Low Water Stress Research Articles

Synthetic cultivar development in cumin: Enhancing yield and drought tolerance

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is a valuable spice crop with medicinal properties belonging to the Apiaceae family. While farmers often favor the cultivation of cumin, low seed yield, particularly under drought stress, poses challenges to its commercial production. Due to cumin small flowers, self-incompatibility, and cross-pollination attributes, the production of synthetic varieties through polycross breeding can be an effective method for improving seed performance and enhancing drought tolerance in cumin. This study, for the first time, investigates the breeding progress of cumin in three populations over two generations. The first generation resulting from polycross breeding (SYN2 population), along with parental genotypes, was evaluated for agro-morphological traits under normal and low-water irrigation conditions in two locations and compared with the SYN1 population. Additionally, genetic diversity among parental genotypes, SYN1, and SYN2 populations was examined using Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT) markers. Low water stress negatively affected all studied traits, except for essential oil content. Improved seed yield, increased drought tolerance, and higher cuminaldehyde content were observed in the SYN2 population compared to parental genotypes. Estimation of genetic parameters indicated a higher heritability and heterosis for traits in the SYN1 population compared to SYN2. Furthermore, trait heritability in the SYN2 population was higher under normal irrigation condition than under water stress. The highest narrow-sense heritability in both SYN1 and SYN2 populations was associated with the thousand-seed weight. Positive and significant phenotypic and genotypic correlations between thousand-seed weight and seed yield were observed in the SYN1 population, while the SYN2 population exhibited the least negative impact of drought stress on this trait. Grouping populations through cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis based on both molecular and agro-morphological data showed complete concordance, effectively distinguishing cumin populations from one another. The SCoT molecular marker confirmed the homogeneity of the improved populations, demonstrating high efficiency in assessing intra- and inter-population diversity. Molecular variance analysis revealed lower within-population diversity (29 %) compared to between-population diversity (71 %). Among populations, SYN1, equivalent to F2 generation, exhibited the highest level of molecular diversity based on diversity indices.

Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in the Arab World: A Systematic Review.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) across the globe. The prevalence rate of IBS varies across the regions. In the present systematic review, we aim to investigate the prevalence of IBS in Arab countries in recent years. To identify relevant studies, a comprehensive search was undertaken in various databases including CINAHL (Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) Ultimate, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Furthermore, Google Scholar was also explored to identify relevant studies. The inclusion criteria included studies that assessed IBS in the Arab world and were published in the English language. Fifty-two cross-sectional studies from seven countries, encompassing 51,683 participants, were included. The majority of the included studies were conducted in Saudi Arabia (n=40), followed by Jordan (n=4) and Egypt (n=3). The highest prevalence rates were reported by studies from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Jordan. Low prevalence rates (<20%) were noted in 19 studies included in this systematic review. Female predominance in IBS prevalence was observed in most studies, while only two studies indicated higher prevalence in males. Key risk factors included family history, anxiety, depression, gastroesophageal reflux disease, low income, diabetes, low water intake, workload, occupation, food allergy, smoking, age, chronic diseases, and stress. IBS prevalence in the Arab world varies significantly. Female predominance was seen in the present systematic review as well.

Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) agroforestry systems in Northern Ghana: population structure, management of trees and impact of below canopy microclimate

The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) is an important tree species in agroforestry systems in West Africa and shea nuts constitute a fundamental resource for rural livelihoods in this area. This study investigated the sustainability and interactions in agroforestry systems of shea trees around the village Nakpalli in Northern Ghana. The focus of the study was the population structures and densities of shea trees on different land types, below-canopy microclimate and co-cultivation of yams (Dioscorea rotundata (Poir.) J. Miége) under shea tree canopies, and water stress of the trees in the driest season. Shea tree populations are overall well-conserved in this area, but Weibull-distributions of the tree populations and quantification of seedlings showed a lower tree density in both cultivated and fallowed lands, as compared to undisturbed bushlands. Although farmers may deliberately manage the density of larger trees, the low densities of seedlings and saplings indicate that intensified management practices, including shortened fallow periods and intentional clearing of land by fire before sowing, might negatively affect the long-term regeneration of the shea trees. Co-cultivation of yams below shea tree canopies allowed production of 11.5 t/ha as compared to 20.8 t/ha at open field conditions. The lower yields may have been caused by an almost 74% reduction of photosynthetically active radiation below canopies, relative to outside the canopies. Shea trees in the fields, fallows and bushlands had close-to-zero predawn leaf water potentials, indicating low water stress, even in the middle of the dry season. Thus, shea trees are both well-adapted and highly valued in this area, which underlines the importance of conserving this indigenous tree species in the agroforestry systems of northern Ghana.

