Plant Mineral Content Research Articles

The effect of different peat-free growing media and fertilization levels on the plant nutrition of Leucanthemum vulgare (lam.) and Dianthus barbatus (L.)

Research on peat-free substrates is increasing due to the environmental concerns associated with peat extraction and with the aim of promoting sustainable horticultural practices. Previous research has shown that green compost mixed with coconut coir dust and stabilized wood fiber can be a valuable peat-free alternative for growing media. This study extends this knowledge by exploring the possibility of reducing fertilization levels by exploiting the nutrient content of green compost. In this paper we tested two ornamental herbaceous perennial plants, Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. and Dianthus barbatus L. For each species, we carried out five different substrate mixtures: 1) peat:pumice 70:30 v v−1; 2) coconut coir dust:pumice 70:30 v v−1; 3) coconut coir dust:green compost 55:45 v v−1; 4) green compost:stabilized wood fiber 60:40 v v−1; and 5) coconut coir dust:green compost:stabilized wood fiber 40:30:30 v v−1. For each mixture, we explored three different levels of fertilization: i) no fertilizer application; ii) low dosage of a controlled-release fertilizer at 2 g L−1; and iii) high dosage of the same controlled-release fertilizer at 4 g L−1. Plant biomass, biometric parameters, eco-physiological parameters, and plant mineral content were measured as performance indicators. The results showed that the nutrient surplus provided by the peat-free substrate, particularly when it contains green compost, can enhance the growth potential of the plants. Adding green compost to non-peat substrates can be an opportunity to optimize plant nutrition while reducing the presence of peat in plant nurseries and the use of chemical fertilizers.

Deciphering soil-plant-animal continuum in relation to trace elements in middle Gangetic plain region of India.

The soil-plant-animal continuum represents an evolving realm in biological research that's why this study was undertaken in the middle Gangetic plain region of India. Trace and ultra-trace elements were analyzed in 100 soil samples, 147 feed and fodder samples, as well as 69 blood and 127 hair samples with the help of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The levels of trace and ultra-trace elements in the soil were significantly higher than those in the feed, and similarly, the concentrations in the feed were notably higher than those in the blood of dairy cattle. Blood and hair samples from the cattle showed deficiencies in copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn), with reaching approximately 20% and 50%, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated significant (P < 0.05) associations between the trace and ultra-trace elements in plants and the corresponding elements found in cattle's hair, specifically for iron (Fe) and molybdenum (Mo). Conversely, a significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation was observed between soil composition and cattle's blood, while a positive correlation was evident only in the case of silver content between plant and cattle's hair. Regression analyses revealed positive linear relationships between minerals in soils and plants, as well as between plants and cattle. However, the correlation coefficients were statistically insignificant. The regression equations established to predict mineral concentrations in cattle based on soil and plant mineral contents indicated a positive relationship for both trace and ultra-trace elements, suggesting the potential to measure the mineral status in dairy cattle through this approach.

