Spinach Research Articles

Effects of kitchen waste compost and chemical fertilizer application on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) c.v. Matador plant growth and nitrate accumulation

In this study, the effects of organic and chemical fertilizer sources on some essential nutrient elements content, nitrate (NO3 −-N) accumulation, and the growth of spinach plant (Spinacia oleracea L.) were investigated. The experiment was carried out in a randomized plot design under greenhouse conditions, with two levels. 1st level; applications with chemical fertilizer. 2nd level; applications without chemical fertilizer. One compost material (kitchen waste compost = KWC), five different doses (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6%), and three replications. For chemical fertilization, nitrogen (N) dose of 150 kg ha−1 was applied by using 15-15-15 NPK (N:P2O5:K2O) fertilizer. Overall, KWC applications increased plant growth and nutrient content. However, the most significant increases occurred in the trial subjects where chemical fertilizer and KWC were applied together. The use of KWC together with chemical fertilization increased the leaf width, leaf and stem length, fresh weight, and dry weight, as well as nitrate accumulation, N, potassium (K), and iron (Fe) content of the plant. The highest values of these parameters were obtained at 0.8% dose of KWC + NPK medium. As a result, compost applications were effectively uptake of nutrients and nitrate accumulation remained at acceptable values.

Sustainability of Growth Performance, Water Quality, and Productivity of Nile Tilapia-Spinach Affected by Feeding and Fasting Regimes in Nutrient Film Technique-Based Aquaponics

Aquaponic systems offer an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture, where the interplay between fish and plant cultivation can be optimized. The choice of feeding and fasting schedules plays a crucial role in system efficiency and overall productivity. This study aims to investigate the impacts of various feeding and fasting schedules on water quality, and the growth performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings, and spinach productivity in an aquaponic system based on the nutrient film technique (NFT). O. niloticus fingerlings with an initial weight of 13.47 ± 0.14 g were randomly stocked at a density of 6 kg/m3, and spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea) were included. The study employed a completely randomized block design with five replications. Various water quality parameters were monitored, and the effects of different feeding/fasting schedules on fish and spinach were assessed. The data revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in water quality parameters, all of which remained within acceptable ranges for aquaponic systems. The one-day feeding/one-day fasting treatment resulted in reduced final body weight, weight gain percentage, and specific growth rate, compared to other treatment groups (p < 0.05). Higher levels of glucose and plasma cortisol were observed in this treatment. Economic efficiency was highest in the daily feeding treatment (40.05%), with no statistical difference (p > 0.05) observed in the group subjected to three-day feeding/one-day fasting (39.03%). Spinach yield varied significantly between treatments (p < 0.05), with the daily feeding treatment recording the highest yield (2.78 kg/m2) and the one-day feeding/one-day fasting cycle having the lowest yield (1.57 kg/m2). The findings suggest that the three-day feeding/one-day fasting regime in an NFT-based aquaponic system results in efficient nutrient utilization, higher productivity, and profitability for Nile tilapia. Additionally, this approach supports marketable biomass production for spinach. Different feeding and fasting schedules have distinct effects on water quality, fish growth, and spinach productivity in aquaponic systems. The three-day feeding/one-day fasting schedule emerges as an effective strategy for optimizing resource utilization and increasing overall productivity.

Draft genome sequence of multidrug-resistant Citrobacter freundii MTR_GS_V1777 strain isolated from a spinach (Spinacia oleracea) sample in Gazipur, Bangladesh.

We announce a genome sequence of Citrobacter freundii MTR_GS_V1777 strain isolated from a vegetable sample in Bangladesh. This strain had a genome size of 4,997,753 bp (58.7× genome coverage) and contained two plasmids, typed as sequence type ST124, 38 predicted antibiotic resistance genes, and 77 predicted virulence factor genes.

Analysis of the relative frequencies of the multipartite BNYVV genomic RNAs in different plants and tissues.

Multipartite virus genomes are composed of two or more segments, each packaged into an independent viral particle. A potential advantage of multipartitism is the regulation of gene expression through changes in the segment copy number. Soil-borne beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) is a typical example of multipartism, given its high number of genomic positive-sense RNAs (up to five). Here we analyse the relative frequencies of the four genomic RNAs of BNYVV type B during infection of different host plants (Chenopodium quinoa, Beta macrocarpa and Spinacia oleracea) and organs (leaves and roots). By successfully validating a two-step reverse-transcriptase digital droplet PCR protocol, we show that RNA1 and -2 genomic segments always replicate at low and comparable relative frequencies. In contrast, RNA3 and -4 accumulate with variable relative frequencies, resulting in distinct RNA1 : RNA2 : RNA3 : RNA4 ratios, depending on the infected host species and organ.

