High Levels Of NaCl Research Articles

Impact of blending of phase change material for performance enhancement of solar energy storage

The contemporary challenge of energy scarcity underscores the vital necessity for effective energy storage solutions. Addressing this concern becomes particularly crucial given the abundance of solar energy available for harnessing. Thermal energy storage emerges as a pivotal approach in this context, with phase change materials serving as valuable components due to their affordability and widespread accessibility. Specifically, various inorganic salts find application as phase change materials, contributing to the development of cost-effective and readily available solutions for storing the ample energy derived from solar sources. This research assesses the impact of varying Sodium chloride (NaCl) proportions on the thermophysical properties of nitrate-based salts, specifically Sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and Potassium Nitrate (KNO3). The investigation reveals significant influences on latent heat, specific heat, and thermal conductivity. High levels of NaCl adversely impact the thermal properties, leading to a decrease in the latent heat of NaNO3 and KNO3 by 7.3 % and 4.4 %, respectively. This reduction resulted due to the disruption of the crystal structure caused by blending, which results in the initiation of melting at lower energy levels. Conversely, lower NaCl quantities, particularly 7.5 %, positively influence latent heat for both salts. Thermal conductivity and specific heat show enhancement with 7.5 % and 10 % NaCl, but further increases mitigate these properties. Microstructure analysis indicates that limited NaCl promotes a compact structure with strong bonding forces, while exceeding a threshold increases lattice vibration frequency. A network structure between NaNO3 and NaCl forms, becoming more compact and complex with increased NaCl content, impacting melting and solidification points. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the stability of both mixtures. The NaNO3–NaCl combination exhibits superior thermophysical properties compared to KNO3–NaCl, underscoring the importance of fine-tuning NaCl proportions for optimal performance in these salt mixtures.

Local salt purification in Aceh Timur regency using alkaline (KOH and NaOH) activated bentonite

Various purification methods have been developed to improve local salt quality, with the NaCl content above 94%. Bentonite is one of the materials used as binder impurities in purification. The purpose of the study was to synthesize a modified bentonite using an alkaline solution, which includes sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) with various concentrations (1 M, 1.5 M, 2 M, and 2.5 M) and determined levels of Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ metals using AAS. The bentonite and activating agent 1 M (1:10) were stirred for three hours. Then, the bentonite was dried for two hours in an oven at 110?C. The activated bentonite was dried for four hours at 170?C. The activated bentonite was characterized using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The basal spacing d001 on the diffractogram bentonite was significantly unaffected by alkaline activation. FTIR analysis represents the stretching vibration of -OH shifts towards a lower wavenumber. Alkaline activation reduced impurities from bentonite and increased the pore surface''s porosity. NaCl levels in people's salt increased after being activated using alkaline. The increase in Na+ levels was followed by a decrease in Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents. KOH-activated bentonite had a higher NaCl level than NaOH-activated bentonite.

Exploring the Potential of Bacillus velezensis, an Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Alternanthera philoxeroides for Plant Growth Promotion and Bioremediation Properties

The current work was done to analyse the bioremediation and plant growth promotion (PGP) traits of endophytic bacteria isolated from Alternanthera philoxeroides from Bellandur Lake, Bangalore, India. Twenty-nine endophytic bacteria were isolated and tested for their PGP traits like indole acetic acid (IAA), ammonia, nitrogen fixation, 1-aminocyclopropane-1- carboxylate (ACC) deaminase production, phosphate solubilization etc. Endophytic bacterium, BEBAphL1 obtained from leaves of A. philoxeroides exhibited significant plant growth promotion properties and the isolate was identified as Bacillus velezensis OQ874364 using 16S rRNA sequencing. The bacterium showed potential IAA, ammonia production, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and ACC deaminase production. The results indicate that this endophyte is promising as a growth-promoting inoculant, reducing the reliance on chemical inputs in conventional agricultural practices while enhancing nutrient uptake and stress resilience in plants. B. velezensis exhibited tolerance to high levels of chromium (500 mg/L) and NaCl (15%) and was also able to decolourize Congo red by 70% at 0.005% concentration of dye. Characterization of dye samples pre- and post-bacterial treatment was done using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The findings of the study indicate that B. velezensis shows promise as a plant growth stimulator capable of withstanding heavy metal exposure and breaking down dyes.

