Shoot Fresh Weight Research Articles

Mycorrhizal symbiosis and natural dye waste organic fertilizer: Enhancing growth and yield in indigofera tinctoria

Background: Indigofera tinctoria, commonly known as true indigo, is a plant widely used in the textile industry for its natural indigo dye, which produces a rich blue color for fabrics. Indigofera tinctoria, known for its natural bluish-purple dye, generates 10% dye and 90% waste during extraction, requiring effective waste management. This study aimed to optimize organic fertilizer and mycorrhiza doses from I. tinctoria waste for enhancing soil fertility in arid regions. Methods: The study was conducted from May to December 2020 in Puron Village, Bulu District, Sukoharjo Regency. A factorial Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with 2 factors was employed. The first factor consisted of 5 levels of I. tinctoria organic fertilizer treatments: 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 g per plant. The second factor included 3 levels of mycorrhiza treatments: 0, 10, and 20 g per plant. Variables observed included mycorrhizal infection on roots, plant growth rate, and yield (fresh leaf and shoot weight of I. tinctoria). Data analysis utilized ANOVA at a 5% significance level followed by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results: The results indicated that organic fertilizer from natural dye waste at a dosage of 200 g per plant increased the percentage of mycorrhizal-infected roots and boosted shoot weight by 63.27% at 8 weeks after planting (WAP). Mycorrhiza at 10 g per plant increased mycorrhizal infection percentage and enhanced shoot weight by 45.98% at 4 WAP. The combination of I. tinctoria extraction waste organic fertilizer at 200 g per plant and mycorrhiza at 10 g per plantshowed interaction, significantly increasing the growth of root nodules of Indigofera tinctoria by 84.04% at 12 WAP. Conclusion: The integration of organic fertilizer derived from indigo dye waste and mycorrhiza presents a promising strategy for enhancing I. tinctoria growth and productivity. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study is distinctive in its demonstration of the effective use of I. tinctoria extraction waste as an organic fertilizer, aligning with zero-waste principles and contributing to improvements in plant growth and soil fertility. Furthermore, it investigates the synergistic effects of mycorrhizal associations on enhancing nutrient absorption and overall productivity of I. tinctoria, an aspect that has not been thoroughly explored in prior research.

Microbial Biostimulants and Seaweed Extract Synergistically Influence Seedling Growth and Morphology of Three Onion Cultivars

Onion (Allium cepa L.), a globally cultivated vegetable crop, possesses a shallow root system, making it vulnerable to abiotic stresses. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events in recent years necessitates sustainable solutions to enhance onion growth. Biostimulants offer a promising and accessible approach to promote onion growth and quality in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. This study investigated the effects of nine commercial microbial biostimulants (LALRISE Mycorrhizae, LALRISE Bacillus, Mighty Mycorrhizae, MycoApply, Spectrum DS, Spectrum Myco, Spectrum, Tribus Original, and Tribus Continuum) and one non-microbial commercial biostimulant (Kelpak—seaweed extract) on the seedling growth of three onion cultivars: Carta Blanca (white), Don Victoro (yellow), and Sofire (red). The results indicated that biostimulants did not significantly affect onion seed germination, but germination rates did vary among the onion cultivars. These cultivars also exhibited significant morphological and biomass differences, with principal component analysis revealing a more obvious effect on root growth compared to shoot growth. Kelpak seaweed extract increased the plant height, leaf area, and shoot fresh weight and dry weight of onion seedlings but decreased the root-to-shoot dry-weight ratio. The effects of microbial biostimulants on onion seedling growth depended on both the onion cultivar and Kelpak seaweed extract. In general, LALRISE Mycorrhizae, Mighty Mycorrhizae, Spectrum Myco, Spectrum DS, and Tribus Continuum exhibited positive effects on seedling growth in certain onion cultivars. Furthermore, the benefits of microbial biostimulants were amplified when combined with Kelpak seaweed extract application. These findings suggest a synergistic interaction between microbial and non-microbial biostimulants, leading to enhanced onion seedling growth. Further research is required to evaluate the long-term effects of these biostimulants on onion plant growth after transplanting to fields.

