Plant Cultivars Research Articles

Noninvasive Early Detection of Nutrient Deficiencies in Greenhouse-Grown Industrial Hemp Using Hyperspectral Imaging

Hyperspectral imaging is an emerging non-invasive technology with potential for early nutrient stress detection in plants prior to visible symptoms. This study evaluated hyperspectral imaging for early identification of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) deficiencies across three greenhouse-grown industrial hemp plant cultivars (Cannabis sativa L.). Visible and near-infrared spectral data (380–1022 nm) were acquired from hemp samples subjected to controlled NPK stresses at multiple developmental timepoints using a benchtop hyperspectral camera. Robust principal component analysis was developed for effective screening of spectral outliers. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and support vector machines (SVM) were developed and optimized to classify nutrient deficiencies using key wavelengths selected by variable importance in projection (VIP) and interval partial least squares (iPLS). The 16-wavelength iPLS-C-SVM model achieved the highest precision of 0.75 to 1 on the test dataset. Key wavelengths for effective nutrient deficiency detection spanned the visible range, underscoring the hyperspectral imaging sensitivity to early changes in leaf pigment levels prior to any visible symptom development. The emergence of wavelengths related to chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin absorption as optimal for classification, highlights the technology’s capacity to detect subtle impending biochemical perturbations linked to emerging deficiencies. Identifying stress at this pre-visual stage could provide hemp producers with timely corrective action to mitigate losses in crop quality and yields.

Integrated management of cheat (Bromus secalinus L.) and downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) in Oklahoma grain-only winter wheat

Abstract In Oklahoma, downy brome and cheat are difficult-to-control winter annual grasses. In the past, cheat infested most of the winter wheat hectares harvested in Oklahoma. Biotypes that are cross-resistant to acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides have left growers with minimal management options for conventional and herbicide-tolerant systems. Field trials near Lahoma, Oklahoma, in 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 evaluated integrated management of cheat and downy brome using three strategies: planting date (optimal, delayed, and late), cultivar selection (high and low competitiveness), and herbicide choice (no herbicide, sulfosulfuron at 35.2 g ai ha−1 and pyroxsulam at 18.4 g ai ha−1). Visual control, weed species present, wheat biomass at heading, and grain yield data were collected. In 2019–2020, 8 to 9 wk after treatment, visual control increased by 15% with the delayed planting compared with the optimal planting date and 14% with the late planting date. In 2020–2021, similar control (∼99%) was recorded for delayed and late plantings with 23% greater control than the optimal timing. Due to a lack of weed coverage, weed biomass in 2019–2020 had no response to planting date, cultivar, or herbicide treatment. Downy brome biomass during 2020–2021 was approximately 90% lower with delayed to late planting dates than the optimal planting date. In the same year, downy brome and cheat biomass were low (≤0.4 and 0.2 g m−2) and 98% less after an herbicide application than a nontreated area. Wheat grain yield at the optimal planting date was greater than yields from delayed and late plantings in 2019–2020. A delay in planting from the optimal date to delayed or late timings decreased wheat yield by 14% and 21%, respectively. In 2020–2021, wheat yield from the late planting was reduced by 57% compared with the optimal planting yield. Delaying the planting date and the use of a common herbicide can suppress cheat and downy brome, but a decline in wheat yield may occur.

