the application time of a CK/B-Mo-based product during the adventitious root development of unrooted cuttings would impact the source-to-sink relationship and, hence, affect plug growth and quality. A sink-strengthening commercial product based on cytokinin, B, and Mo was applied at four plug development stages plus a negative control as follows: T1, plants without product (control); T2, sticking stage (starting 24 hours after the sticking); T3, callus formation stage; T4, root development stage; and T5, toning stage. The root and shoot lengths and dry matter, number of leaves, leaf chlorophyll content, root-to-shoot ratio (based on dry matter), and nonstructural carbohydrate contents were measured. The timing of the application of the product impacted the root development, quality of the cuttings, and nonstructural carbohydrate content. Product application during the adventitious root dedifferentiation and induction phases (T2) resulted in the shortest root and shoot lengths, lowest dry matter accumulation, lowest nonstructural carbohydrate contents, and some phytotoxicity. Application during the initiation phase (T3) resulted in greater root length, total dry matter, and total soluble sugar contents compared with the control. Application during the expression phase (T4) resulted in the largest root length and mass and the highest sucrose contents. Applying the product when the roots had grown and reached all the edges of the growing media (T5) did not have any benefits compared with the control. This study provides new insights into the application timing of exogenous CKs, B, and Mo to generate a well-toned rooted coleus cutting and potential explanations in relation to nonstructural carbohydrate metabolism.

Impact of the tripartite interaction between rice, sheath blight and diverse crop-associated endophytes on phenotypic and biochemical responses in rice

Endophytes stimulate plant growth and inhibit phytopathogens. Most of the known endophytes are host-specific and only a few strains are effective for practical field use. Thus, this study focuses on the evaluation of endophytes viz., Bacillus pseudomycoides strain HP3d, Paenibacillus polymyxa strain PGSS1, B. velezensis strain A6 and P42 isolated from diverse crop ecosystems for their potential to promote plant growth and induce systemic resistance against sheath blight disease in rice. The endophytes were studied for plant growth promoting traits in vivo conditions and were found to exhibit ammonia (light to strong), siderophore (yellow zone on the CAS agar plate), indole-3-acetic acid (15.20–22.19 μg mL−1) production and phosphorus solubilization (1.2–1.5 cm). In the glasshouse, when applied individually and in combinations through various methods like seed treatment, seedling dip, and foliar spray these endophytes significantly reduced lesion size (2.06–2.37 fold) and ShB severity (2.60–2.58 fold), enhancing growth parameters viz., shoot (1.09–1.11 fold), root (1.02–1.20 fold), number of tillers (1.2–1.6 fold), shoot (80.58–82.64 %) and root (62.01–66.66 %) dry matter over untreated control. Consequently, enzyme activity viz., polyphenol oxidase (2.20–3.00 U−1min−1g−1), peroxidase (0.31–0.35 min−1g−1), superoxide dismutase (118.50–123.00 Ug−1 FW), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (0.84–0.90 min⁻1g⁻1FW) was found to increase up to the fourth day after the pathogen challenge and subsequently decrease thereafter. Chlorophyll content post inoculation of ShB declined over time but endophyte treated plants exhibited lesser reductions over uninoculated control. Field trials corroborated the in vitro findings, demonstrating reduced ShB (1.71–1.88 fold decrease in PDI) and enhanced growth (1.1–1.2 fold increase in shoot length) over untreated controls. The combined application of seedling dip, seed treatment, and foliar spray proved to be the most optimum treatment. The findings highlight the potential of diverse crop-derived endophytes, emphasizing their non-host specificity and effectiveness as broad-spectrum bioagents in actual field conditions.

Biomass Production and Partitioning Response of Coffee (Arabica Coffea L.) Seedlings to Different Poly-Bag Size and Biochar Based Media Preparations