Direct in situ and real-time visualization of salt-dependent thiolated-DNA immobilization and biosensing on gold in nanofluidic channels

Thiol-gold (Au) conjugation is perhaps the most routinely applied surface chemistry approach to immobilize receptors within Au-based molecular sensing platforms. However, no previous studies have investigated in situ immobilization in a nanofluidic systems. In this work, flowthrough receptor immobilization is demonstrated, using a nanoslit induced depletion zone to enable direct real-time visualization for characterizing the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations during immobilization of thiolated single-stranded DNA on Au. The results show that the amount of fixed-DNA on Au, as well as the non-specific adsorption of DNA on fused silica surface, strongly depend on NaCl levels. Furthermore, the non-specific interaction at high NaCl levels reduces the DNA available for immobilization on Au, but enriches the DNA molecules in the channel under wash by deionized water. By adding Tween-20 to decrease the non-specific adsorption and increasing the driving pressure to increase the DNA flux under high-salt level, the immobilization time can be further decreased to 10 min or less, which is at least an order of magnitude faster than recently proposed bioconjugation methods for thiolated-DNA–Au conjugation. Moreover, this work demonstrates the capability of the platform for DNA- and aptamer-based sensing assays, thereby opening up new strategies for developing biosensors using nanofluidic platforms.

Cucumber and salinity

Salinity is becoming more expanded globally. Soil salinity imposes a great challenge for vegetable-crops production in arid and semiarid regions. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is the fourth most important vegetable crop worldwide. In this review, we discuss the complex network of effects, and the ways cucumber responds to salinity. Salt stress inhibits almost all growth phases and yield components of cucumber. Accumulation of Na+ and/or Cl- ions in cucumber tissues disturbs the absorption of other ions causing ionic imbalance which affect stomatal opening. Nevertheless, high levels of NaCl in soil inhibit water uptake in the root medium exposing cucumber to osmotic stress. Osmotic stress broadly interrupts metabolic pathways by altering enzymatic activity. Both, ionic and osmotic stresses induce ROS amassing in cucumber tissues. ROS directly constrain photosynthesis by decreasing levels of total chlorophyll and degrading PSII as well as corrupting thylakoid membranes. Ultimately, NaCl-induced stress inhibits cucumber seed germination, roots and shoots growth and development, fruit quality and yield production

Sensitivity of different flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes to salinity determined by GE biplot

Plants respond differently to salt stress depending on their genetic structure and the severity of the stress. Salinity reduces seed germination, delays plant emergence, and inhibits seedling growth. The selection of the tolerant genotypes, however, plays a vital role in increasing agricultural output since various genotypes greatly vary for their tolerance to salinity. Therefore, this study determined the impact of five different NaCl levels (i.e., 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) on seed germination and growth attributes of 10 flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes. The germination and growth characteristics of the genotypes under study were examined using the biplot approach at varied salt levels. The results indicated that individual and interactive effects of genotypes and salinity levels significantly (p ≤ 0.01 or p ≤ 0.05) affected several seed germination traits. The relations of genotype × germination traits indicated that ‘G4′ and ‘G6′ were the most stable genotypes with the highest performance regarding seed germination characteristics. The genotype ‘G2′ was associated with shoot length, while ‘G7′ was linked with salinity tolerance index. The biplot divided the germination characteristics into five different groups according to sector analysis. Most of the germination parameters had higher values under 100 mM, while some of the parameters had better values under 0, 50 and 200 mM NaCl levels. The tested genotypes varied for their seed germination and growth response depending on the NaCl levels. The genotypes ‘G4′, ‘G5′ and ‘G6′ proved more tolerant to high NaCl levels. Therefore, these genotypes can be used to improve flax productivity under saline soils.

