Root Dry Weight Research Articles

INFLUENCE OF DROUGHT STRESS ON THE FRUIT AND YIELD QUALITY OF THREE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum esculentum L.)

Drought impacts various physiological processes in plants, ultimately affecting yield. The study aimed to determine the influence of drought stress on the fruit and yield quality of three different varieties of tomato namely; Rio, Dan Syria and UTC. The plants were subjected to four treatments which were subjected to 80-85% WHC (water holding capacity) (control, T1), 55-60% WHC (light drought stress, T2), 40-45% WHC (moderate drought stress, T3) and 30-35% WHC (severe drought stress, T4) and each replicated three times. The data generated were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). According to the findings, Rio outperformed the other varieties in terms of fresh fruit weight (21.59g), fruit pericarp thickness (3.96mm) and drought tolerance index (56.17%) under severe drought conditions. However, under severe drought conditions, the highest average number of fruits (2.33) was produced by the UTC, closely followed by Dan Syria (2). The results also showed that under severe drought stress, Rio outperformed the other varieties in terms of fresh and dry weight of shoot, as well as fresh and dry weight of root (18.82g, 3.47g and 3.34g, 1.29g) closely followed by Dan Syria measuring 12.47g, 1.66g, 3.10g, and 0.62g respectively. Under conditions of severe drought stress, Rio, UTC, and Dan Syria exhibit drought tolerance indices of 56.17%, 37.49%, and 20.44% respectively. These suggest that Rio is the most resilient to drought compared to the other varieties. Therefore, farmers should consider using Rio, which has a high level of drought resistance, as a means to mitigate the impact of drought.

Salt-induced changes in morpho-physiological and biochemical properties in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings

Salinity is one of the most severe abiotic stresses for crop production. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of NaCl on growth and some biochemical parameters in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings. Chickpeas were grown hydroponically for 14 days and then treated with 0 mM and 200 mM NaCl. Plants were harvested for the experiment 7 days after salt treatment. Salinity showed marked changes in growth parameters (fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots) and the amount of photosynthetic pigments. The study revealed that the activity of photosystems (PS I and PS II) under salt stress is lower than that of plants growing under normal conditions. The spectral characteristics of the chloroplasts isolated from chickpea leaves were studied by the fluorescence method at liquid nitrogen temperature (77K). Under salt stress, the chloroplast fluorescence emission spectrum decreased in the parts of the spectrum characterizing the PSII (maxima at 686 nm and 695 nm) and PSI complexes (maxima at 735 nm). Keywords: Photosynthetic pigments, chloroplasts, photosystems, fluorescence, chickpea

Poultry Litter Compost and NPK fertilizers Induced Growth and Yield Performance of Boro Rice at Rooftop Farming

The effects of inorganic fertilizers and decomposed poultry litter on the growth and yield performance of boro rice (Oryza sativa L.) were assessed by conducting a pot experiment on the rooftop of a building in Charfasson town, Bhola. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD), having eight treatments with three replications each. Different agronomic parameters were measured at 30-day intervals after sowing of seeds and yield parameters after harvesting. The highest height (82.67 cm) at 90d, number of leaf (37.67) at 120d, longest leaf ( 39.67 cm) at 90d, and length of panicle (27.17 cm), number of grains/panicle (153.33), weight of grain/panicle (3.74 g), fresh weight of grains (62.35 g/pot), dry weight of grain (51.53 g/pot), dry weight of root (13.43 g/pot), rice yield (51.53 g/pot) or (5.67 t ha-1), highest B:C ratio (4.51), respectively, were found in the treatment T7: (3.0 t PL ha-1 + N100P25K90 kg ha-1). The results of treatments T7 and T8 are statistically identical. The overall best growth performance and yield of boro rice were achieved in T7: (3.0 t PL ha-1 + N100P25K90 kg ha-1) treatment on a rooftop farming system on the south coast of Bangladesh. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2024, 10(1): 99-108

Response Phaseolus vulgaris L. Plant to Glomus mosseae and Azotobacter chroococcum

