mM Of NaCl Research Articles

Potentiality of Melatonin for Reinforcing Salinity Tolerance in Sorghum Seedlings via Boosting Photosynthetic Pigments, Ionic and Osmotic Homeostasis and Reducing the Carbonyl/Oxidative Stress Markers

Salinity stress has become a major threat to worldwide crop production. Exogenous melatonin (MT) has appeared as a promising treatment against salt stress in several plant species. However, MT effect on the tolerance of sorghum plants under different saline conditions (moderate and severe) remains ambiguous. This study was carried out to explore the impact of MT (0, 50, 100 and 200 µM) as a foliar application on sorghum seedlings grown under moderate and severe saline conditions using sodium chloride, NaCl (75 and 150 µM NaCl). Salinity treatments were applied as solution in sand medium in pots. The results demonstrated that rising salinity level negatively affected plant growth, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), leaf water status and ionic homeostasis (sodium, potassium, and calcium ions). Applied-MT specifically at 100 or 200 µM enhanced the osmotic balance, cell membrane stabilizing and leaf relative water content. These effects were associated with an obvious restriction to the level of hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde content) and methylglyoxal. Moreover, antioxidant activities of peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes were modulated by MT treatments. Molecular docking modeling assessment illustrated top-ranked confirmations between MT and the target antioxidant enzymes. MT forms multiple hydrogen bonds with key amino acid residues for glycine (A: 162), tryptophan (A: 41), leucine (A: 165), tyrosine (A: 235) in the active site of ascorbate peroxidase. The alkyl interactions with leucine (A: 37), arginine (A: 38) and cysteine (A: 168) also contribute to its high affinity. Despite sorghum plant is commonly moderately tolerant to salinity stress, the results of this study confirmed its high sensitivity to a wide range of saline conditions at early growth stages. Melatonin spraying led to improvements in various morphological, physiological and biochemical mechanisms that harmonized together to confer stress resistance to salt-stressed sorghum seedlings.

The Impact of Salinity in the Irrigation of a Wild Underutilized Leafy Vegetable, Sonchus oleraceus L.

Introducing non- or under-utilized crops to cultivation generates benefits such as biodiversity enrichment, supporting mitigation actions towards climate change-induced effects. The salinization of soil and water supplies is progressively disrupting natural habitats and food production, especially in regions such as the Mediterranean. Sonchus oleraceus L. is a Mediterranean wild leafy green with nutritional and medicinal properties. This study's purpose was to determine whether salinity affects the growth, quality, and nutrient composition of Sonchus oleraceus L. In an unheated plastic greenhouse, seedlings were transplanted in pots filled with perlite and irrigated with a nutrient solution with no NaCl added (the control, C) or with the addition of 40, 60, 80, and 100 mM of NaCl (treatments S4, S6, S8, and S10, respectively). The leaf and root growth, leaf quality, and the nutrient composition of leaves and roots were determined. Regarding the results, growth was mainly affected at high salinity levels (S8 and S10), with no observed effects of salinity on the determined quality parameters. The nutrient composition was variably affected by salinity in leaves but not in roots (except in the case of Na and the K/Na ratio). Sonchus oleraceus L. showed a general relative tolerance in moderate salinity levels (40 and 60 mM of NaCl), suggesting potential commercial exploitation of the species in areas where the quality of irrigation water is low. However, the health effects of consuming this species grown under salinity stress need to be studied in future research.

Novel and widely spread citrus rootstocks behavior in response to salt stress

Irrigation water salinity is a major limiting factor in arid and semi-arid environments. The use of rootstock is one of the appropriate agronomic techniques that attempt to support and limit the negative effect of salinity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of eight one-year-old rootstocks grown in pots under salt stress conditions (30 and 60 mM NaCl). Some genotypes, i.e. C35 citrange, Bitters, Carpenter and Furr citrandarins were recently released or spread and poor information on their behavior in saline conditions is available, while Carrizo citrange, Swingle Citrumelo, Citrus volkameriana and Citrus macrophylla are spread since long ago in the Mediterranean basin. The results clearly demonstrated that the most salt sensitive genotypes were Carrizo and C35 citrange, that reduced morphological and gas exchanges performances. Furr, Bitters and Carpenter citrandarins revealed good physiological and hormonal behavior. An intense antioxidant enzymatic activity was noted in C35 and Carrizo citranges, while Furr showed a decrease in malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzymatic activities at 60 mM NaCl. Its tolerance to saline water was also confirmed by transcriptomic analyses.