Nursery experiment was conducted at Awada Agricultural Research Sub-Center, to investigate dry matter production and it’s partitioning into above and below ground parts of Arabica coffee seedlings treated under different ratio of biochar to top soil based media preparations and different poly bag size used to raise the seedlings. The treatment combinations with four levels of pot size (width by height) (7cm x13cm, 10cm x 16cm, 13cmx19cm and 16cmx 22cm) and five levels of biochar to top soil ratio (0:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4) by (v/v) were used for the treatment were factorially combined and laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the main effect of poly bag size and biochar to top soil ratio of media preparation were significantly (P<0.01) affect leaf, shoot, root and total dry matter production and shoot to root ratio of coffee seedlings. The highest total dry weight (6.83g) was recorded from pot size of 16x22cm interacted with one to three (1:3) biochar to topsoil ratio followed by (6.57g) harvested from pot size of 13cmx19cm interacted with one to four (1:4) biochar to top soil ratio. Similarly, the root to shoot ratio of coffee seedlings was significantly (P = 0.017) affected by the combined effects of the two factors. Pot size 13cmx19cm interacted with one to four (1:4) biochar to top soil ratio exhibited the maximum (0.272g/g) RSR as compared to rest of growing media and all pot size interacted with one to four (1:4) biochar to top soil ratio have statically higher value similar to the largest value above mentioned parameters except shoot to root ratio. Thus, it is concluded that vigorous coffee seedlings with high dry matter content and optimum root to shoot distribution for better seedling production can be produced by optimum poly bag size of 13cmx19cm interacted with one to three (1:3) biochar to topsoil. But, further investigations should be continued under different media preparation for wider opportunities at different area coffee growing areas.

Enhancing the efficacy of biochar derived from crop residues on rice (Oryza sativa L.) dry matter, yield accumulation and soil organic carbon in Central Vietnam

Biochar from crop residues plays an important role in reclamation of degraded rice soil due to imbalance fertilizer application and soil carbon sequestration. The objective of this study aimed to evaluate the best type and rate of biochar application for rice dry matter and soil organic carbon improvement. Therefore, pot experiments were carried out in two seasons of spring and summer 2023 at the University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University. Twelve treatments including 2 types of biochar (rice husk and peanut shell) and 6 application rates (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5%) were used and arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Research results showed that the shoot dry matter was higher 9.5 – 27.0% (spring season) and 19.1 – 26.9% (summer season) at a rate of 5% application in both types of biochar than control. Rice husk biochar application had higher shoot dry matter than peanut shell biochar application in the same application rate from 0.30 – 0.46 g/plant in both seasons. Similarly, organic carbon was found the highest content (2.15 - 2.21%) when the application of biochar from crop residues at a rate of 5%. Biochar from crop residues is considered as a good amendment for increasing crop dry matter and soil organic carbon.

Responses of bread wheat to Zn-Glycine and Zn-Alanine fertilizers under saline soil condition

Zinc (Zn) deficiency and salt stress are well-known soil problems and often happen parallelly in cultivated soils. In this study, Zn-amino acid complexes (Zn-AAc) were used as a source of Zn to determine their effects on salt-induced damage in wheat plants. The bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. Kavir) was supplied with Zn-glycine (Zn-Gly), Zn-alanine (Zn-Ala), and ZnSO4 as Zn sources at three salinity levels (EC 2, 4 and 6 dS m-). Salinity caused a significant decrease in shoot dry matter and grain yield of wheat, but this negative effect was significantly improved by the application of Zn-AAc. Salt stress decreased shoot and grain Zn concentration, but this reduction was lower in plants supplied by Zn-AAc. Calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) concentrations were increased in a shoot by salinity stress while decreased in grain. Sodium (Na) concentration decreased in shoot and grain by using Zn-AAc. At all of the salinity levels, wheat supplied with Zn-AAc had lower lipid peroxidation compared to those grown under the ZnSO4 source. Application of Zn-AAc increased the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the roots of wheat plants in saline conditions. Based on the results, the adverse effects of salinity stress on wheat plants can moderately improve with Zn-AAc application.

Investigation of the effect of superabsorbent polymer application on soil moisture and plant growth

As climate change continues to affect the environment, drought management has become more critical in agri-food production. Farmers are now looking for alternative drought management methods that are easy to apply. In this sense, superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were proposed as an alternative soil conditioning and drought management tool within this study. To test the efficiency of a developed SAP in terms of soil conditioning and plant growth promotion with different soil types and extreme drought conditions, long-term soil and greenhouse experiments were carried out in at least 4 replicates. The plant growth was monitored by 4 different growth indicators using wheat as a model plant. Plant growth indicators demonstrated that shoot dry matter, spike length, and grain yield were enhanced up to 24%, and 11.6% using different amounts of SAP at varying drought conditions. The study set forth and exemplary of superabsorbent polymer use in agriculture and useful in dose adjustment and understanding the drought-dose relationship in these types of polymers.