An experiment was performed to study the impact of Mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus mosseae) and Azotobacter chroococcum on the growth parameters of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plant. The experimental methodology employed in this study was a factorial design, specifically a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replications. The treatments consisted of four different biological fertilizers, namely: none-inoculated, inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), inoculated with Azotobacter, and a mixture of both (AMF+Azotobacter). The use of biofertilizers, whether used singly or in combination, resulted in improved germination rates, plant height, number of root nodes, as well as fresh and dry weights of both shoots and roots particularly (AMF + Azoto) treatment (96.33±1.52, 37.33±2.08, 50.00±2.00, 8.83±0.40, 3.90±0.20, 6.53±0.23, 2.30±0.20) respectively, compared to plants that were not infected. In addition, the dual treatment of the fungus AMF and the bacteria A. chroococcum was recorded a maximum mycorrhizal infection percentage of 90% compared with the control which recorded 20%. The results of this study suggest the existence of an additive or a synergistic relationship between Glomus mosseae and A.chroococcum.

A dataset of biomass production of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) plantation (2007–2020)

Chinese fir plantation is the largest and most abundantly stocked plantation in China. Based on the long-time biomass production observation on the Chinese fir plantation comprehensive observation field at Huitong National Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Hunan (Huitong Station), this dataset collects the annual biomass production of the Chinese fir plantation at Huitong Station from 2007 to 2020, covering dry weight of trunk, branches, leaves, fruits (flowers), bark and aerial roots. In this dataset, biomass is calculated based on field survey data combined with biomass modeling. The field survey was collaboratively carried out in strict accordance with CERN specifications, and the quality control and evaluation of the data was carried out by the station monitors, data managers, and quality control personnel of the sub-centers. The establishment and sharing of this dataset mainly provide data support for the biomass production research of Chinese fir plantation under the background of global change. This is of great significance for deeply understanding the structural and functional characteristics of Chinese fir plantation ecosystem and formulating reasonable management measures for Chinese fir plantation.

Starches as solidifiers for medicinal plant micropropagations and biomass accumulations

In plant tissue and cell culture studies, media compositions are one of the most important factors affecting the micropropagation procedure's efficiency. Micropropagation studies can be conducted for commercial productions of medicinal plants, and low-cost options always have significance in large-scale productions. Some media component substitutes have been studied to reduce production costs. Agar, the media solidifier, is one of the most expensive components of media compositions. In this study, corn and wheat starches were used as media solidifiers at 80 and 100 g/L concentrations, and their effects on plant growth (shoot elongations, shoot, node, and root numbers) and biomass accumulations (shoot and root fresh and dry weights) in Lavandula officinalis and Digitalis purpurea node cultures were reported. The results showed that starch type and their concentrations significantly affected plant growth. Maximum multiple shoot number was recorded in medium supplemented with 80 g/L starch and was 61.3% higher than the control. Biomass accumulations were not statistically significant; however, higher biomass accumulations were detected in starch-added media than in control. Consequently, corn and wheat starches can be used at these concentrations as a substitute for agar to induce multiple shoot formations in L. officinalis and D. purpurea node cultures.

Seed germination and seedling growth performance of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) populations under different irrigation water sources

Irrigation water quality is closely associated with seed germination, however, information on the effect of water quality on berseem seed germination and seedling establishment is deficient. The present study evaluated the effects of using different irrigation water quality (indicative of local field practices); including distilled water (as control), canal water, tube well water and a mixture of canal and tube well water in a 50:50 ratio on three populations of berseem clover viz. cv. Agaitti Berseem-2002 (AB-2002) and two local landraces exchanged between farmers (LBF1) or available from local markets (LBM1). Seed germination percentage (GP) ranged from 89.5% to 99.5%, while the emergence energy four days after sowing (EE4DAS) ranged from 42.7% to 77.6%. The use of tube well water alone or in combination with canal water produced the highest GP (98.5%), EE4DAS (77.6%), germination rate (GR; 3.5 %/day), emergence index (EI; 13.8), shoot length (40.7mm), root length (20.9mm), root to shoot ratio (0.48), seedling vigour index (5835), shoot fresh and dry weights (135.7mg and 6.5mg) and root fresh and dry weights (58.8mg and 1.6mg), respectively. Moreover, all the pair-combination treatments between the water source and measured variables of using tube well water showed a strong positive correlation with increasing seedling growth parameters. The results further demonstrated that the seed genotypes significantly affected (P < 0.05) the studied parameters, with the AB-2002 population overall performed better in most seed germination and emergence parameters. However, the LBF1 seed population was found to be more robust in seedling growth and development traits.