Silicon mitigates salinity effects on sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × Sorghum sudanense) by enhancing growth and photosynthetic efficiency.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether silicon (Si) supply was able to alleviate the harmful effects caused by salinity stress on sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor ×Sorghum sudanense ), a species of grass raised for forage and grain. Plants were grown in the presence or absence of 150mM NaCl, supplemented or not with Si (0.5mM Si). Biomass production, water and mineral status, photosynthetic pigment contents, and gas exchange parameters were investigated. Special focus was accorded to evaluating the PSI and PSII. Salinity stress significantly reduced plant growth and tissue hydration, and led to a significant decrease in all other studied parameters. Si supply enhanced whole plant biomass production by 50%, improved water status, decreased Na+ and Cl- accumulation, and even restored chlorophyll a , chlorophyll b , and carotenoid contents. Interestingly, both photosystem activities (PSI and PSII) were enhanced with Si addition. However, a more pronounced enhancement was noted in PSI compared with PSII, with a greater oxidation state upon Si supply. Our findings confirm that Si mitigated the adverse effects of salinity on sorghum-sudangrass throughout adverse approaches. Application of Si in sorghum appears to be an efficient key solution for managing salt-damaging effects on plants.

Preparation of CuBTC@PET Hierarchically Porous Composite Membranes via In Situ Growth Method and Their Antibacterial Filtration Performance

Processing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into functional materials has both sustainable and economic significance. Therefore, this study aims to prepare functional nanofibers using PET, combining electrospun nanofibers with metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which is an effective solution to increase the added value of functional nanofiltration membranes (NFMs). The surface morphology of PET fibers is successfully controlled by electrospinning parameters and post-treatment. The formation of a uniform coating of CuBTC crystals on the PET surface is induced by a simple and low-cost in situ growth technique. CuBTC@PET was treated to prepare superhydrophobic CuBTC@PET (SCP), thus improving the stability of CuBTC in water and expanding its potential applications. Through a series of optical and thermal characterizations, the porous morphology formation mechanism and MOF in situ growth mechanism of SCP fibers were discussed. Then, the air filtration performance and bacteriostatic properties of SCP nanofiltration membranes were investigated. The as-prepared SCP showed a high water contact angle (146.4°), low-pressure drop (39.7 Pa), and high filtration efficiency (95.3%, 3 μm NaCl), as well as unique, broad-spectrum antibiosis potency against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). This study shows that SCP nanofiltration membranes can be practically applied in high-performance antibacterial filtration membranes.

BR regulates wheat root salt tolerance by maintaining ROS homeostasis.

Trace amounts of epibrassinolide (EpiBL) could partially rescue wheat root length inhibition in salt-stressed situation by scavenging ROS, and ectopic expression of TaDWF4 or TaBAK1 enhances root salt tolerance in Arabidopsis by balancing ROS level. Salt stress often leads to ion toxicity and oxidative stress, causing cell structure damage and root development inhibition in plants. While prior research indicated the involvement of exogenous brassinosteroid (BR) in plant responses to salt stress, the precise cytological role and the function of BR in wheat root development under salt stress remain elusive. Our study demonstrates that 100mM NaCl solution inhibits wheat root development, but 5nM EpiBL partially rescues root length inhibition by decreasing H2O2 content, oxygen free radical (OFR) content, along with increasing the peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities in salt-stressed roots. The qRT-PCR experiment also shows that expression of the ROS-scavenging genes (GPX2 and CAT2) increased in roots after applying BR, especially during salt stress situation. Transcriptional analysis reveals decreased expression of BR synthesis and root meristem development genes under salt stress in wheat roots. Differential expression gene (DEG) enrichment analysis highlights the significant impact of salt stress on various biological processes, particularly "hydrogen peroxide catabolic process" and "response to oxidative stress". Additionally, the BR biosynthesis pathway is enriched under salt stress conditions. Therefore, we investigated the involvement of wheat BR synthesis gene TaDWF4 and BR signaling gene TaBAK1 in salt stress responses in roots. Our results demonstrate that ectopic expression of TaDWF4 or TaBAK1 enhances salt tolerance in Arabidopsis by balancing ROS (Reactive oxygen species) levels in roots.