Projecting hydrological response to climate change and urbanization using WEAP model: A case study for the main watersheds of Bicol River Basin, Philippines

Study regionBicol River Basin, Philippines Study focusThe study investigated the impact of climate change and urbanization on water resources in the Philippines. It used Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) software and climate forecasts from eight Global Circulation Models (GCMs) to assess the nation's water balance, focusing on two sensitive watersheds: Libmanan-Pulantuna (LPW) and Quinali (QW). The study projects water availability in these areas by creating climate-urbanization scenarios. Furthermore, our endeavor aims to provide insight into the complexities of hydrological processes within traditionally under-observed regions, serving as a blueprint for future environmental planning and sustainable water management in the Philippines and beyond. New hydrological insightsThe study's simulated streamflow matches observed data (R2: 0.70–0.85, NSE: 0.57–0.67) and indicates warming trends and variable precipitation in both watersheds. Rising water demand in domestic and industrial sectors contrasts with a decline in agriculture due to land conversion. QW faces increased water demands from urbanization, while LPW has lower unmet water demand. Low Land Decline scenarios indicate consistent water scarcity in agriculture, while High Land Decline scenarios predict a decrease by 2100. Urbanization significantly impacts future water stress more than climate change, with reduced agricultural land generally associated with lower water stress. Conversely, climate change exacerbates unmet demand issues in domestic and industrial development cases. Due to diminishing agricultural land, both watersheds are expected to transition from water-deficient to water-surplus regions by the end of the century. However, immediate action is crucial to address current water demands, particularly in the severely water-deficient Quinali Watershed.

Differences in Soil Water Holding Capacity and Available Soil Water along Growing Cycle Can Explain Differences in Vigour, Yield, and Quality of Must and Wine in the DOCa Rioja

Soil water availability during the vine growth cycle can affect yield and grape quality. The objective was to evaluate the effect of soil water holding capacity (AWC) and available soil water (ASW) throughout the growing cycle on the nutritional status, vigor, production, and composition of grapes and wine. The study was conducted in the municipality of Uruñuela in the DOCa Rioja (Spain). The soils of four rainfed vineyard plots were characterized to determine AWC and its impacts on vine, grape, and wine composition. The N, P, and K foliar content, vigor, grape yield, berry weight, and composition of must and wine were analyzed in those vineyard plots during the period 2010–2014. The ASW was simulated in each plot and each year analyzed, considering the soil properties and the weather conditions, after model calibration in one plot in which soil water content was registered. The results showed that AWC influenced ASW along the growing cycle, so vines suffered from water stress in some periods of the vegetative cycle. Plots with higher AWC had higher ASW from fruit set to ripening and lower water stress during this period, which explains the higher N, P, and K foliar content, vigor and grape yield, and lower polyphenol and anthocyanin content in grapes and wines. The period where water availability had the most influence on the quality of the grapes was from veraison to ripening, during which ASW increased berry weight and acidity and decreased anthocyanins and polyphenolic compounds.

Low pH and Water Stress Induced Morpho-Physiological Response in Some Traditional Citrus Species of Assam, India

Low pH and Water Stress Induced Morpho-Physiological Response in Some Traditional Citrus Species of Assam, India

Soil Properties and Yield of Peppermint (Mentha Piperita L.) in Response to Different Nitrogen Fertilizers Under Water-Deficit Conditions

