Seedling Leaf Research Articles

Gene Regulation in Developing Chloroplasts Disentangled.

Gene Regulation in Developing Chloroplasts Disentangled.

Efficient removal of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in barley: differential contribution of light-dependent and dark DNA repair pathways.

Barley stress response to ultraviolet radiation (UV) has been intensively studied at both the physiological and morphological level. However, the ability of barley genome to repair UV-induced lesions at the DNA level is far less characterized. In this study, we have investigated the relative contribution of light-dependent and dark DNA repair pathways for the efficient elimination of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) from the genomic DNA of barley leaf seedlings. The transcriptional activity of barley CPD photolyase gene in respect to the light-growth conditions and UV-C irradiation of the plants has also been analyzed. Our results show that CPDs induced in the primary barley leaf at frequencies potentially damaging DNA at the single-gene level are removed efficiently and exclusively by photorepair pathway, whereas dark repair is hardly detectable, even at higher CPD frequency. A decrease of initially induced CPDs under dark is observed but only after prolonged incubation, suggesting the activation of light-independent DNA damage repair and/or tolerance mechanisms. The green barley seedlings possess greater capacity for CPD photorepair than the etiolated ones, with efficiency of CPD removal dependent on the intensity and quality of recovering light. The higher repair rate of CPDs measured in the green leaves correlates with the higher transcriptional activity of barley CPD photolyase gene. Visible light and UV-C radiation affect differentially the expression of CPD photolyase gene particularly in the etiolated leaves. We propose that the CPD repair potential of barley young seedlings may influence their response to UV-stress.

A rice White-stripe leaf3 (wsl3) mutant lacking an HD domain-containing protein affects chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development

Leaf-color mutants are ideal genetic materials for understanding the mechanism of chloroplast development and chlorophyll (Chl) biosynthesis. Here we isolated and identified a new leaf-color mutant of rice, named white-stripe leaf3 (wsl3), from a 60Co-irradiated mutant pool. The wsl3 mutant displayed a visible white-stripe leaf in both young seedlings and flag leaves of mature plant. Chl content in homozygous wsl3 mutant was approximately 47% of that in the wild type. Besides, chloroplast development in the mutant was severely arrested. By a map-based cloning strategy, the wsl3 gene was finely confined to a 50.8 kb region on chromosome 1. Moreover, a 9-bp deletion was identified in the genomic region of LOC_Os01g01920, which encodes an HD (histidine and aspartic acid) domaincontaining protein. Genetic complementation confirmed that LOC_Os01g01920 could recover the lesion of wsl3 mutation. Real-time PCR analyses showed that the expression levels of WSL3 were the highest in young and flag leaves among various tissues, and most of the genes associated with Chl biosynthesis were significantly down-regulated in the wsl3 mutant. Meanwhile, in contrast to many nuclear gene-encoded phage-type RNA polymerase(s) (NEP) transcribed genes were up-regulated, most of plastid-encoded bacterialtype RNA polymerase (PEP) transcribed genes were downregulated. These results demonstrated that the WSL3 gene, as an HD domain-containing protein, is involved in chl biosynthesis and chloroplast development in rice.

Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae which induce leaf spot on walnut

In 2012, a leaf spot disease on walnut seedlings was observed in Hamedan province of Iran. The spots were necrotic with yellow halos. Symptomatic samples were collected and suspected bacterial agent was isolated on nutrient agar medium. Phenotypic characteristics such as production of fluorescent pigment on KB medium, LOPAT test and utilization of various carbon sources, revealed that the strains were Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. All tested strains were pathogenic on peach, plum and walnut seedling. To investigate the genetic diversity among the strains, rep-PCR using BOX and ERIC primers was performed. Results showed high similarity among the strains from the same region, while variation was found among those from different areas and they were divided into two groups based on geographic regions. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA, rpoD and gyrB sequences showed that representative isolates were closely related to P. syringae pv. syringae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of P. syringae pv. syringae as a causal agent of walnut seedlings leaf spot in Iran and worldwide.