The application of PAHs-Degrading Pseudomonas aeruginosa to mitigate the phytotoxic impact of pyrene on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and broad bean (Vicia faba L.) plants

Mitigating the negative impacts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is an urgent need due to their toxicity and persistence in the environment. This study investigated the use of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ASU-B6 to detoxify pyrene (PY). The bacterium P. aeruginosa ASU-B6 is capable of degrading PY by 92% as a sole carbon source after 15 days of incubation with phthalate being the major metabolic product. In this regard, the impact of pyrene (PY), P. aeruginosa ASU-B6 (ASU-B6), the bacterial strain combined with pyrene (ASU-B6/PY) and the metabolites produced after pyrene degradation (PY-metabolites) on the germination and physiological attributes of Hordeum vulgare and Vicia faba seedlings were studied. A single application of PY or ASU-B6 showed a toxic effect on the germination of both tested seeds. Interestingly, broad bean seedlings exhibited less sensitivity to PY stress in terms of growth and metabolism compared to barley. Notably, ASU-B6 inhibited fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots of barley and, to a lesser extent, reduced the germination of broad beans compared to the control. However, the combined PY-metabolites and ASU-B6/PY showed a mutual ameliorative effect on seedlings growth, alleviating the phytotoxic impact of each component. Pyrene reduced the virulence of ASU-B6 by inhibiting the production of pyocyanin pigment, while bacteria ameliorated pyrene toxicity through its degradation. Heatmap and principal component analyses highlighted that increasing the contents of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and lipid peroxidation positively correlated to the toxicity of PY or ASU-B6. However, improving the antioxidant system which buffers the oxidative stress induced by different combinations of PY and ASU-B6 enhanced the growth of germinated seedlings corresponding to PY or ASU-B6. This study reflected the role of ASU-B6 in ameliorating PY-phytotoxicity. In addition, the application of ASU-B6 strain is recommended as a prospective candidate for remediation of PAHs-contaminated environment with a positive impact on the plant growth and metabolic products.

Enterobacter cloacae Rs-2 inoculum replaces fertiliser application by half in the field and modifies microbial community structure

Using microbial inoculant partial substitution synthetic fertilizer is a new type of environmentally friendly way to significantly improve the corps production and ecological environment. The effects of supplementing Enterobacter cloacae Rs-2 with synthetic fertilizer on the maize growth and soil microbial community diversity in field were investigated in this paper. The optimal fermentation conditions were determined as 5 g·L−1 industrial glucose, 30 g·L−1 industrial peptone, 1 g·L−1 MgSO4 and 0.5 g·L−1 KCl firstly. Field experiment showed that the fresh weight of shoots and roots was increased by 39.69% and 32.46% when half synthetic fertilizer was replaced by microbial inoculant. The soil physical and chemical properties were also greatly improved, especially the contents of available phosphorus, water-soluble calcium and alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen were significantly increased in T4 (Rs-2 and half chemical fertilizer) and full chemical fertilizer treatment. This result was accompanied by increased the relative abundance of genes related to phospholipid metabolism, phosphotransferase system (PTS) and oxidative phosphorylation metabolism, indicating that Rs-2 may play an important role in the transformation and utilization of phosphorus in soil. The richness, dominance of Proteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae in the microbial communities were further improved when the microbial inoculant applied. Function prediction PICRUSt analysis indicated that amines and amino acids were the most representative of the total carbon source utilization by the soil microbial communities. It was concluded that the application of 50% of the synthetic fertilizer supplemented with 30 mL microbial inoculant enhanced both the functional diversity of soil microbial communities and maize yield.

Isolation and Characterization of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria from the Rhizosphere of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Minthostachys verticillata.

This study aimed to isolate and characterize Pseudomonas native strains from the rhizospheric soil of Minthostachys verticillata plants to evaluate their potential as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). A total of 22 bacterial isolates were obtained and subjected to various biochemical tests, as well as assessments of plant growth-promoting traits such as phosphate solubilization, hydrogen cyanide production, biocontrol properties through antibiosis, and indole acetic production. Genotypic analysis via 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic tree construction identified the strains, with one particular strain named SM 33 showing significant growth-promoting effects on M. verticillata seedlings. This strain, SM 33, showed high similarity to Stutzerimonas stutzeri based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and notably increased both shoot fresh weight and root dry weight of the plants. These findings underscore the potential application of native Pseudomonas strains in enhancing plant growth and health, offering promising avenues for sustainable agricultural practices.