English

The issue of water scarcity in Pakistan is a significant challenge which is due to exacerbated population growth as well as increase in freshwater demand. The application of wastewater for irrigation, especially in semi-urban regions, can indeed be a practical solution due to its ready availability and affordability. While wastewater can serve as a valuable resource in water-scarce regions, its use must be carefully managed to minimize potential risks to plant health, soil fertility, and human well-being. A study was conducted aiming to assess the seasonal changes in physicochemical properties of irrigated wastewater and their influence on morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Sugarcane plants were grown for consecutive two years in peri-urban agricultural areas near the water channels. Sugarcane plants were grown in two different fields and irrigation of the crop was done with wastewater and freshwater, respectively. Water (wastewater and freshwater) and plant samples were collected four times in a year in different seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall) for two consecutive years (2016-2017). All the collected data had been subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for assessing the impact of seasonal variation on plant responses under the influence of irrigated wastewater. The findings from the study highlighted the complex relationship between wastewater irrigation and the physiological responses of sugarcane plants. The observed increase in antioxidant activities of wastewater irrigated plants compared to freshwater irrigated plants suggested that sugarcane may undergo biochemical adjustments to cope with the stress induced by the contaminants present in the wastewater. Moreover, the significant differences in plant mineral contents across different seasons were observed which indicated the dynamic nature of nutrient availability in the irrigation water and its impact on plant growth and development. We concluded that wastewater irrigation can affect the potential output of the agriculture sector by altering plant physiology which underscores the importance of considering the quality of irrigation water in agricultural practices. For future prospectives, the study can be extended to other crops to develop comprehensive strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Natural genetic variation underlying the negative effect of elevated CO2 on ionome composition in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The elevation of atmospheric CO2 leads to a decline in plant mineral content, which might pose a significant threat to food security in coming decades. Although few genes have been identified for the negative effect of elevated CO2 on plant mineral composition, several studies suggest the existence of genetic factors. Here, we performed a large-scale study to explore genetic diversity of plant ionome responses to elevated CO2, using six hundred Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, representing geographical distributions ranging from worldwide to regional and local environments. We show that growth under elevated CO2 leads to a global decrease of ionome content, whatever the geographic distribution of the population. We observed a high range of genetic diversity, ranging from the most negative effect to resilience or even to a benefit in response to elevated CO2. Using genome-wide association mapping, we identified a large set of genes associated with this response, and we demonstrated that the function of one of these genes is involved in the negative effect of elevated CO2 on plant mineral composition. This resource will contribute to understand the mechanisms underlying the effect of elevated CO2 on plant mineral nutrition, and could help towards the development of crops adapted to a high-CO2 world.

Natural genetic variation underlying the negative effect of elevated CO2 on ionome composition in Arabidopsis thaliana

The elevation of atmospheric CO2 leads to a decline in plant mineral content, which might pose a significant threat to food security in coming decades. Although few genes have been identified for the negative effect of elevated CO2 on plant mineral composition, several studies suggest the existence of genetic factors. Here, we performed a large-scale study to explore genetic diversity of plant ionome responses to elevated CO2, using six hundred Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, representing geographical distributions ranging from worldwide to regional and local environments. We show that growth under elevated CO2 leads to a global decrease of ionome content, whatever the geographic distribution of the population. We observed a high range of genetic diversity, ranging from the most negative effect to resilience or even to a benefit in response to elevated CO2. Using genome-wide association mapping, we identified a large set of genes associated with this response, and we demonstrated that the function of one of these genes is involved in the negative effect of elevated CO2 on plant mineral composition. This resource will contribute to understand the mechanisms underlying the effect of elevated CO2 on plant mineral nutrition, and could help towards the development of crops adapted to a high-CO2 world.

Biochar derived from olive oil pomace mitigates salt stress on seedling growth of forage pea.

Studies are being conducted to develop strategies to reduce the adverse effects of salinity stress. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the interactive effects of salinity stress with biochar on plant growth-the physiological and biochemical attributes of forage peas (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.). Salt applications were carried out with irrigation water at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three applications [control: 0 (B0), 2.5% biochar (B1), and 5% biochar (B2)], five salt doses [0 (S0), 25 (S1), 50 (S2), 75 (S3), and 100 (S4) mM NaCl], and three replications, arranged in a 3 × 5 factorial arrangement. In the salt-stressed environment, the highest plant height (18.75 cm) and stem diameter (1.71 mm) in forage pea seedlings were obtained with the application of B1. The root fresh (0.59 g/plant) and dry weight (0.36 g/plant) were determined to be the highest in the B1 application, both in non-saline and saline environments. A decrease in plant chlorophyll content in forage pea plants was observed parallel to the increasing salt levels. Specifically, lower H2O2, MDA, and proline content were determined at all salt levels with biochar applications, while in the B0 application these values were recorded at the highest levels. Furthermore, in the study, it was observed that the CAT, POD, and SOD enzyme activities were at their lowest levels at all salt levels with the biochar application, while in the B0 application, these values were determined to be at the highest levels. There was a significant decrease in plant mineral content, excluding Cl and Na, parallel to the increasing salt levels. The findings of the study indicate that biochar amendment can enhance forage peas' growth by modulating the plant physiology and biochemistry under salt stress. Considering the plant growth parameters, no significant difference was detected between 2.5% and 5% biochar application. Therefore, application of 2.5 biochar may be recommended.