Ameliorative effects of foliar potassium nitrate on the growth, physiological, and stomatal properties of lettuce plants under salinity stress

The restorative effects of foliar potassium nitrate spraying on morphological, physiological, and stomata properties of salt-affected lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cv. Yedikule plants were investigated. Lettuce seedlings grown under saline irrigation water constituted by NaCl levels with 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM were sprayed with foliar KNO3 at 500 mg L−1 after 30-day-old plants. Salinity stress adversely influenced plant growth and physiological parameters. Fresh plant biomass, leaf area per plant, and leaf number were limited at 100 mM NaCl and above. Leaf temperature, chlorophyll content, dry matter, turgor loss, and electrolyte leakage were enhanced under saline conditions; however, salinity diminished leaf relative water content. Foliar KNO3 spraying improved the physiologic and stomata traits of salt-affected lettuce plants rather than plant growth. The electrolyte leakage was increased by increasing salinity and KNO3 spraying, whereas the relative injury was lower in the plants treated with foliar KNO3. An increase in stomata density was detected up to 100 mM NaCl, while stomata length and width were gradually decreased. Salinity and foliar KNO3 resulted in more frequent stomata number up to 100 mM NaCl, but it was surprisingly reduced at higher NaCl levels. Lettuce plants could grow up with irrigation water salinity of 100 mM and foliar KNO3 with 500 mg L−1 could regulate the adverse effects of salinity on the physiological characteristics up to 100 mM NaCl.

Inhibitory effect of d-Tryptophan on the spoilage potential of Shewanella baltica and Pseudomonas fluorescens and its potential application in salmon fillet preservation

In this study, we found the inhibitory effect of d-Tryptophan (d-Trp) on the bacterial growth and spoilage potential of P. fluorescens and S. baltica. The effectiveness of d-Trp in bacterial growth inhibition was highly dependent on environmental NaCl concentrations. The growth/no growth models were developed to clarify the relationship between salt and d-Trp concentrations for optimal growth-inhibitory effect. It showed that higher levels of NaCl (>3.5%) with d-Trp (>15 mM) are required for growth inhibition. The d-Trp treatment combined with NaCl also retarded the psychrotrophic growth and reduced the respiratory active bacteria at low temperature, indicating that the inhibitory effect of d-Trp might be associated with the tolerance to osmotic and cold stress. Furthermore, the treatment d-Trp combined NaCl (artificial seawater) on salmon fillets was investigated. During refrigerated storage, the d-Trp treated salmon fillet either inoculated with S. baltica or P. fluorescen maintained remained a relatively low level of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) (below 30 mg N/100 g during 8-days storage) and delayed increase of low total viable bacteria counts (TVC) with a longer lag phase of 2 days.

Molecular and morphological investigations on the renal mechanisms enabling euryhalinity of red stingray Hemitrygon akajei.

Most cartilaginous fishes live in seawater (SW), but a few exceptional elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are euryhaline and can acclimate to freshwater (FW) environments. The plasma of elasmobranchs is high in NaCl and urea concentrations, which constrains osmotic water loss. However, these euryhaline elasmobranchs maintain high levels of plasma NaCl and urea even when acclimating to low salinity, resulting in a strong osmotic gradient from external environment to body fluid. The kidney consequently produces a large volume of dilute urine to cope with the water influx. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of dilute urine production in the kidney of Japanese red stingray, Hemitrygon akajei, transferred from SW to low-salinity environments. We showed that red stingray maintained high plasma NaCl and urea levels by reabsorbing more osmolytes in the kidney when transferred to low salinity. RNA-seq and qPCR analyses were conducted to identify genes involved in NaCl and urea reabsorption under the low-salinity conditions, and the upregulated gene expressions of Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter 2 (nkcc2) and Na+/K+-ATPase (nka) were found in the FW-acclimated individuals. These upregulations occurred in the early distal tubule (EDT) in the bundle zone of the kidney, which coils around the proximal and collecting tubules to form the highly convoluted structure of batoid nephron. Considering the previously proposed model for urea reabsorption, the upregulation of nkcc2 and nka not only causes the reabsorption of NaCl in the EDT, but potentially also supports enhanced urea reabsorption and eventually the production of dilute urine in FW-acclimated individuals. We propose advantageous characteristics of the batoid-type nephron that facilitate acclimation to a wide range of salinities, which might have allowed the batoids to expand their habitats.

Physiological Measurements and Transcriptome Survey Reveal How Semi-mangrove Clerodendrum inerme Tolerates Saline Adversity.