Humic Acids Derived from Leonardite-Affected Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Corn Seedlings

ABSTRACTUsing organic fertilizer or soil amendment such as humic substances is an important component for sustainable agriculture. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different factions of humic acids (HAs) on corn seedling growth and nutrient uptake. The experiment was carried out with both an agar culture in root boxes and a hydroponic culture to which 400 mg/L of different factions of humus acids, mixed HAs, and raw Leonardite were added. The experiments were repeated twice with three replications for each treatment. The results showed that applications of HAs significantly improved the leaf and root growth of corn seedlings compared with the control (no HA addition). In the agar culture, seedlings treated with HAs with relatively low molecular weights had more leaves and twice long of roots compared to control and other treatments. In the hydroponic culture, the mixture of three factions was the best treatment for both shoot and root growth of seedlings.

Biomass accumulated by Garcinia kola Heckel. seedlings under different light intensities

Garcinia kola is found to be extinction-threatened due to over-exploitation and its regeneration has not been encouraged. This study investigated the influence of light intensities on the biomass accumulation of G. kola seedlings. Seedlings of G. kola were monitored under five light intensities namely; under forest canopy (5% light intensity), 25%, 50%, 75% light intensities and control treatment was direct sunlight (100% light intensity). The study was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Seedlings Leaf Dry Weight (LDW) under light intensities were not significantly affected (α=0.05) by different light intensities but significantly affect (α=0.05) the seedlings Stem Dry Weight (SDW), Root Dry Weight (RDW) and Total Dry Weight (TDW). Seedlings LDW ranged from 1.87 to 5.07 g, SDW ranged from 0.83 to 3.04 g, RDW ranged from 1.60 to 9.90 g and TDW ranged from 4.30 to 15.63 g respectively (after 24 weeks) depending on light intensity. The biomass accumulated by G. kola seedlings under 5 % light intensity was very low compared to the biomass accumulated by seedlings under other light conditions. Seedlings under 25%, 50% and 75% light intensities gave the highest biomass accumulation. This implies that G. kola preferred low light intensities for optimum biomass production.Keywords: Garcinia kola, Light intensity, Biomass accumulation, Propagation, Nursery Stage

The Rice TCM5 Gene Encoding a Novel Deg Protease Protein is Essential for Chloroplast Development under High Temperatures.

BackgroundHigh temperature affects a broad spectrum of cellular components and metabolism in plants. The Deg/HtrA family of ATP-independent serine endopeptidases is present in nearly all organisms. Deg proteases are required for the survival of Escherichia coli at high temperatures. However, it is still unclear whether rice Deg proteases are required for chloroplast development under high temperatures.ResultsIn this study, we reported the first rice deg mutant tcm5 (thermo-sensitive chlorophyll-deficient mutant 5) that has an albino phenotype, defective chloroplasts and could not survive after the 4–5 leaf seedling stage when grown at high temperature (32 °C). However, when grown at low temperatures (20 °C), tcm5 has a normal phenotype. Map-based cloning showed that TCM5 encoding a chloroplast-targeted Deg protease protein. The TCM5 transcripts were highly expressed in all green tissues and undetectable in other tissues, showing the tissue-specific expression. In tcm5 mutants grown at high temperatures, the transcript levels of certain genes associated with chloroplast development especially PSII-associated genes were severely affected, but recovered to normal levels at low temperatures. These results showed important role of TCM5 for chloroplast development under high temperatures.ConclusionsThe TCM5 encodes chloroplast-targeted Deg protease protein which is important for chloroplast development and the maintenance of PSII function and its disruption would lead to a defective chloroplast and affected expression levels of genes associated with chloroplast development and photosynthesis at early rice seedling stage under high temperatures.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12284-016-0086-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Morphological Feature Extraction of Jabon’s Leaf Seedling Pathogen using Microscopic Image

This research aims to analyze morphological techniques for feature extraction of Jabon’s leaf seedling pathogen using digital microscopic image. The kinds of the pathogen were Curvularia sp., Colletotrichum sp., and Fusarium sp.. Pathogens or causes of disease were identified manually based on macroscopic and microscopic observation of morphological characters. Morphological characters describe the characteristics of shape, color and size of a pathogen structure. We focused on shape feature by using the morphological techniques to feature extraction. The morphology features extraction used were area, perimeter, convex area, convex perimeter, compactness, solidity, convexity, and roundness. The methodologies were acquisition, preprocessing, features extraction and data analysis for derivative features. With features extraction, we got the pattern that described each pathogen for pathogen identification. From the experimental result showed that compactness and roundness feature were able to differentiate each pathogen due to that the characteristics of each pathogen class were separated.