Utilizing endophytic plant growth-promoting bacteria and the nematophagous fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum as biocontrol agents against the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) on tomato plants

AbstractThe present investigation was designed to assess how administering biocontrol agents (BCAs) made from the nematophagous endophytic fungus MR20 (Purpureocillium lilacinum) or a mixture of endophytic plant growth-promoting bacteria MR12 (Pseudomonas fluorescens), and MR25 (Serratia marcescens), could enhance tomato growth and resistance to Meloidogyne incognita under in vivo conditions. The three strains’ cell-free culture filtrates showed a strong nematocidal impact (P < 0.05) on M. incognita infective second-stage juveniles (J2s). The highest mortality rates by the three BCAs were at concentrations of 80%, followed by 60%, 40%, and 20%. The in vitro hatching of free eggs was found to be considerably (P < 0.05) reduced as the concentrations of the endophytic bacteria MR12, and MR25 were increased in the order 1 × 105, 1 × 106, 1 × 107, 0.5 × 108, to 1 × 108 colony forming units (CFU)/mL, and the maximum nematicidal activity in killing M. incognita free eggs occurred at 1 × 108 CFU/mL. A statistically significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the percentage of M. incognita-free eggs retrieved was seen in vitro when various concentrations of the endophytic fungus MR20 were applied compared to the negative control (distilled water). The endophytic fungus MR20 had the highest nematicidal activity against M. incognita free eggs at a concentration of 3 × 106 CFU/mL. The application of P. lilacinum or a combination of P. fluorescens and S. marcescens to tomato plants in the presence of M. incognita under greenhouse conditions resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) in root and shoot fresh weight, number of leaves, weight of leaves, and stem diameter when compared to the positive control treatment that contained only M. incognita. Treatment with P. lilacinum was more effective (P < 0.05) than P. fluorescens and S. marcescens in reducing egg masses per root, J2s per 100 g of soil, egg masses per 100 g of soil, J2s + eggs of M. incognita per 100 g of soil, reproduction factor, and reduction percentage after 60 days under greenhouse conditions. Nevertheless, the reduction of M. incognita gall size categorization (> 4 mm, 2–4 mm, and < 2 mm) was more effectively achieved by treatment with P. fluorescens and S. marcescens than by treatment with P. lilacinum. Under in vivo conditions, the tested P. lilacinum or a mixture of P. fluorescens and S. marcescens effectively controlled nematode population densities below the economic threshold.

Metal Sulfates and Microbial Food Treatment Alleviate the Oxidative Damage Caused by PEG-Induced Osmotic Stress in Cotton Plants

Background: Drought stress restricts cotton production, which causes a considerable loss of cotton yields worldwide. Plant activators improve crop production and ameliorate abiotic stresses. Thus, the effects of plant activators on the genotype of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Candia, which is resistant to drought, were investigated.Methods: Plants were treated with the plant activators, and then osmotic stress was initiated by 30% PEG 6000 treatment for 13 days. Antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POX) were measured along with growth, relative water content (RWC), osmotic potential, photosynthetic pigments, ion leakage, proline accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS).Results: Osmotic stress reduced shoot fresh weight (FW) and osmotic potential but increased root length of Candia. Activator treatment alleviated these effects. Photosynthetic pigment contents and cell membrane permeability were not affected by osmotic stress and activator treatments; proline accumulation and lipid peroxidation levels were enhanced by osmotic stress, but activators alleviated these increments. Activity bands for the isozymes Mn-SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3, as well as the isozyme Fe-SOD, were found in Candia. Osmotic stress elevated APX activity in Candia leaves, while activator treatment decreased it. POX activity was not affected by osmotic stress, but activator treatment decreased POX activity. Osmotic stress-induced accumulation of ROS was lessened by activator treatment.Conclusion: Plant activator treatment reduced the amount of oxidative damage (ROS buildup and lipid peroxidation) caused by drought stress in the Candia genotype.Keywords: Antioxidant system; Cotton; Gossypium hirsutum L.; Osmotic stress; PEG 6000; Plant activators