Growth response of tissue culture-derived bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) Plantlets to sources and levels of inorganic nitrogen

Information on nitrogen nutrition of bamboo plants during the nursery stage is very limited. The study was conducted to generate more information regarding the nitrogen nutrition of bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) specifically to evaluate the effect of forms and levels of N on the early growth stage performance of tissue culture-derived bamboo plantlets and identify the best form and optimum level of nitrogen for bamboo plants during the nursery stage. The acclimatized tissue culture-derived bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) plantlets were grown in black polyethylene bags measuring 24x15cm containing potting medium composed of 1:1v/v mixture of garden soil and rice hull charcoal. These were applied with two forms of nitrogen (N1-nitrate-N and N2-ammonium-N) which served as the factor A and 3 levels of nitrogen (L1-0g N plant-1, L2-0.25g N plant-1, and L3-0.50g N plant-1 which was the factor B of a 2×3 factorial RCBD experiment. The effects of the treatments on the performance of the bamboo plantlets were evaluated by gathering growth parameters such as height, number of leaves and culms and leaf size, and dry weights of leaf, stem, root, and total biomass weight. The form of N applied did not significantly influenced the size of bamboo plants but significantly affected the plant dry weight. Plants fertilized with ammonium-N produced heavier biomass weight than those applied with nitrate-N. The levels of N-application significantly influenced both the plant size and weight. Application of 0.25g N and 0.5g N plant-1 significantly increased the number of culms and leaves and total plant biomass dry weight. Based on the effect on the size and weight of plants, application of 0.25g N plant-1 was already optimum for bamboo plants during the nursery stage. For bamboo plants at the nursery stage, ammonium-N was better than nitrate-N with 0.25g N plant-1 as the optimum level of application.

Effects of grassland vegetation roots on soil infiltration rate in Xiazangtan super large scale landslide distribution area in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, China

In order to study the infiltration characteristics of grassland soil in the super large scale landslides distribution area in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, this study selected the Xiazangtan super large scale distribution area in Jianzha County as the study area. Through experiments and numerical simulations, plant roots characteristics, soil physical properties and infiltration characteristics of naturally grazed grassland and enclosed grassland with different slope directions were compared and analyzed, and the influence of rainfall on seepage field and stability of the two grassland slopes were discussed. The results show that the highest soil moisture infiltration capacity (FIR) is found on the shady slope of the enclosed grassland (2.25), followed by the sunny slope of the enclosed grassland (1.23) and the shady slope of the naturally grazed grassland (−0.87). Correlation analysis show that soil water content, root dry weight density, total soil porosity, number of forks and root length are positively correlated with infiltration rate (P＜0.05), whereas soil dry density is negatively correlated with infiltration rate (P＜0.05). The results of stepwise regression analyses show that soil water content, total soil porosity, root length and number of forks are the main factors affecting soil infiltration capacity. And the ability of roots to increase soil infiltration by improving soil properties is higher than the effect of roots itself. After 60 min of simulated rainfall, the safety factors of the shady slopes of naturally grazed grassland and enclosed grassland are reduced by 29.56% and 19.63%, respectively, comparing to those before rainfall. Therefore, in this study, the roots play a crucial role in regulating soil infiltration and enhance slope stability by increasing soil water content, soil total porosity and shear strength while decreasing soil dry density. The results of this study provide theoretical evidence and practical guidance for the effective prevention and control of secondary geological disasters such as soil erosion and shallow landslide on the slope of river banks in the study area by using plant ecological measures.