ABSTRACT Drought and lack of nutrients (including nitrogen) limit crop production in arid and semi-arid regions, including Iran. In order to investigate the combined effect of nitrogen fertilizer sources (organic and chemical) under low water stress on soil properties, biological yield and peppermint essential oil, a three-year experiment was conducted during the spring and summer of the years (2017–2019) in the semi-arid region of Iran. The experiment was conducted as split plots in the form of randomized complete blocks with three replications. Experimental treatments include three irrigation regimes (irrigation after draining 25, 40 and 55% of usable water in the root zone) as the main factor and six fertilizer treatments based on plant nitrogen requirements (100% Chemical, No fertilizer, 50% Chemical + 50% Azocompost, 100% Vermicompost, 100% Azocompost, 50% Chemical + 50% Vermicompost) as sub-factors. The results showed that water-deficit conditions decreased organic carbon, total nitrogen content, soil phosphorus and potassium and biological yield and increased the percentage of peppermint essential oil. Also, in most of the treatment compositions of irrigation regime, the application of organic fertilizer (especially pure vermicompost and azocompost treatments) or combination with chemical fertilizer the increase organic carbon, macronutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and micro (iron and zinc) in soil solution, causing improved biological yield and essential oil content and moderated the effects of water-deficit stress on peppermint. These practical measures can help save water and fertilizer consumption while promoting the production of healthy medicinal products over the course of three years.

Obtaining Spatial Variations in Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) Wine Flavonoid Composition and Aromatic Profiles by Studying Long-Term Plant Water Status in Hyper-Arid Seasons

The spatial variability in vineyard soil might negatively affect wine composition, leading to inhomogeneous flavonoid composition and aromatic profiles. In this study, we investigated the spatial variability in wine chemical composition in a Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) vineyard in 2019 and 2020. Because of the tight relationships with soil profiles, mid-day stem water potential integrals (Ψstem Int) were used to delineate the vineyard into two zones, including Zone 1 with relatively higher water stress and Zone 2 with relatively lower water stress. Wine from Zone 2 generally had more anthocyanins in 2019. In 2020, Zone 1 had more anthocyanins and flavonols. Zone 2 had more proanthocyanidin extension and terminal subunits as well as total proanthocyanidins in 2020. According to the Principal Component Analyses (PCA) for berry and wine chemical composition, the two zones were significantly different in the studied wine aromatic compounds. In conclusion, this study provides evidence of the possibility of managing the spatial variability of both wine flavonoid composition and aromatic profiles through connecting vineyard soil variability to grapevine season-long water status.

Interannual dynamics and controlling factors of the ratio of actual to potential evapotranspiration across typical ecosystems within the Heihe River Basin

AbstractThe ratio of actual to potential evapotranspiration (AET/PET) represents the water supply of terrestrial ecosystems and can be used to assess the water stress level of plants or ecosystems. This study quantified the control of meteorological, hydrological, and biological factors on AET/PET variations using variance partitioning analysis and path analysis. A soil–plant–atmosphere continuum model was validated and used to simulate AET and PET, as well as the interannual dynamics of AET/PET in typical ecosystems in the upper, middle, and downstream reaches of the Heihe River Basin from 2014 to 2016. The good agreement between measurements and simulations indicates that the model accurately represents the water/heat transfer process in various ecosystems within the Heihe River Basin. The study found that the alpine meadow ecosystem had the highest annual average AET/PET (0.89 ± 0.12), followed by the Populus euphratica ecosystem (0.72 ± 0.17) and cropland ecosystem (0.65 ± 0.15). AET/PET variation characteristics were comparable across the three ecosystems, showing apparent seasonality and interannual fluctuations. Plant transpiration stress was found to be a dominant indicator of ecosystem water availability. Changes in AET/PET were attributed to diverse environmental conditions in the three distinct ecosystems. While the relationship between soil water (SW) content and AET/PET weakened in cropland ecosystems with low water stress, the study demonstrates that SW content remains the most important factor governing AET/PET. The leaf are index and vapour pressure deficiency had significant indirect effects on AET/PET by influencing SW content. Overall, this study provides scientific support for optimizing water resource management in the Heihe River Basin by revealing the interannual variations and controlling factors of AET/PET in typical ecosystems.