Co-application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nano-ZnFe2O4 improves primary metabolites, enzymes and NPK status of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants

Nowadays, a strong ascending interest is given to the use of nanoparticles in soils to evaluate their benefits or risks to plants and microbes. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) of the family Fabaceae is among the crops cultivated by farmers in the winter season. From here, this study was conducted to examine the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and zinc ferrite nanoparticles (nano-ZnFe2O4) co-application on biochemical parameters and mineral contents of pea plants, as well as the impact of nano-ZnFe2O4 application on mycorrhizal root colonization. For this purpose, nano-ZnFe2O4 with a crystallite size of 25.4 nm was used in two different concentrations (0 and 5 µM) in pots planted with pea plants and inoculated or non-inoculated with AMF. The results showed that nano-ZnFe2O4 to some extent inhibited AMF colonization of pea plant roots. Additionally, in comparison to non-AM controls, the combined use of AMF and nano-ZnFe2O4 was successful in raising the activity of helpful enzymes (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, catalase and peroxidase) as well as biochemical parameters including primary metabolites (carbohydrates, protein, and amino acids). Moreover, an improvement in mineral nutrients uptakes in pea plants such as N, P, K and Mg appeared in the combined treatment. Therefore, nano-ZnFe2O4 coupled with AMF promises potential applications in agriculture because Zn and Fe are two essential micronutrients that need to be supplied to crop plants.

Organic Remobilization of zinc and phosphorus availability to plants by application of mineral solubilizing bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Incessant utilization of chemical fertilizers leads to the accumulation of minerals in the soil, rendering them unavailable to plants. Unaware of the mineral reserves present in the soil, farming communities employ chemical fertilizers once during each cultivation, a practice that causes elevated levels of insoluble minerals within the soil. The use of biofertilizers on the other hand, reduces the impact of chemical fertilizers through the action of microorganisms in the product, which dissolves minerals and makes them readily available for plant uptake, helping to create a sustainable environment for continuous agricultural production. In the current investigation, a field trial employing Arachis hypogaea L was conducted to evaluate the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to enhance plant growth and development by solubilizing minerals present in the soil (such as zinc and phosphorus). A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) included five different treatments as T1: Un inoculated Control; T2: Seeds treated with a liquid formulation of P. aeruginosa; T3: Seeds treated with a liquid formulation of P. aeruginosa and the soil amended with organic manure (farmyard); T4: Soil amended with organic manure (farmyard) alone; T5: Seeds treated with lignite (solid) based formulation of P. aeruginosa were used for the study. Efficacy was determined based on the plant's morphological characters and mineral contents (Zn and P) of plants and soil. Survival of P. aeruginosa in the field was validated using Antibiotic Intrinsic patterns (AIP). The results indicated that the combination treatment of P. aeruginosa liquid formulation and organic fertilizer (farmyard) (T3) produced the highest biometric parameters and mineral (Zn and P) content of the groundnut plants and the soil. This outcome is likely attributed to the mineral solubilizing capability of P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, the presence of farmyard manure increased the metabolic activity of P. aeruginosa by inducing its heterotrophic activity, leading to higher mineral content in T3 soil compared to other soil treatments. The AIP data confirmed the presence of the applied liquid inoculant by exhibiting a similar intrinsic pattern between the in vitro isolate and the isolate obtained from the fields. In summary, the Zn and P solubilization ability of P. aeruginosa facilitates the conversion of soil-unavailable mineral form into a form accessible to plants. It further proposes the utilization of the liquid formulation of P. aeruginosa as a viable solution to mitigate the challenges linked to solid-based biofertilizers and the reliance on mineral-based chemical fertilizers.

