Total Soluble Sugar Content Research Articles

Physiological and Biochemical Effect of Elevated Night Temperature Stress on Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A laboratory experimentation was done in the Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University to evaluate elevated night temperature effect in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to see the response in some antioxidant and biochemical parameters in two wheat cultivars viz. HUW-234 (comparatively tolerant to heat stress) and sonalika (comparatively susceptible to heat stress). A significance difference was recorded in the parameters pertaining to antioxidant system includes catalase, SOD and APX activity were found to increase substantially when the plants kept under stress conditions (250C/ 240C day and night temperature) than the plants kept under controlled condition (250C/150C day and night temperature). The percent increase in the antioxidant enzyme activity was found to be more in the tolerant genotype (HUW-234) than in the susceptible genotype (Sonalika). There was 23.52 % increase was reported in the catalase activity by tolerant genotype when kept under stress conditions than those kept under control. Significant reductions were reported in most of the photosynthetic and membrane parameters viz., chlorophyll ‘a’, chlorophyll ‘b’ and membrane thermostability index. Similar percent reduction was reported with respect to biochemical parameters (total protein content, starch content and soluble sugar content) in the susceptible variety kept under high night temperature regime. Based on the pooled data of two-year experimentation it can be concluded that variety HUW-234 was found to be more tolerant than variety sonalika to HNT stress.
 Key Words: High night temperature, Wheat, Catalase activity, Anti-oxidant system.

The Role of Stress Modifier Biostimulants on Adaptive Strategy of Oregano Plant for Increasing Productivity under Water Shortage.

To investigate the influence of stress modulators on the adaptive physiological responses and biomass traits of oregano under water stress conditions, a two-year (2018 and 2019) randomized complete block-designed factorial research was performed. In this study, oregano plants were treated with five stress modulators levels (CHN: chitosan, AMA: amino acids, SEW: seaweed, ASA: ascorbic acid, SAA: salicylic acid, and CON: control) at three levels of irrigation regimes (Irr40 (40), Irr60 (60) and Irr75 (75) % field capacity). The effects of water shortage and biostimulant application were evaluated on total dry weight (TDW), relative water content (RWC), essential oil production, chlorophyll, nutrient (N, K, and P), proline, total soluble sugar, polyphenol and flavonoid content, and activity of antioxidant enzymes. The result showed that under optimal irrigation conditions, oregano plants sprayed with CHN exhibited the highest dry weight (141.23 g m-2) as a morphological trait, the highest relative water content (79.34%), the most consistent concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (3.14, 0.39, and 1.69%, respectively), chlorophylls a and b (3.02 and 1.95 mg g-1 FW, respectively), and total phenols and total flavonoids (30.72 and 3.17 mg g-1 DW, respectively). The water deficit increased the proline content, with the greatest amount (4.17 μg g-1 FW) observed in control plants. Moreover, under moisture shortage stress conditions, the application of CHN and SEW increased the soluble sugar (27.26 μmol g-1 FW) and essential oil yield (1.80%) production, the catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities (3.17, 1.18, and 63.89 μmol min-1 g-1 FW, respectively) compared to control plants. In summary, the study demonstrated that oregano plants respond positively to stress modulator treatments when subjected to moisture shortage stress, especially when treated with chitosan. The results offer promising insights for developing sustainable adaptative strategies aimed at enhancing the oregano's tolerance to water shortage, ultimately improving its productivity and biochemical traits.

Dynamic Changes in Physicochemical and Microbiological Qualities of Coconut Water during Postharvest Storage under Different Conditions