Fatty acid esters produced by Lasiodiplodia theobromae function as growth regulators in tobacco seedlings

The Botryosphaeriaceae are a family of trunk disease fungi that cause dieback and death of various plant hosts. This work sought to characterize fatty acid derivatives in a highly virulent member of this family, Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of an isolated compound revealed (Z, Z)-9,12-ethyl octadecadienoate, (trivial name ethyl linoleate), as one of the most abundant fatty acid esters produced by L. theobromae. A variety of naturally produced esters of fatty acids were identified in Botryosphaeriaceae. In comparison, the production of fatty acid esters in the soil-borne tomato pathogen Fusarium oxysporum, and the non-phytopathogenic fungus Trichoderma asperellum was found to be limited. Ethyl linoleate, ethyl hexadecanoate (trivial name ethyl palmitate), and ethyl octadecanoate, (trivial name ethyl stearate), significantly inhibited tobacco seed germination and altered seedling leaf growth patterns and morphology at the highest concentration (0.2 mg/mL) tested, while ethyl linoleate and ethyl stearate significantly enhanced growth at low concentrations, with both still inducing growth at 98 ng/mL. This work provides new insights into the role of naturally esterified fatty acids from L. theobromae as plant growth regulators with similar activity to the well-known plant growth regulator gibberellic acid.

Essential Oil Composition from Seedlings of Jatropha curcas L

The essential oil chemical composition of leaf, stem, petiole and root of Jatropha curcas seedlings isolated by hydrodistillation extraction were determined by Gas Chromatography and Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phytol (47.42 %), pinane (7.10 %) and n-eicosane-(6.98 %) in leaf, 1-butoxyperethyl- homotetrasilsesquioxane (36.11 %) in petiole, 7-benzyl-8-(methylthio)theophyllin (12.53 %) in stem and ?- gurjunene (13.99 %), ?-elemol (13.45 %), guaiene (13.13 %) in root were major components present in the essential oil.

Genome Wide Association Study of Seedling and Adult Plant Leaf Rust Resistance in Elite Spring Wheat Breeding Lines.

Leaf rust is an important disease, threatening wheat production annually. Identification of resistance genes or QTLs for effective field resistance could greatly enhance our ability to breed durably resistant varieties. We applied a genome wide association study (GWAS) approach to identify resistance genes or QTLs in 338 spring wheat breeding lines from public and private sectors that were predominately developed in the Americas. A total of 46 QTLs were identified for field and seedling traits and approximately 20–30 confer field resistance in varying degrees. The 10 QTLs accounting for the most variation in field resistance explained 26–30% of the total variation (depending on traits: percent severity, coefficient of infection or response type). Similarly, the 10 QTLs accounting for most of the variation in seedling resistance to different races explained 24–34% of the variation, after correcting for population structure. Two potentially novel QTLs (QLr.umn-1AL, QLr.umn-4AS) were identified. Identification of novel genes or QTLs and validation of previously identified genes or QTLs for seedling and especially adult plant resistance will enhance understanding of leaf rust resistance and assist breeding for resistant wheat varieties. We also developed computer programs to automate field and seedling rust phenotype data conversions. This is the first GWAS study of leaf rust resistance in elite wheat breeding lines genotyped with high density 90K SNP arrays.

In Vitro Culture and Phytochemical Analysis of Passiflora tenuifila Killip and Passiflora setacea DC (Passifloraceae).

We have developed reproducible micropropagation, callus culture, phytochemical, and antioxidant analysis protocols for the wild passion fruit species P. tenuifila, and P. setacea, native to the Brazilian endangered biomes Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga, by using seeds and explants from seedlings and adult plants. Genotype and explant origin-linked differences are visible amongst the Passiflora species concerning callus production, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity. The protocols developed for screening phytochemicals and antioxidants in P. tenuifila and P. setacea callus extracts have shown their potential for phenolic production and antioxidant activity. The high level of phenolic compounds seems to account for the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of P. tenuifila derived from 45-day-old immature seed callus. The methanolic extracts of callus derived from P. setacea seedling leaf node and cotyledonary node explants have shown the highest antioxidant activity despite their lower content of phenolics, as compared to cotyledon callus extracts. The optimized micropropagation and callus culture protocols have great potential to use cell culture techniques for further vegetative propagation, in vitro germplasm conservation, and secondary metabolite production using biotic and abiotic elicitors.