Influence of Certain Biostimulants on the Vegetative Growth of Annual Moringa (Moringa oleifera. Lam)

Due to the importance of moringa leaves which can help improve the dietary diversity and quality of households that need to improve their nutritional intake, being a potential alternate source of protein, and for the sake of increasing its growth and yield, this study is determine the effect of some biofertilizers, amino acids and seaweed extract on vegetative growth of moringa seedlings As well as, to find out the best fertilization treatment to improve the vegetative growth of Moringa and reducing the intensive use of chemical fertilizers. This study was conducted in the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture (Saba-Basha), Alexandria University, Egypt, during two consecutive seasons of 2020 and 2021, to study the effect of biofertilizers, amino acids, and seaweed extract and its combinations on the growth of Moringa (Moringa oleifera, L.). The experiment was designed as split-split plot design it included 27 treatments with three replicates. The results revealed that the highest significant values of vegetative growth as plant height (171.8 cm), stem length (87.30 cm), stem diameter (3.49 cm), leaves fresh weight (70.61 g), leaves dry weight (13.35g), number of leaves per plant (72.03), and number of leaves per shoot (54.41) were achieved when the trees were soil bio-fertilized and sprayed with the investigated amino acid 700 mg/l + seaweed extract 700 mg/l + cerealine (T26) for both seasons of study. While the number of branches per plant (15.28), shoot fresh weight (138.1g), and shoot dry weight (24.07g) were concerned, the highest values were obtained when the plants were treated with soil bio-fertilization (Phosphorine), sprayed with amino acids, and seaweed extract, as the abovementioned treatments, amino acid 700 mg/l + seaweed extract 700 mg/l + Phosphorine (T25), for both seasons of study compared to the other treatments and control.

Jasmonic Acid and Salicylic Acid improved resistance against Spodoptera frugiperda Infestation in maize by modulating growth and regulating redox homeostasis

Exploring host plant resistance and elevating plant defense mechanisms through the application of exogenous elicitors stands as a promising strategy for integrated pest management. The fall armyworm, a pernicious menace to grain crops in tropical and subtropical regions, stands as a formidable threat due to its capacity for devastation and a wide-ranging spectrum of host plants. There is no literature regarding artificially induced resistance in maize against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) by exogenous application of phytohormones. The present investigation was performed to evaluate the role of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) on two maize hybrids namely FH-1046 and YH-1898 against fall armyworm. Results showed that plant height, biomass and lengths, fresh and dry weight of root shoot which decreased with armyworm infestation improved with phytohormonal application. JA treatment resulted in a higher increase in all attributes as compared to SA treatment. Improvement in relative water contents, photosynthetic pigments and pronounced levels of phenol and proline accumulation were observed in infested plants after JA treatment. Infested plants recovered from oxidative stress as JA application activated and increased the antioxidant enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in both FH-1046 and YH-1898 . The oxidative stress reduction in infested plants after JA treatment was also evident from a fair decrease in MDA and H2O2 in both varieties. The SA and JA mediated genes expression was studied and it was found that in FH1046 maize cultivar, JA dependent genes, particularly marker genes PR1 and Lox5 were highly expressed along with TPS10 and BBT12. Whereas SPI, WRKY28, ICS and PAL were shown to be activated upon SA application. Evidently, both JA and SA elicited a robust defensive response within the maize plants against the voracious S. frugiperda, which in consequence exerted a discernible influence over the pest's developmental trajectory and physiological dynamics. A decrease in detoxification enzyme activity of the insects was observed after feeding on treated plants. Moreover, it was recorded that the survival and weight gain of FAW feeding on phytohormone treated maize plants also decelerated. In conclusion, FH-1046 was found to be more tolerant than YH-1898 against fall armyworm infestation and 1 mM JA was more effective than 1 mM SA for alleviation of fall armyworm stress. Therefore, it was inferred that phytohormones regulated redox homeostasis to circumvent oxidative damage and mediate essential metabolic events in maize under stress. To our current understanding, this study is the very first presentation of induced resistance in maize against S. frugiperda with the phytohormonal application (JA and SA).