Combined Application of Filter Cake and Macadamia Husk Compost Affects Soil Fertility and Plant Mineral Content of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of the combined application of filter cake and macadamia husk compost (FC+MHC) on the soil fertility and dry matter partitioning of Beauregard and 199062.1 cultivars of orange-fleshed sweet potato. The effects of the two organic wastes on the mineral nutrients in the leaves and the storage roots of the 199062.1 cultivar were also investigated. In addition to FC+MHC, four other treatments—filter cake only (FC), macadamia husk compost only (MHC), inorganic fertilizer only (IF), a combination of filter cake and inorganic fertilizer (FC+IF), a combination of macadamia husk compost and inorganic fertilizer (MHC+IF), and a control (CONT)—were included in the investigation for the purpose of comparison. To achieve this, 1 kg of compost was homogenized with 20 kg of soil and filled into graduated 25 L buckets. The experimental design was completely randomized. The plants were grown for 4 months. The results indicated that all treatments altered the soil fertility positively. There were indications that both filter cake and macadamia husk compost inhibited the absorption of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and aluminum (Al). Also, zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies in the initial soil were corrected after the application of the organic wastes. In terms of yield, FC+MHC was better than all other treatments. The outcome of this study will no doubt greatly benefit the resource-poor farmers of Northern KwaZulu-Natal who are involved in the production of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.

Moringa oleifera Lam. Seed Extracts Improve the Growth, Essential Minerals, and Phytochemical Constituents of Lessertia frutescens L.

The exploring of biostimulant sources is important for sustainable agriculture. Although all parts of the moringa plant (Moringa oleifera Lam.) are rich in phytohormones and phytochemicals which may be utilised as a potential plant growth enhancer, most attention has been placed on its leaves as a possible biostimulant for enhancing productivity of plants. Little has been reported on moringa seed extract (MSE) as a growth enhancer on medicinal plants. Thus, this study investigated the efficacy of MSE doses (water spray as control, MSE at 2, 4, 6 and 8%) on growth attributes, mineral content and phytochemical compositions of cancer bush plants (Lessertia frutescens L.) grown during the winter–spring and spring–summer seasons of 2021. A gradual increase in growth characteristics, chlorophyll content, phenols and flavonoid contents was recorded in all concentrations of MSE-treated plants compared with controls. Furthermore, all levels of MSE effectively enhanced the concentrations of macronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium as well as micronutrients comprising copper, zinc, iron, manganese and sodium of cancer bush plants relative to untreated plants. Both 6 and 8% MSE concentrations showed high productivity, minerals and phytochemical constituents in cancer bush plants in comparison with 2 and 4% MSE treatments. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrated that, even at low concentrations, MSE can be successfully applied as a biostimulant to improve the growth and biochemical attributes of cancer bush plants.

The role of silicon and salt stress in some vegetative traits and mineral content of mint plant Mentha piperita L.

The experiment was carried out during agricultural season 2021, to study the effect of adding two types of silicon on the vegetative growth characteristics and mineral content of mint plant grown under the salt stress. The experiment was designed using Randomized Complete Block Design RCBD as a factorial experiment with two factors and three replicates, each replicate contains 9 experimental units, each unit consists 3 pots. The first factor included adding two types of silicon oxide as well as the comparison (S0 control, S1 nano-silicon, and S2 normal silicon); the second factor is salt stress included adding pure NaCl in three concentrations, (N0 0 g L-1, N1 0.45 g L-1and N2 1.45 g L-1). The results of study showed that there are significant differences caused by the experiment factors in number of lateral branches, number of leaves, and total leaf area, as the treatment S2N2 outperformed significantly with highest value of branches number, leaves number, and total leaves area which were 8.60 branches plant-1, 286.80 leaves plant-1, 1211.5 cm2 plant-1 respectively compared with control S0N0 which gave the lowest values; 7.10 branches plant-1, 182.90 leaves plant-1, 643.3 cm2 plant-1 for the same traits. S2N0 treatment was significantly superior in mineral content of NPK in leaves and gave the highest percentages of N 3.30%, P 0.5550%, K 1.96% compared with S0N2 treatment with the lowest percentages of N 2.90%, P 0.4283%, K 1.81%.