Salinity adversity has been a major environmental stressor for plant growth and reproduction worldwide. Semi-mangrove Clerodendrum inerme, a naturally salt-tolerant plant, can be studied as a successful example to understand the biological mechanism of saline resistance. Since it is a sophisticated and all-round scale process for plants to react to stress, our greenhouse study interpreted the response of C. inerme to salt challenge in the following aspects: morphology, osmotic protectants, ROS production and scavenging, ion homeostasis, photosynthetic efficiency, and transcriptome reprogramming. The results drew an overview picture to illustrate the tolerant performance of C. inerme from salt acclimatization (till medium NaCl level, 0.3 mol/L) to salinity stress (high NaCl level, 0.5 mol/L). The overall evaluation leads to a conclusion that the main survival strategy of C. inerme is globally reshaping metabolic and ion profiles to adapt to saline adversity. These findings uncover the defense mechanism by which C. inerme moderates its development rate to resist the short- and long-term salt adversity, along with rebalancing the energy allocation between growth and stress tolerance.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Promote Gleditsia sinensis Lam. Root Growth under Salt Stress by Regulating Nutrient Uptake and Physiology

Towards the improvement of plant productivity in saline–alkali soils, the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is an intensive topic of research. For this study, three inoculation treatments, namely, autoclaved AMF inocula (CK), Funneliformis mosseae (FM), and Corymbiglomus tortuosum (CT), and four NaCl levels, namely, 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM were established to investigate the growth and physiological responses of mycorrhizal Gleditsia sinensis Lam. root systems to increase salinity through root dry weight, morphology, nutrient content, and physiology, and soil nutrient content. As NaCl levels increased, root dry weight, morphology, and nutrient content under the CK treatment exhibited a downward trend, while FM and CT treatments weakened this trend and significantly improved root dry weight and morphology, which increased by more than 200%. Under high NaCl levels, root activity under the FM treatment was significantly higher than that under the CK, with an average increase of 120.86%. In contrast to the activity of nitrate reductase, niacinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase activity under CK was significantly less than that in FM and CT treatments. Moreover, inoculation with AMF significantly affected soil alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), total nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (TP), while NaCl had no significant impact on soil nutrients. Further, both soil salinity and mycorrhizal colonization rate had significant direct effects on root growth. However, soil salinity primarily influenced root growth through indirect effects on root nitrogen content, while mycorrhizal colonization rate indirectly impacted root nitrate reductase activity, and root nitrogen and phosphorus content. Our results suggested that the use of suitable AMF (e.g., Funneliformis mosseae) might effectively improve the currently unfavorable situation of economic tree species production on land with saline soils, which may greatly optimize the utility of these areas.

Sugarcane plant growth promoting rhizo bacterial interaction for enhanced salinity tolerance

The present investigation was meted out on two promising sugarcane genotypes CoN-13072 and CoN-13073, were exposed to different NaCl levels to assess rhizobacterial interaction for salinity tolerance. From the shoot apex portion of two sugarcane genotypes tissue culture plantlets were developed. From that regenerated plantlets shifted to polyhouse and exposed to different NaCl levels to assess rhizobacterial interaction for salinity tolerance. Maximum shoot length (25.40 cm) was observed in genotype CoN-13073 under rhizobacterial inoculum at 2.0% NaCl concentration and maximum root length (12.40 cm) was observed at 0.0% and 1.5% NaCl concentration under rhizobacterial inoculum in genotype CoN-13072 and CoN-13073 respectively. Maximum shoot root ratio (2.60) and (2.40) was observed at 0.0% NaCl concentration with rhizobacterial inoculum within the rooting mixture of both the genotypes CoN-13073 and CoN-13072 respectively. High chlorophyll content index (5.48) and leaf area (41.20 cm2/plant) was observed in genotype CoN-13073 at 0.0% NaCl concentration under rhizobacterial inoculum. In genotypes CoN-13073 and CoN-13072, with a rise in NaCl concentration upto 2.0% and 1.5% respectively, increase in shoot length, leaf area and chlorophyll content index was observed as a result of increase in ACC deaminase activity. ACC deaminase activity and ethylene content within the plant body are negatively correlated. Increase in ACC deaminase activity results decrease in ethylene synthesis in plant body to avoid stress. Among the 2 genotypes, CoN-13073 found to be more salt tolerant at higher NaCl levels with the exhibition of low osmotic conductance, maximum leaf area with high chlorophyll content index.