Coconut is naturally sealed with coconut water inside. Microbial contamination occurs only after the seal is broken during extraction. This study evaluated changes in the microbiological, physicochemical, and chemical properties of coconut water during postharvest storage at ambient and refrigerated temperatures. Initial microbial counts ranged from 2 to 5 log CFU/mL, while physicochemical factors, including total soluble solids (TSSs), pH, and sugar content (4–7 °Brix, 5.0–5.5, 4–6% g/100 mL), were consistent. The dynamic changes in the physicochemical properties of coconut water stored under both conditions exhibited a clear correlation with the increased microbial populations. Fructose was the primary sugar, with citric and malic acids as major acids, while the predominant volatile compounds were ethanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl ester, acetic acid and octanoic acid. Storage conditions led to similar microbial and physicochemical changes, but ambient temperature accelerated spoilage 10 times faster than refrigeration. Sucrose decreased steadily, whereas fructose and glucose remained stable until a precipitous decline coincided with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) reaching >6 log CFU/mL on the final day of storage. Weissella cibaria and Leuconostoc spp. are the main species in coconut water. The presence of specific volatile compounds, including octanoic acid, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, and butyl phenol, is associated with the activities of Lactobacillus, particularly Weissella. There was a clear relationship among microbial groups and populations, total titratable acidity (TTA), and sensory criteria. Remarkably, TTA was closely correlated with total plate count (TPC) (>5 log CFU/mL) and an unacceptable sensory rating.

Co-inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria improve growth, biochemical and physiological attributes in Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. under water deficit stress.

Because of swift climate change, drought is a primary environmental factor that substantially diminishes plant productivity. Furthermore, the increased use of chemical fertilizers has given rise to numerous environmental problems and health risks. Presently, there is a transition towards biofertilizers to enhance crops' yield, encompassing medicinal and aromatic varieties. This study aimed to explore the impacts of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), both independently and in conjunction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), on various morphological, physiological, and phytochemical characteristics of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. This experimentation took place under different irrigation conditions. The irrigation schemes encompassed well watering (WW), mild water stress (MWS), and severe water stress (SWS). The study evaluated the effects of various biofertilizers, including AMF, PGPR, and the combined application of both AMF and PGPR (AMF + PGPR), compared to a control group where no biofertilizers were applied. The findings of the study revealed that under water-stress conditions, the dry yield and relative water content of D. kotschyi Boiss. experienced a decline. However, the application of AMF, PGPR, and AMF + PGPR led to an enhancement in dry yield and relative water content compared to the control group. Among the treatments, the co-application of AMF and PGPR in plants subjected to well watering (WW) exhibited the tallest growth (65 cm), the highest leaf count (187), and the most elevated chlorophyll a (0.59 mg g-1 fw) and b (0.24 mg g-1 fw) content. Regarding essential oil production, the maximum content (1.29%) and yield (0.13 g plant -1) were obtained from mild water stress (MWS) treatment. The co-application of AMF and PGPR resulted in the highest essential oil content and yield (1.31% and 0.15 g plant-1, respectively). The analysis of D. kotschyi Boiss. essential oil identified twenty-six compounds, with major constituents including geranyl acetate (11.4-18.88%), alpha-pinene (9.33-15.08%), Bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (8.43-12.8%), neral (6.80-9.32%), geranial (9.23-11.91%), and limonene (5.56-9.12%). Notably, the highest content of geranyl acetate, geranial, limonene, and alpha-pinene was observed in plants subjected to MWS treatment following AMF + PGPR application. Furthermore, the co-application of AMF, PGPR, and severe water stress (SWS) notably increased the total soluble sugar (TSS) and proline content. In conclusion, the results indicate that the combined application of AMF and PGPR can effectively enhance the quantity and quality of essential oil in D. kotschyi Boiss., particularly when the plants are exposed to water deficit stress conditions.

Colonization of Satureja hortensis L. (Summer savory) with Trichoderma harzianum alleviates salinity stress via improving physio-biochemical traits and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites

Salinity as the main abiotic stress, influences plant growth, yield, and productivity, especially in arid and semi-arid areas of the world. Researchers are increasingly turning to biological strategies to improve crop tolerance to high salinity levels, such as using endophytic fungus. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L., Lamiaceae) plants to inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum (an endophytic fungus) under various levels of salinity (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) in a pot-based experiment. The results showed that Summer savory inoculated with T. harzianum exhibited improved growth compared with salt-stressed and non-stressed plants (up to 93.47%). Furthermore, inoculation with T. harzianum caused a restoration in the content of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids up to 1.47-fold. Both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants were enhanced in the presence of salt stress, and T. harzianum further increased their level, approximately up to 66.67%. Salinity caused an obvious increase in hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and electrolyte leakage (up to 3.04-fold), but their content began to decline when the plants were inoculated with T. harzianum (with reduction factor up to 41.43%). Additionally, T. harzianum-inoculated plants maintained higher levels of proline, total soluble sugar content (up to 1.46-fold), and volatile organic compounds compared with control and salt-stressed plants. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that inoculation with T. harzianum can enhance the salt tolerance of S. hortensis by improving growth via modulation of biochemical, physiological, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis. Therefore, T. harzianum may be a promising biological strategy for improving crop productivity under saline conditions.