Molecular and physiological insights of salt tolerance in hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum)

Background The nutritional value of hulled barley makes it a promising resource for creating new healthy foods globally. However, improving the salt tolerance of certain barley cultivars remains a challenge, despite their inherent salt tolerance. Objective This study aims to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms associated with salt tolerance in barley, focusing on the expression of genes involved in regulating cellular ion homeostasis, detoxification, and water transport. Materials and methods Three barley cultivars were subjected to different levels of NaCl concentrations. Data on several growth parameters and gene expression were measured and recorded. Results and conclusion Increasing salinity affected shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight, depending on genotype. Giza-130 showed higher dry weight, followed by Giza-135, while Giza-136 showed the lowest value. Giza-130 exhibits the ability to regulate intracellular ion concentration through a higher expression level of the NHX1- gene, demonstrating its ability to effectively absorb water under salinity stress, due to its high expression level of the hvpip −aquaporin gene and effectively remove reactive oxygen species and reduces oxidative stress through the accumulation of higher concentrations of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase. In contrast, Giza-136 showed down-regulated gene expression and higher sensitivity to salt stress. Giza-130 was salt tolerant, followed by Giza-135 while Giza-136 was very sensitive. The genotype-specific regulation of gene expression not only highlights the important role of these genes in protecting plants against salt-induced oxidative stress but also improves our understanding of the salt stress tolerance of barley and plays an important role in improving salt tolerance in other crops.

THE EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA STRAINS ON YIELD AND SOME QUALITY PARAMETERS OF EGGPLANT (Solanum melongena L.)

This research was carried out under field conditions to determine the effect of PGPB on the yield and quality of Pulsar F1 eggplant variety under Igdir ecological conditions in 2021. The experiment was conducted with 8 treatments (Brevibacillus reuszeri strain IT 119, Kluyvera cyrocrescens strain IT 160, IT 119 + IT 160, IT 119 + Fertilizer, IT 160 + Fertilizer, IT 119 + IT 160 + Fertilizer, IT 119 + IT 160 + Fertilizer, Fertilizer and Negative Control) with 3 replications according to the randomized block design. Bacterial strains were applied by inoculating 100 ml (106 cfu/ml) to the root zone of the plants during seedling stage. PGPB treatments increased total yield, discard yield, marketable yield, plant height, plant stem thickness, number of leaves, plant root wet weight, plant root dry weight, stem wet weight, stem dry weight, number of fruits per plant, fruit wet weight, fruit dry weight and root length compared to negative and positive control groups. The treatments had no effect on fruit diameter. Although both strains were found to be successful, especially Kluyvera cyrocrescens strain IT 160 alone and in combination showed positive effects in terms of the parameters examined in eggplant plants and has the potential to be used as biofertilizer.

Alleviating salinity stress in canola (Brassica napus L.) through exogenous application of salicylic acid

Canola, a vital oilseed crop, is grown globally for food and biodiesel. With the enormous demand for growing various crops, the utilization of agriculturally marginal lands is emerging as an attractive alternative, including brackish-saline transitional lands. Salinity is a major abiotic stress limiting growth and productivity of most crops, and causing food insecurity. Salicylic acid (SA), a small-molecule phenolic compound, is an essential plant defense phytohormone that promotes immunity against pathogens. Recently, several studies have reported that SA was able to improve plant resilience to withstand high salinity. For this purpose, a pot experiment was carried out to ameliorate the negative effects of sodium chloride (NaCl) on canola plants through foliar application of SA. Two canola varieties Faisal (V1) and Super (V2) were assessed for their growth performance during exposure to high salinity i.e. 0 mM NaCl (control) and 200 mM NaCl. Three levels of SA (0, 10, and 20 mM) were applied through foliar spray. The experimental design used for this study was completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. The salt stress reduced the shoot and root fresh weights up to 50.3% and 47% respectively. In addition, foliar chlorophyll a and b contents decreased up to 61–65%. Meanwhile, SA treatment diminished the negative effects of salinity and enhanced the shoot fresh weight (49.5%), root dry weight (70%), chl. a (36%) and chl. b (67%). Plants treated with SA showed an increased levels of both enzymatic i.e. (superoxide dismutase (27%), peroxidase (16%) and catalase (34%)) and non-enzymatic antioxidants i.e. total soluble protein (20%), total soluble sugar (17%), total phenolic (22%) flavonoids (19%), anthocyanin (23%), and endogenous ascorbic acid (23%). Application of SA also increased the levels of osmolytes i.e. glycine betaine (31%) and total free proline (24%). Salinity increased the concentration of Na+ ions and concomitantly decreased the K+ and Ca2+ absorption in canola plants. Overall, the foliar treatments of SA were quite effective in reducing the negative effects of salinity. By comparing both varieties of canola, it was observed that variety V2 (Super) grew better than variety V1 (Faisal). Interestingly, 20 mM foliar application of SA proved to be effective in ameliorating the negative effects of high salinity in canola plants.