Pink purslane (Portulaca pilosa) control with postemergence herbicides

Abstract Pink purslane is often ranked as one of the most troublesome weeds in vegetable production systems in Georgia. Pink purslane encroachment along field edges and in-field of agronomic crops has recently increased. Postemergence herbicides are an effective component of agronomic crop weed management. However, little research has addressed pink purslane control in agronomic crops. Therefore, greenhouse and field studies were conducted from 2022 to 2023 in Tifton, Georgia, to evaluate the response of pink purslane to postemergence herbicides commonly used in agronomic crops. Greenhouse screening provided preliminary evidence whereby 13 of the 21 postemergence herbicides evaluated provided ≥80% aboveground biomass reductions. These 13 herbicides were then used for field studies. Results from the field studies, pooled across two locations, indicated that only three of the 13 herbicides provided aboveground biomass reductions of ≥70% compared to the nontreated control. Those herbicides included atrazine at 1,682 g ai ha−1, glufosinate at 656 g ai ha−1, and lactofen at 219 g ai ha−1 with 79%, 70%, and 83% biomass reduction, respectively (P < 0.05). This research suggests that many of the postemergence herbicides used on agronomic crops will not effectively control pink purslane. Thus, when trying to manage pink purslane with postemergence herbicides in agronomic crops, growers should plant crops or cultivars that are tolerant of either atrazine, glufosinate, lactofen, or a combination of these.

Effect of in-row spacing on weed suppression and yield of ‘Covington’ and ‘Monaco’ sweetpotato

Abstract Organic sweetpotato growers have limited effective weed management options, and most rely on in-season between-row cultivation and hand weeding, which are time consuming, are costly, and deteriorate soil quality. Studies were conducted at the Samuel G. Meigs Horticulture Research Farm, Lafayette, IN, and at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN, in 2022 and 2023 to determine the effects of in-row plant spacing and cultivar selection on weed suppression and organic sweetpotato yield. The experiment was a split-split plot design, with in-row spacings of 20, 30, and 40 cm as the main plot factor, weeding frequency (critical weed-free period and weed-free) as the subplot factor, and sweetpotato cultivar (‘Covington’ and ‘Monaco’) as the sub-subplot factor. However, in 2022, we evaluated only in-row spacing and weeding frequency because of the poor establishment of ‘Monaco’. In 2023, sweetpotato canopy at 5 wk after transplanting (WAP) decreased as in-row spacing increased from 20 to 40 cm, and sweetpotato canopy cover of ‘Monaco’ (62%) was greater than that of ‘Covington’ (44%). In-row spacing did not affect weed density at 4, 5, and 6 WAP. As in-row spacing increased from 20 to 40 cm, total sweetpotato yield pooled across both locations in 2023 decreased from 30,223 to 21,209 kg ha−1 for ‘Covington’ and from 24,370 to 20,848 kg ha−1 for ‘Monaco’; however, jumbo yield increased for both cultivars. Findings from this study suggest that an in-row spacing of 20 cm may provide greater yield than the standard spacing of 30 cm for both ‘Monaco’ and ‘Covington’.

Influence of weather conditions and plant growth on populations of the solenopsis mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley) infesting maize plants.

The cotton or solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley, 1898) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), infests various host plants in Egypt. A study was conducted to observe the incidence of mealybugs and the possible influences of meteorological variables and plant age on the insect population of maize (single-hybrid 168 yellow maize cultivar) plants in Esna district, Luxor governorate, Egypt, in two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022). P. solenopsis infested maize plants from the 3rd week of June to harvest, and had three peaks of seasonal incidence/season namely; in the 1st week of June in the 3rd/4th week of July, and the 2nd week of August. Similarly, there were three peaks in the percent of infestations per season. In the first season, the average population density of P. solenopsis per sample was 174.04 ± 16.93 individuals, and in the second season, 156.72 ± 14.28 individuals. The most favorable climate for P. solenopsis population increase and infestation occurred in August in the first season and in September in the second season, while June was less suitable in both growing seasons (as estimated by weekly surveys). The combined effects of weather conditions and plant age are significantly related to the estimates of P. solenopsis populations, with an explained variance (E.V.) of 93.18 and 93.86%, respectively, in the two seasons. In addition, their influences explained differences in infestation percentages of 93.30 and 95.54%, respectively, in the two seasons. Maize plant age was the most effective factor in determining changes in P. solenopsis population densities in each season. The mean daily minimum temperature in the first season and mean daily dew point in the second season were the most important factors affecting the percent changes in infestation. However, in both seasons, the mean daily maximum temperature was the least effective variable in population and infestation variation. This study paves the way for monitoring and early detection of mealybugs in maize; as well as the optimal climatic conditions for its development.

Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG‐A causing black root rot of strawberry in Albania

AbstractStrawberry production in Albania is very important and growing rapidly, while data on strawberry diseases are lacking. In 2022, symptoms of leaf necrosis, root rot, and wilt were observed on strawberry plants of cultivars ‘Savana’, ‘Sabrina’, and ‘Fortuna’ in greenhouses near Vajkan, Fier, Albania. The disease incidence was estimated at 50%. Only isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were obtained from symptomatic plants. The isolates formed fast‐growing, white colonies with binucleate, typically branching hyphae and no sclerotia, resembling Rhizoctonia AG‐A. BLAST analyses of the ITS rDNA of isolate RhizAl (accession number OR231136) revealed the highest nt homology of 99%–100% (100% query coverage) with binucleate Rhizoctonia AG‐A isolates, while the neighbour‐joining phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identification. The pathogenicity of the isolate RhizAl was demonstrated by inoculations of disease‐free strawberry daughter plants (cv. ‘Fortuna’) that developed mild wilting and leaf necrosis 45 days after inoculation while plants collapsed with root necrosis 60 days after inoculation. In this study, binucleate Rhizoctonia AG‐A was detected for the first time as a causal agent of black root rot of strawberries in Albania and in general, and studies on the general importance of Rhizoctonia spp. in different crops in Albania are needed.

MRNA-miRNA analyses reveal the involvement of CsbHLH1 and miR1446 in the regulation of caffeine biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis

Abstract Caffeine, a primary flavor component in tea, has been the subject of intense research. With the goal of shedding light on the complex regulatory processes governing caffeine biosynthesis in tea plants, the liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), transcriptomics, and small RNA analyses were employed on diverse tea cultivars such as ‘Jianghua Kucha’ (including ‘Xianghong 3’ (XH3H) and ‘Kucha 3’ (KC3H)), ‘Fuding Dabaicha’ (FDDB), ‘Yaoshan Xiulv’ (YSXL), and ‘Bixiangzao’ (BXZ). The results showed that the caffeine level in ‘Jianghua Kucha’ was significantly higher than that in other tea plant cultivars. In addition, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) indicated that that the CsbHLH1 gene might play a pivotal role as a potential hub gene related to the regulation of caffeine biosynthesis. Subcellular localization analysis showed that the CsbHLH1 protein was localized in the nucleus of the cells. Moreover, CsbHLH1 suppresses the transcription of TCS1 through binding to the TCS1 promoter, as evidenced by a yeast one-hybrid assay, and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) assay and dual luciferase analysis. In addition, a microRNA, miR1446a, was identified that directly cleaves the downstream transcription factor CsbHLH1 at position 88 bp, leading to an increase in caffeine levels. Therefore, our findings imply that CsbHLH1 binds to the TCS1 promoter (-971 bp to -1019 bp) to reduce its expression, thereby negatively regulating caffeine biosynthesis. On the other hand, miR1446a enhances the biosynthesis of caffeine by suppressing the expression of CsbHLH1. These works enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of caffeine biosynthesis in tea plants and offered potential directions for manipulating caffeine levels in future tea cultivation.

Analysis of the Genetic Diversity in Tea Plant Germplasm in Fujian Province Based on Restriction Site-Associated DNA Sequencing.