Assessment of Domestic Water Resources for Sustainable Utilization Using Geospatial Techniques. The Case of Pune City, India

Water resources have played a crucial role in the growth and development of human civilisation. Increasing demands of water resources to meet the needs of growing population have led to tremendous pressure on water resources. Water resources conservation and management need relevant information regarding the quality and quantity of water bodies, as well as the related driving factors responsible for the deterioration and depletion of water resources. In literature, conventional methods are limited to point locations that have sparse datasets. However, with the advent of geospatial techniques, it has become very easy to explore digital information that can quickly support extensive data analysis and interpretation on a larger scale. The aim of this study is to assess water resources such as water supply, distribution and coverage using geospatial techniques, and also to identify the water stress zones whilst forecasting the water demand in the future, which is indispensable for sustainable urban planning. The results show that water supply and duration per capita are unequal in the study area. The water demand of Pune city has continuously increased from 508 MLD in 2001 to 857 MLD in 2022, and will maintain this trend up to 1421 MLD by 2031. The composite water stress map indicates that Ghole Road, Nagar Road, Dhankawadi and Hadapsar wards have a high level of water stress, whereas Sangamwadi, Kothrud, Dhole Patil Road, Bhawani Peth, Kasba Vishrambagh and Sahakranagar experience low water stress. The values of water scarcity index in the study area have significantly changed, i.e., from 0.68 in 2001, to 0.54 in 2011 and to 0.64 in 2022, which indicates that Pune city falls into the serious water shortage category. This index is expected to be around 1.05 in 2031, demonstrating that Pune will be subjected to major water deficiency, a condition which is clearly reflected in the composite water stress map.

Оценка водопользования северных регионов России по критериям устойчивого развития

Progress toward achieving SDG 6 ("Clean Water and Sanitation") is monitored by means of thirteen global indicators. However, insufficient data from countries, including Russia, underscore the need to assess regional water supply as well as its effective and sustainable use. This study aims to comparatively assess water use in northern regions based on UN-defined sustainable development criteria, utilizing information from Rosstat, The National Information Agency "Natural Resources", and the FAO's Global Information System for the period from 2007 to 2020. The study is based on statistical and comparative analyses, the Decoupling Diamond model, and sustainability window (SuWi) analysis. Its findings indicate high water availability across all regions, aligning with the "low water stress" category under SDG 6.4.2 (threshold ≤25%). The Falkenmark water index shows that water availability doesn't hinder economic growth in northern regions. Regional variations in water use across industries are discussed, which impact productivity (SDG indicator 6.4.1) and water intake intensity (water capacity of GRP). Water use productivity highlights the efficiency of recycled water, reducing intake and increasing productivity. Regions with low intake intensity (below 1.4 m3/thousand rubles, which is the target according to the Water Strategy) and high water capacity of the gross product were identified. Using the Decoupling Diamond model, the study assessed economic growth as a function of water use. The sustainability window method revealed environmental constraints on economic growth related to water use in northern regions. These results offer insights into water use in Arctic regions in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals and Water Strategy implementation. They are essential considerations for regional development programs.

Gene Networks Analysis of Salmonella Typhimurium Reveals New Insights on Key Genes Involved in Response to Low Water Activity.

When Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a foodborne bacterium, is exposed to osmotic stress, cellular adaptations increase virulence severity and cellular survival. The aim of the gene network analysis of S. Typhimurium was to provide insights into the various interactions between the genes involved in cellular survival under low water activity (aw). We performed a gene networkanalysis to identify the gene clusters and hub genes of S. Typhimurium using Cytoscape in three food samples subjected to aw stress after 72 hours. The identified hub genes of S. Typhimurium belonged to down-regulated genes and were related to translation, transcription, and ribosome structure in the food samples. The rpsB and Tig were identified as the most important of the hub genes. Enrichment analysis of the hub genes also revealed the importance of translation and cellular protein metabolic processes. Moreover, the biological process associated with organonitrogen metabolism in milk chocolate was identified. According to the KEGG pathway results of gene cluster analysis, cellular responses to stress were associated with RNA polymerase, ribosome, and oxidative phosphorylation. Genes encoding RNA polymerase activity, including rpoA, rpoB, and rpoZ, were also significantly identified in the KEGG pathways. The identified motifs of hub DEGs included EXPREG_00000850, EXPREG_00000b00, EXPREG_000008e0, and EXPREG_00000850. Based on the results of the gene network analysis, the identified hub genes may contribute to adaptation to food compositions and be responsible for the development of low water stress tolerance in Salmonella. Among the food samples, the milk chocolate matrix leads to more adaptation pathways for S. Typhimurium survival, as more hub genes were down-regulated and more motifs were detected. The identified motifs were involved in carbohydrate metabolism, carbohydrate transport, electron transfer, and oxygen transfer.