Biomass-derived carbon dots enhanced maize (Zea mays L.) drought tolerance by regulating phyllosphere microorganisms and ion fluxes

Enhancing crop drought tolerance is beneficial for increasing crop yield and ensuring food security. This study demonstrates that foliar application of biomass-derived carbon dots (Soy-CDs, 10 mg·L−1) can enhance the drought tolerance of maize, leading to an increase in fresh weight of maize shoots and roots (50.5 % and 54.9 %) and dry weight of maize shoots and roots (40.0 % and 37.7 %), respectively. Meanwhile, Soy-CDs altered the abundance of phyllosphere microorganisms (e.g. Proteobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria) of maize under drought stress, which enhanced the nitrogen fixation and stress resistance in maize leaves. Besides, Soy-CDs also promote Ca2+ influx and Na+ efflux in maize mesophyll cells under drought stress, facilitating the regulation of ion osmotic balance and contributing to the improvement of maize drought tolerance. Furthermore, Soy-CDs enhanced photosynthesis (55.3 %) of maize under drought stress, and the full life cycle study showed that Soy-CDs can promote the metabolism of maize kernels, ultimately improve the yield (40.5 %) and nutritional quality of maize. Therefore, this work discovers the enormous potential of biomass-derived carbon dots in improving drought resistance and quality of crop, which contributes to ensure food security.

Understanding the role of magnetic (Fe3O4) nanoparticle to mitigate cadmium stress in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Heavy metals stress particularly cadmium contamination is hotspot among researchers and considered highly destructive for both plants and human health. Iron is examined as most crucial element for plant development, but it is available in inadequate amount because they are present in insoluble Fe3+ form in soil. Fe3O4 have been recently found as growth promoting factor in plants. To understand, a sand pot experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (control, cadmium, 20 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles,40 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles, 20 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles + cadmium, 40 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles + cadmium) to study the mitigating role of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on cadmium stress in three Raphanus sativus cultivars namely i.e., MOL SANO, MOL HOL PARI, MOL DAQ WAL. The plant growth, physiological and biochemical parameters i.e.,shoot length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root fresh and dry weight, MDA content, soluble protein contents, APX, CAT, POD activities and ion concentrations, membrane permeability, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and anthocyanin content, respectively were studied. The results displayed that cadmium stress remarkably reduces all growth, physiological and biochemical parameters for allcultivars under investigation. However, Fe3O4 nanoparticles mitigated the adverse effect of cadmium by improving growth, biochemical and physiological attributes in all radish cultivars. While, 20 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been proved to be more useful against cadmium stress. The outcome of present investigation displayed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles can be utilized for mitigating heavy metal stress.

Unveiling the efficacy of Bacillus faecalis and composted biochar in alleviating arsenic toxicity in maize

Arsenic (As) contamination is a major environmental pollutant that adversely affects plant physiological processes and can hinder nutrients and water availability. Such conditions ultimately resulted in stunted growth, low yield, and poor plant health. Using rhizobacteria and composted biochar (ECB) can effectively overcome this problem. Rhizobacteria have the potential to enhance plant growth by promoting nutrient uptake, producing growth hormones, and suppressing diseases. Composted biochar can enhance plant growth by improving aeration, water retention, and nutrient cycling. Its porous structure supports beneficial microorganisms, increasing nutrient uptake and resilience to stressors, ultimately boosting yields while sequestering carbon. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the combined effect of previously isolated Bacillus faecalis (B. faecalis) and ECB as amendments on maize cultivated under different As levels (0, 300, 600 mg As/kg soil). Four treatments (control, 0.5% composted biochar (0.5ECB), B. faecalis, and 0.5ECB + B. faecalis) were applied in four replications following a completely randomized design. Results showed that the 0.5ECB + B. faecalis treatment led to a significant rise in maize plant height (~ 99%), shoot length (~ 55%), root length (~ 82%), shoot fresh (~ 87%), and shoot dry weight (~ 96%), root fresh (~ 97%), and dry weight (~ 91%) over the control under 600As stress. There was a notable increase in maize chlorophyll a (~ 99%), chlorophyll b (~ 81%), total chlorophyll (~ 94%), and shoot N, P, and K concentration compared to control under As stress, also showing the potential of 0.5ECB + B. faecalis treatment. Consequently, the findings suggest that applying 0.5ECB + B. faecalis is a strategy for alleviating As stress in maize plants.