Fujian province, an important tea-producing area in China, has abundant tea cultivars. To investigate the genetic relationships of tea plant cultivars in Fujian province and the characteristics of the tea plant varieties, a total of 70 tea cultivars from Fujian and other 12 provinces in China were subjected to restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq). A total of 60,258,975 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites were obtained. These 70 tea plant cultivars were divided into three groups based on analyzing the phylogenetic tree, principal component, and population structure. Selection pressure analysis indicated that nucleotide diversity was high in Southern China and genetically distinct from cultivars of Fujian tea plant cultivars, according to selection pressure analysis. The selected genes have significant enrichment in pathways associated with metabolism, photosynthesis, and respiration. There were ten characteristic volatiles screened by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with multivariate statistical methods, among which the differences in the contents of methyl salicylate, 3-carene, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-4-hexen-1-ol, and 3-methylbutyraldehyde can be used as reference indicators of the geographical distribution of tea plants. Furthermore, a metabolome genome-wide association study (mGWAS) revealed that 438 candidate genes were related to the aroma metabolic pathway. Further analysis showed that 31 genes of all the selected genes were screened and revealed the reasons for the genetic differences in aroma among tea plant cultivars in Fujian and Southern China. These results reveal the genetic diversity in the Fujian tea plants as well as a theoretical basis for the conservation, development, and utilization of the Fujian highly aromatic tea plant cultivars.

Очень высокорослый среднеспелый сорт сои Мамонт

A very tall, middle maturing soybean cultivar Mamont, with traits of gigantism, was obtained as a result of individual selection in F4 from the hybrid combination Vilana × Pin GD for the characteristics of tall growth (> 160 cm) of the stem, large seeds, mid-ripening and non-lodging ability. Based on the results of variety testing 2020–2022, the soybean cultivar Mamont exceeded the standard cultivar Vilana by 0.18 t/ha by yield. The height of plants at the latitude of Krasnodar (45°) is 152–174 cm. In optimal cultivation conditions for moisture supply, the weight of 1000 seeds of this cultivar is 165–195 g. The phenomenon of the gigantism in plants of the Mamont cultivar in optimal growing conditions is confirmed to be 48 % more intense daily increase in plant height, and a 71% more intense daily increase in aboveground biomass compared to these indicators for the standard cultivar Vilana. The new very tall middle maturing soybean cultivar Mamont, with traits of gigantism, is distinguished by increased responsiveness to additional moisture by increasing the traits of plant height to ultra-high, increasing the number of nodes, beans and seeds, seed size and weight, and yield. It has increased resistance of tall plants to tilting and lodging due to excessive moisture due to the increased mechanical strength of the stem. Due to its tall growth and high positive response to additional moisture supply, it is suitable for cultivation in the southern foothill and central zones of the Krasnodar region and on irrigated plot throughout the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions of the Russian Federation.

THE EFFECT OF INOCULATION OF BRADYRHIZOBIUM SP. LUPINUS ON PLANT DEVELOPMENT AND YIELDING OF NARROW-LEAVED LUPIN

A field experiment was conducted in the Wielkopolska region at the Gorzyń Research Station, Poland (52.34°N, 15.54°E) in Central Europe. The study was conducted over a 3-year period (2017, 2018, 2019) as a two-factorial desingn with four replications in the randomised plots. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of the cultivar (‘Bolero’, ‘Tytan’) and the inoculation (Nitragina–seeds inoculation, Nitroflora I–seeds inoculation, Nitroflora II–soil inoculation, HiStick® Lupin–seeds inoculation) on plant development, seeds chemical composition and yielding of narrow-leaved lupin. The weather conditions and experimental factors significantly influenced on productivity of narrow-leaved lupin ‘Tytan’. Drought during the growing season reduced seeds and protein yields. After inoculation of HiStck the seeds yield was significantly greater by 12.4% and the protein yield after application of Nitroflora I or HiStick by 13.9% and 19.2%, respectively. Correlation coefficients showed strong relations between number of pods and seeds per plant in both cultivars regardless of the inoculation variant, however the strongest relations in both cultivar were proved on HiStick treatment.