QTL mapping and transcriptome analysis identify candidate genes influencing water–nitrogen interaction in maize

Water and nitrogen fertilization are the key factors limiting maize productivity. The genetic basis of interactions between maize genotype, water, and nitrogen is unclear. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) maize population was evaluated for seven yield and five agronomic traits under four water and nitrogen conditions: water stress and low nitrogen, water stress and high nitrogen, well-watered and low nitrogen, and well-watered and high nitrogen. Respectively eight, six, and six traits varied in response to genotype–water interactions, genotype–nitrogen interactions, and genotype–water–nitrogen interactions. Using a linkage map consisting of 896 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers and multiple-environmental quantitative-trait locus (QTL) mapping, we identified 31 QTL, including 12 for genotype–water–nitrogen interaction, across the four treatments. A set of 8060 genes were differentially expressed among treatments. Integrating genetic analysis, gene co-expression, and functional annotation revealed two candidate genes controlling genotype–water–nitrogen interactions, affecting both leaf width and grain yield. Genes involved in abscisic acid biosynthesis and bZIP, NAC, and WRKY transcription factors participated in maize response to water and nitrogen conditions. These results represent a step toward understanding the genetic regulatory network of maize that responds to water and nitrogen stress and provide a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of both water- and nitrogen-use efficiency.

Differential tree demography mediated by water stress and functional traits in a moist tropical forest

Abstract Climate‐induced changes in tree mortality, recruitment and growth have been extensively observed in forests worldwide. However, there is still a lack of quantitative understanding regarding how tree demography responds to environmental factors, particularly different water conditions, and how plant functional traits contribute to interspecific differences in this response. Using data collected from a forest monitoring plot, meteorological observations and trait measurements on Barro Colorado Island in Panama—one of the most studied sites, we investigated the mortality, recruitment, growth and population dynamics of 165 tree species from 1990 to 2014 and examined the influence of functional traits in determining the interspecific differences in tree demography. We also employed parametric accelerated failure time models to assess the impact of environmental conditions, functional traits and individual tree characteristics on tree survival time. We find that water stress drives the temporal dynamics of tree demography. During the high water stress period, the increase in mortality rates and decrease in recruitment rates caused negative population changes for species. In contrast, the increase in recruitment rates and decline in mortality rates during the low water stress period positively affected the population of species. Wood density and P50 (xylem water potential at 50% loss of maximum hydraulic conductivity) are significantly correlated with species‐level mortality, recruitment and growth rates, indicating that traits related to resource allocation and hydraulic safety dictate the interspecific differences in demographic rates. Our results demonstrate that water stress and traits related to resource allocation and hydraulic safety jointly mediate tree demography in this tropical forest. High mortality and low recruitment under high water stress may especially cause a decline in fast‐growing species. Therefore, timely recovery of recruitment under favourable water conditions is crucial for the forest dynamics. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Influence of Artificial Shading and SiO2 on Agastache mexicana subsp. mexicana’s Ability to Survive under Water Stress

Medicinal plants are crucial for developing new medicines; the Agastache mexicana subspecies mexicana (Amm) or “toronjil morado” is considered an at-risk plant because of its inability to grow outside of its natural habitat. This research aims to measure the response of Amm to achieve survival with low nutrient levels and water stress, supported by different dioxide silicon (SiO2) (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8%) and artificial shading (AS) levels (38, 87, and 94%). Applying AS and SiO2 supported gradual tolerance to the effects of both waterlogging and drought stresses. The survival values were statistically significant in the interaction and simple analysis of SiO2 and AS, where p = 0.0001. The highest survival percentage (SP) value was SP = 91.3% for treatment number six (τ6), where AS = 94% and SiO2 = 0.2%. Additionally, the index of survival efficiency under water stress (SIef) was calculated, with the highest value being SIef = 0.062 for the hypothetical interaction of AS = 94% and SiO2 = 0.4. Research has shown that applying both SiO2 and a high level of AS can guarantee the survival of Amm under water stress.