Mitigating salinity stress and improving cotton productivity through integrative use of gypsum and compost amendments with exogenous proline

Abiotic constraints, such as salinity, significantly damage crop yields worldwide. Cotton, though moderately salt-tolerant, suffers from reduced growth and yield under saline-sodic soil conditions. Effective integrated mitigation strategies are crucial to address this challenge. Our study, conducted in Lodhran, Punjab, Pakistan, investigated six treatments using an integrated strategy such as gypsum, compost and exogenous proline combining effect in improving cotton productivity under salinity stress. We assessed plant growth, agronomic traits, physio-chemical parameters, cotton yield, and soil characteristics. Our experimental results showed that the combined application of amendments such as T5: gypsum + proline and T6: compost + proline gave better results as compared to individual treatments (T2, T3 & T4) over the control (T1). A significant improvement was observed in plant length and dry weights of shoot and root by 64 %, 81 % and 47 %, respectively under the effect of T5, also increased cotton yield up to 2 folds (888 kg) over control (324 kg ha−1). Likewise, significant improvement in the plant physio-chemical parameters was recorded such as high activities of antioxidant enzymes and the maximum accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 60–71 %, as well as reduction in the oxidative burst by 55–65 % after the integrated treatments (T5 & T6) as compared to salt-stressed plants (control). Likewise, contents of nutrients are improved in plants viz., N: 70; P: 61 %; K: 33 % and Mg: 86 % under the positive effect of gypsum + proline over control. Results of soil analysis showed that the soil was moderately saline-sodic. Furthermore, soil analysis revealed that there was a significant improvement in NPK, S and Mg content in the soil after treated salt-stressed soil with gypsum and compost (T2, T3, T5 and T6) while a significant reduction was observed in Ca (17 %) and Na content (28 %), as well as EC (dSm−1) was decreased by 38 % and SAR (mmol/L)1/2 by 27 % under the effect of gypsum + proline over the control treatment. The outcomes of the current study reveal that the reclamation potential of gypsum and compost applied individually or together with exogenous proline improved plant growth, yield and plant defense system under salinity stress.

Responses of growth and photosynthesis to alkaline stress in three willow species

Investigating differences in resistance to alkaline stress among three willow species can provide a theoretical basis for planting willow in saline soils. Therefore we tested three willow species (Salix matsudana, Salix gordejevii and Salix linearistipularis), already known for their high stress tolerance, to alkaline stress environment at different pH values under hydroponics. Root and leaf dry weight, root water content, leaf water content, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence of three willow cuttings were monitored six times over 15 days under alkaline stress. With the increase in alkaline stress, the water retention capacity of leaves of the three species of willow cuttings was as follows: S. matsudana > S. gordejevii > S. linearistipularis and the water retention capacity of the root system was as follows: S. gordejevii > S. linearistipularis > S. matsudana. The chlorophyll content was significantly reduced, damage symptoms were apparent. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), rate of transpiration (E), and stomatal conductance (Gs) of the leaves showed a general trend of decreasing, and the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) of S. matsudana and S. gordejevii first declined and then tended to level off, while the intercellular CO2 concentration of S. linearistipularis first declined and then increased. The quantum yield and energy allocation ratio of the leaf photosystem II (PSII) reaction centre changed significantly (φPo, Ψo and φEo were obviously suppressed and φDo was promoted). The photosystem II (PSII) reaction centre quantum performance index and driving force showed a clear downwards trend. Based on the results it can be concluded that alkaline stress tolerance of three willow was as follows: S. matsudana > S. gordejevii > S. linearistipularis. However, since the experiment was done on young seedlings, further study at saplings stage is required to revalidate the results.

Elevated salt stress level affected the productivity and chlorophyll content of Centella asiatica (L.)