Are alternative magnesium sources the key for a viable downstream transfer of struvite precipitation? Assessment of process feasibility and precipitate characteristics

Phosphorus (P) recovery in source-separated decentralised wastewater treatment processes is an eco-efficient strategy in accordance with a circular economy perspective. Struvite (MgNH4PO4.6H2O) capture allows a reduction of P discharged to surface waters and generates a product known for its slow-release fertiliser properties. However, the cost and availability of current commercial Mg2+ sources hinder the downstream transfer of struvite precipitation. Although some alternative sources are available, there is a lack of information on how they compare to conventional sources; it is also not known how the Mg:PO4 ratio affects process performance or fertiliser product suitability. Therefore, this research evaluated the performance of two alternative sources, seasalt and seawater bittern, at different Mg:PO4 ratios. The results indicate that seasalt may be a problematic option owing to its high levels of NaCl, regardless of the Mg:PO4 level, which could affect soil fertility. Bittern, meanwhile, showed a high yield at pH 8.5 and Mg:PO4 1.2:1, achieving 99% recovery of PO4 and increasing also the recovery yield from 60% (using conventional sources) to 82% at Mg:PO4 1:2. In addition, bittern showed larger X-type crystals than commercial sources. The precipitate is composed mainly of struvite and Newberyite (MgHPO4.3H2O), with traces of K+, and no presence of NaCl at Mg:PO4 1.2:1; while at Mg:PO4 1:2 it forms a mixture of struvite with presence of Ca and K phosphates. In conclusion, bittern is an effective raw material to improve the downstream transfer of struvite precipitation into urine-diverting toilets in wastewater treatment systems.

Leaching of Cu, Zn, and Pb from Sulfidic Tailings Under the Use of Sulfuric Acid and Chloride Solutions

The imbalance between raw materials of high economic importance and their supply has increased the search for new approaches to obtain valuable elements from mining tailings. In this study, the extraction of copper, zinc, and lead from sulfidic tailing in sulfate–chloride media was investigated. A 33 Box–Behnken design was applied to evaluate three variables over a 4-h testing period: sulfuric acid concentration (0.01–1.0 mol/L H2SO4), sodium chloride (10–60 g/L NaCl), and temperature (20–70 °C). The design showed two optimum working regions: a combination of a high NaCl level, low H2SO4 level, and medium temperature level for lead leaching, while for copper and zinc, a combination of a medium–high H2SO4 level and a high temperature level. The concentration of NaCl had only a slight impact on their leaching. Based on these results, two-stage leaching was performed. The first stage was carried out under an experimental condition that favored the leaching of lead (60 g/L NaCl, 0.01 mol/L H2SO4, 45 °C, 1 h, 10:1 liquid-to-solid ratio), whereas the second stage maximized the leaching of copper and zinc (60 g/L NaCl, 0.5 mol/L H2SO4, 70 °C, 24 h, 10:1 liquid-to-solid ratio). The global leaching rate was 66.8 ± 3.0% copper, 84.1 ± 5.2% zinc, and 93.9 ± 3.2% lead. The iron and arsenic content were also leached by about 20 and 50% at the end of the second stage. The study demonstrated that the use of sulfate–chloride media in a two-stage leaching considerably improved the extraction of the desired metals and was, therefore, suitable for their recovery.Graphical

ECONOMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF POINT-OF-USE NaCl BRINE REUSE BY NEW MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY

Cation exchange water softening is one of the most widely used technologies of water treatment. However, its environmental impact related to discharge of highly concentrated regeneration brine draws more attention as overall quality and availability of water resources decreases. Bearing in mind high levels of reusable NaCl in brine discharge, technology that will reduce the environmental impact and help reuse brine is required. To develop such technology composition of spent brine solution from Na-cation exchanger was investigated and conditioning of such solution with use of nanofiltration membranes of different types under different temperatures, pressures and recovery values was tested. Results show that optimal conditions for NaCl recovery include usage of DuPont (Dow) Filmtec Fortilife XC-N membrane elements at temperature 23-27 °С, pressure of 23-25 bar and recovery of 55-60 %. Under these conditions purity of NaCl in permeate over 90 % and productivity by NaCl of 13.1 kg/h were achieved. Principal technological scheme of the process of membrane conditioning of the spent regeneration solution was proposed that allows achieving reduction of NaCl consumption by 40 % and reduction of NaCl discharge into sewage by 72 % with corresponding economic and environmental benefits.