Metabolic Mechanisms Underlying Heat and Drought Tolerance in Lentil Accessions: Implications for Stress Tolerance Breeding

Climate change has significantly exacerbated the effects of abiotic stresses, particularly high temperatures and drought stresses. This study aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying heat and drought tolerance in lentil accessions. To achieve this objective, twelve accessions were subjected to high-temperature stress (32/20 °C), while seven accessions underwent assessment under drought stress conditions (50% of field capacity) during the reproductive stage. Our findings revealed a significant increase in catalase activity across all accessions under both stress conditions, with ILL7814 and ILL7835 recording the highest accumulations of 10.18 and 9.33 under drought stress, respectively, and 14 µmol H2O2 mg protein−1 min−1 under high temperature. Similarly, ascorbate peroxidase significantly increased in all tolerant accessions due to high temperatures, with ILL6359, ILL7835, and ILL8029 accumulating the highest values with up 50 µmol ascorbate mg protein−1 min−1. In contrast, no significant increase was obtained for all accessions subjected to water stress, although the drought-tolerant accessions accumulated more APX activity (16.59 t to 25.08 µmol ascorbate mg protein−1 min−1) than the sensitive accessions. The accessions ILL6075, ILL7814, and ILL8029 significantly had the highest superoxide dismutase activity under high temperature, while ILL6363, ILL7814, and ILL7835 accumulated the highest values under drought stress, each with 22 to 25 units mg protein−1. Under both stress conditions, ILL7814 and ILL7835 recorded the highest contents in proline (38 to 45 µmol proline/g FW), total flavonoids (0.22 to 0.77 mg QE g−1 FW), total phenolics (7.50 to 8.79 mg GAE g−1 FW), total tannins (5.07 to 20 µg CE g−1 FW), and total antioxidant activity (60 to 70%). Further, ILL7814 and ILL6338 significantly recorded the highest total soluble sugar content under high temperature (71.57 and 74.24 mg g−1, respectively), while ILL7835 achieved the maximum concentration (125 mg g−1) under drought stress. The accessions ILL8029, ILL6104, and ILL7814 had the highest values of reducing sugar under high temperature with 0.62 to 0.79 mg g−1, whereas ILL6075, ILL6363, and ILL6362 accumulated the highest levels of this component under drought stress with 0.54 to 0.66 mg g−1. Overall, our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the metabolomic responses of lentil to drought and heat stresses, serving as a valuable reference for lentil stress tolerance breeding.

Calcium oxide nanoparticles mitigate lead stress in Abelmoschus esculentus though improving the key antioxidative enzymes, nutritional content and modulation of stress markers

Lead (Pb) is thought to be one of most injurious metals on the earth. Lead stress in plants enhances synthesis of highly toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). During present research, impact of calcium-oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) was observed on antioxidative defense mechanism in Abelmoschus esculentus plants prone to Pb stress. A CRD experiment was employed with 5 replicates having four treatments (T0 = Control, T1 = Pb stress (200 ppm), T2 = CaO-NPs and T3 = Pb + CaO-NPs). Pb-stressed seedlings exhibited decreased root growth, shoot growth, chlorophyll concentration and biomass accumulation. Moreover, higher synthesis of hydrogen-peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage (EL) resulting in cellular injuries were noted in plants growing in Pb spiked conditions. Similarly, stressed plants showed higher accumulation of total soluble sugar and proline content besides elevated activity of antioxidative enzymes counting catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). On the contrary side, CaO-NPs alleviated the Pb induced phytotoxicity through improving activity of antioxidative enzymes. The elevated activity of antioxidant enzymes reduced biosynthesis of H2O2 and MDA which was revealed through the increased growth parameters. In addition, CaO-NPs persuaded enhancement in plant defence machinery by decreased chlorophyll deprivation and augmented the uptake of plant nutrients including K and Ca content. Hence, CaO-NPs can be potent regulators of the antioxidative enzymes and stress markers to ameliorate abiotic stresses.