Salinity disrupts plant nutrient uptake, metabolism, and increases susceptibility to biotic stresses. This reduces nutrient use efficiency, leading to stunted growth and decreased productivity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the growth and yield performance of Centella asiatica L. under varying levels of salt stress. The research was conducted at the Germplasm Centre, Department of Horticulture, Patuakhali Science and Technology University. A randomized complete block design with four replications was employed, wherein five salt concentrations i.e., 0 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, and 200 mM were applied in four replications on 20 pots. Data on various growth and yield parameters were taken in four installments: 21, 42, 63, and 84 days after transplanting. Results showed that the highest values for various parameters were observed in the control group (2.34 mM base value), with notable figures including number of leaves (258.5), number of runners (126.75), petiole length (9.38 cm), chlorophyll content (41.62 SPAD value), fresh weight of leaves (23.92 g), dry weight of leaves (7.97 g), fresh weight of shoot (1.84 g), and dry weight of shoot (0.61 g) at 84 DAT. Conversely, fresh weight and dry weight of roots peaked at 150 mM salt concentration (1.95 g and 0.65 g, respectively). The investigations revealed that as salinity levels increased, a gradual decline in growth parameters was observed, indicating a significant reduction in the growth and yield of C. asiatica. These findings highlight the sensitivity of C. asiatica to salt stress and underscore the importance of salinity management for optimal growth and yield.

Morpho-physiochemical traits and metabolic analysis reveal the rapeseed responses under large clod sized soil conditions

Soil clod size is an important factor affecting seedling growth; besides, cultivation of strong seedlings is important to improve yield and benefit of direct-seeding rapeseed. To simulate the open field conditions, two rapeseed cultivars were grown in different clod sized soil to study morpho-physiochemical responses at five leaf stage, beside applying metabolite profiling. Moreover, foliar application via alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) was applied to improve the adaptability of rapeseed to large clod sized soil. Our results showed that soil water content was decreased in large clod sized soil (K2) versus small clod sized soil (K1), which decreased seedling weight, shoot length and root vitality, while increasing root length. Furthermore, osmolyte contents and peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity were decreased with increasing malondialdehyde content in studied rapeseed cultivars under K2 conditions. Moreover, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) of phospholipid metabolism and its related enzymes were decreased, while its content and gene expression were increased. Besides, ALA metabolism was up-regulated, while lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, content and its gene expression were elevated under K2 conditions. Metabolic profiling showed that lipid metabolism was significantly changed than other identified components, which is synthetic precursors of various secondary metabolites. Compared with K1, the metabolic pathways of ALA and pyrimidine were up-regulated, while the metabolic pathways of glycerophospholipids and purines were down-regulated in both studied cultivars under K2 conditions. Moreover, ALA application enhanced seedling growth by improving root length, shoot and root dry weight, root vitality, ALA and proline contents, while reducing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of two rapeseed cultivars under K2 conditions. Taken together, our study provided a theoretical basis and technical support for the soil tillage and cultivation of direct-seeding rapeseed.

Pengaruh Konsentrasi dan Frekuensi Pemberian Pupuk Organik Cair Terhadap Pertumbuhan Tanaman dan Produksi Sawi Samhong (Brassica juncea L.)

In mustard cultivtion, the right combination of the concentration of liquid organic fertilizer given through the leaves and the frequency of application are factors that can optimize growth and yield. This research aimed to test the effectiveness of the concentration and frequency of NASA liquid organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of Samhong mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The research was carried out in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Pattimura University, Ambon. This research was conducted as an experiment using a Randomized Block Design with 2 factors. The first factor was the concentration of NASA liquid organic fertilizer which consisted of 4 levels, namely: concentration of 0 mL/L of water (without giving POC); 4 mL/L of water; 8 mL/ mL/L of water; and 12 mL/L of water. The second factor was the frequency of fertilizer application which consists of 3 levels, namely 6 times, 3 times and 2 times of application. There were 12 treatment combinations, with 3 replications, so there were 36 experimental units. The research results showed that the concentration of NASA liquid organic fertilizer had a very significant effect on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight and root dry weight. A concentration of 8 mL/L of water was the best concentration for plant fresh weight, namely 323.89 g. For the treatment of frequency of application, there was a very significant effect on the number of leaves, leaf area, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight and root dry weight, with a frequency of 3 applications being the best frequency for the growth and yield of Samhong mustard greens. The interaction between NASA liquid organic fertilizer concentration and application frequency did not significantly effect all observed variables.