Exogenous zinc application mitigates negative effects of salinity on barley (Hordeum vulgare) growth by improving root ionic homeostasis.

Detrimental effects of salinity could be mitigated by exogenous zinc (Zn) application; however, the mechanisms underlying this amelioration are poorly understood. This study demonstrated the interaction between Zn and salinity by measuring plant biomass, photosynthetic performance, ion concentrations, ROS accumulation, antioxidant activity and electrophysiological parameters in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Salinity stress (200mM NaCl for 3weeks) resulted in a massive reduction in plant biomass; however, both fresh and dry weight of shoots were increased by ~30% with adequate Zn supply. Zinc supplementation also maintained K+ and Na+ homeostasis and prevented H2 O2 toxicity under salinity stress. Furthermore, exposure to 10mM H2 O2 resulted in massive K+ efflux from root epidermal cells in both the elongation and mature root zones, and pre-treating roots with Zn reduced ROS-induced K+ efflux from the roots by 3-4-fold. Similar results were observed for Ca2+ . The observed effects may be causally related to more efficient regulation of cation-permeable non-selective channels involved in the transport and sequestration of Na+ , K+ and Ca2+ in various cellular compartments and tissues. This study provides valuable insights into Zn protective functions in plants and encourages the use of Zn fertilisers in barley crops grown on salt-affected soils.

Effect of Gibberellic Acid and Mechanical Scarification on the Germination and Seedling Stages of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. under Salt Stress.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a facultative halophyte renowned for its importance in enhancing food security, and it supports forage production across diverse climatic regions. The objective of this study is to examine the impacts of multiple pre-treatment methods on C. quinoa seed (Titicaca cultivar) germination parameters, identify the optimum pre-treatment to diminish the consequence of salinity, and promote the productivity of this crop, especially in marginal environments. For this purpose, a spectrum of sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations spanning from 0 to 500 mM and gibberellic acid (GA3) concentrations ranging from 0 to 300 ppm were tested, and mechanical scarification (MS) was carried out. The effect of a combination of these pretreatment NaCl/GA3 and NaCl/MS on the germination parameters of C. quinoa seed was also investigated. The results showed that the total germination, vigor index, and germination index decreased progressively with an increase in salinity. Hence, salinity exhibited a notable influence on most germination parameters. Moreover, seeds scarified with 500 mM of NaCl negatively affected all measured parameters. In contrast, gibberellic acid applied at 200 ppm was effective on most of the parameters measured, particularly under 100 mM of NaCl. These findings indicate that immersing seeds in gibberellic acid could mitigate the adverse impacts of salinity.

Ecophysiology and Seedlings Nutrient Contents of Forest Species <i>Ricinodendron heudelotii </i>(Mull. Arg.) and <i>Cola acuminata </i>(P. Beauv.) Influenced by Biofertilizer and Salinity