Circadian-based approach for improving physiological, phytochemical and chloroplast proteome in Spinacia oleracea under salinity stress and light emitting diodes

Salt stress is a recognized annihilating abiotic stress that has a significant impact on agricultural and horticulture crop productivity. Plant development faces three distinct dangers as a result of salt stress: oxidative stress, osmotic stress, and ionic toxicity. It has been shown that plants can forecast diurnal patterns using the circadian clock; moreover, they can manage their defensive mechanism for the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Circadian rhythmicity in gene expression assembles transcription and translation feedback networks to govern plant shape, physiology, cellular and molecular activities. Both external and internal variables influence the systemic rhythm via input routes. The Malav Jyoti (MJ) and Delhi Green (DG) genotypes of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) were grown in the plant growth chamber. The chamber had an optimized temperature of 25 °C and humidity of 65% containing light emitting diode (LED) having Red: Blue: white (one side) and White fluorescent (other side) under salinity stress. The samples were collected on the basis of 4 h intervals of circadian hours (0 h, 4 h, 8 h and 12 h) during Day-10 and Day-20 of salt treatments. Under salt stress, the circadian and light-emitting diode-based strategy had a substantial influence on spinach's anti-oxidative responses, stomatal movement, CO2 assimilation, PS-I and II efficiency, phytochrome pigment efficiency, and photosynthesis. Based on the findings of the free radical scavenging enzyme tests, the photoperiodic hours for the proteome analysis were set to 11 am and 3 pm on Day-20. When compared to white fluorescent, this study found that LED has the capacity to influence the entrainment cues of the circadian clock in the cultivation of salt-sensitive spinach genotypes. According to our findings, changing the cellular scavenging mechanism and chloroplast proteome has increased the survival rate of spinach genotypes under LED when compared to white fluorescent.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of MYB Gene Family and Analysis of Its Sex-Biased Expression Pattern in Spinacia oleracea L.

The members of the myeloblastosis (MYB) family of transcription factors (TFs) participate in a variety of biological regulatory processes in plants, such as circadian rhythm, metabolism, and flower development. However, the characterization of MYB genes across the genomes of spinach Spinacia oleracea L. has not been reported. Here, we identified 140 MYB genes in spinach and described their characteristics using bioinformatics approaches. Among the MYB genes, 54 were 1R-MYB, 80 were 2R-MYB, 5 were 3R-MYB, and 1 was 4R-MYB. Almost all MYB genes were located in the 0-30 Mb region of autosomes; however, the 20 MYB genes were enriched at both ends of the sex chromosome (chromosome 4). Based on phylogeny, conserved motifs, and the structure of genes, 2R-MYB exhibited higher conservation relative to 1R-MYB genes. Tandem duplication and collinearity of spinach MYB genes drive their evolution, enabling the functional diversification of spinach genes. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that spinach MYB genes were mainly located in the nucleus. Cis-acting element analysis confirmed that MYB genes were involved in various processes of spinach growth and development, such as circadian rhythm, cell differentiation, and reproduction through hormone synthesis. Furthermore, through the transcriptome data analysis of male and female flower organs at five different periods, ten candidate genes showed biased expression in spinach males, suggesting that these genes might be related to the development of spinach anthers. Collectively, this study provides useful information for further investigating the function of MYB TFs and novel insights into the regulation of sex determination in spinach.

Designing of novel nano-sized coordination compounds based on Spinacia oleracea extract: Synthesis, structural characterization, molecular docking, computational calculations, and biomedical applications

A novel series of nano-sized metal chelates of 1-((E)-(2-mercaptophenylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol (H2L) Azo-methine ligand with Fe(III), Ni(II) and Ag(II) were prepared and investigated for antitumor activities. The structures of all the synthesized compounds have been analyzed using various physicochemical techniques. The results showed a distorted square-planar geometry for Ni2L2 and AgL, whereas the geometry around the FeL complex is octahedral. The nano-sized Fe and Ag complexes were prepared in an easy, rapid andeco-friendly way using Spinacia oleracea (SO) extract in EtOH. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV.Vis. spectra were used to assess the structural characteristics and particle size of the newly produced nano-sized Fe and Ag complexes. Furthermore, from TGA, we investigated the impact of heat on the particle size of newly prepared compounds. The geometry optimization of the prepared complexes and various quantum chemical parameters were computed by Gaussian 09 softwares. The results showed that all of the metal complexes studied are more stable than the free ligand H2L, with the Ni2L2 complex being the most stable. All micro- and nano-complexes were tested for in vitro anticancer activities, and the results revealed inhibition of cancer cell activity, although the smaller size is better than the larger size. The liver cancer and COVID‑19 were screened using molecular docking to determine the possible binding energy of inhibitors.