Fusarium core rot disease affects physicochemical and pathophysiological attributes of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruit

Core rot is becoming an important post-harvest disease in parts of North-Western Himalayan Region due to changing climate. In the present study, the causal organism of core rot was determined, and the potential effects of core rot disease on apple nutrition, vitamins and antioxidants potential were also studied. Based on morphological, molecular (TEF 1 and ITS gene) and Koch postulates studies of collected isolates, the causal fungus was identified as Fusarium fujikuroi. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of core rot of apple caused by Fusarium fujikuroi in India. Core rot reduced the nutritional value of apple cultivars, viz., ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Royal Delicious’, after 10 and 20 d of infection. The disease showed to have decay and rotting of the fruit, resulting in a loss of essential nutrients. This led to decreased levels of DPPH, carotenoid, phenols, acidity, total soluble solid, sucrose, amino acid, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin in the affected portions of the inoculated fruit. The core rot disease was reported to influence the extent of these effects on sucrose, and TSS properties also. Total soluble sugar content was increased 1.91 and 1.21-fold in ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Royal Delicious’ fruit respectively after 20 d of inoculation. Additionally, the presence of F. fujikuroi triggered enzymatic reactions that further degrade antioxidants, reducing their levels in the infected areas. Our study showed that changes in the type and concentration of polyphenolic compounds were observed in infected apples compared to healthy apples. The outcome from this study will be beneficial to understand the host-pathogen interaction and for strategic management of this disease under field conditions.

Nutritional Analysis of Raw, Cooked and Sprouted Cowpea Genotypes

Background: Four cultivars of cowpea NCK-15-01, NCK-15-05, NCK-15-08 and NCK-15-09 had been chosen for analysis in experiment. The raw cowpeas have been amassed from Pulse Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. Methods: After collection, samples were analysed under three exceptional processed states like raw, pressure cooking and sprouting. For the study the analysis of variance of the observed data was done using factorial complete randomized design (Factorial concept). The observations for every parameter had been taken with three repetitions. The critical difference at 5% level of the significance was worked out to compare the treatment means. Among the biochemical parameters some nutrient compositions like crude protein, albumin, globulin, prolamine, glutelin, total soluble sugar, crude fat, antioxidant activity, moisture content and crude fiber were analysed using standard methods. Result: The existing study found that, the cultivar NCK-15-09 contained maximum amount of albumin, prolamine, crude fat, antioxidant activity and crude fiber whereas NCK-15-08 showed highest quantity of crude protein and glutelin. NCK-15-05 had highest amount of globulin and NCK-15-01 is the richest cultivar for total soluble sugar, moisture content.The genotype NCK-15-09 confirmed the highest globulin content (4.84%) in sprouting treatment. Among the different cooking methods, the pressure cooking revealed highest crude protein (23.04%), albumin (3.93%), prolamine (4.04%), glutelin (5.41%), total soluble sugar (58.12 mg/g) and moisture content (12.25%). The highest crude fiber content was determined in sprouting (3.39%).

Characterization of exogenous lactate addition on the growth, photosynthetic performance, and biochemical composition of four bait microalgae strains.

To quickly obtain the biomass of bait microalgae with high value-added products, researchers have examined the influence of biochemical and environmental factors on the growth rates and biochemical composition of microalgae. Previous studies have shown that lactate plays an important role in metabolic regulation in Phaeodactylum tricornutum. In this study, we investigated the effect of exogenous lactate on the growth rates, photosynthetic efficiency, and biochemical composition of four commonly used bait microalgae in aquaculture. The optical density of the algal cultures at specific time points, YII, Fv/Fm, and the total lipid, protein, soluble sugar, insoluble sugar, chlorophyll a, and carotenoid content of P. tricornutum, Isochrysis galbana (I. galbana), Chaetoceros muelleri, and Cylindrotheca fusiformis were determined. In I. galbana, the growth rate was enhanced with the addition of lactate, even though higher concentrations of lactate were associated with a decrease in YII and Fv/Fm. In general, the total lipid content of these microalgal strains increased gradually in a concentration-dependent manner over the range of lactate concentrations. In addition, higher concentrations of lactate also induced significant changes in the total soluble and insoluble sugar levels in all microalgal strains. However, chlorophyll a and carotenoid contents increased at lower but decreased at higher concentrations of lactate in all microalgal strains. The total protein content was significantly elevated at all concentrations of lactate in P. tricornutum, whereas there were no significant differences in that of C. fusiformis. Lactate effective influences in the growth, metabolism, and synthesis of important biochemical components in the four microalgal strains under investigation.