Evaluation of Two Maize Hybrids Under Salinity Stress at Germination Stage تقييم هجينين من الذرة الشامية تحت الإجهاد الملحي خلال مرحلة الانبات

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice, besides, it’s important and necessary for global food security. Maize is considered a C4 plant and is sensitive to salinity. Two maize hybrids (SC-168 and TWC-352) were evaluated morphologically and biochemically under salinity stress using levels of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM) at the germination stage. The results indicated that the percentage of germination, growth characteristics, pigments in both hybrids significantly decreased with increasing of NaCl concentrations. In addition, proline increased with increasing salinity levels and then decreased at the highest levels of NaCl in both hybrids. Moreover, salinity with high levels of NaCl led to decrease activity in CAT, POX, and PPO enzymes. Finally, under salinity stress, SC-168 had greater values in germination %, growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, proline content, antioxidant activity compared to TWC-352. As a result, it's possible that SC-168 has a higher salt tolerance than TWC-352.

Effect of different levels of fat, sodium chloride, and sodium tripolyphosphate on the physicochemical and microstructure properties of Jamnapari goat meat emulsion modelling system

Jamnapari goat meat has the potential to be used for producing quality meat products. The present work thus aimed to evaluate the properties of Jamnapari meat emulsion. A two-level factorial design with three independent variables (23), fat (10 and 30%), sodium chloride (NaCl) (0.8 and 2.4%), and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) (0.5 and 1.5%) was used to randomly produce eight formulations of Jamnapari goat meat emulsion. The total expressible fluid (%TEF), expressible fat (%EFAT), pH, cooking loss, water holding capacity (WHC), texture, and microstructure properties of the eight Jamnapari goat meat emulsions were analysed. The %TEF was highly influenced by all factors (fat, NaCl, and STPP), while the %EFAT was only affected by the amount of fat. The pH and cooking loss were affected by fat and STPP levels, while the WHC was affected by the NaCl level. The hardness of the cooked Jamnapari meat emulsion was influenced by all the factors, while the cohesiveness by the fat and NaCl, the springiness by the fat content, and the gumminess, chewiness, and resilience by the STPP. A high NaCl level resulted in a homogeneous microstructure and smaller fat droplets. Although Formulation 3 (10% fat, 2.4% NaCl, and 0.5% STPP) showed good results in emulsion stability, cooking loss, WHC, textural properties, and uniform fat distribution within the meat protein matrix, Formulation 7 (10% fat, 0.8% NaCl, and 0.5% STPP) could be more preferable for its lower salt level. To conclude, the present work developed a stable formulation of Jamnapari goat meat emulsion that can be used to produce meat products.

Selenium and salt interactions in sage (Salvia officinalis L.): Growth and yield, chemical content, ion uptake

Salinity (NaCl) is a major abiotic stress that limits crop production, especially under rainfed conditions. Selenium (Se), as an important micronutrient, plays a vital role in mitigating the detrimental effects of different abiotic stresses. The objective of this research was to examine the effect of Se fertilization on sage (Salvia officinalis L.) under different salt stresses. The results showed that Se treatments caused significant improvements in the dry weight (DW) of sage under salt stress. It was found that the DW was increased in the combined treatment of 10 ppm of Se and 100 mM/L of NaCl and was reduced at the highest level of NaCl (100 mM/L). The highest essential oil percentages were recorded in the first harvest (5 ppm of Se), and the control treatment in the second and third harvests but significantly affected the low and high NaCl levels in the sage. Additionally, the results in this study showed that the application of Se from 2.5 ppm to 10 ppm significantly increased the essential oil components when under salt stress. The results showed that 5 ppm of Se and 50 mM/L of NaCl increased SO42− and PO43− concentrations in the first and third harvests. In addition, significant increases in K+ uptakes and decreases in Na+ uptakes were detected when the Se was added while the sage was under salt stress, and the highest Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations were all found in the Se treatments as well as in the combined treatments of Se and NaCl.

Endophytic Bacterial Isolates From Halophytes Demonstrate Phytopathogen Biocontrol and Plant Growth Promotion Under High Salinity.