Phytotoxic Effect of Dibutyl Phthalate, Dimethyl Phthalate, Diethyl Phthalate and Di-N-Octyl Phthalate on Malondialdehyde Content and Total Phenolic Content of Leaves and Roots of Edible Plants

ABSTRACT Environmental pollutants act as stressors for plants, inducing different stresses like physiological changes, variation in nutritional value, biochemical stress and photosynthetic blockage, and food loss. Phthalate esters are one of the environmental pollutants most commonly used as plasticizers in packaging materials. They leach out into the soil and accumulate in plants via root take-up. The present research work was carried out to check the phytotoxic effect of dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and di-n-octyl phthalate, their exposure to Malondialdehyde contents, and the consequent impact on the total phenolic content of edible parts of plants. The edible plants tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), radish (Raphanus sativus), turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), and carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) were exposed to 0, 10, and 20pbb of all four phthalate esters. After 10 days of exposure, TPC and MDA contents were analyzed spectrophotometrically. The exposure of phthalate esters significantly increased TPC in leaves, and MDA in the root and leaves of plants, except that of DnOP which decreased MDA content in radish leaves.

Impact of bio-fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of Spinach (Spinacia oleraceaL.) in Noida UP.

A field trial was undertaken at Amity University Noida’s experimental farm to investigate the effectiveness of microbial consortia on plant development and yield characteristics of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Azotobacter, poultry manure, vermicompost, and FYM were used in various combinations throughout the treatments. The Desi (indigenous) variety was used in the field investigation. The use of biofertilizers is intended to increase crop yield and soil fertility while minimising environmental damage. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of various biofertilizers on the growth and yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) plants. These fertilisers include vermicompost, farmyard manure, Azotobacter, and poultry manure. The experiment was conducted out under closely monitored settings, with a randomised complete block design and three replications. Growth metrics were examined during the experiment to evaluate the vegetative growth of spinach plants, including plant height, leaf area, leaf length, and number of leaves per plant. The study’s findings demonstrated that the various treatments that were applied had a discernible impact on the growth, production, and economics of spinach. According to early data, the usage of biofertilizers considerably affected the growth and yield of spinach plants when compared to the control group. In comparison to the control, which had plant height (26.4 cm), leaves number (14), length of the leaves (15cm), leaves width (8cm), area of leaf per plant (120 cm2), and yield (4.5 Kg) the combined application of (Azotobacter + farmyard manure + poultry manure) demonstrated the highest performance on plant growth parameters such as height of the plants (35.4cm), leaves number per plant (16.7cm), leaves length (22cm), leaves width (12cm), and leaf area per plant (264 cm2). Furthermore, as seen by higher nutrient levels and organic matter content, the application of biofertilizers significantly improved soil fertility. This research present to the growing body of valuable information on sustainable farming practices by elucidating the efficacy of biofertilizers in enhancing the spinach growth and yield. The findings highlight how important it is to incorporate biofertilizers into agricultural practices to enhance soil health, reduce adverse environmental effects, and ensure the production of food sustainably.

Effect of different bio-fertilizers on growth and yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