Bacillus aryabhattai dose recommendation for corn seed inoculation

The use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can be a sustainable alternative to improve the uniformity and speed of emergence and initial growth of plants. However, the effects of Bacillus aryabhattai inoculation are still incipient and inconclusive, and there is no recommendation for the use of inoculant doses containing B. aryabhattai. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of B. aryabhattai inoculation in improving the germination and initial growth of corn plants (Zea mays L.), and to determine the optimal inoculant dose to be recommended for inoculation of corn seeds. Corn seeds were inoculated with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40-mL kg–1 of the inoculant containing the strain CMAA 1363 of Bacillus aryabhattai. Four replicates of 50 seeds were sown in plastic boxes containing washed coarse sand. At 18 days after sowing, the emergence rate (E), shoot length (SL), root length (RL), shoot dry matter (SDM) and root dry matter (RDM) was recorded. The results showed that the use of inoculant containing B. aryabhattai improved the initial growth and dry matter production of corn plants. This suggests that B. aryabhattai could be an excellent option for producing microbiological inoculants with enormous potential for use in Brazilian and global agriculture. The optimal dose of inoculant containing B. aryabhattai to be applied to corn seeds can range between 20 and 22-mL kg–1 of inoculant.

Control of Meloidogyne javanica in banana by endophytic bacteria

Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of 40 endophytic bacteria isolates on the control of Meloidogyne javanica in ‘Prata-Anã’ banana seedlings. Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. In each trial, 20 bacteria isolates and control were evaluated. Bacterial suspensions were applied to substrates during the acclimatization of seedlings at 15 and 30 days. On the 31st day, seedlings were transplanted into pots and soil was infested with M. javanica egg suspension at 8 days. After 90 days, the following variables were evaluated: number of galls, egg masses, eggs per root, reproduction factor (RF), second-stage juveniles, and shoot dry matter. The results of nematological variables were submitted to Principal Components Analysis. In trial I, the variables that most contributed to data variability were as follows: number of eggs and RF. In trial II, RF had greater influence. Of the 40 isolates evaluated, 39 reduced RF, and of the 20 isolates evaluated in the first trial, all reduced the number of eggs per root. Bacillus methylotrophicus EB26, Bacillus cereus EB25, and Bacillus sp. EB37 isolates stood out in the control of nematodes, with RF reduction above 80%.

MAIZE-SOYBEAN INTERCROPPING WITH ORGANIC FERTILIZATION AS A SOLUTION TO ENHANCE CROP AND SOIL PRODUCTIVITY

An ever-increasing population and a decreasing cultivated land are challenging global food security. There is a massive difference between domestic production and demand. It is critical to improve the various index of land in order to secure food for future generations. Intercropping maize and soybeans can be a successful approach for addressing the gap between supply and demand. Due to low crop production per unit area, insufficient crop diversity, a lack of quality seeds and fertilizers, poor crop management, and the unfavorable effects of climate change. The experiment was conducted to understand the relationship of maize-soybean intercropping system with farm yard manure as a source of fertilizer. Our results showed that the farm yard manure has positively affected the overall soil fertility and also improved the crops production. Farm yard manure addition has given more fruitful results under maize-soybean intercropping. Maize-soybean intercropping with farm yard manure had a significant impact on growth and grain yield of both maize and soybean. The agronomic parameters plant height, shoot dry matter yield, grain yield and nitrogen uptake were recorded highest in the farm yard manure treatment under maize-soybean intercropping. Similarly, soil building attributes soil pH, total organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon and soil mineral nitrogen were positively affected by the interaction of farm yard manure and maize-soybean intercropping. Overall, we have concluded that maize-soybean intercropping system is most resilient cropping system with the implementation of farm yard manure to improve the crop productivity, soil health and to overcome the impact of climate change.

N2 Fixation, N Transfer, and Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) in Grain Legume-Wheat Intercropping: Impact of N Supply and Plant Density.