In‐house manufactured benchtop XRF spectrometer

AbstractThe growing efficiency of agribusiness depends on the development of technology. A key challenge regards the determination of plant mineral content, which help farmers to make a decision about fertilizer use. Currently, such nutritional status diagnoses are made based on wet chemical methods; they are usually slow and generate chemical wastess. In this context, an in‐house manufactured XRF benchtop for agri‐samples is proposed in this study. This XRF system was furnished with a manual primary filter changer, vacuum chamber, dual interlock radiological protection system, which were installed in the equipment cover, and light signals. Analytical capabilities were also evaluated. The equipment presented spurious peaks of Ti, Fe, Ni, and Zn, which is not ideal for some agronomical applications; this issue might be overcome in the future by means of additional primary filters. The total x‐ray spectrum counting rate is roughly one magnitude order lower than two other commercial XRF systems, but the signal‐to‐noise ratio is quite similar. The vacuum chamber under partial vacuum improves the Al, Si, P and S signals from 1.5 to 2.2. The limits of detection (LOD, mg kg−1) for P (261), S (168), K (68), and Ca (50) macronutrients and Mn (14), Fe (15), Cu (9), and Zn (8) micronutrients are close to the ones reported in the literature. The limits of detection for P, S, K, and Ca are suitable for plant analysis.

The Effect of Nitrogen (Urea) and Zinc Applied in Different Doses from the Soil and Leaves on the Development, Dry Matter Amount and Mineral Content of Wheat and Corn Plants

This study was carried out to determine the effects of nitrogen and zinc applied in different doses (0.0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 kg N/ha and 0.0 and 2.5 ppm Zn) to the soil sample taken from Erzurum Atatürk University Faculty of Agriculture Farm land on the dry matter content and mineral content of wheat and maize. It was carried out under greenhouse conditions in 96 pots (2 plants, 2 application methods, 4 nitrogen doses, 2 zinc doses and 3 replications). As a base fertilizer, it was applied to all pots before planting at doses of 1 kg P2O5/ha (TSP: 44.0% P2O5) and 1 kg K2O/ha (K2SO4: 50.0% K2O). Considering the applications, Urea and Zinc fertilizers were applied to the soil before planting in soil application, and from foliar application 5 times in every 2 weeks, starting one week after germination in foliar application. 90 days after sowing, the plants were harvested, dried, their dry weights were determined, the necessary analyzes were made and the plant mineral content was determined. According to the results obtained, nitrogen application from the soil was more effective, and the highest dry matter amount and plant height in both plants were obtained from the soil application of 1.5 kg N/ha urea and 2.5 ppm Zn. Depending on the applications, the dry matter increase is 77.5% in wheat and 80.4% in corn in application from soil. In foliar application, the dry matter increase is 11.4% in wheat and 30.6% in corn. A similar change has also emerged in plant height, the plants applied fertilizer from the soil are taller, with an average of 62.5 cm in wheat and 75.5 cm in maize. These values are on average 55.0 cm and 64.0 cm in plants applied foliar fertilizer. The mineral content of the plants applied foliar fertilizer is higher.

Foliar application of moringa leaf extract (MLE) enhanced antioxidant system, growth, and biomass related attributes in safflower plants

The use of synthetic fertilizers is a potential source of environmental hazards. Natural plant-based growth regulators are eco-friendly, inexpensive and their use is highly recommended. Moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) is also known as a miracle plant with high nutritional content, medicinal and plant growth-promoting properties due to the presence of appreciable levels of hormones, vitamins, micro, and macronutrients. However, no literature has been found regarding the effect of moringa leaf extract (MLE) application on safflower plants (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Therefore, the present experiment investigated the effect of two different concentrations of MLE (3 and 20%) on various biochemical, mineral content, growth, and biomass-related attributes of safflower plants. Results revealed that application of MLE significantly improved chlorophyll content, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), shoot and root length, fresh and dry biomass. Moreover, MLE application also significantly enhanced activities of leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) while decreasing H2O2 and MDA content. Foliar application of MLE also resulted in a notable increase in proline, glycine betaine, and mineral content. The application of MLE (20%) manifested maximum improvement in all attributes when compared to MLE (3%). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed positive correlation among growth, biomass, biochemical and mineral content, whereas a strong negative correlation was found between these traits and oxidative stress markers (H2O2 and MDA) under MLE application. The present experimental findings indicate that MLE application can be employed as a natural plant growth regulator. Furthermore, the MLE enhanced the antioxidant system and reduced oxidative stress, therefore, it can be used to ameliorate the detrimental effects of environmental adversities on plants.

Sensory Evaluation of Common Ice Plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) in Response to Sodium Chloride Concentration in Hydroponic Nutrient Solution.