Flavor Quality Analysis of Ten Actinidia arguta Fruits Based on High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Headspace Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

Actinidia arguta is a fruit crop with high nutritional and economic value. However, its flavor quality depends on various factors, such as variety, environment, and post-harvest handling. We analyzed the composition of total soluble sugars, titratable acids, organic acids, and flavor substances in the fruits of ten A. arguta varieties. The total soluble sugar content ranged from 4.22 g/L to 12.99 g/L, the titratable acid content ranged from 52.55 g/L to 89.9 g/L, and the sugar-acid ratio ranged from 5.39 to 14.17 at the soft ripe stage. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that citric, quinic, and malic acids were the main organic acids in the A. arguta fruits. Headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) detected 81 volatile compounds in 10 A. arguta varieties, including 24 esters, 17 alcohols, 23 aldehydes, 7 ketones, 5 terpenes, 2 acids, 1 Pyrazine, 1 furan, and 1 benzene. Esters and aldehydes had the highest relative content of total volatile compounds. An orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) based on the odor activity value (OAV) revealed that myrcene, benzaldehyde, methyl isobutyrate, α-phellandrene, 3-methyl butanal, valeraldehyde, ethyl butyrate, acetoin, (E)-2-octenal, hexyl propanoate, terpinolene, 1-penten-3-one, and methyl butyrate were the main contributors to the differences in the aroma profiles of the fruits of different A. arguta varieties. Ten A. arguta varieties have different flavors. This study can clarify the differences between varieties and provide a reference for the evaluation of A. arguta fruit flavor, variety improvement and new variety selection.

Integrating Chlorophyll a Fluorescence and Enzymatic Profiling to Reveal the Wheat Responses to Nano-ZnO Stress.

It has been shown that increased concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) in the soil are harmful to plant growth. However, the sensitivity of different wheat cultivars to nano-ZnO stress is still unclear. To detect the physiological response process of wheat varieties with different tolerance to nano-ZnO stress, four wheat cultivars (viz., cv. TS1, ZM18, JM22, and LM6) with different responses to nano-ZnO stress were selected, depending on previous nano-ZnO stress trials with 120 wheat cultivars in China. The results found that nano-ZnO exposure reduced chlorophyll concentrations and photosynthetic electron transport efficiency, along with the depressed carbohydrate metabolism enzyme activities, and limited plant growth. Meanwhile, the genotypic variation in photosynthetic carbon assimilation under nano-ZnO stress was found in wheat plants. Wheat cv. JM22 and LM6 possessed relatively lower Zn concentrations and higher leaf nitrogen per area, less reductions in their net photosynthetic rate, a maximum quantum yield of the PS II (Fv/Fm), electron transport flux per cross-section (ETo/CSm), trapped energy flux per cross-section (TRo/CSm), and total soluble sugar and sucrose concentrations under nano-ZnO stress, showing a better tolerance to nano-ZnO stress than wheat cv. TS1 and ZM18. In addition, the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters Fv/Fm, ETo/CSm, and TRo/CSm could be used to rapidly screen wheat varieties resistant to nano-ZnO stress. The results here provide a new approach for solving the issues of crop yield decline in regions polluted by heavy metal nanoparticles and promoting the sustainable utilization of farmland with heavy metal pollution.