Elaeis guineensis phenotypic traits and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses to the combination of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer in infertile soil

A 7-month glasshouse study was conducted to assess the growth responses, nutrient status, and non-enzymatic antioxidant properties of E. guineensis seedlings grown on infertile Ultisol which were subjected to different combinations of chemical fertilizers (CF) and commercial biofertilizer (IBG) as follows: [T1] 100% CF [T2] 70% CF + 30% IBG biofertilizer [T3] 50% CF + 50% IBG biofertilizer [T4] 70% CF only and [T5] Absolute Control. A combination of CF70 and IBG30 led to 15.8% increase in the growth of seedlings as compared to CF100, presenting significantly higher fresh shoot and root weights as well as an ideal root-to-shoot ratio. Absolute control seedlings on the other hand, showed less desirable phenotypical traits across all the observed parameters. Significantly higher levels of relative chlorophyll were recorded for the seedlings treated with CF70 + IBG30, which positively correlated with the chlorophyll a/b ratio. Moreover, the biofertilizer and chemical fertilization allowed increased uptake of nutrients where higher uptake of B and P was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with enhanced frond production, while larger roots mass was associated with primary growth traits. The positive impacts of the combined IBG biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer application were likely attributed to enhanced accumulation of non-enzymatic antioxidants to counteract the effects of soil infertility, with seedlings in CF70 + IBG30 mostly recorded the highest phenolic, anthocyanin, flavonoid, photosynthetic pigments, DPPH radical activity and proline levels.

Standardization of Propagation Techniques in Annual Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) for Enhancing Crop Uniformity

An investigation on annual Moringa, Moringa oleifera Lam., var., (PKM 1 and PKM2) with the objective of standardizing the method of vegetative propagation was carried out at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam. the treatment consisted of three factors viz., cultivars (Factor 1: Moringa variety PKM 1 and PKM2), propagation methods (Factor 2: hardwood cuttings, semi hardwood cuttings and air layering) and application of different concentration of growth regulator IBA (Factor 3:0, 1500, 2500 and 4000 ppm) and the trial was laid out with twenty four treatments using Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The overall result revealed that the treatment combinations of PKM 1 air layering treated with IBA 4000 ppm registered the highest dry matter content of root (70.00%) and PKM 1 hardwood cuttings treated with IBA 4000 ppm recorded the highest dry shoot to root ratio (9.19). In PKM 2 semi hardwood cuttings treated with IBA 1500 ppm registered the highest root length (16.30cm) and dry matter content of shoot (61.99%). PKM 2 air layers treated with IBA 4000 ppm took minimum number of days to root (17.99 days), days to sprout (9.85 days) had the highest root fresh weight (2.70g), root dry weight (1.80g), shoot fresh weight (12.52g) and shoot dry weight (6.90g). This study concluded that air layering with 2500 to 4000 ppm IBA treatment is best pro pragation method for PKM1 and PKM 2 annual moringa.

Evaluation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Varieties under Different Salt Stress Levels