Common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) is a novel edible plant with a succulent and savory flavor. The plants display prominent epidermal bladder cells (EBCs) on the surface of the leaves that store water and sodium chloride (NaCl). The plants have high nutritional value and are adapted to saline soils. Previous research has determined the impact of NaCl on the growth and mineral content of ice plant, but as NaCl has an impact on a food’s sensory properties, an interesting question is whether saline growth media can affect the plant’s taste and texture, and if this alters consumers’ sensory response to ice plant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensory aspects of ice plant, as well as consumer liking in response to increasing NaCl concentration in hydroponic nutrient solution. Four-week-old seedlings of ice plant were transplanted into deep water culture (DWC) hydroponic systems and treated with five NaCl concentrations (0 M [control], 0.05 M, 0.10 M, 0.20 M, and 0.40 M NaCl). Eight-week-old plants (after four weeks of NaCl treatment) were harvested, and the middle leaves of each plant were sampled for consumer testing. A total of 115 participants evaluated various flavor, texture, and appearance aspects of ice plant and provided their liking ratings. The consumers were able to discriminate differences in salt intensity from the plants based on NaCl treatment in the hydroponic nutrient solution. Low NaCl concentrations (0.05–0.10 M) did not have obvious adverse effect on consumer liking, which aligns with the result of previous research that 0.05–0.10 M NaCl could largely stimulate the growth of ice plant. NaCl concentrations higher than 0.20 M are not recommended from both a production and consumer perspective. With increased NaCl level in plant samples, the consumers detected more saltiness, sourness, and fishiness, less green flavor, and similar levels of bitterness and sweetness. NaCl treatment had no effects on leaf appearance and texture, and the consumers’ overall liking was mainly determined by flavor. Overall, ice plant presents some unique attributes (salty and juicy) compared to other edible salad greens; however, consumer awareness of ice plant is very low, and purchase intent is relatively low as well. Consumers picture ice plant being used mainly in salads and in restaurants.

Impact of inoculation with single and mixed species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the soil fertility and the nutrient uptake of young olive plants

The current study aimed to determine the effect of single and dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on soil quality and mineral content of young olive plants. One-year-old self-rooted olive plants (Olea europaea L.) of the cultivar Chetoui were inoculated with different AMF: (i) Glomus deserticola (AMF1); (ii) Gigaspora margarita (AMF2) or (iii) a 1:1 mixture of G. deserticola and G. margarita (AMF3). After one year of symbiosis, the obtained results showed that AMF played an important role in improving the fertility of the experimental soil by increasing the organic matter and the micro-nutrients contents (Nt, P and K+), as compared to control soil. Such effect induced an improvement in marco- and micro-nutrient contents in leaves and roots of all inoculated olive plants. The beneficial effect of mycorrhizal association was more important under inoculation with mixed species of AMF.

Study of the mineral contents of Matricaria pubescens and Brocchia cinerea from Algeria

Two species of plants commonly used for mainly their therapeutic values and available in some herbalists shops, namely: Brocchia cinerea and Matricaria pubescens that both belong to asteraceae family, and encountered mainly in the Algerian desert, have drawn attention in the scope of assessing their mineral contents, in fact minerals play an important role in the plant homeostasis and metabolism, on the other hand they may influence the health conditions mainly due to toxicity, and also the benefits that the plant consumer could have, the current study aimed to assess the contents of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, Na, K, Mg, P, S and SI, beside comparing the obtained results to other similar studies, the aerial parts of the plants are collected from several sites then mineralized and analyzed using ICP-AES and AAS, high levels of Na, K and Mg have been noted, on the other hands levels of metals were noted to be overall marginal, except for Al and Hg for the sample of Brocchia cinerea from El oued, the levels of As also seemed to be high in all the samples, inversely to the levels of S and P which seemed lower than those noted for other plants in paralleled studies, while that similar results were found for Zn, Fe, the chemical and geologic features of the soils may be the influencing factor. Additionally the current study may put first milestone for the establishment of national guidelines regarding the mineral contents of medicinal plants.

Effects of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (Fe3O4) on Growth, Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Activity and Distribution of Mineral Elements in Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Plants.

Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are considered potential agents for agriculture as fertilizers and growth enhancers. However, their action spectrum differs strongly, depending on the type of NP, its concentrations, and plant species per se, ranging from growth stimulation to toxicity. This work aimed to investigate effects of iron oxide (Fe3O4) NPs on growth, photosynthesis, respiration, antioxidant activity, and leaf mineral content of wheat plants. Wheat seeds were treated with NP for 3 h and plants were grown in the soil at two light intensities, 120 and 300 μmol (photons) m−2·s−1, followed by physiological assessment at several time points. High NP treatment (200 and 500 mg·L−1) enhanced plant growth, photosynthesis and respiration, as well as increasing the content of photosynthetic pigments in leaves. This effect depended on both the light intensity during plant growth and the age of the plants. Regardless of concentration and light intensity, an effect of NPs on the primary photochemical processes was not observed. Seed treatment with NP also led to increased activity of ascorbate peroxidase and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in roots and leaves. Treatment with Fe3O4 also led to noticeable increases in the leaf Fe, P, and K content. It is concluded that iron oxide (Fe3O4)-based NP could enhance plant growth by improving photosynthetic performance and the availability of Fe and P.

Plant-Derived Biostimulants Differentially Modulate Primary and Secondary Metabolites and Improve the Yield Potential of Red and Green Lettuce Cultivars

The use of biostimulants in modern agriculture has rapidly expanded in recent years, owing to their beneficial effects on crop yield and product quality, which have come under the scope of intensive research. Accordingly, in the present study we appraised the efficacy of two plant-derived biostimulants, the legume-derived protein hydrolysates Trainer® (PH), and the tropical plant extract Auxym® (TPE) on two lettuce cultivars (green and red salanova®) in terms of morpho-physiological and biochemical traits (primary and secondary metabolites). The two cultivars differed in their acquisition capacity for nitrate and other beneficial ions, their photosynthetic and transpiration rates, and their ability to synthetize and accumulate organic acids and protective metabolites. The biostimulant effect was significant for almost all the parameters examined but it was subjected to significant cultivar × biostimulant interactions, denoting a cultivar-dependent response to biostimulant type. Notwithstanding this interaction, biostimulant application could potentially improve the yield and quality of lettuce by stimulating plant physiological processes, as indicated by the SPAD index (leaf chlorophyll index), ACO2 (assimilation rate), E (transpiration), and WUEi (intrinsic water use efficiency), and by increasing concurrently the plant mineral content (total N, K, Ca, Mg) and the biosynthesis of organic acids (malate, citrate), phenols (caffeic acid, coumaroyl quinic acid isomer 1, dicaffeoylquinic acid isomer 1), and flavonoids (quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-glucoside). Biostimulant action may facilitate the bio-enhancement of certain lettuce cultivars that are otherwise limited by their genetic potential, for the accumulation of specific compounds beneficial to human health.

Selenium biofortification via soil and its effect on plant metabolism and mineral content of sorghum plants

Sorghum has excellent potential to be used in the supplementation of selenium (Se) to humans and animals when compared with other grain crops due to its protein content, rusticity, and great tolerance to various stressing conditions. Few studies have been dedicated to explore Se biofortification strategies in sorghum plants, especially in tropical agroecosystems. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of different Se doses (0, 60, 240, and 480 µg dm−3) and Se sources (SeA - potassium hydroxy-selenide, SeB - methyl hydroxy-selenide, SeC - hydroxy-selenide, and SeD - sodium selenate) in Se biofortification of Sorghum bicolor L., as well as in its antioxidant system, and the contents of carbohydrates and mineral in response to soil Se application. The increase in Se content in the grains and the shoots were closely related to the increments in applied Se doses. The greater absorption efficiency by the roots and % Se recovery occurred with the application of SeD. Selenium application influenced both the antioxidant system and carbohydrates in a positive way. In summary, considering the parameters evaluated, the Se sources SeB (methyl hydroxy-selenide) and SeC (hydroxy-selenide) at a dose of 240 µg dm−3 of Se and SeD (sodium selenate) at a dose of 60 µg dm−3 of Se are considered promising for the biofortification of sorghum.