Cloning and tissue expression of 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase gene in Angelica sinensis

4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase is a key enzyme of phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway in higher plant and may regulate the biosynthesis of ferulic acid in Angelica sinensis. In this study, the homology-based cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique were used to clone a full length cDNA encoding 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase gene (4CL), and then qRT-PCR was taken for analyzing 4CL gene expression levels in the root, stem and root tissue at different growth stages of seedlings of A. sinensis. The results showed that a full-length 4CL cDNA (1,815 bp) was obtained (GenBank accession number: KT880508) which shares an open reading frame (ORF) of 1 632 bp, encodes 544 amino acid polypeptides. We found 4CL gene was expressed in all tissues including leaf, stem and root of seedlings of A. sinensis. The expressions in the leave and stem were increased significantly with the growth of seedlings of A. sinensis (P < 0.05), while it in the root showed little change. It indicates a time-space pattern of 4CL gene expression in seedlings of A. sinensis. These findings will be useful for establishing an experiment basis for studying the structure and function of 4CL gene and elucidating mechanism of ferulic acid biosynthesis and space-time regulation in A. sinensis.

Quantitative proteomics study on Lsi1 in regulation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cold resistance

Low temperature is one of the major abiotic stresses which severely affects the productivity and the geographical distribution of rice (Oryza sativa). Silicon is considered a broad spectrum alleviator to combat stress in rice plant. Rice root absorbs silicon by a silicon transporter, Low silicon gene 1 (Lsi1). To gain a better understanding of cold stress responses triggered by overexpression of Lsi1 in rice (Oryza sativa L.), we carried out physiological and molecular studies between Lsi1-overexpression Dular (Lsi1-D) and its wild type (WD). Two leaf stage rice seedlings of above mentioned both lines were treated at 15 °C/12 °C (day/night) for 7 days. WD seedling leaves were turned comparatively yellow as compared to Lsi1-D seedlings. Microscopic studies showed significantly more deposition of silicon bodies in epidermal cells of Lsi1-D leaf seedlings in comparison with WD leaves. Lsi1-D leaves comparatively, depicted more SOD, POD and CAT activity, chlorophyll a, b contents in consistency with more silicon concentration. Protein extraction was carried out from whole seedling of both lines and further analyzed by tandem mass tag quantitative proteomics approach with double replicates. Among 393 reproducible proteins, 63 were up-regulated and 39 proteins were down-regulated. The total cold responsive differential proteins were involved in several processes, i.e. photosynthesis, signal transduction, redox homeostasis, hormone metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall organization, N-assimilation, protein processing and secondary metabolism. We confirmed up-regulation of key proteins involved in cold-responsive pathway at mRNA level through qPCR such as chlorophyll a–b binding protein 1, peroxidase 2, signaling G-proteins RIC1, aquaporin PIP1.2, 1, 4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme, germin-like protein subfamily 2 member 4 and germin-like protein subfamily 8 member 2. In conclusion, our study provides new insights into cold stress responses in rice seedlings triggered by Lsi1-overexpression defense pathway.

Transporters, chaperones, and P-type ATPases controlling grapevine copper homeostasis.

With more copper and copper-containing compounds used as bactericides and fungicides in viticulture, copper homeostasis in grapevine (Vitis) has become one of the serious environmental crises with great risk. To better understand the regulation of Cu homeostasis in grapevine, grapevine seedlings cultured in vitro with different levels of Cu were utilized to investigate the tolerance mechanisms of grapevine responding to copper availability at physiological and molecular levels. The results indicated that Cu contents in roots and leaves arose with increasing levels of Cu application. With copper concentration increasing, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased in roots and leaves and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) increased to protect the plant itself from damage. The expression patterns of 19 genes, encoding transporters, chaperones, and P-type ATPases involved in copper homeostasis in root and leaf of grapevine seedling under various levels of Cu(2+) were further analyzed. The expression patterns indicated that CTr1, CTr2, and CTr8 transporters were significantly upregulated in response both to Cu excess and deficiency. ZIP2 was downregulated in response to Cu excess and upregulated under Cu-deficient conditions, while ZIP4 had an opposite expression pattern under similar conditions. The expression of chaperones and P-type ATPases in response to Cu availability in grapevine were also briefly studied.