Operational blue water footprint and water deficit assessment of coal-fired power plants: case study in Malaysia

Freshwater is an essential resource used to generate electricity at coal-fired power plants. Previous literature has shown that a few states in Malaysia will face a high risk of water stress. Hence, coal-fired power plants located at risk states are exposed to potential water risk. This study aims (i) to determine the operational blue water footprint at coal-fired power plant from 2009 until 2020; (ii) to assess the water stress index at Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Johor; and (iii) to compare the water deficit impact across three states. This study accounted the operational water footprint using Water Footprint Assessment Global Manual. The study boundary focuses on water consumption of generating electricity at operational level. The water stress index was assessed based on ratio of water demand and water availability at Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Johor watershed. Next water deficit impact was determined to compare the impact of operational blue water footprint on local water resources. Data for this study were collected from the state’s water authority, published literature, national reports, and statistics. Result of this study found the average operational blue water footprint recorded by coal-fired power plant located at Perak is 0.11 m3/MWh followed 0.09 m3/MWh (Johor) and 0.04 m3/MWh (Negeri Sembilan). Water stress index at Perak and Negeri Sembilan shows moderate water stress, whereas Johor indicates low water stress index. The water deficit result shows Perak has the highest total water deficit at 12,542,824 m3H2Oeqn from 2009 to 2020. This is due to moderate water stress condition at Perak and the total blue water footprint of coal-fired power plant at Perak is 67% and 42% more as compared to Negeri Sembilan and Johor, respectively. The result from this study is useful in enhancing understanding of water consumption pattern at coal-fired power plant and its impact on state’s water resources for future electricity scenarios.

Coupling of river discharges and alpine glaciers in arid Central Asia

Water resource is the primary factor impacting socio-economic development and security in arid Central Asia where high water stress occurs. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of water resource, particularly its associations with global warming, has unique importance for regional sustainable development. However, the dynamics of water resource is far from constrained in arid Central Asia indicated by the observed heterogenous trends of both alpine glaciers in high mountains (water tower) and river runoffs (dominant freshwater sources). Both meltwater and precipitations have been assumed to be the major contribution to the river runoff. Here, we make a systematic analysis on the 10Be exposure ages of the moraines in the high mountains and river terraces across Central Asia (n = 1057) to characterize the past changes of alpine glaciers and river discharges. The results show that the high river discharges are coupled with the alpine glacier expansions on both orbital and millennial scales, indicating a dominant contribution of meltwater to the freshwater supply. Both high river discharges and alpine glacier expansions occurred during the cold periods of the past 130 ka in Central Asia, indicating relatively low water stress under low-temperature conditions. This characteristic suggests that the water stress would increase with the decrease in both water reservoir and river discharges, and thus the environment would become drying with global warming in Central Asia.

Comparative study of the effects of the three kinds of Kampo-hozai: Ninjinyoeito, Hochuekkito, and Juzentaihoto on anxious and low sociability behavior using NPY-knockout zebrafish.

Ninjinyoeito, Hochuekkito, and Juzentaihoto are the three types of Kampo-hozai used to support the treatment of various diseases by energizing patients through improved mental health. While Kampo-hozais are clinically used to improve mental energy decline, a comparison between their effects on neuropsychiatric symptoms like anxiety and sociability and the strength of their effects has not been conducted. Therefore, this study compared the effects of Ninjinyoeito, Hochuekkito, and Juzentaihoto on psychiatric symptoms using neuropeptide Y knockout (NPY-KO) zebrafish, a suitable animal model for anxiety and low sociability. Neuropeptide Y knockout zebrafish were fed a Ninjinyoeito, Hochuekkito, or Juzentaihoto-supplemented diet for 4days. Then, sociability was analyzed using a three-Chambers test and anxiety-like behavior was evaluated using the cold stress and novel tank tests. The results showed that Ninjinyoeito treatment improved the low sociability of neuropeptide Y knockout, while Hochuekkito and Juzentaihoto did not. Neuropeptide Y knockout exhibited anxiety-like behaviors, such as freezing and swimming in the wall area under cold stress, but Ninjinyoeito treatment improved these behaviors. However, these anxiety-like behaviors were not improved by Hochuekkito and Juzentaihoto. Ninjinyoeito treatment also improved anxiety-like behaviors of neuropeptide Y knockout in the novel tank test. However, no improvement was shown in the Hochuekkito and Juzentaihoto groups. This trend was also confirmed in the low water stress test using wild-type zebrafish. This study exhibits that among the three types of Kampo-hozai, Ninjinyoeito is the most effective in psychiatric disorders associated with anxiety and low sociability.