Intercropping legumes with cereals can lead to increased overall yield and optimize the utilization of resources such as water and nutrients, thus enhancing agricultural efficiency. Legumes possess the unique ability to acquire nitrogen (N) through both N2 fixation and from the available N in the soil. However, soil N can diminish the N2 fixation capacity of legumes. It is postulated that in intercropping, legumes uptake N mainly through N2 fixation, leaving more soil N available for cereals. The latter, in turn, has larger root systems, allowing it to explore greater soil volume and absorb more N, mitigating its adverse effects on N2 fixation in legumes. The goal of this study was to evaluate how the supply of N affects the intercropping of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.) with wheat under varying plant densities and N levels. We measured photosynthetic traits, biomass production, the proportion of N derived from air (%Ndfa) in the shoot of the legumes, the N transferred to the wheat, and the land equivalent ratio (LER). The results revealed a positive correlation between soil N levels and the CO2 assimilation rate (An), chlorophyll content, and N balance index (NBI) in wheat. However, no significant effect was observed in legumes as soil N levels increased. Transpiration (E) increased in wheat intercropped with legumes, while stomatal conductance (gs) increased with N addition in all crops. Water use efficiency (WUE) decreased in faba beans intercropped with wheat as N increased, but it showed no significant change in wheat or peas. The shoot dry matter of wheat increased with the addition of N; however, the two legume species showed no significant changes. N addition reduced the %Ndfa of both legume species, especially in monoculture, with peas being more sensitive than faba beans. The intercropping of wheat alleviated N2 fixation inhibition, especially at high wheat density and increased N transfer to wheat, particularly with peas. The LER was higher in the intercropping treatments, especially under limited N conditions. It is concluded that in the intercropping of wheat with legumes, the N2 fixation inhibition caused by soil N is effectively reduced, as well as there being a significant N transfer from the legume to the wheat, with both process contributing to increase LER.

Effects of microbial biofertilizer on growth, physio-biochemical traits, fruit yield, and water productivity of okra under drought stress

Drought poses a major challenge to global agricultural crop production, as it is considered one of the most severe abiotic stresses. Understanding the effects of exogenous microbial biofertilizer on okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] under drought stress can lead to new strategies for coping with drought conditions. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of microbial biofertilizer on growth, physio-biochemical traits, fruit yield, and water productivity of okra under drought stress. A factorial pot experiment, consisting of eight biofertilizer treatments applied as a soil drench (autoclaved inoculum [control], and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [AMF], phosphate-solubilizing fungi [PSF], plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria [PGPR], AMF + PSF, AMF + PGPR, PGPR + PSF, and AMF + PSF + PGPR) and three soil moisture regimes (50%, 75%, and 100% field capacity [FC]), was carried out. The results indicated that decreasing soil moisture level severely affected growth and fruit yield of okra. The application of microbial biofertilizer effectively enhanced growth, fruit yield, and physio-biochemical traits of okra under different soil moisture levels. Among the biofertilizer treatments considered, the combined application of AMF and PGPR showed remarkable efficacy in enhancing growth and productivity of okra plants under both 75% and 100% FC conditions. This co-inoculation significantly boosted shoot dry matter by 51%, root dry matter by 73%, fruit yield by 113%, and irrigation water productivity by 122% compared with plants grown without inoculation, irrespective of soil moisture levels. Furthermore, the plants treated with AMF and PGPR exhibited a noteworthy decrease in free proline accumulation by 31% compared with their non-inoculated counterparts. The results suggest that application of both AMF and PGPR biofertilizer to soil is an effective strategy to alleviate moderate drought stress. It is recommended to apply AMF and PGPR in combination to improve okra yield and water productivity under drought stress.

Response of cotton growth, yield, and water and nitrogen use efficiency to nitrogen application rate and ionized brackish water irrigation under film-mulched drip fertigation.