<i>Ricinodendron heudelotii</i> and <i>Cola acuminata, </i>are important plants species whose exploitation became abusive over the years due to the high utilization of their fruits as Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP). They face to multiple challenges: a recalcitrance of seeds and salinity that limits regeneration. Therefore, regeneration seems an appropriate corridor for domestication with the optimization of plant mycorrhizal symbiosis otherwise called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). But alongside this domestication can be added constraints due to salinity of the soils in coastal region. This justify the aim of this work which was to study dynamics and evaluate the effect of salinity and mycorrhizal biofertilizers on the <i>Ricinodendron heudelotii</i> and <i>Cola acuminata </i>seedlings. To undergo this purpose, data were collected in two villages (Kendje and Njombeng) in Mungo division, and assay were conducted in greenhouse at the Faculty of Science, University of Douala-Cameroon. In the field, the identification of species was assessed over an area of 1600 m² as well as the circumference of the trees, the individual number of <i>Ricinodendron heudelotii</i> and <i>Cola acuminata</i> among other species in order to assess their maturity and rarity in the forest. The second part was carried out in the greenhouse for the purpose of germination, obtaining seedlings and evaluating the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (<i>Gisgaspora margarita</i>) as biofertilizers on the seedlings in saline conditions (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM of NaCl). Some parameters were determined on seedlings (plant growth, dry weight, distribution of ions in plant organs, chlorophyll and carotenoid content) over a period of twenty-six weeks. Globally <i>Cola acuminata </i>is more present in the forest (5.88%) than <i>Ricinodendron heudelotii</i> (1.47%) with average circumference of 105cm for both species. AMF-biofertilizer alleviates the deleterious effect of salt stress on plants growth parameters depending of concentration. Moreover, for those species, the distribution of Na<sup>+</sup> is more accumulated in the root’s plants unlike K<sup>+</sup> and P which are more concentrated in the leaves.

Crosstalk in proline biosynthesis regulates proline augmentation and resilience to salt stress in Panicum miliaceum L.

The development and productivity of most agricultural plants can be adversely affected by the presence of salts in soil. It is vital in these situations to increase agricultural yield, especially in barren soil, by developing plants that can endure and thrive in salty environment. For reducing the detrimental salt-induced effects, plants must actively control osmotic balance by accumulating suitable solutes like proline, polyols, and glycine betaine and by activating specific stress-responsive genes and enzymes within their cells. Proline is an important osmolyte which build up endogenously in plants in response to stressful situations and its accumulation is dependent on type of species and severity of stress. Although proline biosynthesis genes and enzymes have been extensively studied, but the preferred substrate in this process is yet not clear. In present study, we aimed to elucidate the preferred pathway of proline biosynthesis and the effect on physiological parameters under salt and Se application in proso millet. It was found that salt stress negatively impacted these parameters, while as the addition of Se improved these parameters. In comparison to control 150 mM NaCl treatment led to a reduction of upto 38.6% in FW and 18.91% in DW, whereas 200 mM NaCl led to reduction of upto 52.29% in FW and 18.91% in DW. The osmolytes, total soluble sugars (TSS), glycine betaine (GB) and total proline content (TPC) increased under salt stress by 53.7%, 2.14% and 113.79% at 150 mM NaCl and 54.89%, 0.53% and 87.1% at 200 mM NaCl. But, the application of Se significantly improved the above parameters. It was observed that the low level of Se (1 µM) had a role in enhancing the activity of P5CS, P5CR, and OAT enzymes while decreasing the activity of ProDH and P5CDH enzymes. It was found that genes responsible for proline biosynthesis were expressed efficiently in response to salt stress which further increased with Se application. During salt stress proline biosynthesis (PmP5CS, PmP5CR and PmOAT) genes were up-regulated which improved further with Se treatment. While as, the proline degrading (PmP5CDH and PmProDH) genes were down-regulated at both salt and se treatments. Overall, the Se treatment appeared to be beneficial for modulating the plant responses by providing tolerance.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) improves salinity stress tolerance in soybean seedlings by modulating their mineral nutrition, osmolyte contents, and ascorbate-glutathione cycle