Exploring the Role of Calcium in the Physiology of Tulipa: A Comparative Study across Different Cultivars

Cut tulip flower production, typically cultivated using hydroponic systems, often faces the challenge of stem toppling due to calcium (Ca) deficiency in the nutrient solution. Growers generally grow various tulip cultivars to meet market demands. In hydroponic production, plants require precise nutrient concentrations to promote growth and development, as the food reserves in the mother bulb are insufficient and vary depending on the plant cultivar. This study aimed to assess the impact of different tulip cultivars and Ca deficiency on tulip growth, flowering, and physiological changes. Two cultivars of tulip, namely, ‘Strong Gold’ and ‘Orange Juice’, were subjected to three distinct nutrient solution treatments, namely (1) deionized water (DI) only (without any plant nutrition added), (2) complete solution (Hoagland’s complete nutrient solution), and (3) Ca deficiency solution. The results indicate that the ‘Orange Juice’ tulip was particularly susceptible to Ca deficiency, exhibiting stem toppling and flower abortion similar to those grown in DI. Ca deficiency led to a reduction in root length and leaf area but did not affect the plant height. Additionally, it had a negative impact on bulb qualities, resulting in a decreased bulb fresh weight and bulb circumference in both tulip cultivars. Furthermore, Ca deficiency and DI reduced the photosynthetic rates, and Ca deficiency increased the transpiration rate in the tulip. The leaf concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and Ca were decreased under Ca deficiency and DI, while magnesium (Mg) levels increased under Ca deficiency treatment compared to the complete nutrient solution treatment.

Magnitude of cadmium phytotoxicity on β-amylase activity and seed germination influenced by the choice of substrate and plant cultivar

Magnitude of cadmium phytotoxicity on β-amylase activity and seed germination influenced by the choice of substrate and plant cultivar

Response of natural rooting substances on leaf cuttings of two cultivars of ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Response of natural rooting substances on leaf cuttings of two cultivars of ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

A highly efficient protocol for isolation of protoplast from China, Assam and Cambod types of tea plants [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

BackgroundTea is the most popular beverage worldwide second only to water. Its demand is tremendously rising due to increased awareness of its medicinal importance. The quality and uses of tea depend on the tea-types which are mainly three types including China, Assam and Cambod type having distinct compositions of secondary metabolites. Huge variation in secondary metabolites in different tea-types and cultivars limited the successful application of various approaches used for its trait improvement. The efficiency of a protocol for isolation of protoplast is specific to the types and cultivars of tea plants. The existing tea protoplast-isolation protocols [which were optimized for tea-types (China and Assam type) and Chinese cultivars grown in China] were found ineffective on types/cultivars grown in India due to type/cultivar variability. Therefore, optimization of protoplast-isolation protocol is essential for tea-types/cultivars grown in India, as it is the second largest producer of tea and the largest producer of black tea. Here, efforts were made to develop an efficient protoplast-isolation protocol from all major types of tea (China, Assam and Cambod types) grown in India and also from three types of tender leaves obtained from field-grown, hydroponically-grown and tissue culture-grown tea plants.ResultsDeveloped protoplast-isolation protocol was effective for different types of leaf tissue obtained from the tender leaves of field-grown, hydroponically-grown and tissue culture-grown tea plants. Moreover, optimized protocol effectively worked on all three types of tea including China, Assam and Cambod types cultivated in India. The digestion of leaves with 3% cellulase R-10, 0.6% macerozyme, 1% hemicellulase and 4% polyvinylpyrrolidone for 12 h at 28ºC yielded approximately 3.8–4.6 × 107 protoplasts per gram fresh tissue and 80–95% viability in selected tea cultivars, and tissue culture plant material was found most appropriate for protoplast isolation.ConclusionsIn conclusion, we reported an efficient protocol for isolation of protoplasts from tender tea leaves of all major tea-types (China, Assam and Cambod) grown in India. Moreover, the protocol is also effective for tender-leaf tissue of field-grown, hydroponically-grown and tissue culture-grown tea plants. The findings are expected to contribute to the genetic improvement of tea traits widely.