How storage circumstance alters the quality of seeds of Lallemantia iberica and Lallemantia royleana produced under maternal drought stress

Seed production underpins the agricultural industry and is impacted by the maternal environment during maturation. In addition, inappropriate post-harvest storage conditions can affect seed quality, by accelerating viability loss and reducing seed longevity. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of storage conditions on the germination and physiological and biochemical processes of seeds of Lallemantia iberica and L. royleana under drought stress. Seeds were matured under maternal plant irrigation regimes of 30% (I30) and 60% (I60) of soil available water depletion and subjected to different storage conditions: control, natural aging (NA), controlled deterioration (CD), elevated partial pressure of oxygen (EPPO), and elevated partial pressure of nitrogen (EPPN). Seeds of both species matured under water deficit I60 had enhanced germination index, unsaturated and saturated fatty acid contents, total soluble sugar, sucrose and starch contents, and α- and β-amylase activities. This treatment also resulted in reduced seed electrical conductivity (EC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. The different seed storage conditions had negative effects on germination index, storage compounds, and fatty acids, with the smaller and greater changes under NA and EPPO aging, respectively. During the different aging conditions, it was noted that L. iberica seeds showed greater deterioration compared to L. royleana seeds. In conclusion, post-harvest conditions impact seed quality, with mild stress of the maternal environment increasing the seed longevity of both Lallemantia species.

Effects of Enclosure Succession on the Morphological Characteristics and Nutrient Content of a Bamboo Whip System in a Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) Forest on Wuyi Mountain, China

To investigate the morphological characteristics and nutrient content of bamboo whip systems in the Wuyi Mountain Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest in response to enclosure succession. The mixed Moso bamboo forests in the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve with 0, 4, 6, 11, 16, and 41 enclosure years were taken as the object of investigation. All the bamboo whips in the 2 m × 2 m sample plots were excavated layer-by-layer according to the soil layers of 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm, and a total of 54 plots were dug. The morphological characteristics and nutrient contents of the Moso bamboo whips in the different soil layers were analyzed and evaluated. Enclosure management measures can not only effectively improve vegetation coverage, biodiversity, and biomass, but also improve soil moisture and nutrient status, indirectly affecting the vegetation, which is of great significance for preventing soil erosion. The results showed that the whip number, whip diameter, flagella number, whip length, and whip weight in the 0–20 cm soil layer were significantly increased by 169.2%, 11.0%, 197.5%, 113.7%, and 109.0% (p < 0.05), respectively, compared with CK after 41 years of enclosure. The average internode length was significantly decreased by 27.9% (p < 0.05) compared to CK after 41 years of enclosure. In the 20–40 cm soil layer, the whip diameter increased by 9.7% after 41 years of enclosure compared with CK, but the whip number, flagella number, whip length, and whip weight were significantly reduced after 16 and 41 years of enclosure compared to CK (p < 0.05). In the 40–60 cm soil layer, the whip number, number of flagella, and whip length increased significantly after 6 and 11 years of enclosure compared with CK (p < 0.05). In the 0–20 cm soil layer, the contents of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium in CK were higher than those in other enclosure years, and the soluble sugar content in CK was significantly higher than that in the enclosures of 4, 6, 11, and 41 years by 39.8%, 37.9%, 34.4%, and 34.0% (p < 0.05). The organic carbon content was significantly increased by 14.8%, 12.7%, 7.2%, and 7.1% (p < 0.05) after 4, 6, 11, and 41 years of enclosure compared with CK, respectively. The starch content was significantly increased by 34.1%, 23.0%, and 62.7% (p < 0.05) after 6, 16, and 41 years of enclosure compared with CK, respectively. In the 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm soil layers, the total nitrogen content and soluble sugar content in CK were significantly lower than that in the enclosures of 4 years (p < 0.05), the total phosphorus and total potassium content in CK were significantly higher than that in the enclosures of 41 years (p < 0.05), and the organic carbon content and starch content in CK were significantly higher than that in the enclosures of 6 years (p < 0.05). In summary, enclosure measures were implemented for Moso bamboo forests in the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve, which promote the growth of Moso bamboo whips and optimize the structure of bamboo whips.