Tomato is a crop of immense economic importance worldwide and salinity is one of the major abiotic factors limiting its production and productivity in Ethiopia. The study was conducted to assess growth, physiological activities and yield responses of two tomato varieties to six different salinity levels. Evaluation of the varieties for salt tolerance was carried out in greenhouse in 2018/19. Each treatment was replicated three times and arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design in factorial arrangement. Most of the traits showed significant decrease (P&lt;0.0001) as salinity level increased from lower to higher concentration. The highest shoot fresh weight (163.13g/plant), shoot dry matter (32.8g/plant) and leaf area (26.93cm2) were recorded for the control treatment and the highest root fresh weight (12.27g/plant), root dry weight (5.53g/plant) and fruit yield (22.71 tone/ha) were recorded at 1dSm-1for variety Melka Shola, while the lowest shoot fresh weight (79.9g/plant), shoot dry matter (22.67g/plant), leaf area(17.63 cm2), root fresh weight (6.12g/plant) and root dry weight (3.8g/plant) were recorded at 5 dSm-1 for variety ARP tomato-d2. The lowest yield (16.73 tone/ha) was recorded at 5 dSm-1 for variety ARP tomato-d2. The highest and the lowest values of photosynthetic rate (0.82 µmolCo2m-2s-1 and (0.47 µmolCo2m-2s-1 respectively) were obtained from the control treatment and the highest salinity level for variety Melka Shola, whereas, corresponding values of (0.84µmolCo2m-2s-1 and 0.56 µmolCo2m-2s-1 were recorded for variety ARP tomato-d2. Results of laboratory analysis showed that, sodium and Na/K significantly increased with increased salinity level. However, potassium, Sulfur and phosphorus showed significant decrease with increasing salinity level. Melka Shola was found to be more salt tolerant as compared to ARP tomato-d2. Since the present experiment was conducted for one season and under controlled condition, it deserves further evaluation and verification under field condition in salt affected areas and the effect of salinity on tomato quality also deserves further investigation.

Sole-source Lighting of Lettuce that Increased Yield Had No Negative Effect on Postharvest Longevity

The effects of sole-source lighting on the growth and yield of hydroponically grown lettuce have been extensively studied, but research of postharvest performance is limited. We grew frill-leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa) ‘Green Incised’ and ‘Hydroponic Green Sweet Crisp’ hydroponically in an indoor vertical research farm under daily light integrals (DLIs) of 12 or 18 mol⋅m−2⋅d−1 and the following three ratios of blue (B; 400–499 nm) and red (R; 600–699 nm) light from light-emitting diode fixtures: B5:R95, B20:R80, and B35:R65. We postulated that biomass accumulation would increase with the DLI and decrease with the B light fraction, and that postharvest longevity would increase with the DLI and the B light fraction. As expected, shoot fresh weight, leaf length and width, leaf number, and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD; ‘Green Incised’ only) decreased as the proportion of B light increased from 5% to 35%. Decreasing the DLI from 18 to 12 mol⋅m−2⋅d−1 reduced the shoot fresh weight and leaf number of both cultivars. Leaves of ‘Green Incised’ were up to 27% wider under B5:R95 and 60% longer under B5:R95 at 12 mol⋅m−2⋅d−1 than those under treatments with a higher DLI or more B light. The shoot fresh weight of ‘Hydroponic Green Sweet Crisp’ was greatest when grown under B5:R95 at 18 mol⋅m−2⋅d−1 and decreased as B light increased or DLI decreased. At the time of harvest, leaves of each cultivar and treatment were placed in clamshells and stored at 7 °C in darkness and evaluated for decay. ‘Green Incised’ that grew under B35:R65 and a DLI of 18 mol⋅m−2⋅d−1 had the shortest storage life, with 9.5 d and 11.4 d for replications 1 and 2, respectively, which were ∼2.5 to 4.0 d and 1.4 to 3.6 d earlier, respectively, than the storage life of lettuce grown under other treatments. In contrast, ‘Hydroponic Green Sweet Crisp’ was not influenced by light quality or DLI and had a storage life of 12.6 to 13.3 d and 13.5 to 14.3 d for replications 1 and 2, respectively. Therefore, a B light fraction between 5% and 20% and a DLI of 18 mol⋅m−2⋅d−1 produced high-yielding frill-leaf lettuce with a relatively long storage life.