A Point Mutation of Magnesium Chelatase OsCHLI Gene Dampens the Interaction Between CHLI and CHLD Subunits in Rice

Proper chloroplast development and chlorophyll biosynthesis are essential for the photoautotrophic plants. The insertion of magnesium (Mg2+) into protoporphyrin IX (Proto), catalyzed by magnesium chelatase (Mg-chelatase), is the first committed step of chlorophyll biosynthesis. In dicot plants, a proposed model revealed that Mg-chelatase I subunit (CHLI) and Mg-chelatase D subunit (CHLD) can interact directly; however, their relation remains elusive in rice, a monocot model plant. In this study, we characterized a chlorophyll-deficiency mutant, etiolated leaf and lethal (ell), which displayed a yellow leaf in young seedlings and became lethal after three-leaf stage. Chlorophyll content in homozygous ell mutant was approximately 1 % of that in the wild type. Besides, chloroplast development in the mutant was entirely arrested and no thylakoid structure was observed. By map-based cloning, the ell locus was delimited to a 3.9-Mb interval in chromosome 3. A single-base mutation (G529C) in OsCHLI was identified, leading to an amino acid substitution (G177R) in a highly conserved region. Compared with the wild type, more Proto but less magnesium protoporphyrin IX (Mg-Proto) was measured in the ell mutant. Using protoplast transfection and callus transformation, we found that exogenous OsCHLI could consistently recover the lesion of chloroplast in the ell mutant. By subcellar localization analysis, OsCHLI was detected in the chloroplast. Despite the secondary structure of OsCHLI that was predicted to be altered in the mutant, the point mutation did not affect subcellular localization. Real-time PCR demonstrated that the ell mutation induced significantly transcriptional downregulation of the photosynthesis-associated nuclear and plastid genes. Additionally, yeast-two-hybrid experiments indicated that the single amino acid substitution blocked the intrinsic interaction between OsCHLI and OsCHLD. Moreover, OsCHLI showed physical interactions with some thioredoxins (TRXs), suggesting a similar regulatory mechanism of Mg-chelatase activity in both monocot and dicot plants.

Daily environmental conditions determine the competition–facilitation balance for plant water status

SummaryPlants compete with their neighbours for a finite set of limiting resources, and this decreases individual plant performance, growth and survival. However, neighbouring plants also affect each other in positive ways.Positive facilitative effects can occur when neighbouring plants ameliorate harsh abiotic conditions (temperature, wind and high irradiation). Thus, when environmental conditions are severe, the importance of facilitation may increase. The co‐occurrence and masking effects of competition and facilitation among neighbouring plants have made it difficult to tease them apart in the past.We planted bur oak acorns (Quercus macrocarpa) into an experimental diversity gradient in a centralMNgrassland that provided a gradient in plant biomass. We predicted that greater biomass of neighbours would increase both competition and facilitation as measured by impacts on the minimum leaf water potential reached on any given day. Under moderate conditions, competition should predominate, but under hot/dry conditions, facilitation should become more important. We measured temperature, humidity and soil moisture in these plots for two growing seasons, as well as oak seedling leaf water potential across a range of daily conditions.On cool/humid days, plant interactions were dominated by competition for soil water: leaf water potentials of juvenile oaks were lower in plots with greater herbaceous biomass (and higher diversity). Conversely, on hot/dry days, facilitation of the microclimate determined the net effect of plants on their neighbours: leaf water potentials of juvenile oaks were higher in plots with higher herbaceous diversity and biomass.Synthesis. In terms of plant water status, plant interactions among neighbours can flip from net negative (competition) to net positive (facilitation) depending on daily abiotic conditions. The relative importance of both positive and negative interactions for plant water status may affect the overall performance of plants over time.

When anthropogenic‐related disturbances overwhelm demographic persistence mechanisms