Halophytic endophytes potentially contribute to the host’s adaptation to adverse environments, improving its tolerance against various biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we identified the culturable endophytic bacteria of three crop wild relative (CWR) halophytes: Cakile maritima, Matthiola tricuspidata, and Crithmum maritimum. In the present study, the potential of these isolates to improve crop adaptations to various stresses was investigated, using both in vitro and in-planta approaches. Endophytic isolates were identified by their 16S rRNA gene sequence and evaluated for their ability to: grow in vitro in high levels of NaCl; inhibit the growth of the economically important phytopathogens Verticillium dahliae, Ralstonia solanacearum, and Clavibacter michiganensis and the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus; provide salt tolerance in-planta; and provide growth promoting effect in-planta. Genomes of selected isolates were sequenced. In total, 115 endophytic isolates were identified. At least 16 isolates demonstrated growth under increased salinity, plant growth promotion and phytopathogen antagonistic activity. Three showed in-planta suppression of Verticillium growth. Furthermore, representatives of three novel species were identified: two Pseudomonas species and one Arthrobacter. This study provides proof-of-concept that the endophytes from CWR halophytes can be used as “bio-inoculants,” for the enhancement of growth and stress tolerance in crops, including the high-salinity stress.

Loss of Salt GlucocorticoidKinase (SGK) 1 in T cells abrogates Memory T Cell Formation, Hypertension and End‐Organ Damage

In the past decade, substantial evidence has shown a major role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer and hypertension. In most hypertensive individuals, high blood pressure is primary and associated with modifiable risk factors like salt intake. In response to high salt intake, NaCl concentrates in tissues over time and stimulates the formation of different T-cell subsets that can set the stage for hypertension development. High NaCl levels can promote the polarization of T CD4 helper cells into the pro-inflammatory TH17 phenotype in a SGK1-dependent manner. Previous data has shown that memory T cells play a vital role in the pathogenesis of hypertension; long-lived memory cells can generate a systemic inflammatory response through mobilization to organs and release of cytokines, leading to multiple organ damage seen in hypertension. To understand the mechanisms by which memory T cells sense salt, we tested the hypothesis that SGK1 in T cells is necessary for the formation of memory T cells and their activation in salt-sensitive hypertension, and that this process is key to the precipitation of kidney and vascular dysfunction. We employed mice with T cell-specific deletion of SGK1, SGK1fl/fl × tgCD4cre mice, and used SGK1fl/fl mice as controls. To mimic repeated exposure to hypertensive stimuli, we treated mice with L-NAME (0.5mg/ml) in drinking water for 2weeks, which was followed by 2-week washout interval, then a high salt diet (4% NaCl) for 3 weeks. L-NAME followed by high salt increased memory T cells in the kidney, aorta and bone marrow of only SGK1fl/fl control mice. Blood pressure was also significantly higher in SGK1fl/fl mice as compared to SGK1fl/fl × tgCD4cre mice. In additional studies, we found that loss of SGK1 in T cells protects from renal and vascular inflammation and injury. To assess markers of renal injury, we measured albumin in 24-hour urine samples collected at the end of treatment. L-NAME/high salt caused striking albuminuria in only SGK1fl/fl mice. Wire myography demonstrated an impaired relaxation in response to acetylcholine but not to sodium nitroprusside in mesenteric arterioles from SGK1fl/fl mice, but not SGK1fl/fl × tg CD4cre mice, which were protected from vascular dysfunction. To understand the role of SGK1 in salt-sensitive hypertension, effector memory Tcells were sorted and adoptively transferred from the bone marrow of CD45.2 SGK1fl/fl × tgCD4cre mice or SGK1fl/fl controls that had undergone the L-NAME/high salt protocol to recipient CD45.1 mice. Mice were fed a high salt diet for 3 weeks. Radiotelemetry recording of blood pressure revealed that the mice that received bone marrow TEM cells from SGK1fl/fltgCD4cre mice didn't develop salt-sensitivity and were protected from the developing a hypertensive response compared to the mice that received the control TEM cells from SGK1fl/fl mice. Our data provide a potential mechanism by which SGK1 promotes the formation of memory T cells and their development of salt sensitivity and their mediation of renal and vascular dysfunction.