BackgroundIn plants, GABA plays a critical role in regulating salinity stress tolerance. However, the response of soybean seedlings (Glycine max L.) to exogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) under saline stress conditions has not been fully elucidated.ResultsThis study investigated the effects of exogenous GABA (2 mM) on plant biomass and the physiological mechanism through which soybean plants are affected by saline stress conditions (0, 40, and 80 mM of NaCl and Na2SO4 at a 1:1 molar ratio). We noticed that increased salinity stress negatively impacted the growth and metabolism of soybean seedlings, compared to control. The root-stem-leaf biomass (27- and 33%, 20- and 58%, and 25- and 59% under 40- and 80 mM stress, respectively]) and the concentration of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b significantly decreased. Moreover, the carotenoid content increased significantly (by 35%) following treatment with 40 mM stress. The results exhibited significant increase in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) oxidized glutathione (GSSG), Na+, and Cl− under 40- and 80 mM stress levels, respectively. However, the concentration of mineral nutrients, soluble proteins, and soluble sugars reduced significantly under both salinity stress levels. In contrast, the proline and glycine betaine concentrations increased compared with those in the control group. Moreover, the enzymatic activities of ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase decreased significantly, while those of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and dehydroascorbate reductase increased following saline stress, indicating the overall sensitivity of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle (AsA-GSH). However, exogenous GABA decreased Na+, Cl−, H2O2, and MDA concentration but enhanced photosynthetic pigments, mineral nutrients (K+, K+/Na+ ratio, Zn2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+); osmolytes (proline, glycine betaine, soluble sugar, and soluble protein); enzymatic antioxidant activities; and AsA-GSH pools, thus reducing salinity-associated stress damage and resulting in improved growth and biomass. The positive impact of exogenously applied GABA on soybean plants could be attributed to its ability to improve their physiological stress response mechanisms and reduce harmful substances.ConclusionApplying GABA to soybean plants could be an effective strategy for mitigating salinity stress. In the future, molecular studies may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms by which GABA regulates salt tolerance in soybeans.

Sodium Chloride Tolerance during Germination and Seedling Stages of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Lines Native to Mexico

Tomato is considered moderately sensitive to salinity, which detracts from the quality and yield of its fruit; therefore, wild populations have been used as a genetic resource. The aim of this research was to identify lines derived from wild tomato populations with tolerance to salinity during the germination and seedling stages. During germination, 52 wild lines and 2 commercial hybrids (Imperial®, Reserva®) were subjected to treatment with 150 mM and 0 mM NaCl and evaluated. The test was carried out for 20 days in a germination chamber with constant darkness, a temperature of 25 ± 2 °C and relative humidity conditions of 80 ± 4%. At the seedling stage, 22 wild tomato lines with the best performance in the germination test and 2 commercial hybrids (Imperial®, Topanga®) were evaluated for 12 days in a floating raft system. Concentrations of 175 mM and 0 mM of NaCl were used. During germination, the saline condition decreased the germination percentage (65.2%), speed of germination (88.2%), steam length (72.5%), root length (46.56%), number of normal plants (59.5%), stem dry matter (68.78%), root dry matter (61.99%), and total dry matter (67.1%). At the seedling stage, this condition decreased (p < 0.05) the aerial part dry matter (46.37%), leaf area (59.35%), root length (42.43%), final plant height (40.24%), and growth rate (71.42%). Seventeen tolerant genotypes were identified in one of the two developmental stages, while one genotype showed tolerance in both stages. These results indicate that there are different response mechanisms in each developmental stage. Native tomatoes play an important role in the identification of tolerant genotypes since they can be used as genetic resources for obtaining commercial genotypes with salt tolerance.

The wheat pathogenesis-related protein (TdPR1.2) enhanced tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.

In plants, the pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins have been identified as important regulators of biotic and abiotic stresses. PR proteins branch out into 19 different classes (PR1-PR19). Basically, all PR proteins display a well-established method of action, with the notable exception of PR1, which is a member of a large superfamily of proteins with a common CAP domain. We have previously isolated and characterized the first PR1 from durum wheat, called TdPR-1.2. In the current research work, TdPR1.2 gene was used to highlight its functional activities under various abiotic (sodium chloride (100mM NaCl) and oxidative stresses (3mM H2O2), hormonal salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA), and abiotic stresses (Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani). Enhancement survival index was detected in Arabidopsis transgenic plants expressing TdPR1.2 gene. Moreover, quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis demonstrated induction of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). It equally revealed a decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in transgenic Arabidopsis plants compared to control lines, confirming the role of TdPR1.2 in terms of alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Eventually, RT-qPCR results showed a higher expression of biotic stress-related genes (PR1 and PDF1.2) in addition to a downregulation of the wound-related gene (LOX3 and VSP2) in transgenic lines treated with jasmonic acid (JA). Notably, these findings provide evidence for the outstanding functions of PR1.2 from durum wheat which can be further invested to boost tolerance in crop plants to abiotic and biotic stresses.