Growth, Dry Mass and Organics Solutes Accumulation in Cnidoscollus phyllacanthus (M. Arg) Pax & Hoffm.) Seedlings Under Salinity

Theoretical framework: The areas affected by salinity have increased in recent years, becoming a limiting factor for plants, negatively interfering with their growth and development. As a result of these effects, knowing species that tolerate this adverse salinity condition is fundamental, both from an environmental aspect and from a scientific point of view. Objective: This research aimed to verify the effects of salinity on the growth and accumulation of organic solutes of Cnidoscolus quercifolius seedlings. Method: The treatments consisted of five levels of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mM), distributed in entirely randomized design, with four replications. The seedlings grew in ‘Leonard’ pots, containing washed sand and nutrient solution, kept under saline conditions for 60 days. The parameters analyzed were height; stem diameter; roots, stem, leaves, shoot, and total dry mass; and amino acids, proteins and total soluble sugars content. Results and discussion: Salinity reduced linearly all parameters evaluated, especially at the highest levels of salt in the medium, indicating that the C. quercifolius seedlings were intolerant to the imposed salinity, not being able to adjust osmotically. Research implications: Possibility of revegetation of areas with saline soil problems, reintegrating them into the production system. Originality/value: To know the forest species capable of surviving in areas affected by salinization, enabling the adoption of recovery techniques and practices.

Water stress and increased ploidy level enhance antioxidant enzymes, phytohormones, phytochemicals and polyphenol accumulation of tetraploid induced wallflower

Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri (L.) Crantz) is a profitable plant in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, as it produces valuable phenolic compounds. It is also an important flower in the floriculture industry cultivated mainly in the gardens and pots. Nonetheless, water scarcity as a worldwide phenomenon has deteriorated its growth and productivity. A main mechanism for drought tolerance is genome duplication and increased ploidy level, where more metabolites are produced. In this regard, diploid and tetraploid-induced plants of E. cheiri were subjected to well-watered (100% field capacity) and water deficit (50% field capacity) conditions for 30 days. Under water deficit conditions, the tetraploid wallflowers conserved their relative water content (RWC) at 85%, while the RWC of diploid plants was reduced to 68%. The chromosome-doubled plants showed advantages under water stress due to their higher osmotic adjustment by increased total soluble sugar and proline content, stronger antioxidant enzymes’ activity of SOD, CAT, APX, and POD, and enhanced non-enzymatic defense systems (i.e., total phenolic and flavonoid contents), compared with their control diploids. Also, stress hormones such as abscisic acid, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and auxins were increased in tetraploid plants under low water conditions, though cytokinin and gibberellin phytohormones were decreased as an adaptive strategy in the stress condition. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid and gallic acid were identified as the main phenolic compounds in 4x Erysimum leaves. The superiority of tetraploids over the diploid plants under water stress might be attributed to the extensive reprogramming of genes involved in hormonal signaling, reactive oxygen species detoxification, osmotic adjustment, and enhanced antioxidant defense system. The polyploidization technique combined with water scarcity, have proved fruitful for the production of excess secondary metabolites for various industrial uses.

Induction of Tolerance in Groundnut Plants Against Drought Stress and Cercospora Leaf Spot Disease with Exogenous Application of Arginine and Sodium Nitroprusside Under Field Conditions

Naturally, under field conditions, plants are regularly experienced by a mixture of two or more stress factors. Drought is a major abiotic stress, and fungal pathogens characterize a main biotic stress challenge faced by plants and impact negatively on plant development and productivity. We propose that foliar application of nitric oxide (NO) donors can have positive effects on the induction of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress on groundnut plants. This investigation was carried out to study the changes in growth, some biochemical aspects, and yield and quality of groundnut plants as well as induction of resistance to Cercospora leaf spot disease in response to nitric oxide (NO) donors, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and arginine (Arg) (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mM) under two water irrigation levels 100% and 75% of water irrigation requirements (WIR), in two field experiments through two successive growing seasons of 2021 and 2022. Decreasing irrigation water significantly reduced shoot length, branches numberplant-1, shoot fresh and dry weight, photosynthetic pigments components, endogenous indole acetic acid (IAA) contents, and yield components. Furthermore, root fresh and dry weight, phenols, total soluble sugars (TSS), proline contents, and the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipid peroxidation of groundnut leaves increased significantly. Contrarily, foliar application with Arg and SNP alleviated the negative influences of drought on growth and productivity of groundnut plants via enhancing photosynthetic pigments, IAA, phenolic compounds, TSS, and proline contents. Additionally, SNP and Arg significantly decreased oxidative damage through decreasing H2O2 and lipid peroxidation by the induction of antioxidant enzymes. Remarkably, the increase of drought level led to a reduction in Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) disease with the use of high concentrations of both Arg and SNP. Interestingly, in both stressed and unstressed plants, SNP treatment at 7.5 mM was the most effective in reducing the incidence and severity of disease, while Arg at 2.5 mM recorded the lowest reduction compared to other treatments. In conclusion, foliar treatment of either SNP or Arg is a profound effect on modulating the drought stress and induction of resistance to Cercospora leaf spot disease of groundnut plants throughout regulating physiological and biochemical processes associated with photosynthesis and oxidative responses.