Evaluation of wheat genotypes for resistance to bacterial leaf streak caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa in field and greenhouse trials

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS), caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa, is a devastating cereal disease that is becoming more common in Iran. A cost-effective and realistic strategy to cope with BLS is planting of BLS-resistant cultivars. To discover BLS-resistant genotypes, 360 hexaploid wheat genotypes were selected and inoculated with a local strain of Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa in the field and greenhouse in two years (2019 & 2020). In the field experiments, disease reaction of wheat plants was assessed based on both percentage of disease incidence (PDI) and the percentage of disease severity (PDS). In the greenhouse experiment, disease reaction was evaluated as the disease severity (DS). The genotypes with PDS, PDI, and DS values ≤ 20% were considered BLS-resistant or semi-resistant. Genotypes with zero or very low PDS, PDI and DS during the first and second years were considered highly resistant to the disease. Despite resistant genotypes being more prevalent than susceptible genotypes in each year, genotype responses to BLS varied over the two years, but in both years, most genotypes showed a resistance response. Forty-six genotypes (12.8%) were consistently BLS-resistant across years in the field and greenhouse trials. In 2020, field BLS intensity ratings (PDI and PDS) were positively correlated with flag leaf width and days to maturity. In contrast, PDI and PDS were negatively correlated with plant height, peduncle length, and spike length. In 2019, no significant correlations were found between PDI, PDS, and phenotypic traits. Cluster heatmaps and principal component analysis (PCA) separated resistant and susceptible genotypes. In BLS-resistant genotypes, plant height, peduncle length, and spike length were significantly longer, but flag leaf width and days to maturity were shorter. This study identified new and diverse sources of resistance to BLS that could be used in wheat breeding efforts.

The genetic architecture of the adaptive potential of Arabidopsis thaliana in response to Pseudomonas syringae strains isolated from south‐west France

AbstractPhytopathogens are a threat for global food production and security. Emergence or re‐emergence of plant pathogens is highly dependent on the environmental conditions affecting pathogen spread and survival. Under climate change, a geographic expansion of pathogen distribution poleward has been observed, potentially resulting in disease outbreaks on crops and wild plants. Therefore, estimating the adaptive potential of plants to novel epidemics and describing the underlying genetic architecture is a primary need to propose agricultural management strategies reducing pathogen outbreaks and to breed novel plant cultivars adapted to pathogens that might spread under climate change. To address this challenge, we inoculated Pseudomonas syringae strains isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana populations from south‐west of France on the highly genetically polymorphic TOU‐A A. thaliana population from north‐east France. While no adaptive potential was identified in response to most P. syringae strains, the TOU‐A population displayed a variable disease response to the JACO‐CL strain belonging to the P. syringae phylogroup 7 (PG7). This strain carried a reduced type III secretion system (T3SS) characteristic of the PG7 as well as flexible genomic traits and potential novel effectors. Genome‐wide association mapping on 192 TOU‐A accessions revealed a polygenic architecture of disease response to JACO‐CL. The main quantitative trait locus (QTL) region encompasses two R genes and the AT5G18310 gene encoding ubiquitin hydrolase, a target of the AvrRpt2 P. syringae effector. Altogether, our results pave the way for a better understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of the adaptive potential in an ecologically relevant A. thaliana–P. syringae pathosystem.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities vary between poplar species in the same habitat

The species diversity of AMF is influenced by the cultivar of the host plant. For this study, six species of poplar (Populus spp.) were selected from the poplar germplasm conservation experimental forest in Tongzhou, Beijing, China. The aim of the study was to compare the chemical characteristics of the poplar stand soils, including total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus. The composition of the AMF community was also analyzed using high-throughput sequencing techniques. Significant differences in soil nutrient content (total phosphorus, available phosphorus, carbon/nitrogen, carbon/phosphorus) were found between different species of Populus spp. (p < 0.05), although the total carbon, total nitrogen, and nitrogen/phosphorus of the soil did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Notably, the Simpson index and Pielou index of the AMF community exhibited the most significant differences among the various poplar cultivars, with the highest mean values for P. × euramericana cl. ‘J6’ (0.98 and 0.77, respectively). Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between the relative abundance of AMF communities at each taxonomic level and soil nutrient content. At the generic level, the relative abundance of Glomus has the highest correlation with C/N and C/P (r = −0.79). Overall, the findings of this study highlight the impact of poplar species on the composition and structure of the soil AMF community, which is closely related to soil nutrient content. These results contribute to our understanding of the plant–AMF–soil interaction mechanisms and provide a solid basis for future research in this field.