Exogenous application of salicylic acid ameliorates salinity stress in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a significant cereal crop belonging to Poaceae that is essential for human food and animal feeding. The production of barley grains was around 142.37 million tons in 2017/2018. However, the growth of barley was influenced by salinity which was enhanced by applying a foliar spray of salicylic acid. The current study investigated to evaluated the potential effect of SA on the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants under salinity stress and its possible effects on physiological, biochemical, and growth responses. The experiment was conducted at Postgraduate Research Station (PARS), University of Agriculture; Faisalabad to assess the influence of salicylic acid on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under highly saline conditions. The experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replicates. In plastic pots containing 8 kg of properly cleaned sand, two different types of barley (Sultan and Jau-17) were planted. The plants were then watered with a half-strength solution of Hoagland’s nutritional solution. After the establishment of seedlings, two salt treatments (0 mM and 120 mM NaCl) were applied in combining three levels of exogenously applied salicylic acid (SA) (0, 0.5, and 1 mg L-1). Data about morphological, physiological, and biochemical attributes was recorded using standard procedure after three weeks of treatment. The morpho-physiological fresh weight of the shoot and root (48%), the dry mass of the shoot and root (66%), the plant height (18%), the chlorophyll a (30%), the chlorophyll b (22%), and the carotenoids (22%), all showed significant decreases. Salinity also decreased yield parameters and the chl. ratio (both at 29% and 26% of the total chl. leaf area index). Compared to the control parameters, the following data was recorded under salt stress: spike length, number of spikes, number of spikelets, number of tillers, biological yield, and harvest index. Salicylic acid was used as a foliar spray to lessen the effects of salinity stress, and 1 mg L-1 of salicylic acid proved more effective than 0.5 mg L-1. Both varieties show better growth by applying salicylic acid (0 mg L-1) as a control, showing normal growth. By increasing its level to (0.5 mg L-1), it shows better growth but maximized growth occurred at a higher level (1 mg L-1). Barley sultan (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the best variety as compared to Jau-17 performs more growth to mitigate salt stress (0mM and 120mM NaCl) by improving morpho-physiological parameters by enhancing plan height, Root and shoot fresh and dry weights, as well as root and shoot lengths, photosynthetic pigments, area of the leaves and their index, and yield attributes and reduce sodium ions.

Halophytic Bacterial Endophyte Microbiome from Coastal Desert-Adapted Wild Poaceae Alleviates Salinity Stress in the Common Wheat Triticum aestivum L.

Abiotic stresses threaten the strategic crops of Poaceae (Gramineae) worldwide. Habitat-adapted microbiome of wild plants has the potential to alleviate abiotic stresses in alternate hosts. Persian Gulf's coastal deserts are colonized by halophyte plants hosting habitat-adapted halophytic microbiota. Here, endophytic bacteria from wild Poaceae in coastal deserts of the north Persian Gulf at Hormozgan province, Iran, were isolated and screened for mitigating salinity stress in wheat. Accordingly, seven dominant species of wild Poaceae in the region, i.e., Aeloropus lagopoides, Aeloropus litiralis, Chrysopogon aucheri, Cymbopogon olivieri, Desmostachya sp., Halopayrum mucronatum, and Sporbuls arabicus, were explored. In total, 367 endophytic bacteria were isolated, 90 of which tolerated 2.5-M NaCl. Of these, 38 strains were selected based on their bioactivity and applied for in vitro wheat-interaction assays under 250-mM NaCl stress. Five superior strains promoted seed germination and growth indices in rain-fed winter wheat cv. Sardari, i.e., Bacillus subtilis B14, B19, & B27, Bacillus sp. B21, and Bacillus licheniformis Ba38. In planta assays in saline soil (2.7 dS m-1) using the superior strains indicated that Bacillus sp. B21 and Bacillus licheniformis Ba38 increased germination and root and shoot lengths and their dry and fresh weights in wheat seedlings. Moreover, phenolics and flavonoids contents of wheat seedlingswere influenced by endophyte application. Thus, the coastal desert-adapted microbiome of wild Poaceae could alleviate abiotic stress and promote growth in cultivated species of Poaceae, such as wheat.