Residual plastic film decreases crop yield and water use efficiency through direct negative effects on soil physicochemical properties and root growth

Film mulching has been extensively used to improve agricultural production in arid regions of China. However, without sufficient mulch film recovery, large amounts of residual film accumulated in the farmland, which would affect crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE). In order to comprehensively analyze the effects of residual film on crop yield and WUE, and clarify its influencing mechanism, present study adopted a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the impacts of residual film on soil physicochemical properties, crop root growth, yield, and WUE. The results showed that residual film significantly increased soil bulk density and the soil moisture content in 0–20 cm soil layer, but decreased soil porosity, soil organic matter, soil total nitrogen content, and soil moisture content in >20 cm soil layer, especially when residual film amount was >400 kg ha−1. Residual film significantly reduced crop root dry weight, root length, root diameter, root volume and root surface area. Generally, crop yield and WUE decreased with the increase of residual film amount; and crop yield was reduced by about 14.00 % when the residual film amount increased by 1000 kg ha−1. In average, crop yield and WUE under film residual condition were significantly decreased by 13.46 % and 9.21 %, respectively. The negative effects of residual film on root growth, yield and WUE were greater for cash crops (cotton, tomato and potato) than for cereal crops (wheat, maize). The structural equation model indicated that residual film generated indirect negative effects on crop yield and WUE by directly affecting soil physicochemical properties and crop root growth, with the standard path coefficients of −0.302 and − 0.217, respectively. The results would provide a theoretical basis for reducing residual film pollution on farmland and promoting the green and sustainable development of agriculture.

PGPR consortia enhance growth and yield in barley cultivars subjected to severe drought stress and subsequent recovery

With the continuous increase of land areas affected by drought due to climate change, barley, a cereal globally consumed by the human population, faces significant challenges from drought stress. The current study aims to showcase the effectiveness of two consortia based on Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains in promoting plant growth and recovery in post-drought conditions of drought-sensitive and tolerant barley cultivars. Inoculations with Consortium 1 and 2 enhance barley plant tolerance to drought stress by impacting relative water content, SPAD index, and Fv/Fm while decreasing electrolyte leakage. Similarly, in biochemical traits, both consortia influence proline, total soluble sugars, H2O2, and MDA contents, as well as catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities. Regarding agro-morphological traits, the consortia contribute to increased root and vegetative shoot dry weights, along with a positive effect on grain yield and thousand-grain weight, achieving values equivalent to unstressed plants. The highest important effect in recovered plants was recorded in the case of the tolerant cultivar inoculated with Consortium 1, in most of the traits studied, there was no significant difference recorded between unstressed and recovered barley plants. Consortium 1 and Consortium 2 improve the tolerance of both sensitive and tolerant barley cultivars against drought, aiding recovered plants in regaining physiological status equivalent to unstressed ones.

Xylooligosaccharides Enhance Lettuce Root Morphogenesis and Growth Dynamics.

Enhancing root development is pivotal for boosting crop yield and augmenting stress resilience. In this study, we explored the regulatory effects of xylooligosaccharides (XOSs) on lettuce root growth, comparing their impact with that of indole-3-butyric acid potassium salt (IBAP). Treatment with XOS led to a substantial increase in root dry weight (30.77%), total root length (29.40%), volume (21.58%), and surface area (25.44%) compared to the water-treated control. These enhancements were on par with those induced by IBAP. Comprehensive phytohormone profiling disclosed marked increases in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), methyl jasmonate (JA-ME), and brassinosteroids (BRs) following XOS application. Through RNA sequencing, we identified 3807 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the roots of XOS-treated plants, which were significantly enriched in pathways associated with manganese ion homeostasis, microtubule motor activity, and carbohydrate metabolism. Intriguingly, approximately 62.7% of the DEGs responsive to XOS also responded to IBAP, underscoring common regulatory mechanisms. However, XOS uniquely influenced genes related to cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis, as well as plant hormone signal transduction, hinting at novel mechanisms of stress tolerance. Prominent up-regulation of genes encoding beta-glucosidase and beta-fructofuranosidase highlights enhanced carbohydrate metabolism as a key driver of XOS-induced root enhancement. Collectively, these results position XOS as a promising, sustainable option for agricultural biostimulation.