The presence of brackish water resources is significant in addressing the scarcity of freshwater resources, particularly in the Xinjiang region. Studies focused on reducing adverse effect of brackish water irrigation based on using ionized brackish water, as well as on investigating its effects on fibre and oil plant production processes, remain incipient in the literature. Some benefits of this technique are the optimization of the quality and quantity of irrigation water, economy of water absorbed by the plants, improvement in the vegetative growth and productivity compared to irrigation using conventional brackish water. Thus, the aim of the current study is to assess the effect of different nitrogen application rates on soil water and salinity, cotton growth and water and nitrogen use efficiency. The experimental design consisted of completely randomized design with two water types (ionized and non-ionized) and six nitrogen application rates with four replications. Irrigation conducted with ionized brackish water and different nitrogen application rates had significant effect on the plant height, leaf area index, shoot dry matter, boll number per plant and chlorophyll content. The study also demonstrated significant effects of ionized brackish water on soil water content and soil salinity accumulation. The highest cotton production was achieved with the use of 350 kg·ha-1 of ionized brackish water for irrigation, resulting in an average increase of 11.5% compared to the use of non-ionized brackish water. The nitrogen application exhibits a quadratic relationship with nitrogen agronomic use efficiency and apparent nitrogen use efficiency, while it shows a liner relationship with nitrogen physiological use efficiency and nitrogen partial productivity. After taking into account soil salinity, cotton yield, water and nitrogen use efficiency, the optimal nitrogen application rate for ionized brackish water was determined to be 300 kg·ha-1. It is hoped that this study can contribute to improving water management, reducing the environmental impact without implying great costs for the producer.

Salicylic Acid Alleviates the Adverse of Salinity Stress in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

Aims: To discover the resistance of the Yemeni genotype of fenugreek to salt stress and the impact of salicylic acid on alleviating salt stress. Study Design: The experimental design adopted a completely randomized block design (RCBD), with pots filled with a 1:2 mixture of sand and soil serving as the experimental units. Place and Duration of Study: in a mini greenhouse covered with white polyethylene plastic sheet at Taiz University during the spring season 2021. The average temperature ranged from 32 ℃ during the day to 29 ℃ at night. chemical analyses were performed at the pharmaceutical laboratory in Al-Saeed University. Methodology: The fenugreek genotype was subjected to varying salinity levels (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM) and the impact of salicylic acid (at concentrations of 0, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/l) in alleviating salt stress effects was examined at two time points: 15 and 30 days after 2 weeks of germination. Results: Increasing salinity significantly reduced shoot and root length and exhibited slight fluctuations influenced by salinity levels above 100 mM. Salicylic acid (SA) significantly reduced shoot length but had no effect on root length. Salinity had no appreciable effect on shoot dry matter (SDM%), while the application of SA significantly decreased it. Root dry matter percentage (RDM%) showed a notable and sharp increase with salinity. However, no appreciable changes in RDM% were observed in response to the SA application. In response to salinity, the ratio of SDM% to RDM% in treated plants decreased sharply, with the lowest ratio achieved when 0.1 SA was used for treatment. There were no significant modifications observed in the amounts of photosynthetic pigments in fenugreek leaves, including chl a, chl b and total chl. Nevertheless, using high concentration of Nacl led to a signifcantly reduced in the carotenoids and the chl. b. The protein content of fenugreek plants treated with salt was much higher than that of control plants. Also, protein levels increased with SA treatment across all NaCl concentration. Proline levels sharply increased with rising salinity, reaching a peak in approximately 22.28 ug/g DW. Application of 0.1 SA led to the highest proline level in comparison to other treatments, which was the highest level of Nacl in the second measurement time. Proline levels in plants treated with 200 Nacl and 0.1 SA were the highest, averaging roughly recorded 49.95 ug/g DW. APX significantly affected on fenugreek plants, the highest APX content was found in plants treated with 50 mM NaCl, the application of 0.1 SA produced the highest level of APX (0.373nm/g protein/minuet) in fenugreek. Catalase (CA) levels significantly decreased, but SA application did not affect CA levels. The data obtained may help in determining fenugreek cultivation areas and in managing breeding programs.

Genetic diversity and candidate genes for transient waterlogging tolerance in mungbean at the germination and seedling stages.