Ácido salicílico reduz os efeitos prejudiciais do estresse salino em Tropaeolum majus

ABSTRACT Salt stress hampers the growth and physiology of nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus), due to biochemical, physiological, and anatomical disruptions. The application of salicylic acid stands as an alternative to alleviate the detrimental effects of salt stress, but studies on nasturtium are scarce. Thus, the aim of present study was to assess the effects of foliar application of salicylic acid on nasturtium cultivated under salt stress. The experiment followed a completely randomized design in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme, with 0 (no stress), 50 (moderate salt stress), and 100 (severe salt stress) mM of NaCl, and application of 0, 0.5, and 1 mM of salicylic acid, each with six replications. Growth (plant height, stem diameter, and number of leaves), gas exchange (stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, transpiration, internal CO2 concentration, intrinsic water use efficiency, instantaneous water use efficiency, and intrinsic carboxylation efficiency), as well as chlorophyll indices and chlorophyll a fluorescence were evaluated. Salt stress affected the variables analyzed in this study. The application of salicylic acid had a positive effect on mitigating the effects of severe salt stress, resulting in a significant increase in the number of leaves. The most effective dose was 1 mM, also leading to notable improvements in water use efficiency and photochemical efficiency. However, other combinations of salinity and salicylic acid reduced growth and gas exchange in nasturtium plants.

DEAD-Box RNA Helicase Family in Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas L.): Structural Characterization and Response to Salinity.

Helicases, motor proteins present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, play a direct role in various steps of RNA metabolism. Specifically, SF2 RNA helicases, a subset of the DEAD-box family, are essential players in plant developmental processes and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite this, information on this family in the physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) remains limited, spanning from structural patterns to stress responses. We identified 79 genes encoding DEAD-box RNA helicases (JcDHX) in the J. curcas genome. These genes were further categorized into three subfamilies: DEAD (42 genes), DEAH (30 genes), and DExH/D (seven genes). Characterization of the encoded proteins revealed a remarkable diversity, with observed patterns in domains, motifs, and exon-intron structures suggesting that the DEAH and DExH/D subfamilies in J. curcas likely contribute to the overall versatility of the family. Three-dimensional modeling of the candidates showed characteristic hallmarks, highlighting the expected functional performance of these enzymes. The promoter regions of the JcDHX genes revealed potential cis-elements such as Dof-type, BBR-BPC, and AP2-ERF, indicating their potential involvement in the response to abiotic stresses. Analysis of RNA-Seq data from the roots of physic nut accessions exposed to 150 mM of NaCl for 3 h showed most of the JcDHX candidates repressed. The protein-protein interaction network indicated that JcDHX proteins occupy central positions, connecting events associated with RNA metabolism. Quantitative PCR analysis validated the expression of nine DEAD-box RNA helicase transcripts, showing significant associations with key components of the stress response, including RNA turnover, ribosome biogenesis, DNA repair, clathrin-mediated vesicular transport, phosphatidyl 3,5-inositol synthesis, and mitochondrial translation. Furthermore, the induced expression of one transcript (JcDHX44) was confirmed, suggesting that it is a potential candidate for future functional analyses to better understand its role in salinity stress tolerance. This study represents the first global report on the DEAD-box family of RNA helicases in physic nuts and displays structural characteristics compatible with their functions, likely serving as a critical component of the plant's response pathways.

Mucin and salt combination simulate typical fern-like pattern of buffalo saliva smear at estrus.