Summary Population decline is associated with increased vulnerability to extinction, but also with possible density‐, frequency‐ or distance‐related ‘rarity advantages’ that increase recruitment success as individuals become isolated from their congeners. Distinguishing between these alternatives (risk vs. recovery of rare populations via demographic processes) has become critical, given how anthropogenic disturbances are causing population declines globally. Here, we demonstrate how distance‐related rarity advantages are evident in spatially isolated recruits of a canopy‐dominant but regionally rare species of oak that appears to be suffering recruitment collapse. As distance from parent trees increased, seedlings had significantly more leaves and experienced reduced insect browsing and intraspecific competition. Long‐term field‐based experimental treatments revealed these advantages to be associated with rapid rates of juvenile maturation and survival that are unobserved in natural settings. The discrepancy between the experimental and natural settings was explained by trophic collapse and habitat loss – two changes ubiquitous to many terrestrial ecosystems – that combine to concentrate vertebrate herbivores in habitat remnants and cause 100% juvenile mortality via the browsing of taller juveniles. Exotic grass cover, long associated with oak recruitment failure, significantly suppressed seedling height and leaf production, but appeared to delay mortality by hiding shorter seedlings from vertebrate herbivores. Synthesis. Our work demonstrates how rarity advantages have the potential to positively influence the population performance of a declining species, but are short‐circuited by intense herbivory associated with human‐based environmental change. Regionally, there appear to be few existing conditions on the contemporary landscape that favour juvenile survival, suggesting ongoing recruitment difficulties without intervention. Our work clarifies how extinction risk can in some cases be best defined by how anthropogenic disturbances affect, and are offset by, demographic‐based persistence mechanisms, than simply by present‐day abundance or distribution.

Redistribution of 10B Absorbed by Leaves and Roots of Cashew Seedlings

Boron (B) is transported mainly in the xylem, but by using isotopic tracers it was possible to verify that B has significant mobility in the phloem of polyols-producing species. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the mobility of 10B applied to cashew plants. The experiment was conducted from 05/10 to 07/10/2010 in a greenhouse of University of São Paulo State-UNESP, Ilha Solteira Campus, State of São Paulo, Brazil. 0.5 mg of B L−1 of soil was used in the substrate. A solution of 255 mg of B L−1 was used in recently mature and fully developed leaves. The total content of B and and percentage of boron in the plant derived from fertilizer (Bppf%) were evaluated in the old and new leaves stemming at 30 and 60 days after the application of 10B. As evidenced, B applied to leaves had restricted mobility in cashew tree. However, B applied in the substrate was absorbed and translocated to young leaves.

Comparative Assessment of Cocoa Pod Husk Biochar Fortified with NPK Fertilizer Formulations on Kola Seedling Nutrient Uptake and Soil Properties in Ibadan, Nigeria

A greenhouse trial was carried out at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan in 2013 to evaluate the effect of cocoa pod husk (CPH) biochar fortified with NPK fertilizer formulations on kola seedling nutrient uptake and soil properties. The treatments consisted of a control, NPK (3 g) + Biochar (5 g), NPK (Liquid – 3 mls/L of water) + Biochar (5 g), Biochar (5 g), NPK (Solid-3 g), NPK (Liquid – 3 mls/L of water). The six treatments were replicated three times in a completely randomized design and data on nutrient uptake of kola seedlings and soil properties were taken for seven months. Results showed that all the fertilizers irrespective of rates of application and types of NPK formulations enhanced the nutrient uptake of kola seedlings relative to control. The leaf and root nitrogen uptake of kola seedlings was significantly (p<0.05) enhanced as a result of CPH biochar applied singly (T4) or in combination with NPK liquid fertilizer (T3) compared to when biochar was applied with NPK solid fertilizer. The leaf and stem P-uptake of Kola seedlings was not significantly influenced by CPH biochar and NPK fertilizer formulations. Conversely, the POriginal Research Article Ibiremo and Akanbi; IJPSS, 6(5): 303-309, 2015; Article no.IJPSS.2015.120 304 uptake of root of kola seedlings was significantly (p<0.05) improved as a result NPK (liquid) fertilizer compared to NPK (solid) applied alone. The pH of the soil was significantly (p<0.05) affected due to application of CPH biochar in combination with liquid NPK (T3) and CPH biochar alone (T4) compared to the control and NPK solid (T5). The exchangeable K in the soil was significantly (p<0.05) influenced as a result of CPH Biochar application and NPK fertilizer formulations. CPH biochar alone (T4) significantly (p<0.05) improved the exchangeable potassium in the soil compared to the control. The positive influence of CPH biochar applied either alone or in combination with NPK fertilizers on nutrient uptake of kola seedlings and soil nutrients indicated that integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers holds the ace for crop production and soil fertility management in Nigeria. Kola farmers across the growing regions have the privilege of using biochar fortified with NPK fertilizer (liquid) for improved productivity.