A field trial was conducted with the aim to study the effect of different bio-fertilizers on growth and yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Spinach stands as a significant leafy vegetable in global agriculture, prized for its nutritional richness and versatile culinary applications. With an increasing emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices, the investigation of alternative fertilization methods has garnered attention, particularly bio-fertilizers known for their eco-friendly attributes and potential multifaceted benefits. This study delves into the effects of diverse biofertilizers on the growth and yield of spinach crops. During the rabi season of 2023-2024, the field experiment was carried out at AlOA Amity University Noida U.P. Agricultural Research Farm. The experiment was organized in a randomized complete block design to assess the efficacy of different bio-fertilizer treatments. Key growth parameters including plant height, leaf area were meticulously monitored throughout the crop cycle. Additionally, yield metrics such as fresh weight and marketable yield were recorded to evaluate the productivity of spinach plants under various bio-fertilizer regimes with six treatments consisting of a single or combination of bio-fertilizers in three replications. T6 (Vermicompost + azotobacter +poultry manure) exhibited the highest values for maximum plant height, no. of leaves per plant, length and width of leaves, leaf area, followed by T5 and T4 at 30, 45, and 60 DAS. The minimum plant height and other morphological parameters were observed in the treatment T1 (control) at 30, 45, and 60 DAT. T6 (Vermicompost + azotobacter + poultry manure), T5 (Azotobacter + Vermicompost), and T4 (FYM and poultry manure) had the highest fresh weight whereas the control treatment had the lowest. When compared to all other treatments, the treatment T6 (Vermicompost + Azotobacter + poultry manure) produced the highest growth and yield.

Green synthesis of a magnesium single-atom catalyst from Spinacia oleracea chlorophyll extracts for sustainable electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia

Magnesium single atoms derived from natural leaves for sustainable ammonia production.

Growth and Performance of Baby Spinach grown under different Organic Fertilizer

This study investigates the effects of several organic fertilizers on baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) cultivation’s growth, productivity, and sustainability. A randomized complete block design was employed to assess six organic fertilizer treatments, including vermicompost, farm yard manure (FYM), poultry waste, Azotobacter + poultry waste + FYM, Azotobacter + vermicompost, and a control (no fertilizer application). Plant growthparameters, nutrient content, pest resistance, soil health indicators, and environmental implications were evaluated to understand the effectiveness of organic fertilizers in promoting sustainable spinach production. Results indicate that treatments incorporating Azotobacter inoculants, particularly those combined with poultry waste or vermicompost, demonstrated superior performance in terms of production, biomass accumulation, plant height, leaf area, and nutrient content. These findings underscore the potential of bioinoculants in organic farming to increase soil fertility and ecological resilience, decreasedependency on synthetic inputs, and increase crop output. Moreover, organic fertilizers significantly influenced soil health parameters, with treatments exhibiting higher soil pH, organic matter content, and microbial activity contributing to improved soil fertility. Environmental implications of organic fertilizer use were also assessed, revealing varyinglevels of nutrient runoff and greenhouse gas emissions across different treatments. While Azotobacter-inoculated treatments showed higher greenhouse gas emissions, they also exhibited greater nutrient retention, indicating complex trade-offs between nutrient cyclingand environmental impact

Enhancing germination percentage and seed vigor in horticultural Crops through biopriming techniques

Seed biopriming induces a physiological condition that promotes germination and uniform seedling emergence. An investigation is carried out on different seeds such as carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Sativus), onion (Allium cepa L.), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea), radish, (Raphanus sativus), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and pea (Pisum sativum) to standardise bio-priming with Bacillus siamensis strain NKIT-9 to improve seed germination and seedling vigor index. To optimise the concentration of bio-priming seedlings were bioprimed overnight with Bacillus siamensis strain (NKIT-9) at varied concentrations (0.1mg/ml, 10µg/ml, 0.1µg/ml, and 10ng/ml). Bio-priming with Bacillus siamensis strain NKIT-9 gave highest values of germination percentage and seedling vigor index of carrot (at 0.1mg/ml), onion (at 0.1µg/ml ), cauliflower at 0.1mg/ml, 10µg/ml, and 0.1µg/ml), radish (at0.1mg/ml and 0.1µg/ml), tomato (at 0.1mg/ml), spinach (at 10ng/ml ), fenugreek (at 10ng/ml) and pea (a10ng/ml ) as compared with control. carrot, onion, cauliflower, radish, tomato, spinach, fenugreek, and pea exhibited higher germination percentages (60%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 80%, 90%, 100%, and 60% respectively) and seedling vigor indexes (148 ,720, 910, 880, 525, 580, 990, and 1018 respectively) when compared with control. Therefore, bio-priming with these concentrations is best suited for improving germination rate and seedling vigor of seeds.