Estrus detection in buffaloes primarily relies on behavioral and physiological signs. Especially during summer, these signs are less prominent to recognize. Thus, estrus detection is a pronounced challenge within the realm of buffalo husbandry, particularly in the summer. Therefore, a simple and accurate estrus detection method is required for buffalo farmers. The observation of fern-like salivary crystallization patterns is one such simple method to detect estrus in buffaloes, bactrian camels, beagle bitches, and cows. However, the exact mechanism for the formation of typical fern-like is not known. We hypothesized that it might be because of the estrus-specific mucins and salts. To test this hypothesis, we prepared the smears by combining different concentrations of mucin type -2 (MUC2) and -3 (MUC3) with sodium chloride (NaCl). Microscopic examination confirmed that fern-like patterns resulted from a combination of the MUC3 and NaCl produced more realistic fern patterns than that of MUC2 or BSA with salt. To predict possible mucin and salt concentration showing natural fern-like patterns at the estrus stage in buffalo saliva, we constructed a guide tree of artificially generated fern-like patterns using an image analysis online tool. This computation analysis revealed that most of the natural buffalo estrus saliva samples showing typical fern-like patterns clustered in the cluster 2 of the guide tree comprising of 13 clusters. In the cluster 2, MUC3 in combination with the salt concentrations of 100, 150, and 250 mM was commonly found in a close proximity to the natural typical fern-like patterns of saliva smear of buffaloes at estrus. Conclusively, the buffalo saliva at estrus is predicted to have a gel-forming heavily glycosylated protein such as mucin along with at least 100 mM of NaCl. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Glycoprotein and salts combination replicates fern-like pattern of buffalo saliva at estrus. MUC3 and NaCl salt combination produces more realistic fern-like patterns compared with MUC2 or BSA and salt combination. MUC3 with NaCl at 100, 150, and 250 mM consistently resembled natural estrus saliva fern-like patterns. During estrus, buffalo saliva is expected to contain heavily glycosylated mucin and at least of 100 mM NaCl.

Mitigation of Salinity Combined with Vermicompost on Growth, Antioxidant Enzymes and Macro Nutritional Changes in Solanum melongena L.

Background: The main abiotic stress affecting crop production and productivity is due to the salinity stress, which has a very serious adverse effectiveness on plant development and production. At higher concentrations, salt stress provokes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species ROS, which are toxic to cells. Methods: The goal of the current study was to determine how different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations affected Solanum melongena growth, antioxidant enzymes and macronutrients through the use of vermicompost. Vermicompost (VC) (%) (0, 10, 25, 50, 10 mM+5%, 25 mM+10%, 50 mM+25% and 100% VC) was used in the germination investigation and the data were evaluated 30- and 60-days following germination. Result: In 50 mM of NaCl plus 25% VC, the greatest increases in the length of the shoot, length of roots, both dry and fresh weight and leaf area were noted. On both days, the maximum enzyme activity was observed at 50 mM NaCl + 25% VC. The use of vermicompost in NaCl stress enhanced the nutritional contents up to 50 mM + 25% VC, while the accumulation of macronutrient content increased at an extreme level of 100% VC.

Effects of Seed Priming on Mitigating the Negative Effects of Increased Salinity in Two Varieties of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The increase in soil salinity has a negative effect on the growth and yield of plants. Mitigating the negative effects of soil salinity is therefore a difficult task and different methods are being used to overcome the negative effects of salt stress on crop plants. One of the often-used approaches is seed priming that can increase plants’ vigor and resilience. In this paper, we tested the effects of hydropriming, proline priming, and salicylic acid priming on the mitigation of the negative effects of salt stress on two bell pepper varieties (Capsicum annuum L.): Herkules and Kurtovska kapija. Sweet bell pepper seeds were primed following desiccation to achieve the original water content, and subsequently cultivated in salt-supplemented medium. The positive effects on vigor (in the form of increased germination and seedling establishment) as well as on level of tolerance for salt stress were recorded for both cultivars. The positive effects varied between the priming treatments and pepper cultivar used. The results of germination, seedling performance, photosynthetic pigments, and osmolytes were measured for seedlings grown from unprimed and primed seeds with under 0, 25, and 50 mM of NaCl. Both cultivars demonstrated greater germination when primed with proline and salicylic acid, while the Herkules cultivar demonstrated a higher tolerance to salt when proline was used as the priming agent. Priming with salicylic acid and proline in the seed improved germination and seedling performance, which could be related to the increase in proline content in the seedlings.