Germination test, seedling growth, and physiochemical traits are used to screen okra varieties for salt tolerance

Excess soil salinity is a major stress factor that inhibits plant growth, development, and production. Among the growth stages, seed germination is particularly susceptible to salt stress. Okra, a nutraceutical vegetable, has a low germination percentage. Literature has revealed genetic diversity in okra, which can be studied to develop salt-tolerant varieties. This study examined the salt tolerance of 13 okra varieties using germination tests and then tested five varieties in pot experiments with different NaCl levels (75, 100, and 125 mM NaCl). Results showed that salt levels affected all varieties, with differential variations in stress response. Salt stress reduced agronomic, and physiochemical traits in the studied varieties. In variety “MALAV-27”, the highest salt concentration significantly reduced the shoot length (68.12 %), root length (65.11 %), shoot fresh weight (78.73 %), root fresh weight (68.32 %), shoot dry weight (75.60 %), and root dry weight (75.81 %), along with different physiochemical traits. Variety “NAYAB-F1” performed the best, and maintained the highest shoot length (57.12 %), root length (58.72 %), shoot fresh weight (68.26 %), and root fresh weight (58.34 %), shoot dry weight (69.23 %), root dry weight (62.50 %), and numerous physiochemical traits such as sugar (0.74 μg/g), proline (0.51 μmol/g), and chlorophyll ‘a’ (7.97 mg/g), chlorophyll ‘b’ (9.56 mg/g). The study recommended ‘NAYAB-F1′, ‘Arka anamika’, and ‘Shehzadi’ as salt-tolerant varieties suitable for selection in salt-tolerant okra breeding programs.

Screening and identification of salt tolerance soybean varieties and germplasms

Soil salinization is a globally prevalent abiotic environmental stress. The imbalance of ions caused by high concentrations of sodium chloride results in a 40% reduction in soybean yield. Soybean, as an important crop for soil quality improvement, necessitates the identification of salt-tolerant varieties and germplasms to effectively utilize and enhance saline-alkali land. In this study, we assessed the salt tolerance of 435 soybean varieties and germplasms during the seedling stage. Among them, Qihuang34, You2104, Hongzhudou, Pamanheidou, and Osage exhibited grade 1 salt tolerance rates surpassing other tested materials. Furthermore, Hongzhudou and Qihuang34 demonstrated higher salt tolerance during germination and emergence stages based on their elevated rates of emergence, salt tolerance index, chlorophyll content, and shoot fresh weights. Overall findings provide valuable resources for molecular breeding efforts aimed at developing salt-tolerant soybean varieties suitable for cultivation in saline-alkali soils.

Unveiling the salinity tolerance potential of Armenian Dandur (Portulaca oleracea L.) genotypes: Enhancing sustainable agriculture and food security

This study examines the adaptation of an undocumented halophyte, Dandur, to salt stress in different soil mediums. The Dandur plant physiological, morphological, and biochemical analyses show that it can withstand salinity stress. Dandur plants grown in clay and clay loam soil experienced significant decreases in height and stem diameter under extreme salinity conditions compared to non-saline soil. The fresh weight of root and shoot decreased by 70.4% and 84.8%, respectively, and dry weight by 48.5% and 79.7%. These findings underscore the importance of maintaining saline soil conditions for plant growth. Dandur unique ability to avoid dehydration and maintain growth traits, particularly in clay soil, holds promise for further exploration in agricultural research and food security-related issues caused by climate change in saline areas of Armenia and other European countries.

Effect of Nutrient Solution Flow on Lettuce Root Morphology in Hydroponics: A Multi-Omics Analysis of Hormone Synthesis and Signal Transduction.

This study examined how the nutrient flow environment affects lettuce root morphology in hydroponics using multi-omics analysis. The results indicate that increasing the nutrient flow rate initially increased indicators such as fresh root weight, root length, surface area, volume, and average diameter before declining, which mirrors the trend observed for shoot fresh weight. Furthermore, a high-flow environment significantly increased root tissue density. Further analysis using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and Weighted Protein Co-expression Network Analysis (WPCNA) identified modules that were highly correlated with phenotypes and hormones. The analysis revealed a significant enrichment of hormone signal transduction pathways. Differences in the expression of genes and proteins related to hormone synthesis and transduction pathways were observed among the different flow conditions. These findings suggest that nutrient flow may regulate hormone levels and signal transmission by modulating the genes and proteins associated with hormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways, thereby influencing root morphology. These findings should support the development of effective methods for regulating the flow of nutrients in hydroponic contexts.