Effects of dry-salting and brine-pickling on physicochemical properties and flavor of spaghetti squash shreds

The effects of dry-salting and brine-pickling on the physicochemical properties and flavor of spaghetti squash shreds were investigated. The results showed that dry-salting had a positive effect on the contents of total acid, soluble sugars, reducing sugars and Vc of squash shreds compared to brine-pickling, except for the acceleration of water loss. The pH of dry-salted and brine-pickled shreds were 4.65 and 4.83 at day 12, respectively. Additionally, after 12 d of pickling, higher brittleness (34.11% higher) was observed in dry-salted shreds than in brine-pickled shreds, accompanied by higher levels of protopectin (15.31% higher), cellulose (60.71% higher) and lignin (18.75% higher) and lower activities of polygalacturonase (27.58% lower) and cellulase (13.30% lower) as well as a more intact cell structure. Furthermore, this study characterized the shred flavor by using electronic tongue and electronic nose combined with GC-MS analysis, and found that dry-salting resulted in a more pronounced salt and umami taste and a faster development of more intense aroma. These results demonstrate the benefits of dry-salting in pickling spaghetti squash shreds and provide new ideas for developing related pickled products.

Effects of exogenous melatonin on sugar and organic acid metabolism in early-ripening peach fruits.

To evaluated the effects melatonin (MT) on the sugar and acid metabolism of early-ripening peach fruits, the concentration of 150 μmol/L MT was sprayed on the leaves of peach trees. MT increased the contents of total soluble sugar and sucrose in peach fruits during the whole ripening period, and increased the contents of glucose and sorbitol at the mature stage. During the whole ripening period, MT also increased the activities of sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase, neutral invertase, and acidic invertase and the relative expression levels of sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase, neutral invertase, and acidic invertase genes, while decreased the activity of sorbitol oxidase and the relative expression level of sorbitol dehydrogenase to some extent. Moreover, MT decreased the contents of total organic acid, malic acid, and citric acid at mature stage. At mature stage, MT decreased the activities of citrate synthetase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and the relative expression levels of citrate synthetase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase genes, while increased the relative expression levels of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+)-malic enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, and aconitase genes. Therefore, MT promotes the sugar accumulation and organic acid degradation in early-ripening peach fruits.

Bio-Chemical Factors Associated with Resistance to Aphid, Hyadaphis coriandari (Das) in Fennel at Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) is a significant spice crop from the Apiaceae family, often referred to as 'saunf,'. Aphid, Hyadaphis coriandari (Das) remained chief constraints in realising potential production and productivity of fennel in arid region. The biochemical characters viz., free amino acids, total soluble sugar and phenol content in different genotypes of fennel were responsible for resistance. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design and involved ten different fennel varieties with three replications. The plot size was 2.4 x 3.0 meter and inter row and inter plant distance were 40 cm x 20 cm, respectively. The biochemical characters of varieties/entries viz., total soluble sugar, total phenols and free amino acids were estimated during peak aphid population on the crop. The free amino acids content in different varieties varied from 1.05 to 2.93 per cent. The variety RF-205 contained lowest per cent of free amino acid, harbored minimum aphid population and the RF-145 contained highest per cent of free amino acids and had highest aphid population. The RF-205 variety lowest content of TSS (0.90 mg/100g) harbored lowest aphid population (44.40 aphids/plant) and variety AF-2 contained highest 1.14 mg/100g of TSS. That shows least susceptibility against this pest. The total phenol content ranged from 2.33 to 4.55 per cent being minimum in RF-145 and maximum in variety RF-205. Total phenol (r= -0.99) were significantly negatively correlated with peak aphid population.