Effects of Vermicompost, Compost and Animal Manure on Vegetative Growth, Physiological and Antioxidant Activity Characteristics of Thymus vulgaris L. under Water Stress

This study investigated the effect of organic fertilizers on vegetative growth and the physiological and antioxidant activity characteristics of thyme plants grown under stress. A factorial experiment was conducted according to randomized complete block design with 12 combinations and 3 replications in the 2018 growing season. The experiment factors were the implementation of organic fertilizers at 4 levels (vermicompost, manure compost, animal manure, and control) and irrigation regime at 3 levels (Irr1, Irr2, and Irr3, respectively, irrigation after 60, 90, and 120 mm evaporation from A pan). The results showed that With delayed irrigation, the chlorophyll a and b contents, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid decreased, while the application of low water stress enhanced the amount of oil and the oil yield with the respective highest values of 2.61% and 3.68 g/m under mild stress conditions. Nonetheless, higher values for the aforementioned properties were noted with the application of vermicompost. Water deficit decreased nutrient uptake (K, P, and N) and relative water content, biological yield, and seed yield of thyme, indicating that thyme was sensitive to drought, and organic fertilizers application improved nutrient uptake (K, P, and N) and relative water content, biological yield and seed yield of the plant within irrigation levels. The activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase were reduced under organic fertilizers such as vermicompost and manure compost as compared with control under drought stress. The plants of thyme showed a good response to organic fertilizers under water deficit circumstances, with vermicompost being the most effective.

Drought stress resistance indicators of chickpea varieties grown under deficit irrigation conditions.

The aim of this study was to determine the drought stress resistance of three chickpea cultivars (Inci, Hasanbey and Seçkin) grown under water deficit conditions and to discuss the use of yield, crop water stress index and chlorophyll index values as drought stress tolerance indicators in breeding studies. Three drought stress levels, (full irrigation = no stress - I100, deficit irrigation = moderate stress - I50, and no irrigation = severe stress - I0) were used as irrigation treatments. The highest seed yield (1,984 kg ha-1) in severe stress conditions was recorded for the Inci cultivar with a low crop water stress index (CWSI) (0.50) and high chlorophyll index (33.60 SPAD). The lowest seed yield (1,783.66 kg ha-1) in I0treatment was noted for the Seçkin cultivar which had a high CWSI (0.58) and low chlorophyll index (32.88 SPAD). The highest seed yield (2,566.33 kg ha-1) in full irrigation was recorded for the Inci cultivar which had a low CWSI (0.19) and high chlorophyll index (44.39 SPAD), while the lowest seed yield (2,328.00 kg ha-1) in I100 treatment was recorded for the Seçkin cultivar which had a high CWSI (0.26) and low chlorophyll index (42.12 SPAD). The seed yield of the Hasanbey cultivar in both severe stress (1,893 kg ha-1) and full irrigation (2,424.00 kg ha-1) conditions was between Inci and Seçkin varieties. The chlorophyll index and yield had a significant positive (r = 0.877) correlation, while a significant negative (r = -0.90) relationship was determined between CWSI and yield. Seed yield of the Inci cultivar in I0and I100treatments and water use efficiency revealed that the Inci cultivar is resistant to drought stress. Therefore, the Inci cultivar can be used in drought stress tolerance studies. In addition, the CWSI and chlorophyll index values can be employed as resistance indicators in chickpea breeding studies to determine the drought resistant chickpea cultivars.