Essential Oil Molecules Can Break the Loop of Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Essential oils (EOs) are mixtures of volatile compounds, extracted from aromatic plants, with multiple activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ones. EOs are complex mixtures easy to find on the market and with low costs. In this mini narrative review, we have collected the results of in vitro and in vivo studies, which tested these EOs on validated models of neurodegeneration and in particular of the two main neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) that afflict humans: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Since EO compositions can vary greatly, depending on the environmental conditions, plant cultivar, and extraction methods, we focused our attention to studies involving single EO molecules, and in particular those that have demonstrated the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. These single EO molecules, alone or in defined mixtures, could be interesting new therapies to prevent or slow down oxidative and inflammatory processes which are common mechanisms that contribute to neuronal death in all NDs.

Using soil nitrogen amendments in mitigating ozone stress in agricultural crops: a case study of cluster beans.

The climate change scenario in the coming years is liable to have serious negative consequences on agricultural productivity. Increasing tropospheric ozone concentration is an important aspect of climate change, which, due to its oxidative nature, is injurious to the plants. Due to the multifarious nature and continuously increasing concentration of tropospheric ozone, it is prerequisite to develop strategies to manage ozone stress in plants. Present study not only evaluates the potential of soil nitrogen amendments in ameliorating ozone stress in plants, but also focuses upon the mechanistic approaches adopted by the different plant cultivars to combat ozone stress. Three doses of nitrogen amendments, recommended (N1), 1.5× recommended (N2) and 2× recommended (N3), were given to two cultivars (S-151 and PUSA-N) of Cymopsis tetragonoloba exposed to ambient ozone stress. Control plants were also maintained in which no nitrogen treatment was given. Nitrogen supplementation reduced the root nodulation frequency and leghaemoglobin content, which subsequently increased the cellular nitrogen metabolism as evident through increase in the activities of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase in both the test cultivars. The positive effects of nitrogen amendments are clearly evident in the 1D protein profile studies which showed a greater accumulation of larger sub-units of RuBisCO in nitrogen amended plants. The results clearly indicate that N2 treatment effectively enhanced the yield of both the cultivars (84.8% and 76.37%, in S-151 and PUSA-N, respectively); however, the mechanistic approach adopted by the two cultivars was different. Whereas the yield quantity showed higher increments in S-151, the yield quality parameters (carbohydrates and nitrogen contents) responded more positively in PUSA-N.

Response of Three Garlic Allium Sativum L. Genotypes to Potassium Fertilization Levels

A field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station of the College of Agriculture, the University of Anbar for the season (2021-2022) in order to study the effect of different levels of potassium fertilization on the growth, yield and quality of bulbs for three garlic genotypes. The experiment included the use of four levels of potassium fertilization (0, 150, 200, 250) kg/ha, respectively, it was added to three garlic genotypes (local, Chinese, and Egyptian). The study was carried out as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with three replicates. The results showed that the local cultivar was immunologically superior in vegetative growth characteristics (plant height, leaf area) and reached 100.44 cm and 7.08 cm2 compared to the lowest plant height achieved by plants of the Egyptian cultivar, which amounted to 55.17 cm and the lowest leaf area achieved by the Chinese cultivar plant, which reached 6.96 dm2. The local cultivar and the level of fertilization 250 kg / ha also excelled in the yield trait, as it achieved the highest weight of heads, the highest number of cloves and the highest yield per unit area 91.93 g per clove, 36.24 clove per plant, 36.24 ton / ha compared to the lowest amount achieved by plants of the Chinese cultivar without fertilizing.