Internet of things-based remote monitoring and classification of <i>Spinacia oleracea</i> leaf disease using deep learning approach

Internet of things-based remote monitoring and classification of <i>Spinacia oleracea</i> leaf disease using deep learning approach

Optimizing growth and nutrient uptake of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) in hydroponic systems through varied fertilizer concentrations

Optimizing growth and nutrient uptake of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) in hydroponic systems through varied fertilizer concentrations

Internet of Things-Based Remote Monitoring and Classification of Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Disease Using Deep Learning Approach

Internet of Things-Based Remote Monitoring and Classification of Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Disease Using Deep Learning Approach

Effect of various media for growing spinach (spinacia oleracea L.) crop

Effect of various media for growing spinach (spinacia oleracea L.) crop

Taxonomic Evaluation of Spinacia oleracea L. Accessions by Morphological and Anatomical Markers

Spinacia oleracea L. is an edible crop and considered as super food due to high nutrient values. Due to these properties the pot-based project was designed to explore the most diverse accession of this species, 31 local S. oleracea accessions were evaluated taxonomically on the basis of morphological and anatomical markers. Seeds were sown in clay pots to evaluate different morphological characters. The germination period varied from 6 to 15 days while variation in number of leaves was observed to be from 12 to 68 leaves per plant. Moreover, abaxial and adaxial epidermal leaf analysis was examined under light microscope to study the existing anatomical variations. Substantial variations were observed among quantitative characters including number of subsidiary cells (3-5 on both abaxial and adaxial sides), stomata number per unit area (6-21 on abaxial side; 8-18 on adaxial side) and stomatal index (13.9-28.6 on abaxial side; 14.8-25.5 on adaxial side). The shape of epidermal cells varied from tetragonal to pentagonal, hexagonal and irregular. The results concluded that leaf epidermal anatomical markers could be applied considerably in delimiting the species to solve the existing taxonomic problems among them. However, for more authentic results it would be preferred to use more taxonomic tools in integration with anatomy to study intraspecific variations.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Gene Expression and Regulatory Characteristics Associated with Different Bolting Periods in Spinacia oleracea.

Bolting is a symbol of the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth in plants. Late bolting can effectively prolong the commercial value of spinach and is of great importance for spinach breeding. Bolting has complex regulatory networks, and current research on spinach bolting is relatively weak, with specific regulatory pathways and genes unclear. To clarify the regulatory characteristics and key genes related to bolting in spinach, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis. In this study, 18 samples from three periods of bolting-tolerant spinach material 12S3 and bolting-susceptible material 12S4 were analyzed using RNA-seq on, resulting in 10,693 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment and co-expression trend analysis indicated that most DEGs were enriched in the photoperiod pathway, the hormone signaling pathway, and the cutin, suberin, and wax biosynthetic pathways. According to the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), SpFT (SOV4g003400), SOV4g040250, and SpGASA1 (SOV6g017600) were likely to regulate bolting through the gibberellin and photoperiod pathways, and SpELF4 (SOV1g028600) and SpPAT1 (SOV4g058860) caused differences in early and late bolting among different cultivars. These results provide important insights into the genetic control of bolting in spinach and will help elucidate the molecular mechanisms of bolting in leafy vegetables.

Newly developed dietary assessment tools for lutein and zeaxanthin are correlated with 24-hour diet recalls, but are not a valid measure of intake in Australian and United Kingdom adults

Habitual dietary intake measurement of carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) has often been omitted or attempted with tools of unknown validity in past research. It was hypothesized that the dietary assessment tool, the L/Z screener, developed as part of this study, would be valid with agreement within 0.25 mg/day when compared against multiple 24-hour diet recalls in healthy Australian and United Kingdom adults. Two screeners with 91 food items were developed, 1 with a recall timeframe of a month and the other a week. Over 4 weeks, 56 Australian and 47 United Kingdom participants completed 4 weekly screeners, 2 monthly screeners, and eight 24-hour diet recalls. Validity was assessed through Bland-Altman plot analysis. L/Z intake measured by all tools was significantly correlated, with correlation coefficients from 0.58 to 0.83. Despite these correlations, the screeners were not valid, with poor Bland-Altman plot agreement when compared with the diet recalls. The Australian weekly screener performed best, demonstrating a mean difference of 0.51 mg/day and 95% limits of agreement between –1.46 mg/day and 2.49 mg/day of L/Z intake. Baby spinach, broccoli, and pumpkin provided the greatest proportion of L/Z intake. The low validity may be explained by high rates of misestimation or missed capture of moderate to high L/Z containing foods such as baby spinach. Prior research reliant on correlational statistics for L/Z tool validity should be interpreted with caution, and future screener development should prioritize accurate capture of high contribution foods.