Mungbean [Vigna radiata var. radiata (L.) Wilczek] production in Asia is detrimentally affected by transient soil waterlogging caused by unseasonal and increasingly frequent extreme precipitation events. While mungbean exhibits sensitivity to waterlogging, there has been insufficient exploration of germplasm for waterlogging tolerance, as well as limited investigation into the genetic basis for tolerance to identify valuable loci. This research investigated the diversity of transient waterlogging tolerance in a mini-core germplasm collection of mungbean and identified candidate genes for adaptive traits of interest using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) at two critical stages of growth: germination and seedling stage (i.e., once the first trifoliate leaf had fully-expanded). In a temperature-controlled glasshouse, 292 genotypes were screened for tolerance after (i) 4 days of waterlogging followed by 7 days of recovery at the germination stage and (ii) 8 days of waterlogging followed by 7 days of recovery at the seedling stage. Tolerance was measured against drained controls. GWAS was conducted using 3,522 high-quality DArTseq-derived SNPs, revealing five significant associations with five phenotypic traits indicating improved tolerance. Waterlogging tolerance was positively correlated with the formation of adventitious roots and higher dry masses. FGGY carbohydrate kinase domain-containing protein was identified as a candidate gene for adventitious rooting and mRNA-uncharacterized LOC111241851, Caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase At4g26220 and MORC family CW-type zinc finger protein 3 and zinc finger protein 2B genes for shoot, root, and total dry matter production. Moderate to high broad-sense heritability was exhibited for all phenotypic traits, including seed emergence (81%), adventitious rooting (56%), shoot dry mass (81%), root dry mass (79%) and SPAD chlorophyll content (70%). The heritability estimates, marker-trait associations, and identification of sources of waterlogging tolerant germplasm from this study demonstrate high potential for marker-assisted selection of tolerance traits to accelerate breeding of climate-resilient mungbean varieties.

Effect of Silicon based Fertilizer and Biochar from Crop Residues on Dry Matter Accumulation and Si Uptake by Rice Crop in Central Vietnam

Background: Silicon (Si) has been considered a beneficial element for many plants. Si-rich biochar (Sichars) from rice husk or peanut shell have been suggested to be a potential source of bioavailable Si for Si-accumulator plants. Our study aimed to assess the Si-fertilization efficiency from chemical fertilizer and rice husk and peanut shell biochars on rice dry matter and shoot Si uptake. Methods: Pot trials were conducted in two crop seasons in 2023 (from February to April - spring season and from May to July- summer season) in the close net house. Treatments included 1 treatment with pure soil (control), 4 treatments with Si and N–P–K fertilizers and 6 treatments with biochar amendments and N-P–K fertilizers. These pot experiments were designed in the randomized complete block (RCBD) with 4 replications. Result: Shoot dry matter increased from 35.6 to 66.7% compared with control in different rates of Si fertilizer application and was also found the highest values in RHB and PSB at 15 g/kg soil application. Different Si and biochar application rates had a significant effect (P less than 0.05) on Si uptake by rice shoot. Therefore, Si-rich biochar considers as potential material for providing available Si to maintain the required level of available Si in soil and plant for healthy and high crop production.

Exogenous glutathione protected wheat seedling from high temperature and water deficit damages

High temperatures (HT) and drought are two major factors restricting wheat growth in the early growth stages. This study investigated the role of glutathione (GSH) amendment (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mM) to soil in mitigating the adverse effect of HT (33 °C, with 25 °C as a control), water regimes (60% of field capacity and control), and their combinations. HT decreased the length, project area, surface area, volume, and forks of the root, while drought had the reverse effect. Shoot length, leaf area, leaf relative water content, and shoot and root dry matter were significantly decreased by HT and drought, and their combined impact was more noticeable. GSH significantly promoted the root system, shoot growth, and leaf relative water content. The combined treatment reduced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll. However, 0.5 mM GSH raised chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll by 28.6%, 41.4%, and 32.5%, respectively, relative to 0.0 mM GSH. At combined treatment, 0.5 mM GSH decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) by 29.5% and increased soluble protein content by 24.1%. GSH meaningfully enhanced the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxide in different treatments. This study suggested that GSH could protect wheat seedlings from the adverse effects of HT and/or drought stresses.

Performance of seedlings and yield of soybean genotypes under soil compaction

AbstractThe identification of soybean genotypes tolerant to soil compaction makes it possible to reduce productivity loss under stress conditions. Added to this, the prior selection of these genotypes will result in greater assertiveness in the positioning of cultivars in the field. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the susceptibility of soybean genotypes to compaction in greenhouse and field conditions; verify which characteristics of seedlings under high resistance to root penetration are correlated with crop production in compacted soil; and to validate the substrate mechanical impedance method for evaluating the susceptibility of plant genotypes to soil compaction. Seeds of 20 genotypes were sown in a substrate mechanical impedance system under controlled conditions. The characteristics evaluated were total root length, total root surface area, mean root diameter, total root volume, taproot length, shoot length, root dry matter and seedling shoot dry matter. In the field experiment, half of the planting area was compacted, constituting two treatments, soil with and without compaction. The percentage of seedling emergence, initial plant height, stem diameter, number of nodes, internode length, number of lateral branches, shoot dry matter, final plant height, absolute and relative growth rate, number of pods, weight of 100 seeds and grain yield. In addition, the number of days between soybean sowing until plant flowering and grain harvest was recorded according to genotype and soil compaction level. In a controlled environment, genotypes tolerant to soil compaction show greater plasticity of root characteristics and smaller alterations in the shoot of seedlings. In the field, these genotypes show smaller reductions in growth rate, height, number of pods and grain yield. The shoot dry matter and the root dry matter of soybean seedlings in a mechanical impedance system present a positive and negative correlation, respectively, with soybean yield in compacted soil, indicating that the genetically determined susceptibility to soil compaction stress was similar throughout ontogenesis. The substrate mechanical impedance system used to evaluate the performance of soybean seedlings under stress, facilitates the decision‐making in breeding programs focused on identifying genotypes expressing soil compaction tolerance.

Organic fertilization as a sustainable alternative in the production of bean varieties in the brazilian semiarid region

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic fertilization and the use of rock powder in different varieties of cowpea in an agroecological family farming system in a semi-arid region of Brazil. The design was in randomized blocks 4 blocks x 4 treatments (T1 - witness; T2 - 4.0 t ha-1 rock powder; T3 - 10 t ha-1 bovine manure + organic matter; and T4 - 4 t ha-1 rock powder + 2.1 t ha-1 organic compound) x 3 varieties. At 65 days, plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), number of leaves (NL), leaf area (LA), and crop yield were evalueted: number of pods (NP), number of pods per plant (NPP), total seed weight (TSW), grain production (GP) and shoot dry matter production (SDMA). The creole variety Sedinha obtained better results in the development and yield of the crop, the organic compost was the most efficient for all varieties, the addition of rock powder did not result in significant effects compared to other treatments. This study highlights the potential for producing Creole seeds, in addition to demonstrating that organic fertilization is an efficient alternative, and reduces the use of chemical fertilizers contributing to the sustainable use of natural resources.

Evaluating capability of two halophyte plants for phytoextraction of cadmium from contaminated soils

Selecting an appropriate plant is a key factor for the phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils. The possibility of using two halophytes for the remediation of cadmium (Cd) from contaminated soils was investigated. Consequently, an experiment with Chenopodium album L. and Chenopodium botrys L. including Cd treatments of 0, 5,10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm was conducted. Designated analyses including fresh weight, dry weight, and Cd concentrations in shoots and roots were performed. Results indicated that for both plants, a logarithmic model performed best to demonstrate the relationship between total soil Cd with shoot Cd and dry matter. Although both halophytes had considerable capability to remediate Cd from soils, C. botrys demonstrated greater potential to accumulate Cd in shoots. The range of bioconcentration factor (BCF) in C. botrys was obtained to be 0.8 to 8.8 and in C. album was 0.4 to 1.73. For C album, BCF in most treatments was lower than 1.0, but for C. botrys, it was mostly larger than 1.0. Although both plants can be used as hyperaccumulators to remediate Cd-polluted soils, the clean-up time of C. album under higher Cd concentrations was shorter than C. botrys L.

PLANTING FERTILIZATION AND Metarhizium anisopliae INOCULATION IN THE INITIAL GROWTH OF SUGARCANE

The study aimed to evaluate the interaction between fertilizer doses (N:P:K) at planting the inoculation of the Metahizium anisopliae fungus in sugarcane billets during the initial development of the plant. The experiment was conducted in pots, under full sun, in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, specified as follows: with and without inoculation of the fungus in the billets and five doses of NPK fertilizer (0%, 50%, 75%; 100%, and 125% of recommended fertilization). Plant height was measured at 53, 77, and 91 days after planting (DAP), and the root and shoot dry matter (DM) was quantified at 91 DAP. There was no significant influence of the interaction between fungus and NPK fertilizer doses (P>0.05) on all variables analyzed. However, a significant difference was observed for inoculation (P<0.05) and doses of NPK fertilizer <0.05). Inoculation of M. anisopliae resulted in greater plant height and root and shoot DM than non-inoculated plants, regardless of fertilizer doses. In this sense, new studies must be conducted to find a way to reduce the use of NPK fertilizer in sugarcane by M. anisopliae inoculation.